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City Cast Portland

When do you get in line at a Portland bar? And when do you crowd the bar? City Cast Portland podcast host Claudia Meza 

talked to local bar owner Tanya Frantzen about that and other unspoken rules

. Franzen wrote a related book, “Happy 21st Birthday: A Field Guide for Bar Patrons of All Ages.” She also owns 

Frantzen says it’s not that hard to become a regular. It involves “finding the bar that has the culture that you wanna be a part of, and then just showing up.”

It could be every day. But it may be better for your liver if it’s not. “It doesn't have to be every day — we don't wanna kill you — but often enough to be remembered and join in conversations when you're invited.”

Know if You’re Supposed to Wait in Line

Frantzen says it’s pretty easy to tell if you’re supposed to wait in line. “You look. You walk into the bar and you look. That's how you know.”

But also, she likes to remind people that bartenders are a resource. “There's nobody there: You say, ‘Hey.’ The bartender says, ‘Hey, how's it going? Can I get you something to drink? You could say, ‘Yeah, I'd like this. Is this like a line bar or is this a ‘crowd the bar’ bar, and the bartender will tell you. It's very easy.”

Going to bars and getting drunk can sometimes bring out the worst in patrons. But it’s easy to be a hero, too. Frantzen’s advice: pay a little bit of attention:

“We have bus tubs set up. So clear your glassware."

“Letting the bartender know when they're out of toilet paper." 

“Other hero moves: bringing the bartender food. If you work at a restaurant and you're getting off work and going to the bar, bring pizza or whatever your restaurant sells.”

More on the Unspoken Rules of Portland Bars

The Unspoken Rules of Portland Bars

Portland, Explained

6th among the fastest-shrinking big cities

 in the U.S. in the two years between July 2020 and July 2022. Last year, Portland saw 

 behind only New York, Philadelphia, and Oakland. Even Detroit saw a (slightly) slower decline.

It only underlines the decline that Seattle, our bigger rival city to the north, was the 

 for the most recent year of data. But Seattle was the exception in some ways; the next 15 fastest-growing cities were all in the Sunbelt.

The possibly good news is that Portland’s decline slowed last year.

And, for better or worse, Portland has company: Gresham, West Linn, and Lake Oswego all shrank, and they did so faster last year. By contrast, the three fastest-growing cities in the region were farther afield: 

Ridgefield, Wash. (+32%), Estacada (+18%), and Cornelius (+13%).

Why do experts worry over population declines?

With population declines, businesses can start to 

struggle and close, meaning fewer amenities

. It also can mean less tax revenue for governments and therefore fewer services. The decline so far (

) is relatively small but could become more of an issue if the trend continues.

Correction: In Portland, plastic that can be recycled goes in the blue bin. You may have noticed that correctly illustrated in the photo last week, but it’s not what I said in the text. Thanks to readers who noted the misstatement, and my apologies for it.

What’s the Deal With Portland’s Shrinking?

Did you know Portland has three different commuter train lines? There’s TriMet's MAX Light Rail, the Portland Streetcar, and the Westside Express Service.

 is the biggest and best-known system. Its five lines run to downtown from Gresham, Milwaukie, the airport, the Expo Center, and Hillsboro. It also has the longest hours — starting before 4 a.m. and ending after midnight. 

 runs on loops in the central city, connecting commuters and residents downtown and along the east side. It runs every weekday 5:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. with slightly shorter hours on the weekends. 

 16 miles of track around the central city.

 (or WES) is an unusual rail line that provides a link between suburbs — Beaverton to Wilsonville, with Tigard and Tualatin in between. It was built along an old railway system, some of which carried passenger trains back in the day. It runs weekdays (mornings and evenings) for traditional commuting hours. 

You can travel all of them on a TriMet fare, though the streetcar also has its own tickets if you prefer.

What's the Deal With Portland's Commuter Lines

Portland, unlike almost all the major cities in the U.S., doesn’t add fluoride to the water. It’s a 

 and plenty of people who have lived here a long time.


 More than 70% of Americans have fluoride in their water, 

at least when there aren’t shortages of the substance

.And there is scientific consensus around the idea that fluoride in the proper doses is good for teeth. 

🦷 The Centers for Disease Control said “wide-spread water fluoridation as one of the 10 most important public health accomplishments of the 20th century,” the 

. 

🦷 The American Dental Association has recommended 

.

But if your typical Portland voter has rallied around science during the COVID pandemic these last few years, worries about keeping the water “clean” also won the day recently. In 2013, Portland voters delivered a crushing defeat to the pro-fluoride city officials; here’s what happened. 

🦷 City Council 

voted unanimously to add fluoride to the water

. (A unanimous vote usually tamps down controversy, but this issue was immediately referred to the ballot by energized opponents.)

🦷 Proponents of fluoride raised twice the amount as opponents. 

🦷 But then voters 

rejected it overwhelmingly — 61% to 39%

fourth time Portland voters opposed fluoride

 approved a change to the commission form of government last year. Maybe this will change too. Who knows.

What’s the Deal With Portland’s No Fluoride Stance?

The lit-up “Portland, Oregon” sign is an iconic feature of the downtown skyline. It sure looks like it’s a piece with history, but on some level it’s really new (at least in its current incarnation).

It started as a sign to advertise commercial goods. First ‘White Satin Sugar,” then "White Stag Sportswear,” and thus arrived the deer.

Later, it promoted “Made in Oregon” shops (like the ones in the airport). The change was a way to get a private venture to keep paying for it.

At one point, it was going to become “Oregon” when the University of Oregon moved into the building.

The city ultimately stepped in to keep the lights on. It became “Portland, Oregon,” in 2010, with an agreement where the city paid $2,000 a month for 10 years in maintenance costs through parking revenues.

aggressive about the trademark when commercial ventures

 have tried to use it in marketing, but it’s actually a pizza shop (not the city) that owns the trademark to use the white stag in 

I for one enjoy this piece of history, recent and not.

What's the Deal With the Portland Sign and the Red-Nosed Reindeer?

What would you like to change about Portland? How do you want to help? Thinking about charitable gifts has me thinking about the problems our city faces: homelessness, addiction, violence, food insecurity, mental health, racial injustice, and animal welfare to name just a few. 

There are so many nonprofits in Portland doing good work. Here are just a few categories and ideas of groups to give to this season.

The more Portland has grown as a city, and the more housing costs have risen, the more our region has seen a crisis on our streets. The pandemic has only made it worse. That has Portland pushing to outlaw street camping. There are many groups attending to people who are unhoused. Here’s one group that’s been around for a long time and seeks to make a difference for those most in need.


 works with some of the most vulnerable — particularly youth who are unhoused. They’ve been around since 1968, have a health clinic, and help with housing as well. 



Climate Change, Environment, and Ecology

Recent years have brought the effects of climate change to Portland, with a record-setting heat wave last year, and increased wildfire threats in recent summers. Just last month, we set a record for the hottest October ever. But many groups are trying to make our natural world safe for the here and now as well, including keeping our water and air clean for humans and animals alike.


 advocates for a clean river. But they keep their eye on a range of environmental issues from salmon to fossil fuels. They were 

among the groups to fight an oil terminal on the Columbia River in Washington

a Nestle water bottling plant in the Columbia Gorge

 plants trees around town. As the climate warms, it’s all the more important that cities have trees — which provide a canopy against the sun and help cool neighborhoods. And this is the group that’s doing that vital work in our city. 


Rising food costs in our community have meant more people are struggling to eat. The nonprofits fighting food insecurity are themselves facing higher costs and are in greater need of support this year.

The 

 has brought attention to the issue of food insecurity for decades, while providing resources across the state as the problem 

. They have a fun fundraiser on right now — a 

Portland loves its animals, and there is no shortage of nonprofits to support for those who want to help our furry friends. But one nonprofit stands out this time of year.

The 

 rescues cats and dogs. In fact, Portland (via OHS) 

 from across the nation because we’re such animal lovers. OHS also recently opened a vet clinic, allowing pet 

owners to pay based on what they can afford

, which is fantastic because vet bills add up. (Disclosure: I have volunteered for the group taking care of kittens too young to be adopted out.)

Nonprofits to Consider Donating to

An explanation, this time from City Cast Portland producer Giulia Fiaoni.

A colossal portable peanut, known as the “NUTmobile,” has been spotted across the city last week – in front of the 

.

Why is it here and where did it come from?

The first peanut-mobile was built and driven by a Planters salesman in 1935. Over the decades, 

 to take on different shapes and styles, and serve a variety of purposes. (Check out the 

 featured in NASCAR events.)

The only active NUTmobile on the road these days is 26 feet long and weighs 13,000 pounds — as the Planters' 

 puts it, 415 peanuts long and 3 million peanuts heavy. There are six seats inside and, of course, a bar for serving mixed nuts.

Nowadays, the NUTmobile 

 all over the country to attend events, fulfill 

, and hand out nuts to nut-lovers. 

Last week, Reddit user u/samtaher discovered 

 while visiting Portland: right across from the First Christian Church in Downtown Portland. Apparently 

made house calls at a downtown hotel last week. 

But this isn’t the first time Portlanders have seen the nutty vehicle in town. Back in 

, the peanut made socially-distanced visits and, in 

, attended events all across the Portland area.

This week, the NUTmobile is 

What's the Deal With the Giant Peanut on Wheels?

“Slow the Flock Down” read signs all across town.

That’s an official warning from the Portland Bureau of Transportation, which is hoping to reduce traffic fatalities. The city is also “redesigning streets, lowering speed limits, expanding its speed safety camera program, and educating drivers,” says Hannah Schafer, who’s now interim director of communications for PBOT.

I asked Schafer about the notable signs.



What made the city think these are the signs that could get people to slow down? 


“1) Its catchy, tongue-in-cheek style is an attention grabber, 2) It has a very clear and focused message, and 3) [The Seattle Department of Transportation, which brought Portland the idea] had tested the message and found that it resonated with a wide range of participants, but particularly younger men. [And according to federal data from 2020,] 16- to 29-year-old males had the highest traffic fatality rate of any demographic group.”



Is there any evidence that the signs are working? 


“It’s really hard to draw a direct correlation between a traffic PSA and how it impacts people’s travel behavior. We have seen a high level of interest and appreciation for this campaign and that tells us it is resonating with Portlanders. This is just one piece of the larger education and engineering work PBOT is doing.”



Why should people slow (the flock) down in Portland? 


“At the end of the day, it comes down to basic physics. By slowing down you are reducing the risk of hurting yourself and others on the road. Nationally, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System, speeding is involved in about 30% of all traffic deaths. In Portland, it’s closer to 50%.” 