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October 2, 2026

Portland's Most Underrated Restaurateur Is Retiring, a DIY Bar Takeover, and Miami Beats Portland at Food?

City Cast Portland

Portland's Most Underrated Restaurateur Is Retiring, a DIY Bar Takeover, and Miami Beats Portland at Food?

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We’re talking about an upcoming event hoping to bring attention to Portland’s bar scene. We’re also looking into some recent food news coming out of a small stretch of Southeast Hawthorne that involves fires and a heart-breaking closure. Plus, Portland has been crowned No. 2 once again as America’s foodie city, by a website that sells credit cards. Who’s number 1? You really won’t believe it. Joining host Claudia Meza are local food and culture reporter Alex Frane and Alex Caffal, one of the founders of Barmageddon, a grassroots, DIY showcase of Portland's bar and hospitality scene.

It's our fall membership drive, and we're hoping 200 of you will join as City Cast Portland Neighbors! Get all the details and sign up ⁠here⁠.⁠ ⁠

Discussed in today's episode:

⁠Portland is (still) America’s No. 2 foodie city, study finds⁠ [Oregonian]

⁠'The internet is a strange place': The story of how a small-town 'COVID-conscious lesbian bar' went viral⁠ [Yahoo]

⁠Portland Cocktail Week Is Taking 2026 Off. The City’s Bartenders Are Throwing a Festival in Its Place⁠ [Willamette Week]

⁠Portland Bar Coalition⁠ [Instagram]

⁠Support Likely Ivy Recover from Fire Damage⁠ [GoFundMe]

⁠Support Gol's Recovery and Staff⁠ [GoFundMe]

Become a member of City Cast Portland today! Get all the details and sign up ⁠here⁠. Who would you like to hear on City Cast Portland? Shoot us an email at ⁠portland@citycast.fm⁠, or leave us a voicemail at ⁠503-208-5448⁠.

Want more Portland news? Then make sure to sign up for our ⁠morning newsletter⁠ and be sure to follow us on ⁠Instagram⁠. Looking to advertise on City Cast Portland? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at ⁠citycast.fm/advertise⁠.

Learn more about the sponsors of this October 2nd episode:

⁠Oregon Ballet Theatre⁠

⁠The Reser⁠

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