News The state Insurance Division has yanked the license of the president of a venerable Portland insurance agency that was accused in 2007 of pocketing customers' premiums. Last December, WW reported that Darlene J. Rethwill, then president of the 78-year-old westside agency Trautman Perrin & Hale, was under investigation for accepting payments but not actually arranging insurance for clients. ...   More

News I don't know about those folks on Wall Street, but down here on Main Street things are awful tough. I can't even afford a new pair of blue jeans, and you have no idea how bad I want one now. Hell, these women have to steal just to buy shirts. Things are so bad, even the elderly have been reduced to stealing. To make things worse, a friend showed me this video to cheer me up, but it's had nightmares ...   More

News Economy, schmuconomy! While it seems like every restaurant in town is up for sale, the retail scene is still going strong—at least in the category of really cool stores that are moving to Portland. First WW broke the news that Brooklyn Industries was coming to town. Then we told you about Filson. Now, we can confirm something we've heard whispers about for weeks: Free People, the ...   More

News Before you buy a ticket for the inauguration of Barack Obama, read this from the Better Business Bureau: Want to Buy Tickets to the Obama Inauguration? Let the Buyer Beware DuPont, WA – Nov. 12, 2008 - A record number of Americans want to be a part of history and attend the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama but, unfortunately, only 250,000 tickets are up for grabs. While ...   More

News It's been a little over a year since Portlanders banded together to protest Hammerfest, a conference for white supremacists. But it appears that the neo-Nazi movement is alive and well in Pennsylvania. A recent report on Yahoo! News detailed the troubles experienced by the proud parents of 3-year-old Adolph Hitler Campbell when they attempted to get his first and middle names on his birthday cake. For ...   More

News Once upon a time, the holiday of Christmas revolved around celebrating the birth of Christ. There were angels and wise men and frankincense and myrrh. In the past few years, though, retail shops like downtown Portland own's Funny Bone Store have been walking a fine line on the edge of hell's precipitous depths. Cards with family photos wishing loved ones holiday blessings have been replaced with ...   More

News UPDATED TUESDAY, DEC. 2: Whole Foods just emailed me to respond to this post. The gist? Company media relations rep Libba Letton contends that the New Seasons subpoena, one of 96 subpoenas of third parties by Whole Foods, is totally NOT about eyeballing competitors info. It's about building a case against the FTC... Scroll down to read their full missive. ORIGINAL MONDAY, DEC. 1 POST: What ...   More

News Some Hollywood District residents are mad that a Dollar Tree store might be moving into the old Trader Joe's location on Northeast Sandy Boulevard between 42nd and 43rd avenues. One anonymous resident is dropping off flyers urging residents to call Dollar Tree; the New & Neville Real Estate leasing out the space; and Trader Joe's (which still occupies the lease despite moving to a larger ...   More

News Did you shake off tryptophan's lingering effects to fight the early-morning "hordes" in pursuit of Black Friday deals? As an intern at WW, I did. And after hitting Pioneer Place and the surrounding retailers, two things were abundantly clear. First, there just weren't that many people out shopping, despite the Macy's Holiday Parade and the numerous sale signs lining shop windows. Second, ...   More

News Last minute shopping—ain't it a bitch? That said, a snowflake-swirled walk though downtown Portland around lunchtime revealed a sure-fire quickie gift winner: UNDERPANTS. Newish boutique Radish Underground , an adorable clothes and accessories shop that's been doin' the business in a small space right next to Martinotti's Deli since October, stocks a great range of locally made clothes ...   More