The Most Important Portland Culture News of the Week, from Best to Worst

Holy Schnitz!

The Bigfoot mural under the footbridge at SW 136th and Division. IMAGE: Courtesy of Metro.

Art Attack

Arts nonprofit Portland Street Art Alliance has announced plans to commission several new murals in the industrial eastside. Dubbed the Viaduct Arts Initiative, the goal is to create a new street art district. It will concentrate on an often overlooked part of Southeast Portland: underneath the Hawthorne and Morrison bridges and along the loading docks of 2nd and 3rd avenues. PSAA is now accepting applications for the project, and will announce the chosen artists in February.

Read more: Portland Will Soon Have a New Street Art District.

Jordan Schnitzer tours Wapato Jail. (Sam Gehrke)

Holy Schnitz

It was only a matter of time before a museum bearing Jordan Schnitzer's name opened in Portland. The Portland real estate tycoon is a major patron of local arts institutions, and now a museum endowed by Schnitzer full of pieces from his collection has opened its doors on Portland State University's campus, at 1855 SW Broadway. The inaugural exhibit at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, titled Art for All, features 47 works from Schnitzer's massive print collection, including pieces by household names like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Jeff Koons and David Hockney.

Read more: A Museum Backed By Jordan Schnitzer Has Opened on the Portland State University Campus.

My Own Private Portland

Everyone has a secret Portland. We want to see yours. WW is kicking off 2020 with a photo contest. We're not looking for the coolest angle on Big Pink—we want you to show us a part of Portland that never makes the cover of a newspaper. We'll run the winning photographs in our Jan. 1 issue.

Read more: My Own Private Portland.

(Henry Cromett)

Bigger Fish

Flying Fish Company has outgrown its corner of the mixed-use market Providore Fine Foods and is now preparing to open its own standalone location. The business is scheduled to move into the restaurant space currently occupied by the People's Pig at 3004 E Burnside St. after renovations are complete in spring 2020. The move will allow Flying Fish to grow from an eight-seat oyster bar to a full-blown restaurant.

Read more: Flying Fish Company is Opening a Full-Service Restaurant and Market.

Multnomah County Library. (Abby Gordon)

Banned Books

The Multnomah County Library will no longer purchase e-books from Macmillan Publishers after the company severely restricted public institutions' access to digital titles. Macmillan, one of the nation's five biggest book publishers, announced in September it would be imposing an eight-week embargo on libraries' access to new titles. In a statement, Vailey Oehlke, director of libraries at Multnomah County, said, "It's time to say 'no more.'"

Read more: In Response to Restricted E-Book Access, Multnomah County Library Stops Buying From Macmillan Publishers.

ABCBA

Three months after Anheuser-Busch InBev declined to make an offer to purchase the remaining stake of Portland-based Craft Brew Alliance, the world's largest beer company will now buy out the rest of the business. CBA brands, including Widmer Brothers, Omission and Kona, will become a part of Anheuser-Busch's Brewers Collective of acquired craft breweries. Other Pacific Northwest breweries amassed by the multinational corporation include 10 Barrel and Elysian.

Read more: Anheuser-Busch is Buying Out Portland-Based Craft Brew Alliance.

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