🌱 Fuller Coffee House Fire + MESO Makers Market Opens

Hello again, hello! It's me, Michelle Paul, your host of the Patch newsletter. Let's get this day started off right, with a quick review of the most important things happening these days in town.

But first, today's weather:

Mostly cloudy with showers. High: 44 Low: 35.

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Here are the top three stories in Portland today:

1. Fuller's Coffee House caught fire Sunday afternoon and hopes to reopen soon following clean-up and investigations. Portland Fire & Rescue arrived at the 1940s diner after receiving a call after the diner's closing hours about a stovetop blaze that spread into the hood and vent system. The general manager reports that the building and facilities had been in good shape and clean prior to the fire, and is interested in seeing how the incident started. (Fox 12 Oregon)
2. The Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon is hosting the second weekend of the MESO Makers Market at the Alberta Commons from Feb. 24-26. Featuring 40 local Black businesses in Portland, the free market features MESO vendors who provide a variety of products and services, including art, massages, hair products, and more. MESO's Director of Marketing and Development Celina Sanchez says, “The reason that we work primarily with the BIPOC community and women-owned businesses is because they don’t always get their opportunity to shine.” (KOIN.com)
3. After using the ticketing company Brown Paper Tickets to support ticket sales for their December concert, the Bach Cantata Choir is still owed $4,500 worth of sales from the company. Despite having worked with them previously without issue, this time has been more challenging, with the missing sums amounting to nearly five percent of the choir's budget, according to Artistic Director Ralph Nelson. Although Brown Paper Tickets claims the money owed will be sent this week, the choir has decided to use a ticketing system on their own website to support ticket sales for their concert in April. (KGW.com)

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Today in Portland:

• Story Time with Olive & Dingo At Uplifted Boutique and Makers Market (10:30 AM)
• Hebrew for Lunch At Mittleman Jewish Community Center (12:30 PM)
• Detroit Cobras At Dante's (9:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Portland State University is hoping to select its next president at their meeting today (Feb. 21), with an announcement to come in a few weeks. The two finalists are Ann Cudd of the University of Pittsburgh and Kathy Johnson of IUPUI. (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
• Plans are being finalized to turn the former Central Bible Church property in the Montavilla neighborhood into one of three large city-equipped tent camps. This initiative aims to decrease unauthorized campsites throughout Portland. (OregonLive)
• The 20th Annual Portland Jazz Festival is ongoing through Feb. 25. For a list of performances and ticket information, click here. (KGW)

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You're all caught up for today! I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow with a new update.

— Michelle Paul

About me: Michelle Paul is a Utah-based writer and photographer with a professional background in content management and registered nursing. When not working on projects ranging from photo editing to copywriting, they enjoy traveling, video games, and expanding their skills.