🌱 Hotlips Pizza Closes Locations + City's Deadliest Shooting Of 2023

Good morning, friends! Michelle Paul here with your fresh copy of the Portland Patch newsletter. Keep reading to find out everything that's fit to print about what's happening in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Tuesday: Occasional rain and drizzle. High: 51 Low: 41.
• Wednesday: Pleasant and milder. High: 59 Low: 40.

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Here are the top three stories in Portland today:

1. The 39-year-old Portland-based chain Hotlips Pizza announced on Monday that it will be closing three of its five restaurant locations. Co-owner Jeana Edelman said of the decision, "We gave it our all sustaining jobs through the entire pandemic by retooling to keep our staff and customers safe, but the ongoing economic effects hurt us profoundly, as with so many other businesses." The affected locations are at Northeast 33rd Avenue and Killingsworth Street, in the Hollywood District, and near Providence Park. (OregonLive)
2. Portland experienced its deadliest shooting of 2023 so far on Saturday when three people allegedly approached a car and fired repeatedly on it, leaving three people dead inside the vehicle. A nearby doorbell camera captured footage of the shooting, including the sound of around three dozen shots; the incident took place around noon in North Portland's Portsmouth neighborhood. As of Saturday, police had made no arrests and have asked that anyone with information contact detective Jason Koenig at Jason.Koenig@police.portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-0889, or detective William Winters at William.Winters@police.portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-0466, referencing case number 23-77440. (OregonLive)
3. Oregon Parks and Recreation confirmed that the 100 Akebono cherry blossom trees along the Tom McCall Waterfront Park are in peak bloom. The flowers will stay bright pink for several days, with the best days to view them between Mar. 27 and Mar. 30, and they'll remain visible over the next few weeks as they begin to fall. The trees were planted in 1990 as part of a memorial to the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. (KOIN.com)

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Today and tomorrow in Portland:

Tuesday, March 28

• In The Kitchen With Kids: Cooking Demonstration At IKEA Portland (11:00 AM)
• Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night At East Glisan Pizza Lounge (6:30 PM)
• Small Batch Trivia From Geeks Who Drink At 3Peaks Public House & Taproom (7:00 PM)

Wednesday, March 29

• Family Storytime At Garden Home Community Library (10:00 AM)
• Small Batch Trivia From Geeks Who Drink At SportsBox Vegan Bar & Grill (7:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Bring home a new furry family member today! These adorable pets are waiting to be adopted in and around the Portland area. Click the link to learn more about pets like Chacho, Chika, Chispita, and more. (Portland Patch)
• Spring is here, and what better way to enjoy the warming weather than with a hike? Check out these four family-friendly hikes close to Portland at the link. (Portland Monthly)
• You don't have to go far to find one of the country's best summer concert series! Portland Parks and Recreation's Summer Free For All program recently made it into the top ten on USA TODAY's best outdoor concert list. (Portland Parks & Recreation via Facebook)

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You're all caught up for today. I'll see you back in your inbox soon with your next 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.