Four Things I Learned This Week (July 1)

The Portland Craft Beer Festival starts today. Today through Sunday is the 6th Annual Portland Craft Beer Festival at the Fields Neighborhood Park in NW Portland. Online ticket sales are over as at 11:59am today, otherwise they are $40 at the door. Admission gets you a keepsake tin cup with 10 beer tickets and access to a lot of great beer and food. Non-drinkers: enter for free on Sunday during Family Day. 1099 NW Overton Street, Portland

Yonder becomes Hissyfit next week. There’s a lot of details behind this, but I’ll share this in particular: “The kitchen will carry forward some of Yonder’s personality, with Southern flavors and ingredients nestled alongside globally-inspired goodies with a focus on freedom from constraint. We will be sourcing gorgeous local produce and sustainable meats and fish from local farms and purveyors, continuing our relationships with stewards of Southern cuisine like Allan Benton and Anson Mills, and casting a wide net to capture our favorite flavors and techniques from all over the world.” Hissyfit opens Wednesday, July 6. More info, here. 4636 NE 42nd Avenue, Portland

Changes at Moonstruck. The chocolate company has been bought by Freeport, NY-based Chocolate Works, and “will close the Moonstruck Chocolate retail stores in Beaverton, St. Johns and downtown Portland on July 8.” There is an expectation that there will be “growth and transformation” for Moonstruck under the baton of Chocolate Works. I’m just sorry that any jobs will be lost with the closure of the stores.

Gartner’s Meat Market is back open. A couple of weeks ago they re-opened their indoor retail shop, but it only occurred to me when I drove by and saw folks heading inside. Gartner’s Country Meat Market is a great place to shop for your meat grilling needs on the upcoming holiday. 7450 NE Killingsworth Street, Portland

Bonus: Bridgetown Bites turns 5 on July 3! Yes, that’s right, this little blog will be five years old this Sunday. It has—and I have—been through a lot since 2017, with breast cancer (diagnosis in 2018) being the biggest de-railer to consistent posting over the years. But I’ve been in “keep on, keepin’ on” mode, never giving up on it. (“Never give up! Never surrender!”) So, happy birthday, blog! And thanks to all who have read and continue to read my writing and reporting on Portland food.