Author: Meg Cotner

Bridgetown Bites is edited and published by Meg Cotner in Portland, Oregon. She loves avocados, fresh produce, NA drinks, and cats.
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Fourth of July 2026 in the Portland Metro Area

Fourth of July 2026 in Portland - fireworks!

Like I often say in anticipation of big holidays, “it’s that time again”—Fourth of July 2026, or Independence Day 2026 (take your pick), is in just a couple of weeks. Plus this year it’s the semiquincentennial/sestercentennial/quarter millennium of the nation’s founding with the Declaration of Independence.

Of course, July 4 is also a time to gather with friends, family, and loved ones; dance your heart out; view or march in parades; enjoy some barbecue; drink fizzy and fermented beverages; revel in summertime; and watch fireworks (or drone shows).

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Small Bites: James Beard Awards Winners, Coffee, and More

Two of the three James Beard Awards Winners from Portland this year.
The team from Scotch Lodge, and Ryan Roadhouse of Nodoguro. Photo credit: Jack Li/Galdones Photography and Huge Galdones/Galdones Photography.

Portland’s James Beard Awards winners in 2026—not one, but two! No … three! On Monday night we learned who won the 2026 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards. Portland was represented by two of these awards—one for Scotch Lodge for Outstanding Bar and one for Ryan Roadhouse at Nodoguro for Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific (AK, HI, OR, WA).

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Parkrose Grocery Is in the Plans for East Portland

Produce is in the plans for Parkrose Grocery.
Taken at 99 Ranch, the most recent new grocery store I’ve experienced in Portland. Parkrose Grocery could be the next new grocery store opening in Portland.

There’s been a lot of chitter chatter in my circles about plans for a new grocery store in the Parkrose neighborhood. The working name for it is Parkrose Grocery (though Parkrose Local Grocery has been considered) and it is a project by Don McKeever, who comes to it with a number of years of experience under his belt of running a large grocery store. I was curious to learn more, so after a few rounds of phone tag, we chatted for a bit about his ideas and plans for Parkrose Grocery

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Simply Coffee: An Italian Cafe Has Opened in Gresham

Coffee at Simply Coffee.
Photo credit: Simply Coffee.

The other day Instagram’s algorithm served me this video from Simply Coffee, a relatively new cafe in Gresham. I was really charmed by the narrator, who I learned later is owner Andra Stanescu (her husband Jonathan, is the other owner). Plus she uttered the magic word, “cornetti.” I wanted to learn more.

So, we chatted on the phone, talked about Simply Coffee and her work in the coffee/cafe sphere, and I’m happy to pass on some of what we talked about.

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Freeland Spirits PDX Is Officially Open (Photos)

A detail from the David Rice mural at Freeland Spirits PDX.
Detail from the mural at the Freeland Spirits PDX tasting room.

Last week I was invited to attend the ribbon cutting at the new Freeland Spirits PDX tasting room. Located after security in the North Concession Hall, they are also in the company of places like Grassa, Steven Smith Teamakers, and Pendleton (textiles, not whiskey). It’s a sweet space with plenty of bottles of Freeland Spirits in gorgeous colors (many reminiscent of the colors of sea glass), including the PDX Bourbon (exclusive to the airport), some nice seating options, spirits and cocktail flights, and a gorgeous mural that artfully incorporates the brand.

Here are some of the things I saw and heard during my time at Freeland Spirits and the North Concession Hall.

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