Copper Pirates: Kir Jensen's sweet cart The Sugar Cube is the latest mobile kitchen to be targeted by copper thieves. The metal bandits have been cutting cart power cords and stripping out the copper to sell to scrap metal collectors, costing cart owners up to 2 days of closures and $600 for a replacement cord. Jensen's cart—located next to SE Hawthorne's Lardo—was vandalized on November 6th, re-opened on November 9th, and has now relocated inside of Lardo's outdoor tent.

"Winter is hard enough for food cart owners," says Jensen. "We're small businesses trying to get by in a hard season, and someone comes along and takes our power, setting us back a few days. Closing for any amount of time loses money, and replacing the cord is the more than the price of a monthly rent check."

Previous victims of the copper crimes include Pie Spot, Moberi smoothie cart (now located at the Rose City Food Park), Alberta's The Cheese Plate and Moctezuma Bros, and Ole’Latte, a two-time victim. Jensen advises food cart owners to lock their electrical boxes, and keep their cart's lights on overnight to deter thieves. 

Southeast

SE Stark: The Montavilla Farmer's Market will be open for a special Thanksgiving event on Sunday, November 18th from 10 am to 1 pm. In addition to stocking their Thanksgiving larder with seasonal ingredients, market goers will be able to watch chefs from the Country Cat and Adulu Stew whip up a whole Thanksgiving meal. More details here. 7600 Block, SE Stark Street 

Northeast

E Burnside: Christopher Ashley's new Venetian-inspired Bar alla Bomba is now open in the space most recently home to the Guild Public House. The space boasts a 16-item small-bites menu, Italian cocktails, aperitivos, and wine. Bar alla Bomba is open for lunch Monday through Friday and late-night service seven nights a week (until 2 am). 1101 East Burnside

Southwest

SW Broadway: On the heels of the celebrated opening of his second restaurant Imperial, chef Vitaly Paley has been named one of Food & Wine's ten Empire Builders of 2012 in the mag's December issue. The article notes that "some of the country's busiest and best food entrepreneurs are also chefs".  This is the first time Food & Wine Magazine has celebrated this category of chef/owners across the country. 410 SW Broadway 

SW 3rd: Bruce Carey's Via Tribunali celebrates its one-year anniversary this week with a special pizza deal. Now through Sunday November 18, pizza lovers will receive a free Pizza Margherita with the purchase of a regularly priced pizza (limit one per table). 36 SW 3rd St

Northwest

NW Hoyt: To celebrate nearly 15 years of business, Chef Paul Klitsie's Pearl District Italian institution Fratelli has remodeled and relaunched with a new menu. The former bar area has been transformed into a private dining room/event space, the bar has been relocated to the main dining room, and Klitsie (along with sous chef Alex Ditton) has crafted a new seasonal menu with a more contemporary approach to Italian cooking. Check out the new menu at www.fratelliportland.com. 1230 Northwest Hoyt Street

North

N Williams: On Monday, November 19, liquid nitrogen-powered ice cream shop What's the Scoop? will donate 50% of the proceeds from their "Big Apple" ice cream flavor to the Red Cross, and from 5 to 8 pm volunteers will be signing people up for blood donations. Throughout the rest of November, half of the proceeds from pints of "Big Apple" will also be donated. 3540 North Williams Avenue

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