Local filmmaker Thom Hilton's latest 30-minute short is a love letter to two longtime Portland institutions — First Thursday and the city's skateboarding scene.

The big picture: "Waking Up From a Nap on a Long Day of Doing Nothing" follows a painter and his friend as they skate around the city in an attempt to assuage his anxiety about his first gallery show.

• The film, which premiered earlier this month to a sold-out, 200-person crowd at the Clinton Street Theater, was the result of a years-long crowdfunding campaign and donations from more than three dozen local businesses.

Zoom in: This is Hilton's fifth short film, and it continues in line with his previous body of work, which explores stories shaped by friendship, queer culture and the surreal.

• Hilton said he draws on the work of directors like David Lynch, Gus Van Sant, Gregg Araki and John Waters — particularly their embrace of absurdity and dream logic.
• While skateboarding acts as the vehicle of the film, it has a dizzying impact: the main characters travel over 50 miles on four wheels, stopping at iconic local landmarks, only to encounter stranger and stranger people along the way.
• Plus: There are surprise cameos from cookbook author Dan Pelosi, former "Saturday Night Live" cast member Bowen Yang and a posthumous performance by Hilton's grandfather.

The intrigue: Hilton's filmmaking style is also distinctly Portland — scrappy and DIY. He didn't receive any major arts grants, but instead relied on relationships he's made across the city's arts and restaurant industries.

• As a former food writer, Hilton tapped nearly 30 restaurant owners to donate raffle prizes so he could raise funds for production.
• He used his real friends (and skateboarders) to act, produce and edit, and scored discounted gear through a local studio because his director of photography worked there.

"I want it to be like summer camp," he said. "Not like a job."

If you go: "Waking Up From a Nap on a Long Day of Doing Nothing" is playing at Clinton Street Theater on June 1 and at Academy Theater on June 10.

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Oregon's per capita income growth is slipping compared to the national rate, according to recent federal data reported by the Oregonian.

Why it matters: Slowing income growth and persistent inflation are increasing financial pressure on Oregon households.

By the numbers: Per capita income in Oregon was about $74,000 last year, 96% of the national level and 23rd in the country, per stats from the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

• That figure reflects wages, dividends and government payments divided by Oregon's total population.
• Income grew 3.9% in 2025 — the slowest rate in the region and below the national increase of 4.3%.

Between the lines: The lower rate is being driven, in part, by Oregon's aging population, the oldest in the West.

• That's especially true in rural areas, where retirees rely more on Social Security and savings, per state data.

The bottom line: Stagnant income growth — alongside persistent inflation and rising fuel prices — is troubling, state economist Carl Riccadonna told a legislative committee last week.

• "Household income is not keeping pace with inflation," Riccadonna said, per The Oregonian. "Households are moving underwater, as of April."

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🎣 Old commercial fishing nets donated from coastal industry hubs like Newport are being used to protect soldiers and civilians against drone attacks in Ukraine. (OPB)

🏨 Portland ranked among the bottom five U.S. markets for hotel recovery, according to new data from CoStar, underscoring the city's slow rebound from its pandemic-era tourism slump. (Portland Business Journal)

A 900,000-gallon chemical tank imploded at a Longview, Washington, paper mill yesterday morning, killing at least one person and leaving nine more unaccounted for at the facility where more than 1,000 people work. (OPB)

⚽️ ICYMI: Phil Neville is out as the head coach of the Timbers after two-plus years at the helm.

• The team is poised to tie its worst MLS season ever and is seeking a replacement coach. (Portland Mercury)

🤖 Several Portland School Board members expressed skepticism about students using artificial intelligence in the classroom, noting the technology could replace core critical thinking skills and lead to kids to rely on it too much. (Willamette Week)

Chaos gardening — the viral TikTok trend of scattering seeds and "letting nature decide" — is taking root as demand for native plants is rising around Portland.

Why it matters: Native chaos gardens appeal to homeowners seeking lower-maintenance yards that also help local wildlife thrive.

The big picture: "Native plants offer this easy solution to make positive change," Sara Ressing, an education and program coordinator with nonprofit Wild Ones, tells Axios.

• Native species support wildlife, improve ecosystems and help address climate pressures — while also "connecting us to a sense of place," Ressing says.
• Chaos gardening embraces a less structured approach: Scatter seeds, observe what survives and let soil, sunlight and water determine the outcome.

What to plant: Milkweed, creeping thyme, wooly sunflower and meadowfoam all thrive in Pacific Northwest climates, are great for pollinators and feature eye-catching blooms.

Go deeper

Over the last several months, a viral poll on Reddit asked a fairly simple question: If the U.S. was all one state, which one should it be?

• Reddit users voted to eliminate one state at a time (surprise: Florida went first) until only the greatest remained.
• Yep, Oregon.

We agree Reddit users! The Beaver State is pretty great.