Asian grocer 99 Ranch Market opened its first store in Portland last week, and we went to check out what the popular chain had to offer.

Why it matters: You can never have too many Asian market options.

The big picture: 99 Ranch Market has 65 stores in 11 states, but the East Portland location, located in the Plaza 205 strip mall, is the first for the Rose City.

• It joins existing Portland power players Hong Phat, H Mart and Shun Phat, but 99 has had a Beaverton location since 2017.

State of play: The 35,000 square foot store boasts some 12,000 items — from fresh produce to an in-house butcher shop to live seafood — along with tons of products that can be hard to find in places like Safeway or New Seasons.

• They'll even fry or steam your fresh fish, crab or lobster free of charge.

• The market also hosts a Miniso outpost — which bills itself as a "global lifestyle retailer" — inside the store.

💭 My thought bubble: I'm at my happiest perusing aisles and finding inspiration for new recipes.

• I could spend hours — and probably half a paycheck — in the sauce aisle alone.
• I will admit to being a little disappointed in the prepared food options — though I did go early in the day, so it's possible this early bird missed a later-day worm.

What's next: The market plans to expand its in-store dining options later this year with an HK Cafe, offering authentic Hong Kong-style dim sum.

What they're saying: "The new Portland store is a wonderful representation of how our brand has evolved from Asian grocery chain to a destination for food and culture," Alice Chen, CEO of 99 Ranch's parent company Tawa Supermarket, said in a statement.

• "We're delighted to create a new hub for Portland's bustling, diverse community."

If you go: 99 Ranch Market is located at 10544 SE Washington St. and is open daily from 8am to 10pm.

A Black Moon, the rarest of summer Moons, arrives tonight, and it might keep some people staring at the ceiling.

Why it matters: Scientists have brushed off connections between the Moon, sleep and mood, but a growing body of research suggests lunar cycles may subtly tug on the circadian rhythms of sensitive individuals.

State of play: "Black Moon" isn't an official astronomy term, according to Earthsky.com, but skywatchers use it similarly to "Blue Moon" when describing the second new Moon in one month or the third of four new Moons in a season.

By the numbers: Seasonal Black Moons occur only about once every 33 months, per Space.com.

Cases in point: David Avery, professor emeritus at the University of Washington School of Medicine, and other researchers have tracked bipolar patients whose sleep and mood cycles lined up almost perfectly with lunar rhythms.

• One person went sleepless around new and full Moons, tipping into mania, then swung back to 12-hour sleep — and depression — during quarter Moons.
• Another's mood switches tracked spring tides until thyroid treatment and light therapy severed the connection.

Between the lines: Avery tells Axios that moonlight itself isn't to blame.

• Instead, the Moon's subtle gravitational and possible geomagnetic pull may be nudging the body's circadian clock.
• "A lot of people are not aware that the new Moon and full Moon have very similar gravitational effects," Avery said. "We found this applies, too, in people who are not bipolar."

Keep reading

☕️ Portland coffee drinkers are paying more for beans — up to $3 more per bag — as drought in coffee producing nations, inflation and tariffs are bumping wholesale prices up. (The Oregonian)

🔥 Landowners in central and eastern Oregon are being forced to cancel or postpone wildfire mitigation work after roughly $90 million in grant money was withdrawn by the federal government. (OPB)

🐻‍❄️ Amelia Gray, one of two polar bears at the Oregon Zoo, will be heading to a new home in Chicago next month, but hometown favorite Nora will be sticking around. (KOIN)

📖 Former Vice President Kamala Harris will swing through Portland in November to promite her book "107 Days," which recounts her whirlwind campaign for the presidency. (KATU)

Celebrate the anniversary of one of Portland's premiere Italian restaurants, Nostrana, the same way they did when they first opened their doors — with a porchetta party.

The vibe: Chef Cathy Whims is inviting several of her culinary friends to do a riff on the classic pork dish this weekend in Nostrana's parking lot and nearby garden.

• The all-star line-up includes Ox's Greg and Gabrielle Quiñónez Denton, Peter Cho of Han Oak, Magna Kusina's Carlo Lamagna, and more.
• Cocktails from Too Soon and Scotch Lodge will be served.

Plus: There'll be live music from local artists Johnny Franco, Jen Forti and Boy & Bean.

If you go: Nostrana's "Porchettiamo" (1401 SE Morrison St. Ste. 105) is Sunday from 4pm til sunset.

• Tickets are $98 and include six pork dishes and one drink token.