Next Adventure, a mainstay of Portland's outdoor scene for nearly three decades, will close later this year as its owners announced yesterday they plan to retire.

Why it matters: The news is a gut punch to outdoors enthusiasts and newbies alike who browsed for gear deals at one of Oregon's most beloved retailers.

Driving the news: The business will be shuttering all four of its locations — the flagship headquarters in Portland's Central Eastside, a smaller store in Sandy and its paddle centers in Portland and Warren.

Catch up quick: Next Adventure was founded in 1997 by childhood friends Deek Heykamp and Bryan Knudsen, who filled the then-1,600 square foot business with new merchandise, but also spent weekends finding closeout deals and picking over garage sales to stock the shop.

• That ethos remained ingrained in the business even after years of success and expansion, with the bargain basement at the Portland location — full of gently used items — serving as an accessible entry point into often pricey outdoor sports and hobbies.

What they're saying: "It has been the joy of my life to be part of such a great industry and work with our wonderful customers," Heykamp said in a written statement. "While retirement sounds pretty amazing right now, I will truly miss the camaraderie and community that we have built together."

Context: Next Adventure's impending closure marks the second high-profile departure for outdoors outfitters in Portland in roughly a year.

• REI declined to renew its lease in the Pearl last year, citing high security costs and problems with shoplifting.

What's next: Starting May 28, Next Adventure will run a store closing sale of its entire inventory that will likely last into the summer.

Tell an outdoorsy friend

As the Legislature works to fill a massive transportation budget gap, officials from east Multnomah County are pressing lawmakers to pay for projects in the Portland metro area they say have been underfunded for decades.

Why it matters: Mayors from Gresham and Wood Village said the roads and bridges in their communities are deteriorating and that state funding is crucial to leveraging federal funds to update and maintain important infrastructure.

Case in point: A retaining wall on the Stark Street Bridge, 2 miles east of Troutdale, collapsed last September, forcing the closure of the span.

• Ultimately, it took six months for the span to reopen.

State of play: The Oregon Department of Transportation is facing a $354 million deficit for its next two-year budget, which starts July 1.

• Democratic lawmakers have floated plans to close the gap by increasing gas taxes and adding other road user fees.
• Republicans released a plan last month that would see roughly $730 million in cuts to public transit, bicycle projects and agency staff, with most of those savings going toward road maintenance.

What they're saying: At a press conference yesterday, the mayors of Gresham, Troutdale and Fairview, along with Multnomah County Commissioner Vince Jones-Dixon, said their part of the county has seen a lack of road maintenance funds for many budget cycles.

• "It's been a frustrating underinvestment for decades," Gresham mayor Travis Stovall said. "There has to be an overinvestment starting now."

What's next

🏫 Dozens of organizations are pushing for Portland Public Schools to build its Center for Black Student Excellence, which got $60 million in funding from the 2020 school bond, but has yet to have a site selected. (KGW)

😋 After a two-year-hiatus, the Foster Food Carts are back near the intersection of SE 52nd and Foster Road, now with two heated seating areas and a stage for weekly events. (Willamette Week)

🚭 Tobacco use continues to decline rapidly in Oregon — cigarette sales are down by roughly half since 2011, mostly due to anti-smoking campaigns and a big hike in taxes on tobacco passed in 2020. (The Oregonian)

The Blazers came away disappointed from last night's NBA Draft Lottery.

The latest: Rip City landed the 11th pick — not exactly what they were hoping for in a draft class with some intriguing prospects.

• The team would've had a better chance at landing a spot in the top 10 if it weren't for an improbable run in the second half of the season — they got within shouting distance of the post season, but likely doomed their chances at an early pick.

What's next: The draft will be held on June 25 and 26 in Brooklyn, NY.

Portland artist Jess Ackerman is back with a new solo exhibition at Chefas Projects entitled "Love Notes from the Lurker" — a retrospective of paintings exploring observation and introspection under the protection of a moon-lit sky.

State of play: Fans of Ackerman may notice the color palette for this series is much darker than their past work.

• This new show is Ackerman at their most abstractive. Tulips, table settings and still lives — plus the odd dog here and there — of their previous works are replaced with dizzying black spirals, repeated patterns and sparkling stars.
• Ackerman told Portland Monthly that a few paintings were inspired by peering into windows on nighttime neighborhood walks, and the removed feeling of following the lives of friends via our phones.

If you go: "Love Notes" is on display at Chefas Projects (inside the Taylor Works building) through June 7.