💡 Things to know

• Santa will be on board every train — golly he is busy — which run every 90 minutes, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, from Nov. 25 until Dec. 18. Riders are asked to arrive 20 minutes in advance.
• A new steam locomotive, a Polson No. 2, will be pulling the carriages this year.
• Since its inception, passengers have boarded The Holiday Express at Oaks Park station — but this year, the journey will begin and end at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center located at 2250 SE Water Ave.
• At the museum and engine house, guests can pose for family photos in front of the resident “iron horses” — the P4449, SP&S 700, and OR&N 197 locomotives, all festively lit.
• Kids can enjoy the 9-ft tree with a model train running beneath it on a double helix track. There will also be a separate model train display.
• Tickets regularly sell out, so securing your seat early is encouraged by staff.

Photo via ORHC/Jim Thomas

🚂 Before you depart

• Men’s World Cup Watch Party: USA vs Wales | Monday, Nov. 21 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | Vino Veritas Wine Bar & Bottle Shop, 7835 SE Stark St., Portland | Free | Cheer on the USMNT as they kick off their campaign for the glory of the beautiful game.
• Northwest Piano Trio | Monday, Nov. 21 | 7-8:30 p.m. | Resound NW: A Place To Sing, 1532 SW Jefferson St., Portland | $20 | If listening to talented musicians tickle the ivories tickles your fancy, check out this show featuring guest Maria Garcia.

• Cornell Farm’s 2022 Holiday Wreath Workshops | Tuesday, Nov. 22 + Saturday, Nov. 26 | 12 + 3:30 p.m. | Cornell Farm, 8212 SW Barnes Rd., Portland | $175 | Get your hands on the holiday experience by crafting your own door decor using local greens, cones, foliage, berries, twigs, and mosses.

• Nigel Ng: The Haiyaa World Tour | Wednesday, Nov. 23 | 7 p.m. | Newmark Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway, Portland | $40.50-$52.50 | The Malaysian stand-up comedian, known for his online persona Uncle Roger, has amassed more than 345 million views on YouTube and will have you ROFL.

• PKI - NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament (Session A) | Thursday, Nov. 24 | 10 a.m. | Moda Center, 1 N. Center Court St., Portland | $30-$135 | Some of the top college teams in the country are coming to the City of Roses to battle it out on the court.
• PKI - NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament (Session A) | Thursday, Nov. 24 | 2 p.m. | Chiles Center - University of Portland, 5000 N. Willamette Blvd., Portland | $30-$135 | Catch all the best hoops talent, starting on Turkey Day.

• The Makers Fair Holiday Market | Saturday, Nov. 26, Saturday, Dec. 10, Saturday, Dec. 17 | 12-6 p.m. | Hammer & Stitch Brewing Co., 2377 Northwest Wilson St., Portland | Free | Keep your holiday spending local while also supporting small businesses at this artisan showcase.

• 51º | Cloudy | 9% chance of rain

• Rise: 7:18 a.m.
• Set: 4:34 p.m.

• Multnomah County commissioners recently approved a plan to rename Sauvie Island Bridge, in order to more accurately reflect the land’s rich Indigenous history. Also known as Wapato Island, it was home to thousands of Chinook people before white settlers arrived in the early 1800s. The final decision will be made following a public engagement period. (Portland Mercury)

• Pack your bags. Portland International Airport is one of the country’s best midsize airports, according to The Wall Street Journal’s “The Best and Worst Airports of 2022.” PDX ranked No. 5 based on 19 categories, including security waits, how often the flights run on time, and ticket prices. ✈️ (WSJ)
• Even with our airport’s consistently high performance, travelers should expect delays around the Thanksgiving holiday. The Port of Portland is predicting half a million people will move through PDX from Friday, Nov. 18 to Monday, Nov. 28. Might as well check out its many amenities while you wait. (Portland Monthly)

• Suzanne Hale, the matriarch behind iconic 24-hour diner The Roxy — which closed earlier this year after 27 years of business — has died. She will be remembered as a fervent defender of queer rights and a former Empress of the Imperial Sovereign Rose Court. 🏳️‍🌈 (Eater Portland)
• Portland’s first Mexican American brewery owner, Nick Herrera, has died at 45. With a doctorate in microbiology from the University of California at San Diego, he started crafting beer at the now-shuttered LABrewatory, eventually founding Entre Compas with business partner Angel Medina. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)

• The Thorns’ NWSL title defense will look different than in past seasons, after officials announced several adjustments for 2023. There will be no midweek games, allowing the Challenge Cup to run concurrently with the league for the first time. This tournament will also achieve pay equity with its US counterpart in the men’s game — another first. ⚽

• Babbel — a premium, subscription-based language learning platform — is offering PDXtoday readers up to 55% off subscriptions to learn a new language (in just three weeks). Choose from 14 languages and learn through bite-sized, 10-minute sessions that focus on everyday phrases + relevant topics. 🗺️ *