Stop and smell the (city of) roses 🌹

Taking a mental health day in Portland

A person sits on a park bench on a forested bluff with a golden winter sunset in the background.

Reset and enjoy some fresh air at a nearby public green space, like Mount Tabor Park. | Photo by Cambrie Juarez, PDXtoday

We all deserve to take a day to ourselves every once in a while. If you’re feeling less productive, anxious, and stressed out, you might need to take a mental health day.

Just like a sick day when our bodies are under the weather, taking a mental health day allows for a day of rest for our mental well-being.

Here are some ways you can recharge and reset in Portland.

🌳 Get some fresh air

Here in the Willamette Valley, temperatures are (usually) mild year-round, which means going for a walk is almost always an option. We recommend a stroll along the Downtown Waterfront Loop or a trip over to the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge. Want to be fully immersed in nature? Try a hike.

Looking for something less strenuous? Grab a book or some close friends and sit outside at a local park on a dry day.

✍️ Do something creative

Find something that inspires you or something you haven’t done before to experience creative freedom. Check out a craft class with Assembly PDX, sign up for a writing or poetry workshop with Write Around Portland, or take a pottery class at Morning Ceramics Studio.

👟 Get in a workout

It can be difficult to stay active during the work week, so taking some time to get your body moving can be a great way to utilize your mental health day. If you’re looking to really break a sweat, try out a kickboxing class at Portland City Boxing. Yoga is also a relaxing option — find classes through The People’s Yoga.

Looking for additional information or resources about mental health? The city of Portland has a list of local resources for counseling, support groups, and a crisis response team.

Click here to have your event featured.

Monday, Jan. 9

Manga Mondays - Lunes de Manga | Monday, Jan. 9 | 4 p.m. | Woodburn Public Library, 280 Garfield St., Woodburn | Free | Teen anime and manga fans, you’re invited to drop in to talk about your favorite manga, watch anime, meet new people, and work on fun projects.
ConCocktail | Monday, Jan. 9 | 9 p.m. | Star Theater, 13 NW Sixth Ave., Portland | $12-$75 | Enjoy a live-judged contest showcasing the skills of local bartenders as they shake and mix their best concoctions in three timed rounds.

Tuesday, Jan. 10

“Moulin Rouge” | Tuesday, Jan. 10-Sunday, Jan. 15 | Times vary | Keller Auditorium, 222 SW Clay St., Portland | $44.75-$169.75 | Rub elbows with Bohemians and aristocrats with this electrical and enchanting musical, come what may.

Wednesday, Jan. 11

Portland Boat Show | Wednesday, Jan. 11-Sunday, Jan. 15 | Times vary | Portland Expo Center, 2060 N. Marine Dr., Portland | $15 | If you agree that “life is better in a boat,” then sail on down to the 63rd edition of this show featuring hundreds of watercraft for sale and all the equipment you need to enjoy the water.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

WEEK TWO OF 2023 IS HERE

Weather

49º | Cloudy with light rain | 82% chance of rain

Sunrise + Sunset

Rise: 7:49 a.m.
Set: 4:46 p.m.

Civic

There’s a new sheriff in town. Nicole Morrissey O’Donnell became the first female sheriff in the 170-year history of the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office last week, succeeding Mike Reese. Certified in both corrections and police certifications, Morrissey O’Donnell has been with the agency for 26 years. (KGW)

Sports

Portland Trail Blazers rookie Shaedon Sharpe will compete in this year’s NBA Slam Dunk Contest. As of Friday, the No. 7 draft pick in 2022 had 29 dunks in 36 games and will be the seventh Blazer to throw it down in the contest on Saturday, Feb. 18 in Salt Lake City. 🏀 (Portland Tribune)
What started as a hot season for Rip City has progressively cooled — but the home team is looking to reignite the fire this month. A sold-out Moda Center definitely can’t hurt their spirits, so if you want to help cheer them on, here’s a breakdown of not-to-be-missed games. (Portland Monthly)

Plan Ahead

Lan Su Chinese Garden in Old Town is preparing to usher in the Year of the Rabbit with its annual Lunar New Year lantern viewings. Hanging red lanterns will illuminate the grounds every evening, Thursday, Jan. 26-Sunday, Feb. 5, along with special dragon processions. Tickets always sell out, so don’t wait. 🐇

Theater

BODYVOX, a local artistic performance company, will serve a “delectable amuse bouche” of theatrical dance with its upcoming production, “Serious Cupcakes.” Seven choreographers who don’t have their own companies will debut new performances at BODYVOX Dance Center in Northwest Portland over two weekends, Thursday, Jan. 26-Saturday, Feb. 4. 🩰

Arts

Applications are open for the 21st annual Gresham Arts Festival taking place Saturday, July 15. More than 125 PNW artists are expected to participate in the event, which will also feature kids’ activities, live music, and local food vendors. The deadline to apply is Sunday, April 9. 🎨

State

There’s a first time for everything: Oregon had the highest voter turnout rate in the US in November’s general election. Former Secretary of State Phil Keisling said 61.5% of all eligible Oregon citizens voted. The number was even higher in Multnomah County, where 66.9% of registered voters cast their ballots. 🗳️ (OPB)

Travel

Delta Airlines announced it will offer free WiFi on about 80% of its flights as soon as Feb. 1. Start planning your flights with our guide to Portland International Airport. (Engadget)

Job

We’re hiring a Sales Executive to lead our advertising relationships across all 25 of our cities nationwide. This executive would have the opportunity to sell into all 6AM City markets, pitching the most relevant and modern media offering in town while earning a competitive salary with unlimited PTO. If you’d like to be considered or know someone we should, learn more + apply here.

Cause

Making a donation to Meals on Wheels People not only ensures local seniors receive proper nutrition, but also gives homebound seniors the friendly chats and social connections they need to thrive. Your generosity will be felt by older adults who need our support more than you know. Give here. 🤝 *

Eat

Swap bland trail mix for a nutrient-dense, tasty snack from KIND. If you’re a chocolate lover, try the Dark Chocolate Mocha Almond and Dark Chocolate Cocoa. If you want to add more protein to your diet, the Crunchy Peanut Butter is a must. Wanna try an assortment? Build your own box.*

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Send it like Sophia 🏆

Portland Thorns forward Sophia Smith voted 2022 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year

Soccer star Sophia Smith runs toward the ball during a 2021 USWNT game.

Happy early birthday to Sophia Smith, who turns 24 on Saturday, Aug. 10. | Photo by Erik Drost

This has been a year of crowns for Sophia Smith.

The 22-year-old forward for the Portland Thorns and U.S. Women’s National Team is the 2022 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year, earning the distinction in a landslide vote by the sport’s governing body.

Smith is the first Black woman to win the award, and the youngest USWNT player to win since Mia Hamm in 1994.

Let’s talk about #goals. Last year, Smith led the US with 11 goals and scored 14 for the Thorns during the regular season. She scored again in the championship game, helping the club clinch a league-record third title. It’s no wonder Smith became the youngest player to win the National Women’s Soccer League MVP award with the Thorns — she was also named the MVP of the NWSL final.

Despite a minor injury, Smith is focusing on training for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, which kicks off in July in Australia and New Zealand.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Cambrie.

Editor’s pick: For a fifth year, Salt & Straw is celebrating “Veganuary” this month with a special dairy-free ice cream menu. Your girl avoids dairy — but still loves ice cream — so I couldn’t pass up the chance to try a couple of scoops over the weekend.

My favorite was the Toasted Oak Milk & Cookies, but in all fairness, the other four flavors didn’t stand much of a chance; cookie dough ice cream has always been my weakness. Salt & Straw’s version is more a celebration of baked cookies rather than raw ones... but they were chewy, so no complaints here.

Missed Friday’s newsletter? Get the (pin)ball rolling and pwn boredom at these local arcades.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Cambrie Juarez, Ben McBee, Britt Thorson, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Rachel Sklenar | Advertise with us.

Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.

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