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Portlander 101: Our guide to becoming a Portland resident

A cable-stayed bridge is illuminated with yellow-green light at night with the lights of the city behind it.

Tilikum Crossing is the only bridge in the US dedicated exclusively to light rail, buses, bicycles, and pedestrians. | Photo by @bennys_journey

Picture this: You just moved to Portland, OR, and you need some help with the practicalities of life (we can’t just sit back in our flannel all day, unfortunately). That’s where we come in. Keep reading for Portlander 101, our guide to all things Portland citizenship.

The essentials

Driver’s licenses and vehicle registration
New residents in need of an Oregon driver’s license will need to provide proof of lawful status, a Social Security document, and two documents confirming a residential address.

To title and register your car in Oregon, you’ll need to bring the original title, a completed title application, a vehicle identification number, and an odometer disclosure form to a DMV office (there are three in Portland).

Title fees range from $101 to $192, depending on the vehicle’s age, while registrations cost $126-$316. Additional fees may apply for Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington county residents. Most vehicles will also need to pass a DEQ emissions test.

You can make an appointment or visit a DMV office to get an Oregon driver’s license. Title and registration services can be done in person or by mail.

A person riding a green motorcycle stops next to a curbside ballot box to insert an envelope. — In Oregon, voters cast ballots by mail instead of using traditional polling centers.

Voter registration
Make sure you’re eligible and registered to vote, find your nearest ballot drop-off, and preview upcoming elections and sample ballots across the tri-county area here.

Healthcare
Establishing yourself with a primary care provider is one of those things you’ll be glad you did when you need one. Reach out to the professionals at Legacy Health, Adventist Health, An Hao Clinic, or Root Whole Body, to name a few. Pro tip: Websites like DocSpot filter physicians by location, patient reviews, insurance, language, and more.

9 MORE WAYS TO BECOME A PORTLANDER

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Friday, Jan. 27

Soup Festival at the Portland Mercado | Friday, Jan. 27-Sunday, Jan. 29 | 11 a.m.-8 p.m. | 7238 SE Foster Rd., Portland | Price of purchase | Try exclusive dishes from one of the food court’s vendors, then vote for your favorite for a chance to win a $100 gift card.
Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe 25th Anniversary | Friday, Jan. 27 | 8 p.m. | Revolution Hall, 1300 SE Stark St. #110, Portland | $30 | The jazz/funk/rock group from San Diego celebrates a quarter-century.

Saturday, Jan. 28

Free Lion Dance Performances | Saturday, Jan. 28, Sunday, Jan. 29, Sunday, Feb. 5 | Times vary | Locations vary | Free | Portland’s White Lotus Dragon and Lion Dance Team will put on Lunar New Year shows around town, including at Portland International Airport, Fubonn Shopping Center, and Mama Chow’s Kitchen.

Sunday, Jan. 29

PSU Farmers Market | Sunday, Jan. 29-Saturday, March 25 | 9 a.m.-2 p.m. | 1803 SW Park Ave., Portland | Price of purchase | Find local honey, hot meals, farm-fresh eggs, seasonal produce, and more at this year-round outdoor market featuring dozens of vendors.
Free Sundays at the Discovery Museum | Sunday, Jan. 29 | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | World Forestry Center, 4033 SW Canyon Rd., Portland | Free | Learn about the importance of trees in the PNW and worldwide, as well as sustainable forestry — and see a 5-million-year-old petrified giant sequoia stump.

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.

MORE THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND

Weather

48º | Cloudy with rain showers | 48% chance of rain

Sunrise + Sunset

Rise: 7:37 a.m.
Set: 5:10 p.m.

Health

Local health officials warned parents this week to avoid using Diep Bao skin cream after two Portland-area babies developed lead poisoning. The product was applied on their faces to treat eczema. The Food and Drug Administration is investigating the product to see if lead is present in other tubes.

Number

24.5 million. That’s how many pedestrian visits downtown Portland logged in 2022, marking a nearly 26% growth in foot traffic compared to 2021. Newly-released data from Downtown Portland Clean & Safe (an affiliate partner of the Portland Business Alliance) reveals the 213-block core downtown district reached nearly 60% recovery from 2019. 👟
60. That’s how many points Damian Lillard scored during the Portland Trail Blazers’ victory over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night in a historically efficient performance. This may be a season-high for Dame, but it’s not a new career accomplishment — he’s reached 61 points not once, but twice. 🏀 (KGW + ESPN)

Edu

High school graduation rates in Oregon rose in 2022. Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and students experiencing homelessness helped drive the increase. Portland Public Schools saw higher numbers, too, climbing from 84.4% in 2021 to 85.7%. The graduation rate for Black PPS students increased by nearly 4%. 🎓 (OPB)

Cause

New Seasons donates five cents to its Bag It Forward fundraiser every time a customer brings their own reusable bag. To date, New Seasons has raised over $1 million for local nonprofits like Metropolitan Family Service and school food pantries. 💸 (KGW)

Feel Good

Seven ridiculously adorable puppies at the Humane Society for Southwest Washington are in need of names. KOIN’s AM Extra team wants the public to help choose by voting in an online poll through Wed., Feb. 1. We’re loving the “future newshounds” options. 🐶 (KOIN)

Asked

Do you know a Girl Scout troop that is selling cookies this season? Let us know where we can snag your s’mores and we may feature your troop’s sale in an upcoming newsletter.

Job

In the market for a new job? Join the 6AM City team. We’re hiring a Sales Executive to lead our advertising relationships. This exec would have the opportunity to sell into 25 cities across the country, identifying and securing new advertising partnerships, and growing existing client relationships — all while earning a competitive salary with unlimited PTO. Learn more + apply.

Finance

Refinance rates are skyrocketing. But home equity rates remain relatively low — which means that now is a great time to borrow against your home. Calculate your payment. *

Traffic

What we’re buying for our cars: dash cams. The REDTIGER Dual Dash Camera captures both the front and rear of your car and can be a lifesaver when it comes to contesting traffic violations and recording evidence of collisions. Plus, it connects to your mobile device. 🚦 *

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City

Adopt a street in Multnomah County

A street through a commercial area with a crosswalk and storefronts.

Was going green a part of your New Year’s resolutions? Try this. | Photo by Another Believer

Have you ever seen those green signs about adopting highways while driving around Oregon? There’s a similar opportunity for streets here in the City of Roses.

The Multnomah County Transportation Division’s Adopt-a-Road Program depends on volunteers to keep litter off the streets. In return, the county puts up signs to give the adopter(s) some street cred.

Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Get a group together (think: your neighbors, friends, or colleagues) or opt to adopt as an individual.
Step 2: Apply for the free program. Your assigned section of roadway (up to 3 miles long) may be of your choosing or the county’s.
Step 3: Undergo safety training.
Step 4: Clean up your assigned segment of road at least three times a year for a minimum of three years.
Step 5: The county picks up filled bags.

What to know

Supplies like caution signs, safety vests, and bags will be provided to you. Volunteers will also sign a liability waiver.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Cambrie.

Editor’s pick: These gray days are really getting to me this week. If you’re in the same boat, I encourage you to check out not one but *two* new tiki bars in Vancouver. Forgetting the winter weather is as easy as burying your toes in a sandy beach once you’re inside, which I discovered during my recent visits to both spots. Check out Coral Club if you’re looking for a tropical “speak-tiki” with eclectic twists or Wahi Hana for a more classic vibe. Take a look at my experience.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Here, there be monsters (the friendly kind).

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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