Natural-born teachers and mentors

• Dress for Success Oregon | Core volunteers are vital to other’s professional success, whether you’re a personal shopper, interview coach, or organizing donated clothing.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest | Mentor a child one-on-one out in the community or encourage your employer to become a workspace partner where kids visit twice a month.

If you want to help your neighbors in need

• Habitat for Humanity ReStore | Put your individual interests and skills to work at a local ReStore where proceeds support Habitat for Humanity’s partnerships with families to create safe, affordable housing.

If you’re an animal lover

• Animal Aid | Foster a dog or cat at your home, spend time socializing with animals at the shelter, provide administrative assistance, or help streamline adoptions.
• Deaf Dogs of Oregon | By fostering a deaf dog, you can help give it a second chance and get it ready for a permanent home — a tough, but rewarding journey.

For the outdoorsy types

• Hoyt Arboretum | Help maintain Portland’s urban forest and its 6,300 plants, greet visitors, and guide educational tours so the next generation’s love for nature continues to grow.

If you have a passion for disabled community members

• L’Arche Portland | Support the organization’s commitment to welcoming difference and celebrating unique gifts by helping carry out home chores, yard work, annual events, data entry, and more.
• Special Olympics Oregon | Volunteer to help with everything from coaching and program management to events and administrative support.

• Pints for Pets | Tuesday, Nov. 28 | 6-9 p.m. | The Florida Room, 435 N. Killingsworth St., Portland | Free | Enjoy drink specials courtesy of Double Mountain Brewery and play bingo for big prizes, all to benefit Portland Animal Welfare (PAW) Team.
• Portland State vs. University of Portland Men’s Basketball | Tuesday, Nov. 28 | 7-9 p.m. | Viking Pavilion, 930 SW Hall St., Portland | $12-$75 | In a battle of Vikings and Pilots, which Portland team will knock the other off its perch?

• BIPOC Reading Series | Wednesday, Nov. 29 | 7-8:30 p.m. | Literary Arts, 925 SW Washington St., Portland | Free | Hear creative works (or share your own) on the theme of “friendship” at this safe space for expression.

• Portland Night Market | Thursday, Nov. 30-Sunday, Dec. 3 | 4-11 p.m. | 100 SE Alder St., Portland | Free | Support 175+ of Portland’s best vendors celebrating local food, culture, music, drinks, and retail.
• “Ice Queens” | Thursday, Nov. 30 | 7 p.m. | McMenamins Kennedy School Theater, 5736 NE 33rd Ave., Portland | $10 | Check out this movie screening, presented in partnership with The Sports Bra, about Black women and how they’re changing the game of ice hockey.

• Kathleen Madigan: Boxed Wine & Tiny Banjos | Friday, Dec. 1 | 7:30 p.m. | Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, Portland | $39.50-$69.50 | This stand-up comedian calls her career a “happy accident,” one that’s seen her make countless appearances on late night television and in clubs across the country.

• Weihnachtsmarkt: A German Christmas Market | Saturday, Dec. 2 | 11 a.m.-6 p.m. | German American Society of Portland, 5626 NE Alameda St., Portland | $5 | Say guten tag to an afternoon of sipping glühwein, shopping handmade gifts, and listening to music — plus you can hand Father Christmas your wish list in person.

• Bye bye, Burnside Bridge. Starting in 2027, the crossing will close for five years while crews implement seismic upgrades that will increase the structure’s chance of surviving a major earthquake. Its complicated design and downtown location, plus the need to protect endangered salmon all factor into the lengthy timeline. (OPB)

• Giving Tuesday, an annual celebration of generosity. Want to make a contribution but don’t know how or what will make the biggest impact? Willamette Week’s Give!Guide includes 250 local nonprofits across 10 different categories. Each dollar helps push toward the goal of $8,250,000 from 17,000 different donors.

• Pedal on over to Bike the Lights, Winter Wonderland’s special night reserved only for cyclists. From 4:30 to 9:30 p.m., you can enjoy the “largest holiday light show west of the Mississippi” and support Sunshine Division’s year-round hunger relief efforts. Adult tickets are $15 and kids ages 6-12 are $5.

• Sink your teeth into The Benson Hotel’s big reveal of its “2023 Annual Gingerbread Masterpiece” on Wednesday, Nov. 29 at 5:30 p.m. The tradition dates back 52 years, with each confectionary construction using 150 pounds of house made gingerbread, heaps of marzipan and chocolate, buckets of icing, and more.

• Mount Tabor’s Reservoir 6 is set to refill this winter after an inspection of its earthen dam found “voids” in the concrete bottom were not a serious threat. The Portland Water Bureau emptied the reservoir in 2021 over concerns for nearby houses. Construction to replace sections of the floor starts in December. (Willamette Week)

• Hotel Lucia and Pride Northwest are creating a “Powerfully Pink Holiday” for two weekends next month, transforming the lobby into a bubblegum backdrop for musical performances, cocktail hours, art installations, and more. The event will serve as a fundraising center and drop-off site for the Community Impact Drive.

• Antarctica’s McMurdo Station will soon be home to a research barge built in Portland. The 100-by-328-ft vessel will be reinforced against sea ice, but we’re unsure how it would fare against A23a, an iceberg more than 10 times the size of the Rose City, that’s now floating free of the southernmost continent. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live + KOIN)

• Calling all Portland residents: Columbia Credit Union is offering a CD special for new members. Grab the 16-month CD special and earn 5.50% APY — which gives members a top market return on their savings. Already a member? Explore other certificate options here.*

• Fruit can be one of the healthiest things you can put into your body, but the majority of Americans are making this single mistake that can counteract all the health benefits of fruit. Here’s why one heart surgeon is asking Americans to “stop doing this to your berries.”*

• Ever wanted to decode your pet’s DNA? Basepaws’ pet DNA tests provide insights into 300+ dog breeds and 280 health markers — and they’re $85 for Black Friday.*

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Dive into December