01.18.2024

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Today’s Forecast

39º | Rain and afternoon wind | 99% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:45 a.m. | Sunset 4:57 p.m.

Here’s the game plan...

Finding a new board game isn’t a trivial pursuit at these Portland shops

The trunk of a "tree" extends from the floor of a shop to the ceiling, surrounded by shelves of puzzles and games.

Grab some dinner from the nearby food carts while visiting Cloud Cap Games in the Sellwood-Moreland neighborhood. | Photo by Cambrie Juarez, PDXtoday

Feeling a bit restless and cooped up? Busting out a board game (or a card game, puzzle, etc.) can help relieve the winter doldrums. If you’re tired of the dusty Monopoly or Scrabble games you have at home, it might be time to find something new from one of Portland’s many tabletop game shops.

Here are some of the spots PDXtoday City Editor Cambrie recommends:

Cloud Cap Games, 1226 SE Lexington St. | You’ll find tons of shelves stocked with trendy and classic games, or you can trade in one of your old games for store credit. There’s also a library of rental games to try before committing to the price tag.

Puddletown Games & Puzzles, 4120 NE Fremont St. | If you have your heart set on a popular game that’s sold out elsewhere, there’s a good chance you’ll find it here.

Guardian Games, 345 SE Taylor St. | This store has a huge selection for every budget, plus in-store game events and a bar. Staff members are extremely knowledgeable and can help you find the perfect game based on your preferences.

Mox Boarding House, 1938 W. Burnside St. | Hogwarts meets 1920s Paris at this game-shop-restaurant hybrid that’s perfect for a date night or friendly hangout. Borrow a game to play while enjoying food and drinks; you’ll get 15% off the price of a new copy of the same game if you decide to buy it when you’re done eating.

portland game library.png — You’ll often find the folks from Portland Game Library at board game nights at Lucky Labrador Brew Pub.
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Photo by @portlandgamelibrary

Here’s a tip from a PDXtoday reader: If you don’t want to visit a shop in person, check out the Portland Game Library — a board game rental service with 600+ options. Members will find games for every age, group size, and preference, with new games routinely added to the collection based on community requests.

One more resource is the Library of Things, a collection of objects like board games and DIY kits available at some branches within Washington County Cooperative Library Services.

Events

Thursday, Jan. 18

Rose City Classic Dog Show | Thursday, Jan. 18-Monday, Jan. 22 | 8 a.m.-6 p.m. | Portland Expo Center, 2060 Marine Dr., Portland | $15-$40 | See 170+ AKC breeds compete to be top dogs, cheer on canine athletes as they show off their athleticism and intelligence in agility and trick events, shop for pet products, and more.
Drawn Hungry x Treebeard’s Taphouse Board Game Bash | Thursday, Jan. 18 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Treebeard’s Taphouse, 822 SW Second Ave., Portland | $12 | If you’ve ever fantasized about competing on a cooking show, then pull up a chair and learn to play a new culinary card game called Drawn Hungry alongside creator Jordan Mishra Johnson.
Slamlandia | Thursday, Jan. 18 | 7-9:30 p.m. | Literary Arts, 925 SW Washington St., Portland | Free | Sign up to share your poetry or attend as a spectator; competitors who place in the top three in each category will move on to the finals event in February.

Friday, Jan. 19

Build, Remodel & Landscape Show | Friday, Jan. 19-Sunday, Jan. 21 | Times vary | Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Portland | $5 | Meet local remodeling and building experts, explore every aspect of home design, and see the latest innovations and trends in your pursuit of a dream dwelling.

Saturday, Jan. 20

Fuyu Fest | Saturday, Jan. 20 | 2-5 p.m. | Olympic Mills Commerce Center, 107 SE Washington St., Portland | $77-$97 | This second-annual festival celebrates Japanese sake with 65+ types available to taste, cocktail demonstrations, discussions, food, and vendors.
“Trace Extractions” | Saturday, Jan. 20-Saturday, Feb. 24 | Times vary | Paragon Arts Gallery at PCC Cascade, 815 N. Killingsworth St., Portland | Free | This exhibition explores how the concept of “home” changed for women during the pandemic through various art mediums, including records of GPS tracking etched into acrylic and photographic prints.

Sunday, Jan. 21

Build a Charcuterie Board | Sunday, Jan. 21 | 2-3:30 p.m. | Hip Chicks Do Wine, 4510 SE 23rd Ave., Portland | $97 | Nai Zhao of Charcuterie Me will teach you techniques for cheese cutting and cured meat folding and how to assemble your savory snacks onto a palm leaf platter.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Giveaway

Enter to win Elephants Delicatessen’s souper-sized giveaway

Good luck, Portland. | Photo provided by Elephants Delicatessen

Calling all soup enthusiasts: We’re giving away free soup for a year^† to one lucky soup slurper, in partnership with Elephants Delicatessen. All soups are made daily in their kitchen with fresh vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and legumes.

In addition to year-round favorites like Tomato Orange, Mama Leone’s, and Elephants Cure, the winner can also choose from monthly specials. Check the 2024 soup calendar to see when your favorite soup will be in their tureens.

Feeling lucky? Here’s how to enter to win:

Answer a few questions in this survey (don’t forget to include your email address + first name/last initial).
Opt-in to emails from Elephants Delicatessen. (Note: Your email will only be shared with Elephants Delicatessen if you check the opt-in box to receive future promotions from them.)

Make sure to enter by Thursday, Feb. 1 at 11:59 p.m. Continue reading PDXtoday daily to see who wins (hint: we’ll be announcing the next winner on Monday, Feb. 5).

Enter to win

† Free soup limit is one pint per day. Soup must be purchased in one of our retail stores — not online or through catering.

News Notes

Biz

Portland’s fourth — and largest — Hong Phat grocery store could open as soon as June in a former Walmart at Eastport Plaza. The 154,000-sqft building recently sold for $20 million; the incoming Hong Phat Supercenter will take up at least 120,000 sqft while other tenants will fill the remaining space. (Portland Business Journal)

Weather

If you’ve lived in the PNW your whole life, clearing piles of snow and ice away from your home might not be a task that comes to mind before a thaw — but doing so could prevent unwanted moisture in your basement. Thanks for the heads up, Reddit user u/omnichord.

Community

The city of Vancouver is accepting permit applications for its short-term rental (STR) pilot program. New regulations and requirements recently took effect for those operating an STR (such as an Airbnb or Vrbo), including obtaining a license and paying a $250 one-time fee.

Try This

Straightaway Cocktails in Southeast Portland can help you shake up your at-home bartending skills with a Craft Mixology Class. Instructors guide you through creating four different cocktails — they vary based on each session’s theme — while sharing interesting historical facts. Pro tip: Classes often sell out, so snag a ticket early.

Number

40. That’s how many seats you’ll find at 21ten Theatre on Southeast 10th Avenue. It’s a performance space for tiny audiences and big dreams — just ask Portland-born actor and Artistic Director Ted Rooney whose mission for the space revolves around fostering community and providing opportunities for other local actors. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)

Ranked

When it comes to the best metro areas for people in STEM careers, places like Austin, Seattle, and San Jose are still on top — but Portland isn’t too far behind. WalletHub ranked the Rose City No. 25 after analyzing per-capita job openings for STEM graduates, wage increases, and more. (WalletHub)

The Word

Spravato. This FDA-approved nasal spray is for adults with treatment-resistant depression. Learn more about it via Active Path Mental Health.*

Active

Is there a gym or fitness studio around town you’ve been wanting to check out? Get a free month of ClassPass + sample multiple gyms with just one membership.*

Open

New developments in Portland

New and coming-soon businesses to Portland

Portland Gear’s flagship store recently moved deeper into the heart of downtown Portland. | Photo by @portlandgear

Our ever-growing community has added several new businesses since we last checked. Ready to drink some Vietnamese coffee or rep your Portland pride? And keep your eyes peeled for even more emerging businesses in the Rose City.

Business
The Midtown, 407 SW Broadway | January 2024 | The Art of Catering’s new 16,600-sqft event space with two rentable options inside the Union Bank building

The Horizon Enterprise Building, 433 NW Fourth Ave. | June 2023 | Billed as “Portland’s first creative center for the BIPOC community”

Dining
St. Francis Ice Cream, 4515 SE 63rd Ave. | December 2023 | An ice cream scoop shop offering dairy and vegan flavors

Cafe Ume, 524 NW 14th Ave. | December 2023 | A coffee shop serving coffee made with Vietnamese beans and specialty lattes with flavors like ube ca phe

Retail
Portland Gear, 403 SW 10th Ave. | October 2023 | The Portland-themed apparel brand’s flagship location, which relocated from its former home near Providence Park

24 more new spots

The Buy

The Buy 1.18.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

Sleep mist, a cozy sweatshirt, or tea from Six & Main’s homebody collection. That’s right, there’s a collection specifically devoted to staying comfy and cozy at home (count us in).

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Cambrie

From the editor

Circling back to the topic of board games — last weekend, I played two that I just can’t get enough of: Glow and Meadow. Both are great for up to four players, are rated for ages 10 and up, and are visually stunning. If you’re looking for a great at-home date night or family activity, check ‘em out. I found both at Guardian Games in Southeast Portland.

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