Plus: Bubbling anticipation for 'underground hot springs.'
 
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Today’s Forecast

52º | Showers | 91% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:42 a.m. | Sunset 5:02 p.m.
 

🏜️ Now boarding: mid-winter getaways

Direct flights from Portland International Airport
A plane flies near Portland International Airport with colorful clouds behind it.
You can park your car in PDX’s Economy lot for $15/day — the seventh day is free. | Photo by @_cr.visuals_
It’s virus season — the wanderlust virus, that is. If you’re dreaming about warm beaches or experiencing other cultures, we have the perfect cure: book yourself a trip. Avoid lengthy layovers (and opportunities for lost luggage) with one of these five nonstop flights from Portland International Airport.

✈️ Frankfurt (FRA) | Condor

With one-way fares sometimes dropping below $300, this is perhaps the most budget-friendly way to reach Europe. From Frankfurt, you can take a train, bus, or hopper plane to reach other nearby countries on your bucket list — but while you’re there, check out the Goethe House and Römerberg, a city square with picturesque medieval buildings.

✈️ Toronto (YYZ) | Air Canada

The capital of the province of Ontario is the most populous city in Canada — and its financial hub. From the historic Distillery District to CN Tower, there are plenty of things to do to keep metropolis explorers busy. We found roundtrip flights in February for around $360.

✈️ Guadalajara (GDL) | Volaris

Picture yourself lounging in a plaza, sipping a margarita (made with tequila from the nearby town where the spirit gets its name), and listening to mariachi — which originated in Guadalajara. Flight prices vary wildly based on your travel dates, but a one-way ticket to Portland’s sister city can be as low as $99.

✈️ Maui Kahului (OGG) | Hawaiian Airlines

Hike up a dormant volcano for out-of-this-world views (literally), swim with sea turtles, surf the North Shore, stroll through towering bamboo forests, or drive the Road to Hana — there’s no shortage of island fun in Maui. Roundtrip flights during the off-season can be found in the mid-$300 range.
Or escape to the high desert
 
Events
Monday, Jan. 22
  • Rip City Remix vs. G League Ignite | Monday, Jan. 22 | 6 p.m. | Chiles Center, 5000 N. Willamette Blvd., Portland | $5-$150 | Watch some of the best upcoming talent in the NBA take on Scoot Henderson’s former team for the first time this season.
  • South African Wine Master Class | Monday, Jan. 22 | 6:30-8 p.m. | Barnard Griffin, 665 W. Columbia Way, Vancouver | $30-$35 | Raise a glass to South Africa’s burgeoning wine industry by learning about its regional history and tasting various vintages.
Tuesday, Jan. 23
  • Nordic Coffee Hour | Tuesday, Jan. 23 | 10 a.m.-11:30 p.m. | Nordic Northwest, 8800 SW Oleson Rd., Portland | Free | Meet others who are interested in Nordic culture over a cup of coffee — and maybe a delicious pastry.
  • PDX Gaymers Board Game Night | Tuesday, Jan. 23 | 6:30-9:30 p.m. | Lucky Labrador Beer Hall, 1945 NW Quimby St., Portland | Free | Join this nonprofit organization dedicated to building a safe space for LGBTQ+ gamers and allies for a night of meeting new friends and playing fun games.
Wednesday, Jan. 24
  • Science On Tap – “Within Reach: The Fight to Finish Cancer” | Wednesday, Jan. 24 | 7 p.m. | Alberta Rose Theatre, 3000 NE Alberta St., Portland | $15-$45 | See a 45-minute documentary that goes behind the scenes of an immunotherapy clinical trial at Providence Cancer Institute, followed by a panel discussion with Providence researchers.
Thursday, Jan. 25
  • Hands-On, In-Person Blueberry Pruning Workshop | Thursday, Jan. 25 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | 78th Street Heritage Farm, Northeast 78th Street and 19th Court, Hazel Dell | $10 | Help your blueberry bushes reach their full potential by learning when, where, and how to prune their canes.
  • TEDxPortland Salon on Mortality | Thursday, Jan. 25 | 5:45-8:30 p.m. | Wieden+Kennedy, 224 NW 13th Ave., Portland | $89 | If you’re ready to dive into a topic that’s anything but light, then prepare to be inspired by speakers who will share their unique perspectives.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
News Notes
Community
  • If your property was damaged during the recent storms by falling trees, downed power lines, or ruptured water pipes, the city of Portland has resources to help with repairs. Find information on permits, licensed contractors, reporting issues to the appropriate department, and more through this online portal.
Cause
  • Local nonprofits like Milk Crate Kitchen and Urban Gleaners have been running on all cylinders to redistribute food to those in need and prevent waste this month. Food is donated by grocery stores and restaurants amid weather-related closures and sales slumps and taken to shelters, schools, and other sites. (OPB)
Development
  • Construction starts today on a new traffic signal at Northeast Columbia Boulevard and 42nd Avenue. Crews will also add ADA curb ramps, crosswalks, sidewalks, street lighting, and trees over the course of the year-long project. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction.
Closing
  • Wednesday, Jan. 31 is the last day to shop at REI’s downtown Portland location before the store permanently closes. REI intends to open a Beaverton location sometime this spring at Walker Center. In the meantime, shoppers can visit locations in Tualatin, Hillsboro, and Clackamas. (KOIN)
Plan Ahead
  • ilani BrewFest will feature hundreds of beers, seltzers, ciders, spirits, and wines from local and national makers, as well as live cooking demonstrations from celebrity chefs like Gregory Gourdet and Robert Irvine, Feb. 15-18. Tickets are available for 14 different events at the resort in Ridgefield.
Coming Soon
  • Have the signs heralding “Portland’s first underground hot springs” caught your attention? We’re right there with you. The 35,000-sqft development on Northeast Alberta Street is called CASCADA. It’s billed as a hotel and spa complete with a solarium housing a pool — and it’s set to open sometime this year. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)
 
Stat

👟 Steppin’ up

Downtown Portland foot traffic increased for 2nd consecutive year in 2023
People of varying ages walk or stand along a red brick sidewalk outside of Pioneer Place shopping mall.
Pioneer Place was a particularly active zone at the intersection of Southwest Fourth Avenue and Alder Street, according to Downtown Portland Clean & Safe’s report. | Photo by Cambrie Juarez, PDXtoday
More boots (likely Doc Martens) are on the ground in downtown Portland. Foot traffic in the area continues to inch back to pre-pandemic levels, increasing 10% from 2022 to 2023, according to Downtown Portland Clean & Safe.

The organization’s end-of-year report tracked foot traffic trends within a 213-block radius using data from location analytics company Placer.ai. It found that “the prevailing trend is one of growth,” with 26.8 million pedestrians (read: cumulative totals, not unique visitors) counted in 2023 compared to 24.3 million the previous year.

January 2023 saw the largest year-over-year growth with a 40% increase; most of the following months logged 5%-10% upticks. The month with the most pedestrians? No shockers here — it was July. But December followed closely behind, thanks to holiday events and activities like the Portland Winter Ice Rink.

Can you guess the busiest intersection within the Downtown Portland Clean & Safe district? It was Southwest 10th Avenue and West Burnside Street — that’s the corner of Powell’s City of Books.
The Buy

The Buy 1.22.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)
The perfect sauce to celebrate National Hot Sauce Day today: Sobremesa’s Citrus Habanero Hot Sauce. This small-batch mole and salsa company combined ripe citrus with spicy habanero to make a bright, fiery sauce that tingles the taste buds.
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The Wrap
 
Cambrie Juarez headshot

Today’s edition by:
Cambrie
From the editor
The nearly $438 million Library Capital Bond has its first project in the books. Gregory Heights Library in Roseway reopened earlier this month after being closed for six months, sporting a new layout with larger public workspaces. By the end of 2026, all Multnomah County Library locations will be completed; read about the projects’ progress.
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