Plus: Sip tea and marvel at Lunar New Year lanterns.
 
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46º | Light rain | 73% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:27 a.m. | Sunset 5:22 p.m.
 

Find your hobby place

Pick up a new hobby (and put down your phone)
Three watercolor paintings sit side by side in triptych formation. The left shows rugged stripes of green with pen drawing, the middle shows a sunset sky background against the Vaux's swifts at Chapman Elementary, and on the right is a branch with two oranges.
Whether it’s watercolor or gardening, just having something creative to focus on can do wonders for mental health. | Photo by Ben McBee, PDXtoday
Hobbies have no pressure attached to them — by definition, they’re purely for enjoyment and expression. You can’t always say the same about life, which is why having a creative outlet (dare we say escape) is so important.

With just a little time and effort, you can learn a new skill — or pick up where you left off on a past passion no matter how long it’s been. Though the list of hobbies you can pursue in Portland is long, here are some ideas to get you started.

Painting

From Multnomah Arts Center to High Low Art Space, there are plenty of opportunities to brush up on your artwork and add a splash of color to your palette. There are classes for a variety of media (acrylic, watercolor, oil) and at every experience level. Bringing your friends to an event at Bottle & Botega is a great way to get started (they also have at-home paint kits).

Birding

If you can’t get enough of the outdoors and love being more in-tune with the natural world, get involved with Portland Audubon. The nonprofit offers free outings, paid ecotours, and online classes where you’ll learn to spot and identify birds and gain in-depth knowledge of our region’s feathered fauna.

Baking

Sugar, butter, flour — find the ingredients for lifetime of making yummy treats by joining a virtual class with BettBakes or pack your apron for an in-person session at Cookshop. Ready, set... bake!

A potter deftly shapes a cylinder from clay using their hands and a sponge at Elemental Studios PDX.

Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty.

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Photo by Maria Orlova | Elemental Studios PDX

Pottery and ceramics

Throwing a lump of clay on the wheel and shaping it into a vase seems like it’s one of the most satisfying/frustrating/rewarding things a human can do. At Elemental Studios, owner and instructor Casey Campbell incorporates wellness and mindfulness principles into each workshop. Check out these other ceramics studios.
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Events
Monday, Feb. 5
Tuesday, Feb. 6
  • Life Story Writing Workshop | Tuesday, Feb. 6-Tuesday, March 5 | 10:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. | Sellwood Community House, 1436 SE Spokane St., Portland | Free | Everyone has a story to tell; take the time to actually right yours down.
Wednesday, Feb. 7
  • Lunar New Year Lantern Viewing Evenings | Wednesday, Feb. 7-Wednesday, Feb. 28 | 5-7 p.m. | Lan Su Chinese Garden, 239 NW Everett St., Portland | $10-$20 | Celebrate the Year of the Dragon with a stroll through the garden, taking in the beautiful glow of lanterns and sipping aromatic tea.
Thursday, Feb. 8
  • The Temptations + The Four Tops | Thursday, Feb. 8 | 7:30 p.m. | Keller Auditorium, 222 SW Clay St., Portland | $54.50-$84.50 | We’re talkin’ ‘bout the singers of “My Girl,” and you won’t want to miss this show from “American Music Royalty.”
Friday, Feb. 9
  • Indigenous Marketplace of Love | Friday, Feb. 9-Saturday, Feb. 10 | 2-7 p.m. | Bar Carlo, 6433 SE Foster Rd., Portland | Free | Support local businesses and dig into the food from a special guest Native chef; the first 50 elders (ages 60+ older) will receive a free gift.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
Kids

It’s summer camp registration season at the YMCA
A large group of kids at summer camp posing for the camera in a playful way.
The Y’s camps are a great way to keep your kids engaged, active, and learning all summer. | Photo by YMCA of Columbia-Willamette
Looking for an exciting summer camp experience for your kids? The YMCA of Columbia-Willamette is hosting a wide range of day, overnight, and enrichment programs this year.

The Y’s summer camps offer safe and nurturing environments where children can unleash their curiosity with activities tailored to different interests and ages. This year’s locations include Camp Collins, Sherwood, Beaverton, and more.

Members can begin enrolling on Monday, Feb. 5, followed by non-members on Monday, Feb 12.
Register for a summer adventure
News Notes
Traffic
  • St. Johns Bridge will close for five nights starting tonight, 10 p.m.-5 a.m. Sidewalks will also close to pedestrians and cyclists while Oregon Department of Transportation crews conduct their inspections and routine care. Work is weather-dependent, however no delays are expected at this time. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)
Legacy
  • The world of stop-motion film has lost one of its most-accomplished artists. Portland animator Mark Gustafson, known for his work on “Fantastic Mr. Fox” and more recently for winning an Oscar as co-director of “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio,” has died at 64 from a heart attack. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)
Transit
  • One of Portland’s most-dangerous roads is slated to get safety improvements this summer. The Bureau of Transportation released renderings for its “82nd Avenue Critical Fixes: Major Maintenance” project, which includes wider sidewalks + medians, and upgraded crosswalks. Oregon transferred ownership of the road to the city last year. (KGW)
Coming Soon
  • Imagine McDonald’s breakfast mixed with sweet pandan waffles — that’s the sort of fare you can expect when Mémoire Cà Phê opens this spring. The new Vietnamese American cafe has yet to find a home, but will test out its recipes at upcoming pop-ups. (Eater Portland)
Announced
  • Congrats to Penny N., our Souper-Sized giveaway winner, taking home free soup for a year from Elephants Delicatessen.*
The Buy

The Buy 2.05.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)
These cowgirl boot stir sticks from Coco Cadeaux’s collection. They’re festive, pink, and perfect for your Galentine’s Day celebration (bonus: they’re also BPA free).
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The Wrap
 

Today’s edition by:
Ben
From the editor
It’s been more than a decade since my last art class, but a few months ago I got back into watercolor painting — sometimes combining it with pen — and it’s been really fun.

Not only does it give me a creative outlet besides photography or writing a newsletter (I love what I do, but it’s still work) but it’s also helped me relax and cut down on screen time. You can see some of my efforts in the lead story.
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