09.13.2024

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73º | 10% chance of precipitation
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Do you know the unspoken rules of Portland?

Two metal sculptures of red painted people with branches sprouting from their heads lean in to touch cheek to cheek.

Psst... public art is super important in Portland. | Photo by Mark McClure; Sculpture “In the Treetops” by Margarita Leon

Whether you’re a Rose City native or a relative newcomer, there are just some things every Portlander understands to be true.

We picked our brains, scoured the internet, and asked our readers about Portland’s unspoken rules, from common city knowledge to relatable trends and local lingo. You won’t find these rules in a handbook, but they are undoubtedly absorbed by the community — and if you’re not from Portland, these might be a little difficult to explain.

Conduct a concert from your car

“You honk in the tunnel on 26.” - Anonymous

Be kind to your bicyclist friends

“If you’re approaching a four-way stop and so is a cyclist, let the cyclist go through (even if they aren’t there first) so they don’t have to stop.” - Kate D.

Hay — that’s a well-dressed horse.
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Photo by Mark McClure

Sometimes you just have to laugh

“You do not steal the plastic horses on the iron curb hoops.” - GoblinCorp

Expect the unexpected

“I tell all my visitors ‘Always keep your eyes open because you never know what you’ll see here!’” - Marcia A.

Keep it casual

“No need to dress up at ‘fancy’ restaurants.” - Cambrie J.

Two words: rain jacket

“You will always be right with the weather report of ‘chance of rain.’” - Holly H.

“Don’t use an umbrella... ever!!” - J. Mabry

Unless...

“There is one case where it’s acceptable to use an umbrella... if you happen to be on the turf fields watching the swifts at Chapman Elementary School. The birds will poop on you.” - Ben M.

When it gets hot

“Leave bottled water for your mail carrier.” - Kathy B.

People sitting on Portland's public transportation, the MAX Lightrail. — What are your tips and tricks for the MAX?
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Photo by Alexander Isreb

Thanking TriMet + MAX etiquette

“We thank our bus drivers. When boarding public transit it’s off before on not a mass merge.” - Paperbackpixie

It’s pronounced...

“Say it loud! IT’S COOCH AND IT’S PROUD!!!” - beastofwordin

Honk if you’re hurting

“Don’t honk unless it is an emergency.” - Matthias L.

Go with the flow

“Never park the wrong direction.” - Claudia

A few more to know

Asked

What did we miss? If you have an unofficial rule, share it using this survey.

We’ll add the best ones to the article.

What do you got?

Events

Friday, Sept. 13

Major League Table Tennis | Friday, Sept. 13-Sunday, Sept. 15 | Times vary | Viking Pavilion | $10+ | Support your hometown Portland Paddlers as they start the season by taking on familiar foes from across the country.
Portland Thorn vs. Chicago Red Stars | Friday, Sept. 13 | 7 p.m. | Providence Park | $20+ | The team could use an auspicious turn after a run of bad results, so help them get there by cheering your heart out.
80s Video Dance Attack | Friday, Sept. 13 | 8-11:59 p.m. | Show Bar at Revolution Hall | $15 | Get down to the tunes of this decade’s most-memorable music videos projected onto a giant screen.

Saturday, Sept. 14

Spotlight: A Family Arts Festival | Saturday, Sept. 14-Sunday, Sept. 15 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | The Judy Kafoury Center for Youth Arts | $10+ | Bring the whole bunch for a fun-filled weekend of music, theater, dance, and more.
The Portland Polish Festival | Saturday, Sept. 14-Sunday, Sept. 15 | Times vary | 3900 N. Interstate Ave. | Free | Enter the polka contest, enjoy traditional polonez, mazurek, and krakowiak dances, and of course, dig into pierogi + other dishes of the country.

Sunday, Sept. 15

Centennial Celebration | Sunday, Sept. 15 | 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. | The Grotto | Free | In honor of the site’s 100th anniversary, guests can enjoy free admission to the Upper Gardens, visit the new Interpretive Center, participate in a special Mass, and other festivities.
El Grito | Sunday, Sept. 15-Monday, Sept. 16 | Times vary | Rose Quarter | Free | National Hispanic Heritage Month begins with independence celebrations, featuring folkloric and Aztec dancers, live mariachi, salsa, and cumbia music, plus traditional food + beverages.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Pets

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News Notes

Sports

Oregon State and Washington State are going from a duo to a six pack. Reports say the Pac-12 Conference will add four Mountain West schools — Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State + Colorado State — starting a rebuild following the departure of previous members. (KGW + The Oregonian/Oregon Live)

Number

$92 million. That’s how much was approved for 71 Community Responsive Grants recipients, courtesy of the Portland Clean Energy Fund. Over the next five years, each of these projects will strive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support racial and social justice. (OPB)

Traffic

Avoid the Hawthorne Bridge this weekend, as it closes to all users from 6 a.m. on Saturday until 6 p.m. on Sunday. Crews will be busy on maintenance, but if rain delays the work, the project will be postponed to the weekend of Oct. 26-27. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)

Try This

The Portland Japanese Garden will host an American Sign Language interpreted tour on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 1 p.m. Only people who are deaf or hard of hearing and their friends/family are permitted on the walk, which will cover history, landscape architecture, and culture.

Eat

L’Orto Nostrano, the kitchen garden for Italian restaurant Nostrana, will host a free block party 3-8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15 in partnership with the Filipino Bayanihan Center. There will also be a four-course harvest dinner — tickets for that are $129.

Open

Barre3 is coming back to the Pearl District, reopening its location at 1000 NW Marshall St. that has been closed since the pandemic. Classes will start up again as soon as this weekend. (Portland Business Journal)

Listen

Defense wins championships, but how much have the Trail Blazers improved in that department? Mike Richman of Locked On discusses that and other storylines on the network’s podcast.

The Word

Balance transfer cards: One of the best-kept secrets for managing credit card debt. This card gives you almost two years to pay off your existing balance, sans interest — plus, that sweet, sweet cash back.*

Shop

Level up your fall wardrobe with this stylish and versatile men’s quarter zip sweater. Its sophisticated mock neck design makes it perfect for both casual and formal wear.*

Seasonal

🍁 Fall in love with foliage

Where to see fall foliage in Portland

PDX Portland Japanese Garden fall foliage

Fall colors among the trees and shrubs are echoed in the colorful koi at the Portland Japanese Garden. | Photo by @johnbyrnphotography

The crunch of papery leaves underfoot. The crisp scent of summer’s sugary decay. Fall is almost here, along with nature’s yearly finale of color. Portland offers a cornucopia of places to stroll through fall foliage; here’s a handful of our favorite spots.

Pro tip: Peak colors will arrive in mid-October.

Lone Fir Cemetery

Peace and hushed beauty await the living — and the deceased — at this historic cemetery. Home to 700+ trees representing 67 species, Lone Fir is also the second-largest arboretum in Portland. The cemetery’s namesake tree still stands, though no longer in solitude, and its deciduous neighbors put on a spectacular fall show.

Portland Japanese Garden

Tucked into the West Hills, this space is one of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside of Asia. After paying the admission fee, take your time navigating the Portland Japanese Garden’s manicured paths surrounded by graceful Japanese maples — and other Asian shrubs and trees — that come into their full, fiery splendor in autumn.

3 more spots

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Ben

From the editor

Takibi is back with a new staff, a fresh logo, and rethought menu, but the same skillful execution of Japanese cuisine, which I was fortunate enough to taste.

The nigiri was sublime and locally sourced, the skirt steak tender, and every course had the perfect saké pairing. Check the restaurant out and stop by its Niigata-style ramen food cart coming this fall.

Brightly colored pieces of nigiri sit on a rectangular slate slab, with wasabi and ginger on the side. Left to right you have ruby pink tuna, orange striped salmon, and light pink albacore. — Left to right: Akami (red meat tuna), Columbia River-caught salmon, and local binchou (albacore).
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Photo by Ben McBee, PDXtoday

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