The clam chowder at Dan & Louis Oyster Bar is scrumptious. | Photo via @oysterbarpdx
The Super Bowl may not be until February, but the soup-er bowl starts now. Portland has a kettle full of places to dip your ladle into, so slurp right up and try these while they’re piping hot.
Clam chowder |Dan & Louis Oyster Bar This gluten-free version of the classic New England recipe hits the spot. Do your taste buds lean local? Try the Pacific Northwest-style smoked salmon chowder instead.
Vegetarian pho | Lela’s Bistro You don’t have to be a vegetarian to enjoy this tasty medley of rice noodles, fried tofu, broccoli, and carrots. Sides of lime, jalapeños, bean sprouts, and Thai basil up the pizzazz even more.
If you listen closely enough, you can hear those mushrooms whispering your name. | Photo via @elephantsdeli
Wild mushroom soup | Elephants Delicatessen Another enticing vegetarian option made with onions and a touch of Madeira wine, this dish is a standout.
Wonton Noodle Soup | Master Kong Not only are these bowls frame-worthy works of art, the combination of noodles, garlic, and handmade dumplings feel like a hug in your mouth.
George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker” | Through Tuesday, Dec. 24 | Times vary | Keller Auditorium | $32+ | The Oregon Ballet is sure to enchant you with this magical rendition of the holiday classic.
NAYA Native Made Winter Marketplace | Saturday, Dec. 14-Sunday, Dec. 15 | 11 a.m.-6 p.m. | Lloyd Center | Free | Support local Native artists while also getting some holiday shopping done.
SINister’s Cocoa & Crafts | 12-4 p.m. | SINister Coffee’s Ghosts of Christmas Pop-UP | Make a ghostly hot chocolate before diving into making ornaments, gift tags, and other kinds of holiday decor — the kiddos are welcome to tag along.
2024 Midwinter Revels: “Norse Fire” | Through Sunday, Dec. 22 | Times vary | Alberta Abbey | $15+ | Inspired by Northern European folktales, a young girl sets off to save her grandfather with the help of Norse god Jólnir.
“Elf": Dress-Up Night | 7 p.m. | Tomorrow Theater | $15 | Bust out your elf-iest outfit and giggle along as Buddy the Elf navigates New York City with the help of the World’s Best Cup of Coffee.
Sunday, Dec. 15
Fungi Film Fest | 3:30 p.m. | Cinema 21 | $15 | Grab your favorite fun-gis for a film festival covering all things mycology — from “Mushrooms in Space” to “How to Film a Mushroom.”
Dance With The Dead | 8 p.m. | Wonder Ballroom | $50 | This chilling electronic band, which has worked with the likes of Dragonforce, is inspired by the scores of classic horror movies.
Wednesday, Dec. 18
“Let it Go: A Burlesque Tribute to Frozen” | Wednesday, Dec. 18-Thursday, Dec. 19 | 7 p.m. | The Alberta Rose | $30+ | Feeling icy? This performance inspired by the Disney tale gets a little... toasty.
Thursday, Dec. 19
Slamlandia | 7 p.m. | Literary Arts | Free | It’s all in the name, baby — bring that slam poetry piece you’ve been working on and perform it in a welcoming environment.
Friday, Dec. 20
Dongzhi: A Chinese Holiday Party |Friday, Dec. 20 + Saturday, Dec. 21 | 5-7 p.m. | Lan Su Chinese Garden | $0+ | Celebrate the winter solstice with Dongzhi tree decorating, photos with Chinese Santa, Tang yuan desserts, and lots of other festivities.
Metro Council will vote in January on a $300 million plan to convert the Expo Center in to a new sports + cultural hub. With visions of a year-round ice rink and facilities for club and league sports, officials hope this would encourage more engagement with recreational sports. (KGW)
Transit
All aboard — Portland City Council unanimously voted to extend the Portland Street Car through Northwest Portland. The new 0.65-mile track will run along NW 23rd Avenue and over to NW 26th Avenue via NW Roosevelt + Wilson streets. A construction timeline + funding plan has yet to be determined. (KOIN)
Civic
In other transit news: Metro is looking for feedback on its proposed Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Plan amendments that reorganize and increase funding for 11 projects. You can provide feedback by emailing the city by Friday, Jan. 3.
Biz
It looks like Fred Meyer and Safeway will remain separate for now. Albertsons has reportedly “given up” on its merger deal with Kroger after two judges halted the move. Albertsons has indicated that it now plans to sue Kroger over the failed deal. More than 20 local grocery stores were set to close because of the merger. (KGW)
Closing
After 23 years in business, Crush Bar — currently the east side’s longest running LGBTQ+ bar — plans to close after its New Year’s Eve party. Crush was able to stay open for an extra year after making a similar announcement in 2023 because of a change in ownership. But the owners now say "... this time it is reality.” (Portland Monthly)
Community
Keep your eyes peeled for illuminated Santa figurines. Local artist Chris Willis has again continued his tradition of planting an army of Santas in an undisclosed location for Portlanders to discover. This year, there’s only a poem to provide any sort of clues as to their whereabouts. Time to get to hunting. (KGW)
Sports
The Oregon Ducks will have some big choices to make as we near 2025 — who may the team be eyeing as potential transfer portal targets for their next roster? Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Oregon Ducks with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Now Open
Calling all book lovers: You’re invited to experience Literary Arts’ new home in the Central Eastside. Stop by 716 SE Grand Ave. to shop a selection of 12,000+ books at the independent bookstore, open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.*
Home
Looking to give your home an update without breaking the bank? Shop Habitat for Humanity Online to find great deals and save 30-70% off your favorite name brands like Article, West Elm, Cuisinart, Frigidaire, Ethan Allen, and more. Plus, every purchase helps fund local Habitat homebuilding + home repair programs.*
Shop
Good things come to those who procrastinate. MiaDonna’s last-minute gifts dazzle for less, like 2.0ctw classic stud earrings for $1,295. Bonus: Get a free gift when you spend $1,000 or more, including a Tumi Jewelry Portfolio, a 0.25ctw Station Necklace, or a 1.0ctw Bolo Bracelet.*
Did you know new windows could lead to lower energy bills? Read: Modern windows have better insulation. Renewal by Andersen is offering $400 off per window and $850 per door, so you can start the new year by saving on style upgrades for your home. Get your free quote.*
Tech
Want to turn four-hour tasks into 15-minute wins? Download your free ChatGPT mastery guide for 100 battle-tested prompts you can copy/paste ASAP — no coding required. Plus, the guide explores how to use AI ethically at work.*
City Guide
City Guide
✈️ Plane and simple
Portland International Airport’s new main terminal features pre-security eateries like Loyal Legion and The Country Cat. | Photo by Cambrie Juarez, PDXtoday
The busy holiday travel season is upon us, and we’ve got a little gift for you.
If you’re flying via Portland International Airport, we’ve created a guide that covers everything from parking + terminal upgrades, to nonstop flights. Smooth travels, friends.
What to know
TSA | According to the PDX website, travelers should arrive at the airport two hours before a domestic flight during the busy early morning hours, or three hours before an international flight. Use this handy tool to check security wait times.
Map it out | If you’re like us and need to completely visualize a place before you step foot inside, these maps of the entire airport will be your saving grace.
Nonstop flights
PDX offers 70 nonstop flights — 59 domestic, plus 11 international flights to six countries.
Touch screen compatible gloves. Beat winter dryness + rough skin by keeping hands protected when you’re out and about, thanks to gloves that still let you use your phone.
If you’re new to the annual Santa scavenger hunt put on by artist Chris Willis, remember that it’s good sportsmanship to avoid mentioning the location in any of your social media posts once you do find them. You wouldn’t want to ruin the fun for others, now would ya?
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