The Lunar New Year Dragon Dance Parade and Celebration draws scores of spectators every year. | Photo by @portlandchinatownmuseum
Though its official dates vary across different Asian cultures, the Lunar New Year is a celebration of the start of spring and a new year on the lunisolar calendar.
This year is the Year of the Snake, an animal representing sensitivity, adaptability, and calm + collective nature.
Here are just a few Lunar New Year events to check out.
Chinese New Year Cultural Fair | Saturday, Jan. 21 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Oregon Convention Center | $11 | Experience traditional Chinese dances, music, calligraphy, martial arts, and games for kids.
Lunar New Year Lantern Viewing Evenings | Wednesday, Jan. 29-Sunday, Feb. 23 | 5:30 p.m. + 7:30 p.m. | Lan Su Chinese Garden | $14-$43 | Take in the sights of the garden at night as glowing lanterns illuminate traditional architecture and floating sculptures.
2025 Lunar New Year Dragon Dance Parade and Celebration | Saturday, Feb. 8 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | Free | The ninth annual parade presented by the Portland Chinatown Museum and Oregon Historical Society will showcase a 150-ft-long dragon, lion dancers, and other performers making their way around Old Town Chinatown.
Oregon Symphony: “Beethoven x Beyoncé” | 7:30 p.m. | Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall | $25+ | Sorry, was the title not enough for you to put a ring on it?
Friday, Jan. 24
Wine and Chocolate Pairing | Friday, Jan. 24 | Times vary | Hip Chicks Do Wine | $40+ | Wine and chocolate? Don’t mind if we do.
FAN EXPO Portland | Friday, Jan. 24-Sunday, Jan. 26 | Times vary | Oregon Convention Center | $38+ | If you’re a fan of anything, you’ll want to see celebrity cameos from faves like “Supernatural,” “Lord of the Rings,” “Twilight,” “Doctor Who,” and much more.
Super Diamond: The Neil Diamond Tribute | 8 p.m. | Crystal Ballroom | $28+ | Now’s the time to prepare your lungs to scream “BAH BAH BAHHHH” as hard as you can for “Sweet Caroline.”
Bright Eyes | Saturday, Jan. 25-Sunday, Jan. 26 | 7:30 p.m. | Crystal Ballroom | $50+ | Known for their 2005 love song “First Day of My Life,” this indie rock band is touring with their latest album “Five Dice, All Threes.”
OMSI After Dark: Life in Miniature | 6-10 p.m. | OMSI | $27 | Grab a cocktail and learn about the intricate design of some of the world’s tiniest inhabitants.
Electronic Music Club’s programs focus on production, recording, and music theory using Ableton Live. | Photos by Erik Carlson
Meet Electronic Music Club — a synth-based program designed to help people of all ages develop creativity, critical thinking, and technical skills through music. Think: Exploring production and recording using the latest software and control surfaces.
It’s time once again to dig our forks into the list of annual James Beard Award nominations, honoring the year’s best + most delicious culinary ventures. The 2025 list includes 13 local restaurants, bars, and chefs featuring well-loved names like JinJu Patisserie, Coquine, and Scotch Lodge. See the whole list on the James Beard website.
Portlander
Checkmate — a Beaverton teen has become the No. 1 chess player in the US at just 16 years old. Zoey Tang started playing chess at age 7 and is now setting her sights on obtaining the grandmaster title — the highest in the world of chess. (KGW)
Sports
Scarves up — the Portland Thorns released the team’s 2025 schedule which features 12 home game matches including the home opener on Friday, March 21. Memberships are now on sale, but stay tuned for the release of single game tickets. (KOIN)
Open
Staycation anyone? A new luxury hotel and thermal spa is now open in northeast Portland. Cascada, located in the Alberta Arts District, features a restaurant, bar, cafe, fitness + yoga classes, and 100 hotel rooms — in addition to its spa facilities. (Portland Monthly)
Eat
Having a sweet tooth just got s’more fun. The owners of Nico’s Ice Cream are taking on a new sugary venture with Toasted S’mores Bar. Locals can expect three regular flavors of s’mores + three rotating seasonal ones at the new downtown location (where the other s’mores shop used to live). (Portland Business Journal)
Development
The long-awaited James Beard Public Market has officially closed on its future home in the Ungar Building downtown. The nonprofit revealed its plans to open in the 17,290-sqft location last month, but recently sealed the deal with the $3 million purchase. The market will also spill into the neighboring building that the nonprofit will lease. (Portland Business Journal)
Read
Extra, extra — a new magazine and print publication store is now open in Old Town Chinatown. Chess Club offers a variety of printed publications from across the world for those who prefer physical copies over web versions. Find titles like “The New Yorker” or topic-specific works like “MacGuffin.” (Portland Monthly)
Listen
A lot of good stuff happened during the Trail Blazers’ recent game against Miami Heat — let’s recap. Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Trail Blazers with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Festival
ICYMI, OMSI’s popular Studio Ghibli Film Fest is back for its 10th year. Now through Sunday, Feb. 9, Portlanders can experience beloved films from one of the most acclaimed animation studios in the world. See the full schedule, and grab tickets.*
Eat
Yes, healthy grocery shopping can be easy and affordable. Meet Thrive Market, where healthy living is simple. Get groceries for the whole family delivered to your door, free from 1,000+ harmful ingredients. Join to save 30% on your first order and claim a free gift worth $60.*
Health
Weight Loss by Hers is a holistic program crafted by experts in weight loss, nutrition, and psychology. Receive personalized treatment plans tailored to your goals by a medical professional, along with access to GLP-1 medications starting at $165 per month with a 12-month plan.*
Wellness
Discover unparalleled speech clarity with this advanced, state-of-the-art hearing aid. With crystal-clear sound and a sleek, discreet German design, those experiencing hearing impairment can enjoy clear speech with minimum background distractions, even in the noisiest environments. Try the 45-day, no-risk trial.*
Category (Paid)
Jobs
💼 Find the best local candidates in 2025
Find candidates who want to work right here, right now. | Gif by 6AM City
56%. That’s the percentage of full-time employees in the US who want a new job in 2025. Of this, 27% have already started searching. What’s more, the first part of the year sees the largest uptick in job postings + submitted job applications online.
If you’re hiring this year, don’t let your job posting get lost on over-saturated job sites. We created 6AM City Job Board to help you cut through the noise and find top local talent. Share your opportunity with the most connected locals, PDXtoday readers.
You could drink coffees made from Coava beans at many Portland cafes — or just head straight to the source. | Photo by @coavacoffee
For richer or pour over, Portland’s coffee shops are what keep us going in the morning. Our city ranks among the top coffee cities in America thanks to factors like cafes per capita and the price of beans.
Ready to sip? Check out our guide to some of the best coffee shops in Portland.
Lionheart Coffee Company| Baristas experiment with various manual brewing techniques using beans sourced from a rotating lineup of roasters.
Prince Coffee | This woman-owned specialty coffee shop and wine bar showcases local and international guest roasters with seasonal specials like a cold brew topped with coconut foam.
Keeper Coffee Co. | Satisfy your sweet tooth with a housemade treat from the pastry case, like seasonal hand pies, cookies, and quiches (there are gluten-free and vegan options, too), to go with a seasonal latte or tea.
SORO SORO Coffee & Dessert | This small Korean cafe and gift store serves animal-themed treats and special drinks — like banana bread lattes — topped with whimsical designs.
Do you prefer to make coffee at home or get your coffee from a local business?
A. I brew my own drinks at home. B. I stop at my local coffee shop. C. I get my order from a large coffee chain (Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, Panera, etc.).
Single use face towels. Real talk: those washcloths you’ve used for years are likely harboring bacteria and roughing up your delicate moisture barrier. Go for a hygienic, gentler alternative with Sky Organics hypoallergenic face towels, made from 100% renewable plant fiber.
If you want a little more “feel good” news, a local nonprofit and ~100 students in the Positive Charge Club at Ida B. Wells High School have partnered to build hygiene kits for those affected by the Los Angeles fires.
Want to help? Locals can make both physical or monetary donations through the org’s website or through its Amazon wishlist.
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