Swiss chard will happily grow through a PDX winter. | Photo by @unsplash
Our climate is the cream of the crop when it comes to gardening because it’s mild enough to allow growth nearly every month of the year. That means there are plenty of tasks to keep a gardener busy, even in winter.
Plan for spring
This is the time of year to collect seeds that you will either start indoors or plant outside once the ground warms up. Find your growing “zone” and choose seeds accordingly. Native plants are a great way to support the natural ecosystem.
Check out these local spots to nab your favorites:
Winter in the Pacific Northwest is the time for cool-season crops to take center-stage. Vegetables like beets, kale, and Swiss chard are planted in summer and harvested throughout the winter, while some fall-planted crops like carrots and onions will grow slowly through winter and be ready in early spring. Check out these veggie planting calendars for Portland.
Rose City Classic Dog Show | Thursday, Jan. 16-Sunday, Jan. 19 | 9 a.m. | Portland Expo Center | $15+ | Which pooch will come out on top? You’ll have to see for yourself at one of the US’ biggest dog events.
“Kimberly Akimbo” | Thursday, Jan. 16-Sunday, Jan. 19 | Times vary | Keller Auditorium | $30+ | This Tony Award-winning musical follows a 15-year-old girl as she navigates a rare genetic disorder, family dysfunction, her new New Jersey town, and a possible felony charge.
Friday, Jan. 17
Portland Folk Festival | Friday, Jan. 17-Saturday, Jan. 18 | Times vary | Crystal Ballroom | $55+ | Enjoy this big festival celebrating Portland’s local musical acts with performances from bands like Rainbow Girls and Arietta Ward.
Killers of Kill Tony | 7 p.m. | Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall | $39+ | Even if you’re not a fan of the “Kill Tony” podcast, this lineup of stand-up comedians should have you belly laughing pretty good.
Saturday, Jan. 18
Fluid Comedy Presents: Ocean Alien Takeover | 7-8:30 p.m. | UnderBar, Vancouver, WA | $10+ | Giggle along as local comedians and drag artists make fun of current headlines like all those drones and congressional hearings about aliens in the ocean.
Sunday, Jan. 19
“9 to 5" BYO Crafternoon | 4 p.m. | Tomorrow Theater | $15 | Bring your own fiber arts project and celebrate southern queen Dolly Parton’s birthday with this classic film.
Sit Down, Shut Up, and Write | Wednesday, Jan. 22-Wednesday, March 12 | Times vary | Bold Coffee and Books | Free | Hey you — yeah, you. Stop procrastinating on your next novel or poetry book and work with some other writers who need a little push.
Presented by Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
Celebrate the 20th anniversary of “Howl’s Moving Castle” and other Studio Ghibli films at this beloved film fest. | Graphic courtesy of Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
Now through Sunday, Feb. 9, Portlanders can experience beloved films from one of the most acclaimed animation studios in the world. Daily showings will include fan favorites such as:
“My Neighbor Totoro”
“Kiki’s Delivery Service”
“Spirited Away”
and Hayao Miyazaki’s most recent film, “The Boy and the Heron”
For an extra special treat, snag tickets to Reel Eats: “My Neighbor Totoro,” and snack along with Mei as she navigates a world filled with mystical creatures and jaw-dropping bites.
He’s bringing biking back. Popstar Justin Timberlake joined a Portland Bike Bus ride to Alameda Elementary School on Sunday. The students made a plea on TikTok and Instagram back in October for the artist to join them while he was in town for a concert, and the posts got millions of views on both sites. (Oregon Live)
Sports
Get a kick out of this — Vancouver was just named one of Washington’s 11 2026 World Cup fan zones that will host live music, interactive activations, and food + beverage options. Seattle will host six World Cup games during this time, but is pulling in the rest of the region with these big party sites. More details to come. (KGW)
Open
The Metro Regional Innovation Hub, which seeks to unite entrepreneurs with local resources, has officially opened in downtown Portland. The state-funded hub already houses an Upstart Collective outpost and several university groups, but is not specifically tied to the university. (Portland Business Journal)
Travel
Alaska Airlines is adding two new nonstop flights to PDX. Travelers can now board planes to Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) on May 15. The company will also soon resume its twice daily service between Portland and Eugene. (KGW)
Biz
The Portland Timbers have a new official sponsor. First Tech Federal Credit Union is now the first sponsor of all four of Portland major sports teams after recently also signing onto the Thorns and the still-unnamed new WNBA team. (Portland Business Journal)
Cause
More than 18 Portland area residents are currently in Southern California assisting the American Red Cross as it helps survivors of the devastating wildfires near Los Angeles. Want to help? The Red Cross is always accepting donations to help Americans affected by disasters. (KGW)
Civic
Hundreds of city employees have been asked by Mayor Keith Wilson to return to the office full time by the spring. The mayor singles out supervisors and managers for this policy decision, saying that they set the tone of workplace culture. The ~700 affected represent about 10% of the City’s workforce. (Portland Business Journal)
Listen
A lot happened in the Portland Trail Blazers’ recent game against the New York Nets. Get a recap of biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Trailblazers with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Wellness
Looking for couples counseling at an affordable rate you can maintain? Fletcher Marron, a clinical mental health intern at the Couples Clinic of Portland, offers sessions at a greatly reduced rate. He offers free consultations with openings as early as next week. Email couplesclinicpdx@gmail.com to schedule an appointment.*
Featured Job
Looking to join a hardworking, fun-loving team? Apply for a job with the Habitat for Humanity ReStore team. They’re currently hiring for multiple positions, including full-time + part-time roles. Open positions include roles with their brand new store opening in Tigard. Explore jobs + apply.*
Volunteer
Did you know MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service? Join AmeriCorps this MLK Day to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King and help your community by volunteering on Monday, Jan. 20. Find volunteer opportunities to serve locally.*
Eat
Start 2025 with Thrive Market: organic groceries delivered right to your door. (They ban over 1,000 harmful ingredients.) Join here to get 30% off your order plus a free $60 gift.*
Finance
Did you know some credit cards can actually help you get out of debt faster? (It sounds wild, but it’s true.) The secret: Find a credit card with a “0% intro APR” period for balance transfers. This is hands-down one of the best of 2025.*
Category (Paid)
Health
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Presented by Hims & Hers
From personalized plans to unlimited check-ins, this program helps make weight loss simple and sustainable. | Photo provided by Hims & Hers
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Portland Art Museum’s permanent collections feature works from Europe, Asia, America, and Africa, as well as contemporary and ancient pieces. | Photo by Portland Art Museum
Museums are the cultural hubs of Portland. Whether you’re looking to learn something new about the City of Roses or plotting a way to spend your Saturday afternoon, here are 25 museums to visit in our city.
Oregon Historical Society | $12+ Explore the people, events, and artifacts that shaped the state and country as a whole, organized across three floors in permanent and traveling exhibits.
Portland Art Museum | $22+ Founded in 1892, the oldest art museum in the Pacific Northwest now possesses 112,000 sqft of galleries and more than 50,000 objects, spanning many different eras, media, and geographic origin.
Portland Puppet Museum | Free This homage to the ancient form of storytelling is the lifelong passion of founder/owner/curator Steven Overton, whose collection consists of approx. 2,700 stringed characters.
Freakybuttrue Peculiarium | $7+ Hug a Sasquatch. Get operated on by aliens. Kiss the Krampus. These are just a few things to do at the epicenter of Portland’s weirdness.
A pair of 14K gold plated heart hoops. The huggie-sized earrings are hypoallergenic and tarnish-resistant. Psst — they’re also the perfect Valentine’s Day accessory.
If you find yourself taking quite a few nature pictures through the year, you might want to submit them to Metro’s Our Big Backyard spring 2025 photo contest. The winner wins either a metro parks parking pass or a round of tennis or golf at Glendoveer Golf and Tennis Center. Photos can be taken anywhere — the park, your backyard, on a trail — as long as it focuses on our natural world. Submissions are due Saturday, Feb. 1.
