One stone depicts the names of camps across the US where Japanese Americans were incarcerated. | Photo by Ben McBee, PDXtoday
In just a few weeks, crowds will flock to Portland’s waterfront to pose for pics among the cherry trees in Tom McCall Waterfront Park.
Forecasts are pointing us to peak bloom starting as early as this week and lasting through the end of March.
But beyond the dainty pink blossoms, each of the “Akebono” cherry trees are rooted in history.
They were gifted to the city by Japan in 1990 as part of the dedication for the Japanese American Cultural Plaza, designed by award-winning landscape architect Robert Murase. On the edge of Old Town Chinatown, also known as Japantown, the space serves as a memorial to the 120,000+ Japanese and Japanese-American people (~4,000 in Oregon) who were incarcerated during World War II.
Visit to appreciate the various sculptures and poems that commemorate their hardship and “raise public awareness of the diversity of cultural experiences in America.”
Events
Events
Thursday, March 20
The Music of the Rolling Stones | 7:30 p.m. | Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall | $25+ | The only way that the Rolling Stones’ music could get any cooler is by adding a full orchestra — cover band still included.
Friday, March 21
Dancing with the Stars: Live! - 2025 Tour | 7:30 p.m. | Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall | $60+ | Get ready for glitzy costumes and some seriously impressive moves — Disney actress Chandler Kinney will also be up onstage.
Saturday, March 22
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong | 7 p.m. | Revolution Hall | $41 | If this band’s name didn’t catch your attention, its high-energy funkadelic music will.
Gabriel Iglesias: Don’t Worry Be Fluffy Tour | 8 p.m. | Moda Center | $39.50+ | This widely popular lovable goofball recently became the second-highest grossing touring comedian.
Sunday, March 23
Patisserie Painting: Watercolor Workshop | 1-3 p.m. | Le Petit Cafe NW | $42.50 | Snack on coffee + a cookie while you use the delightful atmosphere and aroma of freshly baked goods to inspire your work in this guided class.
Monday, March 24
So True Live Tour With Caleb Hearon | Monday, March 24-Tuesday, March 25 | 7:30 p.m. | Revolution Hall | $49+ | Likely one of the funniest people of his generation, Caleb Hearon is taking his widely popular podcast on the road.
Storytelling With Data: Great Graphs, Bad Logos, Data Ethics | 7 p.m. | Alberta Rose Theatre | $25 | Grab a beer and get settled as a few local scientists get into the nitty gritty of the psychology of perception and how bad graphs can screw us over.
Thursday, March 27
Jim Henson’s “Labyrinth": In Concert | 7 p.m. | Revolution Hall | $58+ | Careful — you might find yourself screaming “That’s not fair!” if you realize you missed watching the film accompanied by a live orchestra.
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Sounds like its time to put on the boxing gloves. A Japanese park now holds the Guinness World Record for World’s Smallest Park with a whopping 80 square inches less than our Mill Ends Park. However, they did learn from the experts — the Nagaizumi Town park was actually inspired by a trip to Portland. (KGW)
Community
Beep, beep no more. A new car-free plaza is coming to Hawthorne Boulevard, along with some fancy amenities. The new community space across from McMenamins Bagdad Theater will include picnic tables, landscaping, public art, and a kiosk where folks can charge their phones. (KGW)
Travel
If you’re traveling for spring break, expect the Portland International Airport to be a bit busier than usual. PDX is expecting ~820,000 travelers to filter through its terminals between Friday, March 21 and Sunday, April 6, with the busiest days projected for Monday, March 31 and Friday, April 4. (KGW)
Ranked
A few Portland businesses have been ranked as some of the “world’s top innovators” by magazine Fast Company. Local shoutouts on the list include the Port of Portland, Widen + Kennedy, Powin, WellRithms, and Bob’s Red Mill for their clever problem-solving and their commitment to local pride. (Portland Business Journal)
Family
If you’re itching for something to do with the kiddos while they’re out for spring break, Hoyt Arboretum is hosting Pop-Up Nature! Spring Break Exploration Stations that allow young outdoorists to get hands on with the environment. The free, drop-in events will run 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Monday, March 24-Friday, March 28.
Sports
The Portland Trailblazers have been killing it lately. Where have they improved or is it just luck? Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Portland Trailblazers with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Small Biz
Good things come in small packages. We’ll be celebrating Small Business Week, an initiative to highlight our city’s local enterprises from Sunday, May 4 to Saturday, May 10. If you own a local small business, join us by filling out a form about your business.
Wellness
Imagine unlocking a new level of mental clarity and peace. What if a pathway to this transformation was closer than you think? Discover how Active Path Mental Health patients have found relief from treatment-resistant depression with TMS therapy — listen to their stories.*
Outdoors
With spring comes outdoor concerts + music festivals — luckily, these hearing aids are the world’s first with multi-stream processing, designed to help you engage in conversations effortlessly (even in noisy environments, like that must-see show).*
Stat
Every six seconds. That’s how often a pet owner spends $1,000+ in unforeseen care costs for their fur baby. Pet insurance could cover up to 90% of these costs — find the right plan.*
Fact or Fiction
Fact: 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 one even offers 5% cash back on your purchases.*
Biz
Calling all business owners. For a limited time, we’re offering 15% off your first advertising purchase on our self-service ad portal. No long-term contract required — simply use the code NEW15 at checkout to redeem the discount.
City Guide
City Guide
🖼 On exhibit
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.
Portland Chinatown Museum | $5+
Go “Beyond the Gate” at Oregon’s first museum celebrating Chinese American culture, history, and art, which also hosts lectures and other public programming.
Hopscotch | $15+
Immerse yourself in this spectacular newcomer to Portland’s Goat Blocks. Each room holds a mind-bending experience, including a cosmic trampoline, laser graffiti, an out-of-body VR playroom, a rainbow ball pit... we could go on, but you need to discover it for yourself.
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