Celebrate Lunar New Year at Lan Su Chinese Garden
From Feb. 7, 2024 through March 2 on select weekend nights, the Lan Su Chinese Garden is illuminated by countless colorful lanterns in celebration of Lunar New Year. Lion Dances, performed to bring good luck and drive away evil in the new year, are also hosted by the garden. Admission for the first day of Lunar New Year, Jan. 21, is free to the public. Otherwise, admission is $14 for adults and $11 for children ages six to 18. To view the events schedule and book tickets, visit lansugarden.org.
Go Skating at Oaks Park Roller Rink
For over 100 years, the Oaks Park Roller Rink has served as an indoor escape from the rainy winter weather. On Sundays, the original Wurlitzer pipe organ plays, which brings an old-timey feel to the experience. Wavers are required to skate, so be sure to fill one out online beforehand. Hours vary and admission is $12 per person, including skate rentals.
Memory Den Vintage Mall
With over 140 vendors, Memory Den is the largest vintage mall in Portland, Oregon. It offers a variety of eclectically charming clothing and furniture from all decades— with a special collection of vintage radios, modernized to be Bluetooth compatible. On the second floor, there is a staged apartment in which almost every item is available for purchase. Memory Den is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. everyday.
Visit a Photobooth
While there are many modern photo booths located around the city, there are very few analog “dip and dunk” photo booths left. These remarkable photo booths rely on a series of chemical dips to develop the photos, which is why it can take up to a couple minutes to see the prints. Use www.photobooth.net/locations/ in order to locate a booth near you. Depending on the location, hours and prices vary.
See a Rose City Remix Basketball Game
This is the Trailblazers’ first season with a G-league affiliate, Rip City Remix. Players from widely diverse basketball backgrounds form the rag-tag team. Home games are at Chiles Center on the University of Portland Campus. Tickets range from $5 to $30, with the exception of sideline seats.
Visit Melville Books
While Melville Books might just be one of the smallest bookstores in Portland, it does not lack variety. Hidden behind a residential house on NE Alberta, the small shed-turned-used-book-store has something for everyone. Popular books can frequently be scored for a fraction of the price. Melville also encourages customers to bring in their quality used books, as they’ll purchase them. Melville is open 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.
Attend the Portland Mardi Gras Parade
The Portland Mardi Gras Parade is hosted each year by the Mysti Krewe of Nimbus, Portland’s Louisiana style Mardi Gras Krewe. The parade is held Feb. 13th, and encourages everyone to dress up in their most celebratory outfits. In accordance with tradition, beads and candy are thrown into the crowd as “throws.” The Mysti Krewe decorates a limited number of mini umbrellas, which are the most valuable of the “throws.”
Explore the Portland Winter Lights Festival
Each year since 2016, the Portland Winter Lights Festival, presented by Portland General Electric, has brought bright light displays to various locations throughout the Portland area. There is no admission fee to any of the lights festival events, but most of them do take place outdoors, which means one should dress for the weather. Visit pdxwlf.com for a map of locations and activities.
