Why We Love Living in Portland in January
January Highlights in PDX
The Rose City's official slogan, “Keep Portland Weird,” perfectly sums up the eccentricity of this off-beat, urban haven. Here, the tenets of adventure, DIY, and generally just being different are ingrained in the city's fabric.
While every month in Portland brings its own swell of surprises, each January, we look forward to experiencing some of the best winter events and rituals in the city. From local reactions towards inclement weather to cozy bar hideaways and quirky events, January brings a wealth of reminders of why we love living in Portland.
Swapping Skiis for Cars in January Weather
As the first full winter month, January brings some of Portland's harshest weather, and by harsh, we mean the occasional 1-2 inches of snow. But we love living in Portland's January weather as it brings out even more of the strange in people. People don't know how to navigate the lightly dusted city streets, so residents opt for skis and snowshoes instead of cars. In just about any neighborhood, you can expect to see groups of people sliding on ice to make their way to bars.
Which bars you ask? January brings the perfect excuse to escape the winter chill and take up residence in a cozy bar. We love The Tannery, a rustic A-frame bar in North Tabor that serves craft cocktails, artisanal spirits, wine and beer, and of course, comfort food staples. With Tectronix record players crooning tunes in the background, this lamp lit bar is the perfect place to savor a drink and enjoy January in Portland.
We also love the The Rookery – an upstairs bar venue inside of The Raven and Rose restaurant. Set inside the historic Ladd Carriage House, the Rookery is the perfect place to cozy up near the grand fireplace on a chilly January evening to enjoy masterfully designed cocktails and top-notch eats.
The Best of Portland’s January Events
If staying indoors to fight the January chill gives you a dose of cabin fever, Portland's quirky events are the perfect antidote. We love all the strange events that Portland offers in January.
On January 7-8, Curious Gallery will return to the Crowne Plaza for its fourth year. The two-day festival will feature panels, programming and workshops with topics ranging from traditional printmaking techniques to tarantula preservation. Lovers of taxidermy, oddities, and natural specimens – this event is for you.
On January 24th, make your way to the Hawthorne Theater to enjoy The Pancakes & Booze Art Show. This eccentric show features the best of Portland’s local talent with ink artists, live bands, photographers, and DJs. Between the body paint and this year’s 100+ artist lineup, just make sure you save time to enjoy the endless buffet of pancakes.
From January 19-29, immerse yourself in theater culture at Fertile Grounds 2017. Launched by the Portland Area Theatre Alliance, the Fertile Ground arts festival is an 11-day city-wide event focused on new work in the Arts. This year, enjoy world premiere projects, workshops, staged readings, dance, and developing works from the Portland creative arts community.
It wouldn’t be a winter month in Portland without a brew-themed event to attend. January brings Basecamp's Collabofest -- a festival that celebrates camaraderie and innovation within Portland’s craft beer community. This year, enjoy a line up including Alameda Brewing Co., Culmination Brewing Company, Ex Novo Brewing, Mt. Tabor Brewing, Occidental Brewing Company, and dozens of others.
Wherever you end up in Portland this January, take a minute to celebrate the local flavor this city holds. Even in winter, Portland is a city you won’t want to leave.