50 Things Every Portlander Must Do

The path to ultimate Portlandness is loud, tasty, sweaty, and always surprising. It’s time you got started. Listen up, n00bs. From urban vino and roller derby to public nudity and Baby Ketten karaoke, the road to ultimate Portlandness takes serious commitment. Its time to put your initials on the high-score screen. Whether youve just arrived here (dont tell anyone!) or you were sipping drinks at Satyricon when Courtney Love was cuddling the Cabbage Patch, think of these pages as a phased journey toward Oregon self-actualization. When you cross off that fiftieth item, go ahead and call yourself a consummate local. Until then, there are no cheat codes.

In this issue:

Arts & Culture

THE ESSENTIALS

January’s Pop Culture Hot List

The concerts, the book, the talk, and the movie you can’t miss this month.

12/21/2015 By Fiona McCann

A NEW SPIN

Portland Dance Companies Mix Things Up

From game-show formats to clueless choreographers, local dance companies are finding new paths to creativity—and new audiences in the process.

12/21/2015 By Heather Wisner

LONG STORY SHORT

Ruth Wariner’s Harrowing Survival Story

Her mother’s fourth child and her father’s 39th, Ruth Wariner’s incredible life story begins in a polygamist Mormon colony in Chihuahua, Mexico.

12/21/2015 By Fiona McCann

BIG PICTURE

The Art Gallery Inside a Ford Bronco

Why two Portland artists built a mobile gallery in a classic American car.

12/21/2015 By Brandon Staley

Dance

Portland’s White Bird Dance Is Hosting a Prestigious Showcase in NYC

Founders Paul King and Walter Jaffe break down why this is such a big deal.

12/21/2015 By Fiona McCann

AVANT GUARD

Meet the Bosnian Artist Who Watches Over Portland’s Most Valuable Art Trove

By day, Miroslav Lovric is a security guard at the Portland Art Museum; by night, he’s a painter inspired by the masters he guards.

12/10/2015 By Jonathan Frochtzwajg

AVANT GUARD

The Art of Miroslav Lovric

By day, Miroslav Lovric is a security guard at the Portland Art Museum; by night, he’s a painter inspired by the masters he guards. See some of the work in his "Soul Catchers" series in our slideshow.

12/10/2015 By Fiona McCann With Images Courtesy Miroslav Lovric

Best of the City

PORTLAND BUCKET LIST

Are You a Real Portlander?

Have you sprinted up Tabor? Gone commando at the World Naked Bike Ride? Consumed *all* the beer? Take our quiz to find out if you’re (nearly) native—or just got off the bus.

12/11/2015 Edited by Marty Patail With Karen Brooks, Ramona DeNies, Allison Jones, Fiona McCann, Rachel Ritchie, and Benjamin Tepler

Eat & Drink

EAT THIS NOW

Mussels and Fries Take the Spotlight at La Moule

At St. Jack’s new sister spot, Belgian tradition meets Portland cocktail bar.

12/21/2015 By Benjamin Tepler

WORD OF MOUTH

Two Coffee Shops and More to Check Out in January

Portland Monthly food critic Karen Brooks dishes on the restaurants, obsessions, and under-the-radar finds of the month.

12/21/2015 By Karen Brooks

DRINK HERE NOW

Bone, Mugs, and Harmony

Haters gonna hate, but Broth Bar heals winter chills, one sip at a time.

12/21/2015 By Kelly Clarke

RECIPE

Raclette Your Way to a Happy New Year

The secret to a delicious winter dinner party is fondue’s cousin: ooey-gooey Alpine raclette.

12/21/2015 By Benjamin Tepler

REVIEW

Does Muscadine Make Portland’s Best Fried Chicken?

Laura Rhoman’s tiny Northeast Portland eatery delivers a genuine taste of the South, Nashville hot birds to true grits.

12/21/2015 By Karen Brooks

Editor's Note

EDITORS’ NOTE

Discovering Portland

Remembering the early days of arriving in the Rose City

12/20/2015 By Rachel Ritchie

Health & Wellness

TOP DOCS

Portland’s Top Doctors & Nurses 2016

We tallied more than 11,000 peer votes from doctors, nurses, physician assistants, and complementary medicine providers for our annual guide to the city’s best.

12/30/2015 Edited by Ramona DeNies

WEEKEND AWAY

Your Guide to a Rejuvenating Weekend in Seattle

Treat yourself to kettlebells and kale smoothies in the Emerald City's hottest hood.

12/21/2015 By Allison Jones

NEWS

How Oregon Fixed Birth Control

Two new laws give Oregon women more flexibility and independence than any other state in the country.

12/21/2015 By Jennifer Abbasi

News & City Life

PDX INDEX

The Story of Portland’s Iconic 503 Area Code Is More Complicated Than You Think

The coveted locals-only digits go back decades.

12/21/2015 By Marty Patail

SHAKEDOWN

What’s the Deal with Wim Wiewel?

Portland State’s president wants a new payroll tax. But first, we size him up.

12/21/2015 By Marty Patail

THE BREAKTHROUGH

Will One Doctor’s Radical New Vaccine End the AIDS Epidemic?

Portland researcher Louis Picker could be on the brink of a cure, and this year will be crucial to his quest.

12/21/2015 By Jennifer Abbasi

Portland Bucket List

50 Things Every Portlander Must Do

From transplants to natives, we present a quirky and quintessential bucket list for every type of Portlander.

12/21/2015 Edited by Marty Patail

REPORT

Meet the Portland Animal Lovers Who Save Neglected Dogs with One Simple Fix

How an innovative small nonprofit picked one issue and created change

12/21/2015 By Winston Ross

5 THINGS ABOUT

Here’s Why Mayor Charlie Hales Isn’t Running for Reelection

We look back at what Hales has accomplished, and at what his final year in City Hall may hold.

12/21/2015 By Zach Dundas and Marty Patail

EDUCATION

Is This The Perfect College For the 21st Century?

The Indiegogo-funded Wayfinding Academy will focus on honing real-world skills rather than fulfilling prerequisites.

12/21/2015 By Keegan Clements-Housser

DISPATCH

How A Portland Vet Found Peace in Fly-Fishing

Chad Brown’s path to the river wasn’t easy—but now he wants to share his experience with everyone he can.

12/21/2015 By Katie Vaughan

Style & Shopping

EMERGING DESIGNER

German Madrigal’s Modern Style

How a missing kidney, countless lattes, and Beyoncé turned German Madrigal into Portland fashion’s next hot name.

12/21/2015 By Eden Dawn

WINNING FINDS

Trophy Case: Best Local Stuff of January 2015

This month’s hottest locally made goods, from sleek winter jackets to beautiful screwdrivers (really!)

12/21/2015 By Marty Patail

VENTURES

This Start-Up Brings the Internet of Things to Millennial Renters

Your future apartment will know when you are sleeping.

12/21/2015 By Zach Dundas

Travel & Outdoors

PDX, WORLD

Explore the World with Portland’s Direct International Flights

Going global from the Rose City has never been easier. Start with these five amazing direct-flight destinations.

12/21/2015 Edited by Rachel Ritchie

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

An Insider Guide to Reykjavik

Discover Iceland’s extreme landscape of fire, ice, and roasted cod head.

12/21/2015 By Kristin Donahue

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

An Insider Guide to Frankfurt

Germany’s big-business city can also be big fun.

12/21/2015 By Rachel Ritchie

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

An Insider Guide to Puerto Vallarta

An accidental Mexican resort town revels in global charm.

12/21/2015 By Rachel Ritchie

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

An Insider Guide to Tokyo

Japan’s lively megalopolis is full of energy, culture, and incredible food.

12/21/2015 By Dan Engler

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

An Insider Guide to Amsterdam

In Europe’s culturally rich city of canals, vacation becomes an art installation.

12/21/2015 By Kristin Donahue