Eat, Drink, Be Merry…and Park for Free

Get downtown this weekend, don't pay for parking

Few holiday traditions are as purely Portland as the Holiday Ale Fest, returning for its 20th year at Pioneer Courthouse Square Dec. 2 – 6. It's a celebration of all things warm, with more than four dozen big, bold winter beers from across the nation on offer underneath the gigantic tent, which gets extra cozy with gas heaters that simulate the warmth of a mountain cabin without all those pesky yeti. And lest you miss the region's largest decorated tree overhead, the roof is clear, providing the ultimate holiday beer-drinking experience. In addition to beer tasting, the festival raises funds for the Children's Cancer Association. For more information, visit www.holidayale.com.

Carpal tunnel got your holiday shopping down? Well, you could try actually leaving the house and hitting up Downtown Portland retailers for in-store-only items and, you know, human interaction. Visit longtime favorites Nordstrom, Macy's, Powell's Bookstore and Pioneer Place and while you're there, check out one of the great new businesses: Wildfang offers all things tomboy; Detroit-based Shinola is known for American-made fine watches, leather goods and bicycles; women's clothing brand Jarbo presents sleek and high quality women's separates; Pandora offers custom charm bracelets; and any doll lovers dreams come true at American Girl.

PDX Pop-Up Shops return downtown this year, turning Portland's vacant retail space into temporary stores where local designers and artists set up shop for the holiday season. That means you can go artisan and one-of-a-kind without freaking out and jaunting all over town. Plus, you get to do it all while exploring downtown's unique holiday landscape.

The shops are currently open in Old Town Chinatown at 438 NW Broadway and 341 NW 5th Avenue.

PDX Pop-Up Shops include:

Draplin Design Co. (438 NW Broadway )–the group behind the hugely popular Field Notes line of memo books–features the full line of merchandise, including shirts, hats, stickers, and posters featuring graphic designs by Aaron Draplin. Oh, and Field Notes. Lots of Field Notes.

Stubborn Stiles (438 NW Broadway) offers resin and metal jewelry, holiday ornaments, concert posters, art prints, books and journals, t-shirts, gift wrap and greeting cards created by the design-build duo of Dan and Melissa Stiles.

FOLK (438 NW Broadway) showcases thoughtful, durable and sustainable furniture, lighting and other goods created by Richard Koehler. Products will include bottle openers, hand sewn leather wallets and wood cutting boards. An if you want to go even more personal, they'll even custom-make tables and desk (probably not on Christmas Eve).

Omiyage (341 NW 5th Ave.) celebrates the Japanese tradition of gift-giving, and the company's pop-up is is sponsored by the Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center, so you can bet the Asian-inspired gifts and crafts by local artisans will be authentic.

PDX Pop-Up Shops are open through Thursday, December 24. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday 11 am- 7pm, Sunday 12-5 pm, and closed on Monday. Omiyage has special hours: Wednesday through Friday 11 am- 6 pm, Saturday – Sunday 12-5 pm.

Be sure to stop by past PDX Pop-Up Shop participants, now permanent stores in downtown Portland: Crafty Wonderland, Boys Fort, and Bridge and Burn.

On three Sundays in December, parking at SmartPark is the best deal you can find – because it's free! On Dec. 6, 13 and 20, customers who park at a SmartPark garage can visit the customer service kiosk at Pioneer Place (lower level near the Gap) or Boys Fort (902 SW Morrison St.) or PDX Pop Up Shops (at 438 NW Broadway and 341 NW 5th Avenue) any time between noon and 5 p.m. to show their eligible Smart Park ticket for the day and receive one $5 parking voucher to cover their parking for the day.

For more information on downtown events and happenings this season, please visit www.downtownportland.org, Facebook: Downtown Portland, Twitter: InDowntownPDX; and Instagram: DowntownPDX. Join the conversation using hashtags #pdxpopupshops.

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