Written by: Tova Woyciechowicz
Portland’s eccentric nature lends itself to a lot of interesting events and businesses. Locals sum it up with the popular slogan, “Keep Portland Weird.” Visitors tend to notice several things right away: rain, public transit, bicycles and tattoos. Portlanders know there is a lot more. Twitter can help anyone discover the best of what is going on. These great twitter feeds capture the best activities, events, food and places in Portland.
1. PDX Pipeline
@PdxPipeline – What creates Portland’s exceptional vibe? Find out when you follow this account that tweets about things like the: Rose City Rollers’ face offs (hardcore talented & sexy girls), the Ugly Dog contest, Pirate Themed Dance Party tickets and the Bicycle Film Festival. Get in touch with weird and classic Portland events.
2. Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
@OMSI – One of the top science museums in the nation, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry redefines fun with science. Their tweets are full of fun facts and deals on membership. This account offers nerdy random facts and is particularly interesting for families!
3. Travel Portland
@travelportland — Finally, somebody gets it! Portland is an urban adventure with a small town feel. Travel Portland’s tweets are surprisingly comprehensive. You can find out about Taiko drumming at the Japanese Gardens and how to help Portland regain its title as “Beer City USA.”
4. FoodCartsPortland
@PDXfoodcarts – Portland is renowned for its numerous food carts. This twitter account documents what’s happening with food cart pods sprouting up all over town. You can find out what carts will be at bi-monthly art walks or at the new Q centers’ farmers market . Their tweets will help you find extraordinary foods, like a bourbon apple filled cupcake with bacon on top hot and deals on spicy southern fried chicken. Yum.
5. Fun PDX
@FunPDX – A Portland reporter who re-tweets great local events and happenings. These messages are mostly links to interesting activities and news updates in Portland. You can find out about the Oregon Symphony, bicycle politics and The Vegan Casserole Cook-Off, on one Twitter account.
6. SCRAP: School & Community Reuse Action Project
@SCRAPaction – SCRAP has an uncanny ability to organize junk in a way that attracts crafters, kids and community. Their tweets have a quirky flare, announcing events and sales. Find out whose “pinking shears and glue guns are locked and loaded for…the Rebel Craft Rumble!” Hear about Art Spark’s latest crafting fun at a local bar and the Hand2Mouth Theater performance. Follow @SCRAPaction to be inspired with the creative spirit that is truly Portland.
7. Forest Park Conservation
@PDXForestPark – Forest Park is the nation’s largest forested park within city limits and one of Portland’s most accessible parks. This twitter account makes is doubly so, as you can find out about volunteer opportunities for trail maintenance, when the Trillium flower starts blooming and how to take the All Trails Challenge (hiking all 80 miles)!
8. Portland Parks & Recreation
@PDXParksandRec – The Rose City is green in more ways than one. Portland Parks & Rec tweets about free concerts, outdoor movies, gardening tips and events. @PDXParksandRec makes venturing outdoors more doable, tweeting which trails are open and passable. This information allows you to get out and enjoy the happy benefits of rain; vibrant greens and almost year round flowers.
9. Willamette Week
@wweek – The Willamette Week wins best weekly newspaper twitter account (compared to its rival, The Portland Mercury, @portlandmercury), @wweek gives followers Portland highlights. Get up to date information about events, the 23 best bakeries, reviews of 54 new food carts, competitions for new bands and early election results.
10. Happy Hour Guidebook
@PDXHappyHour – Working folks smile in anticipation of these tweets as @PDXHappyHour often gives half off coupons. This account also tweets about deals like 2-for-1 drinks at Salty’s with a view of the Columbia River. Despite questionable tweet’s recommending beer margaritas, we trust their account! It distills the books they’ve published into credible updates.
If you’re not in love with Portland’s ‘weirdness’ by now, we invite you to join over 1000 cyclists for the naked bike ride in June! In the mean time, follow these twitter accounts to learn about events for all types of people. The real time updates offer an unparalleled way to learn about what’s fresh and green in Portland.
