Christmas, Solstice, and More Light in Portland 2025

This year’s Christmas Tree downtown.

“Christmastime is here, happiness and cheer, fun for all that children call their favorite time of year,” so the song goes. This year we thought we’d do a roundup of things to do and eat around the time the light starts to return—the Winter Solstice, of course, but also Christmas, and Hanukkah (here is this year’s roundup specific to the Festival of Lights). Here’s our hodgepodge roundup for this time of year. 

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Small Bites: Fiery Crab, Lost Lounge, Krampus, and More

Seafood boil at Fiery Crab.
Photo credit: Fiery Crab.

Fiery Crab is coming to Portland. A reader wrote us with this tip, “The old Shari’s on NE 122nd near San Rafael and in the Winco parking lot is becoming a new restaurant. It looked like some work had been happening there, but it had been quiet for a while. Today I saw a sign going up that I think said Fiery Crab.” That matches this Google listing—“temporarily closed” likely means it’s just not open yet.

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Malpractice Celebrates One Year, Plus Some Updates, in Portland

The interior of Malpractice.
Photo credit: Malpractice.

Recently, I had a chance to chat with the folks at Malpractice, a bar known for its interesting and unconventional cocktails. I learned that they are approaching their first anniversary, with a party to celebrate that milestone. We also talked a little about their popular cocktails and the bar team’s increased efforts to engage in the non-alcoholic side of drinking at their bar. And now Hirori is joining in on the fun in their kitchen.

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Hanukkah 2025 in Portland

Latkes, sour cream, and applesauce for Hanukkah 2025 in Portland.
Photo credit: Alan Weiner for Henry Higgins Boiled Bagels

It’s that time again: Hanukkah 2025, the Festival of Lights! Hanukkah celebrates the miracle that a small amount of oil was able to last for eight days. Fun fact: Hanukkah is not a biblical celebration. 

Here is where you can celebrate, eat festive foods, and enjoy this winter holiday focused on bringing light into the world.

Menorah Lightings | Places To Go | Places To Shop
Parties and Celebrations

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Small Bites: Javi’s, YUI, 33 Cafe, Dear Santa, and More

Delicious food at Javi's.
A couple of things you can get at Javi’s: chilaquiles and eggs benedict with hashbrowns.

Javi’s will open in Vancouver. Their Sandy Blvd location is so popular that they’ll be opening a second location at The Mill shopping center, which is also home to another familiar Portland business: Parkrose Hardware. No indication of the timing of their opening yet, aside from “soon.” Good news for The Couve. 7900 E Mill Plain Blvd, Vancouver

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