Portland has lots of sister cities — nine of them, in fact — but as today is Korean-American Day, we’re sending some special love to Ulsan, South Korea.

So, what is a sister city? Essentially, it's a long-term partnership between two communities in two countries, agreed upon by the highest elected or appointed officials. Each relationship is overseen by volunteers with a nonprofit, which helps cultivate international bonds, share culture, and encourage economic development.

Ulsan Metropolitan City officially became our sister city on November 20, 1978, but many locals might not know a lot about the industrial port city on the southeast coast of South Korea. It’s home to Hyundai Motors, which made the Port of Portland the car manufacturer’s primary entry point to the US in 1988. A year later, at the groundbreaking ceremony for the company’s $12 million auto import facility + floating dock, skydivers delivered a shovel from 2,000 ft. — talk about soaring to new heights.

Oregon was the first state to ship fresh blueberries to South Korea, and in 2018, the country ranked fourth ($1.7 billion dollars) for Oregon’s international exports, largely consisting of machinery, agricultural products, computers + electronics, and chemicals.

Both cities have a thing for roses. At the 2017 Portland Rose Festival’s Grand Floral Parade, the Portland-Ulsan Sister City Association’s float won the Royal Rosarian Award for best craftsmanship + workmanship. That same year, mayor Gi-Hyeon Kim visited with more than 60 delegates and the Ulsan Metropolitan Chorus serenaded listeners with a free “30th Anniversary Friendship Concert” at the Newmark Theater.

Despite the hardships of the pandemic, Portland’s sister city relationship with Ulsan remains strong after nearly 35 years. Portland State University has an exchange program with the University of Ulsan, and students from Hyundai Chungun High School make annual visits to Portland as part of the summer Global Leadership Seminar.

EVENTS

Today

South Waterfront Winter Farmers Market | Thurs., Jan. 13 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Elizabeth Caruthers Park, 3508 S. Moody Ave. | Free | Browse for locally-made honey, dog treats, spirits, produce + more.

Tomorrow

FEAST – Nicole Duennebier | Fri., Jan. 14 | 4-7 p.m. | Nucleus Portland, 1524 NE Alberta St. | Free | This gallery opening kicks off a solo exhibition that explores the natural phenomena of decay through detailed paintings.
Dance Yourself Clean – An Indie Dance Party | Fri., Jan. 14 | 9 p.m. | Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison St. | $10 | Move your body to Empire of the Sun, Tame Impala, Arcade Fire + more indie electronic tunes all night long.

Saturday

Wine & Popcorn Pairings | Sat., Jan. 15 + Sun., Jan 16 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Beacon Hill Winery, 22070 NE Ridge Rd., Gaston | $15+ | Sample locally-made, artisanal popcorn along with a glass of vino.
PBR: Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour | Sat., Jan. 15 | 7 p.m. | Moda Center | $15+ | Grab the night by the horns + watch some of the best bull riders in the world. 🐂

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

PLAN YOUR JANUARY

Note: COVID-19 protocols are changing rapidly to curb the spread of the Omicron variant in Portland. Please make sure to check event listing pages + venue websites for the most up-to-date information.

NEWS NOTES

Weather

50º | Periods of rain | 85% chance of rain

Sunrise + Sunset

Rise: 7:47 a.m.
Set: 4:51 p.m.

Health

Research from Oregon State University + Oregon Health and Science University suggests that hemp compounds can protect against COVID-19. The study shows that CBGA + CBDA can bind to the spike protein of the original strain of SARS-CoV-2 and two early variants, helping to prevent infection in the body’s cells. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)
Governor Kate Brown announced that 1,200+ National Guard troops will be deployed to hospitals across Oregon — including about 20 hospitals in the Portland metro area — in response to record COVID-19 cases. (KOIN)

Announced

After two years of virtual festivities, organizers of the Portland Rose Festival are preparing to host in-person events, including parades, dragon boat races, Fleet Week + CityFair. The “Rose City Reunion” kicks off May 27 with a concert from Hit Machine and a fireworks show over Tom McCall Waterfront Park. (KATU)

Featured

Impeccable five-course meals + wine pairings at Newberg’s Rosmarino Osteria Italiana earned the eatery its spot on OpenTable’s “Top 100 Restaurants in America for 2021” list. Diners left more than 2,000 reviews to give it a five star rating on the reservation platform. (KGW)

Job

Love brand storytelling? Want to create paid content that’s actually worth reading? 6AM City is now hiring a West Coast-based Branded Content Editor. This remote role will generate creative campaign strategies and write content for clients across all soon-to-be 24 markets. See details + apply.

📸 @thresholdbeer

Brewers at Threshold Beer went on a fun field trip recently, with a hands-on yeast propagation course courtesy of Imperial Yeast. These little fungi digest sugars to create alcohol and carbon dioxide. Buzz + bubbles? Check and check. It’s not every day you get to lay eyes on the single-cell microorganisms responsible for the tasty brews we Portlanders enjoy so much — so cheers to them.

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THE WRAP

Editor’s pick: With the respite from the rain we all enjoyed yesterday, I finally got around to taking down my Christmas lights, which I’m sure my electricity bill will appreciate. Though, after some Googling, it looks like I’ve violated the proper etiquette — apologies to my neighbors — but who can blame me for wanting to hold on to the holiday spirit?

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? We took a look at Portland’s environmental goals.

Today's Edition by:

Ben

PDXtoday Team

Editorial: Cambrie, Benjamin, Trevor, Britt

Sales: Jennifer

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