K is for Keep Portland Weird! (Portlandia A to Z)

Keep Portland Weird! This slogan grew out of Austin, Texas, but since then we have kicked Austin's butt in the weirdness category. This victory was verified just last month in an infographic by an Austin graphic designer, so it must be true. The show "Portlandia" capitalizes on everything weird about Portland.

Here are just a few of the things that make Portland weird:

The world's largest naked bike ride (video here)--last year they had 5,000 naked (or partially naked) riders. From what I understand, the weirdos are not the ones riding in it, but more likely to be in the audience. Here's an account of what it's like to ride in this event.

If you'd rather wear clothes, you can be a part of the Zoobombers, a group of people who go barrelling down the hill on children's bikes.

A vacuum cleaner museum

Annual zombie walk and thriller dance

H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival & CthulhuCon, held in Portland and Los Angeles only.

Resident unicycling Darth Vader, who has made it onto Jimmy Kimmel.

Trek in the Park, with free, open-air performances of original-series Star Trek episodes (no longer operating).

It's not terribly unusual to see occasional unclothed people on the street. To my dismay.

Hipsters galore!



Portland style: Fashionistas would not be happy here. In the finest Portland restaurants, you could pass by wearing jeans and Birkenstocks. In the city you'll see dreadlocks, lots of facial hair, gauges in ears, not to mention scores of tattoos.

Recycling rules: If you don't recycle, YOU are the one who is weird.

Even though it rains a lot, we shun using umbrellas.

We can't pump our own gas. Anywhere in Oregon. And we don't have sales tax.

Dogs are gods. Or at least they are treated like gods. If you don't have a dog, you might have a cat, a goat, or a chicken or two.

The 24-Hour Church of Elvis

We don't like big brands. Wal-Mart has fought long and hard to site a store in the inner city, but people fight back hard. We are loyal to our local, homegrown companies.

The Church of Elvis. Really.

You can get married at Voodoo Doughnuts. Here is the pricing.

Last year Buzzfeed produced a feature on the "30 Most Portland Things That Have Ever Happened in Portland." It's not to be missed.







Portlanders are highly proud of their weirdness.

Read my other A to Z posts here, and stay tuned for tomorrow: libraries and lights.