Some shops and activities and bars and restaurants do stay open on the holiday – you just need to know which ones.
I’ve done the ground work, now get out of the house on Christmas Day 2012!
SHOPS
Powell’s Books (1005 W Burnside). The downtown Powell’s is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Christmas Day (9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Christmas Eve).
ACTIVITIES
The new Portland Aquarium (16323 S.E. McLoughlin in Milwaukie) is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Christmas Day. (Thanks SMx for the tip, and Molly for the correct hours!)
Bowling. Many (most?) bowling alleys, are open on Xmas day.
Movies. Catch a movie – many movie theaters are also open on the Holiday.
BARS, CAFES, and RESTAURANTS
The Beer Mongers (SE 12th and Division) is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Xmas day.
Anna Bannanas (8716 N Lombard & 1214 NW 21st) is open on Christmas day and generally stays open until things slow down.
Rialto (529 SW 4th). This downtown institution is open 365 days a year. Play some pinball or pool, while enjoying your beer. Watch basketball on the ginormous TVs.
Red and Black Cafe, Portland’s only vegan, worker-owned, collectively managed, IWW closed shop cafe is open on Christmas Day from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
The Cheerful Tortoise is open from 11 a.m. until 2:30 a.m. on Xmas Day.
Mary’s Club (129 SW Broadway), of course, is always open.
Portland City Grill (111 SW 5th) is open both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (noon-9pm).
Prost! on North Mississippi at Skidmore is celebrating the fourth annual Prostmas on Xmas day. Open 6 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.
Radio Room (1101 Northeast Alberta) will also be open again this year for Christmas brunch and dinner, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m., serving a special brunch menu from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Special dinner menu 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. And they accept reservations.
And finally, for a comprehensive list visit PortlandBarFly.com‘s Bars open in Portland 365 days a year
Also try truck stops (seriously! Jubitz, for example), Chinese places, hotel restaurants.
Portland Food and Drink‘s annual list of restaurants open Christmas Eve and Christmas day is now live too!
TRANSIT
TriMet’s Christmas Day schedule: TriMet buses, MAX trains, and the Streetcar will run on Sunday schedules. No WES service!
The information in this post is compiled through a combination of hearsay, website perusals, assumptions, and direct contact – please do not take it as gospel; if you don’t want to make a fruitless trip out, give the place a call first!
The new aquarium is open 365 days a year.
thanks for this!
Thanks for the list – so helpful since it will probably rain all day! FYI, just checked Portland Aquarium’s page and it says they’ll be open 1-6 pm on Christmas Day, not 10 am – 8 pm.
Go running/hiking in Forest Park! Leif Erikson trail is open 365 days!