Keep Portland Weird- It really was weird! (Portland, OR)

Until my husband’s business trip was set for Portland (Oregon), I knew pretty much nothing about the city. So we started researching about Portland as soon as he found out the business trip destination. FYI, I love to tag along on his trips so that I can travel to new places. 

Anyway, my first encounter about Portland being weird was actually through the TV series called Portlandia, a sketch comedy television series set in and around Portland starring Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein. Portlandia was fun to watch a couple episodes at a time, but then it got too weird to enjoy and handle for me. Anyway, that’s how I knew Portland is weird and you can see it for yourself to find out how weird it is. I almost did not want to go to Portland thinking I might turn abnormal as well! ;)

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While I was walking around downtown Portland, I came across this “Keep Portland Weird” mural and I was pretty excited to see it.  Then I found out more the stories about what “Keep Portland Weird” is. 

The popular "Keep Portland Weird" slogan appears on signs, bumper stickers, and public buildings throughout Portland and the surrounding area. 

I was rather disappointed by the fact that it originated from the "Keep Austin Weird" slogan and was brought to Portland in 2003 to promote local businesses. However, I was totally amazed that it is the foundation of Portland’s culture and has since evolved into an all-encompassing slogan that promotes the individuality, expressionism, local art, and atypical lifestyle choices and leisure activities found in the city.

Also, I found that the slogan frequently inspires articles and debates that attempt to quantify the exact level to which Portland is considered weird, unusual, or eccentric. The slogan has been called the unofficial motto of Portland.

So besides the Keep Portland Weird festival, Voodoo Doughnut shop, World Naked Bike Ride, Zoobomb cycling events, popularity of yarn bombing, Portland Urban Iditarod, and the now-defunct Velveteria Museum of Velvet Paintings and 24 Hour Church of Elvis, let’s see how weird Portland is.

By Erin from Oregon City, OR (Portland Urban Iditarod) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

An Austin blog created an infographic that compared Austin and Portland in 12 different  categories to determine which city was "weirder" in 2014. Some of the categories included "Most Tattooed US City" and "America's Craziest City." Portland won first place in nine of the categories.

In response to Portland’s slogan, The Oregonian (newspaper) developed a weirdness scale, and Portland ranked 11th in the U.S., with high rates for hiking, hunting, and hybrid car ownership. Other “weird” cities included San Francisco and Salt Lake City.

When you travel to Portland, if you see this “Keep Portland Weird” mural, you may really wonder what it is about if you do not already know. Or maybe it’s the moment that you start to feel Portland really is weird… ;)