Read Willamette Week’s shopping guide. If you need help focusing your wishlist, WW’s Holiday Shopper guide has a curated list of local gifts broken down by category. Without it, you’d probably never know that Presents of Mind is selling Star Wars boxer briefs this year, and that sure would be a shame for your Skywalker-obsessed young nephew.

Make a trip to a brick-and-mortar. Before you do all your shopping on Amazon, listen to this New York Times podcast about the dark underbelly of the e-commerce industry — then cancel that online order and take your money to a local brick-and-mortar store that treats its employees like humans. And if you specifically want to support minority-owned businesses, check out this directory from Travel Portland.

Head to the Portland Night Market. Wildfang, Wild Roots, and Whyld River are just a few of the 175+ local vendors that will be under one roof for three days starting next Friday, Dec. 14. Parking will be scarce around the Custom Blocks venue, so take transit or Lyft if you can.

Or try another local shopping event. From the Creator Market at WeWork tonight to the Give Good Gift event at Union Pine this weekend to the My People’s Market pop-up at Lloyd Center through Dec. 29, the list of local markets, bazaars, and pop-ups seems especially long this year. Thankfully, PDX Parent and Portland Monthly have listicles to help you out.

Support a good cause. If you want to give the gift of giving this year, try cutting back on the socks and chocolate bars and making a Give!Guide donation in your family’s name instead. Your family members probably won’t miss the socks, and some lucky local nonprofit will really appreciate the $20.

Love the wine you’re with. After going steady for several months, Portlander Michael James Schneider is ready to tie the knot with his boyfriend — who just happens to be made from boxed wine. Schneider’s stunt is partly a commentary on loneliness and the pressures of social media, and partly just for fun. And on Feb. 9, we’re all invited to the nuptials. (Portland Monthly)

Not much love for this guy. It’s hard to lose a popularity contest to former Portland mayor Charlie Hales, but current mayor Ted Wheeler is giving it a shot. WW’s cover story this week details Wheeler’s struggles to make progress on his major campaign promises — and documents the mounting frustration of former allies who now feel Wheeler has lost his way. (Willamette Week)

A slow recovery. Aaron Salazar, the PSU student who was found unconscious and badly injured alongside railroad tracks in California last spring, has posted a video disputing Amtrak’s claim that he tried to take his own life: “I’d never, ever try to kill myself,” he says. Others believe the injuries he sustained are consistent with a physical attack and have suggested Salazar, who is gay, may have been the victim of a hate crime. (Portland Mercury)

Ask and you shall receive. That’s the idea behind Portland’s new policy on plastic straws, set to take effect next summer. City officials stopped short of an outright ban due to concerns for people with disabilities, but they predict the new “upon request” rule will keep millions of straws out of the landfill each year. (OPB)

On the move. When it comes to food carts, downtown Portland’s loss might be East Portland’s gain. Developer Randy Rapaport says he plans to open a “high-level” pod with 13 carts in Montavilla — just in time for some of the businesses that are getting pushed out of the Southwest Alder Street pod. (Willamette Week)

BULLETIN BOARD

🐟 Support our fish and forests. Patagonia is hosting a benefit event tonight for the Wild Salmon Center, Ecotrust, and Verde. If you donate $10 or more at the event, you’ll get 25 percent off your Pata-gucci purchase.

🍺 Make a toast. Cascade Brewing is celebrating its 20th birthday tomorrow with a special release party for the Bourbonic Plague brew. The evening will include raffles, games, cupcakes, brewery tours, a birthday toast, and select menu items from the brewery’s 1998 menu.

🎶 Give the gift of song. Jen Forti, the local artist behind the People’s Republic of Portland, is kicking off a new project called Bellagram Telegrams, which are like holiday cards but way cooler.

🍲 Help feed our city. If you sign up as a food donor, the Portland Food Project will give you a green donation bag and even come pick it up from your house six times a year. PFP also needs volunteers who want to help with collection.

Want to submit a volunteer opportunity or special invite for next week’s bulletin board? Hit reply or send a note to [email protected].

THAT’S ALL FOR TODAY

We’ll see you tomorrow. ✌️

–  Bridgeliner