EverOut is The Mercury's new website devoted to things to do in Portland and across the Pacific Northwest. It has all the same things you're used to seeing from Mercury EverOut, just in a new spot!
If you're drawing a blank on how to spend another weekend in quar, we're pleased to present you with our latest batch of social distancing-compliant ideas. Read on for the full list, from ways to observe National Cocoa Day (like with hot chocolate bombs from Ice Queen) to a Black Santa Parade in Southeast, and from a Hanukkah Pop-Up at Baker & Spice to our local shopping guide. For even more options, read our guides to the best online events this week and the best movies to watch this week.
FOOD & DRINK
Drink hot chocolate. Sunday is National Cocoa Day. Why not observe this holiday by sipping some sort of chocolaty concoction as the strains of the Vince Guaraldi Trio play gently in the background? If you'd like to venture beyond Swiss Miss, try hot chocolate bombs, one of the latest trends sweeping TikTok—you simply drop a sphere into a mug of warmed milk and watch the chocolate dissolve to reveal hot cocoa mix and pillowy marshmallows. The native- and Chicana-owned plant-based frozen dessert shop Ice Queen is selling jumbo lavender hot chocolate bombs made with organic fair trade chocolate and vegan white chocolate, Momo Cocoa lavender hot chocolate mix, Dandies vegan marshmallows, and purple vegan sprinkles. The playful bakery Unicorn Bakeshop is also getting in on the trend with their own sparkly gold-dusted version. If you're up for a project that involves tempering chocolate, you can also create your own with a tutorial like this one (a great homemade gift idea). More classic cocoa options include Cup and Bar's rich version made with Ranger chocolate syrup and Moonstruck's dreamy drinking chocolate.
