Credit: BT Livermore

In a sad twist of irony, some scientists predict that global warming
will actually make the Pacific Northwest even more cold, wet, and
gloomy (it’s true; my boyfriend heard it on NPR). And since
Portlanders’ favorite SAD cure-all is booze, your seasonal binges are
about to get longer and more intense in the coming years. And, since
there’s nothing more depressing that a lonely miserable drunk, it’s
important to remain social in this dreariest of dreary seasons. Get up.
Get some pals together. Break out the booze. Play a game. You’ll still
be able to spend most of the cold months in the semi-conscious stupor
that makes the bitter time pass quickly—but it’ll be a helluva
lot more fun.

With honor and distinction, Erik Henriksen served as the executive editor of the Portland Mercury from 2004 to 2020. He can now be found at henriksenactual.com.

Ned Lannamann is a writer and editor in Portland, Oregon. He writes about film, music, TV, books, travel, tech, food, drink, outdoors, and other things.

Marjorie Skinner is the Portland Mercury's Managing Editor, author of the weekly Sold Out column chronicling the area's independent fashion and retail industry, and a frequent contributor to the film and...