The City that Wakes up to Love

Each Valentine’s Day, hearts appear on windows and brick walls, reminding Portland that love can be anonymous, generous, and deeply communal.

words & photos: it takes a village. thank you to the countless contributors of the photos and quotes. 

 “We had a standoff. We wouldn’t unfurl the heart until the reporter and cameraman left, but they weren’t leaving until something happened. We started pelting them with snowballs from the rooftop. They seemed annoyed, like they didn’t have all night. We did. They left.’’

–The Valentine's Day Bandit,
 circa 1984