By Colin James Portland has always had a complicated relationship with polish. This is a city that can appreciate a beautifully constructed record while remaining deeply suspicious of anything that feels manufactured. From the alternative-rock explosion of the 1990s to today’s sprawling network of indie, Americana, punk and roots-rock
Portland’s Lloyd Center ice rink is scheduled to close on August 8, ending a 66-year run at the center of the Northeast Portland mall. The closure affects longtime skaters, coaches, families, and tenants as redevelopment plans move forward. This report explains the final-day events, the rink’s history, and the
Pickathon is returning to Pendarvis Farm in Happy Valley with a four-day schedule featuring live music, family-friendly activities, and immersive festival spaces. The annual event brings together artists from multiple genres while offering attendees opportunities to experience performances, community activities, and outdoor attractions. Key Takeaways Pickathon returns to Pendarvis
By: AP Sanders There is a specific reading experience that the best psychological thrillers produce and that most merely competent ones approximate without quite achieving, the experience of being so completely inside a story that the real world becomes temporarily less real than the fictional one, where the anxiety
By: GP Sullivan Many fantasy novels know how they end before you do. Terrence W. Walsh wrote one that does not, or more precisely, one that holds three different endings open simultaneously and then gives Prince Adam the unusual and slightly disorienting freedom to choose between history, comedy, and
Free Art in the Park is returning to downtown Portland with a series of free creative gatherings scheduled throughout the summer. The initiative invites residents and visitors to take part in public art activities that encourage community participation while making creative experiences accessible in a shared outdoor setting. Key
Portland and communities across Oregon are beginning a busy July festival season, with events focused on music, art, food, wildlife, agriculture, rodeo traditions, and outdoor recreation. The statewide calendar includes free concerts, coastal gatherings, community fairs, lavender festivals, and heritage events organized by local groups, nonprofits, municipalities, volunteers,
In-N-Out Opens First Portland-Area Restaurant in Hillsboro became a reality on June 18 as the California-based burger chain welcomed customers to its newest Oregon location, bringing its first restaurant to the Portland metropolitan region. The opening took place in Hillsboro at Tanasbourne Town Center, where large crowds gathered to
Native American dancers, drum groups, artists, families, and visitors are set to gather at East Delta Park in North Portland from June 19 to June 21 for the 56th Annual City of Roses Delta Park Powwow and Encampment. Organized by the Bow & Arrow Culture Club, the free public
Portland food scene received national recognition at the 2026 James Beard Awards after Scotch Lodge secured the Outstanding Bar award and Ryan Roadhouse of Nodoguro was named Best Chef: Northwest & Pacific. The honors were announced during the annual awards ceremony hosted by the James Beard Foundation, placing two
Portland Mercado is moving closer to welcoming vendors and visitors back after reconstruction efforts continued at the community marketplace that was heavily damaged by a fire. The nonprofit-operated cultural and business hub in Southeast Portland is targeting a September reopening date, marking a major milestone in recovery efforts that
Portland Rose Festival marked the end of its 2026 celebration weekend as thousands of spectators gathered in the city center to watch a newly combined procession featuring two of the event’s signature attractions. Festival organizers brought together the Grand Floral Parade and the Starlight Parade into a single downtown
Portland dog park access expanded this month with the opening of a new off-leash facility near Portland State University, marking the first dedicated dog park located in the city’s downtown core. The fenced space, known as Valhowlla, recently welcomed visitors at the corner of Southwest 11th Avenue and Market
By: Conor Murray The Pacific Northwest has never needed the spotlight to do its most important work. It has always built its most enduring music in the gray spaces, in the perpetual drizzle, the dense evergreen canopy, and the particular kind of introspection that forms when a city turns
Portland arts tax revisions moved forward Wednesday after city officials approved a new structure that lowers the number of residents required to pay the fee while increasing the annual amount charged to qualifying taxpayers. The decision came during a Portland City Council session focused on revenue measures tied to
Portland Opera 2026-27 season programming was announced this week as the company introduced a slate of productions and events organized around the theme “Driven by Vision.” The organization outlined a schedule that includes mainstage operas, concerts, community programming, and artist development initiatives planned for audiences in Portland during the
By Alex Diaz Author Tejas Desai is continuing to push the boundaries of modern literary storytelling with the release of Bad Americans: Part II, the latest installment in his evolving The Human Tragedy series. Drawing inspiration from classic frame narratives while exploring deeply contemporary themes, the novel combines layered
By: Vicent Morris A surprising number of contemporary romances are built around people falling in love while barely speaking honestly to each other. Twinkle of Doubt goes in the opposite direction. Patricia Leavy is much more interested in what happens after two people already know each other deeply and
A long-running tavern established in 1946 continues to operate in Washington County as the Helvetia Tavern remains open to diners. The tavern, located in the rural Helvetia community near Hillsboro, maintains regular service and continues to receive customers throughout the week. Its operations are centered on dine-in service, with
By Mark Wilson In Seth Panitch’s novel Antique, objects are never just objects. A necklace is not merely jewelry. A family heirloom is not simply an item passed down through generations. Every antique in the novel carries emotional weight, buried history, and the possibility of revelation. That idea gives
Glenn Ross packed his camera gear and relocated to Portland for two months. The trip was not a vacation. He came to document local musicians, study venues, and learn how Portland’s sound differs from what he captures across Colorado. Ross has spent years covering the Rocky Mountain scene as
A plant-based burger brand from Portland has been included in a national Food & Wine selection highlighting some of the best burgers available in the United States, drawing attention to its meat-free approach within a traditionally meat-centered category. The inclusion places the Portland brand among a curated group of
PORTLAND, OR (April 22, 2026). At a time when healthcare systems nationwide face workforce shortages, financial strain, and evolving regulatory pressures, the documentary Suck It Up, Buttercup: Trust & Betrayal – Healthcare in America will screen in Portland on May 31, at 1 p.m. (doors 12:30 p.m.) at the
By: Cat Maya Jim Boland’s juvenile-grade novel The Black Egg Children is a journey into courage, imagination, and self-discovery, one that powerfully highlights the importance of empowering young people, especially young women, to recognize their worth and potential. At its heart is Rachel, a young girl who learns to
