Health & Wellness

Giving Back

20 Ways to Make a Difference in Portland

Volunteering opportunities across the city, from serving lunch to planting trees.

11/26/2025 By Isabel Lemus Kristensen

Best of the City

Top Doctors, Nurses, and More 2026

Our annual list of the best health care professionals in the Portland metro area.

11/19/2025 Edited by Portland Monthly Staff

Self-Care

6 Local Spas Where You Can Shake the Cold Weather Blues

A Hawaiian massage, a float tank, a wine-infused bath, and your choice of soaks and facials.

11/10/2025 By Isabel Lemus Kristensen and Portland Monthly Staff

Hot Spots

The Best Saunas In and Around Portland

Bask in fir-scented steam, lounge near the hearth in a 200-degree cabin, or blast Mitski in your own private suite at one of these Portland spas.

11/05/2025 By Brooke Jackson-Glidden, Isabel Lemus Kristensen, and Allecia Vermillion

Long Story Short

Vera Mysteria’s Spandex-Clad Sunday Service

Meet the Lloyd Center’s lively, colorful, and unapologetically ridiculous mall walker, host of the Food Court 5000.

11/04/2025 By Brooke Jackson-Glidden Photography by Michael Raines

Activism

With Slashed Budgets, AIDS Walk Is as Relevant as Ever

As cuts to HIV prevention and care programs loom, Cascade AIDS Project leans into its 40th annual waterfront march.

09/11/2025 By Isabel Lemus Kristensen

Skin Contact

In Northeast Portland, You Can Take a Bath in Wine (Sort Of)

Hey, it’s cheaper than a trip to Bordeaux.

07/28/2025 By Rebecca Jacobson Illustrations by Tara Jacoby

Best of the City

Top Dentists 2025

Our annual list of the best dental practitioners in the Portland area.

03/19/2025 Edited by Portland Monthly Staff

Public Health

Portland’s Fraught Fluoride History, Explained

The city has voted down fluoridation four times. How did we get here?

03/19/2025 By Erin Ross

Plague

Please Don’t Give Me Norovirus

A layperson’s tips on how to stop the spread of the vomit-diarrhea nightmare. (Hint: Laundry is dangerous.)

01/23/2025 By Margaret Seiler

Vibe Check

Portland’s Seasonally Affected, Politically Depressed Mood

Photographer Jordan Gale attempts to capture the city’s wilted spirit as inauguration looms and seasonal depression lingers.

01/17/2025 By Matthew Trueherz Photography by Jordan Gale

City Soak

A Luxe Hotel and Thermal Spa Opens in NE Portland

Cascada brings thermal pools, fitness classes, and Portuguese-Japanese dining to the Alberta Arts district.

01/15/2025 By Alex Frane

Fact Check

What Is Contrast Therapy and Does It Work?

Advocates say alternating between hot saunas and cold plunges can have major wellness benefits. The research is a little more complicated.

11/05/2024 By Erin Ross Illustrations by Derek Abella

Heating Up

Oregon’s Sauna Scene Has Never Been Better

Meet the new sauna evangelists changing the way we shvitz.

11/05/2024 By Brooke Jackson-Glidden

Sauna 101

A Beginner’s Guide to the Wide World of Sauna and Steam

Should you go electric? Wood-burning? What the heck is infrared? And how do you avoid the spa faux pas?

11/04/2024 By Brooke Jackson-Glidden Illustrations by Derek Abella

Parenthood

Portland’s New Parenting Groups Are Doing Something Radical

They're focusing on the mom.

10/31/2024 By Miranda Rake Illustrations by Johanna Goodman

Warming Up

How Knot Springs Makes Its Saunas Smell So Good

The Portland spa enlisted fragrance design studio Maak Lab to develop custom oil blends for its steam room and sauna rocks.

10/30/2024 By Brooke Jackson-Glidden

Heat Seeking

Destination Saunas in Oregon and Beyond

Shvitz in a “wine barrel,” cold plunge in a river, or soak up the steam from a bubbling hot spring.

10/30/2024 Edited by Brooke Jackson-Glidden and Rebecca Jacobson

Getting Steamy

Portland’s Gay Bathhouse Scene Hasn’t Dried Up Yet

The city has lost almost all of its gay bathhouses, but the LGBTQ+ community still finds solace in the sauna.

10/28/2024 By Byron Beck Illustrations by Derek Abella

Zero Proof

Oregon-Made Nonalcoholic Spirits Are Fueling Portland's Mocktail Renaissance

As bars begin to expand and rethink their zero-proof beverage menus, Oregon brands like Wilderton and Dhōs have become major players.

10/01/2024 By Alex Frane

Portland Monthly

Health & Wellness

Portland’s Fraught Fluoride History, Explained

In Northeast Portland, You Can Take a Bath in Wine (Sort Of)

Top Dentists 2025

What Is Contrast Therapy and Does It Work?

All Bodies Strong Is Leading Portland’s Size-Inclusive Fitness Movement

Portland’s Seasonally Affected, Politically Depressed Mood

20 Ways to Make a Difference in Portland

Top Doctors, Nurses, and More 2026

6 Local Spas Where You Can Shake the Cold Weather Blues

The Best Saunas In and Around Portland

Vera Mysteria’s Spandex-Clad Sunday Service

With Slashed Budgets, AIDS Walk Is as Relevant as Ever

In Northeast Portland, You Can Take a Bath in Wine (Sort Of)

Top Dentists 2025

Portland’s Fraught Fluoride History, Explained

Please Don’t Give Me Norovirus

Popular Content

6 Local Spas Where You Can Shake the Cold Weather Blues

The Best Saunas In and Around Portland

20 Ways to Make a Difference in Portland

Vera Mysteria’s Spandex-Clad Sunday Service

Please Don’t Give Me Norovirus

Destination Saunas in Oregon and Beyond

Portland’s Seasonally Affected, Politically Depressed Mood

A Luxe Hotel and Thermal Spa Opens in NE Portland

What Is Contrast Therapy and Does It Work?

Oregon’s Sauna Scene Has Never Been Better

A Beginner’s Guide to the Wide World of Sauna and Steam

Portland’s New Parenting Groups Are Doing Something Radical

How Knot Springs Makes Its Saunas Smell So Good

Destination Saunas in Oregon and Beyond

Portland’s Gay Bathhouse Scene Hasn’t Dried Up Yet

Oregon-Made Nonalcoholic Spirits Are Fueling Portland's Mocktail Renaissance

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The 25 Restaurants that Made Portland