Oregon's Best Beaches

10 Essential Coast Destinations, North to South Oregon's Best Beaches: White sand, wild surf, and, yes, even warm sun: the height of summer is prime time to explore Oregon's beloved, rugged, completely public coast. Here are 10 amazing beaches you need to visit. | This Sand Is Our Sand: Those 300 miles of coastline belong to every Oregonian. Here's how it got that way. | Summer Reads: Fresh stories from Omar El Akkad, M. J. Zellnik, and Karen Munro, plus poems from Trevino L. Brings Plenty, Hajara Quinn, and Cindy Williams Gutiérrez. | Top Dentists: Got plaque? From family dentists to prosthodontists, find yourself a pro in this list of top local toothtenders, as chosen by their peers.

In this issue:

Arts & Culture

The Essentials

12 Portland Shows, Events, and Pure-Genius Things to Know This August

See a different kind of eclipse, get your family heirlooms assessed at the Antiques Roadshow, and belt tunes from the Revolution Hall roof.

07/10/2017 By Rebecca Jacobson and Fiona McCann

Music

Three Years In, Portland Indie Hip-Hop Label Eyrst Heats Up

With artists like Myke Bogan, Blossom, and the Last Artful, Dodgr, the local label makes a national stamp.

07/10/2017 By Fiona McCann

Visual Art

Longtime Graphic Designer Ellen McFadden Goes Big on Canvas

The Portland artist, born in 1928, follows a pioneering graphic design career with a new one in painting.

07/10/2017 By Emma Mannheimer

Summer Reads

Summer Reading 2017: Fresh Short Stories and Poems from Top Portland Writers

We've got brand-new stories from Omar El Akkad, M. J. Zellnik, and Karen Munro, plus poems from Trevino L. Brings Plenty, Hajara Quinn, and Cindy Williams Gutiérrez.

07/10/2017 Edited by Fiona McCann

Summer Reads 2017

Summer Reading 2017: 3 New Poems by Top Portland Poets

Fresh verse from Trevino L. Brings Plenty, Hajara Quinn, and Cindy Williams Gutiérrez

07/10/2017 By Trevino L. Brings Plenty, Hajara Quinn, and Cindy Williams Gutiérrez

Summer Reads 2017

The Flame: A Short Story by Karen Munro

In the absolute silence of King Kerr’s house, she heard slow, quiet creaks cross the living room. The dog squirmed.

07/10/2017 By Karen Munro

Summer Reads 2017

Easy Mark: A Short Story by M. J. Zellnik

Silver hair framed an elderly face, but what caught my eye was the brooch affixed to her evening coat.

07/10/2017 By M. J. Zellnik

Summer Reads 2017

Trail: A Short Story by Omar El Akkad

"Fine," he said. "You want to feel like an American? Let's go get shot."

07/10/2017 By Omar El Akkad

Eat & Drink

Dining Picks

The Seafood Lover’s Guide to Portland

Where to find the best oysters on the half shell, Dungeness crab, poke bowls, and fried rockfish.

03/27/2025 By Alex Frane and Portland Monthly Staff

Eat Here Now

Portland's Top Pop-Up Restaurants of Summer 2017

Some of our favorite places to eat and drink lead double lives this season, with fresh projects tailor-made for the warm weather.

07/10/2017 By Benjamin Tepler and Kelly Clarke

Word of Mouth

Meet Mio Asaka, the Farmers Market's Queen of Tarts

Asaka's Instagram-worthy fruit tarts channel France, Japan, and Portland.

07/10/2017 By Karen Brooks

Recipes

Make the Shakshuka from Tasty n Sons at Home

And pair it with an awesomely savory, horseradish-hot Bloody Mary.

07/10/2017 By Benjamin Tepler

Restaurant Review

Güero and Chalino Riff On Mexican Cuisine—with Unexpected Results

The Mexican-inspired spots are two of Portland's most anticipated restaurants this year. How do they stack up?

07/10/2017 By Karen Brooks

Pear of Kings

Harry & David Pears Are Picked in August and Taste Perfect in November. How?

Here's how the Medford mail-order company cheats the calendar.

07/10/2017 By Meagan Nolan

Tall Boy

Meet the Portland Guy Who Invented PBR’s Hipster Cred

Matt Slessler is "national brand ambassador" for Pabst Blue Ribbon. How'd he score the sweet gig?

07/10/2017 By Jason Cohen

Editor's Note

From the Editor: We All Deserve Some Time on the Beach

Let us wander toward the rolling surf and setting sun.

07/10/2017 By Zach Dundas

Health & Wellness

Top Dentists

Portland’s Top Dentists 2017

Got plaque? From family dentists to prosthodontists, find yourself a pro in this list of top local toothtenders, as chosen by their peers.

07/10/2017 By Ramona DeNies

Home & Real Estate

Design

3 Portland Swimming Pools to Drool Over

Sorry: they're all private.

07/10/2017 By Marty Patail

Design

How a Portland Company Helped Brand a Sweet New Tokyo Hotel

OMFGCo elevates a lesser-known hood for a global audience.

07/10/2017 By Zach Dundas

News & City Life

The Shakedown

Is Camping Really So Great? The Pros and Cons

We stake out Oregon's favorite summer activity.

07/10/2017 By Marty Patail

History

This Sand Is Our Sand: Why Oregon's Beaches Belong to Everyone

Oregonians believe our 300 miles of coastline are free and open to everyone. Only hardball politics made that true.

07/10/2017 By Brent Walth

Long Story Short

'Unlikely Hiker' Jenny Bruso Blasts Open the Idea of Who Belongs in the Wilderness

"Actually, my size doesn’t keep me from doing anything in the outdoors."

07/10/2017 By Kelly Clarke

Sports

Meet the Portland Coach Breaking Down Barriers on the Soccer Pitch

Best known for his viral coming-out video, Kaig Lightner reaches out to kids from low-income families and welcomes LGBTQ players—and his coaching extends beyond the field.

07/10/2017 By Tuck Woodstock

History

40 Years Ago, Pelé Played His Last Game—Ever—in Portland

In 1977, the Brazilian soccer star bowed out in the Rose City.

07/10/2017 By Marty Patail

PDX Index

A Brief History of Bizarro Phenomena in Oregon's Skies

Sure, the Great American Eclipse is coming. But that's not all our state has seen.

07/10/2017 By Bryanna Briley

Dispatch

Oregon Braces for the Great American Eclipse

Can our state handle the cosmic frenzy that's about to break loose?

07/10/2017 By Rachel Wilson

Style & Shopping

Style

Take a Peek at Portland's Best Eyewear

From throwback John Lennon rounds to lenses that support kittens, the days of mall shopping for glasses are over.

07/10/2017 By Eden Dawn

Winning Finds

Fizzy Cold Brew to Perfect Picnic Blankets, the Best Local Stuff for a Lazy River Day

Headed to the water? Pick up these essentials first.

07/10/2017 By Eden Dawn

Travel & Outdoors

Best Beaches

The Insider's Guide to the Oregon Coast

10 essential beaches, a wave-chasing dream trek, and our new coastal ale trail—we’ll race you to the Pacific.

07/10/2017 By Ramona DeNies

Best Beaches: Beer

Oregon's New Coastal Ale Trail

Craft beer bubbles over, up, and down the Oregon Coast. Here are 16 can't-miss sud stops.

07/10/2017 By Ramona DeNies

Best Beaches: Dream Trek

The Ultimate Oregon Coast Road Trip: 5 Idyllic Destinations

Here’s where to score beachfront beers, fresh fish and chips, and rooms with ocean views.

07/10/2017 By Ramona DeNies

Best Beaches: Ocean's 10

10 Essential Oregon Beaches, North to South

White sand, wild surf, and, yes, even warm sun: the height of summer is prime time to explore Oregon’s beloved, rugged, completely public coast. These superlative beaches top our list.

07/10/2017 By Ramona DeNies