Let’s Get Together

83 parties, hikes, and other ways to play in Portland right now. Plus: library reinventions, how donated placentas help train search-and-rescue dogs, and the area’s top dentists.

In this issue:

Arts & Culture

The Big Screen

The Movies We’re Actually Going To

Inventive and personal one-off screenings are bringing Portland back to the theater.

02/09/2026 By Matthew Trueherz

gimme five

5 Oregon-Made Comics to Know

Northwest Museum of Cartoon Arts’ Michael Rosen shares his essential list of superheroes, war journalism, and redrawn American classics.

01/26/2026 By Alex Frane

Words with Friends

The Open Mic That Counts Amateurs and Award-Winning Authors as Regulars

One-Page Wednesdays, hosted by Portland novelist Emme Lund, feels like a public writers’ group.

01/22/2026 By Matthew Trueherz Illustrations by Stephan Dybus

Puck Yeah

Portland Is Thirsty for Heated Rivalry

The megahit Canadian show about gay hockey players has inspired trivia, wine pairings, and a growing number of dance parties.

01/15/2026 By Rebecca Jacobson

Arts & Crafts

8 Low-Stakes Craft Classes and Workshops in Portland

Sew something. Cook something. Make some perfume. Feel human again.

01/13/2026 By Matthew Trueherz

Profile

Ralph Pugay Is Troubling Paradise

The Portland artist’s collages capture the fractured beauty of his own queer, immigrant experience.

11/13/2025 By Matthew Trueherz

Eat & Drink

Dish Exploder

Güero’s Hamburguesa Is a Beautiful Mess

Jalapeños, grilled ham, queso, and morita chile mayo make an amazing sandwich.

01/20/2026 By Alex Frane Illustrations by Amber Day

Superfan

Momos and Moms at Himalayan Dumplings by Kyikyi

For 3-year-old Luna, noodles taste better in a cup.

01/14/2026 By Alex Frane Photography by Michael Raines

Restaurant Review

Bar Nouveau Is an Endearingly Scrappy Send-Up to French Cookbook Cuisine

Chef Althea Grey Potter’s long-gestating vision puts down roots in St. Johns with style, bronze peacocks, roast duck, and all.

01/13/2026 By Jordan Michelman Photography by Thomas Teal

Fine Dining

Why Portland Chefs Are Going All In on Omakase

Local Japanese restaurants are turning more and more to the traditional tasting-menu format.

12/10/2025 By Andrea Damewood

Health & Wellness

Thermophilia

Portland’s New Riverside Saunas Invite a Proper Cold Plunge

Warm up, then take a brisk dunk.

02/11/2026 By Rebecca Jacobson

Lace Up

A Guide to Portland Run Clubs

The scene is booming, and there's a group for every speed.

02/03/2026 By Alice Wolfe

Tooth To-Go

Mobile Dentists and Hygienists Bring Oral Care to Portland Seniors

Older adults often miss out on crucial dental care. These are the people trying to change that.

02/02/2026 By Brooke Jackson-Glidden

Home & Real Estate

Real Estate

Property Watch: Vacation Homes in Oregon and Beyond for About $500K

From a dreamy riverside cabin in the woods to a sunny desert condo, this is the vacation experience that half a mil buys you.

11/14/2025 By Melissa Dalton

Real Estate

Property Watch: What Does a Million-Dollar House Look Like in Portland?

From an Alphabet District condo to a Sellwood houseboat to a Beaverton five-bedroom, this is what a mil will get you in Portland today.

10/17/2025 By Melissa Dalton

News & City Life

In Short

Hot Takes on Portland’s Latest News

Real news in small packages.

9:00am By Brooke Jackson-Glidden

The Organ Trail

How Doulas and Dog Trainers Help Find Oregon’s Dead People

Using donated placentas, local cadaver dogs train for search and rescue missions.

02/10/2026 By Rebecca Grant Photography by Kristina Barker

Room for More

Potlucks Are the Feasts That Meet the Moment

They ask for our participation twice: first as cooks, then as diners.

12/22/2025 By Lola Milholland

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

Travel & Outdoors

Coast Is Clear

The Burly All-Terrain Wheelchairs Rolling Across Oregon’s Beaches

David’s Chair helps people with mobility challenges access the joys of the shore.

08/19/2025 By Amelia Arvesen