Secrets of PDX

An insider's guide to the best airport in America (if not the world)! Plus: 40 amazing Oregon wines (mostly) under $40, fall fashion 2019, and why you should fly to Albuquerque

In this issue:

Arts & Culture

The Essentials

12 Things to See and Do in Portland: October 2019

Ta-Nehisi Coates in town, OBT roars into its 30th anniversary season, Teicher levels up on tap dance, and All Jane brings the laughs.

09/23/2019 By Rebecca Jacobson and Fiona McCann

Photography

This Portland Photographer Puts Heavy Metal Battle Jackets in Focus

Peter Beste's Defenders of the Faith turns a lens on metal fans' leather- and denim-heavy regalia.

09/23/2019 By Casey Jarman

Art

This Portland Artist Uses Her Own Hair to Explore Race

Catch Lisa Jarrett's latest show Future Ancestors at Ori this month.

09/23/2019 By Fiona McCann

Best of the City

Oregon Wine 2019

Oregon’s Top 40 Wines (Mostly) Under $40

We asked eight Portland wine insiders for their top five bottle picks right now. The result: a fascinating list, from silky pinot noirs to world-class sparklers

09/23/2019 Edited by Ramona DeNies

Eat & Drink

Food Finds

This Hand-Pulled Noodle Sensation Is Hiding in Happy Valley

Noodle Man's glass-walled kitchen gives a front-row seat to experts twisting, slamming, and flinging strands of elastic dough into regional Chinese dishes.

09/23/2019 By Benjamin Tepler

Food Events

Three Local Pickle Pros to Look Out for at the Portland Fermentation Festival

Come for the miso and kimchi, stay for the Mongolian milk wine.

09/23/2019 By Liz Crain

Savor

Make Noma's Umami Bomb Mushrooms in Your Home Kitchen

Toss some mushrooms in a jar and get ready for the Portland Fermentation Fest.

09/23/2019 By Benjamin Tepler

Word of Mouth

K-Pop, Cat Cakes, and Cotton Candy Coffee at Soro Soro

This new Korean coffee and dessert shop on E Burnside is as cute as it gets.

09/23/2019 By Karen Brooks

News & City Life

Light a Fire

One Portland Non-Profit Is Challenging Trump’s Border Policies—And Winning.

The Innovation Law Lab has become a national leader taking on immigrant cases.

09/23/2019 By Fiona McCann

PDX Airport Guide: Carpet

A Brief History of That Whole PDX Airport Carpet Thing

Why were we so crazy about some ancient dirty floor covering?

09/23/2019 By Margaret Seiler

PDX Airport Guide: History

The Life and Death of Swan Island Airport

Portland flights once landed in the middle of the river two miles from downtown.

09/23/2019 By Stephanie Gehring

Politics

How Jeff Merkley Is Helping to Keep the Nation’s Eyes on the Border Crisis

He talks Senate reform, his presidency bid, and hearing from sobbing mothers at our country’s migration camps.

09/23/2019 By Fiona McCann

Community

Meet the Woman Who Helps Immigrant and Refugee Communities Get Ready for a Massive Quake

Regina Ingabire wants everyone to know what to do when the shaking stops.

09/23/2019 By Zach Dundas

Sports

The Blazers Turn 50 This Year. They Are Portland’s Common Ground.

Our NBA team transcends class, race, and the urban/rural divide. (Now they just need to win something.)

09/23/2019 By Casey Jarman

Twilight Zoning

The Curious Case of Damascus, Oregon—The Undead City

Over the course of 15 years, the Portland suburb has gained, lost, and regained city status. Where does it stand today?

09/23/2019 By Zach Dundas

Style & Shopping

Fashion Editorial

Dress Up That Wardrobe with Big and Bold Accessories

From bondage-inspired leather looks to high-end gemstones to cheap vintage finds, local shops and designers have the perfect baubles.

09/23/2019 Styled by Eden Dawn Photography by George Barberis Illustrations by Joan LeMay

PDX Index

Oregon Wine Is Dominating the World

Canada craves our premium elixirs. California envies our luxe prices. We just want to crack a bottle and celebrate.

09/23/2019 By Ramona DeNies

Travel & Outdoors

PDX Airport Guide

The Ultimate Guide to Portland International Airport

Homegrown food and primo shopping help make PDX the country’s best.

09/23/2019 Edited by Margaret Seiler

Oregon Wine 2019: Solidarity

How Wildfires and Shady Californians Led Oregon Winemakers to Unite

A new collective label, Oregon Solidarity, donates profits back to the Rogue Valley Vintners.

09/23/2019 By Ramona DeNies

Oregon Wine 2019: The Future

Meet Oregon’s Likely Next Class of Official Wine-Growing Regions

These four would-be AVAs (viticultural areas) are all inside the Willamette Valley.

09/23/2019 By Mark Stock

PDX Airport Guide: Waiting

Why Settle for the Airport’s Cell-Phone Waiting Area?

Kill time before picking up your pal with meatballs, golf balls, or a labyrinth walk.

09/23/2019 By Margaret Seiler

PDX Airport Guide: Wellness

How to Vacation Before Your Vacation at PDX

Believe it or not, the airport is a great place to relax. Start at the Hollywood Theatre, wrap at the wine bar.

09/23/2019 By Margaret Seiler

PDX Airport Guide: Music

PDX’s Airport Music Program Brings Buskers Inside

The volunteer musicians can’t be so loud they drown out boarding announcements.

09/23/2019 By Shannon Henderson

PDX Airport Guide: Profile

Meet the Father-Daughter Duo Who Keep the Shoes Gleaming at PDX

Lowell and Helene Jackson have freshened up a lot of feet.

09/23/2019 By Kiva Hanson

PDX Airport Guide: The Others

PDX Isn’t the Only Airport in Town

From Troutdale to Aurora, meet a few of the other runways serving our skies.

09/23/2019 By Rich Reece

PDX Airport Guide: Retail

You Can Do All Your Holiday Shopping at the Airport

Check every name off that list with Powell’s, Columbia, Tender Loving Empire, the Kenny & Zuke’s cold case, and more.

09/23/2019 By Margaret Seiler

PDX Airport Guide: Food

What to Eat Before Your Flight Out of Portland

PDX proves airport food doesn’t have to suck.

09/23/2019 By Benjamin Tepler, Shannon Henderson, and Margaret Seiler

PDX Airport Guide: Profile

Meet the Hillsboro Worker Who Commutes from Idaho

And you thought your slog to work was long.

09/23/2019 By Margaret Seiler

PDX Airport Guide

How Has PDX Held On to the Title of the Nation’s Best Airport for Seven Years Running?

Short answer: by becoming the city it serves.

09/23/2019 By Margaret Seiler

Travel Feature

Peacocks, Red Chiles, and Slot Canyons Await in Albuquerque

The Land of Enchantment’s biggest city is a direct flight away.

09/23/2019 By Benjamin Tepler

Trophy Case

Four Must-Have Local Items For Your Flight Outta Town

From toothpaste to deodorant to the Dopp kit to stash it all

09/23/2019 By Jackson Main and Eden Dawn

Editor's Note

The World Is Filled With Awful Airports. Let's Be Thankful for Portland's!

In Portland, a plane ticket grants anyone admission to what’s essentially a really cool, meticulously curated, hyperlocal mall—a giddy survey of what makes this place unique.

09/23/2019 By Margaret Seiler