Spring Road Trips

Small-town finds, big vistas, and pit stop wonders—let's go! Also in this issue: what Oregon cannabis insiders didn't see coming, plus spring arts.

In this issue:

Arts & Culture

Spring Arts

Tales of the City: Spring Arts Guide 2019

From a high-wattage Hulu show to a groundbreaking homegrown literary work, Portland plays a key role in the art made in the city this spring.

02/26/2019 Edited by Fiona McCann

The Essentials

12 Things to See and Do in Portland: March 2019

Noname plays the Crystal, Tiffany Haddish comes to the Keller, and twisty plays take the stage at Artists Rep and Third Rail.

02/26/2019 By Rebecca Jacobson and Fiona McCann

Spring Up

6 New Projects Shaking Up Portland's Arts Scene

From a brick-and-mortar outpost for Baby Ketten Karaoke to the Hollywood Theatre's refurbished pipe organ, here's what to know right now.

02/26/2019 By Rebecca Jacobson and Fiona McCann

Visual Art

Portland Artist Josh Keyes Paints a Beastly City

Foxes, rhinos, and bears push up against the built environment in Keyes's wild paintings.

02/26/2019 By Fiona McCann

Profile

Author Mitchell S. Jackson Is a Blistering, Lyrical Voice of Our Time

For proof, read the Portland-raised writer's staggeringly smart new book, Survival Math.

02/26/2019 By Fiona McCann

Music

A New Concert Creates a Sonic Snapshot of Portland

With creaking pine trees and sizzling power lines, Third Angle’s Habitat explores the soundscapes of the city.

02/26/2019 By Rebecca Jacobson

Television

Inside Shrill, Lindy West's New TV Tale

The Portland-filmed Hulu series, which stars Aidy Bryant, is inspired by West's real-life transformation from bumbling cub reporter to nationally known feminist and fat activism powerhouse.

02/26/2019 By Rob Owen

PDX Index

The Portland International Film Festival, by the Numbers

Our 42-year-old celebration of cinema is back March 7–21. Here's how it stacks up.

02/26/2019 By Allison Place

Eat & Drink

Spring Road Trips: Snack Packer

Pack the Ultimate Picnic Basket for Your Next Road Trip

From smoked oysters to Alpine cheese, toss these delicious fixings in the trunk.

02/26/2019 By Benjamin Tepler

Eat Here Now

Bar West Thrives in Northwest's Famed Wildwood Space

The new spot nails the neighborhood charm.

02/26/2019 By Benjamin Tepler

Word of Mouth

Food Cart Matta Is Vietnamese Soul Food, Lost and Found

The NE Alberta cart serves up super-homey dishes, braised catfish to pandan doughnuts.

02/26/2019 By Karen Brooks

Pour

Classic Basque Cider Comes to the Columbia River Gorge

Cascade Locks cidery Son of Man makes a wild-fermented quaff that's funky and salty.

02/26/2019 By Ramona DeNies

Recipes

Texas Pecan Sheet Cake Gets a Cannabis Kick

What does Oregon’s top cannabis chocolatier eat in her downtime? Fancy weed brownies, basically.

02/26/2019 By Benjamin Tepler

Restaurant Review

Is Din Tai Fung's New Portland Outpost Worth the Hype?

The soup dumpling chain has a global following. Now it's landed at Washington Square mall.

02/26/2019 By Karen Brooks

Back to Basics

A New Portland Grocery Store Wants to Help You Feel Better

Yes, Basics Market sells food. But it puts the focus on cooking demos and nutrition classes.

02/26/2019 By Emma Luthy

Editor's Note

From the Editor: Hit the Road

It's been a long winter. Shake it off.

02/26/2019 By Kelly Clarke

Health & Wellness

Cannabis: Soak It Up

Our 10 Favorite New Cannabis Products, Shops, and Events

From unicorn pipes to exploding edibles to weed perfume, here's what we're loving right now.

02/26/2019 By Rebecca Jacobson and Marty Patail

Cannabis: Rules & Regs

How the OLCC Scrambled to Regulate Oregon's Cannabis Industry

It's been quite the process.

02/26/2019 By Marty Patail

Cannabis: New Frontiers

Can Cannabis Help Fight America's Opioid Epidemic?

Absolutely, says Portland neuroscientist Adie Wilson-Poe.

02/26/2019 By Emma Mannheimer

Cannabis: Women & Weed

A New Accelerator Pushes for Gender Parity in the Cannabis Industry

The Initiative sets out to boost women-led weed businesses.

02/26/2019 By Rebecca Jacobson

Cannabis

Cannabis Is Booming in Oregon. But What Has Surprised Industry Insiders?

Here are three dispatches from our quickly evolving cannabis community, plus our favorite new ways to soak up the scene.

02/26/2019 By Rebecca Jacobson, Emma Mannheimer, and Marty Patail Illustrations by Vance Lump

Home & Real Estate

Design

This Duo Makes Some of Portland's Most Eye-Catching Signs

J&S Signs paints the town.

02/26/2019 By Kelly Clarke

News & City Life

The Shakedown

What's the Deal with Rain, Anyway?

We size up that drizzle from the sky.

02/26/2019 By Marty Patail

Long Story Short

This 93-Year-Old Oregonian Won a Silver Medal at the 1948 Olympics

As a teenager, backstroke champion Suzanne Zimmerman Edwards was part of a legendary group of swimmers at the Multnomah Athletic Club.

02/26/2019 By Margaret Seiler

Strategies

How to Use March Madness to Fight the Patriarchy

Help close the enthusiasm gap with a little (probably illegal) gambling.

02/26/2019 By Margaret Seiler

True Colors

This Portland Tattoo Artist Specializes in Surprise Ink

Mark Dugally of Inkbus Tattoo gets under your skin—and then inks it.

02/26/2019 By James Stevens

Tech

3 Portland-Made Apps to Download Right Now

Size activist Rebecca Alexander—of plus size review app AllGo—selects three of her locally made favorites.

02/26/2019 By Allison Place

History

Where Are Portland’s Vanished Immigrant Neighborhoods?

The city may not have a Germantown or a Little Palermo, but immigrants still left their mark.

02/26/2019 By Carl Abbott

Toll House

Will We Have to Pay to Drive on I-5?

Tolls could be coming to our freeways.

02/26/2019 By Henry Miller

Foreign Affairs

The Toughest Part of Getting Aid to Syria Could Be US Politics

Just take a history lesson from Portland nonprofit Mercy Corps.

02/26/2019 By Ramona DeNies

Style & Shopping

Emerging Designer

Portland Designer Ariel Fan Nails Witchy, Minimalist Fashion

Fan's label, Holy Voids, lends comfy clothes major drama.

02/26/2019 By Eden Dawn Photography by Christopher Dibble

Trophy Case

This Portland-Made Bracelet Honors a Civil Rights Landmark

Betsy & Iya's Selma Bridge cuff transforms a style statement into a political one. (Ava DuVernay is a fan.)

02/26/2019 By Eden Dawn

Travel & Outdoors

Spring Road Trips: Oregon Outback

The Oregon Outback Offers Up Otherworldly Views and Healing Hot Springs

Seeking total solitude? Look no further.

02/26/2019 By Kelly Clarke, Rebecca Jacobson, Emma Mannheimer, and Benjamin Tepler

Spring Road Trips: Sonic Sidekicks

10 Oregon-Inspired Podcasts, Audiobooks, and Albums

Cue up this playlist for your next Pacific Northwest road trip.

02/26/2019 By Emma Mannheimer

Spring Road Trips: Pit Stops

10 Kitschy Roadside Attractions to Visit in Oregon

Collect 'em all!

02/26/2019 By Ramona DeNies

Spring Road Trips: The South Coast

Head to Oregon's South Coast for Craggy Beaches and Painted Dinosaurs

This is the kid-approved adventure you need (don't worry, grown-ups—we've got beer and soaking tubs for you).

02/26/2019 By Margaret Seiler and Ramona DeNies

Road Trips: Hood Canal

Slurp Oysters and Geoduck Along This Dramatic Puget Sound Fjord

The Hood Canal offers up Scandinavian scenery, shellfish, and small, salty towns.

02/26/2019 By Ramona DeNies

The Roads Less Traveled

3 Undiscovered Pacific Northwest Road Trips

Fjords, calderas, and crab shacks: escape the city with these adventures.

02/26/2019 Edited by Ramona DeNies and Benjamin Tepler