News & City Life

Long Story Short

At 80, Photographer Sergio Ortiz Is Still Seeking Wonder

The tour guide, raised in the South Bronx and an Oregonian since 1979, remains in awe.

02/17/2026 By Rebecca Jacobson Photography by Michael Novak

Level Up

The Rise of Public Tabletop Role-Playing Games

A once-niche hobby exits the basement and enters the bar.

02/17/2026 By Alex Frane Illustrations by Stephen Dybus

In Short

Hot Takes on Portland’s Latest News

Real news in small packages.

02/16/2026 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

“America’s Game”

Chuck Klosterman’s Football Journeys into America’s Media-Addled Soul

The Portland author’s latest book unpacks football’s unique perch atop the flaming pyre of a dying monoculture.

02/06/2026 By Jordan Michelman

Sports

The Mount Hood Stunt Bag Where Olympic Snowboarders and Skiers Train

On an inflatable slope in the forest, elite athletes finesse their tricks.

02/04/2026 By Amelia Arvesen

ICE

What to Do (and Not Do) If You Encounter ICE

Detentions are on the rise in Portland. Here are steps to take if you or someone you know is stopped or detained.

01/30/2026 By Isabel Lemus Kristensen

Love Letters

An Illustrated Ode to Birdhers

“We're not just looking at the bird, but thinking: Where are we?”

01/29/2026 Illustrations by Shay Mirk

Soccer

The Portland Thorns 2026 Schedule Is Out

The home opener at Providence Park is March 20 against Seattle Reign FC.

01/15/2026 By Margaret Seiler

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

Television

15 Years Ago, Portlandia Told Portland Who It Was

Though it has undeniably shaped the city’s reputation, what exactly the show “did” to Portland is less cut-and-dried.

01/02/2026 By Matthew Trueherz Illustrations by Lisa Sheehan (Photo courtesy Chris Hornbecker/IFC)

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

Malheur

Ten Years Ago, Outlaws Took Over an Oregon Refuge

Now, they've taken even more.

12/15/2025 By Leah Sottile Illustrations by Matthew Woodson

Fare Fashion

The Rise of the Transit Agency Holiday Sweater

TriMet's second annual holiday sweater is one for bus history nerds.

12/11/2025 By Margaret Seiler

Love Letters

An Illustrated Ode to Stomptown

The LGBTQ+ country dance pop-up predates the recent wave in queer line dance and two-step popularity.

12/09/2025 Illustrations by Shay Mirk

Wild World

This Portland-Made Game Is a Crash Course in Animal Sex

Sisters Christa Berce and Gina Berce Lipor learned a lot about duck genitalia.

12/08/2025 By Rebecca Jacobson

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

Editor’s Note

How to Cook Food and Influence People

Greatness is one thing. But it takes more than that to build a legacy.

11/18/2025 By Brooke Jackson-Glidden

Food History

The 25 Restaurants That Made Portland

Portland was not a food city in the year 2000. Over the past quarter century, these restaurants changed that.

11/14/2025 Edited by Matthew Trueherz By Portland Monthly Staff Illustrations by Max-O-Matic

Pinball Wizard

Next Level Pinball Museum Is Oregon’s Finest Arcade

It's not just about the games—Next Level is a temple of pop culture and a nerdy parent's dream.

11/07/2025 By Jordan Michelman Photography by Michael Novak