News & City Life

Portland Parks

Spending a Lazy Day at the Park? Here’s What to Bring

Elevate your visit to a Portland-area park with the perfect picnic blanket, camp chair, sun hat, and more!

05/27/2022 By Shannon Daehnke Photography by Michael Novak

Portland Parks

Where Parks Are More Than Just Playgrounds and Ballfields

A Q&A with Jon Blasher of the Portland-area regional government Metro, on balancing the urgency of access to nature for all with habitat preservation

05/27/2022 By Julia Silverman

Portland Parks

Parks We Love in Portland’s Suburbs, from West Linn to Washougal

Venture beyond city limits for more great greenspaces in West Linn, Tualatin, Gresham, and Washougal.

05/27/2022 By Michelle Harris

Recreation

It’s Will-AM-it, Dammit! Running the Numbers on the Willamette River

Dive in at Poet's Beach, kayak at Sellwood Riverfront Park, or just worry about Portland Harbor pollutants—there’s a lot to do in the Willamette.

05/27/2022 By Michelle Harris

Business

A New Generation of Footwear Start-Ups Takes their Shot in Portland

Many of the Rose City-based brands have founders with roots at Nike, Adidas and Columbia—like Velous, which is making recovery sandals

05/26/2022 By Julia Silverman

Tourism

Rose City Rebrand: Translating the Story of a City at a Crossroads to Tourists

Influencers, New York Times ads, and some carefully chosen (and controversial) versions of the city and its people–and why that matters for the rest of us.

05/24/2022 By Julia Silverman

Public Transit

On the Hunt for New Drivers, TriMet Dangles a $7,500 Hiring Bonus

A job fair this week produced conditional, on-the-spot job offers for 100 people, as the Portland transit agency tries to stem service disruptions.

05/18/2022 By Julia Silverman

Festival

The Rose Festival Is Back in Portland, in Person, for 2022

The numbers behind the 115-year-old city festival, featuring parades, clowns, Rose Festival Queen drama, and the occasional Oregon Zoo elephant

05/18/2022 By Julia Silverman

Elections

3 Key Takeaways from an Unpredictable Primary Election Night in Oregon

Money isn't everything, incumbents hang on, and Oregon's year of the woman shapes up with Kotek, Drazan, McLeod-Skinner, and Chavez-DeRemer leading their races.

05/17/2022 By Julia Silverman

Analysis

5 Juicy Subplots to Watch for on Election Night in Portland

Oregon's primary elections are Tuesday, May 17. From the money to the female candidates hoping to dominate, here's what you need to know.

05/13/2022 By Julia Silverman

Long Story Short

This Portland Quilter Has Become a TikTok Sensation

Chris Marchini’s modern quilts and bright persona have made him a hit with online crafters.

05/13/2022 By Fiona McCann

Health

Oregon’s Menstrual Dignity Act Hits the Right-Wing Outrage Machine

Advocates for the bill, which puts tampons and other period supplies in school bathrooms, say its critics have completely missed the point—it’s about equity.

05/10/2022 By Shannon Daehnke