What Now?

An Oregon Historian on What We Can Learn From the 1918 Flu Epidemic

“This is a historical truism for pandemics. Pausing, reflecting, obfuscating, lying, or just not being decisive is always a lot worse. Tell the truth, close ...

06/01/2020 Edited by Marty Patail

The Long View

How Oregon’s Racist History Can Sharpen Our Sense of Justice Right Now

Writer Walidah Imarisha on eight years of talking about the brutal history of race in Oregon.

02/25/2020 By Walidah Imarisha

Last Call

Living as a Young Queer in Post-Vaseline Alley Portland

Where have all the gay bars gone?

02/25/2020 By Conner Reed

Music

Legendary Music Festival Vortex is Coming Back This August

The upcoming festival honors Vortex I with music, history, and volunteerism

02/19/2020 By Gabriel Granillo

Photography

The Japanese Garden Reflects on Hiroshima Attack with Season-Opening Exhibit

Spirits Rising: ひろしま/hiroshima showcases objects left behind after U.S. forces bombed the city in 1945.

01/21/2020 By Conner Reed

Feature

Why Does Portland Still Love the Cinnamon Bear?

Who needs Santa when you have a (slightly creepy) 82-year-old bear roaming Portland for the holidays.

11/26/2019 By Heather Arndt Anderson

History

Portland's Original Boxer, Jack Dempsey

In the 19th century, Dempsey garnered national renown, retiring with a 50–3 record.

11/26/2019 By Eben Pindyck

Retail

How She Bop Changed the Sex Shop Game

You know we had to call it an “oral history.” Hey, it is one!

10/23/2019 By Kiva Hanson

Sports

Old Portland Had Its Own Super-Cool All-Japanese Baseball Teams

Fuji Athletic Club is now a retro-hipster design find—with eerie historical echoes.

10/23/2019 By Zach Dundas

Feature

Meet the Poets Who Defined a Portland Era—and Are Still at It

“Poets value relationships. They value falling in love. They value things that don’t have money attached.”

10/23/2019 By Leanne Grabel

Old Joy

A Pair of Portlanders Wrote the New Joy of Cooking

Nearly century-old recipes and a fresh global pantry make this classic kitchen tome a holiday go-to for all. Plus: a go-to recipe for fig and brown butter spice cake.

10/23/2019 By Heather Arndt Anderson