Margaret Seiler helps keep Portland Monthly clear, readable, and grammatically correct. She also writes about local politics, history, sports (from the Thorns to Tonya Harding), and her hobby of extreme transit. The native Kentuckian landed in Oregon after youth-hostelling her way around the continent (before cell phones!) and worked at Willamette Week and the Portland Tribune before joining Portland Monthly in 2010. She lives in North Portland with her brewer husband and their two children.

Event Calendar

Things to Do in Portland This Week

Looking for something to do in Portland, Oregon? Here's a list of upcoming Portland-area events, activities, exhibits, shows, and more.

08/18/2022 By Conner Reed, Matthew Trueherz, and Margaret Seiler

Outdoors

Shady Hikes and Picnic Spots for Hot Days in and around Portland

From the fir frenzy of North Portland’s Columbia Park to a tree-lined trail on Sauvie Island, here are a few places to celebrate the shadows.

08/11/2022 By Cassondra Bird, Michelle Harris, and Margaret Seiler

Nature

Off to Pick Huckleberries? You Might Need a Permit

Washington state’s berry-packed Gifford Pinchot National Forest requires a permit to pick up to a 3 gallons a year. That's a lot of huckleberry pies.

08/08/2022 By Margaret Seiler

Events

What to Do in Oregon in August

Pig-N-Ford races at the Tillamook County Fair, Chicks concerts in Bend, the Oregon State Fair, Hood to Coast relay race, and more

08/01/2022 By Michelle Harris and Margaret Seiler

Bicycling

Are You Ready for World Naked Bike Ride on Saturday, July 30?

The DIY, volunteer-run, bare-as-you-dare, pro-community, anti-oil-dependency ride is a Portland classic.

07/29/2022 By Margaret Seiler

Swimming

Portland Is a Beach Town. It's True.

But which in-the-city river beach or dock—Poet’s, Audrey McCall, Sellwood, Cathedral, Tom McCall Bowl, or Duckworth Dock—is right for you and your crew?

07/27/2022 By Margaret Seiler, Michelle Harris, and Matthew Trueherz

Baseball

On an Epic Night, the Pickles Score 32 Runs and Blow Up a Whale

The amateur baseball team’s wackiest promo ever celebrated the infamous exploding whale on a beach in Florence, Oregon, in 1970.

07/22/2022 By Margaret Seiler

Summer Picks

Our Favorite Patios for Drinking & Soaking Up Sun

From luxe cocktail hideaways to dive bar patios, there’s an outdoor drinking spot for everyone.

07/21/2022 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Bicycles

5 Things to Know about Portland’s World Naked Bike Ride

The 2022 event happens Saturday, July 30, starting at Peninsula Park in North Portland.

07/21/2022 By Margaret Seiler

Hollywood

If Jennifer Lopez Is Going to Marry a Costar, Does It Have to Be Ben Affleck?

With his upcoming Nike movie, he’s got Portland cred, but let’s just imagine some of the alternatives: Jesus, Voldemort, George Clooney…

07/19/2022 By Margaret Seiler

Air Travel

These Are All the Nonstop Destinations from PDX

Portland International Airport offers more than 60 nonstop flights to destinations in the United States, as well as Europe, Canada, and tropical locales.

07/12/2022 By Margaret Seiler

Best of PDX

The Ultimate Portland Bucket List

From markets to movie houses to museums, here's your expert list of the absolute best things to do in this city.

07/06/2022 By Shannon Daehnke, Michelle Harris, Fiona McCann, Conner Reed, Margaret Seiler, Julia Silverman, and Matthew Trueherz

Events

What to Do in Oregon in July

Chief Joseph Days Rodeo, a dory celebration in Pacific City, orchestral music on the coast, and more

07/01/2022 By Michelle Harris and Margaret Seiler

Cycling

Pedalpalooza Is Back! The Beloved Bike Festival Runs June, July, and August

The super-fun, volunteer-led Portland bike festival returns with themed rides, from Kate Bush to a cargo bike competition.

06/30/2022 By Margaret Seiler

Travel Deals

Great Wolf Lodge Offers a Free Night for 100 Travelers with Canceled Flights

The hotel and water park chain, which has a location between Portland and Seattle near Centralia, says it’s easing the pain of frustrated passengers.

06/29/2022 By Margaret Seiler

Get Out

19 Great Swimming Holes within 3 Hours of Portland

Drive to Hagg Lake, the Wilson River, Rooster Rock State Park, and more swimming holes near Portland, Oregon.

06/29/2022 By Benjamin Tepler, Rachel Ritchie, Margaret Seiler, Caleb Diehl, and Kasey Cordell

Fourth of July

Where to Catch Big Fireworks Displays around Portland and Beyond This Fourth of July

Find the rockets' red glare at Portland’s Waterfront Park, Oaks Amusement Park, coastal towns like Astoria and Seaside, and more

06/28/2022 By Michelle Harris, Fiona McCann, and Margaret Seiler

Swimming

6 Portland Hotels with Outdoor Pools for Your Summer Staycation

Book a room with cable and AC and lounge by the pool at University Place downtown, the Holiday Inn at Jantzen Beach, the Monarch in Clackamas, and more.

06/24/2022 By Margaret Seiler

Style and Shopping

5 Portland Stores Where You Can Find Your Perfect Summer Swimsuit

Need to switch up your bathing suit? Shop local at these Rose City retailers, including two that will custom-make a suit for you from sustainable fabrics.

06/23/2022 By Margaret Seiler and Julia Silverman

History Lesson

Arlington, MAC, University.... What’s the Deal with Portland’s Old Private Clubs?

From discrimination to policies, members to clubhouses, we take a deep dive into the history of the Rose City’s private clubs–and where there are now.

06/22/2022 By Margaret Seiler