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.

Extremism

A Sociologist’s Take on the Capitol Siege

We check in with hate-crime expert Randy Blazak on how the events of January 6 fit in with other recent history.

01/17/2021 By Margaret Seiler

Travel

A Guide to Pandemic Travel

From coastal trailers to secluded forest retreats, here are ways to get out with social distance in mind.

01/12/2021 Edited by Margaret Seiler

Extreme Road Trip

Pandemic Travel: A 5,000-Mile Moving-Bubble Road Trip through 10 States

Nothing turns you into an advocate for a national mask mandate like a drive across Nebraska.

01/08/2021 By Margaret Seiler

Glamping

4 Great Options for Trailers, Yurts, and Cabins at the Coast

Find distanced lodging at rolling retreats and—they’re back!—state parks.

01/02/2021 By Eden Dawn, Marty Patail, and Margaret Seiler

Shop Local

‘Be Here for Portland’ Campaign Asks Shoppers to Stay Local

Artists, athletes, musicians, business boosters, and celebs encourage Portlanders to take their love to town—or rather, spend their dollars in town.

12/18/2020 By Margaret Seiler

Travel & Outdoors

Your Next Favorite Winter Activity Awaits

You’ve skied. You’ve skated. May we entice you with something new?

12/14/2020 By Margaret Seiler, Julia Silverman, and Riley Blake

Winter Adventures

Enjoy the Calm of Ice Fishing in the Northwest

All you need is an auger, a short rod and reel, lures, and a bucket to sit on.

12/12/2020 By Margaret Seiler

Top Doctors, Nurses & More

Portland’s Top Medical Providers 2022

Here are the city’s best doctors, nurses, physician assistants, chiropractors, and more, according to their peers.

12/03/2020 Edited by Margaret Seiler

Health

Actual Good News! Norovirus Outbreaks Are Way Down in 2020

Sorry COVID made you postpone your wedding, but here’s one more disease you won’t be getting. (Maybe.)

12/03/2020 By Margaret Seiler

Light a Fire

The Miller Foundation’s Martha Richards Doesn’t Have All the Answers

And that’s a good thing.

12/02/2020 By Margaret Seiler

Holidays

Where the Holiday Lights Are Shining in Portland, and Where They’re Not

Some marquee events are canceled, but plenty of Christmas lights are aglow this year.

11/24/2020 By Margaret Seiler

Soccer

Louisville Claims Tobin Heath from Portland Thorns in NWSL Expansion Draft

Some had feared Grand Theft Goalie, but it’s the national team vet who could be off to Kentucky.

11/12/2020 By Margaret Seiler

Election 2020

LIVE: Portland City Council & Metro Results

Live results and analysis on the city's most important races, from the mayor's office to a hotly contested city council seat

11/03/2020 By Fiona McCann and Margaret Seiler

Halloween

This North Portland ‘Halloween House’ Honors RBG, Chadwick Boseman, and Other Dearly Departed

No plague can stop death.

10/31/2020 By Margaret Seiler

News

More Oregon Kids Could Soon Be Heading Back to School

Gov. Kate Brown announced new metrics on Friday for school reopening—even as daily case counts hit their highest-ever totals in Oregon.

10/30/2020 By Julia Silverman

Remotely Working

Need Decorating Tips for Your Zoom Meetings? These Candidates’ Debate Backdrops Might Help.

Or not.

10/24/2020 By Margaret Seiler

Camping

Hoping to Camp in Oregon State Parks This Summer? You Can’t Book Quite Yet

After COVID cancellations and closures, the state park system is persevering for next year—but needs some time to heal.

10/15/2020 By Ainslee Dicken

Cycling

Biketown's All-Electric Fleet and Expanded Area Take Portland’s Bike Share Program to a New Level

Yes, it’s yet another ‘I rode an e-bike for the first time, and it was kind of cool’ story.

10/14/2020 By Margaret Seiler

Election 2020

Play the Multnomah County Voters’ Pamphlet Scavenger Hunt!

Can you find these items in that 120-pager that just dropped?

10/12/2020 By Margaret Seiler

Soccer

Portland Thorns Face Seattle Saturday in Last Game of 2020

Top of the standings and a grant for Mimi’s Fresh Tees could be on the line.

10/09/2020 By Margaret Seiler