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.

Swimming

Portland Is a Beach Town. It's True.

But which in-the-city Willamette River swim spot is the one for you and your crew?

07/09/2024 By Margaret Seiler, Michelle Harris, and Matthew Trueherz

Dive In

Cathedral Park’s New Swim Dock Opens Under the St. Johns Bridge

The beach area has a lot less concrete to trip over, too, thanks to volunteers and the Human Access Project.

06/28/2024 By Margaret Seiler

Transit Trip

We Took the Bus to Camas and Washougal

Find river paths, vintage clothes, a floating restaurant, art galleries, woolly Pendleton temptations, and an indoor-outdoor barbershop.

06/21/2024 By Margaret Seiler

Real Estate

Portland Suburbs by the Numbers 2024

Are you hot for Happy Valley? Rarin' for Ridgefield? Gaga for Gresham? Check out home sales prices, rent costs, demographics, and walkability for Portland's suburbs.

05/29/2024 Edited by Margaret Seiler

Real Estate

Portland Neighborhoods by the Numbers 2024

Home sale prices, rent costs, commuting habits, and demographic info for every neighborhood, from Buckman to Bridlemile, Hillsdale to Humboldt.

05/19/2024 Edited by Margaret Seiler

Bookshelf

Riot Grrrl History in Kathleen Hanna’s Rebel Girl

The Portland-born musician’s memoir details ’90s Olympia, Bikini Kill, life on tour, and some serious trauma and healing.

05/17/2024 By Margaret Seiler

Road Trip

Portland to Seattle: How to Survive the Drive on Interstate 5

Hippie sandals, squirrel bridges, playgrounds, a car museum, hot pot, skydiving ... take a few breaks on the drive between Portland and Seattle.

05/09/2024 By Cassondra Bird, Michelle Harris, and Margaret Seiler

Hiking

These Oregon Coast Hikes Have All the Views

Neahkahnie Mountain, Cape Lookout, and other coastal trails beckon with shady walks and vast ocean vistas.

05/01/2024 By Julia Silverman and Michelle Harris

Transit Trip

We Took Amtrak to Oregon City for $2

And, besides the municipal elevator, we found cookie jars, boob art, dive bars, and quirky T-shirts.

04/30/2024 By Margaret Seiler

Full Court Press

5 Takeaways from Portland’s March Madness Sweet 16

As eyes shift to Cleveland and the Final Four for the NCAA Women's Tournament, we take a moment to reflect.

04/05/2024 By Margaret Seiler

Summer Fun

Portland Pickles 2024 Schedule Is Here: Robots, Farts, Monty Python

Tickets are on sale for nights dedicated to Dilly Parton, the Simpsons, and sleep—oh, and baseball games, too.

03/06/2024 By Margaret Seiler

Soccer

The Portland Thorns 2024 Schedule Is Finally Here

Dunn decamped, Bixby has a baby on the way, and Menges migrated south, but Kling, Sinc, Weaver, Sauerbrunn, Smith, Moultrie, and the rest will kick off March 16.

01/25/2024 By Margaret Seiler