Senior editor Rebecca Jacobson steers Portland Monthly’s travel and outdoors coverage and writes about the more-than-human world, history, and arts and culture. She previously served as the magazine’s arts editor and digital editor. A former editor at Willamette Week and The Berliner as well as a contributor to several Wildsam field guides, she has an MFA in creative writing from the University of Montana.

Fall Arts

20 Shows You Can't Miss in Portland in Fall 2017

From Joe Biden to George Saunders, cash-register exorcisms to garbage paintings, here's what you have to catch this season.

08/14/2017 By Rebecca Jacobson and Fiona McCann

Profile

Portland Artist Arvie Smith Paints the Black Experience in Blazing Color

As he nears 80, Smith—easily one of the city's most technically skilled painters—confronts race with sardonic humor and fantastic beauty.

08/14/2017 By Rebecca Jacobson

PoMo Picks

Top Things to Do This Weekend: Aug 10–13

Chastity Belt plays the Star Theater, old-school radio drama returns, bicyclists take to the bridges, and ’80s TV commercials get mashed up with music videos.

08/10/2017 By Rebecca Jacobson and Anyi Wong-Lifton

PoMo Picks

Top Things to Do This Weekend: Aug 3–6

Pickathon! Stumptown Improv Fest! Aerialists twirling from trees! The moral murkiness of parenthood! Stay cool out there, folks.

08/03/2017 By Rebecca Jacobson, Anyi Wong-Lifton, and Fiona McCann

PoMo Picks

Top Things to Do This Weekend: July 27–30

From alfresco cinema to Brandi Carlile, sea nymphs to Mars missions, it's weekend o'clock.

07/27/2017 By Rebecca Jacobson and Anyi Wong-Lifton

PoMo Picks

Top Things to Do This Weekend: July 20–23

From Bruno Mars to PDX Pop Now to Romeo and Juliet in 12th-century Persia, the weekend is ready to be seized.

07/20/2017 By Rebecca Jacobson, Anyi Wong-Lifton, and Fiona McCann

PoMo Picks

Top Things to Do This Weekend: July 13–16

Comedy galore, Tacocat, jazz under the St. Johns Bridge, bagpipe competitions, Bastille Day, and the Big Float. Bring it, weekend.

07/12/2017 By Rebecca Jacobson, Meagan Nolan, and Anyi Wong-Lifton

The Essentials

12 Portland Shows, Events, and Pure-Genius Things to Know This August

See a different kind of eclipse, get your family heirlooms assessed at the Antiques Roadshow, and belt tunes from the Revolution Hall roof.

07/10/2017 By Rebecca Jacobson and Fiona McCann

PoMo Picks

Top Things to Do This Weekend: July 6–9

Ron Funches! Mississippi Street Fair! David Lynch retrospective! Oodles of Wookiees! Get after it.

07/06/2017 By Rebecca Jacobson and Meagan Nolan

PoMo Picks

Top Things to Do This Weekend: June 29–July 2

Roxane Gay reads at Powell's, the Waterfront Blues Fest turns 30, Cabaret comes to the Keller, and, umm, Mike Pence stiffs a dinner invitation? Welcome to the weekend.

06/29/2017 By Rebecca Jacobson, Anyi Wong-Lifton, and Fiona McCann

PoMo Picks

Top Things to Do This Weekend: June 22–25

Strip down for the World Naked Bike Ride, pay tribute to Dolly Parton, catch genre-busting performances at Risk/Reward, learn about the science of warfare, and hear solo tunes from Dave Depper.

06/22/2017 By Rebecca Jacobson, Fiona McCann, and Anyi Wong-Lifton

PoMo Picks

Top Things to Do This Weekend: June 15–18

Belt Bowie tunes, listen to spooky campfire tales, jam to ADULT at the Doug Fir, celebrate Pride, catch Man of La Mancha at the Keller, or trek out to Dufur for What the Festival.

06/15/2017 By Rebecca Jacobson, Meagan Nolan, and Anyi Wong-Lifton

Beer Guide 2017: Fresh Pints

Portland's 8 Best New Spots to Drink Beer

From experimental one-offs to dreamy patios, here are our favorite places for a pint right now.

06/12/2017 By Marty Patail, Rebecca Jacobson, Ramona DeNies, Zach Dundas, Meagan Nolan, Margaret Seiler, and Kelly Clarke

Long Story Short

Una the Mermaid Is Portland's Most Magical Sea Nymph

She's also the organizer of the Portlandia Mermaid Parade, which returns for its third year July 28.

06/12/2017 By Rebecca Jacobson

PoMo Picks

Top Things to Do This Weekend: June 8–11

Hip-hop violinist Damien Escobar plays the Aladdin, an all-lady cast takes on Oscar Wilde, Ira Glass hits the Schnitz, Michael Ian Black does standup at the Doug Fir, and the Portland Jewish Film Festival turns 25.

06/08/2017 By Fiona McCann, Rebecca Jacobson, and Meagan Nolan

PoMo Picks

Top Things to Do This Weekend: June 1–4

Wonder Woman Day! Maya Rudolph's Prince cover band! Pedalpalooza! A David Bowie dance tribute! Chris Gethard! The Mountain Goats! Hello there, June.

06/01/2017 By Rebecca Jacobson and Meagan Nolan

Om Base

The 6 Stages of Buddha Bud Yoga

What happens when you pair weed with warrior pose? Things get weird.

05/31/2017 By Rebecca Jacobson

PoMo Picks

Top Things to Do This Weekend: May 25–28

From the Vanport Mosaic Festival to Rodriguez, Nate Bargatze to the Ukeladies, here's how to fill the long weekend.

05/24/2017 By Rebecca Jacobson and Meagan Nolan

PoMo Picks

Top Things to Do This Weekend: May 18–21

Comedian Amy Miller returns to town, LGBTQ docs hit the screen, the UFO Festival celebrates all things extraterrestrial, and Aminé and the Last Artful, Dodgr play the Crystal.

05/17/2017 By Rebecca Jacobson and Meagan Nolan

Books

A New Portland Project Blows Up the Bookshelves

De-Canon puts the spotlight on writers of color.

05/15/2017 By Rebecca Jacobson