Senior editor Rebecca Jacobson steers Portland Monthly’s news and city life 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.

Awesome Blossom

Guide to the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival

Thirty miles south of Portland, 40 rainbow acres await.

03/21/2025 By Rebecca Jacobson

Spout Spotting

A Guide to Spring Whale Watch Week on the Oregon Coast

Thousands of gray whales are on the move. Here’s how to spy the showstopping cetaceans.

03/17/2025 By Rebecca Jacobson

Weed Whackers

Goats Are an Eco-Friendly, Adorable Form of Yard Care

Overgrown lawn? Rent a herd of hungry ruminants.

03/12/2025 By Rebecca Jacobson Photography by Michael Raines

Pretty in Pink

A Complete Guide to Viewing Cherry Blossoms in Portland

Peak bloom is nigh.

03/11/2025 By Rebecca Jacobson

Things to Do

Watching Weird Films in a Former Fireboat Station on the Willamette

Also: a new novel from Karen Russell, and other things to do in Portland this week.

03/06/2025 By Rebecca Jacobson

Soak Zone

Is Bagby Hot Springs Ready for Its Next Chapter?

Under new management, the beloved but beleaguered site bounces back.

01/28/2025 By Rebecca Jacobson

things to do

At Open Space, Dance So Close You Can Almost Touch It

Also: Tim Heidecker’s serious tunes, and other things to do in Portland this week.

01/23/2025 By Rebecca Jacobson and Matthew Trueherz

Outdoors

Oregon, It’s Time to Book Your Summer Campsites

Six months out is the sweet spot for securing the state’s most coveted tent sites (and cabins, yurts, and fire lookouts).

01/03/2025 By Rebecca Jacobson

Near & Far

Our Travel Editor’s Top Moments of 2024

Brilliant birds, beautiful beaches, and decked-the-heck-out tiki bars.

12/30/2024 By Rebecca Jacobson

Oregon Trails

8 Ways to Embrace Winter in Oregon

From snowshoeing to stargazing to dips in the sea, there’s no reason to fear the cold.

12/02/2024 By Rebecca Jacobson Illustrations by Jordan Kay

In Defense of Skinny Skis

Cross-Country Skiing Is More Joyful Than You Think

It’s serene, affordable, and as strenuous or leisurely as you want it to be—and a balm during dark Northwest winters.

11/19/2024 By Rebecca Jacobson

As Told To

Meet Astrophysicist and Former Elite Cross-Country Ski Racer Alison Crocker

The Reed College professor reflects on racing, working hard, and waffles.

11/18/2024 By Rebecca Jacobson

XC Ski 101

A Beginner's Guide to Cross-Country Skiing

Never clipped into skinny skis? Here's all you need to know. Plus: gear rentals, lessons, and clubs in the Portland area.

11/15/2024 By Rebecca Jacobson

Heat Seeking

Destination Saunas in Oregon and Beyond

Shvitz in a “wine barrel,” cold plunge in a river, or soak up the steam from a bubbling hot spring.

10/30/2024 Edited by Brooke Jackson-Glidden and Rebecca Jacobson

TBA

The Time-Based Art Festival Is 21. How’s It Looking?

Our editors recap PICA’s beloved festival, with all its glistening torsos, humor and rage, and lightsabers and tassels.

10/04/2024 By Matthew Trueherz and Rebecca Jacobson

Oregon Trails

9 Historic Oregon Cemeteries That Offer Clues to Bygone Eras

Find stories of shipwrecks, range wars, and prominent Portlanders.

10/02/2024 Illustrations by Jillian Barthold By Rebecca Jacobson

Squash the Competition

How to Grow a Giant Pumpkin and Paddle It to Regatta Victory

A reigning champion of Tualatin's annual race spills his hard-won tips.

09/20/2024 Illustrations by Sam Island By Rebecca Jacobson

Swifties Unite

The Definitive Guide to Watching the Vaux’s Swifts in Portland

It’s basically our city’s Mardi Gras.

08/27/2024 By Rebecca Jacobson

Farm Life

As Pickathon Grows, Its Music Lineup Doubles Down on Young Talent

The beloved festival runs a venue in Portland and just launched a nonprofit. But its heart remains the annual Happy Valley campout, stacked this year with Gen Zers.

07/26/2024 By Rebecca Jacobson

Bird to the Wise

Güero Bird Club Is Portland's Best Way to Get into Birding

The warm and welcoming group, led by the torta shop's kitchen manager, transforms novices into nerds. It worked on me.

07/17/2024 By Rebecca Jacobson Photography by Michael Raines Illustrations by Michael Novak