Seeing Things

Craig Thompson at the Portland Book Festival

Also: the Decemberists with the symphony, and other events in town this week.

11/06/2025 By Matthew Trueherz

Music

The PoMo Essential Summer 2023 Playlist

Summer songs from Portlanders old and new, and even a tribute to the city itself, to spin this season on our Spotify playlist, brought to you by Portland Monthly.

06/14/2023 By Matthew Trueherz and Margaret Seiler

Year in Review

The Best Oregon-Made Books, Films, Music, Theater, and Art of 2022

From a Decemberist’s spine-chilling ghost story to a joyful album from an old Portland master, 2022 was the year the arts roared back to life.

12/14/2022 By Conner Reed

Books

5 Takeaways from Colin Meloy’s Eerie New Middle-Grade Thriller

The Stars Did Wander Darkling, an ’80s adventure set on the Oregon Coast, is on shelves now.

09/23/2022 By Conner Reed

Music

Portland Monthly’s Essential Winter Playlist

Reimagined holiday classics, warm Americana, and rainy hip-hop by homegrown talent to keep you warm

12/03/2020 By Conner Reed

Trophy Case

These Are the Board Games the Decemberists Obsessively Play on Tour

Guitars: check. Keyboards: check. The Settlers of Catan: check.

11/20/2018 By Kelly Clarke

Video Gold

This New Decemberists’ Video Is Life-Affirming Brilliance

The music video for "Once in My Life" is a seven-minute celebration of being different.

07/19/2018 By Fiona McCann

The Essentials

13 Things to See and Do in Portland: March 2018

Portlander Haley Heynderickx drops her debut album, Patton Oswalt swings by Powell's, and Northwest Dance Project takes on Henrik Ibsen.

02/27/2018 By Rebecca Jacobson and Fiona McCann

Music

Hear Your Favorite Portland Bands Play Live by the Sea

Stackstock is a brand-new music festival bringing Colin Meloy, Pure Bathing Culture, and more to Cannon Beach this weekend.

09/19/2017 By Fiona McCann

The Essentials

13 Portland Shows, Events, and Pure-Genius Things to Know This October

From George Saunders to a comedy about cockfighting to a major museum exhibit about Laika, here's what you can't miss this month.

09/13/2017 By Rebecca Jacobson and Fiona McCann

Audio Star

How Studying Design Turned Roman Mars into a Pathological Optimist

The 99% Invisible host talks hostile architecture, self-driving cars, and the beauty of Portland's flag.

05/02/2017 By Rebecca Jacobson

Culture Cheat Sheet: Music

Stumptown Soundtracks: Homegrown Shoegaze for Rainy Walks (and Dampened Hearts)

These Portland tunes pair well with downpour and despair.

11/14/2016 By Fiona McCann

Culture Cheat Sheet: Essay

Portland’s Cultural Exports Might Never Take Over the World. Here’s Why That’s a Good Thing.

Almost famous is just fine by us.

11/14/2016 By Shawn Levy

INTERVIEW

Q&A: Carson Ellis is In Your House

The Decemberists' style maker and children's book artist pens a new picture book on "homes"—from beehives and birds’ nests to undersea palaces and space stations.

02/26/2015 By Ramona DeNies

MUSIC

This Is How Portlanders Celebrate Decemberists Day

How to prove a city supports one of its biggest bands? Give them an official day, a collaborative art project, and swarm them with adoration.

01/22/2015 By Eden Dawn and Cervante Pope

MUSIC

Review: The Decemberists’ 'What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World'

The local indie kings return from a four-year absence with an infectious, eclectic album that reveals a band all grown up. Out Jan 20

01/15/2015 By Cervante Pope

ARTS & CULTURE

PoMo Picks: January's Best Bets For Things to See and Do

The Decemberists release a new album, pop culture meets Chekov, and Chamber Music Northwest brings back record-breaking numbers of classical fans

01/05/2015 By Aaron Scott and Matthew Schonfeld

WEEKEND PICKS

Top Things To Do This Weekend: Jan 30–Feb 2

Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis release Wildwood's finale, Dweezil Zappa plays dad's old songs, and Heidi Duckler Dance Theatre takes on an even older Norse legend.

01/30/2014 By Nathan Tucker

BOOK & TALKS

February's Lit and Storytelling Events

There’s a lot of book love to go around this month, from lit-power couple Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis to international author Isabel Allende to the bday bash for William Stafford.

01/29/2014 By Portland Monthly Staff and Kristin Leigh

TICKET GIVEAWAY

Win Tickets to Colin Meloy

The Crystal Ballroom closes its centennial with one of Portland's favorite songwriters on Jan 21.

01/07/2014 By Nathan Tucker