Enchanted Forest

Wildwood Really Is Laika’s Most Ambitious Project Yet

The epic, Portland-set stop-motion adventure hits theaters October 23.

09/15/2026 By Conner Reed

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