Summer Weekends

Portland Staycation: Dinner and a Movie (and a Swim)

Craft a dreamy weekend out of the house without leaving the metro area.

07/21/2025 By Margaret Seiler

Month Ahead

What to Do in Oregon in May

Sip cider in Hood River, ride a fat-tire bike in Cannon Beach, and party with aliens in McMinnville.

04/29/2025 By Rebecca Jacobson and Portland Monthly Staff

Winter

Will It Sled?

An unscientific analysis of Portland’s best, worst, and most ridiculous toboggan alternatives.

12/16/2024 By Portland Monthly Staff

Power Ranking

We Ranked Every McMenamins in and around Portland

The local brewery-winery-distillery-historic-hotel-theater-concert-hall-wedding-venue-etc. empire turned 40 in 2023, and we graded every one within 20 miles.

09/22/2023 By Dalila Brent, Arianne Cohen, Katherine Chew Hamilton, Isabel Lemus Kristensen, Michael Novak, Margaret Seiler, and Sam Stites

Summer Fun

An Incomplete Guide to Portland’s Biggest Summer 2023 Concerts and Events

Feeling hungry like a wolf for live entertainment? Here’s your guide to the full monty of local shows.

06/01/2023 By Margaret Seiler and Sam Stites

Aliens

Aliens Descend on McMinnville in Annual UFO Fest

Thankfully, it’s mostly humans and pets in costume at the McMenamins UFO fest which returns for its 23rd year May 19 and 20.

05/10/2023 By Sam Pape

Concerts

McMenamins Has Launched a New Concert Series in Forest Grove

At last: shows for people who would like to be in bed by 10.

06/17/2022 By Conner Reed

Bar Culture

McMenamins’ Cosmic Tripsters Have a New Clubhouse

Passport stamps have been hard to obtain in the pandemic, but the local brewery-hotel-pub chain has a new way to reward those who persevered.

06/02/2021 By Leah Altman

Tale of the Tots

The 8 Stages of McMenamins

When it comes to Portlanders’ relationship with the brewpub-theater-hotel chain, well, it’s complicated.

09/04/2020 Illustrations by Hawk Krall By Margaret Seiler

Profile

The Woman Who Keeps McMenamins Restaurants, Bars, and Stocked with Antiques and Oddities

Shannon McMenamin oversees a veritable army of antique dealers, designers, artists, builders, and historians.

10/16/2019 By Ramona DeNies

Hidden Portland: Secret Spots

Portland's Best Basements, Back Rooms, Attics, and Hideaways

Here are some of the city's most out-of-the-way spots to eat, drink, or just be mysterious.

12/21/2018 By Kelly Clarke, Ramona DeNies, Margaret Seiler, and Benjamin Tepler

Hotel News

The Society Hotel Is Building a Portland-Style Hipster Haven in Bingen, Washington

The boutique hotel and spa will open early summer 2019, right across the Hood River Bridge.

08/20/2018 By Kelly Clarke

New Hotels

McMenamins' Kalama Harbor Lodge Finally Opens

It's surely the most thrilling thing to happen on this sleepy industrial stretch of the Columbia since last summer's methanol protests.

04/17/2018 By Ramona DeNies

Hotel News

17 New and Soon-to-Open Hotels in Portland and Beyond

From a historic downtown Portland renovation (with a restaurant by hometown hero Doug Adams) to a luxury RV Park in Coos Bay (yes, Coos Bay), we're hot for these new lodging options.

02/20/2018 By Anya Rehon

Date Night PDX

25 Great Dates in and around Portland

Romantic evenings, chill times with a pal, roving parties, and trips for two: plan your next outing or overnight here.

01/30/2018 Edited by Eden Dawn By Hannah Bonnie, Kelly Clarke, Ramona DeNies, Zach Dundas, Rebecca Jacobson, Fiona McCann, Marty Patail, Anya Rehon, Margaret Seiler, Benjamin Tepler, and Eleanor Van Buren

Hotel News

You Can Now Book McMenamins' New Hawaiian-Themed Hotel in Exotic Kalama

The chain's brand-new waterfront project, announced two years ago, is opening in April. There will be tiki drinks.

01/09/2018 By Sarah Hutchins

Hotels

Soon, You Can Check into These 6 New Hotels Outside Town

A ripple effect of Portland's hotel boom? Destination lodging options are on the rise elsewhere in the state—from wine country to the Wallowas.

06/15/2017 By Rachel Wilson

West End: Entertainment

What to Do in Portland's West End

Bouncy dance floors, peaceful pulpits, and high-end cinema—this neighborhood has ’em all.

05/15/2017 Edited by Kelly Clarke By Staff