Grabbing a glass of wine at Rubato Studio feels like you’re sitting in a friend’s living room. Which is exactly what owners Kenzie Bindrup Fae and Sam Traver Fae intended. The duo started pouring out of their new tasting room in the industrial Central Eastside in early September. They’re there to introduce people to their […] The post Rubato Wines Joins the Juice Blocks appeared first on Portland Mercury.

What’s that? You wanna do Halloweeny stuff this week? Word—we’ve got not one but six recommendations on that front, from repertory cinema (a slasher, a century-old vampire film, et al.) to a haunted corn maze to a creepy Halloweentown cruise. Plus, Portland TextileX Month’s programming is both high-tech and cozy, John Wilson’s new documentary is […] The post The <i>Mercury</i>’s Do This, Do That: Your Top Events for Oct 5-11 appeared first on Portland Mercury.

Kikyo wept when the final bell rang on Sunday night. Real tears cut glossy tracks through the blood (also real) that caked her cheeks. Her opponent, and winner of the match, Su Young, lay sprawled out on the mat next to her. The two women shared a brief moment of stillness at the end of […] The post The Queen Of Thorns: A Top to Bottom Femme-Focused Wrestling Tournament appeared first on Portland Mercury.

Hello sweet angel trash panda babies! Welcome back to the Trash Report. It’s me, Elinor Jones. Can you believe we’re in the -ber months already? This is probably not going to surprise you, because my basicness oozes off me like stink lines from a turd—but I love the fall. It’s my time. I love the […] The post THE TRASH REPORT: Hellon Musk, Dakota Johnscream, Mr. Van Helding, and You appeared first on Portland Mercury.

If you appreciate the Mercury‘s interesting and useful news & culture reporting, consider making a small monthly contribution to support our editorial team. Your donation is tax-deductible. You can also subscribe and have our papers delivered! Good morning, Portland! Happy Monday. We’ve got some fog going on this morning, and it’s supposed to be cooler out today than yesterday, […] The post Good Morning, News: 19 Charges for Benson High School Student, Brazil’s Scary Election Results, and Shooting One Bird to Save Another appeared first on Portland Mercury.

[Got an anonymous confession or rant you just have to share with the world? Submit it to I, Anonymous HERE!—eds] This economy sucks, and elected officials seem too busy (privatizing public institutions, giving free money to those who already have plenty, or pocketing taxpayer dollars) to help. I’m done waiting for them to act, I’m taking […] The post I’m Sick of Waiting for the Government appeared first on Portland Mercury.

[Got an anonymous confession or rant you just have to share with the world? Submit it to I, Anonymous HERE!—eds] Here a bush, there a bush, everywhere your damn overgrown bushes! We all know you love to garden, and we’re all “impressed” with the 10,000 different species of vegetation you’ve packed into your front yard and […] The post You’re So Pedestrian, Portland appeared first on Portland Mercury.

[Got an anonymous confession or rant you just have to share with the world? Submit it to I, Anonymous HERE!—eds] The leaves are popping now. So much variety in colors and shapes is soothing and uplifting. Shame they fall to the ground and then get smushed and mixed with roadway grit (runner from tires, fuel or […] The post Fall Colors appeared first on Portland Mercury.

[Got an anonymous confession or rant you just have to share with the world? Submit it to I, Anonymous HERE!—eds] Did the impossible- bought a home in Portland. The 900 square feet I’ve been able to claim. If it was dark enough, I even have enough yard to squat behind my home and piss- on my […] The post We Deserve to Live Here Too appeared first on Portland Mercury.

[Got an anonymous confession or rant you just have to share with the world? Submit it to I, Anonymous HERE!—eds] Wondering why your utilities are so high? Aside from the usual increases, most property management companies are poorly managed baby-sitters that don’t actually manage. There is no transparency or regulatory audit required for utilities. UNLESS YOUR […] The post Portland Renters: Organize! appeared first on Portland Mercury.

Portland takes the season of ghouls and gourds very seriously, but October isn’t all Halloween events—the calendar is also filled with concerts, festivals, food & drink events, and tons more. As we do every month, we’ve compiled the biggest events you need to know about in every genre, from Doja Cat’s Tour Ma Vie to Gorillaz […] The post The Best Things To Do in Portland This Month: October 2026 appeared first on Portland Mercury.

October’s second-run screenings are always full of familiar slashers, but there’s more than a few moody, beautiful gems cast amongst the gore. Plucked from our repertory roster, we’d like to draw your attention to an easily-overlooked eco-fable of a dragon god in an angry pond and Robert Eggers’ obsession with period accuracy. Our what-to-watch suggestions […] The post Second Run Portland: Eight Gorgeous Horror Films to Catch This Month appeared first on Portland Mercury.

There is a lot about soccer that makes it different from any other sport, but one thing that always stands out is that some of the biggest moments are in response to potential. Scoring a goal will always get the strongest celebration, but fans spend a lot of those 90-plus minutes reacting to what might […] The post The Portland Thorns Are Chasing the Playoffs — and Consistency appeared first on Portland Mercury.

It’ll be a crisp fall welcome to October this weekend, and we’re suggesting you head out to enjoy events from the Portland Fall Fest to the Endless Wonders Book Fest and from the 73rd Annual Portland Greek Festival to the Portland Trail Blazers Fan Fest. For more ideas, check out our top picks of the […] The post The Best Bang for Your Buck Events in Portland This Weekend: Oct 2–4, 2026 appeared first on Portland Mercury.

If you appreciate the Mercury‘s interesting and useful news & culture reporting, consider making a small monthly contribution to support our editorial team. Your donation is tax-deductible. You can also subscribe and have our papers delivered! Good morning, Portland! It’s looking to be a gorgeous weekend, and looking into next week it appears it’s going to stick. Fall is […] The post Good Morning, News: Governors’ Debate, “Weaponized Charges of Antisemitism” in Portland, Blazers Announcer Works a Fraction of a Scaramucci, and France in Flames appeared first on Portland Mercury.

“You get two Jews in a room, you’re going to get three different opinions,” Kelcie Smolin Grega, a Jewish resident in City Council District 4 says. It’s an old joke—one that was echoed by others who spoke to the Mercury after recent calls for the city to divest from companies that contribute to human rights […] The post “Weaponized Charges of Antisemitism”: Human Rights Advocates Reject Councilors’ Characterizations of Investment Policy appeared first on Portland Mercury.

Through three seasons of his HBO documentary series How To with John Wilson, filmmaker John Wilson has crafted mini-masterpieces of rambling nonfiction storytelling—wrapped up in the thin guise of a helpful guide for, say, making perfect risotto or finding a public restroom. His first feature film The History of Concrete provides similar moments of quirky […] The post <i>The History of Concrete</i> Follows the Fracture appeared first on Portland Mercury.

Did someone say girl power? Indie pop singer-songwriter Lizzy McAlpine has announced a world tour supporting her recently released fourth album, Angel. Pop’s poet laureate Carly Rae Jepsen gets us dancing “Day and Night” after dropping a genre-spanning record. Plus, synthpop artist La Roux is set to release a new album and go on tour […] The post Ticket Alert: Lizzy McAlpine, Carly Rae Jepsen, and More Portland Events Going On Sale Soon appeared first on Portland Mercury.

After a summer largely spent welcoming new restaurants and gearing up for further openings, September concluded with the news that several beloved spots wouldn’t make it to 2027, including wine bar OK Omens—marking the end of the nearly 30-year legacy started by Castagna. Still, we also have a few places to look forward to, including […] The post OK Omens Will Close, Goodbye to Oven and Shaker, and a New Brazilian Cafe and Bar Is On the Way appeared first on Portland Mercury.

Who’s ready to have some fun? Well, the Mercury is here to help with FREE TICKETS to see some of Portland’s best concerts and events; our way of saying thanks to our great readers and spread the word about some fantastic upcoming performances! (Psst… if you want to say thanks to the Mercury, please consider making a small monthly contribution to keep […] The post FREE TICKETS THURSDAY: Win Tix to See Everclear, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, and MORE! appeared first on Portland Mercury.

If you appreciate the Mercury‘s interesting and useful news & culture reporting, consider making a small monthly contribution to support our editorial team. Your donation is tax-deductible. You can also subscribe and have our papers delivered! Good Morning, Portland! Today’s weather is looking basic—high of 78, partly cloudy—if you turned the heat on, turn it the fuck off! On […] The post Good Morning, News: Kotek Says She Would Separate State Psychiatric Hospital from OHA, Egg Prices Are Down, and SNAP Admin Costs Are Going Up! appeared first on Portland Mercury.

It may surprise you to learn that Portland, Oregon, a mid-sized America city known for its rain and its many river spanning bridges, is a global hotbed for the production of comic books. A new documentary for OBP’s Oregon Artsbeat, Indie Comics City: How Portland Built Its Own Comics Universe, which premiered at the annual […] The post How Portland Became a Player in the Comic Book Industry appeared first on Portland Mercury.

The city of North Plains may be small, but its government is in a state of turmoil even much bigger cities rarely experience. In late July, the City Council voted to part ways with the city manager. The next day, the mayor resigned. Multiple city councilors have resigned this year, and two more members of […] The post A Battle Over Growth Threatens the Fabric of a Small Oregon City appeared first on Portland Mercury.

Dear readers, I have finally arrived back in the Mercury office after a cool 19 days on the road. As glamorous as DIY tour life can be (sleeping on floors, squeezing into a car like a sardine, etc.) it is also incredibly fulfilling (I definitely teared up at every show thinking about how lucky I […] The post <i>Mercury</i> Music Picks: Geordie Greep Grips Rev Hall, Jane Remover’s Glitchy Electronic, and Abel Selacoe at the Oregon Symphony appeared first on Portland Mercury.

They tryin’ to shut down the clubs that my city rocks / Now Mr. Mayor why would you enforce an ordinance?/ Music it saves lives, these kids out here are supporting it/ And through the artform we’ve learned the importance of community—Macklemore, “The Town” (2009) In true election season fashion, some “dirt” has been dug […] The post THE BLACK BYLINE: Mitch Green & Macklemore’s “Spicy” White Dissent appeared first on Portland Mercury.

The Mercury provides news and fun every single day—but your help is essential. If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support! Good morning, Portland! And happy last day of September. The weather will […] The post Good Morning, News: Portland Candidate Forum in Disarray, Update on K9 Shooting, and Corrupt Justice Alito Did Something Surprising appeared first on Portland Mercury.

Sauvie Island is Portland’s seasonal source for you-pick berries, nude beaches, and corn mazes where you might actually get lost. As fall’s spooky-autumnal air creeps in, we’re drawn the island’s three major corn mazes—all found within its southern portion, just on the other side of the Wapato Bridge. One is a long-running institution, another is […] The post The <i>Mercury</i>’s 2026 Sauvie Island Corn Maze Reviews appeared first on Portland Mercury.

If you didn’t know any better, you might think downtown’s City Council district is down to four candidates vying for three seats. “Final four square off,” reads a headline announcing a downtown candidate forum set for next week. Bruce Studer, the president of the Pearl District Neighborhood Association, and Allan Classen, the editor of the […] The post Pearl District Abandons Forum After Brushing Up Against Elections Law Violations appeared first on Portland Mercury.

I’m a 37-year-old (mostly) straight man who has been in and out of a series of committed, monogamous relationships for most of my adult life. I’m now at a point where I am feeling torn in two, and it doesn’t seem like there’s anyone in my life who I can ask for help who won’t […] The post SAVAGE LOVE: Group Dynamics appeared first on Portland Mercury.

[Got an anonymous confession or rant you just have to share with the world? Submit it to I, Anonymous HERE!—eds] Dear Mushroom Taffy Man, We found you and were immediately smitten. Your goods are delicious, full of laughs and joy. You make shows brighter, Saturday afternoons with our children more enjoyable, and Sunday brunch even more hilarious. […] The post Mushroom Taffy Man appeared first on Portland Mercury.

[Got an anonymous confession or rant you just have to share with the world? Submit it to I, Anonymous HERE!—eds] Hey dude, your truck is leaking motor oil all over the place. It sucks for the environment. It sucks for everyone in our building’s parking lot that has to walk through it when it rains and […] The post Your Truck Is Leaking Oil appeared first on Portland Mercury.

The Mercury provides news and fun every single day—but your help is essential. If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support! Good morning, Portland! Today, expect cloudy skies and a high of 69 […] The post Good Morning, News: A Breakthrough in Early Cancer Detection, Shark Caught Swimming Around Jersey Shore, and Trump’s Rollback of Fuel Efficiency Standards appeared first on Portland Mercury.

The Republic of Haiti was born of one of history’s only successful slave rebellions, and yet somehow I sat through many interminable, boring history classes without learning this real-life Star Wars shit. When I first heard the story, I felt betrayed. Where was the big-budget spectacular retelling? Instead, Haiti became the source of a different […] The post <i>Black Zombie</i> Will School You Like a Real-Life Monsters High appeared first on Portland Mercury.

There’s no shortage of sense-indulging ways to fill your calendar this week—craft chocolate, Greek donuts, and poetry are all on the docket. Plus, Tricky of Massive Attack shows up with a tantalizing new album, Alicia Witt nods to your Twin Peaks nostalgia, and a new production of Pride and Prejudice explores Regency courtship mores. All that […] The post The <i>Mercury</i>’s Do This, Do That: Your Top Events for Sept 28-Oct 4 appeared first on Portland Mercury.

At the very first drop of an autumn leaf, I start to crave Indian takeout even more often than I normally do—creamy sauces, warming spices, fluffy rice, and pillowy naan. Now, there’s a new cart I’ll be adding to my regular rotation: Indian Flavor Express. Upon first glance, the menu includes dishes offered at lots […] The post All Aboard the Indian Flavor Express appeared first on Portland Mercury.

If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution to the Mercury, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support! GOOD MORNING, PORTLAND! Expect a mostly sunny week ahead with a chance of showers on Wednesday, but otherwise highs will start around […] The post Good Morning, News: Mayor Campaigns Against Progressives, Cyclists Protest Moda Deal, and Trump Uses YOUR Money to Spread Hate appeared first on Portland Mercury.

Seven candidates are running to serve District 2 on the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners. The district covers most of North and Northeast Portland. This November, voters will use ranked choice voting to select candidates in the county commissioner race. Bruce Broussard Professional background: Bruce Broussard is a Marine Corps veteran who served in Vietnam. […] The post Meet the Multnomah County Commissioner Candidates For District 2 appeared first on Portland Mercury.

It’s officially fall, and Portland’s weekend docket is anything but boring. Pay tribute to a country queen at the Celebration of Dolly Parton, cheer on the Beavs at OSU Beaver Game Day, make some feline friends on the Cats of Sunnyside Field Trip, and dig into the roots of our modern woes with Thom Hartmann. […] The post The Best Bang for Your Buck Events in Portland This Weekend: Sept 25–27, 2026 appeared first on Portland Mercury.

It can be tough to focus on new music releases when you’re mired in the hell of aches and pains. I’m lucky to have been almost entirely free from it the vast majority of my adult life, but as I descend into the dreaded middle age (gagged a little bit writing that), the looming fangs […] The post Spin Cycle: Feel the Pain appeared first on Portland Mercury.

If you appreciate the Mercury‘s interesting and useful news & culture reporting, consider making a small monthly contribution to support our editorial team. Your donation is tax-deductible. You can also subscribe and have our papers delivered! Good morning, Portland! It was a windy one last night, wasn’t it? Well, it’s supposed to calm down a bit, but we’re looking […] The post Good Morning, News: Human Being, Police Dog Shot and Killed in Portland; Clean Energy Fund Goes to Eugene; Is Trump Playing to His MAGMA Base? appeared first on Portland Mercury.

Portland horror author Keith Rosson is having a good week. On September 22nd, the same day his new novel Crone hit shelves, Deadline announced that Paramount has taken the first steps to turning his vampire novel Coffin Moon into a TV series. “Jessica Biel heard it and suggested it on her Audible account,” says Rosson. […] The post Portland Vampire Novel <i>Coffin Moon</i> Will Be Adapted for a TV Series appeared first on Portland Mercury.

The landscape for climate funding has turned bleak since President Trump returned to office. But Portland’s dedicated clean energy fund has stood out as a remaining source of income for emissions reduction efforts—and other communities have taken note. The Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) was adopted by voters in 2018 to create a […] The post Eugene Voters to Weigh Clean Energy Fund Modeled After PCEF appeared first on Portland Mercury.

It isn’t uncommon for big business interests to throw cash at elections in hopes of moving the electorate—and not just at the federal level. Amid growing wealth inequality and ongoing affordability crises, some Portland City Council candidates are also facing an onslaught of vicious election tactics from groups who appear motivated to take out progressive […] The post Will Billboard Attacks Be Enough to Oust Portland’s Progressives? appeared first on Portland Mercury.

“What would have happened if I wasn’t here?” Robert Pattinson asks this question throughout Primetime. In the role of Chris Hansen—the indeterminately telegenic host of once-popular hidden camera show To Catch A Predator—Pattinson practically turns the question into a mantra. What would have happened if I wasn’t here to stop it from happening? In most […] The post Biding His <i>Primetime</i>: Robert Pattinson Attains Peak Weird Guy Form appeared first on Portland Mercury.

It’s officially fall! Cozy up with tickets to newly announced shows. Hans Zimmer—who you may know for his Grammy Award-winning scores to Dune and The Lion King—takes it to the next level on tour with his 19-piece band next spring. Latin pop duo Ha*Ash sings about love, sisterhood, and strength on their No Me Hablen […] The post Ticket Alert: Hans Zimmer, Ha*Ash, and More Portland Events Going On Sale This Week appeared first on Portland Mercury.

Who’s ready to have some fun? Well, the Mercury is here to help with FREE TICKETS to see some of Portland’s best concerts and events; our way of saying thanks to our great readers and spread the word about some fantastic upcoming performances! (Psst… if you want to say thanks to the Mercury, please consider making a small monthly contribution to keep […] The post FREE TICKETS THURSDAY: Win Tix to the Erotic Ball, Swan Lake, Swampmeet, and MORE! appeared first on Portland Mercury.

CALLING ALL BRAINIACS! It’s time to put that brainy-brain to the test with this edition of POP QUIZ PDX—our local, sassy-ass trivia quiz. And this week we’ll see how much YOU know about the latest local political scandals—because as you know, Portland has nothing better to do than to feign outrage over controversies stirred up by […] The post POP QUIZ PDX: It’s a SCANDAL! 😲 appeared first on Portland Mercury.

If you appreciate the Mercury‘s interesting and useful news & culture reporting, consider making a small monthly contribution to support our editorial team. Your donation is tax-deductible. You can also subscribe and have our papers delivered! Good Morning, Portland! The weather today will be clearish cloudyish with a high of 70! Tomorrow will be rain, which we also like! […] The post Good Morning, News: Portland Mayor Breaks Tie Vote for Zenith, Introducing Our Citywide Dolly Parton Day, and Other Such Glitter That Is Gold appeared first on Portland Mercury.

I’m reading smut at lunch. Facing a cement wall in the parking lot, I comb an explicit love scene between bites of cottage cheese. Within the pages, Hades and Persephone are in his sex dungeon doing something I’d usually open an incognito tab for. He flips her this way. He flips her that way. I […] The post Romancing Portland Taught Me How to Embrace Writing Smut appeared first on Portland Mercury.

Alma seemed like it was doing just fine. But chef-owner Vedran Jordan shut his Northeast Portland restaurant down this spring after less than a year in business. Turns out it was all part of Jordan’s plan to bring his love letter to Balkan cuisine and culture back even better. Alma reopened in June, transitioning from […] The post All You Can Eat at Alma appeared first on Portland Mercury.