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Portland Mercury

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Noise & Grain Combines Two of Portland’s Loves: Film...

Portland Mercury ·

2025/12/06

Nolan Parkerby Nolan Parker Since the advent of pocket-sized cameras that hold thousands and thousands of photos, everyone with the means to buy a smartphone can document their lives, editing and sharing images from around the world in seconds. Is this a good thing? Generally, yes. Does that make everyone a photographer? Absolutely not. Those continuing to shoot film photography are the real photographers,

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Amid Grim Outlook for National Climate Investments,...

Portland Mercury ·

2025/12/05

PCEF awarded grants to 59 local nonprofits for climate projects. The news comes as the well-endowed program is at risk of being tapped for other city priorities. by Taylor Griggs It’s been a tough year for climate work around the country, with the Trump administration slashing funding for programs intended to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate the threats of the climate crisis. But Portland has a secret weapon

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The Best Bang for Your Buck Events in Portland This...

Portland Mercury ·

2025/12/05

My People's Market, Holiday Drink Week, and More Cheap & Easy Events Under $20 by EverOut Staff It's hard to believe we've reached the first weekend of the last month of the year, but here we are. Spend your invaluable time and energy and budget-friendly events from My People’s Market 17 to Paired by Poetry Volume 13 and from The Portland Mercury's Holiday Drink Week to Leach Botanical Garden's WinterFest. For

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Good Morning, News: City Afraid of 'Big PR Problem'...

Portland Mercury ·

2025/12/05

by Jeremiah Hayden 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 I'm joined by the inimitable Suzette Smith for a few short cameos because, well, sometimes great people do kindnesses for other people. And if

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Portland Art Museum Wants to Be Used

Portland Mercury ·

2025/12/05

Once hidden galleries can now be found; Rothko Pavilion presents a new way to see what was already there. by Suzette Smith "We always want to respect our donors," says Julia Dolan, Portland Art Museum (PAM)'s senior photography curator. "But we're trying to orient directionally." Dolan was leading a tour group through the new Rothko Pavilion, walking us into the north wing, which happens to house the now more

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Former Housing Director Says She Was Told Not to...

Portland Mercury ·

2025/12/04

A memo Helmi Hisserich sent to city councilors says city administration viewed unspent funds as "a big PR problem." by Jeremiah Hayden This story has been updated to include comments from Deputy City Administrator Donnie Olivera's office. The former director of the Portland Housing Bureau says she was ousted for trying to advance City Council’s social housing policy and was unfairly blamed for revenue that went

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Ticket Alert: Evanescence, FKA twigs, and More...

Portland Mercury ·

2025/12/04

Plus, Chance Peña and More Event Updates for December 4 by EverOut Staff Now that you’ve gotten your 2025 recap from your music streamer of choice, it’s time to look ahead to some upcoming concerts. Goth rockers Evanescence bring you to life at the Cascades Amphitheater next summer. Avant-pop artist FKA twigs supports her companion albums Eusexua and Eusexua Afterglow on her Body High Tour. Plus, indie folk

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Concert Review: Primitive Man Howls in the Holiday...

Portland Mercury ·

2025/12/04

Holly Hazelwood by Holly Hazelwood For many people, the autumn/winter zone between Thanksgiving and Christmas can be one of the bleakest slogs of the year. Can you think of a better way to kick that off than the most doom-laden concert that mortal money can buy? We can't, which was why a black Friday barrage, courtesy of Denver-based doombringers Primitive Man, was a no-brainer. This seems true for many

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FREE TICKETS THURSDAY: Enter to Win Free Tix to See...

Portland Mercury ·

2025/12/04

by Mercury Promotions 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 us alive and kickin'!) And oh boy, do we have some fun events

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POP QUIZ PDX: TV Star Sightings (and Arrests),...

Portland Mercury ·

2025/12/04

See how well YOU score on this week's brainy, local news & entertainment quiz! by Wm. Steven Humphrey HEY THERE, SMARTY BUTT! It's time once again to put your brainy-brain to the test with this week's edition of POP QUIZ PDX—our weekly, local, sassy-ass trivia quiz. And this week we'll be testing your knowledge on recent, local big events, including TV stars in the news (and in jail), famous assholes in Oregon

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Good Morning, News: Hot New Land Use Fee for ICE...

Portland Mercury ·

2025/12/04

Can't believe that a man accused of swallowing ornate Fabergé octopus pendant isn't even top story. by Suzette Smith 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 forecast is RAIN

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City Council Puts Financial Crackdown On Detention...

Portland Mercury ·

2025/12/04

Portland City Council approved a new fee to recoup costs associated with detention facilities, both for impacted Portlanders and for the city’s coffers. by Jeremiah Hayden Amid increased police overtime costs and complaints about environmental contaminants related to a local immigration processing center, Portland City Council passed a new land use fee December 3, targeting the unique impacts posed by the

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Film Review: The New Sun Ra Documentary Does the...

Portland Mercury ·

2025/12/03

Jesse Carsten by Jesse Carsten It’s clear at this point that the work of Afrofuturist jazz visionary Sun Ra is beloved by Portlanders. From his band, the Arkestra’s frequent trips to the Rose City playing packed shows (sans Ra himself, who left the planet in 1993), to the epic retrospective exhibition of his art, design, and intergalactic costumery held at the Portland Art Museum in 2019—the spirit of Sun Ra is

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But I'm Still Alive!

Portland Mercury ·

2025/12/03

by Anonymous Holiday traumedy 4 u. Ugly backstory, I was kicked out of my family a long time ago for being gay and was never invited back. I have mostly moved on with the pieces and made peace with it. I still occasionally hear from a family friend who holds out hope that the situation can be reconciled one day despite the fact it has been a decade. I find out from said family friend that my family, who mind you has never once tried to

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Greeley, really?

Portland Mercury ·

2025/12/03

by Anonymous People have long said that you can smell Greeley, CO long before you actually see the town. This is because Greeley is home to one of the largest slaughterhouses in the country and it's the town's biggest company. The JBS slaughterhouse there kills more cows per month than there are residents in the town. The company has close ties to the Trump administration and has a dicey record when it comes to food safety recalls and

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Good Morning, News: New City Administrator Selected,...

Portland Mercury ·

2025/12/03

by Courtney Vaughn If you’re reading this, you probably know the value of the Mercury’s news reporting, arts and culture coverage, event calendar, and the bevy of events we host throughout the year. The work we do helps our city shine, but we can’t do it without your support. If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution, because without you, there is

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Fire your bouncer

Portland Mercury ·

2025/12/03

by Anonymous In August, I went to your business for the first time. As I was exiting the building on my own terms, the bouncer hostilely informed me that I could not take my glass of water outside. I was visibly annoyed with his tone but immediately complied, putting the glass down. Does this exchange warrant your employee deliberately following me outside to throw aforementioned glass of water onto me? Is that an appropriate response to

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Mayor Wilson Nominates New City Administrator

Portland Mercury ·

2025/12/02

Raymond Lee previously managed Greeley, Colorado before leaving recently to ‘pursue new opportunities.’ by Jeremiah Hayden Mayor Keith Wilson has made his choice for the city’s first long-term city administrator after a year-long nationwide search. Wilson nominated Raymond Lee, who has served as the city manager for Greeley, Colorado since 2021. The news comes two weeks after three finalists arrived in

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Mercury Music Picks: Homie Fest Winter Edition and...

Portland Mercury ·

2025/12/02

Nolan Parker by Nolan Parker After seeing John Waters evangelize a crowd of queers and film weirdos last night at his annual A John Waters Christmas (gay) bash, it feels like the holiday season is in full effect. If you're looking for more holiday raunch, might I suggest Matt Rogers' Christmas in December. Or if you're looking for a more secular shindig, what about the winter edition of Homie Fest? Either way, let

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SAVAGE LOVE: Quickies

Portland Mercury ·

2025/12/02

Trump's "gay" ballroom, learning the ropes, urine in the neti pot, and more in this edition of "Quickies"! by Dan Savage 1. Is Donald Trump a gay man? I can’t think of anything that screams “closeted gay” louder than building a golden ballroom. Donald Trump has been married to three different women (two of whom were immigrants), he’s been credibly accused of sexual harassment and assault by dozens of women, and he

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