“We Wish We Could Be Better”: Portland Thorns End 2026 Season With Tough Quarterfinals Loss
The Portland Thorns know this season could have been better. That was the takeaway following the team’s difficult 4-1 loss to the Washington Spirit Sunday at Audi Field in Washington, DC. Portland looked vulnerable from the beginning, something forward Morgan Weaver acknowledged while speaking to reporters after the match. Weaver admitted she felt “sad, a little bit” and “honestly, a little embarrassed.” She continued, “It sucks that this was the outcome, and it kind of sucks this is what happened—but I still believe in this team, and I still believe in all the players.” The Thorns were in trouble early…
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“Just the Beginning”: Portland Progressives Say Voters Affirmed Support for Their Vision
Tuesday’s midterm elections ushered in a historic blue wave across the United States, with Democrats picking up seats even in historically conservative states like South Carolina and Texas. In many cases, voters didn’t settle for moderation, with the left flank of the Democratic Party netting historic gains in federal, state, and local elections. Here in Portland, voters reelected all six incumbent City Council members whose seats were up for grabs this year. The results came as a relief to all the incumbent councilors, but carried particular weight for the City Council’s most left-wing members, who faced significant opposition campaigns. Progressives…
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Spin Cycle: Totally Wired for Fall
Now that autumn has drooped its frigid cloak over the Pacific Northwest, it seems like the perfect time to lean into the contemplative and cozy. I am officially trading in my summer slides for all-weather boots, my obscenely large ball cap collection for my equally absurd pile of beanies, and charging up my electric handwarmers. Gone are the late evenings basking in the final dregs of the sunlight, reading books at an outdoor patio in Buckman. The sunglasses are mostly hibernating, and I am about to join them. On top of that, it’s my favorite time of year to tuck…
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The Best Bang for Your Buck Events in Portland This Weekend: Nov 6–8, 2026
Wondering what there is to do this weekend? Look no further, because we’ve rounded up the best budget-friendly options around town, from Frybread Fest to World Vegan Month and from the Portland Holiday Market to the Creative Storefronts art installation. For more ideas, check out our top picks of the week. FRIDAY LIVE MUSIC Chipped Nail Polish with Mckenna Esteb and FrecksJill Sullivan makes easygoing, freewheeling indie rock as the Portland-based project Chipped Nail Polish, which started as her, an electric ukulele, and a bad manicure at house shows around the University of Oregon. Chipped Nail Polish’s recent album After…
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Sour Widows Conjure Magic on Their Sophomore Album, Sigil
What if a nightmare suddenly became an epiphany? Untangle the raw confessionals, tender melodies, and droning, fuzzed-out instrumentals on alternative rock duo Sour Widows’ sophomore album, Sigil, and you might find out. Released by Philly-based independent label Julia’s War on October 23, Sigil signals a creative shift for bandmates and childhood best friends Maia Sinaiko and Susanna Thomson. Where the duo once opted for a dreamy post-hardcore sound, Sigil kicks things up a notch, melding doom guitar riffs and marching drums with bleeding vocals, mellotron, organ, and cello. On November 11, they’ll grace Portland’s Aladdin Theater with songs from Sigil,…
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Good Morning News: Local Candidates Concede Races, City Employees Set to Strike, and… Toilet Rats?
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! What a week. In case you haven’t heard, the fascist took a colossal beating at the polls earlier this week. While the darkness sets in thanks to the changing of the clocks, there are some bright spots poking through this era of American politics. This weekend, expect rain, but be prepared for anything. My app hasn’t been correct in months. Good…
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Hundreds of City Workers to Strike Next Week, Barring 11th-Hour Miracle
City services, including some emergency services, may be impacted next week after city leadership failed to reach an agreement on a labor contract with Portland city workers. Roughly 800 city workers represented by City of Portland Professional Workers Union (CPPW) are preparing to strike starting Monday, November 9, following 10 months of unsuccessful bargaining on a new contract. Formed in 2023, the union represents analysts and specialists, community-facing engagement for city programs, and other positions in all the city’s bureaus. “We call ourselves the glue that holds the city together, because it is a lot of behind the scenes work,”…
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Ticket Alert: The Chats, Noah Gundersen, and More Portland Events Going On Sale This Week
Celebrate the (mostly) good election news with tickets to an upcoming show! Australian punk-rockers The Chats have a North American tour planned in support of their forthcoming third album, Half Cut. Washington-hailing indie folk musician Noah Gundersen brings songs from his seventh album, Rites of Spring, to the Aladdin next March. Plus, you can descend into the industrial underworld of the apocalyptic Tony-winning musical Hadestown, which hits the Keller stage in January. Read on for details on those and other newly announced events. ON SALE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6 MUSIC Akira YamaokaRoseland Theater (Mar 19, 2027) Boy Throb’s Real TourWonder Ballroom…
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Mary in the Junkyard Brings British Folkloric-Indie to Portland
While ordering a coffee this week, I heard a song on the cafe speakers that felt sneakily familiar. In truth, I’ve been hearing it all over: that playful guitar riff followed by a lilting croon of “and there is nothing to see here except sweetness.” Recognizing it as the album I’d just been looping in my own headphones all week, I smiled. It is with a special kind of melancholy that the song “Blood” by Mary in the Junkyard pierces the ear and finds its way into the heart. And soon, onto the stage of Mississippi Studios, as Mary in…
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FREE TICKETS THURSDAY: Win Tix to Phoebe Robinson, Whitmer Thomas, Decadent 80s, and MORE!
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 coming at ya this week! CHECK IT OUT! (Note: This contest is active from November 5 through November 9). You can find our contest rules here. Come for the fandom. Stay for the…
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Good Morning, News: Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek Claims Victory, Fire at Jackie’s PDX, and NASA Warns Hubble Telescope Could Fall to Earth
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! How’s your schadenfreude? Don’t blow it all in one place. Let’s hit the news! IN LOCAL NEWS:• As voting results update, Oregon governor Tina Kotek continues to have a strong lead on her opponent Christine Drazan—by over 100,000 ballots as of 7:15 this morning. Kotek declared victory Tuesday night, and several outlets interpreted a statement Drazan issued Wednesday as her concession.…
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Second Run Portland: Teen Crushes, Creepy Sleepwalkers
Night’s falling early these days—you may as well spend even more time in the dark. This month’s second-run screenings are full of strange company, including alienated teenagers, sleepwalkers, milk truck drivers, and a documentarian with an eye for the dusty corners of American culture. Plus, a Sophie Calle documentary and Mary Ellen Bute’s midcentury abstractions give you some especially arty options. Welcome to the Dollhouse For fans of Jared Hess’ Napoleon Dynamite (2004), Freaks and Geeks, Judy Blume. “Can I sit here?” says Dawn (Heather Matarazzo), eyeing a vacant seat in her school’s cafeteria. It’s the first line in Welcome…
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Mercury Music Picks: Syd’s Latest Album, Jimmie Herrod and Black Belt Eagle Scout at Portland’s Book Festival, and Portugal. The Man With the Oregon Symphony
Dearest readers, We are officially in the “it gets dark by 5pm and I miss the sun” part of the year. While that might sound sad (and I mean, it’s hard not to hibernate a little bit), I think it’s also a great time to hunker down and really lock into some new tunes. Personally, I’ve been using this time to take some lessons and learn the instruments I always wanted to pick up as a kid but didn’t have the chance: drums, cello, and saxophone. It’s been fun to have a focused activity, and while I’m decidedly very bad…
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Election Update: Julia Brim-Edwards Concedes in Multnomah County Chair Race as Portland City Councilors Celebrate Reelection
Updated: 9:28 pm November 5 Incumbent candidates prevailed in major races in Oregon’s midterm elections Tuesday. At the state level, Governor Tina Kotek declared victory over her opponent, Republican Christine Drazan, despite fears of a conservative shakeup in the governor’s office. Updated counts posted Thursday evening showed Kotek brought in 53 percent of the vote, compared to Drazan’s 44 percent. In a somber statement, Drazan acknowledged “news organizations have called this election,” and didn’t project confidence about her chances of victory. But she didn’t concede, either. “I don’t yet know what the coming days will bring,” Drazan said. “But I…
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Good Morning, News: Blue Tsunami Crashes on GOP, Metro Chamber Fails to Buy Portland Election, and Where to Start on Trump Investigations?
GOOD MORNING, PORTLAND! And what a gorgeous morning it is with beautiful blue skies, and… wait. I’m getting those clouds confused with that BLUE WAVE that crashed on top of Trump and his loser minions last night! In reality, expect cloudy skies with rain developing in the afternoon and a high in the mid-50s. Perfect weather for crushing authoritarianism, wouldn’t you say? And now, check out this blue wave of NEWS from our Courtney Vaughn and Wm. Steven Humphrey. IN LOCAL NEWS: • All six Portland City Council members who were up for reelection appear to be retaining their seats,…
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