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Posted inClimate Issue 2026

Do This, Do That: August-September 2026

A selection of the city’s coolest upcoming events.
Avatar photoAvatar photo by Lindsay Costello and Mercury Staff

The Bird Days of Summer THROUGH AUGUST 26 (COMMUNITY) The Bird Alliance of Oregon’s summer-long flock of events flits into August with birding hikes, art workshops, and other “super beginner-friendly” birding experiences planned. Several excursions are already full, but for the adventurous, the August 15 star safari beneath Malheur’s dark skies will no doubt be […]

Posted inDo This, Do That

The Mercury’s Do This, Do That: Your Top Events for Aug 10-16

Summer hits peak: $10 burgers, a meteor shower, and the annual soapbox derby.
Avatar photoAvatar photo by Lindsay Costello and Mercury Staff

It’s that stage of summer when we burst cherry tomatoes in our mouths, try to get a cross-breeze going, and say things like “I’m trying to get to the river after work today.” Dig in now, because the season is fleeting. Our suggests: The Portland Mercury’s Burger Week returns, and with it comes $10 burgers […]

Posted inDo This, Do That

The Mercury’s Do This, Do That: Your Top Events for August 3-9

Bimbo Tennis, a farewell to Lloyd Center, and deep thinking about children’s books.
Avatar photoAvatar photo by Lindsay Costello and Mercury Staff

August 8 marks the Lloyd Center’s final day of operation, so plan to drop by this weekend to pay your respects the way the mall would want you to: with an elaborate funeral procession. Fans of Colin Meloy’s Wildwood should catch his chat about illustrated books with Mac Barnett and Anis Mojgani on Thursday, August […]

Posted inDo This, Do That

The Mercury’s Do This, Do That: Your Top Events for July 27-August 2

Pickathon, contemporary art, and a sex-positive publication by elder women.
Avatar photoAvatar photo by Lindsay Costello and Mercury Staff

This week, the city’s toggling between the biggest bounties of summer (Pickathon, the return of the Northwest Hardcore Fest, and a Spice Girls-themed bike ride) and events on the more under-the-radar, contemplative end of the spectrum. If you’re burned out/sunburned, we recommend chasing some quiet at a gallery—Nationale honors the late artist Brianna Spencer with […]

Posted inDo This, Do That

The Mercury’s Do This, Do That: Your Top Events for July 13-19

Avatar photoAvatar photo by Lindsay Costello and Mercury Staff

Summer is in full flex, so let’s get right to it: Hilary Duff is decidedly not so yesterday; actually, she’s she’s on tour with a new album, called luck…or something. Plus, Pride festivities hit a fever pitch, heavy riffs collide with a little late-night stargazing, and the Merc‘s own Katherine Chew Hamilton and Taylor Griggs […]

Posted inFood Issue 2026

Do This, Do That: July-August 2026

A selection of the city’s coolest upcoming events.
Avatar photoAvatar photo by Lindsay Costello and Mercury Staff

What follows is one of the many articles in the Mercury’s 2026 Food Issue. Find a print copy here, subscribe to get a copy mailed to you here, and if you’re feeling generous and want to keep these types of articles coming, support us here.—eds. The Portland Mercury’s Summer of Slushies JULY (FOOD/DRINK) Get ready for the coolest, most […]

Posted inDo This, Do That

The Mercury’s Do This, Do That: Your Top Events for July 6-12

The Mercury’s Food Issue drops with a party, and the inaugural Portland Arts Week is sports themed.
Avatar photoAvatar photo by Lindsay Costello and Mercury Staff

The Merc‘s very own Food Issue drops on July 18, and we’re celebrating sensibly by gorging on specials from Kim Jong Grillin, Frybaby, and other food cart faves stationed at the Heist. Plus, Pounded in the Butt by My Own Butt wordslinger Chuck Tingle will stop by Portland in an unsettling pink mask, his new […]

Posted inDo This, Do That

The Mercury’s Do This, Do That: Your Top Events for June 29-July 5

Bluesy tunes, lavender blooms, and boozy slushies at noon.
Avatar photoAvatar photo by Lindsay Costello and Mercury Staff

Alcoholic frozen beverages feel like an obvious choice this week, and the Merc’s got plenty of those going around with the arrival of Summer of Slushies—$10 a pop, served up across the city. These pair well with bent notes (the Waterfront Blues Festival returns this weekend) and/or a Pickles game (Jenna Fletcher’s got a theory […]

Posted inDo This, Do That

The Mercury’s Do This, Do That: Your Top Events for June 15-21

A bike ride for cat lovers, a real-deal rodeo, and your Juneteenth plans are here.
Avatar photoAvatar photo by Lindsay Costello and Mercury Staff

That Portland summer you ordered is here, and this week, it arrives with bike rides of cat-loving, liberatory, and meet-cute varieties. Visual art shows at Nationale, Word Virus Books, and Gallery 114 offer some intriguing ways to hide from the heat, and the 8 Seconds Rodeo returns to showcase riders on the Black rodeo circuit […]

Posted inDo This, Do That

Do This, Do That: June-July 2026

A selection of the city’s coolest (and queerest!) upcoming events.
Avatar photo by Lindsay Costello

What follows is one of the many articles in the Mercury‘s 2026 Queer Issue. Find a print copy here, subscribe to get a copy mailed to you here, and if you’re feeling generous and want to keep these types of articles coming, support us here.—eds. Street Books Queer Book Drive JUNE (COMMUNITY) Portland’s favorite bikemobile lending library and harm […]

Posted inDo This, Do That

The Mercury’s Do This, Do That: Your Top Events for June 8-14

This week: queer soup, medieval bike theater, and Kickstand Comedy in the Park returns.
Avatar photoAvatar photo by Lindsay Costello and Mercury Staff

Summer feels like summer this week with the return of some of our favorites—Bike Play, Kickstand Comedy in the Park, and the Risk/Reward Festival of New Performance among them. If you’ve missed these before, now’s your chance; deets below, of course. Plus, the Portland Fire face the Las Vegas Aces for the first time and […]

Posted inMercury Music Picks

Mercury Music Picks: Sierra Ferrell For Real, Quasi Score Japanese Silent Film, and Michelle Zauner Cries in Tomorrow

Plus Portland Music News and New Music Portland!
Avatar photo by Nolan Parker

Last week was a real Portland doozy, so much so I had to split to Central Washington to chill out for a minute. The tough decision to post up at a generator show in lieu of catching Midwest emo daddies American Football was made, and happily. Two of Portland’s tuffest punk outfits, Carny Cumm and […]

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