Shannon Kidd Even before legalization, many of us were already perfectly comfortable lighting up on the street corner. Now that the cannabis industry has become an overly saturated market, with free-falling prices and a statewide surplus that’s been keeping me happy and high for months, chances are that more of you formerly shy and paranoid […]
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How to Tip (in Unusual Portland Situations)
ZODCHIY / GETTY IMAGES In Portland, we tip. We tip a dollar on a coffee. We tip a dollar on drinks (more if it’s a cocktail!). I tip a dollar when a barista hands me an untoasted bagel, no joke. Every Portlander holds a healthy, respectful fear of service staff—after all, most of us have […]
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Be the Portlander You Want to Be with the Mercury‘s Portland Handbook!
Question: You live in Portland, but do you know HOW to live here? It’s a fact that no matter how long you’ve been around—whether you’re an ex-Silicon Valley newbie, or an old-timey Goose Hollow crusty—we can all learn more about how to navigate this ever-changing city. And that’s where the Mercury’s PORTLAND HANDBOOK comes in! […]
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Why You Should Love 82nd Avenue
Live in Portland long enough and sooner or later you’ll have to reckon with 82nd Avenue. The thoroughfare, which runs a north-south route along the east side of the city, is the unofficial borderline that you must reach to find an inexpensive used automobile, snap up those vital course credits at PCC’s Southeast Campus, or […]
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Portland Things That You Really Only Need to Do Once
Recently a coworker who’s new to the area asked me to list all the Portland things he totally has to do. I responded with a long blank stare. I don’t know, dude! I don’t do stuff! I spend most of my time within two miles of my house with people I’ve known forever! It’s not […]
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How to Pet Every Dog Without Being a Creep
We live in a city that boasts 33 dog parks and earns frequent online mentions as the number-one city for dogs, so it’s safe to say the average Portlander feels a special admiration for humanity’s best, most ignorant, smelly, and gluttonous friend. But how does one harness and direct their over-abundant affection? (In other words, […]
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How to Drink Like a Portland Person
Welcome to Portland. Now let’s get you fixed up with a drink! There are a TON of bars in this town, from the top of the Big Pink to the secret speakeasy submarine at the bottom of the Willamette (which doesn’t currently exist, but might by the time this article goes to press). The sheer […]
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How to be a Portland Restaurant Customer
“Etiquette” is not a word you’re likely to encounter around here. Portlanders tend to shun convention and enjoy the spirit of counter-culture that has long characterized our little town. We’re more Courtney Love and less Emily Post, and the concept of table manners is the stuff of old boys’ clubs and sexually repressed debutantes. However, […]
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Who Runs What in Portland Politics
Portland’s city government is like no other*. Since 1913, Portland’s been ruled by a wonky form of democracy that makes the mayor and city council members seem more like agency executives than regional representatives. Under this “commission” form of government, the five Portland commissioners (including the mayor) each represent a few million-dollar city bureaus—like transportation, […]
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The 10 Portland Bands You Should Be Listening to Right Now
There’s an unbelievable number of people in this city making music, and even more going out every week to watch them perform it. All kinds of music! From maudlin country to disco-inflected R&B to psychedelic cumbia to straightforward indie rock ’n’ roll, there is truly something for everyone on Portland’s stages. But if you’re overwhelmed […]
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How to Smoke Weed in Public and Get Away with It
Even before legalization, many of us were already perfectly comfortable lighting up on the street corner. Now that the cannabis industry has become an overly saturated market, with free-falling prices and a statewide surplus that’s been keeping me happy and high for months, chances are that more of you formerly shy and paranoid smokers are […]
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How to Fake Being a Portland Native
If you’re new to Portland, you may have experienced a moment when someone gives you a look and pointedly asks, “Where are you from?” They know. You don’t know how they know, but somehow they’ve figured out that you’re not from here. You panic at suddenly having to admit that you’re an out-of-state transplant. I’m […]