In 2025, new elected leadership in Portland presented a change of course in the city’s approach to housing and homelessness. At times, the mayor’s vision clashed with that of city councilors, with the mayor focused on expanding shelters and the Council focused on reshaping housing policy. Portland’s City Council adopted new policies aimed at combating […]
Mercury 2025 Recap
Remembering the top stories, the biggest scandals, and the best of arts, music, and entertainment in 2025!
Posted inMercury 2025 Recap
Best Bites of 2025: The Savory, the Sweet, and the Road Trips
Mercury food critic Andrea Damewood on the ten best things she tasted this year.
I’m always conflicted about how to feel at the end of the year. Like, things were shitty (and for, like, at least the sixth year running). But within that, there are also moments of sweetness. I think that’s where we owe Portland’s restaurants a big debt of gratitude. It’s tough out there, but our chefs […]
Posted inMercury 2025 Recap
Mercury 2025 Recap: Environmental News
The new Portland City Council established a Climate Committee and pushed back against Zenith Energy, Portlanders fought for Forest Park, and more.
Climate and the new City Council Portland’s new City Council started grappling with the city’s climate issues as soon as councilors took office at the beginning of this year. One of the Council’s first acts of business in January was to establish eight policy committees—including one focused on environmental and land use issues. The Council […]
Posted inMercury 2025 Recap
A Moment in a Coffee Shop
Remembering the year that was, and the Portland that’s actually Portland.
This time last year I was sitting in a quiet cafe trying to decide if Portland was any different from anywhere else. This was one of those eclectic, slightly hippie-ish coffee shops that used to be more common: colorful walls, mismatched armchairs, a big chalkboard advertising a local chess night and a knitting club. It […]
Posted inMercury 2025 Recap
Mercury 2025 Recap: The Top 10 Most Read Stories of the Year!
A failed National Guard takeover, Portland protesters in high gear, and City Hall shenanigans marked a very busy year.
It’s been a huge, busy 2025 for Portland, with a brand new 12-person City Council settling (and occasionally stumbling) into their new roles, important elections, Trump’s failed efforts to embed the National Guard in the city, and—as usual—Portland making headlines across the nation. And perhaps there’s no better way to remember 2025 than to check […]
Posted inMovies & TV
The Mercury’s 10 Favorite Movies of 2025
The best movies of 2025 are at war with the machine, data centers, and helplessness. What a relief.
Of the many exceptional movies I saw in 2025—10 of which I have listed below—the majority of them were available to catch in a Portland theater. The thriving ecosystem of independently-owned cinemas spread across our city is near inimitable, especially given our glut of centenarian show houses. While monster studios continue to eat each other, […]