GOOD MORNING, SUNDAY! It’s the perfect time to catch up on some of the great reporting and stories the Mercury churned out this week! (PRO TIP: If you despise being “the last to know,” then be one of the first to know by signing up for Mercury newsletters! All the latest stories shipped directly to your email’s in-box… and then… YOUR HEAD.)
PCC President Faces Scrutiny for College’s Use of Her Trademarked Branding
A Portland Community College board member filed a complaint asking the Oregon Government Ethics Commission (OGEC) to look into the school’s relationship with its president’s business. The complaint said President Adrien Bennings directed the college to use her own trademarked slogan, presenting a conflict of interest, and that the conflict was not disclosed to PCC’s full board of directors.
This week, test your noggin on such topics as ancient public bathrooms, witch’s castles, brain-numbing pronunciations, and nice, big JUGS. (It’s not what you’re thinking, perv.) See how well YOU score!
Portland and Seattle Magazines Bought Up by Michigan Media Company
Though it began locally, Portland Monthly is now a Michigan-owned magazine. PoMo, Seattle Met, and several other publications owned by SagaCity have been sold off in a receivership deal to pay the company’s debts. And, of course, the first move the new owners make is to cut staff.
Progressives Say Investments in People, Not Corporations, Can Jump Start City’s Struggling Economy
With the city and state facing tough budget cycles and the oft-repeated talk of Portland’s “doom loop,” observers from across the political spectrum agree that the city’s economic situation is not what it needs to be. But exactly how to bolster the region’s economy is up for debate. While progressives cite everything from investment in green jobs, to building a skilled workforce with social programs, others, including the governor, are focused on using tax incentives to attract businesses investing in the state.
Turn! Turn! Turn! Lives! Lives! Lives!
It’s true, the beloved North Portland venue Turn! Turn! Turn! isn’t turning into a pumpkin at midnight, never to be seen again. A last minute glass slipper has come in the form of new owners Joel Christerson and Annie Ostrowski.
Portland’s famed Thompson Elk statue is set to return to its longtime home on Main Street on April 12—but what does this mean for the statues that were toppled during the 2020 racial justice protests? In this edition of The Black Byline, author Donovan Scribes examines the meaning behind these statues and the (sometimes unworthy) subjects we choose to glorify.
What’s New in Portland Restaurants, Bars, and Bakeries
There sure have been a lot of changes in the food world over the past couple weeks. Along with James Beard award updates and a quick shoutout to Franz Bakery, we’ve got a few noteworthy restaurant, bakery, and bar openings, plus news of chef and restaurant moves.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Is a Divine Act of Asset Management
Since the exposition of Super Mario Bros and the Mushroom Kingdom was already laid out in 2023, its sequel The Super Mario Galaxy Movie may proceed to sprint full tilt into lucrative, fully exploitable intellectual property. We had a very fun time. Read critic Dom Sinacola’s review born of both immense respect and ennui-ridden derision.
This week’s Mercury Music Picks is for the shes, gays, and theys. Rave queens Cobrah, Only Fire, and Six Sex finna make your body move, while Darkswoon and FKA twigs challenge the psyche. Philly’s HIRS Collective are moving in the direction of a Free Palestine, and David Byrne’s big ass shoulders shimmy and shake for two nights at the Keller.
Keep Your Frenemy’s Brain Closer
Author and violinist Ling Ling Huang’s novel Immaculate Conception is a nominee for the 2026 Oregon Book Awards’ Ken Kesey Award for Fiction. The book circles the lives of two young artists, tracking the jealousy-driven decisions of its main character with sharp specificity.
Fertile Ground Celebrates 17 Years with 17 Days and Nearly 100 Plays
The 17th Fertile Ground Festival of New Works achieves lift off on April 10 and soars for 17 days of imaginative readings and plays—some infusing the form with interactive or multimedia elements, others searching boldly for identity through wit and writing. We’ve got picks from the nearly 100 projects pitched! The return of Jonathan Hernandez’s sellout show The Mask I Wear, a play that sounds sort of like the Sandra Bullock movie Gravity, killer queers on motorbikes, and more!
In this edition, Ryan J. Prado reviews three albums dealing with transition and calm in the face of real oppression.
Get your sex advice lickety-split with this edition of Savage Love quickies!
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WOW, THAT IS A LOT OF GOOD READIN’. I hope you didn’t have any other plans this weekend! Dig in, and remember: Producing all this hard work costs moolah—so please consider contributing to the Mercury to keep it all coming! Thanks!
