Beat the Heat with These Air-Conditioned Activities in Portland
It seems like Portland’s seasonal heatwaves increase in frequency and intensity with each passing summer, yet most houses in our typically temperate region aren’t equipped with central air conditioning. If your fans, swamp cooler, or window unit aren’t doing the trick, cool down at one of these air-conditioned venues around town, where you can also have some fun at the same time. You can also call 3-1-1 to locate more cool spaces or check out Multnomah County’s public cooling map, which includes misting stations, community centers, and malls. Laurelhurst TheaterCentrally located and boasting one of the best neon signs in…
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SAVAGE LOVE: Cashing Out
I’m a straight woman in her early thirties dating a straight man in his late twenties. We’ve been together for two years. We kept things casual for the first sixteen months or so. When we had our “define the relationship” talk he agreed to a “no important secrets” policy. The big secret I shared with him: I was engaged for a year, so I have an extremely bitter ex-fiancé out there. (I’m friends with most of my other exes, while he hates all of his exes — which now includes me. You’re right about that being a red flag.) His big…
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Good Morning, News! Trump’s H-E-Double-Hockey-Stick Tariffs, Climate Change: So Hot Right Now, and Local Landlord May Need Real Job
If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution to the Mercury, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support! Good morning, Portland! It’s looking to be a hot one today with highs of 96 and a 35 percent chance of rain if these weather apps are correct. Don’t forget to drink water, stay in the shade, and check on your neighbors. The Mercury has some info on who is most at risk during severe hot weather here—it might not only be who you think it is—and what to do/where…
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Portland Celebrates Biketown Anniversary by Setting a World Record
Portland now officially holds the Guinness World Record for largest electric bike ride, more than doubling the previous record set in Seattle. On Sunday, July 19, more than 1,000 Portlanders—1,060, to be specific—participated in a large electric bike ride along the waterfront, and helped secure a world record in the process. The ride was held in honor of the 10-year anniversary of Portland’s bike share program, Biketown, which operates a fully electric bicycle fleet. The ride demonstrated Portland’s love for e-bikes, which have become an increasingly popular mode of transportation in recent years. “Our e-bike community is growing every day.…
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The Mercury’s Do This, Do That: Your Top Events for July 20-26
It’s a great week to be queer about town. On July 21, queer variety wrestling show House of Danger brings violent chaos (sans hypermasculinity) to Swan Dive, and on July 24, queer line dancing boot-scoots around Crystal Ballroom. Plus, a queer BIPOC comedy showcase hosted by former Mercury Genius of Comedy Julia Corral hits Kickstand on July 25. Phew! Ocean Vuong will pay us a visit to ground everyone’s summer antics in some poetic profundity, and on July 26, musical experimenters Moment bring more ambience to Leach Botanical Garden. MONDAY, JULY 20 Sayaka Ganz: Reclaimed Creations Creating treasure out of…
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Good Morning, News: Portland Celebrates E-Bikes and Pride, Moda Center Drama Continues, and Spain Wins World Cup
If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution to the Mercury, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support! Good morning, Portland! It’s going to be hot today and even hotter tomorrow and Wednesday, with a heat advisory taking effect tomorrow morning at 10 AM. Expect temps in the high 80s today and the mid-90s tomorrow and the next day. Water and sunscreen are your friends. Now, here’s the news. IN LOCAL NEWS: • In Friday’s Good Morning, News, the Mercury described the Moda Center controversy as “hitting a…
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City Sends First Draft Moda Lease Terms To Blazers, To Surprise of Council
Updated: 4:48 pm July 17 The city of Portland delivered the first draft of a term sheet to the Trail Blazers management on Thursday, July 16, setting the city one step closer to a long-term lease agreement with the team for the Moda Center. No terms have been finalized, and the Council is in disagreement about many of the details, including what the city’s share of public investment should be in an upcoming renovation of the arena. The draft term sheet indicates the city may contribute “an amount not to exceed” $120 million for eligible renovation expenses. The draft terms…
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The Best Bang for Your Buck Events in Portland This Weekend: July 17–19, 2026
Happy Pride weekend, Portland! Take your fabulous self to events like Portland Pride Northeast and the Portland Pride Parade. Plus, there’s more cheap fun to get up to at the 46th Annual Cathedral Park Jazz Festival, an E-Bike GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS Attempt, and the World Cup Finals. For more ideas, check out our top picks of the week. FRIDAY PRIDE HyperPride! A Hyperpop Dance Party for PrideHold on to your rainbow flags and leather harnesses; this hyperpop party is taking Pride into hyperdrive. From queer ally and pop queen Charli xcx to nonbinary digicore pioneer Jane Remover, this Friday night…
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Spin Cycle: Into the Woods
Summertime respites are pretty much mandatory for Portlanders who can still hear the faint echoes of raindrops at the dawn of each day. For me, the unplugged therapy of Mt. Hood camping, kayaking, lakeing, and hiking is just the panacea for a steaming pile of societal noise. I escaped there recently, with the albums featured in this edition of Spin Cycle in tow—that is, until my trusty, aged Bluetooth speaker seemed to bite the dust. Instead, a chorus of chipmunk squeaks, squirrel chirps, and hawk hollers around Timothy Lake began to populate the earspace I typically reserve for spectrum-spanning electronic-based…
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Good Morning, News: Moda Center Controversy Hits Fever Pitch, Feds Discover Suspect in “Poo-Poo Bug” Outbreak, and Trump’s Latest Lie-Filled Speech
If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution to the Mercury, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support! GOOD MORNING, PORTLAND! After suffering through yesterday’s cloudy, thunderstorm-y weather—well, I was suffering anyway, and… don’t my feelings matter?—you can expect sunnier skies, and more of the same throughout the weekend, with temperatures hitting 82 today and climbing to 89 on Sunday for the Portland Pride Parade. (Come and wave to the Mercury! We’ve been working on our impossibly sexy costumes all week!) And now? Here’s some…
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A Complete Newbie’s Guide to Pickathon
Is it already almost time for Pickathon again? It feels like the annual journey to Pendarvis Farm comes quicker every year. Now entering its 26th year, the four-day, genre-agnostic blowout, taking place this year from July 30-August 2, never seems to last long enough. It’s important to squeeze every last bit of juice out of the festival. After all, you never know when the juice will run out for good. Yes, that sounds dramatic. When I asked festival founder Zale Schoenborn what advice he would give to anybody coming to the festival, he was direct: treat every Pickathon like it’s…
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World Cup Diary: Week 5
It’s been a theme throughout this remarkable World Cup of 2026: football rewards bravery. Play with ambition, send players forward, try to score goals, and more often than not, you are rewarded. When England took the lead over Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday afternoon, they appeared set for their first World Cup final since 1966. Instead, the team sank back, manager Thomas Tuchel sent on additional defenders, and England invited Argentina—indomitable, never-say-die Argentina—to attack their penalty area at will. To allow Argentina to play the final half hour exclusively in England’s half, to allow Lionel Messi to see that much…
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Ticket Alert: Thundercat, Michelle Branch, and More Portland Events Going On Sale This Week
Get ready to rumble with tickets to these newly announced shows. Groovy genre-bending bassist Thundercat will come through Portland to support his recent release, Distracted. Pop-rock singer-songwriter Michelle Branch has announced a new album and cross-country tour for the fall. Plus, musician and author Patti Smith shares an evening of songs and stories at the Schnitz. Read on for details! ON SALE FRIDAY, JULY 17 MUSIC The Amity Affliction: House of Cards 2026Roseland Theater (Sat Nov 28) Bravo the Bagchaser & PeysohHawthorne Theatre (Thurs Sept 24) ClarionStar Theater (Tues Nov 17) See more on EverOut!
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FREE TICKETS THURSDAY: Win Tix to Jerry’s Middle Finger, Essie & The Hum, and PAM CUT at The Whitsell!
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 July 16 through July 20). You can find our contest rules…
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POP QUIZ PDX: Which Is the Most Dog Shit, Oregon-Filmed Movie of Them Alllll?
WHY HELLO, SMARTY PANTS! It’s time to put that brainy-brain to the test with this edition of POP QUIZ PDX—our local, sassy-ass trivia quiz. And this week we’ll see how much YOU know about mayoral narcs, new home horrors, and (in our subjective question) which is the most dog shit, Oregon-filmed movie of allllll time! (The answer MAY surprise you!) 🧐 But first, how did you do on our last quiz? Once again your brain amazes me! And I really can’t argue with your choices for which famous Riot Grrrl band you’d join if reincarnated and given the opportunity. (So maybe just…
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