The Mercury's 10 Favorite Romance (and Romantasy) Books of 2025

Portland Mercury 12/24 8:00A Melissa Locker

Escape into airplane lust, dragon eggs, and lessons in queer flirting. by Melissa Locker Between the meet-cutes and the enemies-to-lovers tropes and the sweet feeling of new crushes and the spicy oh-god-don’t-let-my-parents-walk-in moments, there...

Hear In Portland: Getting "Lit 4 the Holidays" with Rachel Wong; 2026 with The Thesis and Brandi...

Portland Mercury 12/24 7:00A Jenni Moore

Jenni Moore by Jenni Moore We have officially entered the slow season, but we’re giving you a handful of local music-related things to enjoy. In this last Hear in Portland of 2025, we are recommending you check out the Thesis at its new location...

The Fringe

Portland Mercury 12/23 8:09P Anonymous

by Anonymous I just looked up what this hairstyle of cut is considered because of some boy at work who clearly takes pride in that fluff on the top of his head that flows down to the bangs just above his eyes that he's always kind of flipping...

YOUR SUNDAY READING LIST: Dairy Queen Chills, Hot New Unions, and the Best Trash of 2025

Portland Mercury 12/21 3:00A Wm. Steven Humphrey

by Wm. Steven Humphrey 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...

Is this vegan activism?

Portland Mercury 12/20 7:55P Anonymous

by Anonymous Here to bash the WW for their recent issue cover photo. WTF is this blurry pixelated poorly-lit-shady-basement mess of a print? Never more in my life have I felt my desire to eat oysters escape my body and transcend into the astral...

The Big Holiday Episode of The Big Box Set

Portland Mercury 12/19 7:00A Nolan Parker

Nolan Parker by Nolan Parker The days of truly bizarre, esoteric, sometimes raunchy public-access television aren’t over necessarily, but finding the good stuff is much harder now that the homogenization of Netflix and Prime are almost complete. ...

372 Multnomah County Residents Died While Homeless in 2024

Portland Mercury 12/19 7:00A Jeremiah Hayden

Multnomah County's Domicile Unknown report shows 18% decline in homeless deaths from 2023 to 2024. Overdose, transportation, assault are main contributors. by Jeremiah Hayden At least 372 Multnomah County residents died while homeless in 2024,...

The Best Bang for Your Buck Events in Portland This Weekend: Dec 19–21, 2025

Portland Mercury 12/19 6:48A EverOut Staff

Peacock Lane, The Winter Market, and More Cheap & Easy Events Under $20 by EverOut Staff It's winter solstice this Sunday, which means we're turning a corner into gradually longer days. 'Til then, we're keeping things merry and bright with...

Good Morning, News: ❄️ Help Name PBOT's Snowplows ? Who Killed the Electric Car Chargers? ? Call it...

Portland Mercury 12/19 4:00A Jeremiah Hayden

by Jeremiah Hayden The  Mercury  provides news and fun every single day—but your help is essential. If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making  a small monthly contribution , because...

Strike Averted: New Seasons Grocery Workers Secure First Labor Contract

Portland Mercury 12/16 8:56A Abe Asher

After threatening to strike, unionized workers voted Monday to ratify a contract with increased wages and better health insurance protections. by Abe Asher Just three weeks ago, Ava Robbins, cheese clerk at the New Seasons location in Concordia...

Mercury Music Picks: Matt Dorrien's InNOGural Wintertide Wassail, and DJ Slugo Gets Nasty at...

Portland Mercury 12/16 8:15A Nolan Parker

Nolan Parker by Nolan Parker Holiday parties are every night of the week these days, y’all nogged out yet? Personally, I fuck with with the holiday season. The friends and family in town, the food, the parties, the gift-giving and...

SAVAGE LOVE: Good Working Order

Portland Mercury 12/16 6:00A Dan Savage

This week: a case of the "ex," a gay awakening, and a very soggy mattress. by Dan Savage My partner is still in love with her ex. For ten years she believed him to be the love of her life. It’s been two years since they split and there’s no...

Good Morning, News: PGE Wants to Screw Over Oregonians, Trump Signs BS Executive Order Calling...

Portland Mercury 12/16 4:45A Taylor Griggs

by Taylor Griggs The Mercury provides news and fun every single day—but your help is essential. If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution , because without...

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

Portland Mercury 12/15 8:40A Lindsay Costello

Did somebody say "gay folk art"? by Lindsay Costello You're already busy this week, but you just got busier: Earl Sweatshirt, Yves Tumor, and a few key members of the Twin Peaks cast are in town. And not that there's anything wrong with Portland...

THE TRASH REPORT: The Year In Trash!

Portland Mercury 12/15 6:04A Elinor Jones

Let's dig through the trash can of 2025 for the year's hottest gossip. by Elinor Jones Hello, Trash Pandas! It’s me, Elinor Jones, with a special end-of-the-year Trash Report. This year certainly was something, wasn’t it? To put it in...