The new album by Dustbunny just dropped with massive helpings of dream pop, and shoegaze energy. Is it an early contender for a Best Portland Album of 2026? The quintet are throwing their album release party TONIGHT at Mississippi Studios with fellow future legends Femme Cell and Pileup.

Oregon stores can now swipe your driver’s license or ID every time you buy alcohol or cannabis, even if you’re 65 years old and clearly not a teenager trying to score beer.

According to weatherspark.com, in Oregon, “the cloudiest part of the year begins around October 7 and lasts for 8.1 months.” Here are just a few tips for beating down the Seasonal Affective Disorder beast.

I reviewed Bi Gan's RESURRECTION for the Mercury... Portland, you have very few chances to see this in theaters this weekend. My recommendation? You should.

Is it 2026 yet? Wake up and see how much YOU remember about the weirdest and wildest happenings of 2025 with the latest super fun edition of POP QUIZ PDX! Including: Ugly dogs! Celebrity visitations! Blithering presidents! And YOUR vote for the most villainous villain of 2025! 👿

A new must-see film to start the new year in Portland: Resurrection. In the near-future, humans no longer dream, because they’ve figured out that dreaming is what prevents us from being immortal. “People not dreaming is like [sic] candles that do not burn—they can exist forever!”

On the off chance you're New Year's Day-ing at the movies, consider this great recommendation / review from @sinacolad.bsky.social of Bi Gan’s 'Resurrection.' Portlanders be warned; it's a pretty limited engagement for this sci-fi existential banger.

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.

A drone light show over The Square in downtown Portland is helping ring in the New Year. The first show was held at 9pm, and a final one will be held around midnight.

A year in Portland in photos. Portlanders showed up this year, and they showed up in costume. Mercury reporters, photographers, and contributors were there in person to capture moments and bring readers the story.

Mercury Food Critic Andrea Damewood breaks down the 10 best things she tasted this year in Portland (and beyond).

This year marked a new beginning for Portlanders after 100 years of local government operating at a glacial pace. It was the first under Portland’s new form of government. We asked councilors to reflect on their achievements and give us a sneak peek at what's to come in 2026.

In November, a grand jury declined to indict the Portland Police officers responsible for the death of Damon Lamarr Johnson, who died in June while in their custody.

The Heights owner claims predatory lease terms left him in default. His landlord says payments were missed even after a rent reduction.

More than 10 of the top events this week in Portland (December 29-January 4) 👇

Take a trip down garbage memory lane with this holiday edition of THE TRASH REPORT—in which @elinorjoneser.bsky.social picks out the best gossip of 2025!

Favorite thing I wrote this year just dropped on @portlandmercury.com and holy shit Harrison Freeman's illo is a goddamn visual poem www.portlandmercury.com/mercury-2025...

A lovely reflection from @ohcoleman.bsky.social

Here’s my Top 10 Moments from 2025 in Portland — a wild ass year in the city — Read that ⬇️

"Portland, in addition to being my hometown, is many things. “War-ravaged” is not one of them. 2025 brought us a slate of memorable, profound, troubling, and laugh-to-stop-from-crying moments: ramped up terrorism from ICE, and groundbreaking reclamation efforts from Black Portland."

The one thing Portland has are the people who live here. Creative, eclectic, fiercely independent people who came out west to get away from the pomp and pretense of older, better run places. The people of this city make what they want to make, and help each other where they can.

The Mercury's top 10 most read stories of the year: - Portland's Emergency Naked Bike Ride in Photos - Satyricon: An Oral History - Mayor Wilson Puts Portland Housing Bureau Director On Leave The full list of must-read articles 👇

A curated guide to 20 New Year's Eve events happening around Portland!

"Marty Supreme is, very self-consciously, A LOT. Your enjoyment of that A LOT will be directly predicated on your capacity to ride the rollercoaster of yet another film about one dude’s quest for the trappings of success."

The Portland Mercury is currently looking for a full time Managing Editor to join our fun ‘n’ smart editorial team. Are YOU the perfect person for this job? Let’s find out…. 🧵

The final moments of 2025 provide us with a new banger from Portland's Rachel Wong in the form of "Lit 4 the Holidays," while 2026 promises that local hip-hop showcase The Thesis keeps it 100 well into the new year. And don't forget Brandi Carlile at Moda in March!

The hottest list of the holiday season is here: The Mercury's 10 favorite romance (and romantasy) books of 2025. See the full list by Melissa Locker and start adding to your TBR pile 👇

The 1999-2000 Portland Trail Blazers squad was an excellent basketball team. On December 22, members of the team finally got their roses at the Moda Center. Corbin Smith was BTS and courtside to capture the celebrations. Story >> www.portlandmercury.com/the-trail-bl...

Portland art is so back.

The Mercury's 10 favorite films of 2025. It includes propulsive Oscar contenders like Marty Supreme and One Battle After Another, and quiet, moving films like Train Dreams and Eephus. See Dom Sinacola's full list 👇

“I’ll be home (at my friend’s sex dungeon) for Christmas.” But what will the family think? Dan Savage offers some sage holiday advice in this week’s SAVAGE LOVE!

ZooZoo, the physical mask comedy at Imago Theatre, is a wordless two-act collection that comes together like a marvelous puzzle. Full review, and why you need to see this live before the run ends Jan. 4 🔗 ⬇️

9 stories you need to start your day in Portland: Wind storms could cause Xmas power outages Ski season is back ICE ruins a toddler's life Trump's new attack on renewable energy All the Good Morning, News ⬇️

Blessed to countdown my 10 favorite movies of 2025 for the @portlandmercury.com, one currently in theaters, one which premieres in Portland on Christmas, one on New Years, and one sometime next year www.portlandmercury.com/movies-and-t...

The top local events this holiday week in Portland! The Festival of Lights, Peacock Lane, local comedy shows, a Festivus celebration, and more happening in PDX! Full guide ⬇️

Oregon DOJ asks judge to slam the brakes on Trump’s immigration prison, the (partial) release of the Epstein files, and… can someone please check on Nicki Minaj? She’s hanging with the WRONG CROWD.

“I tell you, Jingles, I could read Mercury stories all day, and... OH SHIT, IT’S CHRISTMAS EVE!!” Catch up on all the terrific Mercury articles you may have missed this week with our SUNDAY READING LIST! ☕️

Conceived last year by Dying Wish as a remedy for how often bands skip hometown shows when on tour, the second year of their holiday rager was even bigger and more brutal.

TriMet’s Safety Response Team is billed as an unarmed alternative to police on public transit. Now, workers say they need more support themselves and are organizing a union. What’s driving the push—and what it could mean for the future of the program.

The Big Box Set is a variety style show harnessing the energy of public-access television. Live music, muppets, Portland cameos, hand-built sets, and more abound in every episode. The Big Box Set's holiday special features the Portland band Dean The Dog and an anti-capitalist muppet Krampus!

The ultimate Christmas street in Portland, the Christmas Ships Parade, holiday classics on the big screen, and more things to do this weekend in Portland.

At least 372 Multnomah County residents died while homeless in 2024, according to the county’s latest “Domicile Unknown” report. That’s down 18 percent from the 2023 high of 456.

The top news stories to know in Portland: There's still time to name PBOT's snow plows (sorry all, Plowy McPlowface is already taken) Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield simply will not stop suing the Trump administration Blazers WIN! Read all the news ⬇️

It’s time for the POP QUIZ PDX—this week featuring the top questions of 2025! How much do YOU remember about Portland’s robot dogs, Blazer scandals, and that time Kristi “ICE Barbie” Noem came (uninvited) to town? PLUS! Your vote for the most heroic hero of 2025! (See how well you score!)

Thousands are without power in much of the Pacific Northwest, City Council staffers unionize, Multnomah County Chair will not run for her seat again, and more than 10 other stories to start your day. | ✍️ @suzettesmith.bsky.social

A24's big new film, Marty Supreme, is "another movie by and for insecure men," writes critic HR Smith. Read the full review of the film ⬇️

A business owner's effort to rebuild a historic Dairy Queen on SE Division and 56th Ave faced problems from the start. Now, the franchisee is duking it out with the city over the inclusion of a drive-thru at the ice cream shop, which he thinks is necessary for the DQ to succeed.

Roughly 80 Lincoln High School students marched from their downtown campus to Portland City Hall, where they gathered to chant, give speeches, and observe a moment of silence for those who’ve died in ICE custody.

City Council staff have formed a new labor union. The unit of eligible employees includes 41 staff members across all City Council offices.

In this week’s edition of SAVAGE LOVE: a case of the “ex,” a sudden gay awakening, and a very soggy mattress.