Under the pomp and ceremony of a costume parade on a beautiful spring day lay a deep reservoir of disquiet for what the future might hold. by Justin Yau On Saturday, a parade of Portlanders marched from Sunnyside Environmental School through quiet inner Eastside residential blocks, celebrating Earth Day with the pageantry of handmade costumes and musical accompaniment from Portland’s own Unpresidented Brass Band. Led by a decommissioned fire engine, the procession of approximately 200 people—most dressed as animals and plants—drew neighbors and diners out to watch the passing spectacle. Parade ..read more

With super special guest star, ZAK TOSCANI! by Wm. Steven Humphrey Are you looking for a hilarious, live comedy show where YOU can walk away with a fabulous PRIZE (or two)? Well, you're in luck, because Mercury Geniuses of Comedy, Arlo Weierhauser and Kate Murphy, are your hosts for the most diabolical, hilarious, and EVIL live game show in town: TWO EVILS! Join Arlo and Kate as they ask a series of truly evil questions, and it’s up to our special guest contestant and the audience (who will vote on their phones) to decide between TWO VERY EVIL ANSWERS. Are there prizes? You bet your butt! Is t ..read more

TEDxPortland, José González, and More Top Picks by EverOut Staff We've got a special delivery: all of the best events Portland has to offer this week in one handy roundup. Find details on everything from José González to Combo Chimbita with Pachyman, and from TEDxPortland to Legally Blonde The Musical, here. MONDAY LIVE MUSIC Cheekface Cheekface has been around since 2017, but it was four years later that they really captured the voice of our generation with the song "We Need a Bigger Dumpster." KEXP wouldn't stop playing it, and for good reason—its guitar-driven rhythms and tongue-in-cheek ly ..read more

Time to dig into this week's pile of hot, garbage-y gossip! by Elinor Jones Welcome back to the Trash Report! I am mother Trash Panda, Elinor Jones, coming to you live from this metaphorical dumpster we know literally as "the news." Wow, what a week! I've got a lot to say. If you're reading this at work, don't forget to occasionally wiggle your mouse so your little icon appears active. (I'd love for you to quit your job, but I don't want you to get fired.) Now, onto the trash! Democracy with This Fuckin' Guy The criminal trial of former President Donald Trump got going last week in New York Ci ..read more

by Wm. Steven Humphrey 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 you, there is no us. Thanks for your support! GOOD MORNING, PORTLAND! Get ready for a gorgeous start to your week with mostly sunny skies and highs in the low 70s for both Monday and Tuesday. But don't worry—cloudy and rainy weather will return by the weekend for you ghouls. (As an occasional ghoul myself, I begrudgingly support this.) And now fo ..read more

by Anonymous I had just sang the Beatles, and walked off the karaoke stage. You were dancing in the crowd, I kept noticing you. Your hair is gold blonde, and you had on a classy long coat. When I walked over to talk with you, you said you’re a 60’s person, I was thinking that’s pretty cool, because I like the 60’s too. We did the can can and later on you told me you’re 33, and I was shocked because I thought you were 24. I said, “How do you look so good? What’s your secret?” And you told me that you bathe in Baby’s Blood. Wow, you’re a real fox, an electric lady, I hope to see you again one da ..read more

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 signing up for Mercury newsletters! All the latest stories shipped directly to your email's in-box... and then... YOUR HEAD.) • Portland Will Pay Nearly $1.6 Million for Independent Monitor to Oversee City's Compliance With DOJ Settlement An independent monitor will now oversee an ongoing settlement agreement between the US DOJ and the city regarding pol ..read more

Bolognese Fries, Cider, and Calamansi Cream Puffs by EverOut Staff From banana pudding tiramisu to Fruit Loop Danishes and from calamansi confections to rainbow cookie-flavored gelato, this edition of food news presents an array of distinctive sweets that we can't wait to try. Get the scoop on all the latest culinary happenings, including the spaghetti-western-flavored Gabbiano's sibling Take Two, the new cider taproom Bauman’s on Oak, the upcoming gelato shop Pronto Gelato, and where to find the best 4/20 munchies, below. For more ideas, check out our food and drink guide. NEW OPENINGS  ..read more

Transportation advocates say putting the blame on victims is a distraction from the real causes of traffic deaths. by Taylor Griggs On October 21, 2023, James Brian Fenimore was walking on the sidewalk on SE 82nd Avenue near Burnside Street, heading to run an errand, when a drunk driver veered off the street and struck him with a minivan. Fenimore died as a result of the crash.  According to Montavilla News, Fenimore, 66, was an artist who previously lived in the low-income housing complex Milepost 5 in Montavilla. The complex housed an artist collective that Fenimore joined, making frien ..read more

From the founder of Suckerpunch comes a zero-proof craft brewery focused on local hops and flavors. by Blair Stenvick Zero-proof drink entrepreneur Andy McMillan has a story he tells where, in 2021, he approached several Portland breweries about teaming up on a non-alcoholic craft beer. He got “laughed out of the room,” he says, by brewers who didn’t see NA beer as real beer. A few years later, that seems like shortsightedness on behalf of the brewers, whom McMillan politely demurred to name in an interview with the Mercury. Year after year since the pandemic, the NA drink industry has steadil ..read more