If a participatory budgeting campaign gets off the ground, residents would be able to spend 2 percent—about $15 million—of the city’s budget each year on community projects. by Taylor Griggs If Portland residents were given access to a percentage of the city’s budget to work on projects most important to them, what would they choose? According to participatory budgeting (PB) advocates, the results could be much more reflective of community needs, and the process would get more people, from more walks of life, involved in local politics.  PB proponents are currently gathering signatures fo ..read more

Plus, Neil Young & Crazy Horse and More Event Updates for April 25 by EverOut Staff Friends and frequent collaborators Charli XCX & Troye Sivan are teaming up to make their fans sweat. Indie pop singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers asks that you don’t forget her—or to buy tickets to her upcoming tour. Plus, Neil Young & Crazy Horse will swing through Bend this summer for a plugged-in set. Read on for details on those and other newly announced events, plus some news you can use. ON SALE FRIDAY, APRIL 26 MUSIC Arooj Aftab Aladdin Theater (Jan 22, 2025) Bonny Light Horseman Revolution Hall ..read more

Shaking the Tree Theatre's latest production, The Boy and the Bird, adapts a short story by Alissa Nutting, which was based on the Brothers Grimm's "The Juniper Tree" into a tight 60-minute spring season play filled with tension, suspense, and stray rays of humor.  Fairy tale adaptions are only as good as the people adapting them, but Shaking the Tree has boiled the bones of "The Boy and the Bird" into a visual feast. I disliked shadowplay before I saw Shaking the Tree do it, and I think it's because I've never seen it done well before. by Suzette Smith On a list of heinous crimes, cannib ..read more

Commissioner Rene Gonzalez’s idea to hand policy control to the mayor and fine houseless people up to $1K was shot down in a 3-2 vote. by Courtney Vaughn After a series of proposed changes and late-stage amendments, Portland City Council is on track to relax its city codes regulating houselessness.  The Council took an initial vote Wednesday to approve amendments to a revamped public camping ordinance put forward by Mayor Ted Wheeler, with changes from Commissioners Carmen Rubio and Mingus Mapps. The new ordinance, which still requires a final council vote, replaces city code adopted last ..read more

by Wm. Steven Humphrey 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! • Enter to WIN FREE TICKETS to see Drew Holcomb on May 6 at Revolution Hall! Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors play Revolut ..read more

See how well YOU score on this week's local news & fun quiz! by Wm. Steven Humphrey BUENOS DIAS, BRAINY BOTTOM! It's time once again to put your brainy-brain to the test with this week's edition of POP QUIZ PDX—our weekly, local, sassy-ass trivia quiz. And this week, your brain will be tested on how much you know about our city commissioners (up to their bullshit again), local restaurants making it big around the world, and YOUR choice for the sexiest fast food mascot! (Be honest... you won't be arrested, we promise! ??) But first, how did you do on the previous quiz? Ooh-la-la, pretty dan ..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! For those who haven't been getting enough soaking rain in your life, today is your day. Expect steady dampness all day long, with a high of 57, and an increasing chance of wet pants. And now here's your steady downpour of NEWS. IN LOCAL NEWS: • In a lengthy (and often cantanker ..read more

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 you, there is no us. Thanks for your support!  GOOD MORNING, PORTLAND! It was quite nice out yesterday, huh? Well, we're back to more seasonally appropriate temperatures in the early 60s today, with rain on its way for the rest of the week. While the sun was nice, we need the rain—we're well below the standard for late April. Plus, these past ..read more

Guest starring super special guest comedian 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 yo ..read more

"I post fetish content on the internet. How worried should I be that someone, like a future boss, might find out?" by Dan Savage I’m a cis gay man in Canada. Other than my supportive enby partner of five years and a few close friends, most people in my life don’t know that I’m a fetish content creator. My stuff delves into the foot porn/macrophilia (love of giants) space. I don’t make enough to live off, but it’s a good side hustle; I earn enough to help with bills and groceries. Plus, creating this content has resulted in meeting people with the same paraphilias and fantasies. Being a kink co ..read more