‘Tis the season when the notion of evergreens conjures visions of cedar swags, juniper wreaths and noble fir Christmas trees. They’ve been a festive part of the holiday season for centuries, symbolizing new life and vitality. Now, there’s another evergreen spreading cheer and decking the halls around town. Yes, I’m talking about terrariums: the ultimate evergreens, always in season. Inspired by the variety we more...

Ever noticed how many bumpers around town shout out “I HEART Wood”? Portlanders love wood and working with it. My own love affair with woodworking was short-lived. I still have the squirrel bookends and oversized key-shaped key holder I sawed and sanded (and sanded) for shop class in sixth grade. These days, I’ve retired the drill press, table saw and sandpaper in favor of the local talent’s creations. And there more...

I’m not much of a meat eater. Artichokes, steamed clams and Gardenburgers are more my speed. I will make exceptions though: my husband’s lasagna, my brother’s BBQ, and, now and then, a juicy hot dog. Maybe it was my tenure in Germany—birthplace of the frankfurter—that ignited my affinity for the long dog, carefully smoked and lightly dressed in a toasted bun. Whatever the impetus, I rarely tire of the more...

No doubt you read the news earlier this year: Portland was unseated by Minneapolis as the best cycling city in the U.S. Had Bicycling magazine considered cycling’s effect on local business, Portland would probably still be enjoying its ride at the top. Estimates put the number of bike commuters in Portland at over 20,000, so it’s no surprise the city’s brimming with a bevy of cycling-related entrepreneurs. Granted, I more...

Update: Be sure to check out our latest terrarium article featuring classes, kits, exquisite vessels, materials galore and, of course, plenty of pre-made selections. A couple (or so) decades ago, I had a terrarium. It sat beside my red Magic 8-Ball radio, providing shelter for a few ferns and my favorite plastic frogs. Occasionally, I’d remove the top to pinch a frond or introduce a new frog to my sweaty, stinky little world more...

Moh-buhl. Moh-beel. However you say it, the effect is the same. Mobiles add a dash of kinetic intrigue to any space they grace. And these days, those spaces aren’t limited to above the baby’s crib. Taking a cue from the form’s creator, Alexander Calder, three Portland artists are enlivening homes, offices, hospitals, schools, nurseries—even faraway palaces—with their creations. Your home or garden could be more...

"Portland’s easy,” my road-warrior friend explains as I offer him a bag of Big Macs and a box of dog biscuits. Initially drawn to the hulking dog by his side, I befriended the street youth a couple months earlier on a downtown sidewalk. Raised in Montana, he’s been zigzagging across the states, on his own, for a few years. This is his second time in Portland. “Why Portland?” I want to know. According to him and the posse of other more...

I have a dear friend (who shall remain unnamed) who credits kombucha with curing her lifelong bout with flatulence. Knowing nearly nothing about the fermented elixir, but thankful for its effect on my friendship, I was intrigued when offered a sample at Whole Foods recently. Now, this wasn’t just any sample. It was a sample of what appears to be a new tea trend brewing in town: kombucha on tap. Kombucha isn’t a new more...