austin

Austin

chicago

Chicago

denver

Denver

lasvegas

Las Vegas

madison

Madison

nashville

Nashville

philly

Philly

pittsburgh

Pittsburgh

portland

Portland

saltlake

Salt Lake

seattle

Seattle

twincities

Twin Cities

We make podcasts and newsletters that connect people with the cities they love.

City Cast Portland

Rachel Monahan.jpg

Rachel Monahan

Rain has ended early. The sun is out. It’s time to think about how to enjoy the summer ahead.

Find yourself a pint of Hood strawberries (right now). Pick 

 (July). Visit the Portland Farmers Market at PSU or your local neighborhood spot (all summer long).

 Festival (July 14-16), or find your favorite musician at 

), ride over the bridges during Bridge Pedal (

 anytime — and eat some curly fries or elephant ears.

How are you planning to enjoy this summer?

What’s Your Favorite PDX Summer Plan? Email Me 

How are you going to keep cool this summer? (

Ben McBee

Want to experience the thrill of competition for yourself? Just a few hundred feet from Pioneer Courthouse Square (and one story below ground), you’ll find Glowing Greens Indoor Mini Golf, the perfect place to challenge your friends to a round of 

If neon pirates aren’t your thing, Wicked Axe Throwing is also on site, offering the chance to show off 

. Or, if you seek a more cerebral sport, there’s also Mental Trap Escape Room, which has 

 on offer — “Hotel: No Vacancy” and “The Fortune Teller.”

Around the corner, the fun hits another level at Punch Bowl Social, the 

 on the third floor of Pioneer Place mall. With a massive bar and New American gastropub fare, it’s the ultimate playground for grown-ups (Fridays and Saturdays are 21+ from 10 p.m. to close). Test your mettle at ping pong, billiards, floor shuffleboard, giant Scrabble and Jenga, corn hole, interactive 

Can karaoke be competitive? We’ll leave that up to you, but Punch Bowl Social also has rooms to rent for groups up to six as well as open mic nights that are just calling for your best rendition of “Purple Rain.” Now, 

Side Quest: You Can Play These Games

The Weekly Wander

Sign up for The Weekly Wander Newsletter

The Weekly Wander newsletter is your neighborhood guide filled with hidden gems and unexpected ways to explore Portland, OR. Get it in your inbox every Sunday.

The Weekly Wander by City Cast Portland

When it comes to Downtown Portland, there’s almost too much to tackle in one visit, so we’re keeping this week’s wander focused on places within a few blocks (or along the light rail) from Pioneer Courthouse Square.

🏆 Why You Should Visit This Week: The Beautiful Game

) may have sunk Portland’s hopes of hosting the World Cup in 2026 — 

 — but thankfully, that doesn’t mean the passionate footy fans of 

 have to miss out on the excitement completely.

From Friday, June 12, through Monday, June 15, the Portland Timbers will host the 

 at Pioneer Courthouse Square, a free event featuring interactive activities, merch booths, fan giveaways, and live viewings of group stage games from this year’s tournament. Not only will you be able to watch the U.S. men’s team kick off their quest for glory against Paraguay on the big screen (June 12 at 6 p.m.), but you can also see other nations’ matches throughout the weekend, morning to night.

Hungry at halftime or in need of a hydration break? 

 will be open and the Casamigos Club will offer boozy beverages.

Of course, there are plenty of other options for a bite and bev within walking distance to the Square.

 with pan-Asian dishes, such as spicy tuna rolls and bao made with Korean fried chicken and a gochujang glaze.

🍝 The modern Italian menu and intimate setting at 

 make perfect sense for a romantic date night or for hosting out-of-towners. Don’t overlook the 

 next door if you couldn’t snag reservations.

 you could ever want, from oysters on the half shell to Dungeness crab legs and salmon tartare.

🌳 Toward the waterfront, you’ll find 

, a “Lord of the Rings” inspired hangout with 36 rotating beer and cider taps that also allows outside food.

♣️ Motorcycles hanging from the ceiling and nightly musical acts are the draw for 

, the third-oldest continually open and operated bar in Portland.

🦦 Fun & Facts: From Coral Reefs to the Cupola

Did you know about the Portland Aquarium at the corner of at the corner of Broadway and Alder Street? No one will declare you a 

 if you didn’t, because instead of giant tanks filled with water, you’ll find a series of rooms teeming with aquatic cartoon critters painted by artist 

. The immersive experience guides visitors through six different biomes, challenging you to locate every species listed in the fact-filled compendium, from the clownfish to the blue whale; it also serves as a platform for the Elakha Alliance’s efforts to 

reestablish a healthy sea otter population in Oregon

 over its lifetime — first as a school, then a hotel, followed by a parking lot, and finally, after an international design competition, the plaza we know today. Since 1875, its namesake hall of justice, Pioneer Courthouse, has watched the changes unfold. Taking 

 of the building opens a fascinating window to the past and the tales that unfolded in the judges’ chambers, the library, the cupola, and other historic spaces.

Did we miss something nearby Pioneer Courthouse Square? 

A previous version of this article misstated the location of the Portland Aquarium. It's at the corner of Broadway and Alder Street. We regret the error. 

Pioneer Courthouse Square recs

📲 Your Pioneer Courthouse Square Recommendations

Your Guide to Pioneer Courthouse Square

City Cast Portland staff

The sun is out. The weather is warm. To remind you of the obvious, a Portland summer is 

Bike Summer (also known around town as Pedalpalooza) 

. And for the next few months there are bike rides on every imaginable theme — including, no doubt, your favorite hobby or interest.

City Cast Portland contributor Alex Frane has a couple picks:

. It’s the seventh-annual version of this ride. People wear cat paraphernalia, stop along the way to schmooze with kitties, and (yes) bring along their own pets.

. Two classic Pedalpalooza rides meet up for a dance-off.

City Cast Portland will also be co-sponsoring a ride this summer: Come join us for 

, which is a tour of some of the city's most delightful little free libraries filled with puzzles, art, and poetry, instead of books.

Mapping the city’s most delightful sidewalk attractions

If you haven’t ever been swimming in the Willamette River, maybe you want some company going for a first dip. Human Access Project holds swim parties at Audrey McCall Beach on Tuesday and Fridays. The 

. You don’t even have to actually swim: There’ll be food and music, too.

Plus: As you may have caught in a recent newsletter, there’s a new sculpture in St. Johns. And, on Saturday, June 20, there will be 

 to reveal Willie the River Dragon to the rest of Portland.

There are, of course, the traditional ways to enjoy parks. You can go for a hike. And we have a couple tips on that:

🗺️ If you’re looking for the best trails and backcountry maps, you may want to 

But summer means a whole range of activities in parks:

 at Overlook Park, which is features live performances of synthesizer music. (And don’t forget about 

🌳 Or check out the events calendars at 

Plus, don’t forget to eat some fresh Oregon strawberries! 🍓

What To Do in Portland, Oregon, in June 2026

What To Do in Portland in June 2026

Find the best of everything that Portland has to offer.

Portland’s Best

Portland's Best

 at Daffodill Studios? Perhaps you’d like to pick up a bygone hobby or dive into something entirely new. These workshops will certainly help stoke your artistic energy — just make sure to plan ahead, as classes can fill up quickly.

This is your chance to stick it to anyone who ever mocked those basket-weaving classes you took in college, because guess what? 

. And so is upholstery and paper sculpting. Weekend-long intensives are offered in a variety of topics, including Native arts (

The stakes are low at this welcoming space, no matter the medium you decide to work with. You can weave macrame wall art, customize a leather coozie, or paint coasters. “Do it yourself” may be in the name, but it’s always more fun to bring a couple of friends along.

Live out your sootiest medieval blacksmithing dreams and try your hand at the time-honored tradition of hammering molten steel. Instructor 

 brings the experience he’s earned around the world to each class, which ranges from spoons to swords.

Who’s got two green thumbs and loves to shape self-contained gardens? 

, or at least you will after spending a few hours arranging living mosses, tropical plants, and dazzling rocks into a miniature ecosystem.

These craft workshops in Portland will certainly help stoke your artistic energy — just make sure to plan ahead, as classes can fill up quickly.

Where to Learn Arts and Crafts in Portland, Oregon

Where to Get Crafty in Portland

Ornate sandstone arches and palatial century homes announce your arrival to the 

, one of Portland’s earliest parcels of developed land. The streets are curvy, 

, and there’s plenty of old-timey charm.

🎤 Why You Should Visit This Week: Comedy in the Park

What started as a way for Portlanders to safely gather and giggle during a decidedly unfunny time (

) has grown into a marquee summertime event. At Kickstand Comedy in the Park, 

hundreds of people lay blankets on the grass

 in Laurelhurst Park to hear sets from hilarious local and traveling comics, free of charge.

The season kicks off this Friday, June 5, and runs until Sept. 4, with each show starting at 6:30 p.m. You can expect “clean” material, although some jokes may toe the line (just in case you have particularly discerning kiddos). Weekly lineups are announced on 

; opening night will feature Jordan Casner, Virginia Jones, Derek Sheen, Jaci Terjeson, and Kenny Tam, hosted by Julia Corral and Rachelle Cochran.

Largely a residential neighborhood, Laurelhurst’s businesses sit along a short section of Sandy Boulevard. There, you’ll find Steelport Knife Co., a local producer of 

 that offers free tours during business hours. Next door at PulsePDX, an upbeat gym known for its 

, you’ll find a sweaty form of self-expression.

And two blocks away on Northeast Wasco Street, Daffodill Studios is the ideal place to 

 in an encouraging environment. Workshops include jewelry crafting, rug tufting, stained glass cutting, bookbinding, ceramics, and printmaking.

For food and drink, there’s brunch bites at 

, and Chopsticks, the lively Chinese restaurant and karaoke bar with plenty of chow mein and 

 (Elliott Smith and Sleater-Kinnery used to hang out at the original location).

, it was a sizable dairy operation called Hazel Fern Farm owned by William Sargent Ladd (yes, that 

The Laurelhurst Company — named for a neighborhood it had previously developed in Seattle — bought the land in 1909. A variety of house styles were built through 1925, including Arts and Crafts, Colonial Revival, and Foursquare homes. Many of them, like the 

” have landed on the National Register of Historic Places and are included in the Laurelhurst Neighborhood Association’s 

At the heart of Laurelhurst Park, the natural spring that once fed cows became Firwood Lake, inspired by 

Olmsted’s nature-based landscape design

 on lavish rafts and boats there. The pond has also been the stomping grounds for fearsome swans. A white waterfowl dubbed General Pershing once 

, preventing anyone from enjoying the shoreline without a fight; another more affable bird called Big Boy was regularly fed by a local man, who also taught him to nod his head and honk a greeting to visitors.

Laurelhurst recs

📲 Your Laurelhurst Recommendations

Ornate sandstone arches and palatial century homes announce your arrival to the Laurelhurst neighborhood, one of Portland’s earliest parcels of developed land.

Exploring the Laurelhurst Neighborhood in Portland, Oregon

Your Guide to Portland’s Laurelhurst Neighborhood

, and you’ll always learn something new — like how one of 

 recently found a new home there in a former Catholic school and convent. This slice of Northeast Portland was actually named after a 

 that operated from 1905 until its closure in 2020; now the 

 is home to various University of Oregon programs.

In this week’s lesson plan, you’ll experience long-lasting legacies, libations, and the illuminated ballet.

🤝 Why You Should Visit This Week: Memory Activism

During World War II, the city of Vanport was the 

 in the country, attracting thousands of workers thanks to its proximity to the shipyards. With a 

. Amid racial tensions, a vibrant community grew, with the first tenants arriving at the end of 1942.

Everything changed on Memorial Day in 1948 when the Columbia River flooded, wiping away homes and lives. Survivors settled in nearby neighborhoods, including Concordia, and today, their stories are preserved and shared by 

 features art and history exhibits, documentary screenings, music, educational workshops, and staged readings at the 

. It’s a poignant opportunity to understand how the people and places of the past are woven together to create the present.

. The sprawling converted school now serves as a hotel, movie theater, and soaking pool. It also has a restaurant and several bars, including one in the detention room where you can order “study hall” cocktails (they’re miniatures of classic drinks like an old-fashioned or Manhattan).

Here are some other Concordia bars and restaurants to note:

🥙 Who needs a genie? Your wish for divine hummus and falafel will be fulfilled at 

🍝 Italian-American cuisine options are two-fold: 

 specializes in hearty, red sauce dishes like baked ziti and chicken parm; and at 

, you can always expect al dente housemade pasta paired with seasonal produce and seafood.

🍟 Get cozy with a beer and a basket of Barnyard Fries (pulled pork, bacon, and white cheese sauce) at 

, self-described as Northeast Portland’s “living room.”

🌴 Latin culture (think mezcal and reggaeton) comes to life at 

☘️ Book the snug and settle in for a whiskey with your friends at 

, the Irish pub that also hosts three book clubs and weekly live music.

🎭 Arts & Entertainment: Galleries Galore

 sprawls along Alberta Street, and some of its Concordia highlights include 

, which hosts a quarterly Drink & Draw (this summer’s date is TBD).

, which anchors the district’s eastern end. The venue puts on eclectic entertainment, ranging from 

Looking for spontaneous plans? Tonight there’s a double feature of “

Ballet of Lights: Sleeping Beauty in a Sparkling Show

Did we miss some of your Concordia favorites? 

Concordia recs

📲 Your Concordia Recommendations

Wander the Concordia neighborhood, and you’ll always learn something new — like how one of Portland’s iconic gay bars found a new home in a former convent.

Your guide to Concordia neighborhood in Portland, Oregon

Your Guide to Concordia

It can be mind-boggling to witness how much Portland has changed in just a few years — over decades, that transformation is even more dramatic. While it can be hard to visualize what the city’s streets once looked like, one organization is doing its part to paint that picture through archival images of buildings and 

Volunteers with the Architectural Heritage Center take groups to every corner of Portland, from Beaumont to the South Park Blocks, touching on topics like urban renewal and “starchitects” like 

 who left their mark on the urban landscape. The 

, rain or shine, so remember to dress accordingly.

In addition to its guided experiences, the AHC also curated a 

 with 50 sites along historic Grand Avenue and beyond. Stop by the nonprofit’s headquarters to pick up a map and enjoy the rotating displays.

It can be mind-boggling to witness how much Portland has changed in just a few years — over decades, that transformation is even more dramatic.

Side Quest: Hit the Bricks

There’s something magical about gathering on the front steps and jamming with friends. If you’re looking for a way to meet new people or get a feel for a different neck of the woods, take note of these summertime porchfests.

Sun’s out, drums out — this grassroots celebration of the arts also happens to coincide with the 

, two fun events that make for a weekend of treasure hunting and grooving. Organizers are on track to top last year’s turnout, with 95+ performers across 40 homes already signed up.

On the last three Fridays of July, this suburb’s driveways and public spaces come to life hosting not only mini concerts, but also comedy acts and outdoors drag shows. The music ranges from bagpipers to rock bands and brass quintets, so there’s something for everyone.

A bit further afield but still packed with entertainment, all are welcome to the streets of Oregon City’s McLoughlin neighborhood for this festival — even kiddos and dogs.

Side Quest: Porch Power in Portland

Side Quest: Porch Power

Visit the Portland Farmers Market at PSU or your local neighborhood spot (all summer long).

Summer Guide

How to Enjoy Portland This Summer