Gov. Tina Kotek Debuts Bold New Purple Mohawk
PORTLAND, OR — Oregon Governor Tina Kotek shocked residents this week after unveiling a dramatic new purple mohawk during a public appearance, prompting widespread confusion over whether the hairstyle was a personal choice, a political statement, or the result of an experimental transportation funding committee. Witnesses say the governor arrived looking largely the same as usual, except for the several inches of vibrant purple spikes extending from the top of her head. "I thought maybe I'd...
TRAVEL
Oregon is a beautiful destination for travelers who enjoy exploring the great outdoors. With its diverse landscape of mountains, forests, waterfalls, and coastline, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
There’s a Secret Hidden Bar Inside This Historic Oregon School And It Feels Like a Treasure Hunt
There are places in Oregon that feel like destinations. And then there are places that feel like adventures. The kind where you arrive with a rough plan, only to completely abandon it an hour later...
This Columbia Gorge Hike Ends On A Stone Summit With Sweeping Views Of Five Volcanoes
There are certain places in Oregon that make you stop talking for a minute. Not because there isn't anything to say, but because your brain is too busy trying to process what your eyes are seeing....
Oregon’s Lavender Season Is About To Explode And These Summer Festivals Smell Like Pure Magic
There are certain moments in Oregon that feel almost unreal. The first warm evening on the coast. The smell of pine after rain in the Cascades. Sunlight breaking through vineyards in wine country....
FOOD & DRINK
Explore Oregon’s food and drink scene – from locally sourced ingredients to craft brews and award-winning wines. Plan your culinary adventure now!
This Historic Oregon Tavern Dating Back To 1922 Is Still A Local Favorite Today
If you blink, you might miss it. Tucked away along a quiet country road outside Hillsboro, surrounded by open farmland and a slower pace of life, sits a red building that has been feeding Oregonians...
This Charming Log Cabin Café in Oregon Is the Pizza Stop You Didn’t Know You Needed
There’s a stretch of Highway 26 on the way to Mount Hood where the air feels a little fresher, the trees grow a little taller, and if you time it just right, you’ll stumble onto one of the coziest...
The 42 Best Oregon Mom & Pop Restaurants to Eat At in 2026
We're going a bit out on a limb here at That Oregon Life. This story began as a sort of "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" compilation, but after a giant list of my own and a slew of recommendations...
Portland Just Added Polyamory to Its List of Protected Classes Because Of Course It Did
In what will likely surprise absolutely no one who has been paying attention to Portland politics for the past decade, the Portland City Council has officially added polyamory to its list of legally protected relationship structures. Yes, really. On Wednesday, city...
Anti-ICE Protester Catches Fire While Attempting To Burn American Flag In Portland
Over the weekend outside a federal immigration facility in Portland, a protest took a bizarre turn when a demonstrator attempting to burn an American flag accidentally set himself on fire. The incident happened during an anti-ICE protest outside the facility, which...
Cajun Seafood Boil Restaurant Coming to Former Shari’s in Springfield
Ever since Shari’s shut down its Oregon locations in late 2024, the old building off Pioneer Parkway and Q Street in Springfield has sat quietly empty — a familiar landmark and a reminder of a restaurant chain many Oregonians grew up with. But now there’s a new sign...
Experts Say Americans May Still Be Able To Drive This Summer If They Replace Luxuries Like Food With Gasoline
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A team of leading economic experts released a hopeful report Tuesday suggesting that millions of Americans may still be able to drive their cars this summer, provided they make a few simple lifestyle adjustments—such as replacing unnecessary...
Springfield 24-Hour Spa Insists Green Water Is For St. Patrick’s Day, Not Whatever’s Been Brewing Since 2009
SPRINGFIELD, Ore. — Staff at a local 24-hour soaking spa say the noticeably green color of their hot tub water this week is completely intentional and absolutely related to St. Patrick’s Day, despite several longtime customers quietly noting the water has looked...
Portland Floats Netflix Fee To Pay For Arts Meant To Convince You To Go Downtown
PORTLAND, OR — In the latest episode of How Can We Tax This Next, Portland leaders have reportedly discovered an exciting new revenue stream: your Netflix account. Portland City Council President John Dunphy is floating a proposal to tack on a small monthly fee to...
Oregon Lawmakers Gut Controversial Gun Bill, Push Measure 114 Start Date to 2028
Oregon lawmakers quietly pushed through a stripped-down gun bill Friday that mostly does one thing: kick the can down the road on Measure 114. House Bill 4145 originally contained several changes to the controversial gun control measure, but after a late rewrite,...
Tina Kotek Makes Whoopsie Face As Staff Confirm $800 Billion Budget Has Completely Vanished Into A Black Hole
SALEM, OR — Oregon Governor Tina Kotek reportedly made what staff are now describing as her “official woopsie face” Tuesday afternoon after aides confirmed that the state’s $800 billion budget had completely vanished into what economists are calling a rapidly...
Oregon Lawmakers Propose Monthly $25.99 Streaming Service To Access State’s Outdoor Spaces
SALEM, OR — In what officials are calling a “modern solution to the outdoor experience,” Oregon lawmakers this week unveiled a proposal to introduce a convenient $25.99 monthly subscription allowing residents to access the state’s forests, trails, rivers, and scenic...
Oregon Officials Sue Trump Over Tariffs, Kotek Calls Them A “Tax On Families
SALEM, Ore. — Oregon officials filed a lawsuit Thursday challenging new tariffs announced by President Donald Trump, warning the policy amounts to a harmful “tax on working families.” The lawsuit, led by Dan Rayfield along with attorneys general from more than 20...