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Ben McBee

Senior City Editor

Ben grew up in the Rogue Valley, attended the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism, and has written for publications like 1859 Magazine and Portland Monthly. He enjoys hiking the PNW, football and futbol, wildlife photography, any manner of libation exploration, and of course writing for PDXtoday.

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Events
With Rip City Comedy Festival, it’s laugh at first sight
The first-year showcase features heavy hitters and Pacific Northwest flair putting on shows in Southeast Portland from Thursday, May 4-Saturday, May 6.
April 27, 2023
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Ben McBee
Two people backlit by the sun cheers their beers at the 2022 Oregon Brewers Festival.
Events
Can you beer-lieve it? The Oregon Brewers Festival is back in 2023
After the announcement that the 35-year celebration would not return this year, a collaboration with the Portland Rose Festival will revive the event during CityFair’s second weekend.
April 27, 2023
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Ben McBee
Vases with various different wildflowers sit on a table with informational placards beside them at Silver Falls State Park.
Travel and Outdoors
Silver Falls to host the annual Mother’s Day Birding and Wildflower Festival
Give mom the gift of the outdoors and a few gorgeous flowers on Saturday, May 13-Sunday, May 14.
April 19, 2023
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Ben McBee
A pitcher winds up wearing his Soñadores de Hillsboro uniform for Copa de la Diversión
Sports
How to celebrate baseball with Copa de la Diversión
We dive into what the Copa de la Diversión series is and the history behind this event which lasts the entire season of Minor League Baseball.
April 17, 2023
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Ben McBee
A Google Street View photo shows two people standing in a rose garden with tall evergreen trees in the background.
Travel and Outdoors
Portland street view scavenger hunt
Can you guess where in Portland these images were taken?
April 13, 2023
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Ben McBee
An assortment of vegetables including front to back, onions, tomatoes, cabbages, cucumbers, carrots, squash, and beets.
Food
Answered: Our readers’ tips for reducing food waste in their homes
See what your fellow Portlanders do to keep food fresh longer and limit the amount of scraps that go in their garbage.
April 11, 2023
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Ben McBee
An aerial photos shows a modern house on the edge of a grove of deciduous trees with a valley stretching away below into the distance.
Live
Book an unforgettable stay at these amazing Airbnb and Vrbo rentals in Portland
Check out some of the coolest, most unique Airbnb and Vrbo rentals around Portland, Oregon, and plan for your next adventure or staycation.
April 11, 2023
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Ben McBee
A pile of food scraps with bagels, watermelons, and other vegetables visible.
City
Make a difference during Food Waste Prevention Week in Portland
The national and local campaign strives to “help families save money, reduce the negative impact of food waste on the environment, and address hunger in our communities.”
April 7, 2023
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Ben McBee
A person ride their bike past the front of Portland City Hall.
City
Lend your voice to the Portland Engagement Project
Help the city revamp its 50-year-old model of civic engagement by participating in listening sessions and a summit, Thursday, April 27-Saturday, April 29.
April 7, 2023
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Ben McBee
A stone with the names of Japanese American incarceration camps sits in front of blooming pink cherry trees in Portland's Japanese American Historical Plaza.
City
Portland’s waterfront cherry trees are rooted in history
The 100 cherry trees in Tom McCall Waterfront commemorate the incarceration of Japanese and Japanese Americans during World War II.
April 5, 2023
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Ben McBee
A dancer leaps in the air with various garments flying off of them with a game show wheel in the background
Arts
‘The Spin’ brings spontaneity to the stage
Dance, theater, and comedy come together at the whim of a game show wheel.
April 4, 2023
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Ben McBee
People enjoy the rooftop bar at KEX Hotel in Portland
City
PDXtoday news quiz: August 2023
How well did you pay attention to the headlines that appeared in our newsletters?
April 4, 2023
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Cambrie Juarez
A person lectures to a group with a powerpoint behind him reading: "What are you doing with your content?"
Small Business
Small business startup resources in San Jose, CA
Learn how you can kick start your small business in the Capital of Silicon Valley.
March 31, 2023
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Alyson Chuyang
The SS War Baron floats somewhere near Portland as it undergoes its US Navy inspection.
City
The launch of the all-steel Vesterlide and sinking of the steamboat Ruth
Two vessels’ stories became forever intertwined in Portland, Oregon, on March, 31, 1917.
March 30, 2023
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Ben McBee
A Zoom screen shows various students of the E-sports club.
Education
Esports club provides interactive learning and social experience for students at Oregon Charter Academy
Students at the virtual school come together from all over the state to learn valuable skills like communication and creativity.
March 28, 2023
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Ben McBee
A group of volunteers in reflective orange jackets and red had hats stand on a Portland street corner with police officers and an ambulance in the background.
Volunteer
How to become a Neighborhood Emergency Team (NET) member
Join more than 3,500 volunteers who are trained and prepared to respond in the event of a severe winter storm, flood, or major earthquake in Portland.
March 24, 2023
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Ben McBee
A beehive slat covered in honey bees.
Culture
Classes for adults in Portland, OR
It’s never too late to add a new skill to your repertoire.
March 22, 2023
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Ben McBee
A person with a ponytail braid and pink jacket stands on the right with her back to us, facing a sign with an oversized ticket to the Sustainable Fashion Forum on it.
Events
7th annual Sustainable Fashion Forum returns to Portland
Hundreds of like-minded professionals will gather to explore “the nuanced layers” at the intersection of fashion, business, and sustainability Friday, April 21-Saturday, April 22.
March 22, 2023
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Ben McBee
PDXtoday_TheForager_MWL.jpg
Food
Multnomah Whiskey Library celebrates Women’s History Month with special guest menu
The lineup honors the work that women are doing to build a better bartending community.
March 20, 2023
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Ben McBee
The sun sets over Portland, Oregon's skyline
Answered: Which major local project would you want finished immediately?
We’re sharing readers’ thoughts on the trajectory of development in our city and the importance of various infrastructure improvements.
March 16, 2023
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Ben McBee
A graphic of a satellite above earth with a face made of emojis and other random objects like a hose and shark floating around it.
City
How Portland Water Bureau detects leaks from space
The utility manager partnered with Asterra to use ground-penetrating radar to find breaks in the water main more quickly than with traditional methods.
March 14, 2023
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Ben McBee
A group of people stand in front of a vineyard on a sunny day
Business
Apply for Our Legacy Harvested’s fall 2023 wine production internship
The nonprofit focuses on creating opportunities for education, advancement, and empowerment for members of the BIPOC community in the wine industry.
March 10, 2023
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Ben McBee
A grainy reflection of Portland's skyline on the Willamette River
Culture
Welcome to “Porltand”
Explore a bizarro world where up is down and roses are... not a thing?
March 10, 2023
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Ben McBee
A rendering shows the new Hillsboro Hops stadium with fireworks over it.
City
Hillsboro Hops forgo renovation, will build entirely new stadium
Slated for completion in 2025, the year-round entertainment venue will sit on the northwestern edge of the existing Gordon Faber Recreation Complex.
March 8, 2023
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Ben McBee
A table filled with German dishes like pretzels, schnitzel and sausage.
Food
Answered: Which Portland restaurant reminds you of home?
We asked our readers who moved to Portland what restaurant in the city reminds them most of where they’re from.
March 6, 2023
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Ben McBee
The sun rises over the Portland skyline with Mount Hood silhouetted to the left and a bank of clouds over the Willamette River
Development
Which major local project would you want finished immediately?
If we had the power to instantly complete a major local infrastructure or development project, which project would we choose?
March 2, 2023
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Ben McBee
A girl and a dog sitting on a blanket in Flowers Field at Dix Park.
Work
Great spots to work outside in Raleigh
When the sun’s out, the world is your workspace — keep reading for 15 sunny spots that are perfect to work outside at in the City of Oaks.
March 2, 2023
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Anne Weber
A table setting with patterned cloth napkins, silverware, and a spilled cocktail glass with ice.
Culture
Products made for and by the people
Six & Main partners with local makers to bring quintessential Portland items to one place, supporting small businesses and PDXtoday.
February 28, 2023
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Ben McBee
People gaze at a memorial wall honoring soldiers who died during World War II and the Korean War.
History
Portland’s Digital Veterans Memorial preserves an important past
The online archive offers an accessible way to honor and share the life stories of local members of the military who died in service to this country.
February 28, 2023
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Ben McBee
Five women pose for a photo at the SheBrew Festival in Portland
Food
8th annual SheBrew Festival is back and bigger than ever
The fundraiser event will feature more than 40 professional brewers and 10 homebrewers who identify as female.
February 24, 2023
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Ben McBee
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