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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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Portlanders wearing bright rain gear riding their bikes down Southwest Naito Parkway.
Culture
Keep on rolling with these bike maintenance resources in Portland
Join a workshop to learn how to fix things yourself or drop your ride off at a local shop.
April 1, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
Variety of chickens in their pen
Real Estate
How to raise chickens in your backyard
Fresh eggs, every day.
March 29, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
Stuntman Evel Knievel at a press conference.
History
Remembering Evel Knievel’s Memorial Coliseum jump 50 years later
The daredevil stopped by the Rose City on tour ahead of his legendary attempt to jump the Snake River Canyon.
March 28, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
Various covers of In Bocca cookbooks, featuring colorful illustrations on brown cardboard.
Food
Nostrana debuts dinner series based on rare Italian cookbook collection
Each “In Bocca” meal takes guests on a journey to a different region through their respective cuisines.
March 27, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
Fans mill about the outside of Portland's Moda Center, which is illuminated in bright red against the dusky sky.
Sports
March Madness makes its way to the Moda Center
The NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament Portland Regional will feature a Fan Fest and exciting matchups between national powerhouses, March 29-April 1.
March 26, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
A small white bungalow with a shed sits beside a paved driveway in Portland's Woodlawn Park neighborhood. Its roof and two chimneys are shades of light brown and there are massive evergreen trees in the backyard.
Real Estate
Hot Homes: Portland homes for sale near the median selling price
Check out these six Portland homes that are on the market for near the median selling price of $480,000
March 24, 2024
 · 
Cambrie Juarez
Small children pose with their crafts
Culture
Spring break activities for kids
Whether you’re spending quality time with your little ones or dropping them off at camp, they’ll make memories to last a lifetime.
March 20, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
English Oaks Estate is a $15 million mansion in Portland's Northwest Hills. It sits on 40 forested acres and has a spacious outdoor entertaining area with a large pool and refined landscaping.
Culture
How to spend your Mega Millions winnings
If you’re lucky enough to hit the jackpot, here’s what you could spend it on around Portland.
March 18, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
A letter board reading taxes sits on top of American currency.
Finance
Prepare and file your taxes for free in Portland
You may not have to spend a dime on the way to getting your tax refund.
March 14, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
A map of Portland shows certain locations: Providence Park, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Veterans Memorial Coliseum, and Revolution Hall. Each point is emphasized by a circle with a photo inside.
City
How well do you know the map of Portland?
We’ve got a game for you — test your knowledge of how well you know Portland’s points-of-interest by the address alone.
March 12, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
A rendering shows the new Hillsboro Hops stadium with fireworks over it.
Sports
The Hillsboro Hops are saved by the Oregon State Legislature
Plans for a new stadium can proceed after securing the final $15 million during the 2024 short legislative session.
March 8, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
A color and black and white strip of photos show two people posing in a photo booth at Star Bar in Portland.
Business
Asked: What are the best photo booths in bars around Portland?
In the age of instant gratification and digital images, photo booths offer a satisfying return to that three-, four-, maybe five-minute wait for a keepsake you can hold.
March 8, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
Colorful fall foliage frames this photo taken from the bank of an artificial lake with buildings aligned on the opposite shore.
Business
Top industries and employers in the greater Portland area
Learn about the biggest industries and employers in Portland and its surrounding counties with this guide to local business.
March 5, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
A square pizza on a wire rack topped with vegan cheese, red sauce, and shredded basil.
Food
PDXtoday’s 2024 pizza bracket
We asked our readers and social media followers: Where is the best pizza in Portland? They chose a unique winner.
March 5, 2024
 · 
Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto
Yellow, red, and some multicolor tulips stretch to the horizon on either side of a dirt row at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival in Woodburn, Oregon.
Events
Plan your trip to the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival
This year’s event will take place between March 22 and May 5, with peak blooms predicted during the first two weeks of April.
March 4, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
Baerlic Brewing's Cason Wolcott poses with large green gloves on beside brewing stills.
Food
4 beers we can’t wait to try at SheBrew
The festival that highlights female-identifying beer and cider makers is back for a ninth year on Sunday, March 10.
February 29, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
Susan Sokol Blosser poors a glass of wine in a tasting room. Three Sokol Blosser bottles sit on the counter in front of her.
Food
Raise a glass to 40 years of the Willamette Valley AVA at its ‘Throwback Weekend’ event
Establishing Oregon’s first American viticultural area in 1984 laid the foundation for the award-winning wine region we enjoy today.
February 29, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
Sun shines down through trees laden with moss. A paved path winds among ferns and other undergrowth at Tualatin Hills Nature Park.
Travel and Outdoors
Hike of the Month: Tualatin Hills Nature Park
Learn something new about the beauty in your backyard.
February 27, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
A historic photo of the Council Crest Trolley coming down the hill in Portland, Oregon.
History
Portland decades: the 1940s
Despite the hardships of extreme weather and World War II, the city experienced an economic boom, a dramatic population surge, and diversification as workers flocked to the shipyards.
February 23, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
A shot from above shows nine blue pickleball courts at Jumbo's Pickleball. The 27,000-sqft space is lit indirectly for optimal playing conditions.
Business
Jumbo’s Pickleball brings indoor play to Beaverton
The new facility’s nine courts will serve the suburbs and Portland’s west side year-round no matter the outside elements.
February 21, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
Five differnt colored margaritas, ranging in color from dark red to pink, orange, yellow, and light green, sit on a table at Todo in Southeast Portland. All are garnished with a lime wedge.
Food
Our picks to celebrate National Margarita Day
As if we needed a holiday to sip on these tasty cocktails.
February 21, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
Two Park SJ meters in downtown.
City
How to deal with parking tickets in San Jose
Resolving parking citations in the great 408 will always be a bummer, but hopefully our guide makes it less confusing.
February 21, 2024
 · 
Gregg Aronica
TriMet's MAX line speeds by on the left outside of Providence Park, where you can see ONWARD ROSE CITY in lights and a Portland Timbers logo on the outside.
Airports and Transportation
Ride TriMet for free with a Timbers or Thorns ticket
This season fans can take public transportation for no added cost to watch games at Providence Park.
February 19, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
Photo of
Play
Give these Kansas City live music venues a listen
We’ve made a concerted effort to orchestrate this roadmap of live music venues, so you can focus on finding the artists you adore.
February 18, 2024
 · 
Bella Rainey
A newly paved trail travels in between dense forests along the Columbia Slough Trail.
Travel and Outdoors
Work to rehabilitate section of Columbia Slough Trail finished
Accessibility improvements were funded by $1 million in parks system development charges include.
February 16, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
Suzhou's Gate to the East building sits on the edge of a blue lake, surrounded by city skyscrapers.
Travel and Outdoors
Portland’s sister city: Suzhou, People’s Republic of China
Historic gardens and towering skyscrapers fit together in the Jiangsu province’s most populous city.
February 15, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
Portland Timbers players Eryk Williamson and Diego Chara pose in the new Nature Unites jerseys in a forested scene, which is echoed by their shirts' design.
Sports
Portland Timbers unveil new ‘Nature Unites’ jerseys ahead of the 2024 season
The design features sprigs of evergreen trees that are native to Oregon, plus messaging in support of The Nature Conservancy.
February 14, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
A sunset at Neskwoin Beach where a woman has written Oregon in the sand
Travel and Outdoors
3 road trips to see Oregon’s natural beauty
Fall in love all over again with the state known for being an absolute stunner.
February 14, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
A kitchen stage is set up in Portland's Pioneer Courthouse Square for Feast, a food festival that started in 2012. An audience watches to people behind the counter cooking something.
Events
Asked: Which canceled event or festival would you bring back to Portland?
We’re feeling sentimental about the occasions that brought us together, but somehow ceased to exist.
February 9, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
A person wearing several rings and cozy clothes knits using a yellow ochre yarn while sitting on a futon. There are string lights draped around them.
Culture
Answered: Your favorite Portland hobbies
It appears PDXtoday readers are a creative bunch; this is what they do to relax and/or express themselves.
February 9, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
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