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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.

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.
Work
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
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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
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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
A small child of about 4 or 5 plays on a miniature CAT construction machine in the sandbox at DiG PDX.
Live
Kid-friendly activities in Portland
We’re highlighting the best kid-friendly activities that Portand has to offer — complete with art classes, animal encounters, and outdoor fun.
February 20, 2024
 · 
Cambrie Juarez
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
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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
An aerial drone shot shows the Oregon Convention Center in the foreground as the sun sinks low over Portland's West Hills.
City
Decode the code: Flying a drone for recreational use
There are several steps to take in order to become a responsible hobbyist pilot.
February 7, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
Live Wire Radio hosts Luke Burbank (right) and Elena Passarello (center) interview Ari Shapiro on stage in front of a bright red curtain. There are microphones in front of them, as well as a table laden with a water bottle, laptop, and a stack of books. Behind them, musicians sit in the dark.
Events
Play the birthday song: Live Wire Radio is turning 20
The long-running variety show was started in 2004 by two Portlanders with no radio experience; now it’s broadcast weekly on OPB.
February 7, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
A rendering shows a potential design for a future penguin enclosure outside. The penguins stand around a spacious outdoor enclosure surrounded by trees and observers.
City
The future of the Oregon Zoo will be shaped by the Portland public
Metro will put a new 15 year, $380 million bond in front of voters this May.
February 5, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
Three watercolor paintings sit side by side in triptych formation. The left shows rugged stripes of green with pen drawing, the middle shows a sunset sky background against the Vaux's swifts at Chapman Elementary, and on the right is a branch with two oranges.
Culture
Pick up a new hobby (and put down your phone)
Ditch the doomscrolling for a more creative or relaxing activity.
February 2, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
A procession of people holding illuminated lanterns and dazzling LED lights, wearing shiny funky outfits, marches down the street while a MAX train speeds by in the background. The parade is part of the Portland Winter Light Festival.
Events
The Portland Winter Light Festival shines bright in the dark
Each year, the event builds community and adds some sparkle to the dark winter months with illuminating art installations across the city.
January 31, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
The Portland Bureau of Transportation's pothole repair crew works on a large patch in the street.
City
Filling in the cracks on how potholes are patched in Portland
Keeping our city’s roads smooth is a monumental task, but you can pitch in.
January 31, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
A child in a pink jacket and beanie navigates a rope and beam feature at the new playground in Errol Heights Park. An adult waits nearby to catch the child if they fall.
City
Errol Heights Park Project finishes, bringing inclusivity and improved access to nature in SE Portland
Upgrades to the 16-acre site in the Brentwood-Darlington neighborhood include a new playground and wildlife viewing spots.
January 30, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
A hiker wearing a rain jacket walks along the Buxton Trussle, a 80-foot high bridge on the Banks-Vernonia State Trail. The bridge is level with trees and you can see a wooded January hillside in the background.
Travel and Outdoors
Hike of the Month: Banks-Vernonia State Trail
Hikers, bikers, and horse riders can all enjoy this 21-mile path that winds its way along a former railroad bed through the scenic forested foothills of the Oregon Coast Range.
January 26, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
An English style cottage sits among trees on the left of a street with no sidewalk, where a green minvan and red car are parked on opposite sides of the street.
City
Welcome to Maywood Park, the enclave city located within Portland
It’s likely that you’ve never have heard of it, but about 829 people live on this 0.17 square miles of land, incorporated as a result of a historic clash with the Oregon Highway Commission.
January 24, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
Jessie Fleming stands on the sideline of a soccer field wearing a blue jersey next to a referee holding a digital board.
Sports
Portland Thorns to pay record fee to sign Canadian midfielder Jessie Fleming
The club will surpass the NWSL transfer high mark to bring the talented 25-year-old over from Chelsea FC.
January 23, 2024
 · 
Cambrie Juarez
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