Top 5 Posts on Bridgetown Bites, March 2026

Welcome to our review of the top posts for March 2026. Openings, reopenings, sourdough, and zeppole were the focus of readers last month, and it always warms my heart to see the interest in St. Joseph’s Day pastries each year in Portland.

March, in the end, did well from a traffic standpoint. Google launched its update mid-March and it killed some traffic late in the month, but we were able to bounce back quicker than expected. Last year, the changes to the search algorithm really kicked our ass.

Google’s AI Overview is, in general, problematic for smaller publishers. (Maybe for larger ones, too?) It is a bummer to watch the numbers go down. But nice to see them rise again.

As far as the numbers themselves, in March 2026 over 55,500 unique visitors generated close to 75,000 page views. Last month it was 49,000 and 67,500, respectively, so that’s a nice jump. and Last year in March is was 32,000 and 44,000 respectively.

As always, thanks for reading, sharing, commenting, and for your tips!

Top Posts for March 2026

5. They’re Here: Zeppole in Portland for St. Joseph’s Day

It’s just about a week now until St. Joseph’s Day—March 19—and that means the arrival of delicious zeppole in Portland. Eating this pastry, along with the sfinge that is hard to find here, is one of my favorite memories from living in Queens, and I’m always happy to tell you about where to get them in our fair city each year.

4. Flour Market Cafe Reopens on NE 30th and Alberta in Portland

Top posts for March 2026: The return of the Flour Market Cafe. Here are loaves of their delicious rugbrod bread.

Good news: the Flour Market Cafe will reopen this month—and not too far away from its original location. They will take over the Dogwood wine bar space in the mornings and early afternoons, right there on NE Alberta and 30th Avenue.

3. Head To the Portland Sourdough Showcase This Week in Portland

April 1 is usually reserved for April Fools’ Day, but I have a better idea: Celebrate National Sourdough Bread Day on April 1 instead. Here in Portland you can immerse yourself in all things sourdough at the second annual Portland Sourdough Showcase, taking place at Steelport Knife Co. that afternoon. And it’s free to attend!

2. Oregon City Market Opens Its Doors This Week

Top posts for March 2026: The evocative signage for the Oregon City Market.

Last week, a Bridgetown Bites reader told me that a new business called the Oregon City Market is opening in the Historic Waterfront District in downtown Oregon City. Their soft opening was yesterday, Tuesday, March 3, there’s a ribbon-cutting today, and they are doing a grand opening celebration this weekend, from Friday March 6 to Sunday March 8.

1. Novel Book Bar Is Open in Northwest Portland

A relatively new spot called Novel Book Bar has opened in Old Town Chinatown in the former Mingle Lounge space. First opening their doors last December, they offer a chill vibe in a space where you can have something to drink, eat, and relax by yourself or with friends. I had a chance to stop by and check it out, and was able to chat with Novel Book Bar’s Rolando Mingledoff—here’s what I learned.