Meg Cotner

January 29, 2026January 28, 2026

Secret Sauna Is Social in Portland’s Montavilla Neighborhood

The Secret Sauna is behind this building.

Secret Sauna: The name is intriguing right off the bat. So what is it? It’s literally a sauna parked on the patio behind Montavilla’s Replicant Wine Bar (shared by Mudd Works Cafe in the mornings). It offers a place to relax, enjoy some drinks and food, sit around the fire pit, and have a sauna. And as of today, it is officially open.

I met with Sarah Mayo, the owner of the Secret Sauna, to learn more about the sauna and its connection to the businesses that are hosting it.

January 28, 2026January 27, 2026

The Wild Bunch 2026: Five Years Old This Year in Portland

Crowds from years past, probably the same at The Wild Bunch 2026. — Photo credit: The Wild Bunch.

The Wild Bunch 2026 is a wine fair dedicated to making wine more accessible and welcoming—and in March it celebrates its fifth year of life. It was started by Dana Frank in 2020, and has become one of the most anticipated wine events of the year. It takes place in Northwest Portland and tickets are now available. Here’s what you can expect.

January 26, 2026January 25, 2026

No Doubts Wine Bar Opens in St Johns in Portland

Cowgirls and Merfolk. Photo credit: No Doubts Wine Bar.

Back in October 2025, I made a brief mention here of the impending arrival of No Doubts Wine Bar in the St. Johns neighborhood. Recently I caught up with Hannah Doughty, one of No Doubts owners, to chat about this new project. Here’s what I learned.

January 23, 2026January 23, 2026

Small Bites: End of Wilderton, Donuts, Good Measure, and More

The end of Wilderton is a sad state of affairs. Here's their final product. We will miss them. — Wilderton during a more colorful time.

The end of Wilderton. Bummer news about this NA distiller in Hood River. They closed their tasting room in August 2025 and the distillery will close at the end of January. One of the founders, Brad Whiting, said this: “We endeavoured to find a new steward of the brand for the past several months, but alas none worked out so the brand/IP etc will be shelved in the hopes to be resurrected at some point in the future. The distillery and tasting room are now closed and decommissioned.” More details here.

January 22, 2026January 21, 2026

Restaurant AMA Will Enclose Their Rooftop Deck in Hillsboro

The roofdeck at Restaurant AMA. — The roof deck as it has been. Photo credit: Restaurant AMA.

While putting together our Valentine’s Day 2026 roundup, I learned about Restaurant AMA in Hillsboro and their sister restaurant Urban Decanter in Forest Grove. At Restaurant AMA, they’ve decided to enclose their rooftop deck and run a tiki bar of sorts up there until summer. I was curious and intrigued by this, so I connected with Jill Craig, who owns both restaurants, to learn more.