I’m Jake Newman. The Portland Logbook is my love letter to this city: the food worth hunting down, the history that refuses to die, the corners you only find if you’re paying attention.

Drag Me to Brunch: Why Portland Still Chooses Marcy’s

A few weeks ago I asked readers where they’d drag me to brunch in Portland. Hot Suppa grabbed first, Bayside was close behind, and Dutch’s, Artemisia, and Bayou Kitchen all showed up strong. But when I opened the “Other” votes, one name came up again and again: Marcy’s Diner.

So I went.

Walking in hit me like a time warp. The place smelled like butter and fresh coffee and I was instantly back in a booth with my grandmother, the kind of memory that sneaks up and floors you. Nostalgia is powerful, and Marcy’s has it baked into the walls.

I ordered corned beef hash with eggs and hashbrowns. Our table went all in: pancakes, omelets, sandwiches. When it all landed, it felt like a family meal: plates colliding, forks reaching, everyone leaning in. The server ran the room with sharp efficiency, and the whole place hummed with the kind of chaos diners are built on.

A lot of friends tell me Marcy’s isn’t competing with anyone. It just is. In a city full of polished brunch menus and curated playlists, Marcy’s keeps Portland grounded. It feeds you, moves on to the next order, and stays standing no matter what new spot opens down the block.

I feel like I need to suck it up and start a brunch quest. The burger quest is still alive, just on pause while my doctor eases me off beef fat. For now, the pancakes and hashbrowns are carrying the weight.

You told me where to go, I listened, and this is what I found: a diner that doesn’t need hype to matter. If you want to understand why people fall in love with Portland, start here, with chipped mugs, sizzling hash, and a meal that feels like home.

More mugs, more hash, more Marcy’s → Instagram

Congress Square Park Gets a Refresh

Congress Square Park is about to get a new look. Walkways are being smoothed, lighting brightened, benches added, and new trees planted. Small changes that together will make the square feel cared for instead of overlooked.

The park has always been a crossroads. People cut through on their way to work, stop for coffee, catch a busker playing jazz, or wander a market set up in the square. Sometimes it feels rough around the edges, but that is part of what makes it Portland. It is alive, layered, and never just one thing.

The redesign aims to honor that spirit. ADA ramps and crosswalks will make it easier to move through. New seating and shade will give people a reason to stay. Markets, music, and art will continue to bring energy and color into the heart of downtown.

When the work is done, Congress Square will not just be another corner of the city. It will be Portland’s front porch, a place to linger, watch, and be part of the rhythm of life that makes this city worth loving.

What should Congress Square really be about?

🐾 Adoptable Buddies of the Week! 🐾

🐶 Snax – almost 2 years, 63 lbs
Goofy, toy-obsessed pup who lives for fetch and squeaky things. Strong and playful, best with kids 8+. Dog meets required, cat history unknown.

🐱 Moose – 8 years
Shy at first but warms up once he trusts you. Chill black-and-white gentleman looking for a calm home. Cat and kid intros recommended.

🐭 Mantis – 5 months
Tiny, timid, and solo by design. Needs patience and TLC to come out of his shell. No other mice in the house.

🐕 Interested? Check them out here