Journalist. Cohost of @wecantprintthis. As seen in Merriam-Webster. 🇮🇪🇺🇸
Articles by Fiona McCann
Love & Other Liabilities by Fiona McCann
Fiona McCann, author of Love & Other Liabilities asks: Is there a right or a wrong way to become a writer? There are easier and harder ways, for sure! Ways that get you there faster, with less painful detours. I certainly wish I’d known sooner that I wanted to be a writer. That I could have been one of those people who took Literature or English in college, joined a writing group, learned about story structure and found my writing heroes and ‘voice’ early on. I had always enjoyed writing as a kid.
Green Mortgages » Civvy Street Magazine
Making the journey from Military accommodation to purchasing a home will normally require a mortgage, of which there is an abundance to choose from. However, relatively new ‘green mortgages’, or energy-efficient mortgages (EEMs), incentivise homeowners to purchase energy-efficient homes or make eco-friendly upgrades to existing properties. By Fiona McCann What is a green mortgage?
New Build Homes: An Option for Service-leavers? » Civvy Street Magazine
Purchasing a new build home can be a fantastic choice for many reasons. By Fiona McCann Warranty and insurance One of the best features of purchasing a new build home is the included warranty and insurance. All new build homes should come with this protection, so check before proceeding. The largest provider, the National House Building Council (NHBC), provides a 10-year warranty against structural defects and workmanship, giving you peace of mind.
Unlocking Homeownership - Is shared ownership the solution? » Civvy Street Magazine
For those about to deploy on their post-Military journey or are still Serving, shared ownership can present a viable pathway to home ownership. By Fiona McCann What is Shared ownership? Introduced in the 1980s, shared ownership encompasses over 1% of all households in England. It’s a government initiative in England with different rules on shared ownership in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The scheme enables individuals to purchase a share of a property, while renting the remainder.
A quick guide stamp duty » Civvy Street Magazine
As a Service-leaver, you have various accommodation route cards you can consider, one of which may be purchasing a home. This decision will inevitably involve grappling with Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT), more commonly referred to as ‘stamp duty’. By Fiona McCann Here, we explain the finer details of SDLT and how this will impact your property purchase. What is SDLT? SDLT is a tax paid on property and land purchases. The amount varies based on the property’s value.
Earth Care and Recovery in Kerri ní Dochartaigh’s Thin Places (2021)
IdiomacatalàDeutschEnglishespañoleuskarafrançaisgalegoitalianoportuguêsromână
A quick guide to mortgages » Civvy Street Magazine
Navigating the path to homeownership can lead you through a patchwork landscape of potential mortgage options, but what do the different types mean to homeowners? By Fiona McCann Understanding the different types of mortgages can empower you to make the right decision. Here, we investigate each option… Fixed rate mortgages Fixed rate mortgages, a UK favourite, ensure a steady interest rate for several years, usually two, three, five, or 10, allowing the homeowner to budget effectively every month.
Is it time to buy a home?
In a landscape marked by escalating mortgage interest rates and the relentless squeeze on the cost of living, potential buyers have been hesitant to make property purchases over the last year. So, is this a wise strategy, or could turbulent times present an opportunity to take the plunge? By Fiona McCann Here, we discuss if it’s time to purchase a home.
Northern Irish Writing After the Troubles. Intimacies, Affects, Pleasures (Caroline Magennis, 2021)
IdiomacatalàDeutschEnglishespañoleuskarafrançaisgalegoitalianoportuguêsromână
Portland Irish Pubs for St. Patrick's Day, or Any Day
Looking to belly up to a counter for a proper pint of Guinness, Smithwick's, or Harp? Portland is not the most Irish city in the US by any measure, so don't expect to walk in on a scene out of The Banshees of Inisherin. We're not the most religious city, either, which helps explain why the Pharmacy pub in Northwest is opting to honor St. Patrick Swayze on March 17 instead.
Light a Fire Nonprofit Awards: Civil Rights Advocate Valerie Whittlesey
In 1992, Oregon voters were asked to weigh in on ballot Measure 9, which would have required that all levels of government, including schools, recognize homosexuality as “abnormal, wrong, unnatural and perverse.” But the measure’s supporters hadn’t reckoned with Valerie Whittlesey, a diminutive lesbian who took on its chief sponsor, the Oregon Citizens Alliance, with characteristic fearlessness.
Family Secrets: Lan Samantha Chang & Silvia Moreno-Garcia
In these new novels exploring the complications of family relationships, classics are reimagined and reinvigorated. Moderated by Fiona McCann, editor-in-chief of Portland Monthly In The Family Chao, Lan Samantha Chang returns with “a gorgeous and gripping literary mystery” that explores “family, betrayal, passion, race, culture and the American Dream” (Jean Kwok).
New COVID Boosters Are Arriving in Oregon
Oregonians could get the newly approved bivalent COVID boosters as early as next week, the Oregon Health Authority has said. The new boosters were approved by the FDA on Wednesday for both Moderna and Pfizer, both of which are aimed at the original COVID strain and the new BA.5 and BA.4 omicron variants that have become dominant in the country.
A Celebration of Public Parks in Portland, Oregon
Growing up in New York City, not far from an entrance to Central Park, my parents dutifully trundled me to the playground at 95th Street. My very first concert was the B-52s on the Great Lawn on Earth Day, 1990 and when it snowed, my friends and I went sledding at Cedar Hill, off 75th Street and 5th Avenue. And still, I always felt some distance between me and Central Park.
Worried About Monkeypox in Oregon? Here's What We Know Right Now
Just when you might have been allowing yourself a momentary exhale after two plus pandemic years, news breaks of a new disease: turns out we’re now also in the middle of a global resurgence of monkeypox, an exceedingly rare disease that tends to begin with fever, headaches, and swollen lymph nodes, after which patients develop a rash.
Portland Monthly Editor in Chief Shares Her Annual Beach Tradition
B ack in my OG country, there’s a long tradition of jumping in the sea in the depths of winter: from the Forty Foot Christmas Day swim to sundry ring-in-the-new-year leaps into major shrink-your-appendages temperatures. But given my (entirely logical) dislike of the cold, I never joined in.
How Is Oregon Working to Prevent Mass Shootings?
In the past three weeks alone, three mass shootings have rocked the country—in Buffalo, in Uvalde, in Tulsa—reigniting a debate about gun laws and pushing many Oregonians to look more closely at our state’s history of mass shootings and pay special attention to our progres—or lack thereof—on gun safety.
Portland Real Estate Guide 2022: Home Sales, Agents, Neighhorhoods
|
Portland’s housing market is about as tight as it has ever been, and real estate agents are swarming. We asked agents—some of them familiar faces—why they do it. Plus, a look at three big projects that could shape the future and a handy-dandy guide to every neighborhood in the city, with data on home prices, square footage, and more. In This Feature: In a perpetually overheating market, local real estate agents give us the scoop on what it takes to keep up the hustle and last in the industry.
By Melissa Dalton Verified, Cami Hughes, Fiona McCann, Karly Quadros Verified, Conner Reed Verified, Margaret Seiler Verified
|
Portland Monthly (Oregon)
Verified
This Portland Quilter Has Become a TikTok Sensation
Chris Marchini has been sewing since he was 8 years old. It wasn’t until 2018, however, that he began quilting in earnest. Soon he was designing his own, starting with a monstera leaf image (pictured left) for his husband. Then came the March 2020 shutdowns and a renaissance for home-based hobbies, including sewing. As he fell further into quilting, Marchini was sharing his work with a limited audience on Instagram for a few years before trying his hand at TikTok. That’s when things exploded.
Oregon’s Long-Awaited Digital Vaccine Card is Finally Here
Oregon’s digital proof-of-vaccination card is finally here, about two months behind its originally scheduled roll out. The initiative, which cost $2.45 million to develop, was launched on Monday, April 25 via an announcement on the Oregon Health Authority's Twitter feed. This voluntary card works with a QR code, available in 13 languages, that can be scanned from a phone.
Lottery Opens for ‘Hamilton’ Tickets in Portland
If you watched, helpless, as the pricey tickets to Portland’s upcoming Hamilton production got snapped up ($59 to $299 a pop, which may be a price you’re not willing to pay), then we have good news for you: 40 tickets to each show are available via lottery for $10 each, and the first lottery opens tomorrow, April 1, at 10 a.m. for tickets to performances from April 13–16. This is your shot to nab a ticket to the mega-successful Lin-Manuel Miranda–penned musical for a smidge more than a song.
Portland Monthly Editor in Chief Reflects on Spring 2022
E ven with all that’s happened over the past few months on top of the past two years, it’s hard not to feel hopeful in Portland in spring. All over town there is budding and blooming, trees are pushing out fresh canopies, tulip neons are popping in neighborhood yards, and the lengthening days remind us that summer will come again. This is the perennial Portland promise, writ large in glimpses of Mount Hood against a blue backdrop, in reddening rhubarb and magnolia buds.
Meet Portland’s Most Beloved Bookseller
If you’ve ever ventured into the shelf-bowing wonderland Green Bean Books at NE Alberta and 16th, chances are you’ve been helped by Earl Dizon, whose ace recommendations—he can pluck a title for anyone from a dinosaur-obsessed 5-year-old to a fantasy-forward tween—have made him a customer favorite and an essential pandemic companion during the long, long months of remote schooling.
Portland’s Best Lunches 2022: Sandwiches, Food Carts, Restaurants & More
Irecently came across a Portland Monthly guide with “8 Power Lunch Destinations” in the headline.The pitch went like this: “Hosting foreign executives? Taking the team out for martinis? Just want to wear a suit? We’ve got a crisp-linen tablecloth for you.” I felt like an archaeologist pondering the remains of a forgotten civilization. What strange creatures dressed up for lunch? Six of those places are gone, among them Imperial, Headwaters, and Little Bird.
This Northeast Alberta Pub is the Most Irish Place in Portland
T.C. O'Leary's is legit Irish, including the Guinness on nitro There’s a cliché about Irish people abroad: when they meet by chance, they invariably know each other in some form or other/are related/are friends with the same lad from Ballingarry. Much as I might scoff at this—and believe me, I really, really do—it is pretty much what happened when Tom O’Leary crossed my path.
Visit These Beauty Spots in Portland for Your Post-Mask Glow-Up
Saturday begins a brave new mask optional world in Oregon—but is the lower half of your face ready? After all, many of us have spent almost all of the last two years covering up chin-to-nose, ear-to-ear. That means any unwanted hair growth, acne, any wrinkles or open pores have been dutifully—mercifully!—out of sight. That's all about to change, however, and local aestheticians say that there’s been a run on their services in recent weeks, as many prepare to unmask.
Dolly Parton and James Patterson Are Coming to Powell's-Virtually
America may be a divided nation, but surely we can all agree on one thing: Dolly Parton can do no wrong.
Last-Minute Local Valentine’s Day Gifts for Your Love
An "I love you more" mug from Make Good Choices Obviously, you've spent the whole year finding ways to express your love to the object of your affection—bestie or boo or, frankly, your wonderful self. But this declared day of love comes upon us all, no matter how we resist it, and even the most cynical among us admit that it's not a bad thing to get a little "I love you" in material form on the 14th.
5 Reasons Bud Clark Was Portland’s Most Unforgettable Mayor
In the half-century, only two people have served two full terms as Portland's mayor (Ted Wheeler, dude, you've still got a ways to go). One was three-termer Vera Katz, a savvy vet of the legislature who was Oregon's Speaker of the House before she got to city hall. The other was a bicycling bar owner with no prior political experience and a "whoop, whoop" greeting who went by the nickname Bud. John Elwood "Bud" Clark died Tuesday from congestive heart failure, at age 90.
Where to Get a COVID-19 Test in Portland
Oregon’s COVID numbers have been on a steep rise this month, which means the need for testing has also increased dramatically. But with demand outpacing supply, Portlanders are finding it increasingly challenging to book appointments at the city’s testing sites, with some showing no available appointments and others booked out for several all-important days. As for at-home rapid antigen tests? They’re harder to lay your hands on than a roll of toilet paper was in spring 2020.
Feel like Watching the Oregon State Football Stadium Implode?
It's been that kind of start to the year where watching something blow up might just be the catharsis you need. In a state with a grand history of staged booms—see the exploding whale for more—Oregon State University joined the ranks this morning with the implosion of the the west side of the university's Reser Stadium.
The Best Oregon Books of 2021
2021 was as good a year as any to disappear into a book. While rules changed and goalposts moved and we all adjusted to new versions of "stability" every five minutes, it was soothing to slip into worlds that anchored us in place, however briefly. Plenty of Oregon writers stepped up to the plate, offering up humor, pathos, sweeping historical fictions, intimate local ones, and even some perspective on the still-roiling pandemic that consumed so much of our focus.
Who Needs Wi-Fi? Off-Grid Can Be a Draw for Vacation Rentals
Once, when booking a getway, free Wi-Fi was as essential as hot showers. But in an age of endlessly grim news and unboundaried remote work, staying connected doesn’t seem quite so important anymore. Enter a whole new genre of Airbnbs, private retreats that not only refuse to provide the connectivity we have come to rely so heavily on, but even advertise the lack thereof as a primary selling point. And for an increasing number of Oregonians, going off-grid is where the vacation begins.
Cigars to Light Bulbs, We Love These Portland Retail Classics
Over the past two years, a lot of our shopping standbys closed their doors, but many of our favorite Portland stores are still there, holding down their spaces for years—often decades—while all around them the city changes. Here are eight of our favorite places to shop local and get a little something for ourselves or someone on our gift list, from St. Johns to Sellwood. 1.
The Best Oregon-Made Movies, TV, Books, Music & Art of 2021
Photograph of Ithica Tell in Sanctuaries courtesy Intisar Abioto For a year that promised the great return of the arts, 2021 sometimes felt like an anticlimax. Vaccines arrived, things got better, we quickly learned that “better” is different from “over,” and the goalposts moved so often that it seemed we could never quite decide just how “back” we were. If that confusion is all we remember about this year, though, it will be a shame.
Welcome to Portland Monthly’s Best Restaurants Issue 2021
I know I’m not alone when I say I’ve missed breaking bread with people beyond the four walls of my home. I’ve missed the human connectivity of sharing a meal, the clink and scrape, the reach and pass, the smells from steaming plates, the tastes, the talks. It’s how we forge relationships, build community, celebrate milestones, sign deals, show love. And Portland is one of the best places I know in which to do it. Our food scene gained its national reputation for good reason.
Is Omicron in Oregon? What to Know About the Covid Variant
You most certainly have heard all the panicked talk of the newest COVID-19 variant on the block: Omicron, first identified in South Africa, famous for its myriad mutations and for sparking a stock market plummet and travel restrictions across the globe. News that the variant has already been identified in 20 states and counting—including our neighbors California and Washington—makes clear that it could be only a matter of time before Oregon is added to that list. So what do we know already?
Portland Author Juhea Kim Looks to Korea in Dazzling Debut Novel
It is not common to open a book from a Portland writer and find yourself in the mountains of Korea, at the beginning of the 20th century, tracking a tiger. But Juhea Kim is an uncommon writer, and her debut novel, Beasts of a Little Land, is a vast, ambitious saga spanning generations and geographies that couldn’t feel farther from the present-day Pacific Northwest she calls home.
Watch Portland Timbers' Dairon Asprilla Score the Goal of the Year
Dairon Asprilla's glorious moment. It’s finally happened. For anyone in Providence Park last night who had been hoping for decades to catch a live bicycle kick—you know, the one made famous by Brazilian soccer legend Pelé that even became a movie plot point in 1981’s Escape to Victory—on a pitch, any pitch, they got their wish. And it was glorious.
Quick and Easy Day Trips for Fall Fun
With our dense urban tree canopy and forests ringing the city, there's no better place than Portland to catch fall foliage. (Bring it, New England.) But on a beautiful, aimless weekend, it is the open road that calls us. And right now all kinds of fun fall activities, from getting spooky in St. Helens to apple picking near Mount Hood, are within spitting distance of the Rose City.
It's Official: New York Times Writer Nick Kristof Is Running for Governor
Kristof speaking during a Foreign Affairs symposium at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore in 2010. The Oregon governor’s race just got more interesting with the official announcement today that longtime New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristoff is running for the job. This has been coming for awhile: A few weeks ago, Kristof resigned his position at the paper to weigh a run for the highest office in his home state, albeit “very reluctantly,” per the announcement from the newspaper.
Mercy Corps CEO Tjada D’Oyen McKenna Speaks About Investigation
Tjada D’Oyen McKenna It’s been just one year since Tjada D’Oyen McKenna became the CEO of Portland-based humanitarian organization Mercy Corps. Back then, the world was six months into a global pandemic. And the nonprofit was weathering allegations of sexual abuse—and the failure to respond to them—that went all the way to the top. Her predecessor had resigned, and an investigation was underway that would prove damning.
Rose Lee
Rose is a Portland native who joined Portland Monthly in May of 2021 after completing her first year of graduate school studying Multimedia Journalism at University of Oregon. Previously, Rose spent six years living in New York state attending Ithaca College before moving to Brooklyn, NY. When she’s not admiring Portland’s best food and drink offerings behind the camera, Rose loves walking around the city, watching live music, and floral watercolor painting.
10 Unmissable Portland Urban Wineries and Tasting Rooms
Boedecker Cellars No matter how hard you squint, the low-slung, uninspiring warehouses that populate Nothwest Portland’s industrial district will not resemble the verdant rolling hills of Oregon wine country. So you’ll have to let the wine at Boedecker Cellars, perched incongruously on NW 30th Avenue, transport you instead. The pours from the husband-and-wife team effort are more than up to the task.
Where Does Abortion Access Stand in Oregon—and How Can We Move the Dial for Others?
News of a ban on abortions later than six weeks in Texas—unchallenged by the Supreme Court—has alarmed many across the US, including reproductive rights advocates in Oregon. Does this mean the end of Roe versus Wade, the landmark 1973 ruling on the right to choose an abortion? What does it mean for abortion access in our state? And what can we do to support reproductive rights across the country in the wake of this ruling?
20 Best Wines to Buy in Portland
We asked eight experts at some of our favorite wine bars and bottle shops for a pick under $25 and a special-occasion splurge. Raise your glasses to Benjamin Bryant of Bar Norman, Sami Gaston of Bar Diane, Trevor Gorham of Vino Veritas, Telina RohRer of Mom and Pop Wine Shop, Mallory Smith of 1856, Wei-en Tan of Stem Wine Bar, Neil Thompson of Park Avenue Fine Wines, and Jeff Vejr of Les Caves. 1.
What to Know About Breakthrough COVID Cases in Oregon
If you’re among the 68 percent and counting of adult Oregonians who are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you may be wondering about breakthrough cases. What does it mean for someone in this state who got fully vaccinated several months ago? How likely am I to get infected, and to infect others? And does this mean I need a booster? We looked at Oregon's data and spoke with Dawn Nolt, a professor of pediatrics at OHSU with a focus on infectious diseases, to get some answers.
A New Coalition of Portland Arts Orgs Will Require Proof of Vaccination
Nineteen of Portland’s biggest performing arts organizations have banded together to require audiences present proof of full vaccination, or in some cases, negative COVID tests, before being admitted to shows. The Oregon Symphony, the Portland Ballet, Portland Center Stage, Portland Opera, Literary Arts, and White Bird among others have formed what they are terming a “vaccine coalition” to apply to all those attending an indoor performance.
Where to Go Standup Paddleboarding Near Portland
Spend the dog days of summer with a paddle, a board, and some cool water. Paddleboarding, once the new kid on the water sports block, is nigh on taking over our waterways these days, with Oregon’s ubiquitous lakes and rivers boasting no small number of SUPers (standup paddlers) this summer. So what’s the attraction?
Back to School: Black Parents On Taking a Leap of Faith in Portland
Last February, as the push to fully reopen schools gained momentum, articles appeared in publications from New York to Baltimore to Mississippi—Black parents, by and large, were not going to send their kids back. The reasons were manifold: the disproportionate effect of COVID-19 on Black communities, lack of access to health care, racism in schools, and, overwhelmingly, a lack of trust by parents that schools could keep their kids safe.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Fiona
Contact Fiona, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack