Forest Pub

Join us for a pint and learn all about our forests!

Step into the world of our forests at Forest Pub, a monthly program brought to you in partnership with McMenamins History at the Mission Theater in NW Portland. Every second Monday, we bring in dynamic guest speakers to explore how forests touch every part of our lives — from the natural wonders we depend on to the creativity, culture, and cutting-edge solutions they inspire. Whether it’s science, stories, or the latest breakthroughs in innovations, Forest Pub connects the dots between our forests and our world. 🌲🍻

  • 🕕 Doors open at 6:00 pm
  • 🎤 Program starts at 7:00 pm
  • 🎟️ Tickets are on a sliding scale – $10-20
  • 📍 Location: Mission Theater 1624 NW Glisan St, Portland, OR 97209

Upcoming Forest Pubs

May 12 at 7:00 pm: Reading Tree Rings with the OSU Tree Ring Lab

  • What can the rings of trees tell us? These slices of history tell us about the ecological and anthropological history the tree and forest faced: wildfires, droughts, floods, infestations, growth, and damage. Our friends from the Oregon State University’s Tree Ring Lab and Traditional Ecological Knowledge Lab will teach us how to read tree rings. 
  • Purchase tickets here.

June 9 at 7:00 pm: Stewarding Forest Park: How the Largest Urban Park Came to Be

  • Forest Park is more than just trees and trails—it’s a living, breathing biodiversity sanctuary that has relied on community care for generations to come. Join the Forest Park Conservancy and local experts for a conversation about the park’s origins, the efforts to preserve public access, and how that legacy continues to shape stewardship today.
  • TICKETS TO COME

Forest Pubs that are currently brewing: 

  • July 14
  • August 11
  • September 8
  • October 13
  • November 10
  • December 8

Past Forest Pubs

February 10 at 7:00 pm: Indigenous Land Management in the Willamette Valley with speaker David Lewis

  • Reconstructing traditional environments and lifeways in the Pacific Northwest, David G. Lewis, PhD, will share his research about tribal ways of knowing and managing the valleys and forests of the Willamette. His newest book will be available to purchase, Tribal Histories of the Willamette Valley.

March 10 at 7:00 pm: PDX Airport & Mass Timber

  • Join our friends from the Port of Portland and project partners to hear stories behind the design, construction, and sourcing of the new main terminal at Portland International Airport. Utilizing Mass Timber and locally sourced timber, PDX has gained international recognition for its innovation and first-of-its-kind approach to a large-scale civic project. 

April 14 at 7:00 pm: Walking Trees with All Science No Fiction and the Oregon Field Guide by OPB

  • Our forests are walking, but should they be running? Join us for an evening exploring shifting forests and the migration of tree species due to climate change. OPB’s All Science No Fiction host Jes Burns will moderate a panel discussion with leading experts and scientists in these cutting-edge studies.