Mission Theater

Discover the rich history of Oregon's original theater pub on our Mission Theater History & Art Tour! Hear all the dramatic details, from our Swedish Mission days to hosting Portland's longshoremen union during one of the largest dockworkers strikes in the country to the playhouse whose short-lived residency may or may not have had something to do with "the Scottish Play," and beyond!

Tour will take about 60-75 minutes; entrance is at the main doors of Mission Theater (1624 NW Glisan St, Portland, OR 97209). Doors open approximately 15 mins before the tour starts, and entry may not be guaranteed after 1pm.

Please note: Tour may include stairs and standing for extended periods of time.

Passport holders: This tour is eligible for the Mission Theater location stamp and an Attend a History Sponsored Event experience stamp.

For private group tours, contact [email protected]

Tuesday, November 3 6pm doors, 7pm presentation All ages welcome at Mission Theater

We've all heard the phrase, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Turns out, nature seems to agree! From the fossil record to the animals living around us today, evolution has a funny habit of coming up with the same solutions again and again. Different animals can end up looking remarkably alike and sometimes even behaving alike despite evolving completely independently. This fascinating phenomenon is called convergent evolution.

In this fun and fascinating pub talk, paleontologist Nico Spadafora will take you on a journey through the weird, wonderful, and oddly repetitive world of convergent evolution. We'll explore how it happens, why evolution keeps repeating itself, and what these evolutionary "reruns" can tell us about the incredible diversity of life on Earth.

Science Pubs are a casual lecture series located in fun venues across the region, recommended for ages 10 and over.

Science Pub Mission Theater is a monthly event that is open to anyone and everyone. No scientific background required. Just bring your curiosity, sense of humor, and appetite for food, drinks and knowledge! For more information or to sign up for our mailing list, email: [email protected].

Discover the rich history of Oregon's original theater pub on our Mission Theater History & Art Tour! Hear all the dramatic details, from our Swedish Mission days to hosting Portland's longshoremen union during one of the largest dockworkers strikes in the country to the playhouse whose short-lived residency may or may not have had something to do with "the Scottish Play," and beyond!

Tour will take about 60-75 minutes; entrance is at the main doors of Mission Theater (1624 NW Glisan St, Portland, OR 97209). Doors open approximately 15 mins before the tour starts, and entry may not be guaranteed after 1pm.

Please note: Tour may include stairs and standing for extended periods of time.

Passport holders: This tour is eligible for the Mission Theater location stamp and an Attend a History Sponsored Event experience stamp.

For private group tours, contact [email protected]

Discover the rich history of Oregon's original theater pub on our Mission Theater History & Art Tour! Hear all the dramatic details, from our Swedish Mission days to hosting Portland's longshoremen union during one of the largest dockworkers strikes in the country to the playhouse whose short-lived residency may or may not have had something to do with "the Scottish Play," and beyond!

Tour will take about 60-75 minutes; entrance is at the main doors of Mission Theater (1624 NW Glisan St, Portland, OR 97209). Doors open approximately 15 mins before the tour starts, and entry may not be guaranteed after 1pm.

Please note: Tour may include stairs and standing for extended periods of time.

Passport holders: This tour is eligible for the Mission Theater location stamp and an Attend a History Sponsored Event experience stamp.

For private group tours, contact [email protected]

Join us for an evening of storytelling, science, and community exploration in partnership with the Oregon Mycological Society. This special edition of Forest Pub dives into the fascinating world of fungi and their essential role in forest ecosystems-from decomposition and soil health to the hidden underground networks that connect trees and support forest resilience. Guests will hear from local mycology experts, learn how mushrooms shape forest ecology and climate health, and discover how fungi support both natural systems and human understanding of the forest. As always, Forest Pub blends science with storytelling in a relaxed, social setting designed to spark curiosity and conversation over a shared love of forests.

Join us for a pint & learn 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.

Discover the rich history of Oregon's original theater pub on our Mission Theater History & Art Tour! Hear all the dramatic details, from our Swedish Mission days to hosting Portland's longshoremen union during one of the largest dockworkers strikes in the country to the playhouse whose short-lived residency may or may not have had something to do with "the Scottish Play," and beyond!

Tour will take about 60-75 minutes; entrance is at the main doors of Mission Theater (1624 NW Glisan St, Portland, OR 97209). Doors open approximately 15 mins before the tour starts, and entry may not be guaranteed after 1pm.

Please note: Tour may include stairs and standing for extended periods of time.

Passport holders: This tour is eligible for the Mission Theater location stamp and an Attend a History Sponsored Event experience stamp.

For private group tours, contact [email protected]

Discover the rich history of Oregon's original theater pub on our Mission Theater History & Art Tour! Hear all the dramatic details, from our Swedish Mission days to hosting Portland's longshoremen union during one of the largest dockworkers strikes in the country to the playhouse whose short-lived residency may or may not have had something to do with "the Scottish Play," and beyond!

Tour will take about 60-75 minutes; entrance is at the main doors of Mission Theater (1624 NW Glisan St, Portland, OR 97209). Doors open approximately 15 mins before the tour starts, and entry may not be guaranteed after 1pm.

Please note: Tour may include stairs and standing for extended periods of time.

Passport holders: This tour is eligible for the Mission Theater location stamp and an Attend a History Sponsored Event experience stamp.

For private group tours, contact [email protected]

On November 17, Portland will recognize its first annual day honoring the life and legacy of Will Vinton as proclaimed by Mayor Keith Wilson.

The event celebrating this momentous occasion will take place two days prior on Sunday, November 15, 2026, at McMenamins Mission Theater. This event is free and open to the public.

We will be displaying pioneering stop motion equipment from Will Vinton Studios, screening his award winning short films, and hearing about his impact on the world from friends, family, and fans.

About Will Vinton

Will Vinton was an award winning stop motion animator and filmmaker who called Oregon home. He laid the groundwork for Portland's animation scene, and today the city is widely considered to be the stop-motion capital of the world.

Vinton first gained notoriety in 1975 when his short film Closed Mondays won an Academy Award, the first film produced in Portland to do so. From there, Vinton opened the doors of his stop motion animation studio in the heart of Portland’s Nob Hill district. He would go on to produce numerous short films, television series, music videos, commercials, and special effects which are still influential today; such as The Little Prince (1979), Moonlighting (1987), Disney’s Return to Oz (1985), The PJs (1999 – 2001), and The California Raisins.

Later in life, Vinton branched into live action and CGI work, taught at The Art Institute of Portland, and created a musical titled The Kiss.

By the end of his career, Vinton had accumulated one Academy Award and three Primetime Emmy Awards alongside multiple nominations for both.

About MOSMA

This proclamation and event are spearheaded by MOSMA (the Museum of Stop Motion Animation). MOSMA is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 2022 by president Brian Capati. We have been collaborating with local businesses and theaters to host various programming including quarterly screenings of stop motion films at the Hollywood Theatre, community collaborative animation workshops, and speaking events with industry professionals.

We are centered around strengthening the bonds between art, community and industry in efforts to establish a permanent stop-motion museum.

MOSMA’s Mission Statement

The Museum of Stop Motion Animation is a creative nexus between local industry and the global community. Building upon Portland's unique legacy in this remarkable medium, our goal is to enrich the public’s understanding and appreciation by inviting them to peer behind the curtains of this intriguing art form.

Stop motion is a symphony of artists who contribute their gifts to create truly handmade cinema. We seek to preserve stop motion animation and promote a united passion for it, so that this wondrous art form may continue to evolve and enchant audiences.

Website: mosmapdx.org

Discover the rich history of Oregon's original theater pub on our Mission Theater History & Art Tour! Hear all the dramatic details, from our Swedish Mission days to hosting Portland's longshoremen union during one of the largest dockworkers strikes in the country to the playhouse whose short-lived residency may or may not have had something to do with "the Scottish Play," and beyond!

Tour will take about 60-75 minutes; entrance is at the main doors of Mission Theater (1624 NW Glisan St, Portland, OR 97209). Doors open approximately 15 mins before the tour starts, and entry may not be guaranteed after 1pm.

Please note: Tour may include stairs and standing for extended periods of time.

Passport holders: This tour is eligible for the Mission Theater location stamp and an Attend a History Sponsored Event experience stamp.

For private group tours, contact [email protected]

Discover the rich history of Oregon's original theater pub on our Mission Theater History & Art Tour! Hear all the dramatic details, from our Swedish Mission days to hosting Portland's longshoremen union during one of the largest dockworkers strikes in the country to the playhouse whose short-lived residency may or may not have had something to do with "the Scottish Play," and beyond!

Tour will take about 60-75 minutes; entrance is at the main doors of Mission Theater (1624 NW Glisan St, Portland, OR 97209). Doors open approximately 15 mins before the tour starts, and entry may not be guaranteed after 1pm.

Please note: Tour may include stairs and standing for extended periods of time.

Passport holders: This tour is eligible for the Mission Theater location stamp and an Attend a History Sponsored Event experience stamp.

For private group tours, contact [email protected]

Discover the rich history of Oregon's original theater pub on our Mission Theater History & Art Tour! Hear all the dramatic details, from our Swedish Mission days to hosting Portland's longshoremen union during one of the largest dockworkers strikes in the country to the playhouse whose short-lived residency may or may not have had something to do with "the Scottish Play," and beyond!

Tour will take about 60-75 minutes; entrance is at the main doors of Mission Theater (1624 NW Glisan St, Portland, OR 97209). Doors open approximately 15 mins before the tour starts, and entry may not be guaranteed after 1pm.

Please note: Tour may include stairs and standing for extended periods of time.

Passport holders: This tour is eligible for the Mission Theater location stamp and an Attend a History Sponsored Event experience stamp.

For private group tours, contact [email protected]

Portland's working river carries many stories - of industry, contamination, community, survival, restoration, and responsibility. The Portland Harbor Superfund cleanup is not only a technical process; it is also a public health, environmental justice, and accountability issue that will shape the future of the Willamette River for generations.

In this talk, Portland Harbor Community Coalition will help audiences understand what is at stake in the cleanup, how decisions about contaminated sediment, restoration, disposal, access, and habitat affect people and place, and why community and Tribal voices must be centered in decisions about the river's future. Through images, stories, and practical examples, this presentation will invite people to ask: Who speaks for the river - and how do we listen?

Science Pubs are a casual lecture series located in fun venues across the region, recommended for ages 10 and over.

Science Pub Mission Theater is a monthly event that is open to anyone and everyone. No scientific background required. Just bring your curiosity, sense of humor, and appetite for food, drinks and knowledge! For more information or to sign up for our mailing list, email: [email protected].

Who will claim the crown and walk away with the 2025 Demolicious Championship Belt?

After its epic relaunch in 2024, Demolicious has quickly become the stage for early-stage founders to show off their boldest ideas and biggest dreams. Every month at the UpStart Collective, these fearless founders have pitched in front of a packed, supportive crowd-honing their storytelling skills, building buzz, and giving us all a glimpse at the next wave of job-creating, game-changing companies.

Now it all comes down to this: the Championship Showdown! We're bringing back all the monthly winners for a high-energy, founder-versus-founder battle. You'll hear the pitches, cheer them on, and-most importantly-you'll decide who takes home the belt, the bragging rights, and cold, hard (non-dilutive!) prize money.

• Be part of the celebration.
• Be part of the energy.
• Be part of the story before these startups take off.

Join us for a night of competition, community, and future-shaping innovation at Demolicious 2025!

All proceeds from net ticket sales will go to the winner of this year's Demolicious: Champion of Champions