A real letter from me.
Something I discovered, laughed at, or couldn't shake off. Not a press release wearing a friendly sweater.
✳ PNW PASSPORT · A WEEKLY LETTER FROM LARIE
THE
THE
MONDAY
DETOUR.
Your Monday coffee deserves better company than another email about a sale.
Every week, I'll tell you what made me laugh, what I can't stop thinking about, and my TOP FIVE things to do across Oregon and Washington. Plus a little adventure I've already helped plan for you.
FREE TO READ · MADE FOR CURIOUS NORTHWEST HUMANS
5 real things to do1 little detour to steal0 recycled Instagram roundups
WHY I STARTED THIS LITTLE THING
I already have a website. Why on earth am I emailing you?
Because sometimes the most interesting part of a story is the part that doesn't fit in the article.
Maybe someone answers one question and sends me down a rabbit hole I wasn't expecting. Maybe a person I've been researching reminds me why I love living here. Or maybe I discover Oregon once thought dynamite was an appropriate solution to a dead whale. (I have follow-up questions.)
I want a place to tell you about those discoveries the way I'd tell a friend across the table. And while I've got you, I'd rather send you five genuinely good plans for the week than leave you staring at the weather app trying to decide whether to put on shoes.
The website has the full stories and practical details. The Monday Detour is our little conversation in between. I bring the curiosities. You bring the coffee. And I really hope you'll tell me what I've missed.
WHAT YOU ACTUALLY GET
01 / HELLO, NORTHWEST
02 / THE TOP FIVE
03 / FROM THE NOTEBOOK
04 / STEAL THIS DETOUR
05 / THE JUNK DRAWER
06 / YOUR TURN
Six reasons to be happy it's Monday.
A useful three-minute read you can enjoy without clicking a single link. Although I'm fairly confident I'll convince you to leave the house.
Your whole week, rescued.
Five handpicked things to do Monday–Sunday. The where, when, cost, and why you'd care. At least one free idea.
What didn't make the article.
An extra reporting detail, an unused source insight, or the question that sent us digging further. Only when it's real and verified.
An adventure without the homework.
One ready-to-borrow little outing. Where to start, what to do next, and useful notes so the day doesn't unravel.
The weird thing we're chasing.
Our unfinished mysteries and curious leads. We tell you what's known, what's not, and why I can't let it go.
You're part of the newsroom.
One question worth answering. Tell me about your town's oddball traditions, fascinating neighbors, and forgotten stories.
A LITTLE TASTE · OUR VERY FIRST MONDAY LETTER
Well, hello there, Northwest! Happy Monday!
Look what we did. We started a newsletter.
Our very first one, which is mildly hilarious coming from a woman who can delete seventeen emails before her coffee is even finished brewing.
But I've wanted to do this for a while. The more time I spend digging around Oregon and Washington, the more I realize how many wonderful stories are sitting right under our noses.
Read a little more of the opening
Some are so ridiculous I have to double-check that nobody's pulling my leg. Others introduce me to people whose stories stay with me long after I've closed my laptop.
And I don't always have enough room to tell you everything.
That's why we're here.
I wanted a little place where I could bring you along for the discoveries. The funny ones, the fascinating ones, and occasionally the ones that leave me staring at my computer thinking about life.
For example, Oregon once tried to get rid of a dead whale using dynamite.
Yes, actual highway officials. Yes, actual dynamite. There is real news footage. And Florence still commemorates the whole spectacular decision decades later. I LOVE that.
The 1970 history from Oregon Encyclopedia ↗ · Florence's commemoration ↗
And that's only one rabbit hole. I want you to help me find the next one.
Love,
Larie ❤️
This is a sample from our first Monday welcome—not a finished November 9 event list. Actual editions have fresh reporting, a verified Top Five and a usable detour.
DON'T WAIT UNTIL MONDAY
There's already plenty to get into.
The letter is an extra treat. The reporting, unusual plans and places to explore are all here for you right now.
Need an actual plan?
Start with the live Weird Weekend Desk. Real dates, official links, and options that don't require selling a kidney to get out of the house.
See what's on this weekend ↗Here for the strange stories?
Meet Ryan GosWING, hear what the Klamath's river restoration means to the people fighting for it, and follow whatever rabbit hole gets you next.
Explore our original reporting ↗Want a tiny adventure?
Try the free PNW Passport Challenge: twelve strange stops across Oregon and Washington, with no creepy location tracking.
Collect your first stamp ↗Curious about how we got here? Read our illustrated Friday pilot or browse the letters archive.
✳ FREE · WEEKLY · PERSONAL · VERY PNW
I'd love to have you along.
Come for the five plans. Stay for the fascinating people, questionable local decisions, and stories I can't stop thinking about. Then hit reply and tell me what your town is hiding.