Portland in the News: Best Smashburger, Kicking Rock, Fall Foliage & More | September 25, 2025

IMAGE: ARTYOORAN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

There are many smashburgers to be had around Portland but food writer Michael Zusman has named a new cart’s smashie supreme. 

Meanwhile, a Hillsdale thrift shop owner has garnered thousands of views on Instagram. The reason? Every day he kicks a rock, aptly named Christosphere, with the goal of turning it into a perfect sphere.

And that chill in the air means fall foliage season is incoming. Learn the best spots in PDX for leaf peeping.

Here’s a roundup of the goings-on in Portland this week:

• Here Is Oregon: This new cart holds Portland’s smashburger championship
• Travel & Leisure: Best coffee cities in the USA
• OPB: Portland thrift shop goes viral with a piece of granite
• Portland.gov: Portland has 15% more street trees than in previous years
• Here Is Oregon: How one of Oregon’s smallest cities is moving past its wild infamous history
• NW Travel Mag: 4 colorful wine country drives
• OPB: Beyond the beats: A short history of Portland hip-hop
• KOIN: Swan Island Dahlias festival nears its end as autumn approaches
• Portland Monthly: Where to see fall foliage