Skip to main content

Recap: The Manual Meet Up Portland

On April 9th, we had our second Manual Meet Up, this time in our Portland, Oregon HQ. From 6-9 pm we welcomed 40 guys and gals into our brand new entertaining space on the 10th floor of the ‘Big Pink’ in downtown Portland.

As the sun set, the guests witnessed spectacular views of the city while they sipped wine from local urban winery, Seven Bridges. Local chocolatiers Casabonne Confections offered up a variety of treats as well as custom bourbon truffles made with Bullet Bourbon. Olympic Provisions was also on hand with mounds of Portland’s finest charcuterie and cheese to feast on.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Heimplanet  sent us one of their epic new ‘The Cave’ inflatable tents for one helluva conversation piece. Of course as the wine flowed more people crept in to experience the tent, although our concrete floors aren’t as conducive for pow wows as creek side moss.

Some of the brands that swung by included:

  • Chester Wallace
  • Marine Layer
  • Tanner Goods
  • Kiriko
  • Index PDX
  • Colliers
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Keep up with our hashtag #TheManualMeetup to hear about the next Meet Up destination!

Cator Sparks
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Cator Sparks was the Editor-in-Chief of The Manual from its launch in 2012 until 2018. Previously, Cator was covering…
‘Squid Game’ debuts a new Google-based game ahead of season 2
The game replicates the 'red light, green light' game from the first season
Squid Game Season 2 Teaser

The second season of Netflix's Squid Game, which was a massive phenomenon following its first season, is finally almost here. Now, ahead of the second season's release on Dec. 26, Googling Squid Game will get you a fun way to pass a few minutes.

Netflix partnered with Google on the game, which will appear if you tap the brown envelope that appears on the bottom of the screen. The game is a replication of the "red light, green light" came from the show's first season. By pressing the blue circles, you advance six players in pink suits while Young-Hee's head is turned. Your players must stop before she turns around, and if they don't one of them will be eliminated. Thankfully, they don't get brutally shot down and left to lay there like they do on the show.

Read more
Reacher season 3: Everything we know so far
Get up to date on Reacher season 3
Alan Ritchson in Reacher

The era of Jack Ryan may be over, but Reacher is carrying on as one of the best shows on Amazon Prime Video. This action thriller is based on Lee Child's Jack Reacher novels, which previously featured Tom Cruise in the leading role of two different movies. But for Prime Video, Alan Ritchson has stepped into the role of Jack Reacher, a former member of the U.S. Army Military Police Corps who drifts from town to town and takes justice into his own hands when the local law enforcement isn't enough. While it hasn't been nominated for any Emmy Awards yet, Reacher has seen some recognition at the Saturn Awards with a nomination for Best Streaming Action & Adventure Series.

Prime Video didn't waste any time before renewing Reacher for a third season last year. And while new episodes are still several months away, we're sharing everything we know about Reacher season 3.
Which Reacher novel will season 3 be based on?

Read more
The best returning TV shows of 2025: What to watch in the new year
The return of Stranger Things at long last highlights the year ahead
The cast of Severance

Remember when you were growing up and could expect your favorite TV series to start a new season every September? Yeah, that's not happening often anymore. The schedule release is erratic and many shows take at least two years to come out with new episodes. With a new year comes the opportunity to run through the calendar and see which personal favorite is finally returning from hiatus.

The returning TV shows of 2025 include the second season of genre-specific series such as The Last of Us and Andor. Other popular shows that came out in 2024 and will return in 2025 are Hacks and The Bear. Perhaps the biggest returning program, though, is Netflix's Stranger Things, which hasn't seen new episodes since the summer of 2022. These are the best returning TV shows of 2025.

Read more