Sammy Carlson

Oregon’s free-skiing phenom (Gravity Games title, two X Games silvers—need we go on?) hits it big this month in the local premiere (Oct 23) of the high-flying film Light the Wick. The 21-year-old Tigard native stars in the 3-D ski flick from snow-porn purveyors Teton Gravity Research. We’ll provide the chairs, Sammy; you provide the airs.

Barry Glassner

An accomplished sociology prof, Glassner ditches his post as executive vice provost for USC to become Lewis & Clark College’s new president this month. Even better, Glassner is also an amateur magician and a best-selling author. Would the good doctor kindly read us a passage or two from his recent book, The Gospel of Food?

Julie Murphy

When the Multnomah County Health Department shut this 7-year-old Oregon City girl’s lemonade stand down for failure to have a $120 temporary restaurant license, we joined in the public’s collective head shake. The county soon apologized, but we’ll still bar the doors in case some bureaucrat decides our party needs a permit.

David Bragdon

As president of the nation’s first elected regional metropolitan government—Metro—Bragdon proved nerds can win. The sustainability wonk (he once staged a photo op to shovel elephant poo for a garden program) abandoned us last month to take over New York City’s "PlaNYC," Mayor Bloomberg’s effort to grow a greener Big Apple.

Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein

Taking the national fetish for our burg to a new level, Portlandia will star and be co-written by former Sleater-Kinney guitarist Brownstein and Saturday Night Live’s Armisen. The Portland-skewering show spins off the duo’s offbeat act Thunderant (thunderant.com). Oh lord, what next—Mayor Sam: The Musical?