Arts & Culture

POP CULTURE

Two Portland Artists Weigh In on Beyoncé’s Lemonade

Filmmaker Melissa Lowery and photographer Intisar Abioto take a look at the art and politics of the pop queen's latest work.

05/12/2016 By Fiona McCann

Music

Andrew Bird Is Portland-Bound—and He's Bringing His Bicycle

We caught up with the Midwestern musician and songwriter to talk babies, bikes, and being direct.

05/12/2016 By Amy Martin

POMO PICKS

Top Things to Do This Weekend: May 12–15

From a St. Johns street fest with a stellar music lineup to an encore Hump screening to a rangy dance show, here's what you should be doing this weekend.

05/12/2016 By Ramona DeNies, Rebecca Jacobson, and Sylvia Randall-Muñoz

THEATER

In a New Play, a Noirish Detective Battles Anxiety—and Shady Portland Real Estate Deals

Action/Adventure's Hawthorne follows a sleuth as she traces a missing-person case through present-day Portland.

05/12/2016 By Rebecca Jacobson

FILM FESTIVAL

Five Shorts You Must See at the Northwest Animation Festival

The annual fest returns with a smorgasbord of international shorts and themed screenings. We’ve picked our five favorites from more than 150 animated goodies.

05/11/2016 By Portland Monthly Arts Team

PLAYLIST

May: A Month of Portland Concerts in 20 Songs

Paul Simon, Leon Bridges, Richmond Fontaine, and Deep Sea Diver—it's all coming together in Portland this month, our first in a sadly post-Prince world. We salute the Purple one and more in this 20-song playlist culled from live shows lined up for May.

05/09/2016 By Michelle Porter

MUSIC

If You Don’t Love Aretha Franklin’s 'Ain’t No Way,' You’re Probably a Robot

We talked to beloved Portland record producer Tucker Martine, ahead of Songs We Love Live—Tiny Desk Concerts' touring show—coming to the Doug Fir on May 9.

05/05/2016 By Lisa Dunn

THEATER

Why Are Portland Millennials So Theater-Averse?

Portland theater has an age problem. But some of the city's most established companies are looking for ways to bring in younger audiences.

05/05/2016 By Jack Rushall

POMO PICKS

Top Things to Do This Weekend: May 5–8

Bike-themed movies hit the Hollywood, the Oregon Symphony takes on the Back to the Future score, and a slew of art galleries open fresh shows. We're happy to see you, May.

05/05/2016 By Rebecca Jacobson, Ramona DeNies, Sylvia Randall-Muñoz, and Jack Rushall

BOOKS

Once Upon a Time: Katie Chase's Short Stories Have No Happily Ever After

Portlander Chase's debut collection of dark and twisty tales has already earned her the attention of Publisher's Weekly, which dubbed her work "consistently provocative." She reads May 12 at Powell's on Hawthorne.

05/04/2016 By Fiona McCann

MUSIC

Five Places Beach House Brought Us Last Night

The Baltimore–based band went for a journey via their Crystal Ballroom show on Thursday, and invited Portlanders along for the ride.

04/29/2016 By Emma Mannheimer

URBAN FUTURES

Can Art Save a Neighborhood? The Creator of Houston's Project Row Houses Speaks

Rick Lowe, an artist/activist, transformed 22 shotgun shacks into a haven of community-minded creativity. Can Portland learn from his work?

04/29/2016 By Randy Gragg

POMO PICKS

Top Things to Do This Weekend: Apr 28–May 1

From Bombino's entrancing guitar licks to International Tabletop Day to some next-level, one-on-one theater, send out April with a bang.

04/28/2016 By Rebecca Jacobson, Ramona DeNies, Sylvia Randall-Muñoz, and Jack Rushall

PERFORMANCE

The Surprising Gender Bending of Drag Queen Cherdonna Shinatra

Seattle's Jody Kuehner is a female-bodied, female-identified dance artist. But when she performs as high-camp clown Cherdonna, people sometimes get confused.

04/27/2016 By Rebecca Jacobson

BOOKS

How One Portland Author Went from Self-Publishing to a Major Book Deal

It took Jason Gurley 15 years to write, scrap, re-write, self-publish, and finally get picked up by Crown Publishing. He holds forth on writing, success, and how Eleanor was born in the Oregon rain.

04/26/2016 By Sarah Hopwood