WEEKEND PICKS

Top Things to Do This Weekend: Jan 22–25

With Miranda July's breakout novel, the doo-wop of La Luz, new plays from PCS and Shaking the Tree, and a star turn from Oregon Symphony concertmaster Sarah Kwak, we're fully booked! And you?

01/21/2015 By Ramona DeNies

ALBUM PREVIEW

Ferocious Love: You Can Now Listen to Sleater-Kinney’s “No Cities to Love”

With their first new album in ten years, the legendary band reunites and high kicks it on Letterman, on Conan, and into your heart.

01/20/2015 By Ramona DeNies

FILM

Checking in on Oregon's Oscar Chances

Wild and The Boxtrolls give the state three chances to cheer.

01/19/2015 By Cervante Pope

TELEVISION

Rainn Wilson's Backstrom Co-Star Kristoffer Pohala Gets a Haircut in Portland

Fox’s new crime show is set in “Portland,” but it took a pilot screening to get actors to visit the real-world Rose City.

01/16/2015 By Larisa Owechko

EDITOR'S PICKS

Top Things to Do This Weekend: Jan 15–18

Reels from the "real" Homer Simpson, Michael Chabon's comic book escapades, crazy British theatre, and Dirty Dancing on stage—it's all in PDX this weekend!

01/15/2015 By Portland Monthly Staff

MUSIC

Review: The Decemberists’ 'What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World'

The local indie kings return from a four-year absence with an infectious, eclectic album that reveals a band all grown up. Out Jan 20

01/15/2015 By Cervante Pope

FILM

Homer Groening: The Legend, the Father, the Simpson

The father of Simpsons creator Matt Groening was a filmmaker in his own right, as shown in this retrospective with Matt in attendance on Jan 17.

01/13/2015 By Larisa Owechko

BOOKS & TALKS

Author Michael Chabon Talks Comic Books and Songwriting

The Pulitzer-winning author of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay spills the details on his collaboration with Portland comic czar Matt Fraction and British super-producer Mark Ronson in preview of his Jan 15 talk.

01/13/2015 By Allison Jones

BOOKS & TALKS

Oregon Book Awards Finalists Announced

Books about the End Times, the wonders of soil, PTSD fever dreams, and more top the list.

01/12/2015 By Aaron Scott

VIDEO GAMES

Party Like It's 1848—The Original Oregon Trail Game is Back

We tick off the 5 things we can’t wait to revisit on the newly re-released computer classic

01/08/2015 By Mary Stutzman

EDITOR'S PICKS

Top Things to Do This Weekend: Jan 9–11

First Thursday gets some sun, non-holiday plays finally begin to open at local theaters, and the Crystal Ballroom celebrates 101 years with a free star-studded day, including music by Thomas Lauderdale and China Forbes, Stephen Malkmus, and more.

01/08/2015 By Ramona DeNies

VIDEO GAMES

Zombies in Space: Daniel Wilson’s Killer Sci-Fi Game App

The best-selling local sci-fi author's new game about surviving virus-infected zombies in space uses voice recognition. It’s called 'Mayday: Deep Space' and it’s out today.

01/07/2015 By Aaron Scott

Post

Slide Show: Making Faces with Northwest Indie Star Michael Maker

01/06/2015

ARCHITECTURE

How to Bend Light

Architect and thinker Nancy Cheng reveals how sheet materials can be cut, creased, or crimped to generate lighting effects that change with the sun's movement.

01/06/2015 By Rene Bermudez

LONG STORY SHORT

Talking Indie Stardom and Vintage Threads with Michael Maker

"I’m like the lord of Northwest 23rd. I only say that because I don’t want to say mayor. Who wants to be the mayor?"

01/05/2015 By Danielle Klenak

TIMELINE

Tracking Sleater-Kinney's Rock Odyssey

From Olympia's punk scene to Rolling Stone and Portlandia, we chart the deeds (and decades!) of Portland's Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker.

01/05/2015 By Julie Reposa and Catalina Gaitán

BOOKS

Drugs, Doms & Squirrel Brains: TMI Moments from PDX Memoirs

A look back at some of the cringiest overshares from our favorite Portland authors

01/05/2015 By Aaron Scott Research by Caitlin Feldman

CULTUREPHILE

PDX Comics Kingpin Brian Michael Bendis Makes His Next Move

He killed Spider-Man. He gave new life to The Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy. Now, Portlander Brian Michael Bendis becomes the creative force behind Sony Playstation Network’s first streaming TV show.

01/05/2015 By Aaron Scott

THE MONEY ISSUE

How Portland's 'Publicly Traded Person' Landed a Movie Deal with Jason Bateman

The story behind one Portlander’s decision to sell stock—in himself—lands in Hollywood.

01/05/2015 Illustrations by Michael Novak By Zach Dundas

ARTS & CULTURE

PoMo Picks: January's Best Bets For Things to See and Do

The Decemberists release a new album, pop culture meets Chekov, and Chamber Music Northwest brings back record-breaking numbers of classical fans

01/05/2015 By Aaron Scott and Matthew Schonfeld