Books & Talks

SUMMER READING 2016

Night Air: A Short Story by David Shafer

“And I liked the Oregon license plate. Seriously. That tree. It reminded me of an air freshener, like Oregon was being clever.”

07/12/2016 By David Shafer

SUMMER READING 2016

The Buried Forest: A Short Story by Margaret Malone

“The only other person on the beach gets closer. Hey, I know her. It’s that weird chick from the bakery who used to do that creepy thing with her eyebrows.”

07/12/2016 By Margaret Malone

SUMMER READING 2016

Blackberries: A Short Story by Diana Abu-Jaber

“Their whole honeymoon had been like that. Brilliant sunlight, Mount Hood in the distance, crisp as a paper cutout.”

07/12/2016 By Diana Abu-Jaber

BOOKS

This Book about a Corporate Flight Attendant Will Make You Even More Resentful about Flying Economy

We caught up with Ann Menke to hear about her new book, her career as a flight attendant to billionaires, and that time when Jerry Seinfeld dropped trou on her flight.

07/12/2016 By Marisa Russell

ARTS NEWS

Faced with Quadruple Rent, Independent Publishing Resource Center Forced to Move

The beloved DIY institution is on the hunt for a new home, making this weekend’s Portland Zine Symposium a last chance to visit the center’s SE Division space.

07/07/2016 By Regina Winkle-Bryan

BOOKS

This Oregon Author Wrote a Book about a Family of Latvian Gravediggers

And it’s earning her rave reviews. We caught up with the award-winning Gina Ochsner before her Powell’s reading on Wednesday.

06/29/2016 By Fiona McCann

ACTIVISM

Wieden & Kennedy Employees Shame Pro-Gun Politicians for Meaningless Tweets

A group of employees at the Portland ad agency is turning politicians' "thoughts and prayers" into a book for charity.

06/24/2016 By Lisa Dunn

Culture Call Sheet

August's Pop Culture Watch: What We're Really into Right Now

From Orange Is the New Black to Tegan and Sara's Love You to Death, Portland Monthly staffers reveal their current pop culture obsessions.

06/23/2016 By Portland Monthly Staff

BEST OF THE CITY 2016

PDX Essentials: Quadrant by Quadrant, All the Things We Can’t Live Without

Secret beaches to art deco splendor to OG dive bars, here are some of our favorite things in every corner of Portland.

06/13/2016 By Portland Monthly Staff

BEST OF THE CITY 2016

Best of the City 2016: Seven Curators and Creators Share Top Picks from Portland’s Arts Scene

From in-your-face theater to a bold magazine for women guitarists, here are some of Portland’s best things to watch, hear, and read.

06/13/2016 By Fiona McCann and Rebecca Jacobson

THE ESSENTIALS

M. Ward to Tin House Readings: July’s Pop Culture Hot List

The concert, reading series, and book you can’t miss this month.

06/13/2016 By Fiona McCann

BOOKS AND TALKS

How Do You Make White People Laugh? Negin Farsad Has Some Suggestions

The Iranian-American filmmaker and comedian is in town with new book How to Make White People Laugh. She talks about standing out among the "white guys with brown hair and glasses."

06/09/2016 By Lisa Dunn

BOOKS

Five Reasons You Should Read Lindy West’s Shrill Like, Yesterday

The sharp-as-a-tack writer cruised through town earlier this month to read from her essay collection, Shrill: Notes From a Loud Woman. If you missed her in person, get your hands on the book, stat.

06/07/2016 By Lisa Dunn

BOOKS & TALKS

Lidia Yuknavitch Celebrates Misfits in Viral TED Talk

The Portland author has been racking up views with a moving TED talk about being a misfit and overcoming obstacles.

05/25/2016 By Fiona McCann

THE ESSENTIALS

Anthony Lopez to Moby’s Memoir: June’s Pop Culture Hot List

The festival, album, and books you can’t miss this month.

05/19/2016 By Fiona McCann

BOOKS

Alexis Smith on Her New Post-Earthquake Mystery

The Glaciers novelist shakes things up.

05/19/2016 By Fiona McCann

BOOKS

Portland Writers Pay Tribute to Geek Love’s Katherine Dunn

In the wake of the death of author and beloved Portlander Dunn, we asked four local writers for their thoughts on her impact and influence.

05/18/2016 By Fiona McCann

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

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

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