A former intern, Conner served as Portland Monthly's arts and culture editor from 2019 until 2022.

Movers & Shakers

Perfect Party: Spring 2022

From Dua Lipa to Ava Duvernay to a real clown, here's who we’re inviting to our dinner table for a spring soirée.

03/21/2022 By Conner Reed

Performance

Portland Opera Brings The Central Park Five to Life

The 2020 Pulitzer Prize winner will run through the end of March at the Newmark Theatre.

03/18/2022 By Conner Reed

Arts News

Portland’s Arts Scene Is Undergoing a Massive Changing of the Guard

The Oregon Symphony, Portland Opera, Oregon Ballet Theatre, and other local arts organizations have recently shuffled leadership at the highest levels.

03/17/2022 By Conner Reed Illustrations by Álvaro Bernis

Theater Review

Shaking the Tree’s Chick Fight Is a Thrilling Live Wire

The Southeast Portland company returns with a devised play that's funny, fierce, and alive.

03/17/2022 By Conner Reed

Travel

The Ultimate Guide to the Columbia River Gorge

Waterfalls, hikes, history, breweries, wineries, great food, a historic post office, and views galore

03/17/2022 Edited by Gabriel Granillo By Katherine Chew Hamilton, Conner Reed, Margaret Seiler, Julia Silverman, and Matt Wastradowski

Gorge Guide

Check Out the Closest Attractions in the Columbia River Gorge

Zip lines and treehouse suites at Skamania Lodge, classic soft serve in Cascade Locks, and hiking trails and waterfalls galore!

03/17/2022 By Katherine Chew Hamilton, Conner Reed, and Julia Silverman

Music

Song of the Week: ‘I Feel Fine’ by Reptaliens

The husband-and-wife-fronted band face the indoor doldrums on this track from their January LP ‘Multiverse.’

03/11/2022 By Conner Reed

Arts News

The NW Film Center Is Now PAM CUT. What Does That Mean?

Inside the 51-year-old institution’s rebrand to the Portland Art Museum Center for an Untold Tomorrow.

03/09/2022 By Conner Reed

Books

Literary Arts Announces 2022 Oregon Book Award Finalists

For the first time since 2019, this year's winners will be announced at an in-person ceremony on April 25 at the Armory.

03/07/2022 By Conner Reed

Music

Song of the Week: ‘Dancing Dimensions’ by Ural Thomas & the Pain

The Portland soul legend is back with a spacey, satisfying new single.

03/04/2022 By Conner Reed

Music on Film

Onry’s ‘1955’ Braids Together James Baldwin, Emmett Till, and Ouija Boards

The viral Portland opera star’s new short film is part of an upcoming visual EP.

03/03/2022 By Conner Reed

Music

MAITA on Open Mics, Avoiding Clichés, and Straining to Feel Wild

The Rose City indie rocker's sophomore LP, ‘I Just Want to Be Wild for You,’ dropped February 18 on Kill Rock Stars.

02/24/2022 By Conner Reed

Dance

Oregon Ballet Theatre Prepares to Draw Blood with Dracula

The Ben Stevenson production, which opens February 19, is the Portland dance company's grandest undertaking since COVID hit.

02/17/2022 By Conner Reed

Let's Do Lunch

Chow Down on Portland's 11 Best Sandwiches

From duck confit to eggplant muffulettas to banh mi, these are the best sandwiches in all of Portland.

02/17/2022 By Katherine Chew Hamilton, Conner Reed, Michael Novak, and Fiona McCann

Music

5 Can’t-Miss Shows at the 2022 PDX Jazz Festival

Local legend Mel Brown, four-time Grammy winner Robert Glasper, and more will bathe Portland in sound throughout the rest of February.

02/16/2022 By Gabriel Granillo and Conner Reed

Song of the Week

Song of the Week: ‘What, Me Worry?’ by Portugal. The Man

The driving, tongue-in-cheek anthem is the first new, solo material we've heard from the Lords of Portland in roughly four years.

02/11/2022 By Conner Reed

Valentine's Day

Build-a-Bear’s Adult V-Day Collection, Ranked by How Much I Want to Date Each Character

We've crunched the numbers on the prospects of Pawlette, Lovable Lion, and more critters from the company's new adult-oriented After Dark collection.

02/10/2022 By Conner Reed

Events

10 Ways to Celebrate Black History Month in Portland

Film festivals, art shows, a Black Panthers retrospective, and more fill the Rose City's calendar this year. Here's what we have our eyes on.

02/08/2022 By Karly Quadros, Conner Reed, and Shannon Daehnke

News

A Kids Company About Pulls Podcasts from Spotify

The Portland-born media company announced they'd pulled their content from the streaming platform on February 4.

02/04/2022 By Conner Reed

Film

NW Film Center Announces 2022 Cinema Unbound Award Honorees

Carrie Brownstein and Shirin Neshat join five other filmmakers and artists in this year's lineup of NW Cinema Unbound Award Honorees

02/02/2022 By Conner Reed