Fiona is a former arts and culture editor and editor in chief for Portland Monthly.

COMFORT FOOD

The Wide World of Comfort (or, We’re All Gonna Die Anyway)

We scoured the city for the best warm-blanket dishes from across the globe. So go ahead, wrap your napkin around your shoulders like a Snuggie and dig in!

01/25/2016 Edited by Kelly Clarke By Karen Brooks, Ramona DeNies, Zach Dundas, Rachel Grozanick, Amy Martin, Fiona McCann, Marty Patail, Rachel Ritchie, Benjamin Tepler, and Tuck Woodstock

COMFORT FOOD

Hot Cups for Cold Days

From chai to hot buttered rum, we’ve got the liquid cure for whatever ails you.

01/25/2016 By Kelly Clarke, Fiona McCann, and Benjamin Tepler

TELEVISION

How One Portlander Went from Jefferson High to Hollywood

After roles on True Blood and Rectify, Johnny Ray Gill returns to the small screen in a new series about the Underground Railroad.

01/25/2016 By Fiona McCann

THEATER FESTIVAL

Five Picks for the Fertile Ground Festival

Dozens of new, homegrown works of theater and performance will hit stages over the next 11 days. Here are the five shows we’re most looking forward to.

01/20/2016 By Ramona DeNies and Fiona McCann

FILM FESTIVAL

POWFest to Host Twilight Director Catherine Hardwicke

Portland's annual women's film festival is bringing award-winning director Catherine Hardwicke to town in March, as part of the lineup for POWFest 2016.

01/19/2016 By Fiona McCann

EDUCATION

Inside Portland’s Schools

Explore the fast-changing landscape of local learning.

01/15/2016 Edited by Ramona DeNies By Zach Dundas, Fiona McCann, Rachel Grozanick, Katelyn Best, and Alex Madison Illustrations by Matthew Billington

INSIDE THE SCHOOL BOARD

Gentrification, Testing, and Social Justice: School Boards Sit at the Center of the Storm

How Portland’s volunteer education leaders cope with an impossible job.

01/15/2016 By Fiona McCann

MUSICAL THEATER

Five Things You Should Know about The Book of Mormon Before You See the Show

Broadway smash-hit The Book of Mormon is back in Portland and set to delight and offend, probably in equal measure. For a quick primer—and our takeaway from Wednesday’s opening night—read on.

01/14/2016 By Sylvia Randall-Muñoz, Ramona DeNies, and Fiona McCann

CULTURE CALL SHEET

The Latest in Portland Arts News—Powell's Expands on Hawthorne

Plus: Portland Art Museum promises Warhol and Rodin, and Pickathon starts the party.

01/14/2016 By Fiona McCann

MUSIC

Josh Ritter Brings His 'Oracular Honky Tonk’ to Portland

He’s earned comparisons to Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie, but the one-time PDX resident told Portland Monthly why he’s pumped to live in the age of Kanye West and Jay Z.

01/13/2016 By Fiona McCann

MUSIC

El Vy Pays Tribute to Bowie on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert

Portland's Brent Knopf joined El Vy bandmate Matt Berninger and New Orleans' Stay Human for a tribute to the late star on last night's The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. Added bonus: Matt Sheehy (of Ramona Falls and Lost Lander) on bass.

01/12/2016 By Fiona McCann

BOOKS

Literary Arts Announces Oregon Book Awards Shortlists

What were the best books published by writers from Oregon last year? Literary Arts weighs in with its shortlist for the Oregon Book Awards, with writers from Ashland to Eugene, and plenty of Portland represented.

01/06/2016 By Fiona McCann

MUSIC

January.... A Month of Portland Concerts in 20 Songs

Josh Ritter, JD McPherson, and Jessica Lea Mayfield: The new year is playing host to a plethora of musical acts, from homegrown greats to international superstars—and we have the playlist to prove it.

01/04/2016 By Fiona McCann and Ramona DeNies

POMO PICKS

Top Things to Do This Weekend: Dec 31–Jan 3

Kick out the old, ring in the new—there are plenty of ways to celebrate the dawning of 2016 this weekend. Calexico, comedy king Greg Fitzsimmons, and conga-dancing polar bears—go crazy, PDX!

12/30/2015 By Fiona McCann

NEW YEAR'S EVE

Six Ways to Ring In 2016 in Portland

Rock your socks off, dance your pants off, laugh, lurch, and stuff your face: we've got six different ways for Portland revelers to ring in 2016.

12/30/2015 By Fiona McCann

MUSIC

Listen to the New Magic Sword Track Right Here Right Now

The mysterious electro-rockers from Boise have a new limited edition vinyl package coming out next month and a New Year’s Eve show at the Doug Fir. We’ve got their new track here.

12/21/2015 By Fiona McCann

THE ESSENTIALS

January’s Pop Culture Hot List

The concerts, the book, the talk, and the movie you can’t miss this month.

12/21/2015 By Fiona McCann

LONG STORY SHORT

Ruth Wariner’s Harrowing Survival Story

Her mother’s fourth child and her father’s 39th, Ruth Wariner’s incredible life story begins in a polygamist Mormon colony in Chihuahua, Mexico.

12/21/2015 By Fiona McCann

Dance

Portland’s White Bird Dance Is Hosting a Prestigious Showcase in NYC

Founders Paul King and Walter Jaffe break down why this is such a big deal.

12/21/2015 By Fiona McCann

FILM

Portland Writer Daniel H. Wilson's Sci-Fi Vision Nets Major Movie Deal—Again

First there was Robopocalypse, with DreamWorks snapping up the movie rights and Steven Spielberg signing on to direct. Now local writer Daniel H. Wilson has done it again, with a major deal with Fox for his still-unfinished novel Avtomat.

12/17/2015 By Fiona McCann