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

COMEDY

Ian Karmel Talks Off-Limits Jokes and Old Portland Nostalgia

He has Portlandia, Chelsea Lately, and Conan appearances under his belt, and now PDX comic Ian Karmel has a new album out on Kill Rock Stars. We caught up with Karmel to find out what's so funny about Portland.

12/01/2015 By Fiona McCann

BOOKS

Meet Cheryl Strayed’s New Literary Love

Margaret Malone’s new debut short story collection People Like You has already been hailed by a slew of literary luminaries. We caught up with the Portland author to talk about big writers and little worlds.

11/25/2015 By Fiona McCann

MUSIC

Listen to the New Typhoon Remix Right Here Right Now

Portland’s populous (12 members, give or take) indie rock band Typhoon has teamed up with longtime friends, collaborators, and occasional roommates My Body for a new three-track EP. And we’ve got the first one right here!

11/23/2015 By Fiona McCann

ICYMI: A YEAR IN THE ARTS

The Books, Albums, and Moments that Defined Portland Culture in 2015

A look back at a year full of romantic proposals, laughs, and big-budget productions

11/23/2015 By Fiona McCann

'TIS THE SEASON

9 Shows and Stage Spectaculars to Make the Holidays Last All Month Long

Behold, our roundup of festive events to carry you through the jolly season.

11/23/2015 By Fiona McCann

VISUAL ART

What Kind of Art Is Portland Producing?

Michelle Grabner has until the year's end to visit artists all over the state who want to be part of the 2016 Portland Biennial. She tells us what she’s looking for—and what she’s found out about art in Oregon.

11/16/2015 By Fiona McCann

MUSIC

Welcome to Front Row

We’re launching our new one-stop site for venue schedules, tickets, playlists, interviews, and music scene coverage.

11/12/2015 By Fiona McCann

BOOKS

Wordstock: What We Thought

We came, we queued, we loathed it, we loved it: Portland Monthly's arts team—and some festival attendees—give their verdict on this year’s festival.

11/10/2015 By Fiona McCann and Ramona DeNies

FILM FESTIVAL

Dan Savage Returns With 11th HUMP! Festival

HUMP!, the Pacific Northwest’s amateur dirty film festival, is back for its 11th year. We spoke to festival creator Dan Savage about Tinder, sex trends, and why he’s giving thanks to Apple.

11/03/2015 By Fiona McCann

BOOKS AND TALKS

Writer John Irving on Religion, Reading, and Returning to Portland

He appeared at the first Wordstock, and ten years later he’s back for its relaunch. We spoke to the World According to Garp author about his new book, Portland, and what he’d like to say to Shakespeare.

10/29/2015 By Fiona McCann

MUSICAL THEATER

Cuba Libre: Two Critics Weigh In on One Sizzling Show

A Portland production of Broadway scale, with a budget of $600,000 and 21 performers: Cuba Libre has all the ingredients. Does this Artists Rep show pull it off?

10/27/2015 By Ramona DeNies and Fiona McCann

THE ESSENTIALS

October's Pop Culture Hot List

A book about swimming and coming of age in Portland, some big-riffed rock songs, and several stately beasts: We've got the books and albums you can’t miss this month.

10/22/2015 By Fiona McCann

RAP

Is Shakespeare Getting a Bad Rap? Not if MC Lars Has His Way

MC Lars does literary rap (think of it as a nerdcore subgenre). He's in town next week to share the flow of Poe and why rapping about beat poets is a natural fit.

10/22/2015 By Fiona McCann

LIGHT A FIRE 2015

Inspiring Creativity: Disjecta Contemporary Art Center

The Portland cultural institution curates the best of regional contemporary art.

10/20/2015 By Fiona McCann

PHOTOGRAPHY

Intimate Photos of Warhol and Basquiat Reveal the Artsy Grit of ‘80s NYC

From Warhol to Basquiat to Miles Davis, see some of Paige Powell's 10,000 photographs of the NYC art scene in a new Portland Art Museum exhibition.

10/19/2015 By Fiona McCann

THE ESSENTIALS

November's Pop Culture Hot List

The show, the book, the band, and the comic book that you can’t miss this month.

10/19/2015 By Fiona McCann

PREVIEW

Will the New Wordstock Literary Festival Charm Portland Readers?

Everyone agreed the lit fest desperately needed a rewrite. Is this the sequel we've been waiting for?

10/19/2015 By Fiona McCann

BOOKS

KINK FM's Big Voice Sheila Hamilton Opens Up About Suicide and Mental Illness

Portland radio host Sheila Hamilton talks about her husband’s suicide, the problems with how we treat mental illness, and how she wrote her new book, All the Things We Never Knew, both as personal therapy, and as a resource for others.

10/15/2015 By Fiona McCann

STORYTELLING

Pop-Up Magazine Is Portland-bound

A magazine performed live? A show with real-life stories? San Francisco's Pop-Up Magazine is coming to Portland, and we’ve got the lowdown on what it’s all about PLUS tickets to give away!

10/13/2015 By Fiona McCann

CULTURE CALL SHEET

The Latest in Portland Arts News—Bitch Media’s New Writers Fellowships

Plus Artists Rep's ambitious new musical, Cuba Libre, extends its planned run ahead of opening night.

10/08/2015 By Fiona McCann