Ramona is a former Portland Monthly intern, research editor, and news and travel editor.

OREGON WOMAN 2016

Ten Extraordinary Oregon Women Fighting for Change and Disrupting the System

We asked these local luminaries to pair off for conversations about what it means to be an Oregon woman today. Here’s what they said.

02/23/2016 Edited by Ramona DeNies By Zach Dundas, Marty Patail, and Kelly Clarke

OREGON WOMAN 2016

The Year’s Movers, Shakers, and Newsmakers

From music to politics to roller derby, Oregon women have made serious waves lately. We take a look back.

02/23/2016 By Ramona DeNies

OREGON WOMAN 2016

How Two Oregon Women Learned to Find Their Voice

Transgender advocate V Thongrivong and Pink Martini’s China Forbes talk performing, family, and gratitude.

02/23/2016 By Ramona DeNies

OREGON WOMAN 2016

Guiding Oregon’s Arts and Assets

Meyer Memorial Trust’s Rukaiyah Adams and WillaKenzie Estate’s Ronni Lacroute discuss power, tokenism, and feeling pushed away from math class.

02/23/2016 By Ramona DeNies

POMO PICKS

Top Things to Do This Weekend: Feb 18–21

The PDX Jazz Fest pays tribute to the legacy of John Coltrane, films from all over the globe hit screens all over Portland, and a "slow tech" devotee takes on the digital age. Happy weekend, everybody.

02/18/2016 By Rebecca Jacobson and Ramona DeNies

PDX JAZZ FEST

2016 PDX Jazz Fest: What Would Coltrane Dig?

From Dianne Reeves to Coltrane’s own son Ravi, this month’s citywide jazz spectacular pays tribute to a legend who would have turned 90 this year. These are the shows we think he’d catch.

02/17/2016 By Ramona DeNies

POMO PICKS

Top Things to Do This Weekend: Feb 11–14

Bill Maher hits the Schnitz, Grace Potter plays the Roseland, and the symphony does a live-score Star Trek. Plus: vice-riddled tales of Portland and the Contemporary Northwest Art Awards. It's the weekend—seize it.

02/11/2016 By Ramona DeNies, Rebecca Jacobson, and Alex Keith

POMO PICKS

Top Things to Do This Weekend: Feb 4–7

David Cross and Karen Russell, Sabertooth Microfest, and awesome openings at PAM and Portland Playhouse. Plus! Check out those nighttime winter lights overhead at OMSI.

02/04/2016 By Ramona DeNies, Jack Rushall, and Sylvia Randall-Muñoz

2016 ELECTION

Promises, Promises: Five City Government Candidates on the Arts

Is the arts an election issue? Portland's mayoral and City Council candidates showed their cards on culture at a packed debate on Tuesday.

01/28/2016 By Ramona DeNies

POMO PICKS

Top Things to Do This Weekend: Jan 28–31

Unknown Mortal Orchestra brings home the Multi-Love, the hilarious Hari Kondabolu calls us names, Mavis Staples hits the screen, and mochi gets made at PSU. Go crazy, Portland.

01/28/2016 By Ramona DeNies

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

16 Ridiculously Comforting Dishes from Around the Globe

Search out your next rainy-day dish or guilty pleasure by comfort keyword: soothing, hearty, homey, gooey, or spicy.

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

POMO PICKS

Top Things to Do This Weekend: Jan 21–24

Epic charisma alert! On stage this weekend: Josh Ritter, Nathaniel Rateliff, Nathan Brannon, and Bri Pruett. Plus Book of Mormon packs up.

01/21/2016 By Ramona DeNies and Sylvia Randall-Muñoz

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

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

TEST YOURSELF

Could You Handle the Brutal New Test Oregon Students Face?

The state’s Smarter Balanced test is a real doozy.

01/15/2016 By Ramona DeNies

ISSUES & INNOVATION

Portland’s Schools Take On Tough Issues and Bold Ideas

From absentee kindergartners to meditation classes, local education is transforming.

01/15/2016 Edited by Ramona DeNies By Alex Madison, Katelyn Best, Rachel Grozanick, Zach Dundas, and Emma Mannheimer

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

POMO PICKS

Top Things to Do This Weekend: Jan 14–17

Lily Tomlin live! Plus Andy Kindler, Gregory Alan Isakov, the heavy-hitting Nareh Arghamanyan, NW Film's Reel Music, Broadway's Book of Mormon, and openings at Milagro and CoHo.

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

POMO PICKS

Top Things to Do This Weekend: Jan 7–10

Baron Vaughn at the Doug Fir, Miz Kitty in her Parlour, Federale gets spaghetti (western), and First Thursday brings memories of war and Warhol.

01/07/2016 By Ramona DeNies and Sylvia Randall-Muñoz