THE ESSENTIALS

Summer Cannibals to Phil Knight: May’s Pop Culture Hot List

The album, book, festival, and play you can’t miss this month

04/22/2016 By Fiona McCann

HAPPENINGS

How We Fell for Dita Von Teese

We talked with the enchanting burlesque queen about self-invention, her upcoming Portland shows, and that giant martini glass. Plus, take it from Dita: beauty comes in all sizes.

04/14/2016 By Eden Dawn

PORTLAND'S FUTURE

Five Young Portland Artists on the Verge

From a St. Johns rapper to a preteen actor, these are the rising stars to watch.

03/25/2016 By Fiona McCann

THEATER

From a Sexy Jewel Thief to a Sexy Ghost, Imago Theatre Mines Japanese Pulp

The Lady Aoi is a spooky, steamy ghost story set in a hospital.

03/10/2016 By Rebecca Jacobson

POMO PICKS

Top Things to Do This Weekend: March 10–13

Esperanza Spalding reinvents herself, Artists Rep journeys to Africa, and Ghost World author Daniel Clowes debuts a sci-fi love story. Oh, and the Biebs is in town.

03/10/2016 By Rebecca Jacobson, Ramona DeNies, and Sylvia Randall-Muñoz

POMO PICKS

Top Things to Do This Weekend: March 3-6

Cat-inspired improv, teddy bear shamanism, stilt-walking saxophonists, and a superhero battle royale. Brace yourself.

03/03/2016 By Rebecca Jacobson, Ramona DeNies, and Sylvia Randall-Muñoz

THEATER

What Happens When a Teenage Couple’s Sex Tape Goes Viral—in a Conservative Indian City?

That’s the question at the heart of Free Outgoing, playing in Portland this weekend.

03/01/2016 By Rebecca Jacobson

SPRING ARTS

Your Guide to the 2016 Spring Arts Season

From thrash metal to Thornton Wilder, acrobat lumberjacks to Leon Bridges, we present our picks for the season’s sweetest tickets.

03/01/2016 By Ramona DeNies

POMO PICKS

Top Things to Do This Weekend: Feb 25–28

Lewis Black puts on his angry face, New Orleans funk comes to the Crystal, and Romeo and Juliet do some pirouettes. Send February out with a bang.

02/25/2016 By Ramona DeNies and Rebecca Jacobson

THEATER

Oregon-Born Playwright Aaron Posner Gives Chekhov the Bird

In Stupid Fucking Bird, playing through March 27 at Portland Center Stage, the Eugene-raised Posner serves up an irreverent riff on The Seagull.

02/24/2016 By Rebecca Jacobson

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

THEATER

Oregon Shakespeare Fest Opens with Country-Western Tunes and Hollywood Glam

And also some Dickens.

02/16/2016 By Rebecca Jacobson

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

THEATER

Portland-Raised Playwright Tanya Barfield Talks Race and Writing

The award-winning playwright is in town to open a season of her work at Profile Theatre. She told us what it's like to see her work staged in Portland for the first time, and why she's both sad and glad we're ready to talk about race.

02/04/2016 By Fiona McCann

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

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

THEATER

Meet ZooZoo's Hilarious Cast of Animal Characters

Imago's beloved production ZooZoo is ending its successful run with a last Portland hurrah before setting off for a final tour. Here's our sneak peek at its awesome, anthropomorphic cast.

12/07/2015 By Fiona McCann With Images Courtesy Imago Theater

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

7 Local Gifts for the Arts Aficionado

Books, tickets, records, and art! We've got all you need for the culture buff in your life.

12/03/2015 By Ramona DeNies and Fiona McCann

POMO PICKS

Top Things to Do This Weekend: Dec 3–6

Viva's eye-popping opera (and more fine holiday shows), Modest Mouse and the Portland Cello Project, Live Wire with John Hodgman, and a comic book full of BEER! Our stocking—er, weekend—is officially stuffed.

12/03/2015 By Ramona DeNies