Play and learning go hand in hand. While our storytimes are on break, join other families for a fun playtime (for ages birth - 1) with board books, toys, music, and all the room your baby needs to learn through play. As Mr. Rogers said, "... for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood."
Join us for toys, socialization time, and bubbles. Ages 2-3.
Join other Indigenous families for a welcoming playtime that strengthens cultural connection, shared learning, and builds meaningful relationships. Families experience an exchange of traditions while children build social skills in a safe space where everyone can be themselves.
Multnomah County Library storytimes are supported by gifts made to The Library Foundation.
Make friends while creating. Kids ages 3-5 can play with DUPLOs; kids ages 4-11 can play with LEGOs. Ages 3-11 with adult.
Babies and their grownups are invited to share nursery rhymes, finger plays, songs and a simple book while making new friends and developing early literacy skills. Includes unstructured playtime. For ages 0 to 12 months.
Weekly on Sundays.
theARTScentered
1007 East Mill Plain Blvd.
See the Events page for current schedule.
Join us for free, hands-on, exploratory play designed for children and their caregivers.
Columbia Play Project is committed to creating joyful spaces where families connect, imagine, and learn together.
Your support makes play possible â donate today to keep play FREE for everyone!
DATES:Saturday, October 17, 2026 from 9:00âŻAM 12:00âŻPM
Saturday, November 21, 2026 from 9:00âŻAM 10:00âŻAM
Saturday, December 19, 2026 from 9:00âŻAM 10:00âŻAM
Started in 1999 and organized by writer Willa Schneberg, this annual event features readings by prominent Oregon Jewish poets and writers. The writers in the 2026 program span a range of genres, including fiction, poetry, non-fiction, and essays. Each author will share selections from their work.
Portland Cantonese Play + Learnonce a month on saturdays | 10:00 am - 12:00 PM | free | SCHThe mission of Portland Cantonese Play + Learn is to connect Cantonese-speaking families by providing a nurturing environment where young children can develop strong language skills and deepen their connection to Cantonese culture. Through interactive language lessons, cultural activities, and community engagement, we empower families to celebrate and preserve their heritage while fostering bilingualism in the next generation.Join us for a once-a month gathering, complete with a language activity, storytime, crafts + open play!Dates:October 18November 22
In this lecture demonstration, members of Hung Dance will provide an introduction to Taiwanese dance company Hung Danceâs movement language, including how their acclaimed work Birdy blends traditional Chinese exercises and materials with contemporary dance. The company will also delve into the inspiration and concepts behind Birdy, followed by a short excerpt of the work. Guests will have the opportunity to have their questions about the dance answered by members of the company. This lecture demonstration will be delivered primarily in Mandarin, with live translation between Mandarin and English.
Play and learning go hand in hand. While our storytimes are on break, join other families for a fun playtime (for ages 2-3) with books, toys, music, and all the room you need to learn through play. As Mr. Rogers said, "... for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood."
November 4, 2026
Powaqqatsi: Live with The Philip Glass EnsembleSpecial Concerts
OverviewThe Philip Glass Ensemble returns to Portland for Powaqqatsi, an artful cinematic experience that speaks to the impact of modernization and industrialization on traditional ways of living. Seen through the lens of communities across the globe, the narrative is amplified by compositions from Philip Glass that feature native, classical, and electronic instruments. Enjoyed alone or as the second in The Qatsi Trilogy, you wonât want to miss this thought-provoking performance from The Philip Glass Ensemble and conductor Michael Riesman.
po.waq.qa.tsi (from the Hopi language, powaq sorcerer + qatsi life) n., an entity, a way of life, that consumes the life forces of other beings in order to further its own life.
About the ShowThis concert is part of the Special Concerts series, and is eligible for the Choose Your Own Series (Portland only). Concert length is approximately 1 hour 40 minutes. No intermission.
Concert begins promptly at the time listed.
Loading... Select a Date Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland Wed, Nov 4, 2026, 7:30 PM Promo Code Buy TicketsKa soo gayb gal waqti ciyaar oo farxad leh oo ka dhacaya maktabadaa. Buugaag, alaab-ciyaareed, muusig, iyo meel ku filan oo caruurta ku ciyaari karaan isla markaana wax ku baran karaan.
Waqtiyada sheekoyinka Laybareriga degmada Multnomah County waxaa taagera hadiyado la siiyay mu'asasada maktabada.
Play and learning go hand in hand. Join other Black families in a fun playtime at the library with books, toys, music, and all the room you need to learn through play in a positive, affirming environment. As Mr. Rogers said, "... for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood."
Multnomah County Library storytimes are supported by gifts made to The Library Foundation.
El juego es una actividad fundamental para el desarrollo y aprendizaje de los niños. A través del juego, los niños desarrollan habilidades motoras, cognitivas, sociales y emocionales. Aunque el juego es una actividad natural, es importante hacer espacio y dar tiempo para el juego.
ÂĄVengan a conocer otras familias mientras se divierten con libros, juguetes y mĂșsica en su biblioteca!
A time for babies and their caregivers to hang out, play, chat, and make friends at the library. Ages 0-12 months or until walking.
Play and learning go hand in hand. Join other families in a fun playtime at the library with books, toys, music, and all the room you need to learn through play. As Mr. Rogers said, "... for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood."
Join us for toys and socialization time. Ages 3-6.
Play and learning go hand in hand. Join other families in a fun playtime at the library with books, toys, music, and all the room you need to learn through play. As Mr. Rogers said, "... for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood."
Play and learning go hand in hand. While our storytimes are on break, join other Rainbow families in a fun playtime at the library with books, toys, music, and all the room you need to learn through play in a positive, affirming environment. As Mr. Rogers said, "... for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood."
This fall, Portland welcomes an extraordinary celebration of classical ballet as PRIMA Ballet Gala brings together artists of the Grand Kyiv Ballet and international guest performers for one unforgettable night.
More than a performance, PRIMA Ballet Gala is a night of elevated artistry â where timeless classics meet contemporary expression, and the stage becomes a space of beauty, power, and emotion.
The program features iconic highlights from world-renowned ballets including Don Quixote, Spartacus, and The Dying Swan, alongside vibrant national dance such as the thrilling Hopak, set to music by legendary composers including Tchaikovsky.
Begin your evening on the red carpet, then step inside for a celebration of artistic excellence and international cultural connection.
Guests are warmly encouraged to attend in the evening attire, helping create an atmosphere of elegance worthy of this special occasion.
Join us for a rare opportunity to experience world-class dancers, timeless choreography, and a night filled with beauty and inspiration.
Seats are limited. Be part of PRIMA Ballet Gala â where ballet speaks from the heart.
Featuring special guest Gary Hershberger (Mike Nelson) in person!
Joins us for the complete Twin Peaks series on the big screen for the first time in history! We continue our year-long celebration of the greatest TV show of all time The Missing Pieces. Rarely shown in theaters, this feature film presents deleted scenes from Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me assembled together as an untold portion of the storyâs prequel. Following a Q&A, weâll then begin The Return with episodes âMy Log Has a Message for Youâ and âThe Stars Turn and a Time Presents Itself.â
Gary Hershberger will be signing autographs and taking photos with fans for an additional fee at the event.
Join Vancouver Elks Lodge #823 on Saturday, November 7, 2026, for a special evening honoring our veterans and thanking them for their service.
The evening begins with a social hour at 5:00 PM, followed by a delicious Prime Rib Dinner at 6:30 PM, featuring mashed potatoes and green beans.
Guests will also enjoy a Veterans Day Service presented by the Lodge Officers, a special performance by The Vancouver Music Organization Ceremonial Trumpets, and a video slideshow honoring our veterans.
Dinner is FREE for veterans and $35 for non-veterans. This event is open to the public, and everyone is welcome to attend!
Reservations are requested. Please contact the Lodge office at (360) 256-0823 or reserve your dinner through Zeffy. https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/veterans-dinner-5
Location: Vancouver Elks Lodge #823, 11605 SE McGillivray Blvd., Vancouver, WA 98683.
Come together with friends, family, and neighbors for an evening of appreciation, remembrance, and community as we honor those who have served our country.
One Last Gathering of the Crows. Join Darcelle XV Plaza for the Wildwood: Follow the Crows Farewell Weekend. After soaring across Portland all season, all 30 spectacular crow sculptures are coming together for one final celebration. This free, family-friendly event is your last chance to see the crows in Portlandâand the only opportunity to experience the entire flock in one place.
Meet some of the talented artists behind the crows, collect autographs, take plenty of photos and support OHSU Doernbecher Childrenâs Hospital through optional donations.
Costumes are highly encouraged. At 2 p.m. on Halloween Day, costumed guests can strut, flap or swoop through the plaza in a festive Costume Parade. Prizes will be awarded in both Adult and Under-18 divisions for:
Admission is free, and all ages are welcome. Bring your family, gather your flock and help give Portlandâs beloved crows a send-off to remember.
Whatâs Up, Doc? (1972) Directed by Peter Bogdanovich. 1hr 34min. Rated G. 35mm.
Join Film School x PAM CUT @ The Whitsell for Whatâs Up, Doc (1972) in 35mm. The 1972 screwball comedy, starring Barbra Streisand and Ryan OâNeal, follows a wild and eccentric mix-up of plaid luggage through 70âs San Francisco. This portrait is tailored to showcase Barbra Streisandâs unique and distinct comedic persona and the chaotic magnetism she brings to the screenâechoing the screwball heroines that came before her.
Film School is a community film club hosting monthly screenings, discussions, and a blog. They celebrate cinema, spark conversation, and connect film loversâon and off the screen.
We do not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, and films exhibited donât necessarily reflect the views of PAM CUT or the Portland Art Museum. In addition to the synopses, trailers, and other links on our website, further information about content and age-appropriateness for specific films can be found on sites like Common Sense Media, IMDb, and DoesTheDogDie.com.
Meet at 4:00PM, Walk at 4:15PM, the walk is 1.5 mile total out-and-back hike. Plan to meet at Lower Macleay Park - 2960 NW Upshur St, Portland, OR 97210.
Join Third Angle and World Forestry Center for an immersive All-Saints Day soundwalk to Witchâs Castle, featuring a spooky, site-specific soundscape created by local composer Bora Yoon. Grab your headphones, download the soundwalk, and join us under the bridge at Lower Macleay Park as we excavate memory, and bring to life place-based storytelling along the wooded path.
REGISTER FOR THE SOUND WALKThe Philip Glass Ensemble returns to Portland for Powaqqatsi, an artful cinematic experience that speaks to the impact of modernization and industrialization on traditional ways of living. Seen through the lens of communities across the globe, the narrative is amplified by a masterful Philip Glass score that features native, classical, and electronic instruments. Enjoyed alone or as the second in the Qatsi series, you wonât want to miss this thought-provoking performance with the Oregon Symphony and The Philip Glass Ensemble, led by conductor Michael Riesman.
po.waq.qa.tsi (from the Hopi language, powaq sorcerer + qatsi life) n., an entity, a way of life, that consumes the life forces of other beings in order to further its own life.
Join an essential lecture by the acclaimed Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath. Jared Cooney Horvath (PhD, MEd) is a neuroscientist, educator, best-selling author and expert in the field of human learning. His new book, The Digital Delusion: How Classroom Technology Harms Our Kid's Learning - And How to Help Them Thrive Again, pulls back the EdTech curtain and explains the research showing how digital tools in the classroom consistently undermine learning. It also explains how parents, teachers and schools can push back with purpose.
As a leading expert in learning and technology, Jared testified before the US Senate on EdTech and is an internationally sought-after speaker.
Sponsored by the Institute for Families and Technology and OR Unplugged.
Play and learning go hand in hand. While our storytimes are on break, join other families for a fun playtime (for ages 1-2) with books, toys, music, and all the room you need to learn through play. As Mr. Rogers said, "... for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood."
Play and learning go hand in hand. While our storytimes are on break, join other families for a fun playtime (for ages 2-3) with books, toys, music, and all the room you need to learn through play. As Mr. Rogers said, "... for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood."
Doomsday is an MF Doom-themed group art exhibition celebrating the life, legacy, music, and unmistakable visual identity of one of hip-hopâs most influential and mysterious artists. Presented in partnership with Unspoken and More Than February Art Gallery, the exhibition brings together a diverse group of artists working across painting, illustration, sculpture, design, fashion, and mixed media to reinterpret the world of MF Doom through their own creative lens.
Timed around the anniversary of Doom's passing, Doomsday is both a tribute and a celebrationâhonoring an artist whose impact extended far beyond music. From the iconic metal mask and comic-book-inspired mythology to his intricate lyricism, production, and independent spirit, MF Doom created a universe that continues to inspire artists, musicians, designers, and fans around the world.
The exhibition will feature original artwork and special installations inspired by Doom, including sculpture, collectible objects, apparel, prints, collaborative pieces, and one-of-a-kind interpretations of the mask and character. Guests will also be able to experience interactive elements including an MF Doom-inspired photo booth, music, merchandise, raffles, and special collaborations created specifically for the exhibition. At its core, Doomsday is about bringing together art, hip-hop, community, and independent creativity while giving artists a space to celebrate a cultural figure whose influence remains deeply present.
Opening Reception: Thursday 6 p.m.â9 p.m.
Broadway Books is thrilled to welcome Anthea Kreston with her debut memoir Crescendo: Chronicles of an Adventurous Violinist (Paul Dry Books, 2026). She will be joined in conversation with Ling Ling Huang, author of Natural Beauty and Immaculate Conception.
When American violinist Anthea Kreston, called âAn Indomitable Spiritâ by Yo-Yo Ma, is selected as the fourth member of Germanyâs Artemis Quartet, it is the culmination of decades of dedication. In Crescendo, her enchanting and deeply personal memoir, Kreston writes about growing up in a well-to-do but difficult family in Chicago, leaving home at age sixteen, studying at the ultracompetitive Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia (Hilary Hahn was a classmate), then burning out and leaving it all behind for a commune in Oregon.
Internationally renowned artist Pipilotti Rist presents her major installation 4th Floor to Mildness in a West Coast premiere and only second exhibition in the U.S.
Pipilotti Rist dissolves exhibition spaces through luminous color, moving imagery, and melodic sound. 4th Floor to Mildness immerses the viewer in a soft, aquatically inspired environment, where a film shot underwater plays across two biomorphic-shaped screens hanging from the ceiling. A soundtrack by experimental musician Soap&Skin/Anja Plaschg adds to the ambience with lyrics about dreams, love, and memories as the camera catches glimpses of floating bodies. Two projected light circles move across the room, enlightening it with visceral hues. For Rist, this light represents a âdesire to turn yourself inside out.â
Rist creates conditions for visitors to come together in unconventional ways so that they might better understand their relationships to one another, their own bodies, and nature. In the gallery, raft-like beds provide a place or visitors to rest and share social space as they watch the projection overhead. She asks: âWhat happens to our perceptions when we donât have to stand or fight gravity?â The sensation of floating may evoke a sense of returning to an elemental state. For the artist, the work âdescribes the fantasy of [ourselves] being an organic plant . . . and simulates our dissolution into water, mud, slime, molecules and atoms.â
Originally created for the fourth floor of the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York, PAM adapted the work to the Crumpacker Center with the assistance of the artistâs team at Atelier Rist; production partner Portland Garment Factory, a woman-owned B-corp and zero-waste creative factory, created the curtains, beds, and bed coverings, and Figure Plant engineered and fabricated the hanging screens.
Music is more than just an aural language â it is a multitude of communication modes and literacies. Sight Reading features world-renowned songwriters translating between dialects in real time: the written language of music (usually expressed on staff), oral / aural traditions and âplaying by earâ come together to work with Oregon Symphony musicians as they perform newly-created arrangements of songs by musicians who write their music in a variety of ways.
FRIDAY NOV. 6Jimmie Herrod
Jimmie Herrod is a singer, songwriter, and performer celebrated for his radiant tone and emotional depth. Hailed by The Seattle Times as âa voice like a beacon of hope,â Herrod brings striking expressivity to performances across stage and screen.
He rose to international prominence as a finalist on Americaâs Got Talent, where he earned the coveted Golden Buzzer from SofĂa Vergara. He later returned to compete on AGT: All-Stars, further expanding his global audience.
Since 2017, Herrod has toured extensively with Pink Martini, performing throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. He is also a frequent guest with major orchestras across the United States and has collaborated with artists including Renée Fleming, Lalah Hathaway, Brian Blade, and Vince Mendoza.
Equally at home across genres, Herrod is known for performances that combine technical precision with warmth, clarity, and a powerful sense of connection.
Katherine Paul
This land runs through Katherine Paulâs blood. And it called to her. In dreams she saw the river, her ancestors, and her home.When the land calls, you listen. And KP found herself far from her ancestral lands during a time of collective trauma, when the world was wounded and in need of healing. In 2020 she made the journey from Portland back to the Skagit River, back to the cedar trees that stand tall and shrouded in fog, back to the tide flats and the mountains, back to Swinomish.
It is a powerful thing to return to our ancestral lands and often times the journey is not easy. Like the salmon through the currents, like the tide as it crawls to shore this is a story of return. It is the call and response. It is the outstretched arms of the people who came before, welcoming her home.The Land, The Water, The Sky is a celebration of lineage and strength. Even in its deepest moments of loneliness and grief, of frustration over a world wrought with colonial violence and pain, the songs remind us that if we slow down, if we listen to the waves and the wind through the trees, we will remember to breathe.
There is a throughline of story in every song, a remembrance of knowledge and teachings, a gratitude of wisdom passed down and carried. There is a reimagining of Sedna who was offered to the sea, and a beautiful rumination on sacrifice and humanity, and what it means to hold the stories that work to teach us something.
Chord progressions born out of moments of sadness and solitude transform into the islands that sit blue along the horizon. The Salish Sea curves along her homelands, and when the singer is close to this water she is reminded of her grandmother, how she looked out at these same islands, and sheâs held by spirit and memory.
The Land, The Water, The Sky rises and falls, in darkness and in light, but even in its most melancholy moments it is never despairing. That is the beauty of returning home. When you stand on ancestral lands it is impossible to be alone. You feel the arms and hands that hold you up, unwilling to let you fall into sorrow or abandonment. In her songs Katherine Paul has channeled that feeling of being held. In every note she has written a love letter to indigenous strength and healing.
There is a joy present here, a fierce blissfulness that comes with walking the trails along the river, feeling the sand and the stones beneath her feet. It is the pride and the certainty that comes with knowing her ancestors walked along the same land, dipped their hands into the water, and ran their fingertips along the same bark of cedar trees.
This is a story of hope, as it details the joy of returning. Katherine Paulâs journey home wasnât made alone, and the songs are crowded with loved ones and relatives, like a really good party. And as the songs walk us through the land it is important we hover over the images and the beauty, the moments that mark this album as site specific. The power of this land is woven throughout, telling the story of narrow waterways, brushstrokes, salmon stinta, and above all healing. Let it take you. Move through the story and see the land through her eyes, because it is a gift, awelcomedsÊabadÉb.
**The word âgiftâ in Lushootseed, the language of the Coast Salish peopleâ
Nick Jaina
Nick Jaina is a Portland-based musician and writer whose work bridges music, literature, and performance. Originally from Sacramento, he has lived and worked in Portland, New York, and New Orleans, shaping a multidisciplinary creative career.
Jaina is the author of the memoir Get It While You Can, a finalist for the Oregon Book Award and now in its third printing. His writing has appeared in The Atlantic, McSweeneyâs, and Oregon Humanities.
As a musician, he has released numerous albums under his own name, including 2025âs The Monster Mash, blending literary sensibility with adventurous songwriting. His work often crosses artistic boundaries, reflecting a deep engagement with narrative and form.
He co-founded and served as music director for the New York-based ballet company Satellite, collaborating with dancers from Juilliard School and New York City Ballet, with performances at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
Jaina has also composed scores for films and documentaries including All Sorts, Cement Suitcase, and Elemental: Reimagine Wildfire.
45th Parallel Universe45th Parallel Universe is a collective of musicians dedicated to celebrating great chamber music through intimate, imaginative performances. Comprised primarily of musicians from the Oregon Symphony, the ensemble brings exceptional artistry and a spirit of collaboration to every project.
Since 2009, 45th Parallel has blurred boundaries between old and new, classical and contemporary, bluegrass and jazz, fiddle and folk. Their programming reflects Portlandâs vibrant creative community, drawing together diverse audiences through unexpected and thoughtfully curated musical experiences.
Known for its â360-degreeâ approach to programming, the ensemble seamlessly weaves Bach and Beethoven alongside adventurous repertoire and cross-genre collaborations. These projects often feature artists from a wide range of traditions, embracing the richness and diversity of the region.
At its core, 45th Parallel Universe believes in music as a powerful and shared human experienceâone that is both timeless and ever-evolving.
Join a screening of Union County, starring Will Poulter and Noah Centineo alongside a cast of non-actors from central Ohio. Set in the shadow of the opioid epidemic, this hopeful drama follows two brothers navigating court-mandated recovery and the community that helps them imagine a different future.
Ohio-born filmmaker Adam Meeks drew inspiration from the real-life recovery community he encountered in his hometown, full of people healing and rebuilding their lives. Some of them were cast in the film, and the result is an intimate, compassionate portrait of people rebuilding their lives and finding solidarity and hope in the aftermath of a devastating drug crisis.
Inspired by Davide De Pierroâs newly released novel The Letters I Never Sent, his live show blends personal storytelling, humor, and audience conversation. Throughout the night, De Pierro will deliver a monologue and read selections from the book, followed by an open Q&A with the audience. Limited meet-and-greet opportunities will also be available for those who purchase in advance. Davide is a New Jersey native that has cultivated over 3M followers on TikTok and 2.7M followers on Instagram and has been earning millions of views online. Known for his commentary on relationships, finances, and those relatable moments that capture the human experience, Davide is excited to be expanding into a fresh medium.
Parallel Worlds Bookshop and the Hollywood Theatre present a special author conversation with Jane Schoenbrun and SenLinYu, celebrating the release of Janeâs debut novel, Public Access Afterworld, followed by a screening of Schoenbrunâs acclaimed film I Saw the TV Glow.
When: November 5, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Where: Hollywood Theatre 4122 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland, OR 97212
Tickets: $18 sold via Hollywood Theatre
Ticket price does not include a copy of the book. Preorder Here!
A mysterious realm waits on the other side of our screens. A dark force draws victims into its static. An unlikely hero must save them, and herself, from an electric hell.
Spanning decades and realities, Public Access Afterworld follows an unforgettable ensemble of outcasts and obsessive television viewers whose lives become entangled with a surreal pirate network. At the center is Bethany Peters, a trans content moderator working the night shift at a sprawling tech corporation. When a young streamer begins appearing in her feed and calling out to Public Access Afterworld, Bethany is pulled into a conspiracy stretching across screens, timelines, and realities.
A mesmerizing collision of speculative fiction, horror, conspiracy, and queer transformation, Public Access Afterworld marks the literary debut of the celebrated filmmaker behind I Saw the TV Glow and Weâre All Going to the Worldâs Fair.
About Jane SchoenbrunJane Schoenbrun is an award-winning filmmaker and writer. Their films include I Saw the TV Glow and Weâre All Going to the Worldâs Fair. Their newest film, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, starring Gillian Anderson and Hannah Einbinder, releases in 2026. Public Access Afterworld is their first novel.
Event and Pre-Signing InformationTickets for the screening and conversation are sold through the Hollywood Theatre. Copies of Public Access Afterworld will be available for purchase onsite from Parallel Worlds Bookshop.
Jane Schoenbrun and SenLinYu will not be signing books. Pre-ordered books or books purchased at event will be pre-signed.
Still photography is permitted. Audio and video recording are not permitted unless approved in advance.
Pre-Order Books HerePublic Access Afterworld by Jane Schoenbrun - Signed Edition
(Pub Date: October 27, 2026)
A mysterious realm on the other side of our screens. A dark force that draws victims into its static. The unlikely hero called to save them and herself from this electric hell. Public Access Afterworld is the profound, binge-all-night, headrush of a novel by the celebrated filmmaker of I Saw the TV Glow and Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma.
Alchemised by Senlinyu 3 Volume Deluxe Boxset(Pub Date: October 13)
In this riveting dark fantasy debut, a woman with missing memories fights to survive a war-torn world of necromancy and alchemyâand the man tasked with unearthing the deepest secrets of her past.
Authors Julia Cooke (Starry and Restless) and Lance Richardson (True Nature) sit down to discuss their new biographies.Both works explore the lives of trailblazing journalists and activists. Moderated by journalist Charley Locke.
About Starry and Restless:The page-turning story of three women reporters and the way they changed the world, work, and journalism.
She hid on a Red Cross boat to reach Omaha Beach on D-Day. She walked the abandoned streets of Hong Kong to take food to her daughterâs father, a prisoner of war. She fought off the advances of overzealous Yugoslavian diplomats, found overlooked details of world history in a dentistâs kitchen in Sarajevo. She traveled alone to Mexico. She traveled alone to Congo. She traveled alone to the American South. She married Hemingway. She married a Chinese poet-playboy-publisher, then married a British war hero. She fell in love with H. G. Wells. She gave birth and raised a child on her own. She landed on the front page of the newspaper. She wrote for the great magazines of her timeâVogue, The New Yorker, Harperâs Bazaar. She wrote a play. She wrote a memoir. She wrote a genre-breaking travel narrative. She wrote bestsellers. She wrote and wrote and wrote. She changed the very way we think about writing and the way journalists craft storiesâwhich sources are viable, which details are importantâand the way women move and work in the world.
She was Martha Gellhorn. She was Emily âMickeyâ Hahn. She was Rebecca West. Each woman was starry-eyed for success, for adventure, and helped ensure that other starry and restless women could make unforgettable lives for themselves. They fought for their lives and their work. They were praised and criticized for it all.
In language as lively and nimble, in passages as intimate and adventurous, and with conviction as fierce and indefatigable as her subjectsâ own, Julia Cookeâs Starry and Restless plays out the stories of three women across three decades and five continents. Martha, Mickey, Rebeccaâjournalists, authors, mothers, lovers, friends. These women didnât just bear witness to the great changes of the twentieth century; their curiosity, grit, ambition, and stories changed the world.
About True Nature:The firstbiography of Peter Matthiessen, the novelist, naturalist, and Zen roshi, whose trailblazing work championed Native American rights and helped usher in the modern environmental movement, by award-winning writer Lance Richardson.
âA stunning, formidable achievement by a brilliant biographer. Lance Richardson takes his readers on a wild ride with Peter Matthiessen.â âKai Bird, Pulitzer Prize-winning co-author of American Prometheus
âA fair-minded, grippingly paced, and tremendously readable narrative.â âPico Iyer, Air Mail
Peter Matthiessen (1927-2014), a towering figure of twentieth-century American letters, achieved so much during his lifetime, in so many different areas, that people have struggled to pin him down. While ambivalent about his WASP privilegeâas a teenager he demanded that his name be removed from the New York Social Registerâhe attended Yale and cut his teeth in postwar Paris, co-founding The Paris Review as he worked undercover for the CIA. But then, after a rebellious stint as a Long Island fisherman, he escaped into a series of wild expeditions: floating through the Amazon to recover a prehistorical fossil; embedding with a tribe in Netherlands New Guinea; swimming with sharks off the coast of Australia. His novels, inspired by his travels, were unclassifiable meditations about Caymanian turtle hunters and frontier outlaws in the Florida Everglades. Meanwhile, his nonfiction became legendary: nature books like Wildlife in Americaââkey parts of the canon of emergent environmental writing,â says Bill McKibbenâas well as advocacy journalism supporting Cesar Chavez, Leonard Peltier, and Native American land claims.
Underlying all Matthiessenâs disparate pursuits was the same existential searchâto find a cure for âdeep restlessness.â This search was most profoundly articulated in The Snow Leopard, his famous account of a 250-mile wildlife survey across the Himalayas. In True Nature, Lance Richardson reconstructs the full scope of a spiritual quest that ultimately led Matthiessen, even as he inflicted great pain on his family, to the highest ranks of Zen. Drawing on rich primary sources and hundreds of interviews, Richardson depicts Matthiessenâs life with page-turning immediacy, while also illuminating how the writerâs uncanny gifts enabled him to sense connections between ecological decline, racism, and labor exploitationâto express, eloquently and presciently, that âin a damaged human habitat, all problems merge.â
Singer, rapper, and author Dessa will join the Oregon Symphony for an evening of soaring ballads, writerly pop songs, and rap anthems. The concert also will include a series of new monologues, crafted in Dessaâs signature styleâtrue stories told with intellectual rigor, tenderness, candor, and wit. Donât miss this landmark performance, presented in collaboration with Literary Arts as an extension of the Portland Book Festival.
About the Show InfoThis concert is part of the Special Concerts series, and is eligible for the Choose Your Own Series (Portland only).
Concert begins promptly at the time listed.
Loading... Select a Date Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland Sat, Nov 7, 2026, 7:30 PM Promo Code Buy TicketsPlay and learning go hand in hand. While our storytimes are on break, join other families for a fun playtime (for ages birth - 1) with board books, toys, music, and all the room your baby needs to learn through play. As Mr. Rogers said, "... for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood."
Play and learning go hand in hand. While our storytimes are on break, join other Black families in a fun playtime at the library with books, toys, music, and all the room you need to learn through play in a positive, affirming environment. As Mr. Rogers said, "... for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood."
The second night of 'Sight Reading - Musical Dialects' at the Portland Book Festival features world-renowned songwriters Anna Tivel, Willy Vlautin, and Wonderly collaborating in real time. Performers are accompanied by new arrangements from 45th Parallel Universe.
Each year, Milagro observes DĂa de Muertos with the premiere of a new production, altar displays, and community events with the DĂa de Muertos Festival. The Centerpiece event of the 31st Annual DĂa de los Muertos Celebration is Marigolds y Memorias, an original devised production inspired by the traveling carpa tradition, in which humor, music, and storytelling come together in a vibrant theatrical journey. Guided by an elder, a younger generation learns o build an altart, the heart of DĂa de Muertos, discovering the meaning behind each of its elements, from candles and marigolds to photographs, ofrendas, and cherished recuerdos. Through song, dance, and short theatrical vignettes, the altar gradually takes shape as an act of remembrance and cultural inheritance, inviting audiences to consider how traditions are taught, how memory is kept alive, and what is carried forward when we share rituals across generations.
DĂa de Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a long-honored tradition with roots in Indigenous Mexican culture. DĂa de Muertos is observed annually in Mexican and other Latin American cultures on November 1st and 2nd as a remembrance of those who have passed. Individuals and families who honor this day set up ofrendas (altars) with offerings to their departed loved ones. Typical offerings include marigolds, calaveras, photos of the dead, and traditional food like âpan de muerto.â
Celebrate DĂa de los Muertos at M&M Marketplace with two days of culture, music, food, and family fun. Join us on Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 1 from 2 PM to 7 PM for a free community celebration in Hillsboro.
Enjoy live music, traditional altars, Calenda, Calaveritas Literarias, a Concurso de Catrinas, food, shopping, and family entertainment. Bring your family and friends as we come together to honor loved ones and celebrate DĂa de los Muertos traditions.
Dates: Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 1
Time: 2 PM to 7 PM
Location: M&M Marketplace, 346 SW Walnut St., Hillsboro, OR 97123
Admission: Free
¥Acompåñanos con toda la familia para celebrar nuestras tradiciones, recordar a nuestros seres queridos y disfrutar un fin de semana especial en comunidad!
In Smith Claudel's third solo exhibition with Carnation Contemporary, the yard is both a symbol and a physical source material, juxtaposing the enclosure of nature and its display with the control of the body. In this exhibition, temporary sculptures of raw clay, harvested from the artistâs yard, will soon return to the earth. A series of botanical drawings was made with the artist's menstrual blood. And a site-specific installation displays a collection of yard work specimens: a small patch of grass unnaturally maintained, nail enamel coating unfired pinch pots, and plant clippings caught in resin.
Yard Work examines the absurdity and care of maintaining one's landscape, and the tension between being kept and being desired.
Kim Smith Claudel is an artist and visual designer based in Portland, Oregon. Working across painting, sculpture, and installation, Smith Claudel creates work that exists in deliberate flux. Her process-driven approach embraces the ephemeral, the decaying, and the mundane, building visual systems that resist completion. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including a recent solo exhibition (End Cycle) at The Vestibule in Seattle. Other recent solo exhibitions include The Arts Center (Corvallis, OR), The Painting Center (NYC), Mt. Hood Community College (OR), and KyotoBA (Japan). Recent residencies include Building 5 in Portland and the Boston Center for the Arts. She holds an MFA from the School of Visual Arts. She received an MS in Media Arts and Sciences from the MIT Media Lab, where she was a Learning Innovation Fellow. She is a member of Carnation Contemporary Gallery and the WAVE artist collective.
Opening Saturday, October 03, 5â8 p.m.
Young adult authors, Maggie Stiefvater (The Dream Thieves) and Isabel Cañas (The House of Gardenias) come together for a conversation on the hauntingly enchanted worlds in their latest releases. In the newest installment of the graphic novel iteration of The Raven Cycle, Stiefvater and adapter Sas Milledge bring the original text to life with rich illustrations and suspenseful panels. Like Stiefvater, Cañas expertly constructs a gothic world threatened by an unimaginable ancient power. Moderated by Alicia Tate, these authors discuss the mythical worlds they built and the characters that try to understand them.
About The Dream Thieves:The second book in Maggie Stiefvaterâs #1 NYT bestselling series The Raven Cycle, now gorgeously illustrated as a graphic novel!
Ronan Lynch is made of secrets. His longest kept one? He can pull impossible things out of dreams. Itâs a secret thatâs nearly killed him more than once. Waking the corpse road should have led Blue and the Raven Boys straight to Glendower, the Whelsh king rumored to be sleeping beneath the mountains of Henrietta. But instead, the forest of Cabeswater has disappeared, energy hums and sputters beneath the town, and the Raven Boysâ search is at a dead end.
Ronanâs dreams may be the key to finding Glendower, but none of the Raven Boys are prepared for what will be unleashed in Ronanâs desperate attempt to finally control his power. Reimagined as a stunning full-color graphic novel adapted and illustrated by Sas Milledge, Dream Thieves blurs the line between reality and nightmare until they are one and the same.
About The Houses of Gardenias:A debut gothic YA from the USA Today bestselling author of The Hacienda and The Possession of Alba DĂaz Sixteen-year-old Minerva has endured hunger, violence, and unrest in a capital city inspired by colonial Mexico.
Determined to escape her fatherâs cruelty, she reinvents herself in a wealthy loyalist enclave, becoming ladyâs maid to the formidable widow EncarnaciĂłn del Valle.
For the first time, Minerva knows stability with regular meals, warm light powered by magical chispa, and a measure of protection. When a ruthless regime rises to power, the household withdraws to the del Valle familyâs secluded estate, Casa de las Gardenias. There, amid resentful heirs and rigid social hierarchies, something far older than the nationâs turmoil waits in the shadows.
Itâs a haunting, timely gothic novel that weaves Mexican history, class tension, and supernatural dread.
Alexis Nikole Nelson, best known to millions of fans as Black Forager, invites you on an adventure to discover the delicious and wild foods hiding in plain sight. Alexis captivates people with her joyful enthusiasm and deep knowledge of foraging and inspires them to explore the bounty of their own backyards, parks, and trails, and now she does the same in her eagerly awaited first book.
Happy Snacking, Donât Die! is a one-of-a-kind collection of recipes and foraging wisdom that teaches you how to turn common plants, flowers, and fungi into yummy, plant-based meals. This unique work is almost like two books in oneâforaging plant guide and vegan cookbookâorganized by season to guide you through a year of appetizing discoveries. In spring, youâll learn to pickle Magnolia flowers and turn Japanese Knotweed into a refreshing granita. Summer is for frying up Milkweed Buds, making Juneberry Hand Pies, and crafting Rosewater Baklava. When fall arrives, youâll be making savory mushroom dishes (a.k.a. chicken of the woods) like Maitake steak and bacon. And in winter, cozy up with Pine Shortbread Cookies and Oyster Mushroom Chowdah.
Andrew Sean Greer, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Less, showcases his wit, sophistication, and deep knowledge of focaccia in this tale of a young man who takes an unspecified job with a charismatic elderly Baronessa at her crumbling villa in the Tuscan hills. Interviewed by Lucy Feldman (TIME).
Limited guaranteed seat tickets with book included available; most of the theatre will be first-come first-served with a PBF GA pass. About Villa Coco:An aspiring archivist determined to begin a âseriousâ life after an undistinguished undergraduate career takes up residence in the Italian countryside. Here, he becomes the all-purpose assistant to the Baronessa, known to her friends as Coco, a defiantly youthful and naturally flamboyant woman of ninety-two. Amid a chaotic and colorful milieu of gin-swilling princesses, incomprehensible handymen, roaming boarhunters, nuns, and other local wildlife, our young man does his best to catalog the villaâs extensive collection of art and antiquesâalthough he notices that things seem to go missing from right under his nose.
Despite himself, he tumbles into an affair with a married man, complicating his future plans considerably. And when the Baronessa loses someone close to her, he becomes an unwitting accomplice in the acceleration of Cocoâs great and final plan: to locate the love of her life and be reunited before itâs too late. Told with the signature wit, charm, and humanity that made Less an international phenomenon, Villa Coco is a dazzling, sun-soaked ode to life itself, a meditation on how seriously we ought to take ourselves, and a bawdy Mediterranean ballad about becoming who weâve always wanted to be.
Play and learning go hand in hand. While our storytimes are on break, join other families for a fun playtime (for ages 2-3) with books, toys, music, and all the room you need to learn through play. As Mr. Rogers said, "... for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood."