Arts & Media❯Readings

Closing out the Portland Book Festival with a special edition Soju Party, celebrating Korean food, drinking culture, and Irene Yoo’s James Beard Award-winning cookbook, Soju Party: How to Drink (and Eat!) Like a Korean, as part of Portland Book Festival’s “living cookbook” weekend.

Expect Han Oak favorites and anju-inspired bites with specialty soju + wine cocktails with CHO Wines, and plenty of reasons to raise a glass. Irene will be there celebrating the book, with copies available for purchase throughout the evening. Come eat, drink, and learn to party like a Korean. Everyone’s invited.

About the author:

Irene Yoo is a Korean American food writer, recipe developer, chef and co-owner of Brooklyn’s Orion Bar, whose work explores Korean food, drinking traditions, and the culture of gathering around the table.

Live Wire joins forces with the Portland Art Museum for an afternoon of roving performances ahead of an evening recording of the program. The event coincides with PAM's monthly Free First Thursday and the Portland Book Festival's expanded programming. Performers will include poet and rapper Dessa, bestselling children’s author Mac Barnett, Pulitzer Prize Finalist Ed Park, and Portland comedian Mx. Dahlia Belle.

Free pop-up performances will take place throughout the Museum’s galleries, giving visitors a chance to catch live performances and storytelling while moving through the PAM spaces. Completely free through PAM’s Free First Thursday general admission. Also, enjoy a fully seated, ticketed Live Wire taping hosted by Luke Burbank with announcer Elena Passarello, featuring a blend of interviews, comedy, and music performed live for the audience, then edited into an episode for broadcast to over 200 public radio stations nationwide.

Visitors can take in the afternoon gallery pop-ups, the evening show, or both.

Singer, rapper, and author Dessa will join the Oregon Symphony for an evening of soaring ballads, writerly pop songs, and rap anthems. The concert will also include a series of new monologues, crafted in Dessa’s signature style—true stories told with intellectual rigor, tenderness, candor, and wit. Don’t miss this landmark performance, presented in collaboration with Literary Arts as an extension of the Portland Book Festival.

Sarah Hicks, Conductor

Dessa, Vocals

Oregon Symphony

Inspired by Davide De Pierro’s 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.

Sixteen of pop culture's most-discussed vampires, each paired with its own wine, at the Portland wine bar that turns fandom into a tasting menu. From Bela Lugosi–era classics to Buffy's Spike to Baldur's Gate's Astarion, the lineup spans a century of vampire media in one seven-day flight. One of Pairings, Portland's most popular past flights, is returning for a limited run. Casual, no wine snobbery required — just characters worth arguing about over a glass.

This ever-popular event will be emceed by local entertainer Enrique E. Andrade, who is a member of the ensemble cast of Marigolds y Memorias, this year’s centerpiece theatrical attraction for the Milagro Central Eastside Muertos Celebration. Originally from Mexico City, Andrade is an accomplished actor and voice-over artist who has appeared in more than two dozen Milagro productions, as well as working at Portland Story Theater and 3rd Angle Music Ensemble. His screen credits include Leverage, Grimm, and The Librarians. The evening’s headline entertainer is Portland’s own Yissel Lopez, who has won over audiences with her captivating Latin pop and Mariachi fusion music.

Guests will dine on a uniquely prepared three-course dinner catered by beloved Portland restauranteur Lucy de Leon, featuring dishes from both her new downtown hotspot, Madrina Cocina Mexicana, and the Eastside La Patroncita, famous for serving up a fusion of time-honored recipes and innovative creations, lovingly prepared with the freshest ingredients and the essence of home. Wine for this special evening is provided by A to Z Wineworks, Oregon’s top-selling wine brand, which pursues its mission to offer dependable, quality wine which is accessible to all.

A guest favorite year after year, our silent auction of unique Mexican artisanal goods will again temp guests with beautiful, one-of-a-kind works of art and other cultural gems. And perhaps most important of all, a major draw of ¡Viva Milagro! is the opportunity to connect and spend time with a room full of Milagro friends and supporters!

Please note that any orders made with credit card are subject to additional processing fees.

For over 40 Seasons, Milagro has been dedicated to bringing the vibrancy of Latino theatre, culture, and art education to audiences in the Pacific Northwest and across the country. We provide a home for artists and audiences seeking authentic Latino cultural experiences. We value creativity and diversity; we welcome the risk of experimentation while respecting tradition; we empower our artists to think creatively and act collaboratively; we are often irreverent but never irrelevant.

In the coming season, we we’ll work hard to keep providing reduced ticket prices for students, to take our bilingual outreach efforts to more communities where the arts are lacking, to transform El Zócalo into a buzzing space for our community groups, and to bring talented artist residents to Milagro. However, we need your help to make this and more happen!

Sponsorships start at just $500.

For more information, please contact us!
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 503-236-7253

Celebrate Friendsgiving at Tualatin Estate on Friday, November 13th from 6 pm to 8 pm. You’ll enjoy a five-course small-plate pairings dinner from Sundial Baking, paired with a flight of Oregon-grown wines. Tickets are $70 per person, or $60 for Owners and Members, and include five small-plate pairings, a wine flight and a $10 bottle credit. Space is limited and reservations are required for this exclusive event. + View Menu 2024 Sauvignon Blanc paired with Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus 2023 Dry Gewürztraminer paired with Polenta & Pork Terrine 2023 Hannah Pinot Noir paired with Apricot Bacon Crostini 2022 Signature Cuvée Pinot Noir paired with Red Wine Braised Beef & Garlic Mashed Potatoes 2022 Quinta Reserva Port-Style Pinot Noir paired with Pumpkin Cheesecake pecan crust, salted caramel sauce

Don’t miss Milagro’s biggest celebration of the year! ¡Viva Milagro! 2026 marks the culmination of their annual Día de Muertos festivities. You’ll enjoy a uniquely prepared dinner, wines, and desserts, plus live entertainment from local artists and musicians. It’s a night of community.

This popular event, Milagro’s largest fundraiser, also features a silent auction filled with unique Mexican artisanal goods. Your support helps Milagro continue bringing vibrant Latino theatre, culture, and art education to our community. Mark your calendar.

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.