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Jump to: Wednesday February 3, Thursday February 4, Friday February 5, Sunday February 7, Monday February 8, Tuesday February 9, Wednesday February 10, Thursday February 11, Friday February 12, Saturday February 13

Wednesday February 3top

Face2Face: Old-School Identity Politics vs. Post-Gay Mentality

This week, Face2Face brings us a discussion focusing on the changing approach to queer identity. Although the terminology may seem new (post-gay is the movement away from one's sexuality being synonymous with one's identity, because that's sooo Stonewall Era), the question is a familiar one. As attitudes toward the LGBTQ community progress, how necessary is it to identify first and foremost as a queer person, or, as I like to call it, un-heteronormatively-gender-identified? This discussion should be an interesting exploration of Portland's diverse queer minds, and you'd be smart to attend. Q Center, 4115 N Mississippi Ave., 234-7837‎. 6:30 pm. Free. Map

Lewis Hyde

Lewis Hyde—social anthropologist, poet, scholar, gentle hero—gives two, free public lectures this week on the subject of The Gift and the Commons: Creativity and the Public Good. Though he’s only written three books (two nonfiction, one poetry) over a 30-year career of writing and thinking, Hyde’s books are the sort of thing that artists and writers pass on to each other as if samizdat—person to person, in hushed reverent tones. His most famous work, The Gift, shows that art has always existed not only in a market economy but also a gift economy, a subject perhaps more relevant now than when it was first published 30 years ago. 6:30 pm Wednesday, February 3, at Pacific Northwest College of Art, Swigert Commons, 1241 NW Johnson St, 226-4391. 4 pm Thursday, February 4, at Lewis & Clark College, Templeton Campus Center, Council Chambers, 0615 SW Palatine Hill Road, 768-7000. Both events are free. PNCA, 1241 NW Johnson St., 226-4391. Free. Map

Poetry in Motion Vote

Choose which poems you want posted on the inner walls of TriMet's buses and trains as part of the Poetry in Motion program. Portland Literary Arts is conducting the survey and encouraging locals to vote for their favorite three poems from works by nationally and internationally renowned poets. Partake in your share of literary democracy today! , , . Map

Thursday February 4top

It's Not Me, It's You

Actually, it's both of us. You and me (and everyone we know!) should check out what can't help but be a painfully entertaining evening of listening to Portland's notables share the dismal details of their dates from hell. Not only is this Planned Parenthood fundraiser being sponsored by Willamette Week, but our own film critic, Aaron Mesh, will be a storyteller. That makes this listing a doubly immodest self-promotion! Oh, cry about it. Better yet, come Thursday night and laugh about it. Storytellers: Multnomah County commissioner Jeff Cogen, writers Tara Dublin and Jimmy Radosta, radio host Courtenay Hameister, political consultant Mark Wiener, genius Aaron Mesh,  critic-about-town Caryn Brooks and political activist Roey Thorpe. Bagdad Theater & Pub, 3702 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 236-9234. 7 pm. All proceeds go to Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon. $15 through Ticketmaster, Bagdad Theater or Crystal Ballroom. Map

Steven Weissman

Here's something for the comic book-inclined: In not just your typical reading, California artist and Yikes! creator Steven Weissman will be presenting an art exhibit as part of the release of Chocolate Cheeks. According to Floating World, the comic manages to somehow be simultaneously "gross" and "sophisticated," a combination that may, in itself, warrant investigatory attendance. Or, you know, meeting an award-winning creative dude may be the hook. Floating World Comics, 20 NW 5th Ave. Suite 101., 241-0227. 6 pm. Free. Map

Friday February 5top

Connie Willis 

Science fiction author Connie Willis has been on the scene for a while—she's won 10 Hugo Awards in the past 25 years. And now, almost eight years after her last award-winning novel, Passage, Willis returns with Blackout, a masterful literary homecoming about time-traveling historians who get stuck in the turmoils of World War II. Meet her at the Cedar Hills Powell's just three days after the book's release. Powell's Cedar Hills Crossing, 3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd., 228-4631. 7 pm. Free. Map

Sunday February 7top

Kaia Sand 

Channeling her creative perspectives through images, poetry and prose, Portlander Kaia Sand explores the history of our dear city in Remember to Wave. When I first heard about this, flowery haikus about the Willamette River came to mind. You should be thinking more along the lines of razor-sharp commentaries that weave topics like industrial-toxin dumping and how our city of roses incarcerated Japanese Americans in the Expo Center in 1942. Powell's on Hawthorne, 3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 228-4651. 4 pm. Free. Map

Monday February 8top

Love Outlives Us: An Evening of Words With Music  

A creative approach to the concept of a poetry reading hits the cozy Southeast coffee joint Three Friends on Monday evening with Bruce Greene, A. Molotkov and the Moonlit Guttery Poetry Team (a combo of Portland's Guttery writing group and the Moonlit Poetry Caravan). If you're looking for a laid-back indication of a good week to come, this fusion of spoken word and interesting instrumentals looks like a good bet, or at least a fine way to support your local poets and performers. Three Friends Coffeehouse, 201 SE 12th Ave., 236-6411. 7 pm. Free. Map

Wells Tower

Michael Chabon liked it. Well, everyone liked it. Wells Tower's debut collection of nine short stories, Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned, hit us in the spring of 2009, and now that we've had time to digest, the Brooklyn author is coming to Portland to read from his heckuva success of a first book. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St., 228-4651. 7:30 pm. Free. Map

Tuesday February 9top

NorthStar No Mic Poetry Night

NorthStar Coffeehouse kicks off its new weekly "no mic" open-mic poetry night with a literate shindig. So stop hiding those poems in the back of your Moleskine! It’s a new year! No excuses! Get out there and share your writing! Or I'll keep using exclamation points! NorthStar Coffeehouse, 7540 N Interstate Ave., 285-5800. 7 pm. Free. Map

William Stack

Learn about your state's history the fun way, with a photo book. William Stack reads from Historic Photos of Oregon, his brand new collection of black-and-white photos. The best part is the portraits of families in which every member is frowning. The technical explanation for this mopey phenomenon is beside the point; those scowls just seem so much more honest than the plasticky grins of today's studio portraits. Broadway Books, 1714 NE Broadway., 284-1726. 7 pm. Free. Map

Wednesday February 10top

Francis Payne Adler

Oh, snap. Contemporary America's poetic and progressive notables write some serious heat about the classic social justice issues we're still fighting for in Fire and Ink: An Anthology of Social Action Writing. If you've ever spent the night recovering from hearing Patricia Smith's performance of "Skinhead" or fought the shivers reading Martín Espada's "Alabanza," then you know what you're in for with this book. If not, trust the presence of other big names featured in the collection—June Jordan, Alice Walker, Gary Soto, Linda Hogan—and come out to Portland editor Frances Payne Adler's reading of the newest literary contribution to social justice. Barnes & Noble Vancouver Plaza, 7700 NE 4th Plain Blvd., Vancouver., 360-253-9007. 7 pm. Free. Map

Thursday February 11top

Gabriel Constans 

The author who brought us Buddha's Wife, a controversial novel about Siddhartha from his wife's point of view, will be discussing his book along with the portrayal of women in Buddhist literature at New Renaissance Books this Thursday. Should be enlightening.  New Renaissance Bookshop, 1338 NW 23rd Ave., 224-4929. 7 pm. Free. Map

Joan Gratz

Portland Art Museum's Artist Talk series brings us a casual discussion with local artist Joan Gratz, pioneer of the clay painting animation technique and 1992 Academy Award winner for her animated short film Mona Lisa Descending a Staircase. Gratz will be discussing two works on display, Helen with Apples by George Segal and Useful Art #5: The Western Motel by Nancy Reddin Kienholz and Edward Ralph Kienholz.  Portland Art Museum, 1219 SW Park Ave., 226-0973. 6 pm in the Hoffman Lobby. Free for members or with museum admission. Map

Literary Mixtape 

It's like those tapes you used to receive from your best friend in high school, but with more literature and less Sonic Youth. Local writers and WW contributors Matthew Korfhage and Erik Bader have organized a new reading series in which prominent and well read folks share the written works they're most earnestly excited about. This week's reading is the series' first, with the two aforementioned founders reading along with Pete Swanson of Yellow Swans. Valentine's, 232 SW Ankeny St., 248-1600. 7 pm. Free. Map

Zoobomb Mini Bike Winter Kickoff

A smorgasbord of alternative activities are taking place to kick off Zoobomb Mini Bike Winter, Portland's annual celebration of chilly cycling. Along with a DIY stencil station and compilation of bike films (including bicycle porn) will be a rad panel attempting to address the question "Should bikes save the planet?" with panelists including Conrad Schmidt, founder of the World Naked Bike Ride and author of Efficiency Shifting; and Reverend Phil Sano, bike pornographer and activist. Other panelists include Stephanie Routh, Ryan Hashagen and Erin Rose Michaels. Bring your own clothes to stencil on and some donations to fund all that fun. The Lotus Seed, 4635 NE 9th Ave., . 8:30 pm. Free. Map

Friday February 12top

Mortified Portland 

It's embarrassingly enthralling and awkwardly entertaining—grown-ups shedding their dignity to shed light on their pained adolescent memories by unearthing their old journals, love letters, poetry and so much more. Friday night's show already sold out, so hurry up and reserve your ration of emotional exhibitionism while it's hot. Mission Theater, 1624 NW Glisan St., 223-4527. 8 pm Friday, 5 pm Saturday. $10 advance, $12 door. getmortified.com/live/ Map

Seven Minutes in Heaven

Portland Story Theater and eight actors present a night of wine, chocolate and exploration of love and romance via story theater. PST founders Lynne Duddy and Lawrence Howard will be part of the show—the icing on this hot, theatrical cake. Hipbone Studio, 1847 E Burnside St., 358-0898. $12. Reservation required. Map

Saturday February 13top

"For Your Pleasure" Release Party and Film Night

Stumptown Underground zine collective is releasing its sixth issue, a sex-themed zine aptly titled For Your Pleasure, and Floating World Comics has a hot release party planned to welcome it. Meet the issue's contributors, have a drink, watch selected short films and try your luck at winning one of the many sex toys donated by It's My Pleasure in the night's raffle. Floating World Comics, 20 NW 5th Ave. Suite 101., 241-0227. 6 pm. Free. Map

Paul Flores 

Spoken-word poet, playwright, novelist and all around beautiful word blender Paul Flores culminates his Portland residency at the Spanish English International School of Roosevelt High with a bilingual spoken-word performance featuring his writing alongside original works by SEIS students. El Centro Milagro, 525 SE Stark St., 236-7253. 2 pm. Free. Map