...A Hipster

A smart hipster is anti-fur but pro-earflap.

Special Section Conspicuously cute in a hairy kind of way, fueled by detached nostalgia and unwilling to accept adulthood: in a nutshell, your typical Portland scenester. Also, the monsters from Spike Jonze an ... More

Wednesday, November 25, 2009 India Nicholas, Ben Waterhouse

...A Foodie

You can buy only so many cute aprons.

Special Section Bakery treats are nice, but it’s easy to empty your wallet with daily—I mean, um, weekly—special treats. Perhaps it’s time to try baking at home. Piper Davis and El ... More

Wednesday, November 25, 2009 Kate Williams

...An Outdoorswoman

What the hell kind of tree is that?

Special Section How many times have you found yourself stopped dead in your tracks, standing like an idiot in the middle of the sidewalk, staring at a particularly impressive piece of foliage, wondering, &ldqu ... More

Wednesday, November 25, 2009 BEN WATERHOUSE

...A Modern Geek

Declare your allegiance to all things arcadian.

Special Section Long before he was blowing away the geeks of America at Detective Comics, JH Williams III created a truly bizarre superheroine series with lunatic comics writer Alan Moore (Watchmen). Promethea ... More

Wednesday, November 25, 2009 BEN WATERHOUSE

...Mom

Mom needs some flair. Something bright, and soft.

Special Section Your answer to “What is your favorite Portland bridge?” says a lot about you. Are you showy like the Fremont? Flaky like the Sellwood? Reliable like the Marquam? Show how versatile ... More

Wednesday, November 25, 2009 India Nicholas

...Possible Significant Other, Maybe

Tell me why you can’t just define this already?

Special Section OK, I know a wallet is kind of a girlfriendy gift, and I guess that might make you uncomfortable, since you’re always so damn vague about that kind of thing, but look at it like this: The ... More

Wednesday, November 25, 2009 BEN WATERHOUSE

...A Kid

Smart parents know that playtime is all about indoctrination.

Special Section Smart parents know that playtime is all about indoctrination. Are you going to train your kids to care about Barbie’s hair or to do something useful? This wooden lawnmower from Papa Don&r ... More

Wednesday, November 25, 2009 BEN WATERHOUSE

...A Soccer Dad

Sometimes dad just has to get out of the house.

Special Section “Now, you kids know how Dad loves his whiskey. He needs it to cope with your constant messes, your overbooked schedules, your off-key saxophone practice and your constant screaming. But g ... More

Wednesday, November 25, 2009 BEN WATERHOUSE

35 Years

Willamette Week turns 35 and looks back on the city that made it.

Special Section Thirty-five years, nearly 2,000 issues. Here Willamette Week sits, having nearly burned through the aughts, with 3 1/2 decades of reporting, muckraking, critiquing, celebrating and satirizing Portland ... More

Wednesday, November 4, 2009 Mark Zusman, Ethan Smith

Portland By The Numbers

Special Section Population 1970: 381,8772008: 551,226Rank by population among U.S. cities 1974: 35th2009: 29thMedian age 1970: 322008: 37.5Portlanders with bachelor’s degrees or better 1970: 12.4% 2008: 39.6%M ... More

Wednesday, November 4, 2009 Ethan Smith