Fiction

• “The Left Hand of Darkness” by Ursula K. Le Guin | Release date: March 1969 | Pioneering feminism and the examination of androgyny in science fiction, this epic follows a human envoy to the planet Gethen, where the culture is strongly influenced by the ambisexuality of its people.
• “The Clockwork Dynasty” by Daniel H. Wilson | Release date: August 2017 | Fantastical history and futuristic tech combine in this thrilling story of intelligent automatons and a centuries-long war.

Expand your horizons

• “In the Pockets of Small Gods” by Anis Mojgani | Release date: April 2018 | Oregon’s poet laureate explores how we handle lasting grief, flipping from the surreal to the starkest of realities with words that capture the human experience on an intimate level.
• “My Abandonment” by Pete Rock | Release date: March 2009 | Inspired by the true story of a father and daughter living off-the-grid in Forest Park for years, this novel was also adapted into the film “Leave No Trace.”

Personal stories

• “Fugitives and Refugees” by Chuck Palahniuk | Release date: July 2003 | Switching between autobiographical chapters and travel guide tips, this raw and uncensored look at a Portland past takes you to its underground... and then digs deeper.
• “Tough Girl: Lessons in Courage and Heart from Olympic Gold to the Camino de Santiago” by Carolyn Wood | Release date: August 2018 | From winning Olympic gold as a swimmer at just 14 to coming out as gay in the 1970s to backpacking 500 miles in Spain, this moving coming-of-age tale touches on personal resilience and looking for oneself among life’s memories.

• The Break with Kaveh Akbar | Mon., Sept. 26 | 5-6 p.m. | Online | Free | Join this monthly gathering of writers and artists, which celebrates collaboration and interdisciplinary experimentation, loosely connected to themes of recovery.
• Jack Johnson | Mon., Sept. 26 | 6:30 p.m. | McMenamins Edgefield, 2126 SW Halsey St., Troutdale | $187+ | Get “One Step Ahead” on tickets for this show featuring guest Ron Artis II. 🤙

• LA CHICA | Tues., Sept. 27 | 8 p.m. | The Old Church Concert Hall, 1422 SW 11th Ave. | $17.50 | This artist draws from traditional Latin, modern, and classical inspirations to create a new fusion of music. 🎶
• Earth II | Tues., Sept. 27 | 7 p.m. | Clinton Street Theater, 2522 SE Clinton St. | $8 | Enter a world of climate collapse, natural disasters, and humanity in this feature-length film. 🎥

• Drag Bingo with Nashville Hot Chicken | Wed., Sept. 28 | 7 p.m. | The Pharmacy, 2100 NW Glisan St. | Free | Name iconic film music in this round of bingo — featuring prizes and drag comedy performances. 🎥
• Confessions of an Entrepreneur | Wed., Sept. 28 | 5:30-8 p.m. | Perkins Coie LLP, 1120 NW Couch St. | Free | Learn from Sarah Smith, co-creator of The Dyrt — the nation’s largest source of information for campgrounds. 🏕️

• Mark Wills | Thurs., Sept. 29 | 8 p.m. | Ponderosa Lounge & Grill, 10350 N. Vancouver Way | $35 | Feel the acoustics in this 90s-style country performance. 🪕
• Last Thursday | Thurs., Sept. 29 | 6-9 p.m. | Northeast Alberta Street | Free | This lively street fair celebrates the local art scene with artists, bands, performers, and creators. 🎨
• The Midnight | Thurs., Sept. 29 | 8 p.m. | McMenamins Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W. Burnside St. | $32.50+ | Synth-pop and electronic melodies fuel the harmony of this musical duo.

• Trans Siberian Orchestra | Mon., Nov. 28 | 7 p.m. | Moda Center*

• Cost: 80% less expensive than the dentist
• Convenience: delivered right to your door
• Quality: 100% BPA-free plastic only

• 88º | Sunny | 3% chance of rain

• Rise: 7:02 a.m.
• Set: 6:59 p.m.

• Circuits are firing with the news that Hillsboro will be home to Oregon’s first Semiconductor Center of Innovation Excellence — a world-class research center for the region’s leading microchip economy. Partners in the Silicon Forest venture include Oregon State University, Intel, and the Oregon Business Council. 🖥️ (Business Tribune)
• Unico Properties, the owner of the Portland Galleria, unveiled its $20 million renovation of the downtown building, which houses Target on the first floor. Office tenants will be able to move into the third and fourth floors and eventually enjoy a yet-to-be-completed amenities space on the second level. (Portland Business Journal)

• Terroir and tearing up records: Oregon’s wine industry rebounded from 2020’s wildfire smoke in a big way in 2021. Sales rose 13% to 5.3 million cases — a historic high for the state. It also appears that April’s frost damage was not as harmful as feared for this year’s harvest. 🍷 (Portland Business Journal)

• When he’s not scoring game-winners from the Portland Timbers’ midfield, George Fochive applies his skills with a paintbrush. The global footballer’s acrylic works will debut at an upcoming show on Thurs., Oct. 6 at Akadi (6:30-9:30 p.m.). Tickets are $100 and a portion of the proceeds will benefit local youth soccer. ⚽ (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)

• Yesterday, the Thorns won their last home game of the regular season by three goals to nil; the visiting Chicago Red Stars (or should we say Red Cards?) finished the game with only nine players on the pitch. With a victory at NJ/NY Gotham FC (Sat., Oct. 1), the NWSL Shield will return to Portland. 🏆 (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)
• In a recent letter to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, US Senator Ron Wyden advocated for the addition of a professional women’s basketball team in Portland. He also stated his support for Phil Knight’s reported interest in buying the Trail Blazers. What an assist. 🏀

• Have you been to Beaverton lately? The suburb with superb dining options is hosting a culinary celebration, Beaverton Restaurant Week, now through Sun., Oct. 2. Not familiar with the scene? Start with these five standouts, including Hapa Pizza and BG Food Cartel (which actually counts for 31). (Portland Monthly)

• Like MTV’s “Cribs” with a Rose City twist, the Portland Modern Home Tour is back in person this fall. For $40, you can access seven new builds and eye-catching mid-century restorations across the Portland metro area on Sat., Oct. 15, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Live that life... even if only for a moment. 🏠 (Portland Monthly)

• Chris Rempel, a cultural education specialist for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, will give a presentation at Milwaukie’s Ledding Library on Wed., Oct. 5 at 6 p.m. Demonstrations of historical and Native cultural items will be followed by a Q and A session. (Portland Tribune)

• When an atomic bomb exploded over Hiroshima, Japan, in 1945, it wrought unimaginable destruction. And yet, many trees endured — now, saplings (mostly ginkgo and persimmon) grown from the seeds of those survivors have been planted in Portland, Hood River, and 48 other locations across Oregon through a four-year effort. 🌳 (OPB)

• Did you know? Our allergy triggers change and evolve over time as we age. Read: You might have new allergies you don’t even know about — to find out your most updated allergy triggers, take Picnic’s easy, at-home allergy quiz. Pro tip: Picnic can prescribe customized allergy medicine for relief, too.*