6AM City In-house

Behind the mic đŸŽ™ïž

Q+A: Behind the microphone with Re-Imagined Radio creator John Barber
Dim stage lighting falls upon a man in front of a black microphone.
John Barber is also the librarian and curator of The Brautigan Library. | Photo by N.E.H. Photography
There was a time when listening to classic stories on the radio was a common way to spend the evening hours with friends and family. Vancouver-based Re-Imagined Radio revives the old storytelling format with monthly broadcasts, online streaming, and listening events that impart a cinematic experience, claiming “the pictures are better inside your mind, the screen is larger, and you are the star.”

John Barber, creator and host of Re-Imagined Radio, tuned in to tell us more.

Q: Where are you broadcasting from?
A: We offer a premier broadcast (by that we mean the “first,” and of course, very high-quality production values) simultaneously from KXRW-FM, Vancouver, WA, and KXRY-FM, Portland, OR. And we offer on-demand streaming from our archival website.

Q: Can you provide some examples of story topics you have covered?
A: Every Christmas holiday season we offer a performance of “A Radio Christmas Carol,” our radio adaptation of “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. This has become a community holiday tradition and we continued it even during the COVID-19 pandemic, which prevented live performances. This year, however, we return to a live performance, Wednesday evening, Dec. 21, at Kiggins Theatre in downtown Vancouver.

A man stands at a podium on a stage while a cast of people sit behind him during a holiday performance.

John and cast at the December 2019 holiday performance of “A Christmas Carol.”

Photo by Steve Hart


We have offered episodes of little-known radio performances. For example, our January 2023 episode will be “The Wizard of Oz” starring Judy Garland.

Q: What do you think radio’s role will be in 50 years?
A: Listening to the radio is something we can do while driving cars and operating other machinery. We can listen while we work, relax, exercise. We can listen in our time frame — not be confined to a program schedule. Given this perspective, I hope radio will provide ways for people to connect and work together to make this world a better place for everyone.
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Monday, Dec. 12
  • Pittock Mansion Christmas | Monday, Dec. 12-Wednesday, Jan. 4 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Pittock Mansion, 3229 NW Pittock Dr., Portland | $11.50-$15.50 | Ring in the holidays with this year’s “Music Makes the Season” exhibit, complete with festive, music-themed displays created by volunteer decorators.
  • Michael Allen Harrison’s Christmas at The Old Church | Monday, Dec. 12-Saturday, Dec. 24 | Times vary | The Old Church Concert Hall, 1422 SW 11th Ave., Portland | $32.50-$62.50 | Enjoy this local holiday tradition featuring inspirational and innovative Christmas arrangements, gospel vocals, blues and jazz solos, and community youth.
Tuesday, Dec. 13
  • The Moth | Tuesday, Dec. 13 | 7:30 p.m. | Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, Portland | $21-$85 | Listen to a lineup of storytellers share personal tales from their lives through this celebrated nonprofit dedicated to uplifting diverse literary and cultural voices.
Wednesday, Dec. 14
  • Christmas Ships Parade | Wednesday, Dec. 14-Wednesday, Dec. 21 | 7 p.m. | Willamette + Columbia rivers, Portland | Free | This local holiday tradition celebrates its 68th year with colorful flotillas of ships decked out in whimsical lights.
Thursday, Dec. 15
  • Christmas with C.S. Lewis | Thursday, Dec. 15-Sunday, Dec. 18 | Times vary | Winningstad Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway, Portland | $64 | In this performance, find out how the author developed a new perspective on the meaning of the holiday thanks to his close friend, J.R.R. Tolkien.
Friday, Dec. 16
We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
BRIGHT + SHINY NEW EVENTS

Weather
  • 44Âș | Cloudy skies | 15% chance of rain
Sunrise + Sunset
  • Rise: 7:41 a.m.
  • Set: 4:26 p.m.
Closing
  • Sunshine Noodles, a Cambodian-influenced restaurant in Slabtown, is closing its doors. Owner Diane Lam is moving to San Francisco to cook at a different restaurant. The last day to try her lort cha — a customer-favorite dish of stir-fried noodles, tofu, sweet egg, and bean sprouts — is Sunday, Dec. 18. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)
Civic
  • Portland Fire & Rescue will hire six new firefighters, thanks to a $2.1 million federal grant. The funding will restore two previously cut positions and bring Station 23 back up to a fully-staffed crew — helping improve emergency response in the Hosford-Abernethy, Ladds Addition, and Brooklyn neighborhoods. 🚒 (KOIN)
  • Portland Parks & Recreation is working with community advisors to bring regular exhibits and events back to the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center in the Overlook neighborhood. They also hope to create an artist residency program at the center, which features a 99-seat theater, a rehearsal studio, and an art gallery. đŸ–Œïž (OPB)
Tech
  • The USS Portland — a Navy ship named after Rose City — jumped into action over the weekend to help recover NASA’s Orion capsule after its successful splashdown off the coast of Baja California. The completion of NASA’s uncrewed lunar mission came 50 years to the day after Apollo’s final moon landing. 🚀 (KGTV + Reuters)
Health
  • Former Nike designer Michael DiTullo teamed up with a podiatrist to create a medical boot that can help prevent diabetes-related foot amputations. DiTullo spent four years designing the Foot Defender in Portland, making it look more like a normal sneaker while also improving upon a standard medical boot’s health benefits. (Portland Inno)
Film
  • “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” has been cut free of its strings and loosed upon the world. Read about the talented creators who breathed life into the stop-motion animated film made in Portland — and mark your calendars for the “Crafting Pinocchio” exhibit opening in June at the Portland Art Museum. (Portland Mercury)
Outdoors
  • Looking to start the new year on the right foot? Rangers and volunteers will lead guided hikes at 20 state parks across Oregon — including three near Portland — on Sunday, Jan. 1, teaching visitors about park history, geology, wildlife, and more. They’re free to join and parking fees will be waived.
Ranked
  • Anyone else notice that time flies in Portland? The City of Roses ranked No. 14 on WalletHub’s lineup of the most fun (read: “funnest” is not a word) cities in the US. The list looked at a range of metrics, including the cost of movies and the open hours of breweries. 🎉 (WalletHub)
Shop
  • What are you decking the halls with? According to Cinch Home Services, the lemon cypress is a green-thumbed Oregonian’s favorite holiday plant. Liven up your decoration game by picking yours up from one of these local shops. đŸŒ±
Travel
Sports
  • Now’s the time to buy the sports lover in your life a holiday present, because Fanatics is offering sitewide sales. Easily find licensed sportswear and collectibles like jerseys, hoodies, and outerwear for the world’s most popular sports teams and win the holidays.*
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An open letter to Hallmark ☃

Why Hallmark should make a Christmas movie in Portland
A photo with a lampost in the foreground and a long waterfall in the background surrounded by snow.
Multnomah Falls... or a scene from “Water-falling for Christmas”? | Photo by @cliffordpaguio_
Dear Hallmark,

We know it’s a busy time of year for you, so we’ll keep this brief. We’re writing to you today to let you know Portland, OR, is the perfect backdrop for your next Christmas movie.

We may be biased, but we think our city would be perfect for a made-for-TV holiday romance film (this is the City of Roses, after all):
As you can see, you’d save money on set production because Portland is already decked out in holiday vibes. And when it snows, you won’t need to worry about permits to close off a street because the whole city shuts down.

Happy holidays,

The PDXtoday Team
6AM City In-house
THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Cambrie.

Editor’s pick: Christmas cookies are one of my favorite treats this time of year. As much as I love to bake, sometimes I’m just too busy/tired/lazy to make my own. Enter: Our Instagram guide to 12 different holiday cookies from local bakers.

Just be sure to save a couple for Santa to score some major points on Christmas Eve.

Missed Friday’s newsletter? Learn all about a Portland-born DoorDash for live classical music.
Connect with us.

Editorial: Cambrie Juarez, Ben McBee, Britt Thorson, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Terri Kiesenhofer | Advertise with us.

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