We Are Okay by Nina LaCour is the kind of book I wish I had gotten my hands on when I was a teenager. It is the kind of book…
Summertime reading catch-up: Leigh Bardugo’s ‘Crooked Kingdom’
Last week I finished up my first year in my master’s program. I celebrated by doing absolutely nothing. I walked the dog. I drank many cups of coffee (that I…
The Importance of Being Earnest
Something magical happened while I was watching the Artist’s Repertory Theatre’s production of The Importance of Being Earnest. It was not just Oscar Wilde’s word sorcery. It was not just…
One starch to rule them all
As Sam Gamgee reminds us, potatoes are endlessly versatile. Boil ‘em. Mash ‘em. Stick ‘em in a stew. I always have a bag in my pantry. They can be used…
Screaming at books: Alison MacLeod’s ‘All the Beloved Ghosts’
Alison MacLeod’s All the Beloved Ghosts is a collection of short stories that blur the lines we traditionally expect from fiction, biography, and memoir. It is a journey spanning continents,…
Bridgetown Comedy Festival: a summer camp of comedians
The Portland-born Bridgetown Comedy Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary May 4–7. The event will kick off with a performance by Patton Oswalt on May 2 at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. The…
WTF is that? A beginner’s guide to decoding baking recipes
Acronyms AP All Purpose t Teaspoon T Tablespoon c. Cup qt. Quart g. Gallon oz. Ounces lb. Pound Handy conversions 1T = 3t 1/4c. = 4T 4c. = 1qt 1g….
Screaming at books: Gail Godwin’s ‘Grief Cottage’
Everything about Grief Cottage called to me. The gorgeous cover. The summary. The author’s note. Gail Godwin refers to her interest in liminal spaces: “I’m drawn to those crossover places…
Butter my biscuits!
Biscuits are one of those delicious dishes that can be eaten right out of the oven and make your home smell like butter. (Julia Child is my patronus.) What more…
Fancy finals week pasta
My thoughts on wine are best summed up by, It’s great if I’m already drunk because if I’m already making questionable life decisions, I might as well keep the trend…
Dogs and cats, living together
I promised my partner that we weren’t going in to adopt a dog. We were just going to look. We wanted to wait. We wanted to make sure we picked…