Culture If your bike is making ominous clicking, scraping or creaking noises—or, worse, if you can feel the equivalent of those sounds while pedaling—you need to take your bike into a shop immediate   More

Culture When it comes to switching from cars or public transit to bicycling, actual pedaling is only half the battle. Unless you’re funemployed in July and your only cargo is the precious U-Lock in yo   More

Performance All done: With the premiere of Richard Kramer’s commissioned adaptation of The Cherry Orchard, Chekhov’s classic about a family of penniless aristocrats who must sell their useless orchard, Arti   More

Arts & Books

Moving swiftly between primal and elegant, Gallim Dance's Blush is a stirring exploration of human touch and interaction. The young New York dance company made its West Coast debut Thursday evening to commence the new seaso...   More

Special Section Rumors of sunshine glimpsed momentarily in Portland’s skies have begun circulating. Farmers markets have started blooming in all five quadrants. Recent college graduates have flooded the local j ...   More

Food Reviews & Stories [CHOCOLATE] Nestled between well-known eateries along bustling Northeast 28th Avenue, this charming little chocolatier’s boutique is your palate’s sensual delight and dentist’s worst nightmare (though the good doctor would understand after one visit). Rose-water caramel sauce, ging   More

Food Reviews & Stories [LATIN AMERICAN] Tucked away among shelves brimming with Goya products and religious candles, there are some real gems in this convenience store-turned-Central American grocery. Where else in town are you going to find an entire aisle of foreign beverages, like Inca Kola, Ironbeer, Milca Soda Roja,    More

Food Reviews & Stories [ETHIOPIAN/CONVENIENCE] In re-creating the small shops of their home countries, a handful of Portland’s entrepreneurial newcomers have started businesses that seem to toe a fine line between convenience store and international market. Merkato is perhaps the finest example of this phenomenon, w   More

Food Reviews & Stories [LOCAL/ORGANIC] Still the only cooperatively owned grocery serving Northeast Portland, this cozy co-op has had its doors open for just under a decade. Alberta Co-op’s inventory is impressive, going beyond the standard fare of Annie’s, Amy’s and Newman’s to offer a wide variet   More

Food Reviews & Stories [BULK/SPECIALTY] At first glance, you’d think this was any run-of-the-mill grocery store. But turn left at the modest entrance to an easily missed passageway and you’ll find yourself in bulk heaven, walking along barrels and bins filled with pastas, granolas, nuts, candy, dried fruit, gr   More