Music With the 1973 release of his now-classic debut, Sold American, singer-songwriter Kinky Friedman emerged with a fully-formed, wholly unique Jewish cowboy persona—soo-ee generis, as it were. Hilariously offensive ditties like the bigot-baiting "They Ain't Makin' Jews Like Jesus Anymore" and feminist-feather-ruffling "Get Your Biscuits in the Oven and Your Buns in the Bed"— which earned him ...   More

News The irony of cartoonist John Callahan's final wishes escaped no one. A few days before his death last weekend, Callahan told one of his brothers that he wanted a Catholic funeral. That surprised the family, given that Callahan devoted a good portion of his cartoons' biting humor toward the church, even though he had been raised Catholic. Below is one of those cartoons. The family nevertheless ...   More

News National media are beginning to weigh in on the death and life of John Callahan. Here's a delightful and personal appreciation in The Washington Post. Here's another piece in the Post by a fellow cartoonist. And The Gray Lady herself weighed in with this obit, a somewhat passionless piece that said Callahan "viewed the world through a dark and wicked lens." Here's the piece that WW did ...   More

News That quote in the headline was uttered recently by a former girlfriend of John's, part of the community of colleagues that extends from his base at Northwest Lovejoy Street across the globe. Many friends and fans have been reaching out since Callahan died Saturday at Good Samaritan. They're marking his death on butcher paper at Callahan's apartment at 2449 NW Lovejoy St. And they're remembering ...   More

News If you don't know the story of JC, or the years have eroded from memory some of the finer details of the life and career of this gentle, sad and acutely funny Portlander, then we suggest you get out of the heat for a few minutes and check out two wonderful stories about him. The first, by Chris Lydgate and the second, Beth Slovic. For 27 years, WW has been proud to be a home for John's cartoons. ...   More

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News Amid uproarious laughter and muffled tears, friends and relatives last night celebrated the life of late Portland icon John Callahan at Mission Theater near Callahan's longtime home off Northwest 23rd Avenue. The Aug. 10 memorial, “An Evening with John Callahan (well, sort of),” was organized by a group of family members and close friends, including Mark Zusman, WW editor; Terry Currier, ...   More

News "An Evening with John Callahan (sort of)" has been scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 10, at the Mission Theater and Pub, 1624 NW Glisan St. This tribute to the late cartoonist, artist and musician will include performances of a few Callahan songs, videos of him, as well as remembrances from good friends, colleagues and a few surprise guests. Admission is free to this 7:30 pm event. But be forewarned: ...   More

News The Northwest Examiner has a piece this month proposing to rename NW Westover Road for John Callahan, the prolific Portland cartoonist who died last month. "People in Portland are known for arguing over street names, so I don't want to start any trouble with this, but Westover Road could easily give up a few feet where it meets 23rd Avenue without anyone making a big deal of it," Mike Ryerson ...   More