Only in its second year, Portland Book Week already feels like a fixture. Launched by Powell’s Books and the Cascade Booksellers Association, the ten-day literary celebration makes one thing clear: If you think you’ve hit every bookshop in the area, well, you probably haven’t. 

From June 6–15, more than 60 bookstores across Portland, Vancouver, and Southwest Washington are pulling out the stops with events that will make you laugh, think, sip, swap, and maybe even get a bookish tattoo. A bingo card gamifies the bibliophilic shebang. Grab one at any participating shop, collect stamps as you go, and you might win gift cards, signed novels, or other raffle prizes. But as any book lover knows, much of the fun is simply in the process of collecting. There are plenty of reasons to stack stamps—Portland Book Week offers a sweet range of readings, workshops, and meet-cute opportunities. Here’s your day-by-day guide.

Monday, June 9 – Sunday, June 15

A wine flight inspired by banned books

When I hear the words “wine flight,” I imagine something a little too rich for my blood. Not so with this experience from Pairings Portland. For $30, they'll serve a tasting flight of 11 wines, each paired to a banned book. How does literary censorship relate to tannins, oak maturation, and vegetal aromas? I am excited to find out!! Along with the wine, attendees receive a handout explaining why each book was banned, offering the most satisfying accompaniment to alcohol: something to have an impassioned opinion about. (Pairings Portland, 455 NE 24th, open daily, hours vary. pairingsportland.com)

 

Tuesday, June 10

Learn from a transgender rights activist

White Oak Books, an independent woman-owned shop in downtown Vancouver, will host a reading with Dr. Jamison Green, author of the memoir Becoming a Visible Man and contributor to A History of Transgender Medicine in the United States. Dr. Green is someone to lend your ear: He has lived openly as a transgender man and advocated for trans legal protections since the ’80s. (White Oak Books, 1700 Main St Ste D, Vancouver, WA, whiteoakbooks.net)

Wednesday, June 11

Make a journal

Melville Books is one of the best bookshops in town. Its entryway is part of its charm. Tucked down an unassuming path off NE Alberta, you’ll find carts stacked with used books nestled beneath fruit trees. This bookbinding workshop presents one more reason to visit; it’s just $75 with all materials provided. You’ll leave with a handmade journal, and the class will be led by local artist Camilla Watson, who seems cool—she draws frog wizards and witch pigeons. (Melville Books, 2827 NE Alberta, @melville_books on Instagram)

Thursday, June 12

Read in silence

Any bookish person will tell you that one of the greatest gifts in life is to read in silence. Due to the invention of Silent Reading Party by former Stranger editor Christopher Frizzelle, society seems to be catching on to this core desire—silent book clubs and reading sessions are becoming pretty popular. (Ethereal Reflections’ “reading ceremonies” often sell out.) New-ish Milwaukie bookstore Spoke & Word Books will host this hush-hush evening reading club, which invites attendees to settle in for an hour of quiet reading before optional socializing time. The club, which charges $10 a session, meets every second Thursday of the month. (Spoke & Word Books, 10863 SE Main, Milwaukie, spokeandwordbooks.com)

Friday, June 13

Play with a mini claw machine (and celebrate a new anthology)

Buckman book slingers Up Up Books understand what the people want: a miniature claw machine stuffed with books, pins, and other novel goodies. No need to get too hung up on game strategy, either: You’ll receive one play-til-you-win token with a book purchase. The machine’s presence celebrates the launch of Claw Machine, a “dark and speculative fiction anthology” from Little Key Press. (Up Up Books, 1211 SE Stark, upupbooks.com)

Get a bookish tattoo to benefit Portland Books Through Bars

If your dedication to fine literature lies on the “I want to have my identity as a reader emblazoned on my body for the rest of my life”-end of the spectrum, pop by Dream House on Friday the 13th. It won’t be that scary, promise. Parallel Worlds Bookshop’s fundraiser will offer book-inspired flash pieces by talented Yes Tattoo artists, and all proceeds from tattoo and bar sales will benefit Portland Books Through Bars, an organization connecting incarcerated folks with requested books. (Dream House, 412 NE Beech, @parallelworldsbookshop on Instagram)

Saturday, June 14

Exchange paperbacks

For every dozen new books I bring into my apartment, I force myself to give away, like, one book from my existing shelves. This feels like a fair exchange. After all, there is nothing like a bottomless stack of TBRs to elicit one’s “Ughhhh, I probably shouldn’t get this…” at the bookstore. And that’s not the attitude to have at Portland Book Week. We’re adding to our TBR stack this week, people! Open yourself up to change by swapping out a book you’re ready to part with at queer bookshop Honeyed Words. You can pick out a new one from the sweet selection provided by other participants. (Honeyed Words, 2504 NE Sandy, inside Sonny’s House of Tattoos and Treasures, @honeyedwordspdx on Instagram)

Saturday June 14 & Sunday June 15

Browse antiquarian tomes at the Rose City Book and Paper Fair

Maps! Rare tomes! Miscellaneous paper ephemera! Now that you’re held in rapt attention: The Rose City Book & Paper Fair will round out Portland Book Week with a mountain of unusual, lit-centric stuff from dozens of vendors. You'll find underground zines, vintage photo albums, and curious books from local haunts (Belmont Books, Daedalus Books, Revolutions Bookshop) and further-flung hawkers on site. The people-watching is reliably choice, too. (DoubleTree Hotel, 1000 NE Multnomah, rosecitybookfair.com)

All Week 

An Oregon City institution closes on June 14

Laurie’s Books, a community favorite that has operated in Oregon City since 1982, will shutter toward the end of Portland Book Week. Stop by to bid the bookshop adieu and shop at liquidation prices. (Laurie’s Books, 1678 Beavercreek Rd T, Oregon City, open Tues-Sat 10 am-6 pm. lauriesbooks.store) 

Finally, cats: Visit Oliver and Maisie

You heard me. Try to keep your cool at Vintage Books, a Vancouver shop that two feline employees call home. (Vintage Books, 6613 E Mill Plain Blvd, Vancouver, open daily, hours vary. vintage-books.net)

Portland Book Week takes place Fri June 6-Sun June 15 at bookstores in Portland, Vancouver, and Southwest Washington. See schedule, map, and list of participating shops.

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