What most surprised Emily Schaber about mixing her own fragrances was the sense of order it brought to her life. Living with a learning disability had made scheduling and organizing next to impossible, Schaber told the Mercury, but the intentional planning that perfumery required helped her break through some of those difficulties. She became a […]
Andrew Jankowski
Portland Perfumer Emily Schaber Blends Science and Art
What most surprised Emily Schaber about mixing her own fragrances was the sense of order it brought to her life. Living with a learning disability had made scheduling and organizing next to impossible, Schaber told the Mercury, but the intentional planning that perfumery required helped her break through some of those difficulties. She became a […]
My Perfectly Valid Objections Airs the First Date Anxieties of Trans and Cis People
Within the last half decade, shows like Pose and Euphoria have presented relatable, swoon-worthyโeven realisticโromances between transgender and cisgender people. But despite those successes, there’s still a wealth of ways cis people can accidentally (or intentionally) insult trans people, even when attempting to woo their affections. Portland playwright Mikki Gilletteโs new work, My Perfectly Valid […]
A Lick of Scents
Depending on your fine dining haunts, youโve probably been on the receiving end of a restaurant pepper mill and an offer to grind. Now the craze of culinary perfume spritzes is also slowly, but surely making its way acrossโor lingering in a fine mist aboveโour plates. Aromatic dining adjustments are not unwelcome. In many ways, […]
Our Favorite Moments of Pickathon 2022
Returning after a two-year pandemic hiatus, Pickathon 2022 felt even more like a labor of love than it had in recent years. The fest confirmed that volunteer numbers were low, and Friday saw a short-lived parking crisis, which was eventually solved thanks to a neighbor’s additional lot.ย Though many things about the farmbound fest stayed […]
Kevin Sampsellโs Creative Chopping Block
Author Kevin Sampsell is a known face at most Powell’s books readings—but for the past seven years he has also fostered a passionate found media collage practice.
A new book from Kevin Sampsell collects seven years of the Portland author’s found media practice. Arts writer Andrew Jankowski calls it “a jubilant celebration of bizarre, jarring, and defiant imagery.”
Portland Queer Icons Jumping from Stage to the Screen: Jinkx Monsoon, House of Ada, and More!
House of Ada on Legendary JOHN JOHNSON / HBO MAX There’s no denying the city has acquired a weird reputation. Where once Portland was a place people visited to sup on vegan delights and buy bird-adorned keepsakes, it hasโfor the past few yearsโgained a different notoriety. But our girl’s character is primed for a comeback, […]
Portrait of Gay Glamour: Logan Lynn Wears Gold as a Sign of Good Health
Cover of JD Samson’s remix of Logan Lynn’s “Rich & Beautiful.” KILL ROCK STARS At the February 2020 Grammys, Logan Lynn walked the red carpet in Gucci black leather and gold Tiffany crosses the size of your palm. He’d been wearing the brand’s luxury looks for two years at that point, and would continue to […]
Rule the Revelry of 2022’s Portland Pride Main Stage with This Guide
Thirst Trap Alert: Mercury Editor-in-Chief Wm. Steven Humphrey marched in the 2019 Pride Parade, but is not scheduled to appear on the Pride Main Stage in 2022. Meg Nanna For the first time in two years, we’re looking at a weekend of Pride with a capital ‘P.’ Much of the city’s celebrations orbit the grand […]
Portrait of Gay Glamour: Logan Lynn Wears Gold as a Sign of Good Health
At the February 2020 Grammys, Logan Lynn walked the red carpet in Gucci black leather and gold Tiffany crosses the size of your palm. He’d been wearing the brand’s luxury looks for two years at that point, and would continue to do soโeven rocking a Tiffany wrap necklace on the otherwise stark cover of New […]
Portland Queer Icons Jumping from Stage to the Screen: Jinkx Monsoon, House of Ada, and More!
There’s no denying the city has acquired a weird reputation. Where once Portland was a place people visited to sup on vegan delights and buy bird-adorned keepsakes, it hasโfor the past few yearsโgained a different notoriety. But our girl’s character is primed for a comeback, thanks partially to her most glamorous nightlife performers showing her […]
Legendary Recap of Episodes 1-3: Portland’s House of Ada Struts Onscreen as Fairies, Then Frogs
House of Adaโs frenzied poison frog mating ritual Photograph by John Johnson/HBO Max Are you invited to a HBO’s Legendary screening tonight, but you don’t know what happened in the first three episodes? Do you want to root for Portlandโs House of Ada as the belles of the ball, but havenโt gotten someone elseโs HBO […]
