AltWeeklies Wire
David Wroblewski Rewrites 'Hamlet' but with Puppiesnew
His debut novel, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle , tracks a young dog trainer as he tries to get up the nerve to murder his murderous uncle.
Willamette Week |
John Minervini |
07-09-2008 |
Fiction
Game Show Imports Like 'Wipeout' are a Study in Orientalismnew

Poking fun at the insanity of a Japanese game show isn't new. But now that mockery is being married with a shrewd commercialism as the very concepts that were once gently derided are Americanized.
Willamette Week |
Daniel Carlson |
07-09-2008 |
TV
Meet Hush Records' Chad Crouch, Your "Full-service Label Guy"new
Back when Portland-born Crouch started Hush 10 years ago, things were a bit more, well, quiet on Portland's musical front.
Willamette Week |
Amy McCullough |
07-09-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Summer's Best Sitcoms Aren't on TV. They're Onlinenew
There's no need to pay for cable if you've got a nearby wi-fi connection. What's more, some of the best sitcoms currently being made are only available online.
Willamette Week |
Staff |
07-09-2008 |
TV
Portland Stylists Head to Las Vegas for the Ultimate Hair Showdownnew

North American Hairstyling Awards is the most prestigious set of awards a U.S. or Canadian stylist can hope to win--it's the Emmys, the Oscars, perhaps even the Olympics of hairdressing.
Willamette Week |
Sara Moskovitz |
07-09-2008 |
Fashion
The Russian Mob Comes to Town with a New Scam: Medical Identity Theftnew
The ease with which Alexandr Shcherbakov and at least one other Russian in Portland bilked the feds illustrates in part why healthcare costs are soaring. "Medical identity theft is the new frontier for organized crime," says Alex Johnson, a former FBI agent who investigates fraud for Regence BlueShield.
Willamette Week |
Nigel Jaquiss |
07-09-2008 |
Crime & Justice
New Doc on Hunter S. Thompson Examines His Bond with Richard Nixonnew

It was part of the American genius for polarization that Thompson saw Nixon as his doppelganger, his mirror. Nixon was his dark shadow. Or maybe it was the other way around.
Willamette Week |
Aaron Mesh |
07-02-2008 |
Reviews
Rectum? Will Smith Damn Near Killed 'Emnew

I had hoped that Hancock would be a departure, that it might restore some of Smith's Fresh Prince swagger, but instead it's the most explicit demonstration yet of the wallowing that has drained a superstar of his powers.
Willamette Week |
Aaron Mesh |
07-02-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
PIAPTK Releases Music Worth Its Weight in Vinylnew
Until two years ago, Matt Dixon was "just some dude in Olympia that wanted to put out a record series."
Willamette Week |
Amy McCullough |
07-02-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Indecision -- and Resulting Pop Genius -- of Dykeritz's Jordan Blumnew
Blum is the sonic architect behind local electro-pop group Dykeritz, which, after two years of limited activity, returns this summer with a fantastic new record called Rearrangerologyistics.
Willamette Week |
Michael Mannheimer |
07-02-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Who is Portland's King of the Chrome, Spinnaface?new
Like Batman or Portland's own Famous Mysterious Actor, the emcee refuses to divulge the man behind the mask.
Willamette Week |
Sara Moskovitz |
07-02-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Why Doesn't Oregon Let Bounty Hunters Chase Down its Most Wanted?new

Since 1974, this state has banned bail bondsmen from operating inside its borders -- one of only four states in the country to do so. Critics say it's no coincidence that in Portland alone, there are thousands of wanted criminals walking the streets.
Willamette Week |
James Pitkin |
07-02-2008 |
Crime & Justice
Did Hannah Bea's Close Because of Gentrification?new

When the restaurant does shut down, owner Anita Smith will owe taxpayers $143,000. But don't expect contrition from Smith; she's far too angry at the Portland Development Commission and gentrification for the uncertainty she says is driving the closure.
Willamette Week |
Beth Slovic |
06-25-2008 |
Food+Drink
Andre Dubus Ill Gets Pulpynew
Dubus III, who also wrote House of Sand and Fog, has achieved some Houdini-caliber misdirection, and his third act may bring you tumbling to the ground.
Willamette Week |
John Minervini |
06-25-2008 |
Fiction
Blood-drenched Underdog 'Wanted' Should have Stayed on the Porchnew

In a summer of Dark Knights and Iron Men, Wanted is a movie version of titular football lameass Rudy.
Willamette Week |
AP Kryza |
06-25-2008 |
Reviews