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Events, Classes, and Seminars

Our events, classes, and seminars bring the community together to hear, learn, and discuss the most compelling issues and ideas of our day. We hope you will join us in our community space and bookstore at 716 SE Grand Avenue, Portland, OR, online, and at partnering venues across Portland and Oregon.

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Thursday

Oct 3

For BIPOC Writers   Free Events   In-person  

BIPOC Reading Series

Rescheduled from September 25.  This monthly reading series is intended to prioritize the safety, creativity, and stories of Black people, Indigenous people, and People of Color. Come listen to our featured readers, or sign up to share your work in our open mic. Readings will be followed by a short community discussion. Hosted by Kyle Yoshioka and Jessica

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Monday

Oct 7

Tuesday

Feb 4

Bookstore   Free Events  

The Edge of Water: Olufunke Grace Bankole

Olufunke Grace Bankole reads and discusses her debut novel The Edge of Water, in conversation with Margaret Malone. Join us as we celebrate the debut novel from Portland author and Oregon Literary Fellowship recipient Olufunke Grace Bankole, published by our friends at Portland’s own Tin House. Set between Nigeria and New Orleans, The Edge of Water tells the

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Thursday

Feb 6

Bookstore   Free Events  

Bianca Mabute-Louie, Unassimilable: An Asian Diasporic Manifesto for the Twenty-First Century

Join local AANHPI community organizers and groups Ajumama Workshop, Studio Yellow, Liminal Bodies, and PDX Queer Asian Social Meetup as we welcome Bianca Mabute-Louie to Portland for the launch of her new book, Unassimilable: An Asian Diasporic Manifesto for the Twenty-First Century. Bianca will be in conversation with Portland artist and writer, Miro Jooyoung Oh,

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Friday

Feb 7

Bookstore   Free Events  

Art Installation: Glowing Portal Tentacles (3)

Glowing tentacles from another dimension breach realms in multiple Southeast Portland locations, including Literary Arts! Try to locate all eight intricate sculptures! This art installation by Jonas Hartley is part of the 2025 Portland Winter Light Festival.  Peer into another dimension where light itself comes alive! These mysterious tentacles breach the barriers between worlds, emerging

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Saturday

Feb 22

Bookstore   Free Events  

Bilingual (Spanish/English) Story Time at the Literary Arts Bookstore

Spanish Story Time at the Literary Arts Bookstore

Bring the whole family for a magical Story Time at the Literary Arts Bookstore! Sing, play, and dive into the world of Spanish storytelling hosted by Adventures in Spanish. Join us for a fun and engaging way to enhance your child’s Spanish skills through lively stories and interactive activities! Every fourth Saturday of the month.

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Wednesday

Feb 26

Bookstore   For BIPOC Writers   Free Events  

BIPOC Reading Series – February

BIPOC Reading Series

This monthly reading series is intended to prioritize the safety, creativity, and stories of Black people, Indigenous people, and People of Color. Come listen to our featured readers, or sign up to share your work in our open mic. Readings will be followed by a short community discussion. Hosted by Kyle Yoshioka and Jessica Meza-Torres.

Find out more
Wednesday

Mar 5

Monday

Mar 10

Bookstore   Free Events  

Story Time at the Literary Arts Bookstore

Story Time at the Literary Arts Bookstore

Families are invited to join us weekly on Saturday mornings from 10:30-11:00 a.m. at the Literary Arts Bookstore for story time! Each week our booksellers will read from picture books we love and enthusiastically share our love of reading and play with our youngest community members. Every fourth Saturday of the month we're teaming up

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Sunday

Mar 16

Monday

Mar 24

Free Events   In-person   Oregon Book Awards & Fellowships  

Finalists Reading I: Fiction, Poetry, and Creative Nonfiction

Please join us for the first of two readings featuring the 2025 Oregon Book Awards finalists in Fiction, Poetry, and Creative Nonfiction: Fiction Miriam Gershow Kimberly King Parsons Poetry Valerie Witte Charity E. Yoro Creative Nonfiction Tim Palmer Becky Ellis This event is FREE to attend and open to the public. A second finalists reading

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Monday

Mar 31

Tuesday

Apr 8

Bookstore   Free Events  

Jonathan Hill, Lizard Boy 2

Join us as we celebrate the launch of Jonathan Hill's Lizard Boy 2: The Most Perfect Summer Ever . Book two in this acclaimed graphic series explores intolerance through a relatable—and empowering—cast of middle-grade cryptids, immigrants, and outsiders. In human disguise, the Lizk’t family of Elberon is now comfortably settled in Eagle Valley as the all-American

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Thursday

Apr 10

Bookstore   Free Events  

Michelle Kicherer: Sexy Life, Hello

Join us in celebrating local author and Literary Arts faculty Michelle Kicherer's debut novella, Sexy Life, Hello.  Michelle will be joined in conversation by Portland Radio Project's Executive Director Veronica Bisesti. About Sexy Life, Hello "A dark comedy about a nanny who doubles as a porn star’s sexter." After getting fired from her job as

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Saturday

Apr 12

Monday

Apr 14

Wednesday

Apr 16

Bookstore   Free Events  

National Poetry Month Reading with Fernwood Press

Join us for a celebration of National Poetry Month with local Fernwood Press poets Ayelet Amittay, Casey Killingsworth, Emmett Wheatfall, and Sherri Levine! The poets will share pieces from their recent work and discuss their creative process, followed by audience Q&A. Poet bios: Ayelet Amittay is a poet and psychiatric nurse practitioner in Eugene, Oregon.

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Thursday

Apr 17

Bookstore   Free Events  

Slamlandia

Slamlandia is a poetry open mic and slam that meets every month at Literary Arts, on the third Thursday. This mic provides a creative, fun, and welcoming space for all literary communities in Portland. We encourage poets new and old to come share their work. We strive towards a safe space for poets to read

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Saturday

Apr 19

Tuesday

Apr 22

Saturday

Apr 26

Saturday

Apr 26

Saturday

May 3

Bookstore   Free Events  

Story time with Megan Woodward

Join local author Megan Woodward, for a hilarious interactive reading of her picture book This Book is Definitely Not Cursed which will be followed by a creative group activity, a silly craft, and a Q&A with a puppet. Get ready to giggle! Book description: Engage even the most can’t-sit-still little ones with this laugh-out-loud, interactive

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Monday

May 5

Wednesday

May 7

Bookstore   Free Events  

One Page Wednesday – May

Here is an opportunity to share or listen to one page of work in progress from talented writers from everywhere. Come with a single page of work and sign up to read—or come to listen and prepare to be inspired. Our host is the one and only, Emme Lund. May's featured reader is Autumn Bettinger.

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Wednesday

May 14

Bookstore   Free Events  

Trans Nature Writing Extravaganza

Join local writers Callum Angus, Cavar, and Miranda Schmidt for a celebration of the art of trans nature writing.   Bios: Callum Angus is a writer, editor, and publisher of smoke and mold, a literary journal invested in the narrative possibilities trans lives bring to our changing nature-culture. His first story collection, A Natural History

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Thursday

May 15

Free Events   In-person  

Slamlandia

Slamlandia is a poetry open mic and slam that meets every month at Literary Arts, on the third Thursday. This mic provides a creative, fun, and welcoming space for all literary communities in Portland. We encourage poets new and old to come share their work. We strive towards a safe space for poets to read their

Find out more
Sunday

May 18

Tuesday

May 20

Wednesday

May 21

Wednesday

May 21

Thursday

May 22

Wednesday

May 28

Thursday

May 29

Friday

May 30

Saturday

May 31

Monday

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Friday

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Saturday

Jun 14

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