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.
The Literary Arts Bookstore & Cafe is excited to welcome Stephanie Fairyington to celebrate their book Ugly. Fairyington will be joined in conversation by Neil Cochrane. About the book: A tender, moving, and insightful account of queer motherhood and an interrogation of life on the margins of American culture as a self-described “ugly” woman Ugly
Join us at the Literary Arts Bookstore & Cafe for a staged reading of Edith Can Shoot Things and Hit Them by A. Rey Pamatmat, directed by Terry Kitagawa. This event is free and open to the public. If you plan to attend, RSVP on Eventbrite here. About the book: Filipino-American siblings Edith and Kenny are
The Literary Arts Bookstore & Cafe is excited to welcome Rex Marshall for his memoir, All the Work I Never Wanted. Marshall will be joined in conversation by Michelle Kicherer. About the book: The lady at the plastic-cup-making factory is missing her fingers. The kid at the burger joint is spitting on patties. The newspapers
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
The Literary Arts Bookstore and Cafe is excited to welcome Steven Pfau to celebrate his hybrid memoir, Say Nephew. Pfau will be joined in conversation by Milo Muise.
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. The featured reader
Through guided meditations, writing exercises, and reading excerpts of big-hearted, emotionally courageous literature, writers of fiction and nonfiction will develop more self-connection, feel compassion for themselves as writers as well as for their characters, and care for their nervous system during the writing process, so they can enjoy more flow, catharsis, and joy.
Kick off Pride Month at the Literary Bookstore & Cafe! We are excited to welcome Rosiee Thor to celebrate their book, Being Aro: A Collection of Aromantic Stories about Love. About the book: Explore expansive aromantic love and connection in stories across genres These twelve stories showcase aromantic people breaking generational curses, finding acceptance, and
In this course we'll read a number of first-person stories and discuss the advantages and risks of this perspective and how the first-person perspective is effectively established and sustained. Participants will use prompts to experiment with the many possibilities of the first-person in their own creative work.
***NEW START TIME*** Starting in June, One Page Wednesday will begin at 6:30 PM, with open mic sign-ups opening at 6:00 PM. 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 –
The Literary Arts Bookstore and Cafe is thrilled to partner with SCRAP PDX for monthly crafting events. Join us at The Literary Arts Bookstore and Cafe to hand-sew decorative plush to celebrate the start of PICNIC season! Sew felt berries, sandwiches, flowers, and more; customize a felt charcuterie board! Bring a friend! Make a
Through brief readings, writing prompts, and generative exercises, we’ll welcome in and attune our writing to the time of year.
This workshop embraces political, social justice-driven short fiction. In this three-hour session, we'll read excerpts from underrepresented authors, discuss confronting oppression, and engage in generative writing and supportive sharing.
To celebrate Portland Book Week, the Literary Arts Bookstore & Cafe is hosting a special write-in. The evening's theme is ROAD TRIP! Put pen to paper and write about your next cross-country adventure. Need inspiration? Try our gumball machine full of thoughtful writing prompts. About write-ins: Write-ins are community gatherings where writers come together to
The Literary Arts Bookstore & Cafe is excited to welcome author Brianna Jett to celebrate the release of their book, Under a Carnivore Sky. Jett will be in conversation with 2026 Oregon Book Award finalist Courtney Gould. I’m the only one left hunting the monster, the only one left with a chance of saving us
One of the most compelling figures of modern thought, Simone Weil (1909–1943) was a brilliant, often startling, and visionary thinker. She was a philosopher (one of first two women in France to earn a PhD, along with her classmate Simone de Beauvoir), teacher, writer, factory worker, pacifist, soldier, marxist, anarchist, Jewish, Christian, mystic, exile, playwright, translator, and mathematician.
The Literary Arts Bookstore & Cafe is thrilled to welcome Melissa Febos to celebrate the paperback release of her book, The Dry Season. Febos will be joined in conversation by Genevieve Hudson. About the book: In the wake of a catastrophic two-year relationship, Melissa Febos decided to take a break: For three months, she would
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
This generative summer writing class will be a journey through all five senses. Each week we will read and/or view published pieces that focuses on a specific sense, then develop our own sensory work through discussion and generative prompts. Open to writers of all genres and experience levels.
Join us at the Literary Arts Bookstore & Cafe for our monthly write-in. This month's theme is Pride. Enjoy a night of community writing and light socializing. All are welcome! About write-ins: Write-ins are community gatherings where writers come together to share space, write, and make connections. Whether you’re here to hit word count or make
Turn lived experience into a compelling memoir. This four-week course helps writers shape personal stories with clarity, structure, and intention. You’ll explore narrative arc, voice, and emotional truth while learning how to craft a story that resonates without losing your thread along the way.
***NEW START TIME*** Starting in June, the BIPOC Reading Series will begin at 6:30 PM. 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
The Literary Arts Bookstore & Cafe is pleased to welcome Michelle St. Roman to celebrate her debut novel, Song of Belonging. Michelle will be in conversation with Sandra Freels. About the book: For fans of Kate Morton, Amy Harmon, and Sally Page comes a multigenerational novel infused with touches of magical realism about a woman’s
Join us at the Literary Arts Bookstore & Cafe for a celebratory evening of readings from the 2026 Oregon Literary Fellowships recipients. The following fellows will be joining us: Devon Fredericksen Jeremy Klemin Amy Marcott Jeffree Morel Jae Nichelle Pooja Nukala Diana Oropeza Molly Reid Jason Sepac Casey Walker Airlie Press Provecho Magazine This event
The Literary Arts Bookstore & Cafe is pleased to welcome Ari Koontz, author of Just Ask Elsie, and 2026 Oregon Book Awards finalist Sara Ryan, author of The Mountain Upside Down, for a special Pride celebration featuring book discussions, community conversations, and fun group activities. This event is free and open to all.
This Delve for Writers will use Machado's short stories and memoir as a jumping off point for our own horror and fairy tale infused fiction and non-fiction writing. We will find the surreal within the mundane details of life and celebrate that.
You’ve worked hard on your writing and you want to bring it to your readers beyond the page. As writers, we don’t often get much instruction in performing our work. Even as we give public readings, make audio recordings, and film our excerpts for the internet, we’re often left to our own devices. In this course, we’ll practice reading our work aloud, incorporating theatrical techniques and exercises, and experimenting with performance styles to bring our words to life for an audience.
In this generative writing workshop, we will explore a slice of Portland as flâneurs, or writers who walk and observe as part of their practice.
This class will provide an introduction to journalism for every writer. Learning the fundamentals of reporting, researching, writing, editing and fact-checking can enhance any writing practice. In five, two-hour sessions, students of all levels will learn basic journalistic skills they can apply to their own projects, whatever the genre.
Together we will read & write creative writing on substance abuse, addiction & recovery, with an emphasis on harm reduction, healing, and reclamation. We will look at poems, short stories, and essay writing centering themes of addiction by their loved ones and by those with lived experience.
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