The next WordFest explores Portland’s lesser known history on Tuesday, June 11, beginning at 6:00 pm, at the Cassava Coffeehouse, 1333 Broadway in Longview.

Long before it was the funky, liberal, layback “Portlandia” we know, the city had a much darker reputation as being the most racist city outside of the South, where corruption was so common, it was considered just part of city government’s operation, and where, during Prohibition and the distribution of illegal liquor, organized crime and the Portland Police Bureau were often indistinguishable.

In commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, he will be facilitating a panel discussion about Portland’s history of LGBTQ activism on June 24, 2019, Monday, from 7-9 p.m. The panel is part of McMenamins History Pub series at their Kennedy School, 5736 NE 33rd Avenue, Portland, Oregon.

More information is available at medicinefortheblues.com.

There will be an open mic period following the presentations.

The monthly gathering of readers and writers meets the second Tuesday of each month, 6:00-8:00 PM, at Cassava. The events are free and open to the public.

Next Tuesday, May 14, WordFest dives into folklore and food, beginning at 6:00 pm, at the Cassava Coffeehouse, 1333 Broadway in Longview.

Stevan Allred reads from his second novel, The Alehouse at the End of the World, published by Portland’s Forest Avenue Press in November 2018.

When a fisherman receives a mysterious letter about his beloved’s death, he sets off in his skiff to find her. A whale swallows him, then deposits him on the Isle of the Dead, which is ruled by a trio of giant bird gods. The fisherman must negotiate with the self-proclaimed leader—a narcissistic, bullying crow—to return his beloved to physical form. This is an epic comedy set in the sixteenth century, involving bawdy Shakespearean love triangles, shapeshifting avian demigods, and a fertility goddess who’s into bio-dynamic gardening. Stevan’s book is a juicy farce as well as a hopeful fable for our troubled times.

Stevan wowed the WordFest audience several years ago when he read from his first novel, A Simplified Map of the Real World. He teaches creative writing at the Pinewood Table in Portland and his stories have appeared in various literary journals.

Local poet Carolyn Caines has written seven books of verse on topics close to her heart and funny bone, about travel, teaching and family.  Her latest collection, The Obstinate Apple, focuses on food as “both the pleasure and bane of our existence.” The title poem is about an apple that would not let someone eat it. Carolyn explains, “True story. Many of these silly poems come from experiences with children who are prone to playing with their food.”

A popular presenter at WordFest, Carolyn is a retired teacher living in Southwest Washington. More than 200 of her poems have appeared in magazines, journals, and newsletters, and have been dramatized on radio and on video.

There will be an open mic period following the presentations.

The monthly gathering of readers and writers meets the second Tuesday of each month, 6:00-8:00 PM, at Cassava. The events are free and open to the public.

Cassava offers a dinner menu for those who wish to enjoy a meal with the readings, as well as local wines and brews.

For more information, contact Alan Rose at www. Alan-rose.com.