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The latest in Sarah Mirk’s Oregon History Comics series, The Life and Death of the X-Ray Cafe, is now available for mail order. The book focuses on the X-Ray, Portland’s late, beloved all-ages venue. Head to the publications page and pick one up.
Cop images from the comic after the jump.
Sign up is now live for our field trip to boom towns of central Oregon, September 25-26th. This trip is our most ambitious to date — and the first we’ve had an overnight stay. It should be epic!
We start out with a bus ride through some sleepy ghost towns of pioneer days – led by Keith May, author of a book on ghost towns, and a continuing education teacher based in Pendleton. In the evening, we’ll take in a tour of the Fossil history museum and a lecture – wherein our guest speaker brings $15,000 worth of meteorites for attendees to pick up and handle! The next day we’ll take a stroll through the Painted Hills with geologists, before heading back to civilization.
Since lodging turned out to be somewhat of a logistical nightmare (different sized rooms, different beds etc) — we are only offering the bus ride and tour. While you’re on your own for lodging, we do have some suggestions listed on our events page. If we wind up filling the lodge (which we likely will), there may also be a cheap camping option. We will be sure to post more info closer to the date. Read the details and sign up now.
A cheesy yet informative video:
Special thanks to Cari Vander Yacht for the beautiful poster.
Good news, everyone! The second installment of the Oregon History Comics series is now readable and buyable all over Portland. This issue details the life and death of the X-Ray Cafe, an all-ages venue in downtown Portland that helped establish our city as a capital of counterculture. It’s illustrated by the wonderful John Isaacson, a great fit for the project because he normally occupies his idle hours making Feedback, a zine about all the crazy music shows he sees.
Our printer Charles ran off 300 copies of the comic Tuesday night, unceremoniously dumping the inky proofs in the trash (don’t worry, I saved them for posterity). 
I strapped the heavy box of comics to my bike and delivered it to the Independent Publishing Resource Center, where we’ll spend the next week assembling and stapling in preparation for the Portland Zine Symposium. But you can get a copy before then—I took the first ten editions downstairs to Reading Frenzy. Enjoy!
Tune in to OPB Radio next Monday, August 23rd, 9AM-10AM, when the Dill Pickle Club will be on “Think Out Loud” talking through some of the history of Portland’s music scene, as well as our upcoming publication, Northwest Passage: 50 Years of Independent Music from the Rose City.
OPB asks: Have you been a part of the music scene? When were the glory days? Or are they still to come? Get things going by submitting your comments and questions here.
The book and CD are now at the printers and CD replication house respectively. Reserve your copy by pre-ordering it here.
As usual, members get the publication free! And don’t forget about the book release party, August 27th at Reading Frenzy. There’s free booze, DJ HWY 7 and presentations! Get the scoop here.
Over the past several months, the DPC has been going through some growing pains: refining our mission, defining our long-term plan, developing a calendar year and an annual budget. These are not glamorous steps—whose adolescence is?—but they are essential as we move into our second year. As we continue to grow, we in turn call upon participants to support the time and effort we put into our programs. We are excited to roll out a new membership plan as a way allow you to support our work.
Our new membership program allows multiple access points so those with varying incomes can become vital supporters of the organization. Check out our revised membership page…and the new benefits! Members will now be eligible for voting rights, DPC T-s and totes, a set of event posters for one year, free admissions, dedication of a publication and even a jar of the coveted “Pickle of the Year”.
Thanks all who made it out to our annual members party. The event was a great success…that is until I fell down the stairs and sprained my ankle…ouch!
Special thanks to our guest presenters, Sarah Mirk and Brain Libby, as well as everyone who has made this past year of DPC events possible. It’s only been out of the generosity of many artists, small businesses, activists and scholars too numerous to list that this past year of programming has been made a reality. We thank you for all your work and look forward to and even more exciting year #2!
Speaking of which, we’re thrilled to announce we’ll be releasing our newest publication, Northwest Passage: 50 Years and Independent Music from the Rose City, Friday, August 27th at Reading Frenzy. The release party features a couple of short talks, an all-local set spun by DJ HWY 7 and free booze. You can also pick up a copy at the Portland Zine Symposium (August 28-29), where we will be tabling and leading a panel discussion on approaches to conducting oral histories. Check out the events page for full details.
Interested in getting in on the ground floor of the DPC? We’re looking for a “Publications Manager” intern to help out with our print production, including copy-editing and working with writers, artists and printers in making publications. Receive college credit (if appropriate) and be a part of an awesome team working to document Portland’s vibrant culture!
Click to download the job description. Apps due by September 1st.
Check out Becca Robinson’s feature article in this week’s Portland Mercury on our recent field trip focused on energy in the Columbia Gorge.
Want to get in on the next tour? Stay tuned for Ghosts of Times Past, a bus trip to boom towns of Eastern Oregon. Full info will be posted in the next week!
Dear Picklers! It’s been 1- year of operations for YNDPC! We’ve come a long way from our humble beginnings squatting in a hippie art gallery. To celebrate, we’re throwing a big ol’ birthday party to show appreciation for our members who’ve helped us get here. Mark your calendar for Thursday, August 12th and join us for a summer-time BBQ, replete with cheap eats and booze for all. To top it off there will be a program of entertainment, including a year-end recap by the Dill Pickle Club, Sarah Mirk on Oregon History Comics and a mystery, surprise guest of honor!
Thanks all who attended yesterday’s field trip, WHERE DOES ENERGY COME FROM? Despite the day getting off to a rocky start (when the bus driver couldn’t seem to find our building!), 30 people came away with some greater understanding of energy and its history in the Columbia Gorge.
Special thanks again to Chief Wilbur Slockish, as well as the Army Corps of Engineers and PGE. Big thanks also go out to Sam Churchill for posting this awesome slide show documenting the trip!
