Reading Frenzy ~ An Independent Press Emporium

May Day Memory Lane

May 2008

Dear Readers,

Happy May Day! Radical historic significance aside, May Day is one of my favorite lesser-recognized holidays. When I was a wee lass we would weave paper ribbons through plastic strawberry baskets, fill them with flowers, leave them on neighbors' doorsteps, knock and run. Did you know you're supposed to get a kiss if you're caught? Pick your neighbors carefully, I guess! In later years this was the day that I moved my bedroom to a roomy second floor balcony and slept al fresco through the end of September. Although the official first day of spring has come and gone, it doesn't really get started for me until the 1st of May. 

Two years ago today, I was traipsing around Rochester in Kent, England with dear friends, taking in my first castle, trying not to tread on ancient graves, and enjoying the annual Sweeps Festival. This was my most touristy request - attending a traditional May Day celebration. The rest of the trip was spent exploring relatively obscure roadside attractions, dusty bookshops, fancy chocolatiers, outdoor markets, and oddball museums.

This year, May Day happens to fall on the 1st Thursday of the month, so we have even more to celebrate than usual! We're proud to present an exhibit of recent work by Portland denizen and international animal hero, Nicole J. Georges, entitled I Like To Be Alive. In addition to the art show, we are also celebrating the recent release of the second collected volume of her enchanting and beloved zine, Invincible Summer (Microcosm, 2008). We've been showing Nicole's work for years and it's been a pleasure to watch her evolve as an artist. Even in the early days, she demonstrated a remarkable knack for capturing expression and spirit in her animal portraits, but this show, and in particular the wolves and rabbit pieces, reveal quite a leap in technique. It's going to be hard for me to restrain myself from snapping them up, so you'd better come quick!

So, after all this reminiscing, how about we start a new May Day tradition? Let's all do something fancy for someone else's benefit, for no other purpose than to brighten their day. You could have one intended recipient or perform an act of public fabotage* to benefit any random passersby. Send in your reports to for a future update. Bonus points for photos and anonymity in your fancy attack!

Your Faithful Proprietress,
Chloe

*Fabotage is a word that I coined last year to describe a deliberate action aimed at changing something for the better through various methods of improvement and embellishment. While a subversive and possibly illegal act, it should not obstruct, disrupt or destroy its target.

Shoppe

The Feathertale Review #2

The Feathertale Review #2

Screen Capricious

Screen Capricious

Wings. Strings. Meridians.

Wings. Strings. Meridians.

The Whale & Thrift Store Odyssey

The Whale & Thrift Store Odyssey

 

More Recent Additions:

 

Townies:
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Tourists:
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The Ledger

New & Notable This Week!

ART, DESIGN & PHOTOGRAPHY

  • The 1000 Journals Project by Someguy

  • Angura: Posters of the Japanese Avant-Garde by David G. Goodman

  • The Buddy System by Barry McGee aka Twist

  • Gary Panter (two hardcover books in slipcase) by Gary Panter

  • Graffiti Paris by Fabienne Grevy

  • The Guerilla Art Kit by Keri 

  • Icons: Pierre et Gilles

  • Illustrations from the Inside: The Beat Within, Louise E.V. Nevaer, editor

  • Live Through This: Creativity and Self-Destruction, Sabrina Chapadjiev, editor

  • Martian Museum of Terrestrial Art: Encyclopedia of Terrestrial Life Volume VIII by Francesco Manacorda, Lydia Yee, Tom McCarthy

  • Peel: The Art of the Sticker (hardcover) by Dave Combs and Holly Combs

  • Revisionaries: A Decade of Art in Tokion by various

  • Street Sketchbook by Tristan Manco

  • Undigested Kernel by Scott Harrison

  • The World of Tattoo: An Illustrated History by Maarten Hesselt Van Dinter

  • You Are Here: Personal Geographies and Other Maps of the Imagination by Katherine Harmon

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

  • All We Ever Do is Talk About Wood by Tom Horacek

  • Amore Y Cohetes by the Bros Hernandez

  • Apocolypse Nerd by Peter Bagge

  • Comic Arf: The Unholy Marriage of Art & Comics

  • Dororo V. 1 by Osamu Tezuka

  • The Heartbreak Diet: A Story of Family, Fidelity and Starting Over by Thorina Rose

  • Mome #1

  • Nozone #9: Empire

  • Perry Bible Fellowship: The Trial of Colonel Sweeto and Other Stories by Nicholas Gurewitch

  • Three Shadows by Cyril Pedrosa

PERIODICALS

  • Anthem Magazine #34: Music Special

  • Believer #53

  • Cabinet #29

  • Maximum Rocknroll #301

  • McSweeney's #26: New Stories from Overseas, From Our Shores, Where to Invade Next 

  • Wax Poetics #28

NATURE

 

  • The Backyard Birdsong Guide: Eastern and Central North America (hardcover with audio) by Donald Kroodsma

  • The Backyard Birdsong Guide: Western North America (hardcover with audio) by Donald Kroodsma

  • Big Foot: I Not Dead by Graham Roumieu

  • A Cabinet of Natural Curiosities by Albertus Seba

KID'S BOOKS

  • Bagel's Lucky Hat by Hector Mumbly and Dave Cooper

  • Castaway Pirates: A Pop-Up Tale of Bad Luck, Sharp Teeth and Stinky Toes by Ray Marshall and Wilson Swain

  • Kaput & Zosky by Lewis Trondheim and Eric Cartier

QUALITY SMUT

  • Charlotte Webb's Pillow Book by Charlotte Webb

  • Decadence: Japanese Fetish Art by Carol Gnojewski

  • The Devil's Whisper by Henri Breton and Mario Tauzin

  • Erotic Flashback by Michael Berkowitz

  • Modern Vixens by Octavio C. Arizala

  • Neo Shunga: Japanese Pop Erotica by various

  • Obscene Interiors by Justin Jorgensen 

  • Pop-Up Book of Sex by Balvis Rubess and Kees Moerbeck

  • Pretty Things: Burlesque Queens by Liz Goldwyn

  • Sexcats by C. R. Mealie

  • Stacked Decks: Erotic Playing Cards edited by Mark Lee Rotenberg, 

  • Visions from Within the Mechanism by Jeffrey Scott

DIY/CRAFTS

  • Domiknitrix: Whip Your Knitting Into Shape by Jennifer Stafford

  • Make Your Own Sex Toys by Matt Pagett

  • Naughty Needles: Sexy, Saucy Knits for the Bedroom and Beyond by Nikol Lohr

  • Stitch-It Kit by Jenny Hart

FICTION

   

  • The Learners by Chip Kidd

  • No one Belongs Here More Than You: Stories by Miranda July (softcover) 

  • Train Wreck Girl: A Novel by Sean Carswell

FOOD & DRINK

  • Moonshine! by Matthew B. Rowley

  • Face Food: The Visual Creativity of Japanese Bento Boxes by Christopher D. Salyers

  • Icons: Kitchen Kitsch edited by Joe Heimann

QUEER NOTIONS

  • Transgender History by Susan Stryker

  • Virgin Sperm Dancer edited by William Levy

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Amanda Visell Stationery: Don't Eat Paper

  • Ants Have Sex in Your Beer by David Shrigley

  • A Cabinet of Medical Curiosities by Jan Bondeson

  • Icons: Alchemy and Mysticism by Alexander Roob

  • Icons: See the World by various

  • This Means This This Means That: A User's Guide to Semiotics by Sean Hall

Part Time Position Available at Reading Frenzy!

May 12, 2008: Well, this is an historic event! Since 1994 we've only had one or two part-time paid staff positions and those positions have always been filled by myself and the senior volunteer (we've only had 7 employees in nearly 14 years!). Our current paid staff member is off to Alaska for the summer and all our volunteers are all gainfully employed and/or in school, so the spot is up for grabs!

This low-paying, yet highly coveted position is obviously not a longterm career solution, but could be a great steppingstone into the world of bookselling, independent publishing, journalism and general small business operations. Previous paid and volunteer staff have gone on to start their own business ventures, as well as work for Powell's, Stumptown Coffee, Portland Mercury and other illustrious local companies due at least in small part to their Reading Frenzy experience and recommendation.

  • Job title: Entry-level book and zine seller.

  • Job description: Reading Frenzy, an internationally celebrated specialty bookshop devoted to independent media and alternative press, is looking for a part-time entry level book and zine seller. Schedule will include closing shifts and Saturdays. Starting wage is $8.50 per hour. Perks include a staff discount, lots of freebies, and a membership to the IPRC. 

  • Requirements: Applicants must be 18 years of age or older, have at least four years retail or customer service experience, enjoy working with people, have a flexible schedule, and an unbridled enthusiasm for independent media, small press, self-publishing and DIY culture. Must be able to make a one year commitment to position. Must also have legible handwriting and be comfortable with computers, cash registers, and credit card machines. Will be responsible for opening and/or closing shop, basic daily operations and sales, managing consignment accounts, running errands, light bookkeeping, processing mail orders and updating online catalog.

  • Bonus Points: bookstore experience, creative writing skills, graphic design and/or computer skills, and a compulsive need to dust and straighten.

    Applicants can drop off resume and cover letter to Reading Frenzy or email me at chloe@readingfrenzy.com

As If You Needed Any More Reasons to Come See Him...

May 11, 2008: Check out the blurb Kevin Sampsell wrote in The Portland Mercury about Jamestown by Matthew Sharpe, then come see Matthew read this Wednesday, May 14th 7PM at Reading Frenzy! 

Stolen from Reading Frenzy!

May 10, 2008: We're not quite sure when it happened, but sometime between 3-7PM on Wednesday, April 30th or 11-9PM on Thursday, May 1st someone stole a rare, out-of-print 1st edition of Berlin Years by Marcel Dzama valued at $850 from behind the counter. We're spreading the word among customers and other booksellers with the hope that something might turn up.

I'd like to take this moment to articulate my feelings about people who rip off small businesses -- especially purpose driven business that provide community services and resources -- but I'm too pissed. That book belonged to me -- an hard-working individual who deserves and depends on the occasional perk that comes along. That book could have paid nearly a month's rent or covered a myriad of other things that I get by without in order to keep our doors open.

If this pisses you off as much as it does me, I encourage you to a) have thoughtful conversations with your sticky fingered friends about supporting small businesses and b) come make a splurge or buy a gift certificate at the shop to help us make up for the loss. 

New & Notable at Reading Frenzy this Week

May 10, 2008: NOW IN STOCK...

  • Applicant by Jesse Reklaw
  • The Art of Lapdancing by Peekaboo
  • The Big, Bad Wolf and Me by Delphine Perret
  • Bidoun #14
  • Duplex Planet #182
  • Feeding The Whole Family: Recipes for Babies, Young Children and Their Parents by Cynthia Lair
  • Giant Robot #53
  • Girls Like Us (GLU) #7: Spring 2008
  • Grass Stained Twilight by Todd McHatton
  • Headpress #27
  • Heeb Magazine #16
  • Injury #2 by Ted May
  • Jamestown by Matthew Sharpe
  • Mama + Baby: Set of Four Archival Prints by Nikki McClure
  • Mass Appeal #50
  • On Subbing by Dave Roche
  • Papercutter #7
  • Pokin' Round the Gorge: Sexy-Romantic Guide for Gorge Lovers by Scott Cook
  • Quakeland by Francesca Lia Block
  • Red Bat Press Restock including Bridge and Bird Sets
  • Slow Food Nation: Why Our Food Should Be Good, Clean and Fair by Carlo Petrini
  • Street Art Chile by Rod Palmer
  • Stuffed and Starved: The Hidden Battle for the World Food System by Raj Patel
  • This is Britain by Miroslav Sasek
  • This is New York by Miroslav Sasek
  • This is San Francisco by Miroslav Sasek
  • This is Texas by Miroslav Sasek
  • Uruwaza: Secret Everyday Tips from Japan by Lisa Katayama, Joel Holland
  • Zinesters Guide to Portland

About

The Ledger is the Reading Frenzy blog written by Chloe Eudaly and celebrity guests!

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Currently Showing

THURSDAY, MAY 1st
 - SUNDAY, JUNE 1st

I Like to Be Alive

Exhibit and Book Release Party for Nicole Georges

We're pleased to welcome local zinester, illustrator and pet portraitist extraordinaire, Nicole Georges back to Reading Frenzy for another solo show! This exhibit of recent work will feature paintings on wood, pen and ink illustrations, and a menagerie of plush creations.

We will also be celebrating the release of Invincible Summer: An Anthology Vol. 2 with collects issues #9-14 of her comic/zine of the same name. 


Upcoming Events

THURSDAY, MAY 29th

Grand Floral Parade & Portland Rose Festival

Keeping our customers at bay since 1996!

Every year I think about launching a lawn chair and blanket drive so that homeless people can sleep on the sidewalks unmolested along with everyone else the night before the Rose Festival Parade. I'm afraid I've never gotten up the gumption, but I'm throwing the idea out there for anyone else who might be inspired!

I also annually consider closing the shop for the week, as most of our customers are avoiding downtown like the plague, and we're inundated with looky-loos and folks who desperately need a public restroom due to overimbibing at the beer garden. Note: We do not have a public restroom! Alas, I can't quite bring myself to forgo the pittance we still manage to take in, so we will be open for business, but we will be opening at noon on Saturday, June 7th in order to avoid the parade madness.

THURSDAY, JUNE 5th, 6PM

Horses, Dolls and Other Junk

Photos by Geoffrey Ellis

After years of admiring the work in Geoffrey Ellis's photo-zine Sadkids, I'm pleased to announce that we will be hosting an exhibit and zine release party for him this June!

Horses, Dolls and Other Junk is not so much a detour from Geoffrey's usual grander themes of derelict buildings and decaying signs, as much as it is a closer look at the detritus that one might find collected within such roadside attractions, which he has faithfully paid homage to across the US, but especially in small towns scattered throughout the South and Southwest. Across seemingly disjointed pictures of old toys, decaying photographs, and porn that was once hot, a greater picture of unpolished America emerges.

Sadkids Number 5: The GonerFest Edition documents bands and fans who participated in this annual garage rock festival in Memphis last September. Including Quintron, Hank IV, Donnie Denim and Jay Reatard (to name a few).

Geoffrey Ellis went to school to be a graphic designer, publishes a photo-zine called Sadkids, loves to collect stuff and loves taking pictures. He won the 2007 Phelan Award in photography. He has lived in southern California, Florida, and Memphis and currently resides in San Francisco with his beautiful wife and a bunch of cats. 

THURSDAY, JUNE 26th, 7PM

Iggy Scam's Secret History of Cities

Reading and signing with Iggy Scam and special guest(s)!
Iggy Scam's Secret History of Cities is both a manual, a memoir and a history of creative resistance and fun in a world run rotten with poverty and war. Whether handing out fake starbucks coupons for free coffee, dropping flyers on mall-goer's heads that say "aren't you glad this isn't a bomb?" or having punk shows in laundromats, Iggy has shown the world over the years that you can resist consumerism and have fun and have a sense of humor at the same time.

Scam, an icon of the samizdat zine scene of the 1990's, is equally at home on mainstream radio, where he has done several commentaries for This American Life. His "Secret History" traces the evolution of cities, for sure, and of neighborhoods, and of dissent, but also of his own thinking under the pressure of experience, from his early focus on the more outre forms of resistance, through more contemplative times as he becomes preoccupied with the passage of time and starts to articulate an affirmative vision of the type of society he'd like to live in and fight for. In writing, for example, on Reagan's death he feels relief that came from realizing that by the time Reagan had actually died, his teenage rage had ceased being the motivating factor in his life, that what keeps him going is the sense of what he wishes the world actually looked like, inter alia, public art, squats, free breakfast programs, illegal peace demos in San Francisco, punk holidays (Joey Ramone day, in which people gather and do a secret santa exchange of mixtapes), even a booklist.

But he never seeks refuges in the abstract—in one of the book's key set pieces, "The Epicenter of Crime: The Hunt's Donuts Story," Scam celebrates the history and passing of a donut shop that was once a nerve center in San Francisco's Mission neighborhood. On one level, it's an epitaph for a beloved hangout. On another, it's a metaphor for the racial and economic tensions that can accompany gentrification. And on yet another, it's an untold history of an entire neighborhood via a single retail establishment.

Scam gives the reader inspiration for living defiantly in these times.

About the author: Erick Lyle (Iggy Scam) is a writer, musician, actor and zinester. Born in Miami FL, he's lived all over the United States, and resides mostly in SSan Francisco CA.


Throughout the 1990's, Iggy edited Scam, an influential zine that featured personal writing, politics, reports on protest events and interviews with activists and punk bands. He has been a frequent contributor to Maximum Rock N Roll; Error, edited by Sam McPheeters; the San Francisco Bay Guardian and the audio zine Long Ago and Right Now. He contributed an essay to the City Lights anthology San Francisco: The Political Edge and the AK Press anthology Realizing the Impossible: Art Against Authority. He has also performed several commentaries on NPR's This American Life.

Iggy Scam is also a drummer. In the 1990's he played with the band The Hidden Resentment. In the 2000's he began playing with Onion Flavored Rings, who released the CD Two Minutes Enlightenment in 2005.

As an actor, he appears in Greta Snider's celebrated film Portland, a tale of three zinesters travelling from San Francisco to Portland who encounter all kinds of unexpected adventures.

THURSDAY, JULY 3rd, 6PM

1st Thursday Artist Reception

Recent Work by Ryan Berkeley

More info coming soon...