Arts & Culture

“Anthropologists are fond of saying that we endeavor to ‘make the strange seem familiar and the familiar seem strange,’” said Hillary Crane, associate professor at Linfield College.

And this is exactly what Crane intends to do. On Tuesday, Feb. 7, this anthropologist will present her most recent ethnographic field research in her lecture, “Men in spirit: the masculinization of Taiwanese Buddhist nuns,” in Cramer Hall.

During the first weekend in February, Branx is hosting a two-day music celebration that draws from a wide range of styles. The event is sure to please even the snobbiest Portland scene-ster.

Portland State’s School of Social Work is screening local filmmaker Jordan Thierry’s 2011 documentary, The Black Fatherhood Project, Monday, Feb. 6, in the Smith Memorial Student Union.

In case you haven’t noticed, it’s really wet outside. Coming home every day soaked to the bone can really take it out of you. Luckily, you can brighten your spirits with some hot golden corn chowder. Its warm, creamy texture will fill any empty belly, and the added cheddar and cayenne pepper gives it a savory, spicy bite!

Using ink, pencil, marker and watercolor, local artist Jenny Vu puts real life on paper. From Thursday, Feb. 2, through Wednesday, Feb, 22, Vu will display her work in the aptly titled exhibition From Life, consisting of “stills” from her everyday life, in Portland State’s White Gallery.

“The Chinese don’t discard the old,” said Dennis Lee, founder and volunteer of the Portland-based Lan Su Chinese Garden. “They always retain it and may have an overlay of something that’s more contemporary, so it kind of grows that way.”

Lee and the Chinese Garden volunteers are coming to Portland State’s Urban and Public Affairs Center Saturday, Feb. 4, as part of an ongoing series of cultural programs and discussions. The First Saturday program, held each month, is running with this year’s theme, “Windows into Beauty and Meaning.”

On Sept. 11, 2001, as the first plane struck the North Tower at 8:46 a.m. EST, former Beatle Paul McCartney was on the tarmac at John F. Kennedy International Airport, preparing to depart for London.

The pilot on McCartney’s flight informed the passengers that the airport was closing as he and others witnessed smoke billowing into the morning sky. In the days following the attacks, McCartney, like so many others, started wondering how he could help the millions who were affected by 9/11.

Scheherazade, Tell Me a Story—a film that focuses on government oppression, women’s rights, corrupt politics, true love and the desire for freedom—will be shown Friday, Feb. 3, at Northeast Portland’s Hollywood Theatre as part of the 22nd annual Cascade Festival of African Films.

Breakfast shouldn’t be just the most important meal of the day; it should also be the tastiest.

French toast is delicious any day of the week, but why not up the ante and turn it into a crazy breakfast panini? There’s simply no good reason to eat all your favorite breakfast ingredients separately. This recipe gives them all a chance to party on a grilled sandwich!

When Demetri Martin gets recognized on the street, it must be hard for him to divine what exactly he’s getting recognized for. His lead role in Ang Lee’s 2009 film, Taking Woodstock? His time as a correspondent on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart? One of his stand-up specials on the same channel? Or perhaps it’s for his cameo as a keytar-slinging replacement for Bret and Jemaine on Flight of the Conchords.