Reading Frenzy ~ An Independent Press Emporium

Destination Unknown but Almost Certain...

February 01, 2013: You may have heard that Reading Frenzy will be closing our Oak Street location -- February 14 is our last official day of business in our current space. But never fear -- we have found a new location and are in the final throes of lease negotiations! We hope to make an official announcement next week! While we are sad to leave our longtime home, we are so excited about our new space, which will allow us to more than double our retail space, have a devoted gallery area, hold bigger events, and offer workshops (among many other exciting developments)!

We are suspending consignment as of February 1, as we will be closed for about six weeks. We will be mailing checks due from the February pull but returns will not be available until we reopen in April. Current consignors are welcome to pick up items early if this is a problem or concern. If you already have returns waiting now is the time to pick it up. Anything left here prior to August 15th, 2012 is going to be considered a donation and given away (as per our longtime consignment agreement). We hate to do this, but we are looking forward to a fresh start in our new space and that's not going to include continuing to store hundreds of unclaimed consignment items.

More info coming soon!

Reading Frenzy Top 25 Bestsellers 2012!

January 14, 2013: Behold! A selection of our best selling titles in no particular order (except for the first three)! Many of the titles are currently available both in the shop and online!

Love is not...

  1. Crap Hound #5-6 & #8

  2. A Field Guide to the Aliens of Star Trek the Next Generation by Joshua Chapman (various issues)

  3. Love is not Constantly Wondering if You're Making the Biggest Mistake of Your Life by Anonymous
  4. D.I.Y. Magic by Anthony Alvarado

  5. My Day by Nate Orton and friends (various issues)

  6. Under Wildwood by Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis

  7. Debt: The First 5000 Years by David Graeber

  8. Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon

  9. The Loom of Ruin by Sam McPheeters

  10. Justice, Justice Shall You Pursue: A History of New Jewish Agenda by Ezra Berkley Nepon

  11. The Carter Family: Don't Forget This Song by Frank M. Young & David Lasky

  12. Railroad Semantics by Aaron Dactyl (various issues)

  13. Taking the Lane edited by Elly Blue (various issues)

  14. Algeria by Delphine Bedient

  15. Super Duper Dog Park by Aron Steinke

  16. PDX by Bike edited by Elly Blue

  17. Wild Fermentation by Sandor Ellix Katz

  18. Homesweet Homegrown: How to Grow, Make, And Store Food, No Matter Where You Live by Robyn Jasko

  19. Make It Last: Prolonging + Preserving What We Love by Raleigh Briggs

  20. Drink Primer by David David Cooper

  21. The Collective Tarot Deck by The Collective Tarot

  22. OKCupid Messages I Haven't Responded To by Delphine Bedient

  23. Raw Deal by Joey Malone

  24. Radical Mycology by Peter McCoy

  25. Mental Health Cookbook: Creating Connection With Food And Herbs by H. Finn Cunningham

Little Boxes!

Little boxes

Reading Frenzy is participating in Little Boxes this year! Little Boxes is a shop local initiative that rewards customers with discounts and chances to win prizes, it's also a great excuse to explore the city and visit new places. Come on by from 10am-7pm this Friday and Saturday, pick up your map, and start shopping! At every shop you visit you can enter the raffle, and if you make a purchase you get a stamp on your map that will entitle you to a 10% discount at the next participating shop you visit!

This year's Little Boxes event includes 170 of Portland's best independent retail shops across the entire city and every major shopping district.  Download the map and game board here or pick up a paper copy in any participating business to start planning your route now!

Here are some of our favorite places by neighborhood:

DOWNTOWN/WEST END:

  1. Reading Frenzy (921 SW Oak St.) Get a sneak peek at some of the items we'll be featuring in our 17th Annual affordable art show -- HOMESPUN!

  2. Tender Loving Empire (412 SW 10th Ave.) Most covetable: Sailboat Automata -- turn the crank to float your boat!

  3. Radish Underground (414 SW 10th Ave.) Most covetable: leather studded -- rhinestones or studs -- cuffs and reconstructed sweaters!

  4. Crafty Wonderland (808 SW 10th Ave.) Most covetable: Olbapi! stuffed animals! These heirloom critters are made with vivid cotton print fabrics and recycled stuffing with felt and embroidered details.

PEARL DISTRICT

  1. Eden (221 NW 11th Ave.) The visionary shopkeeper behind Flutter opened this Pearl District treasure trove last year!

  2. Cargo (380 NW 13th Ave.) I love getting lost in Cargo and always find a pile of treasures I can't live without! A mix of vintage and new imported goods, a lovely selection of books, and a lovely selection jewelry.

NORTH PORTLAND

  1. She Bop (909 N Beech St.) Every town needs a "female friendly sex toy boutique"!

  2. Black Wagon (3964 N Mississippi Ave.) Cool kids clothes, books, toys, and art!

  3. Flutter (3948 N Mississippi Ave.) A wonderland of vintage and new housewares, jewelry, paper goods, perfumes, and clothing!

  4. Pistils Nursery (3811 N Mississippi Ave.) The sweetest little shop where you can learn how to make your own terrariums or just pet a chicken!

  5. Icon Tattoo (149 N Russell Ave.) These lovely ladies won our hearts at our Game of Thrones fan art show! Beautiful work!

  6. Queen Bee (3961 N Williams Ave.) Cool wallets, bags, and textiles made on site!

  7. Lark Press (3901 N Williams Ave.) Letterpress paper goods and other items -- good for special occasions and baby gifts!

  8. SpielWerk Toys (3808 N Williams Ave.) Waldorf inspired toys for imaginative play -- no batteries required!

SELLWOOD

  1. Star's Antique Mall (7027 SE Milwaukie Ave.) The biggest and the brightest!

  2. Sock Dreams (8005 SE 13th Ave.) Sock Dreams! Need I say more?

SOUTHEAST

  1. Mirador Community Store (2106 SE Division St.) Essentials for homemakers and homesteaders!

  2. Ex Libris (4185 SE Division St.) Everybody's favorite repurposed journal makers!

EAST BURNSIDE

  1. Redux (811 E Burnside St. #110) An explosion of handmade goods with a focus on jewelry and accessories!

Print Fancy: Taking The Lane

Taking the lane

Taking the Lane editor Elly Blue has invited two contributors, Katie Proctor and Kathleen Youell, to read their pieces from the latest issue for Print Fancy! 

Taking the Lane is a quarterly bike journal exploring the psychology of biking with a feminist perspective. Covering such topics as sexuality, sense of place, body image, and-ooh la la-economics, Taking the Lane goes beyond the asphalt with stories of how biking shapes our very lives. Every issue is an eclectic and entertaining take on a central theme, as diverse as the bikes we ride. The latest installment, Childhood, features stories on cycling, childhood, and parenting, from the memory of running away from home by bike at age 7 to parents' stories of how they manage bicycling with kids of all ages. Some are funny, some are visionary, some are sad. It's hard not to notice the cargo bikes full of babies and diligent parents guiding their children to school on X-tra Cycles and training wheels these days. Childhood was inspired by the families that bike together, the kids who embrace two wheels, and memories of freedom and sparkly banana seats.

Print Fancy: Drink Primer

Drink primer

David Cooper, author/publisher of Drink Primer will be mixing mini Negronis while accompanied by a guest reader. He promises to have made everyone a Negroni (up to 50 people) by the time the 10 minute reading is done!

A straight forward and entertaining guide for the home bartender, Drink Primer contains 25 cheekily illustrated cocktail recipes from long time Portland bartender David Cooper. From the slinky Aviation to the reserved Pimm's Cup, this primer contains all the secrets to perfecting the perfect aperitifs or setting the stage for a (classy) all nighter. Full of lore and helpful hints, Drink Primer is sure to spice up your 5 o'clock!

Drink Primer is available for purchase here.