General Info

We stock hundreds of hard to find titles, host dozens of literary and art events every year. In the early days, Reading Frenzy occupied a tiny space in what was formerly the office of an auto body shop. The adjacent rare bookseller had a performance space in back that we occasionally used. Several months into our first year we expanded -- from 150 sq ft. to 300! -- but six months later when torrential rains threatened to flood the tightly packed storefront I knew it was time to move. In spring of 1996 we relocated to downtown Portland on what was then a fairly desolate block, albeit cattycorner from Powell's City of Books. The Acorn Block (named for it's Oak St. locale, and the fact that it's shaped like an A ) rapidly evolved into a hub of cool, independent businesses and is where we remain today. It's true there was a little scuffle over our lease in the late 90s, when a fastfood chain that will remain unnamed, tried to lease our space out from under us, but due to public outcry we prevailed. Luckily for us, the building was purchased soon after by an amazing local property developer, who's devoted to supporting independent businesses, building community and historic preservation. In 1996 we hosted our first art opening, Dishwasher Pete's collection of Macaroni & Cheese boxes. Since then we've gone on to show dozens of unknown, emerging and established artists, as well as unusual collections. Including, but not limited to,,,,,, Khaela Maricich and Kalah Allen. A couple of years later Rebecca Gilbert and I combined our resources, rented a small office upstairs, and began a project that would eventually evolve into the literary non-profit Independent Publishing Resource Center. As a co-founder I served on the board until January 2001, when I took leave to focus on impending parenthood. I still serve on the advisory board, but can take very little credit for the current offerings and continued success of the project. In 2005 I realized a long held dream of launching a small press. Show & Tell Press is the proud publisher of Crap Hound -- A Picture Book for Discussion & Activity, and we have other titles in the works including a Reading Frenzy Anthology, a Show & Tell Annual, and lots of other tantalizing titles involving words and pictures.