Art Snack: Mother Foucault's Nonprofit to Buy Building, 2026 World Naked Bike Ride Date, and RIP Sheridan Fruit

"Reports from the arts, culture, and food worlds have been ROUGH lately. January through March are lean times for everyone. So if you don't want to make dinner, and you still have enough self esteem to refrain from eating canned tomatoes over the sink (🙋guilty), spend some takeout dollars on your favs. If you're cold, they're cold, order some Phở. This goes for bookshops, movie houses, and other artsy spaces."

"Speaking of fundraising, I honestly never thought Mother Foucault's would DO IT, but the bookshop is buying its dang building through its newish literary nonprofit L'École Buissonnière. A release from the group said purchase of Nathaniel West Building No. 1 "was made possible by the generous support of donors and the Portland literary community." When we wrote about the attempt in July, the shop's owner Craig Florence (also L'École Buissonnière board chair) said he had until the fall to raise $300,000 for a downpayment."

"Every year, nudists, the nude-at-heart, and the nude-curious all eagerly await Portland's World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR) date announcement. And the never-nudes should also take note. Because on this summer night, it's possible to get stuck behind blocks and blocks of naked people on bikes shouting "woo!" They don't obey traffic lights; they take the road! They're vulnerable! The ride typically draws several thousand people and spectators to the streets of Portland. WNBR is a good time, but it's also a protest a"

Arts, culture, and food sectors face rough, lean months from January through March. People are encouraged to spend takeout dollars to support favorite restaurants, bookshops, movie houses, and other artsy spaces, with suggestions like ordering phở when cold. Mother Foucault's bookshop is purchasing its building through the nonprofit L'École Buissonnière, enabled by donor support and the Portland literary community. The owner aimed to raise $300,000 for a downpayment; an initial GoFundMe reached $10,000 before stalling, then donations—including anonymous, large gifts—reduced a revised goal to $55,000. Planned programming would occupy the third floor while Society already uses the second. Portland's World Naked Bike Ride draws thousands, can block streets, and serves as both celebration and protest.

Read at Portland Mercury