Bold Coffee & Books - Portland, OR

BOLD Book Club

Tuesday February 3rd

BOLD Spoken Word Open Mic

Tuesday February 3rd

Monthly on every first Tuesday

We want your BOLD stories!

Come to our monthly open mic to share your latest work in progress or previously published piece. We welcome short stories, personal essays, poetry, slam, and other spoken word art forms.

10% off for performers!

Arrive at 5:00 to sign up and get your beverage. The mic goes on at 5:30 p.m. 7-minute time limit. No theme. 

BOLD is a safe place. We strive to uplift stories by and about people from underrepresented and diverse communities. We do not tolerate hate speech of any kind.

See you there!

Sit Down, Shut Up, and Write

Wednesday February 4th

Every Wednesday

Every Wednesday

No more procrastination! Bring your work in progress and join other writers for some dedicated time to get your words down.

Every Wednesday 5:00–5:30 Arrive, get comfortable, meet your fellow writers, and chat about your projects 5:30–6:30 Time to shut up and write!

Cohosted by BOLD Coffee & Books (

https://boldcoffeeandbooks.com

) and Indigo: Editing, Design, and More (

https://www.indigoediting.com

). 

Portland Paper Club

Thursday February 5th

Every Thursday

Do you love paper crafts? We do too!

This group is for people seeking consistent time to practice paper arts and crafts in a small, low-pressure group setting.

***Space is limited. Please RSVP on Meetup here.***

Rose City Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Weekly Write-In

Friday February 6th

Every Friday

Join us for a writing/discussion group. This is a co-working meeting. If you are looking for feedback or critique, there are other meetings for that. The format is social chat for 15 minutes, silent write for an hour, chat for 15 minutes, repeat.

Hosted by Rose City Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers at BOLD Coffee & Books.

Political Letter Party

Friday February 6th

Let your voices be heard.

BOLD owners Ali and Tim refuse to be complicit in the atrocities happening in our country right now. Our activism station is up all day, every day, but on February 6, we dedicate time and space to join in community to write letters, sign petitions, send emails, make phone calls, and other methods to peacefully protest to Washington, D.C., that enough is enough and these horrific acts have got to stop. Please join us.

The more we the people make our voices heard in Washington, the better chance we have to change history for the better. Paper, envelopes, addresses, phone numbers, and websites will be provided and shared.

There will also be time to support each other in this community as we witness these terrible times.

Children’s Storytime: John Seib, Little Green Frog Discovers: I Am Enough

Saturday February 7th

BOLD is thrilled to host a special children’s storytime with John Seib, author of Little Green Frog Discovers: I Am Enough.

Little Green Frog Discovers: I Am Enough is a gentle, beautifully illustrated hardcover picture book that helps children discover confidence, self-worth, and belonging.

Little Green Frog wonders if he needs something more to be special. Through a quiet, magical night, he discovers a timeless truth: he is already enough.

John Seib is the author of Little Green Frog Discovers: I Am Enough, a heart-centered children’s picture book about courage, self-acceptance, and discovering that who you are is already enough. His stories are written for children but carry a gentle message that resonates just as deeply with adults.

John’s work is inspired by a lifelong love of storytelling and a desire to create books that help children grow in confidence, kindness, and imagination. When he isn’t writing, he’s usually dreaming up new stories, building creative projects, or enjoying quiet moments that spark the next idea.

He lives in Oregon and loves sharing stories that invite both children and grown-ups to remember what they already carry inside.

 ***** 

 Event cohosted by BOLD Coffee & Books and Indigo: Editing, Design, and More.

Children's Storytime

Saturday February 7th

Every Saturday

Join us every Saturday morning for children’s storytime! Whether an author is here to read their book or our staff is reading a favorite, we’ll feature stories that spread compassion, awareness, and positivity.

Children will get a coloring page or sticker to take home too!

The shop carries juice, snacks, cookies, cinnamon rolls, and other items for kids—and adults, we hope you enjoy a delicious coffee or tea drink while your child is entertained.

*****

Event cohosted by BOLD Coffee & Books and Indigo: Editing, Design, and More.

Author Reading: Liz Gale, Confessions of an Ex-Scientologist Pothead, in Conversation with Nora Ames

Saturday February 7th

BOLD is thrilled to host a reading with Liz Gale, author of Confessions of an Ex-Scientologist Pothead, in conversation with Nora Ames.

Join Liz Gale and Nora Ames for evening of discussion, Q&A and a book reading from Liz's memoir, Confessions of an Ex-Scientologist Pothead. Expect cult stories, dark humor, aliens, a short reading, and lots of audience Q&A—curious, candid, and full of rabbit holes.

6:00–7:00 p.m. - Early birds say hello

7:00­–7:40 p.m. - Nora & Liz discussion and readings (will include a short explanation of the board/art piece).

7:40–8:30 p.m. - Q&A and audience discussion

8:30­–9:00 p.m. - Sign & sales

Confessions of an Ex-Scientologist Pothead: Born in. Sparked up. Got out.

From her first breath, Liz is destined for life within the mysterious world of Scientology. Indoctrination lurks behind every corner as she shuffles between an elite boarding school, eccentric churches and a family of true believers.

Liz Gale delivers an enthralling account of growing up a third generation Scientologist, the mind-bending secret scriptures that dictated her upbringing and the haunting scandals that gave her courage to break free.

After growing up in a cult, leaving and losing everything, Liz Gale made one promise to herself: to live a creative life. Whether it’s providing cult education on social media, in writing her ongoing series Confessions of an Ex-Scientologist, or making funny videos about mind-control, Liz approaches complex concepts, terms and experiences in a fun, conversational tone.

Born a bicentennial Taurus, Fire Dragon, and proud member of Generation X—with a Cult cherry on top. After a lifetime of coercion, Nora Ames signed Scientology’s so-called billion-year contract and spent five years in indentured servitude to its Celebrity courtesans. She was ultimately sent to a Scientology prison labor camp for being gay. Since her escape, Nora has become an outspoken advocate, dedicated to exposing the truth about Scientology’s abuses and crimes.

Arrive at 6:30 p.m. to grab a snack or drink. The event will start at 7:00 p.m. 

 ***** 

 Event cohosted by BOLD Coffee & Books and Indigo: Editing, Design, and More.

Silent Reading Party

Tuesday February 10th

Monthly on every second Tuesday

Remember how great silent reading time was in elementary school? The melting away of distractions while you lost yourself in a great book? Now you can get that as an adult too!

Join us at BOLD for a silent reading party. Bring your book or buy one here. Grab a drink or pastry, and lose yourself in those pages.

Arrive around 5:00 if you want to meet other readers and share about the book you’re reading. The background music switches to classical and the reading begins at 5:30 p.m. More book talk afterwards, at 6:30.

Event cohosted by BOLD Coffee & Books and Indigo: Editing, Design, and More.

Author Reading: Queer-pocalypse! Dystopian Books by Adam Andrews Johnson and More LGBTQIA Authors

Friday February 13th

BOLD is thrilled to host Queer-pocalypse!, an author reading of dystopian books by Adam Andrews Johnson and more LGBTQIA authors.

Join us at BOLD Coffee and Books as we take the plunge into dark worlds with local queer authors of apocalyptic and dystopian fiction. Hosted by award-winning writer, Adam Andrews Johnson, and featuring several other local authors whose imaginative worlds will send your mind on bizarre adventures into the unknown. Join us for Queer-pocalypse!

Featured authors include host Adam Andrews Johnson, R. Lindsay Carter, the Inmara Fenumera, Jillian Moody, J.M. Halloran, and Cay Fletcher.

Adam Andrews Johnson is a queer author, local to PDX, who has released eleven books featuring lots of LGBTQIA characters in queer-normative worlds. He writes in multiple genres: horror, sci-fi, fantasy, fairytale, erotica, romance.

Arrive at 6:30 p.m. to grab a snack or drink. The event will start at 7:00 p.m. 

 ***** 

 Event cohosted by BOLD Coffee & Books and Indigo: Editing, Design, and More.

Children’s Storytime: Layne Maheu and Chris Satterlund, Go Spellfish Game

Saturday February 14th

BOLD is thrilled to host a special children’s storytime with Layne Maheu and Chris Satterlund, cofounders of Go Spellfish.

This extra-special storytime will feature a brand-new game called Go Spellfish!

Dive into a sea of letters and fun with Go Spellfish! Perfect for the little wordsmiths. This traditional 52-card deck of playing cards also plays ANY card game! Ages 4 and up.

Promotes spelling and cognitive skills through engaging play.

Transform family game night with Go Spellfish, where learning meets laughter. Watch your kids excel and enjoy every spelling triumph.

Go Spellfish is published by Eye Write It, and we'll be joined by cofounders Layne Maheu and Chris Satterlund for some awesome activities. It will be fun for all ages!

Layne Maheu is the author of two literary novels, Song of the Crow, 2006, Unbridled Books and Man of the World, 2021, Chatwin Books. After decades of working as a carpenter, he’s turned his love of books into the love of teaching, and now works in education.

Chris Satterlund has been in the bookselling and publishing business for forty years, twenty-six spent as an independent bookseller and owner in two stores and fifteen years with Scholastic as a field rep. Her passion has always been children’s books. It’s where a person learns who they are in the world, by reading.

*****

Event cohosted by BOLD Coffee & Books and Indigo: Editing, Design, and More.

Valentine's Day

Saturday February 14th

Join us on Valentine's Day for the perfect romantic evening!

Movie Night: Come See Me in the Good Light

Saturday February 14th

Join us for our first movie night! Former Colorado Poet Laureate Andrea Gibson moved mountains and hearts with their poetry.

"In an intimate and joyful story of love in the face of loss, celebrated poets Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley find strength—and unexpected hilarity in what might be their final year together."

Learn more about Come See Me in the Good Light here.

Arrive at 6:30 p.m. to get dinner or a drink. The movie starts at 7:00 p.m.

*****

Event cohosted by BOLD Coffee & Books and Indigo: Editing, Design, and More.

Book Publishing Q&A

Tuesday February 17th

Monthly on every third Tuesday

Join us for a monthly Q&A about all things publishing and books!

Join Ali Shaw—co-owner of BOLD Coffee & Books and owner of Indigo: Editing, Design, and More—for an in-person Q&A about the publishing process, the business of writing, and the book world in general. If you have questions about how to start your publishing journey, bring them! If you’ve always wondered about something more obscure, like how to tell if an antique book is a first edition or what librarians do at trade shows, bring those too!

Free and open to the public.

Event cohosted by BOLD Coffee & Books and Indigo: Editing, Design, and More.

Author Reading: Charlotte Chipperfield, Write with Intention: A Mindful Journey to Writing Your Book

Friday February 20th

BOLD is thrilled to host a reading with Charlotte Chipperfield, author of Intention: A Mindful Journey to Writing Your Book.

What if the secret to writing an impactful book wasn’t found in more effort, but in the slowing down to understand your true intention?

If you’ve ever had a spark, an urge, or a quiet calling to write your stories, ideas, and wisdom into a book, you’ve arrived at the right place. 

Like many writers, you may struggle with the overwhelming details of how to write a book before you’ve become clear on why you are writing a book. This approach leads to burnout, creative blocks, and abandoned manuscripts.

Whether you're drawn to fiction or nonfiction, this motivating and inspiring book will help you transform your book idea and passion for writing into a first draft, build your writing practice, refine your work through editing, and navigate a path to publishing—all while developing the mindset to succeed.

The award-winning book Write with Intention, reads like a conversation over coffee with book coach and developmental editor Charlotte Chipperfield, who shows you how to intentionally transform your writing experience from struggle to ease, gaining the clarity and confidence you need to establish a strong writing foundation and reach your writing goals.

Your story matters and you are worthy of the creative success you desire by cultivating both your writing skills and mindset. It’s time to begin your mindful writing journey. 

Charlotte Chipperfield is a book coach, developmental editor, and women's fiction writer passionate about helping writers bring their stories to life. She is the founder of Her Narrative, a writer education, book coaching, and editing company that empowers women to write unapologetically and share their truth with clarity, confidence, and intention.

Arrive at 6:30 p.m. to grab a snack or drink. The event will start at 7:00 p.m. 

 ***** 

 Event cohosted by BOLD Coffee & Books and Indigo: Editing, Design, and More.

Children’s Storytime: Jane Kurtz, Chickens on the Loose and What Do They Do with All That Poo?

Saturday February 21st

BOLD is thrilled to host a special children’s storytime with Jane Kurtz, author of Chickens on the Loose and What Do They Do with All That Poo?

 Chickens on the Loose

A happy-go-plucky rhyme adventure of chickens frolicking in an urban environment as they run rampant all around town!

“Hysterical rhyming book about chickens escaping from their yard. Funny shenanigans ensue with each towns-person and animal they encounter. This will appeal to lots of kids around here whose families own chickens!" –Buttonwood Books & Toys, bookseller recommendation

What Do They Do With All That Poo?

Find out what happens to all of the poo at the zoo in this funny and factual picture book! There are so many different kinds of animals at the zoo, and they each make lots and lots (and sometimes LOTS!) of poo. So what do zoos do with all of that poo? This zany, fact-filled romp explores zoo poo, from cube-shaped wombat poo to white hyena scat, and all of the places it ends up, including in science labs and elephant-poo paper—even backyard gardens!

Award-winning author Jane Kurtz has published more than 40 books—fiction and nonfiction, picture books and novels. She grew up mostly in Ethiopia where she now does a lot of volunteer work for helping kids get books. She also is on the faculty of the Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA in Children’s and YA Literature where she works with adults who want to become professional writers.

*****

Event cohosted by BOLD Coffee & Books and Indigo: Editing, Design, and More.

The Great BOLD Write-Off

Saturday February 21st

In this snappy writing contest, we give the writers four writing prompts and set the timer for 30 minutes. When the time is up, they read their stories and the judges select a winner—all right there on the spot. There’s no time to hesitate, second-guess, or hold back. Then the winner takes home prizes! All writers are welcome, from published professionals to newborn novelists. 

 Arrive at 6:30 p.m. to grab a snack or drink. The event will start at 7:00 p.m. 

 ***** 

 Event cohosted by BOLD Coffee & Books and Indigo: Editing, Design, and More.

Writers Social

Tuesday February 24th

Monthly on every last Tuesday

Come meet other writers and enjoy a drink in this fun and informal setting to bond over the written (or still unwritten!) word.

5:00–7:00 p.m.

Drop in at your convenience. We'll be happy to see you and hear about your writing!

Event cohosted by BOLD Coffee & Books and Indigo: Editing, Design, and More.

Art Showcase: Zoe Stanek Opening and Amanda Isabelle Amezcua Closing

Friday February 27th

Please join us at BOLD for an evening of art appreciation.

We will be closing out our fall show featuring art by Amanda Isabelle Amezcua and welcoming Zoe Stanek as our new featured artist.

About Amanda Isabelle Amezcua: Amanda Isabelle Amezcua is a graduate student at Portland State University, studying medical history. She’s been an artist for as long as she can remember. She does traditional and digital art. Proceeds will go toward funding her education and helping her continue to create art. She’s featuring some of her favorite pieces inspired by her Mexican roots.

About Zoe Stanek: Zoe Stanek is a writer and artist who takes inspiration from landscapes and everyday magic. She writes whimsical fairy tales about women and girls: slice of life stories of worlds just beyond our own. Her art follows suit, depicting playful scenes and teeming with wonder. Zoe’s dream is to become an author of children’s books and novels that might someday be part of everyone’s libraries.

For this special art appreciation night, we will bring all art down from the book wall to view up close. All art is for sale, and 95–100% of proceeds go straight to the artists.

The art showcase will begin at 5:30 p.m. Enjoy a beer, wine, or cider for $1 off while you take in the talent of these incredible artists!

Event cosponsored by Indigo: Editing, Design, and More.

Children's Storytime: Emily Guizar of Bright Horizonsldren's Storytime: Emily Guizar of Bright Horizons

Saturday February 28th

BOLD is thrilled to host a special children’s storytime with Emily Guizar of Bright Horizons!

We’ll be reading This Is How We Play by Caroline Cupps & Jessica Slice and Everybody Is Different by Miriam Moore-Keish, two beautiful stories that celebrate play, individuality, and inclusion.

After the stories, children can enjoy a relaxed coloring activity and gentle kid’s yoga, giving them a chance to move, create, and connect in a supportive environment.

Emily Guizar works with Bright Horizons ABA Therapy, a local organization dedicated to supporting children and families in our community.

*****

Event cohosted by BOLD Coffee & Books and Indigo: Editing, Design, and More.

Author Reading: Maggie Alexander, Shine with ADHD

Saturday February 28th

BOLD is thrilled to host a reading with Maggie Alexander, author of Shine with ADHD.

You are invited to learn about the benefits and challenges of the diverse presentation of ADHD.  Maggie Alexander, seasoned nurse practitioner who has treated 600 clients with precise medicine, micronutrients, and specific strategies, will share her pearls. Success stories and discussion of how to parent a child with ADHD and how it presents differently for women and girls will be shared.  Maggie will entertain questions and be available for book signings.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders, yet it remains one of the most misunderstood. In Shine with ADHD, seasoned clinician Maggie Alexander shares the wisdom of over 600 clients, blending cutting-edge research and clinical practice, compelling stories, and the powerful tools of functional medicine to redefine how we understand and treat ADHD.

Maggie Alexander, author of Shine with ADHD, is a nurse practitioner who has assisted 600 people with ADHD to lead productive and happier lives. Her approach includes the precise use of medicine, micronutrients, and specific strategies. She is known for her kind and empowering style that honors the unique individual.

Arrive at 6:30 p.m. to grab a snack or drink. The event will start at 7:00 p.m. 

 ***** 

 Event cohosted by BOLD Coffee & Books and Indigo: Editing, Design, and More.

International Women's Day

Sunday March 8th

Come celebrate International Women's Day with us - March 8th