Aaron Mesh

Staff writer for Willamette Week in Portland, Oregon. Previously served as the paper's movie critic for five years, and edited two editions of Finder, a magazine guide to the city. In 2010, his movie reviews were ranked second in the country for arts criticism by the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies.

On weekends, he sings karaoke.


PORTLAND POLITICS

The King of Clackistan: A timber baron wants to turn Oregon to the right. [Willamette Week, 31 Oct 2012]

Block Busters: Urban density has arrived. Who isn't celebrating? [WW, 19 Sept 2012]

When Stacks Attack: The costly Multnomah County Library. [WW, 1 Aug 2012]

Notes From the Occupation: 48 hours inside Occupy Portland. [WW, 26 Oct 2011]

PROFILES

Thai Hard: Andy Ricker takes his chicken-wing empire to New York. [WW, 1 Feb 2012]

Voodoo Child: Doughnut kingpin Tres Shannon wants to make Portland his fun park. [WW, 21 Dec 2011]

Mock Star: Carrie Brownstein is making fun of you. [WW, 3 Nov 2010]

BUSINESS FEATURES

Stop the Presses: The impending end of The Oregonian as a daily newspaper. [WW, 8 Aug 2012]

Fahrenheit 4th of July: A fireworks border war. [WW, 27 June 2012]

Cartpocalypse! The problems facing Portland's food carts. [WW, 15 Dec 2010]

Raiders of the Lost Crap: Storage-unit scavengers on a hunt for gold and boats. [WW, 17 Dec 2008]

RELIGIOUS ENTHUSIASMS

Children of a Higher God: Serving ayahuasca to kids. [WW, 2 March 2011]

Undercover Jesus: The City of Portland partners with 500 churches. [WW, 20 May 2009]

New Kids in the Flock: Twin teenage evangelical superstars. [WW, 18 June 2008]

BOOK REVIEWS

Proud American: Review of The Passage of Power by Robert A. Caro. [The Wilson Quarterly, Summer 2012]

The Natural: Review of Roger Ebert's memoir Life Itself. [WQ, Autumn 2011]

Jesus College: Review of Seeing the Light. [The Wilson Quarterly, Spring 2010]

Bet on Willy: Willy Vlautin wrote the book on horse racing at Portland Meadows. [WW, 7 Apr 2010]

MOVIE REVIEWS

Bruce & Joe's Excellent Adventure: Review of Looper. [WW, 26 Sept 2012]

Angels in the Architecture: Review of The Tree of Life. [WW, 8 June 2011]

Follow That BAM: Beer and Movie, a festival co-founded by the author. [WW, 16 Feb 2011]

Triumph of the Reel: Review of Inglourious Basterds [WW, 19 Aug 2009]