episode 13: Spring Trends @ Wild Fang, Sam Chase on Gov't Relations, & White Bird
We've got a jam packed episode for you this week! We're live from everyone's favorite badass boutique WILDFANG glowing up for spring, and talking with Sam Chase, Director of the City of Portland's Office of Government Relations!
Portland
Sam Chase / City of Portland, Office of Government Relations
What is the Office of Government Relations?
What does it do?
What types of things does Portland have to "relate" about?
How will OGR empower the new city structure?
How can people follow OGR's work?
Tea
Jessie Morris / WILDFANG
What / who is WILDFANG?
What’s new and trending for spring?
What’s the must-have item?
What’s up with the Taco Bell collab?
WILDFANG offers personal shopping sessions! If you’re interested, reach out to them in store, on their site, or hit them up on socials.
Party
This week we’re only talking about one event - the Sydney Dance Company at White Bird on April 10th.
We talk to White Bird’s Executive Director about how White Bird started, how they curate, and the importance of bringing global dance to Portland.
Get your tickets to Sydney Dance Company here.
Think you know the best events and parties in Portland? Hit us up to be a guest events correspondent!
We’re looking for venue hosts, tea spots, episode sponsors, and season sponsors. More here.
Connect with Us
Guest & Venue Info
Sam Chase
Sam Chase is the Director of the City of Portland’s Office of Government Relations. Previously, Sam served as an elected member on Metro Council, and has worked as an advocate to address poverty and create inclusive communities with living-wage jobs, affordable housing, homeless services, and environmental protections. He enjoys flyfishing, hiking, camping, and most of all spending time with his very busy, blended family of six.
WILDFANG
WILDFANG began in a studio apartment in Portland, OR. With equal parts nerve and naivety, they cashed in our 401ks and quit their corporate day jobs to build this thing. They had grown tired of asking: are real pockets revolutionary? Is it too much to ask for a button up without boob gap? Why is the fashion industry still clinging to outdated gender norms that serve no one?
In answering these questions, WILDFANG was born.
They’re on a mission to rethink gender norms and how they show up in fashion. They embrace their masculine, their feminine, and their-everything-in-between.
Since they started, they’ve given back over $1 million to good causes and learned how to make some damn fine blazers. With real pockets.
You can visit them online or swing by their stores in PDX and LA.
Connect with them on their website, Instagram, Pinterest, and X.
Graham Cole
Graham Cole (He/Him) hails from Portland, OR, the beautiful, weird city where he was born and spent most of his childhood. Graham first joined White Bird as Boutique Manager, then became Chief Operating Officer, then, in 2021, was appointed White Bird's first Executive Director. As Executive Director Graham oversees White Bird's fundraising efforts and financial management, and leads programming for White Bird's annual season of dance. He is honored and constantly inspired by the opportunity to continue White Bird's legacy of bringing world-class dance to his hometown.
Graham holds a BFA in Contemporary Dance from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. he also leads Graham Cole/Performance, creating and producing original dance-theatre works in Portland (see grahamcole.com for details). Graham is a lifelong cycling enthusiast - if he's not in the office or the theater, he's probably out on his bike!
White Bird
White Bird is committed to bringing the best Portland-based, regional, national, and international dance companies to Portland, Oregon and to fostering the growth of dance in the region. Through presenting established and emerging companies and choreographers, commissioning and co-commissioning new work, as well as collaborating with other arts organizations in Portland and the region, they are able to make these dance performances possible. White Bird strongly believes in making dance exciting, educational, equitable and accessible to everyone, young and old, of all social backgrounds, and through contributed income and sponsorships, is able to facilitate outreach to schools and keep ticket prices affordable. A passionate advocate for dance, White Bird strives to broaden audiences, develop new dance venues, and support both existing and new dance programs.
Connect with them on Vimeo, Instagram, YouTube, or their website.
