Shiro Cosmetics – known for their nerdy-themed makeup and hilarious product names (like the wildly popular eyeshadow “Nic Cage Raking Leaves on a Crisp Autumn Morning”) – turns four years old today. We met up with the company founder, Caitlin Johnstone, to hear how she turned $800, a broken arm, and a love for Pokemon into a successful line of indie cosmetics.

Local BusinessesSara ShepherdApril 30, 2014shiro, shiro cosmetics, makeup, local, business, nerd, pokemon, memes, nic cage, nic cage raking leaves, no oscar for leo, caitlin johnstone, portland, cosmetics

Brian Kidd: The Unipiper!

Brian Kidd was just your average college student taking free bagpipe lessons, until a fateful night when his eye was caught by the glimmer of an abandoned unicycle laying in a trashcan. As his hand gripped the cold metal of the wheel, the mystic power of the cycle shot up his arm and he was forever transformed.

Now, Brian rides through the city streets in a Darth Vader mask, his kilt and cape swaying behind him in a breeze, the bellowing of his bagpipes echoing through the town like a godly proclamation to keep Portland weird. He is a symbol. A myth. A legend. He is... The Unipiper!

Entertainer, Super HeroSara ShepherdMarch 10, 2014Unipiper, the unipiper, brain kidd, portland, keep portland weird, bagpipes, darth vader, unicycle