A MULTIMEDIA PLATFORM CURATING CREATIVE CULTURE

About

Beacon is a cultural digest for the hungry and the curious — where each Volume explores the world through a thematic lens.

Our current cycle, Volume V (2025–2026), looks at culture through the language of food — from “Bad Apple” to “Couch Potato,” “Fruitcake” to “Meat Market.” Food becomes metaphor, idiom, and cultural mirror, shaping the way we critique, celebrate, and experiment across creative disciplines.

Each Volume offers its own menu of ideas, layered with critique, experiment, and aesthetic flavor.

Why We Exist

Culture is always on the menu, but most of what’s served feels under-seasoned. Beacon Quarterly adds depth, layering, and playfulness — inviting you to slow down, taste, and think.

This is a space for readers who crave smart writing, bold visuals, and cultural commentary with bite. Whether you come for the hot takes, the deep dives, or the snackable side dishes, there’s a seat for you at our table.

Pull up a chair. Stay awhile. And don’t forget to save room for dessert.

What We Serve

Our Substack is organized into sections — each with its own tone, appetite, and rhythm:

  • Seasoned – Poetry, short fiction, and lyrical creative writing with emotional resonance.

  • The Smorgasbord – Genre-bending, multimedia, and experimental storytelling that breaks form.

  • Shelf Life – Nostalgic pop-culture moments and trends that fade, evolve, transform, or come back.

  • Taste Test – Recipes, restaurants, and hands-on food experiences.

  • Mixed Greens – Where culture, psychology, and ethics intersect with science and society.

  • Fun-Sized – Trivia, curios, and quick explainers—learn in under a minute.

  • The Nosh – Memories and stories about food.

  • Peas in a Pod – Relationships, chemistry and unexpected pairings.

  • Fresh Squeezed – Trends, ideas, and moments happening now.

  • The Jam – A dedicated corner for music, discovery, and sonic exploration.

  • Seasonal – Holiday- and season-specific guides, lookbooks, and curated content.

  • The Big Apple – New York–centric happenings, features, and highlights.

  • Horoscopes – Monthly zodiac forecasts paired with themed foods, archetypes, and playful cultural twists.

  • Quizzes – Playful personality tests that pair lifestyle, culture, and seasonal vibes.

Our Volumes

Each Volume reimagines the lens through which we look at culture:

  • Volumes I–IV explored culture through quarterly, single-issue themes — from No. 01 Coffee Snob to No. 05 Split Ends, No. 09 Tan Lines, and No. 16 Wall Flower. Each issue was a standalone exploration of style, language, and cultural commentary, published as a collectible magazine.

  • Volume V shifts into a year-long cultural cycle, viewing creative culture through food idioms.

  • Volume VI will be weather-themed — storms, seasons, atmospheres.

  • Volume VII centers on plants — roots, blooms, and botanicals.

  • Volume VIII turns to the animal kingdom — instincts, archetypes, habitats.

The Origins of Beacon

Beacon began in 2013 as a concept dreamed up by Chacha Sands and her best friend. Inspired by the idea of a “beacon” as a guide, the original vision was a Portland-themed zine spotlighting local gems — indie coffee shops, jewelry designers, and neighborhood florists. Though it remained an idea for two years, the concept laid the groundwork for what was to come.

With her best friend’s blessing, Chacha eventually brought Beacon to life with the launch of its first official issue. No. 01 Coffee Snob became a hybrid of the original vision — featuring a Portland Coffee Shop Guide alongside coffee-inspired work from creatives around the world. From the very beginning, Beacon embraced both local roots and global reach.

By No. 02 Gold Digger, and with design support from graphic designer Daniel Cardoza, Beacon’s visual identity began to take shape. No. 03 Fancy Pants introduced its first internship program, and No. 04 Bag Lady marked its first public launch party at No Vacancy Lounge.

From there, Beacon became a fixture in Portland’s creative scene — partnering with Design Week Portland and hosting workshops, panels, pop-ups, and concerts at beloved local venues like 220 Salon, Ace Hotel, Trove Curated Home, The Fixin’ To Bar, Mississippi Studios, and Jones Bar. The Tan Lines Festival at Century Bar, featuring over 20 live acts, became one of its largest and most memorable events.

While interns rotated each season, a core team began to form — Zach Westerman, Britt Mohr, Kailla Coomes, and Reid Kille became Beacon’s longest-standing collaborators. Over the years, a wide range of talent has worked on the Beacon team, many contributing for multiple seasons. Though too numerous to list here, the full team can be viewed on our Team page.

Over time, Beacon extended well beyond Portland — selling in shops across the U.S., appearing in book fairs in Japan, hosting a rooftop event during New York Fashion Week, and publishing work from over 250 contributors across 32+ countries.

In September 2021, after publishing No. 16 Wall Flower, Beacon paused to reflect, recharge, and reimagine. Four years later, in September 2025, Beacon relaunched with Volume V, ushering in a new era of themed idioms, experimental formats, and expansive cultural storytelling. Now based in New York City, Beacon’s 2025 relaunch marks a pivotal evolution — expanding into its full three-pronged ecosystem of Content, Commerce, and Experiences. This new chapter embraces Beacon’s true potential as a multifaceted cultural platform, deepening its commitment to innovative storytelling and immersive community engagement.