Portland is looking and feeling slightly less apocalyptic thanks to the non-smoky skies, but the ongoing pandemic still encourages us to stay home when possible. Enter: a new roundup of cool things to do on your computer (and a couple of socially distant in-person options) until we can start thinking about the weekend again, from a Movie Madness University discussion of Romy & Michele's High School Reunion Past Event Like List with creator Robin Schiff to Oregon Ballet Theater performances Past Event Like List outside of OMSI. For even more options, check out our complete streaming events calendar.
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MONDAY
FOOD AND DRINK
Veganizer PDX + DesiPDX Popup
Past Event
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Local pop-up Veganizer PDX will serve up plant-based feasts for two (including seasonal greens, ratatouille, twice-baked potatoes with grilled mushrooms, coconut ghee beets with black lentils, and a black pepper fudge dessert) at Indian food cart DesiPDX. They're donating 15% of sales to Black Futures Farm, a local community farm that's part of the Black Food Sovereignty Coalition program.
DesiPDX (North Portland)
READINGS & TALKS
Kerri Arsenault, Megan Labrise
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Drawing from his experience growing up in the rural working-class town of Mexico, Maine, where a paper mill employed most of the residents for over 100 years, Kerri Arsenault's new novel Mill Town grapples with the paradoxical effects of certain working-class industries that create jobs but also cause environmental destruction and generations of health problems. Join her for a discussion with author Megan Labrise.
MONDAY & WEDNESDAY
THEATER & PERFORMANCE
American Chameleon: The Living Installments
Past Event
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One artist whose work expanded naturally into the online medium is Philidephia-based artist Jaamil Olawale Kosoko whose approach to contemporary dance intersects with his studies in Black critical theory, specifically Black queer theory. Kosoko's American Chameleon: The Living Installments will occur partly via the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art's stream, and also partly via the gaming platform Discord. Kosoko is unusual among this year's TBA Festival
Past Event
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performers because he's one of the few artists PICA wanted to include from the very beginning who was able to adapt his work to fit the festival's new form. SUZETTE SMITH
TUESDAY
COMEDY
Colin Quinn with David Spade: A Coast-to-Coast Roast of the 50 States
Past Event
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Which US states suck the most? Colin Quinn and David Spade will roast all 50 of them as part of the digital Chicago Humanities Festival.
COMMUNITY
Queer Town Hall: Suicide Prevention Month
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Local mental health experts will join together for a panel discussion on YouTube in honor of Suicide Prevention Month, where they'll address what's being done to meet students' mental health needs in Oregon's school districts.
FILM
MMU: Extra Credit with Romy & Michele Creator Robin Schiff
Past Event
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Level up your obsession with the '90s cult classic Romy & Michele's High School reunion by tuning in to this online Movie Madness University discussion and Q&A with Hollywood Theatre Community Programmer Anthony Hudson and director Robin Schiff.
READINGS & TALKS
Zephyr Teachout, E.J. Dionne Jr
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Zephyr Teachout provides an outline for a grassroots movement that organizes against monopoly power in communities across this country in her new book Break 'Em Up! She'll be joined in conversation by longtime Washington Post op-ed columnist E.J. Dionne Jr. at this virtual Powell's event.
WEDNESDAY
COMEDY
Whatchu Wanna Know
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Tune into Twitch every Wednesday in September as Broke Gravy comics Leon, Chris, and Eric delve into "comedy, relationships, and humanity."
READINGS & TALKS
The Stranger Presents: Silent Reading Party
A lot of people are taking the opportunity to turn the online version of The Stranger's super-successful words 'n' vibes experience into a weekly online destination, a respite from (waves hands exasperatedly at basically everything) and an opportunity to simply... slow up, sit down, and just listen to live piano music while sinking into a good book. If you haven't tried it out yet, tonight's the night, and we'll see you at 6pm. If you have tried it out before? Welcome back. It's a damn nice oasis of low-key bliss, isn't it?
RESISTANCE & SOLIDARITY
Police Violence Comprehensive Forum
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Portland United Against Hate will co-host this online forum on racist police violence and the recent protests in Portland with medical and legal experts and "on-the-ground observers" from organizations like NARAL.
THURSDAY
COMEDY
Kelsey Cook
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Podcast host, beauty blogger, and comedian may not be likely professions for someone raised by an international yo-yo champion and a professional foosball player, but they’re the ones Kelsey Cook ended up with. She'll post up at Helium for four days of live sets.
Helium Comedy Club (Southeast)
COMMUNITY
History of Portland Police Reform: A Conversation with Veteran Advocates
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Dr. LeRoy Haynes (AMA Coalition for Justice and Police Reform), Debbie Aiona (League of Women Voters of Portland), and Dan Handleman (Portland Copwatch) have long fought for police reform and racial justice in the Northwest. Join them for a discussion with Jo Ann Hardesty, where they'll reflect on lessons they've learned during their careers.
Understanding Bird Behavior: A Guide to What Birds Do & Why
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For this edition of Science on Tap, biologist and author Dr. Wenfei Tong will let you in on the private lives of birds, from how they find food to how they cope with climate-based threats.
FESTIVALS
Bonnaroo Presents: Roo-Ality
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The Tennessee music and arts festival Bonnaroo presents a three-night broadcast, which you can stream live on YouTube, with both archived shows from past festivals with acts like the Beastie Boys and the White Stripes and live performances and appearances by Action Bronson, David Lynch, Charli XCX, and many others.
MUSIC
16th Annual DC JazzFest
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The 16th annual DC Jazz Fest will be streamed live, bringing five days of performances from big names like Marc Cary, Chuck Brown Band, Frederic Yonnet, and Dado Moroni.
Fall into the Arts
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Local radio station All Classical Portland's weekly concert broadcasts highlighting over 30 regional ensembles will air on Thursdays through November.
The Piano Reimagined: A Virtual Night of Modern Piano Duos
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Kinzie Steele and 20 Digitus Duo will double up on their string instrument of choice. Watch the show live on Holocene's YouTube and Twitch channels.
READINGS & TALKS
Lawrence Roberts, Barry Johnson
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In his new book Mayday 1971, Lawrence Roberts provides an account of one of the largest acts of civil disobedience in US history, the Vietnam War protests in Washington D.C. on May 1, 1971. Get a primer on his research at this virtual talk with Oregon ArtsWatch editor Barry Johnson.
Kim Johnson in Conversation with Black Cultural Library Advocates
Past Event
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Carla Davis and Ebonee Bell, two members of the Multnomah County Library’s Black Cultural Library Advocates team, will join author Kim Johson (This Is My America) for a virtual chat about the program.
Portland Arts & Lectures: Colson Whitehead
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Portland Arts & Lectures' 35th season will close with Pulitzer Prize/National Book Award/Whiting Award-winning author Colson Whitehead (The Nickel Boys, The Underground Railroad), who will share the digital stage with another incredible Whiting Award-winning author, Mitchell S. Jackson (The Residue Years). You don't even have to put on shoes and socks to attend! Don't miss it.
ALL WEEK
FESTIVALS
The Atlantic Festival
Past Event
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Join The Atlantic in parsing through the events of 2020 and what our current moment says about our nation as a whole (and what the future might hold). The four-day online festival is packed with panel discussions (like "Power of Purpose: Bridging the Racial Divide" on Monday at noon), Q&A sessions, and special guests from Hillary Clinton to Anthony Fauci to Alicia Garza to Stacey Abrams.
FILM
Faux Film Festival 2020
Past Event
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After a four-year hiatus, Portland's spoof and satire film festival is back with 30 films from around the world, courtesy of the Clinton Street Theater.
READINGS & TALKS
Fan Favorites: Supernatural Cats of Japan
Past Event
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Kaibyo, supernatural cats/ghosts of Japanese folklore, have been depicted by generations of artists. Zach Davisson, author of Kaibyo: The Supernatural Cats of Japan, will present his illustration-filled book online to offer a deeper understanding of these spooky feline creatures.
THEATER & PERFORMANCE
OBT Moves / Exposed at OMSI
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See Oregon Ballet Theatre performances in real life, socially distant-style, outside of OMSI.
