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FRIDAY

COMEDY

Kickstand CVLT Presents The New Year Ritual Past Event Like List
It's January 24 as I write this, which means, statistically speaking, almost half of our New Year's resolutions have already fallen by the wayside. Kickstand's got your back, though—their "sacred improv ceremony" will craft some 2024-worthy comedy inspired by your resolutions and fresh starts. It's likely to become your new favorite tradition, even if running or volunteering isn't. LC
(Kickstand Comedy, Ladd's Addition, $15)

FILM

NIGHT OF 1000… JOHN WATERS // Hairspray Past Event Like List
Everyone's favorite provocateur, John Waters, broke into mainstream film with this coming-of-age tale. Hairspray follows a '60s teen who lands her dream role on the American Bandstand-inspired Corny Collins Dance Show. While Tracy Turnblad (played by Ricki Lake) becomes an overnight sensation, she makes it her mission to challenge the racism of the show, enlisting the help of friends Seaweed and Motormouth Maybelle. Tomorrow Theater is offering BOGO tickets to Hairspray andPolyester, and a free draw-on mustache will be available with your ticket purchase, too. LC
(Tomorrow Theater, Richmond, $15)

NIGHT OF 1000… JOHN WATERS // Polyester Past Event Like List
Originally released in 1981, Polyester is John Waters and Co.'s first studio picture, and it's chaotic and thrilling to watch Waters get ahold of a bigger budget. The film straddles the line between contemporary Waters and classic Waters, and it's a sweet spot that's pure, filthy magic. Waters hires Tab Hunter, a certified movie star, to star alongside Divine, a certified monster—a dream come true for Divine, who worshipped Hunter as a kid. This pairing is one of the greatest accomplishments of the 20th century, right up there with landing on the moon. FORMER STRANGER EDITOR CHASE BURNS
(Tomorrow Theater, Richmond, $15)

FOOD & DRINK

Dry January Ghia Tasting Past Event Like List
As the month comes to a close, reinvigorate your enthusiasm for Dry January with a free tasting of the trendy booze-free aperitif Ghia, which takes inspiration from Italian amaros and boasts a flavor profile that is "complex and both bright and bitter." It also comes packaged in a chic bottle worthy of display on your bar cart. JB
(Wellspent Market, Kerns)

LIVE MUSIC

MAITA at PNC Live Studio Past Event Like List
MAITA, the indie rock project of Portland-based singer-songwriter Maria Maita-Keppeler, has moved many people with angelic vocals and vulnerable lyricism. One such person was Kill Rock Stars' founder Slim Moon, who revived the label to sign her. In collaboration with Portland Music Month, she will play tracks from her latest album, I Just Want To Be Wild For You, at the intimate PNC Live Studio. Enter for a chance to win passes on the PNC website. AV
(PNC Live Studio, Downtown, Passes required - Enter for a chance to win at pnclivestudio.com/maita)

Slothrust Past Event Like List
Jazz- and blues-charged rock trio Slothrust, who met at Sarah Lawrence College, broke onto the Brooklyn indie scene with their unique incandescent riffing and pop hooks. They're known for unexpected covers that range from Britney Spears to Al Green to Ginuwine. My fingers are crossed that they play their moody rock cover of "…Baby One More Time." AV
(Polaris Hall, Humboldt, $15)

SATURDAY

FILM

BEST MOVIE OF THE YEAR // A Thousand and One Past Event Like List
Starring Teyana Taylor as a mother who kidnaps her six-year-old son from the foster care system, the vivid and volatile flick A Thousand and One is "a rich evocation of New York City in the throes of accelerated gentrification and discriminatory policing" (The Hollywood Reporter) that won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. LC
(Tomorrow Theater, Richmond, $15)

Stop Making Sense Past Event Like List
Calling it now: If you've seen Stop Making Sense, it's probably your favorite concert film. It's jangly and arty and all of the other words one might use to describe Talking Heads's catalog, and David wears the suit. Not feeling the Byrne? Listen, I know watching a concert movie for a band you don't listen to sounds like hell, but this one might be an exception. If you haven't seen it yet, anticipate looking back on the experience with a funny fondness later, like a good birthday party or the first time you smoked weed. Jonathan Demme (yes, the guy who went on to make The Silence of the Lambs) recorded all of the concert footage over the course of three days at Hollywood's Pantages Theatre in 1983, during the height of the Heads' visionary fame. It's screening in a new restoration, so prep for a "once in a lifetime" experience. LC
(Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District, $10-$12)

LIVE MUSIC

Sisters with Transistors Past Event Like List
If you've never listened to Delia Derbyshire's 1968 scrapped sci-fi theme "Ziwzih Ziwzih OO-OO-OO," then drop everything right now and listen! This woman created an otherworldly electronic beat before Neil Armstrong had even stepped foot on the moon. And, there were dozens of other trailblazing ladies beside her. To my delight, these women are finally getting their due in Lisa Rovner's directorial debut Sisters With Transistors. The documentary highlights unsung electronic music heroines like Derbyshire, Suzanne Ciani, Daphne Oram, and Wendy Carlos through rare archival footage, testimonies, and narration from "transistor sister" Laurie Anderson. AV
(Clinton Street Theater, Hosford-Abernethy, $10)

PARTIES & NIGHTLIFE

Western Dreamland: A Country & Disco Party Past Event Like List
This rootin' tootin' dance party will honor country music queens like Dolly Parton, Shania Twain, and the Chicks alongside disco divas of all eras, like Cher, ABBA, and Dua Lipa. This is the perfect opportunity to show off bedazzled cowboy boots, practice your two-step, and brush up on your knowledge of the short-livedcountry-disco genre. AV
(Polaris Hall, Humboldt, $15)

SHOPPING

Spectrum Winter Art Market Past Event Like List
Start 2024 with some sparkle at the first Spectrum Art Market of the year! Support local LGBTQ2SIA+ artists and vendors by purchasing creations like ceramics, home decor, accessories, and retro-reflective wear, all of which should help add some oomph to your home and person in these dreary winter months. Art demos will be happening throughout the day, giving a behind-the-scenes look at how different crafts are made. SL
(Lloyd Center, Lloyd District, free)

SPORTS & RECREATION

This Ride's For You, Bud! Past Event Like List
Hop on your bicycle, tricycle, or unicycle and pay tribute to late local celebrity and former Portland mayor Bud Clark on this ride hosted by Weird Portland United and Gigantic Brewing. Fittingly, the excursion will be led by another quirky Portland public figure, the Unipiper. Pedal from Pioneer Courthouse Square to the Coffee Beer Festival at Bud's Goose Hollow Inn, which will feature Gigantic Brewing's special Bud Clark Coffee Stout on nitro along with 11 other coffee beers.
(Pioneer Courthouse Square, Downtown, free)

VISUAL ART

Modern Folk Past Event Like List
This group exhibition spotlights eight West Coast artists whose work aims to modernize and complexify folk art traditions, from paintings of everyday objects to "whimsical ceramics," self-portraiture, and mixed-media works. I'm excited to see Portland-based fave Lisa Congdon's snazzy visual language of luminous color and patterning with a folk art twist, as well as Justin Morrison's "raw" sculptures and Godeleine de Rosamel's clay pieces. LC
(Chefas Projects, Central Eastside, free; opening)

SUNDAY

COMMUNITY

Climate Resilience Circle Past Event Like List
It's hard to ignore the effects of climate change, especially with the devastating recent winter storm. We often catch ourselves feeling overwhelmed by it all and fearful that our small efforts won’t make a big difference. Enter CascadiaStack, a nonprofit that works to build climate resilience through emergency preparedness. During this Climate Resilience Circle, folks will be given space to share and work through climate crisis woes, connecting with others and exploring opportunities for building personal resilience. SL
(6800 NE 59th Pl, Northeast Portland, $10 suggested donation)

FILM

The Abyss: Special Edition Past Event Like List
If last year's OceanGate submarine explosion is your new Roman Empire, you'll probably dig James Cameron's '89 sci-fi The Abyss, in which a Navy SEAL and two petroleum engineers are secretly tasked with recovering a lost nuclear submarine and an alien aquatic species. (Cameron knows a thing or two about eerie expeditions to the ocean floor, by the way—he's made dozens of dives to the Titanic wreckage and is "among the very few people who have descended to the deepest known point in the Earth’s seabed.") LC
(Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District, $10-$12)

CHARLIE REFF’S SUNDANCE FAVS // Smoke Sauna Sisterhood Past Event Like List
In Estonian director Anna Hints's Smoke Sauna Sisterhood, which won the Directing Award for World Cinema: Documentary at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, a group of women share their secrets while enveloped in the darkness of a smoky sauna. If you had a hard week, this screening should ease your woes—sound practitioner Brooke Lyons will share a 30-minute sound bath prior to the film. (If hot steam is your thing, I recommend keeping the good vibes going at Nordic Northwest's current exhibition Sauna Is Life: Sauna Culture in Finland.) LC
(Tomorrow Theater, Richmond, $15)

Queer Movie Night Remind Like List
On the fourth Sunday of each month, Fuse Theatre Ensemble screens a pay-what-you-can film fave from the queer cinema canon, then follows the flick with a trivia session and discussion. (If you're interested in the "evolution of the depiction of LGBTQIA+ characters over the last 50 years," you've found your people!) This time around, they'll screen '96 film The Birdcage, which stars Robin Williams as a fabulous Miami drag club owner. LC
(Back Door Theater, Sunnyside, Pay-what-you-can)

GEEK & GAMING

Sports Cards & Collectibles Show Past Event Like List
Rescheduled due to the winter storm, the Twin Oaks Show plans to take over Lloyd Center this weekend for three days of buying, selling, and trading sports cards, Pokémon cards, comic books, memorabilia, and more. Unlike the baseball cards on this popular Instagram account, the treasures here will be preserved and cared for by collectors who love the hobby as much as you do. SL
(Lloyd Center, Lloyd District, free, Friday-Sunday)

LIVE MUSIC

Chipped Nail Polish, Jakki & The Pink Smudge, and Katy & The Null Sets Past Event Like List
Indie pop project Chipped Nail Polish, aka Portland-based singer-songwriter and ukulele player Jill Sullivan, will support her sophomore EP Bottom Feeder. On tracks like "Shakin' In Yer Boots," Sullivan builds on her predominantly acoustic sound with buzzing guitars and surf rock percussion—bringing to mind the glory days of 2010s indie rock (Best Coast, Vivian Girls, etc). She will be joined by indie punk band Jakki & The Pink Smudge and singer-songwriter Katy & The Null Sets. AV (Holocene, Buckman, $11)

PERFORMANCE

Beautifica 360 Past Event Like List
Beautifica 360 is a bit difficult to pin down. Promotional materials describe the 360° immersive experience as a "euphoric journey" through "mind-blowing constellations [and] fantastical landscapes." It's pitched as both the perfect date night and a family-friendly affair. Also, it was designed by a guy who looks like this. Our advice? Pop an edible and enjoy the show, whatever it may be. LC
(OMSI, Central Eastside, $12+)

MULTI-DAY

EXHIBIT

Sauna is Life: Sauna Culture in Finland Past Event Like List
Sauna: It's more than just getting really hot in a towel next to some strangers. The practice is actually on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List, an inventory I never knew existed until this moment. Makes sense, though—the earliest versions of sauna date back to 7000 BCE, and the traditional Finnish practice embodies sacred connection, peace, and a shame-free, natural "bareness" that's rarely permitted in daily life. This exhibition will be presented in collaboration with the Finlandia Foundation National for Sauna is Life. (Interested in Finnish culture and chilling out? Treat yourself to a Löyly trip.) LC
(Nordic Northwest, Metzger, free, Friday-Sunday)

FILM

All Of Us Strangers Past Event Like List
The bisexual lighting is hard at work in All of Us Strangers, a film that stars Andrew Scott (the hot priest on Fleabag) and Paul Mescal in cute sweaters. The film follows two Londoners living in the same near-empty tower block, where they find each other, do ketamine, and vibe before memories of past traumas begin to interrupt their romance. The film is based on the eerie, hypnotic 1987 novel Strangers by Taichi Yamada. LC
(Cinema 21, Northwest Portland, Friday-Sunday)

Oppenheimer in 70mm Past Event Like List
Whether or not you give a damn about the theoretical physicist who helped develop the first nuclear weaponry, Oppenheimer was one of this year's most yapped-about films, starring Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer and Emily Blunt as his wife, Communist biologist and botanist Katherine “Kitty” Oppenheimer. (More info on Kitty, please!!) If you managed to avoid the hubbub, you'll be pleased to learn that the film also features Florence Pugh, A24 darling Benny Safdie, and a bunch of other actors that'll make you whisper "Wait, they're in this?!" to your friend in the theater. Here's your chance to catch up—and in glorious 70mm, no less—before Oscars season. LC
(Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District, $13-$15, Saturday-Sunday)

Poor Things Past Event Like List
Real Lanthimos heads know that he doesn't direct anything without dystopic, black comedy underpinnings and plotlines that make audiences ponder why they're on the planet at all. He is weird, as directors should be, and you're either in or you're out. This time around, he's adapted a '92 Scottish novel for the screen, painting the picture of a young woman (played by Emma Stone, who is raven-haired and looks charmingly bananas) brought back to life by an unorthodox scientist (played by my famous dad, Willem Dafoe). Best part? Poor Things "saved" my other dad, Mark Ruffalo, from "depressed dad typecasting." Praise be. LC
(Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District, $10-$12, Friday-Sunday)

Studio Ghibli Film Festival Past Event Like List
Over the last 30 years, Studio Ghibli has become legendary for its lush visuals, emotional and affecting storytelling, and poetic, intelligent approach to nature and the more-than-human world. OMSI's Studio Ghibli Film Festival will return for its ninth presentation of audience faves like My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service, as well as underrated classics like Pom Poko and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya. LC
(Empirical Theater at OMSI, Hosford-Abernethy, $8-$20, Friday-Sunday)

SHOPPING

Portland Fine Print Fair 2024 Past Event Like List
Leading national and international print dealers will converge on Portland Art Museum's historic Fields Ballroom for the 11th year of this elegant fair, where seasoned collectors and newbies alike can purchase fine prints and chat with erudite dealers. Anticipate a wide range of offerings, and expect to feel fancy—you'll spy works by Old Masters alongside thought-provoking pieces by contemporary art stars, plus works in "all price ranges," so you might leave with a print, too. LC
(Portland Art Museum, South Park Blocks, free, Friday-Sunday)

VISUAL ART

AIDS Memorial Quilt Past Event Like List
Conceived in 1985 by human rights activist Cleve Jones, the AIDS Memorial Quilt aimed to honor those who died of AIDS and document the lives of those living with the devastating impacts of the disease. Today, it's a 54-ton tapestry and a living symbol of a lost generation. "As we have recently experienced, science communication, information sharing, and awareness building are crucial in combating pandemics," says OMSI in this exhibit's promotional materials. Selected panels from the AIDS Memorial Quilt will be on display at OMSI; the quilt can also be viewed in its entirety online. (Before you head to OMSI, I suggest reading Duane Puryear's powerful quilt panel.) LC
(OMSI, Central Eastside, Free; museum admission not required, Friday-Sunday)

Covered up in Dailiness: Elizabeth Arzani and Renee Couture Past Event Like List
Naming your exhibition after a Mary Reufle prose piece is a sure way to pique my interest, so Elizabeth Arzani and Renee Couture's Covered up in Dailiness has my attention. (If you're interested, the show title is a phrase from Reufle's brilliant "I Remember, I Remember.") Employing photography, poetry, sculpture, screenprinting, collage, and ceramics, the exhibition references "experiences embedded in repetitive routines and patterns of their respective everyday." All of the awe, complexity, and mundanity of daily life is embodied in Arzani's daily practice of erasure poetry and Couture's reflections on motherhood. LC
(Carnation Contemporary, Kenton, free, Saturday-Sunday; closing)

Kenji Ide: American Friend Past Event Like List
If you caught Kenji Ide's first Portland exhibition (A Poem of Perception at the Portland Japanese Garden) back in 2022, you're in luck—the Japanese artist will return to the city to showcase new wood and found object sculptures that "theatrically weave a narrative based on both the artist’s imagined and real-life experiences." American Friend takes its title from the '77 Wim Wenders film, which Ide had heard of growing up in Japan, but never seen, only imagining what the film might be about. Paralleling his experience of creating an alternate storyline for an unseen film, Ide's sculptures create space for the viewer to project their own narratives within the frameworks of puzzles, built environments, and poetic abstractions. The result is a "stylized landscape" that's both meditative and brain-tickling. LC
(Adams and Ollman, Northwest Portland, free, Friday-Saturday)

Out of Salem: D.E. May & Friends Past Event Like List
D.E. May is something of an Oregon legend—he spent his entire life in Salem, traveled rarely, and referred to the city as “Island Salem." Several of May's works depict canal and waterway imagery, perhaps harkening to the creeks, rivers, and canals that divide his hometown; he also drew inspiration from timber mills, workmen’s tools, and corner bars. Somehow both hermetic and socially engaged, May sent mail art, made regular library trips, and had many artistic friends. This group exhibition centers works by May and a creative handful of those Salem comrades, including Brad Ford, Bonnie Hull, Craig Klyver, Natalie Laswell, Bryan Null, Dan Schmidt, Terry Schneider, Monte Shelton, and John Van Dreal. LC
(PDX CONTEMPORARY ART, Slabtown, free, Friday-Saturday; closing)

Rick Bartow: What the Crow Knows Past Event Like List
Rick Bartow, an enrolled member of the Mad River Band of Wiyot Indians, Vietnam War veteran, and leading voice in the contemporary Native American art movement, passed in 2016. Those unfamiliar with his work shouldn't miss this exhibition of his printing collaborations with Mika Aono and master printer Seiichi Hiroshima of Moon and Dog Press. Bartow's expressive, gestural style comes to life in brilliant mark-making and naturalistic storytelling. LC
(Froelick Gallery, Pearl District, free, Friday-Saturday; closing)

Turn Me Over: Molly Lecko Herro and Alim Ringgold Past Event Like List
Life sucks, then you die—or perhaps it's more complicated than that. Enter Molly Lecko Herro and Alim Ringgold, whose plasmatic ceramic-framed illustrations, glowy sequential imagery, dreamy sculptural vessels, and ceramic burial objects think carefully about dying, the body as a vessel, and "immaterial substances" that make both animate and inanimate bodies interesting. Consider holes, cavities, and containers—the human body kind of is one, right?—then ponder your impermanence at this show. LC
(Well Well, Kenton, free, Saturday-Sunday; closing)