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FRIDAY

COMEDY

Kickstand Comedy In The Park Past Event Like List
Kickstand Comedy's hugely popular Comedy in the Park series in Laurelhurst Park returns again this week, so grab your pals with a sense of humor and spread out your blankets early—the event has been known to draw crowds of 2,000 or more. This Friday, laugh along with familiar funnybones and visiting talents like dog lover Leah Bonnema, Colton Dowling (yes, he’s from Texas), Shain Brenden, Brandon Lyons, and others. Local laughers Jaren George and Julia Corral will get the crowd going. LC
(Laurelhurst Park, Laurelhurst, free)

FILM

Movies at the Abbey: Summer of Soul Past Event Like List
Movies and air conditioning are one of God's greatest combinations, and luckily, Alberta Abbey has both. Drop by the nonprofit venue to cool off with Questlove-directed documentary Summer of Soul, which "reclaims the legacy" of the six-week 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival with rarely seen footage of performances by Nina Simone, B.B. King, Sly and the Family Stone, Stevie Wonder, and Gladys Knight & the Pips. It might be one of the best concert films ever made? And tickets are five dollars?! Go get your groove on. LC
(Alberta Abbey, King, $5)

LIVE MUSIC

Chamber Music Northwest Summer Festival: Free Community Concert with Kenari Saxophone Quartet Past Event Like List
Chamber Music Northwest will treat Clackamas County residents to a free community concert featuring the acclaimed saxophone ensemble, Kenari Quartet. Pack a picnic, bring your own camping chairs, and sit back and enjoy this family-friendly classical-jazz fusion concert. AV
(North Clackamas Park, Lake Road, free)

Johnny Franco and His Real Brother Dom Past Event Like List
Portland-via-São Paulo troubadour Johnny Franco, whose latest single is called "Cucumber Vodka at the park," will bring his timeless Brazilian-inspired folk and psychedelic rock tunes to the long-running theater alongside his Real Brother Dom (it's yet to be confirmed if they're actually related). The evening promises a 90-minute program packed with music, theatrics, comedy, and plenty of special guests. AV
(Clinton Street Theater, Hosford-Abernethy, $15)

Milwaukie Porchfest Past Event Like List
Milwaukie locals have offered up their front yards and porches for a full day of live performances in the neighborhood, block party style. Discover the hidden talents within your neighborhood with everything from singers, dancers, bagpipers, guitar players, actors, magicians, and more! AV
(Various locations, Milwaukie, free)

PERFORMANCE

Love, Shakespeare Past Event Like List
If Shakespeare's theatrical works are feeling a little "played" out—hey, he did write them over 400 years ago—don thy feathered cap and head to this fully improvised take on an Elizabethan comedy. The off-the-cuff version will skew the Bard's themes and imagery for a fresh production with a rotating cast.
(Curious Comedy Theater, King, $15)

PRIDE

Ecliptic Brewing Moon Room Pride Party Past Event Like List
Coat yourself in enough sparkly makeup for the entire Euphoria cast and shimmer like a sentient disco ball at this pride party. Ecliptic is unveiling its special new pub-only Planetary Pride Passion Fruit Blonde Ale with Glitter, which is equal parts fruity and glam, just like you. DJs Lady Emzee and Cameo will provide the festive vibes, while the Moon Room will sling Jell-O shots and themed food specials. Ten percent of all proceeds will be donated to the Q Center, an LGBT community center and non-profit organization. Get there early to snag some free limited-edition pride sunglasses. JB
(Ecliptic Brewing - Moon Room, Buckman)

SATURDAY

COMEDY

Talk of the Town Past Event Like List
Look, Portland is great, but there are more than enough reasons that living in the City of Roses might also have you feeling a little glum. Talk of the Town has your back, though. The recurring improv show hits the stage every third weekend of the month with rotating guests sharing what makes Portland great—good art, great food, and hilarious, off-the-cuff conversation. Each guest will inspire a ragtag team of improv experts to create fresh scenes and characters on the spot. (Just don't bring your umbrella—it's gauche.) LC
(Curious Comedy Theater, King, $15)

FESTIVALS

Gresham Arts Festival Past Event Like List
Drawing thousands to the city's historic Arts Plaza each year, the Gresham Arts Festival boasts over 125 artisan vendors, plus a "kids village" with Disney princess visits and a bouldering activity that's sure to tire them out. Cultural performers will set a musical mood that's all over the map, and local food and drink vendors will dish up treats, coffee, beer, and wine.
(Gresham Arts Plaza, Gresham, free)

Mississippi Street Fair Past Event Like List
It makes sense that one of Portland's busiest streets is also home to one of the city's most boisterous street fairs, and Mississippi Avenue isn't showing any signs of letting up for the latest iteration of its annual celebration. Browse local products, arts, and crafts from hundreds of vendors while enjoying tasty treats and refreshing beverages, three stages of live music, a “Grandfathers Rib-Off” competition, and much more. Performance highlights include bluegrass outfit Whiskey Deaf, Americana janglers A Town Called Home, and DJ sets by Brenda Russell.
(Mississippi Street, Boise, free)

FILM

Fantastic Planet Past Event Like List
Cinephiles and stoners have waxed poetic about René Laloux's visionary wonder Fantastic Planet since its 1973 release, and for good reason. The animated sci-fi takes a cool, mysterious approach to making a political statement, constructing an eerie landscape with cutout animations. Alain Goraguer's psychedelic jazz score is a perfect fit for the surreal experience, whether or not you pop an edible beforehand. LC
(Clinton Street Theater, Hosford-Abernethy, $8)

Summer Movies at Oregon State Parks Past Event Like List
We live in Oregon, dammit, and if there's one thing Oregonians love more than watching movies, it's being in nature. ¿Por qué no los dos?! Hollywood Theater has teamed up with the Oregon State Parks Department to do just that, offering up a series of screenings in scenic state parks throughout the summer. The series will continue with Galaxy Quest at Stub Stewart State Park on July 15, perfect for those of us who enjoy laughing and swatting mosquitoes at the same time. Throw on some DEET and have a blast. LC
(Stub Stewart State Park, Buxton, free)

PRIDE

Dollapalooza 2023: Dolls at Night and Chill Dolls Past Event Like List
Baes, faes, and theys, your weekend dose of queer baloney is in close reach. I hesitate to call Dollapalooza an "epic Pride event" or something equally abstract—we all know it's much more than that. It's gay o'clock. It's time to gag. It's time for dedicated horseplay with the thembos you admire from afar on Instagram. It's time for drag, dancing, daddies, and pizzazz with the dolls, all hosted by Stupidest Bitch Pageant winner Harlow Quinzel. You have my blessing, now go forth and prosper. LC (Rainbow City, Old Town-Chinatown, $10-$30)

PINK STUFF! Queer Pride Flea Market Past Event Like List
Club kids, vintage vixens, and space oddities will find their fair share of goodies at this queer Pride flea market—Violet Hex (who you may know from her queer shenanigans at Clinton Street Theater) and Airick X will spin records, and chances are good that there'll be pink things in the mix for your Pride parties. LC
(The Florida Room, North Portland, free)

Portland Dyke March Past Event Like List
Pride isn't complete without this long-running (or marching, rather) event raising visibility for the myriad manifestations queerness can conjure up. (The Portland Dyke March's list of welcomed attendees includes "trans and nonbinary dykes, dykes of color, bi and pan dykes, lesbians, disabled and deaf dykes, kink dykes, and dykes with children.") Badass!
(SW Naito & Oak, Downtown, free)

Pride Karaoke Night with KJ Knotty Past Event Like List
Mummy don't know daddy's getting hot...at this post-Pride festival karaoke party! Belt out your favorite queer anthems for a chance to win Sam Smith tickets. There will be prizes for the best dressed, best performer, and best Sam Smith impersonation, so there are plenty of chances to win! Now, which one of you is going to sing "Unholy?!" AV
(Doug Fir Lounge, Buckman, free)

Trans Pride March Past Event Like List
This Pride, choose to honor the countless trans folks who have paved the way for others to be free and thrive in this world. The organizers note Trans is used with the intention of being inclusive to all genders on the spectrum including those who are two spirit, intersex, nonbinary, and more. Show your support by centering trans voices and remember the killer tagline: “Transform, transcend, transgress the (cis)tem!” PORTLAND MERCURY CONTRIBUTOR EMILLY PRADO
(North Park Blocks, Northwest Portland, free)

SUNDAY

FESTIVALS

Bastille Day Festival Past Event Like List
"Ooh la la" alert!! This Bastille Day fête thrown by the Alliance Française de Portland celebrates the momentous occasion when their revolution "marked the birth of the modern French nation." The delectably French day in the park will feature live music, a French-English used book sale, a wine garden, and more. BYOB (bring your own baguette), or don't—there'll be jambon pizza, merguez sausages, and tons of other delicious bites.
(Jamison Square, Pearl District, free)

Paseo Past Event Like List
Find some ease at this festival and community gathering inspired by the Spanish tradition of paseo, which translates to "leisurely evening stroll." Sounds nice to us! Created by BIPOC justice and arts leaders, the three-day event (planned every Sunday, July 16-30) includes a presentation by local civil rights activist and art curator Taishona Carpenter, a "park jazz experiment" curated by DJ Ambush, director of The Numberz, and Indigenous programming led by Choctaw community organizer Amanda Stubits. Attendees can also join in on stretchy yoga sessions, get their life with music and spoken word performances, and grab snow cones. LC
(Shemanski Park, South Park Blocks, free)

LIVE MUSIC

Shana Cleveland Past Event Like List
Written before (side A) and after (side B) the birth of her first child, La Luz frontwoman Shana Cleveland's third solo release, Manzanita, is considerably more personal than her Afrofuturist-fueled second album, Night of the Worm Moon. Inspired by her life in the California wilderness, Cleveland has described the album as a "supernatural love album" that examines her own relationship to the insect world, ghosts, and evil spirits. Also unlike her two previous albums, Manzanita employs lush Lee Hazelwood-esque production that's heavy with strings, synths, and eerie percussion. I can't wait to hear what these songs sound like live! Be sure to catch an opening set from singer-songwriter Will Sprott (who also happens to be Cleveland's partner). AV
(Doug Fir Lounge, Buckman, $15)

MULTI-DAY

PRIDE

PDX Craft Beer Pride Week Past Event Like List
Hey, queers who love beers—Migration Brewing has teamed up with a number of local breweries and beer bars to throw the first-ever PDX Craft Beer Pride Week. Each night, a different participating venue will host an evening of music, beer, and food specials. Festivities will include drag bingo, Migration's Colors of Love West Coast Pilsner release, and more. JB
(Various locations, Friday-Sunday)

Portland Pride Waterfront Festival and Parade Past Event Like List
With a record number of states advancing bills that attack LGBTQ rights (per the ACLU), especially those of trans folks, it's more pertinent than ever to come together in community and find pockets of queer joy and celebration. There will be rainbow paraphernalia aplenty at Portland's annual two-day Pride festival (Sat-Sun) and an accompanying loud-and-proud parade through downtown streets (Sun), held for the first time in July this year to avoid overlapping with other events and extend the celebration past Pride Month. The two-day festival gathers exhibitors ranging from school gay-straight alliance groups to nonprofits and community organizations, plus lots of live music and drag performances, food, and more. JW
(Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Downtown, free, Saturday-Sunday)

FESTIVALS

La Strada dei Pastelli Chalk Art Festival Past Event Like List
Because few things are better than gypsum art adorning the sidewalk, Hillsboro's La Strada dei Pastelli Chalk Art Festival invites attendees to engage directly with buzzy and upcoming artists as they create vibrant chalk drawings (each piece will be a whopping 10'x10' on average when completed). Don't run off once you've seen the main attraction—the free festival (which anticipates over 40,000 attendees) also boasts jazzy performances by local musicians, bites and beverage options, art vendors to browse, and kids' activities. LC
(Downtown Hillsboro, free, Saturday-Sunday)

FILM

22nd Annual Animation Show of Shows Past Event Like List
Returning from a two-year pandemic hiatus, the 22nd annual Animation Show of Shows continues to celebrate the art of animation with 10 of the year's best offerings (nine recent, and one restored classic) including works by directors Kaori Ishida, Geoffroy de Cecy, Gil Alkabetz, and Jeanne Apergis. This year's roundup reflects on existential crises, anxieties, and isolation—you know, all that fun stuff—while also considering the ways in which we're all connected. LC
(Cinema 21, Nob Hill, $8-$9, Friday-Sunday)

Asteroid City Past Event Like List
You've likely already seen your fair share of cheeky, smartly costumed Wes Anderson ensemble comedies. You probably want to see this one, too. Sure, Anderson's style is becoming a little more than formulaic, but it's because the formula works—a formalist approach, careful aesthetics, and a pop of color in the form of Jeff Goldblum always make sense. In Asteroid City, the itinerary of a space cadet convention ("organized to bring together students and parents from across the country for fellowship and scholarly competition") takes a nose dive when world-changing events rock a '50s-era desert town. (Is it aliens?) LC
(Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District, Friday-Sunday)

The Wicker Man (1973) Past Event Like List
The original Wicker Man tells the tale of a remote Scottish island that's positively bursting with sacrifice-obsessed pagans, sans freaked-out Nicolas Cage. Since the film's spell-casting release in 1973, we've seen a proliferation of creepy cults and psychedelic hysteria pop on screen in films like Midsommar and A Field in England. Check out the flick that started it all on its 50th anniversary—The Wicker Man stars an especially off-kilter Christopher Lee. LC
(Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District, $8-$10, Friday-Sunday)

FOOD & DRINK

Portland Mercury's Summer of Slushies 2023 Past Event Like List
Get ready for the coolest, most delicious event of the summer! The Merc and Jim Beam present Summer of Slushies, which brings boozy, frozen, custom-made treats to the frugal and thirsty denizens of Portland at just $8 a pop, all July long.
(Various locations, Friday-Sunday)

LIVE MUSIC

Cathedral Park Jazz Festival 2023 Past Event Like List
Crowds will sprawl out on Cathedral Park's sloping lawn for the 43rd annual edition of this jazz festival presented by the Jazz Society of Oregon. Pack a picnic or enjoy food from onsite food carts as swingin' sounds waft through the summer breeze. This year's lineup includes highlights like vintage soul masters Ural Thomas and The Pain, blue-eyed soul icon Curtis Salgado, and electronica power trio Yak Attack. Plus, admission is free, so you have no excuses! AV
(Cathedral Park, St. Johns, free, Friday-Sunday)

Downtown Block Party Past Event Like List
Kelly's Olympian will host this "tiny fest" to celebrate and support downtown businesses while displaying the "rich diversity that beats within our city." The three-day bash will be graced by Portland-based performers like rapper Swiggle Mandela, indie rock quartet Helens, singer-songwriter Isabeau Waia'u Walker, and plenty of others across two venues (Kelly's Olympian and Jack London Revue). AV
(Kelly's Olympian, Downtown, $10-13 per day, Friday-Saturday)

Piano. Push. Play.'s 11th Summer Season Past Event Like List
Piano. Push. Play. breathes new life into old pianos by partnering with local artists to transform them into unique, functional art pieces to be enjoyed by the community. The pianos will be stationed at parks and community sites around the city for two weeks for public play, or you can catch musicians tickling the ivories during a scheduled concert. Click here for an up-to-date schedule. AV
(Various locations, Friday-Sunday)

SHOPPING

Left Coast Flea and Rose City Vintage Market Past Event Like List
Some of the West Coast's finest vintage dealers will hawk their wares at this market that will fill the Expo Center with antique, midcentury, and Americana treasures from Rose City Vintage Market and Left Coast Revivals. Even if you're somehow unable to find something to your liking from the vast selection of decor, fashion, accessories and other collectibles, a trip to the market should make for a fairly epic game of "I spy." LC
(Portland Expo Center, North Portland, free, Saturday-Sunday)

VISUAL ART

Friends of Dorothy Past Event Like List
For many, the term "queer" has undergone a transformation from a negative connotation to an empowering, declarative force. Uniting queer artists and regional drag queens, Friends of Dorothy celebrates queerness and the "many layers of diversity present in the LGBTQIA+ community" with multimedia works by (some of my favorite) local artists, like Molly Alloy, Willie Little, Pace Taylor, and Maya Vivas, alongside many others. Much of the show's programming will take place in June, but we'd still recommend taking a close look in July—Friends of Dorothy is a great way to close out your Pride festivities, or keep 'em going. LC
(Patricia Reser Center for the Arts, Beaverton, free, Friday-Saturday)

Hasani Sahlehe: We Recordin’ Tonight Past Event Like List
St. Thomas-born multidisciplinary artist Hasani Sahlehe's glowy, atmospheric shapes layer, collate, and blend into each other, forming ecstatic color fields that are just plain fun to look at. Deploying techniques used in improvisational music—"sequences, variations, [and] tonal shifts"—to think about life, death, and optical phenomena, Sahlehe's compositions evoke auras or energy fields. Tuck yourself into Adams and Ollman's back room to trip out on color and pattern possibilities. LC
(Adams and Ollman, Northwest Portland, free, Friday-Saturday; closing)

Nikolay Koshelev: Silver Dust Past Event Like List
Paris-based, Moscow-born artist Nikolay Koshelev, who exudes an aura of coolness most can only dream of, will share a "monographic" exhibition of paintings that pay homage to his former life as a graffiti artist, the transcendental poet Walt Whitman, and William Burroughs's fragmented, non-linear Naked Lunch. Koshelev's work is dreamy, surreal, eerie, and a little disorienting—we suggest approaching the exhibition as a complete work and getting lost in its misty atmosphere. LC
(Oregon Contemporary, Kenton, free, Friday-Sunday; closing)