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COMEDY

Wanda Sykes: Please & Thank You Tour Remind Like List
Comedy longtimer Wanda Sykes really needs no introduction—she earned an Emmy for her writing on The Chris Rock Show all the way back in 1999, and has been an unstoppable force of sharp-witted, loud-mouthed laughs ever since. She's also an LGBT rights activist in her own right. We hope to hear more about her family life in between the cutting cynicism for this performance. LC
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, South Park Blocks (Fri Oct 11)

Dave Attell Remind Like List
Pottymouth Dave Attell is a comic's comic, drawing praise from Bill Burr and Patton Oswalt for his off-color schtick. Expect shrewd-yet-filthy reflections on American culture, sex, and recreational drugs in this performance. LC
Helium Comedy Club, Hosford-Abernethy (Oct 17–20)

The Aces present Spirit of Halloween Remind Like List
The Aces' latest sketch comedy show celebrates the duo's nuanced, physical technique and promises to "take horror and hilarity to new heights." Audiences describe local laughers Shelley McLendon and Michael Fetters' long-lasting act as "comedy for smart people," revealed through their sorta-contemplative, sorta-wacky style. If you want to catch up, grab tickets to the comedy creep show early—The Aces' performances tend to sell out. LC
Siren Theater, Boise (Oct 18–Nov 2)

Sebastian Maniscalco Remind Like List
Sebastian Maniscalco, who was described as “the hottest comic in America” by the New York Times back in 2019, has seen his fair share of success lately—he dropped a bestselling memoir and landed roles in Martin Scorsese’s crime flick The Irishman and the Oscar-winning Green Book. He'll share more of his energetic, exaggerated humor on the It Ain't Right tour, hopefully while sporting a mullet. LC
Moda Center, Lloyd District (Sat Oct 26)

COMMUNITY/FESTIVALS

Portland TextileX Month Remind Like List
Exploring an "origin stories" theme this year, Portland TextileX Month (PTXM) is back to examine "the collective challenges we now face...and solutions to carry us forward" through diverse textile exhibitions and workshops. We're tied up in knots about Rankin Renwick's "unthreading" discussion, Charlie Wilcox's "roving animation" sewing circle, Salvadoran American textile artist Orquidia Violeta's protective vest workshop, and Homelands Within, an exhibition of contemporary SWANA textiles, but you can find a full list of the month's events here. LC
Various locations (Oct 1–Nov 16)

FashioNXT Remind Like List
Ranked #1 by Forbes on their list of US City Fashion Weeks, FashioNXT will celebrate 11 years of bringing the latest in fashion to the biggest red carpet in the PNW. Attendees can check out upcoming collections by Project Runway winner Mondo Guerra, and on October 4, candy-sweet glamour clown Crystal Methyd will walk in the show. We can't wait to see what everyone wears to the after-parties. LC
US Bancorp Tower, Downtown (Oct 3–5)

Portland Greek Festival Remind Like List
Originally held as a fundraiser to help the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church pay off its mortgage, the Portland Greek Festival has celebrated Greek culture and community for 71 years. You can check out traditional folk dance and musical performances, browse goods from craft vendors, and enjoy an array of delicious food. Tap your wristband at the festival’s outlets to procure traditional sweets like kourabiethes (a sugar-dusted almond shortbread), melomakarona (an orange and cinnamon cookie dipped in honey and sprinkled with nuts), pasta flora (a butter cookie with apricot filling), and bougatsa (custard-filled phyllo dough). Savory options include souvlaki and spanakopita, which you can pair with Greek wine, beer, or a variety of non-alcoholic options. SL
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Kerns (Oct 4–6)

FALL/HALLOWEEN

Spirit of Halloweentown Remind Like List
Leaning into the fact that the movies Halloweentown and Twilight were partially filmed in St. Helens, the charming city transforms into a macabre paradise with a month's worth of festivities. You can check out themed attractions like the pumpkin lighting and haunted house, be surprised (and maybe a little scared) by roaming entertainers, meet aliens, and throw your witch's hat into the ring during the costume contest. Expect plenty of sugary snacks, themed beverages from "elixir stations," and oddities galore, including a haunted hot rod show and séance sessions. Stars of the Halloweentown and Hocus Pocus franchises will stop by on October 12th and 13th, but every weekend has the magic to make you feel like a star in your very own Disney Channel Original Movie. SL
St. Helens (Oct 4–31)

The Fear PDX Remind Like List
In an auspicious turn of events, this expansive haunted house kicked off its 13th season on Friday the 13th this year, so I'm expecting elevated levels of fright. Prepare to be terrified through four haunted houses and three scare zones. Additional attractions like the Slasher Shed, an escape room-type experience, and Chopped, a game where one of your hands is trapped in a small guillotine, will test your limits. Ready to face your worst fears? Enter if you dare. SL
The Fear PDX, Hazelwood (Oct 4–Nov 1)

West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta 2024 Remind Like List
Nothing says Portland quite like watching costumed characters paddling inside giant hollowed-out gourds in a series of races. This long-standing local tradition is just a part of a fun-filled weekend that starts on Saturday with a giant vegetable weigh-off and festive brews at Stickmen Brewing Company. Sunday morning kicks off with a 5K Regatta run and walk, followed by the pumpkin races at noon and 2 pm. Other Sunday activities include pumpkin bowling, pumpkin golf, pumpkin tic-tac-toe (are you sensing a theme), a kids' costume contest, and a "zombie shootout" game. SL
Tualatin Commons, Tualatin (Sun Oct 20)

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🎃 For more ideas, check out our guide to fall festivities Like List 🎃

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FILM

HP Lovecraft Film Festival & CthulhuCon Remind Like List
Hold on to your Shoggoth! The 29th annual H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival and CthulhuCon will return to the Hollywood's shadowy screens with "freshly minted cinematic horrors from all the dark corners of the earth." This year’s festival will showcase more than 60 short and feature-length freak fests, including the world premiere of the Lovecraftian period drama The Letter. Three days of macabre mayhem will also include author readings and Q&A sessions, a tribute to Roger Corman, and a "Mall of Cthulhu." LC
Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District (Oct 4–6)

Psychotronic Halloween Special Remind Like List
This mind-bending 16mm collection from local film archivist and programmer Greg Hamilton is a thrilling addition to the psychedelic film compilations that have been hitting the indie cinema scene lately, and Psychotronic Halloween Special adds an all-new freaky mash-up of skeleton-laden animations, commercials, cartoons, and creepy oddities to the mix. Expect to peek over your shoulder on the long walk back to your car after this screening. (Wanna learn more about the man behind the madness? Check out this 2022 profile on Hamilton.) LC
Clinton Street Theater, Hosford-Abernethy (Sun Oct 6)

Seven Brothers Meet Dracula in 35mm Remind Like List
During the pandemic, I started a (pretty odd, admittedly) bedtime practice of watching a Hammer horror film. If you're not familiar with Hammer, picture the Gothic horror flicks that were popular from the mid-'50s through the '70s, full of vague Satanic rites, glamorous girls in nightgowns with candlestick holders, crucifixes, strange potions, and Christopher Lee as a weird-yet-smoldering Dracula. They're usually fairly tame, and a lot of fun. The Seven Brothers Meet Dracula is no exception—Hammer Film Productions hooked up with martial arts masters the Shaw Brothers for the '74 film, which follows Peter Cushing as a vampire hunter in search of the legendary seven golden vampires. Spoiler: They've been terrorizing a remote Chinese village, but they're as susceptible to fists as they are wooden stakes. LC
Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District (Tues Oct 8)

Ganja & Hess Remind Like List
This experimental horror from visionary director Bill Gunn, which will be screened in the Museum of Modern Art's fresh restoration, reconstructs the vampire mythos in '70s Hudson Valley and flirts with Blaxploitation elements. When Dr. Hess Jones, a wealthy anthropologist, is stabbed with an ancient ceremonial dagger by his crazed assistant, he acquires a piggish lust for blood. (Note to self: Avoid ancient ceremonial daggers.) Variety described the landmark indie film as "an ingenious metaphor for Black assimilation, white cultural imperialism, and the hypocrisies of organized religion." Film scholar Maya S. Cade, "creator and curator of Black Film Archive and a scholar-in-residence at the Library of Congress," will offer an extended introduction. LC
Clinton Street Theater, Hosford-Abernethy (Sun Oct 20)

House (Hausu) // Happy Halloween! Remind Like List
If you've been following EverOut for a while, you may have already spotted my recommendation to watch Nobuhiko Obayashi's Hausu, a hallucinogenic love letter to floating heads, cute kitties, and carnivorous pianos. Well, I'm back, people! And once again, I'm recommending—no, demanding—that you watch Hausu. The '77 psychedelic romp is one of my all-time favorites and the perfect apéritif for creepy season. When a squad of teenage girls travels to a creaky, cobwebby country manor, they discover that evil spirits have overtaken the house. (This is why I don't travel to creaky, cobwebby country manors.) Vital to the ensuing antics is the film's unsung hero: a big-ass, fluffy house cat named Blanche. LC
Tomorrow Theater, Richmond (Thurs Oct 31)

LIVE MUSIC

illuminati hotties Past Event Like List
Even if you haven’t heard indie rock luminary Sarah Tudzin’s name, you’ve probably heard her work. She’s an in-demand producer, mixer, audio engineer, and, since 2018, performer under the stage name Illuminati Hotties. But her meteoric rise in the industry started three years ago. In 2021, she released her third album, Let Me Do One More, on her own Hopeless Records imprint, to critical acclaim. Then she worked on boygenius’ the record and Weyes Blood’s Titanic Rising—arguably two of the most beautiful-sounding records of the last decade—and earlier this year, she won her first Grammy for her work with boygenius. It feels like her talent is finally on full display, and her knack for sonic perfection is clear on her fourth release, POWER, which she described as “all rippers” and “no filler.” She will support the album alongside fellow rock artists Maddie Ross and Daffo. AV
Mississippi Studios, Boise (Tues Oct 1)

Bonnie Raitt: Just Like That...Tour 2024 Past Event Like List
Last year, 73-year-old blues rock legend Bonnie Raitt won the coveted Grammy for Song of the Year, beating out pop radio heavies like Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Lizzo, and Adele—and for good reason! Although some of her most popular songs weren’t penned by her ("Angel From Montgomery" and "Something to Talk About"), Raitt's albums have included original music since the start—my favorite being "Thank You" off her 1971 debut. After a long career of her covered material taking center stage, it was amazing to see Raitt's songwriting talent finally get the recognition it deserves. She will support the award-winning album Just Like That... after an opening set from blue-eyed soul maven James Hunter. AV
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, South Park Blocks (Oct 1–2)

ANOHNI and the Johnsons Remind Like List
On Anohni's new album, My Back Was A Bridge For You To Cross—her first album with backing band the Johnsons in 13 years—the trailblazing balladeer slow dances between orchestral '60s soul, abrasive industrial, and intimate jazz. As usual, Anohni's vocals are pitch-perfect, evoking the rich textures of Nina Simone, Terry Callier, and Robert Wyatt. The album shines brightest during intimate jazz guitar-driven tracks like "Sliver Of Ice" and "It's My Fault," which allow her singular voice to take center stage (à la classic torch singers like Julie London or Dinah Shore). Don't miss the rare opportunity to hear Anohni's incredible voice live—she hasn't performed in Portland since 2008! AV
Aladdin Theater, Brooklyn (Thurs Oct 3)

Empress Of Remind Like List
I became enamored of the Honduran American songwriter, musician, and producer Lorely Rodriguez, better known by her stage name Empress Of, after seeing her open for Carly Rae Jepsen in 2023. Rodriguez took her stage name from the Empress tarot card, representing the divine feminine, and it's not hard to see why—she channeled pure sensuality and power as she commanded the audience's attention, gyrating to sexy bangers like "Save Me" and "Wild Girl." On her latest release, the bilingual album For Your Consideration, she deftly plays with power dynamics within love, sex, and the entertainment industry and has fun doing it. The "Jolene" tribute "Lorelei" casts her as a home-wrecking femme fatale, while the single "Femenine" expresses her desire for a subservient man: "Sabes que yo soy tu daddy," she purrs. JB
Wonder Ballroom, Eliot (Thurs Oct 3)

Santigold Remind Like List
Philly-raised musician Santigold is known for her genre-defying sound that blends electronic, new wave, indie rock, reggae, and hip-hop elements. She will stop by in support of her 2022 album, Spirituals. Describing the album as a "celebration of human resilience," the title is a nod to traditional Black spirituals. "These contained songs that when sung and performed got Black people through the “un-get-through-able” she told Rolling Stone. "That’s what this record did for me." AV
Crystal Ballroom, West End (Thurs Oct 3)

Justice Remind Like List
Are you ready to D.A.N.C.E.? French electronic duo Justice will return to Portland for the first time since 2012 with tracks from their new album, Hyperdrama. The album revisits the disco/funk and electronic sounds of their past but explores them in a new way. As the band explains it, "We like this idea of making [the genres] fight a bit for attention.” AV
Edgefield, Troutdale (Sun Oct 6)

Weezer: Voyage To The Blue Planet Tour 2024 Remind Like List
Weezer knows. Despite the massive success the band has seen since the release of their 1994 self-titled debut, Rivers Cuomo and company are perfectly aware that, in some fans’ eyes, they’ll never truly top what has come to be referred to as the Blue Album. With the explosive opening 15 seconds of “My Name is Jonas,” the cheeky “Undone — The Sweater Song,” and the heartwrenched “Only in Dreams,” it is iconic. (And it has aged better than Pinkerton—still love you, though, Pinkerton!) To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Blue Album, the band is heading out on a US tour, Voyage to the Blue Planet, where they’ll play the record from start to finish. To round out the alt-radio rock circa 1995 soundtrack of the evening, the Flaming Lips and Dinosaur Jr. open the show. STRANGER MANAGING EDITOR MEGAN SELING
Moda Center, Lloyd District (Sun Oct 6)

Clairo Remind Like List
On her third album, Charm, Gen Z sensation Clairo trades the synthy bedroom pop that turned her into a viral star for elegant tunes inspired by '70s soft rock. The resulting body of work is tender and dreamy, evoking the sullen nostalgia of looking through your childhood bedroom—an old diary, a drawer of charmed friendship bracelets, a portable CD player. There’s no better time than the beginning of autumn to relish in the cozy and hushed tunes of Clairo, especially with an opening set from South African singer-songwriter Alice Phoebe Lou. AV
Edgefield, Troutdale (Wed Oct 9)

André 3000: New Blue Sun Live In Concert Remind Like List
In November of last year, André 3000 surprised fans with his first new music in 17 years—but it wasn't what we anticipated. The OutKast rapper released a full-length album entirely of flute music. New Blue Sun is an odyssey of spiritual jazz and electronic ambient sounds that could perfectly soundtrack an Octavia Butler novel. Featuring instruments like mycelial electronics, plants, shakuhachi, and sintir, the album is equal parts acoustic and electronic with multiple types of flutes played by André himself. Joined on stage by album collaborators Carlos Niño, Surya Botofasina, Nate Mercereau, and Deantoni Parks, the ensemble will present an immersive concert that enchants audiences with improvisational "sensory grandeur." AV
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, South Park Blocks (Mon Oct 14)

Nada Surf Remind Like List
Nada Surf has been a band for over 30 years, which means fans of all ages have been drawn to their music at different points in their career. My coworker remembers their 1996 debut hit "Popular," which catapulted them to alt-rock stardom; I fell in love with their fifth full-length Lucky in high school. Known for their bittersweet anthems, the band released their latest album in September, with singles expressing an era of reflection, musing on the human experience with notes of love, grief, doubt, and hope, told through soaring harmonies and strong instrumentation. Up-and-coming New Zealand indie rock trio Office Dog opens the show. SL
Wonder Ballroom, Eliot (Wed Oct 16)

Killer Mike with the Oregon Symphony Remind Like List
Was this on your 2024 bingo card? Atlanta-born rapper Killer Mike will be joined by the Oregon Symphony for a one-of-a-kind orchestral performance of his gospel-infused, Southern hip-hop bops. While this might not seem like an obvious pairing, imagine the piano sample on "ooh la la" played live. Are things starting to make sense now? I’m also eager to hear how Mike's more electronic-minded songs, like "Legend Has It," will translate. AV
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, South Park Blocks (Thurs Oct 17)

Haley Heynderickx Remind Like List
For those who have been waiting for new music from Haley Heynderickx for six long years, I have news for you! The Portland-based singer-songwriter has finally announced an as-yet-unnamed new album due November 1, dropping two stunning singles to get us through October. Like her critically acclaimed debut, I Need to Start a Garden, the new singles "Foxglove" and "Seed of a Seed" look to the natural world to ponder philosophical questions about love and life. If you're a fan of indie folk gems like Angel Olsen, Shana Cleveland, and Feist, then I bet you'll adore Heynderickx's emotive vocals. And if you're a listener of classic folk guitarists like John Fahey and Robbie Basho, you'll appreciate her melodic and complex finger-picking. She will take over the Aladdin Theater for two nights alongside avant-pop harpist Lily Breshears (night one) and folk singer-songwriter Andrew Stonestreet (night two). AV
Aladdin Theater, Brooklyn (Oct 18–19)

Kehlani - CRASH WORLD TOUR Remind Like List
The queer legend Kehlani is embarking on a world tour to promote their latest album CRASH, a groovy, genre-bending work that incorporates nostalgic '90s neo-soul and R&B influences and explores themes of intimacy, joy, and sensuality. The music video for the single "Next 2 U" both unequivocally makes their pro-Palestine stance clear and shows their crew of queer backup dancers performing some very sexy choreography. They'll be supported by the irresistible Y2K-inspired British girl group FLO (who are responsible for the breakup jam "Cardboard Box" and the cheeky postcoital bop "Walk Like This") and the sultry rising rap star Anycia. JB
Moda Center, Lloyd District (Sat Oct 19)

Charli XCX & Troye Sivan Present: Sweat Remind Like List
At this point, Charli XCX's sixth studio album has left us with more questions than answers: Is brat summer dead? Is Kamala brat? What color is her underwear? The only thing I know for sure is that politicians and brands co-opting the craze are annoying as hell. Regardless, I've tried not to let it ruin my faithful love for the British hyper-pop star. I will never claim to be an OG Charli fan (I hopped on board when her 2020 masterpiece how i'm feeling now dropped) but I will forever brag that I saw her at the quaint Crystal Ballroom before this massive arena tour. Charli will be joined by her frequent collaborator/BFF Troye Sivan for their highly anticipated Sweat tour. They better deliver a mashup of "1999" and "Rewind." AV
Moda Center, Lloyd District (Tues Oct 22)

Maggie Rogers: The Don't Forget Me Tour Remind Like List
With her current status as an indie pop superstar, it might surprise you that Maggie Rogers was formerly a banjo player and folk music enthusiast. Her latest album, Don't Forget Me, leans into polished, radio-friendly pop while allowing rays of her trad-music-loving past to peek through on tracks like "So Sick Of Dreaming" and "All The Same." She will be joined by the R&B/pop artist Ryan Beatty, who is touring with his critically acclaimed third album, Calico. AV
Moda Center, Lloyd District (Wed Oct 30)

Suki Waterhouse Remind Like List
Model/actress-turned-singer-songwriter Suki Waterhouse is a rare form of superstar, rubbing elbows with A-listers at swanky red carpet events one day to palling around with indie rock bands on the PNW label Sub Pop (who signed her in 2022) the next. Earlier this fall, Waterhouse released her sophomore album, Memoir of a Sparklemuffin, which jumps between Lana Del Rey-esque pop ballads ("To Love"), dancy electro-pop ("Blackout Drunk"), and folk-infused classic rock ("My Fun"). She will support the album alongside indie rock gem (and Sub Pop labelmate) Bully. AV
Roseland Theater, Old Town-Chinatown (Wed Oct 30)

Third Angle New Music Presents: Dracula Remind Like List
Summon the spirit of Béla Lugosi on the eve of Halloween with an immersive viewing of the 1931 film Dracula. Philip Glass Ensemble music director Michael Riesman will lead the Third Angle New Music ensemble in a performance of Glass' hypnotic original score, tailored for a string quartet and two grand pianos. AV
Patricia Reser Center for the Arts, Beaverton (Wed Oct 30)

PERFORMANCE

Queer Futures // Art Show & Non-Partisan Voter Training Remind Like List
If you're still a little hazy on the city's new ranked-choice voting system, check out this event celebrating community empowerment and queer artists. Local opera singer Onry will give an overview of the new system, followed by a practice election, while other performers will present music, dance, and spoken word. In addition to gaining useful civic insight and taking in thought-provoking performances, attendees can also grab a free headshot. SL
Tomorrow Theater, Richmond (Thurs Oct 3)

Diné Nishłį (i am a sacred being) Or, A Boarding School Play Remind Like List
When a group of high schoolers is offered the chance to sing the Navajo national anthem at the 2002 Winter Olympics, they're understandably stoked, but a teacher throws a wrench in the works with a (false?) accusation. The group forms a plan to save their trip, and what unfolds is an "exuberant, sunny, and just a little bit haunted" comedy that celebrates the lives of young Native women. (We've got the brilliant Diné storyteller and playwright Blossom Johnson to thank.) After a run at Hillsboro's Vault Theater, the production will tour throughout the greater Portland area, with performances at the Native American Youth and Family Center October 4-6 and the PSU Native Student and Community Center October 10-13. LC
Various locations (Oct 4–13)

Clue: An Immersive Theater Experience Remind Like List
"Flames! Flames on the side of my face!" Inspired by the cult film and the board game Clue, this theatrical experience and screening expands on the long-held notion that murder is sometimes a little funny (you know, as a treat). The film's premise is a perfect fit for the stage, where the Rocky Horror Lavender Show—a collective of local drag and burlesque performers—will assemble with candlesticks, daggers, and ropes in tow. It's a real whodunnit! I think Tim Curry would approve. LC
Echo Theater, Richmond (Sat Oct 5)

Hansel and Gretel Remind Like List
After attending an operatic production of The Snowy Day this past winter, I learned that I'm healed by children's theater. Most often, kids' productions have a sort of delightful "fever dream" effect, and it's only weird if you make it weird. Hansel and Gretel isn't marketed to children specifically (in fact, as we all know, there's some ghoulish child cannibalism in the tale), but it'll certainly have that "fever dream" part on lock. The US premiere of Australian choreographer Loughlan Prior's interpretation lends the Grimm fairy tale a black-and-white silent film aesthetic, but when impulsive German kiddos Hansel and Gretel meet a candy-gifting witch in the woods, explosions of color detonate across the stage. LC
Keller Auditorium, Downtown (Oct 5–12)

Live Wire with Luke Burbank Remind Like List
Live Wire Radio's fall offerings continue with this evening of honest, inspiring conversation between writer-podcaster Carvell Wallace, whose memoir Another Word for Love "makes sense of seeking refuge from homelessness with a young single mother, living in a ghostly white Pennsylvania town," and Emmy-nominated TV writer Jamie Loftus. Phoenix-born indie rocker Danielle Durack, who previously toured with Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, will share cathartic tunes exploring themes of "escapism, trauma and tumultuous relationships." LC
Alberta Rose Theatre, Concordia (Thurs Oct 10)

29th Annual Dia De Los Muertos Festival Remind Like List
As Portland’s longest-running Día de Los Muertos celebration, Milagros observes the holiday each year by building connections through the biggest divide of all: Death! The organization's 29th annual Día De Los Muertos Festival includes a production of Canciónes de la Familia directed by Clarrissa Rodriguez, which invites audiences to "let the music guide you on a journey of self-acceptance, individuality, and finding family where you least expect it," as well as an "altar bike tour," a clay workshop, a tertulia with sugar skull crafts, and more throughout the month. LC
Milagro Theatre, Buckman (Oct 17–Nov 10)

READINGS & TALKS

Chuck Palahniuk Remind Like List
Literary cool guy Chuck Palahniuk, aka the writer my high school boyfriend tried to impress me with (hope you're well, Evan), will drop by Powell's to celebrate the release of his satirical parable Shock Induction. The promotional copy describes the book's central figures as overachievers at a "seemingly reputable high school" who are disappearing, lost to apparent suicides. Of course, if Palahniuk has anything to do with it, something even more cynical and weird lurks under the novel's surface. Whatever your opinion of Palahniuk, who self-describes his work as "transgressional fiction," you'd be hard-pressed not to be the teensiest bit interested in what he has to say. Lean into that itch of intrigue at this event. LC
Powell's City of Books, Pearl District (Tues Oct 8)

Amy Tan Remind Like List
In 2020, a lot of us started birding—mass layoffs and an unfamiliar amount of hours to fill tends to encourage people to look to the skies, I guess. National treasure Amy Tan (The Joy Luck Club) conjures plenty of conversations about spark birds with her gorgeous and witty latest book, The Backyard Bird Chronicles. Even if you've never identified a single species beyond a parking lot crow, chances are good that you'll find the book inspiring. My suggestion? Go pick up some 'nocs, then head to this talk with Tan, who's written five New York Times bestsellers and won the Carl Sandburg Literary Award. LC
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, South Park Blocks (Wed Oct 9)

Malcolm Gladwell in Conversation Remind Like List
To me, Gladwell represents the revival of the worst impulses in American storytelling and journalism. He is king of the metaphorically resonant but ultimately meaningless comparison, and he's obsessed with overblowing the claims of cherry-picked studies. Richard Posner called Blink "a series of loosely connected anecdotes, rich in 'human interest' particulars but poor in analysis," and the claim basically holds for all of Gladwell's other books. There should be a new John Waters-type law: "If you go home with someone, and they've got a bunch of Malcolm Gladwell books on the shelf, don't fuck 'em!" Unless you want to doom yourself to a life with someone who is content to describe the world using surface-level comparisons. That said, Kirkus gave his new book a starred review, so it'll probably read well. STRANGER NEWS EDITOR RICH SMITH
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, South Park Blocks (Tues Oct 15)

Hernan Diaz Remind Like List
Pulitzer Prize finalist, PEN/Faulkner Award winner, and beloved author Hernan Diaz's buzzy novel Trust was described as a "kaleidoscope of capitalism run amok in the early 20th century" by Publisher's Weekly and longlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize. In the Distance, Diaz's 2017 novel celebrated at this talk, is similarly effective—the novel follows a Swedish outlaw who journeys through the American West, meeting "criminals, naturalists, religious fanatics, swindlers, American Indians, and lawmen" along the way. LC
Powell's City of Books, Pearl District (Fri Oct 18)

Ta-Nehisi Coates In Conversation Remind Like List
Sometimes it seems like the name "Ta-Nehisi Coates" has become synonymous with contemporary nonfiction itself. (In the words of Stranger senior staff writer Charles Mudede, "Ta-Nehisi Coates is not perfect." He is not, in Mudede's eyes, a great novelist.) Luckily for us, he's back with another book of essays, his first nonfiction work in almost 10 years. The Message follows Coates to three sites of conflict—Dakar, Senegal, Columbia, South Carolina, and Palestine—to ruminate on the destructive historical legacies of book banning, racism, and nationalism. LC
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, South Park Blocks (Tues Oct 22)

SPORTS & RECREATION

Trail Blazers Fan Fest Remind Like List
The Portland Trail Blazers will get fans hyped for the 2024–25 season at their annual Fan Fest, which includes food, fun, and a first look at this season's team with an intrasquad scrimmage. Mascots Blaze the Trail Cat and Douglas Fur will be in attendance, and surprise guests will pop by the photo booth for pictures with fans. You can try your hand at pop-a-shot and other games in the concourse, and check out performances by the BlazerDancers, stunt team, and Rip City Crew. SL
Moda Center, Lloyd District (Sat Oct 5)

2024 Portland Marathon Remind Like List
Morning exercise people will rise and shine on the first Sunday of October to run or walk the Portland Marathon, half marathon, 10K, or kids’ run. All are welcome to attend the Health and Lifestyle Expo the day before to check out presentations and vendor booths, which is also where racers can pick up their packets. The marathon route takes runners past the Moda Center, through Old Town, along the Sellwood bluff, through the Reed campus, and by OMSI and the USS Blueblack, crossing four bridges in the process. Personally, I like to be distracted while running, so this scenic route sounds ideal. SL
Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Downtown (Sun Oct 6)

The Great Pumpkin Run Remind Like List
Formerly "Run Like Hell," the rebranded Great Pumpkin Run encourages runners of all ages to dress up in costume and hit the pavement. Course options include the "haunted" half marathon, "terrifying" 10K, "freaky" 5K, and a goblin run for the kiddos. I'll get you started with some costume ideas: The Flash, Pac-Man, a runaway bride, two people as a kitten chasing a ball of yarn, or, most obviously, Forrest Gump if you’re looking for continuous encouragement. SL
Sellwood Riverfront Park, Sellwood (Sat Oct 26)

VISUAL ART/EXHIBITS

Coraline's Curious Cat Trail Remind Like List
Google doesn't often classify movies as "family/horror," but Coraline is one of the few flicks that fits the bill. The 2009 LAIKA film, which follows an audacious 11-year-old who finds an alternate world populated by strange characters (including a button-eyed Other Mother), is based on the creepiest, most addictive Neil Gaiman book I read as a seventh-grader. If the book/movie's lanky black cat elicits your nostalgia, I recommend spending an afternoon with Coraline’s Curious Cat Trail, LAIKA's path of six-foot Cat sculptures stationed throughout downtown Portland. LC
Various locations (Oct 1–13)

Mona Huneidi | Targeted: 100+ Kites Remind Like List
Inspired by Refaat Al-Areer’s poem If I Must Die (which I implore you to read before continuing to skim this blurb), this installation pays tribute to the journalists and media workers who have documented the unfolding genocide in Gaza. Refaat Al-Areer was a respected writer and professor who was killed in an airstrike by the Israeli military on December 6, 2023, along with six members of his immediate family. Proceeds from artist Mona Huneidi's Targeted: 100+ Kites, an installation of "more than 100 handmade kites, original projections, and sound," will be donated to Gaza relief efforts (Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, Committee to Protect Journalists, and Anera specifically). LC
North View Gallery, Southwest Portland (Oct 1–25)

Carson Ellis: One Week in January Remind Like List
While looking through some old boxes, illustrator, and author Carson Ellis discovered several pages of diary entries from 2001, which documented her first week living in Portland. The journals detailed 25-year-old Ellis’s new life in the city, as she moved into a “scrappy but cheap and fabulous” Southeast Portland warehouse, smoked a lot of cigarettes, and hung out with her housemates and fellow artists, including her future husband and Decemberists’ frontman Colin Meloy. Ellis got a kick out of the old entries, which offer a snapshot of Portland during a time of creative abundance and cheap rent. She painted 30 new pieces of art to go along with the diary entries from 23 years ago, and compiled them into a book, One Week in January: New Paintings for an Old Diary, which was published by Chronicle on September 10. PORTLAND MERCURY NEWS REPORTER TAYLOR GRIGGS
Nationale, Buckman (Oct 3–19)

Ann Hamilton: Figuring Luck Remind Like List
Ann Hamilton is, by all accounts, an art star—the Yale-educated textile artist, performer, photographer, and videographer has built her career around site-responsive, tactile, larger-than-life installations since the '80s. Chances are good that this new solo exhibition won't sacrifice any of Hamilton's signature sensuousness and attention to detail. Hamilton's last exhibition at Elizabeth Leach, Sense, included prints developed from a striking process of flatbed scanning animal specimens, stones, and fallen leaves; this collection, also produced with vintage scanning tools, "expands upon the body of Hamilton’s ongoing work with alternative photographic modes of capture" and features "roughly rendered forms of the ‘Fève’, miniature hand-painted ceramic figures traditionally baked into king’s cake for the Epiphany holiday." LC
Elizabeth Leach Gallery, Pearl District (Oct 3–Nov 2)

Exquisite Creatures Revealed Remind Like List
There is a lot of interesting stuff to look at in this world, and one of those things is the 10-foot Japanese spider crab. But I would encourage you to avoid a simple Google image search of such a creature. Instead, you should check out artist-naturalist Christopher Marley's intricate artworks, which were made with real (and sustainably collected) "preserved animals, organisms, plants, and minerals," like the aforementioned crab, the Amazonian stingray, and a "never-before-preserved leafy seadragon from Australia." You'll learn a thing or two about biodiversity and conservation at the same time, but only if you can stop being like, "Whoa, look at that one!" for a second. LC
OMSI, Central Eastside (Oct 5–Feb 17, 2025)

Sitka Art Invitational Remind Like List
Bringing together over 100 artists inspired by Pacific Northwest nature, the Sitka Art Invitational offers a scenic forest of works across mediums, with sales split evenly between the artist and the Sitka Center for Art & Ecology's nonprofit programming. Plan for a crowd—more than 2,000 local art lovers attend the show each year, and live music might draw an even bigger crowd for the event's 30th anniversary this year. Peep this fun map of the Kenton area before heading to Oregon Contemporary. Even if you're an old-school Portlander, you might make a new discovery. LC
Oregon Contemporary, Kenton (Oct 18–20)

Psychedelic Rock Posters and Fashion of the 1960s Remind Like List
Although the Portland Art Museum's exhibition Paul McCartney Photographs 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm opened just last month, Psychedelic Rock Posters and Fashion of the 1960s should feel a little less "Beatlemania" and more "counterculture creativity straight from Haight-Ashbury." The collection of rare vintage posters, embroidered denim pieces, groovy velvet garments, and hippie-chic crochet is bound to be a total head trip; posters "drew on disparate historical precedents such as Art Nouveau, Wild West signs, and Victorian engraving," while fashion spoke directly to the sense-driven experiences of psychedelics. Far out. LC
Portland Art Museum, South Park Blocks (Oct 19–Mar 30, 2025)

FOOD & DRINK

Fresh Hop Pop-Up Beer Fest Remind Like List
Prost's annual fresh hop extravaganza is back for its ninth year with 10 food trucks, 10 rotating taps, rare and seasonal beers, and special tappings almost every day highlighting local breweries and regions. Look forward to participating breweries like Von Ebert, Breakside, Ft. George, Reuben's Brews, and more, plus a "Freshtoberfest" celebration complete with polka bands and fresh-hopped German-style beers. JB
Prost! Marketplace, North Portland (Oct 1–6)

Holly Nilsson Meet-and-Greet Remind Like List
Since its inception in 2012, Vancouver, B.C.-based recipe developer and food photographer Holly Nilsson's wildly popular website Spend with Pennies has established itself as a staple for daily cooking. Now, Nilsson has released her debut cookbook Everyday Comfort, which contains a compendium of cozy dishes like seared pork chops with creamy spinach gnocchi, chicken mushroom and rice soup, and shrimp peanut noodles, all of which sound ideal to hunker down with during the Big Dark. She'll drop by Powells for a meet-and-greet to promote the release. JB
Powell's Books at Cedar Hills Crossing, Beaverton (Fri Oct 25)

OMSI After Dark: Spirits Remind Like List
This after-hours festival at OMSI for grownups is all about spirits, both in the sense of booze and supernatural beings. Mingle with things that go bump in the night while sampling ghostly elixirs from local distilleries, taking in science demos and performances, snacking on food from vendors, and grooving to DJ tunes. JB
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), Central Eastside (Wed Oct 30)