An ice storm warning is in effect from Tuesday afternoon through early Wednesday morning. Check venue websites or socials for the latest updates and travel with caution.

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WEDNESDAY

FOOD & DRINK

OMSI After Dark: CiderFest Past Event Like List
What if your sixth-grade museum field trip grew up to be the boozy evening of your dreams? Such is the premise behind this geeked-out cider fest presented by OMSI in collaboration with 2 Towns Cider House. Quaff boozy apple-based libations, learn about cidermaking, check out hands-on science demos that would make Bill Nye proud, and traipse through OMSI's featured "Orcas: Our Shared Future" and "Staying Alive: Defenses of the Animal Kingdom" exhibits with no kids around. Local food vendors like Clarklewis, Mudge Fudge, and Sinful Confections will also sling tasty snacks. JB
(OMSI, Central Eastside)

LIVE MUSIC

Victor Wooten & the Wooten Brothers Past Event Like List
Five-time Grammy winner Victor Wooten, best known for his work with Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, will mesmerize you with his bass-playing skills alongside his real-life band of brothers. The quartet—formerly a quintet, before the death of saxophonist Rudy—has been a musical tour-de-force since they were just kids, redefining the limits of jazz, funk, soul, R&B, rock, and bluegrass. AV
(Revolution Hall, Buckman)

THURSDAY

ACTIVISM & SOCIAL JUSTICE

Birds for Gaza Portland Past Event Like List
As the siege on Gaza continues, many are feeling the heaviness of the ongoing fight for Palestinian liberation. This community grief event, organized in solidarity with Palestinians, invites participants to craft birds in honor of the children (8,000 and counting) who have been killed in Gaza. Check out Birds for Gaza's calendar for bird-making workshops, then head to the art installation on February 10, which will display the flock of paper birds created by local participants. LC

COMEDY

Esther Povitsky Past Event Like List
Alone Together co-creator/star, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend actress, and fantasy nurse Esther Povitsky, who's also one of my favorite TikTok time-wasters, will bring her frank, trauma-informed comedy (with a side of millennial quirk) to the stage for this performance. LC
(Aladdin Theater, Brooklyn)

Secret Aardvark Remind Like List
Over 30 of Portland's best improvisers will gather again for this who's who of Rose City comedy. Each Secret Aardvark event features an extra-special mystery guest (past guests have run the gamut from David Lynch to random high school theater students), and the show's so spicy that it's named after the organizers' fave local hot sauce, so it should warm your chilly bones at this time of year. LC
(Kickstand Comedy, Ladd's Addition)

FILM

NOW>>THEN // D.E.B.S. Past Event Like List
Calling all gay spies! D.E.B.S. may have been a box office bomb, but it's a well-deserved millennial cult classic following a queer relationship between a teen crimefighter and an alluring villainess. Plus, early-aughts greats Meagan Good, Devon Aoki, and Jordana Brewster wear cute plaid skirts. What could be better?! LC
(Tomorrow Theater, Richmond)

FOOD & DRINK

Dry Alchemy Past Event Like List
Mingle as you sip cocktails made with Wilderton's non-alcoholic spirits and enjoy some snacks. Plus, get a glimpse of what 2024 has in store for you via a tarot reading from Psychic Sister and groove to DJ tunes.
(Abigail Hall, Downtown)

LIVE MUSIC

Plaid: Feorm Falorx AV Tour Past Event Like List
Stranger music critic Dave Segal writes: "English duo Plaid have been making high-quality electronic music for nearly 30 years. Mainstays of important British label Warp, Plaid (Ed Handley and Andy Turner) emerged out of IDM legends the Black Dog in 1991 and ever since have been dropping fascinating releases every two to five years to a modest yet rabid cult following. Plaid’s knack for combining nimble beats, sweetly tart melodies, and unusual textures coaxed Björk into working with them, so they have that cachet." They will support their 10th studio album, Feorm Falorx, with electronic composer Solenoid, experimental/ambient project Production Unit Xero, and DJ Carissa Illy. AV
(Holocene, Buckman)

PERFORMANCE

The Black Circus of the Republic of Bantu Past Event Like List
Following its run at the Under Radar Festival in New York, South African avant-garde artists Princess Mhlongo and 2023 Bessie Award winner Albert Ibokwe Khoza will present their vivid "performance ritual" The Black Circus of the Republic of Bantu, which looks closely at the harmful impacts of the imperialist and colonial gaze. BIPOC attendees can purchase sliding-scale tickets to the show, which "wields theater as a weapon and a salve, turning its gaze outward in service of healing the soul and reclaiming dignity through the power of confrontational art." LC
(Ellyn Bye Studio at the Armory, Pearl District)

Welcome to Night Vale Past Event Like List
From the minds of Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor, Welcome to Night Vale blends the bizarre and macabre with Lynchian imagination; the eerie, innovative podcast has found cult status in its narrative depictions of the tiny, isolated (fictional) town of Night Vale. Episodes take the form of community updates, complete with local weather, Sheriff’s Secret Police announcements, and news reports of supernatural, unexplained occurrences. If you're into Twin Peaks and/or The X-Files, you'll likely dig this, too. LC
(Revolution Hall, Buckman)

SATURDAY

FOOD & DRINK

Fuyu Fest 2024 Past Event Like List
Much has been made of the Scandinavian concept of hygge, but don't let that distract you from the fact that Japanese culture also has plenty of coziness and elegance to offer. The second edition of this annual winter-themed festival, which is dedicated to the intersection of Japanese and Pacific Northwest culture, will offer over 65 types of craft Japanese sake as well as koji coffee, a themed menu from local food vendors, and sake-inspired desserts. Watch local mixologists show off their prowess with sake cocktails, learn about methods and philosophy from a Tokyo hot sake specialist, and soak up knowledge of sake culture and history from experts. JB
(Olympic Mills Commerce Center, Buckman)

LIVE MUSIC

STRFKR DJ Set Past Event Like List
Led by frontman Josh Hodges, the Portland-originating synth-pop jewels STRFKR will circle back to their hometown for a special DJ set with fellow disc-slingers Teq Support, and Chancie Chance. The event is cheap (only ten bucks!), so jump on those tickets before they sell out. Spoiler alert: they probably will! AV
(White Owl Social Club, Buckman)

Sunny War & Chris Pierce Past Event Like List
On her latest album, Anarchist Gospel, folk-punk artist Sunny War tackles her internal battle with self-destruction. “Everybody is a beast just trying their hardest to be good," she writes. "You’re not really good or bad—you’re just trying to stay in the middle of those two things all the time, and you’re probably doing a shitty job of it." Through her songwriting, Sunny embraces the nuances of emotion, identity, personhood, and in particular, genre, finding the spaces between gospel, country blues, folk, rock, and avant-garde. She will support the album alongside Americana singer-songwriter Chris Pierce. AV
(Alberta Abbey, King)

Toy Story In Concert Past Event Like List
Toy Story was one of the first movies I ever saw. And, because I saw it before I understood the difference between fact and fiction, I was convinced that my dolls came to life when I left the room—I tried to catch them many times with no luck. Obviously, I've grown out of this fantasy (or have I?) Yet, I still have the impulse to yell "There's a snake in my boot!" every time I feel a pebble rolling around in my shoe. Relive the movie that shaped us late 20-somethings while the Oregon Symphony plays Randy Newman's heartfelt score along to the film. AV
(Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, South Park Blocks)

PERFORMANCE

NOW. HEAR. THIS // Podcast But Outside LIVE Past Event Like List
On Podcast But Outside, Cole Hersch and Andrew Michaan take to the streets of Los Angeles and shoot the shit with random passersby to (unsurprisingly) hilarious results. The podcast has also interviewed Hollywood folks you've likely heard of—Jon Hamm, Adam Scott, and Nick Kroll among them—but the funniest eps are often those with randos. Be ready: There's a non-zero chance that they'll interview you if you show up to this live taping of the pod. LC
(Tomorrow Theater, Richmond)

SUNDAY

PERFORMANCE

Scribble After Dark Past Event Like List
The pens will be flying at this improvisational animation show, which sees five of YouTube’s biggest animators get illustrative in a series of competitive drawing challenges. (I dare them to draw this.) Egoraptor, Odds1Out, JaidenAnimations, RubberRoss, and Domics will battle it out, and they're promising risqué games that "can't be in an all-ages show," so...prepare for something more salacious than what they're posting on Instagram. LC
(Revolution Hall, Buckman)

MULTI-DAY

EXHIBIT

Orcas: Our Shared Future Past Event Like List
Those who keep up on regional wildlife news are likely already aware of a dire situation in the Puget Sound, where Southern Resident Orcas are on the brink of extinction due to pollution, vessel traffic, and a dramatic decline of their primary food source, Chinook salmon. (Unsurprisingly, humans have played a central role in the animal's critically endangered state.) The orca, aka the apex predator of all oceans and an utterly majestic creature that deserves to thrive, is the central focus of Orcas: Our Shared Future. The new exhibition of over 100 Orcinus artifacts includes life-sized replicas, fossils, original artwork from Pacific Northwest Coast Indigenous peoples, and more, offering a rare opportunity to deep-dive into the animal's complex social structures, its connections to humans, and the surprising consequences of orca captivity. LC
(OMSI, Central Eastside, Tuesday-Sunday)

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? Treat yourself to a Löyly trip.) LC
(Nordic Northwest, Metzger, Tuesday-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, Tuesday-Thursday)

American Fiction Past Event Like List
If the words "incisive literary satire" perk up your ears, then boy, does director Cord Jefferson have the film for you!! In his new dramedy (an adaptation of Percival Everett’s Erasure), Jeffrey Wright stars as Monk, a novelist who's understandably aggravated by the establishment that profits from "Black" entertainment and its exhausting tropes. When Monk writes a book under a pen name, he finds himself paddling in the same phony waters he admonished in the first place. LC
(Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District, Tuesday-Thursday)

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, Tuesday-Thursday)

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, Tuesday-Sunday)

The Zone of Interest Past Event Like List
If you've been keeping up with A24's films by international directors lately, including solid entries like After Yang and Dream Scenario, you're probably already jazzed for The Zone of Interest, which is a co-production between the US, the UK, and Poland. Filmmaker Jonathan Glazer (who directed the Scarlett Johansson-as-an-extraterrestrial flick Under the Skin) tells the story of a Nazi commandant and his family, who attempt to build a happy life near the Auschwitz concentration camp. Call me presumptuous, but uh, I'm not rooting for them. The film has been shortlisted for Best International Feature at this year's Oscars. LC
(Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District, Thursday-Sunday)

FOOD & DRINK

Oregon Cider Week Past Event Like List
Portlanders drink more cider per capita than anywhere else in the world, and it's not hard to see why: Oregon boasts a bevy of prime cideries, pouring apple-based libations that taste like a crisp autumn day in a glass. The nine-day-long Oregon Cider Week event builds on this enthusiasm and coincides with the world's largest cider conference, CiderCon, which is returning to Portland for the first time in nearly 10 years. Expand your palate with parties, tastings, tap takeovers, tours, trivia, education, festivals, flights, food pairings, pop-ups, and other events. JB 
(Various locations, Tuesday-Sunday)

LIVE MUSIC

Portland Music Month 2024 Past Event Like List
Portland Music Month is a (you guessed it) month-long celebration that aims to revive the vibrant local music industry. Fans are encouraged to snap out of their mid-winter hibernation to help Portland's independent venues and artists by seeing live shows, buying merch, winning prizes, and supporting Music Oregon's Echo Fund. Come out and honor the musicians who helped us all get through the darkness of the past few years. The series will continue this week with highlights like folk-punk artist Sunny War, local rock band Love Gigantic (performing Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon), and a screening of the Beatles' Hard Days Night. AV
(Various locations, Tuesday-Sunday)

PERFORMANCE

Disney’s The Lion King Past Event Like List
NAAAAAAAAAANTS INGONYAMA BAGITHI BABA. (Fun fact: That's Zulu for "Here comes a lion, father.") It's The Lion King!! You know the drill...the whole-ass Serengeti roars to life and Pride Rock juts out from the mist as a lion cub is revealed to the sky. It's majestic and beautiful and, in my opinion, a solid way to stampede into 2024. Director Julie Taymor's interpretation of the story has won six Tony Awards, and yes, you'll hear all the Elton John tunes your soul craves. LC
(Keller Auditorium, Downtown, Wednesday-Sunday)

Goodnight Moon Past Event Like List
The best part of Margaret Wise Brown's Goodnight Moon is its impeccable vibes—I mean, check out this image and tell me you don't long to be Bunny, delightfully cuddled in bed, surrounded by kittens and yarn and bear paintings and a cozy fireplace. This theatrical production is the closest thing to entering Bunny's comfy, dreamy, imaginative world, where we'll hopefully see all the jumping cows and dancing bears our hearts desire. I'm getting sleepy already, but in a good way.LC
(Winningstad Theatre, South Park Blocks, Saturday-Sunday)

What the Constitution Means to Me Past Event Like List
How might the Constitution impact generations to come? Playwright Heidi Schreck digs into it in this funny, insightful play, which traces the relationship between four generations of women and was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize. LC
(Portland Center Stage, Pearl District, Saturday-Sunday)

VISUAL ART

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, Tuesday–Saturday)

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, Tuesday–Saturday)

Secret Room Work•Shop Pop-Up Past Event Like List
Risograph print studio and comics and art publisher Secret Room Press has joined the other lovably artsy weirdos at Lloyd Center and opened a sparkly new pop-up art gallery and print shop. The Secret Room Work•Shop home to Life on Earth: A RISO Art Show, "a RISO art show showcasing over 25 cartoonists from the Pacific Northwest and beyond," plusweekly events and workshops and a curated selection of books, cassettes, vinyl, and VHS. Drop by the next time you're headed to Floating World Comics. LC
(Lloyd Center, Lloyd District, Wednesday-Sunday)

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, Saturday-Sunday)

WINTER

Woodsy Winter Village and Ice Rink Past Event Like List
A new ice skating rink and marketplace is popping up at the west end of the Morrison Bridge this holiday season! Ice skating will be open every day through January 28, costing $20 for adults and $12 for kids under 12, including skate rental. Pro tip: spend at least $20 at a central city business (peep the map to see what qualifies), bring your receipt, and get a $5 discount on your skate ticket. If you need a little help on the ice, you can pay an extra $10 for an unreasonably cute skate aid named Bobby the Seal. The marketplace will feature local vendors, food trucks, warm beverages, and a "cozy lounge" with board games and warming pods. SL
(Morrison Bridgehead, Downtown, Tuesday-Sunday)