Although Oregon’s statewide mask mandate has been lifted, venues may have their own health guidelines in place. We advise directly checking the specific protocols for an event before heading out.

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MONDAY

FILM

Raiders of the Lost Ark
Past Event Like List In life, we sometimes need to watch an ophidiophobic archaeologist shamble around lookin' for a mystical relic before it falls into Nazi hands. If that sounds up your alley, head to this screening of Raiders of the Lost Ark, which celebrates Spielberg's '81 adventure classic on the Hollywood's 50-foot screen. 
(Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District)

LIVE MUSIC

Lady Wray
Past Event Like List There has been a Sharon Jones-sized hole in my heart since the Dap-Kings lead singer passed away in 2016. Fortunately, the Virginia-born singer-songwriter Nicole Monique Wray, better known as Lady Wray, is here to fill it. A bit more soulful and less funky than Jones, the church-raised voice of Lady Wray channels Aretha Franklin at her “Amazing Grace” best with just a hint of rasp to enrich the vocal texture. Delicate flute and choice piano chords underpin “Piece of Me,” the title track of her sophomore release out on Big Crown Records. But I’m partial to “Guilty,” which trundles along with infectious doo-wop backing vocals in the middle of her 2016 debut “Queen Alone.” GREGORY SCRUGGS
(Mississippi Studios, Boise)

Novo Amor
Past Event Like List Novo Amor, the project of Welsh singer-songwriter Ali Lacey, will stop by to promote his latest album, Antarctican Dream Machine, which utilizes delicate strings, finger-picked melodies, and yearning vocals that melds into emotional indie folk à la Bon Iver.
(Wonder Ballroom, Eliot)

READINGS & TALKS

The Moth: Outlaws Past Event Like List
Yee haw! The iconic storytelling competition returns, this time on the spur-janglin' theme of outlaws. Participants are invited to prepare a five-minute story on all things lawless—we've all been rebels with a cause once or twice in our lives, right?—for a chance to share in front of a live audience.
(Holocene, Buckman)

TUESDAY

LIVE MUSIC

Duckwrth
Past Event Like List Mercury writer Jenni Moore wrote of Duckwrth: "The singer/rapper/graphic designer reps and credits the Bay Area for his artistic influences, and is regarded as a creative visionary for his progressive hip-hop and vibrant, expressive style—just watch his visual for “Get Uugly” and you’ll see why." He will stop by on tour supporting his latest album, SG8.
(Star Theater, Old Town-Chinatown)

GIVĒON
Past Event Like List Known best for features on Drake's "Chicago Freestyle" and Justin Bieber's "Peaches," chart-topping R&B artist Givēon will stop by with songs from his debut album, Give or Take, which explores themes of fame, love, and heartbreak.
(Roseland Theater, Old Town-Chinatown)

Hiromi: The Piano Quintet ft. PUBLIQuartet
Past Event Like List Japanese pianist and composer Hiromi, who took the world stage at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony, is known for her energetic live performances that fuse jazz, progressive rock, and classical music. She will take the stage alongside NYC-based ensemble PUBLIQuartet.
(Patricia Reser Center for the Arts, Beaverton)

Mclusky
Past Event Like List Welsh noise rock veterans Mclusky will head out on their first North American tour in 18 years, hitting up Portland to commemorate the 20th anniversary of their second album, Mclusky Do Dallas. The show will get started with Oakland-based rock trio Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends.
(Revolution Hall, Buckman)

Wilco: Cruel Country Tour
Past Event Like List With 12 studio albums (plus several collaborative and live albums) under their belts, Grammy-winning band Wilco has established themselves as alt-rock royalty. This large-scale outdoor show will feature songs from their well-received latest album, Cruel Country, which goes back to the band's roots with relaxed country-leaning tunes. 
(Hayden Homes Amphitheater, Bend)

Wild Rivers: Sidelines World Tour
Past Event Like List Toronto quartet Wild Rivers will bring their lush harmony-driven folk-pop live to town on their Sidelines tour, supporting their new album of the same name. Indie-pop artist Violet Skies will open. 
(Aladdin Theater, Brooklyn)

WEDNESDAY

LIVE MUSIC

Girl in Red
Past Event Like List Twenty-three-year-old Norwegian singer-songwriter Marie Ulven (AKA girl in red) initially blew up on YouTube with her tearful bedroom pop tunes about heartbreak, mental health, and queer love, accompanied by picturesque music videos. She will take the stage in support of her debut full-length If I Could Make It Go Quiet, which was produced by Finneas (Billie Eilish's big brother). Aussie pop singer Blake Rose will open.
(Roseland Theater, Old Town-Chinatown)

Julian Lage
Past Event Like List Virtuosic guitarist Julian Lage blends the borders of folk, bluegrass, and jazz for a unique style that has earned him several albums with the prestige jazz label Blue Note. He will support his last release, View With A Room, alongside singer-songwriter Izzy Oram Brown. 
(Aladdin Theater, Brooklyn)

Momma
Past Event Like List Last year, Stranger writer Jas Keimig wrote: "'Momma' is what I call my mother; it’s equal parts affectionate and deferent. The Los Angeles–based indie-rock duo of this name makes quiet, lo-fi tunes that maybe remind me of Girlpool or, like, a less intensely sad Elliott Smith. Their songs are earnest and simple, unspooling and unassuming." They will play tracks from their new album, Household Name, after an opening set from Bay Area indie trio Pardoner.
(Mississippi Studios, Boise)

Russian Circles
Past Event Like List Metal doesn’t always have to be accompanied by piercing screams, squeals, or growls. In fact, a lot of the genre’s power can come from what dins under the surface, or what isn't even there at all. For more than a decade, Chicago trio Russian Circles has proven this to be true, often forgoing vocals altogether with their immersive instrumentals. Like Godspeed You! Black Emperor's hesher cousin, the band’s atmospheric post-metal never grows stale. CERVANTE POPE
(Revolution Hall, Buckman)

THURSDAY

COMEDY

Cool Kids Patio Show
Past Event Like List Pop by for chill comedy at Doug Fir's cozy outdoor lounge, featuring beloved funny folks Andrew Sleighter, Shanna Christmas️, Adam Pasi, Tory Ward, and Sean Jordan. Former Portland's Funniest Person Nariko Ott will host the free evening of laughs.
(Doug Fir Lounge, Buckman)

Spilt Milk Comedy Show
Past Event Like List Shain Brenden, winner of Portland's Funniest Person 2022 and occasional slam poet, will sling some jokes alongside Seattlelite Travis Sherer, Amanda Lynn Deal, Kyle Adams, and "menopause mom" Joanie Quinn at this casual night of comedy.
(Lucky Labrador Beer Hall, Northwest Portland)

LIVE MUSIC

Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals Past Event Like List
Still traveling with his well-seasoned band, the Innocent Criminals, tonight Ben Harper will play an eclectic, heartfelt set of political rock, blues, reggae, folk, and soul music for what's sure to be a massive crowd of diehard fans. It's rare to see such professional musicians pull off intimate shows like these, and this band combo always makes for a tremendous listening experience... and usually a few "a-ha" moments. The three-time Grammy-winning musician is known for his pot-friendly shows, masterful slide guitar skills, never-ending tour schedule, and raw releases that lyrically reflect his perspective on current socio-political events. Some things never change. PORTLAND MERCURY CONTRIBUTOR JENNI MOORE
(Edgefield, Troutdale)

ODESZA - The Last Goodbye Tour
Past Event Like List Electronic duo ODESZA will make their return to Portland with material from their new release, The Last Goodbye. The album features contributions from a wide variety of artists, including electronic composer/vocalist Julianna Barwick, pop singer-songwriter Izzy Bizu, legendary soul singer Bettye LaVette, and more. Don't miss opening sets from like-minded electronica artists Sylvan Esso, Elderbrook, and Nasaya.
(RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater, Ridgefield)

Twenty One Pilots - The Icy Tour
Past Event Like List It’s not surprising Ohio duo Twenty One Pilots have become so successful. As songwriters, they’ve ripped bits of influence from around the proven-popular-music landscape—from the approachability of Bruno Mars to the anthem-chasing of the Lumineers and plainspoken lyricism of Macklemore—and disguised their pandering with enough face paint and stage energy to seem edgy or experimental to the average middle-schooler (but safe enough for their parents), and fake-rapped all the way to the bank. Their ability to tickle the familiarity sensors in the minds of casual young music fans and whisper nonsensical angst rhymes that are vague enough to feign artsy-ness yet simplistic enough to not fly over anyone’s head must appear an admirable trait to a tastemaker with a checklist somewhere, but does that mean we have to let it pollute the minds of our young? Hide your children. TODD HAMM
(Moda Center, Lloyd District)

READINGS & TALKS

2022/23 Portland Arts & Lectures: Abdulrazak Gurnah Past Event Like List
Abdulrazak Gurnah, winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Literature, will discuss his lauded 2020 book Afterlives in this talk. Gurnah's expansive novel of displacement and erasure offers a stark description of the colonization of east Africa.
(Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, South Park Blocks)

Live Wire with Luke Burbank: Ginny Hogan, Sona Movsesian, Marcella Arguello, and Brown Calculus Past Event Like List
Live Wire's season opener will feature writer and satirical comic Ginny Hogan, very tall comedian Marcella Arguello, and Sona Movsesian, Conan O'Brien's worst assistant. Luke Burbank hosts the evening of honest, hilarious conversation.
(Alberta Rose Theatre, Concordia)

FRIDAY

COMEDY

Minority Retort presents: Marcella Arguello!
Past Event Like List Latinx stand-up queen Marcella Arguello will share more experiences navigating race, gender, and life as a very tall person at this edition of Minority Retort, Portland's leading stand-up comedy showcase for Black and brown comedians. She'll be joined by funny folks Lee H. Tillman, Juan Duran, and Howie Echo-Hawk.
(Curious Comedy Theater, King)

FILM

DOC-O-RAMA
Past Event Like List PAM/CUT will screen five bold documentaries for this series, centering stories of radical change told through personal growth, social justice, and more. DOC-O-RAMA kicks off with Workhorse Queen, which follows drag diva Mrs. Kasha Davis on her journey from Scranton telemarketer to RuPaul's Drag Race season seven star. We're also stoked for Moonage Daydream, a neon-tinged Bowie doc, and Wildness, which spotlights an LA gay bar's connection to the Latinx immigrant community.
(Whitsell Auditorium, South Park Blocks)

LIVE MUSIC

Aeon Station
Past Event Like List Kevin Whelan, former frontman of indie rock quartet The Wrens, has made his solo debut with Observatory, a compilation of rejected demos and sketches from throughout his career, now completed and released under the new moniker Aeon Station. The result is both musically and lyrically heavy, drawing inspiration from Whelan’s relationship with his son. 
(Mississippi Studios, Boise)

Monophonics
Past Event Like List All the way back in 2015, former Mercury writer Rose Finn wrote: "If you grew up listening to George Clinton, got high to the Budos Band, and jammed out to Fela Kuti, you're going to enjoy Monophonics. The Bay Area soul outfit employs trippy guitar solos, tight horn lines, and slow but mighty beats that rival the Dap-Kings in funkiness. They've recorded with Blackalicious, played on the same bill as R&B greats like Al Green and Booker T, and their six musicians play with enough energy and girth that they sound like 15." They will be joined on The Sage Motel tour by Boston blues trio GA-20 and soulful singer-songwriter Kendra Morris. 
(Wonder Ballroom, Eliot)

Stereolab
Past Event Like List Throughout the band’s initial 18-year run, Stereolab felt like an underground music lover’s dream. Led by guitarist Tim Gane and vocalist Laetitia Sadier, the self-styled “groop” flooded their discography with motorik Krautrock, lush exotica, drum ‘n’ bass, Tropicália, and baroque pop. And their subsequent influence has been felt throughout the indie universe and even into hip-hop (Pharrell says the band’s “Flower Called Nowhere” is his favorite song to get sucked off to). ROBERT HAM
(Roseland Theater, Old Town-Chinatown)

PARTIES & NIGHTLIFE

22 & good 4 u: A Taylor Swift vs. Olivia Rodrigo Past Event Like List
Celebrate pop songstresses Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo by dancing it out to an alternating set of their love songs and breakup songs. It's okay to cry!
(Holocene, Buckman)

PERFORMANCE

World Ballet Series: Swan Lake
Past Event Like List It's a familiar, ethereal story of love, agency, and good versus evil, told with a twist—as part of the World Ballet series, this production of Swan Lake will be performed by a multinational cast of 50 ballet dancers. Crafted with precision, the production's design includes hand-painted sets and over 150 costumes that envelop viewers in the tale of Prince Siegfried and Odette, Queen of the Swans.
(Newmark Theatre, South Park Blocks)

READINGS & TALKS

Elizabeth Haidle Book Signing and Art Exhibition Past Event Like List
Portland-based artist Elizabeth Haidle will share her gestural watercolor figures at this release of her new Fantagraphics Underground art book, Party of One. (The book blends painted figures with quippy commentary for a thoughtful, funny reading experience). If that doesn't sound cool enough, head to Lloyd Center early to take part in a life drawing session at the ice skating rink with Haidle herself.
(Floating World Comics, Lloyd District)

Randall Munroe & Sarah Andersen
Past Event Like List Randall Munroe, who created the simplistic, sarcastic, and hugely popular webcomic xkcd, will hit Portland to discuss his new book What If? 2: Additional Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions with Eisner Award-nominated and Ringo Award-winning author Sarah Andersen. You might learn the answers to questions you didn't even know you had, like whether humans can eat clouds, or how much saliva it'd take to fill a swimming pool.
(Powell's Books at Cedar Hills Crossing, Beaverton)

SATURDAY

COMEDY

Jim Jefferies: The Moist Tour
Past Event Like List "Respected" Sydney comic Jim Jefferies will bring his provocative (aka misogynist) act to Portland, likely leaving behind what The Guardian described as "a nasty stench." Have fun!
(Keller Auditorium, Downtown)

COMMUNITY

Family Forest Day Past Event Like List
This free, family-focused day in the trees offers fresh opportunities to learn all about urban forests. Pop by participant booths for the Portland Parks and Recreation Tree Heritage and Leave No Trace programs, Trees for Life, and The Nature Atelier, where you'll find green-friendly crafts, activities, and guided walks.
(Hoyt Arboretum, Sylvan-Highlands)

FILM

Metropolis
Past Event Like List Fritz Lang's '27 sci-fi masterwork of German Expressionism will come to life in this screening, which will feature an original score by Dean Lemire performed on the Hollywood's Mighty Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ. If you haven't seen the dystopic film, you're in for an eerie treat—Roger Ebert referred to Metropolis as "one of the great achievements of the silent era."
(Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District)

FOOD & DRINK

Farm to Plate Brewer’s Series Dinners Past Event Like List
It doesn't get much fresher than eating a meal on the very farm where the ingredients were grown. Topaz Farm's resident "farm-to-plate" chefs Christian and Janelle Ephrem will craft three multi-course, farm-to-plate dinners this summer, each featuring five specially selected beer pairings from a different local brewer: Fort George Brewing, Migration Brewing, and Foreland Beer. Guests will get to dine al fresco below the farm's historic oak tree (or under a tent, depending on weather).
(Topaz Farm, Sauvie Island)

Widmer Brothers' 18th Annual Oktoberfest Past Event Like List
For a free, all-ages Oktoberfest option, check out this party from Widmer Brothers Brewing, which will offer special beers, food vendors, live music, dancing, and even special guest appearances from llamas and alpacas.
(Widmer Brothers Brewing, North Portland)

LIVE MUSIC

Boys Noize with RAC Past Event Like List
Berlin-based producer Alexander Ridha (or Boys Noize) is known for his electro-house and techno remixes of tracks from eclectic artists like Depeche Mode, Snoop Dogg, Daft Punk, and more. He will take over the controls after a set from local Grammy Award-winning musician RAC.
(45 East, Central Eastside)

The Doobie Brothers: 50th Anniversary Tour
Past Event Like List You may have caught them on Washington tour stops with Journey and Santana in the past, but now, the heavily mustached San Jose-bred soft-rock group The Doobie Brothers will take the stage as headliners on their 50th Anniversary Tour. 
(Theater of the Clouds, Lloyd District)

The Season Premiere: Renée Fleming and the Oregon Symphony Past Event Like List
The Oregon Symphony will kick off its new season with soprano superstar Renée Fleming and baritone Rodney Gilfry performing Kevin Puts' The Brightness of Light, which tells the story of artists Georgia O'Keeffe and Alfred Stieglitz's passionate relationship. Music director David Danzmayr will also lead the symphony in a performance of Elgar's Enigma Variations.
(Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, South Park Blocks)

PERFORMANCE

Adam Friedland Past Event Like List
Stand-up weirdo and podcaster Adam Friedland will head to Portland for...well...we're not sure what to expect, exactly. Friedland hosts the subversive comedy podcast Cum Town—heavily associated with the "dirtbag left," the podcast has featured guests like Bam Margera and Dasha Nekrasova. Grab a ticket if you're into crude humor and/or being "too online."
(Mississippi Studios, Boise)

Juicy Scoop Live with Heather McDonald Past Event Like List
Heather McDonald keeps audiences up-to-date on all those things we're embarrassed to say we love—Real Housewives, Pete Davidson dating goss, and the like. (If it sounds up your alley, you're far from alone—Juicy Scoop! is a bona fide hit.) McDonald will head to Portland with more Hollywood stories, including some personal tales.
(Revolution Hall, Buckman)

OMSI x MOsley WOtta present : IT's NOT THE YEAR IT's YOU Past Event Like List
Multimedia artist MOsley WOtta will bring a captivating evening of digital animation, recorded video, sound design, spoken word, hip-hop, theater, and discussion, in support of his powerful new album, IT’s NOT THE YEAR IT’s YOU, which explores "identity prejudice, radically inclusive care, ecological stewardship, and the responsibility we have to each other." Stick around after the show for a conversation and Q&A with the artists.
(Empirical Theater at OMSI, Central Eastside)

SUNDAY

COMEDY

Clownin'
Past Event Like List The clown comes back to bite in this comedy romp featuring Debbie Wooten, Sir Lance Edward, Scott II, Imani, and special guest comedian Lee H Tillman. Produced and hosted by Portland entertainer Shrista, Clownin' also includes a hip-hop performance from Mighty and musical vibes from 94prynce.
(Kelly's Olympian, Downtown)

LIVE MUSIC

Bridge City Block Party: Get Real, Nala, Freak On, and Luxo
Past Event Like List Electronic duo Get Real (consisting of renowned DJs Green Velvet and Claude VonStroke) will continue this outdoor music series with their techno house mixes alongside fellow beatmakers Nala, Freak On, and Luxo. 
(Bridge City Block Party, Central Eastside)

Demi Lovato: Holy Fvck Tour
Past Event Like List Back in June, Demi Lovato announced her Holy Fvck Tour, which kicked off on August 13 and will come through Portland on Sunday, September 25. The queer powerhouse singer/songwriter recently re-designated her pronouns to be more fluid (encompassing both she/her and they/them), after announcing her non-binary status in April while promoting her forthcoming album Holy Fvck. Regardless of Demi’s current gender identity, it’s indicative from recent chill-inducing performances on Instagram Live, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and last year’sNPR’s Tiny Desk Concertthat this Demi Lovato sounds particularly incredible live. She may be making some of the best/most authentic music of her career. While fans are still waiting with bated breath to hear Holy Fvck the album, Lovato has been dropping singles one by one. “Substance,” a fun, old-school pop-punk song sees her vocals effortlessly soaring, even after a couple epic key changes. “29” is reportedly about the 12-year age gap between her and ex-partner Wilmer Valderrama (when Lovato was 17, and he was 29). The album is expected to be a departure from Lovato’s poppy, R&B-influenced music, and instead embody a heavier emo and punk rock—early era Lovato—sound. PORTLAND MERCURY CONTRIBUTOR JENNI MOORE
(Moda Center, Lloyd District)

Grace Ives
Past Event Like List New York-based pop treasure Grace Ives has had a big couple of months. First, with the release of her sophomore album, Janky Star, followed by a "Best New Music" feature on Pitchfork, and a performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! She will dazzle you with her R&B-infused bedroom pop about sensory overload and everyday anxieties alongside kindred spirit Lucy, the project of Massachusetts-based artist Cooper B. Handy.
(Doug Fir Lounge, Buckman)

Jack Harlow: Come Home The Kids Miss You Tour
Past Event Like List Riding a wave of success from his viral single "First Class," (which features a sample from Fergie's iconic "Glamorous"), quick-rising rapper Jack Harlow will stop by Portland on his Come Home The Kids Miss You tour. Beloved hip-hop duo City Girls will get the crowd pumped up with their bangers "Act Up" and "Twerk." 
(Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Lloyd District)

Trey Anastasio Band
Past Event Like List Alert! Phisheads are advised to swim upstream to Troutdale to catch their favorite frontman Trey Anastasio jam out with his side project. Anticipate a mix of Phish songs and solo tunes performed in their signature improvisational style.  
(Edgefield, Troutdale)

PODCASTS

Potterless Podcast and The Newest Olympian
Past Event Like List Mike Schubert is a grown-ass man making his way through the Harry Potter series for the first time, and we're invited along for the broomstick ride on Potterless, his comedy podcast that's garnered a few fans (think 75 million downloads since it started in 2016). Expect extra fun for the live show—in the past, Schubert has woven in interactive games like "Wizard on Bachelor in Paradise" and Q&A sessions. The nostalgia doesn't end there, though. Schubertwill also host a live session of his other podcast, The Newest Olympian, on the same night, where he digs into the Percy Jackson book series. (If wizards aren't your thing, maybe Greek mythology does the trick?)
(Holocene, Buckman)

MULTI-DAY

COMMUNITY

Afrotopia Pop-Up
Past Event Like List Presented by Albina Vision Trust and Portland Playhouse, this pop-up activates the future home of Albina One, a "94-unit family-focused project designed to counter the intentional displacement of Black people  from the neighborhood due to urban renewal, freeway siting, and long-term gentrification." Artists and musicians will hit the porch with unique performances that celebrate the Albina neighborhood and honor the porch space as integral to the Black community.
(Albina One, Eliot, Saturday-Sunday)

FILM

Pearl Past Event Like List
If you dug indie horror ace Ti West's southern-fried slasher X earlier this year, you won't wanna miss Pearl, which delves into the sordid past of X's elderly villain. Set during the Spanish Flu pandemic, West pulled from an unusual source of inspiration for the flick—classic Disney movies. He describes Pearl as having a "naiveté that matches a Disney movie...except it’s much darker and more demented." Sign us up!
(Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District, Monday-Thursday)

Return to Wonderland Past Event Like List
Despite being a theater, Portland Playhouse—the community-focused nonprofit in Portland’s King neighborhood—elevates short films from time to time. Back in 2020, they held a virtual film festival called Wonderland that showcased four local shorts from different artists. Now, they’re following that up with a new installment, Return to Wonderland, which will screen collections of shorts from four new filmmakers. PORTLAND MERCURY WRITER CHASE HUTCHINSON
(Portland Playhouse, King, Monday-Sunday)

FOOD & DRINK

Beaverton Restaurant Week Past Event Like List
Try menu items created exclusively for Beaverton Restaurant Week at an array of restaurants across Beaverton, including 1st Street Pocha, Afuri Izakaya, Ex Novo Brewing, Hapa Pizza, Top Burmese Bistro Royale, and more.
(Various locations, Beaverton, Thursday-Sunday)

HALLOWEEN

Spirit of Halloweentown Past Event Like List
You'll find it impossible not to get into the spooky spirit at St. Helens' annual tribute to Halloween. Leaning into the fact that the movies Halloweentown and Twilight were partially filmed there (Halloweentown cast members, plus Ashley Greene and Peter Facinelli of Twilight fame, will make appearances this year), the city transforms into a themed attraction complete with a giant pumpkin, circus performers, a haunted house, and more.
(St. Helens, Monday-Sunday)

PERFORMANCE

The Alice: An Immersive Cocktail Experience Past Event Like List
Xico's getting curiouser and curiouser in this boozy 90-minute journey down the rabbit hole and into Wonderland. The Alice, an "immersive cocktail experience," combines riddle-filled theatrical performance with interactive elements—you'll gulp down magical cocktails, devour an “Eat Me” cookie, and more on your trip through the looking glass.
(Xico, Richmond, Wednesday-Sunday)

The Circus of Second Chances
Past Event Like List Acrobatic Conundrum principal performers and veteran acrobats Emma Curtiss, Melissa Knowles, and Terry Crane bring their quirky, imaginative craft to the stage for this "dada circus romp." They'll blend rope work, trapeze, clownery, and spinning hoops for the performance, which dissolves the fourth wall with references to their own flaws and hopes.
(Echo Theatre, Richmond, Friday-Sunday)

CoHo Clown Festival 2022
Past Event Like List Whether you're a literal clown or a simple clown appreciator, you'll want to honk your horn and slap on a gigantic pair of shoes for this fringe festival of all things clownery. CoHo Clown Festival includes an absurdist mix of physical comedy, workshops, and movement performances, building community between artists and audiences with a wide range of jolly performances.
(CoHo Productions, Slabtown, Monday-Sunday)

Diamonds and Frogs: A Play in Movement Past Event Like List
Speculative Drama's first in-person production in two years is a delightful mash-up of fairy tales, silent films, Appalachian folk stories, and Baba Yaga lore. Diamonds and Frogs ponders witches, curses, and blessings, staged in an intimate, ultra-contemporary format with rich soundscapes and a focus on immersion. (Tickets are standing room only with "improvised seating.")
(The Steep and Thorny Way to Heaven, Buckman, Thursday-Saturday)

The Evolution of Mann Past Event Like List
This rom-com musical would be a cute night out with your Tinder boo. Featuring an original score by composer Douglas J. Cohe, The Evolution of Mann follows a New York thirty-something whose invite to a contentious wedding leads him on a lofty quest for the perfect meet-cute.
(Broadway Rose New Stage Theatre, Bull Mountain, Thursday-Sunday)

Flynn Creek Circus Past Event Like List
Flynn Creek Circus's Balloons, Birds, and Other Flying Things interprets real memories from audience submissions through flips, spins, and stunts for an acrobatics show that feels both awe-inducing and profoundly personal. Rockers Eric McFadden and Kate Vargas will provide a live musical score, and attendees will find beer and concessions under the big top.
(The Lot at Zidell Yards, South Waterfront, Thursday-Sunday)

Oregon Burlesque Festival Past Event Like List
This festival brings the va-va-voom with the best burlesque performers of the Northwest, and they're promising to keep it weird with sexy performances that also include comedy and circus elements. San Francisco native and '70s burlesque legend Eartha Quake will headline alongside cross-genre artist Samson Night.
(Alberta Rose Theatre, Concordia, Friday-Saturday)

Shroom Show: A Foraging Tour
Past Event Like List Mycology nerds, we know you're out there. You're probably identifying Boletus edulis right this second. Well, take a breather to check this out—inspired by fungal ecology, Shroom Show: A Foraging Tour blends educational elements with opera, treasure hunting, and more for an organic take on the hero's journey. The show will take place at Tryon Life Community Farm, with ADA-accessible performances also planned at Back Door Theater. Wear your boots, dress for the weather, and bring a basket for the farm performance.
(Tryon Life Community Farm, Forest Highlands, Thursday-Sunday)

VISUAL ART

Motown: The Sound of Young America Past Event Like List
The Beatles and their British Invasion ilk weren't the only musicians occupying the airwaves in the late '50s. Starting out in Detroit, Motown was an infectious blend of gospel, blues, and pop that reshaped American sound. Led by former prizefighter Berry Gordy, Jr., Motown hit the mainstream with acts like the Supremes, the Temptations, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, and others—learn more about it at this exhibition, where you'll find stage costumes, instruments, and interactive displays. (If Motown is your thing, you might dig this doo wop-themed variety show Past Event Like List , too.)
(Oregon Historical Society, South Park Blocks, Friday-Sunday; opening)

Straight from the Studio: Tanner Lind: Riff Past Event Like List
Tanner Lind’s abstract paintings appear through October 2. The show, titled Riff, works within the context of a three-part group exhibition called Straight from the Studio, which explores the inspirations and experimentations in one’s studio. A recent graduate MFA in Visual Studies at the Pacific Northwest College of Art, Lind’s artistic practice memorializes change and creates a unique and varied lexicon of repeated brushstrokes, lines, and patterns. ASHLEY GIFFORD
(Nationale, Buckman, Monday & Thursday-Sunday)

To the River
Past Event Like List Created over the summer by a gathering of multimedia artists, this six-week sculptural site incorporates a "matrix of waveforms" that lead visitors on an immersive journey from the base of the Portland Aerial Tram to the Willamette River. The salvaged wood sculptures are accompanied by wind-activated soundscapes, considering rivers as connective networks that unite us across geography and time.
(Zidell Yards, South Waterfront, Saturday-Sunday; closing)

Turning Inward: Judy Chicago Past Event Like List
Pioneering artist Judy Chicago gave new meaning to the work that women could create. Over six decades, Chicago's identity as a Jewish woman informed her visions in installation, abstraction, and pyrotechnics, advancing conversations of gender politics along the way and infusing them with personal experience. This exhibition focuses on Chicago's works on paper, including preliminary studies for The Dinner Party, as well as glass works and large-scale prints. Turning Inward charts the radical, often controversial whirlwind of Chicago's career, reasserting her status as an original artist-activist.
(Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education, Pearl District, Wednesday-Thursday; closing)