Venues may have health guidelines in place—we advise directly checking the specific protocols for an event before heading out.

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MONDAY

LIVE MUSIC

Trans-Siberian Orchestra: Ghost of Christmas Eve Past Event Like List
As Stranger writer Joseph Schafer wrote in 2019, "Yes, I know, they're cheesy in the extreme and not even actually from Siberia, but Trans-Siberian Orchestra's jolly blend of electric-guitar shredding and Christmas music is like the flu: It comes around every year and it's extremely catchy. That being said, if I'm going to be afflicted with pinch-harmonic-inflected cheer, then I'm at least going to focus on the upside. Which is, TSO formed from the remains of the excellent and under-appreciated power-metal outfit Savatage, whose interpretation of Edvard Grieg's "In the Hall of the Mountain King" probably sparked the whole classical-music-meets-metal fad. Now if only they still had Alex Skolnick from Testament in the band."
(Moda Center, Lloyd District)

READINGS & TALKS

Charles Johnson in Conversation With Daniel Duford
Past Event Like List National Book Award winner, University of Washington professor emeritus, and boundary-pushing cartoonist Charles Johnson, whose work often addresses the lived experience of Black Americans, will head to Portland in celebration of his new collected work. In conversation with artist, writer, and visiting Reed College art professor Daniel Duford, Johnson will chat about All Your Racial Problems Will Soon End: The Cartoons of Charles Johnson, which compiles nearly half a century of his work.
(Powell's City of Books, Pearl District)

TUESDAY

FILM

South Sound Experimental Film Festival
Past Event Like List Returning for its second year with more experimental short films from artists based in the South Puget Sound area, the South Sound Experimental Film Festival spotlights creatives whose work may have otherwise gone overlooked due to "identity, insufficient resources, or qualifications of practice or technique." Fans of hybrid and experimental film won't want to miss this encore screening of the festival's best flicks.
(Turn! Turn! Turn!, Humboldt)

LIVE MUSIC

Peach Pit: Right Down The Street Tour with Sunflower Bean Past Event Like List
Vancouver, BC's Peach Pit will serve up some riff-heavy indie pop that they describe as "chewed bubblegum pop" for a headlining show supporting their third album From 2 to 3. Acclaimed indie-rock trio Sunflower Bean will open the show with songs from their latest album Headful of Sugar.
(Crystal Ballroom, West End)

The Soft Moon Past Event Like List
The Soft Moon is the creative project of San Francisco musician Luis Vasquez. From his 2010 self-titled debut LP to 2015's Deeper, he's essentially been the musical equivalent of a flickering light in a back alley, both broken and eerily alluring. Vasquez has emerged among a slew of fantastic post-mall goth contemporaries, like Los Angeles' Chelsea Wolfe and Corners, whose veins flow with '80s synth-goth blood, but whose skin is scarred with an even more terrifying modern electronic glitch. The world of the Soft Moon is a sci-fi dystopia in which everybody has pacemakers under the control of Vasquez, who will either decide to make you dance or convulse in unison. CAMERON CROWELL
(Wonder Ballroom, Eliot)

READINGS & TALKS

National Geographic Live: When Women Ruled the World Past Event Like List
Dr. Kara Cooney, professor of Egyptology and contender for coolest woman ever, will share the hidden histories of ancient women leaders. You might hear a few names you know (like Cleopatra and Nefertiti), but Dr. Cooney's research also uncovers forgotten legacies of feminine power under patriarchy.
(Newmark Theatre, South Park Blocks)

WEDNESDAY

COMEDY

Daniel Howell: We're All Doomed!
Past Event Like List Sardonic YouTuber and stressed millennial Daniel Howell will head to the stage for this self-deprecating solo show, which digs into a relatable feeling of impending doom with an eye toward how the apocalypse might bring us together. (If it's the end of the world, we may as well have a laugh or two.)
(Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, South Park Blocks)

LIVE MUSIC

Helen with Scorch
Past Event Like List Helen is the Portland-based dream-pop project of Liz Harris (of beloved ambient folk project Grouper), Jed Bindeman (of psych-rock band Eternal Tapestry), and Scott Simmons. The band initially set out to make roaring thrash metal music before landing on their ethereal shoegaze-y sound. Listen to their first (and only) album, The Original Faces, which Pitchfork described as "somewhere between My Bloody Valentine's distorted bliss and Eternal Tapestry's psyched-out experiments." Local powerpop outfit Scorch will open.
(Holocene, Buckman)

Kristin Hersh with Laura Hopkins Past Event Like List
Mercury writer William Kennedy once wrote: "Whether she’s fronting projects like Throwing Muses and 50FootWave or playing solo, Kristen Hersh has quietly contributed to the traditionally male-dominated world of indie rock for decades. Hersh’s songwriting blends punk, indie, and folk, with lyrics that touch on her struggle with bipolar disorder." She will take the stage after an opening set from local singer-songwriter Laura Hopkins (of Blackwater Holylight and Laura Palmer's Death Parade).
(Mississippi Studios, Boise)

PERFORMANCE

White Album Xmas Past Event Like List
The White Album Christmas variety show is surprisingly really fun. This annual show very much attracts a certain demographic: Beatles lovin', patchouli smellin', nouveau circus appreciators. But really, as long as you can stand the Beatles, it's a damned good time. There are standout performances by the  Rose City Circus and their compadres, a near spot-on re-creation of the Beatles' White Album (which is a bit of mixed blessing... "Revolution 9," ugh) by the Nowhere Band. COURTNEY FERGUSON
(Alberta Rose Theatre, Concordia)

THURSDAY

COMEDY

Marlon Wayans: Microphone Fiend Tour
Past Event Like List Longstanding actor, producer, comedian, writer, and director Marlon Wayans will drop byilani Casino Resort for more laughs, hot on the heels of his starring role in Netflix's Halloween spook fest The Curse of Bridge Hollow. 
(ilani Casino Resort, Ridgefield)

FILM

Queer Horror: Interview with the Vampire
Past Event Like List This lush 35mm screening of Interview with a Vampire celebrates late iconic author Anne Rice. Based on a screenplay by Rice herself, the gay vampire classic stars Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, and perfect angel Kirsten Dunst as a trio of vampiric drama queens. Deluxe drag clown Carla Rossi will host the screening, and local drag immortals will open with a seductive pre-show. 
(Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District)

LIVE MUSIC

Jim Brickman: A Very Merry Christmas
Past Event Like List Let Grammy-nominated songwriter and pianist Jim Brickman, who has collaborated with legends like Kenny Rogers, Olivia Newton-John, Carly Simon, and John Oates, take you on a sugarplum journey through the sights and sounds of this snowy season as he performs carols, classics, and original songs on his 24th annual holiday tour.
(Newmark Theatre, South Park Blocks)

Phantoms Past Event Like List
LA electronic duo Phantoms look like nice, attractive young men, playing their sets in suits, using glow-in-the-dark drumsticks, releasing their music on the Universal Music subsidiary, Casablanca/Republic. As evidenced by their buoyant EP, Broken Halo, Phantoms are going to be festival fixtures, because festivalgoers love their sort of hooky, smooth, vocal-centric dance fare. STRANGER WRITER DAVE SEGAL
(Wonder Ballroom, Eliot)

The 1975: At Their Very Best Tour Past Event Like List
British synth-pop wizards quartet The 1975, whom Mercury writer Ned Lannamann described as "drippy, slightly peppy, radio-designed porridge," will stop by on their At Their Very Best tour, supporting their experimental 2020 album, Notes on a Conditional Form, which featured collaborations with notable names like Phoebe Bridgers, FKA Twigs, and activist Greta Thunberg.
(Moda Center, Lloyd District)

PERFORMANCE

A John Waters Christmas Past Event Like List
John Waters, who shall henceforth be known as the "anti-Santa," will land his perverse sleigh in Portland for Christmas twistedness and holiday jeers. He might stomp on your perfectly wrapped presents, but this evening with the cult filmmaker seems promising for those on the holiday-averse end of the spectrum.
(Aladdin Theater, Brooklyn)

READINGS & TALKS

Patti Smith: Songs & Stories
Past Event Like List Renaissance woman Patti Smith has lent an unparalleled punk rock edge to her writing, visual art, and performances for decades. Next up: selfies. In 2018, Smith posted her first Instagram photo, and the practice spiraled from there with years of personal photos that served as vignettes of a deeply creative life. Smith’s new book, A Book of Days, takes a similar approach, compiling vintage photographs and travel writings to archive her journey as a poet and artist.
(Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, South Park Blocks)

FRIDAY

COMEDY

Kevin Hart: Reality Check Tour Past Event Like List
If, for whatever reason, you're into the corny comedy of known homophobe Kevin Hart, you're in luck! The stand-up will head to Portland with more dad jokes.
(Moda Center, Lloyd District)

LIVE MUSIC

A Celtic Christmas with The Gothard Sisters Past Event Like List
Award-winning trio The Gothard Sisters are Washington natives who have shared Celtic traditions in the PNW for over fifteen years. Join the folksy ensemble for two consecutive evenings of Christmas carols and Irish step-dancing.
(The Old Church, Downtown)

MAITA with The Fourth Wall and Phone Voice Past Event Like List
MAITA, the indie rock project of Portland-based singer-songwriter Maria Maita-Keppeler, has moved many people with the angelic beauty of her voice and vulnerable lyricism, including Kill Rock Stars' founder Slim Moon, who revived the label to sign her. She will play tracks from her new album, I Just Want To Be Wild For You, after opening sets from noise rock quartet The Fourth Wall and bedroom pop project Phone Voice.
(Mississippi Studios, Boise)

Rakim: 25th Anniversary of The 18th Letter Past Event Like List *CANCELED*
Back in 2019, Mercury writer Jenni Moore wrote: “Eric B. & Rakim are one of the most influential hip-hop duos in history, and Rakim is universally recognized as one of the greatest—if not the greatest—MCs of all time. In an episode of the Netflix docuseries Hip-Hop Evolution, Shad K. asserts that ‘Rakim’s rhyme style would singlehandedly set the tone for what hip-hop has become today.’ Later in the episode, Rakim explains that since he grew up listening to jazz and learning to play saxophone, he always tried to rhyme like John Coltrane played the sax. In contrast to rappers like Run-DMC and Chuck D., who were energetically shouting on the mic, Rakim’s approach was more methodical. His clear, concise style is the definition of flow; some say he may have even been the one to make “flow” a thing." Don't miss the iconic emcee stop to mark the 25th anniversary of his debut solo album, The 18th Letter, alongside Cool Nutz, DJ Fatboy, and DJ O.G.One.
(Crystal Ballroom, West End)

PERFORMANCE

PassinArt Presents Black Nativity by Langston Hughes Past Event Like List
Written by innovative playwright, poet, and social activist Langston Hughes, Black Nativity first premiered in 1961 and was one of the first off-Broadway plays composed by an African American person. This interpretation of the gospel play by PassinArt, an African American theater company, blends storytelling, dance, and Christmas carols with brand-new songs.
(Brunish Hall, South Park Blocks)

SATURDAY

LIVE MUSIC

Destroy Lonely: No Stylist Tour Past Event Like List
Atlanta-based rapper Destroy Lonely, who is known for his quick rhymes, atmospheric trap beats, and goth style, will stop by in support of his debut full-length No Stylist, which was released on Playboi Carti's label Opium. Hip-hop duo and labelmates Homixide Gang will support.
(Wonder Ballroom, Eliot)

Floater: Pink Floyd's "Animals" Past Event Like List
Eugene-born, Portland-based alt-rockers Floater pay tribute to Pink Floyd's landmark prog-rock album, Animals, by performing it in its entirety.
(Crystal Ballroom, West End)

Holiday Hip-Hop Party Past Event Like List
The hip-hop genre has given us some of the best holiday tunes in existence—think classics like Run-D.M.C.'s "Christmas In Hollis," Eazy-E's "Merry Muthafuckin' Xmas," and DMX’s “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” For this festive concert and toy drive, allow local rappers Candid Ramblings, Dub Dynamite, KnowSee, Prod Avery, Seven Da Pantha, Alana Rich, Refugio, Wayne Grey, DDwili, Kmar Woods, Rob the Universe, Jahdi, Jai Baby, and Silas the Wolf to cheer you with infectious jingles that will ring in the holiday spirit.
(Alberta Abbey, King)

How Great Our Joy: A Christmas Celebration Past Event Like List
The Portland Choir & Orchestra will be joined by Encore! Youth Choir to fill your silent night with a performance of newly arranged Christmas classics.
(Newmark Theatre, South Park Blocks)

John Craigie: Keep It Warm Tour Past Event Like List
Modern-day troubadour John Craigie, who describes himself as the lovechild of John Prine and Mitch Hedbergbrings, will bring his tender blend of storytelling folk and Americana back to the town on his Keep It Warm tour. Arrive in time to catch an opening set from folk-rock band Goodnight, Texas, who will support their latest album, How Long Will It Take Them To Die.
(Roseland Theater, Old Town-Chinatown)

Skullcrusher with Babehoven and Mal Past Event Like List
On her latest album Quiet the Room, LA-based gem Skullcrusher (AKA Helen Ballentine) defies the aggressive, visceral nature of her project moniker with ghostly, atmospheric indie folk reminiscent of contemporaries like Phoebe Bridgers and Grouper. She will support the album alongside bedroom folk duo Babehoven and singer-songwriter Mal.
(Polaris Hall, Humboldt)

PERFORMANCE

Good Country Past Event Like List
If you're anything like us, you don't typically associate opera with the Wild West—but Good Country, created by composer Keith Allegretti and librettist Cecelia Raker, might change your mind. Performed by students in PSU's lauded opera program, the performance spins the yarn of Charley Parkhurst, a California gold rush-era stagecoach driver who was assigned female at birth, but lived life as a man. Good Country is one of the first contemporary operas to craft a lead role for a trans singer.
(Lincoln Hall, South Park Blocks)

SHOPPING

Oregon Contemporary Holiday Art Market Past Event Like List
Oregon Contemporary is your one-stop-shop for gifts by favorite local artists this year—Demian DinéYazhí, Jodie Cavalier, Emily Counts, Ansar El Muhammad, Jean Nagai, Alyson Provax, and Carson Ellis (!) will share their wares alongside dozens of other contemporary trendsetters. Come away with housewares, prints, jewelry, and other gifts for your most stylish friends, or snag a curated gift basket from Shop Ox (orders close 11/28) with Milk Glass Market meringues, an Oregon Contemporary Baggu bag, a Freeland Spirits cocktail kit, and much more.
(Oregon Contemporary, Kenton)

WoodWorker Holiday Market
Past Event Like List Taking inspiration from a natural material integral to the craft of beer brewing, Baerlic’s celebration of wood pays homage to artisan makers who use it to craft furniture, housewares, and of course, the aged oak barrels that store their brews. Enjoy one of Baerlic’s barrel-aged beers with pizza from Ranch PDX while you shop vendors like Hew Woodworking, Shwood, and Xylem Jewelry. 
(Baerlic Brewing Company, Hosford-Abernethy)

SUNDAY

COMEDY

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

Miranda Sings
Past Event Like List Multipassionate comic Colleen Ballinger can't be pinned down—she's also a vocalist, actor, writer, and magician—but you might recognize her from the viral videos that have amassed the idiosyncratic jokester over 50 million followers on social media. She'll head to the stage as her wacky internet alter-ego, Miranda Sings, for this performance.
(Newmark Theatre, South Park Blocks)

Randy of Trailer Park Boys: Randy's Christmas Tour
Past Event Like List Randy, everyone's fave cheeseburger muncher from Canadian comedy Trailer Park Boys, will hit Portland just in time for the holidays, sharing a few adult-oriented jokes that he's been keeping up his (lack of) sleeves. (Not a fan? Frig off!)
(Bossanova Ballroom, Buckman)

LIVE MUSIC

Glory of Christmas Past Event Like List
The Oregon Repertory Singers and ORS Youth Choirs will bring the sounds of the holiday season to life with thematic works from contemporary composers Morten Lauridsen, Eriks Esenvalds, Franz Biebl, and Naomi LaViolette.
(First United Methodist Church, Goose Hollow)

Squirrel Nut Zippers: Christmas Caravan Tour Past Event Like List
Jazz-rock ensemble Squirrel Nut Zippers will head out on their first holiday tour in four years, performing the southern roots- and swing-infused jingles from their festive album Christmas Caravan.
(Wonder Ballroom, Eliot)

PERFORMANCE

Liberace and Liza Holiday Show Past Event Like List
In this sequined holiday tribute, classically trained pianist David Saffert and singer/actor Jillian Snow Harris will charm the crowd as showstoppers Liberace and Liza Minnelli. Liberace's real-life music director Bo Ayars will conduct the musical performance; expect foot-tapping piano medleys and jazzy tribute songs.
(Portland Center Stage, Pearl District)

MULTI-DAY

COMEDY

Dan Cummins
Past Event Like List Hit podcaster and comedian Dan Cummins will head to Helium for more irreverent jokes and cultural observations—no topic is off limits, so you might hear him chat about Jeffrey Dahmer, Scientology, or his very scary daughter.
(Helium Comedy Club, Hosford-Abernethy, Thursday-Saturday)

(Winter) WONDERLAND Past Event Like List
Writer/director Jason Rouse's WONDERLAND sketch comedy show will return from a five-year hiatus for this holiday laugh fest. (Winter) WONDERLAND promises a sleighful of jolly comedy from local naughty-listers Shelley McLendon, Erin Jean O’Regan, Lori Ferraro, Jed Arkley, Ted Douglass, and others, plus "up to six live children."
(Siren Theater, Old Town-Chinatown, Thursday-Saturday)

FILM

The Banshees of Inisherin Past Event Like List
Martin McDonagh (who also directed In Bruges and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) continues to develop his thoughtful, darkly comedic style in this tale of two lifelong friends on an isolated island off the coast of Ireland (played by Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson) who experience a startling rift in their relationship.
(Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District, Monday-Thursday)

Bardo, False Chronicle of A Handful of Truths
Past Event Like List When a Mexican documentarian returns to his native country, he begins to have an existential crisis triggered by strange visions. Bardo, False Chronicle of A Handful of Truths is the latest film from Alejandro Iñárritu, the lauded director and lover of interwoven narratives whose past heavy hitters include The Revenant and Birdman.
(Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District, Monday-Thursday)

Bones and All
Past Event Like List Road trip!! Directed by Luca Guadagnino (Call Me By Your Name), this cannibalistic thriller stars Taylor Russell and Timothée Chalamet as blood-thirsty lovers traveling 3,000 miles through the backroads of the United States. IndieWire reports that the film "would have Chekhov himself weeping," so prepare to feel at least mildly devastated.
(Cinema 21, Nob Hill, Monday-Thursday)

Deep Red with Claudio Simonetti's Goblin Past Event Like List
Italian prog-rock ghouls Goblin, led by keyboardist Claudio Simonetti, will provide a live score for Dario Argento's lurid, bloody Deep Red at this screening. The band is well-known for their utterly freaky soundtrack to Suspiria, but they originally formed in 1975 expressly to create the Deep Red score, which they claim to have composed in a single night. Sick! Stick around after the giallo screening for a full-length concert of haunting tunes spanning Simonetti's whole career.
(Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District, Friday-Saturday)

Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio in 35mm Past Event Like List
If anything can be said of Guillermo del Toro, it's that he knows his way around a weird puppet, so his interpretation of Pinocchio just makes sense. Predictably, del Toro's alchemical twist on the classic tale is a dark cabinet of curiosities—see for yourself at this magical 35mm screening.
(Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District, Monday-Tuesday)

The Menu
Past Event Like List Anya Taylor-Joy and Ralph Fiennes bump heads in this horror satire of gastronomic proportions. The Menu roasts the hoity-toity culture of haute cuisine while folding in some unexpected ingredients.
(Cinema 21, Nob Hill, Monday-Thursday)

Tár
Past Event Like List Some have described the journey Tár takes us on as one about cancel culture: a phrase that can mean whatever one wants it to mean at this point, though this easy categorization feels far too neat and Internet-brained. A more apt comparison would be to 2014’s Whiplash, a film that explores ambition and power—though Tár contains more humor and a willingness to poke fun at its central subject. Without tipping off exactly what happens, those who stick out the two and a half hour film are treated to a final, fraught, and unexpected punchline. It cements. Field's tragicomedy uncovers the full picture of a unique figure in all her grim glory. PORTLAND MERCURY WRITER CHASE HUTCHINSON
(Cinema 21, Nob Hill, Monday-Wednesday)

FOOD & DRINK

Miracle at Deadshot Past Event Like List
In 2014, New York bar owner Greg Boehm temporarily transformed his space into a kitschy Christmas wonderland replete with gewgaws and tchotchkes galore. The pop-up phenomenon has expanded to more than 100 locations all over the world, including Portland's stylish cocktail bar Deadshot. Specialty cocktails are are housed in tacky-tastic vessels and christened with names like the “Bad Santa,” the “Yippie Ki Yay Mother F**r,” and the “Jolly Koala.” At Deadshot, the Filipino pop-up Sunrice will provide a food menu to boot.
(Deadshot, Hosford-Abernethy, Monday-Sunday)

The Portland Mercury's Holiday Drink Week
Past Event Like List Ready to get your nog on? 'Tis the season for wintry libations, and Jim Beam presents the Portland Mercury's Holiday Drink Week has you covered with $7 holiday-themed drink specials at participating bars and restaurants. One thing's for sure: these won't be your ordinary cups of cheer.
(Various locations, Monday-Sunday)

LIVE MUSIC

Portland Piano International: The Solo Piano Series
Past Event Like List This month, Portland Piano International will kick off its solo piano series with a performance from renowned Russian American pianist (and guest curator for the series) Vladimir Feltsman Past Event Like List . Each performance will include unique material, including works from Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Bach, and Chopin.
(PSU Lincoln Performance Hall, South Park Blocks, Saturday-Sunday)

PERFORMANCE

A Christmas Carol Past Event Like List
This Dickensian feast of holiday theatrics offers a contemporary interpretation of Ebenezer Scrooge's ghostly journey, adapted with original lyrics by award-winning playwright and director Rick Lombardo.
(Portland Playhouse, King, Wednesday-Sunday)

Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story
Past Event Like List Adapted by playwright Jerry R. Montoya, this spooky interpretation of the holiday mainstay A Christmas Carol includes classic carols and characters with a sinister twist.
(Twilight Theater Company, Kenton, Friday-Saturday; opening)

Die Hard - The Musical
Past Event Like List Yippee-ki-yay! If your Christmas wishes involve foiling the plans of a few pesky terrorists, this Die Hard musical parody should be just your speed. The show invites audiences to revisit John McClane's festive world, this time with 13 original songs, for an action-packed twist on Christmas spirit.
(Funhouse Lounge, Hosford-Abernethy, Thursday-Sunday)

Home for the Holidays Past Event Like List
In this cheery musical revue, a bus full of passengers headed home for the holidays find themselves stranded in Iowa, where they wrangle up some Yuletide spirit with stories and songs to ward off the snow storm.
(Broadway Rose New Stage Theatre, Tigard, Thursday-Sunday)

It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play Past Event Like List
In this production, classic Christmas tale It's a Wonderful Life heads to the stage as a reimagined '40s-era radio broadcast, complete with period costumes and immersive music.
(Portland Center Stage, Pearl District, Wednesday-Sunday)

Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord
Past Event Like List Inspired by her early pandemic days of sewing masks from bedsheets and bra straps, Chinese American feminist comedian and performance artist Kristina Wong shares the story of "The Auntie Sewing Squad" in Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord. Offering an autobiographical look at the early days of COVID with a side of razor-sharp humor and insights into community building, Time Out deemed the play "endearingly boisterous."
(Portland Center Stage, Pearl District, Wednesday-Sunday)

The Way You Made Me
Past Event Like List Penned by Oregonian playwright Lindsay Partain, The Way You Made Me is a trauma-informed love story in search of comfort and catharsis. The production's creative team invites audiences to show up in their comfy-cozy best and curl up with slippers and blankets for the duration of the "warm and intimate" show.
(CoHo Theater, Northwest Portland, Thursday-Sunday; opening)

VISUAL ART

a useless task it seems Past Event Like List
Reflecting on the "cyclical nature of repression, resilience, and resignation," internationally exhibited design duo Midgray (Kris Blackmore and Simon Boas) will present new investigations in textiles, artificial intelligence, and interactive media for a useless task it seems. The duo will explore zeitgeist-driven topics of mass media, violence, and our post-Roe society.
(Carnation Contemporary, Kenton, Saturday-Sunday; opening)

The Art of Food: From the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation Past Event Like List
Ah, food. Is there anything more worthy of artistic interpretation? We don't think so. In this wide-reaching showcase of 20th- and 21st-century artists, food is celebrated in drawings, paintings, sculptures, and other mediums. You might spy some ultra-famous aesthetics you recognize—John Baldessari, Alison Saar, Andy Warhol, and other art stars are included in the exhibition, as well as prominent Oregon-based artists Katherine Ace, Chris Antemann, Malia Jensen, and Sherrie Wolf.
(Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, South Park Blocks, Tuesday-Saturday; closing)

Chris Burnett: Colibri Past Event Like List
LA-based artist Chris Burnett, a tastemaker who's designed for heavy hitters like Kendrick Lamar, Odd Future, and Baby Keem, presents a series of glossy mixed-media collages for this solo exhibition. One surprising inspiration? Hummingbirds—Burnett has felt a strange affinity for the fluttering buddies over the last few years, and they show up as a recurring motif throughout the ultra-contemporary show.
(Fisk, North Portland, Thursday-Sunday; closing)

Do-It-Yourself / Do-It-Ourselves: PNCA's 2022 Graduate Symposium Past Event Like List
Exploring the fascinating history of DIY culture in counterpublics and Pacific Northwest communities, this three-day symposium will include an art exhibition, a zine fair, workshops, and keynote lectures with Mohawk multimedia artist Skawennati and Navajo transdisciplinary artist Demian DinéYazhi’. Themes will include Indigenous knowledge, queer and trans DIY, anti-capitalism, and more, with investigations of DIY aesthetics, politics, archives, and possible futures.
(PNCA, Pearl District, Thursday-Saturday)

Human | Nature: 150 Years of Japanese Landscape Prints
Past Event Like List Curated from the Portland Art Museum's permanent collection, Human | Nature: 150 Years of Japanese Landscape Prints looks closely at Japan's unique approach to naturalistic art from the 19th century through the contemporary era. At once joyful and reverential, the landscape prints compiled in the exhibition include contributions by prominent print artists Katsushika Hokusai and Utagawa Hiroshige.
(Portland Art Museum, South Park Blocks, Saturday-Sunday; opening)

Mujer: cortney morentin
Past Event Like List Curated by arts writer Luiza Lukova, LA-based photographer cortney morentin's Mujer spotlights subtle moments of femininity that often go overlooked—softness, fluidity, and grace are elevated to center stage through empowering imagery of bodies swimming, holding each other, and at rest.
(Well Well, Kenton, Saturday-Sunday; opening)

Rick Bartow: Frog Talk Seriously 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 multimedia solo show—Bartow's expressive, gestural style comes to life in brilliant mark-making and naturalistic storytelling.
(Froelick Gallery, Pearl District, Tuesday-Saturday; opening)

Sign of the Times: The Great American Political Poster, 1844–2021 Past Event Like List
Political propaganda used to be a lot more visually stimulating than those emails from Nancy Pelosi with melodramatic subject lines. Witness the rise of the American political poster in this exhibition, which compiles and showcases a range of poster styles, design trends, and printing methods from 1844 to 2021.
(Oregon Historical Society, South Park Blocks, Monday-Wednesday; closing)

WINTER HOLIDAYS

The Holiday Express 2022 Past Event Like List
Hop aboard a vintage rail car on the historic Polson #2 1912 steam locomotive for a cheery dream ride along the Willamette River with Santa Claus and his elves.
(Oregon Rail Heritage Center, Hosford-Abernethy, Friday-Sunday)

Winter Wonderland 2022
Past Event Like List Portland International Raceway's annual light show, purportedly the largest in the Northwest, invites attendees to coast through a sparkly wonderland along the track again this year.
(Portland International Raceway, North Portland, Monday-Sunday)

ZooLights Past Event Like List
What do wild animals, elephant ears, hot cocoa, and over half a million lights have in common? You can find 'em all at ZooLights, a Portland holiday requisite that includes a drive-through option on select dates again this year.
(Oregon Zoo, Washington Park, Monday-Sunday)