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MONDAY
FILM
Blood Simple
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Joel and Ethan Coen's debut feature Blood Simple is a sharp, penetrating noir that introduced the world to the brothers' signature style of unorthodox black comedy. Frances McDormand stars in the '85 Texas thriller that Pauline Kael called "cruel and ghoulish."
(Clinton Street Theater, Hosford-Abernethy)
Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio in 35mm
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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)
Mr. Holland's Opus
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This '95 Oregon-made drama delivers a message we can probably all agree upon: music and teachers are really damn important. Filmed at Portland's Grant High School, the '60s-set flick follows a composer (played by Richard Dreyfuss) whose sights are set higher than his dreary day job as an educator.
(Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District)
FOOD & DRINK
The Oregon Bartenders Guild Presents Repeal Day PDX
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Don your best '20s-inspired raiment for the inaugural edition of this speakeasy-style soirée celebrating the anniversary of the passage of the 21st Amendment and the repeal of Prohibition. All proceeds go towards the nonprofit Oregon Bartenders Guild.
(The Old Church at The Madeleine, Irvington)
LIVE MUSIC
Charley Crockett: The Man From Waco Tour
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Back in 2019, former Mercury contributor Santi Elijah Holley wrote: "It’s hard to think of a young musician today who embodies the spirit of Texas more than Charley Crockett. Not the jingoistic “Don’t Mess with Texas” machismo or Austin’s pseudo-country posturing, but the honky-tonk and western swing of Willie Nelson, Ernest Tubb, and Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys. Crockett got his start busking on street corners across the country and getting into various scuffles with Johnny Law before returning to his home state for good in 2015. As Waylon says, Bob Wills may still be the king, but Charley Crockett is quickly proving himself to be a worthy successor." He will play tracks from his latest album, The Man From Waco, alongside Americana duo Greyhounds.
(Crystal Ballroom, West End)
The Mountain Goats - Solo
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Singer-songwriter John Darnielle will perform two solo sets of tunes from his cherished indie-folk band The Mountain Goats to benefit the experimental school and research institute Oregon Institute for Creative Research.
(Doug Fir Lounge, Buckman)
TUESDAY
FILM
Mountains on Stage
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Skiing into Portland for the first time, the Mountains on Stage film festival brings the best of mountain sports to the screen with a curated selection of scenic snowy flicks, including "vertical odyssey" From Shade to Light and woman-led bouldering short Nina and Katie in Yosemite.
(Cinema 21, Nob Hill)
PERFORMANCE
Disney Junior Live on Tour: Costume Palooza
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Attention all toddlers!! Disney Junior characters (Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, et al.) and Marvel's Spidey will hit the stage for another round of this Pollstar-nominated tour, which is jam-packed with sing-along favorites and new original tunes.
(Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, South Park Blocks)
Liberace and Liza Holiday Show
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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)
READINGS & TALKS
Samantha Cole in Conversation With Andi Zeisler
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Vice Motherboard senior staff writer Samantha Cole, whose new book How Sex Changed the Internet and the Internet Changed Sex digs into the history of sex online, will chat with Bitch Media cofounder Andi Zeisler about all things lurid on the internet, from early .jpeg pin-ups to aughts-era hot-or-not ranking sites and modern smut streaming.
(Powell's City of Books, Pearl District)
Science Pub Portland: The Multiverse: In Science, Fiction, and Beyond
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Ethan Siegel, astrophysicist, Big Bang expert, and "Portland's favorite science communicator," will probe a galaxy of questions at this cosmic edition of Science Pub. What is the multiverse, how might it be supported by modern science, and where does quantum physics fit into the theory? We don't know!!! Go ask Siegel for a mere five-dollar donation in support of Science Pub's delightfully brainy programming.
(OMSI, Central Eastside)
WEDNESDAY
FILM
Portland Latin American Film Festival
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Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and support Latin cinema at the Portland Latin American Film Festival, which will feature flicks from ten countries on select dates through December. PDXLAFF continues this week with a screening of Uruguayan film festival favorite The Moneychanger.
(Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District)
GEEK & GAMING
OMSI After Dark: Super Science: Beyond the Page
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Science museums and comic books might conjure images of school field trips and childhood pastimes, but this after-hours shindig is an adults-only upgrade. Attendees can observe superhero and sci-fi-themed demos, trip out at planetarium shows (including "Laser Stranger Things,") get down at a "super-robot dance party," and grab grub from Elephants Deli or Bellagios Pizza onsite.
(OMSI, Central Eastside)
LIVE MUSIC
Caifanes
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Caifanes, the long-running quartet out of Mexico City, will reunite for an evening of progressive rock and post-punk classics from their definitive albums Caifanes, El Diablito, El Silencio, and El Nervio Del Volcán.
(Crystal Ballroom, West End)
Comfort & Joy with the Oregon Symphony
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The Oregon Symphony, joined by the Oregon Chorale, will bring tidings of comfort and joy during this classy evening of Christmas classics performed in classical renditions.
(Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, South Park Blocks)
Dear Nora with Living Hour, Phull Collums, and DJ Hot Air Balloon
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Portland-based singer-songwriter Katy Davidson will bring their beloved indie pop project Dear Nora back to the stage in support of their latest album human futures, which is their second release since reuniting back in 2017. The band is known for their unique sound which blends classic rock, folk, ambient, and punk styles with dense lyricism that tackles noted themes of "wilderness, humanity, morality, technology, late capitalism, and love." Don't miss local support from bedroom pop outfit Living Hour, electronic project Phull Collums, and DJ Hot Air Balloon.
(Doug Fir Lounge, Buckman)
TOC Moon Series: Robin Holcomb & Haley Heynderickx
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The TOC Moon Series celebrates healing through music, ritual, poetry, and art. Sound artists and healers will work together to create an enchanting experience that is thoughtfully scheduled on the full or new moon. This edition will feature ethereal sounds from longtime singer-songwriter Robin Holcomb and indie-folk gem Haley Heynderickx complimented by visuals from projection artist Jon Timm.
(The Old Church, Downtown)
White Album Xmas
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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)
READINGS & TALKS
Eileen Myles in Conversation With Jess Arndt, Janice Lee & Camille Roy
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Generation-defining writer and poetry legend Eileen Myles will head to Portland in celebration of Pathetic Literature, a "global anthology of pieces from lesser-known classics" they edited that includes work by over 100 writers. Pathetic Literature contributors Jess Arndt, Janice Lee, and Camille Roy will join Myles for this talk.
(Powell's City of Books, Pearl District)
THURSDAY
LIVE MUSIC
Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith
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Experimental composer Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith initially made waves with her 2017 album, The Kid, which received critical acclaim for its accessible new-age pop structure, compelling storytelling, and distinct use of the Buchla Music Easel. She will stop by with songs from her new album, Let's Turn It Into Sound, alongside French electronic artist Ouri.
(Doug Fir Lounge, Buckman)
Soccer Mommy
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Nashville-raised singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Sophia Allison—the stand-out indie rocker who performs as Soccer Mommy—is coming to Portland this month! The immensely talented Allison built Soccer Mommy's name on pop-inspired, guitar-based bedroom recordings, which she posted to her Bandcamp page. Then in 2018, she released her studio debut, Clean to critical acclaim. When it comes to Allison’s most recent LP, Sometimes Forever, she understood the assignment; it matches Clean’s excellent use of crisp melodies, ’90s-informed vibe, and satisfying melodrama, this time with cinematic production by Daniel Lopatin. Smooth pairing alert: Montreal indie crooners Tops will open the show. PORTLAND MERCURY CONTRIBUTOR JENNI MOORE
(Crystal Ballroom, West End)
Una Noche de Bienestar ft. Edna Vazquez, Barrio Mestizo, DJ Papi Fimbres, and Joaquin Lopez
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Portland Latinx artists are banding together for a night of solidarity and celebration to benefit Bienestar, a low-income housing nonprofit geared toward the region’s Latinx community. Dance to local musical powerhouses Edna Vazquez, Barrio Mestizo, DJ Papi Fimbres, and Joaquin Lopez knowing that 100 percent of your ticket will go towards Bienestar’s work to create affordable housing for local Latinx and immigrant families. If you’re looking for a simple way to take direct action against draconian immigration policies, look no further.
(Holocene, Buckman)
PARTIES & NIGHTLIFE
Threat Level Midnight: The Office Rave
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With the rise of movie and TV-themed raves sweeping the nation (did you hear about the viral Shrek Rave?), this Office-themed dance party, based on the beloved workplace sitcom, is the latest capitalization on nostalgia. So slip into some business casual, chug some beet juice, and dance your heart out to the show's piano-tinkling theme song.
(Star Theater, Old Town-Chinatown)
READINGS & TALKS
Al Franken: "Only Former U.S. Senator Currently On Tour" Tour
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Former US senator, ex-SNL performer and writer, and noted Betsy DeVos hater Al Franken will head to Portland to chat about progressive values, showbiz, and his political career. Since resigning from office in the wake of several allegations of sexual misconduct, Franken has hosted The Al Franken Podcast, a political podcast that has previously featured comics like Sarah Silverman and Chris Rock.
(Revolution Hall, Buckman)
Elsa Sjunneson in Conversation With Curtis C. Chen
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Award-winning speculative fiction writer, deafblind disability rights activist, and Seattleite Elsa Sjunneson will celebrate her memoir, Being Seen: One Deafblind Woman's Fight to End Ableism, at this talk. Described as "a much-needed wake-up call for the nondisabled world” by Kirkus Reviews, the book digs into the misrepresentation of disability in contemporary media. Sjunneson will be joined in conversation by Curtis C. Chen, who penned the Kangaroo series.
(Powell's Books at Cedar Hills Crossing, Beaverton)
Where We Call Home: Josephine Woolington and Kristin Thiel in Conversation
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This celebration of Oregon journalist Josephine Woolington's regional essay collection Where We Call Home: Lands, Seas, and Skies of the Pacific Northwest will include a Q&A session, book signing, and conversation between Woolington and Kristin Thiel, essayist and co-editor of Fire & Water: Stories from the Anthropocene.
(Literary Arts, Southwest Portland)
FRIDAY
LIVE MUSIC
Portland Gay Men's Chorus: Light The Way Home
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Celebrate the holiday season with the sweet sounds of The Portland Gay Men's Chorus, who will lift your spirits with choral renditions of classic carols and pop tunes that will "illuminate your heart and leave you wrapped in the spirit of the season."
(Newmark Theatre, South Park Blocks)
The Great Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition
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Whether you're an expert caroler or a timid bystander, this annual caroling competition will fill a ten-block radius with holiday ditties and Christmas cheer. Enter the competition (it's free!) for your chance to participate in a “carol-off” hosted by KGW’s Drew Carney and win up to $1,000. Just think of all the candy canes you could buy with that kind of dough!
(Pioneer Courthouse Square, Downtown)
Thrill Jockey 30th Anniversary: The Body, Marisa Anderson, Rose City Band, Dommengang, Golden Retriever, Plankton Wat, and DJ Jason Urick
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Chicago-based indie label Thrill Jockey will celebrate their 30th birthday with a showcase of some of their most prominent Portland-based acts. Look forward to sets from experimental metal duo The Body, ambient guitarist Marisa Anderson, cosmic country outfit Rose City Band, heavy psych trio Dommengang, neo-classical project Golden Retriever, psychedelic folk artist Plankton Wat, and expert DJ Jason Urick.
(Mississippi Studios, Boise)
X
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They were contemporaries of SoCal punk bands like the Germs and Black Flag, but X’s relevance and influence can still be heard draped across the sounds of the rock underground. I reckon you could say, even as their music is deeply rooted in, well, roots rock, at this point they MIGHT be considered roots rock themselves. And don’t forget they were/are universally loved by the nerdy college kids, punks, AND the goths. I bet it’s safe to say 1970s Exene is prolly still an archetype. MIKE NIPPER
(Revolution Hall, Buckman)
SATURDAY
LIVE MUSIC
31st Annual Tuba Christmas Concert
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Portland's living room will be filled with the big brass sounds of 200 tubas as they play Christmas tunes in unison during this free, annual holiday tradition.
(Pioneer Courthouse Square, Downtown)
Chloe Lilac: Big Night Out Tour
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Rising singer-songwriter Chloe Lilac writes angst-fueled pop-punk anthems reminiscent of black nail polish-wearing pop queens like Avril Lavigne, Ashlee Simpson, and Demi Lovato. Expect to hear songs from her latest EP, you were good to me, after an opening set from LA-based alt-rock gem Mothé.
(Mission Theater, Northwest Portland)
Courtney Marie Andrews
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In 2019, former Mercury writer Ciara Dolan wrote of Courtney Marie Andrews' album May Your Kindness Remain: "It’s relevant and powerful protest music, and Andrews contextualizes her own despair within a much bigger picture, all sung in her emotive vibrato, which can resemble the iconic voices of Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt, and Loretta Lynn within the span of the same song." She will stop by in support of her latest release, Loose Future, alongside kindred singer-songwriter Faustina Masigat.
(Doug Fir Lounge, Buckman)
Glory of Christmas
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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)
Gospel Christmas with the Oregon Symphony
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Although I don’t consider myself a religious person, even I can admit to feeling “the spirit” whenever gospel music is on; that ramps up even more during the holiday season, when all I want to do is blast my stereo and pretend like I’m Whitney Houston’s character in The Preacher’s Wife, or Mariah Carey on her stellar recording of “Jesus Oh What a Wonderful Child.” Lucky for me: This December marks the 23rd anniversary of Gospel Christmas, a joint performance by the Oregon Symphony and the Northwest Community Gospel Choir, which comprises approximately 92 singers from 33 houses of faith and organizations in Portland and beyond. PORTLAND MERCURY CONTRIBUTOR JENNI MOORE
(Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, South Park Blocks)
San Holo and Friends
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Dutch DJ, composer, musician, and record producer Sander van Dijck, better known by his stage name San Holo, brings his blend of trap and future bass music to town in support of his 2021 album, BB U OK?, which he cited as his "most personal project" to date. Local DJ Eastghost and LA-based electronic artist Synova will open.
(45 East, Central Eastside)
PARTIES & NIGHTLIFE
2022 Yule Ball
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Chuck your muggle street clothes and don your wizard robes for this Harry Potter-themed yuletide party, where guests can get magical with photo booths, prizes, and DJ sets while supporting Q Center's important work for the LGBTQ+ community. (Because transphobia sucks—looking at you, Rowling.)
(Tiffany Center, Goose Hollow)
PERFORMANCE
A Nutcracker Tea
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This shortened, family-friendly interpretation of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker offers up all the sugarplums and evil rats of the original holiday tradition, with a side of complimentary tea and cookies at the conclusion of each show. Fancy!
(Portland Community College, Southwest Portland)
Peter Pan: A Musical Panto
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Set to magical music, this slapstick pantomime blends wink-and-nudge jokes for grown-ups with family-friendly laughs for a witty rendition of the classic Peter Pan tale.
(Alberta Abbey, King)
SUNDAY
FOOD & DRINK
Holiday Vegan Night Market Portland 2022
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Bop around to tunes by DJ Fabulous Ross Vegas in your most festive Christmas sweater and check out booths from over 65 local vegan restaurants, pop-ups, small businesses, nonprofits, and grassroots organizations. Plus, participate in a raffle for the Portland Animal Welfare (PAW) Team, snap some photo booth pics, and partake in boozy and zero-proof beverages at the "Drink Up Grinches Bar," curated by Sarah Motter of Epif.
(The Redd on Salmon, Buckman)
LIVE MUSIC
Bartees Strange
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British indie-rock artist Bartees Strange, who was named Stereogum's Artist To Watch back in 2020, will swing through town in support of his sophomore album (and debut on acclaimed label 4AD), Farm to Table. The album explores lyrical themes of political turmoil, budding fame, and his relationship with his parents. Don't miss opening sets from NYC-based alt-rock project Pom Pom Squad and hip-hop duo They Hate Change.
(Doug Fir Lounge, Buckman)
Cold Cave
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Cold Cave, the moniker for LA-based musician Wesley Eisold, takes inspiration from early '80s post-punk/synth-pop bands like Joy Division and New Order for his dark and dismal electro-rock sound. Considering that he hasn't released a full-length album in over a decade, anticipate hearing songs from his two albums, Love Comes Close and Cherish the Light Years.
(Hawthorne Theatre, Hawthorne District)
Portland Cello Project: Winter Spectacular
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The Pacific Northwest's "premiere alt-classical ensemble" will be joined by vocalists Patti King (of The Shins), Maiah Wynne, and Adam Shearer for a unique twist on a traditional holiday concert, promising to be a "perfect celebration of the season, and also a refreshing break from it."
(Revolution Hall, Buckman)
PERFORMANCE
New Rory & MAL
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Rory Farrell and Jamil ‘MAL’ Clay will bring their hit podcast to the stage for this performance, so prepare for all-new hot takes from the dudes and their secret special guests.
(Aladdin Theater, Brooklyn)
MULTI-DAY
COMEDY
(Winter) WONDERLAND
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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)
FESTIVALS
Wild Arts Festival
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Returning for its 42nd annual fundraiser this year, the Wild Arts Festival supports the education and conservation work of the Portland Audubon Society with a nature-themed art sale, book signings (drop by on Sunday to meet New York Times bestselling duo Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis!), and a silent auction.
(Portland State University, South Park Blocks, Saturday-Sunday)
FILM
The Banshees of Inisherin
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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)
Bones and All
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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)
Fungi Film Fest
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Perfect for the mycologically inclined, the world's only mushroom-centered film festival will head to Portland with 16 fungusy flicks from 10 countries, including experimental cinema, documentaries, and fantasy narratives. (Opinel not included.)
(Cinema 21, Nob Hill, Thursday & Sunday)
The Menu
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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)
FOOD & DRINK
Miracle at Deadshot
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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, Wednesday-Saturday)
Portland's Winter Ale Fest
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Settle in with a range of cozy winter ales on tap at the Pine Street Taproom. You'll get to try a dozen samples and get your own festive keepsake glass.
(Pine Street Market, Old Town-Chinatown, Friday-Sunday)
Sleigh Love 2022: A Holiday Takeover
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Sleigh the day with a menu of holiday-inspired drinks and other treats at the cocktail bar and restaurant Hey Love. Offerings range from "Noggy by Nature" (an eggnog slushie) to "Toboggan Time" (Hey Love's signature frozen spin on Irish coffee, made with a Rumplemintz float, whipped cream, and candy cane sprinkles).
(Hey Love, Buckman, Monday-Sunday)
PERFORMANCE
A Christmas Carol
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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
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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-Sunday)
Die Hard - The Musical
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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)
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®
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Tchaikovsky’s magical score springs to life in this Sugarplum-packed rendition of a longstanding holiday tradition, complete with mice, tin soldiers, and a timeless trip to the Land of Sweets.
(Keller Auditorium, Downtown, Saturday-Sunday)
It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play
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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
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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
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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)
ZooZoo
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Imago's holiday tradition returns this year with a colorful array of penguins, worms, polar bears, hippos, and other globetrotting critters who will come together on stage for an eye-popping family production.
(Imago Theatre, Buckman, Friday-Sunday)
SHOPPING
Ceramics Northwest Gallery
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Featuring work by over 40 Oregon Potters Association members, the Ceramics Northwest gallery will set up shop downtown for the holidays, offering unique handmade gifts for all the clay appreciators on your list.
(300 SW Yamhill St, Downtown, Monday-Sunday)
Crafty Wonderland Holiday Art and Craft Market
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One of Portland’s OG indie markets, Crafty Wonderland, is back for a holiday shopping extravaganza including over 250 artists, designers, and crafters. Tickets for the event’s Friday preview night are pricier than weekend admission (which will have timed entry every hour), but you’ll get a first go at the goods and a free drink from the bar.
(Oregon Convention Center, Lloyd District, Friday-Sunday)
Portland Bazaar
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Now in its 12th year, this highly curated holiday market (by the same producers as the Portland Flea) features the cream of the crop of Portland’s maker scene. This year, expect over 160 vendors, custom gift wrapping from March Goods, and refreshments from Dear Sandy and Radiant Coffee x Oatly.
(Premier Gear & Machine Works Building, Slabtown, Saturday-Sunday)
ScanFair
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Winter is prime hygge season—at this market, you’ll be able browse through vendors for Scandinavian baubles that will help achieve maximum holiday coziness at home. While you’re there, indulge in Nordic treats like Swedish cardamom buns and Norwegian rommegrøt, watch a meatball eating contest, meet Joulupukki (the Finnish Santa Claus), and more.
(Oregon Convention Center, Lloyd District, Saturday-Sunday)
VISUAL ART
Jordanna Kalman: Jordanna and the Masters of Photography
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Photographer Jordanna Kalman's investigative practice aims to unravel the impacts of social media, the intricacies of femininity, and the challenges of creating as a woman in a male-dominated artistic medium. Placing her own photographs within cut-out windows inside the works of male master photographers, Kalman questions the gender hierarchy of art stardom in the historical photography canon.
(Blue Sky Gallery, Pearl District, Wednesday-Saturday; closing)
Lee Materazzi: pushed in
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San Francisco-based artist Lee Materazzi uses her own body as a temporal "medium" and a "site for untamed reclamation," investigating autonomy, gesture, and the limits of the human form through a messy, splashy process of paint and clay play that is then documented via medium format photography.
(Blue Sky Gallery, Pearl District, Wednesday-Saturday; closing)
WINTER HOLIDAYS
Christmas Festival of Lights 2022
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With countless twinkling Christmas lights and holiday concerts that transform the scenic sanctuary into a massive choral festival, there's a reason The Grotto's annual Festival of Lights is a long-held Portland tradition. Don't miss the outdoor caroling and puppet shows along the light trail, and enjoy the Chapel of Mary's "cathedral-like acoustics" with local choir performances each night.
(The Grotto, Sumner, Monday-Sunday)
Christmas Ships Parade
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Setting sail for its 68th year, the delightfully gaudy Christmas Ship fleet will once again truck up and down the Willamette for a nightly parade throughout December (weather permitting). Grab a thermos of hot cocoa and head to the riverfront, where crowds will gather to scope out the ships in all their sparkly glory.
(Various locations, Monday-Sunday)
The Holiday Express 2022
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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)
Sleigh Rides on the Explorer
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Celebrate the 68th year of Portland's historic Christmas Ship Parade
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in style on this 90-minute cruise, which provides passengers with hot chocolate, cookies, blankets, and a stellar view of the sparkly Christmas Ship fleet.
(Portland Spirit Cruises, Monday-Friday)
Winter Wonderland 2022
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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
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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)