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COMEDY

David Cross: Worst Daddy in The World Tour Past Event Like List
Arrested Development actor, stand-up comic, and noted Creed hater David Cross will visit Portland with more staunch opinions and acerbic witticisms on the heels of a divisive 2022 Vox interview that tackled "cancel culture" in comedy.
Revolution Hall, Buckman (Thurs Mar 2)

Dave Attell
Past Event Like List Pottymouth Dave Attell is a comic's comic, drawing praise from Bill Burr and Patton Oswalt for his off-color schtick. Expect shrewd-yet-filthy reflections on American culture, sex, and recreational drugs in this performance.
Helium Comedy Club, Hosford-Abernethy (Mar 9-12)

Christina P.
Past Event Like List Christina P's razor-sharp comedy focuses on all things mom—her first Netflix special, Christina P: Mother Inferior, zooms in on the realities of life with two barbaric young boys, and she co-hosts the hit podcast Your Mom’s House with her husband, comedian Tom Segura. Hot on the heels of her newest special, Christina P: Mom Genes, she'll bring no-nonsense Gen X jokes to Portland, with a side of hatred for low-rise jeans.
Revolution Hall, Buckman (Fri Mar 31)

COMMUNITY

Irish Festival 2023
Past Event Like List The bagpipes will honk, the beer will flow, and Portland will get a lil' greener for this year's Irish Festival. Shamrock Run Portland and Kells Irish Pub & Brewery are teaming up to organize a “bigger and better” event this year—the collaboration will create a “finish line celebration” for the Shamrock Run on March 12, and tipsy emerald-hued festivities will take place at both Kells locations (March 11 at the waterfront, and March 17–18 at Kells Downtown). Plus, on March 10, the waterfront location will have a special Ireland vs. USA boxing match screening.
Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Downtown (Mar 11-12, 17-18)

Shamrock Run Portland 2023
Past Event Like List Turning 45 this year, Portland's longest-running running tradition will return to scenic Tom McCall Waterfront Park with a half-marathon, a "leprechaun lap" for kids, an easy-going Shamrock Stride, and plenty of sweaty, emerald-clad sprinters. Post-race, take a load off Irish style with a pint at the on-site beer garden.
Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Downtown (Sun Mar 12)

2023 Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival Past Event Like List
I once attended the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival with a pregnant friend, and the winding line of traffic leading to the parking lot was so lengthy that she bolted out of the car and ran all the way to a neighboring farm to pee. What I'm saying is this: prepare yourself for an all-day affair, and if you're going on the weekend, bring plenty of car snacks. But 40 acres of tulips arranged in neat, color-coded rows against the majestic backdrop of Mount Hood makes it all worth it. Tickets are only available online this year, so snag yours in advance to recuperate from the winter doldrums with some well-deserved Willamette Valley magic. LINDSAY COSTELLO
Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm, Woodburn (Mar 17-Apr 30)

Worst Day of the Year Ride 2023 Past Event Like List
I like to call February and March the "sludge months"—as the last vestiges of winter give way to spring, all one can typically expect is overcast drizzle, mud, and still-bare trees. It is horrid. But this appropriately named 16- or 45-mile odyssey through Portland's best bikeways is a solid way to laugh about it. The bike ride commemorates the last day of winter, so hop on two wheels to cruise alongside fellow riders (some of whom will be elaborately costumed) before enjoying a finish line chocolate fountain, an after-party at Lucky Labrador, and more. Sludge it up! LINDSAY COSTELLO
Lucky Labrador Brew Pub, Buckman (Sun Mar 19)

Frankenstein's Comic Book Swap Unearthed
Past Event Like List Frankenstein's Comic Book Swap will return to its new location at the Lloyd Center this month for the 20th edition of its delightfully weird ephemera-swapping gathering. While no longer headquartered at the Eagles Lodge, the beloved crate-digging bonanza retains its lo-fi charm with hard-to-find VHS, classic comics, and dog-eared paperbacks.
Lloyd Center, Lloyd District (Sat Mar 25)

FILM

Feminist March 2023
Past Event Like List Returning from a pandemic-related hiatus, Hollywood Theatre's Feminist March program will once again offer up a full month of screenings celebrating women in film. Presented in partnership with Portland State University's Center for Women's Leadership, Synth Library Portland, and Quest Center, this year's lineup includes 12 films directed by women, including multiple flicks by Black, Indigenous, and queer directors. (Standouts include Cheryl Dunye's The Watermelon Woman, Jamie Babbit's But I'm a Cheerleader, and Nyla Innuksuk's Slash/Back.)
Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District (Mar 2-31)

Studio Ghibli Film Festival Past Event Like List
Over the last 30 years, Studio Ghibli has become legendary for its lush visuals, emotional and affecting storytelling, and poetic, intelligent approach to nature and the more-than-human world. OMSI's Studio Ghibli Film Festival will return for its eighth (almost) annual presentation of audience faves like My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service, as well as underrated classics like Pom Poko and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya.
OMSI, Central Eastside (Mar 3-Apr 2)

18th Annual HUMP! Film Festival
Past Event Like List Dan Savage's pioneering erotic film fest will premiere an all-new lineup of sexy films featuring all genders and orientations at Revolution Hall this year. Since 2005, HUMP! has brought inclusive, creative, and kinky films to the big screen—scope out the sex-positive fest in person for a tantalizing treat.
Revolution Hall, Buckman (Mar 3-11)

Tag! Queer Shorts Festival 2023 Past Event Like List
This international festival is celebrating its 10th year of spotlighting the best in queer and trans filmmaking with 50 original short queer films on the lineup. Four intriguing blocks of programming allow viewers to watch films within specific themes, including "Trying It On" (origin stories and new experiences), "Made to Measure" (intergenerational perspectives on queerness), "For Every Body" (dance films and "erotic entanglements"), and a West Coast film block.
Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District (Mar 4-5)

FOOD & DRINK

The Portland Mercury's Highball 2023 Past Event Like List
BEHOLD! It's the triumphant return of the Portland Mercury's HIGHBALL! That's correct: Get ready for an entire week of specially crafted, original cocktails mixed by the best bartenders in town… and get this, they're only $8 each! We've teamed up with the finest bars and restaurants in Portland—along with our cocktail-lovin' pals at Jim Beam—to bring you this one-of-a-kind booze-tacular! At each of Highball's locations, you'll find $8 specially crafted cocktails, and even better? They'll be available ALL DAY (not just during happy hour)!
Various locations (Mar 1-5)

Portland Brewery Dining Month Past Event Like List
Nine Portland breweries will prove that they're not just a one-trick pony by showing off enticing food options in addition to their beer. All participating locations will offer a $35 three-course meal with an appetizer, entree, dessert, a drink (beer, house wine, or non-alcoholic beverage), and a $10 voucher for your next meal.
Various locations (Mar 1-31)

17th Annual Portland Seafood & Wine Festival
Past Event Like List Sip a lotta wine, eat a lotta fish! Sounds pretty simple, right? This annual celebration of coastal drinking and dining falls in the middle of Dungeness crab season, too, so there's definitely gonna be some seasonal delicacies to try, as well as other family-friendly activities, such as face painting, balloon artists, and more.
Portland Expo Center, North Portland (Fri Mar 3)

Eighth Annual SheBrew Fest
Past Event Like List Human Rights Campaign Portland and the Oregon Brew Crew presents the eighth installment of this annual festival celebrating local female amateur and professional brewers. Check out beers by "shebrewers" from Great Notion, Heater Allen, Leikam Brewing, Steeplejack, Von Ebert, pFriem, 10 Barrel, and more, and nosh on food from women-owned carts. All proceeds go to the Human Rights Campaign.
The Redd on Salmon, Buckman (Sun Mar 5)

7th Annual Brewstillery Fest Past Event Like List
Why choose between beer and spirits when you can have it all? StormBreaker Brewing will host a number of breweries and distilleries and will offer curated pairings of four-ounce beer pours with 1/4 oz spirit tastes.
StormBreaker Brewing, Boise (Sat Mar 11)

Snack Fest Past Event Like List
The people who brought you the Portland Night Market have turned their eyes towards the very serious business of snacking, and Snack Fest is the result: a weekend's worth of local vendors dedicating their time and energy to sharing bite-sized deliciousness in a wide variety of forms and flavors.
100 SE Alder, Buckman (Mar 11-12)

Paddy’s St. Patrick’s Festival 2023
Past Event Like List Tuck into some corned beef and cabbage, sip Guinness and Kilbeggan Irish whiskey, and take in live Irish music and performances from bagpipers and Irish dancers. A portion of net proceeds will be donated to the Children's Cancer Association.
Paddy's Bar & Grill, Downtown (Fri Mar 17)

LIVE MUSIC

The Music of Twin Peaks Past Event Like List
Local musicians of varying genres including Rachel Brashear, Aaron Tomasko, Rivkah Ross, Raymond Richards, Kyleen King, Ben Landsverk, Kate O’Brien, Adriana Wagner, and Matt Sulikowski will transport you to the black lodge with their renditions of Angelo Badalamenti's iconic Twin Peaks soundtrack. It'll be damn good.
Alberta Abbey, King (Sat Mar 4)

Frosty Fables with the Oregon Symphony Past Event Like List
As spring approaches, the Oregon Symphony will give winter a proper send-off with a frosty family-friendly program of music from Disney’s Frozen to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, South Park Blocks (Sun Mar 5)

Vance Joy: In Our Own Sweet Time Tour
Past Event Like List With gentle folk-pop tunes filled with plenty of good vibes and acoustic guitars, it might surprise you to learn that top 40 radio rocker Vance Joy was a former professional Aussie rules football player. Sway along to sentimental songs like "Missing Piece" and "Every Side of You" from his latest release, In Our Own Sweet Time, alongside kindred pop artist Jack Botts.
Keller Auditorium, Downtown (Mon Mar 6)

Andy Shauf
Past Event Like List Toronto-based, Saskatchewan-raised songwriter Andy Shauf will come to Portland in support of his eighth album, Norm. Accurately represented by the serene ocean sunset on its cover, Norm is a breezy indie-folk concept album that explores love through different perspectives. Nashville-born singer-songwriter Katy Kirby will open.
Revolution Hall, Buckman (Tues Mar 7)

CupcakKe Past Event Like List
Back in 2019, Stranger writer Jas Keimig wrote: "CupcakKe is really fucking important! For the uninitiated, the Chicago rapper is most known for her sexually explicit songs—like the one where she talks about going “duck duck goose” on the dick and, in the accompanying NSFW music video, goes around patting dildos of all colors and sizes on their heads. Or the one where she raps, “His dick smaller than my toes / I’d rather ride Squidward nose.” But CupcakKe has got range: Her candid style reflects on all areas of her life and finds her rapping about her personal struggles, LGBT acceptance and allyship, and police brutality. She’s the Renaissance woman of modern hip-hop." She will take the stage alongside local rap gems Majik9, Randi Blanko, and DJ Fatboy.
Star Theater, Old Town-Chinatown (Fri Mar 10)

Ladysmith Black Mambazo Past Event Like List
Back in 2017, Stranger writer Andrew Hamlin wrote: "Ladysmith Black Mambazo have a whole bunch of guys singing bass. That's the secret to their success. Okay, Paul Simon "found" them, and that's been the secret to their success in what we loosely term "the West." By 1986, though, when Ladysmith Black Mambazo recorded and performed with Simon, they already had more than 20 albums in their native South Africa. Now they have more than 50 albums. They never stop touring, and they've outlasted the racist apartheid system under which the older members grew up. They're still ambassadors to South African culture. And they make people happy—boldly, unironically, and enthusiastically."
Aladdin Theater, Brooklyn (Fri Mar 10)

Ramblin' Jack Elliott Past Event Like List
Urban legend has it that American folk troubadour Ramblin' Jack Elliott ran away from home as a teenager intenting to become a cowboy. After hearing cowboy songs at rodeos, he was inspired to make music himself. His mentor at the time was folk godfather Woody Guthrie, and he himsef went on to provide mentorship to Bob Dylan. At 91 years old, the man is a living legend.
Alberta Rose Theatre, Concordia (Fri Mar 10)

Jonathan Richman Past Event Like List
When I first saw a clip of Jonathan Richman performing “The Girl Stands Up to Me Now” on an old Conan O’Brien show, something inside me clicked. Every single dude I grew up with who started their own quirky band with their own weird, faux-earnest personality was really just doing bad Jonathan Richman drag. Except Richman is truly earnest, truly strange, and truly funny. He’s a fucking legend. From his music with the Modern Lovers to his solo stuff, Richman’s career spans several decades, influencing punk and everything that came after it. He’ll be joined onstage by drummer Tommy Larkins. STRANGER STAFF WRITER JAS KEIMIG
Aladdin Theater, Brooklyn (Sat Mar 11)

NAV: Never Sleep Tour Past Event Like List
Toronto-born rapper NAV's career kicked off in 2015 after co-producing fellow Canadian Drake's diss track "Back to Back" and has since worked with heavy hitters like the Weeknd, Travis Scott, Offset, and Gucci Mane. He will support his new album Demons Protected by Angels, with support from SoFaygo and RealestK.
Crystal Ballroom, West End (Mon Mar 13)

Elle King: A-FREAKIN-MEN Tour
Past Event Like List Elle King hails from Brooklyn, but her twangy badassery could be confused for an "Austin-tatious" Texan. Part Southern rockabilly, part blues-pop, King's music constantly keeps you on your toes, and makes you dance a few different styles along the way. Though King is the offspring of Rob Schneider and model London King, she does her own thing; she taught herself how to play the banjo, she writes her own tunes, and she got herself signed with no help from pops. ROSE FINN
Revolution Hall, Buckman (Tues Mar 14)

Ibeyi: Spell 31 Tour Past Event Like List
French twin sister duo Ibeyi uniquely blends traditional West African, French, and Afro-Cuban sounds with jazz, electronic, and pop elements. Their 2017 tour was described by former Stranger writer Zach Frimmel as "chills-inducing, charming, and healing," so don't miss the opportunity to see them support their latest album, Spell31, after an opening set from soulful singer-songwriter Ojerime.
Aladdin Theater, Brooklyn (Tues Mar 14)

Carrie Underwood: The Denim & Rhinestones Tour Past Event Like List
I was nine years old when Grammy-winning country queen Carrie Underwood released "Jesus, Take The Wheel," and although she was not my favorite American Idol contestant of season four (I was rooting for dreamy rocker Constantine Maroulis, obviously), it was the first song to ever make me shed a tear. Despite disliking most country music at the time, It's easy for me to understand why I connected to the devastating lyrics about a young woman that gets into a car accident on Christmas (my favorite movie was the 2004 Hilary Duff drama Raise Your Voice, after all). To this day, the song's delicate strings and tear-jerking vocals still give me goosebumps. And, her break-up anthem "Before He Cheats" is still in my regular rotation. Underwood will return to Portland to promote her new album Denim & Rhinestones, which dances through genres like '80s synth-pop, classic soul, and rootsy country. I'm telling you, she has a song for every mood. AUDREY VANN
Moda Center, Lloyd District (Thurs Mar 16)

Mania The ABBA Tribute
Past Event Like List Billed as "the world’s no. 1 touring ABBA tribute show," the group has actually been sued by the real ABBA, who have denigrated the group as “parasitic." Despite this, MANIA lives on, performing the Swedish pop supergroup's iconic jams around the world for starving fans. We wonder what it must be like to make your living impersonating a band that actively despises you...regardless, this show will be a fascinating, sparkly spectacle. 
Revolution Hall, Buckman (Thurs Mar 16)

The Dandy Warhols with The Oregon Symphony
Past Event Like List Esteemed Portland-bred neo-psychedelic rock band the Dandy Warhols will be joined by the Oregon Symphony for the first time ever, performing orchestral renditions of new favorites and old classics alike from the band's nearly 30-year-long career. 
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, South Park Blocks (Thurs Mar 16)

The Residents Past Event Like List
While still weird, the Residents’ music has become somewhat sentimental and soft around the edges—maybe even a bit too professional, if you compare the newer works to their otherworldly and absurdly warped 1970s output. Sure, there’s no going back to the bad-mushroom-trip sonics of the Third Reich ’n’ Roll/Fingerprince/Duck Stab/Not Available days, and for geezers pushing 70, the Residents—whoever they are—are still far, far from your typical night of entertainment. Long may they subvert. STRANGER WRITER DAVE SEGAL
Wonder Ballroom, Eliot (Thurs Mar 16)

PUP & Joyce Manor Past Event Like List
This two-night shindig of 2010s indie rock will be headlined by Canadian punks PUP and emo heroes Joyce Manor. Expect to hear songs new and old as PUP supports their 2022 album The Unraveling of PUPTheBand and Joyce Manor plays tracks from 40 oz. to Fresno. Rising emo band Pool Kids will open.
Wonder Ballroom, Eliot (Fri Mar 17)

Tank and The Bangas Past Event Like List
Tarriona "Tank" Ball is the founder and frontwoman of the funky, gospel-inspired hip-hop troupe Tank and the Bangas, who you may know from their wildly popular NPR Tiny Desk Concert (seriously, the video has over 13 million views!) Don't miss this local tour stop as they play tracks off their latest release Red Balloon.
Revolution Hall, Buckman (Fri Mar 17)

Retro Themes for Grown-Up Kids with the Oregon Symphony Past Event Like List
Yabba dabba doo! The Oregon Symphony will travel back in time to the good ol' days of Saturday morning cartoons for a nostalgia-fueled performance of TV and film scores from The Flinstones, The Jetsons, Pink Panther, and James Bond.
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, South Park Blocks (Sat Mar 18)

Robyn Hitchcock
Past Event Like List Whether playing with the Egyptians, the Venus 3, or his seminal group the Soft Boys, Robyn Hitchcock is one of the most prolific songwriters, surrealists, poets, and folk-rock purveyors in contemporary music. Expect to hear songs from his 2022 album, Shufflemania!, which was recorded in various locations around the world over the course of the pandemic.
Doug Fir Lounge, Buckman (Sat Mar 18)

SZA
Past Event Like List The last time that SZA played a headlining show in Portland was six years ago at the modest Roseland Theater (capacity 1,410) while supporting her sophomore album, CTRL. Now embarking on her first solo arena tour, the rapidly rising neo-soul sensation will ignite Moda Center (capacity 19,980!) with songs from her new album SOS, which dances between cheeky TikTok-friendly bops about murdering your ex ("Kill Bill") to heartwrenching folk-infused ballads (e.g. "Ghost in the Machine" ft. Phoebe Bridgers and "Nobody Gets Me"). Fellow R&B pop heavy Omar Apollo will open the night with tracks from his acclaimed debut album, Ivory.
Moda Center, Lloyd District (Sat Mar 18)

dvsn: Working On My Karma Tour
Past Event Like List Toronto-based duo dvsn blends Nineteen85's futuristic R&B production with Daniel Daley's velvety falsetto vocals for a sound that is both new and nostalgic. They'll play tracks from their most recent album, Working on My Karma, which lyrically examines issues with fidelity and relationships.
Crystal Ballroom, West End (Sun Mar 19)

Sunny Day Real Estate Past Event Like List
Seattle-born emo pioneers Sunny Day Real Estate have embarked on their first tour since 2010, playing all of the old fuzzed-out, moody indie rock that made them perennial favorites in the genre. See them on their Portland stop, where longtime Kansas rockers the Appleseed Cast will open.
Roseland Theater, Old Town-Chinatown (Sun Mar 19)

Paolo Nutini
Past Event Like List Picture this: it's 2007, you've just heard Paolo Nutini’s "New Shoes" in a Puma commercial and you use an iTunes gift card to purchase the track. As you wait for it to upload onto your iPod shuffle, you flip through the new dELiA*s catalog. Nutini's radio-friendly coffee shop soul is the perfect time capsule into the mid-2000s, complete with raspy vocals, effortlessly tousled hair, and straw fedoras. On his latest release, Last Night in the Bittersweet, his sound (and style) are a little more understated with sparse acoustic instruments, dense lyricism, and a bit of country twang.
Wonder Ballroom, Eliot (Tues Mar 21)

Queensrÿche
Past Event Like List Bellevue, WA-raised heavy metal giants Queensrÿche will bring their progressive sounds back to the PNW on their Digital Noise Alliance tour, supporting their new album of the same name. They will be joined by fellow metalheads Trauma and Marty Friedman (of Megadeth). 
Crystal Ballroom, West End (Tues Mar 21)

Zakir Hussain's Masters of Percussion
Past Event Like List Few things in life surpass the pleasure of witnessing an exalted tabla player, and tonight Portland is blessed by world-class Indian musician Zakir Hussain. The son of tabla great Alla Rakha, Hussain has caressed the small Indian drums with Shakti, Grateful Dead’s Mickey Hart, and Diga Rhythm Band. His byzantine structures and chakra-aligning tonalities intertwine in cosmic synchronicity and proceed with quicksilver fluidity. Prepare to spend most of the night with your mouth agape as your mind reels to one of the most enchanting instruments humanity has ever conceived. STRANGER WRITER DAVE SEGAL
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, South Park Blocks (Tues Mar 21)

Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Past Event Like List Speaking on their upcoming album, V (out March 17), Portland-via-New Zealand rockers Unknown Mortal Orchestra cite influences like "West Coast album-oriented rock, classic hits, weirdo pop, and Hawaiian Hapa-haole music." They will promote the new album alongside the local audio/visual project Amulets.
Crystal Ballroom, West End (Wed Mar 22)

Weyes Blood: In Holy Flux Tour
Past Event Like List Indie-folk troubadour Weyes Blood (aka LA-based singer-songwriter Natalie Mering) is known for her '70s soft rock revival sound, lush orchestral arrangements, and Joni Mitchell-esque vocal range—she once described the resulting vibe as “Bob Seger meets Enya.” Don't miss her as she tours with her acclaimed album And in the Darkness, Hearts Aglow, a lyrical exploration of universal topics such as loneliness, connection, and love. 
Crystal Ballroom, West End (Thurs Mar 23)

Emotional Oranges
Past Event Like List R&B/pop duo Emotional Oranges are shrouded in mystery—the band members use aliases instead of their real names and obscure their faces with designer shades and bucket hats. Join them for an evening of sultry break-beat drums, jazzy guitars, and unaffected vocals that have allegedly received praise from both Michelle Obama and Guy Fieri.
Crystal Ballroom, West End (Fri Mar 24)

She's Speaking Past Event Like List
As you might glean from the title, this uplifting show prioritizes women's voices and stories, helmed by local singer-songwriters like Arietta Ward, Naomi LaViolette, Liz Chibucos, Lisa Mann, Bre Gregg, LaRhonda Steele, Beth Wood, Kristen Grainger, and others. They will share original songs as well as covers from their "musical sheroes."
Alberta Rose Theatre, Concordia (Sat Mar 25)

Tortoise Past Event Like List
Long ago in 2016, Mercury writer Robert Ham wrote: "How does a band survive more than 20 years without a scratch on them or their discography? With Tortoise, some of that is due to the fact that its six members remain busy outside the fold: Guitarist Jeff Parker resides in LA, where his career as a jazz player thrives, and bassist Doug McCombs records on his own as Brokeback and with his other longtime band Eleventh Dream Day, to give but two examples. This allows everyone involved individual space and time to find new creative influences to bring back to the band. Once the sextet is together at last, the results are explosive and thrilling." The band will stop by on their brief US tour with local support from noise rock outfit Smokey Kingdom.
Revolution Hall, Buckman (Tues Mar 28)

Betty Who
Past Event Like List Heavily biting on the dance-pop balladeers of the '80s and ’90s, Betty Who has cruised through her 13-year-long career holding tight to the influences of her icons. She will take a pause from her gig as the host of Amazon dating show The One That Got Away to support her uplifting and anthemic new album, BIG!, alongside drag superstar Shea Couleé (winner of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars season five).
Crystal Ballroom, West End (Wed Mar 29)

PERFORMANCE

My Fair Lady
Past Event Like List Lerner and Loewe's '56 stage musical is revived in this production directed by Bartlett Sher, which sees pedantic professor Henry Higgins attempt to woo Cockney flower seller Eliza Doolittle and turn her into a "lady." We know, barf, but this revival is apparently “thrilling, glorious and better than it ever was” (New York Times).
Keller Auditorium, Downtown (Mar 1-5)

What I Learned in Paris Past Event Like List
Set amid a historic campaign win for Maynard Jackson, the first Black mayor of Atlanta, What I Learned in Paris follows a complex web of romance, truth-telling, and temptation in '70s Georgia.
Portland Playhouse, King (Mar 1-26)

Where We Belong
Past Event Like List This contemporary solo piece follows an Indigenous theater-maker whose pursuit of a Ph.D. and a new life in England is rattled by the Brexit vote and the country's colonialist ideals.
Portland Center Stage, Pearl District (Mar 1-26)

Young Americans
Past Event Like List This world premiere by playwright à la mode Lauren Yee takes audiences on two road trips, 20 years apart. Weaving together immigrant narratives and "intimate, music-led comedy," Young Americans looks closely at tough transitions and how we define home.
Portland Center Stage, Pearl District (Mar 1-26)

Live Wire with Luke Burbank: Dana Schwartz, Joseph Earl Thomas, Dessa, and Stephanie Anne Johnson
Past Event Like List Live Wire's 2023 offerings continue with this evening of honest, inspiring conversation between Noble Blood podcaster, television writer, and New York Times bestselling author Dana Schwartz, award-winning multi-genre writer Joseph Earl Thomas, and lauded writer and touring musician Dessa. Americana-influenced vocalist Stephanie Anne Johnson will help the audience "find [their] joy and go there.”
Alberta Rose Theatre, Concordia (Thurs Mar 2)

White Bird Presents: A.I.M by Kyle Abraham
Past Event Like List Back in 2012, Stranger theater critic Brendan Kiley wrote: "Critics talk about hip-hop theater and hip-hop dance-theater, but artists like Abraham are making that critical frame obsolete, demonstrating that hip-hop is an influence, not a cage." The sentiment holds true today. Abraham and his dancers will return to the stage with An Untitled Love, which pulls from Grammy Award-winning neo-soul legend D’Angelo's catalog to create a pulsating mixtape that exalts self-love and Black love.
Newmark Theatre, South Park Blocks (Mar 2-4)

​Forbidden Fruit
Past Event Like List Plumb the depths of original sin in this interactive performance, which invites audiences into eight installation rooms dedicated to different fruits, grains, and fungi. (Chaos ensues as each room reveals its secrets.) Forbidden Fruit's unique approach feels mystical and a tad mysterious, drawing from "feminine curiosity" across the ages—think Pandora's box and Alice in Wonderland—so channel your inner Eve for the experience.
Shaking the Tree Theatre, Hosford-Abernethy (Mar 4-Apr 1)

Cirque du Soleil: Corteo Past Event Like List
Cirque du Soleil's Corteo kicks off with a dead clown, but hold on, stay with us. The performance functions as a joyous funeral procession celebrating jester Mauro's life with festivities, frolic, and a cavalcade of awe-inspiring tumbles and spins.
Moda Center, Lloyd District (Mar 9-12)

The Seafarer
Past Event Like List Pregame with a pint of Guinness and settle in for this Mephistophelian comedy set in a dingy Dublin house at Christmastime. It's all brotherly love and binge-drinking in Irish playwright Conor McPherson's masterpiece The Seafarer—that is, until the cast starts a poker game with a debonair stranger, who may or may not be the Devil himself. 
Imago Theatre, Buckman (Mar 9-26)

RedHanded Past Event Like List
Hosts Suruthi Bala and Hannah Maguire will hop across the pond for this live edition of RedHanded, their British Podcast Award-winning show that serves up strange and surprising true crime cases each week. If you're into true crime, you probably dig all sorts of creepy stuff, like hauntings, possessions, and weirdo whodunits. Never fear (or maybe you should!)—Bala and Maguire cover everything from well-known serial killers to mysterious things that go bump in the night. Say your prayers.
Aladdin Theater, Brooklyn (Wed Mar 15)

Common Ground
Past Event Like List NW Dance Project will make its debut at the Reser with a trio of works by lauded contemporary female choreographers. The program includes internationally renowned choreographer Yin Yue’s Common Ground, which blends Chinese traditional folk dance and modern movement, plus world premieres by artistic director Sarah Slipper and Caroline Finn, former artistic director of National Dance Company Wales. Common Ground is a great opportunity to catch up on NW Dance Project's slick offerings, which the Oregonian dubbed “an essential part of the Portland arts scene.”
Patricia Reser Center for the Arts, Beaverton (Mar 17-18)

Thumbprint Past Event Like List
This harrowing operatic piece is inspired by the story of pioneering Pakistani human rights activist Mukhtar Mai, who "defied expectations to take her own life" after a gang rape, instead aiming to open a girl's school that would teach young women to read and write. Composed by Kamala Sankaram, “one of the most exciting opera composers in the country" (Washington Post), Thumbprint maintains remarkable optimism and advocates for restorative justice.
Newmark Theatre, South Park Blocks (Mar 18-26)

Small Town Murder Past Event Like List
Hosts James Pietragallo and Jimmie Whisman bring in-depth research and curious details on provincial crimes and neighborhood mayhem to the stage for this live edition of their podcast Small Town Murder. The show blends gory tragedy with plenty of wisecracks to lighten the mood.
Revolution Hall, Buckman (Sat Mar 25)

Hairspray
Past Event Like List It always seems to be up to the teens to challenge outdated, discriminatory bullshit. Enter Tracy Turnblad, a '60s-era teenybopper who lands her dream role on an American Bandstand-inspired variety show and becomes an overnight sensation, but is disgusted by the show's racist practices. Based on the cult '88 musical comedy by cherished slimeball John Waters, this rendition of the Tony award-winning musical Hairspray proves that "you can't stop the beat." It was directed and choreographed for new audiences by unflappable Broadway duo Jack O'Brien and Jerry Mitchell, and features RuPaul's Drag Race season 11 contestant Nina West (aka Andrew Levitt) as a shimmery Edna Turnblad.
Keller Auditorium, Downtown (Mar 28-Apr 2)

Obitchuary Podcast Live! Past Event Like List
Is there anything more perversely satisfying than a scathing obituary about some dead guy that sucked when he was alive? No, you're right, there isn't. Best friends and co-hosts Spencer Henry and Madison Reyes understand this phenomenon well, and their hit podcast Obitchuary compiles the best of the best—prepare for the wackiest, most outrageous, and occasionally vicious obits out there, with a side of macabre history and "funeral facts." We've never been more on board.
Aladdin Theater, Brooklyn (Fri Mar 31)

READINGS & TALKS

Sadie Dupuis in Conversation With Jessica Boudreaux
Past Event Like List Sadie Dupuis, guitarist and singer of acclaimed indie-rock outfit Speedy Ortiz, penned Cry Perfume over a four-year period while touring and struggling with the loss of loved ones to overdoses. Channeling her grief into advocacy work, Dupuis fundraised for overdose prevention resources and compiled the slick poems found in the new tome, drawing from her passion for justice work to reflect on "the virtues and evils that emerge when arts and tech collide." (Stephen Malkmus described the poems as "musical meters and flows cut with DIY realness"—we dig it.) Portland-based music producer and Summer Cannibals frontwoman Jessica Boudreaux will join Dupuis for this conversation.
Powell's City of Books, Pearl District (Sun Mar 5)

Consider This With Kiese Laymon
Past Event Like List Kiese Laymon, the acclaimed author of How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America and Heavy, will head to Portland as part of the 2023-24 Consider This series, which has a "People, Place, and Power" theme. Laymon will share his perspective as a Black southern writer who approaches themes of poverty, race, and shame head-on.
Alberta Rose Theatre, Concordia (Tues Mar 7)

VOICES Lecture Series
Past Event Like List In celebration of their 30th anniversary, VOICES Lectures will share the stories of fascinating women this fall and winter. The series closes on March 8 with a talk from exemplary single mom Stephanie Land, whose bestselling debut memoir Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive (and hit Netflix series of the same name) lay bare the brutalities faced by domestic workers.
Revolution Hall, Buckman (Wed Mar 8)

Jessamine Chan in Conversation With Sarah Marshall
Past Event Like List In Jessamine Chan’s buzzy dystopic debut The School for Good Mothers, moms who stand accused of even minor parenting infractions must face a Big Brother-like government institution that measures maternal devotion with a cruelly sharp eye. Chan will read from and discuss the novel, which thinks carefully about notions of "perfect" parenting, alongside Sarah Marshall, whose podcast You're Wrong About attacks the myths embedded in modern history and pop culture.
Powell's City of Books, Pearl District (Mon Mar 13)

Everybody Reads 2023: Ruth Ozeki
Past Event Like List Author, filmmaker, and Zen Buddhist priest Ruth Ozeki's trailblazing novel A Tale for the Time Being, a finalist for the Booker Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award, was also the chosen book for the Multnomah County Library's 2023 Everybody Reads program. This culminating talk with the author will double as a celebration of "the power of books to create a stronger community."
Keller Auditorium, Downtown (Thurs Mar 16)

Mae Ngai: 2023 Hatfield Lecture
Past Event Like List Mae Ngai, a US legal and political historian, Columbia University Lung Family professor of Asian American Studies, and former labor union organizer, will visit Portland to discuss her Bancroft Prize-winning book The Chinese Question: The Gold Rushes and Global Politics. The book pulls from Ngai's interests in citizenship, nationalism, and the Chinese diaspora to investigate Chinese immigration as a result of widespread capitalism in the 19th century.
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, South Park Blocks (Tues Mar 28)

National Geographic Live: Deadliest Lifesavers
Past Event Like List Zoltan Takacs collects venom, and lots of it—but don't worry, he has a good reason. The Hungarian-born adventurer, biomedical scientist, and inventor uses "cutting-edge genomics" to create "combinatorial venom libraries" of toxic venom from snakes, scorpions, jellyfish, and other animals for research on new medicines. He’s also allergic to both snake venom and antivenom, so it's safe to say he's a risk-taker. Find out more at Deadliest Lifesavers, presented as part of the National Geographic Live series, which shares the efforts of its diverse, adventurous contributors.
Newmark Theatre, South Park Blocks (Tues Mar 28)

Michelle Zauner Past Event Like List
Japanese Breakfast frontwoman Michelle Zauner will visit Portland in celebration of her acclaimed memoir Crying in H Mart, which reflects on her upbringing in Eugene, Oregon and her mother's terminal cancer diagnosis. The New York Timesbestseller, which is currently being adapted into a film, was described as "warm and wholehearted" by the Seattle Times.
Powell's City of Books, Pearl District (Fri Mar 31)

VISUAL ART

Creative Diversity Abides: Two Group Shows by Blackfish Gallery Artists
Past Event Like List Blackfish Gallery will present a group exhibition featuring over 30 contemporary Oregon artists, launching a new era of programming after relocating to a larger space in the historic Otis Elevator Building. Catch the show, which features a diverse range of sculptures, works on paper, and photography, before it travels to the Visual Arts Center in Newport later this spring.
Blackfish Gallery, Pearl District (Mar 1-25)

Takahiko Hayashi
Past Event Like List A quarter century of works by lauded Japanese artist Takahiko Hayashi are on display in Shi Han Seiki: Trace the Drawn Lines, a retrospective of swirling, abstracted copperplate prints and collages.
Froelick Gallery, Pearl District (Mar 1-Apr 15)

Arlene Schnitzer Visual Arts Prize Exhibition
Past Event Like List Awarded every year to three PSU School of Art + Design students, the Arlene Schnitzer Visual Arts Prize is a prestigious honor for up-and-coming artists. This year's winners include sustainable textile designer Johanna Houska, neurodivergent socially engaged artist Shelbie Loomis, and Nia Musuba, whose works respond to negative depictions of BIPOC within art and media. Drop by the exhibition for a creative boost.
Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, South Park Blocks (Mar 1-Apr 29)

Hito Steyerl: This is the Future Past Event Like List
German filmmaker and futuristic thinker Hito Steyerl will bring a "vibrant, imagined garden" to the Portland Art Museum, blending short film, "video sculptures," and an augmented reality (AR) experience in This is the Future to think critically about the tangled web of global capitalism and digital advancements.
Portland Art Museum, South Park Blocks (Mar 1-June 18)

This IS Kalapuyan Land
Past Event Like List Presented in collaboration with artist and curator Steph Littlebird (Grand Ronde, Kalapuya, Chinook), This IS Kalapuyan Land was first installed at Five Oaks Museum in 2019. The exhibition was adapted from a problematic 2008 show on the Kalapuyan people put forth by the Washington County Museum. Littlebird corrected the show's original explanatory panels, expanded them with historical input from Western Oregon tribe scholar David G. Lewis, Ph.D., and paired them with contemporary Indigenous artworks created by artists with connections to Kalapuyan land. Currently showing at Pittock Mansion, this fresh installment of the show includes a new collection of Native artworks.
Pittock Mansion, Northwest Portland (Mar 1-July 23)

James Hood's BEAUTIFICA360
Past Event Like List BEAUTIFICA360 is a bit difficult to pin down. Promotional materials describe the 360° immersive experience as a "euphoric journey" through "mind-blowing constellations [and] fantastical landscapes." It's pitched as both the perfect date night and a family-friendly affair. Also, it was designed by a guy who looks like this. Our advice? Pop an edible and enjoy the show, whatever it may be.
OMSI, Central Eastside (Mar 2-12)

Dinh Q. Lê - Cambodia Reamker Past Event Like List
Dinh Q. Lê continues to work with themes of displacement, war, and history in Cambodia Reamker, a series of photographic weavings depicting Reamker, the national epic of Cambodia, and portraits of incarcerated people in Tuol Sleng, a notorious Khmer Rouge prison. Lê, whose family was forced to flee the Khmer Rouge in 1978, now creates "alternative narratives" that blend references to the country's rich cultural traditions and tragic recent history.
Elizabeth Leach Gallery, Pearl District (Mar 2-Apr 29)

Mark R. Smith - Stress Formations Past Event Like List
In the solo exhibition Stress Formations, Mark R. Smith's textile paintings and laser engravings expand on his interests in social networks and crowds. Reflecting on the sociopolitical climate of the last few years, Smith noticed an interesting contrast between common pandemic pastimes—knitting, crochet—and the civil unrest unfolding in the wake of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor's murders. Smith's intricate fabric works, including a "big tent," bring up questions: Who is kept safe and sheltered? How do we attempt to "organize the unruly?"
Elizabeth Leach Gallery, Pearl District (Mar 2-Apr 29)

Remembering to Remember: Experiments in Sound
Past Event Like List Curated by Roya Amirsoleymani and Felisha Ledesma, Remembering to Remember: Experiments in Sound (named after a Pauline Oliveros quote, natch) includes live performances, workshops, multichannel compositions, and video works at the cutting edge of experimental sound and moving image art. An exhibition with works by contemporary tastemakers like Synth Library Portland, Takashi Makino, and others will set the scene. In March, visitors can take part in workshops on multi-channel sound compositions, outdoor "soundwalking", and collaboration, or enjoy live performances by Lucy Liyou, Crystal Quartez, Nyokabi Kariũki, and others.
PICA, Eliot (Mar 3-19)

Pour the Water as I Leave: Installation, Vol I: Film In Progress Past Event Like List
Portland's strong Bosnian community includes many former refugees who immigrated to the United States after the Balkan Wars. Bosnian-born director Daniela Repas's animated documentary Pour the Water as I Leave, which is currently in production, tells their important stories. This exhibition will feature behind-the-scenes photography by multidisciplinary artist Simone Fischer alongside hand-drawn animation cels and excerpts from the film.
SATOR Projects and Virtual (Mar 3-31)