The Top 38 Events in Portland This Week: June 3–9, 2024 - EverOut Portland (2024)

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MONDAY

FILM

Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension Past EventLikeList
It's got John Lithgow, Peter Weller, Ellen Barkin, and Jeff Goldblum in a cowboy costume, but you might never have heard of it. The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension was the definition of a flop upon its release in 1984—it only earned back half of its production costs—yet the film's experimental chutzpah bestowed a semblance of cult status. See what the fuss is about at this screening of the eccentric sci-fi flick. LC
(Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District)

TUESDAY

LIVE MUSIC

The Raveonettes Past EventLikeList
Indie sleaze is back, didn’t you hear? The Danish indie rock duo consisting of Sune Rose Wagner and Sharin Foo will ride a wave of nostalgia across the USA to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their debut EP Whip It On! Sing along to throwbacks like "Attack of the Ghost Riders" and "Beat City" after an opening set from NYC indie rockers Wild Pink.
(Aladdin Theater, Brooklyn)

WEDNESDAY

COMEDY

Hannah Gadsby: Woof! Past EventLikeList
Hannah Gadsby really shook things up with their 2018 Netflix specialNanette, which landed the furious, courageous comic an Emmy, a Peabody, and a newfound audience who resonated with their brutally honest stand-up style. Gadsby found themself with plenty of time to "ponder" during the pandemic, so I'm stoked to see what they've come up with this time—The Guardiandescribed Woof! as "refusing to toe the line."LC
(Keller Auditorium, Downtown)

LIVE MUSIC

PVRIS Past EventLikeList
On her latest album, Evergreen, electro-pop project PVRIS (aka Lynn Gunn) embarks on a mission to reclaim control in a post-pandemic culture. Sonically, the album is pop radio-friendly, but a deeper listen reveals resonant reflections on stardom, technology, and female autonomy. She will be joined by English rock trio Pale Waves. AV
(Crystal Ballroom, West End)

THURSDAY

COMEDY

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

PARTIES & NIGHTLIFE

Holocene's 21st Anniversary Party with TDJ, Chrissy, and Sappho Past EventLikeList
Cherished Portland venue Holocene is celebrating its 21st birthday (they grow up so fast!) with a dance party featuring a genre-bending, forward-thinking gaggle of DJs. Ethereal dance music maven TDJ will stop by from Montreal for a set alongside San Francisco-based house selector Chrissy, and Portland's own eclectic powerhouse Sappho.AV
(Holocene, Buckman)

PERFORMANCE

Live Wire with Luke Burbank: Ian Karmel, Laurie Kilmartin, Lizzie No, and Noë Álvarez Past EventLikeList
Live Wire's spring offerings will continue with another edition of the honest and funny conversational show hosted by Luke Burbank. This time around, featured guests will include former Mercury columnist, beloved Beavertonian, Emmy Award-winning comic, and onetime co-head writer for The Late Late Show with James CordenIan Karmel. He'll chat with comic and Emmy-nommed CONAN writer Laurie Kilmartin and Noë Álvarez, whose new book Accordion Eulogies: A Memoir of Music, Migration, and Mexico is "an odyssey to repair a severed family lineage, told through the surprising history of a musical instrument." Folksy yet genre-defying singer-songwriter Lizzie No will sling some tunes. LC
(Alberta Rose Theatre, Concordia)

FRIDAY

COMEDY

The Broke Gravy ShowRemindLikeList
The Broke Gravy dudes (Chris, Leon, and Eric) have forged a unique path in improv comedy, using the off-the-cuff medium to inspire deeper conversations on their perspectives as Black Americans. (They're also funny AF.) They'll head to Kickstand for another hour of "unfiltered conversation, idiosyncratic characters, and the joy of unknown possibilities." LC
(Kickstand Comedy, Ladd's Addition)

FILM

CULT SENSATION: BUT I’M A CHEERLEADER! Show #1 (Violet Hex Presents)RemindLikeList
When a spunky cheerleading teen is sent to a wackjob conversion therapy camp to "cure her lesbianism," she meets someone special (spoiler: it's a girl) and learns more about herself than she anticipated. Natasha Lyonne and Clea DuVall deliver the sapphic goods in this campy '99 flick, which Movie Guide: Movie Reviews for Christians deems "vulgar." That's a shining endorsem*nt, if you ask us. Violet Hex's Cult Sensation, a queer celebration of cult cinema, will kick off the screening with a superstar-filled drag show. Happy Pride! LC
(Clinton Street Theater, Hosford-Abernethy)

PARTIES & NIGHTLIFE

Video Dance Attack: Prince TributeRemindLikeList
Swathe your body in purple velvet and party like it's 1999 in honor of His Royal Badness' birthday. Music videos for iconic Prince tracks like "Purple Rain," "Raspberry Beret," "When Doves Cry," and more will be projected on a giant screen to keep you dancing through the night. Let's go crazy! AV
(Show Bar, Buckman)

PERFORMANCE

Therapy Gecko Live: The Lizard Agenda TourRemindLikeList
As one of the millions of people on earth who has tried therapy, I'd never considered that a man-sized, anthropomorphic gecko might be the actual answer to my problems—yet perhaps I do need a soft-voiced, wholesome counselor version of Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile in my life. It's no weirder than whatever Goop is up to. Therapy Gecko, hosted by a dude who is, coincidentally, also named Lyle, is casually off-kilter and a little psychedelic, like something you'd encounter on Adult Swim or Between Two Ferns. Lyle grants an empathetic, reptilian ear to all sorts of oddball questions from anonymous callers on his podcast; we're assuming he'll offer a lending hand (do geckos have hands?) to the audience at this performance. LC
(Polaris Hall, Humboldt)

READINGS & TALKS

Maggie Smith in Conversation With Kimberly King ParsonsRemindLikeList
Poet's poet Maggie Smith plumbs the depths of her disintegrating marriage in You Could Make This Place Beautiful, reflecting on contemporary womanhood, gender roles, and power dynamics with an inquisitive, empathetic eye. (If you dig Deborah Levy and Rachel Cusk, this memoir will be up your alley.) Kimberly King Parsons, who penned the National Book Award-nominated collectionBlack Light, will join Smith in conversation. LC
(Powell's City of Books, Pearl District)

SATURDAY

COMMUNITY

Portland Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade 2024RemindLikeList
For more than a century, the Grand Floral Parade has brought the city together in celebration of not just flowers, but the communities that connect us. Each float and mini-float is decked out in colorful blooms, and the parade will be peppered with entertainment including marching bands, drill teams, vintage vehicles, dancers, llamas, and horses. Watch the parade meander through the Lloyd District, or for $15, get a reserved seat inside the Veterans Memorial Coliseum which includes a pre-parade show with special performances from featured high school bands and silly antics from the Rose Festival Clowns. SL
(Various locations, Lloyd District)

FILM

Dirty DancingRemindLikeList
Nobody puts Baby in a corner, y'all. Head to the Hollywood to watch Frances “Baby” Houseman fall in love with a Catskills camp dance instructor, and wear your finest cat sweater: All proceeds from the purr-worthy benefit screening will be donated to the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon, who work to "improve the welfare and reduce the population of feral and stray cats through spay/neuter programs and education" in Oregon and Southwest Washington. LC
(Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District)

FOOD & DRINK

Boba DashRemindLikeList
Let Chris Fleming's "Boba Manifesto" be your theme song as you stroll through downtown Beaverton and Portland's metro region, picking up tapioca-studded beverages from 10 businesses. You'll get to partake in four-ounce samples, browse goods from local artists and vendors, and receive a complimentary reusable glass boba straw and souvenir boba cup, so you can be the most stylish person at the bubble tea cafe.JB
(Umpqua Bank Parking Lot, Beaverton)

2024 Farm to Plate SeriesRemindLikeList
It doesn't get much fresher than eating a meal in the very place where the ingredients were grown. Topaz Farm's resident "farm-to-plate" chefs and culinary power couple Christian and Janelle Ephrem will craft a series of five-course meals sourced from Topaz itself, with menus designed mere days in advance and produce harvested just hours before the dinner. You'll get to take a seat at a long communal table and dine beneath a 500-year-old oak tree. JB
(Topaz Farm, Sauvie Island)

LIVE MUSIC

Camera ObscuraRemindLikeList
I was lucky enough to see Camera Obscura support their album fifth album Desire Lines back in 2013, before the tragic loss of their keyboardist Carey Lander. Although I spent most of the show examining the crowd for my high school crush, I've since realized that was precisely the right way to experience their dreamy indie pop: lovelorn, daydreaming, and yearning for a boy who wears cardigans. The Glasgow-based outfit will return to Portland to tour Look to the East, Look to the West, their first album in over 10 years, alongside folk-pop outfit Photo Ops. AV
(Revolution Hall, Buckman)

READINGS & TALKS

Ian Karmel in Conversation With Alisa Karmel, PsyDRemindLikeList
To know Ian Karmel is to love him. The former Mercury columnist, beloved Beavertonian, Emmy Award-winning comic, and onetime co-head writer for The Late Late Show with James Corden writer (he's fancy these days) played a key role in our humble city's comedy renaissance. Karmel will drop by his old stomping grounds with something new for the loyal fanbase he's cultivated 'round these parts: T-Shirt Swim Club, a book on the "daily humiliations of being fat and why it's so hard to talk about something so visible." He'll chat with his sister Dr. Alisa Karmel, who contributed the "What Now?" section of Karmel's book and aims to dismantle the "contemporary narrative around fatness." (Itching for more Ian? Here's a recent Mercury video interview.) LC
(Powell's City of Books, Pearl District)

SUNDAY

FILM

Singles with Pop-Up Record FairRemindLikeList
My grandmother was the first person in my life to plop the 1992 film Singles into the VHS player. No, she's not a grunge fanatic—my dad appears as an extra in the film and she held onto a copy to show off her "movie star son" to friends and family. In my dad's one-and-only acting role, he bobs his head to Alice In Chains right in between Campbell Scott and Kyra Sedgwick (luckily, the footage is now on YouTube!) Aside from embarrassing my father, there is a lot to love about this movie. To the average viewer, it's a well-written rom-com with great fashion and even better music (Pearl Jam, Mother Love Bone, Soundgarden, et al). But to us Pacific Northwesterners, it's an idealized time capsule of what we wish Seattle was like (then, now, and moving forward). Catch this screening of the film which will also include a pop-up vinyl fair. AV
(Tomorrow Theater, Richmond)

FOOD & DRINK

Made With Pride 2024RemindLikeList
The wine world is notorious for its snobbery and exclusivity, but RAM Cellars founder Vivianne Kennedy and Gonzales Wine Co. owner Cristina Gonzales founded Community Wine Bar in fall 2023 with the hopes of serving marginalized communities and increasing accessibility. They're making good on their word with this festival, which will showcase wines from over 10 queer-owned Oregon wineries (Augustina Cellars, Circadian Cellars, Hip Chicks Do Wine, Franchere Wine Co., K&M Wines, Landmass Wines, RAM Cellars, Remy Wines, Sis & Mae Wines, Westrey Wine Co, and Ze Wines) and several queer-owned food vendors, plus optional cheese plates from the cheesemonger La Femme Fromage. All ticket proceeds will benefit the local nonprofit Outside In, which aims to provide healthcare and social services for youth experiencing homelessness and other marginalized people in downtown Portland and the surrounding community. JB
(Community Wine Bar, Southwest Portland)

MULTI-DAY

COMEDY

Leanne Morgan: Just Getting Started TourRemindLikeList
Tennessee-born Leanne Morgan has always known her true passion—she's been pursuing comedy and performance since her childhood 4-H talent show. But life led her in a different direction, and she wound up selling jewelry at parties in the Appalachian foothills. Morgan couldn't hide her comedic talents, though, and started a stand-up career despite it all. The comic's humble beginnings still inspire her relatable, country-tinged comedy—she's known for her Jell-O salad recipes, and audiences might hear the scoop on her new grandbaby on this tour. LC
(Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, South Park Blocks, Thursday-Friday)

EXHIBIT

FathomRemindLikeList
For better or worse, Meow Wolf-esque experiences have proliferated across the country in recent years, and after the success of Hopscotch, Portland has earned one more immersive pop-up. Fathom is staged as a temporary undersea adventure, but creators Roboto Octopodo have a "much larger vision" for the experience's future. Head downtown for selfie opportunities with glowy coral reefs, giant whales, and "the dazzling insides of a sparkly angler fish." LC
(Central Plaza, Downtown, Friday-Sunday)

FESTIVALS

Oregon Renaissance Faire 2024RemindLikeList
Whether you're there for the Middle Ages vibes or the unbeatable people-watching, the Ren Faire at the Clackamas County Fairgrounds (the "Vale of Dunrose" for these purposes) is always a mead-guzzlin' good time. Harkening back to when musicians, jugglers, and falconers all reveled together, this fantasy-loving festival (led by Mary Stewart, Queen of Scots) will take place for three consecutive weekends in June, celebrating fairies, pirates, Celtic culture, and everything in between. Nothing says summer like chainmail and wool tunics, so head to the fair to catch jousting knights and snag trinkets and treats from a long-gone era. LC
(Clackamas County Fairgrounds, Canby, Saturday-Sunday)

Portland Rose Festival 2024RemindLikeList
The city's landmark festival will return to celebrate its 116-year legacy with petals, pistils, stamens, and a slew of much-loved events that "focus on fun." The festivities include the Grand Floral Parade (a botanical spectacular on wheels) and the twinkly nighttime Starlight Parade of illuminated floats, plus the Queen's coronation, a treasure hunt, dragon boat races (a thrilling Chinese tradition practiced in the Rose City since 1989), and a three-weekend CityFair with carnival rides. LC
(Various locations, Wednesday-Sunday)

FILM

Portland Horror Film Festival 2024RemindLikeList
Life itself might seem kinda frightening, but in my opinion, horror flicks offer the perfect catharsis. (At least you're not dodging a chainsaw-wielding maniac...right?) Channel that glad-it's-not-me spirit at the Portland Horror Film Festival, which will return this year, inviting attendees to get their spook on with "over 65" of fresh shorts, indie haunts, and sleeper hits to die for. It's a little like Halloween in June. Expect spooky offerings from BIPOC, women, and queer filmmakers, and pick your poison—you'll find folk horror, masked killers, and haunted houses in the festival lineup. LC
(Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District, Wednesday-Sunday)

FOOD & DRINK

Celebration of Oregon Brewers FestivalRemindLikeList
Beer lovers, rejoice: Two perennial favorite gatherings, the Portland Rose Festival and the Oregon Brewers Festival, are merging once again for a dual celebration, included with the purchase of a CityFair ticket. OBF founder Art Larrance will curate a lineup of hoppy offerings, and attendees will be able to take home a keepsake 2024 Rose Festival mug with any 12-ounce pour. JB
(Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Downtown, Friday-Sunday)

The Portland Mercury's Highball 2024RemindLikeList
BEHOLD!It's the triumphant return of thePortland Mercury'sHIGHBALL! That's correct: Get ready for an ENTIRE WEEK (June 3-9) of specially crafted, original co*cktails 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 co*cktail-lovin' pals atJim Beam—to bring you this one-of-a-kind booze-tacular! At each of Highball's locations, you'll find $8 specially crafted co*cktails, and even better? They'll be availableALL DAY (not just during happy hour)!
(Various locations, Monday-Sunday)

Zoo Brew RemindLikeList
It isn't too often you get the opportunity to sample offerings from over 50 Pacific Northwest breweries and cideries while surrounded by creatures ranging from primates to polar bears, but that's exactly what Zoo Brew provides. In addition, the evening will feature live tunes from Loose Cajun Zydeco Band, lawn games, and conversations with zookeepers. JB
(Oregon Zoo, Washington Park, Friday-Saturday)

LIVE MUSIC

HONK! PDX 2024RemindLikeList
This free, family-oriented festival revives the old-world sounds of brass, percussion, and street band music. Dozens of bands across various musical styles (including punk rock marching bands, European Klezmer groups, Maracatu sounds, and more) will take to Lents Park (day one) and the streets and parks around the Montavilla neighborhood (day two) as they jam out in celebration of this democratic and ebullient musical genre. So bring a chair, join in with your own instrument, or just come to dance! AV
(Various locations, Saturday-Sunday)

PERFORMANCE

Blonde on a Bum TripRemindLikeList
The feature production at Fuse Theatre's annual OUTwright Theatre Festival comes straight from the brain of Mikki Gillette, whose past show The Queers was the first-ever trans ensemble drama by a trans writer to premiere in Portland. Gillette has proven herself as a powerful voice in contemporary theater, and she's one to keep an eye on. If you haven't yet engaged with Gillette's work, I recommend checking out this production of Blonde on a Bum Trip, which is set within Warhol's factory scene and follows the lives of pioneering trans actresses Candy Darling, Holly Woodlawn, and Jackie Curtis. LC
(Reed College, Reed, Thursday-Sunday)

Clyde'sRemindLikeList
As a Pulitzer Prize winner and 2007 MacArthur genius, Nottage often centers working-class people in her storytelling—her 2015 play Sweat centered small-town Pennsylvania factory workers facing job insecurity, racism, and class disparities. This time around, she had me at "play about a sandwich." Nottage's Clyde'sfollows a team of formerly incarcerated kitchen staff who navigate life after lock-up while on a "quest to create the perfect sandwich," so I hope you brought napkins. Check out this interpretation of the play for a funky cross between The Bear and Abbott Elementary. LC
(Portland Center Stage, Pearl District, Wednesday–Sunday)

Made in PortlandRemindLikeList
Oregon Ballet Theatre will close its 2023-24 season with another installment of Made in Portland, showcasing three world premieres crafted right here in town. This time around, acclaimed choreographers include Andrea Schermoly, Pointe Magazine’s Top 25 to Watch honoree Rebecca Margolick, and OBT’s own "rising dance makers" Makino Hayashi and Charlotte Nash. They'll share their perspectives on the Rose City alongside the nationally renowned Jefferson Dancers from Portland’s own Jefferson High School. LC
(Newmark Theatre, South Park Blocks, Thursday-Sunday)

Middletown MallRemindLikeList
Isn't it everyone's secret desire to return to the safe, pastel stucco surroundings of a '90s-era mall? Japan-born, Hawaii-raised playwright Lava Alapai agrees with me—her play Middletown Mall is staged in a long-gone food court, where 20-somethings navigate economic disparity, social stresses, and family antics. Things grow more complicated when they all begin to prepare for America's biggest karaoke contest, "Sing Out!” LC
(CoHo Theater, Northwest Portland, Thursday-Sunday)

VISUAL ART

A Berry, A Boot, A Building, A Blue Door: New Works by Mike YoungRemindLikeList
California-born artist Mike Young began earning money from hand-drawn greeting cards in the '70s. Young is deaf and blind in one eye, and observes images from books and magazines close up, "bringing his face close enough to nearly touch the pigment and paper." Drawn to contour, outline, architectural detail, and anatomy, Young's pictorial works feel familiar yet reorganized. "His accumulations tell fragmented stories and invent new taxonomies," PICA artistic director Kristan Kennedy explains. A Berry, A Boot, A Building, A Blue Door: New Works by Mike Youngis a great opportunity to check out Elbow Room, a local arts organization providing material support, mentorship, and studio space to artists experiencing intellectual and developmental disabilities. LC
(Elbow Room, Buckman, Friday-Sunday; closing)

Alyson Provax: To know what we say we knowRemindLikeList
Prolific letterpress artist Alyson Provax is always up to something artistic, so her latest solo exhibition comes as no surprise. To know what we say we knowpresents new letterpress works by Provax, referencing spoken language and diaries to reflect on "the limitations of language to express our individual perceptions and the way that this affects connection between us." Provax adopts a repetitive "drawing" style to help the viewer notice their own experience of reading, but don't expect a novel: Her work more closely resembles concrete poetry. LC
(Well Well, Kenton, Saturday-Sunday)

Assembly 2024RemindLikeList
If you're not hip to Portland State University's Art and Social Practice MFA program, you should be. Graduate candidates in the experiential program consistently engage with the community through social practice projects that feel thoughtful, resourceful, weird, and often funny. Each year, Assembly offers an opportunity to catch up with the MFA students and learn more about social practice as an ever-expanding medium. This year, they'll stage three days of artist talks and events at Lloyd Center, the Rose City Book Pub, and the Community for Positive Aging (fka the Hollywood Senior Center). LC
(Various locations, Friday-Sunday)

Justin L’Amie: Living in the CityRemindLikeList
I'll be honest: At first, I wasn't certain what Justin L'Amie's watercolor and gouache compositions had to do with city life. They're fun to observe, though. Stems of star-shaped flowers squiggle and form faces, while grasshoppers, spiders, and colorful moths land on the paper for a moment of rest. "Living in the city, a churning, hectic place...Pigeons sharing chicken bones. Laughter from the stairwell. Sobbing from under a tarp. The indifference of a machine. Find a support system. Rent raised again," the show's promotional materials read. Living in the Cityseems to nod toward the other-than-human life occupying urban spaces, hinting at the need for moments of respite, sanctuary spaces, and quiet noticing. LC
(PDX CONTEMPORARY ART, Slabtown, Wednesday-Saturday; opening)

Monet to Matisse: French ModernsRemindLikeList
With 60-ish masterpieces pulled from the Brooklyn Museum’s illustrious European art collection, the Portland Art Museum's latest exhibition centers the modernist accomplishments of French artists. You might've already guessed that Monet to Matisse: French Moderns features pieces by Monet and Matisse, but visitors can also spy works by Cézanne, Chagall, Degas, and Renoir...you know, pretty much every creator mentioned in your Art History 101 class, all curated one place. My advice? Make a super-sensory day of it: Dress fancy, feast your eyeballs, then pick up some runny cheese from Providore on the way home. LC
(Portland Art Museum, South Park Blocks, Saturday-Sunday; opening)

Vision of PlaceRemindLikeList
In celebration of 65 years of Portland's sister city relationship with Sapporo, Japan, this group exhibition brings together works by Portland photographer Sandra Chandler and Hokkaido-based photographers. Chandler's minimalist, serene works, which capture Hokkaido's winter landscapes, will be exhibited in the Jordan Schnitzer Japanese Arts Learning Center’s Calvin and Mayho Tanabe Gallery, while poetic perspectives by the Hokkaido-based group The North Finder will be displayed in the Pavilion Gallery. The North Finder aims to “raise the image of Hokkaido through photography and help people to know Hokkaido more deeply." Cool! LC
(Portland Japanese Garden, Washington Park, Monday/Wednesday-Sunday)

William Matheson: The GlowRemindLikeList
William Matheson may be Portland-based, but his paintings have been shown all over the world, from Mongolia to the Czech Republic. His sixth solo exhibition at Nationale might also be his most metaphysical—the artist thinks carefully about the concept of "the glow," from its connection to wildfires and ecological peril to something more elusive. Painted on jute, Matheson's compositions are innately textural, sinewy, and hazy, streaked with summery hues and hints of smoke and fumes. LC
(Nationale, Buckman, Monday/Thursday-Sunday)