WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27

MUSIC—It's been four years since Portland band Norfolk and Western dusted off their amber-hued, folk-flecked nuggets, but on Thanksgiving Eve, the band's getting back together! Boasting an expanded lineup—including drummer Rachel Blumberg, who's visiting from Rhode Island, along with Adam Selzer, Dave Depper, Peter Broderick, Cory Gray, and Amanda Lawrence—this'll be a reunion to remember. NL
w/1939 Ensemble, Darren Hanlon; Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside, 8:30 pm, $12

SEXY FILM—Courtesy of the Hollywood's lady-centric Broad Spectrum series, you can watch the amazingly sexy and empowering film Secretary. The steamy 2002 movie stars Maggie Gyllenhaal, and James Spader as the dominating Mr. Grey (suck it, Fifty Shades!). Plus! She Bop would like to say, "Spank you very much," with a BDSM lesson to accompany the screening. CF
Hollywood Theatre, 4122 NE Sandy, 7:30 pm, $8, 18+

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28

RUN—Today is devoted to gluttony (and thankfulness), and that's grand, but wouldn't you feel a tiiiiiny bit better about yourself if you went on a run before commencing with the eggnog? Half of you just stopped reading, but for the rest of you: Part of the proceeds from the annual four-mile Turkey Trot run go to the Oregon Zoo, so they can bring us more baby otters! MS
World Forestry Center, 4001 SW Canyon, 8 am, $25-35

DANCE—After enduring an afternoon of stuffing your colon with turkey and the passive-aggressive glares of relatives, it's time to have FUN. So head down to one of our favorite Portland dives, the Spare Room, and shake that cranberry sauce at Jive Turkey. Tried-and-true DJ Gregarious will be spinning all your disco and funk faves... and it's FREE. WSH
The Spare Room, 4830 NE 42nd, 9 pm, FREE

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29

COMEDY—After energizing the live theater scene with hilarious shows like Road House: The Play!, Bad Reputation Productions brings their off-kilter sensibilities to the holidays with a fully staged version of the 1964 stop-motion TV classic Rudolph: On Stage! (Featuring Merc Editor Wm. Steven Humphrey!) Finally, a Christmas show that's not terrible! AH
CoHo Theater, 2257 NW Raleigh, Fri-Sat 7:30 pm, through Dec 21, $20-24

MUSIC—Chan Marshall of Cat Power has a knack for ripping into your insides with songwriting that inspires a sad drive in the pouring rain, quietly sobbing all the while. She's bringing those deep feelings and musical reelings to Puddletown for a stop on the continuing tour of her newest album, Sun. CF
w/Nico Turner; Hawthorne Theatre, 1507 SE César E. Chávez, 8 pm, $30-35

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30

SISTERS—Twin sisters Katie and Allison Crutchfield broke up their band P.S. Eliot, but now they each have their own incredible new act—in Katie's case, the knife-sharp, world-wise songwriting of Waxahatchee, and in Allison's, the fizzing, punk-minded Swearin'. The two excellent bands are on a tour together, so at tonight's all-ages show, you won't have to choose between 'em. NL
Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, 7:30 pm, $12, all ages

MUSIC—Yes, the Village People—camp tropes from the long-dead days of disco and gas shortages—are still a thing. I'm obliged to mention the band put out a new single this summer. But all anyone really cares about is whether these six old men in wild costumes will still sing "YMCA." The answer is yes. Of course. It's the entire reason they still exist. DCT
w/Ancient Heat; Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside, 8 pm, $35-40

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1

FILM—As part of their excellent "Samurai Cinema" series, the NW Film Center has lined up a hell of a double feature: First there's 1973's fantastic Lady Snowblood, starring Meiko Kaji as a ruthless woman out for revenge! It's one of the movies that inspired Tarantino to make Kill Bill, and... oh, right! Also screening today is Kill Bill: Vol. 1, a movie that's as badass and as fun as movies get. EH
Whitsell Auditorium, 1219 SW Park, Lady Snowblood at 4:30 pm, Kill Bill: Vol. 1 at 7 pm, $9 per film

MUSIC—Any serious fan of Portland music has probably seen Dead Moon at least once, but much rarer is the opportunity to see Fred and Toody Cole play unplugged, which is exactly what's on the menu tonight. And for free, no less! MS
w/Jenny Don't and the Spurs; LaurelThirst Public House, 2958 NE Glisan, 9 pm, FREE

MONDAY, DECEMBER 2

MUSIC—Did we mention Lola's Room is hosting free punk shows every Monday now? You simply cannot argue with a deal like that, especially when a quality outfit like Youthbitch is headlining. The Portland quartet's boisterous, sugar-sweet pop punk is your best bet for starting the week on a frugal foot. DVH
w/Piss Test; Lola's Room, 1332 W Burnside, 8 pm, FREE, all ages

FILM—The Hollywood Theatre's tribute to Jack Nicholson concludes with Stanley Kubrick's 1980 classic The Shining—a movie that's terrifying and brilliant in equal measure. Venture into Room 237! Watch Nicholson chew a hotel's worth of scenery! Wince every time Shelley Duvall says anything! Prepare yourself for REDRUM! EH
Hollywood Theatre, 4122 NE Sandy, see Film Times at portlandmercury.com, $5-8

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3

BOOKS—Feminist and queer communities, argues Julia Serano, are often guilty of policing gender and identity just as aggressively as the mainstream does. As a bisexual, femme-identified trans woman, she's experienced such policing firsthand, and she chronicles those experiences (and proposes a new approach to fighting sexism) in her new book Excluded. AH
Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside, 7:30 pm, FREE

BENEFIT—One of Portland's most beloved fixtures in the dance/music scene, Kathleen Keogh, was assaulted in San Francisco, and has racked up some big medical bills. Cue the ever-generous Portland who is always happy to help with this Benefit for Kathleen Keogh, featuring music from Pictureplane and Miracles Club, as well as a reunion of Kathleen's dance squad $kulls, DJ Beyondadoubt, and more! See? Generosity and caring are fun. WSH
Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, 8:30 pm, $8