WEDNESDAY, MAY 20

MUSIC—You'll have to wait all the way until August's MusicfestNW to hear the transcendent new strains of the Helio Sequence's latest eponymous release... unless you hit this intimate, free in-store performance. I think you know what to do. MARJORIE SKINNER
Music Millennium, 3158 E Burnside, 7 pm, FREE, all ages

TV—Since 1982, the subversive, ruthless, goofy, and brilliant David Letterman has been the best thing about late-night TV. Tonight is his final show, and while it's tempting to treat his retirement as a symbol for the end of an era when people actually watched live TV, it's better to just say this: Tonight's your last chance to see a new Late Show with David Letterman. He'll be great, as always. ERIK HENRIKSEN
Your TV, CBS, 11:35 pm

THURSDAY, MAY 21

MUSIC—A busy music weekend kicks off with the hazy, cirrocumulus guitar pop of Real Estate, who'll be perfect to zone out to in Revolution Hall's comfy seats. Don't miss openers Woods, whose harvest of American folk-rock sounds like it spans centuries. NED LANNAMANN
Revolution Hall, 1300 SE Stark, #110, 8 pm, $20, all ages

MUSIC—Ty Segall has yet to tour through Portland on the back of the brilliant Manipulator, and unless you're headed to Pickathon later this summer, don't let his similarly righteous Fuzz project pass you by. We see you hiding behind that drum kit, Ty! MARJORIE SKINNER
w/Old Light, Grandparents; Dante's, 350 W Burnside, 9 pm, $14

LECTURE—In a city where many self-identify as geniuses, Walidah Imarisha is the real fucking deal! Her anthology Octavia's Brood puts a social justice spin on science fiction, and she's responsible for some of the best scholarship on race in Oregon. Unlike many academics, she's also straight-up fascinating. Go think and drink! MEGAN BURBANK
Alberta Rose Theatre, 3000 NE Alberta, 7 pm, $10-25, all ages

FRIDAY, MAY 22

MUSIC—It's a spectacle you don't want to miss when shadowy noir popster Lana Del Rey takes '90s hot mess Courtney Love on tour. This is what dreams are made of... weird, surreal, sweaty dreams. I'm breaking out my combat boots and Live Through This CD right now. Get there early because I have a terrible premonition this could all go south before too long. COURTNEY FERGUSON
Amphitheater Northwest, 17200 NE Delfel, Ridgefield, WA, 7:30 pm, $25-79.50, all ages

MUSIC—Holy jinkies, this is a hot-shit lineup! Mary Timony's ripping trio Ex Hex will tear the roof off the joint as the headliners. I'd be worried about following the bananas-great rawk of Diarrhea Planet, but Ex Hex are pros, through and through. And the Portland crew in Summer Cannibals are certainly no slouches when it comes to face-melting rock 'n' roll. Buckle up, lovelies. COURTNEY FERGUSON
Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi, 9 pm, $13-15

SATURDAY, MAY 23

MUSIC—Before the Thermals were punk rocking around the country, Hutch and Kathy—that'd be Thermals bandmates Hutch Harris and Kathy Foster—were recording catchy lo-fi folk songs in their homes. Now you can get that record on re-issued vinyl (okay, or CD)! But maybe check them out live tonight if you care about sound quality. DIRK VANDERHART
w/S Duo, Allie Goertz; Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi, 9 pm, $12

FESTIVAL—One of Portland's fave cheesy-fun events returns for another year of cheese-tastic fun. It's the Rose Festival's CityFair, which debuted on Friday with fireworks, but don't forget to visit the waterfront this weekend where you will ride rides, eat elephant ears, see "exotic animals," and thrill to the sight of Greshamites dancing to questionable music in the RoZone. It's fun. WM. STEVEN HUMPHREY
Tom McCall Waterfront Park, SW Naito & Yamhill, 11 am-11 pm, through June 7, see rosefestival.org for times and calendar, $7 (six and under are FREE)

SUNDAY, MAY 24

FILM—The country's best bicycle film festival heads north to the Hollywood Theatre this year. Which means Filmed by Bike's dozens of delightful short films can be viewed in plusher environs than its past home at the Clinton Street Theater. And it means that pre-eminent bicycle bar/shop Velo Cult is just a block away—and a perfect spot for the event's annual street party on Friday. DIRK VANDERHART
Hollywood Theatre, 4122 NE Sandy, Fri-Sun, $11 per screening ($42 fest pass), filmedbybike.org

THEATER—Be honest: You'd probably rather be watching your latest TV story than ponying up for Serious Theatre, wouldn't you? Well, Portland Center Stage has your number, lazypants—they've cast their latest show, Pulitzer-winner Three Days of Rain, with Silas Weir Mitchell and Sasha Roiz of Grimm. There probably won't be werewolves, but there will be a sweeping family drama! MEGAN BURBANK
Portland Center Stage, 128 NW 11th, Tues-Fri 7:30 pm, Sat-Sun 2 & 7:30 pm, through June 21, $20-41, pcs.org

MONDAY, MAY 25

MUSIC—Noisey weirdly described Crocodiles' new album Boys as "salsa-punk," but before you run into the hills screaming in terror, rest assured that it is much better imagined as raw, rigid post-punk with a hint of new wave danceability and a ton of cool, sneering attitude. No trumpets or timbales to be found. NED LANNAMANN
w/Vice Device, Cat Hoch; The Know, 2026 NE Alberta, 8 pm, $8

FILM—A few years before he helped invent the summer blockbuster, George Lucas made a very different sort of movie: 1973's American Graffiti, based on his own teen years in Modesto, California. The result—starring baby-faced Richard Dreyfuss and Ron Howard, not to mention a dreamy Harrison Ford—is still a perfect summer movie. ERIK HENRIKSEN
Academy Theater, 7818 SE Stark, see portlandmercury.com/movietimes

TUESDAY, MAY 26

COMICS—One of the finest criminal minds of our time lives here, in Portland. But he doesn't rob banks or hold office; he writes comics. Greg Rucka uses his diabolical mind for good, writing crime comics like the sublime Stumptown, the third volume of which is released today. BOBBY ROBERTS
Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside, 7:30 pm, FREE>

MUSIC—Fans of dancing their asses off will be rushing for the stage when electro poppers Hot Chip start the getdown. Touring their new album Why Make Sense?, Hot Chip's newest tunes are more introspective—especially paired with Alexis Taylor's trademark disaffected vocals—but that doesn't make them any less addictive on the dance floor... because their live shows are things of sweaty legend. WM. STEVEN HUMPHREY
w/Slow Magic; Roseland, 8 NW 6th, 8 pm, $28, all ages