THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2

FORMAL—Local label/boutique Tender Loving Empire throws their first-ever Winter Formal—and dressing up is recommended. Playing the festivities are goodtime party-folkers Pancake Breakfast, plus new TLE signees Loch Lomond, backed by a chamber orchestra. Tickets are on sale, but if you bought a gift at the TLE store in the past two weeks, you've already scored a free ticket. NL
w/Aan; The Woods, 6637 SE Milwaukie, 9 pm, $15

CRAFTY—Holiday shopping rules to live by: shop early, and shop local. You can do both at Reading Frenzy's 15th annual Cheap Art and Craft Show—all the art and crafts on sale are priced under $50, including "Reading Frenzy exclusives" from Nikki McClure and Carson Ellis. AH
Reading Frenzy, 921 SW Oak, 6 pm, FREE

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3

CONTACT HIGH—Long before Ke$ha gave copy editors fits with her ridiculous dollar-sign name, New Orleans emcee Curren$y was laying down colossal rap jams with his relaxed, down-South drawl. Joining him will be Nipsey Hussle, whose "Feelin' Myself" is one of the best bangers of 2010. EAC
w/Nipsey Hussle, Dom Kennedy, Smoke DZA, Feind, Cornerboy P; Roseland, 8 NW 6th, 8 pm, $20, all ages

BOOKISH—NYC sound collagists the Books bring their immaculately crafted, speech-sampling sounds through town tonight for a one-of-a-kind live show that'll take your preconceptions of what constitutes music and turn 'em inside out. Don't miss the dark-hearted funeral rock of San Diego's the Black Heart Procession, too. NL
Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie, 8 pm, $20, all ages

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4

COMING UP ROSES—What do you get when sound-making luminary Ethan Rose takes Portland's Flash Choir, puts them in city hall, and orchestrates their voices as they walk from room to room with only iPods to give them vocal cues? We're betting on brilliance. ND
Portland City Hall, 1211 SW 4th, Sat-Sun, 2 & 3:30 pm, FREE (reserve tickets at betweenroomsandvoices.com)

TIME OF THE SEASON—There are shopping events everywhere you turn this month, but Subject to Season is by far one of the most fun. As much of a party as it is an opportunity to score goods from top-notch retailers like Adam Arnold, OLO Fragrance, and Yo Vintage! come prepared to drink, schmooze, and peruse. MS
Ford Building, 2505 SE 11th, #106, 5-9 pm, FREE

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5

A SURE THING?—Okay, Blazers fans, enough with the whining. It could be worse. We could be the LA Clippers, who, despite the efforts of Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon, basically started off their season with a nine-game losing streak. ND
Rose Garden, 1 Center Ct, 6 pm, $10-149

ZOMBIES—It's the season finale of TV's finest (and scariest!) new show, The Walking Dead! Join all your friends at the Bagdad Theater as Jim and the rest of the survivors venture into zombie-infested Atlanta—which, take it from me, is only slightly less fun than non-zombie-infested Atlanta. WSH
Hosted by Cort and Fatboy; Bagdad Theater, 3702 SE Hawthorne, 10 pm, FREE

MONDAY, DECEMBER 6

WHAT THE FUCK?!—We've heard of some crazy shit in our day, but HOLY DICKSUCKING CHRIST, BREAKFAST FOR DINNER?!?! Check out what those insane folks over at Kenny & Zuke's have come up with this time! Inspired by some crazy-ass book (Breakfast in Bridgetown: The Definitive Guide to Portland's Favorite Meal, by Paul Gerald), these rebellious motherfuckers who don't give TWO SHITS about RULES are going to be serving breakfast food... at dinner time! EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED! THE WORLD HAS GONE TOPSY-TURVY! THE APOCALYPSE IS AT HAND! EH
Kenny & Zuke's Delicatessen, 1038 SW Stark, 6:30-8 pm, $9 (or free with purchase of book, $16)

STRIPPER AWARDS—It's time for the PDX Strippies, an award ceremony that pays tribute to the best exotic dancers in town! "Best Stage Performer," "Best Costuming," and "Miss Congeniality" are just a few of the awards presented tonight in this star-studded (and probably nude) extravaganza. Give it up for the hardest-working gals in show biz! WSH
Mt. Tabor Theater, 4811 SE Hawthorne, 9 pm, $10-13

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7

KEYS, PLEASE—Sure, this 94/7 "December to Remember" show couldn't be any more sold out, but when it comes to the Black Keys, be prepared to do anything to get inside the Crystal tonight. If you manage to con your way inside (don't say "I'm the Black Keys' bass player"—the Akron duo doesn't have one), don't miss another fantastic duo: openers Sleigh Bells. EAC
w/Morning Teleportation; Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside, 8 pm, all ages

BARF BAGS—The Grindhouse Film Festival reveals one of its most shocking treasures: Boxer's Omen is a psychedelic Chinese horror film with evil wizards, crocodile carcasses, a levitating alien head, and black magic so dark the theater will be handing out barf bags. You like barfing, right? MS
Hollywood Theatre, 4122 NE Sandy, 7:30 pm, $7

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8

ARTISTS AND ACTIVISTS—The Portland Fiction Project presents "The Benefit of Doubt: a Performance Fundraiser for Domestic Violence Awareness." The event will include readings of original, locally written, domestic violence-focused fiction pieces along with a performance by Oregon playwright Renee Mitchell and a set by Future Historians. KO
Alberta Rose Theatre, 3000 NE Alberta, 8 pm, $10, all ages

HALLELUJAH—Headlining another world tour and still an amazing performer after a brilliant five-decade career, the legendary poet, novelist, singer, and songwriter Leonard Cohen is one of those musicians you will brag to your grandchildren that you got to see live. VT
Rose Garden, 1 Center Ct, 8 pm, $49.50-250, all ages