THURSDAY, JULY 23
Does no one respect your ability to quote
the entire The Big Lebowski from memory? Then slap on your best
sunglasses and bathrobe, because the nationwide Lebowski Fest hosts
tonight’s Dude-themed costumed bowling party. Trivia, drinking, and,
finally, some respect. SM
Hollywood Bowl, 4030 NE Halsey, 7 pm, $25-30
Weird, I was just thinking how
it’s time for a new rock musical. Chariots of Rubber, you read
my mind! Two best friends seek glory at the crash-up derby; one runs
into a Bluto-ish rival while lusting after a possibly magical ’72
Buick, which is also coveted by a pair of devious, sexed-up sisters.
Demolition. Superpowers. Hookers. Revenge! JC
Theater! Theatre!, 3430 SE Belmont, 10:30 pm, $15, through Sat
July 25
FRIDAY, JULY 24
Can electric cars burn
rubber? A: Yes, plus they can shock the shit out of you! Watch in
amazement as electric dragsters blow the doors off conventional gas
guzzlers at PIR, with races including production cars, roadsters, and
even drag bikes! (Oh, and they’re supposedly good for the environment,
too.) WSH
Portland International Raceway, 1940 N Victory, 6 pm, $8, through Sat July 25
The finest venue to ever lay claim to
the neighborhood of Sellwood, the Woods opens up its doors to the
masses tonight. After a few soft openings, tonight is the real deal for
the tastefully assembled show-space. Marking the occasion is the
vocal-heavy pop of Ages, which features seven members, all of whom
sing. Wear something nice, why don’tcha? EAC
w/Golden Holy, Garrett Pierce; the Woods, 6637 SE Milwaukie, 8 pm,
FREE
SATURDAY, JULY 25
Saturday is perfect for hitting the 22nd
annual Oregon Brewers Festival. But you’d better hurry, before all
those rare special brews are nothing but foam at the bottom of your
festival mug and warm, beer-soaked memories.
Tom McCall
Waterfront Park, 1020 SW Naito, noon-9 pm, FREE to enter, $10-50 to
taste, Thurs July 23-Sun July 26
The Division/Clinton Street
Fair is the introverted gay relative of the city’s larger street fairs.
It may be less loud and brash, but it’s more comfortable and fun to
explore. Plus there’s a parade. PAC
SE Division & Clinton, all day (parade at 10:45 am),
FREE
SUNDAY, JULY 26
It’s finally here! Yes, the all-ages, all-free,
all-local, all-awesome music festival kicks off on Friday and continues
through Sunday for a totally rad, jam-packed weekend of Portland music.
PDX Pop Now! is the best weekend of summer and you know it, so there’s
no excuse to miss a single minute. NL
Rotture, 315 SE 3rd, Fri 6 pm-12:45 am, Sat & Sun noon-1 am,
FREE, all ages
Some of the hottest playwrights in the
country debut brand-new material in our humble burg this weekend, at
Portland Center Stage’s annual JAW fest. Look for staged readings of
plays by Marc Acito, Will Eno, and Kimberly Rosenstock, whose script
has the single best title I’ve ever heard: 99 Ways to Fuck a
Swan. Plus, the Armory hosts site-specific performances from
Action/Adventure, Third Rail, and more. AH
Gerding Theater at the Armory, 128 NW 11th, Fri July 24-Sun July
26, FREE, see pcs.org/jaw for
details
MONDAY, JULY 27
Trios are for wusses, and don’t get me
started on quartets. When it comes to bands, two is the perfect number.
Tonight’s Two Piece Fest celebrates dual-member acts with the
glitchy-spazz of Panther, the punk en Español of Magic Johnson,
plus plenty more bands small enough to tour in a Ford Taurus. EAC
w/Casy & Brian, Nu Sensae, Total Bros; Backspace, 115 NW 5th, 8:30 pm, $6, all ages
Gene Kelly and his sweet moves,
coming to a park near you. The only way a screening of Singin’ in
the Rain in the park could be better was if it were a sing-along.
Not like anyone’s going to stop you, though. Probably. Maybe? Let’s
hope not. RM
Laurelhurst Park, SE 39th & Stark, dusk, FREE
TUESDAY, JULY 28
Yes, yes, tonight’s Sonic Youth show is fine
and dandy. But why not wet your whistle with a special afternoon DJ
performance by Thurston Moore at the downtown Jackpot Records? He’ll be
digging through Jackpot’s bins and spinning classics, obscurities, and
who knows what else. NL
DJ Thurston Moore at Jackpot Records, 203 SW 9th, 3 pm, FREE, all
ages; Sonic Youth w/Awesome Color at Roseland, 8 NW 6th, 8 pm, $24, all
ages
Okay, no one on the Mercury staff has
actually seen 1982’s Vice Squad, but we’re recommending
it because it sounds amazing. A prostitute named Princess runs
through the sordid mess of ’80s Hollywood, trying to avoid Ramrod, a
pimp out for revenge. The folks at the Grindhouse Film Festival
promises “sleaze, violence, strange sexual fetishes, [and] a kung fu
scene that comes out of nowhere.” Like you need to know more. EH
Hollywood Theatre, 4122 NE Sandy, 7:45 pm, $7
WEDNESDAY, JULY 29
The New Oregon Interview Series sits
down with three of Portland’s most interesting filmmakers: Arthur
Bradford (who created the immensely popular How’s Your News?),
Andy Blubaugh (whose experimental films have screened at Sundance and
the Time-Based Art Festival), and documentarian Alissa Nicole Creamer.
Expect an engaging, smart discussion about the current state of film in
Oregon, and where it’s going. EH
Urban Grind, 2214 NE Oregon, 7 pm, $5
A night of unlimited arcade games, for only
five bucks! Pay the cover and unlock Ground Kontrol’s den of digital
antiquity. Behold! Enough pinball, Pac-Man, and LEDs to put the
Japanese to shame. Gone are the days of sweaty quarter hands, which
means maximum traction when attempting to beat my high score on Dr.
Mario. (Yeah right, sucker! JAC 4 EVA!!) JAC
Ground Kontrol, 511 NW Couch, 5 pm-2 am, $5