Mercury Things to Do Staff

BOOKS—Girls creator/showrunner/writer Lena Dunham sits down with Carrie Brownstein for a chat about her new memoir, Not That Kind of Girl, which recounts “<3ing New York," sex with tiny poets, and her curious fascination with non-neurotics. Tonight's Q&A is sold out, so if you got tickets in time, I hope you have fun and I'll […]

MUSIC—Have you heard Sinkane’s new album Mean Love? It’s soooooo good. The Sudan-born musician (AKA Ahmed Gallab) has really come into his sexy, falsetto-ed own with a collection of eclectic, groove-flecked, and slightly mournful pop songs. They’re chockfull of ’70s funk, soul, and Afropop, so this oughta be a feet-mover of a show. COURTNEY FERGUSONw/Helado […]

MUSIC—Still one of Portland’s best, Blitzen Trapper is trying something new with two shows tonight at the Doug Fir, where they’ll be playing Neil Young’s Harvest in its entirety. Normally this is where I’d say something about how great this will be, but since I already noted that Blitzen Trapper is playing Harvest tonight, I […]

COMEDY FEST—The lineup for this year’s All Jane No Dick comedy festival looks badass. It’s filled with more than 30 funny women—including the great Sara Schaefer, Aparna Nancherla, Phoebe Robinson, and Beth Stelling—who’ll be doing stand-up and improv shows for five straight days of hilarity. It’s a lady laff-fest—don’t miss it! COURTNEY FERGUSONCurious Comedy Theater, […]

MUSIC—Toronto’s PUP are, of course, mere pups in the grand scheme of rock ‘n’ roll, but their blistering, joyously great punk rock will have you dangling from the rafters and shouting along. With Slabtown’s potential closure looming, you’ll want to get over there for a least one more night of hectic, thrilling live music. Better […]

MUSIC—If you’re heading out to soak in the barefoot, carefree, mellow jams of Bahamas, don’t you dare miss the spectacular Basia Bulat, a Canadian singer/songwriter/autoharpist whose warm, exquisite tunes are stop-you-in-your-tracks good. Her recent Tall Tall Shadow was shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize, and will undoubtedly make the shortlist to your heart. NED LANNAMANNDoug […]

FOOD READING—If your kitchen skills need a swift kick in the ass, check out Saveur‘s Best New Food Blog of 2013, Thug Kitchen and their official cookbook, Thug Kitchen: Eat Like You Give a F*ck. The makers have been in the news as of late, and there’s no denying that they really like making grilled […]

BOSS—It’s Sunday, and you’re hungover. Resist the urge to hide ‘neath your covers and study your pain! A better idea is to check out the release party for Springsteen: Album by Album, the great new book by Portland music critic Ryan White. In nearly 300 photo-splashed pages, a fresh shine gets thrown on the Boss’ […]

PETS—PETS! PETS PETS PETS! Dogs! Cats! Lizards! Guinea pigs! Snakes? Ferrets! Fish! Birds! Today the Portland Pet Expo offers all kinds of exhibitors, adoptions, and stuff you’ll probably like but your pet will probably fucking hate, like free nail trims, discounted vaccinations, and humiliating costume contests. ERIK HENRIKSENPortland Expo Center, 2060 N Marine Drive, 10 […]

MUSIC—Earlier this year, mysterious immigration troubles stymied Yasiin Bey—who you know as Mos Def—from re-entering the US (the Brooklyn-born emcee now lives in South Africa). No word on what the hell happened, but Bey’s apparently been granted passage at last. Seize the opportunity to see one of hiphop’s true luminaries while you can. DIRK VANDERHARTw/Lilla, […]

READING—People get tattoos for all occasions—weddings, funerals, getting serious about pizza—many of them captured in Pen and Ink, Isaac Fitzgerald and Wendy MacNaughton’s collection of lovingly illustrated stories about tattoos and their owners, introduced by Cheryl Strayed and ranging from just brutal (Roxane Gay makes you cry in three sentences) to my favorite (a dinosaur). […]

MUSIC—Name-dropping may be tacky, but it’s hard not to mention the New Pornographers without the relevant information that its members include people like A.C. Newman, Destroyer’s Dan Bejar, and some bird named Neko Case. They’re all back to play off their latest, the upbeat “celebration record” Brill Bruisers. MARJORIE SKINNERw/the Pains of Being Pure at […]