THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

Portland EcoFilm Festival
Check out four days of multifaceted environmentally-conscious films spanning topics from neighborhood activism (Giants) and the livelihood of Pacific Northwest species (Damned to Extinction) to diversity outdoors (Our Trails Too) and Ecuador’s Waorani people (Spears from All Sides). Check out portlandecofilmfest.org for the full schedule and to keep an eye out for events with filmmakers in attendance. Snag a festival pass for maximum savings. Hollywood Theatre, 4122 NE Sandy, Thurs Sept 26-Sun Sept 29, screening times vary, $9-70

Again and Again Fundraiser with DJs Cuica, Cee White, and Beyonda
Couch Film Collective supports female/non-binary film industry workers who want to further their development in the field at all levels of production. This fundraiser features the film Again and Again, and the cast and crew that made it happen (comprised entirely of women and non-binary people, plus half or more identify as BIPOC and/or LGBTQ+). Bring cash for amazing raffle prizes. Hey Love, 920 E Burnside, 6 pm, donation suggested for entry


FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27

Butches & Mental Health: A Queer Live Storytelling Event
Butch is Not a Dirty Word is a print magazine, and the only kind in the world dedicated exclusively to Butch-identifying folks. Celebrate the publication of their sixth issue at this commemorative live storytelling event featuring performers from Portland, Seattle, and Australia. Mississippi Pizza Pub, 3552 N Mississippi, 7 & 9:30 pm, $15-20


SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

Trans Voices Fringe Fest
The first Trans Voices Festival—which spotlights trans voices and choirs—was launched in Minneapolis in 2004. The 2019 edition was slated to take place in Portland, but the event has been pushed back to 2021. In the meantime, youth at Marrow PDX have curated an independent showcase in its honor, focusing on “nontraditional and unconventional vocal expressions.” See the Facebook event for the full lineup of over a dozen performers. Marrow PDX, 7025 N Lombard, Unit 100, 5 pm, donations suggested for entry

Kitten Yoga
Take your cat pose to the next level by placing a real live feline on your perfectly curved back! The Oregon Humane Society is giving kitties free range to roam yoga rooms during this partnership with POP Cats. Fall in love with a furry friend during your session? Head to the Kitten Playground Adoption Area after and give that baby a new home. Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE MLK, Sat Sept 28, 7:45 am & Sun Sept 29, 8:45 am, $30


SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29

Tender Table: Margaret Alba, Lito Garcia, Bemnia Lathan
Join Tender Table, a storytelling platform for women, trans, and non-binary BIPOC, for the latest iteration of their event series. As always, attendees can expect tear-jerkin’ stories and perfectly paired Costco-sized snacks. People’s Food Co-op, 3029 SE 21st, 3 pm, $5-15 suggested donation

Do Right Sunday: A Benefit and Hang for Friends of Noise
Join DJ Shi Shi of XRAY FM’s Every Mixtapes and guest DJ Chuckkpasta for a laidback evening filled with hip-hop throwbacks, funk, R&B, and more at this monthly fundraiser, Do Right Sunday. Friends of Noise, a non-profit dedicated to carving out pathways and connections for youth interested in the music industry, is this month’s beneficiary. Ten percent of daily sales go back to the org. Dig a Pony, 736 SE Grand, 8 pm, FREE


THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3

Free Community Self-Defense at Q Center
Learn the basics of self-defense at this workshop created with the LGBTQ+ community in mind. Wear comfy clothing without zippers, metal, or any other items that may scratch. Email questions to page [at] pdxqcenter [dot] org. Q Center, 4115 N Mississippi, 6:30 pm, FREE, all ages


FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4

3PALF: 3rd Annual East Portland Arts & Literary Festival
Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO) will host their third edition of 3PALF, a weekend-long celebration elevating BIPOC artists and cultural works. Catch live musical performances, join in some arts activities, and peruse the book and craft fair. Orchards of 82nd, 8188 SE Division & Fubonn Shopping Center, 2850 SE 82nd, Fri Oct 4, 6 pm & Sat Oct 5, noon, $5 suggested donation


SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5

Renters’ Rights Hotline Training
The Community Alliance of Tenants offers low-wage workers, families, people living with disabilities, and BIPOC with information, resources, and advice to support the demand for access to safer, affordable housing for renters. Join this upcoming training session for folks interested in volunteering to answer calls on the renters’ rights hotline. JOIN PDX, 1435 NE 81st, 1 pm, FREE

Produced by Her 2019 Premiere
Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest and NW Documentary have teamed up to support young filmmakers in producing documentary shorts about causes close to their hearts. Catch three new films—Girls Like Us, Entrepreneurship in Color, and We are Immigrants— as well as the work of other youth filmmaking collectives. Clinton Street Theater, 2522 SE Clinton, 2 pm, $8

Friends of the Library: Big Fall Book Sale
Rejoice! It’s one of the most remarkable twofers of the year: buy a ton of amazing books, comics, records, and DVDs for cheap and support the Multnomah County Library in the process. Educators with ID get half-off on Sunday, plus all customers get 50 percent off on Monday (or take a box of books home for $25). Lloyd Center DoubleTree Hotel, 1000 NE Multnomah, Sat Oct 5 and Mon Oct 7, 9 am & Sun Oct 6, 11 am, FREE


SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6

Gaza Fights for Freedom Screening and Q&A
Join the Portland Democratic Socialists of America for this screening of Gaza Fights for Freedom, a documentary about the Gaza protests. Q&A with director Abby Martin to follow. Fifth Avenue Cinemas, 510 SW Hall, 4 pm, $12


MONDAY, OCTOBER 7

Grief Rites Readers Series
This monthly showcase features an open mic and a curated lineup of readings, centered around the subject of grief. Hear from Nicole Ausmus, Jess Byers, and more. The event is technically all ages, but content isn’t edited, so audience should be mature. Open mic signup opens at 6:30 pm. The Stacks Coffeehouse, 1831 N Killingsworth, 7 pm, FREE


WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9

Bollywood, Bites, and Beer: Our House Dinner Series Benefit
Our House provides people living with HIV with housing and integrated health services, and since 1993, they’ve partnered with local businesses to curate dinners, inviting supporters to enjoy a delicious meal in exchange for donations supporting their efforts. The next edition pairs delicious Maruti cuisine with tunes provided by DJ Anjali and the Incredible Kid. Lagunitas Community Room, 237 NE Broadway, 6 pm, $65