I don’t want to jinx it or anything, but this week’s round-up seems…kind of perfect? Portland has splashy river parties, French sci-fi deep cuts, neo-Neapolitan pizza topped with cherries (yes, really), and a big ol’ birthday bash for your favorite alt-weekly (that’s us!!!) on the docket. Oh, and ya know, Pickathon. Whether you’re gallery-hopping or just looking to dip your toes in something slightly off-beat, there’s really no excuse for your midsummer malaise-nap this week. Here’s your cheat sheet.
Monday, July 28
Fishbone Harp: Molly Lecko Herro, Phoebe Mol, Re Pinter
They had me at “10-foot-long fish carcass”: Local cartoonists Molly Lecko Herro, Phoebe Mol, and Re Pinter deliver an interesting variety of new works in Fishbone Harp, an exhibition at the Multnomah Arts Center. All three of the involved artists have published comics in the last few years, but this show offers an opportunity to branch out with pieces that explore everything from dreams to “existentialism, optimistic nihilism, and the human instinct to barter with god.” Okay, I’m listening!! If you haven’t stopped by MAC before, a desirable side effect of your visit is that you’ll be in Multnomah Village, where you’ll find cute shops like Annie Bloom’s Books and Indigo Traders within walking distance. (Multnomah Arts Center, 7688 SW Capitol Hwy, Mon–Sat through August 2, free, more info here) LINDSAY COSTELLO
Tuesday, July 29
Audrey McCall Beach Tuesday Splashdown
The Willamette River is Portland’s hottest hangout spot this summer (and every summer). While every day is a good day to cool off with a refreshing dip in the river, Tuesday evenings are a particularly fun time to do it, thanks to the Human Access Project’s weekly “splashdown” parties at Audrey McCall Beach. The festivities include a DJ, food carts, and—for those who actually want to swim, not just hang out on the beach and dance—free life jacket rentals. The events will continue weekly through August (as long as the river remains free of toxic algae), but the weather this Tuesday looks particularly great for swimming and river beach hangin’. So, bring your swimsuit, towel, and SPF, and we’ll see you down at the river. (Audrey McCall Beach, just south of the Hawthorne Bridge off the Eastbank Esplanade, 5:30–8:30 pm, free, more info here) TAYLOR GRIGGS
The Time Masters
Cinephiles and stoners have waxed poetic about René Laloux’s visionary wonder Fantastic Planet since its ’73 release, and for good reason—the animated sci-fi takes a cool, mysterious approach to critiquing state violence, constructing an eerie landscape with cutout animations. But Laloux’s The Time Masters, a visionary space adventure in its own right, tends to fly a little further under the radar. If you dig Jean Giraud (AKA Moebius’) chilly, futuristic aesthetic, you shouldn’t miss this legendary collab between the masters of French sci-fi style, screened here in Janus Films’ fresh 4K restoration. (Clinton Street Theater, 2522 SE Clinton, 7 pm, $10, PG, tickets here) LC
Wednesday, July 30
Eat the wild cherry pizza at Yum’s of PDX
If you follow any local food influencers, you may have seen Yum’s smoked wild cherry pizza come across your feed. I’m here to tell you: The hype is real. Magic is happening inside Yum’s impressive (and customized!) brick oven, where owner and head pizzaiola Miriam Weiskind chars her 96-hour neo-Neapolitan pies. The pizza of note is topped with smoked fresh mozzarella, Luxardo cherry ricotta, romano, dried cherries, shallots, EVOO, guanciale, and crushed red pepper. The smokiness—and fattiness of the guanciale—balance the sweetness perfectly, creating a cherry pie I’m confident would blow Agent Cooper’s mind. If your sweet tooth isn’t satiated after that, save room for fun desserts like a Neapolitan gelato cup (dark chocolate, strawberry, and stracciatella gelato from Pronto) or the rainbow cookie cannoli trio (lemon pistachio, marionberry chocolate chip, and Madagascar vanilla chocolate chip). (Yum’s of PDX, 830 SE 8th, Weds–Sun, more info here) JANEY WONG
Take a dance fitness class
Ever wanted an exercise group or fitness class that doesn’t feel geared toward thin ladies in Lululemon gear? Love to dance but feel weird just stomping around your living room? PulsePDX has you covered. The Portland studio offers a weekly dance fitness class that provides cardio and full body movement using a range of upbeat music. PulsePDX hosts an array of fitness classes in a body-positive, queer-friendly space. All classes are led by an instructor, with no prior experience necessary. Wednesday night dance fitness sessions are offered in person and virtually. (PulsePDX, 3602 NE Sandy, 6:15 pm, $17 per class or $7 for live stream, info and tickets) COURTNEY VAUGHN
Thursday, July 31
Election with Chess Club x Stand Up Comedy
As sharp as a freshly clicked mechanical pencil, Alexander Payne’s Election (1999) follows peppy Omaha high schooler Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon) and a social studies teacher (Matthew Broderick) who desperately needs therapy. Witherspoon is “iconic” here, exhibiting pluck and drive and every other vaguely neurotic mannerism that has come to define her on-screen persona. Payne’s signature dark humor is fine-tuned by a backing cast of nonprofessional actors and a surprisingly tender eye for the petty failings of his characters. That said, there are aspects of this film that don’t pass the 21st-century sniff test. Tracy is groomed by the school’s geography teacher in a subplot played off as a throwaway joke, and in 2020, Payne was accused of sexual misconduct. These developments add a strange aftertaste to the film’s already biting cocktail of male delusion. But if you can stomach the sour notes, Election still stands as an interesting dissection of ambition and the men who find women to be a liiittle too much. (Tomorrow Theater, 3530 SE Division, 7 pm, $15, R, tickets here) LC
Pickathon
There’s a special place in my heart for campout festivals, and Pickathon is for sure one of the region’s premiere examples. Tucked back into the woods at Pendarvis Farm in Happy Valley, Oregon, I frequently hear Pickathon described as magical, immersive, and so, so sweet. The lineup this year is pretty nail-on-the-head Portland, with bigger names including local heroes Portugal. The Man and the once-Portland-based dreamer Haley Heynderickx. One thing Pickathon is especially good at is booking heaps of local talent to complement the headliners—some of this year’s favorite smaller acts include Jenny Don’t and the Spurs, Dougie Poole, and J.R.C.G. If there’s a lineup conflict where two bands you’re dying to see are playing at the same time, don’t worry: Every act plays twice, so you’ll be able to catch everyone you’re trying to see! I would be remiss not to mention that the person I was most looking forward to this year has now split the scene forever: Michael Hurley passed away in April and will be sorely missed at this year’s festival. Beyond the fun lineup, Pickathon is full of art, a wildly diverse selection of food, and truly just a good time. PRO TIP: Mercury arts and culture editor Suzette Smith is a big fan of biking out to Pendarvis! She tells me that biking is a great way to a) beat traffic leaving the fest, b) get some exercise, and c) help Mother (Earth). (Pendarvis Farm, 16581 SE Hagen Rd, Happy Valley, various times, $95-$1,860, all ages, tickets here) NP
The Portland Mercury‘s 25th Anniversary Party
According to the Gregorian calendar, the Portland Mercury is now old enough to rent a car! And that’s really saying something. Founded in the year 2000 by our still fearless leader Wm. Steven Humphrey, the Mercury has been reporting on news, culture, and getting into trouble for the last quarter century, with many more years to come. To celebrate this monumental milestone in Portland sub/culture we’re throwing a bash, and you, gentle reader, are invited! Our free, open-to-the-public party will delight and surprise with three of Portland’s most compelling musical artists. Dream-pop heavyweights Pure Bathing Culture headline this birthday bacchanal with their flavor of high-exposure romance, gender nonconforming lords of the underground Nonbinary Girlfriend are doing what they love and sending it in the middle slot, and opening this barn burner is 503 hip-hop baddie Karma Rivera, single handedly architecting the vibe for the evening! (Polaris Hall, 635 N Killingsworth, 8 pm, free, 21+, tickets here) NOLAN PARKER
Friday, August 1
25 hours! | Celebrating 25 Years
Performance Works Northwest is an artist-focused incubator housed in an unassuming little building off Foster Road. It functions as a consistent reminder that accessing interesting performance art can be easy, even if you live in the outer southeast area. The organization (founded by arts champions Linda Austin and Jeff Forbes) will celebrate its 25th anniversary with three days of workshops, parties, and improvisations, including Tahni Holt’s somatic class It’s a Fucking Miracle and an edition of Danielle Ross’ “nomadic multi-disciplinary performance series,” Public Nature. You’ll find me there, probably sitting on the floor. (Performance Works Northwest, 4625 SE 67th, various times, $11-$131, all ages, more info here) LC
Queer Screams Film Festival
Suppose somebody wanders up to you and says, “Hey! What scares you?!” If you can see yourself responding, “The heteronormativity embedded in the fabric of Hollywood filmmaking,” then perhaps consider shrieking alongside others at this year’s Queer Screams Film Festival. The annual fest will curate LGBTQ+ horror shorts, screenings of scream-heavy classics (Bride of Chucky and Seed of Chucky this year), and a chat with Chucky franchise creator Don Mancini. Post up across the street at Dots for a particularly ghoulish afterparty on August 2, complete with horror-themed cocktails and a dollar off your first round with proof of your festival ticket purchase. (Clinton Street Theater, 2522 SE Clinton, various times, $15-$25, all ages, tickets here) LC
Also worth it:
Portal Glyph: Ka’ila Farrell-Smith, Russo Lee Gallery, July 3–August 2, more info here
Inner Village: Stories of Portland Asian Woman Immigrants, Portland Chinatown Museum, June 12–December 7, more info here
Saturday, August 2
Everyday Summer
Tucked into a garage space on NE 12th Ave, Jodie Cavalier and Alley Frey’s Old Fashioned Garage Gallery joins a growing roster of galleries in residential spaces around town. Everyday Summer is a very good reason to stop by—the group show is stacked with Portland artist’s artists like Liz Harris, Meech Boakye, Nick Norman, Sharita Towne, Catie Hannigan, and Ruby Webb, among many others. The project is open most Saturdays and by appointment—DM them on Instagram for the full address. (Old Fashioned Garage Gallery, through September 13, free, more info here) LC
Obon Festival
Obon is a summertime Japanese festival that pays tribute to one’s ancestors. The Oregon Buddhist Temple celebrates Obon annually on the first Saturday of August with food, dance, memorial visits, lantern hanging, and other joyous festivities. The highlight of the fest is a dance called bon-odori, and while it will be led by Japanese dance groups, all are invited to join and celebrate ancestors and family members who have recently passed. (Oregon Buddhist Temple, 3720 SE 34th, 2–9 pm, free, all ages, more info here) SHANNON LUBETICH
Also worth it:
Gongstravaganza, Leach Botanical Garden, 6–7:30 pm, more info here
Sunday, August 3
Jessica Pratt / Helen
Jessica Pratt is known for her otherworldly, stripped-down acoustic folk songs which sound simultaneously of the past and the future. Her 2012 self-titled debut has a magical quality that’s hard to name—her voice echoes like a mermaid humming in a damp alcove or a fairy singing her friends a lullaby. Pratt’s new album, Here in the Pitch, enters the world of the ’60s with orchestral pop songs reminiscent of Marianne Faithfull, the Walker Brothers, and Dusty Springfield. (Revolution Hall, 1300 SE Stark, 8 pm, $43.76, all ages, tickets here) AUDREY VANN
Also worth it:
Body Positive Block Party, Curious Comedy Theater, 12–5 pm, more info here
Blood Incantation / Krallice, Roseland Theater, 8 pm, more info here
Steve Von Till / Mike Scheidt, Mississippi Studio, 9 pm, more info here
Looking for even more events happening this week? Head on over to EverOut!
