The Merc‘s very own Food Issue drops on July 18, and we’re celebrating sensibly by gorging on specials from Kim Jong Grillin, Frybaby, and other food cart faves stationed at the Heist. Plus, Pounded in the Butt by My Own Butt wordslinger Chuck Tingle will stop by Portland in an unsettling pink mask, his new horror novel in tow—because you’re worth it. Portland Arts Week thinks art and sports can be friends, and on July 11, a Hillsboro bike ride answers an oddly compelling question: What do data centers look like in person?
MONDAY, JULY 6
This Is an Awesome Comedy Show
Don’t miss two of the big guns of Portland comedy, Kyle Kinane and Sean Jordan (former headliners of the Mercury’s Geniuses of Comedy show) in this intimate performance at the Show Bar. Fans already know Kinane as an internationally touring comedian who’s appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Conan, Workaholics, and Comedy Bang! Bang!; the similarly hilarious Sean Jordan has been seen on The Late Late Show with James Corden and co-hosts the wildly popular podcast All Fantasy Everything. The proceeds from this show support the filming of a documentary on the genesis of an “epic, multimedia rock concert featuring artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” which is scheduled to hit the festival circuit later this year. (Show Bar at Revolution Hall, 1300 SE Stark, 7 pm, $50.32, more info, 21+) WM. STEVEN HUMPHREY
Chuck Tingle
Best known for his wildly popular series of eccentric erotic ebooks—like Pounded in the Butt by My Own Butt and Buttageddon: The Final Days Of Pounding Ass—it may come as a surprise that Chuck Tingle is also a perfectly lovely horror novelist. I absolutely tore (slammed?) through his 2023 tale Camp Damascus and the Locus Award-winning Bury Your Gays that followed in 2024. His new one, Fabulous Bodies, tells the story of a fashion influencer who moonlights as a grave-robber and finds herself facing a night of carnage in Palm Springs. (Powell’s Books at Cedar Hills Crossing, 3415 SW Cedar Hills. Beaverton, 7 pm, $30.38 ticket includes a copy of Fabulous Bodies, more info, explicit queer horror ages) SUZETTE SMITH
TUESDAY, JULY 7
Lotus Festival
Lan Su Chinese Garden’s brand-new festival celebrates the delicate Nelumbo nucifera species in some tried and true ways: floral displays, guided tours, and cultivation chats, plus live guzheng playing (that’s an ancient Chinese zither) and other activities inspired by the flower and the season. On July 7, drop by during select hours throughout the day for koi feeding, a calligraphy demo, and the tale of Ne Zha (哪吒), a “lotus warrior” and Chinese mythology’s revered child hero. (Lan Su Chinese Garden, 239 NW Everett, 10 am-5:30 pm through Aug 22, $15-$18 or FREE for children under five, $5 for EBT/WIC cardholders, more info, all ages) LINDSAY COSTELLO
WEDNESDAY, JULY 8
Portland Mercury Food Issue Launch Party
Portland’s food scene is something to celebrate every day, but it’s not every day you get to celebrate it with your pals at the Mercury! Our new food issue hits stands July 8, and on that day, we’re celebrating with an all-ages, free-to-attend shindig at one of Portland’s very best food cart pods, the Heist. The theme of this year’s food issue is Get Out and Eat. It’s summertime, AKA peak food cart season—and this issue features our brand-new guide to Portland’s very best. Let’s celebrate with food cart specials, shall we? (The Heist, 4727 SE Woodstock, 4:30 pm-6:30 pm, FREE, more info, all ages) KATHERINE CHEW HAMILTON
Also worth it:
Emily Kepulis: Certainties and Other Almosts, Chefas Projects, more info
Kepulis’ multimedia compositions—laden with chandeliers and crispy flower petals—explore how the horizon line “embodies a paradox of certainty and illusion.”
THURSDAY, JULY 9
Portland Fire vs. Las Vegas Aces
What’s not to love about the WNBA? It’s got ball movement, a reasonable season length, summertime stadium bike rides, women at the top of their field, and the intrigue of seeing queer players face off against their partners on the other team. The Las Vegas Aces aren’t just one of the WNBA’s best teams (they won three of the past four championships), with the best player in the world in A’ja Wilson—they’re also among the league’s gayest teams. Three of their starters are queer: 2 guard Chelsea Gray, guard Jewell Lloyd, and power forward NaLyssa Smith. Leading the Aces is another legendary basketball lesbian in head coach Becky Hammon, whose immediate success in Vegas serves as a thorny reminder that the Blazers hired the guy arrested by the FBI for cheating instead of her. (Moda Center, 1 N Center Ct, 7 pm, $34.05+, more info, all ages) CAMERON CROWELL
FRIDAY, JULY 10
Oregon Country Fair
Since 1969, the “fair family” has transformed a piece of Veneta property into a magical oasis offering miles of enchanted trails lined with artisan crafts, snacks, and entertainment. This year’s performer highlights include drag superstar and Australian phenom Courtney Act and Moshe Kasher, author of the aptly titled memoir Subculture Vulture. A legit lineup of musical acts includes an all-star tribute to Bob Weir (RIP!), the Sam Grisman Project, Sierra Hull, the Polyrhythmics, and Glitterfox. Hop on a shuttle from Eugene and explore this distinctly Oregon tradition. (Oregon Country Fairgrounds, 24207 OR-126, Veneta, 11 am-7 pm through July 12, $60+, 12 and under free, more info, all ages) BRI BREY
Portland Arts Week: Good Game
Chaired by gallerist Elizabeth Leach, the inaugural Portland Arts Week (July 9-12) will introduce itself with a wide range of shows and arts happenings centering an “Art & Sports” theme. Screenings, conversations, and Park Blocks activations make the week one to watch for, but I’m particularly jazzed for Good Game at PICA, which will transform into the Portland Institute for Contemporary Athletics on the night of July 10. Teams of all-star artists and athletes will compete in creative challenges—grab a hot dog and cheer on your faves. (Portland Institute for Contemporary Athletics, 15 NE Hancock, 8 pm, sliding scale $20-$50, more info) LC
SATURDAY, JULY 11
Data Center Bike Tour
We all know data center = bad, but what does that look like in the Portland area, and what can we do to stop it? This Bike Summer group ride, organized by environmental group 350PDX, OR Defiance Alliance, and PDX DSA, will take riders for a 20-mile ride around Hillsboro to see what data centers look like in real life in our communities and learn about the impacts of potential data center expansion. Bonus: The ride starts and ends right near MAX stations, so you can join the ride from Portland without needing a car. (Pavilion Park, NE Alder and NE 60th, Hillsboro, meet 10:30 am, ride 11:30 am, FREE, more info, all ages) KCH
Flock Outdoor Summer Market
Humble brag: I recently took a trip to Amsterdam and reveled in the Netherlands’ outdoor market culture. Portland’s farmers markets stack up pretty well, but we’re always down to welcome more summertime pop-up markets showcasing talented local makers. This series of Saturday markets closes off SW 9th Avenue and transforms the street into a row of vendors hawking artisan goods, art, and food. Flock Food Hall anchors the market with its bar and food stalls, offering diverse meal options like dim sum from HK Bistro, pastries and cakes from Tous Les Jours, fresh seafood from Pan Roast, Thai specialty dishes from Zab Pinto, and savory birria from Birrieria La Plaza. (Flock Food Hall, 917 SW Alder, noon-4 pm, FREE, more info, all ages) BB
Sandy Summer Cruise-In
For the sixth year in a row, the Sandy Summer Cruise-In brings three blocks jam-crammed with low riders, classic cars, bitchin’ bikes, custom vans, and more. It’s one of the best local summer events for hot rod enthusiasts, but there’ll also be food and beer a-plenty, plus party-rockin’ music provided by Clark Engine Co., Forty Feet Tall, and Spoon Benders, as well as tunes from DJ ATM. This is an old-school Portland classic celebration that’s put on by old-school Portlanders, so don’t sleep on it. (Sandy Hut, 1430 NE Sandy, 4 pm-10 pm, FREE, more info, all ages) WSH
Sun Rice x Musang Collab Dinner
Two great Pacific Northwest Filipino restaurants are joining forces for a one-night collab dinner. Portland’s own Sun Rice is hosting, while chef Melissa Miranda of Musang in Seattle—a constant on Seattle’s top restaurants lists—is trekking down south to show us her culinary chops. The menu, which is offered a la carte, is pared down to just eight dishes. Apps include a salad inspired by pinakbet, a Filipino vegetable stew; for mains, go for sambal fried cod or duck lechon. Dessert will include offerings like turon flan—a mashup of two classic Filipino desserts, combining banana and custard. (Sun Rice, 4090 N Williams, 5-9 pm or until sold out, more info, all ages) KCH
Queer Cruise and Slutty Siren Competition
It was June 2012 when Alex Pond and Talon Wood took me to my first Pride event ever, aboard the Portland Spirit. Alaska Thunderfuck performed, we got wasted on the upper deck, and all was right with the world. With the motto of “what happens on the river stays on the river,” the Let Her Cook and Queer Cute party people will recreate that energy with DJs Lapaushi and Deadpan for your bootypoppin’ pleasure. If you need another reason to throw ass on a boat with a ton of other hotties who probably practice nonmonogamy, there’s a Slutty Siren competition at midnight (the slutting hour). Participate, or just scream your heart out. (Portland Spirit, 10:30 pm, standard tickets $30+, accessible tickets $20, more info, 21+) NOLAN PARKER
SUNDAY, JULY 12
Solidarity with Immigrants Bike Ride
One of the best Bike Summer rides of the season, co-hosted by yours truly, is back for its second year—a loud, proud display of solidarity by and with immigrant communities. The ride kicks off with guest speakers, including Oregon State Senate District 15 candidate Myrna Muñoz, Oregon State Senate District 23 senator Khanh Pham, and representatives from the Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition (PIRC). Following an easy-paced five-ish mile ride, we’ll hang out at the end location with music and dancing. Bring flags, signs, and shirts and get ready to scream “Chinga la migra!” at the top of your lungs. (Colonel Summers Park, 1925 SE Taylor, meet 1:30 pm, ride 2 pm, FREE, more info, all ages) KCH
Looking for even more events happening this week? Head on over to EverOut!
