THURSDAY, JULY 30
Heartwarming animated film The Secret of NIMH relays the tale of rats distorted by evil big pharma doctors who become hell bent on destroying a non-organic farming operation. Relive the best childhood propaganda piece ever penned while looking out over eco-green PDX from the top of the Hotel deLuxe parking garage. SM
w/the Woodlands; Hotel deLuxe, 729 SW 15th, 8 pm, $8
Hugely popular in NYC, the Soul Clap & Dance Off night comes to Portland! New York Night Train DJ Mr. Jonathan Toubin and our own DJ Beyonda will be spinning sweet soul 45s from their bottomless crates—and after you've worked up a sweat? There's gonna be a dance-off, guys! With 100 smackers going to the winner. Get loose, now! WSHRotture, 315 SE 3rd, 9 pm, $3
FRIDAY, JULY 31
We're not exaggerating when we tell you we've been looking forward to Pickathon all year. The indie-roots music festival kicks off this afternoon and goes through Sunday with an incredible lineup, so either put on your boots, kick off your sandals, or do whatever you need to—this is going to be the highlight of the summer. NL
See Feature for more info; Pendarvis Farm, 16581 SE Hagen, Happy Valley, Fri July 31-Sun Aug 2, $70-80/day, $120-190/weekend, all ages, pickathon.com for schedule
The last time Nasir Jones took the stage at Roseland, everyone was talking about it the next day. That might be because Nas also rolled into the Fix at the Someday Lounge after the show. Don't sleep (I heard it's the cousin of death) and get your tickets before they are gone forever. EAC
w/Damian "Jr Gong" Marley, Chali 2na; Roseland, 8 NW 6th, 9 pm, $37.50, all ages
SATURDAY, AUGUST 1
In its ninth year, the NYC-based Bicycle Film Festival is going pro, screening bike-lovin' films in 39 cities around the world. Come for the testosterone-charged bike polo vs. horse polo flick, stay for the excellent documentary about the bike builder Ciocc, and then hit the post-screening dance party extravaganza at Branx! SM
Clinton Street Theater, 2522 SE Clinton, Fri July 31 & Sat Aug 1, see Film Times for showtimes, $8; afterparty w/DJ Keys, Branx, 320 SE 2nd, 10 pm, FREE
Iran/US relations can seem intractable, but not today. Celebrate everything good about America (monster trucks!) at the Washington County Fair, then head to PSU to celebrate everything good about Iran (kabobs!) at the Iranian Fair. Feeling neutral? The Schwingfest Swiss fair offers impartial ground and Swiss-style wrestling! PAC
Washington County Fair, 873 NE 34th, Hillsboro, 10 am-11 pm, FREE; Iranian Festival, PSU Park Blocks, 10 am-6 pm, FREE; Schwingfest, Paesano's Cedarville Park, Gresham, 10 am-midnight, $10
SUNDAY, AUGUST 2
Portland's own "extinct" volcano is one of the oldest urban parks in the United States. To mark its centennial, there'll be bands, shows, displays, and all manner of amazingness going on all weekend long. MD
Mount Tabor Park, SE 60th & Salmon, Sat Aug 1 & Sun Aug 2, FREE, see mttabor100.org for details
LA fuzz-rockers the Warlocks roll through town on the back of their latest, The Mirror Explodes, which pinpoints the mellowest parts of their expert marriage of psych and shoegaze. Australian opening act the Morning After Girls corral a similar brand of lysergic drone rock, with blissed-out results. NL
w/Gliss; Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside, 9 pm, $10-12
MONDAY, AUGUST 3
A warm summer Monday night is ideal for the simple pleasures of a cold cocktail and the camaraderie of strangers watching great movies you've seen before. Thus begins Boxxes' new Monday night double feature series, kicking off with Army of Darkness and Wet Hot American Summer. MS
Boxxes, 1035 SW Stark, 8:30 pm, FREE
Sometimes the criticism that Judd Apatow movies attract is even funnier than the movies themselves. Knocked Up? A subtle pro-life agenda, obvs! His newest, Funny People, stars the once-funny Adam Sandler as a cancer-ridden comedian who takes a fledgling comedy writer (Seth Rogen) under his wing. It's probably pro-animal testing or something. AH
Various Theaters, see Film Times for theaters & showtimes
TUESDAY, AUGUST 4
It's a surf party right here in our backyard! Check out group art show Mountains, Motorcycles, Horses, and Waves, opening in conjunction with a screening of Dear and Yonder, which is kinda like Blue Crush except you're allowed to like it. With music by Tara Jane O'Neil, and a freaking street-side taqueria! HF
w/Marisa Anderson, DJ Zach Reno; Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, 7 pm, $10
If you don't have enough plasma to sell in order to afford the limited-edition Pixies Minotaur box set (retail price: $495), perhaps an evening with Mr. Charles Michael Kittridge Thompson IV (that's Black Francis to you and me) will suffice. While he might never escape the legacy of his former band—the constant reunion tours don't help things—Francis has a deep catalog to pull from. EAC
Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie, 8 pm, $20, all ages
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5
Good morning, food! Like Skittles and Voodoo Doughnut, brunch is going vegan. Punk scenester/community access TV chef/bestselling vegan cookbook author Isa Chandra Moskowitz shares recipes from her new release Vegan Brunch. Feast your eyes on tomato rosemary scones, broccoli quiche with cashews, and banana rabanada. JC
Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside, 7:30 pm, FREE
Rather than battling with their own selection of juicy samples, the DJs at Holocene's Beat Off competition will be using studio samples from the Blue Cranes' latest album—who also happen to be kicking off their national tour and playing a live set while beatmasters oil everyone up with sexy tunes. It'll make you so excited you'll wanna... you know. PG
Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, 9 pm, $5
