WEDNESDAY, JULY 31
SCIENCE!—Remember how your science friends would always talk about that one awesome chemistry lecture where the professor would blow shit up and do magic tricks for 45 minutes? That's exactly what this OMSI After Dark: Explosions event will be like. Except better. You won't have to pretend you're not drunk this time. DCT
OMSI, 1945 SE Water, 7 pm, $12, 21+
MUSIC—This triple-decker of Portland's finest guarantees to please all the holes in your head: The intrepid, unraveling experimental pop of Aan will be a fitting cap to a night that also includes Sun Angle's spastic, third-eye-gazing jams and the newly soulful sound of Swahili's captivating trance. NL
Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, 8:30 pm, $6-8
THURSDAY, AUGUST 1
COMEDY—We've had a good run, but the time has come for beloved local comedian—and Mercury columnist!—Ian Karmel to move to LA so he can get famous and forget all of our names. He's bidding the city farewell in the only manner that makes sense: with a comedy show. Don't miss it. AH
Holocene, 4122 NE Sandy, 8 pm, $10
MUSIC—It's Summer Cannibals' coming-out party, as the Portland post-punkers celebrate the release of their fine debut album, No Makeup. Get there in plenty of time for Grandparents' dream-manifesting haze-pop and the skin-shedding, nutzoid, sonic tidal wave of XDS. NL
Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi, 9 pm, $5
FRIDAY, AUGUST 2
BEST MUSIC FEST—If you've pinched your pennies and ventured out to Pickathon in years past, you know just how awesome this music fest is. It's worth every hard-earned ducat to visit the lovely Pendarvis Farm, camp in the woods, eat amazing food, and listen to spectacular music under the stars. This is the stuff of winter dreams. CF
w/Feist, Andrew Bird, Divine Fits, & more; Pendarvis Farm, 16581 SE Hagen, Happy Valley, Fri-Sun, $130-260, see pickathon.com for schedule and parking/camping costs
MUSIC—Even if it seems like all your friends are at Pickathon this weekend, there is a pretty stunning reason to stay in town tonight: Sebadoh is playing... not at the Roseland, or the Crystal, or the Wonder, but at Bunk Bar. Rub shoulders with lo-fi legend Lou Barlow at a small venue? What is this, 1992? MS
w/Octa#grape; Bunk Bar, 1028 SW Water, 9 pm, $15
SATURDAY, AUGUST 3
TREK IN THE PARK—For their final season, the beloved nerds of Trek in the Park are going out with a bang, performing The Trouble with Tribbles. Expect comedy, adventure, low-fi effects, and more space hamsters than you can count. And as anyone who's attended Trek in the Park's packed performances can attest, get there early. EH
Cathedral Park, N Edison & Pittsburg, every Sat & Sun in August, 5 pm, FREE
SOCCER—The Timbers' last outing against Northwest rivals Vancouver Whitecaps ended in a nail-biting draw, with Portland coming from behind late in the game, after struggling during the first half. So it's payback time, right? Cheer on the boys in green as they settle the score with Vancouver in another sure to be exciting Cascadia showdown. WSH
Jeld-Wen Field, 1844 SW Morrison, 8 pm, $35-195
SUNDAY, AUGUST 4
MUSIC—The 10-year anniversary of Elliott Smith's death is in October, and you can bet there will be plenty of memorializing. Tonight, celebrate the day Smith was born, not the day he died: Gus Van Sant hosts a tribute show celebrating what would have been Smith's 44th birthday, with members of Grandaddy, Pete Krebs, Larry Crane, and more. AH
Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside, 8 pm, $30-35 (all proceeds go to Outside In)
JAZZ MUSIC—Portland's own Blue Cranes play a percussive, timeless brand of jazz best listened to alone at 2 am on a summer night in a big city apartment, and maybe with some tobacco smoke circling around your head. It's improvisational, but purposeful—full of fine sax work. And it's incredibly moody. DCT
w/AgesandAges; Rontoms, 600 E Burnside, 8 pm, FREE
MONDAY, AUGUST 5
OUTDOOR FILM—Cars, bikes, and pedestrians can all enjoy the NW Film Center's drive-in film fest underneath the Ross Island Bridge. With Singin' in the Rain, Dazed and Confused, Jaws, and tonight's screening of psycho-sexual weirdfest Blue Velvet, the outdoor film series has something for everyone—especially for those who appreciate Dennis Hopper screaming his beer preferences into the summer night. CF
Zidell Yards, 3030 SW Moody, Sat-Mon, doors at 7:30 pm, film at dusk, $8, see Film Times for more showtimes
BURGER WEEK—If you're a hamburger fanatic, this is the week you've been waiting for! The first annual Portland Burger Week launches today, wherein our city's finest eateries team up with awesome meat from Nicky USA to make their own one-of-a-kind burgers—and get this... they're only $5 each! Pause, Club 21, Slow Burger, Tilt, and many more are participating, so get out, go in, and eat up! WSH
Various locations, Aug 5-11, see portlandburgerweek.com for more!
TUESDAY, AUGUST 6
GEEKS—Geek Trivia with hosts Cort Webber and Bobby Roberts (hey, he works here!) has been called out as one of the greatest in a city that loves to knock back a few while testing knowledge—the geekier the better. Test your ability to retain the factoids of movies, TV, comic books, games, and/or the '80s and '90s for prizes, pride, and glory. MS
Kennedy School, 5736 NE 33rd, 7 pm, FREE
FILM—Hey, you look like someone who likes Shamu! BUT WHAT IF SHAMU ATE PEOPLE? SeaWorld's doing everything they can to keep people from seeing the critically acclaimed, Sundance-approved Blackfish—a searing, must-see documentary about what can happen when killer whales are kept in captivity. (Hint: THEY EAT PEOPLE.) EH
Fox Tower 10, 846 SW Park, see Film Times for showtimes, $8-11