THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15
Author Anthony Flint talks with a Portland
State urban planning professor about an epic rivalry that shaped the
way Americans view and build cities (including ours!): the battle
between freeway godfather Robert Moses and grassroots anti-freeway
activists in New York. SM
Powell’s City of Books, 1005 W Burnside, 7:30 pm, FREE
A grizzly bear could rip your ass in two by
barely lifting a paw. Conversely, Grizzly Bear are choirboy-faced
gentlemen who croon harmonious lover-boy tunes as descended from the Beach Boys. It’s not hard to decide which bears are best to hug. MS
w/the Morning Benders; Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside, 8 pm,
$22-25, all ages
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16
Imago Theatre’s production of Sartre’s No
Exit has toured nationwide, its unique, tilting set design earning
praise from the likes of the New York Times and Variety.
For its triumphant return to Portland, the production’s staffed with
three of Portland’s finest actors: JoAnn Johnson, and Third Rail’s Tim
True and Maureen Porter. AH
Imago Theatre, 17 SE 8th, Thurs 7 pm, Fri-Sat 7:30 pm, Sat-Sun 2 pm,
$28-39, imagotheatre.com
Part two of KPSU’s 15-year anniversary
(part one took over Pioneer Courthouse Square back in June) takes place
tonight on the PSU campus with bands like Fist Fite, New Century
Schoolbook, Dead Air Fresheners, and more—plus, your cover gets
you free food and free beer from Ninkasi (if you’re of age). Wow! Now
that’s a college party! NL
PSU Smith Ballroom, 1825 SW Broadway (third floor), 6 pm, $5, all
ages
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17
The Scion Garage Fest invades downtown
Portland, and those lucky folks with passes get their pick of free rock
‘n’ roll from four great venues all day and night. Didn’t RSVP? Never
fear: East End is hosting free parties on Friday and Saturday nights
with very special guests from the fest. NL
Berbati’s Pan, 10 SW 3rd; Satyricon, 125 NW 6th; Someday Lounge,
125 NW 5th; Dante’s, 1 SW 3rd; 3 pm, FREE w/RSVP, scion.com/garagefest; pre- and
after-parties at East End, 203 SE Grand, Fri Oct 16 & Sat Oct 17, FREE
One of the few chances to taste all at once the
huge variety of spirits produced across our great state, this year’s
Oregon Distillers Guild tasting boasts more than 13 participating
distilleries featuring 24 products. A boozy afternoon at Edgefield?
Yes, please. PAC
Edgefield, 2126 SW Halsey, Troutdale, 1-4 pm, $20
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18
If Chicago is corrupt, then Rio de Janeiro
is a giant sucking hole of bribes and bodies. Elite
Squad—screening as part of the Portland Latin American Film
Festival—has become a Scarface-like touchstone in
Brazilian culture for its portrayal of the crooked cops and dead
dealers that keep the city running. Windy City, USA’s lookin’ pretty
good right now. DB
Broadway Metroplex, 1000 SW Broadway, 7:35 pm, $9
Distract yourself from the looming winter months
ahead with the good-time fears of FrightTown, a city-block-sized
complex of gruesome butchery, vengeful human oddities, and haunted old
mansions with unsettled occupants. You gotta walk with the dead to
remind yourself you’re alive! MS
Memorial Coliseum, 300 Winning Way, Oct 15-18 & Oct 22-Nov 1,
frighttown.com for schedules &
more info
MONDAY, OCTOBER 19
Finally. After years of false
starts and delays, Spike Jonze’s cinematic adaptation of everyone’s
favorite children’s book, Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things
Are, is now in theaters. Early reactions to the film have been
mixed (see pg. TK for our review), but one thing’s for sure: a
brilliant filmmaker like Jonze, telling a brilliant, beloved story?
You’re gonna want to see this for yourself. EH
Various theaters, click here for showtimes
English band BrakesBrakesBrakes just
released a digital live album called Rock Is Dodelijk, and for
very good reason: Their shows are packed with energetic garage pop and
unshakeable melodies. See for yourself tonight! NL
w/Ezra Furman & the Harpoons, Rachel Goodrich; Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside, 9 pm, $8-10
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20
August: Osage County won a
Pulitzer Prize, a Tony Award, and breathless acclaim from the New York Times. I guess there’s no denying the award-winning appeal of a dysfunctional family full of boozers, pill-poppers, and secrets. Hey,
where’s my Tony?! PAC
Keller Auditorium, 222 SW Clay, Tues-Sat 7:30 pm, Sat 2 pm, Sun 1 pm, $20-60, through Sun Oct 25
Pop quiz: What band did the normally
highbrow BBC stoop to describe as “pop at its groin-itchingly sexiest”?
Answer: Dragonette! Opening local electro dance band Fleshtone also
makes you want to itch your groin for all the right reasons. SM
w/Diamond Liars, Rude Dudes; Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside, 9 pm, $10
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21
Israeli choreographer Hofesh Shechter and his
UK-based dance company have gotten a lot of acclaim lately: Shechter
won the 2008 Critics Circle Award for Best Modern Choreography, and his
work has been described as “powerful,” “driving,” and “passionate.”
White Bird Dance hosts the show tonight, and really, who wouldn’t want
to see a bunch of muscled men passionately prancing? AR
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, 7:30 pm, $20-$50