THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
WORDS—Margaret Atwood is a poet and author of over 30 books, who’s been coined “Canada’s greatest living novelist.” Ursula K. Le Guin is the author of over 40 books, including The Left Hand of Darkness, which won the Hugo and Nebula Awards. These two renowned writers come “together in conversation” for one night as part of Portland Arts and Lectures. Surely this talk needs no further explanation. CP
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, 7:30 pm, $42.50-$68.50
OUR PDX—Part yearbook, part guidebook, and part memoir anthology, Our Portland Story Volume 1 features contributions from 77 authors and 68 designers. Be among the first to see their combined efforts at the launch party, where you can hear excerpted readings and grab your own copy. MS
Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi, 6:30 pm, FREE
INDULGENT—Treat yourself at this year’s Indulge @ the Jupiter by sampling some of Oregon’s finest craft liquors, beers, and wines, while Southeast’s hottest restaurateurs set up shop just for you to get your eat on. MJS
Jupiter Hotel, 800 E Burnside, 6-9 pm, $40-60
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
COME TO JESUS—The days of Zola Jesus opening shows—as she is tonight for this fabulous triple bill—will soon be over. With a stunning voice and bountiful artistic expression, the enigmatic Zola (née Nika Roza Danilova) has set the world aflame with her Stridulum EP and its forthcoming follow-up, Valusia. EAC
w/the Very Best, Warpaint; Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, 9 pm, $15
CHEAP THRILL—It’s fourth Friday, and for all you penny-pinching art lovers, that means free admission to the Portland Art Museum. Guided tours of the exhibits start at 6 and 6:30 pm, while a couple of delicious food carts will be parked outside. Show your date how sophisticated you can be without busting open the piggybank. NL
Portland Art Museum, 1219 SW Park, 5-8 pm, FREE
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
BLOODROCUTED—The only line of description for the show posted on Paul Green’s School of Rock website: “Bring a neck brace.” Dethklok, the virtual death metal band from the Adult Swim cartoon show Metalocalypse plans to crush Portland’s spinal column as School of Rock students perform acts of brutality for a noontime crowd. There’s no better way to spend a Saturday afternoon than watching a bunch of child prodigies chug their way through “Hatredcopter.” KO
Hawthorne Theatre, 1507 SE 39th, noon, $8-10, all ages
ROLLIN’—It’s S-A T-U-R D-A-Y Night! And the Bay City Rollers are rolling through town with original lead singer Les McKeown, bringing memories of the ’70s and their string of perfectly preserved pop toppers. NL
Dante’s, 1 SW 3rd, 9:30 pm, $12-15
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
SAUSAGE PARTY—Contrary to popular belief, there is more to Polish culture than sausage! There’s, um, polka, and, uuuhhhh… pierogi. Yeah! And yes, there’s also kielbasa. You’ll find all that and more at Portland’s 15th Annual Polish Festival, with nonstop music, dance, and, yes, face stuffing. MS
Polish Library & St. Stanislaus Church, 3900 N Interstate, Sat 11 am-10 pm, Sun noon-6 pm, FREE
RE: WILD THINGS—Local filmmaker Lance Bangs has worked on a bunch of stuff you’ve seen—like Jackass, and videos for Sonic Youth and the White Stripes—but he’s also an accomplished director. Tonight, he swings by the NW Film Center to present four of his most recent works, including Tell Them Anything You Want, the phenomenal portrait of Where the Wild Things Are author Maurice Sendak that Bangs co-directed with Spike Jonze, and his moving HBO documentary about AIDS medicines in Africa, The Lazarus Effect. Go! EH
Northwest Film Center’s Whitsell Auditorium, 1219 SW Park, 7 pm, $6-9
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
POP ACROSS BORDERS—Author Richard Poplak reads from his latest, The Sheikh’s Batmobile, an investigation into Western pop culture and how it is interpreted and translated by the Muslim world. ND
Powell’s City of Books, 1005 W Burnside, 7:30 pm, FREE
GHOSTBUSTIN’—Dan Aykroyd has always been fascinated by the supernatural, and he’s taken his interest to boozy new levels with his new Crystal Head Vodka. This afternoon, Aykroyd visits a Jantzen Beach liquor store (!) to autograph bottles—and who knows? Maybe he’ll slime a ghost or two. MJS
Stateline Liquor, 1109 N Jantzen Dr, 3-5 pm, FREE
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
REMADE HORIZON—Bitte Orca, the most acclaimed record of last year, has just been reissued with an extra disc of live tracks and rarities. And the folks responsible—the phenomenally virtuosic Dirty Projectors—drop by for a two-night stand, bringing their euphoric celebration of pure musicality. NL
w/Dominique Young Unique; Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie, Tues-Wed, 9 pm, $20-25, all ages (Wed only)
CHILLAX WAVE—Never mind the embarrassing genre tag of chillwave, just kick back and enjoy the wide-eyed sounds of Neon Indian. Still riding high on the success of Psychic Chasms, Alan Palomo & Co. are a surefire cure for your deadbeat summer. Don’t sleep on Prefuse 73 as well—in a perfect world Neon Indian would be opening for him. EAC
w/Miniature Tigers; Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell, 9 pm, $16, all ages
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
MATT + KIM = LUV—Do you like baskets of cuddly kittens? How about infectious pop? Then Matt and Kim are the lifesavers you’ve been looking for. Armed with only a keyboard, drum set, and goddamn sunny attitudes, this lovable pair will turn your frown upside down, nicely give it a pink slip, and send it and your shitty attitude packing. WSH
w/Fang Island, Delta!Bravo; Roseland, 8 NW 6th, 8 pm, $16, all ages
UNHALFBRICKING—Joe Boyd’s autobiography, White Bicycles, is one of the finest and most fascinating rock books ever written, detailing his production work in the ’60s with Nick Drake, Fairport Convention, and Pink Floyd. Tonight he reads from the book, interspersed with Robyn Hitchcock—yes, the Robyn Hitchcock—playing cover tunes from the era. NL
The Woods, 6637 SE Milwaukie, 7:30 & 10 pm, $18-20
Where can I get a bottle of Bill Murray bourbon?! Come on!