WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16
HOUSING FORUM—Know Your City noticed something about a recent forum on the rental crisis put together by the Oregonian: It left out renters. So the group's holding a forum of its own tonight. " The Rent Crisis: A People's Perspective" brings together advocates for renters and the homeless, the mayor's office, and an affordable housing provider for a more useful crack at the problem. DIRK VANDERHART
Community Warehouse, 3969 NE MLK, 5:30 pm, $5 suggested donation
MUSIC—Every year around this time, the maestros at XRAY.fm cease to be contented with zapping great music to your ears via radio magic. They wanna do it live. So head out tonight to XRAY's Holiday Party, where a yuletide cornucopia of local acts like Hurry Up, the Woolen Men, and more await you. All proceeds benefit the station! DIRK VANDERHART
w/Blesst Chest, Rasheed Jamal; Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, 8 pm, $8
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17
READING—What better way to fend off the winter darks than with Portland's queen of science fiction herself? That's right! Ursula K. Le Guin reads from her latest tonight! And as if that weren't good enough (it certainly is; stop being greedy!), the confirmed enfant terrible of letters will be joined by Mark E. Cull, publisher of California's excellent Red Hen Press. MEGAN BURBANK
Another Read Through, 3932 N Mississippi, 7 pm, FREE, all ages
MUSIC—Relax and float downstream to the far-out sounds of Portland band Grandparents, who tickle your psychedelic receptors with their fine debut album, Sincerely, Bagman. They're joined by the peerless Helvetia, whose new Dromomania is both oddball and totally comfortable, like the weird design on your favorite T-shirt. NED LANNAMANN
w/Is/Is; Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, 8:30 pm, $7
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18
FORMAL—Portland takes a lot of guff for underdressing, so note that this is Tender Loving Empire's Winter Formal. Along with all they do during the rest of the year, tonight TLE's enlisted Chanti Darling and Thanks to perform, rousted up a photo booth, and arranged for ticket proceeds to aid the crisis in Syria. The least you can do is wear a tie. MARJORIE SKINNER
w/DJ II Trill; The Secret Society, 116 NE Russell, 8 pm, $10 solo, $15 duo
MUSIC—To benefit Portland's Creative Music Guild, a diverse three-pack of local music-makers are joining forces, including the heartfelt rock of Modern Kin, the experimental upright-bass-and-drums of the Crenshaw, and the melted folk of Dragging an Ox Through Water, each highlighting an aspect of the city's thriving music culture. NED LANNAMANN
Bunk Bar, 1028 SE Water, 9:30 pm, $8-10
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19
MUSIC—Folksy-punk legends X are doing their annual holiday tour, and their sack is jammed with presents for all the good kids of Portland. Celebrate a Christmas miracle as guitarist Billy Zoom performs even while battling with cancer, while Mike Watt of Firehose and Minutemen opens for the fabled Los Angelenos. COURTNEY FERGUSON
Star Theater, 13 NW 6th, Sat & Sun 9 pm, $25
FILM—It's time for my favorite Christmas event: the Hollywood's annual screening of the 1984 horror flick Silent Night, Deadly Night. Much like admiring holiday decorations, watching Santa brutally murder people with an ax gets the holiday juices flowing. Who doesn't love an antisocial St. Nick who's hell-bent on mayhem? Nawww-teeeee! COURTNEY FERGUSON
Hollywood Theatre, 4122 NE Sandy, 7:30 pm, $8
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20
MUSIC/TOYS—Dear heartless bastard: For once can you think of the kids? Let's make it easy for you. Grab an unwrapped toy (or $10) and bring it to the third annual Rock for a Reason, which pairs a toy drive for needy children with some awesome music. On the bill is the foot-stompin' country twang of the Lonesome Billies, the harmonious Denver, Ryan Sollee (from the Builders and the Butchers), and sweet Americana folk from Ike Fonseca & Co. WM. STEVEN HUMPHREY
Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside, 8 pm, $10 or an unwrapped toy
MUSIC—People flock to see Typhoon's emotional mix of philosophical urgency and sweeping arrangements on any given Tuesday, so the occasion of the project's 10th anniversary has... well, it's sold the heck out is what. Beg, borrow, or steal your way in (or try the ticket exchange they set up at uselyte.com). It will probably be worth it. MARJORIE SKINNER
Revolution Hall, 1300 SE Stark, 8 pm, do what you have to, all ages
MONDAY, DECEMBER 21
FILM—From the acclaimed creators of dramas such as Felicity, The Big Chill, and Regarding Henry comes one of this year's most anticipated motion pictures—a tale of two lost youths, brought together in a troubled time to make peace with age-old dilemmas. Discerning audiences seeking a subtle tale—one told with candor, grace, and skill—need look no further than Star Wars: The Force Awakens. ERIK HENRIKSEN
Bagdad Theater, 3702 SE Hawthorne, 11:30 am, 3 pm, 7 pm, 10:45 pm, $7.50-9
FLEA MARKET—If you're tired of buying CRAP for your friends, get your holiday shopping done in style at the Christmas edition of the Rock 'n' Roll Flea Market. You'll undoubtedly find loads of swanky vintage goods including clothes, rare vinyl, posters, and more. PLUS, you can drink while you shop AND rock out to the mod/psych pop sounds of the Reverberations. WM. STEVEN HUMPHREY
Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside, 5-9 pm, FREE
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22
MUSIC—Last week, Billy Gibbons and Alice Cooper played Portland, inspiring their fans to sneak out of their retirement homes for one last night on the town. Tonight, Snoop Dogg does the same—proving that even aging hip-hop heroes are happy to feed off nostalgia. (That said, I'll be fucking delighted to hear Snoop do any track off of Doggystyle. That shit is great.) ERIK HENRIKSEN
w/the Legendary Kokane; Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside, 8 pm, $40-80, all ages
FILM—Christmas movies are a crime against humanity. There are two exceptions: Die Hard, which everyone's seen a billion times, and The Night Before, which no one saw. Which sucks, because The Night Before—starring Seth Rogen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Lizzy Caplan, and Mindy Kaling—is a goddamn hilarious delight, and filled even a grinch like me with something suspiciously like "Christmas spirit." ERIK HENRIKSEN
Various Theaters, see Film Times for locations and showtimes
