THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18

ROCK & SMOOTH—Four years running, the Fix has been holding it down for Portland hiphop, offering top-tiered DJs and a few surprise guests (?uestlove, Spinderella) along the way. To celebrate their fourth anniversary, Portland's premier hiphop night pulls out all the stops, bringing in the legendary Pete Rock along with his longtime partner in crime C.L. Smooth. EAC
w/Rev. Shines, Dundiggy, Kez; Someday Lounge, 125 NW 5th, 9 pm, $8

SAY HELLO TO MELO—It used to be that the Denver Nuggets ruled the roost of the Northwest Division, but these days the Portland Trail Blazers' longtime rivals are dealing with an unsure future and a franchise player (Carmelo Anthony) who wants to hop the next flight out of town for good. While all this might be bad news for last year's divisional champions, it's a golden opportunity for the Blazers. EAC
Rose Garden, 1 Center Ct, 7:30 pm, $15-170, all ages, broadcast on TNT

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19

GO APE—Save the orangutans! No, really: Tonight's show benefits Orangutan Foundation International by buying up orangutan habitat in Borneo before it can be razed. The show features orangutan expert Dr. Birute Gladikas and a five-band lineup that can't be beat, including And And And, Skeletron, and a special surprise band... let's just say they play lots and lots of instruments. NL
w/Forest Park, Robot Uprise; Berbati's Pan, 10 SW 3rd, 7:30 pm, $10-15, all ages

REDEMPTION—Perhaps he won't be attempting to karate chop a coconut while high on salvia and dry heaving through a mouthful of cinnamon, but Portland can still count on Tosh.0 host Daniel Tosh to bring along that same brand of smart-ass mockery and insensitivity we love him for. KO
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, 7:30 & 10:30 pm, $44.25-49.75, all ages

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20

DAMAGED LEMONS—Arguably one of the sexiest bands in existence, Blonde Redhead has been glamorously plugging away since the early '90s, most notably on 2004's brilliant Misery Is a Butterfly. (They also found time to score the D&D doc The Dungeon Masters.) On their newest, Penny Sparkle, Kazu Makino's vocals are as transfixingly haunting as ever. AH
w/Ólöf Arnalds; Roseland, 8 NW 6th, 9 pm, $22-25, all ages

BODY TALK—Just before the third EP in her Body Talk trilogy drops, you can be there to see Robyn shake the house down with some of the best (and of course, Swedish) pop music of the past decade. MS
w/Maluca, Natalia Kills; Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell, 8 pm, $20-23, all ages

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21

BOOKS, BANDS, AND ART, OH MY!—To celebrate the release of Nature Study on Lonesome Island, artist Azsa West's new book of drawings, she's throwing a one-night-only art party featuring tons of local talent and music from STLS and Tara Jane O'Neil. ND
The Cleaners at the Ace Hotel, 403 SW 10th, 6 pm, FREE, all ages

FUNNYBOOKS—Portland's geekiest flea market, the Portland Comic Book Show brings together comics fans, retailers, collectors, creators, and dudes dressed up as Chewbacca. This year's guests include Astro City writer Kurt Busiek, Y: the Last Man artist Pia Guerra, and Serenity: The Shepherd's Tale artist Chris Samnee. Also present: boxes upon boxes of cheap comics, Stargate trading cards, and forgotten Jar Jar Binks action figures. EH
Memorial Coliseum, 300 N Winning Way, 10 am-5 pm, $8

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22

POOR PEOPLE—Amy Sedaris is here to tell it like it is again, this time with her latest lifestyle tome, Simple Times: Crafts for Poor People, which takes on the Martha Stewart set of middle-class craft elitists, armed with nothing but pipe cleaners, a glue gun, and—oh yeah—wit. MS
Bagdad Theater, 3702 SE Hawthorne, 7 pm, $27.99 (includes a copy of Simple Times)

SAMURAI—The Northwest Film Center's Japanese Currents: The Samurai Tradition series kicks off with two brilliant Kurosawa classics: 1954's Seven Samurai and 1958's The Hidden Fortress. In the coming weeks, prepare yourself for other phenomenal samurai flicks like Sword of Doom (1966) and Shogun Assassin (1980). Bring your own katana. EH
Northwest Film Center's Whitsell Auditorium, 1219 SW Park, see Movie Times for showtimes, $9

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23

ABRAHADABRA—Injecting their pummeling riffs with soaring symphonic elements, Norway's Dimmu Borgir bring their powerhouse sound back through town, crushing you with a heavy, majestic, and ridiculously over-the-top fusion of classical music and black, black metal. NL
w/Enslaved, Blood Red Throne, Dawn of Ashes; Roseland, 8 NW 6th, 8 pm, $22-25, all ages

DISARMED—After snagging an Oscar or two for Slumdog Millionaire, director Danny Boyle is back with 127 Hours, the nerve-wracking true story of Aron Ralson (James Franco), who, after getting pinned by a boulder, amputated his own arm. As long as you're cool with nervously cringing, this harrowing and exhilarating film is one of the best of the year. EH
Various Theaters, see Movie Times for showtimes and read our interview with Danny Boyle

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24

FUN FUN—What's better than going to the disco? Discos Discos, Holocene's new monthly dance night that's far more discothèque than Bee Gees. DJs mix the sounds of Latin American reggaeton and South American electro cumbia, so bring the hot pants and leave the Brut at home. SM Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, 9 pm, $3

THE AUROR! THE AUROR!—Grab your wizard gear, it's finally time to watch Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1. As a Muggle, I'm so happy to watch the best of the books in film form, yet so sad to know it's coming to a cinematic end with Part 2 in 2011. For now, sit back and watch Harry's quest for the remaining Horcruxes while Voldemort revels in his power. CF
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, Various Theaters.