WEDNESDAY, JULY 17
MUSIC—Some groups need mile-long discographies to garner a lasting fanbase. Some groups only need the one album, really. The Postal Service, consisting of Jimmy Tamborello with the beats and Ben Gibbard with the plaintive musing, celebrate the 10th birthday of Give Up with their friend and collaborator Jenny Lewis. BR
Rose Garden, 1 Center Court, 8 pm, $29.50-44.50, all ages
BIKER 'PRECIATION—For the second year running, businesses on North Williams will shower you with plaudits and swag just for making your daily bike commute home. Last year's Rider Appreciation Day had more than 20 participating shops and restaurants, doling out free bike advice, gear, and popsicles in equal measure. This year, more have signed on. SWAG. DVH
N Williams between Hancock and Shaver, 4-6 pm, FREE
THURSDAY, JULY 18
BURLESQUE—Here's hoping Tempest Storm's return to the Star won't set off another "burlesque war" like it did in 1953 when she ruled its stage. The famous flame-haired beauty has been in the peeler biz for over half a century, and for two nights the Las Vegas resident headlines a showcase of burlesque from Stumptown's finest. This is some historic sexiness, ladies and germs. CF
Star Theater, 13 NW 6th, Thurs-Fri 9 pm, $20-50
WEIRD AL—It says a lot that despite decades, "Weird Al" Yankovic is still the only guy who can do what he does as well as he does. From Dr. Demento to UHF to CD to YouTube, the ever-adapting, ever-clever Weird Al's still around, still being great. You know what that makes him? AN IRREPLACEABLE CULTURAL ICON AND A MUSICAL AND COMEDIC GENIUS. EH
Oregon Zoo, 4001 SW Canyon, 7 pm, $29.50-49.50 (hunt hard for tickets!), all ages
FRIDAY, JULY 19
COMEDY—We live in a dumb country in a dumber world. But maybe we forget just how dumb everything really is. Stand-up Myq Kaplan, all full of deadpan and self-deprecation, is funny because he's smart about reminding us about all the little ways we actually aren't. Oh, and he jokes about race and religion, too. But also smartly. DCT
Helium Comedy Club, 1510 SE 9th, Thurs 8 pm, Fri-Sat 7:30 & 10 pm, $15-25
PDX POP—Suck it, Christmas. This is the most wonderful time of the year: PDX Pop Now! time! The three-day, all-ages, all-local, all-free festival kicks off today with bunches of terrific bands, and this year's fest also includes the first round of the annual Rigsketball tourney, in which Portland bands compete on a rigged basketball hoop attached to the back of And And And's van. Summer is NOW, yo! NL
Fri-Sun, SE Water & Salmon, FREE, all ages
SATURDAY, JULY 20
24-HOUR FUN—The 8 Track Relay takes everything a healthy Portlander loves (outdoor exercise, local music, food, beer, Sam Adams) and crams it into a 24-hour intensive. Gather a team and run the all-night relay course, or just come for the stellar music lineup (Menomena, Blitzen Trapper, the Cave Singers, so many more), fireworks show, giant bonfire, and contact fitness buzz. MS
Portland International Raceway, 1940 N Victory, Sat noon to Sun 3:30 pm, $100 to run, $40 just to party, 8trackrelay.com
MUSIC & WRESTLING—Finally! The dirty, dancey sounds of surf rock are paired with Mexican masked wrestling in a one-night event called the world's first Luchador Surf Party! Expect raucous surf music from Davie Allan, Guantanamo Baywatch, Audios Amigos, and more, plus taco eating and "the twist" contests, AND live Mexican wrestling! That's what we call a match made in heaven! WSH
Star Theater, 13 NW 6th, 6 pm, $10
HACKLES—You won't be able to stop yourself from heckling this turkey! And you don't have to at this Hecklevision screening of 1995's Hackers, starring a baby Angelina Jolie, Jonny Lee Miller, hacky hacking, and rollerblading! Polish up your jests so you can compete with stand-up Shane Torres and a host of other comedians, as your texted heckles appear onscreen! CF
Hollywood Theatre, 4122 NE Sandy, 7 pm, $8
SUNDAY, JULY 21
STREET FAIR—The longstanding joke in Portland is that anything east of 60th is a blasted land peopled with Juggalos and Langoliers. That joke isn't just tired, but as the Montavilla Street Fair shows, it's woefully inaccurate. A daylong celebration of good food, good beer, and good bands thriving in one of the most under-appreciated areas of the city. BR
SE Stark between SE 82nd and SE 76th, 11 am-5 pm, FREE, all ages
JAZZY FEST—Maximize the fine Portland summer by spending it lounging on the grass while surrounded by the sounds of the West Coast's longest-running free jazz festival. The Cathedral Park Jazz Festival is on its 33rd year, boasting a lineup that includes tonight's performers Blue Cranes and the Eri Yamamoto Trio. MS
Cathedral Park, N Edison & Pittsburg, Fri 5-9 pm, Sat 2-9 pm, Sun 3-8:30 pm, FREE, all ages, cpjazz.com
MONDAY, JULY 22
COMEDY—Sometimes it seems as though Portland is home to more local comedy shows than actual comedians—but this installment of the long-running showcase Down to Funny is just about as perfectly curated as it gets: Promising newcomer Curtis Cook, local stalwarts Anthony Lopez and Sean Jordan, and Mercury columnists/hilarious humans Barbara Holm and Ian Karmel. AH
East Burn, 1800 E Burnside, 8:30 pm, FREE
MUSIC—When it comes to all-around performers, Bruno Mars is one of your current best bets. And while he's sure to dazzle with his updated Motown sound (check out the hilariously awesome "Treasure" video), don't be surprised when he busts out the drum and guitar solos as well as some sweet-ass dance moves in between his MANY hits. WSH
w/Ellie Goulding; Rose Garden, 1 Center Court, 7:30 pm, $39.50-79.50, all ages
TUESDAY, JULY 23
READING—Susan Choi's new novel My Education starts with a predictable-enough premise (starry-eyed graduate student swoons over her handsome professor) and proceeds to completely subvert it (starry-eyed graduate student falls in love with her handsome professor's wife). It's a smart, sexy, insightful novel—great "beach reading," if you're into that. AH
Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside, 7:30 pm, FREE
FILM—You got a real pretty mouth. EH
Deliverance at the Laurelhurst Theater, 2735 E Burnside, $4, see Movie Times
