FEATURED EVENT
FILM FESTIVAL
1st Annual Portland Asian Film Festival
Nov. 10–18
Cinema 21
$7–60, all ages
Thirty films of varying genre and national origin screen for Portland’s first-ever film festival devoted to the works of Asian filmmakers. See horror movies, period pieces, rom-coms and erotic thrillers, along with classics like Ringu and Ringu 2.
Tuesday, Nov. 7
FILM
Jane (2017)
Multiple screenings thru Nov. 9
Cinema 21
$7–10, all ages
Intimate documentary about primate researcher Jane Goodall with a score by Philip Glass.
FILM
Breathing Fire (1991)
7:30 p.m.
Hollywood Theatre
$7–9, all ages
Privileged teens Charlie (Jonathan Ke Quan) and Tony Moore (Eddie Saavedra) are pitted against their father (Jerry Trimble) when they protect a girl (Laura Hamilton) who could take down their father’s criminal gang.
Wednesday, Nov. 8
FILM
Lost Division (2016)
7 p.m.
Hollywood Theatre
$7–9, all ages
Portland-made independent film following an AWOL soldier, a chaplain, and a combat cameraman as they struggle with PTSD at the end of WWII in Germany.
THEATER
Water By the Spoonful
7:30 p.m. (staged through Nov. 19)
Profile Theater
$20–36, all ages
The second play in Quiara Alegria Hudes’ Elliot trilogy, Elliot and his cousin Yaz navigate the physical and online realms as they face death in their family.
THEATER
Please Underestimate Me
7:30 p.m. (through Nov. 23)
Curious Comedy Theater
$15–20, all ages
Stephanie Cordell, Scott Engdahl, Shareen Jacobs, Rose Bonomo, Savira Kambhu and ASL interpreter Blake Wales bring to life the personal essays of Jay Flewelling, who argues that being an underestimated underdog is an advantage.
NIGHTLIFE
Cyberia: Layer Zero One
8 p.m.
Fifth Avenue Lounge
$17–255, 21+
For one night, Portland gets its very first cyberpunk lounge. Cybergoths rejoice. The ultimate place to hack into the mainframe.
Thursday, Nov. 9
FILM
Romeo is Bleeding (2015)
7 p.m.
Clinton Street Theater
$7–10, all ages
Documentary about the creation of a Shakespeare club in response to gang violence in Richmond, California. Subjects of the documentary will be in attendance reading original works.
THEATER
The Happiest Song Plays Last
7:30 p.m. (staged through Nov. 19)
Profile Theater
$20–36, all ages
The third movie in Quiara Alegria Hudes’ Elliot trilogy, Elliot’s war past haunts him on location for a film shoot in Jordan during the Arab Spring, and Yaz tries to keep her communities together.
ALT-POP
SonReal
8 p.m.
Doug Fir Lounge
$13–85, 21+
The critically-acclaimed Canadian rapper tours in support of his new album, One Long Dream.
COMEDY
Myq Kaplan, Erin Judge, Barbara Holm
9 p.m.
Bunk Bar
$15–17, 21+
The headlining Last Comic Standing finalist tours in support of his new standup album, No Kidding and is supported by local comedians.
NIGHTLIFE
Butterball
10 p.m.
Nyx / Black Book
$10 ($5 w/canned food donation), 21+
#PDXBall’s theme this month is Thanksgiving, so vogue ball contestants will be serving moves and looks inspired by gravy, stuffing and the Macy’s parade.
Friday, Nov. 10
FILM
The Square (2017)
Multiple screenings through Nov. 16
Cinema 21
$7–10, all ages
Dark Swedish comedy satirizing contemporary art starring Claes Bang and Elizabeth Moss.
THEATER
The Mystery of Irma Vep
7 p.m. (through Nov. 25)
Funhouse Lounge
$15–85, 21+
Actors Michael J. Treufel and Greg Shilling perform their critically acclaimed two-man A Penny Dreadful stage parody.
FILM
Found Footage Festival
7:30 p.m. (also screening 11/9)
Hollywood Theatre
$11–13, all ages
Joe Pickett (The Onion) and Nick Prueher (Late Show with David Letterman) exhibit their curated collection of found VHS, home movie and B-movie treasures, including 80s Satanic Panic movies, 20 years of North Dakota news bloopers, behind-the-scenes looks at Pickett & Prueher’s viral strongman stunt, and films from David Letterman’s private collection.
DANCE PARTY
Dance Yourself Clean
9 p.m.
Holocene
$5–8, 21+
Dance party inspired by 2000s and 2010s indie pop giants.
Saturday, Nov. 11
FILM
Little Heroes (Pequeños Héroes) (2017)
2 p.m.
Hollywood Theatre
$6, all ages
Three children learn secrets that help Símon Bolívar defeat his enemies and go on to found several South American nations. The first South American film to use MoGap animation.
FILM
Mothra (1961)
6 p.m.
Hollywood Theatre
$7–9, all ages
Mothra, the giant Godzilla moth monster, causes local panic when she tries to reclaim her stolen egg and her inches-high protectors.
CIRCUS
A-WOL’s 15th Birthday Party
7 / 10 p.m.
513 NE Schuyler St.
$20–25, 21+
A-WOL Aerial Dance Company celebrates a decade and a half of high-flying adventures with a gala party and late-night sexy exhibition.
EXPERIMENTAL MUSIC
Dolphin Midwives, Pulse Emitter, Amenta Abioto
8 p.m.
Mothership Music
$5, all ages
Dolphin Midwives aka Sage Fisher uses technology to layer her voice and make harp loops to create gorgeous soundscapes.
DANCE PARTY
Cake
9 p.m.
Killingsworth Dynasty
$5, 21+
The P.O.C. LGBTQ+ dance party has spawned three sister parties in L.A. and Long Beach, Calif. Music by DJs Automaton and Ronin Roc, hosted by Coco Madrid and Bart Fitzgerald.
DANCE PARTY
Jump Jack Sound Machine vs. Club Kai-Kai
10 p.m.
Mississippi Studios
$8, 21+
Two of Portland’s most popular alt-LGBTQ dance parties merge for what promises to be a legendary night of sweat, glitter, filth and glamour.
Sunday, Nov. 12
ROCK
Gin Blossoms
7 p.m.
Aladdin Theater
$40, all ages
The band most famous for its first single “Hey Jealousy” tours to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the album that spawned its biggest hit, New Miserable Experience. Did you know: the co-writer of “Hey Jealousy” killed himself shortly after being fired from the band, which inspired the title of their followup album, Congratulations I’m Sorry?
FILM
Human Highway (1982)
7:30 p.m.
Hollywood Theatre
$15, all ages
Gerald Casale of Devo attends this screening of the Neil Young-directed nuclear rock comedy starring Devo, Russ Tamblyn, Dean Stockwell, Charlotte Stewart, Sally Kirkland and Dennis Hopper. Features some probably problematic portrayals of Native Americans.
COMEDY
Dave Attell
7:30 p.m. (performing Nov. 9–11)
Helium Comedy Club
$32–40, 21+
Dave Attell is considered one of America’s funniest living comedians and has appeared on TV and in movies showcasing his brand of humor.
Monday, Nov. 13
R&B
Lizzo, Deja Cat
7:30 p.m.
Wonder Ballroom
$20, all ages
Lizzo’s Sunday show is sold out, so she added a second night in support of her new album, Truth Hurts.
FILM
Arctic Superstar (2016)
7:30 p.m.
Hollywood Theatre
$7–9, all ages
Documentary about Samí rapper SlinCraze aka Nils Rune Utzi, a Norwegian rapper who performs in a dying language understood by fewer than 20,000 people in the world.