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MONDAY

FILM

Labyrinth Past Event Like List
It's never a bad time to revisit the '86 dark fantasy Labyrinth, which only serves to bolster the theory that David Bowie was a creation pulled straight from Jim Henson's fantastical imagination. Grab a beer and some popcorn in honor of Henson's oddball brilliance and Bowie's cinematic mystique—this screening of the flick also celebrates Jareth the Goblin King's would-be 76th birthday. LC
(Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District)

TUESDAY

COMEDY

Catherine Cohen Past Event Like List
On the heels of the release of her Netflix comedy special The Twist…? She's Gorgeous, a "sparkling cocktail of stand-up and song" (and, perhaps most importantly, this bedazzled fuschia dress), Catherine Cohen is heading to Portland. Cohen has good taste—she's worked with comedians like Jaboukie Young-White and Michael Showalter, appeared on Broad City, and wrote a book of "comedic poetry" called God I Feel Modern Tonight. She does it all, people! Now head to the peak millennial's cabaret-style show to hear her thoughts on children in the audience. LC
(Mississippi Studios, Boise)

WEDNESDAY

FILM

Church of Film: Black Lizard Past Event Like List
Fans of Funeral Parade of Roses (if you know, you know) will bow down for this kitschy avante-garde fantasy. Based on a novel by freaky-deaky pulp writer Edogawa Ranpo (fun fact: he constructed his pen name to sound like "Edgar Allen Poe"), Black Lizard was adapted into a stage play by Yukio Mishima in the '60s. The play was then reinterpreted by Kinji Fukasaku in this '68 flick about a jewel thief and a sharp detective. Black Lizard stars legendary drag performer Akihiro Miwa, a close friend of Mishima; viewers will also catch Mishima in an on-screen cameo as a human taxidermy specimen! LC
(Clinton Street Theater, Hosford-Abernethy)

Reel Science: Keiko: The Untold Story of the Star of Free Willy Past Event Like List
Merging Science Pub shenanigans with a film screening, OMSI's latest Reel Science event starts with a splash in the form of the documentary Keiko: The Untold Story of the Star of Free Willy, which tracks the superstar orca's successful return to the ocean after being held in captivity. (Keiko reportedly went "from seapen to daily outings with caretakers, gained over 3000 pounds, mixed it up with wild orcas, and even exhibited physical signs of attempts to mate." Go Keiko!) The screening will be followed by a conversation with filmmaker Theresa Demarest, Free Willy Keiko Foundation founder David Philips, and film ambassador Karla Munguia. LC
(Empirical Theater at OMSI, Hosford-Abernethy)

THURSDAY

COMEDY

ISMO: Watch Your Language Tour Past Event Like List
Observational ace ISMO has been referred to as “the most insightful comic in Finland," but I think of him as that guy who talks about words, like, alot. As part of his international Watch Your Language tour, he'll head to the Pacific Northwest to continue his meteoric rise, which has included a viral appearance on Conan(turns out "ass" means more than just "butt") and opening sets for Gabriel Iglesias. LC
(Aladdin Theater, Brooklyn)

FRIDAY

COMEDY

Tina Fey & Amy Poehler: Restless Leg Past Event Like List Tour Past Event Like List  
Few comedic roles live on in the public consciousness like Tina Fey's Liz Lemon and Amy Poehler's Leslie Knope—even if you've somehow never watched a single episode of 30 Rock or Parks and Recreation, you know damn well who they are. The comedy queens, who, unsurprisingly, are also BFFs, will celebrate 30 years of camaraderie with jokes, stories, and "conversational entertainment," which I hope involves Tina eating her night cheese. You can catch this performance at the Moda Center, or snag tickets to the January 13 show at the Moda Center. LC
(Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, South Park Blocks)

LIVE MUSIC

Odie Leigh Past Event Like List
Odie Leigh's recent rise to fame has been a bit of an oxymoron. Her sound draws on traditional folk music with finger-picked guitars and narrative lyricism—the kinds of songs you'd expect to be passed down through generations. However, her songs were passed around through online algorithms and social media shares—I am talking about TikTok, of course! Back in the fall of 2022, Odie Leigh posted a clip of her then-unreleased song "Crop Circles" and TikTok went wild (seriously, it has 9.7 million views and counting!) It's easy for non-zoomers to discredit anything that was discovered on an app, but Odie Leigh's talent is undeniable. Her guitar playing is reminiscent of folk-blues legends like Elizabeth Cotton and Odetta while her voice has a soothing grit likened to Janis Joplin by commenters. Don't miss Odie Leigh on her first full-band tour ahead of her highly anticipated debut album. AV
(Aladdin Theater, Brooklyn)

SATURDAY

COMEDY

Siren Theater Improv Giants Past Event Like List
Catch Portland's quick-on-their-feet improv experts for this evening of inventive, unscripted, no-limits fun. Longstanding comedy favorites Shelley McLendon (artistic director of the Siren Theater), Jed Arkley (co-founder of the Stumptown Improv Festival), Nicholas Kessler (seen in Portlandia), Kristen Schier (of Philly Improv Theater), and Tyler Quinn (of Curious Comedy Theater) are reportedly "some of the smartest, fastest, funniest, and quite frankly the tallest" comics in town. Find out what the fuss is about when they strut their hilarious stuff on the Ellen Bye Studio stage. LC
(Ellyn Bye Studio at the Armory, Pearl District)

Tina Fey & Amy Poehler: Restless Leg Tour Past Event Like List *POSTPONED*
Few comedic roles live on in the public consciousness like Tina Fey's Liz Lemon and Amy Poehler's Leslie Knope—even if you've somehow never watched a single episode of 30 Rock or Parks and Recreation, you know damn well who they are. The comedy queens, who, unsurprisingly, are also BFFs, will celebrate 30 years of camaraderie with jokes, stories, and "conversational entertainment," which I hope involves Tina eating her night cheese. You can catch this performance at the Moda Center, or snag tickets to the January 12 show at the Schnitz. LC
(Moda Center, Lloyd District)

LIVE MUSIC

Taken By The Sky: Fleetwood Mac tribute Past Event Like List
Summoning the spirit of beloved good witch Stevie Nicks, Taken By The Sky will bring you an evening of Fleetwood Mac covers. Whirl and twirl to classics like "Gold Dust Woman," "Rhiannon," and, of course, "Dreams." I hope they also play deeper cuts like the Bob Welch-era song "Emerald Eyes," or perhaps something from Tusk. AV
(Aladdin Theater, Brooklyn)

PERFORMANCE

Imposter/Switch #5 Past Event Like List
Marissa Rae Niederhauser and newly appointed co-curator liz HOWLS will present the first 2024 edition of this quarterly showcase, which spotlights six artists working in randomly assigned disciplines outside of their typical practices. Experimenting for two weeks, each artist's new work is then spotlit in a public exhibition to "celebrate imposter syndrome" and poke fun at the whole notion of artistic mastery. This time around, participating artists Hannah Krafcik, Sarah Eaton, Stephanie Leet, The Bone Goddess, Yaara Valey, and Devin Devine will share their new pieces in contemporary dance, painting, stand-up comedy, and more. LC
(Performance Works NorthWest, Foster-Powell)

SUNDAY

LIVE MUSIC

Chipped Nail Polish, Jakki & The Pink Smudge, and Katy & The Null Sets Past Event Like List
Indie pop project Chipped Nail Polish, aka Portland-based singer-songwriter/ukelele player Jill Sullivan, will support her sophomore EP Bottom Feeder. On tracks like "Shakin' In Yer Boots," Sullivan builds on her largely acoustic sound with buzzing guitars and surf rock percussion—bringing to mind the glory days of 2010s indie rock (Best Coast, Vivian Girls, etc). She will be joined by indie punk band Jakki & The Pink Smudge and singer-songwriter Katy & The Null Sets. AV
(Holocene, Buckman)

PERFORMANCE

Goodnight Moon Past Event Like List
The best part of Margaret Wise Brown's Goodnight Moon is its impeccable vibes—I mean, check out this image and tell me you don't long to be Bunny, delightfully cuddled in bed, surrounded by kittens and yarn and bear paintings and a cozy fireplace. This theatrical production is the closest thing to entering Bunny's comfy, dreamy, imaginative world, where we'll hopefully see all the jumping cows and dancing bears our hearts desire. I'm getting sleepy already, but in a good way. LC
(Winningstad Theatre, South Park Blocks)

MULTI-DAY

EXHIBIT

Orcas: Our Shared Future Past Event Like List
Those who keep up on regional wildlife news are likely already aware of a dire situation in the Puget Sound, where Southern Resident Orcas are on the brink of extinction due to pollution, vessel traffic, and a dramatic decline of their primary food source, Chinook salmon. (Unsurprisingly, humans have played a central role in the animal's critically endangered state.) The orca, aka the apex predator of all oceans and an utterly majestic creature that deserves to thrive, is the central focus of Orcas: Our Shared Future. The new exhibition of over 100 Orcinus artifacts includes life-sized replicas, fossils, original artwork from Pacific Northwest Coast Indigenous peoples, and more, offering a rare opportunity to deep-dive into the animal's complex social structures, its connections to humans, and the surprising consequences of orca captivity. LC
(OMSI, Central Eastside, Tuesday–Sunday)

Sauna is Life: Sauna Culture in Finland Past Event Like List
Sauna: It's more than just getting really hot in a towel next to some strangers. The practice is actually on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List, an inventory I never knew existed until this moment. Makes sense, though—the earliest versions of sauna date back to 7000 BCE, and the traditional Finnish practice embodies sacred connection, peace, and a shame-free, natural "bareness" that's rarely permitted in daily life. This exhibition will be presented in collaboration with the Finlandia Foundation National for Sauna is Life. (Interested in Finnish culture? Check out Finnish comic ISMO's wordplay antics at Aladdin Theater on January 11, or treat yourself to a Löyly trip.) LC
(Nordic Northwest, Metzger, Wednesday-Sunday; opening)

FILM

All Of Us Strangers Past Event Like List
The bisexual lighting is hard at work in All of Us Strangers, a film that stars Andrew Scott (the hot priest on Fleabag) and Paul Mescal in cute sweaters. The film follows two Londoners living in the same near-empty tower block, where they find each other, do ketamine, and vibe before memories of past traumas begin to interrupt their romance. The film is based on the eerie, hypnotic 1987 novel Strangers by Taichi Yamada. LC
(Cinema 21, Northwest Portland, Thursday-Sunday)

American Fiction Past Event Like List
If the words "incisive literary satire" perk up your ears, then boy, does director Cord Jefferson have the film for you!! In his new dramedy (an adaptation of Percival Everett’s Erasure), Jeffrey Wright stars as Monk, a novelist who's understandably aggravated by the establishment that profits from "Black" entertainment and its exhausting tropes. When Monk writes a book under a pen name, he finds himself paddling in the same phony waters he admonished in the first place. LC
(Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District, Monday-Thursday)

Poor Things Past Event Like List
Real Lanthimos heads know that he doesn't direct anything without dystopic, black comedy underpinnings and plotlines that make audiences ponder why they're on the planet at all. He is weird, as directors should be, and you're either in or you're out. This time around, he's adapted a '92 Scottish novel for the screen, painting the picture of a young woman (played by Emma Stone, who is raven-haired and looks charmingly bananas) brought back to life by an unorthodox scientist (played by my famous dad, Willem Dafoe). Best part? Poor Things "saved" my other dad, Mark Ruffalo, from "depressed dad typecasting." Praise be. LC
(Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District, Monday-Thursday)

Portland Jewish Film Festival Past Event Like List
The Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education will present this celebration of Jewish filmmaking, which will include five full-length films and two shorts exploring the "complexity, history, and joy of Jewish life." (Stick around after the screenings for talk-back sessions with authors, filmmakers, scholars, and artists, too!) Standouts include the 2023 documentary Remembering Gene Wilder and Vishniac, which traces the life of photographer Roman Vishniac from pre-war Berlin to the Princeton offices of Albert Einstein. LC
(Lincoln Hall, Southwest Portland, Tuesday-Sunday)

Studio Ghibli Film Festival Past Event Like List
Over the last 30 years, Studio Ghibli has become legendary for its lush visuals, emotional and affecting storytelling, and poetic, intelligent approach to nature and the more-than-human world. OMSI's Studio Ghibli Film Festival will return for its ninth presentation of audience faves like My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service, as well as underrated classics like Pom Poko and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya. LC
(Empirical Theater at OMSI, Hosford-Abernethy, Friday-Sunday)

FOOD & DRINK

Oregon Cider Week Past Event Like List
Portlanders drink more cider per capita than anywhere else in the world, and it's not hard to see why: Oregon boasts a bevy of prime cideries, pouring apple-based libations that taste like a crisp autumn day in a glass. The nine-day-long Oregon Cider Week event builds on this enthusiasm and coincides with the world's largest cider conference, CiderCon, which is returning to Portland for the first time in nearly 10 years. Expand your palate with parties, tastings, tap takeovers, tours, trivia, education, festivals, flights, food pairings, pop-ups, and other events. JB
(Various locations, Saturday-Sunday)

GEEK & GAMING

FAN EXPO Portland 2024 Past Event Like List
If you're a nerd in the Portland area, you know that Christmas really happens in the early months of the new year at FAN EXPO. Once known as Wizard World Portland, this con draws thousands of comic, sci-fi, anime, gaming, and horror nerds from near and far. Between the many meet-ups and panels, you can also check out tabletop gaming, lightsaber battles, cosplay red carpets, and family-friendly activities. Don't miss meet-and-greets with on-screen stars like Joseph Quinn (Eddie Munson from Stranger Things), Charlie Cox (Daredevil), and Holly Marie Combs and Rose McGowan (Piper and Paige from Charmed), as well as voice actors including Shameik Moore (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse), Christopher Sabat (One Piece), and Kathleen Herles (Dora the Explorer). SL
(Oregon Convention Center, Lloyd District, Friday-Sunday)

LIVE MUSIC

Dinosaur Jr.: Celebrating 30 Years of Where You Been Past Event Like List
If you're one of those Dinosaur Jr. fans who says "I only like their old stuff," perhaps you'll be pleased to see that the alt-rock legends are on tour marking the 30th anniversary of their fifth album Where You Been. The 1993 album marked the band's transition from the avant-noise of Bug to a more refined, '70s rock-inspired sound. With that polish came the most commercial success the band had ever seen, with the album's lead single "Start Choppin" landing on the Billboard charts. The original lineup of J Mascis, Lou Barlow, and Murph will swing by Portland for two nights to play the album in its entirety along with a few other classics and covers sprinkled throughout. AV
(Revolution Hall, Buckman, Saturday-Sunday)

Portland's Folk Festival 2024 Past Event Like List
More than a dozen folk, Americana, blues, and bluegrass acts will set up shop at the historic ballroom for a three-day affair. Festival highlights include three-piece "song witches" Rainbow Girls (Friday), local indie-folk outfit Glitterfox (Saturday), and a secret headliner on Sunday—you've gotta love a surprise! AV
(Crystal Ballroom, West End, Friday-Sunday)

25th Annual Portland Old Time Music Gathering Past Event Like List
Bubbaville, a nonprofit that keeps traditional music, dance, and culture alive in Portland, will host their 25th annual old-time music gathering. As you can imagine, there will be plenty of fiddlin', banjo-playin', and square-dancin' with a headlining set from Hubby Jenkins (formerly of the Carolina Chocolate Drops and the Rhiannon Giddens band). There will also be a slew of dance lessons, open jams, kids activities, and workshops throughout the weekend (many of which are free). AV
(Various locations, Thursday-Sunday)

Portland Music Month 2024 Past Event Like List
Portland Music Month is a (you guessed it) month-long celebration that aims to revive the vibrant local music industry. Fans are encouraged to snap out of their mid-winter hibernation to help Portland's independent venues and artists by seeing live shows, buying merch, winning prizes, and supporting Music Oregon's Echo Fund. Come out and honor the musicians who helped us all get through the darkness of the past few years. The series will continue this week with highlights like dreamy darkwave outfit Ghost Feet, San Francisco-based Tom Petty tribute band Petty Theft, and the annual Portland Folk Festival. AV
(Various locations, Monday-Sunday)

PERFORMANCE

Disney’s The Lion King Past Event Like List
NAAAAAAAAAANTS INGONYAMA BAGITHI BABA. (Fun fact: That's Zulu for "Here comes a lion, father.") It's The Lion King!! You know the drill...the whole-ass Serengeti roars to life and Pride Rock juts out from the mist as a lion cub is revealed to the sky. It's majestic and beautiful and, in my opinion, a solid way to stampede into 2024. Director Julie Taymor's interpretation of the story has won six Tony Awards, and yes, you'll hear all the Elton John tunes your soul craves. LC
(Keller Auditorium, Downtown, Tuesday-Sunday)

VISUAL ART

AIDS Memorial Quilt Past Event Like List
Conceived in 1985 by human rights activist Cleve Jones, the AIDS Memorial Quilt aimed to honor those who died of AIDS and document the lives of those living with the devastating impacts of the disease. Today, it's a 54-ton tapestry and a living symbol of a lost generation. "As we have recently experienced, science communication, information sharing, and awareness building are crucial in combating pandemics," says OMSI in this exhibit's promotional materials. Selected panels from the AIDS Memorial Quilt will be on display at OMSI; the quilt can also be viewed in its entirety online. (Before you head to OMSI, I suggest reading Duane Puryear's powerful quilt panel.) LC
(OMSI, Central Eastside, Monday-Sunday)

I am a city of bones Past Event Like List
ILY2's winter exhibition includes pieces by New York DJ/artist Juliana Huxtable, buzzy painter Pace Taylor, Mexico City-based found object master Martin Soto Climent, and several others. I am a city of bones draws from Afaa Michael Weaver's "Flux," in which the poet describes his body as a city of bones; the show "focuses on works that push into the abstractions called to mind by the use of the word 'body'" and ponders how the word is abstracted, twisted into metaphor, and/or made concrete and singular. LC
(ILY2, Pearl District, Wednesday–Saturday; closing)

Turn Me Over: Molly Lecko Herro and Alim Ringgold Past Event Like List
Life sucks, then you die—or perhaps it's more complicated than that. Enter Molly Lecko Herro and Alim Ringgold, whose plasmatic ceramic-framed illustrations, glowy sequential imagery, dreamy sculptural vessels, and ceramic burial objects think carefully about dying, the body as a vessel, and "immaterial substances" that make both animate and inanimate bodies interesting. Consider holes, cavities, and containers—the human body kind of is one, right?—then ponder your impermanence at this show. LC
(Well Well, Kenton, Saturday-Sunday)

WINTER

Woodsy Winter Village and Ice Rink Past Event Like List
A new ice skating rink and marketplace is popping up at the west end of the Morrison Bridge this holiday season! Ice skating will be open every day through January 28, costing $20 for adults and $12 for kids under 12, including skate rental. Pro tip: spend at least $20 at a central city business (peep the map to see what qualifies), bring your receipt, and get a $5 discount on your skate ticket. If you need a little help on the ice, you can pay an extra $10 for an unreasonably cute skate aid named Bobby the Seal. The marketplace will feature local vendors, food trucks, warm beverages, and a "cozy lounge" with board games and warming pods. SL
(Morrison Bridgehead, Downtown, Monday-Sunday)