Willamette Weekend: 17 Things to Do in Portland, July 18-20

HELVETIA TAVERN

Friday, July 18

PDX Pop Now

[MUSIC FESTIVAL] There's no more efficient way to orient yourself with what's going on right at this moment in Portland's internationally exalted music scene. It's free, it's all-ages, and the 40-plus bands are all local. Audio Cinema, 226 SE Madison St. Free. All ages. See pdxpopnow.com for complete schedule. Our recommendations here. Through July 20. 

Bryan Lee O'Malley

Canadian cartoonist and writer Bryan Lee O'Malley, best known for his Scott Pilgrim series and resulting movie, is releasing his new graphic novel, Seconds. Restaurant owner Katie is visited by an apparition who offers her a second chance to undo all of her mistakes. All his previous works had been on Portland's Oni Press—with this one, he's jumped to Ballantine. O'Malley will sign copies of the book and no doubt deflect questions about Michael Cera. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St., 228-4651. 7:30 pm. Free.

The Story of O's

[THEATER] If ever a performance could make you consider a career in phone sex, it’s this one. Tonya Jone Miller’s one-woman show A Story of O’s spans the decade Miller has spent working as a self-proclaimed “aural courtesan.” During that time, she’s faked (and actually had) orgasms, obliged in the sometimes unconventional fetishes of her clients, and role-played many a woman—blondes and brunettes and robots included. The semi-improvised show—which takes place, fittingly, in a room filled with nude paintings and photos—offers several laugh-out-loud moments, as when Miller plays out in extraordinary detail a client’s fantasy of robot hypnosis, or when a caller’s anal fetish quickly escalates to include fire hydrants. KATHERINE MARRONE. Catalyst Art & Culture Space, 4810 NE Garfield Ave., 888-367-1117. 7:30 pm Fridays, July 18 and 25, and 8 pm Saturday, July 19. $12. 18kknd.

Cathedral Park Jazz Festival

[JAZZ] The 34-year-old Cathedral Park Jazz Festival has been embroiled in a midlife crisis for awhile. Fortunately, the Jazz Society of Oregon rode to its rescue by raising funds and enlisting Quadraphonnes sax siren Mary-Sue Tobin to curate a strong lineup of local jazz stars in free, family-friendly outdoor performances under the St. Johns bridge, with local food, beer and wine vendors. Friday night focuses on blues acts, while Saturday afternoon's schedule is highlighted by Bobby Torres's Latin All Stars, Mel Brown's sturdy Septet, tenor sax titan Devin Phillips, Farnell Newton and a jazz vet quartet with Tom Wakeling, Alan Jones, Randy Porter and David Evans. Sunday's mainstage shows are topped by the always-spicy Quadraphonnes sax quartet, propulsive pianist George Colligan's Theoretical Planets, Louis Pain's B3 Trio and more. BRETT CAMPBELL. Cathedral Park, N Edison St. and Pittsburg Ave. Friday-Sunday, July 18-20. Free. All ages. See cpjazz.com for complete schedule.

Piano!PushPlay!

[PIANO PARTY] Last summer, Megan McGeorge worked with a piano company and other volunteers to put pianos in parks, street corners and other public spaces—13th and Burnside, the Art Museum courtyard—where anyone could play them. And they did, from homeless people playing the blues, to retirees picking out long-forgotten tunes, to top local classical, rock and jazz players, some playing original compositions. To celebrate the release of a new album of performances by many of last summer's players, and raise donations for the organization's efforts to donate pianos to needy schools, local pianists, in keeping with the museum's current exhibition, will play music by French composers. The audience can also participate. BRETT CAMPBELL. Portland Art Museum, 1219 SW Park Ave., 226-0973. 7:30 pm Friday, July 18. 21kknd.


Saturday, July 19

Dutch Craft Brewer Reception

[BEER] It's the official ramp-up to the Oregon Brewers Festival, which this year will host 11 Dutch brewers, alongside a German to round out the lucky dozen. Cascade Brewing's Raccoon Lodge & Brew Pub will host a catered barbecue dinner—because America, to the rest of the world, is barbecue—along with beer and some tunes from Dutch musician Michele van Kleef and local jazz man Lance Vallis. Raccoon Lodge & Brew Pub, 7424 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway, 296-0110. Noon-3 pm. $25-$30 adults, $15 kids.

Lagerfest

[BEER] Everything German is winning these days. So hell, go with the winning team and roll with lager-style beer; not like the English have done much lately, anyway. White Owl Social Club probably has the best patio in town these days, and it will host lagers from more than 60 breweries—from Alameda to Cascade to Worthy—with proceeds going to XRAY.FM radio. Check out lagerfest.com for a full list. White Owl Social Club, 1305 SE 8th Ave., 236-9672. 2-10 pm.

Oregon Berry Festival

[FRUIT] Berry season hits its peak around the beginning of July. This, apparently, is reason enough for a party. This mostly means having a place to buy berries—hence a weekend farmers market—but the festival also has kid-friendly activities, a host of berry educational presentations and a gala berry dinner cooked up by Lincoln's Jenn Louis, chock-a-block with 13 plates' worth of berry-accented everything. The dinner is $95, but the festival is free. See oregonberryfestival.com for details. Ecotrust, 721 NW 9th Ave., Suite 200, 227-6225. Noon-6 pm Friday and 11-5 pm Saturday, July 18-19.

Weinland, Hook & Anchor, Peter Rainbeau

[AMERICANA] Adam Shearer has mostly been occupied by his "supergroup" Alialujah Choir the last few years, but tonight he returns to his original beloved indie-folk outfit, Weinland, for its first show in a while. Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E Burnside St., 231-9663. 9 pm. $12. 21kknd.

Lyle Lovett & His Large Band

[TIN PANHANDLE ALLEY] Decades past chart success— that long-ago marriage to Julia Roberts now seeming just a misremembered Friends subplot—it's tempting to blame Lyle Lovett's dimming star on poor timing. Had he arrived just a bit earlier, the bigger tent of old country might have found room for his straightforward songwriting, and the droll, incisive lyrics and manful fragility strung throughout those early collections would surely be trending among the unformatted generation had he not surrendered momentum to genre-touring diversions. Release Me, his most recent album, ranges through jazz, blues and Western swing covers with practiced ease. But, even at his most rollicking, there's a distant strangeness perhaps most comfortable along the fringes. JAY HORTON. McMenamins Edgefield, 2126 SW Halsey St., Troutdale, 669-8610. 6:30 pm. $43-$83. All ages.

Uzala, Dead to a Dying World, the Siege Fire, Satanarchist

[DARKNESS AND DOOM] Boise's favorite children of doom return to Portland's new home for metal. Uzala is two parts Idahoan: Darcy Nutt and Chad Remains operate tattoo parlors while crafting psychedelic metal influenced by Norse mythology. Drummer Chuck Watkins lives here in P-town, and his bearded grin can also be found behind the kit in local supergroup Ephemeros. Along with a catalog of heavy-duty vinyl and cassette releases, Uzala brings along Dead to a Dying World, a Dallas sextet that marks its territory in the apocalyptic blackness with long, contemplative passages led by Eva Vonne's violin. NATHAN CARSON. Slabtown, 1033 NW 16th Ave., 223-0099. 9 pm. $10. 21kknd.

The Sacred Music of Mikagura

[DANCE] Mikagura is sacred Japanese theatrical dance that probably dates back to the 14th century, and this is the first time (!) it'll be performed in the continental U.S., with two dozen musicians and dancers performing in full ceremonial dress. First Congregational Church, 1126 SW Park Ave., 542-0282. 7 pm. $12-$15.

Free Chips & Salsa

[COMEDY] OK, so the chips aren't technically free—there's a $5 cover— but they are Juanita's, and they're served alongside standup from some of Portland's best comics, including Bri Pruett and Sean Jordan. Also on the bill: the Famous Haydell Sisters, a duo that blends country music and comedy, and Nick Landes, a competitive footbagger (that's Hacky-Sacker to the rest of you). Action/Adventure Theatre, 1050 SE Clinton St. 9 pm. $5.

Sunday, July 20

Say Anything

[POP PUNK] For years, Max Bemis has been writing tongue-in-cheek, self-deprecating pop punk with Say Anything—songs simultaneously full of smile-inducing ticks and quirks on top of heavy subject matter. The band’s most recent effort, Hebrews, sees the group continue to turn the lens on themselves, only this time with breakneck orchestral flare. Album opener “John McClane” leads with a fluffy xylophone-inspired keyboard line and twinkles of harp, while “Lost My Touch,” a slow, minimal ballad consisting of thoughtful keys and vocals, presents the first chance to take a deep breath…until it devolves into Bemis’ grizzly shout. KAITIE TODD. Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside St., 225-0047. 6:30 pm. $16.50 advance, $20 day of show. All ages.

OK Go, Myles Hendrick 

[POP] Sometimes it seems like OK Go's music is just a vehicle to make stellar music videos. And that's, well, OK. The quartet made its name by dancing on treadmills and has since expanded its repertory to include a song played on an instrumental racetrack and the use of mind-bending 3-D. Luckily, the music isn't half bad, either—the group crafts hook-laden pop tunes heavy on chimes, marching bands, infectious falsetto group vocals and constant crescendos. KAITIE TODD. Hawthorne Theatre, 1507 SE 39th Ave., 233-7100. 7 pm. $18 advance, $20 day of show. All ages.

Pure Surface

[PERFORMANCE] This new series of multimedia performance offers a little of everything—text, dance and film. It also happily leaves you alone if you're not into it; admission is free, and the audience is non-captive. The effect at similar events, to borrow a word from the masses, has been "chill"—what everyone, everywhere, doing anything aspires to be. For the second program, dancer Grace Hwang joins poet Matthew Dickman and filmmaker Pablo Marin. Hwang has been teaching in alternative learning settings in New York and Portland since 2004, and she dances by improvising with ensembles under a set of rules. Essentially, she sees dance as a game, and she wants you to play. Valentines, 232 SW Ankeny St., 248-1600. 7 pm Sunday, July 20. Free. 21kknd.

Scout Book Series Release Party

[BOOKS] Portland-based Future Tense Books will release three new titles in its series of scout books, with local and visiting authors sharing their musings. Oregon Book Award winner Jay Ponteri will read from Darkmouth Strikes Again, New York-based Chelsea Hodson will present Pity the Animal, and from London, May-Lan Tan will share her American debut Girly. Special guest Patrick deWitt (The Sisters Brothers) will join the literary fun, with music by Dragging an Ox Through Water. Valentines, 232 SW Ankeny St., 248-1600. 9 pm. Free. 21kknd.

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