The Best Bang for Your Buck Events in Portland This Weekend: May 31–June 2, 2024 - EverOut Portland (2024)

Jump to: Friday | Saturday | Sunday | Multi-Day

FRIDAY

FILM

Basic Instinct Past EventLikeList
Whether or not you spend much time thinking about the guy who made Robocop, Paul Verhoeven's oeuvre is worth a deep dive—the Dutch provocateur has earned cult status for his dark, satirical, and distinctly anti-Hollywood flicks. Like Basic Instinct,for starters! If you're into labyrinthine seduction, murderous ravers, and co*ke-snorting detectives, this one's for you. Screened as part of the Hollywood’s occasional Queer Horror program, premier drag clown Carla Rossi will return to host the creepy meet-cute, which will open with an "unhinged" pre-show eleganza by unannounced "Portland drag all-stars." LC
(Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District, $13-$15)

LIVE MUSIC

Major Tomboys Present: Ashes to Ashes - A Bowie-versary Show Past EventLikeList
Celebrate the Thin White Duke's "golden years" with the all-femme tribute Major Tomboys, who will perform the iconic hits of David Bowie. Named after his hit bop "Ashes to Ashes," the evening will honor the Thin White Duke's life, birth, and passing with songs from throughout his prolific career. AV
(Polaris Hall, Humboldt, $16)

VISUAL ART

A Berry, A Boot, A Building, A Blue Door: New Works by Mike YoungRemindLikeList
California-born artist Mike Young began earning money from hand-drawn greeting cards in the '70s. Young is deaf and blind in one eye, and observes images from books and magazines close up, "bringing his face close enough to nearly touch the pigment and paper." Drawn to contour, outline, architectural detail, and anatomy, Young's pictorial works feel familiar yet reorganized. "His accumulations tell fragmented stories and invent new taxonomies," PICA artistic director Kristan Kennedy explains. A Berry, A Boot, A Building, A Blue Door: New Works by Mike Youngis a great opportunity to check out Elbow Room, a local arts organization providing material support, mentorship, and studio space to artists experiencing intellectual and developmental disabilities. LC
(Elbow Room, Buckman, free)

SATURDAY

COMMUNITY

CareOregon Starlight Parade 2024 Past EventLikeList
The Rose Festival's twinkly nighttime parade will take to the streets again, complete with glow-in-the-dark umbrellas and thousands of spectators. Local and regional community groups will continue the tradition with marching and flood-lit floats to elicit your oohs and aahs. The parade harkens back to the olden times, aka the early 1900s, when "illuminated floats built on electric trolley cars made their way through the city on trolley tracks." Peep the route map to plan out your viewing spot, or watch from home via KPTV FOX 12 Oregon's telecast. LC
(Downtown, free)

FESTIVALS

The 9th Vanport Mosaic Festival Past EventLikeList
Vanport, the largest World War II federal housing project in the United States and once Oregon's second-largest city, was destroyed by a flood in 1948 that left 18,000 people homeless and forced Portland’s white residents to reckon with their racist housing practices. In observance of the 76th anniversary of the flood, the 15-day festival of "memory activism" will commemorate the disaster with community-minded presentations, exhibits, documentary screenings, tours, and more. Check out this year's program for a full rundown. LC
(Portland Expo Center, North Portland, free)

FILM

Paris is Burning Past EventLikeList
Jennie Livingston's landmark 1990 documentary shone a light on New York City’s African American and Latinx Harlem drag ball scene, creating a rarely-seen portrait of fashion "houses," warlike contests, and valiant house mothers. It should be noted, though, that some participants felt exploited by the film, and feminist scholar bell hooks wondered about its voyeuristic aspects. Amid times of intense hom*ophobia, transphobia, racism, poverty, and HIV/AIDS, there were voguers, drag queens, and trans women who forged community despite near-insurmountable odds—and despite valid criticisms of Paris is Burning, it does celebrate these pioneer figures. Check it out in a digitally remastered format.LC
(Clinton Street Theater, Hosford-Abernethy, $10)

GEEK & GAMING

Retro Game Bar 5th Anniversary Party Past EventLikeList
Slip into a world of eight-bit nostalgia as the arcade-themed watering hole Retro Game Bar celebrates its five-year anniversary. Save your coins for laundry day, because gameplay will be free for the night. Other festivities include a barbecue grill, $5 specials, DJ tunes, and plenty of giveaways. JB
(Retro Game Bar, Woodlawn, free)

LIVE MUSIC

Slumberland Records Present: Lunchbox with Field Drums and Field School Past EventLikeList
Oakland-based independent label Slumberland Records, which has released recordings from indie pop favorites like Stereolab and Velocity Girl, will host an evening of indie, jangle pop, and DIY sounds from their roster; think: Lunchbox, Field Drums, and Field School. If you like wearing Mary Janes and Peter Pan-collared dresses, then this one is for you. AV
(Turn! Turn! Turn!, Humboldt, Sliding Scale $10-20)

PARTIES & NIGHTLIFE

FLAME: Vintage Vinyl Dance Party - Pride Month Kick Off Celebration Past EventLikeList
Your world will be bursting with rainbow-tinged revelry at this Pride Month kick-off dance party helmed by mid-century soul specialist DJ Action Slacks and special guest DJ Songbird. Twist and shout to a variety of genres from pioneering queer voices—such as Dance Hall of Flame inductees Arthur Conely, Dusty Springfield, Big Maybelle, Bob Crewe, Clara Ward, and Chris Connor—along with other uplifting anthems from the '50s-'70s. Don't arrive underdressed—bright, colorful attire is highly encouraged, along with tiny hats! Plus, party guests will receive trading cards for each of the aforementioned Dance Hall of Flame artists (while supplies last, of course—these are collectible!!) AV
(The World Famous Kenton Club, Kenton, Sliding Scale $10-$20 at the door; cash or Venmo)

Sapphic SundaysRemindLikeList
In celebration of Pride Month, the vibey, neon-illuminated bar Pink Rabbit will cater to "queer girls and theys" each Saturday in June. Enjoy drink specials, all-day happy hour, crafts, music, and gay movies. Personally, I hope that But I'm a Cheerleader, Chappell Roan, and lots of bedazzling are all part of the (queer) agenda. JB
(Pink Rabbit, Northwest Portland)

PERFORMANCE

Aaron Finbloom: 18,250 Questions Past EventLikeList
You could say that the divine frameworks of art and play are kind of Aaron Finbloom's thing: The "philosophical polytheist" co-founded the School of Making Thinking and directs the Deep Play Institute. Back in 2016, Finbloom began asking himself 50 questions a day, eventually generating a whopping 18,250 queries into his psyche. Finbloom then read them all aloud chronologically, which took him 21 hours in 2017. The second iteration of the performance honors its seventh anniversary and will, yet again, take 21 hours. You probably can't spend that long pondering Finbloom's ponderings, so drop into the livestream or visit Performance Works NorthWest between 6 am on June 11 and 3 am on June 12. LC
(Performance Works NorthWest, Foster-Powell, By donation)

Past EventLikeList
Performance Works NorthWest's new series encourages experimentation and improvisation for sound artists (electronic and acoustic) to present new and in-progress works. For its first edition, artist and engineer Juniana will step outside of her regular role as a collaborator (she's worked with artists like Janne Lundberg, Doug Theriault, and Sarah Dumuzio) for a solo sound exploration and performance. She will be joined by ecology-inspired "technologist" Ashlin Aronin and experimental composerDr. Catherine Lee. AV
(Performance Works NorthWest, Foster-Powell, $10-$15)

PRIDE

Ye Olde Gay Faire Past EventLikeList
Wonderwood Springs is the destination for fantasy-inspired mini-golf and a themed café to match. They're kicking off Pride season with the second installment of Ye Olde Gay Faire, featuring over 30 queer vendors, face painting, fairy hair (What is this, you ask? Show up to find out), crafting, and live performances from Opera on Tap and DJ Jackpott. I'm looking forward to Drag Queen Storytime, live screen printing of limited-edition tees by New Avenues INK, and shopping vintage fashion with a gay flair from Perpetual Meadow. SL
(Wonderwood Springs, St. Johns, free)

SHOPPING

Portland Vintage Market Past EventLikeList
Portland Vintage Market returns with their first outdoor market of the season, offering vintage threads, hard-to-find records, houseplants, tchotchkes, and more from over 100 vendors. Just $5 gets you in, and Guayaki will be giving out free yerba mate samples. I'll be perusing Y2K 'fits from Phat Jules and pearlescent jewelry from Stargazer Clay, making sure to snag snacks and drinks from Ricos Antojitos, Betos Taqueria, and Yoonique Tea. SL
(PCC Cascade Campus, North Portland, $5)

SPORTS & RECREATION

Pedalpalooza Bike Summer 2024 Kick-Off Ride Past EventLikeList
Pedalpalooza celebrates two-wheeled human-powered modes of transport every summer through August. Gather at the North Park Blocks for this season's kick-off ride, a six-mile, family-friendly cruise ending at Laurelhurst Park. If you're looking to fill your entire day with biking, you can pre-game with Kidical Mass PDX’s Family Bike Ride or the Terri Sue Webb Naked Ride, both of which end at the Pedalpalooza kick-off. You can find even more rides on Pedalpalooza’s community calendar, including a slu*t Pedal uplifting sex workers and Sing-A-Long Ride on Sunday. SL
(North Park Blocks, Northwest Portland, free)

SUNDAY

LIVE MUSIC

Ana Egge Past EventLikeList
Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Ana Egge has been called "the folk Nina Simone" by national treasure Lucinda Williams, which is essentially the highest praise a folk musician can receive. Like Simone, Egge puts her entire self into her songs with rich, emotive vocals. She will support her new album, Sharing in the Spirit, after an opening set from Portland's own Anna Diem. AV
(Show Bar, Buckman, $15)

PRIDE

Lake Oswego Pride Past EventLikeList
Lake Oswego is hosting its first-ever pride festival this Sunday with food pop-ups, local vendors, and a stage filled with live entertainment. The Portland Gay Men's Chorus takes the stage at 1:30 pm, followed by a drag show from local legend Poison Waters and her friends at 2 pm and a performance from the Portland Lesbian Choir at 3 pm. Presented by the nonprofit LO for LOve, the event seeks to promote diversity, inclusion, kindness, and unity. Stay tuned to their socials for more community events throughout June. SL
(Millennium Plaza Park, Lake Oswego, free)

MULTI-DAY

EXHIBIT

Because of Bill: William Sumio Naito’s Legacy in PortlandRemindLikeList
As one of the most esteemed civic leaders in Portland history, Bill Naito is known for his work revitalizing Portland's downtown in the '60s and '70s, including his involvement in notable landmarks such as the White Stag sign, the Japanese American Historical Plaza, and the Galleria. Born to Japanese immigrants, Naito faced extreme xenophobia and was often the only businessperson of color in the room; experiences his granddaughter Erica Naito-Campbell recounts in her new biography, Portland’s Audacious Champion. Using the book as a foundational document, the Japanese American Museum presents a new exhibition in honor of Bill and his legacy, sharing anecdotes from his personal life alongside history of the structures and spaces he developed. Opening during Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the exhibit will run through September 1. SL
(Japanese American Museum of Oregon, Old Town-Chinatown, $5-$8, Friday-Sunday)

Bloom TourRemindLikeList
Spring has sprung and Portland is getting ready for the Rose Festival! If you can't wait until later this month for all the fleur festivities, we recommend checking out the 29 large-scale floral installations throughout downtown and Old Town. The botanical pieces are displayed in many of Portland’s unique shops, restaurants, and hotels in this hybrid walking tour/art show. The event runs through June 11, and some local retailers along the route will be offering special floral deals. Check out the map for more details and get ready to feast your eyes (and nose) on these creations. SL
(Various locations, free, Friday-Sunday)

FESTIVALS

Celebration of Oregon Brewers FestivalRemindLikeList
Beer lovers, rejoice: Two perennial favorite gatherings, the Portland Rose Festival and the Oregon Brewers Festival, are merging once again for a dual celebration, included with the purchase of a CityFair ticket. OBF founder Art Larrance will curate a lineup of hoppy offerings, and attendees will be able to take home a keepsake 2024 Rose Festival mug with any 12-ounce pour. JB
(Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Southwest Portland, $11.99-$25, Friday-Sunday)

CityFair 2024RemindLikeList
As the kick-off event and hub for the Portland Rose Festival, CityFair will take over Waterfront Park for three consecutive weekends of carnival rides, fair food vendors, interactive exhibits, live music, and more. JW
(Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Southwest Portland, Friday-Sunday)

FILM

The Florida Project Past EventLikeList
I grew up in Orlando with a low-income single mom, so the life of the six-year-old star of The Florida Project, set in a dreary motel near Disney World, actually bears an eerie similarity to my own childhood. Director Sean Baker has a way of tapping into the realities of poverty and life for underprivileged Americans in and around the South, which is curious because he's from New Jersey and seems to have enjoyed a pretty typical upbringing. That's one of The Florida Project's strengths, though—even if you can't relate to its subjects or locale, you'll probably see yourself somewhere in the childlike hopefulness or the financial stressors, and Baker's storytelling drives home that you're far from alone. LC
(Fifth Avenue Cinema, Southwest Portland, $0-$7, Friday-Sunday)

MandyRemindLikeList
The electrified, freaked-out world of Mandy is challenging to describe, but picture a giallo flick set to a drone metal soundtrack featuring a demonic biker gang, and you're maybe 10% of the way there. Misunderstood king Nicolas Cage is at the absolute top of his game here. He plays an '80s-era Pacific Northwest logger-turned-chainsaw-wielding-revenge-hound, and director Panos Cosmatos's phantasmagoric vision is the visual equivalent of a lucid dream. Just trust me on this one. Come prepared for the kind of ultraviolence of a "disintegrating rock opera"—seriously, there are several scenes that'll drop your jaw with their visceral terror—but watch it anyway. LC
(Cinema 21, Nob Hill, $9-$11, Friday-Saturday)

SHOPPING

Powell's Books Warehouse Sale Past EventLikeList
Events like these are few and far between, but when I've told friends that Powell's is planning a massive warehouse sale—its first in about 20 years—with thousands of $1-$3 books up for grabs, the overall response has been "Oh, no." Why? Because that's the kind of news that rattles your whole weekend. You're definitely gonna go, and you're definitely gonna walk away with armfuls of cheap books. Powell's makes it easy to craft your day around it, though; there will be live music and food carts to keep the hunger pangs at bay. LC
(Powell's Industrial Warehouse, Northwest Portland, free, Saturday-Sunday)

VISUAL ART

Alyson Provax: To know what we say we knowRemindLikeList
Prolific letterpress artist Alyson Provax is always up to something artistic, so her latest solo exhibition comes as no surprise. To know what we say we knowpresents new letterpress works by Provax, referencing spoken language and diaries to reflect on "the limitations of language to express our individual perceptions and the way that this affects connection between us." Provax adopts a repetitive "drawing" style to help the viewer notice their own experience of reading, but don't expect a novel: Her work more closely resembles concrete poetry. LC
(Well Well, Kenton, free, Saturday-Sunday; opening)

Bong Wai Chen: Reframing TraditionRemindLikeList
I recommend making an effort to learn more about Chinatown artist Bong Wai Chen, whose bold, thoughtful calligraphy and ink-on-paper art practices made a profound impact on Oregonian artists. Chen's retrospective, BONG WAI CHEN: Reframing Tradition,is the third in a series organized by the Portland Chinatown Museum, which aims to spotlight the contributions of the city's Chinese American artists. Get jazzed for the show with this cute photo of Chen at Reed in the '60s. LC
(Portland Chinatown Museum, Old Town-Chinatown, $0-$8, Friday-Sunday)

NW Marine Art Works Summer Open Studios Past EventLikeList
Artistic magic has to happen somewhere, and more often than not, it's right under your nose—or in one of the industrial-buildings-turned-art-studio-spaces that dot the Portland landscape. NW Marine Art Works (NWMAW) is one such place, and the artists creating there will welcome us all to take a peek at their process at this weekend's open house. Creatives from North Coast Seed Building, Carton Service Building, and River Street Studios will share their work as well; in total, over 60 artists will post up throughout NWMAW with a selection of paintings, prints, ceramics, photography, sculpture, jewelry, apparel, and more. LC
(NW Marine Art Works, Northwest Industrial, free, Saturday-Sunday)

Peter Gronquist: Light Record Past EventLikeList
In Peter Gronquist: Manifest, the Portland-based multimedia artist's large-scale sculptural paintings spotlit his interest in excavating personal narratives through found material manipulation. While his previous exhibition at Elizabeth Leach included bone fragments, dyed wasp paper, wool, lace, rose quartz, and "fossilized" event posters as materials, his new show takes a completely different tactic. Peter Gronquist: Light Recorddisplays a body of abstracted works inspired by both photographic and painting processes; the result is "a near-perfect fusion of painting's signature autographic "stroke" and the more anonymous, almost mechanic registration associated with the bulk of photographic reproduction and its myriad effects."LC
(Elizabeth Leach Gallery, Pearl District, free, Friday-Saturday; closing)

Ryan Pierce: Improbable Springs Past EventLikeList
I first wrote about Ryan Pierce's work back in 2021, at the height of a cinematically bleak pandemic. I was amazed by Pierce's ability to "envision the potential for worldly change from an optimistic, anti-apocalyptic lens. "[Pierce's] paintings depict the confluence of environmental chaos and the end of industrial capitalism as a revelrous feast, full of mayhem and clutter and uniquely human messes...[they] don’t force a new narrative on the viewer, but instead offer possibility: What if the future looked likethis?" The artist will return to Elizabeth Leach for another solo exhibition, which will continue to "reposition" humanity's place on earth and imagine how nature might carry on in our absence. LC
(Elizabeth Leach Gallery, Pearl District, free, Friday-Saturday; closing)

Sol Neelman: Weird Sports Past EventLikeList
Far be it from me to shrug off a show called Weird Sports, which are, to be honest, the only sports I want to hear about. Sol Neelman celebrates sports-as-performance art in the solo exhibition, including surreal pastimes like beer tossing, barstool skiing, log riding, lightsaber fencing, and something called "live monster wrestling." There's a deeper reason for the curious collection of photographs, too—Neelman's father died when he was two, and Weird Sports allows him to "witness—and document—the joy [he] always imagined [he'd] have with [his] father if he was still alive, whether going to a Cubs game or playing catch in the backyard." LC
(Blue Sky Gallery, Pearl District, free, Friday-Saturday; closing)

William Matheson: The GlowRemindLikeList
William Matheson may be Portland-based, but his paintings have been shown all over the world, from Mongolia to the Czech Republic. His sixth solo exhibition at Nationale might also be his most metaphysical—the artist thinks carefully about the concept of "the glow," from its connection to wildfires and ecological peril to something more elusive. Painted on jute, Matheson's compositions are innately textural, sinewy, and hazy, streaked with summery hues and hints of smoke and fumes.LC
(Nationale, Buckman, free, Friday-Sunday)