Books & Talks

Vegas Tenold

7:30 p.m. Fri, Powell's City of Books, FREE
The Norwegian-born journalist spent six years immersing himself in American white nationalist groups, including the Ku Klux Klan and the National Socialist Movement. He’s now published Everything You Love Will Burn, an insider account of these organizations’ goals and tactics. The Washington Post called it a “fascinating, disturbing book.”

Dance

Urban Bush Women

8 p.m. Thu–Sat, Newmark Theatre, $25–38
For this performance, the formidable woman-centric dance company from Brooklyn takes on hair—particularly the hair of black women—as a way to examine issues of gender, race, and economic inequity. 

Alice (in Wonderland)

7:30 p.m. Thu–Fri, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sat, noon Sun, Keller Auditorium, $29–129
The Oregon Ballet Theatre brings to life a family-friendly show based on Lewis Carroll’s surreal classics, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass. This is the West Coast premiere of the version choreographed in 2012 by Septime Webre, with an original score by American composer and violinist Mathew Pierce—the Washington Post called it a “giddy parade, a pop-art dream, a feat of fevered imagination.” After 2017, everyone might nod in agreement as the Cheshire Cat proclaims that we’re all mad here.

Film

CLOSING Portland International Film Festival

Various times and locations through Sun, $12 general admission
Another year, another blitz of new cinema from across the world. The fest closes this weekend with a flurry of encore screenings, including Thai heist comedy Bad Genius, Polish eco-thriller Spoor, and Czech romance Ice Mother.

Portland Kids’ Film Festival

Various times Fri–Sun, Hollywood Theatre & Clinton Street Theater, $4
Back for its third year, this cinematic fest features animated and live-action films from more than two dozen international filmmakers, for kids age 2 and up. There’s also a presentation from Laika and animation workshops.

Music

Blind Pilot

7:30 p.m. Thu, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, $25+
Oregon-based indie rock outfit Blind Pilot’s most recent album, And Then Like Lions, finds front man Israel Nebeker processing his father’s death and the end of a 13-year relationship in a melodic, layered meditation on loss. Tonight, expect tunes from that album alongside old favorites.

Haley Heynderickx

9 p.m. Thu, Mississippi Studios, $10–12
This is the year for Portlander Haley Heynderickx, whose sweet, slurred vocals lay down lyrics deep and intimate and kinda wacky. Her debut album, I Need to Start a Garden (March 2, Mama Bird), is a layered and mesmeric marker. Listen now so you can call yourself an early adopter when she goes global.

Herbie Hancock

7:30 p.m. Fri, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, SOLD OUT
This legendary jazz pianist’s achievements range from a stunning 14 Grammy wins to, equally stunningly, just barely legitimizing the keytar. He plays the Schnitz with his quartet.

Theater

OPENING Men on Boats

7:30 p.m. Fri–Sat, 2 p.m. Sun, $25–45
Based on John Wesley Powell’s 1869 expedition through the Grand Canyon, Jaclyn Backhaus’s gender-bending play sends up social constructs of masculinity while taking audiences on a “rollicking history pageant,” according to the New York Times. Maureen Porter directs this Third Rail Rep production.

Strong Female Protagonist

8 p.m. Fri–Sat, 5 p.m. Sun, PNCA, pay-what-you-will ($15 suggested)
If you like your drag performances with a healthy injection of Judith Butler, Wayne Bund is here for you. In this comedic, multimedia solo show, the Portlander traces his evolution as alter ego Feyonce, along the way underscoring “the power of femininity and sass.” We talked with Bund in advance of the show—more here.

The Pride

7:30 p.m. Thu–Sun, Back Door Theater, $20 suggested
In Alexi Kaye Campbell’s portrait of homosexuality during different eras, three actors play two sets of characters with identical names, 60 years apart. The Olivier Award-winning play is presented here by Defunkt, which often grapples with LGBTQ issues onstage.

Visual Art

OPENING Kamala Dolphin-Kingsley

11 a.m.–8 p.m. Thu, 11 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Fri–Sat, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Sun, Waterstone Gallery, FREE
In Umidulus, Portlander Kamala Dolphin-Kingsley creates prints and huge watercolor paintings of flora and fauna—both real and imagined—inspired by Hawaii and the Pacific Northwest.

OPENING Portland in Color

6–10 p.m. Thu, noon–5 p.m. Sat–Sun, Una Gallery, FREE
Since last summer, Celeste Noche has photographed more than a dozen Portland artists and activists of color, from Ori Gallery co-founder Maya Vivas to sexuality educator Ev’yan Whitney. This exhibit features Noche’s photographs alongside workshops and live performances. It opens with a public event on Thursday that includes art and performances from six Portland in Color subjects, plus snacks and drinks.