thursday 20
Jim Anderson at Environmental Center
BIRD TALK—Jim Anderson loves birds. He particularly loves raptors. For 50 years, as one of the region's leading naturalists and storytellers (including his occasional column, "Natural World," in our very paper), Anderson has been learning and talking about Oregon's birds of prey. A wonderful multimedia talk that is anything but for the birds. 6:30 pm. Environmental Center, 16 NW Kansas. Free.
thursday 20
Pints and Politics
PUBLIC DISCOURSE—Can beer douse the flames of public discontent? Or will the windbags simply fan the flames? Oregon League of Conservation Voters presents its monthly Pints & Politics on the hottest debate on the city's west side: What will the OSU campus do to the traffic? (Okay, they frame it as "commute options," but really, we're talking about will mommy get her SUV stuck in traffic.) 7 pm. Broken Top Bottle Shop, 1740 NW Pence. Free.
thursday 20
City Club Mirror Pond
MORE TALKING—It is a lunch discussion, but don't expect this City Club forum to turn into a food fight. They are way too civil for that. But if information and insights are what you want, there's no better place for lunch today, with advocates for keeping the dam, blowing the dam and letting the river go free, or a hybrid. 11:30 am. St Charles Center, 2500 NE Neff Rd. $35.
friday 21
Terrible Buttons
MUSIC—Terrible Buttons are the modern boogiemen (and women) of blues music. The seven-piece band twists delayed pacing with spooky guitar whispers and gravely growling vocals topped with resonant female harmonies echoing ghostly through the empty halls of abandoned houses. Wilderness opens. 9 pm. Volcanic Theatre Pub, 70 SW Century Dr. $5.
friday 21
Polecat and Head for the Hills at Belfry
MUSIC—With smooth, Grand Ole Opry ditties, spiced by cheery gospel, Head for the Hills has been voted best bluegrass in Colorado—which in a state boasting almost as many mandolins per capita as Birkenstocks, is like being called the king of kings! Joined by Polecat. 8 pm. Belfry, 302 E. Main, Sisters. $15.
friday 21
Paula Cole
THE 90s—Most recognized for her chant-like radio hit, "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?" and the do-do-doing theme for "Dawson's Creek," "I Don't Wanna Wait," Paula Cole took nearly a decade to clear her mind after her massive radio success. But Cole is back, crowd sourcing funds for her 2013 album Raven, bringing her music and her industry tactics firmly into the 21st century. 7:30 pm. Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St. $35-40.
saturday 22
Spring Break Fashion Show
SWIMWEAR—If lounging on a white sand beach in Cabo San Lucas is out of the question, check out the hot and sexy skimpy designs of spring walking the local runway. Designers N Spekktor, The Homeslice and 11th Decibel show, followed by a DJ fest after-show dance party with Matt Was, Doc Riz and 12th Canvas. 9:30 pm. Dojo, 825 NW Brooks St. $28 for dinner and the show. $5 for show and after party.
saturday 22
IamSu
HIP HOP—At just 24-years-old, IamSu has quite the resume, including collaborations with rappers 50 Cent, E-40, 2 Chainz and Wiz Khalifa. Even without the name-dropping, Su has a smooth lyrical style that he rolls out over poppy beats with catchy hooks. 9 pm. Domino Room, 51 NW Greenwood Ave. $15.
sunday 23
Papadosio
BURNING MAN—Papadosio wants to make the music it wants to make. This means not conforming to one genre and approaching every show with a jam band philosophy, to never play the same set twice. With elements of electronica, folk, world, funk, jazz and more the band supplements live instrumentation with computerized fill, a readymade dance party. Domino Room, 51 NW Greenwood Ave. $10.
tuesday 25
Oregon encyclopedia history night
HISTORY—Long before Nissan yuppified the term, John Charles Fremont was popularly known in the penny press as "The Pathfinder." He was also like the Forest Gump of mid-19th century western America—that is, present at every important moment of history: a governor of the "Bear Republic" (what is now known as California), Lincoln's commander of the army of the western states, and, as tonight's talk discusses, an early explorer of Oregon. 7 pm. McMenamins, 700 NW Bond. Free.
