[October 17th, 2007]

Hide your Columbia Sportswear, ladies and gentlemen, because the fashionistas are coming!

Our very own fifth annual Portland Fashion Week kicks off this Friday, Oct. 19, at Swan Island’s Cascade General Shipyard (otherwise known for the week as PFW Plaza). A $20 general admission ticket gets you hobnobbing privileges, invites to the pre-party and after-party—oh, and a chance to check out the freshest eco fashions in PDX (and San Francisco, New York, even London) from the standing-room-only section. Rad!

Even more interesting: Is Jenny Aniston on the VIP list? You know, because the former Mrs. Pitt is in town filming Management and all. Of course she’ll be attending, right? Isn’t that what stars do? She’s a celeb with a knack for throwing together a sophisticated outfit, and plus, she cares about sustainability. Um, right? So, we wondered what exactly Jen would order if she had her way with our local designers. In other words, W.W.J.D.? And we thought you might like to play stylist, too, via this handy paper doll. Just do it!

WEDNESDAY OCT 17

[MUSIC] THE GO! TEAM
The reviewer who described Brighton, England’s the Go! Team as “Sonic Youth meets the Jackson Five” had it spot-on—as did the DJ who once exclaimed, “This is Jonny Quest music! It’s music for flying hovercars and shooting rayguns!” Doug Fir. 9 pm. $14 advance, $15 day of show. 21+. See localcut.com.

THURSDAY OCT 18

[STAGE] THE FALL OF THE HOUSE
It’s back! Portland’s only live, improvised sitcom/soap opera returns with an expanded cast for more “episodes.” Provide your own laugh track. Action/Adventure Theatre at Theater! Theatre!, 3430 SE Belmont St., 358-8646. 10:30 pm Thursdays-Saturdays. $10 per episode.

FRIDAY OCT 19

[SCREEN] ECO-SICKO
The Northwest Film Center keeps amping up its tales of enviro terror. Tonight it’s Godzilla vs. The Smog Monster, in which our fave radioactive dragon faces down a creature that “eats pollution and defecates cancer upon the community.” Wait—is that a metaphor? Run! Whitsell Auditorium, 1219 SW Park Ave., 221-1156. 7 pm. $4-$7.

[MUSIC]BLACKALICIOUS
Hip-hop shows can be pretty lame. A dude asking for audience participation that just isn’t happening is depressing. But Blackalicious, aside from elevating the genre to high art on a regular basis, makes music so varied and powerful that no one ever gets bored. You never need to be asked twice to get your hands in the air at a Blackalicious show—it’s automatic. Crystal Ballroom. 8:30 pm. $22 advance, $25 day of show. All ages. See localcut.com.

SATURDAY OCT. 20

[DIY FASHION] SCRAP HALLOWEEN WORKSHOP
Wanna be Britney? Grab a BeDazzler and go to town on those panties. The School and Community Reuse Action Project wants you to have a kickass Halloween costume for pennies. Its costume graveyard includes assistants to help you turn from Wankenstein to party monster. 3901-A N Williams Ave. 294-076. Noon-5 pm Saturday, Oct. 20 and 27. Free. ($5 suggested donation). SeeIt List.

SUNDAY OCT. 21
[REALLY OLD MUSIC] SACRED HARP SINGING CONVENTION
Get your hymn on: Drop in on this shaped-note choral get-together, and when the harmonies soar to the rafters, you’ll party like it’s 1844. Mississippi Ballroom, 833 N Shaver St., 504-0759. 9 am–3:30 pm Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 20-21.

MONDAY OCT. 22

[WORDS] ALEX ROSS
The New Yorker ’s classical music critic argues indie-rock fans into submission to string quartets. Powell’s City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St., 228-4651. 7:30 pm. Free. See Q&A.