Skip to main content
LAUGH: HONK Live
We’re not sure what came first—the chicken or the egg (or, erm, the swan and the…honk?)—regardless, the kismet nature of a comedy show called HONK Live being held at the Swan Dive is not lost on us. Wait a second…do swans even honk? Pardon us while we Google… In the meantime, here’s a bit about tonight’s show: Hosted by Portland comedian Danelle Porter, HONK Live showcases comedians from all walks of life, featuring performances by Megan Otto, Kenny Tam, Brent Lowrey, and Phil Schallberger that we can 100% guarantee will be funnier than this event listing. Oh, and in case you were curious, swans do, in fact, honk. Swan Dive, 727 SE Grand Ave., swandiveportland.com. 8 pm Wednesday, Jan. 1. $10–$15. 21+.
GO: Playing With Light at OMSI
Unless you’re an electrician, a photographer, or a fire dancer, this week could be your last opportunity to play with light at OMSI. OK, fine, we’re done trying to prove our standup chops. In all seriousness, if you’ve yet to bring your little one to OMSI’s Playing With Light, now’s the time to do so. This interactive exhibit allows OMSI-goers to manipulate 20,000 LEDS, paint with light, shake their own hand (sounds like a form of therapy), freeze their shadow (sounds like a form of cryotherapy), and bounce laser beams. OK, now we’re done. Access to the exhibit is included with museum admission. OMSI, 1945 SE Water Ave., 503-797-4000, omsi.edu. 9:30 am–5:30 pm daily, through Jan. 5. $15–$23.
DRINK: The NightCap Before Christmas
Hey, we didn’t name the thing…we’re just writing about it. Anyways, if you’re interested in an admittedly well-after-Christmas night cap—you should definitely head on down to the Annex Bar at the Crystal Hotel tonight. This underground (literally) watering hole has excellent drinks and décor year round, but its Christmas pop-up is especially awesome. Expect festive trimmings, miles of tinsel, sparkling martinis—“decorative and drinkable”—and holiday cocktails more elevated than your typical ol’ spiked cocoa. McMenamins Annex Bar at the Crystal Hotel, 1223 SW Harvey Milk St., 503-972-2670, mcmenamins.com. 3–10 pm Wednesday, Jan. 1. Free.
GO: Sit Down, Shut Up, and Write
Ah, yes, our weekly mantra here at Willamette Week. If you, like us, find yourself procrastinating on your writing: Sit Down, Shut Up, and Write—is here to help. Bring in your work-in-progress essays, novels, poems, blogs, screenplays, manifestos; and get to work alongside other writers equally in need of some dedicated work time. Every Tuesday at Bold Coffee & Books, you can meet fellow writers, chat about your projects, and then, most importantly, shut up and write. Bold Coffee & Books, 1755 SW Jefferson St., 971-888-5673, boldcoffeeandbooks.com. 5–6:30 pm Tuesday, Jan. 7. Free.
LISTEN: Icebreaker: Portland’s All Ages Winter Break Festival
Come spring, Portland may very well have its only entirely youth-driven, all-ages music venue. Or, at least, that’s Friends of Noise’s plan, anyway. The nonprofit is still in the fundraising process, and one of those money-raising avenues is Icebreaker: Friends of Noise’s All Ages Winter Break Festival. For six years now, Friends of Noise has thrown this all-ages benefit festival at Holocene. This year’s lineup includes underground artists like Red Strings, Lil Jerzy, Sheyana, and Ant Kash. Come check ’em out and support Portland’s DIY music scene! Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison St., 503-239-7639, friendsofnoise.org. 6:30 pm Thursday, Jan. 2. $10–$15.
WATCH: Stitches and They Were Dracula Double Feature
If you missed CoHo Theatre’s Stage Fright Festival back in October, don’t fret. Or actually, do…it is a queer horror theater festival, after all. Two of Stage Fright Festival’s biggest hits—Stitches and They Were Dracula—are back in the spotlight for one weekend only. They Were Dracula has the characters you know and love from Bram Stoker’s OG novel, but in this rendition, Dracula himself is conflicted about drinking blood. Stitches is a queer, body horror clown show that follows the life of a reanimated corpse. Witness both horrific tales for one killer price. CoHo Theatre, 2257 NW Raleigh St., 971-202-6567, cohoproductions.org. 7:30 pm Friday–Saturday, 4 pm Sunday, Jan. 3–5. $25 suggested, sliding scale.
WATCH: Twi-Hard: A Twilight Saga Triple Feature
Speaking of vampires you know and love…Twilight fans, idk if y’all are ready for this one. From the brilliant minds behind Twilight trivia nights of yore—Tomorrow Theater presents Twi-Hard: A Twilight Saga Triple Feature. This Saturday, experience over six hours of love, danger and the supernatural with back-to-back screenings of Twilight, New Moon, AND Eclipse. We can’t think of a better way to start the year than with a movie marathon of these cozy, campy Pacific Northwest winter classics. Tomorrow Theater, 3530 SE Division St., 503-221-1156, tomorrowtheater.org. 2–8 pm Saturday, Jan. 4. $25.
Got an event tip? Email shannon@wweek.com.