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LISTEN: Seed to Quilt Artist Talk with Bridgette Hickey
Bridgette Hickey’s textile work is a deeply esoteric love letter to Blackness, neurodiversity, botanical dyeing and the divine feminine. At this artist talk at the Pacific Northwest College of Art, Hickey will discuss their recent collaborative quilt project, Seed to Quilt, in which the artist placed the lineages of various plants in conversation with the diasporas of “Black queers/autists/mad women/dreamers/artists/elders.” Pacific Northwest College of Art, 511 NW Broadway, pnca.willamette.edu. 6 pm Wednesday, Oct. 21. Free.
EAT: Portland Fermentation Festival
ICYMI, fall in the Pacific Northwest is about more than foliage, fuzzy cardigans and fancy pumpkin drinks. It’s also very much about fermentation. Case in point: Portland Fermentation Festival’s annual fall festivities have cemented the season as unilaterally stinky for the sake of fermentation education. Rooted in sharing rather than sales, “Stinkfest” promises a day of cultures and recipes, advice from fermentation enthusiasts, fermentation demos, and samples of everything from kimchi, pickles and natto to long-fermented breads and weird kombuchas. Ecotrust, 721 NW 9th Ave., portlandfermentationfestival.com. 6–9 pm Thursday, Oct. 22. $15+, 12 and under free.
GO: HEARD! A Service Industry Storytelling Show
HEARD is a monthly showcase featuring local tellers sharing their true tales of the food service industry. Sure, there will be stories of culinary passion, tableside talents and super-relatable (to any current or former hospitality worker) experiences that only occur in food service. But there will also be touching stories of communities built around cooking, eating and serving, i.e., universal vibes for all-ages consumption. Curious Comedy Theater Annex, 5225 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., curiouscomedy.org. 9:30 pm Thursday, Oct. 22. $16–$20. All ages.
SEE: QDoc Film Festival
As far as we know, QDoc is the only U.S. film fest devoted specifically to queer documentaries. That it happens annually in Rose City is a particular point of pride not only in our queer community but also in our creative and filmmaking communities. That said, alphabet mafia members, their devoted allies, and niche documentary nerds alike will find this year’s weekend affair rich with not only new works but also Q&As and filmmaker meet-and-greets. Cinema 21, 616 NW 21st Ave., qdocfilmfest.org. See website for showimes Friday–Sunday, Oct. 23–25. $10–$12 per screening; free for ages 18 and under and 75 and over.
MAKE: Repujado Calaveras: Hecho a Mano
Milagro Theatre hosts this makers’ workshop for creating Día de Muertos–inspired repujados, or embossed metalwork pieces. Led by artist Yathzi Turcot, the workshop explores the folklore surrounding Día de Muertos as well as the themes of ancestry, memory and celebration while demonstrating the traditional repujado art in a setting perfect for families, friends and solo enthusiasts alike. Milagro Theatre, 525 SE Stark St., milagro.org. Noon Saturday, Oct. 24. $5+, pay what you wish. 14+ recommended.
GO: Miller Family Community Free Day at Portland Art Museum
Gather the fam, the squad, or just your precious self and come through PAM for a special-edition free day in celebration of artist Lisa Jarrett’s seismic Black Art and Experiences Galleries exhibition Tenderhead. Drop in to a curated series of interactive exhibits like the Children’s Cultural Confidence & Hair Education Program, a showcase from Hairspiracy, a station for making Tenderhead–inspired self portraits, and a panel discussion with Jarrett and Domenic Toliver moderated by curator Dr. Kiara Hill. Portland Art Museum, 1219 SW Park Ave., portlandartmuseum.org. 10 am Sunday, Oct. 25. Free.
DRESS UP: Monster March
Kick-start Halloween for your kiddos at Llewellyn Elementary School’s Monster March, a low-stakes costume parade that snakes through Westmoreland in a simple train that starts and ends at the school. Pro tip: The parade is rain or shine, so consider your costume’s water resistance if you plan to march with the littles. Llewellyn Elementary School, 6301 SE 14th Ave., llewellyn.pps.net. 3 pm Sunday, Oct. 25. Free.
DRAG: ButtTootKing
Drag Race megastars Lydia B. Kollins, Suzie Toot and Kori King bring their fantastically chaotic live production back to Portland to titillate, captivate and ingratiate a new generation of drag fans with the joys of their unique brand of cabaret comedy. Supported by local queen Lana Electra, this night of drag will certainly be a can’t-miss event for superfans, but will also be a stellar night out for anyone with an affinity for camp foolishness on a big stage. Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside St., crystalballroompdx.com. 8 pm Tuesday, Oct. 27. $27–$116. All ages.
