March Events

The first comprehensive retrospective of one of America’s most compelling and controversial artists, Art and Race Matters traces the work of Robert Colescott (1925-2009), who established his career in Portland with the support of gallery owner and philanthropist Arlene Schnitzer, then made his mark in the 1970s with a series of deconstructed art-historical masterpieces that…

The Portland Jazz Festival returns every February with a stellar series of concerts and events celebrating Black History Month.

Marking the 40th anniversary of the eruption of Mount Saint Helens, this exhibition explores the overwhelming power of nature and the epic cycles of volcanic destruction and regeneration with stunning photographs, paintings and drawings of the mountain from 1845 to the present day. Curated by Dawson Carr, Ph.D., The Janet and Richard Geary Curator of…

The Northwest Filmmakers’ Festival is the Northwest’s premiere showcase of new work by leading regional filmmakers. This touchstone annual event brings artists and audiences together for a community celebration. Annually, the Northwest Filmmakers’ Festival draws hundreds of entries from Alaska, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.

OMSI offers a Guided Tech Tour on the second and fourth Sunday of every month. This special tour guided by an actual submarine veteran is for those who would like to learn more about the technical workings of the Blueback. The maximum tour size is eight people, so plan ahead and reserve your spot. Tech…

Up to 20,000 gray whales migrate along Oregon’s coast every winter and spring. Spot them from these four locations.

Being Present: Revisiting, Somewhat Unfaithfully, Portland’s Most Experimental Art Experiment, PCVA From 1972 to 1987, the Portland Center for the Visual Arts (PCVA) was a major force in the Pacific Northwest, introducing progressive forms of contemporary art from around the country to Portland audiences. Temporary site-specific installations by major, mostly New York-based sculptors, announced its…

Retiring Curator of Asian Art Maribeth Graybill presents her personal favorites from among more than 600 Japanese prints acquired during her tenure at the Museum. The exhibition includes works by leading masters of the 18th and 19th centuries, chosen for their exceptional condition; warrior prints, a genre previously neglected in the collection; and prints by…

Isaka Shamsud-Din: Rock of Ages is an intimate exhibition celebrating the Portland artist’s masterful paintings, rich in a narrative combining personal stories and folklore. Shamsud-Din’s paintings also celebrate and honor individuals by capturing portraits. Tightly composed and with a vibrancy of color, the works invite viewers to be among these individuals and warm settings. The…

Since 2009, food-loving Portland has dedicated an entire month to celebrating our acclaimed dining scene: Portland Dining Month. Each March, the city’s top restaurants offer three-course meals for a great price, making it the best time to experience one of the nation’s most talked-about culinary destinations — affordably. In addition to being the best time…

In the rich tradition of portraiture reflected in Northwest art, there is an exemplary range of individuals and styles of depiction. For this exhibition, the artist Storm Tharp was invited to help select works from the collection through his keen eyes as a fellow portraitist. As he combed through the collection, some themes in portraiture…

In Southern Rites, American photographer Gillian Laub (b. 1975) engages her skills as a photographer, storyteller and visual activist to examine the realities of racism and raise questions that are simultaneously painful and essential to understanding the American consciousness. Through her lens and the voices of her subjects we encounter that which we do not…

The artistic poster first flourished in the United States in the 1890s. Initially following design trends pioneered in Europe, American artists soon created their own unique style. Magazines were among the first to adopt this new form of advertising, employing outstanding designers such as Will Bradley, Edward Penfield and Maxfield Parrish to advertise periodicals including…

During the early 20th century, Pictorialist photographer Anne Brigman regularly hiked and camped in California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range, photographing the rugged landscape with her 4×5-inch view camera. She later recalled, “I slowly found my power with the camera among the junipers and tamarack pines of the high, storm-swept altitudes.” Toughened to Wind and Sun…

The driver covers all tasting fees with charcuterie plates ($150 value for full day, $90 value for half day). Experience the best of Willamette Valley wine country on an all-inclusive, guided wine-tasting tour from Portland. Be chauffeured in a luxury SUV with a small group of fellow wine lovers and spend a half day or…

Get creative! Radius Art offers opportunities for both the beginning and the experienced artist to learn the basics or build on their current skills. Learn ceramics, painting, drawing, printmaking, leatherworking, fabric dying and more.

This tour is a great way to experience Portland’s beer scene on foot, and great for small groups or families traveling with kids. Check out the history and culture of popular areas in Portland by foot. You choose the neighborhood, and we’ll show you around to three breweries. Walking tours provide a great overview of…

Using rare and seldom-seen objects like Chinese opera costumes as well as theatrical sets, bilingual text, audiovisual media and interactive visitor stations, Beyond the Gate tells a sprawling transnational story of contact and trade between China and the West, focusing on Portland’s Old (1850-1905) and New (1905-1950) Chinatowns. Beyond the Gate was originally created as…

It’s hard to beat the Pacific Northwest when it comes to beer. This tour will introduce you to the ingredients, history and culture that makes the craft beer scene in the Pacific Northwest admired worldwide. Brewvana will start with the education first and introduce you to the ingredients in beer and how they’ve contributed to…

Join up for a beer fueled walking tour and see what it takes to make award-winning beer in the Northwest. During the tour, BeerQuest provides behind-the-scene access at an award-winning brewery to see how beer is made and sample the ingredients used in the brewing process. You’ll sample a total of 11 beers from three…

“I’d never thought I looked different from the other kids at school, even though most of them were Caucasian. But when I went to school the day after Pearl Harbor, I realized I did look different. My hair was black, my skin was darker and my eyes were almond-shaped. My face was the face of…

Uncover Portland’s dark side on this spine-tingling walking tour and hear firsthand accounts of paranormal encounters – all while sampling six local beers. The Old Town District in downtown Portland, Oregon is lined with beautiful historic buildings and cobblestone streets. Lively with restaurants and nightlife today, 100 years ago Old Town was home to many…

Part of the 2020 Biamp PDX Jazz Festival, presented in partnership with OMSI. Dan Tepfer has made a name for himself as a pianist-composer of wide-ranging ambition, individuality and drive — “a remarkable musician” in the words of the Washington Post and one “who refuses to set himself limits” in those of France’s Télérama. The…

Three pigs sing and dance a tribute to Lady Gaga. Two egotistical clowns get tangled in a ribbon dance. One gothic drag queen gets the whole audience lip syncing. Whatever it is, you’ll laugh until your face hurts. October special guests Include: The Amazing Bubble Man Clowns, A Little Bit Off Follies is Portland’s premiere…

Part of the 2020 Biamp PDX Jazz Festival. Over the course of a stellar career that has spanned more than 30 years, saxophonist Kenny Garrett has become the preeminent alto saxophonist of his generation. From his first gig with the Duke Ellington Orchestra (led by Mercer Ellington) through his time spent with musicians such as…

Looptworks uses only what already exists to create new functional products (including upcycled bags, apparel and accessories). Looptworks is committed to upcycling and closed loop solutions. Its intent is to reduce and eliminate waste in its industry headed to the landfill. Participate and witness the Looptworks upcycling production and circular economy firsthand. Tour Schedule &…

What we think of today as Portland covers a broad swath of land on both sides of the Willamette River. In the late 19th century, that same area contained several mostly independent communities, including Albina, St. Johns, Sellwood—and East Portland, a small city on the eastern shore of the river roughly bounded by Division Street…

On May 10, 1869, two railroads-built with haste, hope and aspiration—joined in a lonely desert of northern Utah, at a place called Promontory. On that day, dignitaries from both companies—the Central Pacific, which had built from California, and the Union Pacific, which had built from the east—gave speeches and installed ceremonial last spikes. To mark…

Enjoy free admission to the Museum the first Thursday of each month from 5 – 8 p.m.

On the First Thursday of the month from 5-8 p.m, the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education participates in the city-wide First Thursday Gallery Walk. During the First Thursday hours, the museum is open and free to the public.

Enjoy a slow looking tour experience and object-focused meditation. This public tour invites people to relax, rejuvenate, energize and be calm. Using focused breathing and simple poses, the museum encourages visitors to meditate in the galleries twice a month on the first and third Thursdays.

“Some rise by sin, some by virtue fall.” Drawing on Shakespeare’s inherent genius for seamlessly blending the comic and the tragic, Portland-based playwright Anya Pearson (Made to Dance in Burning Buildings) adds her own unique command of language, humor and social insight to this story, reimagining Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure through the all-too-relevant lens of…

A comedy open mic hosted by Eddie Churnetski and Benton Crider. 18+ until 8 p.m., 21+ after 8 p.m. If you are under 21 and would like to go up early, please message the Trash Amp Productions Facebook page.

Zymurgy is the study of fermentation, and Portland is all about some fermented beverages. Taste some cider, beer and spirits on this tour of some of Portland’s tastiest craft beverages. Learn about the ingredients, process and culture of each of these. Cider is a gluten-free alternative that has been gaining popularity in this region, and…

Every Friday evening, the Portland Art Museum (PAM) invites you to play, to have a different Museum experience—a little bit more relaxed, more interactive and more social experience. Admission is just $5 after 5 p.m. Here’s what PAM has in store: Beer, wine, and food at Art Pub in the Museum Grounds Cafe. Occasional special…

Come one, come all and join up for First Friday at Portland Craft Bar! Each First Friday of the month, the Portland Craft Bar will select a small art or craft to do in the studio and open for free to all people, all ages. Check the Bar’s website or its Facebook or Instagram feeds…

By Neil Simon. Directed by Pat Patton. Title Sponsor: Bill and Barbara Warner. Directorial Sponsor: The Springs Living in Lake Oswego Two bachelots. One apartment. Zero in common. Felix, an uptight news writer, is thrown out of his house by his wife and moves in with his friend Oscar, a slovenly sportswriter. The two must…

The Portland Farmers Market at Portland State University will be open every Saturday, year round. April through October hours are 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. November through March hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Although Seattle comes in first when it comes to coffee culture, Portland has learned a lot from its neighbors and comes in close second. Brewvana has an obsession with donuts and although they might drive you by Voodoo Donuts to see the line, they’ll head to the locals’ favorite for your donut fix. After getting…

The combination of beer and whiskey is a match made in heaven. Beer and whiskey are surprisingly similar in ingredients and process. In fact, you have to make beer to make whiskey! You’ll start at a brewery first to learn about the ingredients and brewing process for beer and taste a variety of styles. Next,…

Every first Saturday at Culture is all about reggaeton, Latin trap, dembow, bachata and more. DJ Gatto and DJ R2 will be bringing you the hottest music in these Latin rhythms with surprise guest DJs. Get on the guestlist for free cover before it closes by texting “firstsaturday” to 31996. This is a 21 and…

Join violin virtuoso Soovin Kim – Chamber Music Northwest Artistic Director Designee – for an evening of some of Bach’s most beloved solo works, including the beloved “Chaconne” from Violin Partita No. 2. Presented by Chamber Music Northwest.

World-renowned trumpeter and survivor-turned-cancer-research-advocate Ryan Anthony performs James Stephenson’s Concerto for Hope, written especially for him. The piece is bookended by Vivaldi’s sparkling Concerto for Two Trumpets and Dvořák’s infectiously optimistic Eighth Symphony.

PBO Concertmaster Carla Moore leads a program of pure fun! Musical characters abound as the orchestra explores the less serious side of the Baroque, with highlights including Marais’s “Operation on a Gall Bladder,” Vivaldi’s “Echo” concerto and the “original Four Seasons” by Giovanni Guido. Sunday concert is in Kaul Auditorium on Reed College’s campus.

Get your St. Paddy’s day weekend started by joining up for some rompin’ good fun around Lee Farms. After some mud, guts and glory, stick around and have a beer or two before heading out on the town. Don’t miss out on all the fun — participation is capped at 1500.

Benedict Sheehan (“rising star in Orthodox liturgical music”—Orthodox Arts Journal) returns to conduct a once-in-a-lifetime program featuring Cappella Romana with over 100 singers from the Pacific Youth Choir and basso profundo Glenn Miller. Tchaikovsky’s singular artistic voice in his Liturgy broke open the floodgates of creativity in Russian Orthodox choral music, including music for young…

An evening of stand-up comedy, followed by dancing and play spaces. Hosted by Chris Smith and Ben Warren. Past comedians include Shane Mauss (appearances on Conan O’Brien, HBO and Comedy Central), Caitlin Weyerhaeuser (voted Portland’s funniest comedian), Simon Gibson, Todd Armstrong, Ben Harkins, Milan Patel, Becky Braunstein, Chris Johnson, Dylan Jenkins, The Real Hijinx, Amanda…

Boarding (on the OMSI side of the river) at 2 p.m. Cruise 2:30 – 5:30 p.m. Join the annual Shamrock Cruise on board the Portland Spirit for a three-hour cruise on the Willamette with the music and dance of Ireland – all community. Each deck has live entertainment of music, dance, ceili and room to…

World-renowned trumpeter and survivor-turned-cancer-research-advocate Ryan Anthony performs James Stephenson’s Concerto for Hope, written especially for him. The piece is bookended by Vivaldi’s sparkling Concerto for Two Trumpets and Dvořák’s infectiously optimistic Eighth Symphony.

Chamber Music Northwest Artistic Director David Shifrin is joined by his soon-to-be successors Gloria Chien and Soovin Kim for a powerful program of solo, duo and trio masterpieces by Brahms, Mendelssohn, Paul Schoenfeld and more. Presented by Chamber Music Northwest.