thursday 3
Wild & Scenic Film Fest
FILM—Yep. Film fest season is in full swing. This one is for a good cause (it benefits the Oregon National Desert Association) and is filled with bite-sized, outdoor-centric shorts. Films include amputee rock climbing and big-mountain skiing as well as a collection of compelling environmental flicks. Two screenings: 4 pm and 7:30 pm. The Old Stone, 157 NW Franklin Ave. $6-$10.
thursday 3
Gift of Gab
HIP-HOP—Remember Blackalicious, that kick-ass hip-hop group who put out the catchy 2002 album Blazing Arrow? Gift of Gab is one half of that ingenious duo and the man behind those smooth, multisyllabic rhymes. Hear him with Landon Wordswell, Tim Hoke and DJ BePhilp. 8 pm. Liquid Lounge, 70 NW Newport Ave. $10.
friday 4
Steve Martin & The Steep Canyon Rangers
MUSIC—Did we already mention Steve Martin is in town? Joining grass-pop band The Steep Canyon Rangers, Martin adds his layer of clarion-crisp banjo picking to the group's already multilayered deliciousness of easy-going guitars, urgent fiddles and bellowing crooning. Also performing, Edie Brickell. Yeah, as in "What I Am." 6 pm. Les Schwab Amphitheater, $44-90.
friday 4
Playwrights Platform
THEATER—Enjoy performances of select scenes from locally written plays Home Cooking by Bob Woodward, Turn the Hourglass, Quickly by Kathleen Tomko, Blemished the Musical by Katelyn Alexander, and Mark of Cain by Gary Earl Ross. After an audience and panel vote, the winning play will be fully produced in May by Stage Right Productions. 7:30 pm. 2nd Street Theater, 220 NE Lafayette Ave. $5.
friday 4
Fall Festival
STREET PARTY—Like an autumnal Bourbon Street, downtown roadways will be closed in celebration of this annual arts festival. Highlights include free music (folk-punk road-hounds Larry and His Flask, 9:30 pm Friday), the Deschutes Brewery homebrew competition, and a pumpkin pie-baking contest. Expect Bond and Wall Streets to be lined with more than 100 vendors and artisans. Starts 5 pm Friday, 11 am Saturday & Sunday. Downtown. Free.
saturday 5
Opera Bend
HIGH CULTURE—After Obsidian Opera Company folded in 2008, Bend's operatic options have been diminished (read: nonexistent). Following a warm-up performance last spring, Opera Bend returns with La Premier Notte Grande, featuring dramatic scenes from "Carmen," "The Magic Flute," "Hansel and Gretel," "Falstaff," and "The Elixir of Love" in English, Italian and French. 3pm. Pinckney Center for the Arts at COCC, 2600 NW College Way. Free.
monday 7
Rolling Stones: Charlie is My Darling
FILM—A baby-faced Mick Jagger is 22 years young in this 1965 behind-the-scenes look at the Stones during an Irish tour. Interviews with the legendary rockers are interspersed with clips of early hits such as "Satisfaction" and "The Last Time." Also, lots of screaming young women. True fans will surely appreciate this rare footage. 7 pm. Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St. $12.
monday 7
Media Salon
FALL FICTION—To celebrate last week's Fall Fiction issue, we are hosting the winners who will read their winning selections. Editor Phil Busse also Q&As with the winning personalities of our illustrious judges, who will offer some golden nuggets of writing wisdom. 7 pm. Broken Top Bottle Shop, 1740 NW Pence Lane. Free.
wednesday 9
Farmers Market Finale
FOOD—It isn't as if there won't be any food for the next several months, but there certainly won't be the same freshness—or the same fondness conjured from buying zucchini, squash, and tomatoes straight from the farmers' hands. That's right: Summer officially (this time for real) ends today with downtown's final farmers market of the season. 3-7 pm. Brooks Street Plaza.
wednesday 9
Greg Brown
MUSIC—Greg Brown is one of the most important and prolific singer-songwriters of the 20th century. The weathered Iowa-born folk icon has released more than 30 albums and, at age 64, he's still at it! For the uninitiated: Give one of his early hits a listen. We suggest the humorous political ditty "Dream On" from his '82 album One Night. 7 pm. The Belfry. $35.23 on bendticket.com
