MISC.
Suburban fun
Its a big weekend (July 17-19) for events out in the suburbs:
The Gresham Arts Festival goes from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday (www.greshamoregon.gov).
The Portland Highland Games features strong men doing great things, Friday and Saturday at Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham (www.phga.org).
The Oregon International Air Show excites with trick airplanes, aerobatics, skydivers and more, Friday through Sunday in Hillsboro (www.oregonairshow.com).
The Robin Hood Festival includes everything medieval, Friday and Saturday in Sherwood (robinhoodfestival.org).
The 43rd Concours dElegance car show features more than 300 vintage cars, and other fun, Sunday at Pacific University in Forest Grove.
Sand in the City
The annual event features teams carving giant sculptures out of sand on Friday morning, July 17, and then showing them off to the public through Sunday, July 19, at Pioneer Courthouse Square. Its free to attend; donations suggested. For info: www.sandinthecitypdx.org.
Connick Jr., Mellencamp
Want to see a big-time concert? Harry Connick Jr. plays at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 8 p.m. Friday, July 17 ($57-$139) and John Mellencamp also plays at the Schnitz, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 21 ($52.50-$123). For info: www.portland5.com.
Oregon Brewers Festival
Therell be nearly 90 craft breweries serving numerous styles of beer to an expected crowd of nearly 90,000. The International Beer Garden will feature 15 beers from brewers ranging from New Zealand to The Netherlands. Music will be staged each day.
Noon-9 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, July 22-25, noon-7 p.m. Sunday, July 26, Waterfront Park, www.oregonbrewfest.com, free, $7 tasting cup, $1 beer tokens
Hood River County Fair
Want a day trip to enjoy an old-fashioned, family-oriented fair? Head to the scenic Hood River County Fairgrounds, 3020 Wyeast Road, south of Hood River near Odell, for one of the best in the state, Wednesday through Saturday, July 22 through 25. Gates open at noon each day, and carnival rides start at 1 p.m. For more: www.hoodriverfair.org.
STAGE
The Elixir of Love
The Portland Operas 50th anniversary season closes with the Donizetti romantic comedy featuring a great cast and beautiful music, performed at the Newmark Theatre; itll be the operas seventh performance at the Newmark. This version of Elixir is set in the American Wild West of the 1880s.
7:30 p.m. Friday, July 17, July 23, July 25, July 30 and Aug. 1, 2 p.m. July 19, Newmark Theatre, 1111 S.W. Broadway, www.portlandopera.org, starting at $25
Imago Soiree No. 1
The event features the work of five directors in Baudelaire movement theater, surreal animation, classic experimental theater, and eccentric original works.
7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, July 17-18, 2 p.m. Sunday,
July 18, Imago Theatre, 17 S.E. Eighth Ave., www.ticketswest.com, $10-$20
Much Ado About Nothing
Post5 Theatre puts a 1950s twist on a Shakespeare comedy.
8 p.m. Fridays-Sundays, July 17-Aug. 16, Post5 Theatre, 1666 S.E. Lambert St., www.post5theatre.org, $20, $15 seniors/students
Northwest Dance Project
Two award-winning choreographers (Banning Bouldin, Yoshito Sakuraba) had 18 hours of studio time to produce works with 38 dancers. The results will be performed on one night in Pretty Creatives Showing.
7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 18, Lincoln Performance Hall, 1620 S.W. Park Ave., www.nwdanceproject.org, $20, $25 at door