Frommer’s Portland Day by Day

Ticket Deals

If you’re willing to wait until the day of the show, you can get some good deals on tickets at places like Portland Center Stage, which offers any unsold tickets right before curtain time for $20. At the Keller Auditorium, the Portland Opera offers unsold tickets to students and active military personnel for $10 and seniors for $20. The Portland Center for the Performing Arts has a day-of-show, half-price ticket hotline (☎ 503/432-2960) for performances at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Antoinette Hatfield Hall, and Keller Auditorium.

★★★ Oregon Symphony DOWNTOWN Under the baton of music director Carlos Kalmar, the oldest symphony orchestra on the West Coast has become one of the country’s top ensembles. Performances are at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall (Sept–May). 1037 SW Broadway (at Main St.). ☎ 503/228-4294. www.orsymphony.org. Tickets $30–$150. MAX: SW 6th & Madison sts. Bus: 8, 9, 10, 14, 17, or 66. Map p 122.

★★★ Portland Baroque Orchestra DOWNTOWN Under the inspired leadership of Monica Huggett, this ensemble performs baroque and classical music composed before 1840, often on original instruments, at the First Baptist Church (on Sundays at Reed College’s Kaul Auditorium). 909 SW 11th Ave. (at Taylor St.). ☎ 503/222-6000. www.pbo.org. Tickets $25–$54. Streetcar: SW 11th & Taylor. Map p 122.

★★★ Portland Piano International DOWNTOWN The world’s leading pianists and up-and-coming stars of the keyboard perform solo recitals in Lincoln Hall at Portland State University. Lincoln Hall (PSU), 1620 SW Park (at Market). ☎ 503/228-1388. www.portlandpiano.org. Tickets $25–$100. Streetcar: SW Park & Market. Map p 122.

★★ Helium INNER SOUTHEAST Local and national stand-up acts appear at this slick comedy club. 1510 SE 9th Ave. (at Hawthorne Blvd.). ☎ 888/643-8669. www.heliumcomedy.com. Tickets $5–$35, 2-item minimum. Bus: 10 or 14. Map p 122.

★ Alberta Rose Theatre ALBERTA Catch some live music, an independent film, or a taping of the Live Wire! radio show at this 300-seat restored 1927 movie house. 3000 NE Alberta St. (at 30th Ave.). ☎ 503/719-6055. www.albertarosetheatre.com. Tickets $15–$28. Bus: 72. Map p 122.

★★ Antoinette Hatfield Hall DOWNTOWN This striking building encloses the classic Newmark and high-tech Dolores Winningstad theaters, hosting plays, dance, music, films, and more. 1111 SW Broadway (at 11th Ave.). ☎ 503/248-4335. www.pcpa.com. Ticket prices vary. MAX: SW 6th & Madison St. Bus: 8, 9, 10, 14, 17, or 66. Map p 122.

★★★ Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall DOWNTOWN The crown jewel of the Portland Center for the Performing Arts, the “Schnitz” is the city’s most lavish performance space, home to the Oregon Symphony and a year-round roster of top performers and performances. 1037 SW Broadway (at Main St.). ☎ 503/248-4335. www.pcpa.com. Ticket prices vary. MAX: SW 6th & Madison St. Bus: 8, 9, 10, 14, 17, or 66. Map p 122.

★ Memorial Coliseum LLOYD DISTRICT The former home of the Trail Blazers now hosts the Portland Winterhawks (see p 130), big-ticket shows (despite horrendous acoustics), and the kickoff of the Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade. 300 N. Winning Way. ☎ 503/797-9619. www.rosequarter.com. Ticket prices vary. MAX: Interstate/Rose Quarter. Bus: 35. Map p 122.

★★ The Old Church DOWNTOWN Every Wednesday at noon, this 1883 Carpenter Gothic landmark hosts free “sack lunch” concerts of classical music by local artists. Other concerts and events through the year. Also see p 45 1422 SW 11th Ave. ☎ 503/222-2031. www.oldchurch.org. Free admission. Streetcar: SW 11th & Clay. Map p 122.

★ Providence Park DOWNTOWN This historic open-air stadium hosted Elvis and 14,000 screaming fans in 1957; now it’s home base for the Portland State University Vikings football team and the Portland Timbers MLS team (see p 129). 1844 SW Morrison St. (at 18th Ave.). ☎ 503/553-5400. www.providenceparkpdx.com. Ticket prices vary. MAX: Providence Park. Bus: 15, 18, 20, 51, or 63. Map p 122.

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Do Jump! HAWTHORNE With energetic performances that are as much aerial acrobatics as dance, this inventive local company always puts on a good show. 1515 SE 37th Ave. (at Hawthorne Blvd.). ☎ 503/231-1232. www.dojump.org. Ticket prices vary. Bus: 14. Map p 122.

★ Oregon Ballet Theater DOWNTOWN This company, founded in 1989, performs both classical (including a yearly Nutcracker) and modern ballet at the Newmark Theatre in Antoinette Hatfield Hall (above) and the Keller Auditorium (222 SW Clay St.) 1111 SW Broadway (at 11th Ave). ☎ 503/222-5538. www.obt.org. Tickets $15–$140. MAX: SW 6th & Madison St. Bus: 8, 9, 10, 14, 17, or 66. Map p 122.

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Bagdad Theater & Pub HAWTHORNE This 1927 theater with a pub and two bars shows second-run movies for cheap, along with offbeat performances. 3702 SE Hawthorne Blvd. ☎ 503/467-7521. www.mcmenamins.com. Ticket prices vary. Bus: 14. Map p 122.

★ Cinema 21 NORTHWEST One of Portland’s most beloved movie theaters shows shorts, documentaries, and critically acclaimed features that won’t make it to the multiplex. 616 NW 21st Ave. (at Irving St.). ☎ 503/223-4515. www.cinema21.com. Tickets $8–$10. Bus: 17. Map p 122.

★ Hollywood Theater HOLLYWOOD The city’s most ornate classic theater retains its 1926 Byzantine rococo facade and shows independent and foreign films. 4122 NE Sandy Blvd. (at 41st Ave.). ☎ 503/281-4215. www.hollywoodtheatre.org. Tickets $5–$7. Bus: 12. Map p 122.

★★ Laurelhurst Theater LAURELHURST Pizza, salads, microbrews, and second-run flicks fill the bill at this restored 1923 theater with an awesome neon sign. 2735 E. Burnside St. (at 28th Ave.). ☎ 503/232-5511. www.laurelhursttheater.com. Tickets $5–$8. Bus: 20. Map p 122.

★★ Living Room Theaters DOWNTOWN Combine a European lounge and cafe with an independent theater and you get the chicest eat-in-your-seat movie house in town. 341 SW 10th Ave. (at Stark St.). ☎ 971/222-2010. http://pdx.livingroomtheaters.com. Tickets $8–$10. Bus: 20. Streetcar: SW 10th & Stark. Map p 122.

★ Mission Theater & Pub NORTHWEST This former church and longshoreman’s union hall hosts first-run films, live music, talks, and sporting events. Snag a balcony seat. 1624 NW Glisan St. (at 17th Ave.). ☎ 503/223-4527. www.mcmenamins.com. Tickets $3–$6. Bus: 20. Map p 122.

★ Glowing Greens DOWNTOWN And now for something completely different: pirate-themed, glow-in-the-dark miniature golf, in the basement of the downtown Hilton. 509 SW Taylor St. (at 5th Ave.). ☎ 503/222-5554. www.glowinggreens.com. Tickets $5–$11. MAX: Pioneer Courthouse Sq. Map p 122.

★★ Portland Opera INNER EASTSIDE The Rose City’s opera company puts on five productions (Sept–Mar) at Hampton Opera Center and at Keller Auditorium (222 SW Clay St.), including works by Puccini, Mozart, Verdi, Wagner, Strauss, Leonard Bernstein, and Philip Glass. 211 SE Caruthers St. ☎ 503/241-1407. www.portlandopera.org. Tickets $45–$150. Streetcar: SE Water/OMSI. Map p 122.

★★ Aladdin Theater SOUTHEAST This 1920s vaudeville house is now a stellar mid-size performance hall for live music from Emmylou Harris to Maceo Parker and Ryan Adams. 3017 SE Milwaukie Ave. ☎ 503/233-1994. www.aladdin-theater.com. Tickets $10–$45. Bus: 9, 17, 19, 66, or 70. Map p 122.

★ Crystal Ballroom DOWNTOWN When’s the last time you rocked out to Modest Mouse on the floating-on-ball-bearings dance floor of a 1914 ballroom? Jimi Hendrix, James Brown, and the Grateful Dead all played at this local institution; Rudolf Valentino did the tango here in the 1920s. 1332 W. Burnside St. (at 14th Ave.). ☎ 503/225-0047. www.danceonair.com. Ticket prices vary. Bus: 20. Map p 122.

★ Dante’s OLD TOWN The Sinferno Cabaret, Karaoke From Hell, live bands, and DJs make this club a tempting destination for a night of dancing and debauchery. 350 W. Burnside St. (at 5th Ave.). ☎ 503/226-6630. www.danteslive.com. Cover free to $20. Bus: 12, 19, or 20. Map p 122.

★ Goodfoot Lounge LAURELHURST Get up offa that thing and shake it to jazz, funk, soul, Afrobeat, and everything in between. 2845 SE Stark St. (at 29th Ave.). ☎ 503/239-9292. www.thegoodfoot.com. Cover free to $10. Bus: 15. Map p 122.

★ Holocene SOUTHEAST Booty Basement and Snap ’90s Night are just two of the regular events at this nightclub, featuring DJs and live music on two stages, with a dance floor and cheap covers. 1001 SE Morrison St. (at 10th Ave.). ☎ 503/239-7639. www.holocene.org. Cover $5–$10. Bus: 15. Map p 122.

★★ Mississippi Studios MISSISSIPPI This venue in the heart of the historic Mississippi District caters to people who actually want to listen to live music in an intimate setting. Good acoustics, and free shows once a month. 3939 N. Mississippi Ave. (at Shaver St.). ☎ 503/288-3895. www.mississippistudios.com. Cover free to $18. Bus: 4. Map p 122.

★ Roseland Theater CHINATOWN Not the most pleasant live-music venue, but one of the few non-stadium places to see major rock acts. 8 NW 6th Ave. (at Burnside St.). ☎ 503/224-8499. www.roselandpdx.com. Ticket prices vary. Bus: 9, 17, 20, 54, or 56. Map p 122.

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Rocking out at the Doug Fir Lounge.

★★★ Portland Timbers DOWNTOWN The Major League Soccer team fills Providence Park stadium with the howls of the “Timbers Army” (Mar–Oct). 1844 SW Morrison St. (at 18th Ave.). ☎ 503/53-5400. www.portlandtimbers.com. Tickets $18–$35. MAX: Providence Park. Map p 122.

★ Portland Trail Blazers ROSE QUARTER The Northwest’s only NBA team last won the championship in 1977, but they still sell out the 20,000-seat Moda Center arena (Nov–Apr). 1 Center Court. ☎ 503/234-9291. www.nba.com/blazers. Tickets average $60. MAX: Moda Center. Map p 122.

★ Rose City Rollers SELLWOOD The Breakneck Betties and the Axles of Annihilation are two of the six teams that make up this all-female amateur roller derby league. At Oaks Park in Sellwood (Jan–June). 7805 SE Oaks Park Way. ☎ 503/784-1444. www.rosecityrollers.com. Tickets $16–$22. Bus: 70. Map p 122.

★ Artists Repertory Theater DOWNTOWN More challenging contemporary productions, along with works by established playwrights like Harold Pinter and David Mamet, come courtesy of this first-rate company. 1516 SW Alder St. (at 16th Ave.). ☎ 503/241-1278. www.artistsrep.org. Tickets $25–$50. MAX: Providence Park. Bus: 15, 20. Map p 122.

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Imago Theater INNER SOUTHEAST You never know what a night with Imago holds—physical comedy, animal costumes, mime, dance, acrobatics, music—but it definitely will be interesting. Productions like Frogz, ZooZoo, and Splat are as entertaining to kids as they are to their parents. 17 SE 8th Ave. (at Burnside St.). ☎ 503/231-9581. www.imagotheatre.com. Ticket prices vary. Bus: 12, 19, or 20. Map p 122.

★★ Portland Center Stage PEARL The Gerding Theater at the Armory is home of the city’s largest professional theater company, performing classic and contemporary works and musicals (Sept–June). 128 NW 11th Ave. (at Davis St.). ☎ 503/445-3700. www.pcs.org. Tickets $20–$65. Bus: 12, 19, or 20. Map p 122.

★ Theatre Vertigo BELMONT Performing at the Shoebox Theater, this small but talented company puts on three intriguing ensemble performances every season; Thursday you pay what you will. 2110 SE 10th Ave. ☎ 503/306-0870. www.theatrevertigo.org. Tickets $15. Bus: 15. Map p 122. •