August 1: Buster Keaton Genealogy Display – Cottage Grove Community Center (700 E Gibbs Ave)
The Shining, Animal House, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest are among the most popular movies that were filmed around Oregon. This summer marks the 90th anniversary for the Buster Keaton silent picture The General, which was shot around Cottage Grove in 1926. “Buster Keaton Days” take place every five years in recognition of the film’s anniversary. Starting on the first, the Cottage Grove Community Center will host a genealogy display about Keaton’s life and family. For more information, visit www.cgchamber.com.
August 2: Ninkasi Pints for a Cause for Nearby Nature – Ninkasi Tasting Room (272 Van Buren St.) All day
MillerCoors may have absorbed Hop Valley this past week, but Ninkasi still stands as Eugene’s largest independent local beer producer. As part of its continuing charitable initiative, Ninkasi’s Pints for a Cause event this Tuesday will send $1 from every pint sold to Nearby Nature. Nearby Nature is a local non-profit and summer daycamp for children aged 3-13 focused on outdoor activities like hiking and canoeing and educating students about ecology and science. For more info, visit www.nearbynature.org/events/august-2-ninkasi-pints-for-a-cause
August 3: Comics Workshop for Teens with Phil Yeh – Eugene Public Library (100 W 10th Ave) – Free
Graphic novelist Phil Yeh, author of Even Cazco Gets the Blues (1977), will visit Eugene this week. Yeh will lead a hands-on comics workshop at the Eugene Public Library this Wednesday at 2 p.m. about the craft of comic storytelling, how to develop characters and illustrate a compelling graphic novel. The workshop will also take place at the Bethel Branch on Thursday at 2 p.m. and the Sheldon Branch on Friday at 2 p.m. For more info: www.facebook.com/EugenePublicLib
August 4: Game One: Eugene Emeralds vs. Vancouver Canadians – PK Park – 7:05 p.m. – Box seat tickets start at $3
Much like the music of the Grateful Dead, baseball can be unpredictable but often rewarding and gratifying. It’ll take a group of boys on a wayward journey, making stops throughout the country with nights that pivot between joyous revelries or deplorable flops. This Thursday evening, the Emeralds will face off the Canadians at PK Park in game one of five on Grateful Dead night. Box seats are $3 on Thursday. For more info: http://www.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t461
August 5-7: Pickathon at Pendarvis Farm (16581 SE Hagen Rd, Happy Valley, OR) – Tickets are still available: $25 to $600
Beach House, Mac DeMarco, Yo La Tengo, Thee Oh Sees and Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy are among those slated for this year’s Pickathon, which will doubtlessly be the indie music festival’s most prolific lineup to date. Bob Boilen, creator of NPR’s All Songs Considered, will also host a live interview on Sunday centered on his new book Your Song Changed My Life about musicians’ favorite life-altering tracks. This year will also mark the debut of Pickathon’s comedy element, with a lineup curated by Portland comic Amy Miller. For more info: http://pickathon.com/tickets/
August 6: Miike Snow at HiFi Music Hall – doors open at 7:30 p.m., show starts at 8:30 p.m. – all ages – tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door.
Even if you don’t think you’d recognize the songs of this Swedish indie-electronic trio, whose songs like “Animal” and “Silvia” were unavoidable in 2009, you may recognize their work with Britney Spears’ “Toxic” and Bruno Mars’ “Grenade,” which were written by the members of Miike Snow. Why do the Swedes have such a firm grasp on pop music? This tour comes on the heels of iii, the band’s third album, which came out in March. Hayley Kiyoko will open. For more info: http://hifimusichall.com/eventz/miike-snow/
August 7: On the Town – Jaqua Concert Hall at The John G. Shedd Institute (868 High St) – tickets are $14.50 to $38
This musical, performed from July 29 to August 7, focuses on three American sailors who have a 24-hour shore leave in New York City and use their time to find love. On the Town opened on Broadway in 1944; the music is from mastermind Leonard Bernstein, who’s also composed music for West Side Story, On The Waterfront and Peter Pan. The show is the seventh Shedd production directed by Peg Major, who’s also led Babes in Arms, Mary Poppins and Funny Face. Visit https://www.theshedd.org/ or call (541) 434-7000 for more info.