Bits & Pieces: Items on Zoe Saldana, Oregon Black Pioneers, Nick Fish and jazz, PDX Pop Now!, Elvis Presley (act)

Published 12:15 am Saturday, August 12, 2023

Comic con

We’ll have much more later, but details of the the Rose City Comic Con have come out, and it appears that movie star Zoe Saldana (“Avatar”) will be attending the 11th annual event at Oregon Convention Center.

She’ll be in attendance Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 23-24. Saldana will be signing autographs and taking photos with fans (admission is not included with autograph and photo op tickets).

She holds the record as the only actor to star in the top three grossing films of all time: “Avatar,” “Avenger: Endgame,” “Avatar: The Way of Water.”

Rose City Comic Con takes place 1 p.m-8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22, 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Sept. 23 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 24.

More: rosecitycomiccon.com.

Oregon Black Pioneers

Heads up: The state’s African American historical society, Oregon Black Pioneers, is marking its 30th anniversary in September with a celebration and fundraiser, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 17 at The Redd in Portland’s Central Eastside.

The theme is “Shining a Light on Oregon’s Black History,” in recognition of the Black Pioneers programming. Since 1993, the organization has illuminated the seldom-told history of people of African descent in Oregon through exhibits, public programs, and education, a news release states.

Denyse McGriff, Oregon City mayor, is the keynote speaker. She became the first Black woman ever elected as a mayor of an Oregon town in 2022.

More: oregonblackpioneers.org/30th-anniversary-celebration.

Nick Fish award

The Montavilla Jazz Festival is coming up, Sept. 1-3, and they’ll be presenting the first Nick Fish Jazz Community Award, honoring the legacy of “Portland’s Jazz Commissioner” for his work in the jazz community. It goes to Portland drummer Ron Steen, with the commemoration being 8 p.m. Sept. 2 at Alberta Rose Theatre as a prelude to Darrell Grant’s “Piano in the Dark” concert with special guest Billy Childs, which is part of the jazz fest.

Recognizing that he was a champion for the Jazz community, Fish was given the title of “Portland’s Jazz Commissioner” by veteran Jazz radio host and current Montavilla Jazz board member Marcia Hocker.

More: montavillajazz.org.

No PDX Pop Now!

The concert series PDX Pop Now! has been postponed because of hot temperatures the week of the planned festival (Aug. 16-19). Instead, the festival will put on two all-ages shows at locations with good air conditioning — The Fixin’ To, Thursday, Aug. 17, and Blackwater, Friday, Aug. 18. Organizers say to follow developments on their Instagram page; its website is pdxpopnow.com.

‘Elvis’ show

From Lake Oswego Review’s Corey Buchanan:

Those nostalgic for Elvis Presley’s iconic songs and dance numbers can look no further than Lake Oswego for a near-identical rendition.

Justin Shandor, 39, who has been performing as Elvis since he was 16 years old, will play many of the king of rock ‘n roll’s hit songs while dressed in the singer’s attire during a concert at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 16, at the At the Garages venue.

Jamie Goetz, who is coordinating a concert, said Shandor looks nearly identical to Presley. Goetz has been Shandor’s manager for his entire career and discovered him at an Elvis museum. Shandor grew up with Presley’s music playing in his home, has a talented three-octave voice and plays five instruments. He won the Ultimate Elvis Contest in Memphis, Tennessee in 2010. He also performed as Elvis on “The Late Show with David Letterman.”

“People who have seen Justin, the majority of them say he looks and sounds just like the real guy,” Goetz said.

More: atthegarages.net.