Things to Do: Days Between celebrations, Shakespeare in the Park, First Friday ArtWalk

Noticing more Grateful Dead energy around town this week? We’re knee-deep in the Days Between, the stretch of time between Jerry Garcia’s birthday and the day he died that is filled with concerts and celebrations of Garcia and the band.

While Eugene’s Days Between offerings are fewer than in other West Coast counterculture-fond cities, there are still plenty of ways to celebrate the long, strange trip this week around your usual arts-and-culture happenings. 

Let’s get into it:

Summer Concerts at Island Park

Willamalane’s Concerts in the Park series continues this weekend with two shows at Springfield’s Island Park: funk and soul band EastSide AllStars Thursday, and country rock band Outlaw ‘Shine Friday; bring a blanket, a folding chair, or whatever you need  to stake out your claim of Island Park for the two-and-a half-hour concerts. 

• When: EastSide AllStars will play at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6, and Outlaw ‘Shine will play at the same time on Friday, Aug. 7.
• Where: Island Park, 200 W B St. in Springfield.
• How much: Admission is $5, or free with two food donations.

Dark Star Orchestra at the Cuthbert Amphitheater

The Chicago-based, seven-piece Grateful Dead tribute band Dark Star Orchestra is rolling into Eugene for a Days Between show this week. The band aims at “continuing” the Grateful Dead experience by playing through actual set lists, to give audiences a recreated experience comparable to seeing the actual band live, if you’d like to close your eyes and pretend. 

• When: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6.
• Where: The Cuthbert Amphitheater, at 601 Day Island Road in Alton Baker Park in Eugene.
• How much: Tickets are available online, for $58.25 in advance or $63.50 on the day of the show.

First Friday ArtWalk

Get your hands dirty this week with Art Studio Demo Day at the Farmers Market Pavilion, where six different art organizations — FUSE Jewelry Collective, Maude Kerns Art Center, Whiteaker Printmakers, Clay Space, EUGENE BRiGHT Parade, and Wildling Collaborative Arts — will be hosting an evening of hands-on activities for people to get screen printing, mandala making, wheel-throwing pottery and more. Other highlights include interactive choreography with #instaballet at WOW Hall, and selected works from the Salon des Refusé, the art show of pieces that weren’t selected for the annual Mayor’s Art Show exhibition, at City Hall. 

• When: 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7. 
• Where: At participating locations across downtown Eugene. Check out the ArtWalk website for the full list of participating locations and descriptions of what art will be on display.
• How much: Free.

Free Shakespeare in the Park does ‘The Winter’s Tale’

For Free Shakespeare in the Park’s annual summer production, the company is taking on “The Winter’s Tale” (funny enough, the same play is one of this summer’s Free Shakespeare in the Park productions in New York City’s Central Park). The play is one of Shakespeare’s “problem plays,” owing to its strange tonal shifts between romance, tragedy and comedy, but is perhaps best known for the most bizarre stage direction in the Bard’s body of work: “Exit, pursued by a bear.”

• When: 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, through Aug. 23. 
• Where: Amazon Community Center, at 2700 Hilyard St. in Eugene.
• How much: Free. But you should bring blankets, lawn chairs and snacks for the show.

‘I Hate Hamlet!’ at Cottage Theatre

Maybe Shakespeare isn’t your scene. Maybe you even… hate it? The satire “I Hate Hamlet!” could be your speed. The dramedy is about a television actor who is struggling with taking up his dream role of Hamlet, haunted by the ghost of actor John Barrymore (the grandfather to Drew Barrymore), known in his time for his performance as the prince.

• When: The play opens this Friday, Aug. 7 and runs through Aug. 23. 
• Where: Cottage Theatre, at 700 Village Drive in Cottage Grove.
• How much: Tickets are available online, starting at $20.

An Evening with Baroque Betty and Nighttime Hotline

This night of live music at the Art House brings together the Eugene orchestral folk ensemble Baroque Betty, anchored by singer and writer Betty Jaeger, and Nighttime Hotline, a new project from Portland-based Glitterfox musician Eric Stalker focused on “vibey tunes with a western, indie, disco [flair].” 

• When: 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8. 
• Where: Art House, at 492 E. 13th Ave. in Eugene.
• How much: Tickets are available online, for $20 in advance and $22 on the day of the show. 

Jerry’s Middle Finger

Los Angeles-based Jerry Garcia and Grateful Dead tribute band Jerry’s Middle Finger is playing shows across the Pacific Northwest for the Days Between, the stretch of time between Garcia’s birthday and the day he died. After playing four consecutive nights in Bend, Seattle and Portland, the band closes  out the Days Between Sunday evening at Eugene’s WOW Hall. 

• When: 8 p.m.  Sunday, Aug. 9. 
• Where: WOW Hall, at 291 W. Eighth Ave. in Eugene.
• How much: Tickets are available online, for $22.50 in advance and $27.50 on the day of the show.

Movies

Special screenings 

This year’s Grateful Dead Meet-Up at the Movies is for the band’s June 17, 1991 concert from New Jersey’s Giants Stadium,  where the band played songs including “Eyes Of The World,” “Truckin,’’” “Saint of Circumstance,” “China Doll” and more, ending with The Band’s “The Weight.” 

Playing at the Art House at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8 and 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 10.

Speaking of The Band! The Martin Scorsese-directed “The Last Waltz,” a documentary-slash-concert film on the farewell concert appearance of The Band, is playing in Eugene this week, too. From the band’s final performances of songs like “Stage Fright” and “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” to performances with Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison and more, is playing in Eugene’s Art House for around a week. This screening is in partnership with KOCF 92.7 FM, as part of the KOCF Presents: Music at the Movies concert film and music documentary series. 

Playing at the Art House from Friday, Aug 7 to Thursday, Aug. 13.

I love the bleak 1945 film noir “Detour,” about an unlucky, out-of-work pianist whose plan to hitchhike across the country from New York City to Los Angeles devolves as bad decisions start stacking up. Clocking in at 68 minutes long, the low-budget film has a big legacy as a cult classic — and a bleaker-than-bleak view on the world. 

Playing at the Art House from Saturday, Aug. 8 to Thursday, Aug. 13.

Box office

“One Night Only” is a romantic comedy with a silly premise: remember the no-holds-barred pitch of “The Purge,” where all crime is legal for 12 hours? It’s that, but exclusively about premarital sex, in an imagined society where it’s legal for one night a year. It’s directed by Will Gluck (“Easy A,” “Friends with Benefits,” “Anyone But You”) and stars Monica Barbaro (you might remember her as Joan Baez in “A Complete Unknown”) and Callum Turner (most notable recent role: boyfriend to pop star Dua Lipa). 

Playing at Metro Cinemas, Regal Valley River Center and Cinemark Eugene Springfield.

The Japanese science fiction drama “Sheep in the Box” is the latest from director Hirokazu Kore-eda, who won the Palme d’Or with 2018 the family drama “Shoplifters.” “Sheep in in the Box” follows a grieving family who decides to bring an infant human-like robot into the home after the death of their son, making for a quiet, contemplative film. 

Playing at Metro Cinemas.

That’s what I have for you this week, Lookout readers! If my picks aren’t up to your liking, check out our events calendar for more things to do. As always, if there are any events I should include here, or any feedback for this weekly list, drop me a line at annie@lookoutlocal.com.