FAN EXPO Portland, Bright Eyes, and More by EverOut Staff It's a new year, and with it comes a fresh slate of events you can pencil into your brand-new calendar or planner. We’ve rounded up our top picks of things to do this month so you can get started on making core 2025 memories and diving into new experiences in no time. There's an array of concerts, major author appearances, festivals, food & drink events, and tons more to peruse below, from Bright Eyes to American Strings: An Evening with Black Belt Eagle Scout and from FAN EXPO Portland to Portland Mercury's 2025 Wiener Week. COMEDY Life Be Lifin' Starring Monét X Change"Guess who's Black in the house, bitch! Yas!" Fishy spitfire, RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars season four winner, and Sibling Rivalry podcast host Monét X Change will head to Portland for an evening of stand-up comedy eleganza. You probably already know Monét for her congeniality and lip-syncing skills, but it should come as no surprise that she can also bring sociopolitical hilarity—she slaughtered as Maya Angelou in RPDR season 10's snatch game. (In the words of Monét as Maya, "If these hoes try to come for me, I surely will cut thee.") LINDSAY COSTELLO Aladdin Theater, Brooklyn (Sat Jan 11)