(THURSDAY) HERE'S WHY I DID NOT GO TO WORK TODAY

For those of you not in Portland, this post may be little more than a curiosity. You see, we have this thing here called "First Thursday." It's a pretty simple concept: on every first Thursday of every month, galleries around the city debut their new shows and they are all open for free to the public. This encourages the citizenry to get out and get about and look at art.

This month, we are blessed (or cursed) with a preponderance of comic book-related events for First Thursday. The ambitious amongst you can maybe hit all three of these things. If not, just thank the cosmos you live in a city where all this stuff is actually possible.

GRENDEL 30TH ANNIVERSARY BOOK RELEASE & EXHIBIT WITH MATT WAGNER

WHO: Matt Wagner
WHAT: Grendel Omnibus book release and art exhibit
WHEN: Thursday, August 2nd, 6-10pm; artwork on display until Aug. 31
WHERE: Floating World Comics, 400 NW Couch St.

JOELLE JONES & NAOMI NOWAK AT HELLION GALLERY

WHO: Joëlle Jones & Naomi Nowak
WHAT: Art Exhibit
WHEN: Thursday, August 2nd and through Aug. 31
WHERE: Hellion Gallery, 19 NW 5th Ave, Suite 204 (2nd floor at the end of the hall, entrance next to Upper Playground)

COMICS UNDERGROUND: BEN DEWEY, SUZETTE SMITH, SARA RYAN, MATT FRACTION

WHO: Ben Dewey, Suzette Smith, Sara Ryan, Matt Fraction
WHAT: Reading and Celebrating Comics
WHEN: Thursday, August 2nd, 8 pm; $3 at the door!
WHERE: Jack London Bar, 529 SW 4th Ave (downstairs at the Rialto)

Current Soundtrack: Nas, Life is Good