How to Talk to Your Cat About Gun Safety, The First Annual Cannabis Winter Ball, Queer Resurgence Poetry Slam, And More Events For Jan 17-22
by Stranger Things To Do Staff
To prevent some of the quirkier and more extraordinary events from slipping through the cracks this week, we've compiled them here—from the Queer Resurgence on Capitol Hill Poetry Slam and the Britain's Baking Challenge improv show to the The First Annual Cannabis Winter Ball and Dismal Fest.
TUESDAY
1. Early Music Underground: The Extraordinary Ignatius Sancho
The Early Music Underground House Band with acclaimed tenor Zach Finkelstein host a night of celebration for the life and legacy of 18th century composer, author, playwright, abolitionist, and businessman Ignatius Sancho. Admission includes a complimentary house beer or glass of wine.
2. Loggia Lectures with Rob Prufer: Eye Contact
This edition of the Loggia Lecture Series—inspired by the Italian loggia, an open space for discussion or contemplation—will explore "the disreputable demimonde of the Impressionists' Paris and Verdi's La Traviata" with art history teacher Rob Prufer. Your suggested donation will also allow you to explore BAM's galleries until 7 pm.
3. Make Signs & Support the Women's March on Seattle!
Gear up for the Womxn's March on Saturday by drinking beer at Optimism and decorating signs. A portion of the proceeds from the beer sales will go towards to the march itself.
4. Nerd Nite Seattle: Citizens in Science
Nerd Nite (known for bringing fun, geeky science and tech events into bars) will get serious before Inauguration Day, and offer participants the chance to learn how to get involved with STEM research and advocacy in a Trump administration.
5. Pizza Mermaid & Friends
Spend your Tuesday night with a bizarre cast of comedic characters including Pizza Mermaid ("a mermaid with pizza for a tail who looks eerily similar to Maggie McMuffin"), Sugarplum Gary (a.k.a. Emmett Montgomery), Scotch Ganach and Very Mary Leigh, Cassandra Moselle (with masks), and Richie Thai.
6. Seattle Opera Lecture Series
Seattle Opera, in a monthly series, will present an interactive multi-media experience designed to make you comprehend and appreciate the art of opera in new ways, with a premium placed on the cultural and historical contexts of opera, and the processing of current events through an operatic lens.
7. Shanthi Sekaran
In a review for Shanthi Sekaran's first novel, The Prayer Room, New York Times critic Anand Giridharadas wrote that she is "a master of cadence" and "Sekaran’s sentences may be loose gems, but she hasn’t strung them together to make jewelry." Find out if she has made jewelry with her latest, Lucky Boy, about motherhood, immigration, and American identity.
8. Teresa Nordheim
Local author Nordheim, director of research for Advanced Ghost Hunters of Seattle-Tacoma, will present Murder & Mayhem in Seattle, her book on the city's paroxysms of violence from Native-settler conflicts to the surge in serial killers.
9. Trivia Tuesday: '90s Disney Movies
Relive your childhood with '90s Disney movie trivia (and drink specials and prizes), covering all the hits including The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Mulan, Pocahontas, Hercules, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Tarzan, and Toy Story.
10. The Whole30 Cookbook Tour
Learn about Whole30—the new food craze that asks people to eliminate sugar, alcohol, grains, legumes, soy, and dairy from their diets for 30 days—from co-founder Melissa Hartwig. She'll also be available to sign your copy of The Whole30 Cookbook.
TUESDAY-SUNDAY
11. Maple and Vine
In this play, a stressed-out New York couple decides to toss out the trappings of their modern life in exchange for a gated community where everyone pretends to be living in the 1950s. Written by Jordan Harrison and directed by Sean Ryan.
There will not be a performance on Wednesday.
WEDNESDAY
12. Brainthaw
High Dive goes full black velvet with Brainthaw, their recurring (every third Wednesday) evening marketed as a "high-energy psychedelic happening of sound, visuals, and performance." This iteration will feature the efforts of Wall of Ears, Shit Ghost, Kevin Blaquies, Ryan Medlin, and additional guests.
13. C89.5 Purple Party
If you love dance music and the color purple as much as C89.5 does, join them for their first ever "purple party" in the PSC laser dome. With the debut of a new house music program, DJs Woolly and Harmony Soleil (and laser artist Scotty) will beam everybody up for the evening. All-purple outfits encouraged.
14. Jason Diamond
Jason Diamond will read from Searching for John Hughes: Or Everything I Thought I Needed to Know about Life I Learned from Watching '80s Movies, which is both a memoir about growing up with John Hughes movies and (an attempt at) a biography of Hughes himself.
15. Meet Up For a Cause: Filmmakers and Grassroots Groups
This event will bring together filmmakers and local grassroots organizations to inspire artistic, political, and community-driven collaboration. They'll start with a happy hour at 6 pm, then host a panel with Amy Benson, Eli Kimaro, Jill Friedberg and Molly Michal, and end with a series of pitches from organizations to interested filmmakers. Start your next project here.
16. Messages of Support Storytelling Showcase
Some storytelling events embrace an atmosphere of warmth and encouragement to make the performers feel at ease—this event, run by Danielle K.L. Gregoire, takes it one step further. Audience members will write "positive notes" to the storytellers, so each person who shares will take home a pile of supportive messages and a lasting reminder of their voice's impact. They add: "The intent is to center storytellers in underserved communities, youth, and people who might otherwise be afraid to get on the stage."
17. Molecular Manufacturing: Harnessing the Promise of Nanotechnology
So what's up with nanotech? Oh, not much, only "Star Trek-type replicators or the Borg ship-repair nanites in Star Trek Voyager. Ant-sized microbots building homes on Mars. Or nanorobots and nanoprobes providing targeted drug delivery, specialized surgery or even in-body sensors." Potentially. Let the MIT Enterprise Forum Northwest enlighten you further.
18. Photography Spotlight with Michelle Dunn Marsh
Michelle Dunn Marsh (executive director of Photographic Center Northwest) will lead a tour through Pivot's galleries, focusing on the photography displayed in A Closer Look and Implied Fictions.
19. Piano Starts Here: 100th Birthday Celebration for Tadd Dameron & Thelonius Monk
Piano Starts Here as a series showcases the work of musical icons who contributed to the knowledge and appreciation of the instrument. This iteration celebrates what would have been the 100th birthdays of Tadd Dameron and Thelonius Monk, both certainly iconic in their own right, and vast contributors to the American canon of jazz composition and performance.
20. Power and Privilege in the French Revolution
UW professor Raymond Jonas will speak on "Power and Privilege in the French Revolution" and explain how the 1789 revolution exploded the European power structure, with global implications.
21. Recharge & Ignite Dance Party!
Take a mid-week break from stress, and dance with abandon at this event that aims to "recharge and ignite your inner fire through embodiment and dance." Wear comfortable clothes you can move in, and bring a water bottle and an item for the community altar (you'll get it back at the end of the evening).
22. Roughwriters: The Truth of the Matter
Advanced theater students from Roosevelt High School will show off their hard work, performing two mysterious, new, original plays (Keys and Eastside Pool Club) with direction from the Seattle Children's Theatre.
23. SIFF First Draft: The Flid Show
The SIFF Catalyst program helps develop and recognize strong new work by local and independent filmmakers. See the results of the program at this live reading of The Flid Show, a screenplay about a "belligerent English nightclub singer, born with flipper-like arms," starring American Horror Story: Freak Show actor Mat Fraser.
THURSDAY
24. Aaron Carter with Guests
Experience the true glory of Trump-celebrating, candy-desiring national pop culture treasure Aaron Carter, with bill support from (of course) boy band cover band ALL4DORAS, Amanda Markley, Stay Tuned, and Joaquin Rosee.
25. Briefing on U District Rezone
Weigh in on the redistricting of the U District, which would be the first zoning change that would allow affordable housing to go up as part of the very important Mandatory Housing Affordability program. The council will vote on the U District rezone in late January, so if you want to make City Council hear your opinions on this issue, now is the time.
26. Campout Cinema: "Singles"
Ensconce yourself in a sleeping bag to watch Cameron Crowe's 1992 ode to Seattle grunge (featuring Eddie Vedder, Alice in Chains, and others), and double it up with free entry to the exhibit Nirvana: Taking Punk to the Masses.
27. Cannabis and DUIs
One of the trickiest parts of legalizing weed in Washington State was settling on what constituted a DUI—before, impaired was impaired, but now there's a gray area, and a certain amount of active THC is actually allowed in the blood. However, we've heard that this threshold is startlingly low—so low that medical marijuana groups protested the legalization of weed in the state, because they argued the stringent DUI laws would put their lives in danger. William Kirk and Christopher Kattenhorn (from DUI defense attorney firm Cowan Kirk Kattenhorn) will speak about DUI laws, the result of a DUI charge, the DUI investigation process, current statistic, and more, so you can drive with confidence.
28. Cocktail Theatre: Guilty Pleasures Style
Everything from the great literary classics of the world to pulp fiction will be cheerfully mangled into camp theater at this one-night-only event featuring "grown-up goodies galore," including “adult goodie bags” provided by Babeland.
29. Cocktails & Karaoke
Support the Seattle Asian American Film Festival (February 23-26) with booze and loud singing. See previews of the films, buy festival gear, enter a raffle, and watch Polynesian dance by troupe Huraiti Mana, headed by dancer Kalei'okalani Onzuka.
30. Comic Roulette 2.0
Force your whims on hapless comics by suggesting conditions for their act. It's kind of like Lars von Trier's The Five Obstructions, but sillier. They say, "Want someone to do their set in a British accent? Submit it! Want them to do their entire set blindfolded? Submit it!" Hosted by Keith Cameron.
31. Critical Issues in Contemporary Art Practice: Susan Mogul
Internationally recognized artist Susan Mogul (known for her video art, photography, installations, and performance art) will speak at the Henry as part of their Critical Issues in Contemporary Art Practice series, which aims to "share ideas and raise questions on contemporary art and its place in society and our imaginations."
32. David B. Williams
Geologist Williams will speak about his upcoming book Seattle Walks: Discovering History and Nature in the City and Waterway: The Story of Seattle’s Locks and Ship Canal, with a focus on research in local archives.
33. Debauchery
Debauchery is all about queers stripping for queers, but open to interpretation. Support sweaty, anti-oppression spaces and raise money for organizations that serve the queer community by showing up and getting ready to whip out your singles.
34. Dismal Fest
Wallow in the mid-winter mire at Dismal Fest, a night of sludgy metal, dark electronica, and experimental noise music from Eye of Nix, Microscopic Suffering, Prisonfood, Glacial, Condo Horro, and noisepoetnobody+Sisiutl.
35. Drag For Life
Start the new year off right by raising funds and gathering food donations for Lifelong AIDS Alliance. Members of our LGBTQIA community have gathered to organize a food drive for Lifelong's benefit hosted by Vivien Gabor, and a gaggle of drag queens to entertain you for the evening, including the talents of Syra St. James, Anastasia Romanov, and Melissa Fint.
36. An Evening With Holly Bowling
Classically trained pianist Holly Bowling wants to bring the music of Phish and the Grateful Dead to the world, with a singular devotion to transcribing their work and arranging each song for solo piano. Her work stands as a tribute to the ultimate jam bands, as well as a series of fully developed classical pieces on their own.
37. The Ghostlight Project
The Ghostlight Project is a national effort to symbolically transform local theaters into beacons—beacons of hope and resistance, to "stand for and protect the values of inclusion, participation, and compassion for everyone regardless of race, class, religion, country of origin, immigration status, (dis)ability, gender identity, or sexual orientation." Bring a light (not fire, but phone flashlights work) to shine. There will be gatherings at Jones Playhouse and ACT Theatre (at 5:30 pm) and the Seattle Rep (at 6:45 pm).
38. J19 Guerrilla Art School: Night of Resistance
People of all ages and skill levels are invited to this first-ever event focusing on "artful resistance." There will be sign-making for the Womxn's March Seattle, button making, legal advice, music, discussions, and more.
39. The Laugh's On U: Bob Roseth Discusses His Satiric Novel on Life in Academe
Former UW News & Information director Bob Roseth and author of the (unpublished) satiric thriller about universities Ivy is a Weed will discuss academic satire and the "politics, pettiness, and idealism" he's seen in the field in this conversation with Folio president David Brewster.
40. Mr. Gaga
Learn about Ohad Naharin, the choreographer of Last Work (who is also the artistic director of renowned Tel Aviv dance company Batsheva) in this documentary biography film.
41. The Pajama Game Spotlight Night
Get a preview of upcoming musical The Pajama Game with scenes from the play and talks on its context, history, and the 5th Avenue Theatre's current production.
42. Seattle Phonographers Union with Guests
Seattle Phonographers Union, an artist collective that improvises music with found sounds and unprocessed field recordings, will gather to perform a rare ambient set, designed so that union members will be dispersed around the chapel playing via different individual sound systems, along with backing from various local instrumentalists.
43. What a Joke
To mark Inauguration Day, venues around the country will be hosting iterations of What a Joke: a comedy festival benefiting the ACLU. Local stars include Love Snack, Feelings, Elicia Sanchez, Wilfred Padua, and Nick Sahoyah—in addition to the comedy, you can look forward to inauguration-themed drink specials, raffles, and the warm fuzzy feeling you get knowing your bucks will go towards the ACLU.
THURSDAY-FRIDAY
44. Britain's Baking Challenge
During this improvised comedy show, the actors (portraying reality show contestants on the very popular Great British Baking Show) will bake real confections live on stage, which will then be evaluated by the "judges."
THURSDAY-SATURDAY
45. '90s Burlesque Dance Party
The dream of the '90s is alive in Seattle—celebrate with IvaFiero's combination burlesque show and dance party, where they'll blast your favorite radio dance hits from that glorious decade. Headlined by Sweetpea from Minneapolis, and featuring (among many other performers) Red Bone from San Francisco.
46. John Caparulo
The host of the Domestic Disputes podcast and actor on Chelsea Lately will show his comedic range.
47. The Unhappy Hour
Mister Bob (a.k.a. Robert Lopez) will perform an evening of American Standards "in a black suit with humor even blacker." Expect innovative takes on recognizable songs "with an occasional mood swing monologue" at The Unhappy Hour.
THURSDAY-SUNDAY
48. Royal Jelly
Royal Jelly will feature artwork by A.O. Hamer and guest artists on the subject of "vibrant urban environments - with art celebrating feminine power and a benefit for bees." At the show, you can donate to Puget Sound Beekeepers Association and Hood Honey Harvesters.
FRIDAY
49. Anti-Inauguration Open Studios and Celebration
Project-106 Artist Studios and METHOD Gallery will host this day of open studios, to celebrate art and community while resisting Trump's inauguration. They add: "We all feel that this is a time in our history desperate for community and inclusion instead of isolation!"
50. BAR QUEEN
"Bar queens," typically a lazy insult in drag culture, refers to queens who are low-rent enough that they only score gigs on bar tops or in deep, dark, divey corners of the local haunts. In this case, it's a celebration of sweet Seattle favorite Amoania's birthday, with performances by her and sisters Butylene O'Kipple and Cookie Couture, backed by the evening's DJs BareBacchus and Das Ding.
51. Chris Friel Orchestra: Rolling Stones Extravaganza
Rock and roll drummer Chris Friel takes on the prolific discography of the Rolling Stones with his backing orchestra.
52. Conversations for Health Equity
Learn about how health equity fits into the fight for social justice at this day-long workshop presented by the UW School of Nursing and UW Medicine Center for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. There will be presentations by Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic medical director Dr. Ben Danielson and ambitious and lovable State Supreme Court Justice Mary Yu—plus community discussions and self-care activities including guided meditation and stress-reduction projects.
53. Cuddle Up With Keke!
Join Keke, the self-proclaimed "Crown Prince of Burlesque" and his harem of talented "Angels" for a probably-nude dance spectacular hosted by the also self-proclaimed "Fabulous Queen of Flashdance," Tami Miami in the soft dark of the Jewel Box Theater.
54. Drake vs. Kanye Tribute Party
No remixes, mash-ups, or biters here, this tribute night is all about pitting together the original hits from two of hiphop's greats, Drake and Kanye.
55. The Fighter & The Kid
See a live version of this comedy podcast about martial arts, hosted by former UFC heavyweight Brendan "Big Brown" Schaub and Bryan "the Kid" Callen.
56. Glamorama, The Shanghai Pearl, The Fabulous Downey Brothers
Inauguration Day is almost here, and we're desperately thinking of ways to distract ourselves from it. In a glitter-cannon blast of escapism, Glamorama will land for a night of high-energy glam rock and burlesque from The Shanghai Pearl, with an opening set from The Fabulous Downey Brothers, known for their nonsensical costumes and laser effects.
57. Handmade Gnocchi Cooking Class
Michela Tartaglia will give you some experience in making the glorious but tricky starch-bundles from scratch and enrobing them in four cheeses ("Parmigiano Reggiano, Fontina, Gorgonzola and Swiss Cheese"). After the class, devour your handiwork in Pike Place Market.
58. Happy Hour with Keira McDonald and Erin Stewart
Friday nights from mid-January to late February, enjoy "an hour full of straight up comedy cocktails, musical parody appetizers, and a bowl full of mixed character nuts" created and performed by Keira McDonald and Erin Stewart.
59. Inauguration Day With Interesting People
On the evening that Trump will be officially inaugurated, take your mind off the (too-real) issues by watching this production of The Taming by Lauren Gunderson, directed by Erin Murray. It sounds a bit like a political version of Miss Congeniality, though that's probably only because it's about Miss Georgia "taking on the American political system" the night before the Miss America Pageant.
60. Inauguration Night: Reflect, Be Heard, Take Action
The Evergrey (a new, community-driven daily email newsletter created by Seattle journalists Mónica Guzmán and Anika Anand) will host this Inauguration Day event to chat and reflect on the fact that "a new U.S. president will take the oath of office whom 92 percent of Seattle did not vote for." Make connections and steel yourself for four years of hard work, but don't get too gloomy—this event is also your last chance to try Molly Moon's "Baracky Road" ice cream, so the evening will at least be bittersweet.
61. KEXP Bed-In for Peace
KEXP will mark Inauguration Day with a bed-in inspired by John Lennon and Yoko Ono's famous supine protest of the Vietnam War. They will invite celebrated local artists like DoNormaal and wimps to inspire you with live music MC'ed by DJ Riz, plus a sing-along with our own Sean Nelson of "Give Peace a Chance." You can also meet with local representatives of Planned Parenthood, the Vera Project, ACLU of Washington, TeenTix, Gender Justice League, and Office of Arts and Culture.
62. MarchFourth
Big band explosion MarchFourth consists of a brassy foundation of saxophones, trombones, trumpets, a drum and percussion corps, and a wireless electric bass. Their live musical theatrics are physically matched by an assemblage of stilt-walkers, acrobats, fire-spinners, and dancers performing original routines inspired by Bollywood, burlesque, cheerleading, hiphop, jazz, and ballroom dance traditions.
63. Race for our Rights 5K
This privately organized 5k fun run/walk was set up immediately after Trump's election in order to reiterate the (physical, social, and political) power of women and to communicate their impassioned response to their new President-to-be. All proceeds will go to Planned Parenthood.
64. Zachary Auburn
The Portland Mercury's Suzette Smith writes, "Over the years, Zach Auburn self-published under many assumed names—’90s preteen Joshua Chapman for his series Field Guide to the Aliens of Star Trek: The Next Generation, just “Anonymous” for his Choose Your Own Adventure-style novella Love Is Not Constantly Wondering If You Are Making the Biggest Mistake of Your Life—but the moment you talked to him (he was a regular fixture at Portland’s small press/zine events) there was little mystery as to the identity of the author of so many varied, funny, and endearing projects. When the $2 zine How to Talk to Your Cat About Gun Safety, purportedly distributed by the American Association of Patriots (AAP), began shooting off the shelves of stores that carried it, Auburn surprised everyone by finally using his own name—albeit still affecting a kind of character pseudonym as president of the AAP." At Elliott Bay, Auburn will speak about How to Talk to Your Cat About Gun Safety: And Abstinence, Drugs, Satanism, and Other Dangers That Threaten Their Nine Lives.
FRIDAY-SATURDAY
65. The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence
The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence is a strange, time-hopping, interwoven story about men and machines named Watson, written by Madeleine George. This production is the Pacific Northwest premiere of the play (which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2014) and will be directed by Steven Sterne.
66. Robert Waggoner: Lucid Dreaming Class and Workshop
Better acquaint yourself with your subconscious via lucid dreaming (not to be confused with lucid screaming, which we do during the daytime). Learn how to control your dreaming self and environment in order to reach "profound states of healing, insight and personal transformation for those who learn the proper techniques and approach," as practitioner and author Robert Waggoner (Lucid Dreaming: Gateway to the Inner Self) promises. Hear the history of lucid dreaming on Friday, and/or take part in a workshop on Saturday.
67. Umbrella
Silver Kite Community Arts presents this intergenerational theater production/rumination on Seattle's most controversial weather-protection tool, the umbrella. In the performance, they'll explore "shelter, protection from rain, places to hide, and openings and closings."
FRIDAY-SUNDAY
68. Cry & Roar 7: Celebrating Seven Years of Racer Sessions
The Racer Sessions turn seven this month, so Cafe Racer and Table & Chairs are co-hosting a three-day festival in celebration of the diversity of artists who have performed together within the Sessions, featuring dance, live illustration, accelerometers, and a wide range of music.
69. Smash Putt
Smash Putt is back and better than ever, with a new location downtown and all the drunken mini-golf with strange and mysterious obstacles you could hope for, including robots, lasers, and other hopeful putters vying for more booze.
SATURDAY
70. The 50th Annual Lunar New Year Gala
UW's Chinese Student Association will host this festive gala to celebrate the Lunar New Year, with performances including a variety of dance (from traditional Chinese dance to hiphop), Chinese yo-yo, martial arts, and Chinese flute—plus a photobooth, crafts table, and chances to win prizes.
71. Archaeology Day
See ancient artifacts and learn how humans lived thousands of years ago through Burke's archaeological expertise at this annual family-friendly event.
72. Art Night: Mystery School/The Art of Jon Strongbow
Enter the world of "Neo-Tribal" surrealist Jon Strongbow through an installation mounted by Studio Paradiso as part of its quarterly fundraising party. Not only will you be immersed in his imaginative cityscapes; you'll also have a chance to make art yourself, with the aid of costumed models. Stay on for music, live sketching, raffles, and performances.
73. Benefit Breakfast
Before heading to Judkins Park for the Seattle Womxn's March on Saturday, stop by Super Six for breakfast. They will be donating all sales to Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest, and will be offering food and drink specials as well as some pre-march community bonding. Limited quantities of sign-making supplies will be available.
74. Bird Focus Guided Walk: Woodpeckers
Tock, tock, tock! Look for and learn about woodpeckers in the woods. You may see species like Downy, Northern Flicker, and Pileated knocky birds. They provide binoculars.
75. Brewmaster's Dinner
This extravagant dinner will pair Fremont beers (such as their refreshing new Lush IPA, Salted Gose, or B-Bomb) with 5 courses of dishes including "Wandering Wheat and grapefruit-cured Arctic char," seared monkfish, coriander-rubbed pork belly, and coffee-crusted filet mignon.
76. Bushwick Book Club
The Bushwick Book Club writes original songs based on their reading selections. This night is centered on books about water by local authors: Daniel James Brown (The Boys in the Boat); Jennie Shortridge (Love Water Memory); and Jim Lynch (Before the Wind). Meet the three authors, get your books signed, and enjoy music by Wes Weddell, Ben Mish, Julia Massey, Joy Mills, Kimo Muraki, Emily Westman, Annie Jantzer, Amanda Winterhalter, and Reggie Garrett.
77. Escape To The Underground: A Night of Neon
Join the Underground for an evening dedicated to all things neon, with sets by Soaked Up, Chvsm, Anthony Bullis, and Doozy, with light effects provided by Brellin Supply CO. and Flow Arts Lounge. UV clothing is encouraged, as are gloves, poi, hoops, and any LED toy you can think of.
78. The First Annual Cannabis Winter Ball
Celebrate the very first annual Cannabis Winter Ball with live music and performances by The Polyrythmics, Pezzner, Kadeejah Streets, and DJ Care, with "Hoop Duality Aerial Performance" by Jody Poth and Kierra Lein, and visuals by Audrey Lane. The evening is sponsored by “The Truth” and their artisanal cannabis line.
79. Funbucket
You know the improvisors have thought their plan through when they invite audience members to put any item of their choice in the mysterious Funbucket...except liquids or anything that comes from a body. Bring weird stuff and watch them make it weirder. Presented as part of Seattle Improv Month.
80. GlamCocks Present FOMOHOMO: Demolition Disco
This interdisciplinary dance party celebration of the power of disco features special performances, art, and music from Russell E. L. Butler, Carlos Ruiz, and Lucky Shindig within the zone of glitter-spangled empowerment. As the organizers say, "Let us use the Power of Disco to destroy those who want to tear us down."
81. Inherit the Wind
See a new and timely production of the play about the 1925 Scopes trial, Inherit the Wind, written by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee in the 1950s in defense of "the right to think." The Scopes case, in which a schoolteacher accused of violating the Butler Act by teaching evolution, revealed the fault lines of religious fundamentalism and modernism in Tennessee; the ban on teaching evolution was only repealed in 1967.
82. La Famille Léger
La Famille Léger will put on a night of "old kitchen party music" and Eastern Canadian ballads, enhanced with crankies—story scrolls using puppets and paper cutouts. Hear fun tunes with charming old-school visuals.
83. Lava-A-GoGo
Witness all kinds of bump & grind with The Lava-A-GoGo gogo dancers, featuring the tasseled talents of Missy Kitty Baby, Boom Boom L'Roux, and Lu Lu Bell, all set to some old school shimmy-shakers spun on 45s by DJ Stevie Dee.
84. Lunar New Year Banquet 2017
Celebrate the Year of the Rooster with the Asian American Journalists Association. There's a silent auction, a performance line-up, and a menu including broccoli beef, prawns, and fried rice.
85. New Year Student Show
Watch people fly through the air with apparent ease—the students of Emerald City Trapeze Arts will perform trapeze, aerial, and circus stunts at this free show.
86. Not Too Late with Elicia Sanchez
Local favorite Elicia Sanchez will host Episode 22 of her not-too-late night comedy, variety, and talk show. Look forward to music, comedy, "stunts," special guests, and "co-host/band leader, comedian/non-musician Nick Sahoyah."
87. Optimism Turns One!
It's weird that Optimism Brewing has only been around for a single year, because already they've made their mark—for their inclusive bathrooms, their thoroughly dog- and kid-friendly policies, and their expansive space that serves as a meeting area for a wide range of groups (including the upcoming ConsentFest 2017). Celebrate a whole year of Optimism at this event that will offer brewery tours, a free glass for the first 100+ guests, and bites from the Wood Shop BBQ food truck. A portion of proceeds will go towards The Seattle Times's Fund for the Needy.
88. Pozole-Making Class
Yum, pozole! Learn how to make this Mesoamerican celebratory stew out of classic ingredients like chile, maize, and meat. You will acquire an exciting culinary skill, and your dollars will benefit El Centro's Senior Nutrition & Wellness Program.
89. Pussy Grabs Back 5k
Need to relieve your stress from Inauguration Day? Run in this 5K to "practice the stamina you’ll need to evade any area pussy-grabbers" and take comfort in the fact that all proceeds will go to Planned Parenthood (in the form of a donation made in Mike Pence's name). The first men and women to finish will win prizes from Babeland and Central Cinema and everyone will get a "delicious buttery dessert courtesy of area amateurs."
90. Roast Beef
Find out who can roast the most in this head-to-head comedy tournament, featuring Genevieve Ferrari vs. Matthew Valdespino, Anica Cihla vs. Caroline Smith,
and Joshua Chambers vs. Eden Nault. Hosted by Erin Ingle and featuring special guest Yogi Paliwal.
91. School of Rock Issaquah: '80s Metal
Watch the tiny musical treasures of the future play the industry relics of the past, with School of Rock Issaquah's tribute to '80s metal (hair and otherwise).
92. School of Rock West Seattle: Best of the Northwest
Watch the tiny musical treasures of the future play the industry relics of the past, with School of Rock West Seattle's tribute to the best and most well-known bands of the Northwest.
93. Seattle Interprets Jobim
Seattle musicians will perform a tribute to Brazilian composer and pianist Tom Jobim in celebration of his life's work on what would have been his 90th birthday. Artists for the evening include the Jovino Santos Neto Quarteto, Gail Pettis, EntreMundos Quarteto, Jacqueline Tabor, Brian Monroney, Kate Voss, and many more.
94. Seattle Rock Lottery
The Seattle Rock Lottery exists as follows: Twenty-five curated musicians meet at 10am at the Croc, and are immediately organized into five groups through a lottery-based chance selection (think more summer camp, less Shirley Jackson). The five separate groups are released into the world to practice at different locations, and have twelve hours to create a band name and three to five original songs (with single exceptions for cover songs). The groups will then return to the Croc to perform what they have created at 10pm that evening in front of a live audience. Feel free to get judgmental.
95. Sound Bath Experience with Daniella White, Daniel Blue, and Luk Will
Don't miss out on live music just because you can't stand the (sometimes) hectic energy of concerts in Seattle. This Sound Bath gives you the opportunity to lie on the floor and drink tea while taking in an improvised performance--instead of jumping around, or even quietly nodding your head and "dancing." Look forward to relaxation and healing at this phone and camera-free event with sound bath facilitator Daniella White, Daniel Blue of local band Motopony, and singer-songwriter Luk Will, and remember to bring your own yoga mat.
96. Workshop: Can't We All Get Along?
Seattle Experimental Theater will present this workshop with improviser, teacher, and director Tony Beeman, aimed at advanced and intermediate improvisors who (in their scenes) want to "find tension without reaching for external conflict."
SUNDAY
97. Glitterbeast: To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything! Julie Newmar
Revisit the underground classic To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything! Julie Newmar through the critical lens of drag, with the Haus of Glitterbeast hosting a viewing of the film along with commentary and stage work by Shelita Potroast, Klaudya Markos, and Urina L'Dor. Tickets are $10 at the door, with prizes for anyone who wears a "Say Something Hat."
98. Improvathon
This improv event starts in the early afternoon—but who knows how long it will go, because their goal is pack as many comedians as possible into one room, and challenge them to improvise for as long as possible. They'll have pizza and drinks to keep morale high; come by anytime after 2 pm to check it out.
99. It Came Up Heads
Written by Caitlin McCown and directed by Kevin Harland, It Came Up Heads is a play about "Being and Not, who decide to combat the boredom of eternal life by dividing up the everything in the universe," and is based on a 1977 poem by Clint McCown. Get a sneak peek of the play at this free staged reading.
100. Listen In | Stand Up
This three-part workshop will encourage active listening and deep reflection. Stephanie Gailing will lead the first section, focusing on the astrological climate, then Josephine Edmondson will offer her perspective rooted in deep meditation and breathwork. Finally, Lauren Gallow will guide a writing activity to "give conscious voice to your experience."
101. National Geographic Live: Point of No Return
Join the National Geographic team in their trek across Burma’s highest peak, Hkakabo Razi, captured on film by photographer Cory Richards’s dramatic stills and in Renan Ozturk’s documentary, Down to Nothing, the expedition film about the search for Hkakabo Razi. These performances will be scored by the Seattle Symphony.
102. NFFTY Annual Fundraiser
Meet the new moviemakers showcased at the National Film Festival for Talented Youth ("the world's largest film festival for emerging directors") at this fundraiser party, which will include film screenings from the festival's 2016 edition, as well as a live auction. Music by DJ WD4D.
103. Pantsuit 5k Run/Walk
This post-inauguration 5K has a purpose: "the unification of the Pantsuit community." Everyone (seriously, everyone—also dogs) is invited to don some very professional outfits and get moving.
104. Paula Becker
Hear about Paula Becker's new book, Looking for Betty MacDonald: The Egg, the Plague, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, and I, which explores the life of the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle author through her Seattle homes.
105. Queer Resurgence on Capitol Hill
Starting today, Seattle Poetry Slam is organizing three days of queer poetry-related activities for the LGBTQ community of Capitol Hill. The organizers write that, "With the recent changes in the city, we are committed to reclaiming the neighborhood that was once Queer and bringing art back into Capitol Hill." In addition to the poetry slam (featuring 32 queer poets competing in bouts over three days for the $1,000 grand prize), there will also be workshops, panels, performances, and open mics led by artists from the LGBTQ community—today, check out Decolonize Your Sex Life and The Language of Tarot and Poetry at Gay City, and Qomedy: Comedy Open Mic & Showcase at Wildrose.