The Stranger

This "revolutionary farce" is about bad guys chasing a playwright through the streets and occasionally kicking him in the gut. The setting is moody, prerevolutionary Paris, which is being paid a diplomatic visit by a paunchy, midrevolutionary Ben Franklin. From time to time, a troupe of satirical players ascends a little stage to recite rhyming couplets that—in the spirit of the libelles that fed the French Revolution—skewer the characters with their own vices. It's vicious fun. (Macha Monkey at Freehold's East Hall Theatre, 1525 10th Ave, brownpapertickets.com. 8 pm, $12–$15.) by Annie Wagner

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This year has been good to Seattle's Minus the Bear. Since Planet of Ice was released in August, the band has played over 50 shows in as many cities and was tagged "buzzworthy" by MTV. For once, MTV got it right. MtB's new album is an exquisite composition with technical, intricate guitar parts and vivid dynamics that ebb and flow between melodic indie sounds and droning stoner rock. See them while you can—they're disappearing to Europe for the remainder of the year. (Showbox at the Market, 1426 First Ave, 628-3151. 8 pm, $16 adv/$18 DOS, all ages.) by Megan Seling

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Alfred Hitchcock's claustrophobic, voyeuristic classic—most recently pinched for the Shia LaBeouf screamer Disturbia—comes to the adorable Central Cinema, where films are projected off DVD (boo, say the cine-snoots) and food, beer, and wine are brought to your table (hurrah, say the lazy gluttons). (Central Cinema, 1411 21st Ave, 686-6684. 7 and 9:45 pm, $5, late show 21+.) by David Schmader

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Fact #1: Indian food is the best thing to happen to vegetarianism since Morrissey. Fact #2: Mirch Masala makes the best Indian food that has ever been served on Capitol Hill. In the Broadway space that once housed Macheezmo Mouse and 17 subsequent joints, Mirch Masala dishes out Indian delights that are exquisite but not expensive. Entrées are kept hot in steel pots suspended over individual flames, and the fresh, flaky saag is a thing of wonder. (213 Broadway E, 709-0111. 11 am–10 pm.) by David Schmader

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Celebration, a trio from Baltimore, marries sultry and spacey vocals to subdued rhythms, flowering guitars, and bright organ melodies. Their songs range from wide-eyed paeans like "Evergreen" to the more carnal rites of "Pony." Kill Me Tomorrow is the opposite—a trio whose brooding, paranoid art rock is street-dirty and racked by guitar twitches, broken drums, and menacing bass. With Seattle's Dead Science. (Crocodile Cafe, 2200 Second Ave, 441-5611. 9 pm, $8, 21+.) by Eric Grandy

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For the last two and a half years, Kyle MacDonald has been conducting a massive experiment in the relative value of objects and experiences. On July 12, 2005, he went on Craigslist and offered to trade a red paper clip. Almost a year later, he ended up with a house at 503 Main Street in Kipling, Saskatchewan. He's in Seattle to sign his book and tell his story, which includes a Ski-Doo, a ceramic doorknob, a man who traded a role in a movie for a snow globe, and an afternoon with Alice Cooper. (Form/Space Atelier, 2407 First Ave, 208-9843. 7 pm, free.) by Jen Graves

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