The Stranger

Good god! There has not been cinema like this since Esther Williams made her iconic appearance in Bathing Beauty with an extended sequence of her behaving like a porpoise. This movie will be better because this movie involves actual synchronized swimming, not the water ballet of old. With a plot that follows several sapphically oriented girls on the same synchro team, it also involves the French! It is a French film. Please, please let this be the beginning of a beautiful new synchronized-swimming cinema. (See movie times, www.thestranger.com, for details.) by Jen Graves

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This year's Block Party is—and I say this not because The Stranger is sponsoring it, but because it's true—the best Block Party ever. They heard your cries for more Girl Talk! They brought in notoriously entertaining live acts like the Hold Steady, Les Savy Fav, and Jay Reatard! And they made it even bigger by adding the King Cobra stage! Check out the sexy, sweaty pullout in this week's issue for the complete schedule and write-ups on every single band—and remember to chase your beer with water. It's not fun to party with heatstroke. (Pike St and 11th Ave, www.thestranger.com/blockparty. 1 pm–3 am, $18, some stages all ages/some stages 21+.) by Megan Seling

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At the betting table, in the game of who will be the biggest hiphop crew to come out of Seattle in this decade (which has only 17 months left), all of my chips are still on Dyme Def. The local group produces a hiphop sound that's ambitious and manages to be commercial without losing an ounce of art or innovation. In 2009, the crew will only get bigger and deffer. Dyme Def will perform at Nectar's Midsummer Backyard Barbecue Jam, with Pink Skull, South Rakkas Crew, and Mad Rad. (Nectar, 412 N 36th St, 632-2020. 2–10 pm, $5, 21+.) by Charles Mudede

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The Dark Knight is not "the best movie ever," as many internet nerds have proclaimed. Nor is it even the best movie of the year. But it is a truly great movie, packed with excellent performances (Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart) and thrilling, non-CGI special effects. Plus, Batman! And 30 minutes of the thing were filmed with an IMAX-exclusive camera, which means that if you watch it on an IMAX screen (highly recommended) you're in for some vertiginous eyegasms. (Pacific Science Center, 200 Second Ave N, 443-2001. 7 pm, $10.75.) by Paul Constant

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Two dogs, lovingly drawn by Michael Waugh, rest in the grass. But their lines are not lines; they're words written in cursive, taken from inauguration speeches, commission reports, and speeches to Congress. One dog is quietly missing a paw. Things are not right with the world of these speeches. Also in the group show: a big, bright word ("HALFULL") by Kay Rosen; Annie Bradley's audio-video animation Sodding G. Monoliths, inspired by spammer names; and a giant wall drawing by Ewoud van Rijn's that gives reality a talking-to. (OKOK Gallery, 5107 Ballard Ave NW, 789-6242. Noon–6 pm, free.) by Jen Graves

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Some dis Blanche, some dis Stanley, and everyone agrees that the sound design is a hate crime. Despite all its flaws, Intiman's Streetcar is the rare revival worth getting yourself to the theater for. Tennessee Williams's poetic potboiler is brought to gripping new life by an inventive cast (best in show: Chelsey Rives, whose Stella is a revelation) but the true star, as always, is Tennessee Williams. (Intiman Theater, 201 Mercer Street, 269-1900. 7:30 pm, $42–$47. Through Aug 2.) by David Schmader

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