The Stranger

Japanese playwright Toshiki Okada is not terribly optimistic about his country. He named his theater company "chelfitsch," a baby-talk breakdown of the English world "selfish," which, he says, evokes "the social and cultural characteristics of today's Japan." His play Five Days is about what young couples were doing when the U.S. attacked Iraq in 2003—one pair stays in a love hotel for five days, leaving only to eat. As they speak, Okada's actors perform a kind of choreographed Saint Vitus' dance, a corporeal static that looks as glitchy as the lights in Shibuya. (On the Boards, 100 W Roy St, 217-9888. 8 pm, $12–$24. Runs Jan 28–Feb 1.) by Brendan Kiley

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Waltz with Bashir will change the way you think about animation. And memory. And movies. The Oscar nominee (and Golden Globe winner) for Best Foreign Language Film is an animated documentary. Filmmaker Ari Folman, a former Israeli soldier trying to excavate suppressed memories about his participation in the Lebanon war, interviewed fellow soldiers and friends—then illustrated their memories as stunning, angular dreams of snarling dogs, bodies wrapped up in shining bundles, silent swimming, and people being swallowed up by shadows. (See movie times, thestranger.com, for details.) by Lindy West

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Retrospectives are typically hushed and reverent affairs, but this one—The Hotness: A Sort of Retrospective—includes painter Joe Park's sketches, scribbled jokes, student IDs, lamps he thought would change the world, collected Art School Confidential comics, evaluations by his students ("irrelevant and boring"), a bucket of water representing a 1983 performance that went terribly wrong, a drawing of his grandmother's house in Korea, and oh, well, yeah—some paintings. (Cornish Main Gallery, 1000 Lenora St, first floor, 726-5142. Noon–5 pm, free.) by Jen Graves

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Seattle has its own Chia Pet: the ivy-covered Roanoke Tavern, with drinks served inside since 1935. In the winter, the potbellied stove keeps it toasty; in the summer, there's beer pong out back. Like the place itself, the burgers, grilled sandwiches, and nachos aren't fancy, just plain old good—and Wednesday is $1-taco night. (Roanoke Park Place Tavern, 2409 10th Ave E, 324-5882. 4 pm–2 am, 21+.) by Bethany Jean Clement

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If you've never stood in front of an Indian painting and held up a magnifying glass so that you can disappear into the world of bright and tiny details crawling all over its surface, then you do not know painting or pleasure. Garden and Cosmos: The Royal Paintings of Jodhpur is one of those once-in-a-lifetime exhibitions. Many of these paintings—cosmic, sexy, and eye-blowing—were just discovered a few years ago and go back to India after visiting only D.C., London, and here. (Seattle Asian Art Museum, Volunteer Park, 654-3100. 10 am–9 pm, $7 suggested.) by Jen Graves

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Kathleen Rooney is the author of Live Nude Girl, a meditation about working as a nude model. Kyle Minor has published a collection of short stories about hateful ex-Communist teachers and preachers bathing their moms. And Jonathan Evison is the Bainbridge-based author of All About Lulu, a novel about a runt from a family of bodybuilders. All three are young and talented, and Evison is famous for making a big deal of his readings, often providing an "Appalachian wedding buffet" (Little Smokies, Twinkies, and other processed delectables) for everyone in attendance. (University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400. 7 pm, free.) by Paul Constant

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