The Stranger

Tonight, Sportn’ Life Records celebrates a decade of existence, a decade of promoting, managing, and distributing South Seattle’s hiphop talent, a decade with more ups than downs. It currently houses the locally popular rappers Nissim (formerly D.Black), Fatal Lucciauno, Spac3man, and Larry Hawkins; launched the careers of Dyme Def and J.Pinder; and is closely tied with the big three beat-builders: Jake One, Vitamin D, and Bean One. The label not only has several classics in its catalog but has also maintained high production standards in all of its releases. Ten more years! (Barboza, 925 E Pike St, www.thebarboza.com, 8 pm, $10, 21+) by Charles Mudede

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This Thanksgiving, right after you finish gloating at Republican relatives, it’ll be time for a schmaltzy movie. But here’s a treat: Silver Linings Playbook is a brilliant schmaltzy movie. Bradley Cooper stars as a man with bipolar disorder who moves back in with his parents and tries to woo his ex-wife with the help of a young widow (Jennifer Lawrence, being incredible and making it look easy). Sure, it’s an emotionally manipulative romantic comedy. But the quality of the performances, the script, and David O. Russell’s direction make it an authentic emotionally manipulative romantic comedy. (See Movie Times: thestranger.com/film) by Paul Constant

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Etymologically speaking, “humor” comes from a Latin word for bodily fluids and “wit” comes from an Old High German word for intelligence. The Habit is a few funny dudes—the core group is around six—who write short, intertwined sketches with gross humor, witty wordplay, and slapstick. Their newest show, I’m told, will include lots of literal slapping, plus a new charity called Doctors Without Priorities, Hamlet performed in braille, and 27 other short and fast sketches. (Bathhouse Theater, 7312 W Green Lake Dr, www.thehabitcomedy.com, 8 pm, $17) by Brendan Kiley

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Are art objects products, events under way, or visions? Everything but an answer comes from the conceptually based artists toying with intangibility—with very different physical results—in Now Here Is Also Nowhere. John Divola set his camera on a timer in the middle of the desert, and then ran as far as he could get in 10 seconds, when the lens grabbed and froze him. Jill Magid is selling her cremains to be transformed into a diamond for a ring; the setting is on display with actual legal contracts. Stefan Brüggemann’s big neon piece just says “THIS WORK SHOULD BE TURNED OFF WHEN I DIE.” (Henry Art Gallery, 4100 15th Ave NE, www.henryart.org, 11 am–4 pm, $10 suggested) by Jen Graves

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You’re already in love with Georgetown Liquor Company for its hearty vegan sandwiches, but because the sandwiches are so good, so filling, it’s possible you’ve neglected the best thing on the menu, aka the crispy baked polenta appetizer. Four fat triangles of polenta, Gouda, and herbs are baked until the edges are golden and crispy while the center stays creamy and soft. It’s topped with a sweet, delicate bourbon-ginger-apple chutney and some balsamic reduction, making it the perfect fall food. Go eat some right now. (Georgetown Liquor Company, 5501B Airport Way S, www.georgetownliquorcompany.com, 11 am–2 am, $7.73) by Megan Seling

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If every generation gets the James Bond it deserves, we’re in the running for the greatest generation. Skyfall improves on the excellence of Daniel Craig’s Bond debut in Casino Royale—let’s all agree to ignore Quantum of Solace as an outlier—by making it personal. Bond is rattled by a brilliant madman (Javier Bardem, as unsettling in his own way here as he was in No Country for Old Men) who’s trying to bring 007’s spy agency crashing down. Casino Royale was Batman Begins for James Bond, and this is his The Dark Knight. (See Movie Times: thestranger.com/film) by Paul Constant

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