Plastics Unwrapped expands upon the prescient sentiment of Mr. McGuire in The Graduate: plastics. Unwrapped acknowledges that this prevalent and troublingly useful substance is thoroughly integrated into every aspect of our lives, and asks us—through works presented in a variety of mediums—to make thoughtful choices. $10.
Nichole Rathburn's hand drawn animations in 1000 Ports and Ron Lambert's overlapping urban grids in City Order and his fragmented landscapes in Land Slices.
Free.
Bearing Witness from Another Place marks the 25th anniversary of James Baldwin's death with an exhibit of Sedat Pakay's photographs of the social critic's self-imposed exile in Turkey.
$6.
Every Thursday, Chocolopolis hosts a chocolate happy hour with free samples from artisan bean-to-bar chocolatiers. ACK!!! CHOCOLATE!!! Free.
Behemoth SODO wine emporium Esquin offers free wine tastings every Thursday and Saturday, with themes like "92 Points and Above," "Viva Argentina," and "Under $10 Specials." Sometimes winemakers join in, and snacks are not unheard of. Check their website to find out which wines they're uncorking. Free.
Slosh down Post Alley for the Thursday Wine Hop, where $4 glasses of unspecified wine are served from 5 to 7 pm at Kells, Post, the Tasting Room, and the White Horse Trading Co.
West Seattle Cellars hosts an informal, regionally themed wine tasting in its little house on California Avenue every Thursday. When the tasting coincides with the West Seattle Art Walk (on the second Thursday of every month), it's partytime. Check their website to find out which wines they're uncorking. Free.
Every Thursday and Saturday, Vino Verite hosts a casual wine tasting that will not part you from any of your money. Free.
Every Thursday, FareStart hosts Guest Chef Night, featuring dinners from great Seattle chefs for just $24.95. The schedule is here—reserve in advance for your favorites, as these tend to sell out fast. All proceeds support FareStart, whose mission is to provide "a community that transforms lives by empowering homeless and disadvantaged men, women, and families to achieve self-sufficiency through life skills, job training and employment in the food service industry." FareStart is a fantastic thing, and you should go to this often. $24.95.
This monthly screening series seeks submissions of feminist and queer video from the Northwest. Contact Stranger Genius Wynne Greenwood for info. Free.
In 2010, Storefronts Seattle started matching empty commercial spaces in Belltown, Chinatown, and Pioneer Square with local artists. The project has since expanded to Bellevue, Auburn, and Mount Vernon. Storefronts Seattle starts off 2013 with new installations by Meghan Trainor, RSVR visual research, and Ryan Everson.
Free.
Opening ceremony for Elizabeth Connor's rain garden/water feature with plants, Painting and Sculpting the Land, and her rows of colored concrete contour lines that indicate the depth of the original reservoir, Drawing the Land. Free.
Geeks Who Drink is a company that hosts trivia quizzes at different bars every damn day of the week, here in Seattle and all over creation, usually free (except for bar owners, who pay a "reasonable" rate). Starred for geeks who drink who like pub trivia.
Literally millions of happy hours are taking place around Seattle RIGHT NOW. One is highly likely right under your all-too-sober nose: Find out where it is here (for iPhone users) or here (for Luddites). Food! Drinks! Cheapness! Yes! CHEAP!.
James Turrell’s “skyspace” Light Reign is the only thing that’s really on always-and-forever display at the Henry. It’s an outdoor room that lives like a barnacle on the side of the museum, with an opening in the ceiling so that you can sit and watch the sky go by. The experience is mind bogglingly more fascinating than you’d think, which is why Turrell has “skyspaces” all over the world. The Henry’s is furniturey, ringed with wooden bench seating. $10 suggested.