• Best Dancer Ever™ Mikhail Baryshnikov was a surprise performer at On the Boards with Mark Morris Dance Group last weekend—he was in the funny folkish piece after intermission. Now in his mid-60s, he didn't bust a lot of moves (and the choreography had some oddly sexy stuff with dancers one-third his age), but just watching his feet was sheer pleasure. Sources say he was a charmer both at dinner at a Capitol Hill mansion and knocking 'em back at the Sitting Room, and apparently his Russian accent remains almost impenetrably heavy, though he's been a US citizen since 1986. He also was spotted carbo-loading at Il Corvo (good choice).

• The staff of On the Boards gave Mark Morris a special gift while he was here: a throw pillow cross-stitched with the word "cunty," in reference to a thing he said in a Stranger interview: "I may sound cunty, but I'm doing it fondly."

• In the 21st century, public relations professionals wrangle daily with "new media"—Twitter, Yelp, the various social networks. Which makes it extra odd that a local PR wrangler lost her job after calling in sick, and then posting date-stamped pics of herself riding horses on Facebook.

• In the online magazine the Bold Italic recently, artist/Stranger photographer Kelly O gave a good reminder: Go see the paintings on the Tubs building in the U-District and No Touching Ground's John T. Williams mural on 11th and Pine before both spots are demolished.

• On Sunday, October 7, Paul Rucker, the cellist/installation artist who last week won the Artist Trust Conductive Garboil Grant ($3,000), sent an e-mail to friends and fans that read: "I pledge to donate $1000 to the first Presidential candidate (Romney or Obama) to mention the word 'poverty' and give one directive or action to address poverty in a televised speech, debate, or public forum." It's a nice thought, but President Obama mentioned poverty twice in his acceptance speech to the Democratic National Convention, and both candidates addressed the Circle of Protection forum in September to discuss the topic. We'll look the other way if you just donate the money to Obama, Paul.

• Active local artist Sharon Arnold founded LxWxH as a box that gets mailed to you every two months containing original local art and writing. Now it will also be a box of art you can visit—a brick-and-mortar gallery above Via Tribunali in Georgetown, opening during art walk December 8.

• At his midnight book signing event at Elliott Bay Book Company last week, we asked Sherman Alexie what his favorite Sherman Alexie book was. Without much consideration, he replied, "I'd say Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven." He then lamented the fact that his favorite of all his books is now 20 years old. recommended