The Stranger

Lee Atwater was an American tragedy—a white Southerner with a chip on his shoulder who'd watched his baby brother burn to death from a pot of boiling oil that fell off a kitchen counter. He went on to launch Ronald Reagan's presidential career, threw Willie Horton at Michael Dukakis, became Karl Rove's mentor, and perfected the art of doing what decent people won't to get elected. By the time he was dying of a brain tumor, he came to regret it all. But by that time, it was too late—for him, and for the country. (Keystone Church, 5019 Keystone Pl N, www.meaningfulmovies.org. 7 pm, free.) by Eli Sanders

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A night of excellent food (by Jason Wilson of Crush) and eclectic, cutting-edge music? Sounds delicious. The menu features all locally grown, organic produce(rs): avant-funk masters Foscil, who have a new release, Collaborative Efforts Vol. 2, due soon with sotto voce rapper supreme Specs One; techno/IDM fun-maximizer Jerry Abstract; and deft hiphop turntablist DJ Introcut. All contain natural ingredients, seasoned with savory spices, and prepared for those with epicurean tastes. (South Lake Union Underground, 611 Pontius Ave N, 607-9027. 9 pm, $6 plus food, 21+.) by Dave Segal

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Yes. What you have heard (from me) is true. Much like a superhot butterfly emerging from its slimy pupa pod, Zac Efron has transformed from a beautiful lady into an extremely beautiful, only kind-of ladyish MAN. He is also funny! 17 Again is a shamelessly formulaic but genuinely entertaining entry in the good old adult-trapped-in-a-child's-body genre. "Are you now or have you ever been a Norse god, vampire, or time-traveling cyborg?" "I think I would have told you." "Vampire wouldn't tell. Cyborg wouldn't know." See? Ha! (See Movie Times: thestranger.com/film.) by Lindy West

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It's been 17 years since this game-changing avant-rock four-piece played here; yes, most reunions blow, but My Bloody Valentine's return to the live circuit has been cracking fans' and critics' domes. Valentine leader Kevin Shields devises the most otherworldly, sensual guitar tones since Jimi Hendrix and has crafted at least three dozen songs that thrillingly resolve rock's beautiful melody/strident noise dichotomy. Come worship one of rock's loudest innovators. With Brightblack Morning Light. (WaMu Theater, 800 Occidental Ave S, 628-0888. 8 pm, $38.50, all ages.) by Dave Segal

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In 2062, Danish artist Ann Lislegaard will be 100 years old. She chose the year as the title for her first American solo museum exhibition, which is three video installations and three sound installations—all intended to draw you into an imagined sphere based on science fiction. Her trilogy of video works is Bellona (after Samuel R. Delany), Crystal World (after J.G. Ballard), and Left Hand of Darkness (after Ursula K. Le Guin), and the aural works treat movie soundtracks like the raw material for sculpture. (Henry Art Gallery, 4100 15th Ave NE, 543-2280. 11 am–5 pm, $10.) by Jen Graves

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It's almost a shame that Mary Gaitskill is best known for writing the story on which the Maggie Gyllenhaal movie Secretary is based. Though much of her work has elements of BDSM—Gaitskill's fiction has done more to normalize BDSM than activist groups—she's not a gimmick author. She's adventurous, witty, and fearless, no matter what you're into. Her 2005 novel Veronica, about AIDS and the death of '70s glam, is a masterpiece, and Two Girls, Fat and Thin is a hilarious satire of nut-ball "philosopher" Ayn Rand. (Seattle Public Library, University Branch, 5009 Roosevelt Way NE, 684-4063. 6:30 pm, free.) by Paul Constant

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