THURSDAY 11/23

FEAST AMONG THE BEASTS--At least they don't have to go far for the food. Enjoy such trussed and cooked dead animals as roast turkey and honey-glazed pit ham in the festive compounds of the Woodland Park Zoo's Rain Forest Food Pavilion. Bonus: candied yams, sage dressing, cranberry sauce, salads, and breads galore. Afterward, grab a toothpick and walk off your bursting belly among the wildlife left standing, who will no doubt be counting their lucky stars they're out of season. Woodland Park Zoo, 5500 Phinney Ave N, 684-4825, 11 am-2 pm, $18.95 in addition to regular zoo admission ($9.95 for children ages 3-10).

FRIDAY 11/24

NIGHT OF LIGHTS--Winterfest kicks off at the Seattle Center as the grounds are transformed into a "radiant winter paradise." Seventy-four acres of lights, including five new sculptures, will sparkle as you marvel and scald yourself on free hot cocoa. Oh yeah, the Space Needle lights up, too, as well as the KING 5 Tower. Seattle Center, 684-7200, 6-9 pm, free.

SATURDAY 11/25

HOLIDAY HISTORY MARKET--Highbrow gift-givers should check out this holiday market at the Museum of History and Industry, featuring 30 vendors hawking historic photos, maps, antiques, books, and other smartypants offerings. Also, kids can snack while listening to goddamn bagpipers--which is child cruelty when you think about it, because it's physically impossible to listen to bagpipes without the aid of alcoholic inebriation. Anyway, 'tis the season. MOHAI, 2700 24th Ave E, 324-1126, 10 am-5 pm, $5.50 adults, $1-$3 children.

TUESDAY 11/28

ABSOLUTION--Were you one of the millions of people who lost the election for Ralph Nader? Once inside the polling booth, you froze, terrified at the nightmarish possibility that George W. Bush would be our 43rd president. Despite your previous Green certainty, you wound up voting for Al Gore. Well, the Green Party of Seattle wants to forgive you--if you help them build a viable third party in America. So name your dog Szwaja, give some money, go to tonight's Green Party meeting, and stop feeling so sorry for yourself. University Heights Center, 5031 University Way NE, Room 209, 264-5110 or www.seattlegreens.org, 7 pm, free.

WEDNESDAY 11/29

MENOPAUSE DEMYSTIFIED--"Tired of the confusion?" ask Sue Williams-Judge, R.N., M.N., and Helene Geraci, M.N., A.N.R.P., who offer this interactive seminar about menopause. Learn about body changes, the pros and cons of hormone therapy, and tons of tips for just dealing with the whole blessed event. Swedish Medical Center, 747 Broadway, 1-East Conference Room, 386-6000, 6-8:30 pm, $10.