SATURDAY 11/17
BUY A HOUSE--This workshop, given by the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle in conjunction with Chase Manhattan Mortgage Corporation, asks the question, "Why rent when you can own?" Participants will learn about the process of buying a house, and they'll also most likely be educated about the goodness of Chase Manhattan. There's nothing like corporations teaming up with civic institutions to "help the people" help the banks. Board Room of the Urban League, 105 14th Ave, 461-3792, 6 pm, free.
LAUGHTER CLUB--Local Laughter Club leaders Karen Schneider-Chen and Stephanie Roche will present a video that documents the development of laughter clubs since their beginnings in India in 1985. It is unclear whether or not this is a funny movie. Then they will all laff, laff, laff in the library. In the words of Eddie Murphy, "Ha, ha, very funny, muthafucka." Fremont Library, 731 N 35th St, 684-4804, 2 pm, free.
SPITFIRE TOUR--Identified as a "free-speech tour," the Spitfire camp will feature talks from actor Andy Dick on drug abuse, JAMPAC crusader Krist Novoselic on electoral reform, activist Julia Hill on deforestation, and Dead Kennedy Jello Biafra on alternatives to corporate power. A little potpourri of leftist ideologies. Husky Union Building, UW Campus, 8 pm, $5/$8. Call 543-1780 for more information.
WINTER BACKCOUNTRY EXPO--As a benefit for the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center, the Mountaineers will present a variety of workshops, speakers, demonstrators, and exhibits that will get you pumped up about winter outdoorsmanship. Frankly, I think the Mountaineers are crazy. It's winter--time to read with tea in a warm apartment. Mountaineers Clubhouse, 300 Third Ave W, 284-6310, 10 am-5 pm, $5.
SUNDAY 11/18
HOLLYWOOD PITCH WORKSHOP--As any writer knows, there's a complex art to a story's "pitch." In fact, you have to play the angles of the pitch with as much intelligence and wit as you use to write the piece itself. Screenwriter and author Max Adams, who wrote The Screenwriter's Survival Guide or Guerrilla Meeting Tactics and Other Acts of War, will lead a workshop on perfecting the pitch. This workshop is open to writers with completed scripts, and participants must submit a workshop application form and a one-page pitch outline. I guess you're on your own for the pitch outline. Cam an'ile Room, 2415 Second Ave, Sat-Sun Nov 17-18, 12-5 pm, $150. Call 464-9122 for more information and an application, or go to http://seemaxrun.com/8-inperson.htm.
MONDAY 11/19
LIVING WITHOUT FEAR--If there's one thing The Stranger's Halloween issue showed us here at the paper, it's that we all live with a daily, deeply seated fear. I suggest we all attend these meditation classes, taught by Buddhists at the Vajralama Buddhist Center. Buddhists ain't scared of shit. University Friends Center, 4001 Ninth Ave NE, 7:30 pm. For information call the Vajralama Buddhist Center at 526-9565.
