THURSDAY SEPT 26
Stage Door

(THEATER) The material--Ferber & Kaufman's classic theatrical-boarding-house comedy--is great. The cast--featuring such Annex all-stars as Heather Hughes, Chris Jeffries, Josh List, John Kaufmann, Christina Mastin, Sarah Rudinoff, and Bret Fetzer--is greater. But none of this would mean anything if Stranger theater critic Adrian Ryan hadn't seen the show and nearly expired from camp-induced glee. (Annex Theatre at the Empty Space Theatre, 3509 Fremont Ave N, Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm, 728-0933, $12. Through Oct 13.) DAVID SCHMADER

FRIDAY SEPT 27
Manslaughter

(THEATER) A "degenerate" play--starring a hooker, a billionaire, crack cocaine, a candy bar, and a 9 mm handgun--that takes place on the street while you watch from the safety of the gallery. Security has been pretty tight around the details of this performance, but I hear everyone involved is getting pretty nervous. (Fri-Sat Sept 27-28, 8 pm, Vital 5 Productions, 2200 Westlake Ave, 254-0475, doors at 7 pm, $10, reservations recommended.) EMILY HALL


New Bomb Turks

(FAREWELL) Okay, let me get this straight for you. If you don't go see the New Bomb Turks tonight, you may NEVER be able to see them play live again. After 12 years, the Columbus, Ohio act announced that this is their last big swing through the U.S. Not to worry, though, the Turks are NOT breaking up. They just don't want to drag their asses across the country in a van anymore. Give 'em a proper farewell. (Chop Suey, 1325 E Madison, 324-8000.) JENNIFER MAERZ

SATURDAY SEPT 28
Tributary (Hosted by Blammo!)

(MAJOR EVENT) Curious, hilarious, and ultimately just kind of sad, this video documentary of the tribute band phenomenon (we see acts pay homage to artists from AC/DC to Yes) is compulsively watchable, for all the reasons that a bunch of brain-dead musicians trying to justify their habits are always watchable. Ants Invasion, a local Adam and the Ants trib, play Friday, while Saturday brings karaoke hosted by none other than Blammo! The Surly Drunken Clown, a performer who is better than watchable: Why, he's practically unbearable! (Fri-Sun Sept 27-29 at 8 pm, Consolidated Works, 500 Boren Ave N, 381-3218, $7.) SEAN NELSON

SUNDAY SEPT 29
Titlewave Reading Series

(READINGS) The Titlewave Reading Series blends established regional readers with those who are either emerging or unknown. This month's reading features writer and former Sasquatch Books editor Novella Carpenter and Portland's Kevin Sampsell, whose press, Future Tense Books, recently sold one of its titles, Please Don't Kill the Freshman, to HarperCollins for six figures. (Titlewave Books, 7 Mercer St, 324-6379, 7:30 pm, free.) CHARLES MUDEDE

MONDAY SEPT 30
Our Favorite Scenes

(CINEMA) Few things are as entertaining and enlightening as hearing smart folks gush about things they love. Tonight at the Richard Hugo House, Cinema Seattle brings together three brainy cineastes--professor Steven Shaviro, writer Kathleen Murphy, and critic Robert Horton--to screen their very favorite movie scenes, with each scene followed by in-depth discussion of what makes a good scene good. (Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 464-5830, 8 pm, $5 general, $2 student, free for Cinema Seattle members.) DAVID SCHMADER

TUESDAY OCT 1
Free French

(OUI!) Gerald Diamond and his fetching femme Fathia created the FEACC three years ago as a friendly neighborhood "hub of French culture": a place for French lovers to conjugate, sing Frère Jacques, or simply wallow in the love of all things French. Drop in for the FREE Tuesday-night French lessons and trill a few r's. (620 Broadway Ave E, downstairs, 7:30 pm, free/$5 donation welcome.) ADRIAN RYAN

WEDNESDAY OCT 2
Dave Eggers

(READING) Prickly literary giant Eggers (A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, McSweeney's) rolls into town pimping his new novel, You Shall Know Our Velocity. His readings are always compelling, and you should go see him and bask in his talents... but don't be startled by just how short this literary giant is in real life. You'll be able to hear Eggers over Elliott Bay's sound system, but you're going to have to stand on your chair to see the top of his curly head behind the podium. (Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.) DAN SAVAGE