The Stranger

Every New Year’s Day, every book, new and used, at both Third Place Books locations is 20 percent off. It’s perfect timing: You can consider self-betterment and laze off your thunderous New Year’s Eve hangover at the same time. And when you finally start thinking about food again, the brunch at Vios, the Greek restaurant inside Ravenna Third Place Books, is excellent, too. It’s a whole new year; go ahead and pick up that sleazy sci-fi paperback AND that fancy cookbook. You’ve got time for both. (Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE; Ravenna Third Place Books, 6504 20th Ave NE; thirdplacebooks.com) by Paul Constant

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It’s a grand Quentin Tarantino tradition (along with loving close-ups of Uma Thurman’s feet): the moment our shameless auteur makes literal what his film is doing figuratively. In Pulp Fiction, it was the adrenaline shot to the heart. In Django Unchained, it’s a character (played by Tarantino) literally playing with dynamite. Don’t let the reckless deployment of N-bombs keep you from experiencing this funky, bloody revenge fantasy, which features great, peacocky performances from Christoph Waltz, Jamie Foxx, and Leonardo DiCaprio, a dazzling soundtrack, and, yes, too much brutal violence. (Still, hands are made for peeking through.) (See Movie Times: thestranger.com/film) by David Schmader

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So many background elements in our lives (iPhones! Hot Pockets! Poly-blend slacks!) are brand-new developments in human history. While we can mentally understand the benefits of technology, our dumb ape bodies are still adjusting. In his new book, The World Until Yesterday, Jared Diamond explains how we can learn from our distant past as a species and apply those lessons to our modern, indoor-plumbing-drunk times. Diamond’s Guns, Germs, and Steel was an anthropological blockbuster, and Yesterday looks like it’ll be a hot topic for months to come. (Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave, townhallseattle.org, 7:30 pm, $5) by Paul Constant

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It’s Friday. Have a beer! Have a beer in Green Lake! (Not literally: too cold.) As Stranger online commenter Nic in Greenlake noted recently, “Oh hell yes, the Green Lake/Ravenna/Tangletown hood is rocking with Mutiny Hall, Latona Pub, Burgundian, Elysian [Tangletown], and Uber.” So many taps dispensing so much goodness! There’s also the Duck Island Ale House, Cooper’s, the Ravenna Alehouse… the streets of the area are running with beer. (Not literally.) Drink up! (See bar listings at thestranger.com/chow for details) by Bethany Jean Clement

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Happy 2013! Here are two resolutions that I recommend: (1) Become more acquainted with the local music scene. (2) Be nice to other people. And wouldn’t you know, this show is a great way to do both! This stellar lineup of Northwest talent—Don’t Talk to the Cops, Stephanie, Dude York, and Wimps—will definitely make you shake it from your head to your hips, and the proceeds benefit Food Lifeline, which is “dedicated to ending hunger in Western Washington.” What a nice way to start the New Year. (Sunset Tavern, 5433 Ballard Ave NW, sunsettavern.com, 9 pm, $7 adv/$8 DOS, 21+) by Megan Seling

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Abstract painter Lauri Chambers has been working within what sound like strict limitations for years—black and white only, except for dashes of blue that appear like something out of the corner of one’s eye—and this means that what her art teaches you is to dive in further to search for the smallest variations, which quickly begin to seem not small at all. She has so many versions of black and white, and so many ideas about what they can do to each other. (Francine Seders Gallery, 6701 Greenwood Ave N, sedersgallery.com, 1–5 pm/reception 2–4 pm, free) by Jen Graves

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Feeling chilled? Head down to King Noodle for a bowl of Chinese noodle soup or congee. You begin with a checklist menu, choosing a soup base (chicken or fish broth, Szechuan, sour and hot, etc.) and your favorite type of noodle (udon, vermicelli, etc.). For both soup and congee, there’s a myriad of toppings: fish balls, enoki mushrooms, barbecue duck, tofu skin, pumpkin, and much more. A condiment bar offers pickled peppers, vinegar, and chili sauce. Customizing your own meal means you can pick just what you want. Wonderful! (King Noodle, 615 King St, 748-9168, 10 am–10 pm) by Gillian Anderson

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