Our arts critics have already recommended 25 great things to do this week and our music critics have picked the 39 best concerts, but there are still hundreds more events happening. To prevent some of the quirkier and more extraordinary ones from slipping through the cracks, we've compiled them here—from the 2016 Pizza Crawl on Capitol Hill to the 11th Annual Jerry Garcia Celebration, and from a Whiskey & Yoga class at Rhein Haus to Nudestock. For even more options this week, check out our complete Things To Do calendar.
TUESDAY
1. Magic Society presents: Super Duper Video!
This strange and psychedelic evening of art, hosted by Buddy & Friday Hangs, promises live puppetry, selections from puppet TV and films, music, special guests, a Skype Q&A with Sid Krofft, and even some prizes.
2. Think & Drink: The Californians Are Coming
Explore the intersection of climate change and migration at this boozy, informative event presented by Humanities Washington. Featuring Lara Whitely Binder (University of Washington Climate Impacts Group) and Jeni Krencicki Barcelos (Three Degrees Project at the UW School of Law); moderated by KUOW environmental reporter Ashley Ahearn.
TUESDAY-SUNDAY
3. Dougsley the Corpse Flower
The second half of August promises the blooming of a beautiful, noxious-smelling corpse flower named "Dougsley" in the Volunteer Park Conservatory. Come see (and smell) it for yourself.
WEDNESDAY
4. Banks & Steelz
Rock and rap collabs. Tough to pull off. Run D.M.C. and Aerosmith did it. Anthrax and Public Enemy did it. Do RZA and Paul Banks of Interpol do it on the new album, Anything but Words, as 21st-century renegades named Banks & Steelz? No, they do not. It’s not RZA’s fault. It’s not Bank’s fault. It’s the ampersand’s fault. Banks’s air-raid instrumentation lends urgency to RZA’s aggressive-to-goofy-and-back-again verses, but the choruses require Banks to self-aggrandize in a way that doesn’t suit his distant and blasé-sounding voice. In this case, the odd couple’s just odd. RICH SMITH
5. The Manx, Young Go Hards, Future Fridays
The Manx have a deep love of spreading the slime of their self-described "fucked up, spazzy, gore-inspired, existentialist folk-punk" throughout the Western United State, have tried their hand at starring in their own Nickelodeon-based TV show pilot, and are now roaring up to Seattle for a set at El Corazon with Young Go Hards and Future Friday.
WEDNESDAY-SATURDAY
6. Bing & Popo
Award-winning local performer and director Sara Porkalob presents this one-weekend show featuring nine-year-old Bing, her dog, a dragon, an attempt to capture a star, and a coven of witches.
WEDNESDAY-SUNDAY
7. The Tempest
REBATEnsemble presents an original staging of Shakespeare's The Tempest, with tons of dance and movement, performed in the trees of Volunteer Park. (through Sunday)
8.
Unique Musique: Kole Galbraith, PrisonFood, Plastic Boner Band, M.i. Dumb, Junque Musique
Enjoy a showcase of experimental, ambient, and power drone noise from Kole Galbraith, PrisonFood, Plastic Boner Band, M.i. Dumb, and Junque Musique.
THURSDAY
9. Crack Sabbath, Swindler, Crystal Beth and the Boom Boom Band
The self-proclaimed "gods of Seattle's underground grunge jazz scene," Crack Sabbath features the work of industrial and free jazz impresarios Skerik and Ron Weinstein, with help from Keith Lowe and Mike Stone. Swindler and Crystal Beth & The Boom Boom Band provide bill support.
10. Frankie & the Witch Fingers, Kingdom of the Holy Sun, Western
Los Angeles psych-pop lovers Frankie & the Witch Fingers wipe their LCD-riddled rock on the walls of Black Lodge, with Kingdom of the Holy Sun, and Western.
11. Good Ol Fashion Square Dance in the Park
Freeway Park Association presents this square dance in the park, with live music by the Rabbit Stew String Band, hot dogs and kettle corn, raffles, games, and more.
12. I AM: The Procession
This processional features women of color, walking silently from Daejeon Park to the Northwest African American Museum, with meditations and rituals led by L'Erin Alta and Anastacia Renee Tolbert—"an acknowledgement and opportunity for women affected by colorism across multiple communities of color.”
13. Kitty Hall
For the third year, Seattle City Hall will be renamed "Kitty Hall" on Thursday, when the Seattle Animal Shelter will bring kittens (and some adult cats) to cuddle, play, and take pictures with (there will be a kitty photo booth!), as well as to adopt. You're also encouraged to "vote" for your favorite cat (by donating to the Shelter), and the one with the most votes will be elected "Kitty Council President."
14. Lb.!, Ice Teeth, Hollow Giant
Helmed by Ryan Schutte on guitar and David Stickney on drums, Lb.! is an Seattle-based experimental music project that combines elements of grindcore, tech death, math, and sludge metal, for a varied but always incredibly loud result.
15. Paul Kikuchi Artist Talk
Sound artist Paul Kikuchi will speak about his exhibit A U T O N O M I C: an installation that combines chamber music composed by Kikuchi with images by videographer James Reeves.
16. Rachel Green, Daniel Salo, and Erin Jorgensen
Singer and local wood nymph Rachel Green, with composer Daniel Salo, presents a composition of voice and piano synthesis. This debut piece from the duo blends layers of choral music and new electronica, thus creating an operatic installment of impassioned sonic surrealism. Bill support comes in the form of Erin Jorgensen, who plays ballads and adult lullabies on marimba.
17. Scientific Image Art Walk
Experience the artistic aspect of science during this one-night art walk, which will feature images that were captured by Fred Hutch scientists during their research. The result is striking and provides individuals with the opportunity to broaden both their artistic and academic understanding of the world.
18. Seattle Pendleton Grand Opening
The grand opening of the Seattle Pendleton also celebrates the 100th birthday of the National Park Service. Enjoy refreshments, park history, and a raffle. There will also be a Wool & Whiskey VIP after-party with live music, a short film screening, and booze.
19. This Is Who We Are: A Conversation on Land, Migration, and Our Interconnected Identities
In conjunction with the exhibit This Is Who We Are at the Frye, artist Inye Wokoma will discuss the "complex relationships between identity, land, colonization, spirituality, place and family."
THURSDAY-SATURDAY
20. 1st Annual GIBBYFEST
For the first year ever, El Corazon, The Funhouse, and Black Zia Cantina team up to throw GIBBYFEST, a whole weekend of hard-rocking weirdos all over town.
21. Twisted Flicks: Teenagers from Outer Space
Watch the 1959 thriller Teenagers from Outer Space, but with entirely new dialogue improvised by the Jet City team according to audience suggestions.
THURSDAY-SUNDAY
22. Three Poets
This series of one-act plays by Romulus Linney depicts a trio of women poets: the 9th Century poet Komachi, tenth-century nun Hrosvitha (the first woman playwright), and the great Russian poet Akhmotova.
FRIDAY
23. 11th Annual Jerry Garcia Celebration
Celebrate the man responsible for tie-dye still being a thing with the music of the Andy Coe Band, a Seattle-based psych-rock group and a collection of other talented locals like Garcia-enthusiast and blues guitarist Scott Law.
24. BAM Sound & Vision: Naomi Wachira
Enjoy the lush Kenyan heritage folk-pop of Naomi Wachira and the live video painting of Scott Bennett at Bellevue Art Museum's newest hybrid event series, Sound & Vision.
25. Hola Mexico Film Festival Opening Day
The Hola Mexico Film Festival, which took place this May in Los Angeles, is on tour with 10 of the best films from the festival. During the weeklong Seattle stop, you can watch them in Spanish with English subtitles.
26. La Petite Mort's Anthology of Erotic Esoterica
See "the darker side of performance art" at this eerie, secretive variety show with circus arts, burlesque, music, and more.
27. Make Space Zine Issue #4 Release Party
The genius lady brains behind the womxn-centric Make Space Zine have done it again, with Issue #4 hot off the presses and prominently featured at their upcoming release party on August 26. Artists in this issue (and present for performance and casual conversation at this party) include cultural enabler Sierra Stinson and GIF-maker Sofia Lee, as well as Leah Miller, Melissa Kagerer, Lilly Morlock, and Cory Budden of feminist punk band Mommy Long Legs. There will be a live set by Mommy Long Legs, with posted work from Sierra and Sofia. The event is free and open to everyone, but bring cash for zines, prints, art, and drinks.
28. SAM Remix
This evening of "creative explosion" promises performances, arts activities, dancing, and more at the beautiful Olympic Sculpture Park.
29. Squall — Noise Happy Hour
Enjoy your post-work pre-social life cocktails with a backdrop of noise and drone music in the sonic dungeons of Kremwerk, with music by [view].
30. TRL: Boy Bands Are Back
Chop Suey's throwback dance party features late '90s and early '00s music from DJs Henski and Pryme to get you in the mood for some hardcore Tiger Beat crushing, plus a live set from #ALL4DORAS, Seattle's only tribute boy band.
31. Whiplash's Camp Vicious
Grab some Thin Mints and your brownie uniform, because this evening of burlesque is boy/girl scout-themed, and promises "marshmallows, weenies, ghost stories, pitched tents, canoe rides and good old fashioned, all American FUN."
FRIDAY-SATURDAY
32. 14/48: Outdoors
The 14/48 Festival (14 plays created and performed from scratch in 48 hours) presents their first outdoor performance in Ballard.
33. Jyun Jyun Show: Live Outdoor Performance and Dance Party
This multi-media performance event (with live music, interactive animations, and shadow dancing) "honors cross-cultural ancestry, nature and mythology.”
34. Miz Mel’s Camp for the Peculiar
This narrative burlesque and cabaret show promises a "preparatory program to launch you into the next stage in life," in a creepy and spectacular camp setting.
35. Turn of the Screw
An immersive take on Henry James' gothic ghost story, where you can sip tea or whiskey by the Victorian parlor's roaring fire as creepy things start to happen and the governess descends into madness. You're encouraged to come dressed to impress in black "cocktail finery."
FRIDAY-SUNDAY
36. How to Adult
Watch SANCA staff perform impressive acrobatic routines and various circus arts (including Chinese pole, partner acrobatics, aerial rope, handbalancing, German wheel, slack line, and aerial rings) at this annual show. Thematically, the show will address questions like "Why cook when there's a microwave?", "Is there an important reason why clothes shouldn’t be kept in the laundry basket after they come out of the dryer?", and “We all have to grow up, but can we still play?”
SATURDAY
37. ‘90s Bar Crawl
Experience the '90s like you never have before (because you probably weren't born yet) by donning your best flannel and JNCOs and hitting the streets with this decade-specific bar crawl. The route includes '90s music-laden hot spots on Capitol Hill like Unicorn, Moe Bar, and the Chieftain.
38. 2016 Pizza Crawl
The grease runs wild and free for the third straight year of the Seattle Pizza Crawl, which, in case you missed it, is like a pub crawl but with pizza and live music. This year's crawl hits up a selection of well-regarded slice spots, with interspersed sets from local lovers like Bad Luck, Contact Mike, Diogenes, and Nordra in between. After the gluten gorge comes the after-party (and after the party, the hotel lobby), at a not-yet-disclosed location, with additional sets from Plastic Boner Band, Roy Rodgers, Blessed Blood, Marcus Price, Miscomings, PINK VOID, and a DJ set by H SLOAN.
39. Bruce Taylor
Bruce Taylor will read from his book Kafka's Uncle and Other Strange Tales: a magical realist/surrealist "Kafkain take-off about the politics of America.”
40. Bubble Run
Three miles, some running shoes, you, and a whole lot of "frothy goodness." The BUBBLE RUN spices up your average 5k experience. At each kilometer, runners will be met with a Foam Bog of varying colors so that, by the end of the run, your white shirt will tell the tale of your race.
41. Havana Nights: A Night in Cuba
Enjoy a Cuban night with a traditional Cuban feast (pig roast, sweet plantains, rice, beans, and other delicious sides), Salsa lessons, a bar filled with Cuban specialty cocktails, live entertainment, and a festive atmosphere. Cuban attire, bright colors, all white, beach attire, and fedoras are highly encouraged.
42. Joey Jewell’s Sinatra at The Sands with Jim Kerls' Swinging’ Sixties Orchestra
The classiness of Sinatra's mob-approved croon tunes will never dissipate, and Joey Jewell will do his best to honor that classiness in his rendition of a full Vegas melee, with Jim Kerls' orchestra bringing the swinging sixties to a loud, layered big band jazz reality.
43. KURB's Moonlight Night Market
The South Lake Union Saturday Market is extending its usual hours for a little late night fun. Enjoy all that the market usually has to offer under the stars. There will be local food, food trucks, art, crafts, and vintage clothing for sale as well as live music and fun for the whole family.
44. LeMay Car Show
Calling all car enthusiasts: There will be over 1000 vintage vehicles on display at this 39th annual event, as well as dolls, antiques, and memorabilia owned by the LeMay family. And, because one location just isn't enough for all these collectors items, there will be a shuttle transporting attendees between the Marymount Event Center and the private LeMay home grounds, which will be open to the public on this special day.
45. Nightfucker, Dispossessed, Hissing, Anteinferno
Rotten sludge-loving Vancouverites Nightfucker join undead forces with Dispossessed, Hissing, and Anteinferno for an evening at the Highline.
46. Nudestock
"A nude rock and blues experience," complete with live music from local bands Jeff Herzog and the Jet City Flyers, Champagne Sunday, and Sister Madame, food and craft vendors, and access to the park's pool, sauna, and volleyball court.
47. Sustainable Ballard Festival
In its 13th year of celebration, the Annual Sustainable Ballard Festival supports a theme of "People Power." There will be a bike parade, skating lessons, live music (on a solar powered stage), goats and chickens in the urban farm zone, local foods, and a tea garden.
48. A Tribute to The Magnetic Fields’ “69 Love Songs”
Relive the genius of The Magnetic Fields' magnum opus, 69 Love Songs, with cover performances from a variety of Seattle musicians.
49. Two Nights of Michael Jackson vs. Prince
In celebration of Michael Jackson's upcoming birthday, MVP, a Seattle-based Michael Jackson and Prince tribute group, are throwing out two whole days of the greats. August 27th is a sonic brawl between the creative legacies of MJ and Prince, followed by a birthday blow-out show for the King of Pop on August 29th.
50. The Untuning of the Sky: Hair and Space Museum
Hair and Space Museum, a multimedia duo featuring David Golightly and Emily Pothast, will present a performance that "reflects on the generative, cosmic properties of sound," as part of the Untuning of the Sky series of outdoor art events presented by the Henry Art Gallery, in conjunction with Waterfront Seattle, Friends of Waterfront Seattle, and the Office of Arts and Culture.
51. Whiskey & Yoga
Connect with your inner self through yoga, cocktails, and snacks. Start out with a relaxing class of yoga then turn your attention to the five food specific samples that will be pared with different alcohols for your enjoyment.
52. Women's Prisons, Art, & Queerness: A Panel Discussion
Hosted by the ongoing film project Boys on the Inside, Women's Prisons, Art, & Queerness explores its themes of creative expression and LGBTQIA identity within women's prisons in the form of a panel discussion and Q&A with different community members on the Seattle University campus.
SUNDAY
53. Bat'n Rouge 2016
Bat'n Rouge is upon us again with this lively softball rivalry between the Lez Bros and the Drag Queens that raises money for Seattle Area Support Groups by having the players do stunts that have been purchased by the crowd. There will also be on-site HIV testing and raffle prizes from John Criscitello.
54. Belltown Crush Block Party
This large-scale block party promises ten tastes from 25 wineries and breweries, bites available from local food trucks, a Bell & Whete pig roast, a grape stomping competition, and live music from Belltown Beats. Ticket proceeds will benefit Plymouth Housing Group, a nonprofit organization that aims to provide housing for people who are homeless and/or low-income.
55. Egyptian Cabaret Dance and Hypnotism
Maritess Zurbano (dancer, magician, and hypnotist) will enchant with dance performance and magic/hypnotism.
56. Turnt UP: Make a Smartphone Amplifier!
Make a beautiful wooden smartphone amplifier while enjoying a three beer tasting flight at this workshop with modern whichcraft.
Stranger (Than Usual) Things To Do comes out every week on Tuesday. To submit events to be considered, email us at calendar@thestranger.com.
