Sure, Thanksgiving week is all about hanging out with family, but there are still plenty of excellent events things to go out and do this week. Our arts critics have picked the best of them, from The Nutcracker (#13) to a show featuring a RuPaul's Drag Race alum (#7) to a Seattle Men's Chorus concert featuring an Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt character (#20). For even more events, see our complete Things To Do calendar.
MONDAY
FILM
1. Internet Cat Video Festival
"A three-day celebration of the internet's greatest (and arguably only) contribution to the cultural life of this planet: short clips of humankind's second-cutest pets being cute as hail." -Sean Nelson (Through Wednesday)
2. Elevator to the Gallows
"Anyone who enjoys this movie (Louis Malle's first) for its crime plot (which twists and twists) has the brain of a bird and the heart of a horse. Elevator to the Gallows is remarkable for one reason alone: the scene that finds Jeanne Moreau walking around Paris at night looking everywhere for her man, who is stuck in an elevator. As she walks and whispers her lover's name, jazz master Miles Davis blows a trumpet solo that translates precisely the sorrows of Moreau's soul." -Charles Mudede
ART
3. Holiday Art Sale
Take advantage of this free event to appreciate and observe a large, varied selection of art! Or better yet, make progress on your holiday shopping while supporting local artists, selecting works of glass, jewelry, wood, sculpture, photography, and printmaking to take home. (All week)
MUSIC
4. Public Image Limited
"Who could have predicted when Johnny Rotten bleated onto the British scene in the late â70s with the Sex Pistols that heâd end up fronting a dub-influenced, droning, and jam-oriented post-punk outfit, still touring 37 years later?" -Kyle Fleck
TUESDAY
ART
5. TURN
"Youâve heard of an exquisite corpse drawing, probably, or if you havenât, youâve probably still been part of making one in an art class at some pointâitâs a drawing where one person puts down a part, then the next person, without looking at the first, adds her own part, and on and on until the paper is filled with a segmented beast of a thing. Turn, this year-long collaborative series, is something like a sculptural exquisite corpse." -Jen Graves
MUSIC
6. Oneohtrix Point Never and James Ferraro
"Both producers are masters of conflating kitsch with sublimity, and they make for an intriguing bill." -Dave Segal
WEDNESDAY
DRAG
7. Jinkx Monsoon and Major Scales: Unwrapped
"There are no words for how brain-explodingly brilliant Jinkx Monsoon is. You think she was funny on RuPaulâs Drag Race? You donât know the half of it." -Christopher Frizzelle (Wed-Sun through Dec 13)
ART
8. Remember to Come Back...
"Each artist is from somewhere in Africa and has an adopted home in the United States or Europe, and each considers the significance of departure, return, exile, assimilation, and refuge. Remember to Come Back... is aptly timed not only for the international news about migration and social transformation, but also for the American and European holiday seasons, when we all go home again in our own ways." -Jen Graves (Wed-Sat through Dec 23)
MUSIC
9. Silas Blak
"His Blak Friday mixtape is one of the strongest rap releases out of Seattle this year, with a wary/fiery vibe thatâs perfect for our dystopian now, and production that bangs bleakly along with it." -Kyle Fleck
10. Thunderpussy, Nightmare Fortress, Draemhouse, and Bod
"Headlining this formidable bill of local loveables are upcoming heavyweights Thunderpussy, who, unlike some other other ââpussyâ named bands, actually have females in the group. Females who know how to fucking rock. Dig it!" -Kyle Fleck
11. Zeds Dead
"Ever wave your lighter at a dubstep gig? This could be your chance." -Dave Segal
THURSDAY
12. If you don't have plans for Thanksgiving, check out our Thanksgiving calendar for events and restaurants serving T-Day meals, including 5 Point Cafe, Cedarbrook, and Miller's Guild.
FRIDAY
DANCE
13. The Nutcracker
"After retiring its much-loved Nutcracker last year, Pacific Northwest Ballet unveils a fresh one with new-to-the-company choreography by George Balanchine and a mystery design by illustrator (and theater designer) Ian Falconer. Generations of Seattle dance-heads are counting down the days to see what it'll be like." -Brendan Kiley (Weekends through Dec 28)
MUSIC
14. So Pitted
"So, itâs Black Friday. Instead of going shopping at a big corporate whore of a store like all the other sheeple, why donât you take your little brother/sister/nephew/niece to this solid ripper of an all-ages rock show? Everyone, whatever age, should really see young Seattle post-punks So Pitted in a tiny, crowded radical room like this, while one still can." -Kelly O
15. Orange Revival
"Swedish headliners the Orange Revival promise to navigate the thick bog of the sweet shoegaze sounds, early-â90s-style; think Loop and Ride, with a few typical indie-rock riffs tossed in." -Mike Nipper
16. Mykal Rose and Clinton Fearon
"Singer Mykal Rose (formerly Michael Rose) came up in the silver age of reggae...and somehow, equally revered reggae icon Clinton Fearon has decided to call Seattle his home. Donât sleep on this incredible double header of dub pleasure." -Kyle Fleck
17. C Average
"Olympia/Kill Rock Stars metal warlocks C Average are the ultimate PNW hesh dad-metal band, complete with over-the-top guitar histrionics, guillotine-dropping riffs, and pseudo-Ren Faire lyrics." -Brittnie Fuller
18. Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Going to be in Spokane for Thanksgiving? Don't miss this.
SATURDAY
HOLIDAYS
19. Magic in the Market
Pike Place turns into a winter wonderland, complete with photos with Santa, gingerbread cookie decorating, caroling teams, and ukulele bands, capped off with a tree lighting at 5 pm.
20. Home for the Holidays
Directing the Seattle Men's Chorus for the last time, Dennis Coleman will pull out all the "beloved carols, soaring holiday classics, and charming, cheeky antics" audiences have loved over the years. Tituss Burgess, from Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, joins the Chorus for their first two concerts.
MUSIC
21. Redwood Tavern's 10th Anniversary Party
"Hereâs the situation: Redwoodâs closing. Weâre all sure itâll become a mixed-use condo with a doggy daycare and pilates studio on the first floor. Capitol Hillâs changingâŚ. Yawn. Celebrate what we have, donât grieve for what we donât, at least tonight." -Kyle Fleck
22. Archivist
"Young Seattle producer/DJ Archivist (aka Alex Markey) creates minimal techno that slyly sneaks up on you. If Archivist keeps up this level of cerebral grooviness, heâs going to end up playing in lots of far-off clubs and for good money." -Dave Segal
QUEER
23. INTO?
"I'm normally skeptical of any event that uses punctuation, but I trust Nark Magazine and House of Cathedral to make INTO? into Seattle's next big hit. They're building a runway down the floor of Neumos and offering a grand prize of $1,000 cash in a strutting competition with four categories: What Daddy Wants, But What Is It?, BDSFemme, and Best in Show." -Matt Baume
CIRCUS
24. Chris Perondi's Stunt Dog Experience
Chris Perondi's dogs have been "guests" on talk shows including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Ellen, and Oprah, and have been featured in National Geographic.
SUNDAY
HOLIDAYS
25. The Bizarre Bazaar
This local craft fair/art market promises strange, fashionable, local, and handmade goods. Stop by for a loved one or yourself to pick up an intriguing gift or item. Music provided by Dane Garfield Wilson, James Sorrell, and DJ Spektra.
MUSIC
26. JoJo
"The Venn diagram of latter-day Stranger readers and those whoâd be curious about JoJo headlining Neumos is probably pretty slim. Thatâs understandable. But look, âLeave (Get Out)â was one of the hottest tracks of 2004, basic-ass video and all." -Kyle Fleck
27. Dave B
"The dude always brings the easy-going heat to his live shows: His appearance at this yearâs Capitol Hill Block Party was a (rained-out, gray-skied) blast. Thereâs a reason this kid won the Vera Projectâs underage Sound Off! Competition back in the day." -Kyle Fleck
