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TUESDAY
COMMUNITY1. Drinks & Dialogue: Bridging the Divide
Join a conversation about navigating civil discourse, politically diverse friendships, and political conversations by watching a selection of TED Talks. After the screenings, UW Tacoma professor Riki Thompson will lead a discussion on "the challenges and rewards of having conversations with those who hold opposing views."
2. Harry Potter Trivia
Study up on the spells, potions, love triangles, and obscurities of the seven books for this Harry Potter trivia night.
3. Villaintine's Day
The Titillation Sinsations present a night of Valentine's burlesque that explores the "dark, depraved, and delicious."
4. Nadine Burke Harris: Healing the Long-Term Effects of Childhood Adversity
Early childcare psychologist Dr. Nadine Burke Harris will discuss new research on the connection between toxic stress during childhood and the likelihood of lifelong illnesses, which she explores in her book The Deepest Well.
5. PNW Earthquake Hazards
The threat of a mega quake in the Pacific Northwest is ever-looming, and while scientists don't know exactly when it will hit, they do know ways to prepare. Join Shelley Chestler, Ph.D., of the UWâs Earth and Space Sciences Department as she addresses the hazard and introduces the "slow earthquake," which might aid scientists in learning more about the "big one."
TUESDAY & FRIDAY
FOOD & DRINK6. The Long Dark
Billing itself as "a month of infusions to get you through the hardest month in Seattle," Flying Bike's "The Long Dark" is a series of liquid-sunshine beer releases specifically designed to lift your spirits through the dreary doldrums of February. This week, look forward to the Sari, Not Sorry Curry Porter and a cask amber with rooibos and vanilla bean.
TUESDAY-SATURDAY
PERFORMANCE7. Row Yr Boat (Achievement Unlocked)
The producers describe Row Yr Boat (Achievement Unlocked) as a "dark, surrealist romantic comedy about drones, video games, unreality and magic." The play follows a competitive young gamer, Rose, who is hired by a virtual reality companyâon condition that she get married within the year.
No performance on Thursday
TUESDAY-SUNDAY
FOOD & DRINK8. The Carlile Room Hamilton Menu
Begin or finish your viewing of Lin Manuel Miranda's Founding Father musical sensation (playing at the Paramount from February 6-March 18) at the (Carlile) Room where it happens, with a themed menu that includes the Hamilton Hurricane cocktail, Lafayette-inspired Buns and Nips (pinch buns with mushrooms and pickled turnips), the Battle of Porktown, the Aaron Burr-ger, and Satisfries. Just don't throw away your (Jell-O) shot.
9. TavolĂ ta Hamilton Menu
Pre-game for Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical sensation with a three-course prix-fixe dinner down the street before the show.
WEDNESDAY
ART10. Edward Curtis and His Disappearing Mountain of Money
Edward Curtis is famous for his expressive photographic portraits of Native Americans in The North American Indian. Tim Greyhavens, a local photographer and writer, will discuss the artist's working financial relationship with tycoon John Pierpont Morgan, which was apparently rather rocky.
11. Kimberly Trowbridge: Search for Arcadia: Poussin, Delacroix, Cezanne
Learn how post-impressionist painter Paul Cezanne was influenced by the works of fellow French artists Nicolas Poussin and EugĂšne Delacroix through their uses of form and color.
12. Fetish Multifarium Presents: Lovers and Lashes
Explore the full spectrum of kink expression at this pre-Valentine's Day event, a party at the Mercury highlighting the many free forms of sexuality in celebration of the holiday and sex-positive culture in general. DJ Morgue Anne will be spinning all night long, and Fetish Multifarium members will be on hand to provide fetish services like spanking and electrical play. Remember: consent is essential.
13. People's Geography of Seattle
The People's Geography of Seattle Project brings together artists, scholars, and activists looking at the changing geographies and histories of the Seattle region. Join a conversation about public histories, documentary film and photography, and community driven environmental justice.
14. A Central Vision
This documentary by Inye Wokoma and Seattle's Office of Planning and Development explores the history of the Central District, current plans and policies addressing the rapid growth and change in the neighborhood, and the future stake of longtime residents. Stick around afterward for a panel discussion with Wyking Garrett, Inye Wokoma, Randy Engstrom, and Samuel Assefa.
15. Chasing Ice
Join alpinist Pete Athans for a screening of Chasing Ice, a 2012 documentary about environmental photographer James Balog and the Extreme Ice Survey, which aims to capture the impacts of climate change. All proceeds benefit the Washington Environmental Council.
16. Three Dollar Bill Wednesday: Date Night Shorts & Fast Flirting
Find a cutie on the fly by engaging in some "fast flirting." Then, snuggle up for a series of queer date-night-appropriate short films.
17. Author Talk: Eat Your Feelings by Lindsey Smith
Author and "Food Mood Girl" Lindsey Smith, described as "WebMD meets BuzzFeed with a dash of Rachael Ray," teaches you how to eat intuitively based on your feelings and what foods to choose to bolster and nourish your emotional and mental health. She'll be joined by her Seattle native illustrator Kate Reingold.
18. Copperworks & Elysian Present the Saga of the Bourbon Barrels
Taste barrel-aged beverages like Copperworks Distilling's Gin & Tonic Cask Finished Gin, Bradley's Kina Tonic syrup, and Elysian's Avatar Jasmine IPA, both before and after the aging process, and take advantage of drink specials.
19. Anya Kamenetz: Balancing Digital Media and Real Life
Anya Kamenetz, lead digital education correspondent for NPR, will share insights on how to keep the youngest generation of kids free of screen-dependency, based on her book The Art of Screen Time: How Your Family Can Balance Digital Media and Real Life.
20. Ellementa Seattle: Cannabis and Sex
Join a conversation about cannabis as a sexual enhancement with Mistress Matisse, Chelsea Cebara, and Kait Heacock.
21. Launch Party: She Regrets Nothing
Join the writer of She Regrets Nothing, Andrea Dunlop, and Geraldine DeRuiter (The Everywhereist) for a conversation about the new book, in which a young woman discovers that she has rich family in New York and heads out to join them, raising the specter of a scandal. There will be books for sale, good conversation, and free champagne.
22. Leif Whittaker: My Old Man and the Mountain
A 2017 Washington State Book Award finalist, My Old Man and the Mountain is Leif Whittaker's account of what it was like to grow up in a family of accomplished climbers. Hear about his adventures with his family in the Olympic Mountains and on Mount Rainier, his close yet at times competitive relationship with his brother Joss, his battle with a serious back injury, and his efforts to stand apart from his father.
23. The More Alternative Truths
Hear readings by contributors to the anthology The More Alternative Truths, including Vonda McIntyre, Louise Marley, John A. Pitts, Manny Frishberg, Edd Vick, Janka Hobbs, and others. According to author Lou Berger, it's a collection of "funny and heart-wrenching tales of what MAY happen if 'alternative truths' become actual ones."
24. Scott Montgomery
Scott Montgomery, affiliate faculty member at UW's Jackson School of International Studies, will present his most recent work, Seeing the Light: The Case for Nuclear Power in the 21st Century, wherein he makes a case for nuclear energy while also addressing the complex relationships we have with nuclear technology.
25. Seattle Fiction Federation #10
Seattle Fiction Federation will return with three readers: Richard Chiem, Jennifer Haupt, and SFF#9 open mic winner Andrea Eberly. Nine readers will be chosen at random for open mic reads between features, and the audience will vote at the end on who will become a featured reader at SFF#11.
THURSDAY
ART26. Black Fashionista! The History of Black Women Fashion Designers
Discover the story of black women fashion designers and icons in a white-dominated industry in the United States.
27. Flesh for Fantasy
Navé and Michelle McCarthy's art show features live body painting, DJs, and booze.
28. Swerve Zine Library
Grab a drink and flip through a collection of zines from local and international zinesters. A few of them will read from their collection and discuss their creative process.
29. Fifty Shades of Hot Sex
Sip cocktails and pick up some BDSM tips to liven up your Valentine's Day. The first 25 guests will receive gift bags filled with 50 Shades-approved toys.
30. Cool Runnings
Eat Cycle Dogs and rev up for the Olympics with this classic movie about the first Jamaican bobsled team.
31. Fat Thursday Polish Donuts
Get a taste of Mardi Gras early at this traditional Polish celebration with donuts, pastries, and other sugary treats.
32. Geek Out Trivia
At this free trivia night, bring along new socks, underwear, and new or gently used sweaters to donate to Treehouse. Study up on travel, baseball, languages, and witchcraft.
33. Andrew Keen: How to Fix the Future
Former Internet entrepreneur Andrew Keen was among the earliest to write about "the potential dangers that the Internet poses to our culture and society." Join him as he presents his new book, How to Fix the Future, which looks to the past for potential solutions for future problems.
34. University of Washington MFA Presents: Black Jaw Literary Series
The University of Washington's MFA program presents Black Jaw, a literary series that showcases "raw and rough works only." Tonight's readers will be Naima Cerulean Kazmi, Meagan Arthur, Garrett Evans, Jordyn Murray, Patrick Burr, and Jon Hong.
THURSDAY-FRIDAY
PERFORMANCE35. EmpeROAR Fabulous!!!: My Imaginary Love Life
EmpeROAR Fabulous!!! will relate the story of his love life through original song and storytelling, with support from Jax Mourningwood and Chandler Svelte. They describe it as a "show for the hopelessly romantic, but #foreveralone," sweet and free of cynicism.
THURSDAY-SATURDAY
FESTIVALS36. FIUTS CulturalFest
The University of Washington's Foundation for International Understanding Through Students will organize activities, crafts, and games for the public at the International Expo on Thursday. Then, on Saturday, students will dance, sing, and show off other talents at the Performance Showcase.
37. Blind Cafe
For this Valentine's Day Blind Cafe dinner, guests will taste a special menu, hear a concert by Rosh & The Blind Cafe Orchestra, and talk with legally blind staff in a pitch-black room in an effort to better understand (but not to "perfectly recreate") the blind experience. The menu features dark chocolate, wine, and a locally sourced vegan and gluten-free mystery meal.
38. The Yesterday Man
Comedian Gregory Kleciak stars as 13 different characters in this satirical look at "how seriously people take their entertainment, the functions it serves in our lives, and the culture that brought us here." In it, fictional Oscar-nominated actor Leonardo Dicaprizzaliano travels to Williamsborough, Vermont, to star in a production of Hamlet in an effort to prove that he's not past his prime.
THURSDAY-SUNDAY
COMEDY39. Kabir Singh
Portland-born Kabir Singh grew up as "the funniest Indian kid in Oregon â not too difficult considering he was the only Indian kid in Oregon." Later, he lived in India, where we guess he might have been the funniest Oregonian in Bombay. Hear him riff on culture shock and more.
40. Seattle RV Show
Get a load of portable homes of all shapes and sizes.
41. Fat Thursday: Special Meat Carnival Dinner
The Greek holiday Tsiknopempti (literally translated as "Smelly Thursday" because of the thick fragrance of grill smoke in the air) is an opportunity to load up on delicious meats during the week of Carnival before Lent. Omega Ouzeri will celebrate with a special prix-fixe menu of plenty of carnivorous delights.
FRIDAY
ART42. Feel the Love Valentine-Themed Craft Night
Make your Valentine a glittery emblem of love at this craft night.
43. ION Fashion Event
This fashion show and competition with local designers raises money for disadvantaged kids and teens, including foster children, through F-factor and Ruby Room.
44. Melissa Kagerer
This venue invites you to enjoy Melissa Kagerer's troll doll art, "bad wine," and whimsy.
45. Love Pong
Get custom tattoos from Tattly with your "Bumble BFF," meet the Bumble team for some "sweatworking and instructional tips," and see surprise performances throughout the evening. Bring a date or arrive single and ready to mingle.
46. Friday Furball Flick
While adults enjoy a date night, kids can settle in for pizza, games, animal visits, and an animal-centric movie.
47. Night Lab: Aphrodisiac Drink Workshop
Learn to mix up some libidinous libations with amorous ingredients, like chocolate, chile peppers, mango, cardamom, jasmine, and saffron, from Ada's resident mixologist Jimmy LaRue.
48. Ice Age Chillout
Discover the creatures that roamed the frosty Earth during the Ice Age whilst sipping a cold beverage. Guests will learn about the process of 3D scanning and printing a mammoth; compare the giant ground sloth of the Ice Age with sloths of today; chat with Burke experts about Ice Age mammals, birds, and fish; and see how fossil shells compare to modern shells found in the Puget Sound. Admission includes two drink tickets (because "What's cooler than being cool? Enjoying an 'ice cold' beverage with your friends"), which can be redeemed for Two Beers Brewing Co. beer, Seattle Cider Company cider, wine, or the signature Polar Paloma, made with Sparkle Donkey Tequila, grapefruit juice, grapefruit seltzer, and mint.
49. The Debaucherauntes 5th Bandiversary Show with The Pickpocket Revue and The Mighty Dreadful Stringband
Cabaret-folk group the Debaucherauntes will celebrate their fifth year as a band with a klezmer-heavy show flanked by the Pickpocket Revue and the Mighty Dreadful Stringband.
50. Fabulous Downey Brothers, smomid, Limanjaya, Donald Crunk
Most music thatâs explicitly âfunâ sounds like tacky rubbish and is a tiresome chore to endure. However, Seattleâs Fabulous Downey Brothers can pull off sonic goofiness with rare aplomb. Theyâre obviously hugely skilled players who just happen to have a predilection for novelty-cartoonish tones and spazzy dynamics, not unlike Devo, Oingo Boingo, or early XTC. But within those parameters, FDB compose naggingly catchy tunes that usually come bundled with several surprises per minute. DAVE SEGAL
51. Masters of Scottish Arts
Experience the sights and sounds of Scotland with this ode to all things tartan and brogue'd, an evening of traditional dance and music through piping, drumming, and fiddling.
52. Noise Complaint: Ardalan, Pezzner, Max Ulis
Hear a little of everything from Ardalan, Pezzner, and Max Ulis at this one-record-per-DJ dance night.
53. Slow Jam: R&B Dance Party
Bump and grind to R&B slow jams and love songs, from TLC to the Weeknd.
54. Sound Off! Semifinals #1
For the 17th year, the EMP's Sound Off! pits local, under-21 bands against each other in this concert series that rewards the first-place winner with a performance slot at Bumbershoot. The semifinals will feature the winning band from each of the previous weeks' competitions, including Dreadlight, Jawzilla, Strawberry Mountain, and Maiah Wynne.
55. Hard Love: Valentine's Day with Stripped Screw Burlesque and Mod Carousel
Get toasty with the lightly clothed ladies of Stripped ScrewâViolet Tendencies, Stella D'Letto, Seraphina Fiero and Kutie La Bootieâplus the avant-garde boylesque artists of Mod Carousel for a twisted Valentine's Day evening.
56. F YES! OH F!
Support Studio Current while enjoying food, drinks, music, art, and performance. A day of writing, spectating, and meditating will be followed by a dance party.
57. WEIRD Presents: Night of 1,000 Mansons
Relive your teenage goth phase with this drag show tribute to Marilyn Manson.
58. Gordon Whitman: Stand Up! How to Get Involved, Speak Out, and Win in a World on Fire
Activist and organizer Gordon Whitman will give a rousing talk on fighting for a better and more just society, inspired by previous social movements.
59. Somali Alphabet Book Launch and Community Celebration
Somali community members will launch a new book alphabet book, Baro Af-Soomaali, a collaboration by five families.
60. Who Let Who Let the Dogs Out Out (Cancelled>
In a unique multimedia talk engaging over 250 pieces of memorabilia and artifacts, artist Ben Sisto will explore a mystery of great millennial importance: who exactly let Baha Men hit "Who Let The Dogs Out" out into our world?
61. 3-2-1 Battle
In this six-pack Challenge Qualifier, the Bird (who recently won the Battle Rumble Battalion Medallion) will take on Eddie Van Gloom, Mr. Fitness, Pitfall Jones, and Jack the Snack.
FRIDAY-SATURDAY
MUSIC62. The Great Royal Room Mardi Gras Celebration
On Friday, take in an evening of classic funk and jazz from New Orleans, including a special tribute to famed New Orleans pianist Fats Domino. Then, on Saturday, the Mardi Gras celebration continues with a Caribbean Carnival Fete.
63. Battle of the Bards XII
Out of the three plays in this high-stakes showcase, one will win a slot in the Ghost Light Theatricals 2018-19 season. This year's contestants are Ali Davis' The Salem Witch Orgasms, Olivia Sterne's The Tragical Historie of Dr. Dites, DDS, and Lauren Rekhelman's the sky is on fire.
FRIDAY-SUNDAY
PERFORMANCE64. Animal Nature
See Jerboaâs "signature athletic and emotional style" of dance, plus live music, circus arts, burlesque, and more.
65. The Atomic Bombshells: J'adore
The saucy vixens of the Atomic Bombshells troupe will celebrate 10 years of busty, feathery, glitzy fun in a show featuring Cherdonna, Ernie Von Schmaltz, the Purple Lemonade, and the Haus of Hop.
66. Kayfabe: Scenes from a Squared Ring
After a tragic in-ring accident leaves their father dead, the estranged children of professional wrestler Antaeus gather to hash out his legacy in this family dramedy loosely based on the Labours of Hercules.
67. Sex With Strangers
In an isolated B&B, a struggling, underrecognized novelist and a hugely successful blogger slip between the sheets. They have nothing in common but their love of writing, their thirst for success, and their hot bods. This play is by Laura Eason, a writer on House of Cards.
SATURDAY
ART68. Chance Fashion's 2018 Lingerie Edition
The pro-small fashion business nonprofit Chance Fashion will showcase local indie designers' boudoir creations.
69. Robot vs Sloth Grand Opening
Artist Lauren Rudeck is opening a new shop in Pike Place Market, featuring her own work and that of many other local creators. Show up to the launch party for free swag.
70. Rostad, Dari Stolzoff, and Ferrell
See vibrant abstract works that explore light and color by Rostad, Ferrell, and Dari Stolzoffas. DJ Luscious Leopard Lips will provide synthy background music.
71. Saturday University: Photography in Duterteâs Drug War
In a talk entitled "Humanizing the Inhuman: Photographing Death in Duterte's Drug War," Vicente Rafael of the University of Washington will discuss the media in Filipino dictator Rodrigo Duterte's campaign of extrajudicial killings.
72. Through the Eyes of Art
Join athletes and performers as they discuss the intersection of athletics and activism. Panelists include former Huskies basketball player Donals Watts, former Huskies wide receiver Mario Bailey, and former Green Bay Packer Joey Thomas. The evening will also include an activist-inspired installation from Byrd Barr Place Art Exhibit, as well as a poetry slam and live performances by Northwest Tap.
73. Valentine's Shrinky Dinks
Make Valentine's-themed pins, pendants, and earrings out of Shrinky Dinks (a word we love to type over and over).
74. Volunteer Park Photowalk
It may be the middle of winter, but certain native plants are thriving (especially those tucked away in the conservatory). Bring your camera to snap pictures of wintry flora and fauna.
75. Wham! Bam!
This Valentine's-themed show will offer the magnificent sight of "aerial acts condensed to their essence"ânone more than one minute and a half.
76. Edible Landscapes: Urban Gardens & Farms
Work with local landscape architects to design your own living buildings and edible landscapes.
77. Get Knotty: BDSM for Everyone
Learn some BDSM basics, from how to tie a simple knot to the correct way to drip warm oil on bare skin.
78. Neighbor Day
The Seattle Department of Neighborhoods encourages everyone to engage in random acts of kindness in their communities. Take a neighbor out to coffee, give food to someone in need, or organize a community potluck, for example.
79. Official Launching Event for Somali Museum of Washington State
Community members will launch a new Somali museum and offer lots of all-ages fun. Show your love for this neighborhood and its accomplished denizens.
80. Seattle Dress Dash Road Show
At this wedding dress clearance sale, find over 500 dresses priced at $150. There will also be discounted veils and slips and on-site seamstresses.
81. Some Bunny to Love
Help provide food and care for the rescue rabbits of Special Bunny by purchasing goods from Drizzle & Shine, snapping pictures in a photo booth, eating snacks, and petting bun buns.
82. Valentine's Day Enrichment
Feel your heart flutter as you watch otters, red pandas, snow leopards, gorillas, and other animals at the zoo celebrate Valentine's Day with heart-shaped ice pops made of fruit juice, honey, and strawberries, herbal bouquets, heart-shaped steaks, and more "romantic treats."
83. International Cribbage Day
Show your aptitude for the classic tabletop game by competing in a tournament.
84. Andre Feriante's 23rd Annual Day of Love Concert: In the House of Beauty
Much-laureled and Segovia-trained guitarist Andre Feriante will team up with vocalist Rafe Pearlman, jazz guitarist Troy Chapman, tenor Steve Thoreson, Paraguayan dancer Stella Rossi, and tabla drummer Anil Prasad to perform selections from classical and folk repertoires as well as original Latin-influenced pieces for this 23rd Day of Love concert.
85. Aquarius Rising
Get existential with a night of eclectic dance music selected by five Seattle Aquarian DJs: Dane Garfield Wilson, Hector Rodriguez, Chad Neiro, DJ Dennis, and Mr. Linden.
86. Carnival of the Animals
Cascade Symphony Orchestra will gather again to create a sonic and visual jungle of Camille Saint-Saëns's enchanted music, narrated by David Dolacky, for all ages to enjoy.
87. Drag Disco
This LGBTQ youth-produced Valentine's dance party features an "introvert room" with activities, professional drag queens from the Imperial Sovereign Court Of Seattle, and an opportunity for interested youth to participate and perform in drag.
88. HeartBeat Silent Disco: Dance Your Heart Out
For this Valentine's Day edition of HeartBeat Silent Disco, wear your most romantic gear and hop aboard the Orient Express (which will be decked out for the holiday in reds and pinks). You'll get to dance (your heart out) to a plethora of tunes from many DJs, including Emuh, Bacosaurus, iLL DiLL, Unknown ?layer, and more.
89. Sister Trickster
Beth Fleenor, of jazz-rock psychic-fusion group Crystal Beth and the Boom Boom Band, will join with dancer Vanessa Skantze for a night of explosive and experimental collaboration, with musical opener Erymanthe.
90. Super Diamond
The Surreal Neil, Randy Cordeiro, is apparently a vocal dead ringer for Neil Diamond, who was impressed enough to perform twice with the tribute band named in his honor. Expect loads of glitter and throaty vibrato.
91. Valentine's Day Soul Nite 2018
Celebrate Valentine's Day the Lo-Fi way with "vinyl soul for the lovers" provided by the Emerald City Soul Club as a warm-up for the actual day (since the holiday falls on a Wednesday this year).
92. Wicked Karma: Bollysutra Valentine's Edition
Presented by Wicked Karma, this iteration of Bollysutra is the Valentine's version of their wild Bollywood dance parties, with a professional photographer, imported Indian drinks, and Top40 and desi beats from DJ RDX.
93. Dark Hearts Club
Celebrate the darker side of Saint Valentine's Day with Angel Baby KillKillKill, featuring performances by Lil' Tigre, Jax Mourningwood, Sugar Darling, Hunny Bee, Ivonna Von Lay, Sally Savant, Miss Texas 1988, and others.
94. The Life and Times of Queen Christina of Sweden
Early-music experts and young performers will collaborate on Shulamit Kleinerman's dramatic retelling of the life of Queen Christina, who was crowned at age six and grew up to defy gender conventions and expectations of how a monarch should live.
95. Living Voices: The Right to Dream
This event combines live theatrical performances with archival film to portray the Civil Rights era through the eyes of an African American student in Mississippi during the '50s and '60s.
96. Six Degrees of Kevin, Shakin'
Kevin Bacon is around every corner, film- and TV-wise. That's why he's the namesake of the beloved road-trip-pass-time, "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon," wherein one tries to connect the actor to other actors based on the films they're in. At this burlesque game show, test your knowledge of the silent cowboy/rebel dancer.
97. Undead Cabaret: My Bloody Valentine
Make this special day musical, comedic, and horrific with spooky acts. Join them early to get tarot and rune readings.
98. A Crash Course on the History of Intersectionality: When White Privilege and Sexism Collide
Dr. Devon Atchison gives talks around the Puget Sound about American and womenâs history. Join her as she leads a conversation about the intersection of race and gender discrimination.
SATURDAY-SUNDAY
ART99. Muppett Rawk!
See illustrations that represent "the greatest of album covers and the greatest of puppetry" by Brian Snoddy, Dev Madan, TomasSisneros, Karin Madan, Augie Pagan, Erin Middendorf, Rich Werner, Rob McDaniel, and several others.
Opening Saturday
100. 33rd Seattle Improvised Music Festival
Following the format of last year's event, visiting artistsâincluding saxophonist Logan Hone (Los Angeles), bassist Evan Lipson (Chattanooga), cellist Tomeka Reid (Chicago/NYC), flutist Jane Rigler (Colorado Springs), bassist Carmen Rothwell (NYC), guitarist Davey Williams (Birmingham), and saxophonist Jack Wright (Philadelphia)âand various Northwest improvisers will meet over the course of the week in multiple duo, trio, and quartet configurations curated by the Nonsequitur crew.
101. Our Time, An Evening Gala
Local artists Yang Xiao, Xu Ping, Tang Yan, Xie Jianping, Wang Pei, and Wang Nanyan will conduct a program of Chinese music and dance from the '60s and '70s.
SUNDAY
ART102. Julia Tatiyatrairong: Cable Knits
Conceptual contemporary artist Julia Tatiyatrairong investigates the "feminine" craft, as exemplified by knitting and crochet, by applying these arts to electrical, audio, and ethernet cables. According to the artist, these pieces also capture a moment in time when wires are slowly becoming obsoleteâeven objects of nostalgia.
Closing Sunday
103. Afrodisiac Erotic Poetry Show Presents The Valentine's Juke Joint
Get flushed at this Valentine's-themed variety show, featuring poetry readings, dancing, singing, visual art, and more.
104. The Improv Festival of Applied and Rejected Theater (IFART)
Improv players excluded from the Seattle Festival of Improv Theater will make their own one-day extravaganza. They include the fine groups Book Club, Playlist, Zach & Kayla, and many others. This event is organized by the extremely funny Jet City pillar Doug Willott.
105. I Do Sodo
Looking for a wedding venue with character? Take a tour of eight historic Sodo buildings (stylized as they would be for a wedding) that define the neighborhood's modern/vintage architecture. Plus, meet planners, caterers, florists, musicians, photographers, and more.
106. Fastelavn
Fastelavn is a children's carnival traditionally celebrated in Denmark (as well as Norway, Iceland, Greenland, Estonia, Latvia, and the Faroe Islands) a couple days before Ash Wednesday. This celebration features a barrel piñata, candy, crafts, a "beat the cat out of the barrel" contest to chase away the lingering spirit of winter, and more.
107. Moving History
Moving History is the Moving Image Preservation of the Puget Sound's quarterly ciné-collage of rare and archival footage of Seattle and environs, including "feature films, historic Seattle footage, oral histories, dance performances by PNW artists," and much more.
108. Chinese New Year Celebration: Stories & Tea/Pastry Pairing
Sip tea, snack on pastries baked by Yana Bacheva Guerrero to represent symbols of good fortune, and learn about traditional symbols and rituals of prosperity for the Chinese New Year, like red envelopes and paper with Chinese words.
109. Veg Speed Date Seattle: Valentine's Edition
Meet other herbivore singles ready to mingle at this meatless mixer.
110. Ben ZĂĄr, Gabriel Seaver, Kole Galbraith, Blake Degraw
Experimental composer Ben ZĂĄr mixes electronic and acoustic sounds with a slew of instruments. Hear his live set, along with those of improvisational artist Gabriel Seaver (WEEED), Seattle-based noise and drone musician Kole Galbraith, and Seattle-based saxophonist Blake DeGraw.
111. Noisegasm, Age of Fiction, Anatolia's Finest, Juliette
Noisegasm describe their work as "Weapons Grade Electronica." They'll be joined in their melee by Age of Fiction, Anatolia's Finest, and Juliette.
112. The History of New Orting
The citizens of New Orting have survived a nuclear apocalypse, a zombie outbreak, rogue attacks, and their own ennui. Now, the student body will teach the audience about the history of their wacky home.
113. Academy of Reason & Wonder
This lecture series covers everything from history and science to language and philosophy. This time, hear from Jed Dunkerley and Kirsten Anderson on what the world was like before humans. Dunkerley will discuss strange animals you may not know about, and Anderson will discuss "how animals that died in the Mesozoic era can help us live in the present."
114. One Billion Rising
Show your support for One Billion Rising, a global movement that aims to end violence against women, by joining them in a flash mob dance. They explain: "Dancing insists we take up space, and though it has no set direction, we go there together. Dance is dangerous, joyous, sexual, holy, disruptive, and contagious, and it breaks the rules."
115. SendLove
Send artist-designed valentines, key messages, contact lists, and supplies to environmental heroes.
116. I Heart Yoga
Observe heart monthâa time to raise awareness of heart disease and learn how to prevent itâby participating in a yoga class. All proceeds benefit the American Heart Association.
117. My Better Half Marathon
These 5, 10, and half marathon runs promise "romance," "kitsch," and "sweat." Here are the categories: "Bromance" (two guy friends), "Besties" (two girl friends), "Lovers" (romantically involved), and "Lonely Hearts" (singles).
118. Rainier Pedal to the Meddle
Spin Bikeshare, Rainier Beer, and Meddle are joining forces for a Valentine's bike crawl. When you check in with a Spin rep, you'll receive your Spin bike, a free ride code, and a wristband that will give you access to discounts (including 10 percent off at Theo) and drink specials.
