Procrastinators, rejoice: There are loads of cheap and easy entertainment options for you this weekend, from weed and memoirs with David Schmader to the Taco Libre Truck Showdown, and from Independent Bookstore Day to International Tabletop Day. See all of your $10-and-under options below, or check out our complete Things To Do calendar for even more options.
FRIDAY, APRIL 29
1. Cephalopod Appreciation Society
Celebrate octopus, squid, chambered nautilus, and cuttlefish at this Hugo House event featuring poetry, music, art, and film. (Capitol Hill, free)
2. Etsuko Ichikawa: Radiating Echoes – What Is Beautiful?
Jack Straw hosts Radiating Echoes – What Is Beautiful?, a film by Etsuko Ichikawa that deals with the aftermath (social, philosophical, personal) of Japan’s massive 2011 earthquake and subsequent nuclear plant meltdown. In the film, Ichikawa conducts interviews with visually impaired people about their understandings of beauty, and then plays those recorded voices echoing around the Satsop nuclear facility tunnel. (University District, free)
3. Greg Vandy with Charles R. Cross: Woody Guthrie’s Pacific Northwest Legacy
Renowned music historian Charles Cross and KEXP’s Greg Vandy come together in conversation about Vandy’s new book on Woody Guthrie’s PNW-crossing phase, and the relationship between Social Democracy and progressive politics during the post-Great Depression era in the United States. Singer/songwriter Mike Giacolino of Ole Tinder and musician Cahalen Morrison will also be performing some of Woody Guthrie’s most-loved songs. (First Hill, $5)
4. ICON: Prince Tribute Night
The emotional and musical legacy of Prince remains unmeasurable, but up to the task of sharing how his talents have affected their work include DJs Paro, Envymatic, Rion, Alex Bosi, and Kidone. (Capitol Hill, $10)
5. Kinski, The Tripwires, and The Spoils
Around nine minutes into Kinski’s latest record, with their amps already approaching a Chernobyl-style meltdown, singer-guitarist Chris Martin gives tossed-off voice to his band’s devil-may-care modus operandi. “Let’s just go fast and see what’s there,” he drawls, just before ripping into the kind of lead that can only be played with mouth fully agape. And so it goes on Kinski’s seventh—or is it eighth? —full-length record, 7 (or 8): This is the band’s most succinct, to-the-point testament to the primeval powers of rock and roll, where the sheer number of van-rockin’ riffs top a sumo wrestler’s daily calorie count. JASON BRACELIN (University District, $10)
6. Late Night Happy Hour presents: Human Resources, Half Sister & Carskee
Human Resources Improv, Half Sister Improv, and Carskee will put on a show at Ghost Light Theatricals, with cheap drinks ranging from $2 Rainier to $5 wells. (Ballard, pay what you can)
7. Legendary Children
Experience the power of QTPOC voices in art at Legendary Children, an event presented in celebration of “the beautiful, the transgressive, and the unique.” Expect performances, DJ sets, and art by some of Seattle’s most talented queer artists, including hosts Regine Dynasty and Aleksa Manila, and DJs Riz and Reverend Dollars. (Downtown, free)
8. National Poetry Month Celebration
You should go see MacArthur Geniuses Lucia Perillo and Heather McHugh, two people with probably the most electric and expansive minds on the planet, read at this event. I’d happily attend even if the only thing Heather McHugh planned to do was talk about a sock for 20 minutes. She’s one of those people who teach you something new about life every time you come into contact with them. Washington State Poet Laureate Tod Marshall will open the event. RICH SMITH (Downtown, free)
9. Posing Beauty in African American Culture Opening Night Party
Food, drinks, and music from DJ Vitamin D are promised at this opening night party for the exhibit Posing Beauty in African American Culture. (Central District, free)
10. Reggae on Rainier Spring Jam 2016
Reggae On Rainier is celebrating the seasonal changes with Spring Jam 2016, featuring live reggae fusion sets from Shan Coleman, and Juice Band with Mista Chatman. (Rainier Valley, free)
11. The Shivas with Acapulco Lips and Charms
The Shivas are K Records’ great psych-rock hope. Seattle’s Acapulco Lips have just dropped their self-titled debut LP on the new Killroom Records, and its instantly gratifying garage-/surf-rock tunes are destined to soundtrack many memorable parties here, there, and potentially everywhere. DAVE SEGAL (Ballard, $10)
12. Sketch Comedy Month
Every night in May (plus the last weekend of April), the Pocket Theater will have sketch comedy from more than 25 Seattle-based comedy groups, including Deep Lez, Fifty Percent Less Bear, and Sketchy Santa. (Greenwood, $10/$14)
13. Suicide Squeeze IPA Release with Michael Nau
Michael Nau of Cotton Jones will be playing a set from his new album “Mowing” at the release party for the new edition of Suicide Squeeze IPA. Free beer for everyone who can prove their ID isn’t fake. (Capitol Hill, free)
14. Ten-Minute Play Festival
A collection of short live theatre works and short films, written, directed, and performed by students in the Original Works program at Cornish. Curated by Kathleen Collins and Elizabeth Heffron.
(Seattle Center, pay what you can, through Sunday)
15. What Water Knows
Sound of Late presents “What Water Knows,” a night of shimmeringly oceanic chamber music composed by Emily Doolittle, Nicole Portley, Bright Sheng, and Toru Takemitsu in conjunction with the music and poetry of marine biologists and commercial fishers. (South Lake Union, $10)
16. World Dance Party
You’re invited to learn multicultural dances and get to know your neighbors in a welcoming community setting (with food!) at the World Dance Party. (West Seattle, free)
SATURDAY, APRIL 30
17. Capitol Hill Tool Library Grand Opening
Celebrate the grand opening of the Capitol Hill Tool Library, housed in Seattle’s First Covenant Church and provided by Sustainable Capitol Hill. (Capitol Hill, free)
18. Capitol Hill Urban Outfitters 25th Anniversary Party
Celebrate heritage capitalism in the sweetest of ways by attending the pop-up market at the Urban Outfitters on Broadway in honor of their 25th birthday. They’ve teamed up with the Vera Project and Sub Pop to bring you live music, local vendors, and DIY workshops in store this Saturday. (Capitol Hill, free)
19. Comeback’s Down and Dirty Reunion 2016
Comeback’s comeback is imminent and brings with it the queer DJ talents of Pony lore and true Capitol Hill gay cultural heritage. Leading the party surge will be Colby B and DJ Mister Sister (Marcus Wilson, ex-Pony shaper), with music support and performances by Cucci Binaca and Ozma Otacava. Previously known as the longest running Capitol Hill indie queer dance party, Comeback returns in our time of need with new music and old soul to bring the house down. (Capitol Hill, $5)
20. Decked-Out Opening Night Party
Celebrate the opening of Decked-Out: an exhibit reinterpreting the traditional hanging scroll used in bonsai displays with modern skate deck art. You’ll find food, drink, music, dancing, live painting, performance art, and more; ticket price includes one drink and light appetizers. (Federal Way, $10)
21. Drawtastic
A new drawing and animation extravaganza promising vendors, festival events, an awards show, and more. They will also present several speakers and workshops (which, unlike the other activities, have a $6-$10 admission fee). (West Seattle, free)
22. Edible Plant Sale
Choose from a variety of plants that you can grow successfully in the PNW, including tomatoes, peppers, squash and corn. (Wallingford, free)
23. Erik Blood LP Release Show with Wall of Ears and Fruit Juice
Seattle’s Erik Blood seems to like to play with the ambiguity, but his new album, Lost in Slow Motion, which celebrates its freedom tonight, houses 10 songs with stretched tempos that illuminate the nuance of texture and complexity of emotion contained in each elongated moment. TODD HAMM (Fremont, $8/$10)
24. The Heavy In-Store Performance
Merciless rockers The Heavy bring their blood-pumping shredding to Easy Street with a free all-ages set. Kentucky son and occasional Sub Pop signee Daniel Martin Moore will also play a free set later in the evening. (West Seattle, free)
25. Independent Bookstore Day
In Seattle, if you want to get your hands on a real book made of paper and ink, you’re lucky enough to have plenty of independent bookstores to choose from, where friendly folks are willing to make recommendations, reach things on high shelves, and let you pet their cats. To help show your appreciation for this wealth of local resources, there’s an entire day devoted to these places: Independent Bookstore Day
26. International Tabletop Day
International Tabletop Day is the brainchild of Geek & Sundry, a website from Felicia Day that’s devoted to gaming and the counter-culture geeks that love it. Game stores on all seven continents will celebrate with all types of board, card, and role-playing games, including several in Seattle. See the complete list here. (Various locations, free)
27. Intruder #19 Release Party
Celebrate the latest (and the next to last!) release of the Intruder, a free comic newspaper, with the artists who created it. (Ballard, free)
28. KINGS: A Drag King Show
Flipping the traditional drag script, the Kings of Kremwerk will bring royalty to the stage. Your ticket to this event also gets you into the after-party, and Kremwerk staff will be collecting clothing for the Seattle Queer & Trans Clothing Exchange, so feel free to bring your stuff. (Downtown, $7/$10)
29. Mårten Spångberg: The Planet (late at night)
In conjunction with the Six Weeks, In Time exhibit, this performance event features a group of dancers and a group of assorted objects that “come together to reimagine the performer/spectator relationship as one of uncanny, mutual recognition.” The show is inspired by a fictional story that Swedish performance artist Mårten Spångberg wrote that “speculates on the sublime horror of an endless present.” A discussion with On the Boards Artistic Director Lane Czaplinski will follow the performance. (University District, $10)
30. Modo Yoga Seattle’s 2nd Birthday Weekend
Modo Yoga will have a weekend of free yoga classes (some of which will feature live music), plus drinks and snacks from local vendors and other specials in honor of their two-year anniversary in Greenlake. (Green Lake, free, through Sun)
31. Moral Crux, Die Nasty, Fallopia
For you punks who missed Zumba this morning and need to get your “sweat on,” here’s your chance to get wet pogoing to locals Die Nasty, a driving, lady-led, sing-along street-punk trio; Terman Shanks, who kick out some late-’80s style, Midwestern punk jams; and Bellingham punks Fallopia. MIKE NIPPER (Capitol Hill, $8/$10)
32. Mox-Con
In honor of their five-year anniversary and International Tabletop Day, Card Kingdom is hosting a full day of events, including trivia, panels on game design, new game demos with designers, and free tournaments (with prizes!) for Exploding Kittens, Ticket to Ride, and Splendor. There will also be a $5 Shadows Over Innistrad draft tournament at 6:30 pm. (Ballard, free)
33. The Rainy Day Splish Splosh Band, Glass Tunnels, Vandfald, Boards
PNW locals the Rainy Day Splish Splosh Band, Glass Tunnels, Vandfald, and Boards bring their drenched garage sounds to Hollow Earth. (Central District, $5)
34. Resident Night at Train Car House Party
The residents of Train Car House Party (seemingly a group of people who like to throw parties in the train cars of Orient Express) are throwing a party (natch) to celebrate themselves this weekend. Expect a DJ, house rules enforced, and dancing all night long. (Sodo, free)
35. Seattle Cannabis Freedom March and Global Marijuana March
Experience democracy for botany’s sake at a pedestrian pace at the annual global Cannabis Freedom March on April 30th. This year’s theme focuses on the recent developments of Washington State’s medical cannabis system and the apparent need for continued reform with regard to current state and federal cannabis laws. There will be over 30 speakers and 3 bands throughout the day, with citizens and activists marching from Westlake Park to downtown Seattle to support their right to light (up). (Capitol Hill, free)
36. Sheer Mag, Lysol, Mysterious Skin, Ubu Roi
Philly-based punk-garage-soul outfit Sheer Mag have been making waves beyond the DIY circuit recently with their hyperactive power-pop hooks and gruesomely catchy Joe-Jackson-meets-Jackson-5 vibe. With absurdly melodic, big guitars and Christina Halladay’s endearingly retro, bubbly soul vocals, Sheer Mag should get even the biggest cross-armed curmudgeon singing along. BRITTNIE FULLER (Eastlake, $8)
37. Stewart O’Nan
Stewart O’Nan will read from the novel City of Secrets, a “moral thriller” depicting the Jewish underground resistance in Jerusalem after the Second World War. (Capitol Hill, free)
38. Tacos!, Great Goddamn, Old Iron, Post/Boredom
OMG, y’all, its everyone’s favorite, Gwen Stubbs’s 35th motherfucking birfday. And to celebrate, she is throwing one heavy-duty rock-and-roll bash, like, TONIGHT! Tacos!, a two-piece who are a perfect matched pair—think left and right fists—of metal fury, are playing, supported by locals Great Goddamn, Old Iron, AND Post/Boredom. MIKE NIPPER (Ballard, $8)
39. World Tai Chi and Qigong Day at the Seattle Chinese Garden
In honor of the world holiday that will be celebrated in more than 80 countries this Saturday, the Seattle Chinese Garden will have free tai chi and qigong demonstrations that are open to everyone. You’re welcome to just observe too, and the organizers say that the demonstration may be broadcast on the online stream of “24 Hours of World Peace: World Tai Chi Qigong Day 2016.” (South Seattle, free)
SUNDAY, MAY 1
40. Anastasia Higginbotham
Anastasia Higginbotham, known for her refreshingly honest books for children (like Divorce is the Worst) will read from her newest work, Death is Stupid. Both children and adults are encouraged to attend. (Capitol Hill, free)
41. Artist Open Studios
Head to Magnuson Park for Building 30 West’s twice-yearly open studio event, where you’ll be able to explore the work of local artists and check out their work spaces. (Ravenna, free)
42. Alice Gosti: a tiny act of kindness
Performed by Sean Tomerlin and Amy Ross, this “durational work” by Alice Gosti (part of Six Weeks, In Time) explores intimate gesture as performers repeat and alter a caress. (University District, free)
43. Hollywood’s Exodus Explored Anew
Film scholar Foster Hirsch, a man with a serious movie and theatre obsession who has written 16 books to prove it, comes to Stroum Jewish Community Center to deliver a lecture following their screening of Exodus (1960). (Mercer Island, $5-$10)
44. Holocaust Remembrance Day and Anne Frank Tree Dedication
The Holocaust Center for Humanity presents a remembrance event and tree dedication featuring a talk by Holocaust survivor Laureen Nussbaum and music by Sera Cahoone. (Seattle Center, free)
45. Loudmouth Cunts
An all-female identifying comedy showcase that happens on the first Sunday of every month. (Capitol Hill, $5)
46. May Day Celebration and Potluck
Go dance around the Maypole with the Fremont Arts Council as they celebrate the rites of fertility and springtime on May Day. They’ll be taking over the Woodland Park field at 3pm to weave the pole. Wear white and bring flowers for head wreaths, and food and drink to share. All are welcome, and they’re always looking for volunteers. (Phinney, free)
47. May Day! Drag to the Rescue!
Sylvia O’Stayformore will host this dog adoption fair and fundraiser to benefit Ginger’s Pet Rescue. From noon-3 pm, there will be an all-ages dog adoption event and silent auction, and from 1-2:30 there will be a 21+ drag show (liquor is promised). There’s no charge for this event, although donations are encouraged. (International District, free)
48. May Day March and Rally for Workers and Immigrant Rights
On May Day, El Comité will lead their annual May Day march for workers and immigrant rights, starting with a program at Judkins Park and following with a march beginning at St. Mary’s Church at 3 pm. (Rainier Valley, free)
49. Pretty Broken Things, Mimi Gilbert, Handsome and Gretyl
Pretty Broken Things is a great band to see live if banjos don’t annoy you. In fact, banjos are quite nice in the hands of this band, who will be performing with Mimi Gilbert and Handsome and Gretyl at the Sunset, for a night of touching folk-pop. (Ballard, $8)
50. Revolver Anniversary DJ Fest
Revolver Bar is turning a big two years old, so a celebration is in order. All day and all night, local DJ talents, like DJs Salinger, Hellhound, Tomi, Explorateur, Emmanuelle, Ice Cold Rollers, Sharlese, VI, Diogenes, and Zorgog the Magnificent, will be throwing down sets, with $1 Rainiers and drink specials the whole damn time you’re there. (Capitol Hill, free)
51. Schubertiade
Schubert’s works will be performed, preceded by a half-hour lecture beginning at 4 pm. (University District, free)
52. Selah Korah, Midnight Atmosphere, Moose Light Kingdom
Local indie rockers Selah Korah are joined by Midnight Atmosphere and Moose Light Kingdom at the Skylark. (West Seattle, $7)
53. Taco Libre Truck Showdown
Along the Canal in Fremont, the third annual Taco Libre Truck Showdown promises more than 40 food trucks and booths competing for your affection with tacos, beer, margaritas, and mariachi bands. (Fremont, free entry)
54. Weed* & Memoir with David Schmader
Weed* & Memoir is a night of readings from memoirists, plus interpretive readings of classic memoirs, headlined by David Schmader, whose new book Weed: The User’s Guide—A 21st Century Handbook for Enjoying Marijuana, is, in the words of Tobias Coughlin-Bogue, “indispensable for stoners and novices alike.” *Disclaimer from Hugo House: “Hugo House will not be selling weed, or allowing anyone to partake of it on the property. It’s legal and all, but the finer points of commercial consumption are still being hammered out, so, as Dave Schmader said, ‘Please do what humanity’s always done and come high.’” (Capitol Hill, $5 suggested)
55. Weird and Awesome with Emmett Montgomery
On the first Sunday of each month, comedy, variety, and “a parade of wonder and awkward sharing” are hosted by the self-proclaimed “mustache wizard” Emmett Montgomery. (Capitol Hill, $5-$10)
