Culture Fiend

Met Picks: Death Cab for Cutie, The Producers, Introdans

The top 10 things to see or do this weekend.

Posted by: Seattle Met Staff on May 10, 2012 at 12:00PM 0 Comments

Death Cab for Cutie gets orchestral backing this Sunday at the Paramount.

CONCERTS

May 11 & 12
The Maldives and the Moondoggies
It’s a double-double feature. Two of Seattle’s favorite Americana acts play the Tractor on back-to-back nights to send off the Maldives’ Ryan McMackin, who’ll soon move to Sweden. Tractor Tavern, $12.

May 12 & 13
Seattle Rock Orchestra Performs the Beatles
The all-volunteer orchestra begins a new annual tradition—covering two Beatles albums in their entirety—with Rubber Soul and Revolver. Moore Theatre, $18.

May 12
Music Matters Live!
In support of Washington State’s youth music education programs, this third annual benefit brings in classical and contemporary performers, students and pros, for a big night of rocking for a cause. Local acts Brad (featuring Pearl Jam’s Stone Gossard), Star Anna and the Laughing Dogs, LeRoy Bell and His Only Friends, and Vicci Martinez will team up with the Synergia Northwest Orchestra. Neptune Theatre, $21–$44.

May 13
Death Cab for Cutie featuring the Magik Magik Orchestra
While fans (a little too eagerly) await new tunes inspired by the breakup of lead singer Ben Gibbard and wife Zooey Deschanel, Death Cab continues to tour behind its 2011 album Codes and Keys, now fleshed out with help from San Francisco’s Magik*Magik Orchestra. Paramount Theatre, $31–$45.

FILM

May 11
Music-Craft featuring Jimi Hendrix, Fleetwood Mac, and the Police
These concert films showcase Jimi Hendrix’s last show with the Experience and an early-career concert by the Police in Germany. Sandwiched between the two is the un­released Fleetwood Mac tour documentary Rumors and Beyond, which catches the band at its peak. NW Film Forum, $6–$10.

May 11–14
Children of Paradise
This beloved 1945 film tells the tale of a Parisian woman and her four pursuers: a mime, an actor, a thief, and an aristocrat. SIFF Film Center, $7–$10.

DANCE

May 10–12
Introdans
On the occasion of its 40th anniversary the Dutch dance company travels to New York and Seattle, bringing a trio of contemporary works, including Brazilian choreographer Gisela Rocha’s Paradise?, set to a squeaking, propulsive score. Meany Hall, $20–$42.

BOOKS & TALKS

May 11
Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy: Secrets of the Presidents Club
In terms of exclusivity, it’s hard to find a more select group than the Presidents Club, an actual group comprised of ex-Presidents. Time magazine’s editorial team explores how the private interactions and ego clashes of these powerful men have shaped our country. Town Hall, $5.

THEATER

May 9–July 1
The Producers
Before The Book of Mormon, this Mel Brooks howler about producers crafting the biggest bomb in musical theater history was the ticket on Broadway. It won a record-breaking 12 Tonys and secured our love with the ridiculous signature tune “Springtime for Hitler.” Village Theatre in Issaquah, $27–$62.

May 11–28
Bed Snake
It’s a rare show that promises to “melt your face,” but this world premiere by the fringe theater’s co–artistic directors, Noah Benezra and Hannah Franklin, does just that. Expect to be blasted by crunk—club beats, hip hop, bright lights—in a show that sounds reminiscent of WET’s music-video-on-stage RoboPop. Washington Ensemble Theatre, $10–$25.

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Tags: Met Picks, Weekend Events

Met Picks: Sarah Vowell, Woody Guthrie Project, LeRoy Bell and His Only Friends

The top 10 things to see or do this weekend.

Posted by: Seattle Met staff on Mar 08, 2012 at 05:00PM 0 Comments

He’s 60?! LeRoy Bell (right) and His Only Friends

CONCERTS

Mar 8 & 9
LeRoy Bell and His Only Friends
Seattle’s own X Factor finalist—a 60-year-old singer-songwriter who’s penned tracks for Elton John and performed with B. B. King—settles into a two-night stand at his second home. The Triple Door, $30-$40.

Mar 10
Woody Guthrie Project
Alt-country artists Yim Yames of My Morning Jacket, Jay Farrar and Anders Parker of Gob Iron, and Will Johnson of Centro-matic showcase their new album of previously unrecorded Guthrie lyrics that honors the folk singer’s legacy. Showbox at the Market, $25–$25.

BOOKS & TALKS

Mar 10
Sarah Vowell
The NPR wit has uncovered the feisty side of Puritans; with her latest book, Unfamiliar Fishes, she takes on Hawaii’s bloody past. Neptune Theatre, $21–$32.50.

THEATER

Mar 10–May 20
First Date
The ghosts of partners past and overzealous matchmakers haunt a Wall Street trader and Soho artist on their first date; see how they fare in the musical comedy’s premiere, coproduced by 5th Avenue Theatre and ACT. ACT Theatre, $15–$69.

Thru Apr 1
Dina Martina: Ample Wattage
Actor Grady West’s alter ego, a surreally untalented chanteuse whose sole gift remains her ability to inspire convulsive laughter, delivers an all-new song-and-dance act. Re-bar, $20.

CLASSICAL & MORE

Mar 11
Emanuel Ax
The virtuosic pianist plays Copland’s Piano Variations—a slight departure for audiences used to his Grammy-winning performances of Beethoven. Not to fear: Ludwig’s Eroica Variations are also on the program. Benaroya Hall, $17–$110.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Mar 9
BAMignite: Meditation Rave
Bellevue Arts Museum celebrates the opening of new exhibit Making Mends with a late-night art party featuring live music by Seattle songwriter Kaylee Cole, guided meditation, art making, and boozy beverages. Bellevue Arts Museum, $10.

Mar 10
Seattle Art Museum Community Day
For those who haven’t seen the Gauguin and Polynesia exhibit yet, SAM will hand out free tickets (typically $18–$23) today; just be one of the first 400 people queued up at the Hammering Man at 10am. The museum will also host Tahitian drumming acts and Polynesian dance classes throughout the day. Seattle Art Museum downtown, free–$23.

Mar 10 & 11
Seattle Bike Expo
It’s the largest consumer bike show in the U.S., with more than 250 booths covering the latest gear. The classic lightweight bike exhibition features hand-built frames from around the globe. Another can’t-miss event: Nick Harden and Wendy Allen on “A Unicycle Built for Two.” Pier 91, Smith Cove Cruise Terminal, $10–$12.

GUILTY PLEASURE

Mar 10
Hunger Games National Mall Tour
Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss), Liam Hemsworth (Gale), and Josh Hutcherson (Peeta) will be in Seattle to promote the release of the first film, out March 23. A Q&A starts outside the Microsoft Store in University Village at 3:30; beware the teenage hordes. University Village, free.

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Tags: Met Picks, Weekend, Weekend Events

Met Picks: Wild Flag, TedX Rainier, Minus the Bear

The top 10 things to see or do this weekend.

Posted by: Seattle Met staff on Nov 10, 2011 at 03:00PM 1 Comments

Wild Flag takes its name literally.

CONCERTS Pint-size Brooklyn powerhouse Sharon Jones has the swagger of James Brown, and her explosive eight-piece band the Dap-Kings sets the standard for unapologetically retro soul. Time to dance your face off at Showbox at the Market. Nov 10.

Wild Flag, a perfect storm of punk femmes fronted by Sleater-Kinney’s (and Portlandia’s) Carrie Brownstein, plays Neumos. Nov 11.

Seattle prog rockers Minus the Bear wrap their 10-year-anniversary tour with a performance of their debut album Highly Refined Pirates (in its entirety) at Showbox at the Market. Nov 11.

It may sound like the blues, but Sub Pop’s newest guitar hero plays the music of his native Mali, using a 1,000-year-old ancestor of the banjo called the ngoni. Catch Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni Ba at Meany Hall. Nov 12.

CLASSICAL Seattle Symphony plays Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini and Sibelius’s Second Symphony as part of its Masterworks series; the orchestra is joined by Seattle Symphony Chorale for Poulenc’s Gloria. Nov 10–13.

SPECIAL EVENT Back for its second year, all-day TED event TedX Rainier brings in over 25 speakers, everyone from travel guru Rick Steves to aviator Erik Lindbergh (grandson of Charles), to give the presentation of their lives in 18 minutes or less. It’s invite only, but you can submit a request online. Nov 12.

BOOKS & TALKS New small press festival Short Run launches this Saturday at Vera Project; the all-day event showcases the best in locally made books, literary magazines, zines, comics, and graphic novels, with an after-party at Fantagraphics Books. Nov 12.

VISUAL ART The former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) building has been remodeled as Inscape, a new art enclave that houses over 100 artists and their studios. Wander the corridors and check out the latest local projects this Saturday during the all-day open house. Nov 12, 11–7.

FAMILY It’s now a rite of passage for indie bands like the Shins to guest star on the Nick Jr. show alongside the dancing monsters of Yo Gabba Gabba. The live show’s no different: Expect to beat box with ’80s rapper Biz Markie and do the Razzle Dazzle Dancey Dance with Leslie Hall at the Paramount. Nov 12 & 13.

THEATER Now in previews: Seattle Rep reprises Sylvia, a fan favorite about a newly adopted pooch (played here by Linda K. Morris) that comes between a married couple. Be forewarned: November 13 is “bring your dog to the theater” night, with 100 pooches expected to attend. Tickets are still available for the human-only balcony seats. Nov 11–Dec 11.

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Tags: Met Picks, Weekend, Weekend Events

Met Picks: Pilobolus, SketchFest, SRO Plays Stevie Wonder

The top 10 things to see or do this weekend.

Posted by: Seattle Met staff on Oct 06, 2011 at 03:00PM 0 Comments

Photo courtesy John Cornicello.

“Acrobaticalist” troupe Nanda unleashes the power of The Jacket at Broadway Performance Hall.

THEATER “Acrobaticalist” troupe Nanda previewed The Jacket, a boundary-busting performance about a jacket with magical powers, during Bumbershoot 2010. It returns fully formed, with more juggling, martial arts, comedy, video clips, and backflips. October 6–23.

In Dog Sees God, opening Friday at ACT, the Peanuts gang goes to high school, where Linus is a pothead, Peppermint Patty’s a party girl, and Charlie Brown is still depressed. October 7–30.

CONCERTS Expect favorites like “Superstition,” “You Are the Sunshine of My Life,” and “Sir Duke” when the Seattle Rock Orchestra covers Stevie Wonder at the Moore. October 8.

Foster the People’s rise to prominence has been swift thanks to the catchy single “Pumped Up Kicks” from their first album, Torches, released this past May. The indie-pop trio plays Showbox SoDo with Cults opening. October 9.

COMIC CON Seattle comics lovers, fantasy fans, gamers, and LARPers unite for the first-ever GeekGirlCon. Don’t miss TV’s queen geek Jane Espenson (writer for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Battlestar Galactica, Game of Thrones, and new drama Once Upon a Time) on Saturday at EMP. October 8 & 9.

DRINKING AGENDA Elysian Brewing’s Great Pumpkin Beer Fest returns, with more than 50 gourd-enhanced brews offered in the Elysian’s new Georgetown digs. October 8 & 9.

VISUAL ART New performance art troupe Saint Genet (an offshoot of Implied Violence) spills into Occidental Square with its third and latest happening tonight around 6. Expect a “whirling, nauseating, and terrifying rendition of Black Baby”; the final act is a requiem of sorts tomorrow night at 8 at the former Lawrimore Project (831 Airport Way). To quote our arts editor Laura Dannen: “I’m kind of scared and have no idea what this show is about, but I’m going anyway.” October 6 & 7.

CLASSICAL Offbeat chamber music group Simple Measures hosts a performance of Bachianas Brasileiras no. 5 by Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos, written for eight cellos. Hence, this shall be called Cello Divas. October 7 & 9.

COMEDY This year’s three-day SketchFest boasts 15 sketch comedy groups from Seattle to Chicago to Grand Rapids, Michigan (ooh!), plus a comedy film festival tonight at 7 with Luke Burbank, Lauren Weedman, and John Osebold as celebrity judges. October 6–8.

DANCE Hard to believe that modern dance troupe Pilobolus, that crazy bunch of shape-shifters who can spell your name with their bodies, has been around for 40 years. They twist and tumble at Meany Hall. October 6–8.

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Tags: Met Picks, Weekend Events,

“Hail to the Zombie Capital of the World!”

And other news from this weekend.

Posted by: Laura Dannen on Jul 05, 2011 at 04:00PM 0 Comments

Photo: Alexandra Notman.

Zombies rejoice (From left) Wesley Hardy, Matt Loeffelholz, Sheridan Long, Jenn Yeitz, and Lauren Broomall decided to switch blood for beer after leaving the Fremont Red, White and Dead Zombie Walk in 2010.

View Slideshow » Illustration:

Photo: Alexandra Notman.

Zombies rejoice (From left) Wesley Hardy, Matt Loeffelholz, Sheridan Long, Jenn Yeitz, and Lauren Broomall decided to switch blood for beer after leaving the Fremont Red, White and Dead Zombie Walk in 2010.

News by the numbers

4,522 The number of zombies in Fremont on July 2—enough to regain the Guinness World Record for “largest zombie walk” from Asbury Park, NJ, who ripped it from us last year with 4,093 undead. Individual zombies had to be photographed in order to make the record legitimate, says event organizer Ryan Reiter. Good thing they’re not camera shy. We echo Reiter: “Hail to the Zombie Capital of the World!”

8.8 Rating out of 10 that Pitchfork gave Shabazz Palaces for its new album Black Up, out June 30. (Admittedly, the review was written by former Stranger music editor Eric Grandy, but critics across the board are heaping praise on the hip-hop duo’s latest LP.)

9 Number of extramarital encounters The Stranger’s Dan Savage and husband Terry Miller have had during their monogamish" relationship. “And far from it being a destabilizing force in our relationship, it’s been a stabilizing force. It may be why we’re still together,” Savage told The New York Times Magazine this Sunday in the article "Infidelity Will Keep Us Together.

Zero Incentives the state of Washington will offer budding Spielbergs who want to make movies, TV shows, or commercials within our borders. The state legislature chose not to extend a 30 percent rebate program for filmmakers —a program that didn’t compete with better packages in Vancouver and Oregon. Looks like season two of The Killing will still have plenty of fake Seattle shots.

$10,000 The amount the Northwest Film Forum’s Film Fund will grant the documentary filmmaker from the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana or Alaska) who wins its inaugural competition. To enter, you must be a director, codirector, or producer of a documentary in production or preproduction. Deadline to apply is August 20.

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Tags: News, Art News, Music News, Pop Culture News, Weekend Events

Met Picks: Seattle Int’l Beerfest, Zombie Walk, Shabazz Palaces

The top 9 things to see or do this weekend (plus 10 ways to salute our independence).

Posted by: Laura Dannen on Jun 30, 2011 at 01:00PM 0 Comments

Artwork for Shabazz Palaces’s new album, Black Up.

CONCERT Seattle’s rising hip-hop stars Shabazz Palaces make their much-anticipated Sub Pop debut with new album Black Up and a two-night release party at Neumos. June 30 & July 1.

Celtic rock group the Paperboys play a free Out to Lunch concert at Harbor Steps tomorrow at noon. July 1.

Seattle’s pop-rock crew Curtains for You, which just released its third album, and Portland’s Kelli Schaefer play a benefit concert tonight at Columbia City Theater to support Arts Corps. June 30.

BOOZING To celebrate the return of the the city’s biggest brouhaha (brew-haha?) this weekend, the Seattle International Beerfest at Seattle Center, we show you highlights from last year’s event, brought to you by our intrepid hopheads. July 1–3.

FIREWORKS! Here are 10 great ways to salute our independence, including the Family Fourth at Lake Union, Renton’s Fabulous Fourth, and a massive vegan BBQ. July 4.

SPECIAL EVENTS The Red, White, and Dead zombie walk has become the unofficial kickoff to the Fourth of July weekend in Seattle: thousands of hunched, moaning figures shuffling through Fremont. Come early and event organizers will help you do your makeup—every undead man counts as they try to reclaim the world record for “largest zombie walk on the planet.” The party continues with beer gardens, food trucks, and live music. July 2.

GET OUTTA TOWN If the weather cooperates, the long weekend is the perfect time for an outdoor adventure. For your consideration: 20 hiking and biking trails, all within one hour of downtown.

VISUAL ART Kristina Hagman gives a nod to Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai’s famous woodblock prints, Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, with color woodcut images of our own famous peak, Mount Rainier. It’s the last day to catch this exhibit at Cullom Gallery. Thru June 30.

Examine the mountains, canyons, and awe-inspiring landscapes of North America through the eyes of 19th-century painters when Beauty and Bounty opens at Seattle Art Museum. June 30–Sept 11.

FILM Documentary Page One: Inside the New York Times opens this Friday, July 1, at the Seven Gables Theatre.

Happy Fourth!

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Tags: Met Picks, Weekend Events

Met Picks: Remix, Avatar: The Exhibition, U2 360°

The top 10 things to see or do this weekend.

Posted by: Annie Rose Favreau on Jun 02, 2011 at 02:00PM 1 Comments

This could be you at the EMP’s Avatar exhibition.

VISUAL ART You have four more days to journey into Nick Cave’s Center of the Earth, but if you want to see the soundsuits in action, get down to SAM’s late-night Remix party. The first 50 guests sporting faux fur get in for free! June 3.

THEATER If empire waists are more your style, Sense and Sensibility —Book-It’s fourth Jane Austen adaptation—opens this Saturday. June 3–26.

DANCE A peasant girl, a reckless young man, and hordes of creepy ghost brides populate PNB’s world premiere of Giselle. Since the production harkens back to the show’s earliest Parisian choreography (circa 1840s), we’ve been told to expect some old-fashion pantomime. We repeat: There will be miming. June 2–12.

CONCERT Last summer, Bono canceled U2’s Emerald City concert due to emergency surgery. He’s come back to make amends and rock out in the U2 360° Tour. Bonus: Lenny Kravitz opens. June 4.

EXHIBIT Avatar: The Exhibition kicks off this weekend with a celebrity discussion panel of the film’s actors and special effects artists, including actress Michelle Rodriguez and animation supervisor Richie Baneham. Wander the exhibit to play with a full-seized Amplified Mobility Platform suit, see hand-made character models of your favorite blue cat people, and ogle at the latest in 3D technology. June 4.

COMEDY The title says it all: Excuse me, does my piano count as one carry-on? is part of the Nordic Heritage Museum’s concert series and features Swedish comedian/musician Magnus Martensson. Bring on the lutefisk humor! June 5.

FASHION Metal pipes, ceramic tiles, and industrial upholstery fabric don’t generally make for high-end couture, but at Product Runway’s 2011 garment competition every outfit must be constructed using only interior design materials. However, the raffle prize is silk: a personally tailored Jason Wu gown. June 3.

FILM FEST Have you made it to a SIFF show yet? Better get a move on: the festival’s halfway over. Celebrate the mid-point with a screening of Service Entrance, followed by cocktails, Boom Noodle nibbles, and Dilettante desserts at SIFF’s Centerpiece Gala.

SIFF 2011 recommendation: Straight off the boards of Broadway, Roundabout Theater Company’s filmed production of The Importance of Being Earnest hits Seattle screens tonight. Oh, and Lady Bracknell is played by a man. Boy, Amador, and Tornado Alley also make the cut, and we’re intrigued by the premise of the James Marsh’s (Man on Wire) documentary Project Nim: A chimpanzee is raised as a human child. SIFF runs thru June 12.

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Tags: Met Picks, Weekend Events

Met Picks: Sasquatch!, Craig Ferguson, 300-Plus Rockwells

The top 10 things to see or do this weekend.

Posted by: Laura Dannen on May 26, 2011 at 09:40AM 0 Comments

Photo: courtesy Danny Clinch.

Death Cab for Cutie, looking…ironically debonair.

Editor’s note: I’m leaving town for two weeks on a little (big) vacation, so this is the last you’ll hear from me for a while. But don’t lose sleep over it: Culture Fiend will be in good hands while I’m gone. Keep checking back for news and reviews—and have fun at the Gorge. —LD.

MUSIC FEST About 100,000 people will make a pilgrimage this weekend to Sasquatch! music fest at the Gorge in George. Foo Fighters headline the mainstage on opening night (Friday), followed by Death Cab for Cutie on Saturday, Flaming Lips and Modest Mouse on Sunday, and the Decemberists and Wilco on Monday. Don’t skip those side stages: That’s where you’ll find Sleigh Bells, Yeasayer and Ratatat.

Couldn’t get tickets? Listen to full sets on KEXP and NPR all weekend. May 27–30.

VISUAL ART Last chance to see more than 300 original Norman Rockwell paintings and Saturday Evening Post covers in one building. American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell is in its final weekend at Tacoma Art Museum. Thru May 30.

LOCAL FESTIVAL Seattle’s favorite soul band Wheedle’s Groove joins West African drummers, bluegrass fiddlers, and Middle Eastern dancers at the 40th annual Northwest Folklife Festival. May 27–30.

COMEDY Scottish funnyman and host of CBS’s Late Late Show Craig Ferguson brings his classy comedy act to the Moore. May 29.

JAZZ Jazz Alley presents Four Generations of Miles, a tribute to Miles Davis featuring band members who played with the late, great trumpeter during the course of his life—including guitarist Mike Stern, saxophonist Sonny Fortune, bassist Buster Williams, and Jimmy Cobb on drums. Making reservations is recommended. May 26–29.

CONCERT Rappers Drake and Odd Fortune have sampled her songs—so has the Glee cast. Everybody wants a little bit of Swedish indie star Lykke Li. She’s at Showbox at the Market. May 26.

THEATER Want to see talented women relish a raunchy, foul-mouthed script? Skip Bridesmaids and buy a ticket to Theater Schmeater’s Reservoir Dolls, an adaptation of Quentin Tarantino’s macho cult classic Reservoir Dogs. Thru June 18.

FILM Okay, don’t really skip Bridesmaids. It’s hilarious (there’s a Judd Apatow-brand poop scene for the guys, and Kristen Wiig’s crazy bridal shower rage scene for the girls). In theaters now.

SIFF 2011 recommendations: We enjoyed Boy and Natural Selection, and this Sunday is the only day to catch the 227-minute epic drama from Portugal, Mysteries of Lisbon. SIFF runs thru June 12.

And don’t forget Seattle Beer Week. If we can’t have sun this weekend, at least we’ll have beer.

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Tags: Met Picks, Weekend Events

Give Mom a Night On the Town

Five ways to thank that lovely lady—and get her out of the house.

Posted by: Allyson Marrs on May 04, 2011 at 02:00PM 0 Comments

Photo courtesy John Ulman.

Giggle, giggle, gossip, gossip. Candace Vance and Leslie Law star in The Merry Wives of Windsor.

Skip the brunch line (we hear the eggs are cold and the mimosas are weak) and consider giving Mom a little culture for Mother’s Day. It’s the least you can do after all those years of teen angst you put her through.

For the Original Desperate Housewife
Before Wisteria Lane, there was the village of Windsor, where Mistresses Ford and Page had their fun with the foolish Falstaff. Mom will get a kick out of The Merry Wives of Windsor, a Seattle Shakespeare production on at Center House. $22–$38. May 7 & 8 at 2 & 7:30.

For the Well-Read Lady
All you have to do is whisper three little words (“Joyce. Carol. Oates.”) and her interest will be piqued. At Town Hall on Sunday, local actors will do dramatic readings of female-centric literature for Short Stories Live!, including Joyce Carol Oates’s “Upholstery,” Sarah Orne Jewett’s “A White Heron,” and Mary McCarthy’s “Cye.” $10–$15. May 8 at 4.

For the Mom Who Sings in the Shower
Seattle Opera’s production of The Magic Flute, which opens Saturday, has it all: a score by Mozart, a fairytale love story, and high fashion (the costumer is famed designer Zandra Rhodes). Mom will be humming arias on the ride home. $25–$192. May 7 at 7:30, May 8 at 2.

For the Mom Who Tipples at Noon
Sample Matthews Estate’s new wines during this special Mother’s Day event. Not only will Mom appreciate her surroundings—the boutique winery’s sprawling eight-acre property in Woodinville—but she’ll also get a free tasting just by showing off photos of you. May 8 from 1–6. Matthews Estate House, 16116 140th PI NE, Woodinville.

For the Mom Who Needs a Nap
Northwest Film Forum will screen the best short films from the past six years of the Seattle Children’s Film Festival, and give out mimosas for moms and goodies for the kids. Mimosas? A dark room? Sounds lovely to us. $6–$9. May 8 at 5.

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Tags: Holiday Events, Mother's Day, Weekend Events

Met Picks: David Sedaris, Chris Cornell, Pro Bull Riders

The top 10(ish) things to see or do this weekend.

Posted by: Seattle Met Staff on Apr 28, 2011 at 01:53PM 0 Comments

Author and humorist David Sedaris will discuss his new book, titled Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk, at Benaroya Hall on Sunday.

DANCE The world premiere of Catherine Cabeen’s Into the Void, inspired by the work of contemporary artist Yves Klein, brings together a digital media artist, an installation artist, and a kora player to create a dance-theater performance at On the Boards. Apr 28–30.

FILM Bill Cunningham New York, a documentary about the New York Times photographer obsessed with style and the documentation of fashion trends, opens at the Harvard Exit tomorrow. Read style editor Laura Cassidy’s take on the film on the Wear What When blog. Opens Apr 29.

See Glee star Heather Morris’s directorial debut—and a host of other aspiring young filmmakers’ work—at the National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY) this weekend. Apr 28–May 1.

The eighth annual Langston Hughes African American Film Fest features more than 30 films, including Sundance Audience Award winner and festival opener Kinyarwanda, based on true stories of Rwandan genocide survivors. Apr 30–May 8.

THEATER Love Horse is a story of boy meets girl, boy and girl fall in love, boy breaks a tooth and, um, discovers he was born a horse. The West Coast premiere at Washington Ensemble Theatre opens on Friday (with a preview tonight). Apr 29–June 6.

VISUAL ART Last chance to see Light in Darkness at Western Bridge, in which nearly 20 artists, including Martin Creed and Euan Macdonald, experiment with light as the main medium, brightening the dark galleries with an incandescent (and fluorescent) glow. Thru Apr 30.

CLASSICAL & MORE In the Glass Ceiling, Simple Measures hosts New York quartet Ethel for a performance of Philip Glass’s score to the 2002 film The Hours. Also on the program are pieces by Terry Riley, Huang Ruo, David Lang and Julia Wolfe. Apr 29 & 30.

CONCERTS Love ’em or hate ’em, Seattle band the Head and the Heart are getting big. They have two sold-out shows this weekend, one at Showbox at the Market on Friday and one at the Moore on Saturday. Apr 29 at 9 & 30 at 8.

Another sold-out show Soundgarden front man Chris Cornell makes a stop at the Moore on Sunday to play an intimate solo acoustic set as part of his spring Songbook tour. Maybe he’ll talk about the rumored new Soundgarden album? May 1 at 8.

BOOKS & TALKS David Sedaris, our favorite humorist and author of Me Talk Pretty One Day, reads from his new book of twisted fables, Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk, at Benaroya Hall. May 1 at 7.

SPECIAL EVENT Let out your inner cowboy (or girl) at the Professional Bull Riders event at KeyArena. Seventy tons of dirt will be hauled in for the top 40 bull riders in the world, all for an eight-second ride and a buck to the curb. Apr 30 at 7.

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Tags: Met Picks, Weekend Events

Met Picks: O Lovely Glowworm, Paul Simon, Nirvana

The top 10 things to see or do this weekend.

Posted by: Laura Dannen on Apr 14, 2011 at 03:00PM 0 Comments

NCTC’s O Lovely Glowworm will also pay tribute to late actor Mark Chamberlin, who was slated to play the Goat.

THEATER Playwright Glen Berger, who recently cowrote the book for Broadway’s Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, crafts a fantastical tale of love-struck soldiers, mermaids, unicorns, and a contemplative goat in 1918 Ireland for O Lovely Glowworm. NCTC’s production is on stage now at Erickson Theatre. Thru May 14.

MUSIC FEST IN HD Watch your favorite acts from this weekend’s Coachella music fest in California—including the Black Keys, Duran Duran, and Gogol Bordello—live at Moe Bar on big, big TVs. Apr 15–17.

EXHIBIT Candid band photos. Busted guitars. Original lyrics written by Kurt Cobain. The new Nirvana exhibit at EMP is the most comprehensive look at Seattle’s grunge gods to date. It starts a two-year run at EMP|SFM on Saturday. Apr 16, 2011–Apr 22, 2013.

CLASSICAL & MORE PCP vs. Lesbian? Not kidding. Portland Cello Project and art-metal band Lesbian blend contemporary and classical music at the Sorrento for Chamber vs. Chamber. Apr 17.

Early Music Guild recruits commedia actors, baroque musicians and choreographer Donald Byrd to produce bawdy opera A Day on the Town, A Night in Hell. Apr 16.

RECORD STORE DAY In honor of all things vinyl, the Head and the Heart show will play a free, all-ages show at Easy Street Records in Lower Queen Anne on Saturday at 7pm. Apr 16.

CONCERT Paul Simon kicks off his latest tour in Seattle. He’s at WaMu Theater on Friday and the much more intimate (and very sold out) Showbox at the Market on Sunday. Apr 15 & 17.

The Maldives show off their local alt-country cred at Neumos on Friday. Apr 15.

SPECIAL EVENT The twice-annual book binge is back, with more than 200,000 items—nonfiction, fiction, art posters, audio books, DVDs—for purchase. Proceeds from the Friends of the Seattle Public Library Book Sale support the library. Apr 15–17.

FILM Starring Carrie Brownstein (Portlandia, Sleater-Kinney) and James Mercer (of indie band the Shins), Some Days Are Better Than Others is a character-driven story about slackers, loss, and heartache. It screens at Northwest Film Forum. Apr 15–21.

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Tags: Met Picks, Weekend Events