For Friday

South Lake Union Block Party

Celebrate the end of the work week at South Lake Union's ninth annual Block Party, complete with food, music, and an outdoor movie. The party kicks off at noon with food booths, a wine and beer garden, and kids' activities.

At 3:30, "SLU's Best Burger" competition begins. Fifteen bucks buys you a ticket to five different burger slider samples from some of Seattle's most celebrated chefs.

At 8pm, the Museum of History and Industry will host a round of trivia. The night ends with an outdoor screening of the 1980s classic "Dirty Dancing."

All proceeds will help fund an education center in Lake Union Park for the Center for Wooden Boats.

South Lake Union Block Party, Fri, August 9, Denny Way & Westlake Ave. N, free.

For Thursday

Discussing the Missing Link

The Seattle Department of Transportation will host an open house to discuss the environmental impact of completing the "Missing Link" of the Burke-Gilman Trail, from 11th Ave. NW to 30th Ave. NW—a segment of trail that has been the subject of litigation for more than a decade.

Missing Link Environmental Scoping Open House, Thurs, August 8, 6-8pm, Ballard High School Commons, 1418 NW 65th St., free.

Save Lincoln’s Logs

Thursday is supposed to be 78 degrees and sunny, so there’s no excuse not to forgo your lunch break for some good old-fashioned weeding in Lincoln Park. EarthCorps and the Green Seattle Partnership are leading a pack of volunteers to clear out invasive plant species and plop down some greenery more native to the area. They’ll supply the gloves, tools, and cautionary tales about the Himalayan blackberry.

Lincoln Park: West Seattle, August 8, 10 am–2pm, Fauntleroy Way SW & SW Rose St., free.

The Boy Kings of Texas Reading

From bottle-blond sisters who feign a gringo drawl to their spell-casting grandmother, the characters of Domingo Martinez’s 2012 memoir embody extreme answers to the question of cultural assimilation. Hear the Queen Anne–based writer recount his experiences growing up Mexican-American in a Texas border town.

Domingo Martinez: The Boy Kings of Texas, August 8, 7 pm, Queen Anne Book Company, 1811 Queen Anne Ave N, free.

For Wednesday

Nytom: Makah Visions

Native American artist Nytom, AKA John Goodwin, explores his Makah heritage through art, including prints, jewelry and woodcarvings. Each tells a story based in the legends and folklore of the Makah tribe. Check out his latest exhibit located in the new Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center. 

Nytom: Makah Visions, August 5­–10, 10am–5pm, Duwamish Longhouse, 4705 W Marginal Way SW, free.