For Saturday

Cranksgiving

Seattle’s fourth annual Cranksgiving is back for another round of scavenger-hunt-meets-food-drive fun. Bring your fastest bicycle, your favorite costume, and the spirit of Thanksgiving to power you through a day of biking to Seattle grocery stores to hunt down food donations for the Rainier Valley Food Bank. An excellent way to give back while burning off next week's pumpkin pie.

Cranksgiving, Sat, November 23, 10:30am, meet at Gasworks Park, ends in Columbia City, free (but prepare to spend around $20 for food donations).

For Friday

Tree Planting for Tots

Give back to nature with your little one at Pigeon Point Park this Friday for a morning of tree planting, nature education, and a Forest Boogie dance party (open to children and adults, of course).

Seattle’s Nature Consortium will provide the tools and ready-to-plant trees—so just bring yourself, your kid, and maybe some cleansing wipes for the aftermath.

Toddler Tree Planting, Fri, November 22, 10am–noon, Pigeon Point Park, West Seattle, $15/child. 

For Thursday

Transportation Testimony

A recent survey by the Washington State Transportation Commission indicates that the transportation priorities of the senate's Republican-dominated Majority Coalition Caucus don't line up with what voters want; as Sightline reported in detail, the public prioritizes road maintenance and safety and new revenues for bike, pedestrian, and transit options, while the MCC's proposed $12.3 billion transportation package focuses on new roads. 

However you feel about the MCC package, make sure your voice is heard in Olympia at Thursday’s Senate Transportation Committee hearing.

Public Testimony on Republican Transportation Proposal, Thurs, November 21, 1:30pm, J.A. Cherberg Building (Senate Hearing Room 4), Olympia, free.

And if you're already headed down to Olympia, why not participate in the Rally Against Toxic Toys on the state Capitol steps? The rally, sponsored by the Washington Toxics Coalition, will promote environmentalists' ongoing efforts to ban toxic flame retardents in children's toys. 

Rally Against Toxic Toys, Thurs, November 21, noon, State Capitol Steps, 416 Sid Snyder Ave., Olympia, free.

Go Health Yourself

The Stranger, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 775, and Chop Suey are partnering up to host a party celebrating Obamacare this Thursday evening—complete with dancing and music provided by Emerald City Soul Club and Hey Marseilles.

Haven’t signed up for the new health exchange yet? King County Public Health officials will be on hand to help you out with that as well.

Go Health Yourself, Thu, November 21, 8pm–midnight, Chop Suey, 1325 East Madison, Seattle, $7.