SPECIAL EVENTS

Aug 10
South Lake Union Block Party
Considering the SLU Block Party starts at noon and runs until 11, don’t expect anything to get done at Amazon HQ today. The annual event boasts small bites from local restaurants, a Brave Horse Tavern beer garden, a grilling competition, children’s activities, and an outdoor movie screening at dusk—this year, it’s stoner classic Dazed and Confused. South Lake Union Discovery Center, free.

Aug 12
Victorian Day Croquet Tournament
Volunteer Park Conservatory celebrates its 100th anniversary with the fanfare of a Victorian Day. Participants are urged to dress in period costume while knocking the ball through the wickets; gourmet lunch provided, and the proceeds support the renovation of the conservatory. In addition to the tourney, Volunteer Park will have a full day of festivities (1–6pm): horse and carriage rides, food trucks, tree tours, kid's coloring station/face painting, and general merriment. Volunteer Park, $60 to enter tournament.

Aug 12
National Vinyl Record Day
On this day in 1877, Thomas Edison invented the first phonograph. Thanks, Mr. Edison. In tribute (coinciding with the museum’s Record exhibit), Northwest record labels will sell and talk vinyl all afternoon. Henry Art Gallery, $6–$10.

THEATER

Aug 10 & 11
14/48: World's Quickest Theater Festival
Over 48 hours, 50 artists will write, direct, perform, score, or design 14 original plays—and not one of them knows their task until the night before. 14:48 "goes kamikaze" this month. Erickson Theatre Off Broadway, $20.

Thru Aug 25
Driving Miss Daisy
It’s hard not to think of stage and screen icons Morgan Freeman and Jessica Tandy, or James Earl Jones and Vanessa Redgrave, playing the patient African American chauffeur and proud Southern widow. But ReAct will tackle Alfred Uhry’s Pulitzer-winning drama with an all-new staging. Richard Hugo House, $8–$11.

FILM

Aug 11
Bottle Shocked: Sideways
It’s just an average screening of Alexander Payne’s dramedy about two men self-destructing in wine country—until it becomes a BYO-wine screening. Fremont Outdoor Cinema, $10.

VISUAL ART

Thru Aug 12
Alan Lau Retrospective
Just one weekend left to view the career retrospective of Seattle painter Alan Lau, whose delightful work is rooted in the Chinese literati tradition as well as Northwest modernism. Francine Seders Gallery.

CONCERTS

Aug 10
Dusty 45s
We’ve seen Billy Joe Huels finish a swingin’ Dusty 45s set by setting his trumpet on fire. More than once. Hope for nothing less at the free outdoor concert at noon. Harbor Steps.

GET OUTTA TOWN

Aug 9–12
Doe Bay Festival
Part nature retreat, part music fest, Doe Bay Festival draws the region’s best indie rockers and their fans to Orcas Island for a weekend of camping and fireside sing-alongs. It’s no surprise that tickets go so quickly (sold out in minutes). But keep an eye on Doe Bay's Twitter hashtag (search #DBF5); as recently as August 5, Doe Bay owner Joe Brotherton was posting about last-minute tickets and campsite availablity. Orcas Island.