THEATER

Sept 10–13
La Mélancolie des dragons
Absurdity rules the day at On the Boards when a slovenly band of metalheads attempts to create a hard-rock amusement park in the French comedy (with English subtitles) La mélancolie des dragons (the melancholy of dragons). When the headbangers’ car breaks down in the middle of nowhere, they set about manipulating their reality, capturing a nihilistic sense of fantasy and wonder. On the Boards, $25

Thru Sept 27
The Children's Hour
When a troublesome student at an all-girls boarding school tries to get out of school by accusing her teachers of having a lesbian affair, it throws the lives of the instructors into disarray. How much damage can one lie create? Intiman Theatre Festival updates Lillian Hellman's 1930s tale by setting it in Seattle during the 1980s. Cornish Playhouse, $37–$58

Sept 10–Oct 11
American Idiot
The stage adaptation of Green Day’s masterful punk rock opera, American Idiot, moshes its way onto the ArtsWest stage. Apathetic, TV-saturated youth in the George W. Bush era come to life via Johnny (aka the Jesus of Suburbia) and his cronies as they mess up their lives and belt out hits like “Holiday,” “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” and “Wake Me Up When September Ends.” ArtsWest, $40

SPECIAL EVENTS

Sept 11–27
Washington State Fair 
As far as one-stop entertainment destinations go, it’s still hard to top the Washington State Fair. Where else can families strap into thrill rides, pet farm animals, attend a rodeo, catch a concert, and munch on sugary treats that will have the kids running around like maniacs? Wait, maybe that isn’t such a good idea… Washington State Fair Events Center, Puyallup, $13

Sept 12–25
Seattle Design Festival
For all intents and purposes, creative design is just aesthetics meets functionality. The annual Seattle Design Festival highlights the best that the brightest design minds have to offer though talks, exhibitions, workshops, tours, films, and other events scattered across the city. This year's theme—Design for Equity—focuses on innovations that hope to push us toward a more affordable, accessible, and inclusionary society. Various venues, Free

BOOKS & TALKS

Thur & Sat, Sept 10 & 12
Jonathan Evison
In The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving, West of Here, and All About Lulu, local novelist Jonathan Evison displays a knack for deftly blending empathy, humor, and kernels of wisdom. His latest work, This Is Your Life, Harriet Chance!, finds a 79-year-old widow setting sail on an Alaskan cruise only to discover that she has unknowingly been living most of her life under false pretenses. Elliott Bay Book Company & Queen Anne Book Company, Free

FOOD & DRINK

Fri & Sat, Sept 11 & 12
Cider Summit Seattle
While craft beer blew up nationwide, Washington stealthily became a major player in the booming cider scene. Cider Summit Seattle showcases top international ciders and regional favorites. Excuse our bias when we say we think Washington still does it best. How ’bout them apples? South Lake Union Discovery Center Lawn, $30–$40

CONCERTS

Thur, Sept 10
Pony Time: ‘Rumours 2: The Rumours Are True’ Release Show with Colleen Green
While Pony Time’s new album title/cover art may be a delicious joke (Rumours 2: The Rumours Are True), when it comes to actually playing the tunes, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more no nonsense rock group in Seattle. The duo of Luke Beetham and Stacy Peck deliver unrelenting and wonderfully dirty bass and drum ditties that get to the frickin’ point. The group releases Rumours 2 on the world with a gig at the Lo-Fi which will be headlined by Hardly Art stoner pop queen Colleen Green. Lo-Fi, $12

Sat, Sept 12
Foo Fighters
This summer, Dave Grohl has once again proved he is the most unstoppable force in rock and roll. In June he fell off the stage at a Sweden show and broke his leg. Rather then spend the season recuperating, the Foo Fighters frontman had his team build a massive guitar-laden chair where he could rest his leg while still rocking out. Catch King Grohl rule from his throne—and play songs from the band's latest LP Sonic Highways—when Foo Fighters travel to the Gorge. Gorge Amphitheatre, Sold Out

THE SPORTING LIFE

Sun, Sept 13
Seattle Seahawks at St. Louis Rams
The Seahawks open their quest for a third straight Super Bowl appearance on the road against NFC West foe St. Louis. The Legion of Boom will be without Kam Chancellor, who continues to hold out, and the offense will be asked to pick up the slack. Thankfully for 12s, both Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch return with big new contracts, and the addition of tight end Jimmy Graham and rookie receiver Tyler Lockett could make the pass offense a much more dynamic weapon. Televised on Fox