Today's picks for civic nerds.

For Sunday

Building Connections for a Cause

Register today and join the thousands of others in the fight against multiple sclerosis. The Northwest Chapter of Walk MS hosts their annual walk this Sunday to connect others in the MS community while raising money to fund MS research and treatment programs. 

Walk MS in the Northwest, Sun, April 14, 9am-1pm, UW Lot E18 (inside Lot E1), Montlake Blvd NE, free to register.

Recycled Looks

Need to revamp your closet without emptying your wallet? Bring your gently used clothes to the community clothing swap. This year's event features a community potluck, free drinks, local house music DJs and a door prize. Kids' clothes, costumes, and spring-summer attire are preferred.  

Seattle Clothing Swap, Sun, April 14, 12:30pm-5:30pm, Om Culture, 2210 N. Pacific St. $5-$20, free for children under 10. 

For Tomorrow 

Responsible Recycling

Ever wonder what you can recycle, and how to recycle it? Have all your questions on how to be a properly recycling Seattelite answered at the Burke Museum's Recycling Fair. The Burke offers compost tutorials, crafts for kids and the museum's ongoing Plastics Unwrapped exhibit, as well as a Haute Trash fashion show at 2pm. This is an event you won't want to toss!

Recycling Fair, Sat, April 13, 10am-3pm, Burke Museum, 17th Ave NE and NE 45th St, $7.50-$10 (free with UW ID)

Bake and Barter

Say you have a comparative advantage in cookie baking, but know next to nothing about muffin making. Attend the first annual Seattle Food Swap and let the bartering begin. Unlike a traditional bake sale, no money changes hands—only homemade, homegrown or foraged foods.

Seattle Food Swap, Sat, April 13, 9:45am, Ballard Alki Lodge IOOF, 1706 NW Market St, $9 per ticket, $14 for two.

Community in Action

As part of an ongoing effort to improve the safety, health, and equity of three Central Area community cores—23rd and Union, Cherry, and Jackson Streets—the city invites anyone with a vision for the area to participate in a Community Workshop and Resource Fair hosted at Garfield Community Center. The event kicks off with breakfast and a workshop to kick off what will become the city's 23rd Avenue Action Plan.

Community Workshop and Resource Fair, Sat, April 13, 9am–12pm, Garfield Community Center, 2323 E. Cherry St. free

And For Today

Seattle to Shanghai

Seattle University and the Tai Initiative are hosting an all-day US-China Relations conference for students and foreign affairs buffs alike. The summit, aimed at anyone interested in international relations with China, will feature speakers, films, and academic sessions focused on the evolving relationship between China and the Pacific Northwest and US as a whole.

US State Department Minister-Counselor Donald Bishop, previously the country public affairs officer in Beijing, will keynote.

"New Directions Facilitating Trust" The Pacific NW Regional Conference on US/China Subnational Relationship, Fri, April 12, 8:30am-4:30pm, Seattle University, Casey Building, 5th Floor, 901 Broadway, $40 for half-day  

Supporting Literacy and Learning

The Seattle Children’s Museum is celebrating National DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) Day by offering fun exhibits, crafts and activities for kids and their families. Children’s Museum educators will appear in each book-center exhibit for an interactive reading experience.

DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) Day, Fri, April 12, 10am-4pm, Children’s Museum, Seattle Center, 305 Harrison St., $8.25 for adults and kids, $7.25 for grandparents.

Want to see your nerdy event featured on the PubliCalendar?
Send the details to Carryn at [email protected].