The Best of Seattle this Week

Girl's= =20 Night:=20 The big activity this week is meeting Jason Mesnick, finalist from last season's The=20 Bachelorette, Aug 14th, $85. This is quite a consolation p= rize; he=20 loses one gal on national TV, and now gets to get mobbed by a room f= ull=20 of admiring women. For the gals, go for the good time and the = killer=20 atmosphere at the Waterf= ront. =20 This party is hosted by the Chat=20 with Women ladies, and they've had the golden touch in Seattle f= or=20 the last year or so. * Also, Girl= 's=20 Night Out at The Par= lor,=20 every Wednesday at 8 PM. There's some battle-of-the-sexes game in a six-= game pool=20 competition, and the ladies get the assistance of the female in-hous= e=20 pros. Winners get a chance to then compete against in-house pr= os, earn=20 bragging rights, and some other gew-gaw. This is a way of maki= ng=20 shooting stick fun.

Lec= tures: Meet Ed Nix= on,=20 Aug 22nd, $100. Boy, how do you remember an older brother who = forever=20 colored the family name? Ed Nixon, the president's younger bro= ther,=20 talks about his family, as well as his experience as a world travele= r=20 and his expertise on energy policy. A few other local heavy po= liticos=20 will be taking the microphone for a bit, too.

Opera: LGBT Night at the Opera= ,=20 Aug 22nd, $100. If you don't know what the acronym stands for,= then it=20 doesn't apply to you. Seattle=20 socialite supreme JJ McKay, along with senator Ed Murray, shows that= =20 opera is truly for everyone. You get main floor orchestra seat= ing, a=20 little private intermission reception, along with some wine and=20 refreshments. If you're looking for a change of venue from the= usual=20 scene on Capital Hill, then go down the hill.

Senior Activity: Age 55+ Jobless Workshop, Aug 13th, free. The prospect of = being=20 north of 50 and needing to start a new career must be daunting. = ; Learn=20 about job searching, Title V Senior Community Service Employment, an= d=20 available services at the Mayor's Office. Find the job that wi= ll take=20 you into retirement. * Also, Coffee Hour, Aug 21st, free. The director of Seattle Anima= l Shelter=20 chats about pets, the shelter's services, and how seniors can get=20= involved, such as foster care, dog walking, and rehabilitating sick= =20 pets.

Music: Seattle Women of Hip-Hop, Aug 14th, free. The mayor's offi= ce=20 continues its cultural outreach by bringing notice to the growing=20= influence of women in hip-hop, through their music and spoken words.= =20 Not much of a surprise, female hip-hop lyrics are more centered on= =20 themes of self- empowerment and making a positive impact on society.= =20 This event is after work, so if you're not in a hurry or don't want = to=20 battle the rush hour, this is a viable option.

Fashion: Design Expo, A= ug=20 29th, $25. The students at Academy of Design have their big sh= ow of the=20 year, showcasing their main works. These student design shows = are=20 always interesting - some misses, and some very innovative fashions = and=20 designs.

Festival: Faerie Festival, Aug 16th, free. Apparently more popular t= han the=20 dragon festival, but less popular than the unicorn festival, now com= es=20 the Faerie Festival, whatever that is. If you think faeries ar= e wusses=20 and wimps, then apparently you haven't crossed paths with a bad-ass= =20 gargoyle before.

Environmental: Sustai= ning=20 Living Rivers: The Role of Biological Monitoring, Aug 15th, $50.= =20 There's a lot going on in that little creek. Before action can= be=20 taken, you first need to understand what's going on. In this c= lass,=20 learn how to determine the biological effects of human development a= nd=20 activity around streams. Learn how aquatic insects are an indi= cator=20 species, gather field samples, and evaluate the health of a stream.

Family: Wild About Water,= Aug=20 17th, free with Zoo admission. The Zoo has put together a new= =20 interactive exhibit on the importance of water and how animals rely = upon=20 it. This is part educational, and part actionable. The e= ducation part=20 is how animals interact with water, such as making a home or finding= =20 food. Then, with your enthusiasm intact, they present ideas on= how you=20 can help ensure clean water and help conserve it.

Organization: Lead= ership=20 Tomorrow, helping to create better leaders in the Puget Sound=20= region, with an emphasis on stewardship and civic leadership. = These=20 folks have an extensive, 9-month program, pumping out about 70 gradu= ates=20 per class. This sort of thing is great to do, but one can't be= half-ass=20 about it; it requires a full commitment, or don=92t bother doing it.= The=20 effects can be life-changing.


Girl's= =20 Night:=20 The big activity this week is meeting Jason Mesnick, finalist from last season's The=20 Bachelorette, Aug 14th, $85. This is quite a consolation p= rize; he=20 loses one gal on national TV, and now gets to get mobbed by a room f= ull=20 of admiring women. For the gals, go for the good time and the = killer=20 atmosphere at the Waterf= ront. =20 This party is hosted by the Chat=20 with Women ladies, and they've had the golden touch in Seattle f= or=20 the last year or so. * Also, Girl= 's=20 Night Out at The Par= lor,=20 every Wednesday at 8 PM. There's some battle-of-the-sexes game in a six-= game pool=20 competition, and the ladies get the assistance of the female in-hous= e=20 pros. Winners get a chance to then compete against in-house pr= os, earn=20 bragging rights, and some other gew-gaw. This is a way of maki= ng=20 shooting stick fun. Lec= tures: Meet Ed Nix= on,=20 Aug 22nd, $100. Boy, how do you remember an older brother who = forever=20 colored the family name? Ed Nixon, the president's younger bro= ther,=20 talks about his family, as well as his experience as a world travele= r=20 and his expertise on energy policy. A few other local heavy po= liticos=20 will be taking the microphone for a bit, too. Opera: LGBT Night at the Opera= ,=20 Aug 22nd, $100. If you don't know what the acronym stands for,= then it=20 doesn't apply to you. Seattle=20 socialite supreme JJ McKay, along with senator Ed Murray, shows that= =20 opera is truly for everyone. You get main floor orchestra seat= ing, a=20 little private intermission reception, along with some wine and=20 refreshments. If you're looking for a change of venue from the= usual=20 scene on Capital Hill, then go down the hill. Senior Activity: Age 55+ Jobless Workshop, Aug 13th, free. The prospect of = being=20 north of 50 and needing to start a new career must be daunting. = ; Learn=20 about job searching, Title V Senior Community Service Employment, an= d=20 available services at the Mayor's Office. Find the job that wi= ll take=20 you into retirement. * Also, Coffee Hour, Aug 21st, free. The director of Seattle Anima= l Shelter=20 chats about pets, the shelter's services, and how seniors can get=20= involved, such as foster care, dog walking, and rehabilitating sick= =20 pets. Music: Seattle Women of Hip-Hop, Aug 14th, free. The mayor's offi= ce=20 continues its cultural outreach by bringing notice to the growing=20= influence of women in hip-hop, through their music and spoken words.= =20 Not much of a surprise, female hip-hop lyrics are more centered on= =20 themes of self- empowerment and making a positive impact on society.= =20 This event is after work, so if you're not in a hurry or don't want = to=20 battle the rush hour, this is a viable option. Fashion: Design Expo, A= ug=20 29th, $25. The students at Academy of Design have their big sh= ow of the=20 year, showcasing their main works. These student design shows = are=20 always interesting - some misses, and some very innovative fashions = and=20 designs. Festival: Faerie Festival, Aug 16th, free. Apparently more popular t= han the=20 dragon festival, but less popular than the unicorn festival, now com= es=20 the Faerie Festival, whatever that is. If you think faeries ar= e wusses=20 and wimps, then apparently you haven't crossed paths with a bad-ass= =20 gargoyle before. Environmental: Sustai= ning=20 Living Rivers: The Role of Biological Monitoring, Aug 15th, $50.= =20 There's a lot going on in that little creek. Before action can= be=20 taken, you first need to understand what's going on. In this c= lass,=20 learn how to determine the biological effects of human development a= nd=20 activity around streams. Learn how aquatic insects are an indi= cator=20 species, gather field samples, and evaluate the health of a stream. Family: Wild About Water,= Aug=20 17th, free with Zoo admission. The Zoo has put together a new= =20 interactive exhibit on the importance of water and how animals rely = upon=20 it. This is part educational, and part actionable. The e= ducation part=20 is how animals interact with water, such as making a home or finding= =20 food. Then, with your enthusiasm intact, they present ideas on= how you=20 can help ensure clean water and help conserve it. Organization: Lead= ership=20 Tomorrow, helping to create better leaders in the Puget Sound=20= region, with an emphasis on stewardship and civic leadership. = These=20 folks have an extensive, 9-month program, pumping out about 70 gradu= ates=20 per class. This sort of thing is great to do, but one can't be= half-ass=20 about it; it requires a full commitment, or don=92t bother doing it.= The=20 effects can be life-changing.	=20 Toes in Sand About a month of summer left - enjoy it= =20 while it's here. Alki=20 Beach: This one is a gimmie, Seattle's only sliver of California= =20 coastline and scene. This is Seattle's most popular because it= has it=20 all: two miles for running and rollerblading, good sand for=20 castle-building, the stunning views of Seattle, quintessential scene= s of=20 the ferry coming and going, bakeries and boutiques nearby, volleybal= l,=20 campfire pits, and sunsets. The parking can be real pain, thou= gh. Matthews Beach: This is a good one for families and groups. = ; They=20 have a lifeguard on duty during the summer, weather permitting. = ; The=20 sand is good here, and the depth is good for swimming. They al= so have a=20 children's play area and picnic spots. Since this is right on = the=20 Burke-Gilman trail, it's an easy jaunt by bicycle, too. Grove= land=20 Beach Park: This is a nice little underused beach, except on hot= =20 days. Since the park is sunset-facing, the evening views can b= e=20 dramatic. Dogs, on-leash, are permitted here. The only b= ummer of this=20 park is the steep descent in, which means, when you're ready to wrap= up=20 your day, you have a little hill to climb on the way out. = Cool Video: Another Almost Live skit -=20 High Fiven=20 White Guys


Lecture: Convergence of Biological and Electronic Systems, August 27th, b= y=20 RSVP. This is exciting, and a little spooky. As electron= ic systems=20 evolve, they're starting to take on the characteristics of biologica= l=20 systems, of adaptivity, self-replication, and complexity. This= lecture=20 discusses where we're at, what's ahead for the future, and what it m= eans=20 for us puny humans. Design Expo and Fa= shion=20 Show, August 29th, $25. The students at the Academy of Des= ign have=20 their big show of the year, showcasing their main works. These= student=20 design shows are always interesting - some misses, but also some ver= y=20 innovative fashions and designs. : He= althy=20 Parks, Healthy You, ongoing activities and times. The city= wants to=20 get us off the couch and reconnect us to the outside and with our=20= neighbors. The teaser of this program is the "Try it for = $2", where you=20 can sample a class or offering for two bucks: the community center, = a=20 swimming pool and tennis center, martial arts, dance, yoga, rowing, = and=20 so on. Given the long list of possibilities, there's certainly= =20 something there to match at least one of your interests. Aerial Antics in the Atrium, Thursday - Sunday until Aug 31st,= =20 free. The aerialists at Teatro ZinZanni put on a show over at = Pacific=20 Place after the work day is done. This is a good show for fami= lies, or=20 worth staying for if you're dining downtown. Shrek= The=20 Musical, until Step 9th, $31+. This musical has been getti= ng a lot=20 of press, since it's the world premiere. It's anticipated to b= e the=20 next big thing, so they're warming it up in Seattle before taking it= to=20 Broadway. They even have a = Space=20 Needle promo tie-in. This thing is big. It's estimat= ed to be=20 adding at least $50K in tax revenue for the city, with all of the=20= visitors coming in to see it. Toxic Chemicals in Puget Sound's Food Web, Sept 4th, $8. S= ometimes=20 a little ignorance is a good thing, like if you went to sleep thinki= ng=20 about how many mites are living in your sheets, you'd probably never= =20 fall asleep. In this case, the ignorance isn't good. A w= ildlife=20 scientist discusses four major classes of toxic contaminants creepin= g=20 into our ecosystem and our food chain and the magnitude of the=20 contamination in fish . 16th annual Concours d=92= =20 Elegance, August 31st, $5. Could there be anything more=20= mechanically sexy than an Italian car? Lamborghinis, Ferraris,= Ducatis,=20 and Maseratis, among other rare and historic Italian vehicles, line = up=20 at this show. When you have a spare $100K-plus to spend, you'l= l now=20 know what to do with it. Better bring your own drool rag. : Just Breathe Book Launch, August 28th, free. Susan Wiggs launches her l= atest=20 literary work, the girly themes of love and loss, second chances, an= d=20 getting over past dramas to move forward. Chat with the author= and=20 fans. Market Ghost Tour, ongoin= g,=20 $15. Meet the old souls of Seattle, literally. If you do= n't believe in=20 ghosts, then this is still a great tour of the historic underbelly o= f=20 Seattle. If you do believe in ghosts, well, then you'll be cre= eped out=20 for the next two weeks. Take this tour before Halloween. Organization: Feet First, helping to bu= ild=20 better walkable communities. Somebody has to stand up for the= =20 pedestrian. This group focusses on advocacy and volunteer acti= vities. =20 As the mayor is trying to get us out of our cars and walking about instead, the time for t= his=20 group has come.	Mighty-O Donuts: These donut= s have=20 higher moisture, tend to be sweeter, and the flavors have more pop.&= nbsp; The=20 chocolate and cinnamon donuts get the raves here. Given the sw= eetness=20 factor, this is actually more of a post-breakfast place. Hillside Quicke's Cafe:=20 Like Dick's french fries, the flavor is wonderful, but the grease ma= kes=20 this a two-napkin meal, and you feel a little guilty afterwards.&nbs= p; The=20 Mac 'n Cheese and the Jamaican tofu burgers get all of the complimen= ts. Pizza Pi Vegan Pizzeria: Th= is=20 place got a lot better when the new owners took over. The garl= ic sauce=20 gets the raves here, but don't plan on kissing anyone afterwards.&nb= sp;=20 Supposedly, the gluten-free dishes are the best here. Cool Video: Another Almost Live skit- the Lynwood Beauty=20= Academy