Five Nights of Genius at the Frye
Frye Art Museum, Wed. 7/24 at 5:30- 8 p.m., $10
The Stranger Genius Awards (an annual event that hands out $5,000 grants to artists in an array of categories) are quickly approaching and to get us all amped up, the Stranger is hosting showcases at the Frye. At tonight's event, you can listen to performances and interviews with award nominees Jessika Kenney & Eyvind Kang, Katie Kate and Jherek Bischoff. Your $10 ticket includes one cocktail and there will be an after-party at the beloved, and swanky Vito’s.
Elwha: Exploited, Rethought, and Reborn
Frye Art Museum, Thurs., 7/25 at 7 p.m., FREE
In case you missed their reading at SPL in June, you have another chance to see Seattle Times reporter Lynda Mapes and artist Peter Malarkey discuss their longtime documentation of the Elwha River Valley, recently the site of the largest damn removal ever attempted. While the last event was more a general reading, this one will focus on how the pair covered the story of this beautiful yet profoundly damaged swath of the Olympic Peninsula and the restoration that will follow.
Movable Type: A Literary Mixer
Vermillion, Thurs. 7/25 at 7:30 p.m., FREE
I love the idea of taking an event that’s rather solitary and turning it into a group activity. Carefully select the perfect book for a literary mixer, grab a drink and strike up conversation with other readers (or don’t, and just enjoy being surrounded by other lit lovers). This event showcases the work of the nonprofit Literacy Source, which has been providing a variety of adult literacy services in our area since 1986.
Clips Beer & Film Tour
Gas Works Park, Fri. 7/26 at 8 p.m., FREE (plus beer tokens)
Craft beer + short films AT GAS WORKS PARK (perhaps the most fairytale of all Seattle parks) — this event is just too good to be true. Making its third annual stop in Seattle, this travelling beer and film festival features up to 18 unique beer taps and all the beer proceeds going to the Nature Consortium. Not a lot of information about the short films as of this writing, but they seems to run the gamut from animation to documentary to music video. And they're all FREE.
Around the Block Party
Chop Suey, Sun. 7/28 at 3 p.m., FREE
This is the weekend of Capitol Hill Block Party (which, alas, costs more than $15, but will be grand). For those not feeling the price, or the crowds, or eager to be trapped inside a grimy, gated area in the Pike/Pine corridor, Chop Suey will be hosting a free Around the Block party with drums and synth outfit Hot Victory and post-punk band Haunted Horses and lots of free hot dogs and burgers!
Reza Aslan with Lesley Hazleton
Central LIbrary, Mon. 7/29 at 7 p.m., FREE
Iranian-American writer and scholar Reza Aslan will be in conversation with local “accidental theologian” Lesley Hazleton (whose most recent book was The First Muslim: The Story of Muhammad). Both are brilliant religious scholars in their own right but tonight will be particularly thrilling: Aslan discusses his recent book Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth, which, rather than relying purely on gospel accounts, puts the life and times of Jesus into a social and political context.
Movie Mondays: Almost Famous
Triple Door, Mon. 7/29, FREE with $3 drink person
Almost Famous holds a special place in my heart and remains (with admittedly a large dose of nostalgia) my quintessential music movie. It’s one of the strongest of Seattle native Cameron Crowe’s films, and should hold a particular place of respect ‘round these parts. Enjoy Kate Hudson at her cutest, Francis McDormand at her (arguably) most natural and Elton John's “Tiny Dancer” at its (completely inarguably) most epic.
What are you doing this weekend? Let us know in the comments area below. And if you hear of any interesting – under $15 - events in or around our grand city, please email editor@crosscut.com.
