I can’t remember the last time we had such a great week for music. Neko Case, The National and The Lumineers are all performing if you are lucky enough to score tickets. (They break our $15 barrier.) If not, there are lots of awesome alternatives. Read on.
Tim Egan
Central Library, Wed. 9/18 at 7 p.m., FREE
NYT writer and local author Tim Egan on his new book, Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher: The Epic Life and Immortal Photographs of Edward Curtis. Egan will show photographs and talk about the incredible life of Curtis, who in 1900 dedicated his life to capturing the American Indian nation on film. Three decades, more than 80 tribes and 40,000 photos.
Bug chef Gordon. Credit: www.united-academics.org
Eat a Bug Book Talk and Edible Insect Buffet
Burke Museum, Wed. 9/18 at 7 p.m., $5 (FREE for members)
Local author (and delightful human being) David George Gordon discussing the environmental and health benefits of the bug diet. After the talk, there’ll be a buffet, featuring cricket kabobs and wax moth flan. Yum! You can access the buffet (and post a mysterious, zany picture of yourself with a wing sticking out of your mouth) with the purchase of Gordon's The Eat-A-Bug Cookbook Revised or by donating $10 to Café Racer Love.
Seattle Design Festival
All around Seattle, through 9/22, some FREE events, some require a $15 pass, $12 for students (in advance)
This is the last weekend for this 10-day festival, which embraces all aspects of design and creates a conversation — and a playground — for fans of urban planning, architecture, art or the fate of this great city. Topics range from library design to pop-up parks. This weekend, the all-day festival will be taking over Occidental Mall in Pioneer Square (aka Design Block). Highlights include a competition to re-imagine school lunch, Seattle Architecture Foundation’s walking tours of Pioneer Square and an art installation in Nord Alley. And keep your wits about you on Friday, because it's global PARK(ing) Day, when metered parking spots all around the city will be transformed, by the public, into temporary parks.
SketchFest 2013
All around Seattle, 9/19-9/28, $15
No matter your familiarity with Saturday Night Live-style sketch comedy, this will be a great time as comedians and comedy troupes from around the Northwest make us laugh for the next week. I highly recommend Princess (appearing this Saturday at the Comedy Film Night and on Sept. 26): four talented comics, including (full disclosure) my friend Taylor — the tall, gawky one.
Star Anna
Tractor Tavern, Friday 9/20
Local singer-songwriter Star Anna's new album Go to Hell debuts this week and to celebrate, she'll be performing a release party at the Tractor. Her alt-country/Americana style and her raw, soulful voice are revered by many.
Seattle Fringe Festival
9/18-9/22
This five-day fest will showcase 22 new productions in an array of genres and styles. Each show runs an hour or less and takes place within a short walk of its fellow festival offerings on Capitol Hill. Productions to watch for include (No Static at All) which chronicles the life of a Steely Dan superfan; Aisle 9, which unfolds place in a grocery store; and a retelling of Samuel Beckett's classic, Waiting for Godot.
Jai Ho!: Bollywood Retro Costume Party
Chop Suey, Sat. 9/21 at 9 p.m., $5 advance
Dancer and performer Prashant not only Djs Indian electronic music but also sings and leads dance routines, so you can learn how the steps too. Wear your best retro attire and pay tribute to the Golden Era of Bollywood.
Friends of the Seattle Library Book Sale
Magnuson Park, 9-5 on Sat. 9/21, 11-4 on Sun. 9/22, FREE (most items between $1- 2)
Library books! On sale! Two days only! This annual purge will, per usual, take place at Magnuson Park and on Sunday all books are half off. Here’s a map if you want to start planning a route for this intellectual’s Black Friday.
Bill McKibben
Town Hall, Tues. 9/23 at 7:30 p.m., $5
If you’re thinking about going to see this much beloved environmental activist and author, buy tickets NOW. McKibben, who always inspires, stuns and counsels us in the face of so many environmental concerns, will deliver an “Education of an Unlikely Activist” talk in which he’ll recount his year with a beekeeper and his three days in jail for protesting the Keystone XL pipeline.
