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Lectures: Toxins in Puget Sound, April 5^th, $45.  This is a one day, drink with the fire hose, workshop on toxins in the Puget Sound: what's causing them, affected animal species, finger-pointing at who's responsible, and what to do.  ж  Also, panel discussion on regional law enforcement, every Sunday after the show of Lobby Hero, at Seattle Public Theater, $12+.  With the Seattle PI's scathing series on bad apples in the King County Sheriff's Unit, and the Seattle Police taking some lumps over the year as well, this topic is top-of-mind.  Hear straight from the top law enforcement officials themselves.  ж  Sarah Severn of Nike's Global Sustainability Team , April 6^th, $10+.  For years, Nike was the whipping boy of critics for companies exploiting cheap overseas workers toiling in abysmal conditions in quest for greedy profits.  Whether by conscious or prodded by critics, Nike has turned around and become a proactive global citizen.

Film: Film, Faith, and Justice, April 7-9^th, $10, a film festival by Human Rights Watch International, featuring documentaries on contemporary social justice issues.  These are all good films, but they're all more emotionally heavy than listening to NPR news for 90 minutes.  Also, Norwescon Film Festival, April 13-16^th, $6, a science fiction and fantasy festival.  This certainly has the impression of a bunch of pimply faced teenagers who play Dungeons and Dragons gathering for a convention, but it appears they've put together something decent with a good crowd.

Fundraiser: Food as Art, April 8^th, $100.  Seattle's A-list African-American chefs prepare food for feasting, presenting 15 tasting stations.  It's like eating appetizers all night until you're stuffed.  ж  Also, The Magic of Hope, April 8^th, $45, by the Washington Parkinson's Organization.  On the gala scale, this is probably one of three most affordable in Seattle during the year.  ж  Also, Taste Washington, April 8^th, $125.  This is the named wine event of the year.  This state has over 400 wineries, and more than 180 of them are showing up.

Music: You Made Me Love You, by Seattle Men's Chorus, April  8-9^th, $15+.  This is the music of Judy Garland, in a concert that can't be anymore typecast than singing songs by The Village People or Elton John.  ж  Also, Strange Fruit: A Live Jazz Tribute to Nina Simone by Mercedes Nicole, April 9^th, $15, a smoking concert with a sultry sound.  ж  Also, Closing the Gap: Music from the Louisiana Territory, April 7-8^th, $22, featuring music from the Louisiana Territory before Napoleon sold it off at a fire-sale price.

Meetings: King County Young Republicans, April 6^th, free.  Die Monorail Die! is the theme.  This train is finally dead, yet the taxes live on, so like good Republicans, they're going to rant about this injustice for a while.  ж  Also, The Vitality of Egyptian Images in Late Antique Christian Memory and Response, April 3^rd, free.  This is a discussion of Christian interpretation and response to Egyptian artifacts through the ages.

Women's Events: Executive Women's Golf, April 6^th, $30.  The chain of logic is golf players tend to be successful businesspeople who can afford the sport, so getting access to the course indirectly increases business opportunities.  Well, in general, any social networking helps, so here's one more venue.  ж  Also, Women's Business Exchange Networking Breakfast, April 13^th, $25.  An astronaut speaks on the use of technology in business and personal life.  When you go to one of these networking events, be sure to grab a fat stack of business cards beforehand. 

Class: Practical and Creative Landscape Design for a Small UrbanGarden, starting April 4^th, $225.  Got just a little dirt?  No problem at this class.  Learn how to turn your patio or deck into your own little retreat.  Grow flowers for spring and vegetables for fall.

Metaphysical: Awakening the Third Eye Meditation Workshop, April 8^th, $195.  One staffer thought she was developing a third eye, but it turned out just to be a big zit on her forehead.  Here's how to use your spiritual third eye to take a journey into the spiritual world.  Also, Vision Healing Techniques, April 5^th, free.  Unroll your unconscious emotional blocks which prevents you from achieving and feeling more, if that's the sort of thing you're into.

Open House: The Green Car Company, all day April 9^th, free.  If you want to do something to make your commute less harmful to the environment, but are not quite up to becoming a pass-toting Metro rider, this could be your newly found middle ground.  It's cars running on biofuels and electricity, with motor powered bicycles and skateboards thrown in for good measure.

Organizations: Seattle Pipe Club.  By definition, this group is smoken'.  So, like with the passage of initiative 901, does this group then meet on the streets like a bunch of derelicts or something?  Actually, the aroma from pipe smoke can smell sweater than the actual flavor, so you can go get the best of pipe smoking without inhaling.

Under the Radar Institutions:
These establishments don't get a lot of recognition, which is a shame, since they're of great benefit to our Seattle.

Arts Fund:  This organization typically gets overlooked by the bigger and bluer blooded Poncho.  Actually, this organization tends to be run by results-oriented business leaders, so they probably don't care that much about lack of press, as long as they're getting the job done.  The Arts Fund distributes over $4 million each year to 70+ arts groups in King and Pierce counties, contributing significantly to the health and vibrancy of the local arts community.

(Tie) Washington Technology Center and The Alliance of Angels.  A lot of great technology gets discovered in Washington's universities, but it's a long road from lab to commercial product.  The WTC promotes technologies developed at universities in our state, seeding new companies which then creates new businesses, great jobs, and more taxes.  ж  Also, the Alliance of Angels is a group of investors willing to write a big check to seed the A round of a new company.  Taking a gamble making Vegas pros winze, this group puts their pocketbook into funding the first stages of a new company on the slim and wild hopes of a big fat payoff many risks and years away.

Town Hall: More than any other place in Seattle, Town Hall provides a forum for political and civic discourse and scientific lectures.  Town Hall helps us become more active citizens and smarter people.  It's the living room of Seattle's discussion.

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About: Seattle Spin is a weekly email newsletter highlighting the best restaurants, activities, and venues in Seattle this particular week Contact: Publisher: Gerard Wirz; Editor: Nathaniel Hollywood; Contributors:  Mike Ford and Mary Novak .