Lectures: HPV Vaccine: What It Is and Who Should Get It , May 1st, free, a contributor to this vaccine describes HPV and who should go through the pain of getting this vaccine.  *  Also, Never Again, Again: The Darfur Crisis, May 3rd, free, a panel discussion on this genocide and what the international response should be.  *  Also, Exploring Puget Sound series, next lecture on May 1st, $6, discussing the linkage between Native American and European histories starting in the 18th century in the context of environmental subjects.  *  Also, Zaatar Days, April 30th, free, about an author's yearlong journey across Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey.  *  Also, Examining the rules of consumption on Tokugawa Japan, May 5th, free, on the unique societal rules governing consumption in this little area of the world.

Performance: Cirque Du Soleil , until May 25th, $55+.  These shows go past entertainment, to inspiration and feeling the fantasy.  Folks usually travel to Vegas to see this show, so we're luck to have it come to us.  Cirque Du Soliel has become the benchmark of human acts of awe.  It's a surreal experience that will have you stuttering to find the right words to describe it.  It's well worth the splurge; works as a birthday gift, too.

Opera: The Bravo group holds its last soirée of the year, May 8th, $10, of a wedding theme inspired by the upcoming production of I Puritani.  *  Also, Lease: Seattle's Own Rock Opera, starting May 1st, at Wing-It Productions, $10, on the timely topic of high rent and facing eviction.  *  Of course, instead of these derivative opera items, there's always the main opera itself.  The next production is I Puritani , starting May 3rd, $25+, which will probably be the most passionate opera you'll see all year.  Now, insert your own Viagra joke here.

Other Newsletters: Seattle Picks For Men starts up, free, a weekly newsletter aimed for the dudes, just to counter all of that estrogen from the regular Seattle Picks .  The Picks newsletters are pretty genuine; you can tell their Northwest roots.  This is like your best friend's guide to Seattle.  *  Also, after being an ignored appendage, Seattle Magazine's newsletter has become real chatty lately; some of it is even useful.

Instruction: CPR Saturday , May 3rd (and every first Saturday of the month), free.  Time was, Seattle was the best city in the nation to stroke out, since so many people here knew CPR.  In this class, learn this life-saving technique that you never know when you might just be called upon to use.

Restaurants: The big news has been McLeod Residence Lounge opening to public, shedding its private member status.  This place is pretty much what your arty friends would put together out of their living room apartment; an underground vibe where poets and beatniks hang out, a break from the faux-swanky Belltown scene of caramelized lighting and $12 martinis.  The mirrors in the bathroom are mesmerizing.  *  Also, it's always a good reminder that 13 Coins is open, consistently serving tasty food.  Since this is so much of a Seattle standby, it tends to fade in memory.  This 24-hour restaurant recently added patio dining and a revamped happy hour menu.

Mushrooms: Mushroom Mania , May 4th, free with regular museum admission.  The biggie is mushroom identification.  You're looking at two similar mushrooms: one is tasty, the other toxic, and you're not sure which is which.  As you might suspect, those mushroom people tend to be earthy folk.  At this expo, learn how to make meals with mushrooms, use mushrooms in dyes, and construct crayons with mushrooms.  This is also a good children's event.

Environmental: GreenPower Baby Shower Expo , May 3rd, free.  Seems like every consumer product has a green slant nowadays, and here's one more pebble of proof.  This is for those interested in green, sustainable, and organic products for babies.  After you have the paper/plastic debate at the grocery store, you can go down here and have the cloth/disposable diaper debate.  *  Also, Environmental Film Fest , May 1-4th, $5+, of 50+ films, speakers, and workshops.  In these film fests, there are always a few gems worth seeing.

Flight: Flight Attendant Day at the Museum of Flight , May 17th, with paid museum admission, a discussion on the history and service by a panel of flight attendants.  Listening to flight attendants tell stories is as juicy as talking to waiters away from work, when they can let their hair down and tell it as it really is.   Go get the inside scoop about flying and service when the flight attendants don't need to put on their game face.

Galas Galore

The big news last week was the Poncho Gala, raising $700,000 spread among 70+ local arts organizations.  Since the gala theme was Nouveau Glam, the story behind the story was local designer Luly Yang and her couture creations. 

This then raises the familiar question, at least for women: after getting that very special dress, where can you wear it? 

Here's where you're most likely to see the Luly Yang gowns:

Grace Notes, a fundraiser for Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer, probably the strongest gathering of women of power and influence in our region.  So, these women of substance are wearing outfits worthy of themselves.

Heart Ball, by the American Heart Association.  Thank super Seattle socialite JJ McKay for raising the profile (and money raised) of this gala.  This gala also brings out the medical luminaries in the region.

Celebrate Swedish, for Swedish Medical Center, this one is coming at the end of May, $350/ticket (space is limited) so there's still an occasion to wear that dress.  This gala always has an impressive list of donors and sponsors.

We'll also give a shout out to Team Photogenic , who practically makes it impossible to wear that special dress again.  Since they do such a great job photographing everyone, they magically seem to be at every significant event, and their pictures are widely viewed, any gal repeating a dress will definitely be recognized.  It's not too difficult to imagine the catty reaction then.  After your pictures are taken at some event by Team Photogenic, your options are: wear the dress out of town, give it to charity, or wear it with a different ensemble of accessories so it's no longer recognizable.  Let's just say, Team Photogenic is good for the economy.

Cool Video: Seen TP's glam report on Poncho