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Women's Networking: Professional Women of Color Network Cocktail Networking Mixer, May 25^th, free.  Two keys to these networking events.  First, you need to bring a big fat stack of business cards.  Second, you do need to be at least somewhat outgoing and take initiative to shake a few hands; the wallflower thing just doesn't work.  ж  Also, Women on the Move, May 24^th, $75, an all-day seminar on networking.  This seminar is good for teaching non-sales people how to get out there and generate connections leading to sales, without feeling overly aggressive in the process.  ж  Also, Content Management: Why You Need It and How It Works, May 25^th, $30.  It's easy for an organization to collect information.  Here's the next step of how to organize and analyze it, and make your information usable for better business results.

Libations: The Journey of the Taste by Johnny Walker, May 24^th - 31^st, $5 donation, presenting a sampling of five scotches, because you should really drink more whiskey.  Wine tastings are a dime-a-dozen in this town, so it's refreshing when something different comes up.  Scotch has that feel of indulgence and decadence, so here's a grand opportunity for a little education of this spirit.  You need to use password "Progress" to get into the VIP portion of the website to register, and you need to be at least 21 years old to make it in the door, but you already knew that.

Gala: Iberia, June 2^nd, $50+, by the Pacific Northwest Spain Association.  This one has a touch more exotic flair than the usual Seattle gala recipe.  Celebrating Spanish dance, excerpts and commentary from the movie Iberia will show live demonstrations of Spanish dance based upon the talents of dancer Sara de Luis.  Better than a dinner/auction format, this gala delivers the triple whammy of dance, movie, and dinner & drinks.

Kid Events: Yoga for Girls, aged 10-12, starting May 24^th, $40 for the series.  Yoga provides a non-competitive environment for girls to explore their bodies in movement and in stillness. The practice of yoga builds self-confidence, self-awareness, coordination, strength, and flexibility, as well as the valuable skill of experiencing their bodies from the inside out.  ж  Also, Game On at the Pacific Science Center, starting May 26^th, on the history of video games.  Remember when video games were just two dimensional, the couple of lines of Pong, or even word-based, and everyone thought that was cooler than sliced bread?  This is the science, history, and culture of video games.

Film: Seattle International Film Fest, starting May 25^th, $10+.  You're bound to see this one plastered all over town, so here's the pre-warning.  More films for viewing than dead popcorn kernels served.  In the mix, you're bound to find some that disappoint, and a couple of other unique films that you can really connect with.  It helps to be unemployed if you're trying to watch all of the films.  ж  Also, The Power of Community - How Cuba Survived Peak Oil by Meaningful Movies, May 26^th, free.  After the Soviet Union imploded and cut oil shipments to Cuba, Cuba then had to learn how to get along without oil and survive.  Could their ordeal offer lessons for other nations?  ж  Also, Crosspollinatio, May 25^th, $8 suggested donation.  This is one of those artsy projects with Butoh dance, visual art components, music, and film.

Club: Q Urban Lounge, opening May 25^th (1625 Queen Anne Ave N, top of Queen Anne, 206-281-1931.)  Clubs have short shelf life; they need to reinvent themselves (i.e., Club Medusa into Venom) to keep their buzz factor alive among fickle clientele.  The former Sapphire Kitchen does the Phoenix act and reemerges as Q, a new lounge emphasizing cocktails and shared plates with an LA flavored decor.  The launch looks strong, so the new place is worth checking out.

Lecture: The Global War on Terrorism Community Discussion, May 24^th, $15.  What a complex situation between the needs of security vs. liberties.  Not sure if these discussion actually lead to any changes or if it ends up being just a bunch of passionate people ranting away.  Anyway, at least it's a good education.  Learn what the issues are and the many competing demands.  ж  Also, Running Rehabs Like the Pros, May 25th, $15.  Have you ever had a kitchen remodel come in on-time and on-budget?  A pro handyman reveals his hard earned lessons on how to remodel and rehabilitate properties.

Class: Cooking Healthy the French Way, May 25^th, free but must RSVP.  The French must be onto something.  They eat foods rich in heavy creams and fats, yet the have some of the lowest cholesterol in the world.  The theory is they frequently drink red wine in moderation, and the tannins in reds coat the arteries like Teflon.  ж  Also, Meetup Group for Spouse & Partners of those diagnosed with ADD/ADHD at Bellevue Regional Library, May 25^th, 6 - 8 PM, free.  If you're starting to think R-Balls just aren't for hyperactive kids and are at your wits end with your significant other, here's a good first step.

Food: Farmers Market in Bellevue, starting May 23^rd, free.  Farmers nets less than 10 cents per dollar on their products sold at grocery stores, so it's little mystery why they want to sell directly to the consumer.  Actually, farmer's markets typically don't present that much of a price advantage.  Rather, the benefit is better quality produce and being able to talk to the guy who grew the food you're about to eat.

Artist Reception: Nina Mikhailenko, May 27^th, free but must RSVP.  An open studio of a prominent Seattle artist.  The impressions of the latest world travels make it onto the canvas for show.

Organization: Greater Seattle Soccer Association, a men's league.  The summer session is about to begin.  Play soccer, and you'll do more running than a basketball player.  Two cool things about soccer are it's outside, and you get to play on the grass.  This league works for regulars or newbies.

Tax Refund Spending:
If you've recently received your tax refund and have come into a little mad money, here's some ways to blow your wad:

Restaurants: For about $100 per person (without wine), a person can enjoy the top-end dinner in this town.  It's a way of feeling like royalty for a night.  The usual list of suspects are Canlis, Cascadia, The Georgian, El Gaucho, Rovers, The Barking Frog, and Rays.  If you're in the mood for something different, consider Pellini.  This is a top-end restaruant that, for some reason, doesn't get much recognition or mind share.

Minor Luxuries: If you've never been to that Louis Vuitton store at Rainer Plaza, that's worth a trip.  Or, you can spend $200 on a bra/panty set or $75 on a pair of cufflinks at Nordstrom.  Don't have a french-cuffed shirt?  That's only another $110.  The clufflinks clink away then when you're typing on the keyboard.

Sailing Party: For about $500, you can rent a 65-foot schooner and go party with 40 of your closest friends.  If you don't think you can muster up 40 people, let the word out that you've rented a sailing boat and you'll be surprised how many long-lost friends crawl out of the woodwork -- you might as well have won the lotto.  There's just something luxurious about being on a sailing boat that makes a guy ask, "I wonder what all of the poor people are doing today?"

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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 .