Workshop: Fireplay by the Wetspot, Feb 27th, $30. Add some flame to your life (literally) at this workshop. Learn how to safely and effectively dance with flames across flesh for enticement, eroticism, and dazzling play. The seminar covers fire safety, tools and materials, and demonstrated techniques. Become one hot lover! Write to info@wetspot.org for directions and information.
Belly Dancing: Open studio, Patti Summer Cabaret, Feb 24th, 9:30 PM, must be 21+, free. Patti opens her space for others to view or participate. Watch performances by some well known Seattle artists, or if belly dancing is your thing, then come on down with your costume and CD and join in. Also, Belly Dance Jam at the Phinney Neighborhood Association, Feb 25th, 7 PM, by donation. An open invitation to belly dancers of all skill levels and styles. A casual get-together for fun, support each other, and maybe learn a couple of new moves. A professional drum company will be pounding away part of the evening. Even for guys, taking up belly dancing is actually a great thing. You get a strong lower back, more flexibility, and tighter abs. Can't go wrong with that!
Performance: Puppetry of Penis, Feb 22nd - 27th, $24+. More dick tricks than you can shake, well, your own wanker at. Learning about their act, you can't help but scratch your head and ask yourself, without be porn-star length, how do these guys possibly have any material to work with? Like, after tying their wieners into a knot, how many other possible tricks are there? If anything, go just to satisfy your own curiosity.
Family Activities: Octopus Week at Seattle Aquarium, until Feb 27th, free with admission. Watch these exotic creatures in motion. View live video monitors as octopuses are released into Elliot Bay and divers follow, craft activities for kids, and watch octopuses trying to open jars. Octopuses are always so graceful and fluid when they swim, so watch nature's beast. Kid's Breakfast at the Nordic Museum, Feb 27th, 10 AM, $3 for kids, $5 for adults. Watch that muscular imp, Pippi Longstocking, as she opens a can of whupp ass on the bad guys in this movie. Dress up as Pippi or one of her friends for an all-ages breakfast, no reservations required.
Film: Animation Show, Feb 25th, about $10. A potpourri of animated shorts: some interesting, some slap-your-knee funny, some perverse, some stinkers, and some thought provoking. It's a different sort of lot, so go and see some new works, expand your range, and decide for yourself who the winners are.
Dance: Century Ballroom Anniversary Party, Feb 26th, free (but you greatly increase your chances of getting in if you pick up tickets beforehand.) One of Seattle's premier dance spots holds its 8th anniversary party with swing, salsa, tango, and more. The town's best hepcats will be there. This will be the best use of your saddle shoes all year.
Theatre: Nunsense, playing until mid-March, $16+. You know how those wild and crazy nuns cut loose and act up. A dinner theater presentation of what happens when nuns let down their habit. You certainly don't need to be Catholic to laugh at this show. Else, My Jim at the ACT Theatre, Feb 26th, free. Continuing black history month, this very engaging new work develops the story of Sadie, the abandoned wife of the escaped slave Jim, from Mark Twain's, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Accompanies music, an art exhibit, and a discussion. As long as you're going down to the ACT, be sure to also see The Women in Black, until March 6th, $30. You'd think that without the benefit of a bunch of Hollywood special effects, it'd be hard to show a convincing spooky story. The ACT actually delivers on a creepy story that'll have you sleeping with one eye open.
Spiritual: Opening Day at the Japanese Tea Garden, Feb 26th, $5. Enjoy the Shinto blessing ceremony and Tiako drum core pounding away. Or, go get your ass Feng Shui'ed at the Purple Cafe, Feb 28th, $15. Start off with a reception, followed by wine tasting, followed by an hour-long Feng Shui seminar on creating balance and harmony in your daily life.
Exhibition: Depression Era Glass Show at the Kent Commons, Feb 26th, $3. American glassware and kitchenware, over 200 tables. Free identification of glassware, limit two per person, and repair of your glass items. It isn't exactly the Antiques Road Show, but it's still fun.
Organization: Cowgirl Spirit, a lady's equestrian drill team. If you're looking for something new to do with your horse, consider this team for parades, rodeos, and competition. Bond with your horse in a new way in a fun and supportive environment. You already know how much time, work, and money it costs to support a horse, so after all you do, it's practically a shame if you're not getting some amount of fun and training with your horse.
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Restaurants: from great to good. These fabled northwest institutions are living on yesterday's reputation. While certainly not bad, they've lost their edge and noble status; they've become just another three start restaurant.
Salish Lodge. If it wasn't for the majesty of the Snoqualmie Falls, would it really be worth the drive to go up there? Long waits, inconsistent service, cold food, soggy bread, frozen seafood, and overpriced to boot! Can you think of a better definition of a "tourist trap?" If you insist, dine in The Attic upstairs, a more informal dinning spot with reasonable prices.
Tom Douglas Restaurants: The guy is working on becoming a Seattle brand when he should get back to basics and be paying attention to his kitchen. A dip in food quality and service mars what he's accomplished. Make no mistake: Mr. Douglas is an active philanthropist and asset to our community. Now, if only his restaurants once again equaled the generosity of his spirit!
Palisade: A fancy restaurant failing inspiration. Nothing wrong with it, but certainly nothing fantastic either. For the view and the $$$$, you expect a little "wow" out of the deal. Instead, you get a menu missing signature entrees, bland tastes, and a dated interior. Save this restaurant for the one day of the year when you take your mother out.
