Seattle Spin: What's Happening this Week

Learning: Lots 'o ways to expand the mind this week.  Carkeek Park Environmental Learning Center hosts a watershed-wise garden design class, March 3^rd and 15^th, 7PM, free, but must call 206-684-0877 to register.  We have the nice weather right now, so it's easy to think ahead onto spring planting.  Before you dig up the dirt, learn how to design your own sustainable garden.  ۰  Else, The Emerging Movement to Reclaim the Media on March 2^nd, 7 PM, free.  Hey, we're all for small media!   ۰   Or, take a six-week Burlesque 101 Class, starting March 5th, $225.  Learn the burlesque basics and develop your own routine, culminating in a student graduation recital the Jewel Box Theater.  Remember, burlesque can be raunchy, but it's not sleazy.   ۰   Finally, How Secure is Social Security, 3:30 on Feb 28^th, free, in room 133 at William Gates Hall on the UW Campus.  Think you're going to retire on Social Security, or will it even be around?  Learn more about the problems of social security and proposed fixes, and see if you'll be cashing those government checks in your old age.

Performance: Florencia in the Amazons by Seattle Opera starting Feb 26^th, $40+.  There's a reason why Seattle has the highest proportion of opera goers of all US cities - because Seattle Opera happens to be great!  So, if you haven't before, take in a spell binding opera.

Family Activity: Dino Days at the UW Burke Museum, March 5^th, free with admission.  Always a big hit with the kidlets, get up close to the bones, pepper the experts with questions, and imagine the ferocious teeth of the T-Rex snapping your head off.  This is about as fun as learning will ever get for a kid.

Theater: REBECCA at Book-It Repertory Theatre, until March 26^th, $25.  A gothic thriller of love, marriage, and murder in a bone chiller of a story.  Book-It always has such rich costumery, really giving their productions an extra edge.  ۰  Else, the Young Playwright's Festival, March 4^th - 6^th, $5.  See what tomorrow's artists are cooking up right now, presenting the works of authors and directors aged 11-18.  ۰  Finally, if you want to make the ferry trip over, The Playhouse on Bainbridge Island opens Kiss Me Kate! on March 4^th, $18.  Sounds like a good deal to us - where's this Kate, and when can we kiss her?

Music: Lunchtime concerts, noon, at City Hall, March 3^rd and 17^th, free.  If you work downtown, then this is a nice reason to go out for a little stroll, and surely beats eating lunch at your desk.  As they say, it's your tax dollars at work.  ۰   If you're more interested in nighttime concerts, then Seattle Pacific University has two good events: the Schonenhals Symposium Concert on March 2^nd, free, and Cappella Romana presenting The Fall of Constantinople on March 3^rd, $20.  This is music to uplift and ponder.

Film: Free Film Forum Festival, March 3^rd at the Jewel Box Theater, $5.  A traveling film forum emphasizing local filmmakers.  You'll have the usual eclectic mix of films, some that are cool and others not, with the chance to see some up-and-coming artists.

Art: People Doing Strange Things with Electricity, closing March 3^rd with the film screening.  An electrifying show (as if you couldn't see that pun coming) of 32 artists with electricity as the centerpiece of their creation.  The magical force we take for granted, now witness it used in different forms and development of its early understanding.

Exhibition: Belly Dancing by Troupe Zamani at Cafe Solstice, March 4^th at 8:30 PM, $5.  A mix of different dancers with some music for open dance hosted at a cool coffee house.  Let's see Starbucks match this!

Outdoor Activity: Birding Basics at Discovery Park, March 5^th, ages six and up, free, but pre-registration required.  Some of the best pleasures in life are the simplest ones, and it's hard to beat the gentle joy of observing nature passing time.  ۰  Else, if you'd like to do something more active, then there's the American Lung Association hike to Rattlesnake Ridge in North Bend, 9 AM on March 6^th, free.  When you actually get to the top of the ridge and see the deep valley of trees, it's difficult to believe that you're actually still in urbanized King County.

Dance: Ballard Contra Dance at the Sunset Hill Community Hall, March 5^th, 5 PM.  It doesn't get any more folksy than this: a potluck dinner (bring your own plates and utensils) followed by open band dancing and dancing with the family.  ۰  If this isn't homey enough for you, then check out the First Friday Folk Dance at the Mountaineers, March 4^th, 8 PM.  Folk and old time music with couple and line dances.

Senior Activity: 55 Stay Alive Course, Federal Way Library, March 5^th and 6^th at noon, free.  AARP presents a refresher class on defensive driving for folks north of 50.  Never hurts to be road wise; after all, according to just about every driver, the road is full of those "other idiots."

Organization: Mountains to Sound Greenway.  You see their signs when driving along I-90.  This trust does a lot more than make the drive to Spokane look pretty.  Working on saving the forest we have left, this trust has put away 125,000 acres for preservation and enjoyment while we still can.

The upcoming weather  
Check traffic before you leave

Best Pay-What-You-Can Venues.  You gotta love any organization that actively practices its mission of making its art accessible to all of the public.  People of limited means can still take in the great performance everyone else enjoys.  The usual caveats apply: there's a limited number of tickets for one or a few select shows, no advanced sales, and seating varies.  Also, just because it's pay-what-you-can doesn't mean you can loaf off and get cheap.  It's kinda like the church collection plate, where you really shouldn't just do the minimum and cough-up whatever leftover one-dollar bills are in your purse or wallet.  The donation works out best when you put a little forethought into your giving. 

ACT Theatre:  One of the best stages in Seattle opens its doors for pay-what-you-can.  ACT usually offers one evening and one matinee show for most of its shows during the mainstage season.

Seattle Rep: A great regional theater.  Tickets are sold on the day of the show only from the box office.  The line can get long, so be sure to get there early.

Seattle Shakespeare: All preview performances are pay-what-you-can.  Like usual, tickets are sold on a first-come first-serve basis on the day of the show only.  The bard would be proud.