Dance: Musica Vitae! Cabaret, until April 2nd, $20+. You get everything you could possibly want in one night: dinner, musicians playing at your table, an electric performance, and then salsa lesson which you put to immediate use afterwards. Wow, like, how much else good stuff could you possibly cram into one night? ۰ Else, NW Dance Extravaganza, April 2nd, $70. Dinner, social dancing, and then dance performances by professionals. If dance is your thing, then this should be your night.
Restaurant: Blu Water Bistro, including a new Belltown location. Besides being a great restaurant choice, Blu Water Bistro hits the high notes on two scores. First, in a town flooded with happy hour choices, these guys produce a remarkable happy hour that'll have you leaving work a bit early. Second, their restaurants have a vibrant single setting without the drawbacks of the dreaded bar scene.
Arts: Figaro, by the Young Artists Program of Seattle Opera, April 1st - 10th, $30. The artists may be young, the but talent is full. This is a great opera without the industrial strength ticket prices of regular performances. If you're kind of curious about Opera and what it's about, this is a great entry-level performance.
Performance: Moisture Festival, until April 10th, ticket prices north of $10. The oddball acts of Seattle. April 5th is a Pay-What-You-Can performance. You have to appreciate artists who make their works available to the greater general public. Remember, pay-what-you-can doesn't mean you can go cheap; it just means you need to put a little more thought into the ticket price you pay.
Music: Seattle Folklore Society Saturday Music Series, around $14 each concert. Blues, fiddle, and storytelling via song. You don't have to be gray hair to enjoy the music.
Lecture: I'm Glad You Asked, by Dan Savage, March 30th, free, but reservations recommended. Writer, sex columnist and community gadfly reads out loud on the best advice dished through the mass media. Listen as people's life problems are solved in 250 words or less.
Bicycling: Old Bike Swap Meet, March 27th, free for attendees. Soft tires, wide seats that don't wedge up the butt, and a ride that glides along like a Cadillac. What's not to like about old bikes! Again, what's old is new again, so go discover the pleasure of riding bikes before gadgetry and carbon fiber took over.
Outdoors: Weed Pulling Party, Golden Gardens Park, April 2nd, starts at 10 AM. If you enjoy using the city's parks, here's a way to put back into them. All you need is a pair of working hands and a desire to yank out noxious weeds. Actually, a good family activity, or good discipline for unruly teenage kids.
Discussion: The Challenge and Opportunity of Inner Citizenship, April 1st, free. Citizenship and spirituality intersect in this discussion. We know that good citizenship requires outward actions (voting, volunteering), but what about inner actions? Find out how your karma contributes to a better nation.
Organization: Thomas Wales Foundation. Little guys making a difference. A civic organization promoting fellowship and leadership to make our community a better place.
Young Patron Groups. If you're between 21-39, that makes you young as far as performing arts patronage goes. This is the time of the year when the companies sign up next season's subscribers. As part of the lure to encourage the next generation of season ticket holders, the big three performing art venues provide social club membership for its younger members. Members get together before and after shows, and for hosted outside activities. These clubs are not populated with a bunch of art geeks or cultural snobs; rather, it's a loose collection of cool people getting together for fun, who also happen to subscribe to the performing arts. Rating the clubs:
Bravo, of Seattle Opera. Seattle's oldest and most established group, as well as a national standard for other opera companies trying to duplicate their success. As the biggest and most mature social group with hundreds of members, these folks put together the biggest and best parties, and they cover every cool venue. You'll be hard pressed to find a better soiree or group of good looking (and sharply dressed) people in Seattle. On the flipside, as with any large organization full of haute people, this group can get cliquish and catty.
Backstage Pass, of Pacific Northwest Ballet. Living up to its name, this group provides the best behind-the-scenes access, allowing a deeper understanding of the hardships and tradeoffs of this profession where performers retire at 28. Good opportunities to access the performers and craftspeople behind the scenes for questions and one-on-one discussions. This group hits the sweet spot, of small intimate events with big party favors. The members are gracious, the parties are captivating, and at the end of the night, you're glad you joined. The word "genuine" comes to mind.
Wolfgang, of Seattle Symphony. A smaller group in the crawling stages of development, their events are simpler and smaller. With so many different concerts, sometimes the activities of this group have difficulty lining up with your subscription package. Events are kind of like a backyard BBQ at your friend's place: casual, low-key with no grand moments, but you always have a fun time nonetheless.
Avant-garde, of Seattle Art Museum. An honorable mention, since this group disbanded years ago and never reformulated. SAM, please bring this group back!
