Single's Event: Royal Esquire Club Bachelor and Bachelorette Auction, April 23rd, $25. Get a date the old fashion way - buy one! Though attending such an event seems to have a taint of desperation, it's actually a pretty fun party and an innovative way to meet someone new. At the very least, you end up with a good party story; at best, you meet someone really great. And remember, it's for charity.
Fundraisers: Seattle Symphony President's Night, April 22nd, $600. A little pricey, but the performance by Vanessa Williams makes it worth it. ۰ Else, Woman's Funding Alliance Art of Dining, April 21st, $250. A multi-course dinner prepared by Seattle's top women chefs. Taste multiple delights from multiple talents. ۰ Else, Arts Corps presents la Festa del Arte, April 23rd, $50. Dinner, dance, and performance for children's art in a lively environment.
Arts: UW All Arts Open House, April 22nd, free. All arts in one forum, visual and performing. Discover a way to nurture your passion, no matter its expression: student performances, art exhibitions, gallery tours and talks, receptions, sales and auctions of art. Go see the talent of both students and alumni. ۰ Else, if you're thinking of something smaller, local artist Nina Mikhailenko hosts an open house on April 23rd. If you've been to El Gaucho or some other local restaurants, then you've already seen her works on the wall, so now go see their birth in the studio.
Family Activity: King County Earth Day Expo, April 22nd, free. Worms, fish, magicians, and volunteers from all areas in this event, all the ingredients for a good time by kids. Free recycling for old cell phones. Plenty of information on how to be a good steward of the Earth in our backward. ۰ Else, Pajama Story Times for kids aged 3-7, every Tuesday 7 PM at Woodinville Library and every Wednesday 7 PM at Sammamish Library. A little PJ party with stories, songs, games, and wiggle dances. Think of this as a sly way to get your kid to go to bed without a fuss. ۰ Else, Healthy Kids Day at the West Seattle YMCA, April 23rd, free. Physical and mental antidotes to blossoming childhood obesity.
Swap Meets: Greater Seattle Vintage Guitar Show, April 24th, $7, and the first 300 people in the door get a free set of guitar strings. Like a vintage instrument, a vintage Stratocaster has its own indelible spirit ready to sing out if you master the right touch. Go find an instrument with history. ۰ Else, Maritime Swap Meet in Port Townsend at the Cupola House by the Wooden Boat Foundation, April 23rd, free. A little out-of-the-way, but you'll be able to come back by your new boat instead. Trade stuff you don't want for stuff that some other guy doesn't want.
Activity: Emerald Downs Opening, $4 (kids 17 and under free.) Wager a race and get the thrill of owning part of that pony, even for just a moment. A nice way to celebrate filing your taxes. Watching the horses race is one of those events like, say going auto racing, an ice skating show or a pro soccer game, that normally doesn't pop up on the radar screen of regular consideration, but once you go, you're glad you did.
Show: Atomic Bombshells, every Wednesday, $10. Those burlesque babes are back doing their thing, and actually, it's a pretty good thing! Go back to Vaudeville days and have a hoot for a night. At a show like this, you'll actually laugh more than blush.
Workshop: Landmark Designation Process by Historic Seattle, April 23rd, free with pre-registration. We all bemoan when one more landmark building is torn down and a little piece of Seattle's soul falls with it. This is a workshop on the landmark process: what it is, how it works, and how neighborhoods and communities can protect their endangered buildings.
Exercise: Metabolic Testing, April 19th, free. Every employee has heard the stale advice, "Work smarter, not harder." We've been told to apply this to our jobs, but what about our exercise? Go get your metabolism tested and learn how you can make the most of your limited workout time.
Organization: NW Multihull Association. Got a boat? That's great. Does it have more than one hull? That's even better. With the gusty weather, join the folks who skim across the water on the next thing beyond the uni-hull.
Upscale, laid-back bars: Sometimes, all you want to do is lay back, have a drink or two and a little food with friends, and chill out for an evening. If you go to a popular bar, the problems are: 1) too noisy, difficult to have a pleasant conversation for the night, 2) crowded, you're getting poked and prodded by strangers, and 3) service is slow, where you have to compete for service staff's attention to get a drink. So, instead, here are a couple of nice places where you can go out, focus on your company, and the drinks are the auxiliary.
Ruth Chris Steak House: Next to the Hilton, hotel bars tend to be a little more elegant, which this one certainly is. A great happy hour with a tasty bar menu, a luxurious decor to surround yourself in, and a wait staff on top of the game to make sure you're taken care of. Plus, no problems ever finding a table to sit down after the work day.
Sapphire: A bar with sex appeal, an urban boutique. Flavorful drinks, an impressive wine list, and it's obvious the staff takes pride in its martini construction abilities. When you see the chef coming out of the kitchen hugging the customers, you know this is a good spot. Located on Queen Anne and Madison
Troiani: This is a pretty comfortable place to hang out with a chic edge to it. Troiani is mostly viewed as a businessman's refuge, so most people overlook the bar. A pleasant guitar accompanies most evenings. A great spot for the city dwellers, and the complimentary valet here rocks.
Il Fornaio: This place seems more expensive than it actually is. The wood oven and the rustic bread add a lot of ambience. A good place to feel the vibe of the city. The long marble bar isn't conducive to talking, so stick to a table.
