Lectures: The Re-education of Smokey the Bear, Jan 13th, free. Does aggressively fighting forest fires break up nature's cycle, just building up more fuel for a grander forest fire at a latter date? Go and hear the points of view. ж Also, An Overview of Cancer in Washington State, Jan 11th, free. It's very clear how cancer affect an individual, but here's a chance to learn about cancer on a macro-trend basis. ж Also, Transportation Cost Outlook - Fuel Surcharges: The Past, the Present, the Future, Jan 12th, $15. A forecast for future fuel prices and what factors affect the price at the pump. You don't think about this now, but you will when you're popping $50 to fill the tank.
Wine: Naked Wine Tasting at Little Red Studio, Jan 14th. Here's the deal: it cost $25 to get in the door, but for every piece of clothing you toss, your admission drops by a buck. Also, to prevent just a bunch of horny single guys from showing up, every hetero guy has to bring a female guest for a balanced evening.
MLK Activities: I've Been To the Mountaintop, 2:30 PM Jan 16th, free, at the Center House Pavilion at Seattle Center, a reading of Dr. King's famous speech. Watching some of those old black-and-white clips of Dr. King speaking about justice and equality for all Americans, boy, how can that not strike a cord in the heart? Here's a chance to hear those powerful words again. ж Also, MLK Rally, Jan 16th, free. This is part rally and part protest over today's injustices.
Genealogy: There's a whole boatload of government records about our ancestors which are ripe for discovery, and the National Archives and Records Administration’s Pacific Region has a big facility right here in town. On Jan 12th, 11:30 AM - 1 PM, Meet for Lunch at the Genealogical Brick Wall. Let a group of specialists help you break through genealogical problems. ж Also, Jan 14th, Beginning Computer Genealogy, 10 AM - 12:30 PM, Jan 14th, $10, learn about search techniques and online resources. ж Also, Methods of Finding and Using NARA Records, 1:30 PM - 4 PM, Jan 14th, $10. Learn how the NARA can be a resource in your genealogical search.
Single's Event: Playdate Seattle sponsors Belltown Billiards Single's Night, 6:30 - 9:30 PM, Jan 12th, $5. If you made a New Year’s resolution to go out and meet some new people, here's how you can actually do something about it instead of just becoming another broken resolution by March.
Expo: You're covered from beginning to end this week. First, start out with the Tacoma Wedding Expo, Jan 14th - 15th, $12. After the marriage, honeymoon, and starting a family, then you're ready for the Bellevue Home Show, Jan 13th - 15th, $8.
Class: Self Defense class, Jan 16th, free. Programs available for children ages 5-8 with a parent, as well as teen girls and the general public. It doesn't get any more self empowering than this!
Event: Change the World, Jan 10th, free. Kinda like a Great American Smoke-out Day where everyone changes their habits for just one day, this is Make The World a Better Place Day. Everyone is encouraged to do at least one thing, no matter how small, to make our place better for no specific reason. If you see a piece of garbage, on the street, at least you can pick it up and put it in the trash.
Show: Neutrino Project, Jan 13th - 14th, $10. This is ultra-improvisation. The cast solicits story ideas from the audience, goes out into the street, and films a story from scratch. The tapes are brought back into the theater. They’re mixed and sound is added, and the audience views a film never seen before and never seen again.
Organization: Puget Sound Miata Club. If you've got yourself a little rod, here's a club for you. The cool thing about the club trips is someone else has already done all of the work and planning. You just need to show up with your car and some cash and have a good time
Falling Down:
Not like they used to be...
Gene Jaurez: This place is slipping on the value equation. Prices have gone up while service and quality has gone down. You get a Supercuts haircut at a Nordstrom's price. Perhaps it's the lethargy of being a corporation; now being beat out by more stylish, innovative, and artistic boutiques and spas in the area.
Seattle Weekly: The Seattle Weekly is certainly a fine newspaper with talented writers, but it's closer to the voice of the suburbs rather than Seattle's alternative scene. They've morphed, going from small and scrappy to big and commercial, losing their edge and nerve to piss people off. The Stranger beat the Weekly to the alternative crown years ago, and the Seattle Weekly is now closer to being the Seattle Times Jr. Edition than they'd like to admit.
Flying Fish: Maybe this place is having a mid-life lull, because it's certainly capable of producing better. Service has gotten sloppy, and food execution went from being dependably great to becoming just another good place amidst the ocean of other restaurants. The Flying Fish is still an asset to our community, so here's hoping they can get their groove back.
