Happening This Week
Mon. 4/16 7:00 pm
Histories of Capitol Hill and What We’ll Build Next
Free
The Summit on Pike (Capitol Hill)
“Poets and storytellers celebrate the history of Capitol Hill, followed by a panel discussion on how we can help navigate the future of the neighborhood.”
#Community
Tues. 4/17 6:30 pm
WordPress Help Desk Meetup
Free
Smart Buildings Center (Beacon Hill)
“Want Help with your WordPress site, or want to help others? This is the place to come for learning and help getting over a hurdle. Bring your laptop and be ready to share your question, or help others with their questions.”
#WordPress
Tues. 4/17 7:00 pm
John Boylan’s Conversations
Free
Vermillion (Capitol Hill)
“Artists as Activists: Vigilance is easy, especially in a day of information overload. In fact, excessive vigilance may be what’s driving some of us to burnout. What’s more important is engagement. It’s simple: the responsibility of living in a democracy is engagement, locally and nationally, staying involved as a way of life, and maybe a way of art.”
#Civics
Tues. 4/17 7:30 pm
Confessions of a Dinosaur: Covering the Universe in the Age of the Internet and Disruption
Free
Kane Hall (UW Campus)
“New York Times Cosmic Affairs Correspondent Dennis Overbye will discuss scientific reporting and why the search for facts matters in the era of false news.”
#Science!
Thurs. 4/19 6:30 pm
Ability-Based Design: Making Technologies Match All People’s Abilities & Context
$7.50
HUB (UW Campus)
“The term ‘disability’ connotes an absence of ability, but is like saying ‘dis-weight’ or ‘dis-height.’ All living people have some abilities. In this talk, Prof. Wobbrock puts forth a grand challenge: that anyone, anywhere, at any time can interact with technologies ideally suited to their specific situated abilities, and that our technologies do the work to achieve this fit.”
#Design
Thurs. 4/19 7:00 pm
Kiran Ahluwalia and Souad Massi
$15-20.00
Triple Door (Downtown)
“One in Seven Billion: Kiran Ahluwalia and Souad Massi Joins Forces for an Evening of Cross-Cultural Connection.” (hat tip to Jon Kertzer)
#SeattleWorldBeat
Thurs. 4/19 7:00 & 9:30 pm
Lionel Loueke Trio
$10-20.00
Royal Room (Columbia City)
“Lionel Loueke combines harmonic complexity, soaring melody, a deep knowledge of African folk forms, and conventional and extended guitar techniques to create a warm and evocative sound of his own.”
#SeattleWorldBeat
Thurs.-Sun. 4/19-22
Ottmar Liebert and Luna Negra
$36.50
Jazz Alley (Downtown)
“His musical style: a mix of Spanish, Mexican and World elements, strong melodies tinged with a shade of melancholy, balanced with upbeat rhythms.”
#SeattleWorldBeat
Thurs. 4/19 8:00 pm
The Cumbieros with Ten Man Brass Band
$10-15.00
Nectar Lounge (Fremont)
The Cumbieros are a Seattle-born multi-national cumbia band made up of talented musicians from Chile, Brazil and North America. The Cumbieros fuse traditional and contemporary South American cumbia with the modern sounds of ska and rock, creating fun, high-energy music that drives everyone to the dance floor.”
#SeattleWorldBeat
Fri. 4/20 4:20 pm
420 Celebrations
Free
The Stranger events pages listed (at time of publication) 65 pot-related events in observance of the annual celebration of cannabis culture.
#HauteSeattle
Fri. 4/20 8:00 pm
Moth StorySLAM
$10.00
St. Mark’s Skinner Hall (Capitol Hill)
“AWARDS: Prepare a five-minute story about the spoils of one’s achievement! An ‘A for effort’ is FINE, but let’s hear about your trophies, honors and gifts of glorious reverence (or lack there of…) Employee of the month, biggest catch of the day, Emmys, Webbys, raises, Black Belts, and those of the the lesser tangible, soul-satisfying variety.”
#SEATalks
Sat. 4/21 10:00 am
WordPress 101
Free
Works Progress (Greenwood)
“Come get an introduction to WordPress and get some questions answered. This is a drop-in class with a rotating set of topics. Each class starts with a short presentation on that month’s topic, followed by plenty of time to ask questions and troubleshoot individual website situations.”
#WordPress
Sat. 4/21 7:00-11:00 pm
Science Night: An Evening of Drunken Experiments
$25.00
Hale’s Palladium (Fremont)
“This is most fun you can have without breaking the laws of physics. A hands-on Science Experiment free-for-all, with dozens of experiments to try. Blow things up with air! Levitate metal! Make homemade lightbulbs, cube-shaped bubbles, 3-d art, float stuff on air, and more!”
#Science!
Sat. 4/21 7:00 pm
Youth Speaks Seattle 2018 Grand Slam
$8-22.00
Neptune Theater (U District)
“Witness stories of love, loss, resistance and survival, told through the raw medium of spoken word. The Youth Speaks Seattle Grand Slam is the culminating event of the annual all-city competitive slam series. The top 5 poets will represent Seattle at the 2018 Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Slam Festival.”
#SEATalks
Sat. 4/21 8:00 pm
Polyrhythmics
$18-22.00
Nectar Lounge (Fremont)
“Rich with bold brass and hypnotic percussion, Polyrhythmics’ latest album, Caldera, showcases the instrumental eight-piece’s impossibly tight grooves and virtuosic musicianship as they tear through a singular blend of funk, soul, psychedelic rock, R&B, progressive jazz, and Afrobeat.”
#SeattleWorldBeat
Sat. 4/21 9:00 pm
Marco de Carvalho Trio
Free
Triple Door Musiquarium (Downtown)
“Marco de Carvalho plays an extensive repertoire of music from Rio de Janeiro as well as his own compositions.”
#SeattleWorldBeat
Sat. 4/21 7:30 and 10:00 pm
Rebirth Brass Band
$25.00
Tractor Tavern (Ballard)
“Rebirth Brass Band is a true New Orleans institution. While committed to upholding the tradition of brass bands, they have also extended themselves into the realms of funk and hip-hop to create their signature sound.”
#SeattleWorldBeat
Sat. 4/21 9:00 pm
L’Orchestre Afrisa International
(price not listed)
Rumba Notes (Columbia City)
“L’Orchestre Afrisa International Congolese rumba and soukous, featuring DJ Dougie Doug.” (hat tip to Doug Paterson for this one)
#SeattleWorldBeat
Sun. 4/22 6:00 pm
The Truth About Animals
$5.00
Westside School (West Seattle)
“Filmmaker Lucy Cooke takes us on a worldwide journey to observe the bizarre behavior of animals in the wild. Cooke lays bare the secret (and humorous) habits of wildlife in the animal kingdom, and shares stories of the unique professions that have arisen worldwide to accompany them — including Colombian hippo castrators and Chinese panda porn peddlers.”
#Science!
Sun. 4/22 8:00 pm
Cubanismo!
$30-40.00
Triple Door (Downtown)
“The leader of ¡Cubanismo!, Jesús Alemañy, was a trumpeter for Sierra Maestra, one of Cuba’s leading son groups, from the age of 15. Now residing in London, Jesús immerses the listener in sweet dance sessions full of swaggering horn charts and wild polyrhythms that recall the vintage big-band son sound.”
#SeattleWorldBeat
Next Week
Tues.-Wed. 4/24-25 7:30 pm
Daymé Arocena
$16.00
Jazz Alley (Downtown)
“Santerian chant, rhythmic complexity, fluid jazz styling and a nuanced Afro-Cuban soulfulness – Daymé channels the elements in service to her audience and culture.”
#SeattleWorldBeat
Wed. 4/25 7:30 pm
Seattle Science Slam
Free
Optimism Brewing (Capitol Hill)
“Seattle Science Slam is a free event featuring three engaging and accessible presentations from scientists who do not talk about ‘textbook knowledge,’ but rather explain individual aspects or fundamentals of their own research projects. The audience applause decides who wins.”
#Science!
Thurs. 4/26 6:00 pm
Innovation and Design Thinking Meetup
Free
TBD (TBD)
“Theme and location to be announced as the Meetup date gets closer.”
#Design
Thurs. 4/26 7:00 pm
Fresh Ground Stories
Free
Roy Street Coffee (Capitol Hill)
This month: “Being Different – Stories of not fitting in.”
#SEATalks
Thurs. 4/26 7:30 pm
UW Science Now
$5.00
Ada’s Technical Books (Capitol Hill)
“UW Science Now is an annual tradition where Town Hall teams with UW Science Engage to bring local graduate students to the stage to present their latest cutting-edge research.”
#Science!
Thurs. 4/26 8:00 pm
Awesome Tapes from Africa x Chimurenga Renaissance
$12.00
Kremwerk (Denny Triangle)
Zimbabwean Tendai ‘Baba’ Maraire and Congolese Hussein Kalonji blend hip-hop and African music to create the Chimurenga Renaissance sound. Awesome Tapes From Africa (DJ set) began as a blog in 2006 and has grown into a label that expands musicians careers and builds bridges. Opening DJ set by Darek Mazzone.
#SeattleWorldBeat
Fri.-Sun. 4/27-29
World Rhythm Festival
Free
Seattle Center (Queen Anne)
Annual gathering of world percussion and dance fans. Free classes, workshops, and performances all weekend.
#SeattleWorldBeat
Sat. 4/28 all day
Independent Bookstore Day
Free
your local indpendent bookstore (all over town)
“In a world of tweets and algorithms and pageless digital downloads, bookstores are not a dying anachronism. They are living, breathing organisms that continue to grow and expand. In fact, there are more of them this year than there were last year. And they are at your service. Independent Bookstore Day is a one-day national party that takes place at indie bookstores across the country on the last Saturday in April.”
#Community
Sat. 4/28 10:30 am
Civic Saturday
Free
Northwest African American Museum (Mt. Baker)
“Civic Saturday is a civic analogue to church: a gathering of friends and strangers in a common place to nurture a spirit of shared purpose.”
#Civics
Sat. 4/28 2:00 pm
WordPress Study Group for Women
Free
Wallingford Community Senior Center (Wallingford)
“Women, this meetup is just for you! Bring your laptops, bring your questions, and bring your projects – we’ll get together to discuss WordPress, answer questions, show off what we’re doing, and help each other out. All levels of experience and expertise are welcome.”
#WordPress
Sat.-Sun. 4/28-29 5:00 pm both days; also 1:00 pm show Sun.
Sumo & Sushi
$45-299.00
WaMu Theater (SODO)
“You don’t have to fly to Japan to experience the excitement and fun of this 1500 year old sport! Learn about the history, rules, and culture of Sumo followed by six live matches and a Q+A with the wrestlers. Enjoy a carefully curated bento box handcrafted by your favorite local sushi chefs.”
#HauteSeattle
Sat. 4/28 8:00 pm
The Seattle Pancakes & Booze Art Show
$10-12.00
El Corazon (Denny Triangle)
“Seattle’s Premier Underground Art Show featuring: 70+ Emerging Artists, Live Body Painting, Live DJ sets, Live Art, FREE Pancake Bar.”
#HauteSeattle
Noteworthy Upcoming Events
Tues.-Wed. 5/1-2 7:30 pm
Pedrito Martinez Group
$28.50
Jazz Alley (Downtown)
Praise for Grammy-nominated Cuban percussionist Pedro Martinez: “Pedrito is a genius Working with him has been a revelation to me.” – Wynton Marsalis “The Pedrito Martinez Group is the real thing. They had the club JUMPING! It made me feel like a teenager!” – Quincy Jones
#SeattleWorldBeat
Wed. 5/2 7:30 pm
Angélique Kidjo’s “Remain in Light”
$50-80.00
Benaroya Hall (Downtown)
“Critically acclaimed, three-time Grammy Award winner Angélique Kidjo is one of the greatest artists in international music today. In her latest project, Kidjo reimagines The Talking Heads’ classic album, Remain in Light.”
#SeattleWorldBeat
Thurs. 5/17 7:30 pm
Ignite Seattle
$5-10.00
Egyptian Theater (Capitol Hill)
“Ignite Seattle is the largest open submission public speaking event in the Pacific Northwest. Each speaker gets 20 slides, for 15 seconds each, to share a passion for 5 minutes – it’s an evening of curated discovery. We take pride in providing every audience with a deep sense of the community + possibility that surrounds us in Seattle in every moment.”
#SEATalks
Fri. 5/25 8:00 pm
Mdou Moctar
$13-15.00
Nectar Lounge (Fremont)
“In the crowded scene of Tuareg guitarists, Mdou Moctar stands apart from his peers. Playing in the repertoire of desert guitar popularized by groups like Tinariwen and Bombino, Mdou is pushing the boundaries of the genre with a unique personal sound.”
#SeattleWorldBeat
Thurs.-Fri. 5/31-6/1 9:00 pm
Puddles Pity Party
$35-75.00
Showbox (Downtown)
“The ‘Sad Clown with the Golden Voice’ is here with his heartfelt anthems and a suitcase full of Kleenex! This Pity Party is not all sadness and longing. The show is peppered with a brilliant sense of the absurd, mixing lots of humor with the awkward, tender moments.”(ticket page for Fri. show)
#HauteSeattle
Fri.-Sun. 6/1-3
HONK! Fest West 2018
Free
TBD (all over town)
“HONK! Fest West is a grass roots, non-profit, music festival. Completely volunteer planned, organized, and performed, HONK! Festivals are a part of a global renaissance of community street band culture. For three days in Seattle area parks and streets, 25+ bands deliver music and celebration that is completely free and family-friendly.”
#SeattleWorldBeat
Sat. 6/23 8:00 pm
Ozomatli
$30-32.50
Nectar Lounge (Fremont)
“Since its inception in 1995, innovation and creativity have defined Ozomatli. Hailing from Los Angeles, the group found a way to represent the city’s eclectic culture through music that appeals to the local community and the world beyond. Ozomatli’s success is exemplified in an impressive variety of genres from classic to modern Latino, urban, hip-hop and other world styles.”
#SeattleWorldBeat
Sat. 11/17 8:00 am-4:30 pm
TEDxSeattle 2018
McCaw Hall (Seattle Center)
“The theme for this year’s event is Tall Order. As an individual, many of us have thought, ‘that’s a tall order’ about something in our personal and work lives. As a theme, Tall Order balances the sense that these are challenging times – but that the challenges can be met. Tickets will go on sale this summer.”
#SEATalks