The Best Bang for Your Buck Events in Seattle This Weekend: May 31–June 2, 2024 - EverOut Seattle (2024)

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FRIDAY

FOOD & DRINK

Plant-Powered Pop-Up Past EventLikeList
The Bale Breaker & Yonder Taproom always has delicious beer and cider on offer in a lovely, kid- and dog-friendly space in Ballard's brewery district. Couple that with this week’s warmest weather and a pop-up featuring delicious vegan foods, and there’s really no reason you shouldn’t stop by. Bainbridge-based Cake for Breakfast Co. will offer scrumptious cheesecakes (lemon raspberry is my favorite) and Seedlings Vegan Provisions will be selling a variety of dairy-free, small-batch cheeses from around the country. I might have to skip out of work a little early for this one. SL
(Bale Breaker & Yonder Taproom, Ballard)

LIVE MUSIC

Interrupt The Loop Past EventLikeList
Can't decide whether to go out or nap this Friday night? Look no further than this restorative concert where sleeping, journaling, cuddling, meditating, or "simply being" is encouraged. Cozy up with a yoga mat and a pillow (BYO) as ethereal musicians Candice Rose, Earth Practice, and Micaela Kinslight perform alongside skilled dancers Heather Smith and Samantha Weissbach. Daniel Nelson will also perform poetry with some projection art.AV
(Fremont Abbey Arts Center, Fremont, $10-35 sliding scale)

Wiseacre, K Van Petten, and Sophia Corinne Past EventLikeList
In case you're not familiar, the Ballard Homestead is a cozy venue that hosts concerts and quirky arts events in a sun-lit craftsman tucked away in Ballard's residential neighborhood (off NW 65th S). The venue has hardwood floors, high ceilings, art-deco archways, and church benches, making it the ideal charming old-world setting for acoustic tunes. This week, the halls of the Homestead will fill with poetic indie folk tunes from singer-songwriters Wiseacre, K Van Petten, and Sophia Corinne. AV
(Ballard Homestead, Ballard, $12-$26)

SHOPPING

Meet-and-Greet with Maria Bamford and Scott Marvel Cassidy Past EventLikeList
You've probably already caught Maria Bamford's comedy, a surreal medley of voice impressions, deadpan jokes, vulnerable storytelling, and high-energy, rapidly changing characters, on Comedy Central or Netflix. (She’s also played roles in BoJack Horseman, Adventure Time, and Kung Fu Panda.) But did you know that she is also one-half of a very cute couple, and you can hear the whole story through the eyes of their pugs, Blueberry and Bert?! Hogbook and Lazer Eyes, co-authored by Bamford and her artist hubby Scott Marvel Cassidy, tells the story of their OkCupid meet-cute and eventual marriage with naturalistic graphic storytelling and Bamford's pitch-perfect comedic timing. You won't meet the pugs at this book signing, but Bamford and Cassidy will be there, maybe even holding hands!! I'm not crying, you're crying. LC
(Elliott Bay Book Company, Capitol Hill, free)

SATURDAY

LIVE MUSIC

Mikey Moo Past EventLikeList
Float through the evening with Seattle-based queer psych-pop band Mikey Moo, who will celebrate the release of their debut album, Fresh Idiot. The album arrives just in time for summer with bright grooves and shimmery psychedelic flourishes fit for putting the top down. Drag performers Ms. Pak-Man, Ade, and Cookie Couture will join the party.AV
(Barboza, Capitol Hill, $12-$15)

PERFORMANCE

Beckoning Summer: Performances by Hairbone and Moonyeka, with the House of Kilig Past EventLikeList
Staged within the current exhibition Raúl de Nieves: A window to the see, a spirit star chiming in the wind of wonder…, de Nieves will perform as one-half of Hairbone, a drag duo with a punky, queer sensibility. Joined by Jessie Stead, de Nieves will "fill the gallery with a reverberating energy traversing transcendental planes." The Pacific Northwest-based "chimeric creator" Moonyeka and House of Kilig, a trans and queer diaspora-centered collective, will supplement the performance with sound activations and joyful movement. Head there to celebrate the launch of de Nieves's exhibition publication, which includes contextual essays by museum curators and a new poem. LC
(Henry Art Gallery, University District, Free with $0-20 suggested donation admission)

PRIDE

Seattle Pride in the Park 2024 Past EventLikeList
Kick off the 50th anniversary celebrations of Seattle Pride with a day of music, dancing, performances, and more. Emceed by drag favorites Versace Doll and Betty Wetter, one stage will feature live performances from the likes of headliner LIVt and groovy sextet Day Soul Exquisite while the other will showcase local DJs spinning dance tracks. It wouldn't be pride without Drag Queen Storytime, and the family and teen space from Camp Ten Trees will also return. New this year, GenPride hosts an area specifically designed for seniors with accessibility features like ADA restrooms, ASL interpreters, and priority seating. As always, there will be an alcohol garden, a sober area, food trucks, community booths, queer vendor marketplace, and the most welcoming vibes. SL
(Volunteer Park, Capitol Hill, free)

White Center Pride Street Festival Past EventLikeList
As former Stranger editor Chase Burns once wrote, "After successfully gentrifying Capitol Hill and turning it into a bedroom community for Amazon elites, the gays have set their sights on White Center." Don't miss this free and family-friendly block party, which will showcase the up-and-coming (and largely un-gentrified) neighborhood of White Center. Catch various types of entertainment like drag, music, a puppy parade, and over 80 booths to peruse. AV
(Downtown White Center, free)

SHOPPING

UW Plant Sale Past EventLikeList
This past weekend I volunteered at the UW Farm for the first time and had a ton of fun. Sometimes you just need to touch grass, y'know? We got an insider tip that the only time you can pick up cool UW Farm swag like hats and shirts is at the once-a-year farm sale this weekend, where they'll also be selling starters for tomato plants, peppers, several varieties of squash, dahlias, and more. You can tour the farm (and maybe even see some of the beds I helped level), chat with student gardeners, and learn more about how you too can get involved. SL
(UW Center For Urban Horticulture, Laurelhurst)

SPORTS & RECREATION

Ballard FC 2024 Home GamesRemindLikeList
USL League Two champions Ballard FC return this season to defend their title. It doesn't get much more local than being sponsored by Reuben's Brews and having your main chant be "Up the bridges!" At the home opener this year, the game ball was delivered by parachuters and Dick's burgers were thrown into the crowd after every goal. Honestly, it was more exciting than expected and I would recommend a game to anyone as cheap, entertaining, family-friendly fun. Plenty of local food vendors are on-site if you're looking to do dinner at the game; the line seemingly never dies down for Nepalese food stand Kathmandu MoMoCha. SL
(Memorial Stadium, Uptown, $15-$40)

VISUAL ART

See Through: Nadia Ahmed and Shannon HobbsRemindLikeList
Nadia Ahmed and Shannon Hobbs's exhibition See Through feels uniquely delicate, relying on soft, luminous wax to reflect on the inherent fleetingness of relationships. The concept of "ephemerality" is mentioned pretty often in artist statements, but Ahmed and Hobbs seem to take a refreshing look at the idea, considering how impermanence can feel weighty and structured. "How much do you give or take in a relationship?" they ask the audience. Show up to feel seen. LC
(The Vestibule, Ballard, free; opening)

SUNDAY

FESTIVALS

Dino FestRemindLikeList
In 2015, Burke Museum paleontologists made the first-ever discovery of a dinosaur fossil in Washington state—now that's an achievement worth celebrating. Slap on your khaki shorts for this museum-wide fossil festival, featuring hot new research shared by Burke and UW scientists, specimens from the museum's collection, fossil dig pits, clay crafts, a scavenger hunt, and a big ol' T. rex skull on display. This event draws a big audience, so plan early and snag a timed ticket. LC
(Burke Museum, University District, free)

FILM

Everyone Is Guilty: Patricia Highsmith AdaptationsRemindLikeList
“I am not a whor*...that’s just an expression. I’m an artist who paints with blood," Patricia Highsmith once said. You might be tempted to be like, "Well, okay then," and move on with your life, but here's another idea: You should sink into the essence of Highsmith's bloodiness with this round-up of some of the best cinematic interpretations of her work. Lesbian romance Carol is curiously not on the docket, but never fear: Purple Noon, The American Friend, sociopathic romp The Talented Mr. Ripley, and tennis thriller Strangers on a Train (Challengers fans, that one's for you) more than make up for it.LC
(The Beacon, Columbia City, $12.50)

MULTI-DAY

FILM

Akira Kurosawa's DreamsRemindLikeList
I first saw Akira Kurosawa's Dreams in a freshman film survey class—it was projected onto a giant screen, where I watched alongside hundreds of other students in the same lecture hall. At the risk of sounding corny, it was a moment in which I realized what film could really do, and it cut through the noise of aughts-era schlock and twee. The 1990 film unfolds in eight vignettes woven together with nods to Japanese folktales; there are fox weddings, warrior ghosts, radioactive landscapes, and even a Martin Scorsese cameo (he plays Vincent van Gogh). It's also one of Kurosawa's last, and most naturalistic, films. LC
(Northwest Film Forum, Capitol Hill, $7-$14, Saturday-Sunday)

Funeral Parade of RosesRemindLikeList
When a glittery bar hostess (played by trans actor Peter, of Kurosawa's Ran) finds herself in a love triangle with a hot drag queen and a club owner, an experimental madhouse ensues, complete with documentary interviews, avant-garde imagery, and even cartoon elements. It's no surprise that Funeral Parade of Roses inspired Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange—both films are brutal, dizzying, and boozy. Director Toshio Matsumoto's queer touchstone of the Japanese New Wave will screen in honor of its 55th anniversary. LC
(Grand Illusion, University District, $8-$11, Saturday-Sunday)

Know Your PlaceRemindLikeList
LA/206 directorZia Mohajerjasbi's debut featureKnow Your Placeis a film that everyone in Seattle (and all other major cities) should (must) watch. It is a packed work, and so unpacking it all is nothing but impossible within the obvious attentional limits imposed on blog posts. But, I will begin by saying the star of this film is, above all, Seattle. But this star has two important and different parts. One: the city that's becoming, class wise, hom*ogenous. This kind of city has less and less space for the working classes. Two: the city that's losing its color. Black Americans were the first to go. Now it's black Africans. Next will be East Asian Americans.Know Your Place takes place in the now. Read more of Charles Mudede's review on The Stranger. STRANGER SENIOR WRITER CHARLES MUDEUDE
(SIFF Cinema Uptown, Uptown, $14.50-$15.50, Friday-Sunday)

FOOD & DRINK

Bite of GreeceRemindLikeList
Longing for aMamma Mia!-esque escape to Greece? Head to this free festival to stuff yourself with gyros, slow-roasted lamb sandwiches, grilled souvlaki, Greek salad, spanakopita, and other authentic Mediterranean delights prepared by the community of the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption. You'll get to peruse a marketplace with pastries, crafts, imported deli items, and more. Plus, brush up on your fancy footwork with Greek dancing lessons and traditional live music. JB
(Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption, Capitol Hill, free, Friday-Sunday)

Sour Fest 2024RemindLikeList
Revel in a range of pucker-inducing brews at this annual tap takeover from Outer Planet Craft Brewing, featuring a selection of some of their most popular sour beers as well as some others from local breweries. Each day, the brewery will feature a special sour flight. Plus, look forward to a live performance by local musician NadaNada on Saturday and a raffle on Sunday.
(Outer Planet Craft Brewing, Capitol Hill, free, Friday-Sunday)

LIVE MUSIC

HONK! Fest WestRemindLikeList
This free, family-oriented festival revives the old-world sounds of brass, percussion, and street band music. Dozens of bands across various musical styles (including punk rock marching bands, European Klezmer groups, Maracatu sounds, and more) will take to the streets of Georgetown (day one), Columbia City (day two), and Pratt Park (day three) as they jam out in celebration of this democratic and ebullient musical genre. So bring a chair, join in with your own instrument, or just come to dance! AV
(Various locations, free, Friday-Sunday)

PERFORMANCE

GUNKED!RemindLikeList
I grew up a mere 1.9 miles away from Universal Studios Florida, so every day after school, I could practically hear the screams as innocent children were drenched with green goo (it was actually a mix of vanilla pudding, applesauce, food coloring, oatmeal, and baby shampoo) on Slime Time Live.Modern history has cemented slime as a crucial aspect of any child's upbringing, from the Double Dare goos of yore to whatever the hell this is. Directed by Tootie Spangles, GUNKED! conjures some millennial childhood charm, imagining a late-'80s, neon-tinged competition series on the eve of its high-energy launch. Bring a towel. LC
(Annex Theatre, Capitol Hill, Sliding scale starting at $5)

VISUAL ART

AlterationsRemindLikeList
I confess that, even though it is a 20-minute walk from my home, I had never been to Photographic Center Northwest until their last exhibit featuring the works of Jon Henry. It humbled me, and inspired me to return. I typically have a hard time understanding "art," and gravitate toward photography where I expect things to be more real. The latest PCNW exhibit, Alterations, challenges that idea, as it features six Pacific Northwest artists who burn, tear, and paste various ephemera into their photographs. The works use collage to enhance, challenge, or twist the image, providing commentary on various aspects of our reality from gender stereotypes to environmental destruction. SL
(Photographic Center Northwest, Capitol Hill, free, Saturday-Sunday; closing)

Hourglass Lying DownRemindLikeList
Sophia Arnold might be one of my favorite contemporary artists—her oil, acrylic, and watercolor compositions of surreal scenes are intoxicating, lush, and seemingly full of secrets, reminiscent of Elizabeth Malaska's paintings. In the group exhibition Hourglass Lying Down, Arnold's works will appear alongside Polaroids by Autumn Knight, luxuriant paintings by Klara Glosova, and collages by Serrah Russell. Anticipate a dreamy feast for your eyeballs. LC
(Koplin Del Rio Gallery, Georgetown, free, Friday-Sunday)

Intertwined Realities: Sunny Moxin Chen, jade wong, Nanxi Jin, Rulin Ma, Jia Jia Past EventLikeList
SOIL's latest group show distills the "very essence of human existence" in an immersive collection of works that think about the "changing body, experiences of loss, and the deep-seated longing propelling us forward." That's no small feat, but I think the artists exhibiting are up to the task: Intertwined Realities features multisensory works by Moscow-born Chinese immigrant Sunny Moxin Chen, cooking-inspired filmmaker jade wong, Chinese ceramicist Nanxi Jin, abstract painter Rulin Ma, and multimedia maker Jia Jia, who encourage gallery visitors to "deeply process and internalize their experiences, fostering personal growth." Think you're up for it?LC
(SOIL, Pioneer Square, free, Friday-Saturday; closing)

Stephanie Syjuco: After/ImagesRemindLikeList
Stephanie Syjuco's artworks were objects of my obsession in art school—the Manila-born conceptual artist often draws from archives, museums, and library collections to craft disruptive responses to colonialism, imperialism, capitalism, and war. It'll appeal to you if you're a nerd for research and good politics. In Stephanie Syjuco: After/Images,the artist considers the camera, describing it as a "technology of imperialism that records and creates racialized American histories." The exhibition’s reconstructed archival photographs, videos, and installations center the US occupation of the Philippines, American colonization overseas, and the troubling ideology of Manifest Destiny. LC
(Frye Art Museum, First Hill, free, Saturday-Sunday; opening)