Our arts critics have already recommended 61 great things to do this week and our music critics have picked the 30 best music shows, but there are still hundreds more events happening. To prevent some of the quirkier and more extraordinary ones from slipping through the cracks, we've compiled them hereâfrom the Sick Womxn & Queers Show to the Monster Jam Triple Threat Series, and from Love Potions 101 to the Seattle Rock Lottery. For even more options this week, check out our complete Things To Do calendar.
Get all this and more on the free Stranger Things To Do mobile appâavailable now on the App Store and Google Play.
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TUESDAY
FOOD & DRINK1. Bay Area Takeover at Navy Strength
Navy Strength will host a night of Bay Area hiphop music and cocktails inspired by Tupac, Mac Dre, and E40, with two guest bartenders from San Francisco: Helen Diaz, regional market manager for Chareau Aloe Vera Liqueur and the 2017 California Speed Rack Champion, and Dominic Alling, national brand ambassador for Botanist Gin.
2. South Africa One World Dinner
Tuck into a South African-style six-course dinner with spicy seafood potjie and dried apricot lamb skewers.
3. Tuesday Trivia: The Office
Assess your knowledge of your favorite workplace shenanigans program and win prizes.
4. Lana McMullen, Shaudi Bianca Vahdat, Faint Peter
For this installment of the Round, see performances by local musicians, including alt folk artist Lana McMullen, multi-genre vocalist Shaudi Bianca Vahdat, and ambient folk artist Faint Peter. There will also be a spoken word poet and live painters.
5. John Crocker: Following Fifi
Dr. John Crocker, a former colleague of Jane Goodall, learned from our closest animal relatives when he lived with chimpanzees in the Gombe forest in Tanzania. His experiences helped him see similarities between chimpanzee communities and our own. He'll present his recent book My Adventures Among Wild Chimpanzees: Lessons from our Closest Relatives.
6. Poetry Spectacular with Vegetarian Alcoholic and Friends!
Vegetarian Alcoholic Press will host local poet Finn Menzies, who will read from his Brilliant Odyssey Don't Yearn collection. He'll be joined by NYC-based writer Maura Lee Bee, local poet Rena Medow, and touring poets Sierra-Nicole Qualles, Franklin K.R. Cline, and Freddy La Force.
TUESDAY-SATURDAY
MUSIC7. Hobby Rockers: Robin Edwards and Bree McKenna
Once upon a time, in a weird online corner of the Seattle rap scene, the term âhobby rapperâ described people with 9-to-5 jobs whose hobby (maybe not quite passion, it was implied) was (typically middling-to-bad) rapping. Bree McKenna, whose membership in so many groupsâincluding Tacocatâmakes her possibly the Wolverine of the Seattle indie set, tells me via FB Messenger that â[her] sound guy friend told me that he calls office guys that play music as a spare time project with their buds âhobby-rockers,â and would always be exasperated at how long they wanna play and how many pedals they have.â âBut me and Robin [Edwards, aka Lisa Prank] are gonna be the hobby rockers of the painting world.â Maybe their art show will reclaim the word âhobbyâ from the weekenders and that homophobe Lobby. Now itâs up to you to see if they should keep their day jobs. LARRY MIZELL JR.
TUESDAY-SUNDAY
ART8. Janet Nechama: The Capitol Hill I Remember
A series of paintings by Janet Nechama features the local artist's most beloved Capitol Hill haunts that have been replaced by "newer, shinier businesses in this time of rapid gentrification." Spots include the Globe Cafe, Rosebud, Cafe Paradiso, RCKNDY, Zine Archive Publishing Project, Home Alive, The Pink Zone, and more.
Opening Tuesday
9. Lantern Light Festival
Celebrate a 2,000-year-old Chinese tradition by seeing authentic lanterns of various shapes, sizes, and colors set aglow.
WEDNESDAY
COMEDY10. Wallingford Laughs' Last Show
Stand-up show Wallingford Laughs has been going strong for two and a half years, but tonight marks its finale. Stop by to see sets from Andre Pegeron, Erin Ingle, Andy Haynes, Ellen Go Acuario, and Jon Durnell.
11. Friends Trivia Night
You may want to take in a few quintessential Friends episodes before this 50-question trivia night dedicated to your old favorite onscreen BFFs.
12. Cheat Day w/ DJs Essex & Riff Raff
Abandon your physical, emotional, and spiritual diets for a night of reckless dancing. DJs Essex & Riff Raff will spin a delicious spread of "whatever they want."
13. Anu Partanen: The Nordic Theory of Everything
Journalist Anu Partanen, a contributor to The Atlantic, will make the case for importing Nordic ideas to America, thereby improving our standards of living and "education, health, gender equality, [and] childrenâs well-being." Leftist economics icon Robert Reich called her book "a wonderful, hopeful book about what American society could beânot by adopting Nordic âsocialism,â but by embracing the values that have allowed Nordic citizens to enjoy more freedom and equality than in present-day America."
14. Elana Zaiman: The Forever Letter
Seattle-based writer and rabbi Elana Zaiman will present her latest book, The Forever Letter, inspired by the centuries-old Jewish tradition of the ethical will.
15. Hike Back in History with John Scurlock
As part of Washington's National Park Fund's Hike Back in History series, hear local photographer John Scurlock talk about how he captures his aerial photographs of the Cascades. Also onsite will be artifacts from the WNPF collection, including maps of the North Cascades and an original copy of the photo book that helped convince Congress to create North Cascades National Park.
16. Nuclear Energy in Space
Join Dr. Chris Morrison, astro-nuclear engineer for UltraSafe Nuclear Corporation, as he explains the use of nuclear energy in space and how his work can also help with energy on earth.
17. Put Human Trafficking Out of Business
BESTâBusinesses Ending Slavery and Traffickingâwill host two speakers to address the scourge of exploitation: the organization's founder, Mar Brettmann, and Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for King County Valiant Richey.
WEDNESDAY-SUNDAY
ART18. Suffer for Beauty: Women's History Revealed Through Undergarments
The 2018 iteration of this exhibit (first mounted in 1994) displays costumes, undergarments, and historic images of trend-setting ladies. The undergarments in particular display "the ways women try to sculpt and refashion their bodies." A few new elements, including displays of 1960s and 1970s fashion, have been added.
Opening Wednesday
THURSDAY
COMMUNITY19. Hygge x Souldust
You've probably heard the Danish word hygge floating around lately: It's a concept associated with coziness, community, and overall contentment. Join Camp Souldust for an evening of hygge-inspired activities, including coloring, self-care, and refreshments.
20. Rooftop of the World: Searching for Snow Leopard
In March 2017, photographer Joel Caldwell and National Geographic Explorer Tanya Rosen travelled along Tajikistan's ancient Silk Road to document the controversial use of trophy hunting in snow leopard conservation. Hear Caldwell talk about the experience.
21. Love Potions 101
Channel your inner Love Witch and stir up some aphrodisiac elixirs at this craft cocktail class with the mixologists of E. Smith Mercantile and sex educators of Babeland, who will teach you how to infuse spirits with libido-boosting herbs and spices and impart some sexy tips for Valentine's Day.
22. Starkfest Kickoff Party with Ayinger
Prost is hosting a starkbier (strong beer) extravaganza from January 11-21, and they're starting it off with Ayinger's Celebrator Doppelbock and raffle drawings all night.
23. First Annual Andy King Drum Marathon
Andrew King will attempt to play the drums for five straight hours for the debut Andy King Drum Marathon. Featured Andy King bands include: TRASH FIRE, Black Sabbath cover band Symptom of the Universe, Reader, and Mirror Ferrari.
24. Ilyasah Shabazz
Ilyasah Shabazz (daughter of Malcolm X and author of Growing Up X) will give a speech in honor of MLK Unity Day. Also in attendance: Mayor Jenny Durkan, council president Bruce A. Harrell, Seattle city council members, and others.
25. Lauren Danner: Crown Jewel Wilderness
Susan Danner's Crown Jewel Wilderness recounts the fight to conserve what is now the North Cascades National Park in post-WWII America.
26. Noir at the Bar
Meet a few local noir authors (including Scotti Andrews, John Blakemore, Nick Feldman, Sheena Kamal, Reb MacRath, Linda L. Richards, Victor Rodriguez, Jim Thomsen, and Jenny D. Williams) and hear them read their hard-boiled fiction.
THURSDAY-SUNDAY
PERFORMANCE27. The Addams Family Musical
Based on the book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, The Addams Family Musical takes place when the kids have grown up. The sinister Wednesday Addams falls in love with a respectable boy named Lucas Beineke, whose normal family is the opposite of Wednesday's creepy and kooky kin.
28. Don't Split the Party
In local playwright Nathan Kessler-Jeffrey's Don't Split the Party, Rick is determined to reunite his college Dungeons & Dragons group who haven't spoken in three months. His efforts involve locking his friends in his basement apartment and initiating a game of (you guessed it) D&D.
29. Fruits of the Harvest
In Eric Bischoff's play, Maggie is a widow who runs a small Idaho farm. Downtrodden by time, bad weather, and competition from corporate farms, she gathers her three grown children as she struggles for one last harvest.
FRIDAY
FOOD & DRINK30. Pizza & Beer Cooking Class
Tom Douglas's Hot Stove Society is hosting a Hop Stove Society series focused on all things beer, with beer writer and beer expert Kendall Jones and chef Eric Stover. Each class features a different local brewmaster. This time, it's Dru Ernst of Dru Bru, the makers of Serious Bru Bohemian-Style Pilsner (brewed especially for and served at Tom Douglas's Serious Pie locations). Ernst will discuss the brewing process, and guests will make their own pizza and learn how to pair a pie with the perfect pint.
31. Bootie Seattle: NYE Do-Over Party!
Seattle's only all-mashup dance party throws down for an all-out NYE do-over complete with another midnight countdown and tons of confetti. Prep thyself for all the '00s club bangers and '10s Top40 hits you could possibly handle.
32. Foreverland: A 14 Piece Tribute to Michael Jackson
Genres collide with a full night of homage, featuring Foreverland, a 14-piece Michael Jackson tribute experience.
33. Futuristic Polar Bears
Wear white to get free admission to this wintry installment of Resonate Fridays, featuring Big P, Areeo, and D-Rad.
34. Hairstorm, Phantom Fears
Ah, the '80s, when everything was bigger, louder, and longer-tressed. Exorcise your nostalgia with tribute bands Hairstorm and Phantom Fears. In addition to Phantom Fears' Rush covers, dance to the reprises of tunes by Van Halen, Bon Jovi, Guns N Roses, Motley Crue, and more.
35. The Prince and Michael Experience with DJ Dave Paul
The ultimate tribute dance party for the angels among us, Prince and Michael Jackson. Music by DJ Dave Paul, all the way from San Francisco.
36. Golden Dragon Acrobats
Get ready to be very, very impressed with China's Drama Desk Award-nominated Golden Dragon Acrobats Circus, which plays an amazing 200 shows a year, has been touring America for over 30 years. The troupe will soar through the air and perform feats of contortion.
37. Trivia Puppet Company Presents: Primo
Trivia Puppet Company has been invited to attend the Scottish Manipulate Festival. Help them pay for their travel expenses at their first 2018 show, featuring "Prometheus," "The Coracle," and "The Stars Tonight."
38. WEIRD: Spiced Girls
Join the WEIRD crew for this month's installment of what claims to be "Seattle's oddest drag show." Performers will put on their very best special tribute to the undisputed greatest band in the world, the Spice Girls.
39. The Power of SHE
The Power of SHE encourages people to support women-owned businesses in order to shrink the gender wage gap. Join founder Tracy Klinkroth for a launch party, featuring an unveiling of the website (where women can list their businesses for free), plus pop-up shops from women-owned business.
40. How to Get Away with Weirder
Bite your nails as âBig Catâ Scott Henson goes head-to-head with âWrestling Geniusâ Daniel Makabe at this "weird wrestling" showdown. Legion of Gloom, Hellfire Club, Cole Crazy, Kaden Talbain, and Cubby will also make appearances.
41. World Dance Party
Learn dances from Tahiti, the Philippines, Kenya, West Africa, and Guatemala in 15-minute mini lessons. Bring a dish to share to add to the potluck rotation.
FRIDAY-SATURDAY
ART42. Anna Macrae: Making Marks
Increasingly recognized Northwest artist Anna Macrae builds landscapes through frenetic, colorful lines, "awkward marks," and blotches of color.
Artist demonstration on Saturday
43. She-Ra: Stripper of Power!
Scarlett O'Hairdye, Olatsa Assassin, and Evilyn Sin Claire star in this burlesque show, which features an ensemble of local co-stars.
FRIDAY-SUNDAY
FESTIVALS44. Lake Chelan Winterfest
Find kids' activities, an ice bar, horse-drawn carriage rides, apple bin train rides, special deals at shops and wineries around the lake, and more at this mid-winter festival.
45. Monster Jam Triple Threat Series
Puget Sound motorsport fans will delight in seeing four monster trucks make their Washington State debuts.
46. NW Indoor Golf Championship
Participants will compete for a share of over $12,000 in cash and prizes, including a package to a major Northwest golf resort, Seahawks memorabilia, Sounders Suite tickets, Mariners Diamond Club tickets, and more.
SATURDAY
ART47. Chance Fashion's 8th Annual Artist of the Year Awards
Local fashion gets a boost at the Artist of the Year awards, where the best model, designer, photographer, hair stylist, and makeup artist of the year are recognized. Wow your eyes at this special showcase.
48. Community Art Workshop for Pier 86
Be a part of a proposed art installation on the Pier 86 Terminal by sharing your thoughts on "Seattle's past, present, and future." Your input may be featured in the inaugural projection on the peir's rectangle grain elevator.
49. Family and Community Day
Enjoy a full day of live music, craft activities, and more at MOHAI, inspired by Seattle on the Spot: The Photographs of Al Smith.
50. Intention Setting Party
Set "intentions" for the new year to prioritize what you want to achieve in 2018. Participants will be guided through various meditations and reflection questions, create a 2018 "map," and determine action steps to move forward.
51. Lineage
Last winter, professional skier Ingrid BackÂstrom set out to ski the top 25 ski runs in North America, accompanied by her husband, her newborn baby, and her parents. See a film about her adventures and meet Ingrid and her family in person.
52. Latinx Nerds Meetup
Local nerd-identifying Latinx folks can meet up for a night of Latin music, a loterĂa, community-building activities, baked goods from Cubes Baking Co., and tea.
53. Roll for Gender: Gaming and Nonbinary Identity
This workshop explores the gaming industry's capacity for both freedom/exploration and gender-based exclusion. Attendees will share stories of world-building, participate in group storytelling that prioritizes non-binary and trans players, and discuss personal experiences with gamingâboth positive and negative.
54. Jacob London
Join Jacob London (AKA dance DJ duo Pezzner and Hanssen) to hear remixes galore.
55. PopStar Gay Bingo
Vie for the crown of PopStar Princess in the Gay Bingo Costume Contest and rock out to your favorite power ballads.
56. Seattle Psy Ops: Emok
Psy Ops, in this particular iteration, provides psychedelic dance music from top artists and DJs for what promises to be an otherworldly experience, with a featured set from progressive psy-trance DJ Emok.
57. Seattle Rock Lottery
25 musicians are organized into five bands through a lottery-style selection, and are then released to their respective practice locations. The musicians have 12 hours to determine a band name and create three to five songs (only one of which can be a cover) before returning to the venue for a performance. Proceeds benefit Rain City Rock Camp for Girls.
58. Marissa Niederhauser
Performance artist Marissa Niederhauser will perform two stories: "Womanhood" and "Leda" (inspired by the Greek myth "Leda and the Swan"). To close, Calie Swedberg, Antony DeGennaro, Edward Estlin, and Alan Sutherland will collaborate on a music/dance/recitation piece called "Cleopatra Built."
59. Markiplier
YouTube star Mark Edward Fischbach, aka Markiplier, has captured the hearts and minds of the teenagers in our lives, mainly by recording vlogs and commentary on video games. He'll come to Seattle on his You're Welcome tour.
60. Oriental Bliss Showcase
Egypt's Vanessa of Cairo and Leila Farid, Spain's Amanda Rose, and Roxy will be joined by local talent for a night of "Oriental dancing."
61. Washington State Korean American Day Celebration
The South Korean dance troupe Maro, which hails from the Jeju Islands, will dance, sing, and act out a 5,000-year-old myth in Leodo: The Paradise, as part of a ceremony honoring âThe Korean Day Billâ (5166), which was signed by Governor Chris Gregoire in 2007 and "recognizes the cultural and economic achievements made by Washingtonâs Korean-Americans."
62. Humanity Through Community
Join Humanity Through Community, Nikkita Oliver, and scholar Robin DiAngelo for a panel discussion on healing and resilience.
63. Rat City Roller Derby Season Opener
At this home team season opener, see Derby Liberation Front vs. Throttle Rockets and Grave Danger vs. Sockit Wenches.
64. Xtreme International Ice Racing
Watch Speedway Motorcycles and ATVs speed as fast as they can on a track made of ice. The only rule is that brakes are not allowed. What could go wrong?
SATURDAY-SUNDAY
ART65. NOW Contemporary Comix Art Exhibition
Fantagraphics will boast original work by some significant comics artists, new and well-established alike, including Eleanor Davis, Gabrielle Bell, Sammy Harkham, Dash Shaw, Malachi Ward, and Rebecca Morgan.
Opening Saturday
66. Bavarian Icefest
It's a holiday tradition for the Bavarian town to transform into a winter wonderland replete with snow sculptures, a snowmobile sled-pull, live ice carving, and many more frosty activities.
67. Seattle Wedding Show
Wedding-havers will find over 400 local, regional, and national vendors including event facilities, bakeries, bridal boutiques, caterers, DJs, florists, jewelers, and much more under one roof to make planning for the big day a little less stressful.
68. Bet Ya Ungodly Things
Neve Andromeda Mazique-Bianco's solo dance set is described as "A Black, One Femme, Folk-Science Dance Fable Set Up-South."
69. Panto Cinderella
You'll recognize the wicked stepsisters, fairy godmother, and pumpkin carriage from the classic tale in this musical comedy production, but it'll be performed in larger-than-life British Panto style. The Fremont Philharmonic Orchestra will provide live accompaniment, and you'll be welcome to cheer the heroes and boo the villains.
70. A Thousand Cranes
The courageous young girl Sadako Sasaki was a casualty of warâa hibakusha, the Japanese word for someone affected by the atomic bomb. A native of Hiroshima, Sadako nonetheless grew up to be strong and athletic, until her body was overtaken by leukemia. When a fellow patient related the legend that someone who makes 1,000 paper cranes will be granted a wish, she began to make the origami birds herself. The SecondStory Repertory will stage her true-life tale.
SUNDAY
ART71. DIY Screen Printing
Bring your own design (printed on a 3" x 5" index card) to print on various materials, from fabric to wood. You'll also learn how to make your own small screen.
72. The Sick Womxn & Queers Show
Raise money for local people dealing with sickness and celebrate the voices of womxn and queers with music by Nic Masangkay and Anna Gordon, poetry by Kayla Rosen and Samantha Peetros, an art installation, Sick Bed, by Grey Ellis, dance by Moonyeka, performance by Grief Girls, and DJing by PSA. Plus, they'll be raffling off Babeland goods and Valentine's Tattoo.
73. StarkBier Dinner with Mike Baker
Try rare German starkbiers (strong beers) alongside four paired food courses from Chef Gunnar Erickson and Graham Cheney.
74. Klaus Nomi Night
Come in your most avant-garde look to dance the night away in remembrance of the late German vocalist Klaus Nomi, who was known for his wild theatrical performances. VIP tickets grant you access to an assortment of pastries, which were the musician's favorite snack.
75. Butoh + #2
DAIPANButoh collectiveâs second variety performance is an opportunity for art sharing and collaboration. Live music, stories, and dance will be performed by artists Helen America, Marcia Tate Arunga, Alycia Scott Zollinger, Izumi Fairbanks, Jay Hamilton, and DAIPANbutoh Collective members Kaoru Okumura and Sheri Brown.
76. The Sunday Night Shuga Shaq, An All People of Color Burlesque Revue
The players of "the only monthly ALL PEOPLE OF COLOR Burlesque Revue in Seattle," including host Ms. Briq House, will strut their stuff at the progressive Theatre Off Jackson. No nudity, but lots of titillation.
77. WLZ Volume 3 Issue 1 Zine Launch Party
Hear live readings, play literary games, and pick up a few copies of the Word Lit Zine at their launch party.
78. Poster Prep for Seattle Women's March 2.0
Make your poster for the Seattle Women's March 2.0 ahead of time at this prep session.
79. Yoga Under Glass
Get extra centered at this hour-long yoga session in the Chihuly Glasshouse. All experience levels are welcome.