How do you sum up Seattle? Ballard’s Annies Art & Press had a thought, and put it on mugs, t-shirts, buttons, the works. They were just one of the fun local vendors at this weekend’s big Urban Craft Uprising show ? Doing something interesting this week? Maybe one of the events below? Send us your pics at [email protected] and we’ll feature them next Monday.
MONDAY
Learn how Seattle’s food scene got cooked up. Food writer and Evergrey reader Rebekah Denn will moderate a discussion with local foodies like Seattle restaurateur Ethan Stowell and entrepreneur Kristi Brown about how our city found its cuisine. The talk is related to “Edible City,” an ongoing exhibit at MOHAI that Rebekah curated. [South Lake Union]
TUESDAY
Test a toolkit to talk across political divides: Michael Hebb (who we mentioned in this story about Dinner With Your Muslim Neighbor) is an expert facilitator who plans to launch a toolkit early next year to help Americans “reclaim our common ground.” Help beta-test it at this free event, which will close with a discussion about the election. [Capitol Hill]
WEDNESDAY
See our changing city through the eyes of young local artists: The Youth Leadership Board of Creative Justice, an arts program that aims to keep young people out of jail, organized this exhibit to let young Seattleites “stake their claim as residents of our region, documenting their existence, showing us their struggles and their joys through the lens of their smartphones.” Thanks to reader Brad Puetfor the tip. [Pioneer Square]
Hear young Seattle women’s stories of immigration, racism and belonging: You can also add your own stories to a pop-up installation on immigration history. [International District]
THURSDAY
Celebrate Human Rights Day with journalist Jose Antonio Vargas: Every year the City of Seattle Human Rights Commission celebrates locals who champion human rights. The keynote speaker is Jose, a Pulitzer-winning journalist and advocate who came out as an undocumented immigrant and recently wrote this New York Times piece about being undocumented post-election. [Capitol Hill]
Learn how community ownership could make housing more affordable: Passionate about how the city can create more affordable housing? Here’s your chance to hear from local and national leaders who are experimenting with an interesting set of ideas. [Central District]
FRIDAY
Hear Seattleites’ take on a wild year: At Seattle City Club’s year in review event, hear from former governor Dan Evans, executive director of Building Changes Helen Howell, Boeing’s Bill McSherry and community activist Nikkita Oliver on topics like race and equity, affordability, trade and international affairs. [Downtown Seattle]
Throw on your favorite wizarding robe for the Harry Potter Holiday Costume Ball: In addition to the costume contest, you can make a wand and take a spellcasting class. Kids are very much welcome. [Woodinville]
SATURDAY
Buy Seattle art and see how it gets made: Here are three different opportunities to support our local artists. First, 70 artists will sell their art for under $100 at the Seattle Design Center in Georgetown. Then, there will be an open house featuring 125 artists at Equinox Studios in Georgetown. Also, on Saturday and Sunday, you can check out nine artists’ studios across the city.
Attend the closing reception for a timely art exhibit at The Alice: “The Bubble” exhibit is focused on intellectual safety and asks the question, “How are we shaped by what we are protecting ourselves against?” One interactive installation in the exhibit, created by Evergrey reader Kevin Golden, is called “Clickbait” and looks at how fake news sites influenced this election and whether we can expect media to be responsible. [Georgetown]
SUNDAY
Barter holiday gifts instead of buying them: At this annual community holiday barter party, you can trade items like handmade scarves, jewelry, homemade jams and services like dog walking, massage and more. Know of any other neighborhoods who do something like this? Let us know and we’ll highlight them here. [Ballard]
PLUS: ALL THE HOLIDAY THINGS ?
Here’s a sampling of the many annual holiday festivities going on around our city. As always, let us know what good stuff you see missing.
- See the lights at: Bellevue Botanical Garden, Woodland Park Zoo, Bellevue’s Snowflake Lane, and Leavenworth’s Christmas Lighting Festival
- The Best Burlesque Pageant Ever at Columbia City Theater
- The Santa Breakfast and Mini Nutcracker at Washington Hall
- An Improvised Christmas Carol at The Market Theater
- A noir-inspired holiday thriller at Seattle Public Theater
- The Santaland Diaries, Sugar Plum Gary and more at 18th & Union
- Krampus Christmas at the Seattle Immersive Theatre