Panicking because you haven't yet made plans for the weekend and you're short on cash? Don't worry—below, find all of your options for last-minute entertainment that won't cost more than $10, ranging from New Wave Dance Party: A Klub Klaus Disco to the Winter Write-In with Write Our Democracy: State of the Union, and from the opening of Re:definition: Latinx Diaspora to the Seattle Womxn's March. For even more options, check out our complete Things To Do calendar, as well as our list of ways to celebrate MLK Day.

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Jump to: Friday | Saturday | Sunday

FRIDAY

COMMUNITY

1. Evening Beach Walk
Explore the creatures that hang out on the West Seattle beach at low tide with professional naturalists.
(West Seattle, free)

FILM

2. Zero Waste Film Screening: Wasted! The Story of Food Waste
In Wasted! The Story of Food Waste, chefs like Anthony Bourdain (RIP <3) share their methods for making the most of the food they cook with and keeping their trash to a minimum. Stick around after the screening for a discussion with Eco Collective co-owners.  
(Ballard, $5)

MUSIC

3. The Cornish Collective
Hear what the music students at Cornish College of the Arts have been working on lately. Performers include the Elizabeth Boaz Quartet, Francis Farmer (featuring Noah Colbeck), Engraver Arnold, and the Dylan Hayes Electric Band. Come by early for a pre-concert student art show.
(University District, free-$10 donation)

4. Dogbreth, Loose, Sour Notes
Portland punks Loose will thrash about with support from locals Dogbreth and Sour Notes. 
(Eastlake, $5-$10)

5. Generation Decline, Head Honcho, Ol' Doris, C U Next Tuesday
Kevin White will celebrate his birthday with a punk-rock show featuring Generation Decline, Head Honcho, Ol' Doris, and C U Nest Tuesday. 
(University District, $7)

6. Guayaba, mĂĽnki, Eel Tank, Sorcha Faal
Ready your earthly form to howl at the moon at this collection of live sets with swirling cosmic crooner and arachnid protector Guayaba (who had the song of last summer with "Bye Bich"), Los Angeles "experimental trash" artist mĂĽnki, currently touring Philly/NYC artist Eel Tank, and new Jordan Rundle project Sorcha Faal.
(Central District, $5-$10)

7. Hand In The Attic, Common Hours, Bo Baskoro
Sway to acoustic songs by Elliott Smith-likened local folk-rock band Hand in the Attic. They'll be joined by Portland soft-rock singer-songwriters Common Hours and Bo Baskoro.
(Pioneer Square, $8)

8. Happy Orchestra Trio
Tarik Abouzied, a nominee for Earshot Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year, partners with local funk and jazz musicians D'Vonne Lewis and Joe Doria in Happy Orchestra.
(Downtown, free)

9. The Hasslers, Jackson Holte & The Highway Patrol, Kate Dinsmore
Americana/alt-country band the Hasslers will play bluesy, lovelorn tracks from their newest album, State Center. They'll be joined by Jackson Holte and the Highway Patrol and Kate Dinsmore.
(Fremont, $8/$10)

10. Mikey and Matty, Kevin Murphy and Jon Pontrello
Mikey and Matty is composed of two brothers, Michael and Matthew Gervais, along with a bassist and a drummer to whom they are not related. They'll play everything from old-school blues and folk to '40s and '50s schmaltz to '80s- and '90s-inspired punk with support from Kevin Murphy and Jon Pontrello.
(Ballard, $10)

11. Mirror Ferrari, Gibraltar, Seaside Tryst
Mirror Ferrari aim for lofted spaces, with dark, drug-laced, dreamgaze-y power pop, that wouldn't be completely out of place in a Nicholas Winding Refn film. They'll be joined by piano-heavy rockers Gibraltar and indie-pop band Seaside Tryst.
(Eastlake, $8/$10)

12. Miserable Chillers, Real Guy, Thank You, Allyson Foster
Indie-pop group Miserable Chillers will be joined by Real Guy, whose music one Bandcamp commenter described as "really sweet and fun songs that sound like if PC Music produced an of Montreal album." Local poppers Thank You and alt-punk soloist Allyson Foster also share the bill.
(University District, $8)

13. Mojo Riot, The Fat Kids, Harrison B
Join Harrison B and the Fat Kids and Mojo Riot (who are celebrating a new EP) for a night of local rock.
(Ballard, $10)

14. October Nights, Animyst, Jupiter Sprites
Pennsylvania pop-punk crew October Nights will visit Seattle for a night out with shimmery Olympia rockers Animyst and Jupiter Sprites.
(Greenwood, $7)

15. Prom Date Mixtape - Stripped!
DJs Patrick and Daniel will bring you New Wave and Britpop bangers to sate your shameless hunger for Blur and Depeche Mode. 
(Fremont, free)

16. Q-Point: Lourawk, Rocryte, Supagi
DJs Lourawk, Rocryte, and Supagi, all of whom have a vast appreciation for early audio formats, will spin party cuts from throughout the decades, but mostly from the '90s and early 2000s.
(Capitol Hill, $10)

17. Scorpio and the Hunter, Lunarbass, Payten Redwood
Seattle-based, QPOC-led, neo-soul band Scorpio and the Hunter are groovy. It’s easy to imagine them killing a gig like Tiny Desk Concert, with frontman Anthony Canape’s voice soaring above all those file cabinets while the band’s solid rhythms keep those vocals from flying too far out of reach. Intent on using their music as a means to “explore their identities as queer folk and people of color through allusion to religion, mythology, and astrology,” Scorpio and the Hunter’s single-release show, alongside Lunarbass and Payten Redmond, is bound to be a thoughtful and soul-filled night. JASMYNE KEIMIG
(Capitol Hill, $8/$10)

18. Sinister Six, The Pop Cycle, The Riff Brokers
Seattle's Brother James Burdyshaw and his blues-inflected garage-rock quartet the Sinister Six, which formed in 1991, will play at their old stomping grounds with support from the Pop Cycle and Riff Brokers. 
(Eastlake, $6/$8)

19. Transit Presents: DJ Assault
Party down with house sets from Detroit's DJ Assualt (aka "the godfather of ghetto-tech") and local DJ duos Wonder Twins and Snaptron. 
(Ballard, $7)

PERFORMANCE

20. ReBel's Drag Race: A Queer All-Stars 4 Viewing Party
If you love RPDR but like your drag inclusive, trans-friendly, and all shades of queer, join Mercury Divine and company for performances, games, drink specials, and more during viewing parties of All Stars Season 4.
(Belltown, free)

READINGS & TALKS

21. Black Jaw Literary Series
The University of Washington's MFA program presents Black Jaw, a literary series that showcases "raw and rough works only."
(Ravenna, free)

22. Gail Carriger: Competence
Sci-fi author Gail Carriger will read from her new novel, Competence, about a prim British woman living alone in Singapore who must steal helium to save her airship, resulting in a scheme involving "a lovesick werecat and a fake fish tail."
(University District, free)

23. Jeremy Smith: breaking/_and/entering|
Jeremy Smith's novel breaking/_and/entering| tells the story of a student named Alien who becomes involved in "high-risk physical trespassing"—the original form of hacking—when she enrolls in MIT in the 1990s. Hear the author read from the book.
(Capitol Hill, free)

24. PKN SEA Vol. 74: American Dreams: Empowering New Visions for a Changing America
PechaKucha Seattle—who put on presentations that are composed of 20 slides that each get 20 seconds of explanation—in partnership with the Seattle Art Museum, 4Culture, ARCADE, AIA Seattle, Design in Public, and Human Condition Magazine will bring you a Pecha Kucha on the American Dream.
(Downtown, free)

25. Young Poets Group Reading
Four-time Pushcart Prize nominee Shankar Narayan will present three other young poets, Ananya Garg, Vik Bahl, and Azura Tyabji.
(Capitol Hill, free)

FRIDAY-SATURDAY

VISUAL ART

26. Thomas Wood: Northwest Landscape Paintings and Early Prints
Bellingham landscape and print artist Wood continues his emphasis on the beautiful Northwest. This exhibition includes recent oils as well as older intaglio work.
(Downtown, free)
Closing Saturday

FRIDAY-SUNDAY

COMMUNITY

27. Northwest Remodeling Expo
Planning a remodel of your home? This annual expo features a vendor showcase with goods from local artists, home improvement seminars, and free interior design consultations with members of the Northwest Society of Interior Designers.
(Downtown, $5)

28. Snow Day in Denny Park
Denny Park's winter light display will provide a magical, twinkly respite from your day.
(Queen Anne, free)

SATURDAY

COMMUNITY

29. Design Open House for Skate Plaza
City Council has given the green light to a redesign of Seattle's Center's skate plaza, which will feature a "progression plaza," a new roof and lights, and cool additions designed for all skate levels. Meet the designers and ex-pro skater Kanten Russell at this open house.
(Seattle Center, free)

FOOD & DRINK

30. Lowercase Five Year Anniversary and Steinbier Release
Georgetown's Lowercase Brewing will commemorate five years of business with the release of a unique German Steinbier ("stone beer"), which head brewer John Marti made by placing heated rocks in the beer's wort to induce evaporation and bring out flavors not usually found through other brewing methods. Tôste will serve up sweet and savory French toast sandwiches.
(Georgetown, free)

GEEK

31. Gryffincore
Does your cross-section of interests include Harry Potter, EDM and DNB raves, and college neighborhood dive bars? If so, good news, this Harry Potter-themed rave at the Blue Moon is perfectly tailored for you. The current DJ lineup includes No Left Turn, Super K, Doughboy, Cowpunch, and Alice Blue.
(University District, $5)

32. Kick Off the Cons 2
This "convention about conventions" invites local cons, fairs, and shows to gather under one roof for a big geeky party full of artists and vendors, demos, tabletop games, and cosplay contests. 
(Renton, $10)

33. Puzzle Fest!
Do you love puzzles? Swap your jigsaws for new ones and test your skills in a timed competition.
(Queen Anne, free)

MUSIC

34. 2109: Journey to Planet Psy
Take a psychedelic dance journey into the future with Seattle electronic musicians Delic, DJ Roy, Technohippy, and Capt Tripps. 
(Downtown, $10)

35. The 3rd Annual Dolly Parton Birthday Party and Tribute Concert!
I guess I’m biased in writing this because Dolly Parton is my mom, so I love her regardless of what she does, but y’all should head out to Conor Byrne for this show and make it into a real DollyParlooza. Some local musicians are taking over her birthday for a night of covers and tribute acts with what had better be a metric fuck-ton of rhinestones, Aqua Net, and fringed candy-pink nubuck. In case you were somehow unaware, Parton is a true national treasure, a sparkling gem, a legit role model for working womxn, and an enduring voice for classic Americana and down-home pop, who will, I hope, continue to strum a lap harp on her lilac fountain cloud formation forever and ever and won’t ever die because I honestly wouldn’t be able to take that shit. KIM SELLING
(Ballard, $10)

36. Django's Birthday Party
Celebrate guitar prodigy Django Reinhardt with an evening tribute by g*psy jazz musicians from all over the Puget Sound gathering for what would have been Django's 108th birthday, hosted by Seattle jazz group Ranger & the Re-Arrangers.
(Columbia City, free)

37. Festival of Friends Bandmixers
At this cover band extravaganza, rock out to Led Zeppelin bangers performed by Hammer of the Gods and U2 classics by Achtung Maybe, with special guests Then Bang and Shark Legs performing some originals. 
(West Seattle, $8/$10)

38. The Lucky Boys, Car 87, Millhous, Monobosco
Local thrashers the Lucky Boys, British Columbia punks Car 87, seasoned shredders Millhous, and Snohomish County's Monobosco will share a bill for a hardcore night out.
(University District, $7)

39. Maklak, Karmic Unrest, Model Snake
Maklak will churn out "a melodic wall of noise" inspired by Tool, Nirvana, Deftones, Melvins, and famous bands. They'll be joined by Karmic Unrest and Model Snake. 
(Fremont, $8/$10)

40. New Wave Dance Party: A Klub Klaus Disco
Wear a fabulous DIY outfit inspired by your inner '80s NYC club kid to this Bauhaus dance party with DJ Status Apparatus. Former Stranger staffer Devin Bannon will also be serving up his best Klaus Nomi-inspired set in a "teaser" musical performance. Drink specialty cocktails and eat "innovative snacks" to fuel your dancing, knowing that proceeds will benefit Fred Hutch AIDS research.
(Pioneer Square, $10)

41. No Chill: '90s-'00s Hiphop and R&B Throwback Dance Party
It seems the '90s and early aughts indeed have no chill. Give in to the decades' sartorial and musical prevalence with a night of hiphop and R&B throwbacks from DJs Paco and Chetbong.
(Beacon Hill, $10)

42. PETS, Ashley Eriksson, Ings
PETS is the brainchild of Richland, Washington–based artist Timothy Leingang. Playing songs written by Leingang, their music is poppy and jangly, funky, weird, and lovingly homespun. It inspires, if not a full-out, body-thumping boogie, then at least a gentle sway or light bob, or a single solitary booty roll. Joining him is the talented Ashley Eriksson, who you might recognize from the end credits theme song of the Cartoon Network show Adventure Time, playing some of the 100 disco songs she wrote in 2018. Seattle-based Ings will round out the lineup, a truly delightful musician whose tender and intimate love songs warm the cheeks and the heart. JASMYNE KEIMIG
(Capitol Hill, $8)

43. The Problem, Kid Leather, Platonic Bondage, Here Comes The Hooch
Local rockers the Problem, Kid Leather, Platonic Bondage (featuring Zelda Starfire One Wommando Band), and Here Comes the Hooch will share a bill. 
(Pioneer Square, $8)

44. School of Rock West Seattle: Herstory of Rock
Witness the students of West Seattle's School of Rock play the many gems created and popularized by the womxn of rock music.
(Belltown, $10)

45. Shaolin Hunks, Shower Scum, Midnight Movie
Ramones, Buzzcocks, and Descendents made great records. But then it was dubbed “pop-punk” and imitators reduced it to something tidy, saccharine, and plastic. Labels tend to cheapen things. Just look at the bear scene in the gay community. Once a body-positive reaction to unrealistic physical standards, it’s now a clique prone to its own superficial measurements of masculinity. But praised be Shaolin Hunks, a husky and hirsute quartet who bury upbeat melodies beneath bloody-cuticle guitars and hollered vocals with the jagged jubilation of the classic proto-pop punks. Bonus points for their “The Guy She Saved” video and its half-naked cast of unassuming curvy men. Hunks, indeed. BRIAN COOK
(Eastlake, $5/$8)

46. Sleeping Lessons, I Will Keep Your Ghost, Douse, Sea Salt
Newly formed Seattle indie rockers Sleeping Lessons, who had their debut performance at Seattle's Big BLDG Bash, will play tracks from their self-produced album Red Sprites, plus some newer stuff. They'll be joined by Everett-based indie electronic artist I Will Keep Your Ghost, Vancouver indie-folk band Douse, and bedroom popper Sea Salt. 
(Ballard, $10)

47. URN, Casualty of God, Ethnocide
Enjoy a "sardonically soothing" blend of goth, Celtic music, doom metal, and prog rock from URN. Casualty of God will provide an "elegantly unnerving" set and Ethnocide will freak you out with spazz-metal.
(Belltown, $5)

PERFORMANCE

48. Audio Drama Podcast Panel
The creators of several audio drama podcasts—including Kalila Stormfire's Economical Services, Our Fair City, Janus Descending, and more—will gather for an informal panel discussion moderated by Ayla Taylor, producer and director of the sci-fi podcast Tides. 
(Capitol Hill, $5)

READINGS & TALKS

49. Closing Night: A.K. Asif, Shobha Rao, Chaitali Sen
Close out the first Tasveer Litfest with readings by three fiction writers, including debut novelist A.K. Asif (Hell! No Saints in Paradise), Chaitali Sen (The Pathless Sky), and Shobha Rao (An Unrestored Woman, Girls Burn Brighter). Their works deal with racism, love, Islam, feminism, and more. The moderators will be Darshana Shanbhag, S. Charusheela, and Shahina Piyarali.
(Downtown, free)

50. Express Yo'self! Pure Expression Open Mic and Dance Party
Share your poetry, music, or other such creative work in front of a supportive audience at this new open mic. Before you leave the house, grab hygiene products (e.g. deodorant, pads and tampons, and toothbrushes), new or gently used socks, and canned goods to donate.
(Capitol Hill, donations accepted)

51. John DeWeese, Sienna Saint-Cyr, Tom D. Wright: Kintsugi
Kintsugi is the Japanese art of using gold and other precious metals to repair broken pottery.  John DeWeese, Sienna Saint-Cyr, and Tom D. Wright, co-authors of Kintsugi, believe the art to be a metaphor for healing trauma. Hear them talk about it at this reading. 
(University District, free)

52. Kristi Charish: Lipstick Voodoo
Kincaid Strange, "not your average voodoo practitioner," returns with the second installment of Kristi Charish's urban fantasy series. Hear the author read about Strange's latest problems in a world filled with paranormal activity. 
(Lake Forest Park, free)

53. Rachel Lynn Solomon: Our Year of Maybe
In Rachel Lynn Solomon's Our Year of Maybe, Sophie Orenstein discovers that her kidney is a match for someone who needs one: her best friend and secret crush, Peter Rosenthal-Porter. Hear the author read. 
(Ravenna, free)

54. Sarah McColl: Joy Enough
In McColl's memoir Joy Enough, she shares how she cared for her mother when she was diagnosed with cancer by returning to her family farmhouse and cooking elaborate meals in the hopes of "nourishing her back to health." She'll appear in conversation with local writer and restauranteur Molly Wizenberg.
(Capitol Hill, free)

55. Sohrab Homi Fracis: Go Home
Fracis, the author of Go Home, a novel about a Parsi foreign student in Delaware, will have a conversation with filmmaker Allan Marcil about the process of adapting fiction to screenplay form. Filmmaker Laila Kazmi will moderate.
(Downtown, free)

56. Winter Write-In with Write Our Democracy: State of the Union
Ten days before Trump delivers the 2019 State of the Union address (brace yourself for that one), Washington State writers Donna Miscolta, Laura Wachs, Robert Lashley, and Deepa Bhandaru will gather to write and deliver their own addresses for this special edition of Write Our Democracy. Don't miss it.
(Capitol Hill, free)

RESISTANCE & SOLIDARITY

57. Womxn's March and Rally
Seattle Womxn Marching Forward will kick off the three-day Womxn's March with a rally and procession from Capitol Hill to Seattle Center, where there will be "Activism 101" workshops designed to "energize, illuminate, and activate."
(Capitol Hill, free)

SHOPPING

58. A Very Vintage Market
At this recurring market's first show of 2019, find all sorts of vintage clothes, linens, furniture, housewares, and much more. You can also get some insight into your future by a tarot card and numerology reader. 
(Shoreline, $3)

VISUAL ART

59. Everyone's Floored
Carrying on the four-year-old tradition of exhibiting art by people of all training and ability levels, the Alice is neglecting the walls in favor of the floor this time. Here's how much they trust the local arts community to do marvelous things: They didn't even know what the pieces would look like before the creators brought them to their door! (To encourage face-to-face contact, the Alice didn't accept mailed submissions.) Turn your eyes earthward and shop carpentry, two-dimensional art, crafts, audio recordings, and whatever else the gallerists can fit in the space. Your dollars will be split 50/50 between the gallery and the creator. It's a great practice that allows you to support the local creative scene and the spread of democracy in art. JOULE ZELMAN
(Georgetown, free)
Closing Saturday

SATURDAY-SUNDAY

VISUAL ART

60. Meditation/Mediation
This wide-ranging group exhibition highlights artists' divergent approaches to concept and material. The contributors include such intriguing figures as sculptor Heike Brachlow, ceramicist Jun Kaneko, glass artist Preston Singletary, and many others.
(Downtown, free)
Opening Saturday

SUNDAY

FILM

61. VOYEUR Presents: Sudden Fear
The last in the VOYEUR series of weird and surprising cult classics, Sudden Fear stars notorious screen diva Joan Crawford as a playwright who begins to suspect that her charmingly sinister husband (Jack Palance) is conspiring to murder her.
(University District, free)

GEEK

62. Total Lunar Eclipse
People in Seattle can watch the moon steadily turn red as it reaches its closest point to the center of the Earth's shadow during this Total Lunar Eclipse. The main event will take place at 9:12 p.m., but you'll see some space action from 6:30 to midnight.
(Anywhere you can see the sky, free)

MUSIC

63. The Blood Moon Orchestra, Marina & the Dreamboats, Leah T
The Blood Moon Orchestra take ideas from the audience and use them as fodder for their improvised performances. Tonight, they'll be joined by Leah T and local jam band Marina & the Dreamboats.
(Fremont, $6/$8)

64. Filmspeed, Beverly Crusher, Dot Comet, Vacant Voices
Rock band Filmspeed describe their sound as "unapologetic, loud, and soulful." They'll be joined by local post-punks Beverly Crusher, alt pop-rockers Dot Comet, and instrumental rock trio Vacant Voices.
(Eastlake, $6/$8)

65. Florida Man, Ball of Light, Wet Temple
Local three-piece punk group Florida Man bill themselves as a "karaoke hot dog machine." Thrash to their set, along with those of hardcore Ohioans Ball of Light and Mount Vernon stoner metal outfit Wet Temple.
(University District, $7)

66. Nasalrod, Victims Family, Dirty Dirty, T-Rox
Genre-bending experimental punks Nasalrod will bring their Portland pizazz to Seattle after opening sets from '80s-bred punks Victims Family, fuzz rockers Dirty Dirty, and wild and crazy punks T-Rox.
(Ballard, $10)

67. Welcome to BabexHouse — Launch Party
The Seattle-based POC/LGBTQ+ DJs and artists of BabexHouse Collective bring you the launch party for their new recurring dance night. Get down to sets by Reverend Dollars, dos leches, N SO, DJ Applejuice, Rlynow, and JennGreen. 
(Downtown, $5)

PERFORMANCE

68. Miss Ruby and Sylvia's Waffle Stick Brunch
Join "singing drag queen puppet" Miss Ruby, bingo queen Sylvia O'Stayformore, and Larry Knapp as they sing their way into your morning brunch (which will be composed of waffle sticks, mimosas, and bellinis).
(Georgetown, $10)

READINGS & TALKS

69. Robert Cabot: Time's Up!
Novelist Robert Cabot "confronts white privilege, rejects the conventional trappings of wealth and fame, and critiques colonialism, imperialism, and perpetual war" in his weighty-sounding new book, Time's Up! A Memoir of the American Century. He'll read live.
(Capitol Hill, free)

70. Seattle Writes: Residencies Revealed
Learn about Northwest residency opportunities for writers from alums and representatives of the programs.
(Downtown, free)

71. Thrilling Tales: A Storytime for Grownups
David Wright will read Roald Dahl's chilling story about gambling gone wrong aboard a cruise ship, "A Dip in the Pool," during the January installment of the free event.
(Rainier Valley, free)

RESISTANCE & SOLIDARITY

72. 2019 Seattle Women's March 3.0
If you miss Seattle Womxn Marching Forward's Womxn's March on Saturday, here's another chance to join a procession in protest of the injustices committed under the Trump administration with Be the Change Network.
(Pioneer Square, free)

73. Womxn's March Day of Activation
After marching and rallying for equal rights, spend the following day attending in-depth workshops, hearing lectures, and sitting in on panel discussions at community events around town.
(Various locations, free)

SHOPPING

74. South End Record Sale
Local record fiends will sling rare vinyl from their own collections. Shop for new tunes while you feast on brunch.
(Beacon Hill, free)

VISUAL ART

75. Re:definition: Latinx Diaspora
Seattle Arts Commissioner Juan-Alonso Rodriguez has curated the newest incarnation of Re:definition, a series transformation the theater's lobby bar into an exhibition space. Artist Monica Arche (born in Puerto Rico to Cuban parents), writer Felicia Gonzalez (born in Cuba), and painter/printmaker Fulgencio Lazo (born in Oaxaca, Mexico), all currently based in Seattle, display works that manifest their contributions to the city's artistic and cultural scene. (Gonzalez sits on the board of 4Culture; Lazo, according to press materials, has boosted traditions like the Day of Dead in Seattle for the past 30 years or so.) At the opening reception, Tres Leches will bring foot-tapping tunes.
(Downtown, free)
Opening Sunday