If you're not heading to Sasquatch! for Memorial Day weekend and the drive to Brinnon for the Hood Canal Shrimpfest seems like too much effort, there are still plenty of events in Seattle that don't require lots of planning (or money). See all of your $10-and-under options below, including the Mobile Food Rodeo at the South Lake Union Saturday Market, the first day of the Ballard Locks Summer Concert Series, a live glassblowing show with free beer, and, of course, the gigantic Folklife festival. If you'd still like to have the experience of escaping Seattle without actually having to go anywhere, make sure to check out the 26 films you should see at SIFF this weekend.
ALL WEEKEND
1. Couth Buzzard Jazz Festival
Literally rising from the ashes of a gas explosion several months ago, Couth Buzzard is throwing a music festival to celebrate all that their community is thankful for: namely, jazz (and their neighborhood). Co-sponsored by Earshot Jazz, this fest offers performers like Simon Henneman, Kenny Mandell, and the Sara Depp Trio in an open chronological sampling of jazz's history to enjoy over Memorial Day Weekend. (Greenwood, $5 for single event or $10 for day pass)
2. Northwest Folklife
Northwest Folklife Festival is an annual Seattle tradition that promises good food, tons of music, theater, and dance, and many brief cultural lessons via traditional performances. The experience is similar to other Seattle Center festivals (like, say, Bumbershoot) but with an emphasis on less well-known performers from broader, international backgrounds. Come with a curious, open mindâthe wide variety of performances and arts & crafts activities at Folklife are always a big hit for those with a dash of wonder and innocence (i.e., children and high people). (Seattle Center, free)
3. PaperStock 2016
During Folklife, peruse this poster art exhibition featuring work from concert poster artists and silk screen print artists. On-site screen printing demonstrations are also promised. (Seattle Center, free)
FRIDAY
4. Friday Night (de)Lights
Watch glass artists Karen Willenbrink-Johnsen, Jasen Johnsen, and Jay Macdonell workâwhile you drink free beer. (Central District, free)
5. Further Records Showcase: Raica, Chris Davis, Spacement
The Wayward Music Seriesâ partnership with Further Records (disclosure: Iâve written some press sheets for Further) has yielded two excellent shows so far, and this one also looks promising. Best known for his cosmic synth excursions with Brain Fruit and his inventively noisy techno sets as P L L, Seattleâs Chris Davis is planning an âimprovised modular drone tripâ for this show. DAVE SEGAL (Wallingford, $5-$15)
6. Mark Kurlansky
Historian Mark Kurlansky will discuss his new book Paper: Paging Through History and make the case for why paper is here to stay. (First Hill, $5)
7. The Panel Jumper Live
This one-night variety show will celebrate "the magic of sequential storytelling comic books," featuring performances by singer-songwriter Tai Shan, comedy from Emmett Montgomery and Cole Hornaday, a new play from Wayne Rawley, puppetry from Vox Fabuli, new "super hero satire" from Jim Jewell, short films, and a live podcast recording featuring special guest cartoonist of The Carter Family: Dont Forget This Song, David Lasky. (Fremont, $10)
8. Squall Two-Year Anniversary
Man of many musical endeavors Timm Mason (aka Mood Organ) rarely explores noise for noiseâs sake in his rock and electronic excursions, but Squallâwhich is celebrating its second anniversary this eveningâprovides a prime opportunity to do just that. DAVE SEGAL (Downtown, $5)
9. Two Stars Falling: Music of Love, Life, Mystery
Contemporary works for voice will be performed by the Chamber Singers, led by Geoffrey Boers. The program includes Abbie Bertini's From Behind the Caravan for women's voices, the world premiere of Kevin Jay Isaacs' Sandy Hook memorial piece It's the morning, and the world premiere of Paul Rudoi's Song of Sky and Sea "for men's voices and digital media.â (University District, $10)
SATURDAY
10. Battle of the Bulge 2016: In The Navy
Social Outreach Seattle's fourth annual male underwear contest features five models competing for a $1,000 cash prize. (Capitol Hill, $10)
11. Blow-Out Poster Sale
Get some sweet decorations at Scarecrow's blow-out poster sale, all day Saturday and Sunday. (U District, free entry, through Sunday)
12. Come As You Are: Antiques Sale and Trunk Show
With items starting at one whole dollar, AJ RisCassi's trunk show expands a closet into an entire event. "Come As You Are Vintage & Antiques" entails the personal collection of AJ, all of which will be on sale this weekend at Ghost Gallery. Modern, Mid-century, and Victorian items will be available, along with jewelry, linens, sculpture work, paper ephemera, small art pieces, and clothing from the '50s up through contemporary styles. In addition, Open The Cellar Door will have jewelry for sale as a part of the trunk show. (Capitol Hill, free entry)
13. Cover Reveals
Curated by Julia Freeman, Cover Reveals is an exhibit featuring 12 garments/statements made by 14 artists from around the world. Tonight is the opening reception. (Georgetown, free)
14. Eastside Game Night for Seattle Gaymers
Zulu's Board Game Cafe just opened, and is a new spot to get your game on. Journey to Bothell and see what's up. (Bothell, free)
15. Eritrean Independence Day Festival
Celebrate Eritrean Independence Day at this family-friendly festival, with performances featuring music, dance, poetry, and drama, as well as a visual arts showcase. (Capitol Hill, free)
16. Fine Prince with The West and Fey Moth
Six-piece sunshine pop band Fine Prince pool their Seattle-based influences into a sound range that includes exuberant dance beats and wry electric synth, with collective vocal harmonies supporting each piece throughout. (Ballard, $8)
17. KINGS: A Drag King Show
Flipping the traditional drag script, the Kings of Kremwerk will bring royalty to the stage. Your ticket to this event also gets you into the after party, Kiss Off, which features DJ DirtyKurty and Dewey Decimal this month. (Downtown, $7-$12)
18. Mobile Food Rodeo Round-Up
Mobile Food Rodeo will round up food trucks including Off the Rez, The Grilled Cheese Experience, and Ezell's Express, as well as food booths including Macadons Macaron Ice Cream Sandwiches and Blinchiki Russian Crepes, at the South Lake Union Saturday Market. (South Lake Union, free entry)
19. Nail Polish, Versing, Figures, Breeze
Enjoy one of the very last shows to grace the hallowed halls of Capitol Hill community venue, Cairo, with this throbbing weirdo gut-punch feelings punk line-up from Nail Polish, Versing, Figures, and Breeze. (Capitol Hill, $7)
20. National Hamburger Day
Buy one burger, get one free at Kidd Valley on National Hamburger Day! (Various locations, $5)
21. Ole Tinder, Denver, Lowman Palace, Stella
They say that "seeing an Ole Tinder show is like watching old friends play around a warm fire," so settle in and enjoy hearing the cosmic country sounds unfurl. (Ballard, $8)
22. Paradigm
Paradigm is definitely a rave so make sure to hydrate and don't take the dirty altoids that the stranger in a Spirit Hood hands you (unless you want to), and also have fun and go be free, you tiny wind nymph. Expect a thumping soundtrack from EDM DJs rotating throughout the night, and a ton of people sweating on you. (Sodo, $5)
23. Pink Prom: Super Queeros LGBTQ Youth Dance
Lambert House's Pink Prom promises dancing, food, games, and activities at this LGBTQ Youth Dance. They warn that "alcohol, drugs, and hate not permitted!" and that costumes are "encouraged but not required." (Capitol Hill, $10-$20 donation suggested)
24. Punk As Folk
Experience a night of switch-flipping, genre-bending musical throwdown as Silent City Productions presents the fifth annual Punk As Folk, a celebration of punk-inspired folk music and folk-inspired punk music (that cleverly coincides with Folklife). This year, Punk As Folk returns to the Conor Byrne with a stacked lineup of real PNW folk-punk enthusiasts: The Bad Things, Danbert Nobacon, The Mongrel Jews, Intuitive Compass, Strangely, and Barnswallow. (Ballard, $10/$12)
25. Satpreet Kahlon: The Coalition
Artist Satpreet Kahlon (with upcoming exhibitions at Twilight Gallery in June and METHOD in July) presents a performance titled Coalition, about embodied colonialism and the racism of well-meaning liberals. (Georgetown, free)
26. Seeing the Light: Four Decades in Chinatown
Celebrate the release of Seeing the Light: Four Decades in Chinatown, a collection of photographs and essays from Seattle, San Francisco, Vancouver, and New York, with author Dean Wong. (International District, free)
27. The Von Howlers, Wiscon, The Black Tones
Hereâs another killer night at Slimâs, starting with locals the Black Tones, a very energetic, entertaining, and eclectic power trio. Wiscon are, as I once called âem, âlo-fi, keyboard led coolness⊠ALL late-â70s new wave sans checkerboard blouses.â Theyâre a contemporary take on driving new wave without being nostalgic and are fronted by perhaps the hardest-working vocalist in town. Headliners are a Portland group, the Von Howlers, who play good mix of Bo Diddleyâ and Chuck Berryâinformed rock and roll. To put them in relatively recent context, theyâre kinda like the Devil Dogs, except with less of a confrontational, punk attitude. Also, this show is their âsecond night of their CD releaseâ weekend. MIKE NIPPER (Georgetown, $6)
28. Whitney Monge and Guests
Local alternative soul artist Whitney Mongé is also the best street performer in the Northwest, according to the Seattle Weekly in 2014. She's been busking since 2007, and will show her years of experience May 28th at the Croc. (Belltown, $10)
SUNDAY
29. 2016 Chittenden Locks Summer Concert Series
Grab a blanket, a Nalgene full of wine, and your child or someone else's child and head to the gardens by the Locks for their annual free public summer concert series, which starts today with a performance of "lively marches to showtunes and classics" from a band made up of Boeing employees. (Ballard, free)
30. Aelter, Geist and the Sacred Ensemble, Thunder Grey Pilgrim
Lay out your shrine for a night of dark wave folk ritualism with Boise dreamers Aelter, Geist and the Sacred Ensemble, and Thunder Grey Pilgrim. (Capitol Hill, $8/$10)
31. Annual Powder Puff Pinball Tournament
A pinball tournament for women that also promises raffles, prizes, and a Jackie O/JFK costume contest. $10 to play! (Belltown, $10)
32. Community Writing Circle
Minor Arcana Press (with support from Old Growth Northwest) presents this community writing circle, complete with prompts, feedback, a guest writer, and even paper and pencils for the truly unprepared. (Central District, free)
33. Doggy Ice Cream Social
Sunday and Monday of Memorial Day weekend, bring your pups to MudBay in West Seattle for a sweet treat of free "Dog Ice Cream" (for canines only) to kick off the summer! (West Seattle, free, through Monday)
34. Heels to the Hardwood
A night of new-boot-scootin Americana, blues, and folk from Tobias the Owl, the Stacy Jones Band, and Stubborn Son. (Fremont, free)
35. Norman Baker and the Backroads, Monoclub, Chava Mirel
Roots rock, Brazilian folk, and Jewish rhythms come together in this lineup at the Royal Room. (Columbia City, free)
36. The Pizza Pulpit: The Walking Faces and Peg
This edition of The Pizza Pulpit (always free, all ages, and at the Back Bar of the Croc) features the contemplative tender alt rock of Peg and The Walking Faces. (Belltown, free)
37. Stiffed! Memorial Day Weekend Tea Dance
Stiffed! moves from its traditional Saturday time slot to a special Sunday afternoon tea party event for Memorial Day weekend, with DJs Dana Dub and Pavone on the disco spins, and $1 draft beers. (Downtown, free)
38. Woodgraves, Paul Kozenbach, Masc Acting
A night of experimental synth pop from Seattle-based group Masc Acting, Woodgraves, and Paul Kozenbach. (Fremont, $6/$8)
