The world’s longest garage sale

It’s the World’s Longest Garage Sale on the Long Beach Peninsula. You’ll want to put on your best walking shoes as you walk along the coast looking for cool trinkets and more. The sale runs all weekend long.

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Concerts galore over Memorial Day weekend

If you are looking to catch some tunes this Memorial Day weekend, the concert slate is loaded. Portugal. The Man is at Remlinger Farms on Friday while Girl and Girl is live at Easy Street Records, Billy Joel is at T-Mobile Park and, if you can find second-hand tickets, the Young Fresh Fellows is at the Tractor Tavern.

Saturday, the White River Amphitheater hosts Avril Lavigne’s Greatest Hits Tour. All Time Low is also on the bill. Sarah McLachlan is performing at the Chateau Ste Michelle Winery in Woodinville on Saturday and Sunday. There are plenty more bands, so check your favorite local spot to see the latest lineup.

Sunday at the Neptune Theater is Massive Monkees Day. Massive Monkees is “a world-renowned hip-hop crew consisting of DJs, emcees and, most notably, 30 guys and girls dedicated to break dancing. The event will be celebrating 25 years of Massive Monkees with a variety of dancing competitions. There will be breakdance battles, footwork battles, open-style battles and more. Get tickets at the Neptune Theater’s website.

A donut or a beer?

Sometimes you have to ask yourself the tough questions like, what’s a better reward: A donut or a beer? On Saturday in Ballard, it is the Mighty-O Donut’s Tour de Donut. This ride will take you around the city with stops in Ballard, Greenlake, Capitol Hill and Denny Triangle. For each stop you make, you will be rewarded with a free donut and drip coffee (or a mini donut and a kid’s drink if you are a youngin.)

If beer is more your motivator, the Tour De Pints is for you. The ride is approximately 20 miles, starting at Flying Bike Brewery. The rest of the stops are a mystery and revealed as the ride goes along. Helmets are required, so make sure you strap that brain bucket on before you ride.

Seattle Center, Seattle Storm to dominate downtown festivities

The 53rd Annual Northwest Folklife Festival is happening all weekend long at the Seattle Center. You can learn about the heritage and traditions of Pacific Northwest communities, featuring art, music and more. Get more details and a full schedule of events on the Northwest Folklife Festival’s website.

If you are looking to check out some sports this weekend, the Seattle Storm take on the Washington Mystics at Climate Pledge Arena. Tip-Off is at 6 p.m. Saturday evening.

Tonight is also the home opener for the two-time USL champion Ballard FC. The match starts tonight at 7 p.m. at Memorial Stadium. Tickets are available on the club’s website.

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Memorial Day weekend ceremonies

Monday is Memorial Day and multiple ceremonies will be taking place that day. There will be formal ceremonies honoring U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the country’s armed forces in Arlington, Kent, Lynwood and at the State Veterans Cemetery in Medical Lake. Look on your community websites for details about events in your area.

Hope you all enjoy the long weekend and as always if you know of stuff going on in your area, let me know at PaulH@kiroradio.com

Paul Holden produces the Seattle weekend events calendar for KIRO Newsradio.

If you are up for a trip to Orcas Island, the Salish Sea Folk Festival is Friday and Saturday. There will be learning opportunities at workshops, and folk music, all in a village you get to walk through. You’ll learn about blacksmithing, kitting, wood carving and more. Check Orcas Wonder Camp’s website for details

Saturday is One Seattle’s Day of Service. There will be thousands of volunteers taking part in over 130 events that focus on cleaning and beautification, gardening and restoration and helping neighbors in need. You can get details on the City of Seattle’s website.

It’s Armed Forces Day at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will be all sorts of entertainment including games, military dog demonstrations and a chance to get a hands-on look at some of the vehicles and aircraft used by our armed forces. Visit JBLM’s website for more details.

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Free health services offered this weekend

If you are in Whatcom County and are in need of health, vision, hearing or dental service, you’ll want to head to the East Whatcom Regional Resource Center. There will be a variety of free health services being offered as part of the Whatcom Wellness Fair. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and RSVPing is recommended. For more information, go here. The event is free and no insurance is necessary.

Going on now in Everett it is the Fisherman’s Village Music Festival. Drive-By Truckers, Allen Stone, Shovels and Ropes are just some of the artists rocking the stage this weekend. There’s also a night market with vendors, food trucks and lots more. Get details and tickets on Fisherman’s Village Music Fest’s website.

What better way to celebrate the weekend than with an ice cold beer? Seattle Beer Week is here and starts Friday. Kicking things off is the 50th-anniversary party at the Eastlake Zoo Tavern going all day. Get a full rundown of all the fun on Seattle Beer Week’s website.

Nordic pride to be celebrated Friday

Friday is Norwegian Constitution Day and there’s a celebration going on in Ballard. An All Star lineup of Nordic talent will be at Bergen Place from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. There will be Norwegian food at the Leif Erikson Lodge from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and while enjoying the music and fun, you can get a prime spot for the parade, which starts at 6 p.m. Details on 17th of May Seattle’s website.

This week’s Festal program at the Seattle Center will be A Glimpse Of China. It will take place at the Seattle Center and there will be dance and vocalist performances, as well as marital arts displays and more. There will also be food and vendors.

The U District Street Fair is back this weekend! It’s described as a 15-block-long arts and crafts fair that features free live music and performances, ample food truck options and plenty of vendor booths. Want to skip the hassle of driving? The event’s website states light rail will drop you off in the center of the action.

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Have some fun with your pet Saturday

It’s a Petpalooza in Auburn this weekend. Furry friends and their human companions will hit the pavement for a fun run to start things off, followed by the high-flying action of flydog and other agility demonstrations. Plus there will be low-cost pet services, adoptable animals and more! You can bring your pup as long as they are leashed, licensed and well-behaved. The City of Auburn’s website has more details.

Finally, at Cal Anderson Park on Saturday, it’s Paint Jam. There will be artists painting all day, as well as a community painting wall, not to mention live music and food, the classic staple of any event! Paint Jam runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday.

There’s never a shortage of things to do in the region, so get out and enjoy! if you know of stuff going on in your area, let me know at PaulH@kiroradio.com.

Paul Holden produces the Seattle weekend events calendar for KIRO Newsradio.

Let’s start things off with a friendly reminder SUNDAY. IS. MOTHER’S DAY. Make sure you plan ahead and celebrate the moms in your life!

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All things Mother’s Day this weekend

There are lots of brunches available at restaurants throughout the region, or if you are in Edmonds, you can paint with your mom at Glazed and Amazed from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. You’ll be able to make some pottery and learn a new skill. You can call the shop for reservations, but it will also have walk-in painting on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Also on Mother’s Day, the Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra will be performing the Mother’s Day Matinee with Dee Daniels. The show will be at 2 p.m. at Benroya Hall.

You could also take your mom to the 16th annual Flower Festival at Pike Place Market. Over 30 flower farms will be showcasing their blooms of tulips, daffodils and more. Live music will fill the market and the first 500 shoppers who spend $50 or more at the market will get a free Pike Place flower vase. The Flower Festival is on Saturday and Sunday.

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The Edmonds Spring Fest returns on Saturday to the Frances Anderson Playfield. Local vendors will be showing off their work alongside food trucks as this will be the perfect place to handle any last-second Mother’s Day shopping you may need to do. The Fest runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

As for the rest of the weekend, celebrate the “Mother of All Toy Shows” at the Washington State Toy Show. Vendors will have plenty of retro toys, legos, video games and other collectibles available for sale. The show will be at the Washington State Fair and Events Center on Saturday and Sunday, tickets will be available for $5 at the door while $10 gets you in with an early bird ticket at 9 a.m. Details are available on the Washington State Toy Show’s website.

Learn some new dance moves

Saturday at the Seattle Center it’s Festal’s Spirit of Africa. There will be a dancing class as well as a drumming class, storytelling, food, games and map drawing. There will also be a fashion show and marketplace. Spirit of Africa is at the Armory Food and Event Hall from noon to 8 p.m.

Enjoy the beautiful weather and some local art during the Belltown Art Walk from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday. If you need a map of places that will be displaying art, visit Belltown Art Walk’s website.

In West Seattle, on Saturday it is the community garage sale. There are HUNDREDS, I’m talking over 500, garage sales going on during Saturday’s event. Find some new trinkets, clothes, lawn furniture or who knows what! Check the map out on West Seattle Blog’s website.

Support local authors

For the bookworms out there, this weekend is the Seattle Art Book Fair. The event’s website describes it as a free festival that celebrates independent publishing, book design and artist books. Over 80 exhibitors will be showing off at Washington Hall on Saturday and Sunday. Details can be found on Seattle Art Book Fair’s website.

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A new play structure is being celebrated in South Lake Union on Saturday from Noon to 2 p.m. There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Urban Triangle Park celebrating the new play structures that reference historical neighborhood structures.

A heads up as you plan your weekend, President Joe Biden is in Seattle and will be impacting traffic in Seattle on both Friday and Saturday. We will have your traffic covered here on KIRO Newsradio.

This is just a sample of what is going on in the region this weekend, if you know of stuff going on in your area, let me know at PaulH@kiroradio.com and no matter what you do this weekend, enjoy that sunshine!

Paul Holden produces the Seattle weekend events calendar for KIRO Newsradio.

However, I realized … it was too much. The instant access, opportunities for me to get bonus bets, early cash outs, promo after promo telling me that this celebrity believes in this parlay, or over a thousand people took this one. I replaced my social media scrolling this weekend with scrolling through betting lines and parlays. It’s no surprise to see how popular it is and how easy it would be to get yourself in trouble.

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When you are told you get bonus bets back no matter what, win or lose, it creates a daily incentive for you to log back in and take that risk on a multi-leg parlay that might help you WIN BIG!

They do a lot to keep you engaged and on the app and provide you the illusion of playing with free money or as they call it “no risk” bets. But is there really such a thing as no risk when it comes to gambling? Do we really need another reason to be addicted to our phones, especially one that is linked to our bank account?

When the rules for sports betting were announced here in Washington, I was confused and scoffed.

In March of 2021, Governor Jay Inslee signed a bill into law that legalized sports betting but only at casinos. This news came as a disappointment to me, as I was looking forward to finally seeing what all the hype was surrounding sports betting and the apps. I figured there had to be some sort of deal that could be made with the casinos to allow gamblers to use certain apps from home. It seemed like a win-win.

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Now? I am thankful for this barrier to something that can be abused. I’m glad I have to make a really thought-out plan in order to place bets. I have to make the trip to the casino and plan out my budget. While inconvenient, these steps help make me a responsible gambler, allowing me to take the risk only if I REALLY want to, and to me, that means the rules are working.

Paul Holden produces the Seattle weekend events calendar for KIRO Newsradio.

The Seattle Reign are taking on the San Diego Wave FC on Friday. The match starts at 7 p.m. and tickets are available on Seattle Reign FC’s website.

At Gallery 1412 in the Central District, there will be a night of experimental music during Resonant Futures. Five artists are on the bill, including artists all the way from France. The show starts at 7:30 p.m., to learn more visit Gallery 1412’s website.

This weekend is also a perfect opportunity for you and your kids to head to the stars … and learn about what it takes to get there!

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On Friday and Saturday, in Kent, it is the Space For All Weekend, an event celebrating the possibilities of STEM, or Science, Engineering, Technology and Math.

The event will celebrate National Space Day and May the Fourth be with you.
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The festivities start Friday night with a showing of “A Million Miles Away” at the space-themed Kherson Park. The City of Kent’s Race and Equity Coordinator, Maria Tizoc, told KIRO Newsradio that Jose Hernandez, the astronaut whose life story is told in the movie, will be part of this weekend’s events.

“We will do a keynote presentation about his journey and about the power of representation and how it matters in all fields but specifically in the stem field,” Tizoc said.

The free events continue Saturday at Showare Center where kids can play and learn about space and other science careers.

Get outside for some boating fun

Saturday is the official start of boating season! Crew races for the Windermere Cup start at 10:15 a.m., followed by a boat parade at noon. Just a heads up, expect some closures and delays by the Montlake Bridge. You can catch a view of the races along the North and South Shores of the Montlake Cut. Get more details on the Windermere Cup’s website.

Also, this weekend is the Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month kick-off celebration. It’s at the Seattle Center on Saturday. There will be performances, activities for kids, vendors and plenty of food, including a Hum Bow eating contest. The fun starts at 11 a.m. and goes until 6 p.m.

At the Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center, you will find the Spring Native Art Market. The United Indians of All Tribes Foundation is running the event. It’s from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday and is a showcase of Native artists representing different styles and tribes. Art will include clothing, jewelry, woodworking, drums, prints and more. There will also be food and the annual Awareness Gathering on Saturday.

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If you are a fan of comic books, like myself, Saturday is Free Comic Book Day! There will be special issues of popular comics as well as deals. Find the best deals and your local shop by checking out freecomicbookday.com.

Celebrate Star Wars Day this weekend

Not only is Saturday Free Comic Book Day, it’s also May the 4th. That means Star Wars celebrations!

At the Museum of Flight, you can learn the way of the lightsaber with the Saber Guild, hang out with R2-D2, check out special Star Wars Art and more. Plus there will be a performance by the 8-Bit Brass Band. If you head to the event in costume, you can get $3 off. Things get started at 10 a.m. on Saturday

The Emerald City Ride is on Sunday, as bike riders will take on the 20-mile ride on State Route 99 south and the West Seattle Bridge. The event is a fundraiser for Cascade Bicycle Club. The ride starts at 7 a.m. and if you are driving in those areas on Sunday morning, be aware of the event.

Sunday is also Cico De Mayo, there are plenty of bars and restaurants offering specials throughout the weekend. Make sure you take a look on Friday so you can plan your weekend accordingly.

Go out and have some fun this weekend and if you know of cool stuff going on, let me know at PaulH@kiroradio.com.

Paul Holden produces the Seattle weekend events calendar for KIRO Newsradio.

Ways to volunteer and donate

Are you looking for a chance to volunteer this weekend? The Downtown Everett Association is holding its fifth annual Planting Day on Saturday. Volunteers are needed to help plant 3,000 flowers in more than 270 planters throughout downtown Everett. You can get more details on its website.

Do you have some hard-to-recycle items at home taking up space? Things like Styrofoam, electronics, household batteries, fluorescent lightbulbs and more can be recycled at the Evergreen State Fair Park in Monroe on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Arts and entertainment: Bruceploitation and more

Are you familiar with the term, Bruceploitation?

“Within hours of Bruce Lee’s funeral, Hong Kong movie studios began to produce hundreds of unauthorized biopics, sequels, prequels, spin-offs and rip-offs starring a competing series of Lee lookalikes,” Grand Illusion Cinema explained. “Over the next decade, fueled by both deception and demand, ‘Bruceploitation’ would become a staple of global cinema.”

The Grand Illusion Cinema is showing a new documentary exploring Bruceploitation, called “Enter The Clones of Bruce” on Saturday and Sunday, as well as a couple of famous Bruce Lee spin-off movies. Get details at grandillusioncinema.org.

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At the Cornish Playhouse, it’s the Creative Works Pop-Up Market and Flatstock 94. It’s your chance to be around creative people as that’s the whole idea, sharing your creative side. There are presentations, panels and networking opportunities. If you want to support some of the artists, there’s an open-to-the-public market.

“They have teamed up with the American Poster Institute (API) to bring you Flatstock 94,” Creative Works wrote. “Join us Friday & Saturday at the Cornish Playhouse at Seattle Center from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to see and shop prints from poster artists from all across the globe.”

The Upper Left Comedy Festival is underway in Belltown. This weekend-long event will be highlighting not only some of the funniest stand-up comedians from the Pacific Northwest, but some acts from around the country as well. There are a few venues with different lineups, so to get tickets and plan ahead, check out the festival’s website.

Gambian Grandma Conference

This weekend is the fifth annual Grandma Conference. The Seattle Gambian Grandma Association is putting on the event Saturday at the Washington West African Center Hall in Lynwood. There will be panels as well as refreshments. You can get more details on its website.

Lastly, the Mariners are back in town this weekend taking on the Arizona Diamondbacks. Old friend Eugenio Suarez will be taking the field and there is a special promo for each game this weekend. “Turn Ahead the Clock” jersey night is tonight, “90’s Night” is tomorrow and “Little League Day” is Sunday. There’s a chance of rain throughout the series, but no worries when there is a roof right?

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This is just a sample of what is going on in the region this weekend. If you know of stuff going on in your area, let me know at PaulH@kiroradio.com.

Paul Holden produces the Seattle weekend events calendar for KIRO Newsradio.

Saturday is Record Store Day and there are at least 40 record stores in Washington participating. Depending on which shop you check out, there will be special releases, live performances, and more. According to Everout.com, PNW-born bands Death Cab for Cutie, Fleet Foxes, Mudhoney, Pearl Jam, and Sleater-Kinney all have special releases. Visit Recordstoreday.com for more

It doesn’t get much bigger than Taylor Swift, so how is the Laserdome at the Pacific Science City Center celebrating her new album? With an impromptu light show set to the album. Whether you are a Swiftie or not, there’s no other spot in town doing an album-listening party like this.

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A $1 million prize is at stake as Professional Bull Riders (PBR) move from the Angels of the Winds Arena in Everett and to the Tacoma Dome. PBR is an international professional bull riding league with hundreds of events every year in the U.S., Canada, Brazil, and Australia. Over 800 bull riders hold PBR memberships.

Do you enjoy bad movies? How about roasting bad movies? The Central Cinema is where you want to head this weekend. The Cinema is showing “Troll 2,” infamously one of the worst movies of all time (depending on who you ask) and you can not only enjoy the film, but use your phone to send your comments to the big screen. Yes, phones are encouraged to be on and used during this Hecklevision version of the film.  Check out Central-cinema.com for more details, and show times are available all weekend.

If you want to get outside …

Do something good for you and the planet this weekend. Ten state parks will be part of the Washington Coast Cleanup, where volunteers will pick up debris and help clean beaches. If you want to find a park and register to help out, check out coastsavers.org. From 9 to noon on Saturday, volunteers will be working on four projects for Metro Parks in Tacoma. The 23rd Annual Parks Appreciation Day focuses on cleaning brush, removing noxious vegetation, and removing liters. More details can be found at metroparkstacoma.org.

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National Parks Week kicks off on Saturday with free admission to National Parks on Saturday. The weather is looking perfect for a hike or to enjoy the beautiful nature of our region. Be prepared for crowds though!

Over 170 vendors of just about anything will be displaying their wares at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds on Saturday and Sunday. It’s the Oddmall Emporium of the Weird PNW and admission is free, so is parking. Don’t worry there will be food trucks in case you get hungry.

Are you a fan of tea? The Cascadia Tea Festival is on Saturday at the Brightwater Center in Woodinville, Washington. There will be tastings and workshops designed to help you deepen—or should I say Steepin—your knowledge of tea. Check out cascadiatea.org.

This is just a sample of what is going on in the region this weekend. If you know of anything going on in your area, let me know at PaulH@kiroradio.com.

Paul Holden produces the Seattle weekend events calendar for KIRO Newsradio.

Washington State Spring Fair

It’s the opening weekend of the Washington State Spring Fair in Puyallup.

There’s all your classic fair fun, including Motorsports Mayhem and a trip back to the Jurassic Era with full-scale animatronic dinosaurs!

You can get tickets at thefair.com.

Seattle Cherry Blossom and Japanese Cultural Festival

It’s the Seattle Cherry Blossom and Japanese Cultural Festival at the Seattle Center and Armory. You can learn about why these trees are so popular and their history, while enjoying tea ceremonies, folktales, and other celebrations of Japanese culture.  The Festival is free, open to the public and runs Friday through Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Latin Music and Art

Friday night at the Hotel Crocodile, it’s a night of Latin Music and Art. There will be live music, films, photography, tattooing, and food. The event is free to attend, but it is those who are 21 and over.

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler’s ‘Restless Leg Tour’

If you want to see some titans of comedy, tickets are still available for Tina Fey and Amy Poehler “Restless Leg Tour” Saturday. There are two shows at the WAMU theater, 3 and 6 p.m.. Tickets are limited and it is a bit on the pricey side of things to do this weekend. Get tickets from wamutheater.com.

Northwest Spring Show

It’s the 35th annual Best of the Northwest Spring Show. It’s a two day show that showcases handmade art from all mediums by over 100 artists. You can even see how the art gets made during the Artists in Action events going on, plus there will be demos and plenty of chances to learn a new craft. All ages are welcome and tickets can be found at nwartalliance.org.

Public Mending Fair

If you are like me and holes in your clothes is a common experience, the Refugee Artisan Initiative is here to help with the Public Mending Fair. From noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday at the Maker Space, the Initiative will help with sewing a button, sewing an open seam, patching a hole and hemming pants. You can bring up to three articles of clothing and visitors will have up to 20 minutes of free mending service. First come, first serve. More details at refugeesarts.org

Georgetown Makers Market and Bar Hop

Enjoy a cold beer and check out the shops of Georgetown with the Georgetown Makers Market and Bar Hop. There will be 30 shop makers to check out, showing off their goods of home decor, metal working, prints, and more. Local breweries like Jellyfish Brewing are part of the bar hop. The fun starts Saturday at noon.

Seattle Restaurant Week

Seattle Restaurantweek begins on Sunday, and if you are curious what exactly IS Seattle Restaurant week?

Mariah DeLeo of the Good Food Economy is helping put on the event:

It’s basically a celebration and support of the greater Seattle area’s culinary community. So everyone from restaurants to pop-ups to food trucks. It’s really a way for people to explore the diversity and the craft that’s throughout our whole region. So it basically works as a dining promotion for two weeks and restaurants offer curated items on menus for a bunch of different meals for a bunch of different prices dure to meet most budgets. At $20, $35, $50, and $65. People can use our directory and map and they can go out and find menus that are really appealing to them and explore new neighborhoods and new restaurants. And support our local community over good food.”

Check out SRweek.org.

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Washington Park Arboretum plant sale

If you need some plants for your home or garden, the Washington Park Arboretum is having a plant sale on Sunday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. There will be trees, shrubs, perennials and more available to buy. Parking and admission are free.

These are just some of the many events going on this weekend. If I missed something or if you know something cool going on, let me know at PaulH@kiroradio.com.

Paul Holden produces the Seattle weekend events calendar for KIRO Newsradio.

But what is Seattle Restaurant Week?

“It’s basically a celebration and support of the greater Seattle area’s culinary community. From restaurants to popups, to food trucks, really a way for people to explore the diversity and craft that’s throughout the region,” Mariah DeLeo, the program director for Good Food Economy, said to KIRO Newsradio.

DeLeo went on to say that Restaurant Week not only acts a promotional tool for local eateries, it allows curious area residents opportunities to try new places in neighborhoods they may not visit often.

“It works as a dining promotion for two weeks. Restaurants offer curated menus for a bunch of different meals at a bunch of different prices. People can use our directory and map to go out and find menus that look really appealing to them and explore new neighborhoods and support our local economy over good food.”

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Supporting local while new businesses get built

It’s also is a great way to support a local eatery.

“Even the most celebrated and lauded restaurants are often running with a bunch of challenges,” DeLeo said. “Sometimes we may take them for granted, restaurants face a lot of challenges and they are still in need of a lot of support.”

It’s also an opportunity for new businesses to break out onto the scene.

“(Good Food Economy) is an economic development nonprofit and we like to help small businesses come into their own and thrive,” DeLeo explained. “Popups are often the first step for a lot of restaurants. Most will become brick and mortar, others won’t. But this is their way to test out their cuisine, find an audience and a good way to get their feet wet in the culinary world.”

Finding a participating restaurant has been made easy, thanks to the Seattle Restaurant Week website. It’s there where you will find places to try, menus, hours and a helpful map displaying the neighborhoods to check out.

“All menus are up, we have over 200 participating locations on SRweek.org. You can go there and search by price points, so you can really find the price point for you and really explore the menus,” DeLeo said.

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It’s not just dinner either, there are brunch, lunch and small plate options. Even some drink flights and charcuterie boards. One thing DeLeo says is a must: Plan ahead. Check places’ hours of operations and reservations are always recommended.

Seattle Restaurant Week begins Sunday and lasts through April 27. All of the details can be viewed at SRWeek.org.

Paul Holden produces the Seattle weekend events calendar for KIRO Newsradio.

This weekend, the Seattle Deaf Film Festival will be held at the Northwest Film Forum. The festival features films about, by, and for the deaf, deaf-blind, deaf-disabled and hard-of-hearing communities.

Each film you see will be in sign language and have English subtitles. You can see movies being shown and get more details at deafspotlight.org/sdff.

Take a night walk at the Seattle Chinese Garden with Astra Lumina. This multi-sensory experience features projections, special lighting, and theme music designed to make it feel like you are walking among the stars. The walk takes about an hour, and it’s the final weekend in town. Check out tickets on astralumina.com/seattle.

In Ballard, at the Ballard NW Senior Center, there’s the Spring Rummage Sale. All sorts of goods will be for sale, including jewelry, clothing, toys, collectibles, dishware and more. Food will also be served at the cafe. The sale is Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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If shopping is on your mind this weekend, remember there are weekend markets in Fremont, Ballard, Capitol Hill, U-District and West Seattle every Sunday and the Georgetown Trailer Park Mall on Saturdays and Sundays.

Speaking of weekend markets, Cutie Fest is this Sunday at Cal Anderson Park from 10-5 p.m. Cutie Fest features over 300 artists showing off their work. There is no entry fee and the vendors there will be of all ages and identities. Check out @cutiefoundation on Instagram for more details.

The Red Bull Lords of the Floor dance competition is back and the 2v2 dance-offs will be going down at the WaMu theater. Sixteen international duos will be showing off their breaking skills and this is the perfect way to introduce yourself to the sport ahead of its debut at this year’s Olympics. Lords of the Floor starts Saturday and tickets can be found on Red Bull’s website.

It’s the final weekend of the Seattle International Dance Festival Winter Mini Fest. You can experience contemporary dance and see performances that are created in just a few days. There are performances Saturday and Sunday, get more details at seattleidf.org.

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The Seattle Sounders are in town this weekend taking on CF Montreal. The match is Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. at Lumen Field. The March to the Match will be at 6:30 p.m. from Occidental Park. Get tickets on the Sounders website.

The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival continues this weekend. It opened last week because of early blooms. The festival runs throughout the month of April and will feature many different events. There’s a tulip bloom tracker and a rundown of the schedule on the website.

These are just a handful of the events going on this weekend. If I missed something or you know about something cool going on, let me know at PaulH@kiroradio.com.

Paul Holden produces the Seattle weekend events calendar for KIRO Newsradio.

Conventions taking over this weekend

Kicking things off are a couple of conventions. First is Sakura Con, a convention highlighting the wide wconorld of Anime. The Asia Northwest Cultural Education Association puts on the show and said Sakura Con is the oldest and most well-attended anime convention in the region. You can join in on all the fun at the Seattle Convention Center.

In Puyallup, some of the biggest video game voice actors are putting on panels at the Washington State Gaming Expo. There are more than just panels, the expo includes plenty of vendors, an arcade and multiple video game tournaments. The event runs through the weekend and you can get tickets on Washington State Gaming Expo’s website.

Paul Holden: Opening Day reminds us why we love baseball so much

If you are looking for some laughs Friday night, Geeky Comedy Seattle is putting on the Bi Bi Bi comedy showcase. The event is described as a night of comedy from Seattle’s funniest bi performers. You can join in on the laughs at Charlie’s Queer Books in Fremont Friday at 8 p.m.

Delicious bites to look forward to

Watershed Pub is celebrating its 10th anniversary all weekend long. There will be drink and food specials, as well as live music. There will even be a talent show and some of the staff will be spinning tunes as live DJs. The Watershed Pub is in Northgate.

If you are looking for some new threads, the Ballard Hullabaloo is this weekend. The Hullabaloo is when shops and boutiques in Ballard bring their discounted items to the Leif Erikson Hall to sell. According to Visit Ballard, most of the merchandise offered is 75% off the original price and there will also be beer specials.

It’s Black Punk weekend at the Northwest Film Forum. There will be films including a showing of James Spooner’s 2003 documentary AFROPUNK, live performances and an award ceremony celebrating Kimya Dawson. You can find tickets and more details on Northwest Film Forum’s website.

It’s the 30th edition of Georgetown Bites on Saturday. Food vendors will be out in the heart of Seattle’s oldest neighborhood from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and there will be plenty to eat. Get your tickets at the Georgetown Trailer Park Mall or visit Georgetown Seattle’s website.

Seattle offers free Easter egg hunts

Easter is on Sunday and to celebrate, Seattle Parks and Recreation is offering free Easter Egg hunts. There are over 15 hunts being put on at city community centers throughout the region, with most starting around 10 a.m. You can find more information on the Seattle Parks and Recreation website.

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Test your s-p-e-l-l-i-n-g with the King/Snohomish Regional Spelling Bee on Saturday. Middle schoolers from the region will put their skills to the test for a chance at the nationwide contest in DC this summer. Our own Feliks Banel will be hosting and pronouncing the words for the spellers. It is free and open to the public to attend.

You can celebrate the Hindu tradition of Holi on Saturday with two celebrations going on in the city. But be sure to wear white so you can show off all the colors you’ll be covered in. One celebration, the Seattle Color Festival is Saturday at the Seattle Center starting at 11 a.m. and the Holi Festival of Colors at Phinney Center Community Hall at 1 p.m. You will need a ticket for the Festival of Colors however, Phinney Center’s website is where to get them. The Seattle Color Festival is free.

Plus from now, until hopefully deep into the fall, the Seattle Mariners are back and are in town until Thursday the 4th.

Don’t miss out on all the fun this weekend and let me know what’s going on in the region for next weekend at pholden@bonneville.com.

Paul Holden produces the Seattle weekend events calendar for KIRO Newsradio.

Today is a day of new beginnings, new opportunities, fresh starts, and a day where anything can happen.

It’s Opening Day of the Major League Baseball Season.

For those that don’t know me, I am a lifelong Colorado Rockies fan. I have spent many a summer watching my hopes of watching postseason baseball slip away, often times this happens before the season even hits the halfway point.

It can be a bit of a drag, especially with my favorite team considered to be one of the worst in baseball.

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But today… today is different.

The worst team in baseball can be top dog for a day, someone who barley made the team out of spring could have his big moment, while the biggest names in the game could struggle out the gate, leading to uncertaintiy. doubt and firey sports radio segments.

Yesterday I got to speak with baseball writer Joe Posnanski. His latest book, Why We Love Baseball, explores some of the moments that fans fell in love with the game, and he agrees, there’s nothing quite like Opening Day

The hope that comes with it and the fact that it is such a long season and at this moment right now, anything is possible. The Rockies could win. You don’t know. Look at the Diamondbacks last year going into the year and whatever hope there was at the beginning of the year and suddenly, they’re in the World Series. I also think there is also something very seasonal about it. Just now, the days are getting longer. The weather is getting better. We’re getting more sunny days. When that happens every year, baseball comes.”

After today, the real grind of the season will begin. My beloved Rockies will most likely fade from relevance at the end of the month, but enough about them.

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The Mariners will be back on our radios and TVs for 162 games—162 games of Julio and the No Fly Zone, 162 games of one of the best rotations in baseball, 162 games that will change the course of history for the Mariners and Seattle.

Anything is possible on Opening Day.

Listen to Seattle’s Morning News with Dave Ross and Colleen O’Brien weekday mornings from 5-9 a.m. on KIRO Newsradio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

As the Mariners begin yet another quest for a World Series title, I spoke with baseball writer and author of “Why We Love Baseball,” Joe Posnanski.

I started with the simple question, why do we love baseball?

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“I think it comes down to these moments that we all have with the game that stay with us,” Posnanski said. “For me, that was playing catch with my dad. It was watching Cleveland play at the old municipal stadium and seeing my heroes like Dwayne, Kiper, Buddy Bell and Rick Manning just living and dying with everything that they did. It was playing Little League. I mean, it’s all of these individual moments that I think make you fall in love with the game.”

And with Seattle over the last little bit since Julio Rodriguez got there, it just reminds you why you love the game and sort of reinvigorate that love for baseball,” Posnanski added.

I can remember exactly where I was when the Colorado Rockies made the World Series, the eruption of the crowd and the vibes of the region during the 2007 postseason run. A moment where the entire state was joined together, glued to the screen hoping for the best for the Rockies. It’s a moment that cemented my fandom for life.

Opening Day holds a special place in my heart, as it does with baseball fans and I wanted to know what makes it so special.

“It’s one of the sports that I think you just renew your love every year,” Posnanski said. “It’s this time of the year and you’re like ‘oh yeah, baseball is here again’ and you fall in love with it all over again.”

In his book, Posnanski breaks down the history of baseball in 50 moments, specific instances that demonstrate why people love the game of baseball. To only pick 50 seems like a pretty tough task, so I was curious what the criteria was for Posnanski.

“All I wanted from these moments, every single one of them, is ‘Is this why we love baseball?’ That was it,” Posnanski said. “It wasn’t how important or how dramatic or how surprising the moment was. So when you think about Edgar Martinez’s double, is that why we love baseball? Absolutely. And particularly in Seattle.”

Edgar Martinez’s double wasn’t the only Mariners moment that made the book either.

“We love baseball because it’s dramatic. We love baseball because it’s poetic. We love baseball because it’s funny. We love baseball because it’s sweet,” Posnanski said. “To me, that moment was Ken Griffey Jr. stepping in front of his dad as they’re playing together and stealing the fly ball, and just the great smile on his face after he did it. And his dad looking at him the way that all of our dads probably have looked at us at one point or another. Just amazing.”

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Baseball started building momentum last year with the rule changes and names breaking out into the mainstream, but we can’t let it get lost in the excitement of the new season that Major League Baseball is facing a convoluted scandal that will continue to dominate the narrative of the early part of the season. So I asked Posnanski if this will ruin baseball’s momentum.

“I mean, it’s a bummer, there’s no way around it. The Shohei Ohtani news is a real bummer and it doesn’t look like it’s going to go away anytime soon. But I think baseball did have a lot of super positive momentum going. I thought the changes last year were largely successful and largely embraced. The attendance was way up and things were really exciting,” he said.

As for the Mariners, a new season begins tomorrow. A new season full of promise, expectations and 162 games of opportunities to remind ourselves why we love baseball.

Contributing: Frank Sumrall, MyNorthwest

Paul Holden produces the Seattle weekend events calendar for KIRO Newsradio.

Nonsequitur is a Seattle nonprofit that puts on an experimental concert series called NonSeq and you can check out a show tonight at the Good Shepherd Center. Julie Slick will be playing bass and as the event page describes “she will be inviting listeners into her world of space bass exploration.”

SquatchCon

There’s a comic and arts convention in Port Angeles going on right now! It’s called SquatchCon and it’s all about cosplay, comics, video games and family fun. If you have some old costume pieces lying around or are looking for a specific piece of clothing to complete your cosplay, you can check out the swap events going on throughout the weekend. There are also local vendors and food, a perfect way to enjoy some nerdy fun with the family. Tickets are on sale on SquatchCon’s website.

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Harold and the Purple Crayon as a ballet

In the wake of Sony’s announcement of a new film adaptation of Harold and the Purple Crayon — one of my favorite stories as a kid — the tale comes to life this weekend at the Pacific Northwest Ballet. The website describes this show as the perfect introduction to ballet for youngsters. Get tickets and more information at pnb.org.

Cherry blossom tour

Do two things at once this weekend, enjoy the cherry blossoms at the University of Washington (UW) and get your workout in. The Legion of Bloom Seattle Cherry Blossom run is on Saturday and Sunday. There’s a variety of races to choose from and once you are done with your run, you can enjoy the Cherry Blossom festival going on in the U-District. There are over 80 businesses in the U-District that have special menu items themed around the cherry blossoms and spring. Don’t miss your chance at this once-a-year bloom!

Polish Spring Bazaar, Seattle’s French Fest, and the Big Climb

The Polish Women’s Club is putting on the Polish Spring Bazaar this Saturday in Seattle. There will be authentic Polish food including homemade pastries, as well as arts and crafts. You can get additional details at polishhome.org.

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On Sunday, you can learn about French culture at Festal: Seattle’s French Fest. Enjoy French fashion, cuisine and wine tasting as well as live music. The festival takes place at the Seattle Center.

Also on Sunday is Big Climb Seattle 2024, a fitness challenge where people will hike up the 1,311 steps to the Skyview Observatory. Teams and Individuals raise more for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, which helps fund blood and cancer research as well as support services for patients. Fun fact, the Columbia Center is the tallest building in the Pacific Northwest.

Do you know about something cool going on? Let me know about it! pholden@bonneville.com.

The Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) is celebrating a new exhibit called “Massive: the Power of Pop Culture”. There will be over 80 artifacts on display along with interactive features from a wide range of pop culture history. The museum is throwing a party for the exhibit Friday at 6 p.m. There’s gonna be lots of live music, a K-Pop Dance along, panels and more. Check out MoPOP’s website for tickets.

Move your body with some dancing this weekend

For those who love to dance, the Monsters Dance Convention and A-List Competition starts Friday. The three-day event is at the Hyatt Regency Lake Washington and features workshops. A note to the folks who are looking to show off their moves, auditions will be held for scholarships, performance opportunities and more. Get details on the Monsters’ website.

There’s also an International Women’s Day Celebration at Cafe Racer in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. It’s the first-ever “Babe Market”, featuring live DJ sets from Chong the Nomad and Wax Witch, plus you can shop for vintage clothes, get a tooth gem, or a commemorative tattoo. It’s not just a night for fun, the event is also raising money for the Jubilee Women’s Center. This all-ages dance party gets started at 6 p.m. Friday.

Past weekend activities: Comic Con and the Seattle Sounders return

Washingtonians can get outside and enjoy one of the best parts of the state, state parks. In honor of Billy Frank Junior’s birthday, admission is free at state parks on Saturday. Adventure seekers should pack rain gear though, wet weather is in the forecast.

Long week at work? Grab a drink at Carnival of Cocktails at the Seattle Center. There will be pop-up cocktail bars, opportunities to learn about bartending, food trucks and more. The carnival runs from noon to 7 p.m. on Saturday and tickets are on sale on Seattle Cocktail Week’s website.

If you are more of a beer fan, Elysian Brewing is showing off a new brew at the Juice Dust Pop-Up Market. It’s a celebration of a new IPA from Elysian Brewing and features DJs, food and other surprises. Beers will be $3 and those in attendance can try the brew at the Elysian Fields in Seattle’s SoDo neighborhood.

Chose your favorite artist to send to nationals

Saturday night at the Seattle Armory, there will be a battle,  an art battle. The Art Battle Northwest Regional Championship will pit 12 artists against each other in a speed painting competition. Artists will have 20 minutes to wow the audience. Those who attend will play a part in sending an artist to represent the Northwest at the national competition. All the artworks will be auctioned as well. This event is for those 21 and up and doors open at the Seattle Armory at 8:15 p.m.

There are a couple of Oscar watch parties going on this weekend. Urban Family Brewing and the Clock-Out Lounge are just some of the places celebrating the biggest night in film. For people seeking a different Oscars experience, check out the 11th Annual On Cinema Oscar Special. Just don’t expect to see any of the actual ceremony … and go in with an open mind.

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Wind down during the weekend by taking in views of the water, enjoying a warm fire outside and eating a free s’more. On Sunday at Pier 62, there will be a cozy camping lounge, fire pits and giveaways from REI. The s’mores supplies will be provided, but visitors will still get to toast their own marshmallows. It’s free and it’s the last fire pit event of the season, so don’t miss out!

Paul Holden produces the Seattle weekend events calendar for KIRO Newsradio.

Catch Comic Con this weekend

ECCC is underway and tickets are still on sale for Friday and Sunday. There’s plenty of convention programming going on throughout the day Friday.

More from ECCC: Chris Evans, Christina Ricci and more will be there

Friday night, the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants, Tom Kenny, will perform a live concert with his band at 8 p.m. Check out ECCC’s website for tickets and the schedule.

Brittany Davis is celebrating the release of their new album “Image Issues” at Easy Street Records in West Seattle on Friday at 7 p.m. The show is free and open to all ages.

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If you’re up for a bit of a drive…

If you are up for a bit of a drive to the Cascades, the Winthrop Balloon Roundup returns for the 27th time. The balloons will take off around 7 a.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The view of the balloons is free, but taking to the skies in one is not. You can learn more on Winthrop, Washington’s website.

In Coupeville, the annual Penn Cove Musselfest takes place on Saturday and Sunday. The festival said the weekend is about celebrating all things bold, briny and blue. There will be boat tours of the Penn Cove Mussel Farm, live music, a mussel eating contest, activities for kids and more. If you’ve got a seafood craving, there is no better spot to be than the Coupeville Recreation Hall.

Cheer on the Seattle Sounders and Kraken

It’s the home opener for MLS’ Seattle Sounders and the March to the Match is returning. You can meet up with your fellow Sounders fans at Occidental Park in Pioneer Square an hour and a half before kickoff for live music and giveaways. About an hour before the game, the march down Occidental Avenue will feature chants and cheers. Bring a friend and your Sounders gear to one of the best traditions in MLS.

Sticking with sports, if you don’t have a ticket to the National Hockey League’s Seattle Kraken’s matchup against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday, you can watch it on the big screen at Seattle Center Armory. The party starts two hours before the puck drops with the making of signs, floor hockey, live music from Red Alert and more. You can also hit the ice yourself at the Kraken Community Iceplex in Seattle’s Northgate neighborhood and catch the game while working on your skating skills.

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You can celebrate with your mug overflowing with chocolate goodies

On Sunday, it’s the Hot Chocolate Run at Seattle Center. You can run either a 5K, 10K or 15K and when you reach the finish line, you can celebrate with your special mug overflowing with chocolate goodies. There’s also an expo that’s open to the public if you are looking for a sweet treat.

If you are a fan of vinyl or physical media, and supporting Northwest Harvest, the Northwest Record Show is a perfect event for you. The event is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Seattle Center Armory. You can scour records, CDs, collectibles and more. You never know what you might find. It’s $3 to get in the door, or $2 if you bring a nonperishable food item.

This just scratches the surface of what is happening this weekend.

Paul Holden produces the Seattle weekend events calendar for KIRO Newsradio.

I have been attending the show since its return from the COVID-19 pandemic and this year’s guest lineup has to be the biggest one I’ve seen.

“We are incredibly excited about our guest lineup this year,” ECCC Event Manager Chris D’Lando said. “As you mentioned, it is completely stacked and we really do think we have a little bit of something for everybody.”

List of celebrity guests will be huge

He said this year’s guest list was so big, they needed all the space they could use.

“So we’re obviously really, really excited about Chris Evans coming to the show,” D’Lando said. “He’ll be here on Friday and Saturday. But we’ve got Jody Whittaker from ‘Doctor Who,’ Christopher Lloyd, Christina Ricci, the cast of ‘Critical Role,’ ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender,’ ‘Twilight’ (and) guests from ‘Supernatural.'”

While the pop culture of today will be on full display this weekend, the lasting legacy of franchises like “The Lord of the Rings,” “Back to the Future” and “SpongeBob SquarePants” will also be celebrated.

“We like to say that pop culture is culture now,” D’Lando said. “That those fandoms are the things that are driving just general culture nowadays. So being able to touch every facet of fandom is something that’s really important to us and when we build our lineups for the show, we really do try to make sure that everyone is represented.”

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And there’s no better way to celebrate your fandom than with friends and family.

“The amount of families that we see attending is great,” D’Lando said. “We do a lot of programming for families, specifically and especially for those with younger kids, so that they have something to do, but it’s something that a parent can share with a child. And I think that’s a really, really exciting thing to watch.”

Of course, fun is the primary focus of the show. But it’s also a chance for artists and creators to learn about the industry and show off their portfolios to some influential people.

D’Lando said ECCC has about 500 tables in its “Artist Alley” this year. Visitors can experience local creators from the Pacific Northwest to “some of the biggest names in comics” who write for Marvel and DC.

“They’re all going to be here this weekend, all at their tables, signing comics, selling original art, meeting fans, and and just talking about comic books,” D’Lando said. “We’re excited to be able to offer portfolio reviews this year, so we have some editors coming out from DC Comics who are actually gonna be doing some appointment portfolio reviews with local creators and hopefully that’s what they’ll need to take that next big step in their careers.”

There’s autograph and photo-ops, panels and plenty of games to play. I, myself, can’t wait to learn more about one of my favorite shows of all time, “Adventure Time.”

Something for everyone at Emerald City Comic Con

“I’m particularly excited about our professional programming,” D’Lando added.

ECCC is offering a suite of programming for educators and librarians on Thursday they can get professional development credit for.

The convention will also have “Dungeons and Dragons” games.

“I’m really excited about our new show feature we’re calling ‘The Tavern,’ which is themed after a D&D tavern,” D’Lando said.

ECCC will also offer drinks for those 21 and over, along with activities all weekend long.

“The thing I’m probably most excited about is our ‘After Dark‘ programming,” D’Lando said. “So we’ve got a really great run of late night programming.”

ECCC will have two separate late night parties — one on Friday and one on Saturday. D’Lando said one will be ECCC’s “A Night Under the Stars” prom on Saturday. Tom Kenny, the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants will be performing in his 12-piece party band “Tom Kenny and the Hi-Seas.”

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If this is your first convention, planning ahead and knowing what you want to see is key to having a successful day at the convention. D’Lando has a few big tips for first-time attendees.

“My No. 1 recommendations are comfortable shoes, a bottle of water and an external phone charger,” he said. “And that’s the best thing that you can do to to be prepared for the show.”

ECCC runs from Thursday through Sunday and I know you’re wondering if tickets are still available.

Tickets are still available for Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. You can buy tickets on ECCC’s website.

“We want you to come and have a nice full day of excitement here at Emerald City Comic Con,” D’Lando said.

Paul Holden produces the Seattle weekend events calendar for KIRO Newsradio.

On Friday night, a world premiere is taking place at the Broadway Performance Hall. It’s described as both a play and dance show and it’s called “Unstoppable: A Queer Dancical.” This format should appeal to any fan of the arts and tell stories from the LGBTQ+ community. Search for tickets on Brown Paper Tickets or buy at the door.

The weekend really gets going Saturday

Get ready to walk the dog around the world at the Seattle Center Armory. The Pacific Northwest Regional YoYo Championship is on Saturday, starting at 10 a.m. Attendees can watch the pros do tricks they only dreamed of or learn the basics with beginners’ classes. Learn more at the Yoyo Contest.

On Alki Beach this weekend, the 2024 Polar Plunge for the Special Olympics will take place. To celebrate, there will be plenty of food and beer. The Alki Winter Beer and Food Truck Festival returns. There will be over 20 local beers and ciders, as well as 10 food trucks ready to serve those who took the plunge as well as those who cheered them on. Those who want to attend will need a ticket; they are available online; search Alki Winter Beer and Food Truck Festival on Eventbrite. All proceeds go to Special Olympics Washington.

The SoundOff Showcase at the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) continues this weekend. Go see some of the best young artists of the Pacific Northwest and learn about the new trends in music. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the music starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are available on MoPOP’s website.

Lunar New Year Celebrations

Lunar New Year celebrations continue, as over 40 food vendors will be scattered throughout the Chinatown-International District. There will be dances, live music and other vendors as well.

The Lunar New Year Lantern Festival is at the Seattle Chinese Garden. This event is free and will highlight many areas of Chinese culture and there will also be tea tasting. The Lantern Festival is from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Fun with films

The Seattle Asian American Film Festival is underway at the Northwest Film Forum, and all types of movies will be featured. Attendees will have a chance to see the work and talk to some of the creators and those involved in creating the movies. Check out the movies and the schedule and buy tickets at saaff2024.eventive.org. There will be some free presentations as well.

Speaking of film festivals, the Seattle Black Film Festival is on Sunday at the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art. Langston, a nonprofit group, is showing a series of short films and a feature film from 2:30-5:30 pm. Tickets are on the Museum’s website.

It’s also your last chance to see the improv show Black Ice. This show channels 70s era sitcoms and is looking to make you laugh. Be prepared, though; it is an interactive show, so be ready to participate! The final show is Sunday at 7 p.m. Tickets are available online, just search, Black Ice: An American Sitcom Improvised.

Finally, for those folks who need to get rid of some books or maybe are looking to read something new, there will be a book swap at Paper Portal in Madrona, running from noon to 3 p.m.

Paul Holden produces the Seattle weekend events calendar for KIRO Newsradio.

Prep for the upcoming Academy Awards (Sunday, March 10 on ABC) with the SIFF Cinema Uptown in Seattle, as the theater is showing all of the Oscar-nominated short films all weekend long. All three nominated categories, animated, live action and documentary will be shown. Check out the SIFF website for showtimes.

For those who can’t can’t stop listening to Usher after last weekend’s Super Bowl LVIII halftime performance, Nectar Lounge is playing 1990s and 2000s hip hop and R&B jams all night long Friday, starting at 9 p.m.  Tickets are $20.

Speaking of tunes, Seattle-based record label Forest Ray Records is hosting their annual FRy Fest at the Belltown Yacht Club. The two-day event begins Friday and takes place Saturday. Tickets cost $25 for one night. Those who buy tickets for both nights will pay $40 total. There will be a specialty beer courtesy of Cloudburst Brewing and plenty of vinyl for sale. Doors will open at 5 p.m.

Black History Month festivities

The Downtown Seattle Association (DSA), in partnership with Arte Noir and the Wonder of Woman Gallery, will host the BE Great Celebration, a free two-day event on Friday and Saturday that “brings together Black culture, arts, music, food and more.” BE Great is appropriate for all ages and will be held at Seattle’s Occidental Square. It runs from 4-7 p.m. Friday and noon-3 p.m. on Saturday.

Black History Month celebrations continue at the Northwest African American Museum Saturday with a series of genealogy workshops for those interested in digging back in their family histories. “Hidden in Plain Sight: Sharing Research and Stories of Enslaved Ancestors” will be held from 11 a.m.-noon. As the organization’s website explains, This presentation “will explore how to find enslaved ancestors using slave schedules, wills and inventories and history blogs.” Genealogy Live will be held from 1-2 p.m. Later, a talk about the program’s internships and fellowships will take place between 3 and 5 p.m.

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Lunar New Year celebrations

If you have not yet celebrated Lunar New Year, you might want to head to the University of Washington this weekend. The Chinese Student Association at the University of Washington is throwing a big celebration Saturday night, including performances, calligraphy, a scavenger hunt and more. There will also be plenty of tasty treats like BBQ pork buns, bubble waffles, and plenty of types of tea. The fun starts Saturday at 5:30 p.m. For those interested in a performance, the music and dancing begins at 7 p.m.

As noted by the Downtown Seattle Association, those who want to celebrate the Year of the Dragon can also head to Seattle’s Westlake Park Sunday for a celebration that begins at 10 a.m. The revelry will include a traditional lion dance performance featuring the Mak Fai Dragon & Lion Dance Association, the DSA says.

The performance begins at noon. Also, an additional lion dance performance will take place at First Avenue and Pike Street at 1 p.m.

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It’s a big weekend for beer

The Seventh Annual Winter Beer Festival will be held Saturday from noon-9 p.m. at the McMenamins Anderson School in Bothell. More than 30 beers and ciders will be on tap, including brews made from McMenamins. Nothing goes better with beer than good food and live music, both of which will be at the festival. Tickets purchased in advance are available for $30. Tickets purchased the day of the event or on site cost $35. All ages are welcome to the event. But those who want to sample beers and ciders need to be 21 or over.

Also on Saturday, the Winterhop Brew Fest is going on in downtown Ellensburg. Thirty breweries, local vendors, local food and multiple venues are part of the Brew Fest. If you were looking for a reason to check out Ellensburg, this is a perfect excuse to do so.

There are plenty of things going on in Puget Sound region this weekend. It’s time to get out of the house!