Send listings two weeks in advance to braincity@seattleweekly.com.

Bob Willard The Business Alliance for Local Living Economies sponsors a talk by the IBM senior manager, who’ll discuss the fiscal benefits of sustainable practices in a corporate context. Port of Seattle Building (Pier 59), 206-389-7269. Free. 5 p.m. Wed., April 27.

Bob Dylan Lecture In conjunction with EMP’s ongoing Dylan exhibit, this presentation by artistic director Bob Santelli deals with the songwriter’s self-titled 1962 album. Experience Music Project, 325 Fifth Ave. N., 206-367-5483. Free. 7-8:30 p.m. Wed., April 27.

Hot Spots in Our World The University of Washington–sponsored lecture series continues with “The North Korean Nuclear Issue,” presented by Korean Studies chair Clark Sorensen. UW campus (call 206-897-8939 for exact location and to register). $15. 7-8:30 p.m. Wed., April 27.

Information Session Learn about Global Citizen Journey, a service organization that deploys volunteers to developing nations for humanitarian projects. Safeco Jackson Street Community Center, 306 23rd Ave. S., 206-789-8697. Free. 7-8:30 p.m. Wed., April 27.

Tariq Ali The journalist, activist, and novelist, much of whose work deals with class issues and imperialism, discusses the process of writing Street Fighting Years: An Autobiography of the Sixties and Speaking of Empire and Resistance. Downstairs at Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 206-624-6600. $5. 7:30 p.m. Wed., April 27.

Northwest Yoga & Meditation Festival Brush up on your downward-facing dog at one of countless classes, or just take in some Himalayan film, Tibetan photography, or mandala sand painting. Visit www.nwyogafest.com for a complete schedule of events. Seattle Center (Northwest Rooms), 206-362-9642. $15 day pass; other fees vary. Thurs., April 28-Sun., May 1.

Senior Job Club People 55 and over are invited to this employment fair, organized by the Mayor’s office. Alaska Building, 618 Second Ave. (Elliott Bay Conf. Room), 206-684-0500. Free. 10:30 a.m.-noon. Thurs., April 28.

Job Search Workshop Find out how to negotiate a salary you can live with—and on—at a session hosted by North Seattle Community College. 9600 College Way N., 206-527-7656. Free. 1:30-3 p.m. Thurs., April 28.

Praxis Lecture Series Columbia University architecture professor Jorge Otero-Pailos, an expert in the field of historic preservation, discusses “The Aesthetics of Incompleteness.” UW Architecture Hall (Room 147), 206-543-7679. Free. 6:30 p.m. Thurs., April 28.

Yu-chin Chen The University of Washington econ professor discusses the work of Finn Kydland and Edward Prescott, the 2004 winners of the Nobel Prize in Economics. UW Kane Hall (Walker Ames Room), 206-543-5955. $7 ($3 students). 7 p.m. Thurs., April 28.

Ecology Slideshow/Lecture At REI, Russel Barsh of the Center for the Study of Coast Salish Environments illustrates the evolution of Puget Sound and British Columbia’s Gulf of Georgia. 222 Yale Ave. N., 206-382-7007. $10 ($8 advance). 7-9 p.m. Thurs., April 28.

Exploring Our World The University of Washington–sponsored science lecture series continues with “RFID: The Next Big Little Thing,” a talk on radio-frequency identification by UW computer science professor Chris Diorio. UW Kane Hall (Room 130), 206-543-0540. Free. 7-8:15 p.m. Thurs., April 28.

Lewis & Clark Lecture Series Johns Hopkins University professor Philip Morgan speaks on the explorers in conjunction with MOHAI’s “Rivers, Edens, Empires” exhibit, about the duo’s unprecedented journey. Museum of History and Industry, 2700 24th Ave. E., 206-324-1126. $7 ($5 youth/seniors). 7 p.m. Thurs., April 28.

Nordic Film Series This week’s feature: the Icelandic film Children of Nature, a late-in-life love story tinged with magical realism. Nordic Heritage Museum, 3014 N.W. 67th St., 206-789-5707. $5 (suggested donation). 7 p.m. Thurs., April 28.

Planning Meeting Learn about—and consider joining—the Northwest delegation to the World Festival of Students and Youth in Caracas, Venezuela, an international activist forum scheduled for August of this year. Central Lutheran Church, 1710 11th Ave., 206-523-1720. Free. 7 p.m. Thurs., April 28.

Warren Olney The host of NPR’s current-events program To the Point takes on the news industry in a talk titled “America’s Media: Does Democracy Stand a Chance?” Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 206-282-7895. $15. 7:30 p.m. Thurs., April 28.

Maximum Impact It’s a leadership conference, so expect ex-military officers, former football coaches, high-octane business execs, and lots of self-help authors. New Life Center, 6830 Highland Dr. (Everett), 425-212-4102. $90. 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Fri., April 29.

Surgical Demonstration Day This event at Tacoma Community College permits mere mortals to observe the intricacies of surgery from a safe distance. Just make sure to leave the Junior Mints at home. 6501 S. 19th St., 253-566-5060. Free. 1:30-4:30 p.m. Fri., April 29.

Film Screening Everett Community College hosts a screening of the film 11’09″01: September 11, an international collection of 11 short films about the catastrophic day. Discussion to follow. 2000 Tower St. (Everett), 425-388-9373. Free. 2 p.m. Fri., April 29.

Science Seminar Highline Community College continues its spring seminar series with a talk titled “The Science and Art of Psychology,” presented by Highline professors Sue Frantz and Ruth Frickle. 2400 S. 240th St., 206-878-3710, ext. 3513. Free. 2:10-3 p.m. Fri., April 29.

Letters of Joy Festival This calligraphy confab at Edmonds Community College features a keynote address from Santa Cruz lettering artist Carl Rohrs. 20000 68th Ave. W. (Lynnwood), 425-355-1896. $58 (all-inclusive). 5:30-10 p.m. Fri., April 29. 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat., April 30.

Robert Sweetgall The writer and “walking advocate” speaks on aging gracefully through fitness. Rainier Community Center, 4600 38th Ave. S., 206-684-4951. $5 (suggested donation). 6:30-8 p.m. Fri., April 29.

Family Friday at Carkeek Park Join your children to learn about “Life Between the Cattails.” Carkeek Environmental Education Center, 950 N.W. Carkeek Park Rd., 206-684-0877. Free. 7-8:30 p.m. Fri., April 29.

Nature Class Wildlife biologist Cathy Raley presents a primer on the Olympic Peninsula’s pileated woodpeckers. Northwest Stream Center, 600 128th St. S.E. (Everett), 425-316-8592. $6 ($4 NWSC members). 7 p.m. Fri., April 29.

Recycling Event Recycle your old monitors, keyboards, and other computer components, plus TVs of all sizes (all of which contain hard chemicals and heavy metals), for a reasonable, tax-deductible fee—between $5 and $25, depending on what you bring. InterConnection Computer Reuse and Learning Center, 124 N. 35th St., 206-322-9296. $5-$25. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat., April 30.

American Sign Language Bowl Shoreline Community College professor Richard Jacobs hosts a quiz bowl open to the public but designed for ASL students, who’ll compete in teams across several categories, including finger spelling, deaf culture, and math. 16101 Greenwood Ave. N. (Pagoda Union Building), 206-546-4634. Free. 9:30 a.m. Sat., April 30.

Chechnya Symposium An in-depth look at the embattled former Soviet republic, with a lineup of speakers that includes both academics and refugees. UW Smith Hall (Room 205), 206-543 4852. Free. 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sat., April 30.

Oral History Workshop MOHAI historian Lorraine McConaghy leads a mini-symposium on doing oral history. Topics include recording and interviewing techniques, archival issues, and ethics. Museum of History and Industry, 2700 24th Ave. E., 206-324-1126. $45 public, $35 MOHAI members ($40/$30 in advance). 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sat., April 30.

Day of Remembrance Vietnam vets and Vietnamese-Americans unite at an event commemorating the fall of Saigon in 1975; Mayor Greg Nickels and U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Seattle, are scheduled to speak. Union Station, 401 S. Jackson St., 206-624-3925. Free. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat., April 30.

Family Fun Workshop Find out everything there is to know about hovercrafts at a session intended for kids and their parents. Museum of Flight, 9404 E. Marginal Way S., 206-764-5700. $14 ($13 seniors, $7.50 youth). 11:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. Sat., April 30.

Gardening Lecture Make your container garden the prettiest it can be with help from Catie Corpron-Smith of City People’s. 2939 E. Madison St., 206-324-0963. Free. 1-3 p.m. Sat., April 30.

Lewis & Clark Family Program Learn about the significance of clothing worn by L&C as well as the Native American tribes they encountered along the way. Museum of History and Industry, 2700 24th Ave. E., 206-324-1126. $7 ($5 youth/seniors). 2 p.m. Sat., April 30.

Icon: A Celebration of Drag, Art, & Life Sassy local burlesquers the Queen Bees and drag star Mark “Mom” Finley headline this cabaret fund-raiser for Seattle Counseling Service for Sexual Minorities. Neumo’s, 925 E. Pike St., 206-323-1768. $15. 8 p.m. Sat., April 30.

Family Fun Workshop A kid-friendly primer on the history of the rocket that includes a chance to build your own. Museum of Flight, 9404 E. Marginal Way S., 206-764-5700. $14 ($13 seniors, $7.50 youth). 11:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. Sun., May 1.

Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month Celebration Cambodian dance, Asian-influenced jazz, and martial arts are a few of the attractions at this colorful fest. Seattle Center (Center House), 206-684-7200. Free. Noon-4 p.m. Sun., May 1.

Water Taxi Kickoff Celebrate the return of water-taxi season with free rides departing from Seacrest Park and various other attractions along the waterfront. 1660 Harbor Ave. S.W., 206-938-0975. Free. Noon-2 p.m. Sun., May 1.

World Social Forum Guatemalan activist Hugo Orellana, an outspoken opponent of the Central American Free Trade Agreement, is among the featured speakers at the Freedom Socialist Party’s celebration of May Day, which also includes a Latin American feminist panel. New Freeway Hall, 5018 Rainier Ave. S., 206-722-2453. $2 (suggested donation). 2 p.m. Sun., May 1.

“Green Building” Lecture Series Sponsored by Seattle Public Utilities and the Northwest EcoBuilding Guild, the series continues with a talk titled “Green and Healthy for Kids.” Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., 206-386-4636. Free. 6-7:30 p.m. Mon., May 2.

Praxis Lecture Series Manchester-based architect Tom Bloxam, of the British development firm Urban Splash, talks about his work. UW Architecture Hall (Room 147), 206-543-7679. Free. 6:30 p.m. Mon., May 2.

Jennifer Finney Boylan The transgender Colby College professor and memoirist (She’s Not There: A Life in Two Genders) speaks on her career and life, and reads from her work. University of Puget Sound, 1500 N. Warner St. (Tacoma), Kilworth Chapel, 253-879-3373. Free. 7:30 p.m. Mon., May 2.

Sean Carroll The genetic researcher and author (In Endless Forms Most Beautiful) discusses the latest findings in evolutionary developmental biology, which suggest that all animal species are even more closely linked than previously thought. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 206-652-4255. $5. 7:30 p.m. Mon., May 2.

Being a Jewish Mother Not a how-to workshop but a discussion of the stereotypes and traditions surrounding the maternal role in Jewish culture, led by Temple B’nai Torah’s Rabbi Yohanna Kinberg. Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 E. Mercer Way (Mercer Island), 206-461-3240 ext. 3146. Free. 10 a.m.-noon. Tues., May 3.

Nature Class Explore “The World of Shorebirds” with Seattle Aquarium avian biologist Mary Carlson. Northwest Stream Center, 600 128th St. S.E. (Everett), 425-316-8592. $6 ($4 NWSC members). 11 a.m. Tues., May 3.

World Red Cross Day Southern Sudanese Community of Washington founder Machot Lat keynotes the local celebration of this global event, which includes an info session on Red Cross International. Red Cross Chapter Office, 1900 25th Ave. S., 206-720-5285. Free. 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Tues., May 3.

CEO Lunch Series Gary Shansby, director of the Shansby Group, talks about his work in equity investment and consumer products. Sponsored by the University of Washington. Columbia Tower Club, 701 Fifth Ave., 206-543-0540. $38 ($30 UW alumni). Noon-1:30 p.m. Tues., May 3.

CityClub Luncheon Forum This year’s Health Care Series begins with a panel discussion on possible fixes for America’s health care crisis, including universal care, the “pay or play” system, and health savings accounts. 1904 Third Ave., 206-682-7395. $40 ($30 CityClub members). Noon-1:30 p.m. Tues., May 3.

Young Adult Interfaith Justice Series Seattle Zen Center abbot Genjo Marinello Osho leads a workshop on “the social justice tradition within Zen Buddhism.” Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center, 1216 N.E. 65th St., 206-223-1138. $5. 7-9 p.m. Tues., May 3.

Gardening Class Prepare for the inevitable at “A Drought-Tolerant Garden from the Ground Up,” sponsored by Seattle Public Utilities and taught by garden designer Stacie Crooks. Call 206-633-0224 for location (in Shoreline). Free. 10 a.m.-noon. Wed., May 4.

Health Lecture Naturopath Patrick Bufi of the Northwest Natural Health Specialty Care Clinic addresses the complex relationship between Western and alternative medicines. (RSVP required.) Gilda’s Club, 1400 Broadway Ave. E., 206-709-1400. Free. 5:45-8 p.m. Wed., May 4.

Bob Dylan Lecture In conjunction with EMP’s ongoing Dylan exhibit, this presentation by artistic director Bob Santelli deals with the songwriter’s key albums The Freehweelin’ Bob Dylan and The Times They Are A Changin’. Experience Music Project, 325 Fifth Ave. N., 206-367-5483. Free. 7-8:30 p.m. Wed., May 4.

Hot Spots in Our World The University of Washington–sponsored lecture series continues with “Global Food: Multinational Corporations vs. Local Control in the U.S. and Canada,” presented by Branden Born of UW’s Canadian Studies Center. UW campus (call 206-897-8939 for exact location and to register). $15. 7-8:30 p.m. Wed., May 4.

Meet the Mammals The biweekly lecture series at the Burke Museum concludes with “Human Heritage: The Diversity of Primates and Our Place in Nature.” 17th Avenue Northeast and Northeast 45th Street, 206-543-9681. Free (preregistration required). 7-8:30 p.m. Wed., May 4.

Bob Vandenbosch The University of Washington chemistry and physics professor describes the effect of El Niño on West Coast butterflies. Center for Urban Horticulture, 3501 N.E. 41st St., 206-364-4935. Free. 7 p.m. Wed., May 4.

Publishing PanelSeattle Times publisher Frank Blethen joins ex-Slate publisher Cyrus Krohn, small-press poetry publisher Charles Wright, and former Chicago Reader publishing director Jane Levine for a discussion of the publishing industry. Moderated by outgoing Town Hall director (and Seattle Weekly founding editor) David Brewster. Downstairs at Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 206-652-4255. $5. 7:30 p.m. Wed., May 4.