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

Ghost Tours Say hello to Pike Place Market’s spectral inhabitants on a tour led by local TV producer Mercedes Yaeger, daughter of Michael Yaeger, the Market’s honorary mayor. Call 206-322-1218 for meeting place. $10. 5:30 p.m. weeknights; 8 p.m. Saturdays. Through Mon., Oct. 31.

Touring Exhibit “The Collections and Stories of American Muslims,” an assortment of Islamic texts, art, and historical documents on loan from the Smithsonian, takes up temporary residence at the Seattle Vocational Institute. 2120 S. Jackson St., 206-722-4808. Free. 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Wed., Oct. 5. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Thurs., Oct. 6. 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Fri., Oct. 7.

Hurricane In conjunction with the Seattle Rep, Louisiana-born playwright Ann Galjour performs her one-woman show at Town Hall as a benefit for Mercy Corps. 1119 Eighth Ave., 206-443-2210. $20 (suggested). 7:30 p.m. Wed., Oct. 5.

Richard Rodriguez As part of the Artist and Lecture Series at Tacoma Community College, the award-winning journalist talks about his coverage of bilingual education, affirmative action, and other divisive issues. Opgaard Student Center (Bldg. 11), 6501 S. 19th St. (Tacoma), 253-566-5118. Free. 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Thurs., Oct. 6.

Scandinavian Heritage Festival All the folk dancing, Swedish pancakes, lefse, and Nordic pageantry you’d expect. Western Washington Fairgrounds, 110 Ninth Ave. S.W. (Puyallup), 425-881-1544. $6. 3-9 p.m. Thurs., Oct. 6. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Fri., Oct. 7-Sun., Oct. 9.

Astronomy Day Do some stargazing at the Museum of Flight with local astronomers, who’ll be talking about constellations, astronomical photography, telescopes, and space exploration. 9404 E. Marginal Way S., 206-764-5700. Free. 4-9 p.m. Thurs., Oct. 6.

Lorraine McConaghy The Museum of History and Industry historian tells the story of the U.S. Navy warship Decatur, which fired on local Native Americans in 1856. 2700 24th Ave. E., 206-324-1126. Free. 7 p.m. Thurs., Oct. 6.

Mark Sears The longtime orca researcher recounts the animals’ history in our waters and talks about his own orca sightings during the past three decades. REI, 222 Yale Ave. N., 206-382-7007. $10 ($8 advance). 7-9 p.m. Thurs., Oct. 6.

Talk of the Times Food is the theme of this edition, and acclaimed local chefs Tom Douglas, Holly Smith (Cafe Juanita), and Daisley Gordon (Campagne) should have plenty to say about it. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 206-652-4255. $5. 7:30 p.m. Thurs., Oct. 6.

About Us The locally produced documentary series begins its second season with Fishermen’s Terminal, a film by West Seattle’s B.J. Bullert about a conflict between area fishermen and the Port of Seattle. (The movie premiered at the 2005 Seattle International Film Festival.) Airs on KCTS-TV (Channel 9). 9 p.m. Thurs., Oct. 6.

Blood Drive Donate to the Puget Sound Blood Center. (Visit www.psbc.org for a full list of times and places to give blood.) Washington Mutual Tower, 1201 Third Ave. (27th floor), 800-398-7888. Free. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Fri., Oct. 7.

Science Seminar The fall seminar series at Highline Community College continues with “Rats,” led by writing professor Tarisa Matsumoto-Maxfield. 2400 S. 240th St. (Des Moines), 206-878-3710. 2:10 p.m. Fri., Oct. 7.

Airline Collectibles Show The Museum of Flight’s annual memorabilia expo includes timetables, postcards from around the world, and other items of aeronautical interest. 9404 E. Marginal Way S., 206-768-7126. $5 ($3 children 6 to 15). 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat., Oct. 8.

Family Fun Workshop Questions about comets? Drop by the Museum of Flight’s kid-friendly class on the mysterious heavenly bodies. 9404 E. Marginal Way S., 206-768-7126. $14 ($13 seniors, $7.50 youth). 11:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. Sat., Oct. 8-Sun., Oct. 9.

Revolutionary Youth Report Delegates to August’s World Youth Festival in Caracas, Venezuela, talk about the event and the current state of Venezuelan politics. Bethany United Church of Christ, 6230 Beacon Ave. S., 206-523-1720. Free. 6:30 p.m. Sat., Oct. 8.

Antique and Design Market A bazaar packed with nautical knickknacks, old metal gewgaws, weird lighting implements, and other hidden treasures. Magnuson Park, 7400 Sand Point Way (Hangar 30), 206-684-4946. $10. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun., Oct. 9.

Drug Forum Former Seattle Chief of Police Norm Stamper is one of four speakers at this discussion of alternatives to the federal government’s current antidrug policies. Sponsored by Temple Beth Am. 2632 N.E. 80th St., 206-525-0915. Free. 10 a.m. Sun., Oct. 9.

Beekeeping Class Find out how to maximize honey production and minimize stinging during two linked workshops at Swanson’s Nursery. 9701 15th Ave. N.W., 206-782-2543. Free. Part I: 11 a.m. Part II: 1 p.m. Sun., Oct. 9.

Mushroom Identification Session Edible or toxic? Bring some fresh-picked ‘shrooms (and info about where they were picked) to this event, where experts from the Puget Sound Mycological Society will tell you whether they belong in a savory sauce or the compost heap. Center for Urban Horticulture, 3501 N.E. 41st St., 206-522-6031. Free. 6-8 p.m. Sun., Oct. 9.

Dennis Kucinich The Ohio congressman and 2004 presidential candidate discusses the effects of the Iraq war on working-class families; he’s joined by Air America’s Rachel Maddow and several reps from Gold Star Families for Peace. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 253-471-1123. $15 (suggested). 7 p.m. Sun., Oct. 9.

Accountability and the Arts The Shunpike’s workshop series continues with “Board Basics: The Why and How of Boards.” ACT Theatre, 700 Union St., 206-292-7676. Free. 7 p.m. Mon., Oct. 10.

Candidate Forum A Q&A with this year’s City Council, mayoral, and Seattle School Board candidates. Send your questions in advance to tayles@jps.net, or just ask them at the event. Miller Community Center, 330 19th Ave. E., 206-684-4753. Free. 7-9 p.m. Mon., Oct. 10.

Gardening Class Certified Master Gardener David Kingery provides a primer on planting onions, leeks, and garlic. Preregistration required! Center for Urban Horticulture, 3501 N.E. 41st St., 206-685-8033. $10. 7-8:30 p.m. Mon., Oct. 10.

Ray Kurzweil An optimist in pessimistic times, the inventor and author (The Age of Spiritual Machines) predicts that, in the future, “our brains will be downloadable,” and that a merging of man and machine will solve history’s most tenacious problems, including famine and pollution. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 206-652-4255. $5. 7:30 p.m. Mon., Oct. 10.

Trix Bruce The deaf poet/actress performs her one-woman piece The Hearing World Around Me (in American Sign Language with voice interpretation). Tacoma Community College (Bldg. 7), 6501 S. 19th St. (Tacoma), 253-566-5118. Free. 12:30-1:30 p.m. Tues., Oct. 11.

Historic House Tour See how the other half lived at a guided tour of two turn-of-the-century homes: the Stimson-Green Mansion and the Henry Dearborn House. Sponsored by Historic Seattle. Henry Dearborn House, 1117 Minor Ave., 206-622-6952. $10 ($8 Historic Seattle/Washington Trust members). 1-2:30 p.m. Tues., Oct. 11.

Caroline Swope The historian and author discusses her new book, Classic Houses of Seattle: High Style to the Vernacular, 1870–1950. Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., 206-386-4636. Free. 5:30 p.m. Tues., Oct. 11.

Globalization Panel The first of four faculty panels sponsored by the University of Washington’s College of Arts and Sciences, “Shifting World Powers,” moderated by former Gov. Gary Locke, deals with the potential rise of new superpowers in the post–Cold War era. UW Kane Hall (Room 130), 206-543-0540. $15 ($12 UW Alumni Association members, $5 students). 7 p.m. Tues., Oct. 11.

Library Tour At the Center for Urban Horticulture, take a guided tour of the Miller Library’s collection of gardening books for young readers. Preregistration required! 3501 N.E. 41st St., 206-543-8616. $10. 7-8:30 p.m. Tues., Oct. 11.

Open Government Forum State Attorney General Rob McKenna moderates a discussion of current policies regarding the availability of public records in Washington. Washington State Convention and Trade Center, 800 Convention Pl. (Room 4C-2), 206-694-5000. Free. 7-8:30 p.m. Tues., Oct. 11.

George Dyson The boat designer and writer presents a brief history of kayaking, from its Aleut origins nearly 10,000 years ago to its (relatively) recent modernization, with emphasis on Seattle’s role in its technological refinement. Downstairs at Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 206-652-4255. $5. 7:30 p.m. Tues., Oct. 11.

Walk Across Washington This weeklong statewide walk-a-thon includes 85 Washington cities and towns; Seattle’s 3.5-mile segment runs mostly along the waterfront. Walk begins at City Hall, 600 Fourth Ave., www.walkwashington.org. Free. Noon. Wed., Oct. 12.

Dean McManus The retired University of Washington oceanography professor talks about his new pedagogical memoir, Leaving the Lectern: Cooperative Learning and the Critical First Days of Students Working in Groups. UW Kane Hall (Walker-Ames Room), 206-221-6808. Free. 3:30 p.m. Wed., Oct. 12.

Leslie Wise The King County Humane Society’s communications manager explains how babies and pets can peacefully coexist in the home. Valley Medical Center (Medical Arts Bldg.), 400 S. 43rd St. (Renton), 206-575-2229. $15. 7-9 p.m. Wed., Oct. 12.