WEDNESDAY 8/5
Yang Fudong/Shanghart Gallery
At the Henry, Yang's figures try to outwait China's economic boom.
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Stage: Shakin' It for Yahweh
When most people think "Jewish comedienne," Sarah Silverman comes to mind. And that's unfortunate, because Sarah Silverman is not funny. That's right: My name is Sara, I'm Jewish, and I do not like Sarah Silverman. There. I said it. Fortunately, we ladies of the tribe finally have some new comedic role models in Nice Jewish Girls Gone Bad, a mutable bevy of trash-talking, kvetching, burlesque-dancing females. Which sounds iffy, but believe it or not, these women—seen on Comedy Central and HBO—know how to work the schmaltz angle without crossing over into "just plain bad." Their sketch comedy bits can be hit-or-miss—like SNL's aren't?—but the racy R-rated dance numbers, stand-up comedy, and spoken-word portions of the show will compensate. While it's ultimately a Jew-centric show, all you goys will still enjoy it, so long's you familiarize yourselves with Jewish holidays (you know, other than Hanukkah) and terms like "tzimmes" and "schvitz." Triple Door, 216 Union St., 838-4333, tripledoor.net. $15–$18. 7:30 p.m. SARA BRICKNER
THURSDAY 8/6
Books: Orbiting Around the Truth
Remember in 2006, when Pluto was "robbed" of its planethood by the International Astronomical Union? People were aghast at the news, saddened about a planet they hadn't thought twice about since elementary school. Maybe that's because the media reported the story wrong, says Chris Mooney, co-author of Unscientific America: How Scientific Illiteracy Threatens Our Future (Basic Books, $24). Perhaps the distant ball of ice was never really a planet to begin with, but had been overhyped by the press and thus misunderstood by the credulous public. Previously the author of The Republican War on Science, Mooney again blames the "anti-science" George W. Bush, politics, movies (e.g., Dante's Peak versus Volcano), and a growing animosity between scientists and fundamentalists. Then there's the broader failure of education. Among the many amusing and downright embarrassing stats in the book: Half the U.S. adult population isn't aware the Earth orbits the sun once a year. University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., 634-3400, bookstore.washington.edu. Free. 7 p.m. CHANTAL ANDERSON
Visual Arts: 2-D Vistas
The built environment goes abstract in Eddy Radar's acrylic-on-canvas paintings displayed in Manmade Landscapes. A runway, perhaps in Frankfurt or San Francisco, is translated into line and color. Primary yellow directionals mark the tarmac with sweeping rings, while an airplane tail casts army-green shadows. The view is from the plane itself, as these images are reconfigurations of photos Radar took during her travels. The colors are opaque and often muted (with lots of grays and greens); though there's some perspective in these works, everything seems flattened into two dimensions. Elsewhere, a golf-course vista becomes a clean, minimal, unpopulated green expanse. And the close-up of a baseball field is so reduced to its essential geometry that none but a die-hard fan would recognize it as such. With Maria Frati's nature-inspired prints in the upstairs gallery, through August 29. Gallery 110, 110 S. Washington St., 642-9336, gallery110.com. Free. Reception: 6–8 p.m. ADRIANA GRANT
FRIDAY 8/7
Outdoor Music & Art: Olympic Sculpture Party
Who hasn't wanted to party in between the giant Oldenburg typewriter eraser and the Calder eagle? That's exactly what you're invited to do at this SAM Remix event, which offers walking tours with local artists, spoken-word performers, comic-book artists, dancing, and music. The latter will turn the PACCAR Pavilion into an open-air summer disco, with DJs including Rena Jones, Filastine, and Lusine. Also on the bill: Seattle's Breakdancing Ninja Clan. And if you need any more incentive to attend, the first 100 guests get in for free. Olympic Sculpture Park, 2901 Western Ave., 654-3121, seattleartmuseum.org. $5–$10 (18 and over). 8 p.m.–midnight. MALIA MAKOWICKI
Festivals: Much Ado in SLU
There's nothing like hot, sweaty people gathering on a summer day to celebrate their neighborhood. Hence the South Lake Union Block Party. Festivities will include food vendors, a farmers market, a burger-cooking competition, a wine-tasting area ($12), and a beer garden. On the music stage, Benjamin Doerr, Grand Hallway, and members of the Maldives will be among the featured acts. Then at dusk (around 9:00), an outdoor movie will be projected, chosen by a recent online poll (already concluded), so you can stick around for Waiting for Guffman, Footloose, or Raising Arizona. Come sweaty and leave happy—and you can ride the SLUT for both ends of the trip. South Lake Union Discovery Center, Denny Way & Westlake Avenue North, 342-5900, slublockparty.com. Free. Noon–11 p.m. BRITT THORSON
SATURDAY 8/8
Film: Magnetic
As Blu-ray, VOD, your TiVo, Hulu, and YouTube–streaming iPhones push old technologies further into obsolescence, now may be the last chance to celebrate the humble video cassette tape, which revolutionized home viewing during the '80s. The humble, durable, half-inch magnetic medium is the subject of tonight's Viva VHS! tribute, sure to include found-footage oddities along with selections from the vaults of Scarecrow Video—chosen by the knowledgeable staff of a store founded long, long before the advent of DVD. Back in '88, when Scarecrow took its present name, Cocktail, Big, and Rain Man dominated the box office. But we're guessing tonight will feature more obscure stuff from that year (and others), which require the touch of the rewind button when they're done. (Ah, the tactile pleasures of nostalgia.) Don't tell me you've forgotten about Phantasm II already? With an early role for James LeGros? Wait, I'm sure I've got my copy lying around here someplace... Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave., 267-5380, nwfilmforum.org. $6–$9. 9 p.m. BRIAN MILLER
