July 27

Wednesday

Xinjiang and the Modern Chinese State Reading To hear Donald Trump tell it, China is supposedly that weird blob on the other side of the world that keeps screwing us with trade. For a more nuanced view, perhaps you should turn to Seattle native Justin Jacobs, who will debut his new book about the rise of China as a “national empire.” University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., 634-3400, www2.bookstore.washington.edu. Free. All ages. 7 p.m. PAUL CONSTANT

Weird Al Weird Al, undisputed champion of the pop parody, wraps up his two-night stand at Woodland Park Zoo tonight. Performances on his “Mandatory World Tour” have been consistently clocking in at two hours, and are drawn from his entire canon, which means he’s parodying several artists who are themselves dead (i.e., Michael Jackson). Woodland Park Zoo, 5500 Phinney Ave. N., 548-2500, zoo.org. $35. All ages. 6 p.m. DAN PERSON

Safe & Healthy Communities Forum Mike O’Brien, the District 6 (Ballard, Fremont) City Council member, has taken no small amount of flak from some of his homeowner constituents for being too soft on poverty-related crime. Come listen to and talk with him, as well as Alison Eisinger of the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness and Lisa Daugaard of the Public Defender Association. St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 5710 22nd Ave. N.W., 684-8800. Free. 6–8 p.m. CASEY JAYWORK

July 28

Thursday

Margin Shift

Seattle’s Margin Shift poetry collective presents a night of young poets. Georgia writers Ginger Ko and Lindsay Tigue will read new work, but the real reason to turn out is to see Seattle writer Bernard Grant give one of his last readings in town before he pursues his Ph.D. in literature at the University of Cincinnati. Common AREA Maintenance, 2125 Second Ave., 253-224-0746, commonartspace.com. Free. All ages. 7 p.m. PC

Puget Soundtrack presents The Devils with Fungal Abyss The Devils, a movie about nuns who lose their shit over a spellbinding priest and become sexually awakened ecstatics, is paired with the mushroom-influenced wizardry of Fungal Abyss. Not for the easily offended, but sure to please those in need of a little transgression to accompany their summer heat. Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave., nwfilmforum.org. $12–$15. 8 p.m. MEAGAN ANGUS

July 29

Friday

Arcane Comics Grand Re-Opening Until a few months ago, Arcane Comics was arguably the best comics shop in Seattle. Now that it’s moved to Aurora, it’s definitely the best comics shop in Shoreline. Arcane celebrates its relocation with a weekend-long sale, appearances by guest artists, and a big art party Saturday night starting at 8 p.m. Arcane Comics, 15202 Aurora Ave. N., Suite A, 781-4875, arcanecomics.net. Free. All ages. 10 a.m. PC

BAM ARTSfair In 1947, before it was the shining city on the Eastside with its own arts museum, Bellevue was a small, out-of-the-way town with an arts fair. Seventy years later, the three-day BAM ARTSfair is still a good reason to cross the lake, featuring 300 jury-selected artists with work to purchase. If you’re not interested in buying art, you can at least peruse it, watch artists at work, or make some yourself. Bellevue Arts Museum and Bellevue Square, bellevuearts.org. Free. All ages, 9:30 a.m.–9:30 p.m. Through Sunday. MARK BAUMGARTEN

John Fogerty

Fogerty’s the rare kind of musician who has a dozen songs more recognizable than his face. The Berkeley-born creative force behind Creedence Clearwater Revival is now 71, with a songbook that’s not exactly fresh but by no means dated. “Lodi” still wrenches the gut and “Fortunate Son” still speaks to the inequality of war. Most important, you know all the lyrics by heart. Chateau St. Michelle, 14111 N.E. 145th St., 425-488-1133, ste-michelle.com. $62. 21 and over. 7 p.m. DP

WLISPS WLISPS is the avant-noise project of musician Alkalai Maths. Performing a whole new batch of “songbaths,” Maths is presenting a brand-new cassette, TASKS, out on Happy Accident Records. Each is lovingly encased in “a crystal tusk scrimshaw ornament,” showcasing another of Maths’ skills: paper folding. With Zach & Rebekah Zinn and PRISONFOOD. Hollow Earth Radio, 2018 A E. Union St., hollowearthradio.org. Sliding scale admission. All ages. 8 p.m. MA

July 30

Saturday

A Reading of Indigenous Writers Memoirist and Fremont Bridge writer-in-residence Elissa Washuta headlines an afternoon of poetry by indigenous writers. She’ll be joined by Portland poet Demian DinéYazhi’ and Brooklyn author Tommy Pico, who has written an epic poem titled IRL. Expect a lot of dark humor and more than a little manipulation of genre and form. Hugo House, 1021 Columbia St., 322-7030, hugohouse.org. Free. All ages. 4 p.m. PC

Rally for Paid Family & Parental Leave Kshama Sawant, the District 3 (Central, Capitol Hill) City Council member, will join the MLK Jr. County Labor Council for a town hall on getting legislation requiring paid leave for new parents and employees with caregiver obligations. Seattle Labor Temple, 2800 First Ave., 684-8016. Free. 2–4 p.m. CJ

Modest Mouse On their current tour, Isaac Brock and his band of angsty indie rockers have been taking turns in the headliner’s slot with Long Island’s emotive pop-punk outfit Brand New, meaning you’re either going to get mad until you cry or cry until you’re mad. Given that this is something of a homecoming performance for Modest Mouse, originally from Issaquah, we’re guessing the latter. KeyArena, 305 Harrison St., keyarena.com. $31.99–$51.99. All ages. 7:30 p.m. MB

August 1

Monday

Landscapes for the People Reading

National parks are an essential part of the American character. Tonight, outdoor photographers Ren and Helen Davis celebrate the centennial of America’s wondrous national parks program with a new book titled Landscapes for the People: George Alexander Grant, First Chief Photographer of the National Park Service. Elliott Bay Book Company, 1521 10th Ave., 624-6600, elliottbaybook.com. Free. All ages. 7 p.m. PC

August 2

Tuesday

Salon of Shame Why the hell do people hold onto their embarrassing teenage writing? That’s a mystery for the ages, but Salon of Shame will make you so glad that they do. In this perennially popular event, people read their most embarrassing journal entries and school assignments for the edification of a delighted audience. Cornish Playhouse at Seattle Center, 201 Mercer St., 726-5113, salonofshame.com. $20. 21 and over. 8 p.m. PC

Hurray for the Riff Raff Alynda Lee Segarra’s roots go deep. A spellbinding lyricist with a soul-stirring vocal, the leader of Hurray for the Riff Raff sings songs about people on the margins and their capacity for rebellion while her band plucks and bows behind her. She is a credit to the protest singers who came before her, including Woody Guthrie and her own great-great-grandfather. She should provide some guidance, or at least solace, for this moment we find ourselves in. With Promised Land Sound. The Crocodile, 2200 Second Ave., 441-4618, thecrocodile.com. $20. All ages. 8 p.m. MB