Ive said it before and Ill say it again: The Seattle International Childrens Festival (through Sat., May 17) isnt just for kids. In fact, if your child is whining about seeing cool music acts (including Reem Kalimi and women drummers from Guinea), stick Raffi on the CD player and hire a babysitter. If they complain about being deprived of their video games and TV for the day, stick Hannah Montana into the DVD and let their brains rot while you go check out Puppentheater Halles delicate retelling of the Grimm tale King Thrushbeard, using unique puppets crafted out of mud and sticks; or the whirlwind antics of Circa, who promise 46 circus acts in 45 minutes. And only if theyre very, very good should you consider taking them to see Italys Teatro di Piazza o dOccasiones Dream Carpet, a storytelling experience that marries the form of a Japanese garden with interactive technology that creates images and sounds, first from a dancer, then from members of the audience. Why wasnt the world this cool when I was a kid? See www.seattleinternational.org for full schedule and details. Seattle Center, 325-6500. $9.50$45 (four-show pass). 10 a.m. JOHN LONGENBAUGH
May 15-17, 10 a.m., 2008
