September 7, Wednesday
Seeing the Light: Four Decades in Chinatown Dean Wong has devoted his life to recording the Asian-American experience through photos and words. His latest book—from Chin Music Press, a Seattle-area publisher of beautiful books—is a tribute to Chinatowns all over North America. Wong’s interviews and portraits capture the spirit of community that makes Chinatowns from coast to coast more than just neighborhoods. Third Place Books, Seward Park, 5041 Wilson Ave. S., 474-2200, thirdplacebooks.com. Free. All ages. 7 p.m. PAUL CONSTANT
Secure-Scheduling Ordinance City Council Hearing Come participate in the legislative process by lending your voice, and ears, to the City Council’s discussion of a proposed secure-scheduling ordinance, which would require restaurant and retail chains of 500-plus employees to schedule employees two weeks ahead of time and then pay workers extra if the employer changes that schedule. Seattle City Hall, 600 Fourth Ave., seattle.gov/council. Free. All ages. Noon. CASEY JAYWORK
September 8, Thursday
Too High & Too Steep: Reshaping Seattle’s Topography David B. Williams’ book is about how Seattle’s earliest white settlers decided that the geology of the region is what you’d call a fixer-upper. From the Denny Regrade to what’s really underneath Pioneer Square, Williams will talk about all the ways we’ve torn Seattle apart to build it up. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 652-4255, townhallseattle.org. $5. All ages. 7:30 p.m. PC
Deep Space Former Intruder artist Joe Garber is one of the most prolific comic artists in town—case in point, at this art show, he’ll be releasing two new books alongside his gorgeous drawings and paintings. His works always seem to marry a classical sensibility (nudes, pastoral landscapes and wildlife, lush ornamentation) with his own demented, disemboweled proclivities—organs and bodily fluids gushing every which way. Porchlight Coffee & Records, 1517 14th Ave., joegarber.net. Free. All ages. 7–10 p.m. KELTON SEARS
September 9, Friday
One Nation Under God Kevin M. Kruse is the evangelical right’s worst nightmare: a professor from Princeton who has written a book that unveils the fairly modern invention of the lie that America is now and has always been a Christian nation. Kruse argues convincingly that our national obsession with a Jesus-created America began in the 1950s. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 652-4255, townhallseattle.org. $5. All ages. 7:30 p.m. PC
Choreographic Shindig This year, Whim W’him is opening its season with something spooky. Guest choreographer Joseph Hernandez draws his inspiration from H.P. Lovecraft and the myth of Cthulhu—the work opens with what looks like a simple conversation, but soon it feels more like an asylum than an interview. It’s joined by two other premieres (from NYC-based duo Madboots and frequent Seattle visitor Lauren Edson) in an evening programmed by the dancers themselves. Erickson Theatre, 1524 Harvard Ave., whimwhim.org. $25–$50. 8 p.m. Fri., Sept. 9–Sat., Sept. 10; 5 p.m. Sun., Sept. 11; 8 p.m. Wed., Sept. 14–Sat., Sept. 17. SANDRA KURTZ
Tango: A Society of Two Fundamentally, a tango is a walk for two people, but for most of us there’s a bit more challenge involved. So Tango En Vie offers you a choice: You can come for the dinner and show and watch tango stars Julio Balmaceda and Virginia Vasconi, along with Sara Rose and Albano Goldenberg, in a double program of authentic Buenos Aires–style dancing. Or you can stay after the performance and take a beginners’ course as well. So how bold are you? Century Ballroom, 915 E. Pine St., 324-7263, century ballroom.com. $25–$70. 7 p.m. dinner, 8:30 p.m. show, 9:45 general dancing, Fri., Sept. 9. SK
Casting Shadows Seattle Weekly Comix in the City contributor E.T. Russian’s monochromatic work deals poetically with the experience of disability—her dreamy comics can shift from humor to eroticism to poignant reflection all in one strip. Casting Shadows will feature video projections of Russian’s comics accompanied by auditory soundscapes that will immerse you in the work in ways the page cannot. Jack Straw Cultural Center, 4261 Roosevelt Way N.E., jackstraw.org. Free. All ages. 7 p.m. Through Oct. 28. KS
September 10, Saturday
Stomp the Patriarchy Ball Seattle-based all-ages arts organization The Vera Project teams with abortion-awareness organization #ShoutYourAbortion to celebrate the first anniversary of #SYA, featuring bands, DJs, a photobooth, and readings from three of the most important writers in town right now: Hollis Wong-Wear, Ijeoma Oluo, and Lindy West. Washington Hall, 153 14th Ave., washingtonhall.org. Pay what you can. All ages. 8 p.m. PC
Seattle Design Festival Block Party The city’s annual two-week design-nerd bonanza (see page 19) launches Saturday with a ream of (obviously) well-designed activities, workshops, and exhibits all weekend. Rethink your approach to Seattle winter with the “RainSound Experience”; buy some funky, eco-chic clothing or sustainable soap at the Urban Air Market; build a better Mouse Trap game with the Pacific Science Center’s “gravity maze machine.” All that and lots more. Occidental Park, 117 S. Washington St., designinpublic.org. Free. All ages. 10 a.m. Ends Sept. 24. SARA BERNARD
Glazer’s Photofest As you’ll read in our cover feature this week (see page 9), Seattle’s oldest camera store has a brand-new building, and to accompany its grand opening this week, they’re holding a “Photofest.” Whether you want to check out the latest gear on the market or take one of the many free technical classes from pros, photo nerds will have plenty to ogle and learn. Glazer’s Camera, 811 Republican St., glazerscamera.com. Free. All ages. 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Sat., June 10; 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Sun., June 11. KS
September 11, Sunday
Moor Mother Philadelphia’s Camae Ayewa produces some incredibly multifaceted soundwork—delving into and fusing everything from punk, noise, hip-hop, and spoken word to world, ambient, jazz, and electronica. Her prolific output is highly varied, but the two constants are her critique of systemic racism and a palpable drive to push familiar sounds into their outermost reaches. With Jenny Zhang, Slow Drips, Prius. Machine House Brewery, 5840 Airport Way S., machinehousebrewery.com. $7. All ages. 8–11 p.m. KS
September 13, Tuesday
Mass Transit Now! Campaign Kickoff Get hyped on Mass Transit Now!’s push for Regional Proposition 1, extending light rail from Tacoma to Everett and Ballard to West Seattle, with this free concert. Show your support, listen to King County Exec. Dow Constantine and Mayor Ed Murray, and jam to the tunes of local indie duo SISTERS while you’re at it. Neumos, 925 E. Pike St., neumos.com. Free. All ages. 6 p.m. KS
Jack Straw Writers The Jack Straw Writers Program aspires to teach Seattle-area writers how to better present their work both live and on recorded audio. Tonight, three 2016 Jack Straw Writers lead, including poets Alison Stagner and Carolyne Wright, singer Shontina Vernon, and poet Robert Lashley, who is rightfully enjoying a hell of a year in the Seattle-media spotlight. University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., 634-3400, bookstore.washington.edu. Free. All ages. 7 p.m. PC
