The Top Fifteen Things to Do This Week

Neil DeGrasse Tyson talks film, revisit the grunge era, Mike Daisey takes on Trump, and more.

September 21, Wednesday

Neil DeGrasse Tyson Filling Carl Sagan’s shoes as the host of Cosmos is an incredibly tall order, but Tyson, with his space-patterned ties, giant brain, and preternaturally soothing voice, somehow made the transition as smooth as the surface of Jupiter. Tonight, as part of his “An Astrophysicist Goes to the Movies” tour, he’ll assess the legitimacy of the science in popular films. The Paramount, 911 Pine St., stgpresents.com. $55–$75. All ages. 7:30 p.m. Also Thurs., Sept. 22. KELTON SEARS

September 22, Thursday

The Trump Card We have all had enough of Donald Trump, so why in the world should you lay down your hard-earned cash to hear more about the ballot-box bigot? Well, the latest monologue from former Seattleite Mike Daisey is more than an opportunity to sadistically indulge our collective angst; it is an opportunity to explore what hand we played in this farce. And to laugh. And then cry. And then vote! The Neptune, 1303 N.E. 45th St., 682-1414, stgpresents.org. $25. All ages. 8 p.m. MARK BAUMGARTEN

Hotel Nordo The setting could not be more perfect for this original haunted tale, which takes place in a hotel very much like the Globe Hotel that once inhabited the Pioneer Square building where Café Nordo serves its dinner theater. Between servings of surrealist cuisine, the audience will witness a tragic history from an able cast that’s so in sync with co-founder Terry Podgorski’s energetic scripts that it’s spooky. Café Nordo, 109 S. Main St., cafenordo.com. $77–$102. Ends Nov. 20. MB

The Moondoggies When they formed in 2006, the Moondoggies anticipated the indie-folk scene that would come to consume Seattle in the late aughts and embody the best of what that Doe Bay-informed sound had to offer. Now the five-piece is looking back on those years, celebrating their 10th anniversary with a pair of shows and a vinyl re-release of their first album, Don’t Be a Stranger. With Lonely Mountain Lovers and Pampa on Thursday; Jackalope Saints and Great Spiders on Friday. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W., 786-3599, tractor tavern.com. $15. 21 and over. 9 p.m. DANIEL PERSON

The Future Is 0 Kick off the Local Sightings Film Festival (page 15) with this live DIY game show from Seattle polymath Claire Buss—a show that began in her living room, roping in folks from the local music scene as contestants. Billed as “equal parts Double Dare 2000, nihilist performance art, and sarcastic TV experiment,” it should be a hoot. Later, catch her feature film (and directorial debut) No No Bad on Sept. 28, also a part of the fest. Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave., nwfilmforum.org. $15. All ages. 8 p.m. KS

Bunker Blocked Victory Rally As we discuss in this week’s editorial (page 3), Black Lives Matter activists—along with City Council allies Mike O’Brien and Kshama Sawant—successfully delayed approval of an unprecedentedly expensive new police station in North Seattle. Join Sawant to demand that that funding go to construct affordable housing instead. Washington Hall, 153 14th Ave., 684-8016, washington hall.com. Free. All ages. 6 p.m. CASEY JAYWORK

Homeless Sweeps Debate in City Council Sally Bagshaw’s Human Services and Public Health committee will discuss a bill proposed by homeless advocates that would require the city to have adequate housing, or at least an alternative campsite, available before they can kick them out. Call it the “Homeless People Don’t Evaporate Into Thin Air Even When You Chase Them Around the City” bill. Bagshaw’s office says there won’t be a vote today, but if you want to tell city leaders to stop hounding the destitute, this is your chance. Council Chambers in City Hall, 600 Fourth Ave., 684-8801. Free. All ages. 9:30 a.m. CJ

September 23, Friday

The Constitution Today Reading Yale professor Akhil Reed Amar is one of our leading Constitutional scholars—he even advised writers on The West Wing on Constitutional law. His new book discusses some of the most compelling political arguments of our time—from guns to same-sex marriage—and explains why the Constitution has so successfully grown and changed with this country. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 652-4255, townhallseattle.org. $5. All ages. 7:30 p.m. PC

Velocity Fall Kick-Off Velocity describes itself as a hub for the local dance community, and it’s never more true than during this annual showcase program, with a different lineup each evening. Practically every dance artist in the region appears somewhere in the building at some point—it’s like the first day of school, and you’re sitting with the cool kids in the lunchroom. Velocity Dance Center, 1621-12th Ave., 325-8773, www.velocitydancecenter.org. $20-$25/$50 all-access pass. 7:30 p.m. Fri. Sept. 23- Sat. Sept. 25. SANDI KURTZ

Catapult Dance and Stephanie Liapis Dance Projects Choreographer Michelle Miller was teaching in Hong Kong in 2014, during the ground-breaking Umbrella Revolution and her new work, Resistance, starts with that sense of personal responsibility, expanding to look at the individual and the group. She shares an evening with Stephanie Liapis, who combines an eccentric kinetic sense with specific scenic elements. Broadway Performance Hall, 1625 Broadway Ave., www.catapultdance.com. $18-$22. 8 p.m. Fri. Sept. 23-Sat. Sept. 24. Also 2 p.m. Sat. Sept. 24. SK

September 24, Saturday

Vow of Celibacy Reading Standup comedian Erin Judge’s new coming-of-age novel is about a bisexual aspiring fashion designer with body-image issues who takes a vow of celibacy in the hope of figuring out why her life is such a mess. Judge will be joined by other comedians, making this less a reading than a mini-standup-comedy festival. Elliott Bay Book Company, 1521 10th Ave., 624-6600, elliottbaybook.com. Free. All ages. 7 p.m. PC

September 25, Sunday

LOSER: The Real Seattle Music Story Reading Once upon a time, young people were flocking to Seattle to take part in its music scene. Now that young people are flocking to Seattle to take part in its online retailing scene, it’s time for Seattle media veteran Clark Humphrey to reissue his two-decade-old encyclopedic guide to the movers and shakers of grunge-era Seattle. Vermillion Art Gallery and Bar, 1508 11th Ave., 709-9797, vermillionseattle.com. Free. All ages. 7 p.m. PC

September 26, Monday

Here I Am Reading A decade ago, Jonathan Safran Foer came to Seattle for a triumphant reading to celebrate his second novel, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. Tonight he returns with his third novel, and reviews have been… less than kind. (There’s a scene in which a husband makes his wife orgasm by staring at her vagina.) It’s time for some good old-fashioned literary rubbernecking. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 652-4255, townhallseattle.org. $34.89. All ages. 7:30 p.m. PC

Cass McCombs This genre chameleon has gone decidedly jazzy for his latest album, Mangy Love, released last month. His backup band sounds lifted from an ’80s hotel lounge, with lots of echo and keys. But the songwriting is as strong as ever. With Hush Arbors. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W., 786-3599, tractortavern.com. $15. 21 and over. 8 p.m. DP

September 27, Tuesday

A Voice Without the Words to Speak This roundtable discussion about the loss of language is an inclusive, participatory discussion. Various experts—children of immigrants whose parents demanded that they speak only English, a Yakima language preservationist, and others—will discuss the importance of keeping language alive for a new generation, and what happens when a language dies. Vermillion Art Gallery and Bar, 1508 11th Ave., 709-9797, vermillionseattle.com. Free. All ages. 7 p.m. PC