Send listings two weeks in advance to braincity@seattleweekly.com.

John Seager The president of the overpopulation awareness group Population Connection delivers a talk titled, “How Many People Can We Pack on the Planet?” NewHolly Library, 7058 32nd Ave. S., 206-386-1905. Free. 6:30 p.m. Wed., Aug. 24.

Public Forum Sponsored by the International Socialist Organization, this discussion concerns the effect that Dubya’s Supreme Court nominee, John Roberts, could have on reproductive rights in the U.S. LGBT Community Center, 1115 E. Pike St., 206-931-2922. Free. 7 p.m. Wed., Aug. 24.

House Post Finishing Event Watch Tlingit artist Nathan Jackson complete work on a traditional house post at the Burke Museum, where it’ll become a permanent fixture. (The post recounts an old Tlingit fable about a hunter who weds a grizzly.) Northeast 45th Street and 17th Avenue Northeast, 206-543-5590. Free w/admission ($8 adults, $6.50 seniors, $5 students/youth). 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Thurs., Aug. 25-Fri., Aug. 26.

SAF Forum The Seattle Architecture Foundation hosts a panel discussion on architecture as art. Seattle Art Museum (Plestcheeff Auditorium), 100 University St., 206-667-9184. Free. 5:30-7 p.m. Thurs., Aug. 25.

Shoot Pool, Not People A fund-raiser at Temple Billiards, where a single ticket buys you unlimited pool for three hours, plus food and one drink, benefits Washington CeaseFire, a nonprofit devoted to raising awareness about gun violence. 126 S. Jackson St., 206-322-1236. $25. 6-9 p.m. Thurs., Aug. 25.

Master Birder Presentation Avian experts from area chapters of the Audubon Society talk about raptors, city birds, and water-based species. Washington State History Museum, 1911 Pacific Ave. (Tacoma), 253-798-5877. Free. 6:30-8 p.m. Thurs., Aug. 25.

Women Supporting Women Epilogue Books hosts a benefit reading for Kirkland’s Residence XII, a center for women battling drug dependency. Norah O’Neil, author of Flying Tigress (about her experience as the first woman to join the Flying Tigers, a global cargo airline), is the evening’s main reader. 2005 N.W. Market St., 206-297-2665. Free (10 percent of book sales benefit Residence XII). 7 p.m. Thurs., Aug. 25.

Sand in the City Kids can touch sea creatures and beetles, make kites that look like fish, and sculpt sand—there’ll be 270 tons of it for the sculpting—at this annual festival sponsored by Olympia’s Hands On Children’s Museum. 106 11th Ave. S.W. (Olympia), 360-956-0818. Free. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Fri., Aug. 26. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat., Aug. 27.

Cool Blast at Woodland Park Zoo Find out how penguins, grizzlies, tigers, elephants, and orangutans chill out during a day of cool-down demonstrations. 5500 Phinney Ave. N., 206-684-4800. $10 ($7 children 3 to 12). 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Fri., Aug. 26.

Penny Arcade Expo A convention for console and computer gamers named after a popular online comic strip, PAX features tourneys, panels, and all kinds of industry info. Meydenbauer Center, 11100 N.E. Sixth St. (Bellevue), 206-369-4953. $15 Fri. or Sun.; $20 Sat. 3 p.m.-2 a.m. Fri., Aug. 26. 10 a.m.-2 a.m. Sat., Aug. 27. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun., Aug. 28.

Critical Mass Seattle joins San Francisco and other eco-conscious cities in this celebration of cycling as an alternative to motorized transportation. Bikers meet at Westlake Park and ride, en masse, through the streets. Fourth Avenue and Pine Street, www.seattlecriticalmass.org. Free. 5:30 p.m. Fri., Aug. 26.

The Rania Khalil Show The political performance artist turns an American flag into an Arab veil and uses puppets, mime, and poetry to comment on the tension between the U.S. and the Middle East. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave., 206-322-7030. $12. 8 p.m. Fri., Aug. 26-Sun., Aug. 28.

Filmmaking Workshop Independent-film pioneer Carole Dean leads a daylong workshop, sponsored by Women in Film/Seattle, on “The Art of Funding Your Films: Alternative Financing Concepts.” Victory Studios, 2247 15th Ave. W., 206-282-1776. $75 ($50 WIF/S members). 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., Aug. 27.

Crazee Daze Bastyr University hosts a carnival featuring a flea market, a maze, tons of meat-free eats, and access to the school’s medicinal herb garden. 14500 Juanita Dr. N.E. (Kenmore), 425-602-3107. $10. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sat., Aug. 27-Sun., Aug. 28.

Kubota Garden Tour Take a guided stroll around the South End’s largest authentic Japanese garden. Renton Avenue South and 55th Avenue South, 206-725-5060. Free. 10 a.m. Sat., Aug. 27.

SAF Walking Tour The Seattle Architecture Foundation’s summer series continues with “The Roaring ’20s, Northwest Style,” a guided tour of Art Deco interiors in downtown buildings. Meet at Rainier Square Atrium, 1333 Fifth Ave. (Suite 300), 206-667-9184. $12 ($10 advance). 10 a.m.-noon. Sat., Aug. 27.

Gardening Workshop Learn to “Fake It” at this week’s In Bloom class, on using artificial plants at home or work. 4437 California Ave. S.W., 206-932-2588. Free. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Sat., Aug. 27.

Gardening Workshop Pick up some tips on garden design from staffers at Swanson’s; they’ll emphasize the use of shape, color, and patterns. 9701 15th Ave. N.W., 206-838-2722. Free. 11 a.m. Sat., Aug. 27.

TibetFest The two-day festival includes a slide-show lecture by photographer Leslie DiRusso on photojournalist Heinrich Harrer (played by Brad Pitt in Seven Years in Tibet), not to mention plenty of authentic Himalayan music, dance, food, and costumes. Seattle Center (Center House and Fisher Pavilion), 206-684-7200. Free. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat., Aug. 27-Sun., Aug. 28.

Family Fun Workshop Smoke jumpers—firefighters who leap from planes into forest fires—are the focus of this kid-friendly workshop, where you can construct a fire-jumping parachute of your own. 9404 E. Marginal Way S., 206-768-7126. $14 ($13 seniors, $7.50 youth 5 to 17). 11:15 a.m. or 1:15 p.m. Sat., Aug. 27-Sun., Aug. 28.

Adoption Information Meeting Talk to an adoptive family and learn about the logistics of adopting a child from Asia, Russia, or the U.S. at a session sponsored by the World Association for Children and Parents. Bellevue Regional Library, 1111 110th Ave. N.E. (Bellevue), 206-575-4550. Free. 2-4 p.m. Sat., Aug. 27.

Speedskating Open House Want to be the next Apolo Ohno? Get a head start at this event, which includes on-ice demos, a Q&A with instructors, and info on equipment. Sponsored by the Cascade Speedskating Club. Community Ice Rink, 2000 Hewitt Ave., Suite 200 (Everett), 425-322-2652. Free. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Sat., Aug. 27.

Leslie Rule At the Museum of the Mysteries, the daughter of crime writer Ann Rule talks about and reads from her nonfiction books on phantasms, Coast to Coast Ghosts and Ghosts Among Us. 623 Broadway Ave. E., 206-328-6499. $5 (suggested). 7-9 p.m. Sat., Aug. 27.

Women’s Rights Forum City Council candidate Linda Averill joins attorney Karen Clark and Andrea Parra of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project for a discussion of reproductive rights and the Supreme Court’s imminent rightward shift. New Freeway Hall, 5018 Rainier Ave. S., 206-722-2453. Buffet: 6 p.m. Forum: 7:30 p.m. $2 ($10 for buffet; work exchanges available). 7:30 p.m. Sat., Aug. 27.

RoooFest Enjoy a live auction, raffles, and a barbecue lunch at this celebration of the noble greyhound. There’ll be plenty of hounds up for adoption, and every penny raised benefits the Northwest chapter of Greyhound Pets of America, a nonprofit that saves former racing dogs. PawsAbilities Dog Training Center, 1007 Industry Dr., Building 33 (Tukwila), www.gnwgreyhounds.org. $3 ($7/family). 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun., Aug. 28.

David Holmgren The co-creator of the eco-friendly residential design concept known as Permaculture talks about the development and implementation of his ideas. Sponsored by the Seattle Permaculture Guild. Phinney Neighborhood Center, 6532 Phinney Ave. N., 206-324-3632. $10. 7-9 p.m. Mon., Aug. 29.

Law and Peace Forum The Washington State Bar Association’s monthly discussion series continues. This month’s topic: “Iraq’s New Constitution and Democratization in the Middle East.” University of Washington law professor Kristen Stilt is the featured speaker. 2101 Fourth Ave. (Suite 400), 206-727-8200. Free. Noon-1 p.m. Tues., Aug. 30.

CityClub Luncheon Forum Former U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton, University of Washington law professor Stewart Jay, local attorney Jenny Durkan, and author Jeffrey Lord (The Borking Rebellion) convene to discuss the changing face of the Supreme Court in the wake of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor’s recent resignation. Washington Athletic Club, 1325 Sixth Ave., 206-682-7395. $40 ($30 CityClub members). Noon-1:30 p.m. Wed., Aug. 31.

Anime Event The Science Fiction Museum hosts a tribute to the 20-year-old Japanese animation studio Robotech. A screening of clips from past Robotech films will be followed by the presentation of a plaque to the studio’s producers. Science Fiction Museum (JBL Theater), 325 Fifth Ave. N., 206-724-3428. Free. 5-9 p.m. Wed., Aug. 31.