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

Seafair Fleet Week To bring Seafair to a close, thousands of Navy and Coast Guard sailors arrive at the Port of Seattle for a weekend on the town. Seattle Waterfront, 206-728-0123. Free. Arrival: 1 p.m. Wed., Aug. 3.

Home and Garden Class The Phinney Neighborhood Association’s summer series continues with “Fences and Gates,” a workshop on fence construction led by ecology guru Michael Broili. Phinney Neighborhood Center, 6532 Phinney Ave. N., 206-783-2244. $25 ($20 PNA members). 7-9 p.m. Wed., Aug. 3.

Barney Frank As part of Foolproof’s American Voices series, the Massachusetts congressman, whose record includes work on gay rights and homeland security, speaks at Benaroya Hall on the state of the nation. 200 University St., 206-325-3554. $15-$75. 7:30 p.m. Wed., Aug. 3.

Blue Angels at Boeing Field The Museum of Flight hosts the elite formation-flying squadron, direct from the U.S. Navy. Their four-day residency consists of practices and air shows, though there’s also a youth program on Friday at 8:30 a.m. 9404 E. Marginal Way S., 206-764-5720 ext. 303. $14 ($13 seniors, $7.50 youth 5 to 17). 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thurs., Aug. 4-Sun., Aug. 7.

Gardening Workshop At the Center for Urban Horticulture, learn what “Pest Proofing Your Home and Yard” is all about. Sponsored by Washington State University King County Extension. 3501 N.E. 41st St., 206-205-3130. Free. 10 a.m.-noon. Thurs., Aug. 4.

New Exhibit Sponsored by the Seattle Architecture Foundation, “Ideas in Form” is a survey of architectural models by local design firms, including a scale model of the Seattle Art Museum Olympic Sculpture Park. Rainier Square Atrium (lower level), 1333 Fifth Ave., 206-667-9184. Free. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. daily. Thurs., Aug. 4-Sun., Aug. 21.

Nancy Turner The ethno-botanist and University of Victoria professor reads from her new book, Earth’s Blanket: Traditional Teachings for Sustainable Living. Burke Museum, Northeast 45th Street and 17th Avenue Northeast, 206-543-5590. Free. 6:30 p.m. Thurs., Aug. 4.

Bruce Gagnon A senior fellow at the Nuclear Policy Research Institute and head of the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space, he appears at St. Mark’s Cathedral to discuss the relationship between America’s military space program and the war in Iraq. 1245 10th Ave. E., 206-323-0300. Free. 7-9 p.m. Thurs., Aug. 4.

“Time To Care” Conference Take Back Your Time, an offshoot of Cornell University’s Center for Religion, Ethics, and Social Policy, opposes overwork and advocates more time spent with loved ones. This weekend, the group hosts a lineup of speakers that includes Seattle City Council member Richard Conlin and author Ann Crittenden (The Price of Motherhood). Seattle University (Pigott Auditorium), 901 12th Ave., www.simpleliving.net/timeday. $10 (suggested). 7 p.m. Thurs., Aug. 4. 7:30 p.m. Fri., Aug. 5.

Garden Party/Plant Auction Join other plant aficionados at the Volunteer Park Conservatory for a party fueled by wine, hors d’oeuvres, and music that also includes silent and live plant auctions featuring such beauties as a 50-year-old sago palm from the Conservatory’s own collection. 1402 E. Galer St., 206-322-4112. $35 ($30 VPC members). Silent auction: 6:30 p.m. Live auction: 8 p.m. Thurs., Aug. 4.

Hydroplane Races Flying boats scream around South Lake Washington at over 200 miles per hour. Stan Sayres Park, 3808 Lake Washington Blvd. S., 206-628-0888. $20 (free for children under 12). 9 a.m. Fri., Aug. 5-Sun., Aug. 7.

King County Wastemobile It’s coming to Issaquah High School to pick up your “old bags of feed and weed.” 700 Second Ave. S.E. (Issaquah), 425-837-6000. Free. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fri., Aug. 5-Sun., Aug. 7.

Family Fun Workshop Make Blue Angels mementos in celebration of the squadron’s weekend visit. 9404 E. Marginal Way S., 206-764-5720. $14 ($13 seniors, $7.50 youth 5 to 17). Noon-3 p.m. Fri., Aug. 5-Sun., Aug. 7.

Island Earthfair The yearly eco-festival returns to Vashon Island, packed with workshops and speakers on topics from yoga to recycling. Paradise Ridge Park (at the center of Vashon Island), www.islandearthfair.com. $10/day. Noon-11 p.m. Fri., Aug. 5. 10 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Sat., Aug. 6. 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Sun., Aug. 7.

Arab Festival This well-rounded sampler of Middle Eastern culture includes comedians, folk dance workshops, film screenings, storytelling, music, falafel, and political panels. Seattle Center (Center House and Fisher Pavilion), 206-684-7200. Free. 8-10 p.m. Fri., Aug. 5. Noon-midnight Sat., Aug. 6. Noon-9:30 p.m. Sun., Aug. 7.

SAF Walking Tour The Seattle Architecture Foundation’s summer series continues with “More Than Just a Pretty Facade,” a guided tour of downtown structures with ornate exteriors. Meet at Rainier Square Atrium, 1333 Fifth Ave. (Suite 300), 206-667-9184. $12 ($10 advance). 10 a.m.-noon. Sat., Aug. 6.

Farm Life Exhibit How did we survive before iPods? You’ll find out at Eastside Heritage Center’s interactive display of 19th-century farm life at Fraser Cabin in Bellevue’s Kelsey Creek Farm Park. 13204 S.E. Eighth St. (Bellevue), 425-450-1049. Free. Noon-3 p.m. Sat., Aug. 6.

Star Trek Anniversary Celebration TV’s most enduring sci-fi series began its space flight 40 years ago, and local Trekkies can celebrate this weekend at Bellevue’s Doubletree Hotel. Brent Spiner (The Next Generation‘s Data) and Avery Brooks (Deep Space Nine‘s Sisko) are scheduled to speak; a costume contest, a collectibles auction, and other Trek-related activities also await you. 300 112th St. S.E. (Bellevue), 425-455-1300. $20/day ($15/day children 7 to 12). Noon-6 p.m. Sat., Aug. 6-Sun., Aug. 7.

Larry Everest Back from Istanbul’s recent World Tribunal on Iraq, the journalist and author (Oil, Power, and Empire: Iraq and the U.S. Global Agenda) speaks on the war and ensuing occupation. Co-sponsored by Not In Our Name and Revolution Books. Community Center, 1609 19th Ave., 206-322-3813. Free. 6:30 p.m. Sat., Aug. 6.

From Hiroshima to Hope Join local poets, spiritual leaders, and neighbors for a commemoration of the U.S. attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War II. The evening includes a performance by the Seattle Peace Chorus and the folding of origami peace cranes. Adjacent to Seattle Public Theater, 7312 W. Greenlake Dr. N., 206-623-5124 ext. 132. Free. 6:30-9 p.m. Sat., Aug. 6.

Film ScreeningThirst, a documentary about water rights, explores the issue from a global perspective, examining cases in Bolivia, India, and the U.S. Hosted by Ballard Peace Activists. Trinity United Methodist Church, Northwest 65th Street and 23rd Avenue Northwest, 206-784-2085. Free. 6:30 p.m. Sun., Aug. 7.

Film Screening Filmmaker Sam Seerdorf, who served as a human shield two years ago in Iraq, hosts a screening of his new documentary about the real lives of Iraqis during the U.S. occupation. Community Center, 1609 19th Ave., 206-322-3813. $5-$15 (sliding scale; no one turned away). 7:30 p.m. Sun., Aug. 7.

Technology Briefing IBM hosts a tutorial for software developers titled “Migrating and Developing New Applications for Linux.” Hilton Seattle, 1301 Sixth Ave., 206-624-0500. Free. 9 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Tues., Aug. 9.

First Hill Historic House Tour See how the other half lived at a guided tour of two turn-of-the-century homes: the Stimson-Green Mansion and the Henry Dearborn House, both emblematic of First Hill’s swanky past. Sponsored by Historic Seattle. Henry Dearborn House, 1117 Minor Ave., 206-622-6952. $10 ($8 Historic Seattle and Washington Trust members). 1-2:30 p.m. Tues., Aug. 9.

Adoption Information Meeting Open Adoption and Family Services, a Northwest-based nonprofit adoption and counseling firm, hosts this session for prospective parents. 200 W. Mercer St. (Suite E-508), 206-782-0442. Free. 5:30-7 p.m. Tues., Aug. 9.

Film Screening Narrated by Gabriel Byrne, Flight From Death: The Quest for Immortality is a documentary on existential themes by local filmmaker Greg Bennick. Gilda’s Club, 1400 Broadway Ave., 206-709-1400. Free. 7-8:35 p.m. Wed., Aug. 10.