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

Learning Disability Screenings For people of all ages who show signs of a learning disability. Hope Clinic, 14030 N.E. 24th St. (Bellevue), 425-462-7800. Free. Time by appointment. Wed., March 2, and Mon., March 7.

Life Coaching Demo Some of the profession’s finest give a demonstration at a West Seattle cafe, courtesy of the local coaching firm Clarity in Action. Coffee to a Tea With Sugar, 4541 California Ave. S.W., 206-595-7927. Free. 6-7:30 p.m. Wed., March 2.

Waste Disposal Meeting Get the skinny on the City of Seattle’s plan to build a new solid waste intermodal transfer facility, projected to boost the efficiency of waste transportation and disposal. Concord Elementary School, 723 S. Concord St., 206-733-9147. Free. 6:30 p.m. Wed., March 2. West Seattle High School, 3000 California Ave. S.W., 206-733-9147. Free. 6:30 p.m. Thurs., March 3.

Roger Bumgarner Stem-cell research demystified, courtesy of the University of Washington microbiology professor. Tacoma Public Library, 1102 Tacoma Ave. S. (Tacoma), 253-591-5666. Free. 7 p.m. Wed., March 2.

Armin Chermue The field officer for anti-hunger organization Heifer International speaks at Seattle University’s Wyckoff Auditorium on new methods of battling global poverty. 901 12th Ave., 206-296-6000. Free. 7-8:30 p.m. Wed., March 2.

Nature Talk Ian Young and Mary Maxwell-Young of the Washington Butterfly Association give you the skinny on Utah’s unique ecosystem. Center for Urban Horticulture, 3501 N.E. 41st St., 206-364-4935. Free. 7 p.m. Wed., March 2.

Adam Gopnik The New Yorker contributor and editor of last year’s nonfiction collection Americans in Paris: A Literary Anthology sheds additional light on la vie française in a Seattle Arts & Lectures appearance. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., 206-621-2230. $20-$25 ($10 students/those under 25). 7:30 p.m. Wed., March 2.

Sewing and Stitchery Expo This weekend show at the fairgrounds in Puyallup includes tons of classes and demos, plus “sewing industry speakers” galore. 110 Ninth Ave. S.W. (Puyallup), 253-445-4632. $9 ($8 advance). 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Thurs., March 3-Sat., March 5. 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun., March 6.

Consigue Tu Sueño/Achieve Your Dream At Seattle Central Community College, a bilingual college/career fair for Spanish-speaking students. 1701 Broadway Ave. E., 206-287-5537. Free. 6-9 p.m. Thurs., March 3.

Desmond Collins The “evolutionary expert” talks about (and shows slides from) the 500-million-year-old Burgess Shale fossil site in the Canadian Rockies. Burke Museum, Northeast 45th Street and 17th Avenue Northeast, 206-543-5590. $8 ($6.50 seniors, $5 students). 6:30 p.m. Thurs., March 3.

Nordic Film Series This week’s feature: the Norwegian film Through Hell and High Water, a documentary about a World War II rescue mission that reunited two lovers. Nordic Heritage Museum, 3014 N.W. 67th St., 206-789-5707. $5 (suggested donation). 7 p.m. Thurs., March 3. 2 p.m. Sun., March 6.

James A. Banks The University of Washington professor speaks on multicultural education. UW Kane Hall (Room 130), 206-543-3386. Free. 7:30 p.m. Thurs., March 3.

David Bodanis The Oxford University mathematical physics professor talks about Electric Universe, his new book on the discovery of electricity and its history since then. Downstairs at Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 206-652-4255. $5. 7:30 p.m. Thurs., March 3.

Megan Cornish The antiwar activist addresses the plight of Iraqi women under U.S. occupation at a forum sponsored by Radical Women. New Freeway Hall, 5018 Rainier Ave. S., 206-722-6057. Free. 7:30 p.m. Thurs., March 3.

Science Seminar Highline Community College continues its winter seminar series with a talk titled “Why Hollywood Doesn’t Know Movie Math,” presented by Highline professor Thor Johansen. 2400 S. 240th St., 206-878-3710, ext. 3283. Free. 2:10-3 p.m. Fri., March 4.

Blood Drive Donate some hemoglobin to the Puget Sound Blood Center. (Visit www.psbc.org for a full list of times and places to give blood.) Washington Mutual Tower, 1201 Third Ave., 800-398-7888. Free. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Fri., March 4.

Trails and Treaties Conference Lewis & Clark Law School professor Robert Miller keynotes the annual confab of the Pacific Northwest Historians Guild, which this year takes a closer look at the legal and historical implications of major local treaties and the explorations that prompted them. Museum of History and Industry, 2700 24th Ave. E., 206-324-1126. $35. 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sat., March 5.

Dinosaur Day The Burke wheels out its rarest fossils for future paleontologists and their parents. Burke Museum, Northeast 45th Street and 17th Avenue Northeast, 206-543-5590. $8 ($6.50 seniors, $5 students). 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sat., March 5.

Gardening Workshop In this age of doggie boutiques, it was inevitable: The pros at In Bloom teach you how to “incorporate the needs and desires of our pets and ourselves without giving up a beautiful garden.” 4437 California Ave. S.W., 206-932-2588. Free. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Sat., March 5.

Ikebana Exhibition A weekend of Japanese flower arrangement, sponsored by Mercer Island’s Sogetsu School of Ikebana. Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave. S.E. (Mercer Island), 425-558-0889. Free. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., March 5. 1-4 p.m. Sun., March 6.

Orchid Clinic Stephanie Johnson-Toliver, a senior gardener at the Volunteer Park Conservatory, teaches orchid fanciers to nurture their favorite flower. 1400 E. Galer St., 206-322-4112. $12. 1-3 p.m. Sat., March 5.

Simply Tsfat The Hasidic folk-rockers kick out the kosher jams at Stroum JCC on Mercer Island. 3801 E. Mercer Way (Mercer Island), 206-722-8289. $10 ($5 children/seniors). 7 p.m. Sat., March 5.

Sherwin Wine A hero of secular Judaism, the rabbi discusses his beliefs in a talk titled “Morality Without God: Values From a Secular Humanistic Perspective.” University Friends Center, 4001 Ninth Ave. N.E., 206-528-1944. $5 (suggested donation). 7:30 p.m. Sat., March 5.

Climbing Event A practice run at Rattlesnake Ledge for climbers interested in scaling Mount Rainier as part of the American Lung Association’s annual Climb for Clean Air. Trailhead located at Rattlesnake Lake, southeast of North Bend at I-90 exit 32. Call 800-732-9339 for more information. Free. 9 a.m. Sun., March 6.

Family First Sunday “Sensational Seastars” is the theme of this week’s kid-friendly activities at the Seattle Aquarium. 1483 Alaskan Way, 206-386-4320. $12 ($8 youth 6-12, $5 children 3-5). 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sun., March 6.

Model Train Show Check out the teeny-tiny engines and cabooses at this annual Edmonds expo, presented by the Swamp Creek & Western Railroad Association. Frances Anderson Center, 700 Main St. (Edmonds), 425-771-7427. $4 (free for children under 12). 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun., March 6.

Open House/Plant Sale Lovers of the hellebore, a popular winter perennial, can go to town at Bellevue Botanical Garden’s yearly sale of this and other seasonal blooms. 12001 Main St. (Bellevue), 206-324-0179. Free. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sun., March 6.

St. David’s Day Celebration St. David was a monk who helped spread Christianity among Britain’s pagans during the sixth century; the Welsh answer to St. Patrick’s Day, this festival involves harp music, poetry, partying, tea and cakes, and the wearing of a leek or a daffodil. St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 111 N.E. 80th St., 206-524-0854. Free. 2:30 p.m. Sun., March 6.

Socialist Study Group Join kindred spirits at a weekly discussion of major political uprisings, sponsored by Seattle’s Freedom Socialist Party. 4710 University Way N.E. (No. 100), 206-722-2453. Free. 7-8:30 p.m. Mon., March 7.

Film Screening In observation of International Women’s Day, Consolidated Works screens Afghanistan Unveiled, a documentary about Afghani women’s lives in the wake of the Taliban. 500 Boren Ave. N., 206-910-3937. $5-$25 (sliding scale donation; no one turned away). 7 p.m. Tues., March 8.

Deborah Kraak The curator and art lecturer discusses the 19th-century Arts and Crafts Movement, which contended that practical artisan works are just as valid as traditional objets d’art. Burke Museum, 17th Avenue Northeast and Northeast 45th Street, 206-543-5590. $5. 7 p.m. Tues., March 8.

Eric Liu The University of Washington faculty member, author, and former Clinton speechwriter speaks on mentorship as part of UW’s Diversity Book Talk Series. UW Kane Hall (Room 130), 206-543-9779. Free. 7 p.m. Tues., March 8.

Irshad Manji Edmonds Community College concludes its winter lecture series with the author of The Trouble With Islam: A Muslim’s Call for Reform in Her Faith. Triton Union Building (Room 202), 20000 68th Ave. W. (Lynnwood), 425-640-1313. $5. 7:30-9 p.m. Tues., March 8.

Garden Walk Stroll through Bellevue Botanical Garden with an Audubon guide. Bring binocs! 12001 Main St. (Bellevue), 425-576-8805. Free. 9 a.m.-noon. Wed., March 9.

International Updates Lecture Series University of Washington doctoral candidate Duong Bich Hanh addresses “Tourism in China and Northern Vietnam” at a UW-sponsored dinner lecture. UW Kane Hall (Walker-Ames Room), 206-221-6374. $25. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Wed., March 9.

Don Munro The head of Coastal Environmental Systems, a leading manufacturer of weather instruments, talks about building and maintaining a capable staff. Sponsored by the Association for Corporate Growth. Washington Athletic Club, 1325 Sixth Ave., 206-362-6975. $40 ($25 ACG members). 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wed., March 9.

Tax Workshop for Artists Let local attorney Neil Sussman teach you how to keep the term “starving artist” from applying to you. Seattle Art Museum, 100 University St., 206-328-7053. $50 for attorneys, $35 for paralegals, $20 for artists and students. 6:45-9:30 p.m. Wed., March 9.

Nature Workshop Learn the “Secrets of the Salmon-Wildlife Relationship” at a Carkeek Park class. Carkeek Park Environmental Learning Center, 950 N.W. Carkeek Park Rd., 206-684-0877. Free. 7-9 p.m. Wed., March 9.

Parenting Workshop “Taking Care of Our Children: Drug Awareness and Prevention” is the subject; Jewish Family Service counseling director Steve Morris leads the class. Stroum JCC, 3801 E. Mercer Way (Mercer Island), 206-461-3240 ext. 3146. $15. 7-8:30 p.m. Wed., March 9.