June 28, Wednesday
Poetic Grid For the past two years, Claudia Castro Luna has made Seattle proud as our Civic Poet, representing Seattle’s many experiences through poetry. She’s brought poems to City Hall events, published a great chapbook of poems, and paired with several of our great arts organizations. Tonight she debuts the Poetic Grid, a fantastic collaborative poetry map of Seattle. Open Books, 2414 N. 45th St., 633-0811, openpoetry books.com. Free. All ages. 7 p.m. PAUL CONSTANT
Shadow Council Brett Hamil’s political comedy forum returns tonight with Real Change founder Timothy Harris, mayoral candidate Jessyn Farrell, Julie Chang Schulman of sWordsCool and the Artist Coalition for Equitable Development, and a special appearance from 3-2-1 BATTLE’s wrestlers, who will “fight a proxy bout over urbanist policy.” Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave., nwfilmforum.org. $12. All ages. 8 p.m. KELTON SEARS
June 29, Thursday
Death Rattle Hum Idaho nonprofit Death Rattle Writers Festival intends to bring together other Northwestern writers with Idahoan writers through contests, festivals, and literary events. This reading features excellent Seattle poet Quenton Baker reading with Idaho writers Alex Yan, Griffin Rae Birdsong, Dig Reeder, Ricky Ramirez, and Diana Forgione. Vermillion Art Gallery and Bar, 1508 11th Ave., 709-9797, vermillionseattle.com. Free. All ages. 6 p.m. PC
Animal Collective’s music has always sounded as if it’s broadcast from the deep wilderness, free of societal impression or historical context. For their latest EP, Avey Tare and Geologist literally went to the wilderness—the Brazilian Amazon—to record four songs that thrum with a primal energy (even if a drum machine is involved). It’s a return to form of sorts, both for the band and human music-making. The Neptune, 1303 N.E. 45th St., stgpresents.com. 8 p.m. $30. DANIEL PERSON
David Dondero Perhaps one of the greatest gifts that ’90s post-hardcore has given the world is a handful of soul-baring songwriters who have been able to transition their talents to acoustic guitar. David Bazan, Craig Finn, and Damien Jurado are part of this club. So is David Dondero, whose 10th album of contemplative folk songs, Inside the Cat’s Eye, possesses a bullshit-free emotional undercurrent that befits his roots. Fremont Abbey, 4272 Fremont Ave. N., 414-8325. $8–$10. All ages. 8 p.m. MARK BAUMGARTEN
June 30, Friday
2001: A Space Odyssey Aside from whatever I was playing in school orchestra, my first exposure to classical music came from the one such album we owned, which was the soundtrack to Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey (an eclectic mix: Ligeti, two Strausses, and more). The Seattle Symphony will present a screening of the film, with all the music played live; Pablo Rus Broseta conducts. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., seattlesymphony.org. $38. 8 p.m. (also Sat.) All ages. GAVIN BORCHERT
July 1, Saturday
The Fateful Fourth Reading Washington historian Russell Holter discusses “the notorious 1900 trolley accident” that helped shape the city of Tacoma for a whole century. It’s an account of a doomed Fourth of July celebration that, on our first Fourth under President Trump, might be more resonant than ever. University Book Store Tacoma, 1754 Pacific Ave., 253-692-4300, u.bookstore.edu. All ages. Free. 2 p.m. PC
KEXP Rocks the Dock Puget Sound will serve as the backdrop for this family-friendly afternoon of free Northwest music, featuring a sun-friendly lineup that includes the dance-along synth pop of Jenn Champion, the sway-along drama pop of Louise Burns, the clap-along power pop of Bread and Butter, and the sweat-along punk pop of the Thermals. Waterfront Park (between the Great Wheel and the squarium), kexp.org. Free. All ages. 6–8 p.m. MB
Kate Wallich and Madboots Kate Wallich has been turning heads with her ensemble The YC for the past few years, making dances that combine her passions for physical virtuosity and innovative design. Likewise, the artistic duo who run Madboots (who created Swan Song for local company Whim W’him last September) have a taste for what they call the “hyper-physical.” The companies are sharing an evening, in a kind of compare-and-contrast program. Velocity Dance Center, 1621 12th Ave., 325-8773, velocity dancecenter.org. $18–$25. 8 p.m. Thurs., June 29, Fri., June 30, & Sun., July 2; 7:30 & 10 p.m. Sat., July 1. SANDRA KURTZ
First Caturday The first edition of this new Cal Anderson Park tradition was such a hit, it’s coming back. Most cats hang indoors the majority of their life, but Caturday gives pet-owners a chance to let their kitties roam free in the grass with other neighborhood felines for an afternoon. Even if you don’t have a cat, come for the supreme pet-watching. Cal Anderson Park, 1425 E. Broadway (meet by the fountain). All ages. Free. 1:30–4:40 p.m. KS
July 2, Sunday
Reading With Rover Fun fact: If you know a child who is having trouble learning to read, have them practice reading to dogs. And if you don’t have any dogs in your life, bring them to this event, which features trained therapy dogs just waiting for kids to read to them. University Book Store Mill Creek, 15311 Main St., 425-385-3530. ubookstore.com. Free. All ages. 11:30 a.m. PC
Ween We can only assume that the title of this Marymoor show, “An Evening With Ween,” is delivered with a heap of irony. Because while Ween’s fans are getting to be that age when concerts seem more inviting as tranquil evenings spent with old friends, it’s still Ween, and by all accounts they haven’t stopped being smart asses after all these years. They also still rip. Marymoor Park, 6046 W. Lake Sammamish Pkwy. N.E., 205-3661. $49.50. 7:30 p.m. DP
July 3, Monday
Works in Progress One of Seattle’s most venerable open mic-nights offers a special pre-Independence Day edition. Bring your nonfiction, fiction, or patriotic pantoum and share it with an eclectic room of regulars, newbies, and aspiring writers. Press materials warn that “Some content not suitable for children or small animals.” Hugo House, 1021 Columbia St., 322-7030, hugohouse.org. Free. All ages. 7 p.m. PC
July 4, Tuesday
Democracy Slam What better way to celebrate the Fourth of July than with a poetry slam? Think of today’s Democracy Slam as a celebration of your constitutional freedom of speech, with booze and prizes. It’s a hell of a lot more fun than getting drunk and blowing a thumb off with some fireworks. Re-Bar, 1114 Howell St., rebarseattle.com. $5. 21 and over. 7 p.m. PC
Seafair Summer Fourth Whether you love it or really, really hate it, Seafair season has officially arrived. If the Blue Angels screeching through the sky gets your goat, try this early-season Seafair-sponsored event, where fireworks will be screeching through the sky instead, alongside performances from local artists like Pickwick, ParisAlexa, Smokey Brights, and more. Gas Works Park and Lake Union Park, seafair.com. Free. All ages. Noon–10:20 p.m. KS
