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

10th Planet From the Sun Astronomer/author Ken Croswell will bring news of the solar system beyond Neptune, including the newly discovered 10th planet, which is 9 billion miles from the sun, and discuss whether Pluto and the 10th planet even deserve the mantle “planet.” Croswell’s latest book is Ten Worlds: Everything That Orbits the Sun. Seattle Astronomical Society, UW Physics/Astronomy building, room A-102, 206-523-2787, www.seattleastro.org. Free. 7:30 p.m. Wed., May 17.

Bicycles The National Ride of Silence will commemorate the many cyclists who have been injured or killed in traffic accidents while riding on public roads. Gasworks Park, 2101 N. Northlake Way, Seattle, www.rideofsilence.org. Ride is 14 miles at 12 mph. Free. 7 p.m. Wed., May 17. The Starbucks Bike to Work Day will offer 37 stations where commuting bicyclists can get free maps, snacks, commuting information, and have their bikes checked. Throughout the region, www.cascade.org. Free. Morning commute hours Fri., May 19.

Civil Rights Patricia Williams, a legal scholar, a MacArthur “genius-award” winner, and one of the most provocative intellectuals in American law, will give a talk: Civil Rights in an Era of Civil Wrongs. Town Hall Seattle, 1119 Eighth Ave., www.townhallseattle.org. 206-616-1825. Free; tickets are required and are available at any University Bookstore location. 6:30 p.m. Thurs., May 18.

Beat It The bridge, that is. Run the 8K, do the 4-mile Family Walk, the 1-mile Fun Run, or the Diaper Derby and help raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Husky Stadium, www.beatthebridge.org. $15; Diaper Derby is free. Registration for individuals, noon–5 p.m. Sat., May 20; for individuals and teams, 6:45 a.m. Sun., May 21; for all online by 6 p.m. Fri., May 19. Events begin at 8 a.m. Sun., May 21.

Breakfast Ballads Colombian musician Pedro Gaviria will perform Spanish ballads and lyrical classics. Stick around to practice your conversational Spanish. Cafe Rozella, 9434 Delridge Way S.W., 206-763-5805, www.caferozella.com. Ballads 10 a.m.–noon, Sat., May 13. Conversation Cafe, 2 p.m. every Saturday.

State of Seattle The Seattle Neighborhood Coalition will discuss what’s up in Seattle, what makes people angry, and what they are prepared to do about it. Greenhouse Cafe, 2205 Seventh Ave., 9 a.m. Sat., May 13.

Save the Sound Speak up at the Puget Sound Environmental Caucus public forum on plans for recovery of Puget Sound. Seattle Aquarium, Pier 59, 1483 Alaskan Way, www.pugetsound.org., 5:30–7:30 p.m. Mon., May 15.

Love Is All A panel of authors—Laurinda D. Brown, Tavis Hunter, and Edwina Martin-Arnold—tackle the depiction of black love and relationships in literature. Langston Hughes Performing Center, 104 17th Ave. S. 800-838-3006, www.brownpapertickets.com. $10/$7 CD Forum member/students/seniors. 7 p.m. Thurs., May 18.

Good Dog Why does your dog jump up, chew, dig, and have separation anxiety? Find out and get suggestions for redirecting that energy at a free workshop. Family Dog Training Center, 7034 S. 188th St., Kent, 425-291-9663, www.familydogonline.com. 7-9 p.m. Fri., May 19.

Unspeakable? Hear the evidence on “Speaking the Unspeakable: Is the Bush Administration Guilty of War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity?” during a panel discussion presented by the World Can’t Wait. Kane Hall, UW, 206-312-7398, seattle@worldcantwait.org. $7/$5 with student ID. 6:30 p.m. (doors at 6 p.m.) Fri., May 19.

Tour the Southwest Study Craftsmen, Tudor, and bungalow-style houses, visit the Log House Museum, and tour the Alki Point Lighthouse on the 13th Homes With History Tour, presented by the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, as a fund-raiser for the museum. Log House Museum, 3113 61st Ave. S.W., 206-938-5293. $20. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Sat., May 20.

Exploring Alzheimer’s Seattle-based filmmakers Ann Hedreen and Rustin Thompson will introduce their film, Quick Brown Fox, which explores how memories define us and how Alzheimer’s can steal identity and family history. They will be available for questions after the screening. Frye Art Museum, 704 Terry Ave., 206-622-9250. Free. 2 p.m. Sat., May 20.

Clear Ahead Crone of Puget Sound asks: What’s in Your Closet? Get “wardrobe clearity” from Rina Spek, a wardrobe stylist, and Bernadine Smith, a fashion coordinator. University Unitarian Church, 6556 35th Ave. N.E., 206-281-7944. $5. 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Sat., May 20.

Changing the Climate Richard Gammon, a University of Washington professor of chemistry, oceanography, and atmospheric sciences, will lecture on global warming. Stroum JCC, 3801 E. Mercer Way, Mercer Island, 206-232-7115, www.sjcc.org. Free. 10 a.m.–noon Sun., May 21.

Don’t Worry Get happy! Daniel Gilbert, a professor of psychology at Harvard, will speak on the limitations of the human imagination and how it steers people wrong in their search for happiness. Town Hall Seattle, 1119 Eighth Ave., 206-616-1825, www.townhallseattle.org. $5. 7:30 p.m. Mon., May 22.

Bonsai The Puget Sound Bonsai Association presents information on the meaning and care of bonsai. See if you like it—hands-on classes start in June. Seattle Japanese Garden, 1075 Lake Washington Blvd. E., 206-684-4725. Free with admission. 1 p.m. Mon., May 22.

Crack the Code What’s truth and what’s fiction in The Da Vinci Code? The Rev. Michael Raschko, the Bertch Professor of Catholic Systematic Theology at Seattle University, will discuss the historical and theological threads that surface in the book. Pigott Auditorium, Seattle U., www.seattleu.edu. Free. 3:30–5 p.m., reception follows, Mon., May 22.

Doing It for Themselves Celinda Lake, a leading political strategist for the Democratic Party, and Kellyanne Conway, a market research expert and leading conservative pollster, have written What Women Really Want: How American Women Are Quietly Erasing Political, Racial, Class, and Religious Lines to Change the Way We Live. And Lake is prepared to discuss how women will be the economic and political force of the millennium. Town Hall Seattle, 1119 Eighth Ave., 206-616-1825, www.townhallseattle.org. $5. 7:30 p.m. Tues., May 23.

In the Face of the Holocaust Mary and John Felstiner will use images, music, and voices to share their research on artistic forms of resistance in Creative Resistance in the Holocaust. They will address questions such as, “Under great stress, why and how would people paint pictures, write poems, and make music?” The work of artist Charlotte Salomon and poet Paul Celan will be featured. University Heights Center, Room 209, 5031 University Way N.E., 206-324-4350. Free. Noon–1:30 p.m. Tues., May 23.

War on Terror Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, the deputy director of plans and policy for U.S. Central Command, will discuss the long-term planning and implications of the global war on terror. Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center, 104 17th Ave. S., 206-441-5910. wac@world-affairs.org. $15/$10 World Affairs Council members and students. 7–9 p.m. Wed., May 24.

Thunder Boats “Hydro Fever” celebrates the third anniversary of the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum in its present building. View such famous vintage unlimited hydroplanes as the Miss Bardahl and Miss Burien. Also: a live auction of hydro memorabilia and model hydro races. Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum, 5917 S. 196th St., Kent, 206-764-9453, www.thunderboats.org. Free. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Sat., May 27.

Memorial Day Concert Attend the Boeing Employees Concert Band’s program of patriotic favorites in honor of America’s military personnel (admission is free for veterans and current U.S. military personnel on May 29). Museum of Flight, 9404 E. Marginal Way S. 206-764-5700, www.museumofflight.org. Free with admission. Noon Mon., May 29.

All Aboard for Niger Global Citizen Journey, a Seattle-based nonprofit, sent a group of Puget Sound residents and Nigerians to live in a small village and complete the region’s first library. Hear the story of the Niger Delta Friendship Library, learn what the group found in the volatile region, and consider participation in the next journey—to Ghana. Safeco Jackson Center, 306 23rd Ave. S., 206-789-8697, www.globalcitizenjourney.org. Free. 7–8:30 p.m. Wed., May 31.