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Quilt Show Montana’s Kate Carroll is the featured quilter at this year’s expo. Throughout Leavenworth (Visitor’s Center: 894 Highway 2), 509-548-5311. Free. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wed., Sept. 8-Sun., Sept. 12.

Empowerment: What’s It About? Not a tiresome self-help course but a primer on Buddhist theory, taught by UW–schooled theology scholar Stephanie Prince. Sakya Monastery, 108 N.W. 83rd St., 206-789-2573. $12 ($6 for students/seniors). 7:30 p.m. Wed., Sept. 8.

Disaster Preparedness Symposium Learn how to set up an emergency plan for your family at this all-day workshop, sponsored by the Evergreen Safety Council. Qwest Field, 800 Occidental Ave. S., 800-521-0778. $165. 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Thurs., Sept. 9.

Birdwatching Expedition Following a Native American trail from Phantom Lake to Kirkland, this Audubon Society–sponsored trek includes wetland, meadow, forest, and field habitats. Trip begins at Wilburton Park & Ride, 720 114th Ave. S.E. (Bellevue), 425-881-5422. $2. 9 a.m. Thurs., Sept. 9.

Rauda Morcos The “Palestinian lesbian activist” discusses current conditions for LGBT Israelis and Palestinians in a talk co-sponsored by several local political and gay-rights organizations. Friends Center, 814 N.E. 40th St. Contact trolleys@ix.netcom.com for more information. $5-$20 (sliding scale; no one turned away). 6:30 p.m. Thurs., Sept. 9.

Multiple Sclerosis Talk MS sufferer David Lander (“Squiggy” from Laverne and Shirley) and Virginia Mason MS specialist Dr. Mariko Kita discuss the ailment that plagues 400,000 Americans, as well as The West Wing‘s President Bartlet. Seattle Marriott, 2100 Alaskan Way, 866-955-9999. Free. 7-8:30 p.m. Thurs., Sept. 9.

Documentary Production Workshop Emmy-winning producer Laszlo Pal and University of British Columbia film prof Raymond Hall team up to teach this three-day mini-course on making nonfiction film. Westcott Bay Institute, Roche Harbor (San Juan Island), 360-370-5050. $350. 9 a.m.-early evening. Fri., Sept. 10-Sun., Sept. 12.

Puyallup Fair You don’t really have to “do the Puyallup,” as the ads demand—all you need to enjoy the enormous annual fair is a healthy appreciation of livestock, hypnotists, slightly over-the-hill comedians (e.g., Bill Cosby), and honest-to-goodness rodeo riding. Puyallup Fairgrounds, 110 Ninth Ave. S.W., 253-845-1771. $10 ($7 for seniors/youth). 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun.-Thurs. 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Fri.-Sat. Fri., Sept. 10-Sun., Sept. 26.

Lullabies and Love Songs from the “Axis of Evil” A clever event organized by MoveOn, this arts spectacular showcases the music and dance of Sudan, Iraq, Cuba, and North Korea, the nations declared most dangerous by the Bush administration after 9/11. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 206-652-4255. $25 ($20 in advance). 7:30-10 p.m. Fri., Sept. 10.

September Project Events Co-sponsored by Seattle Public Library, the September Project is a citywide effort to remember 9/11 and consider its consequences. Five SPL branches, including the Central Library, are hosting discussions and film screenings today to commemorate the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon; the complete event schedule is available at www.spl.org. Central Library and other SPL branches, 206-386-4103. All events are free. Times vary. Sat., Sept. 11.

SAF Walking Tour “Town and Gown in University Park” is the subject of this stroll, which will examine, from an architectural standpoint, the micro-neighborhood where Frat Row abuts civilian life. Sponsored by the Seattle Architectural Foundation. Call for meeting place: 206-667-9184. $20. 9 a.m. Sat., Sept. 11.

Elder Law Clinic and Workshop Learn how current state laws affect senior citizens at a free informational event co-sponsored by the King County Bar Association. Central Area Senior Center, 500 30th Ave. S., 206-726-4926. Free. 9:30 a.m.-noon. Sat., Sept. 11.

Aki Matsuri A crash course in Japanese culture, this two-day festival includes a performance on the tsugaru shamisen (Japan’s answer to the lute), some serious woodcarving, and several cooking classes, not to mention a Japanese-style flea market and tons of Hello Kitty memorabilia. Bellevue Community College, 3000 Landerholm Circle S.E., 425-861-7865. Free (workshop costs vary). 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat., Sept. 11. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun., Sept. 12.

SAF Walking Tour The second Seattle Architectural Foundation tour of the day focuses on “urban open spaces,” those undeveloped patches of the city that define it as much as any manmade structure. Tour begins at Rainier Square Atrium, 1333 Fifth Ave. (Suite 300), 206-667-9184. $12 ($10 in advance). 10 a.m. Sat., Sept. 11.

Volunteer Training Prepare to donate your time to the LGBT Community Resource and Referral Network at this daylong training session. LGBT Community Center, 1115 E. Pike St., 206-709-1114. Free. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat., Sept. 11.

Taiko Workshops Learn traditional Japanese drumming during a weekend of classes for beginners. Bellevue Community College (3000 Landerholm Circle S.E.), R Building: Room 207, 425-861-7865. $15/individual or parent-child team. Noon-1:30 p.m. and 2-4 p.m. Sat., Sept. 11. 1-3 p.m. Sun., Sept. 12.

Voter Registration The League of Women Voters will hook you up and provide you with nonpartisan election info. Half Price Books, 115 Belmont Ave E., 206-329-4848. Free. Noon-6 p.m. Sat., Sept. 11-Sun., Sept. 12.

Koi Show Japanese ornamental carp are judged by world-famous experts (and roundly admired by everyone else) at the yearly competition. Country Village Shopping Center, 23718 Bothell-Everett Hwy. (Bothell), www.washingtonkoi.org. Free. 2-5 p.m. Sat., Sept. 11. 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Sun., Sept. 12.

Patriot(ic) Games Seattle activist and author Anne Elizabeth Moore will emcee this ambitious discussion forum, an inquiry into the way patriotism, mainstream media coverage, the Olympics, and the war on terrorism relate to contemporary notions of democracy. Seattle Public Library (University branch), 5009 Roosevelt Way N.E., 206-383-7109. Free. 4-5:45 p.m. Sat., Sept. 11.

Absentee Balloting Music Festival No Vote Left Behind put together this omnibus show by local musicians (including rapper Sir Mix-A-Lot and flamenco ensemble Children of the Revolution) with the goal of registering Seattleites as absentee voters, a process said to increase total voter turnout. Neumo’s, 925 E. Pike St., 206-709-9467. $9.11. 6 p.m. Sat., Sept. 11.

Voter Registration Gently titled “Fuck Bush,” this evening registration drive is a tad more biased than its League of Women Voters counterpart (see above). That’s because lefty T-shirt designer Periel Aschenbrand, whose liberal-messaged duds have been worn by actor Susan Sarandon and superfeminist Gloria Steinem, is the guest of honor. Square room, 1316 E. Pike St., 206-267-7120. Free. 6-10 p.m. Sat., Sept. 11.

Hejira The world-music collective performs, and frontman Don Baragiano talks about his time as an audio engineer for the U.S. government in Saudi Arabia. Sakya Monastery, 108 N.W. 83rd St., 206-789-2573. $10 ($5 students/seniors). 7:30 p.m. Sat., Sept. 11.

Chenrezi Meditation Class Another event at Sakya Monastery, this workshop for beginners stresses the chenrezi method but includes others as well, and is open to all. Sakya Monastery, 108 N.W. 83rd St., 206-789-2573. Free. 9 a.m. Sun., Sept. 12.

Seattle Memory Walk The annual Alzheimer’s Association fund-raiser takes place at Sand Point Magnuson Park this year. 7400 Sand Point Way, 206-363-5500 ext. 222. Free (visit www.alzwa.org to register pledges). 10 a.m. Sun., Sept. 12.

Houseboat Tour Curious about houseboats? Acquire some firsthand knowledge at Lake Union’s annual Floating Homes Tour, which includes 11 residences. Tour begins at the Floating Homes Association, 2329 Fairview Ave. E., 206-323-3489. $25. Noon-5 p.m. Sun., Sept. 12.

Candidate Forum U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Seattle, Imam Mohamed Juhan, and Democratic gubernatorial hopeful and King County Executive Ron Sims will be attending this Q&A organized by members of the Seattle Muslim community. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 206-652-4255. Free. 3 p.m. Sun., Sept. 12.

Improv Comedy Workshop “Why Stuff Works” is the title of this class taught by Gary Austin, director of the Groundlings troupe (alumni include Will Ferrell and Friends star Lisa Kudrow). NW Actors Studio, 1100 E. Pike St., 206-781-4279. $25. 7-10 p.m. Mon., Sept. 13.

Film Forum The director of American Jobs, a detailed look at the consequences of NAFTA and wider globalization efforts, presents the Seattle premiere of his work. A discussion will follow the screening. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 206-652-4255. $5. 7 p.m. Mon., Sept. 13.

Museum of Flight Lecture Falconer Ken Franklin works with Frightful, a bird whose maximum speed is greater than any animal velocity previously recorded; he’ll discuss the aerodynamics of his work at this evening talk. 9404 E. Marginal Way S., 206-764-5720. Free. 6 p.m. Tues., Sept. 14.