Rainy Dawg Radio, the University of Washington student-run radio station, presents its third annual local music showcase tonight with Phil Elvrum of Mount Eerie, Portlanders Cars + Trains, Naomi Punk, and Secret Colors (aka Matt Lawson).

Before the seasons changed and our rain-induced pseudo-hibernation began, we were able to gather up many fond musical memories during festival season. During one such venture we were able to talk to Hey Marseilles and Fences as part of our Better Know a CHBP Band series. As luck has it the two bands will be playing the Vera Project this Saturday. (Tickets $10, all ages, 7:30 PM)

University of Washington’s cross country teams head down to Terre Haute, Indiana this weekend for the NCAA National Division I Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championship races, which take place on Monday morning. Should be interesting, it’s no big deal--the women are only returning as defending National Champions since they clinched the very first NCAA Championship in program history last year.

Tonight Girls Rock! Seattle will host a "50 Shows in 50 States" fundraiser at The High Dive, featuring performances by Goodness, The Redwood Plan, Eighteen Individual Eyes, and Alicia Dara. The fundraiser is part of a nationwide effort to raise money and awareness for Girls Rock! Seattle and the Girls Rock Camp Alliance (GRCA), an international coalition unifying girls’ rock camps and girls’ music projects around the world. The goal of the fundraiser is to hold 50 shows in 50 states on the same day to benefit the cause.

Meet Gene Tagaban, storyteller, musician, motivational speaker, life trainer, and the emcee for a wonderful event tonight presented by The Burke Museum called Tribute to the Spirit: Little Big Band. The event, which features representatives from seven different First Nations on one stage, is "an unprecedented gathering of Native American performers."

BALLARD JAZZ WALK: Over the past six years, the Ballard Jazz Festival has moved from a community event into a nationally recognized festival before deciding that being a neighborhood party with international cred is a rather sweet niche. You know, creamy big band with a hard bop nougat. The Walk starts at 7 p.m. and offers 18 bands spread over 12 venues. Schedule here [pdf]. Come walk around the candy store.

Whew! What a week for weird crimes. So far we've had self-styled ninjas wounding themselves, crossbow-wielding attackers, an underage drunk driver turning herself in and a miraculously harmless 8-story fall. (Okay, that last one isn't a "crime," but you get what we're saying. It's been a weird week for violence.) Now, to cap it off this Friday: a construction equipment rampage in Stanwood.

"UNTITLED" by PHOTOBYNANI, from our Flickr pool

Aside from on-field accomplishments, one of the shining successes of the Sounders FC organization was its connection to fans and the community at large. Today, as part of festivities leading up to Sunday's MLS Cup at Qwest Field, a few Sounders are chipping in to build an entire elementary school playground. In one day.

Far be it from us to say that the Twilight franchise of books and movies is bad--they're super-entertaining and enjoyable. We just think Twilight is wrong about two things: Forks, Washington, and vampires.

If Seattle is going to make national news, it might as well be for ninjas.

A hungry horde of local bloggers descended upon Central Cinema, bearing offerings of canned food and five dollar bills and baying for mulled wine, caramel apples, and camaraderie. On hand were bloggers and readers from CHS, CDNews, Seattle Metblogs, the SunBreak, the PI...the list goes on. Thanks to Neighborlogs for sponsoring it and to Central Cinema for hosting. That pizza was la bamba.

Hugo House will be hosting Visiting Hours this Friday at 7:30 p.m., featuring Northwest favorites such as Benjamin Parzybok, Elizabeth Austen, Matt Smith, and Molly Rose. Tickets range from $15-25.