Can't Miss It: Weekend Edition, April 3-5

"Perched" by LiquidNight.

RAT FANCIERS: We thought this day would never come. On Saturday, the RatsPacNW Rat Fanciers' Club (there is such a thing) is hosting an honest-to-god Rat Show, involving lots of rats, contests, and plenty of reps from local ratteries to talk to you about rat adoption. If you're willing to trek to Mercer Island, we're sure the people-watching at this event will provide endless fascination, let alone observing the many "well-bred and personable ratties" (says the press release).

11 a.m - 6 p.m., Saturday // VFW Hall, 1836 72nd Ave SE, Mercer Island // $5

SURVIVAL AGAINST ALL ODDS: If there were ever a woman's chances of survival we could have put money against, it was Judith Sleavin's. Sleavin, the sole survivor of a tragic sailing accident in 1995 that killed her husband and two children, and the story of the accident are the deserving subjects of Ten Degrees Of Reckoning" by Hester Rumberg, who will read from the book at Third Place Books tomorrow night. Sounds depressing, actually, but if you're into those real-life "against all odds" kinds of nonfiction books, this reading will be your cup of tea.

6:30 p.m., Saturday // Third Place Books // Free

EDUCATING THE MASSES: If you're excited about the 2009 PNB production of Swan Lake, whether or not you have plans to actually attend, you'll want to go to Elliott Bay Book Company on Sunday to learn more about the ballet and hear from principals about their roles. After the Conversation With PNB, we recommend you buy several hundreds of dollars worth of used and new books from the book mecca--you know you want to.

2 p.m., Sunday // Elliott Bay Book Company // Free