Can't Miss It: Thursday
THE BIG SHOW: Tonight is the official opening gala of the 2009 Seattle International Film Festival. The film showing is In the Loop, a wacky British satire of contemporary politics, with a talented ensemble cast including James Gandolfini, who (except for Gandolfini) are expected to be in attendance at the gala tonight. For non-members, you can get in for $50, which gets you into the movie (at the Paramount) as well as a couple drink tickets and some hors d'oeuvres. For $100, you can access to the open bar. And for $200, you get the first-born child of one of Swaziland's most well-regarded actors.
7 p.m. // 1000 Pine St. // tix $50-$200
MONARCHIST: Remember Lady Sov? The dimunitive British rapper with an over-sized personality? No, most people don't. The Amy Winehouse roadshow allowed for only so many female British artists to occupy the mainstream lest heads explode. That said, Lady Sov ain't half the fuck-up Winehouse is, and she's back in Seattle today for an in-store at Easy Street in Lower Queen Anne (7:30 p.m., 20 Mercer St.) before hitting the Crocodile tonight.
8 p.m. // The Crocodile, 2200 Second Ave. // $16, 21+
HIPPIE LIT: Iconoclastic novelist Tom Robbins, whose books have explored the sad emotional states of cowgirls and the random goings-on inside a pack of cigarettes, returns to Elliott Bay Book Co. tonight to read from his new book, B Is For Beer, a "children's book for adults" about the downsides of global beer consumption as seen through the eyes of a Kindergartner named Gracie, who must cope with her sudsed-up dad, disinterested mom, and some sort of otherworldly monster. Robbins appears with illustrator Les LePere. Now, this is a "free ticket" event, and all the tickets have been given out, but arrive a little early to try to claim standing room only spots, and as always, no doubt there will be some no-shows.
7:30 p.m. // 100 S. Main St. // free, if you can get in
