Can't Miss It: Thursday
SIFF FITS: It’s officially here! Three and a half weeks of movie festival enjoyment lay spread out before us and the only bad part we can think of is that we have to take it all one day at a time. Seattle International Film Festival, entering its 36th year, kicks off this evening with the Opening Night Gala at Benaroya Hall. The feature presentation is the film Extra Man, a comedy featuring Kevin Kline (Wild, Wild West, In & Out), Paul Dano (Little Miss Sunshine, There Will Be Blood), John C. Reilly (Days of Thunder), and Katie Holmes (Teaching Mrs. Tingle). After the screening, guests are invited to dance, drink, eat and altogether enjoy Seattle’s premiere red carpet event. After that? 24 more glorious days of movies.
5:30 p.m. // Benaroya Hall // $45-$100
TRACTOR RIDE: Check out Seattle-centered Sub-Pop band, Grand Archives, bringing its flavor of American style indie rock to Ballard. Headed by former Band of Horses member Mat Brooke, the group sounds similar to their Northwest fellows but with a demeanor all its own. Some bands sound best at night, some when it rains, but Grand Archives is like that first moment after the rain, when the sun finally pushes through and flashes over wet surroundings. See Me River also celebrates the release of its new album, and S joins.
9:00 p.m. // Tractor Tavern // $10
I'M NOT BAD, I'M JUST DRAWN THAT WAY: Today is Everybody Draw Mohammed Day, or maybe it isn’t. Last month we told you about the brief phenomenon, “Everybody Draw Mohammed Day”, which was to take place May 20th. Comedy Central censored the image of Mohammed in an episode of South Park because likenesses of Mohammed are considered supremely offensive to many Muslims. Cartoonist Molly Norris thought it a violation of freedom of speech and called for people to draw cartoons of Mohammed. Facebook popularized the idea, quick criticism ensued, things got serious, and Norris distanced herself from the idea by stating, “I'm against my own concept becoming a reality.” So the originator sent the cartoon idea into “the dip,” so to speak, and the Facebook group/event coordinators (15,037 confirmed guests) showed support by calling the whole thing off. It was curious while it lasted.
