Can't Miss It: Thursday
ROMAN'S SHORTS: Last week we told you about the beginning of the Seattle Polish Film Festival. The two-week festival is still rolling along at SIFF Cinema, and tonight may be one of its most popular nights with a screening of Roman Polanski: Shorts and mountain climbing film The Silence. The Polanski collection includes Murder and Teeth Smile (1957), Break Up the Dance (1957), Mammals (1962), and Two Men and the Wardrobe (1958). The 66-minute collection of Polanski's film school shorts will also feature live music by experimental chamber music duo Sza/Za. The second film, The Silence, tells the story of a group of high school mountain climbers caught in a deadly avalanche and their parents who are faced with the tragedy. The festival comes to an end on Sunday with a full day of six films. Festival passes are still a deal at $50.
7:30 p.m. // SIFF Cinema // $10
FELOPHILES: The lieutenant of Inishmore has a bit of a temper. Thrown out of IRA for being "too mad," he has no issue tying up minimal offenders and prying off their fingernails. But as violent as he may be, he's a sucker for his far away cat, which turns up one morning dead. And there will be hell to pay, by everyone, sooner or later. ACT Theatre says the dark comedy contains strong language, adult themes, fog, gunshots, violence, torture, mayhem, and a lot of laughs. Written by Irish playwright Martin McDonagh and directed by Kurt Beattie, The Lieutenant of Inishmore is dark, delightful, and utterly ridiculous.
7:30 p.m. // ACT Theatre // $10-$55
IN HONOR: Today is Veterans Day and there are plenty of things to do around the city to honor those who have served our country in the military. Banks, libraries, post offices, and various other government offices may be closed, but The Seattle Veterans Museum on 2nd and Union will be open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. today with free admission for veterans. The museum is home to displays of uniforms, gear, and weapons of over 225 years of US military history. The Museum of Flight's Veterans Day Ceremony starts at 1 p.m. and features words from Vietnam USAF Ace Chuck DeBellevue and a performance by The Boeing Employees Concert Band. Admission to the museum is free for veterans. There's even something for a veteran's dirty car. Today Brown Bear Car Washes are giving free washes to former and current service members.
All day // Everywhere // Free
PARK IT: Today is also the third and final fee-free day of the year at national parks around the country. Those parks that normally charge an entrance fee are free in honor of Veterans Day. The closest national parks to Seattle are Olympic National Park and Mt. Rainier National Park, both of which usually charge $15 per car. The gates are open to Washington's boundless beauty and purple mountain majesties.
