Weekend Arts Suggestions: Staying Inside Edition
So the weather is going to suck this weekend. To that, we say "Hallelujah!" Now there's no chance of summer-time inside-kid guilt from just wanting to stay inside darkened theaters watching movies. Or plays. Or looking at cool art. Because it's raining and cold and no one can say we "wasted this nice day staying indoors." Since Thursday marks the unofficial beginning of the weekend, a few suggestions to help fill your social calendar, avoid the drizzle and enrich your brains.
SIFF- Sunday is Closing Night, so it's film cramming time. Gotta use up those 20-packs, get the most out of your Platinum Passes or maybe see your first flick of the festival. Luckily there are tons of films still on the platters for your viewing pleasure, so check out the schedules, avoid the crappy weather and hole up at one of the venues in town. There's a Saturday night double feature in my future this weekend, to be sure.
Pacific Northwest Ballet- Two ballet choices in one weekend? Huzzah! There's Giselle, the world premiere staging of the classical ballet which we've been chattering about, all weekend long. Also Season Encore, a one-time only performance of season highlights and showcases of exiting company dancers. Totaling eleven pieces, it's a chance to see a stunning variety of ballet in one evening. Saturday only, 6:30pm.
On the Boards- It's NW New Works Festival 2011! Two stages, two weekends, 16 companies all from the Pacific Northwest and all at the top of their games in Dance, Theater, Music and all variations of those disciplines. OtB was just named a recipient of the 2011 Mayor's Arts Awards, and stellar programming like this underlies they very much deserved it. And at $30 for all showcases down to $14 for one, it's a steal.
Frye Art Museum- Only two weekends left to see the Degenerate Art Ensemble exhibit, notable for it's creepy awesomeness, gothic beauty and references to the darkest edges of classic fairy tales. All I'm saying is that there is a slug princess costume there that will blow the mind of anyone who has ever tried to knit a scarf. How's that for intriguing? As always, entrance to the Frye is always free (though it's a nice gesture to make it rain on the donation box by the door on the way out).
STIFF- And of course, while a hefty portion of the attention and chatter is directed to SIFF, let's not forget the film festival that could, Seattle's True Independent Film Festival. Despite my distaste for the derivative and finger-wagging spirit of their name, I'm way into the commitment to showcase burgeoning filmmakers, many of whom are from the area. There's a Young Filmmaker Block, a package called Indepenetration which contains a short called Grandpa's Wet Dream, the Animation Block and plenty of others still left on their schedule.
So there's a taste of the breadth of cool things to do this weekend. Grab an umbrella, catch a bus and hole up inside with some culture. That's our plan.
