In our rush to tell you about the recognition that the local non-profit youth organization 826 Seattle received at the 2011 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards -- which were given out by First Lady Michelle Obama herself -- we neglected to inform you of our region's other recipent of the award: The Young Shakespeare Workshop. more ›

The First Lady of the United States isn't just on a quest against childhood obesity--she's also a big fan of educating kids and closing the achievement gap. Today, she gave props to a local organization that does just that. 826 Seattle, our city's only non-profit dedicated to tutoring and improving the writing skills of young people, has received the 2011 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award. Hooray! more ›

Today's activities include: remembering loved ones, becoming a better writer, ballet, and vegan cake. more ›

What's going on today? So many things. For instance, a writer's workshop focused on creating well-rounded characters, a crafty evening of sewing and growing, and a discussion on really taking advantage of what the digital age has to offer, and cake - vegan cake and karaoke. more ›

Comedy for charity, poetry for the kids, and one ring to rule them all are on tap for your Tuesday night. more ›

This week we’ve got our hands full with everything from young Spanish language novelists skyrocketing to fame, to graphic novels about hookers, to a culture of violence. I don’t know how you’re feeling, but I’m sort of revved up for lit events this week. more ›

What are you eating this week? Let us help you decide. more ›

Ivar's, Pike Place, Pluto, and more--all for your April 1 pleasure/agony. more ›

Wallingford’s own nonprofit writing and tutoring center, 826 Seattle, invite you to “Write like I Do.” This year-long series of adult workshops happen (about) once a month. Each session features a talented writer sharing from past experience to help attendees enhance their writing skills. Proceeds from WLID workshops will help 826 Seattle continue to provide complimentary aid to young writers (ages 6-18) in the community. more ›

Last week, literary non-profit 826 Seattle announced the release of its latest publication, "What to Read in the Rain." The book, available October 1, contains 300 pages of Northwest-centered stories, poems, essays and recipes from well-known Northwest authors and 826 Seattle youth participants. Among those authors who participated are Tom Robbins, who contributed the book's introduction; Seattle restaurateur Tom Douglas, who shares a pancake recipe; David Guterson, speaking for the trees and actress Lauren Weedman, adding a hilarious take on a doomed relationship. more ›

12 writers + 12 musicians = 12 conversations. Tonight, you’re invited to join select Bumbershoot writers and musicians as they assemble for an intimate discussion of the arts. more ›

Local non-profit 826 Seattle is celebrating its fifth birthday. What better way to commemorate the occasion than hosting its first annual Dance Your Cash Off dance marathon. Hundreds of supporters will shimmy, shake and electric slide into Nectar Lounge tonight at 7 p.m. Learn some new moves as the event kicks off with a group “Single Ladies” dance (black leotard optional) and salsa lesson. DJ Anjali with her Bollywood beats and DJ Peter Henry with his homegrown mashups will keep the music rocking for a full five hours. more ›

LISTEN AND LOVE: Noise for the Needy continues into its second evening with 16 bands playing four Ballard venues. As part of this year’s four-day festival, over 80 bands are helping raise money for a variety of charities, including Red Cross Family Relief for King and Kitsap Counties, Roots Youth Shelter, Urban Rest Stop, and others. The place to be tonight is Tractor Tavern for Portland folk/acoustic outfit Horse Feathers, our beloved Tiny Vipers, Friday Mile, and Goldfinch. None of these catch your fancy? Check out the list of other performances. more ›

HOW TO WRITE LIKE I DO: Tickets are officially on sale for 826 Seattle's 2010 "Write Like I Do" adult writing workshops. Though the classes will not begin until late January, all of the workshops will be held on Tuesdays throughout the year, and we have no doubt that tickets will fill up quickly, so get 'em while they have 'em! Featuring classes with local literary loves such as The Stranger's Brendan Kiley, foodie Molly Wizenberg, David Lasky, Karen Finneyfrock, and Sleater Kinney's Carrie Brownstein, you can probably understand why these small workshops will fill up quickly. The workshops cover all genres imaginable, and go for only $30 a pop or $210 for a season pass--a steal for some great literary fun! more ›

The sold-out pre-screening of ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ took place last week at Cinerama to benefit 826 Seattle - the local chapter of Dave Eggers’ national chain of non-profit writing and tutoring centers - and raised approximately $47,000 in the process. The money will go towards operating expenses for the center, which served approximately 2,000 youth last year with its variety of free programs, including after-school tutoring, writing workshops and field trips. And with the writing center operating in Greenwood’s finest Space Travel Supply Company, the money raised is equivalent to about ten months of rent. more ›

Saturday, May 9th, the Northwest Film Forum teams up with 826 Seattle to present a special screening of Away We Go, the latest film by Sam Mendes. The movie will be in theaters June 5th, but this sneak-peek will be at the Harvard Exit with Dave Eggers (who wrote the screenplay along with his author wife Vendela Vida) on-hand for a post-film Q&A. Away We Go is your basic coming-of-age road-trip thing, except this time around the people coming of age are a mid-30s couple (John Krasinksi and Maya Rudolph) expecting their first child. So their misadventure-laden journey is not just about finding themselves, it's also about finding the best place for their family. What is the meaning of home? And so on and so forth. more ›

Just in time for Inauguration Day, 826 Seattle is celebrating the publication of Thanks and Have Fun Running the Country: Kids' Letters To President Obama (available January 20th). In the book, 826 students from all seven writing centers "reach out to the 44th president, speaking to the issues closest to their hearts, relating their life stories, and asking for help. Topics include the economy, education, war, global warming, race relations in America, and immigration. The book also includes letters about snow cones, puppies, microwavable burritos, dinosaur projects, multiplication, and the ghost of Abraham Lincoln, reportedly haunting a White House bedroom." To celebrate the book's release, there's a party and reading at 826 Seattle next Saturday afternoon. more ›

Pity poor Pluto. In 2006, the International Astronomical Union reclassified the celestial body as a dwarf planet. Along with being totally emasculating, the IAU's declaration meant that Pluto was stripped of its rights as a full-fledged planet, including health insurance (medical, vision, and dental), a sweet parking space, and a Platinum American Express card. Well, now Pluto is fighting back, or at least it's found a group to take up the cause: more ›