Oh people, this weekend is chock full of events amazing and wondrous. Perhaps you'd like to take in a novel via a shadowy, subjective narrator; learn how to join the circus or secure a parade; fight somebody while wearing cardboard armor; treat yourself to Metal Chocolates; or join Rick Steves for something more natural. Whatever you're up for, we've got the details after the jump. more ›

The premise: speakers submit talks on any subject they could possibly imagine. They have to create 20 slides projected for a total of 15 seconds each, no exception. Quite literally when their five minutes are up, they're done. Ignite is a purely volunteer-run event originating in Seattle (but is spreading like wild-fire across the world) and sponsored mostly by O'Reilly (yes, the acclaimed tech book publisher) and Make: Technology on Your Time. It's held every three months or so at the King Cat Theater on 6th downtown. The attendees were numbering in the few hundreds for a while, but now beginning to grow exponentially. At Ignite 10 there were somewhere around 800 people gathering to revel in their geekiness and tonight you can be part of the action. more ›

Each week Seattlest highlights an individual whose philanthropic efforts are helping to make our fair city a better place. From environmental causes to the health and wellness of Seattleites and animals we recognize that every contribution helps. We’ll also feature information as to how you can get involved. This week, Seattlest looks at IGNITE. Today, we recognize Cathi Rodgveller, Founder and Director of IGNITE. The organization’s name stands for “Inspiring Girls Now in Technology Evolution.” Its mission is to empower girls to succeed in high-tech, science, and engineering careers. Rodgveller created IGNITE in 1999 after receiving a grant from the Seattle School District. Having served 28 years as a teacher and school counselor, she’s always had a passion for helping students reach their full potential. As Director, Rodgveller’s many duties include overseeing the Seattle chapters of IGNITE which serve as the international model. She’s also played a fundamental role in creating new chapters in eight states, Ghana and Nigeria. more ›

Seattlest went to Ignite way back in '06 and loved the shit out of it: "We learned so much about happenings in and around the Seattle tech world we feel like we leveled up like twenty times." more ›