Mainstream media outlets have written about the history of teriyaki in Seattle, one writer for the New York Times going so far as to call it Seattle’s signature food. But there’s another version of the story as well—and behind it, other stories about Japanese and Japanese American food in Seattle. We found these stories at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Washington (JCCCW). more ›

Tonight: karaoke + cake, deeply emotional bad-boys, and eating for a good cause. more ›

What's the plan? Karaoke for a cause, The Airborne Toxic Event and Austen at the Center are on our calendar today. more ›

Karaoke is everywhere--you can go out any night of the week and do karaoke in a creperie, a gas station or soundproof pod. However, if you want to experience Seattle karaoke in its purest form, go to the place of origin—dive bars. In dives, a unique, inhibition, destroying suspension of reality occurs. In turn, karaoke flourishes. Only in a real dive will you hear a lady with a walker’s X-rated rendition of the Ghostbusters theme. You insist you can’t sing and then wind up shrieking most of a Queen album. When you regain consciousness at four in the morning naked except for a moth-eaten mink stole, you remember but it doesn’t matter. This is the magic of dives. Ballard sports s one of the highest concentrations of these sort of dives in the city. For you, we did lots of research, it was brutal, but we survived and think you will too. more ›

KAROKE MEETS MOVIES: Doesn't it seem like people are either not at all interested in karaoke, or really, really into it? Rendezvous has decided to take that, and add the fanaticism of show tunes. "You’re the star of your favorite movie musical. Pick any scene to sing along to, while the film and lyrics are projected onto the screen." Finally, an audience for your Sound of Music rendition! more ›

RAINING BLOOD: it's time to rock!!! Slayer, Megadeth, and Testament come to town to rock your ass off. Literally. Rock it right off. more ›

Donte is taking advantage of cheap post-holiday travel by heading down to SFist territory to see Lindstrom's only west coast date on this mini-tour, since Where You Go I Go Too was one of last year's best releases. more ›

BLACK CURRANTS AND BELL PEPPER: Cabernet Sauvignon, anyone? Wine tasting alert! For your fiver, you can taste a selection of Cabernet wines--and if you buy a bottle or two to take home, they'll return your tasting fee. We recommend you put on your nice jeans (the clean ones with no holes) and head to Belltown for a swanky but satisfying evening of light, educational indulgence. more ›

Kim is relieved the debate is actually going to happen. She'll be watching with friends tonight before working all weekend. Saturday, she'll take a break for a quiet night out, and then she'll close the weekend off getting funky in the balcony of Jazz Alley with Maceo.
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AUSSIES IN THE HOUSE: The Waifs are so much fun live. There's just something about families that sing together—you can't get that kind of synchronicity from strangers. The Australian sisters and their male guitarist compatriot are one of the most delightful folk-pop bands around, and their live energy is undeniably infectious. Catch them tonight at that swanky joint, the Triple Door. more ›

BEST LOCAL SHOW EVER: Okay, maybe that's too strong a statement. There are people who would argue otherwise, but Seattlest is pretty thrilled with all the bands on the bill tonight at the Tractor. It's a big ol' acousti-pop night in Ballard with Grand Hallway, Kate Tucker, Odessa Chen, and Husbands Love Your Wives. Yeah, we know. Hot action. Maybe it's not as killer as a Pearl Jam-Dave Matthews-Death Cab-Heart show would be, but it's definitely the best in local music tonight. more ›

At the point that we realized all 24 dancers from the Mark Morris Dance Group were on stage simultaneously, we were struck by two thoughts. First: holy shit 24 dancers on stage at once in a delirious, joyous romp; and second: thank god dance companies can still exist that can put 24 dancers all on stage at once. Morris' company was celebrating the 20th anniversary of his early-career classic L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato at the Paramount Theater this past weekend. Set to a lesser-known pastoral work by Handel, the already overwhelming treat of seeing this work in person was escalated by full accompaniment from the Seattle Symphony and Chorale members directed by maestro Gerard Schwarz. more ›

Because we might have taken a bullet to the chest. more ›

Okay, granted it was a song we hate, but we're glad we held out some hope for Kristy Lee Cook so long. She finally picked the perfect song for her. As Simon noted, "God Bless the USA" was a very interesting song choice. It will nail her the veteran vote, the redneck vote, the rural vote. We feel confident that, if Hillary could sing like that on that song, she would nail the nomination. But, we all know Hillary can't sing. more ›

Well, America, it's starting to look like Kristy Lee is the new Sanjaya, albeit with about 100 times more actual talent. She keeps winding up in the bottom two or three, and then getting spared. We're not sure how much longer that can possibly go on, but we're happy to keep filling you in on the drama. more ›

For the second week in a row on American Idol, a handful of young-and-pretties hacked away at some of the best rock songs ever written--songs they, apparently in most cases, had never even heard before. more ›

As it should be, it's quiet this week in Seattle, but that doesn't mean there's nothing to do -- especially the closer we get to New Year's Eve. So without further ado, Seattlest's belated gift to you -- some shows: more ›

The holiday spirit was in full-swing Friday night at The Crocodile, as Three Imaginary Girls hosted a jolly evening of karaoke, preceeded by a special performance from the U.K.'s Jim Noir and solo sets from members of Tiny Vipers and the Fruit Bats. more ›

Last night a record 450 teams packed into the Old Pequliar for Seattlest Trivia. Sadly we had to disqualify 432 of the squads when they would not participate in the mandatory drug testing. The remaining 18 team answered questions on tragic romances, the World Series, John C. Reilly movies, and Project Runway. more ›

A reader asks:

I gots a question for you, Mr. Seattlest. People at work are looking for a good Karaoke venue. You heard tell of any? Friends from work want to do it Weds. night. Looking for more "hip" than unhip; more top 40/seventies/big band than modern country, etc. Everyone knows there are lots in the Int'l District, but we're not looking for a William Hung outing, to laugh at furriners. We want to have fun our own selves. more ›

In the good ol' days, fascists satisfied themselves with simple, totalitarian pleasures like dictatorships, censorship, torture, and genocide. Recently their insatiable appetite for control-freakism has spread to new markets, such as office supply management, message board administration, and behind-the-back blog editing. But now it appears they have discovered even more new terrain to invade and impose their absolute dominion: Karaoke moderation! The fascist in charge of managing the karaoke room at the Sunset Bowl last Saturday (see photo above) led another assault against Freedom with some furious, memorable quotes: more ›

There's a whole bunch of good shows coming up these next few days, so if you didn't get Arcade Fire or Death Cab tickets (both long sold out) and if you're also skipping Wolf Parade's solo set at the Croc (for which you would be both unbelievably short-sighted and incredibly lame), you can spend your evenings at few other events going on around town--- more ›