Travis Arket, one of the three founding members of Seattle-based Team Robot House to take part in a Himalayan rickshaw race to raise money for Mercy Corps earlier this summer, hardly knows how to begin to describe their adventure. "It was so surreal, so condensed. Think Indiana Jones meets Commando meets Ghandi meets Hotel Rwanda, mashed up into a ball and forced down your throat. Luckily we have most of it on video," he says. "Absolute insanity. Overwhelming," his teammate Matt Crabtree agrees. The team raised thousands of dollars for charity, and the donations are still rolling in. more ›

TODAY IS WORLD REFUGEE DAY! The International Rescue Committee is hosting a benefit night of poetry, music, dance and crafts from our local refugee community at the Seattle Center, and John Hilde's Made In China (a documentary about his father's childhood in pre-WWII China) is screening at the NWFF with proceeds going to Mercy Corps' work in the devastated Sichuan province of China. Be a good neighbor and enjoy these artsy celebrations of diversity and tradition! more ›

Tuesday, December 5 more ›

A healthy slice of the Seattle house music scene got together in the wake of Hurricane Katrina to determine the most effective course of action, and Friday will see the fruit of those efforts with a benefit show at Chop Suey. Proceeds from the night will be donated to the New Orleans Musicians Clinic and Mercy Corps. Even without the worthy cause, the lineup of local openers and headliner Hipp-E (of Hipp-E & Halo fame) all but assures that heads will be nodding and butts will be shaking. Hipp-E hasn't been to Seattle in over 5 years, making this a very anticipated return. more ›

Seems like everybody and their mama has been raising money for the Red Cross or other agencies helping in hurricane relief efforts. Even Seattlest's local karaoke dive bar was taking cash for the cause last Sunday night. What follows is by no means a comprehensive list, but just a smattering of upcoming events by local businesses where your money can make a difference: more ›