Patti Smith is one of those figures in art who we still have to explain to some people, and we can never figure out why. A founding figure in the New York Punk scene in the 1970's, an acclaimed poet and author, and a member of the rock and roll hall of fame, lots of people still tend to deliver blank stares until we bring up her only radio hit, Because the Night. It's...occasionally frustrating for fans. more ›

THE GODMOTHER OF PUNK: Patti Smith graces Seattle with a rare visit, although in a literary capacity and is not expected to sing. Presented by Seattle Arts & Lectures, she is here to discuss her new memoir Just Kids. Swoon. more ›

· Today's films of note include The Children of Huang Shi (which, okay, you can skip because it's opening in Seattle soon anyway), the locally produced and likely tedious My Effortless Brilliance, and Dust, a documentary about dust. Because this is a German film, a simple thing like dust becomes a metaphor for life and death. But it all wraps up in 90 minutes, and when are you likely--be honest--to go see a film about dust again? That's right, never. Also, everyone loves Mermaid, the slightly too-long fable about life in the New Russia. more ›

Admittedly, this weekend is pretty dead. Here's what we got: more ›

Carla DeSantis and her Rockrgrl Conference roll up into Seattle this weekend for three days of ass kicking music and, uh, a bunch of panels and a trade show. Ok, when we think rock n' roll we don't immediately associate it with a conference, but everyone's not us. We're generally on the recieving end of the rock. Someone's gotta take one for the team and actually make the stuff, and the women who do that well (Patti Smith!) will be at this conference. We couldn't be happier that Rockrgrl makes its home here. more ›