CID Block Party
Six Asian Pacific Islander musicians headline this inaugural block party in Seattle’s Chinatown International District: Awkwafina, Shawn Wasabi, kero uno, Tele Fresco, Tomo Nakayama and Sendai ERA. Emceed by the one and only Hollis Wong-Wear. You can dance and then, of course, eat because you know the food is going to be good.
If you go: CID Block Party, 900 King Street, 3 to 9 p.m. Aug. 28 (Free)—F.D.
La Cocina
Throughout August, local Latina/o/x artists have transformed a Pioneer Square storefront into a gallery/theatrical full of heart-and-soul pop-up. I still remember how live fandango jarocho music filled up the space on opening night. Visual art and poetry readings have been presented. This final weekend features live tango as well as a closing night party (Saturday) with a reading of new theatrical work by Latino Theater Projects with live bandoneon music. (Be sure to add your favorite kitchen memory to Jim Cantu’s Recuerdos de Mi Cocina installation towards the back of the gallery). Here’s hoping La Cocina returns again soon.
If you go: La Cocina, 702 First Avenue, Aug. 26 and 27 (Free)—F.D.
Hola Mexico Film Festival
Ten films showcasing the best of Mexican film, including movies about a road trip with a pig (Mr. Pig), an ill-fated vacation to the Caribbean (Paraiso Perdido) and a transgender opera singer hoping to win a beauty pageant in Thailand (Made in Bangkok).
If you go: Hola Mexico Film Festival, Ark Lodge Cinemas, Aug. 26 through Sept. 1 ($8)—F.D.
Alki Point Lighthouse Tours
In 1851, members of the Denny Party — the first white settlers to the area — laid claim to Alki Beach, calling it New York Alki (or New York of the Future). While they soon moved over to what is now Pioneer Square, Alki Beach remained a unique, beautiful spot as well as an important junction for marking the southern entrance to Elliott Bay. Here in this spot sits the still-functioning Alki Point Lighthouse, of which the U.S. Coast Guard has been giving tours all summer. You have only two more weekends to tour the lighthouse, which has remained largely unchanged since its construction in 1913. For a real win of the day, take the Water Taxi out to West Seattle and grab lunch, or have happy hour at Marination Ma Kai.
If you go: Alki Point Lighthouse Tours, Alki Beach, 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, through Labor Day (Free)—N.C.
Lo and Behold, Reveries of the Connected World
It’s here! The latest Werner Herzog documentary! Herzog’s taken us to the Alaskan camp of Timothy Treadwell in Grizzly Man, underwater in Antarctica and Texas death row in Into the Abyss (my personal favorite Herzog doc). Now he dives into the strangest land of all: the internet. In each of these places, Herzog manages to explore fragile, indelible humanity. Like all of his work, I’m sure Lo and Behold, Reveries of the Connected World will be haunting, provocative and deeply reflective, all driven by Herzog’s unparalleled storytelling and narrated by his unmistakable voice. It comforts me just to know his voice is still in the world.
If you go: Lo and Behold, SIFF Cinema Uptown, through Sept. 1 ($12)—N.C.
