Must List: Burke Museum Grand Reopening, Seattle Queer Film Festival, ‘Stabbin’ Cabin’
Your weekly guide to Seattle's hottest events
By Gavin Borchert & Kendall Upton October 10, 2019
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MUST DISCOVER
Burke Museum Grand Reopening
(10/12-10/14) The Burke Museum’s $106 million rebuild, designed by Tom Kundig of Olson Kundig, opens up previously behind-the-scenes labs and research spaces via glass walls, making the museum more accessible and integrated. Visitors can now take a peek at the collections at the same time they’re perusing the natural history and culture exhibits. Get your first look during its reopening weekend. Times and prices vary. University District; burkemuseum.org
MUST READ
Seattle Antiquarian Book Fair
(10/12-10/13) Spend a day or two of literary leisure browsing the thousands of collectible books, maps, manuscripts and more on display a this fair. More than 100 exhibitors will showcase their paper goods, which include rare finds, original prints and autographed editions. Talk with experts from around the world about all of your literary and print history interests. Times vary. $5. Seattle Center; seattlebookfair.com
MUST SIP
Apple and Cider Festival
(10/11-10/13) For those looking to get out of the city, spend a weekend celebrating a quintessential autumn fruit—the apple—in charming Port Townsend. The Apple and Cider Festival invites you to join for one, two or all three days of celebrations. It begins with a Harvest Dinner Kickoff on Friday evening; a Cider Saloon, farmers market and fire party, featuring food trucks, a fire show and dance party on Saturday and a Cider Breakfast and Apple Day Fair on Sunday. Times and prices vary. Port Townsend; thunderbullproductions.com
MUST LAUGH
Jet City Improv: Stabbin’ Cabin
(Through 11/1) What ingredients make a great slasher movie? Lots of (horny) teenagers, very few adults and a creepy locale. Put these together and you have summer camp, which is why that setting became a horror-film archetype after 1980’s Friday the 13th blazed the trail. Jet City Improv is sending up that movie and the era’s other camp (in both senses) classics on Thursdays and Fridays in October. See who makes it out alive! Times and prices vary. University District; jetcityimprov.org
MUST SEE
Seattle Queer Film Festival
(10/10-10/20) Showcasing creativity and building community since 1996, this festival brings its usual generous buffet of shorts, docs and features from around the world for 2019, exploring every aspect of the queer experience—and occasionally making news. Last year’s festival closer, the 2018 Kenyan drama Rafiki, was banned in its conservative homeland thanks to its “intent to promote lesbianism.” Times and prices vary. See threedollarbillcinema.org for participating venues
MUST CHEERS
Seattle Fresh Hop Beer Festival
(10/12) “Fresh hops” refers to hops that are raw from the bine and used in the brewing process within 24 hours of being picked, making for an even tastier beer or brewed beverage. This means that fresh hops beer is only available during harvest season—right about now. This tasting event held at The Georgetown Stables celebrates and serves the freshest beer from the Pacific Northwest, which makes about 75% of the nation’s hops. Times vary. $20-$35. Georgetown; freshhopseattle.com
MUST SPELL
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
(9/12-10/20) This Tony award–winning, coming-of-age musical comedy about six middle schoolers vying for the spelling bee championship wraps ups its run next weekend at Village Theatre. Village’s version stars local Renaissance man Justin Huertas as Chip Tolentino, whose recent theatre ventures have included acting in Seattle Rep’s Tiny Beautiful Things and dually writing and composing the fantasy musical The Last World Octopus Wrestling Champion. Times and prices vary. Issaquah; villagetheatre.org
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