Must List: ‘Carmen,’ Crosscut Festival, Translations Seattle Transgender Film Festival
Your weekly guide to Seattle's hottest events
By Gavin Borchert, Sydney Gladu & Chris Robinson May 2, 2019
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MUST SING
Seattle Opera’s Carmen
(5/4–5/19) It’s on the long side (three and a half hours), but otherwise Bizet’s earthy melodrama is the ideal opera for the novice. No matter how inexperienced you are, you probably already know at least three of the tunes, and the push-pull romance between the title character and Don José, the soldier she dangles on a string, will hold you in its grip just as he’s held in hers, leading to a punch-in-the-gut (or knife, to be exact) tragic climax. Times and prices vary. McCaw Hall, Seattle Center, 321 Mercer St.; 206.389.7676; seattleopera.org
MUST DISCUSS
Crosscut Festival
(5/3-5/4) More than 60 speakers and 40 events are on tap for this year’s Crosscut Festival, the second such gathering of some of America’s leaders in politics, business and social justice for conversations exploring important issues of our time. Former Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, U.S Representative Pramila Jayapal and Valerie Jarrett, former senior adviser to President Obama, are among those scheduled to attend. Times and prices vary. Seattle University, First Hill, 901 12th Ave.; 206.296.6000; festival.crosscut.com
MUST RIDE
Seattle Bike-n-Brews
(5/5) As many as 1,000 bicycle and beer enthusiasts will embark on a 27-mile route along some of Seattle’s most picturesque, protected and flat trails. Departing from Georgetown and arriving in Tukwila, participants are treated to lunch, a beer at both the midway point and the finish line, and finish line festivities. Registration fees assist in the protection and expansion of the Pacific Northwest’s cycle routes. 9 a.m. Prices vary. Georgetown Brewing Company, Georgetown, 5200 Denver Ave. S; 206.766.8055; casecade.org
MUST ROW
Penn Cove Water Festival
(5/4) Rooted in a rich history of tribal canoe racing, the annual Penn Cove Water Festival celebrates Native American traditions of storytelling, food and arts. Start your day cheering on canoe race participants, some who have been racing since childhood, or make your way to the main stage and enjoy storytelling and music performances. Plus, stop by the Island County Museum and check out the “Native People – Native Places” exhibit, showcasing Native American dugout canoes and early Water Festival memorabilia. Times vary. Entry fees vary, observation free. Penn Cove, Front Street boat launch. 206.464.6400; penncovewaterfestival.com
MUST WATCH
Translations Seattle Transgender Film Festival
(5/2–5/5) Now 14 years strong and produced by local nonprofit Three Dollar Bill Cinema, Translations Festival’s mission is to “strengthen, connect and reflect diverse communities through queer film and media.” See feature length films including “The Garden Left Behind” and “Transfinite” as well as several short films, along with a panel discussion with trans and gender diverse community members. Times, prices and locations vary. threedollarbillcinema.org
Follow Us
Studio Sessions: Jo Cosme
The Seattle-based multimedia artist and 2026 Neddy Award winner challenges the postcard version of Puerto Rico and centers the persistence of its people.
Jo Cosme knows how seductive a postcard can be. The Seattle-based Boricua (Puerto Rican) multimedia artist works across photography, installation, video, sound, and interactive elements to examine and pull apart how Puerto Rico is seen, sold, and misunderstood from the outside. Trained in photojournalism, with a BFA in photography from Puerto Rico School of Fine…
Seattle’s Drag Brunch Has History
The city’s Sunday shows started long before the mimosas got bottomless.
There was a time not too long ago, when drag performances—now a mainstay of Seattle’s queer scene—were kept under wraps. And when brunches, complete with singing and dancing queens dressed in dazzling drag as you sipped mimosas, weren’t a Sunday staple. During the 1940s and ‘50s, an era largely shaped by restrictive laws and bias…
Studio Sessions: Sangram Majumdar
Working at the confluence of history, culture, and various painting traditions, UW associate professor Sangram Majumdar is one of this year’s Neddy Artist Award winners.
Discover the art of UW professor Sangram Majumdar, a 2026 Neddy Artist Award winner. Learn about his inspiration and upcoming Seattle exhibition at Cornish.
Rearview Mirror: A Georgian Dinner, Sidewalk Sips, and One-of-a-Kind Clothing
Things I did, saw, ate, learned, or read in the past week (or so).
A new life for old clothes To celebrate one year in its current studio, the FXRY—a clothing repair service available via in-person appointments, home pickup, or mail-in drop off—is dropping its first collection. A small batch of reworked pieces, Second Mark will feature 13 vintage barn jackets, cropped, chain-stitched, and renewed into a completely unique, one-of-one…