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MUST TASTE

Seattle Wine & Food Experience
(2/20-2/22) Start off Seattle magazine’s three-day marathon of indulgence at Thursday night’s Comfort, featuring feel-good mainstays such as fried chicken and burgers, plus beer and cider to wash it down. Friday brings you Pop! Bubbles + Seafood, starring Champagne and sparkling wines from local and international wineries, paired with Northwest seafood staples, including salmon, clams and oysters. The event wraps up on Saturday night with the Grand Tasting showcase of Northwest wine, food, beverage and lifestyle. Times, prices and locations vary. seattlewineandfoodexperience.com

MUST SEE TWO FOR ONE

Grupo Corpo
(2/20-2/22) This acclaimed Brazilian dance troupe will perform two works: Gira, inspired by the celebration rites of syncretic Brazilian religions; and Bach, which “celebrates the architecture of life” by combining playfully slinky movement with an electronic reimagining of the Baroque. 8 p.m. $61-69. Meany Center, University of Washington, University District; meanycenter.org

MUST LEARN THE SECRETS

The Children 
(Through 3/15) In British playwright Lucy Kirkwood’s eco-thriller, inspired by the 2011 nuclear disaster in Fukushima, Japan, three physicists meet in an isolated English cottage near the site of a tsunami-triggered nuclear accident. New York Times theater critic Jesse Green called this 2018 Tony nominee “as disturbing to replay in your imagination as it is to see in the first place.” Times and prices vary. Seattle Repertory Theatre, Seattle Center, Lower Queen Anne; seattlerep.org

MUST BEBOP

Charlie Parker’s Yardbird 
(2/22-3/7) Bebop legend Charlie Parker looks back on his tragically brief roller coaster of a life in this 2015 opera by Swiss-born Daniel Schnyder. Like Parker himself, Schnyder is a saxophonist and composer, and, also like Parker, is fascinated by the ways in which jazz and contemporary classical styles flow together. Times and prices vary. Marion Oliver McCaw Hall, Seattle Center, Lower Queen Anne; seattleopera.org

MUST LEARN LIQUOR & LOVE

Science of Spirits
(2/21) On this night devoted to alcohol and attraction, you’ll learn the science of distilling while sampling eight local spirits, then take your pick of the many love-related exhibits open after hours. One option: in the Planetarium, you’ll find a lesson on the many myths about love and passion within the constellations. This is a 21-and-older event. 7 p.m. $45. Pacific Science Center, Lower Queen Anne; pacificsciencecenter.org

MUST RAT RACE

Lunar New Year 5K
(2/23) Benefitting International Community Health Services (ICHS), this all-ages 5K walk/run celebrates fitness, charity and of course, the Rat. The Lunar New Year-themed race includes lion dances and firecrackers to warm you up before the big run. 8:30 a.m. $35. Interurban Trail, Shoreline; ichs.com

MUST SEE NEW PERSPECTIVES

Seattle Asian American Film Festival 2020
(2/20-2/23) This four-day festival showcases cinema by and about Asian Americans in North America, emphasizing those from the Pacific Northwest. In addition to the programming at Northwest Film Forum and Broadway Performance Hall, which includes both short films and feature-length work, don’t miss out on four free screenings at NWFF and the opening night party at Washington Hall. Times, prices and locations vary; seattleaaff.org

Coming up: 
These events are weeks away but may sell out—get your tickets now. 

MUST BAKE CAKE (POPS)

Cake Pop Class
(Saturdays in March) Beginning February 29 and continuing every Saturday in March, dessert catering company Dianne’s Delights will take you through the ins and outs of cake pop making. Choose between funfetti and chocolate cake as you learn how to mix, roll, dip and decorate. Pupils will leave the class with a dozen cake pops and newfound knowledge. 3 p.m.-4:30 p.m. $55. Barque Brontes Bakery Café, Pike Place Market; eventbrite.com

MUST NERD OUT

Emerald City Comic Con
(3/12-3/15) Dubbed a “celebration of fandom from every corner of the nerdy galaxy,” this comic and pop culture convention brings together the creators and facilitators of comics, games, movies and more. The four-day festival, which drew 98,000 people in 2019, will include panels, screenings and other exhibits, with a talk by Mark Ruffalo of The Avengers to headline. Times and prices vary. Washington State Convention Center, downtown; emeraldcitycomiccon.com

MUST WEATHER THE STORM

Sweat 
(3/20-4/12) This play, which earned playwright Lynn Nottage the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, delves into the lives of factory workers in America’s rust belt. The rug comes out from under them when picket lines form, and old friends begin to lose trust. Times and prices vary. ACT Theatre, downtown; acttheatre.org