Haunted Roads

Week Thirteen
Dates: Monday April 28th through Sunday May 4th
Season: Late April – Early May 2008

Announcements:
Monday: Lucifer's Lounge is a monthly night thrown at the Mercury Club in Seattle featuring Jazz, Lounge, Vegas, Crooners, and Swing starting at 9pm, Cover is $4 at the door, and there are drink specials. Dress to impress and spend the first part of the night listening to classics from the 20's -40's at a volume you can talk to. We know its a Monday, and we all have to work in the morning, but stay until midnight for the Coconut Monkey's Toast and see something you won't see at any other club in Seattle. Club participation isn’t mandatory, but you won’t want to miss out on the fun. Heavy Swing after the Monkey toast for you late nighters. We stay open until we close, or the hosts get too tired to play.

Tuesday: A joint Internet prostitution sting using the popular site Craigslist landed eight hookers behind bars, including one who is listed as a missing sexually exploited child. "Prostitution is going from the streets to the Internet. It's going from the asphalt highway to the information highway," said Pierce County Sheriff Paul Pastor. The FBI, Pierce County Sheriff's Office and Lakewood Police conducted two operations Thursday night to catch prostitutes.

The underage girls will be reunited with their families. The older women will be charged with prostitution. This is the third Craigslist bust for Pierce County. So far, three pimps and seven underage girls have been arrested. Pierce County plans more stings, including ones designed to catch customers. Two years ago, Seattle Police conducted a similar sting, arresting more than 100 men for soliciting prostitutes on Craigslist.

Thursday: Today is Beltaine. Beltaine is an anglicization of the Irish "Bealtaine" or the Scottish "Bealtuinn." While "tene" clearly means "fire," nobody really knows whether Bel refers to Belenus, a pastoral god of the Gauls, or is from "bel," simply meaning "brilliant." It might even derive from "bil tene" or "lucky fire" because to jump between two Beltane fires was sure to bring good fortune, health to your livestock, and prosperity.

Come celebrate at Golden Gardens Park tonight at 7:30pm at the waters edge. A local group of pagans will be performing a Grounding, Casting of the circle, Purifying of the circle, Calling of the directions, Portrayal of the rescue of the May Queen and the victory of Summer over Winter, Spiral Dance of Victory, Bidding farewell to the directions and an opening of the circle. Afterwards there will be a potluck, cakes, and ales. All are invited that wish to partake or simply watch. This is a family-friendly event. Please bring warm clothes, altar items and food or drink to share.

Friday: Benefit for Noel House Programs at the Capitol Hill Arts Center with array of desserts from Seattle's most prominent chefs, Gypsy-swing and French-jazz from the Zazou Trio, photo exhibit featuring the women Noel House serves. Arrive at 7pm to have time to enjoy the arts or show later to sample the desserts.

Saturday: Belltown Billiards will be having a competition staring at noon today and going till 7pm or the competition is over. Competitors had until 7pm on Wednesday to sign up to play and teams had until 7pm on Tuesday to get their paperwork in. Anyone wanting to watch can show up at any time and enjoy the half priced beers that will be accompanying the competition. Linger for awhile after the games have completed and sample some local beers. The beer tasting will start about 9pm. There will be a twenty dollar cover for the tasting and it is limited to 30 patrons.

Sunday: The Seattle Cheese Festival is conducting a recipe search for the best grilled cheese sandwich in the city. The winner of the contest will appear during the Seattle Cheese Festival, which takes place May 16-18, 2008, to give a live demo on the chef’s stage. The winning sandwich will be featured at the DeLaurenti café during the festival. The top 10 finalists will have their recipes featured online at the Seattle Cheese Festival site.

Weather:
Monday April 28th: Overcast (High: 62°F Low: 45°F)
Tuesday April 29th: Mostly cloudy (High: 57°F Low: 39°F)
Wednesday April 30th: Light rain through the morning (High: 64°F Low: 47°F)
Thursday May 1st: Cloudy morning with clearing in the afternoon (High: 67°F Low: 50°F)
Friday May 2nd: Clear through the day (High: 65°F Low: 49°F)
Saturday May 3rd: Clouds begin to return late tonight. (High: 65°F Low: 47°F)
Sunday May 4th: Light rain through the day. (High: 63°F Low: 48°F)

Week Twelve
Dates: Monday April 21st through Sunday April 27th
Season: Late April

Announcements:
Monday: Seattle's son returns home. Experience Music Project presents Jimi Hendrix: An Evolution of Sound Exhibit. Daily, throughout April, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Afterward, you might want to head over to Broadway & Pine where Jimi in bronze forever wields his axe. If you have time and want to make a whole Jimi day of it, drive out to Jimi Hendrix Memorial Park in Renton.

In other news, the Seattle Police Department has advised that calls to report bear sightings, coyote sightings, or any other wild animal sightings could deliver a death sentence for that creature. Settle animal control will no longer risk the deadly attempts to capture and release.

Tuesday: A high-speed chase of bank robbery suspects played out through Seattle neighborhoods and downtown Tuesday, leaving many residents to wonder if it was real or if they were merely witnessing the latest movie filming to be done in the Emerald City. By the time the chase and gunfire had stopped, one suspect had been critically wounded, and likely wishing he were only an actor in the all too real scene. Fortunately, no one else was seriously hurt.

Wednesday Open Mike Night at The Barking Spider, Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. Welcome Musicians, comedians, spoken word, magicians, etc. Sign-up from 6-8 p.m. If Virtual Talent is more your style, head on over to The Spectator Bar and Grill for their weekly Guitar Hero II competition at 9 p.m.

Thursday: A man accused of stabbing and beating the woman who lived across the hall from his Seattle apartment was charged with second-degree murder. While there are currently no other suspects in the case, Seattle Police continue to question the uneasy neighbors. The weapon has yet to be recovered and some witnesses claim the woman was killed by a bear. When pressed however, they could give no details, and some even insisted it was a wolf, or even an entire pack of wolves. With such "cooperation", it's unlikely questioning will continue much longer.

Friday: The "cold case" shooting of a man at a Pioneer Square bar back in 1969 was finally wrapped up, when a 69-year-old longtime criminal was sentenced for the killing. In an unrelated story, a woman was stabbed to death Thursday in an apartment in the Central District, and a man was jailed in the killing, police said.

Saturday: The Magnolia branch of the Seattle Public Library will reopen to the public at a celebration this Saturday.

Sunday: About 400,000 spectators turned out downtown for the annual Gay Pride Parade held for the third time in downtown Seattle rather than its traditional home on Capitol Hill, which, according to some estimates, was roughly 170,000 more than attended last year's parade.

Théâtre du Macabre presents Blood Squad Lives. Live improvised horror skits with suggestions from the audience. Sundays at 3 p.m.

Weather:
Monday April 21st: Overcast with light rain. (High: 51°F Low: 35°F)
Tuesday April 22nd: Mostly cloudy, but with only a slight chance of rain in the late evening. (High: 57°F Low: 39°F)
Wednesday April 23rd: An overcast, calm day gives way to scattered clouds, variable winds and more chances for light rain in the evening. (High: 54°F Low: 43°F)
Thursday April 24th: Clouds remain. Light, southwesterly winds with light rain near the noon hour. (High: 52°F Low: 43°F)
Friday April 25th: Scattered clouds remain throughout the day, clearing up finally in the early evening. (High: 55°F Low: 41°F)
Saturday April 26th: Clear skies mean a cooler morning and a warmer day. If venturing out doors to enjoy the warmer spring-like weather, don't forget the sunscreen. (High: 66°F Low: 37°F)
Sunday April 27th: Clouds return, along with an increased chance of showers throughout the evening, diminishing into the night. (High: 63°F Low: 48°F)

Week Eleven
Dates: Monday April 14th through Sunday April 20th
Season: Mid April

Announcements:
Monday: Tonight at the University of Washington there is a lecture called “Color, Cloth, and Plant Dyes in Ancient Japan,” This lecture is free to all. Fifth-generation dye master and textile scholar Yoshioka Sachio presents an illustrated lecture on colors and cloth used for Buddhist and court rituals during the Nara and Heian periods.

Tuesday: The Dalai Lama’s sold out Seeds of Compassion event drew in more than 150,000 people to panel discussions, a concert and talks from the exiled Buddhist leader. The goal of this entire event was to encourage compassion in children. Today is the last day that he will be in Seattle. Tonight he will hold his last discussion group, if you missed your other chances to attend this event then come out tonight. Though packed the conference center will be attempting to allow in as many people as they can.

Wednesday and Thursday: 98.9 KWJZ and the Pacific Jazz Institute at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley present contemporary jazz supergroup Acoustic Alchemy. Set time on Wednesday and Thursday is at 7:30pm, doors open at 6:00pm Wednesday and 5:30 pm Thursday. AA has grown its legacy via an adventurous mix of Latin, jazz, pop, and more recently soul and reggae textures, along with their core commitment to the twin guitar sounds.

Friday: A black 2002 Audi tooling around Seattle's streets has a vanity license plate that appears to have gotten in under the radar of the state licensing police.
The inscription, C9H13N, is a label for many chemicals including amphetamine. There's an outside chance that the plate may be all right because the chemical compound can be amphetamine, which is used in medicines.

The plate appears to be counter to state regulations that ban vanity plates making reference to alcohol or illegal substances. The driver of the car, whose name was not released, told state officials in his application for the plate that the series of letters and numbers represented red food coloring, said Brad Benfield, spokesman for the state Department of Licensing. But according to the UW Chemistry Department, the compound represented on the plate is not a formula for known red food coloring. It is still unknown just how this case will be handled, as revoking a license plate is not a simple task

Saturday: Laugh Out Loud , $20+, this one has already been getting good press. The chuckles tend to be sparse at the ballet, so this one is a notable. Pacific Northwest Ballet mashes ballet and comedy together for some interesting combinations. These performances are great for ballet newbies, and for families with kids and their short attention spans. They also have a Backstage Bash party tonight after the performance, where the stage of McCaw Hall is transformed into your dance floor.

Sunday: Today is National Walk Day; a day where you're encouraged to step out for a 30-minute walk, and hopefully make it a habit. Thankfully today will turn out to be a decent enough day for it. Get some friends together and get out for some fresh air and work towards a better body and mind! Tonight will also be a great night to see the Full Moon.

Weather:
Monday April 14th: Grey and cloudy (High: 54°F Low: 42°F)
Tuesday April 15th: Another cloudy day (High: 56°F Low: 44°F)
Wednesday April 16th: Overcast with a faint night breeze (High: 55°F Low: 46°F)
Thursday April 17th: Cloudy with light rain in the night (High: 57°F Low: 43°F)
Friday April 18th: Light rain continues through today (High: 54°F Low: 44°F)
Saturday April 19th: Cloudy for most of the day (High: 53°F Low: 45°F)
Sunday April 20th: Some clearing later in the afternoon (High: 55°F Low: 43°F) - Full Moon Tonight

Week Ten
Dates: Monday April 7th through Sunday April 13th
Season: Early - Mid April

Announcements:
Monday: At the Photographic Center Northwest tonight is the "Crossing the Water” exhibition reception and book signing. Local artists, Claire Garoutte and Anneke Wambaugh, bring years of experience and research to this exhibition. Their evocative photographs not only draw the viewer into a world rarely witnessed by outsiders, they also offer viewers an unprecedented opportunity to better understand the diversity of Afro-Cuban religious traditions.

Tuesday: Early last night a woman was mugged coming out of local grocery store and shortly after a young couple were mugged just a few blocks down from the store. Police are seeking any information that citizens may have on these attacks, as they believe there are more witnesses out there then those that stayed to wait for police arrival. Police urge all to be careful late at night and watch out for each other on the streets.

Wednesday: 2nd Annual Office Chair Downhill Race! So, the title of this post pretty much explains what this event is all about. People race each other rolling down a hill in office chairs. The race will be on 2nd Ave and will be "after work whenever people start showing up" which is about 5:30pm. The location is near the Pacific Science Center and Key Arena.

Things to prepare for if you plan on racing this year:
Wear protective gear, you'll probably crash because everyone crashes.
Bring your own office chair. If you have more to spare, bring those, too.
Bring a camera, there will be many lovely photo opportunities.

Thursday: EMP is proud to present the 2008 Pop Conference on April 10-13. This year’s theme is Shake, Rattle: Music, Conflict, and Change. The conference will pose the following questions: How does music resist, negate, struggle? Can pop intensify vital confrontations, as well as transform and conceal them? What happens when people are angry and silly love songs aren’t enough? The largest Pop Conference to date, this year’s event will feature more than 160 presenters across some 40 sessions and panels.

Friday: With a Chinese crackdown under way in Tibet, the Dalai Lama will visit Seattle April 11-15 for a conference to nurture kindness. The sold-out Seeds of Compassion event will draw more than 150,000 people to panel discussions, a concert and talks from the exiled Buddhist leader. The goal is to encourage compassion in children.

China has blamed the 72-year-old Nobel prize winner who lives in India for recent violence in Tibet that threatens to undermine the summer Olympics in Beijing. Chinese leaders accuse his supporters of keeping guns and explosives in monasteries. Dalai Lama has condemned the violence. His government-in-exile maintains it's committed to a nonviolent struggle.

Saturday: Other highlights from the EMP Pop Conference include a performance by Seattle political hip-hop leaders Blue Scholars on April 12 at 1 p.m.; a talk about being a “ghostwriter” by the king of the music as-told-to book, David Ritz on April 12 at 6 p.m.; and presentations ranging from music and the war in Iraq, youth struggle from Sierra Leone to Colombia, Bob Marley, grunge’s anti-nostalgia, to John Mayer’s “Waiting on the World to Change.”

Sunday: With today’s warm weather many are hitting up Seattle's local parks. Today Gas Works Park will be promoting group sports, all are welcomed to show up and join in with some teams to have a great time. Over at Green lake many are pulling out their bikes and helmets and biking the day away. Show up and join in to have some company with your ride.

Weather:
Monday April 7th: A bit of a breeze (High: 50°F Low: 44°F)
Tuesday April 8th: Grey and clear (High: 53°F Low: 46°F)
Wednesday April 9th: Light rain late in the night (High: 52°F Low: 44°F)
Thursday April 10th: Light rain in the morning (High: 53°F Low: 47°F)
Friday April 11th: Spotty sun sightings (High: 55°F Low: 46°F)
Saturday April 12th: Clear today (High: 56°F Low: 44°F)
Sunday April 13th: Clear with some blue skies (High: 56°F Low: 45°F)

Week Nine
Dates: Monday March 31st through Sunday April 6th
Season: Early April

Announcements:
Monday: Join us at the Seattle Aquarium for Sound Conversations – hosted by KING 5 Meteorologist Jeff Renner. These talk show style events will delve into the plight of Puget Sound and efforts for its recovery. Come to the Aquarium and start your evening off with appetizers, local beers and wine. Register on line at www.seattleaquarium.org to join us and participate in this unique forum and celebrate Puget Sound in Seattle’s green gathering place – the Seattle Aquarium. Tickets are $20 and include refreshments and access to the Aquarium. Seating is limited

Tuesday: April Fools Day. Rarely does anything good happen on this day and often Pranks can get a bit out of hand. Today it seems more then a few people decided that pulling pranks would be a good idea around the city. This morning workers at Lava Lounge awoke to find their entire establishment covered in toilet paper. Another manager came in to find workers scrapping off egg from the front windows. Fortunately for that business they found out who did it. A worker there that, in a drunken dare the night before, thought it would be amusing. It wasn’t so amusing when he got a talking to that afternoon.

Keep an eye out today for continued pranks and jokes!

Wednesday: A prank yesterday went badly when a boyfriend of a young woman decided to try to scare his girlfriend late in the night. After she came home from work he decided to sneak into the house unseen and heard and spook her by running out after her suddenly. The prank took a turn for the worse when the startled woman slipped in her attempt to get away and fell harshly against some counter tops. Neighbors in that apartment complex were awoken in the late AM hours by emergency vehicles that were called to the seen. Thankfully the woman will be fine and the man has, hopefully, learned his lesson. Some pranks just aren’t funny.

Thursday: Come to the The Pike Pub tonight to see the Rolling Boil Blues Band from 6pm till whenever they decide to stop playing! Tonight there is no cover for the show but don’t expect the same for your drinks and food.

Friday: On first avenue today there will be the “ArtXchange”. An exhibit on "compassion," featuring 35 artist from all over the world, stretching from Seattle to Israel. The show supports the Seeds of Compassion, an organization that encourages compassion in children. The nonprofit is supporting Dalai Lama's visit to Seattle April 11 to 15.

Saturday: Mercury Nightclub will be having a night of “art” tonight starting around 6pm. People attending should come in their most artistic or “painted” outfits. At 10pm there will be a contest where those there vote on the best outfit of the night. Drinks are a dollar off from 10pm to closing tonight as well so come in and enjoy a drink, see some creative outfits, and dance till the club has to close its doors.

Sunday: Belltown Billiards will be having a pool competition today from 1pm to 6pm or longer depending of course on how the event goes. Contestants are winners from previous competitions that have earned their right to try to win the prize amount tonight. Expect a lot of tricks and fancy shooting, these players know what they are doing and it should turn out to be a great show!

Weather:
Monday March 31st: Grey and cool today (High: 45°F Low: 36°F)
Tuesday April 1st: Light rain off and on (High: 47°F Low: 38°F)
Wednesday April 2nd: Windy with a bit of a chill (High: 44°F Low: 35°F)
Thursday April 3rd: Clear day though still crisp (High: 46°F Low: 35°F)
Friday April 4th: Clear and calm (High: 48°F Low: 37°F)
Saturday April 5th: Slightly windy tonight (High: 49°F Low: 33°F)
Sunday April 6th: Rain in the morning to clear by night (High: 48°F Low: 36°F)

Week Eight
Dates: Monday March 24th through Sunday March 30th
Season: Late March

Announcements:
Monday: The strange animal attacks that happened over the weekend are still being investigated by both local police and animal control through the week. The animals have yet to be found and local parks and areas surrounding them have been put on alert. If anyone spots an animal in there area that seems vicious please call police immediately. Do not attempt to go near to the animal or trap them in any way. While the help is appreciated there is too much risk for someone untrained to try to catch an animal that has already done so much damage. Keep alert and be careful at night around those areas.

Tuesday: Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder stunned movie fans at two Into The Wild screenings in Seattle, Washington on Monday and Tuesday night when he showed up to perform for them. The rocker, who penned and recorded the soundtrack for Sean Penn's acclaimed film, performed full sets in advance of the launch of his first solo tour next week.

Wednesday: Oh, look, another wine event! “If you love wine, purses and handbags, you’ll love this second annual wine tasting & fashion event! “Bags & Bottles” is a fundraiser for Gilda’s Club of Seattle. All of the women who buy tickets and attend this fundraiser will bring a new or almost new purse for the silent auction portion of the event. We will feature 30 wineries pouring their delicious wines and a host of boutique stores with their most current bag and purse designs on display.” This event will be from 4pm to 7pm at the W hotel.

Thursday: The temperatures will dip down below 32 degrees today. It’s expected that there will be some light icy conditions after the rain earlier today. Make sure to take it slow on the streets and be aware of the weather. The temperature shouldn’t stay low for long so hopefully we’ll be able to avoid ice all together!

Friday: Tonight there is a musical Throwdown at El Corazon. Show up by 8pm to get a seat for some great musical entertainment. The throw down tonight will include: Soilwork, Through the Eyes of the Dead and War of Ages. The place is expected to fill up fast so make sure to arrive early.

Saturday: Tonight is the night for Earth Hour - The Space Needle and Qwest Field are among the Seattle landmarks that will go dark Saturday night in observation of "Earth Hour." People in cities across six continents will switch off lights and nonessential appliances for one hour as a symbolic gesture to help the environment and save energy. In Seattle, many city buildings will dim the lights at 8 p.m. Homeowners were also asked not to use energy during that time.

Sunday: Northwest Kennel Club Dog Show this weekend! Come be a part of one of the northwest great traditions. This is its 70th year and has over 2000 dogs competing for best in show awards. Make sure to stop by the Qwest Event Center early to be able to see the great show.

Weather:
Monday March 24th: A cold front moves in leading to a chilly day (High: 40°F Low: 33°F)
Tuesday March 25th: Hail tonight (High: 42°F Low: 31°F)
Wednesday March 26th: Grey and cold (High: 41°F Low: 34°F)
Thursday March 27th: Light rain and cold night (High: 40°F Low: 30°F)
Friday March 28th: Heavier rain today (High: 43°F Low: 32°F)
Saturday March 29th: Clear with a light breeze (High: 45°F Low: 33°F)
Sunday March 30th: Light rain in the morning only (High: 47°F Low: 35°F)

Week Seven
Dates: Monday March 17th through Sunday March 23rd
Season: Late March


Announcements:
Monday: Saint Patrick’s Day! Sure many people celebrated all this weekend but no one can really deny having a green beer on the day itself can they? Well if you can’t then we suggest heading into down town Seattle and hitting up local bars there. Many locations will be serving cheap green beer and housing a good time still! Just remember that many of you have work in the morning, don’t take up any of those drinking challenges tonight!

Sport your green today or you just might get pinched.

Tuesday: Unfortunately a group of college students were not so careful with their liquor last night. The group, according to statements, jumped from bar to bar starting sometime after 7pm. The last bar they went to told them they’d no longer serve them and a nasty fight broke out. Two of the men in the group tried to attack the bartender. The man, thankfully, was kept safe by various other patrons in the bar but the others that the group ran into were not so lucky. Rushing out of the bar the group piled into their car sometime around 1am to get away…only managing to make it three blocks before the driver jumped a curb, hitting one woman before crashing into a lamp post.

The woman that was hit died at the scene and three of the others in the group are left in the hospital. Police plan to charge the driver and are holding the rest in the group for questioning to ensure they have the full story.

Wednesday: Today might be a grey and cloudy day but at least it has no rain! Take advantage of the break in the weather to get out and walk around the city. Why not even head down to a local park or beach? Today a friendly soccer competition will be going on at Discovery Park and there may even be some practicing there sand castle making techniques. Get out the bike, take a ride, enjoy the weather.

Thursday: Dante from “Last Comic Standing,” live comedy at Admiral Theater, tell the box office you saw it on West Seattle Blog and you’ll get in for $10, doors open 9:30/show at 10 pm. Bring all your friends down for a good laugh. Sure it’s a little late but hey tomorrow is Friday!

Friday: The full moon is tonight, with the clear skies its believed that it will be quiet the sight in the night sky! To celebrate the full moon falling on a weekend the Admiral Theater will be playing horror movies starting from sundown to sunset. Except more then a few werewolf flicks! Tickets are half price, come in and enjoy the fun. Nothing beats a good old movie sometimes.

Saturday: The police or boggled by what appears to be an animal attack that happened late last night. The couple found at 6am this morning in a local park appeared to have multiple bite and claw marks. While wild animals aren’t completely foreign it seems that the markings are closer to a wolf rather then a wild dog of any variety. This has left police searching the area all this morning, wanting to ensure that the animal is still not in the vicinity of this widely used park.

The park will be closed down all today for investigation and clean up however, depending on how things go it may even be shut down for tomorrow. Police will keep everyone as up to date on their findings as they are allowed.

They would like to assure everyone in the area that there are no signs that the animal has stayed near by, but all city workers in the area will be keeping an eye out. If you happen to see animal in your area that seems wild or prone to attack please call your local animal control or the police. Do not approach or attempt to capture the animal yourself.

Sunday: Enjoy your Sunday night with an All-ages live music at Skylark with The Liquid Now, Daybreak, Panda Conspiracy, starts at 7 pm. Sit down, have some food, a drink, and enjoy some great music in an enjoyable atmosphere.


Weather:
Monday March 17th: A light rain in the morning (High: 48°F Low: 36°F)
Tuesday March 18th: Sprinkles through the day (High: 50°F Low: 37°F)
Wednesday March 19th: Gray and cloudy (High: 49°F Low: 36°F)
Thursday March 20th: Scattered rain (High: 47°F Low: 35°F)
Friday March 21st: A cloudy morning that will burn off by the night (High: 49°F Low: 36°F) *Full Moon*
Saturday March 22nd: Gray and cloudy again (High: 51°F Low: 38°F)
Sunday March 23rd: Light rain off and on (High: 50°F Low: 37°F)

Week Six
Dates: Monday March 10th through Sunday March 16th
Season: Mid March


Announcements:
Monday: The weather doesn’t feel like giving us an easy recovery from the storming of last week. Heavy rain continues through the day causing more flooding and hindering the process of ensuring that every last person in Seattle has their power back and stable. Crews are still out battling the cold however, and will be all night. Stores are also restocking so if you used up all of your food and reserves last week make sure to take some time this week to get everything back in shape. You never know when another storm will roll around.

Tuesday: Today is the last day to see Roman Art from the Louvre at Seattle Art Museum. This fantastic art has been on display for over two weeks here at the museum and has brought in many interested viewers. But if you haven’t had a chance to get in to see it you better rush in today, this is your last chance…that is unless you can take a trip to the Louvre!

Wednesday: A week of art the Seattle Asian Art Museum also has taken today to see to some beautiful work.Today only you can see the work for free from 10am to noon. Set in Capitol Hill’s beautiful Volunteer Park, this historic art-moderne building houses a world-renowned collection of Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Indian, Southeast Asian, and Himalayan art.

Thursday: Rufus Wainwright with be at the Paramount Theater tonight. Tickets went on Sale last week and have gone quickly but there are still some left if you are eager to see this concert. The doors open at 8:00pm but as always it’s suggested you get there a bit earlier then that. Make a night of it and see to a great dinner before the show!

Friday: Take the day to enjoy that bit of sun in the morning with a run through the man parks here in Seattle. Various groups are meeting up just after 6am to join together for a good morning jog. Discovery Park and Gasworks Park are where the biggest groups will be meeting up. No better way to wake up the mind and get ready for the day. Unfortunately the sun won’t last long today but this gives ample chance for everyone to get out and have some time in it before it disappears for the rest of the week.

The Northwest Craft Show starts today and goes through Sunday. This show is being held at the Qwest Field and Exhibition Center. The Best of the Northwest Craft Show is a seasonal exposition showcasing over 220 artisans presenting the best in American Crafts and Fine Art.

Saturday: With Saint Patrick’s Day falling on a Monday this year many bars are celebrating this day of green early. Expect many green beers and noisy times on the streets tonight. Major restaurants (such as the Canlis and Wild Ginger) are having half price appetizers and drinks to give celebration to the holiday. A big bash will be at the Pyramid Alehouse, Dimitriou's Jazz Alley and Chopstick’s tonight. Who can say no to a dueling piano bar? Come down and have some fun!

An Irish Festival is being put on by the Irish Heritage Club and is held at the Seattle Center. Sing along to Irish tunes, try stepdancing, enter children’s contests, learn about Gaelic games, Irish history or genealogy, or take Irish language lessons. Meet Irish celebrities, view Irish movies or cultural exhibits and demonstrations. On Saturday at 12:30pm, the St. Patrick's Day Parade starts its procession at 4th and Jefferson Street and heads to Center House for its closing ceremonies at 2:30pm. This great event will be held the 15th through the 17th.

Sunday: Don’t think that the early celebration of Saint Patrick’s Day is limited to only Saturday. No tonight bars will be continuing the theme with cheep green beers and great laughs. But as one man found out on Saturday, be careful where you are walking after a night of such heavy drinking. The man and his buddies somehow found themselves in the middle of the street and were nearly hit but an older woman returning home from her own celebration that night. Thankfully the driver and the men were not injured but police were called to see to both parties. The woman, however, was not intoxicated.


Weather:
Monday March 10th: The storm continues today with some heavy rain (High: 45°F Low: 34°F)
Tuesday March 11th: A break from the weather with a cold cloudy day (High: 48°F Low: 36°F)
Wednesday March 12th: Cold and cloudy with some continued rain (High: 49°F Low: 37°F)
Thursday March 13th: A heavy breeze makes for a cold day (High: 40°F Low: 33°F)
Friday March 14th: A bit of sunshine that won’t last longer then the morning (High: 47°F Low: 36°F)
Saturday March 15th: Heavy rain during the afternoon (High: 46°F Low: 35°F)
Sunday March 16th: A clearer day after some morning sprinkles (High: 49°F Low: 38°F)

Week Five
Dates: Monday March 3rd through Sunday March 9th
Season: Winter 2008
Month: Early March


Announcements:
Monday: Take some time to visit the Arboretum tonight to enjoy a catered dinner. Every season is beautiful here. The well-loved Arboretum's collection of 10,000 trees, shrubs, and vines ensures that something is at its peak every month of the year. In the fall, the Woodland Garden explodes with color as the Japanese Maples turn various shades of purples, reds, and oranges. February through May are also colorful times to visit, when camellias, azaleas, Japanese cherry trees, magnolias, and rhododendrons burst out in waves of successive bloom.

Tuesday: Danger Bees are coming all the way from LA and are going to perform at the Comet. It's pretty cool; they definitely have talent. Their music makes fans want to put on a mini-dress and go-go boots and dance groovy, man!

Wednesday: A nasty storm is set to start up tonight and by the weather forecasts it looks like it will last through the rest of the week. Around noon today the wind will begin to pick up and the rain will get increasingly heavier as the hours go by. By nightfall thunder will have rolled in. Except flickering lights tonight but no full power outages are expected yet.

Many stores are urging people to get ready for the storm now rather then waiting till the last possible second. Many will be open longer hours tonight and some are all prepared to run on generators should the power go out. But that won’t last for ever and we all know how chaotic those stores can get! Go in before things get crazy out there.

Thursday: The wind yesterday caused a bit of damage around the city. A weak tree tipped over, falling onto a young couple’s new home. Thankfully there was no one harmed but the house has to undergo extensive repairs before it can be livable again. Lucky for the couple that they have family living near by that they can stay with…and that their insurance will cover all the repairs.

Doubtful that will be the worst damage that this storm leaves the city with however. Wind is expected to increase tonight making for some very nasty weather and very likely outages scattered all through out the city. Make sure to be prepared for the worst here in Seattle. With the cold weather it is urged to make sure you are well stocked with blankets. But be careful about heaters and generators folks, many of them are not for use indoors.

Friday: The continued cold weather may turn piercing rain to snow tonight in the very late hours. Be careful out on the streets and stay indoors whenever possible.

Saturday: The icy conditions last night caused more then its fair share of accidents. Most were minor and easy enough to get off the roads. But that can’t be said for all of the accidents, especially not the one on I-5 early this morning. A truck lost control on the ice and a large rig truck following behind it was unable to stop in time. The truck was totaled and the man driving in currently in the hospital. It is believed that he will make a full recovery from the accident.

Sunday: The nasty weather continues on through today. Many are without power but some workers and volunteers are working feverishly to get power restored to all Seattle areas. It is estimated that power should return to most people in the city by late tonight so long as the stormy weather does not pick up even more intensity through the late night hours.

Rain or shine events still go on. This Sunday an evening bicycle ride is scheduled out to Alki Beach; a great place to enjoy a gorgeous view of the Seattle skyline. These determined riders will have quite the stormy view. Wear your rain gear!


Weather:
Monday March 3rd: Cloudy with light rain (High: 48°F Low: 37°F)
Tuesday March 4th: Very grey (High: 47°F Low: 35°F)
Wednesday March 5th: The start to stormy weather (High: 43°F Low: 34°F)
Thursday March 6th: Cold and the storming continues (High: 44°F Low: 32°F)
Friday March 7th: Continued rain and wind with some snowfall in the late night hours (High: 40°F Low: 30°F)
Saturday March 8th: The cold nasty weather continues all through today (High: 38°F Low: 31°F)
Sunday March 9th: Storming through the day and letting up slightly towards the night (High: 41°F Low: 32°F)

Week Four
Dates: Monday February 25th through Sunday March 2nd
Season: Winter 2008
Month: Late February – Early March


Announcements:
Monday: There are reports circulating that the most recent drug bust actually is connected to the unsolved murder of a young child that occurred in earlier weeks. The police are not willing to yet confirm or deny these rumors but they state they are doing all they can to find the girls killer and ensure that all involved in the drug ring are put behind bars.

A friend of the family of the murdered girl apparently did not think police were doing enough however. Late Monday night he rushed into the local police station and began ranting and raving about how no one was working hard enough to find this killer. Knowing emotions were to play for the outburst police calmed the man down and convinced him to return home without further incident.

Tuesday: The next time a disaster strikes Seattle, Mayor Greg Nickels says the city will be ready. Seattle has just unveiled a new Emergency Operations Center downtown. It's state of the art, and has room for hundreds of emergency responders. You'll see real-time video conferencing.. traffic maps.. and dozens of satellite phones here.

Wednesday: Tonight Seattle SuperSonics go against the Sacramento Kings at the Key Arena. Make a night of it, come early and grab dinner or stay late for some after event drinks. Tickets are still available at the box office.

Join us for the Mariners 10th Annual Seattle Mariners FanFest at Safeco Field. Meet some of your favorite players, past and present, and enjoy exclusive access to the Mariners Clubhouse, the bullpen and the field itself! Make plans to bring the whole family to Safeco Field.

Thursday: A pet cat found its way home today after quite the ordeal. Late Wednesday night the young boy of the family who owned the cat heard mewing near some sewer drains. After telling his father the man discovered that the cat was stuck in some drains. After many attempts to coax the cat out the family finally called for help. Early Thursday morning the fire department finally managed to wiggle the well fed cat free and return him home.

Friday: The Boat Street Cafe seems to be even better the second time around. The former destination dining spot in the University District has found new life near downtown Seattle. Friday night will be there grand opening at this new location and to celebrate they are having half priced drinks and $3 off entrée’s for dinners ordered before 7pm.

Enjoy your extra day today, this year is a leap year!

Saturday: Queensrÿche will be playing the The Paramount Theatrethis weekend. The doors open at 8pm but if you don’t have tickets arrive early to try to get your hands on a set! This band was initially grouped in with the legions of pop-metal bands that dominated the American heavy metal scene of the '80s, Queensrÿche were one of the most distinctive bands of the era. Where their contemporaries built on the legacy of Van Halen, Aerosmith, and Kiss, Queensrÿche constructed a progressive form of heavy metal that drew equally from the guitar pyrotechnics of post-Van Halen metal and '70s art rock, most notably Pink Floyd and Queen.

Tonight is midnight madness at the Admiral theater. Done your fishnets and sparkly hats for the monthly showing of Rocky Horror Picture show! This rather wild event happens only on the first Saturday of every month. This showing is set to have a full cast to perform and a few surprises are in store!

Sunday: Enjoy a break from the cold today by visiting the Tropical Butterfly House at the pacific science center. Enjoy year-round sunshine in the Tropical Butterfly House! Temperatures are in the low 80s, humidity is 60 to 70 percent, and full-spectrum lighting keeps the plants and butterflies healthy. Watch beautiful, free-flying butterflies fly, sun themselves, and feed among tropical flowers. See a brand-new butterfly emerge in the chrysalis viewing window. New butterflies are released into the exhibit each morning.


Weather:
Monday February 25th: Mostly cloudy (High: 50°F Low: 39°F)
Tuesday February 26th: Grey, cloudy, and light rain (High: 48°F Low: 37°F)
Wednesday February 27th: Rain showers (High: 49°F Low: 39°F)
Thursday February 28th: Cloudy through the day (High: 50°F Low: 38°F)
Friday February 29th: Misty rain through the morning (High: 50°F Low: 37°F)
Saturday March 1st: Heavy cloud cover (High: 51°F Low: 40°F)
Sunday March 2nd: Cloudy and rain through the night (High: 52°F Low: 39°F)

Week Three
Dates: Monday February 18th through Sunday February 24th
Season: Winter 2008
Month: Late February


Announcements:

All This Week: Octopus Week: Hands-on kids' activities, daily octopus feeding and talks, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. today-Feb. 23, The Seattle Aquarium, 1483 Alaskan Way, Seattle; $10-$15 (206-386-4300).

Monday: A suburban area break in has left one man in intensive care after armed intruders broke into his home then bound and assaulted him. Elsewhere in Seattle, an up and coming drug ring was put to rest by Seattle DEA.

Last Night! "Hamlet" A five-actor version of Shakespeare's masterful tragedy, adapted and directed by SCT regular Rita Giomi, and streamlined for an audience aged 11 and up. Doing the honors in the title role is Connor Toms, a fresh-faced, eager, not-crazy Hamlet who should win many a young patron over to his cause. 2 and 5:30 p.m. today-Sunday. Seattle Children's Theatre, Eve Alvord Theatre, 201 Thomas St., Seattle; $17-$33 (206-441-3322 or www.sct.org). .

Tuesday: Police are looking for a man who robbed a Belltown convenience store Tuesday night.. Police say the suspect fired a double barrel shotgun in the store and shot a hole in the wall. In an unrelated story, an unidentified man has died after being found stabbed on bainbridge. No arrests have been made over the stabbing and police are encouraging any witnesses to come forth.

Last Night! "Into the Woods" A student production of the Broadway musical, based on well-known fairy tales and created by composer Stephen Sondheim and writer James Lapine. 7:30 p.m. today, 2 p.m. Sunday. Everett Performing Arts Center, 2710 Wetmore Ave., Everett; $9-$11 (425-257-8600 or www.villagetheatre.org).

Wednesday: A three alarm blaze in Delridge left one woman dead. The cause is yet undetermined. Police are seeking a tall man driving a Bentley in connection with the incident.

Thursday: A Seattle company has been fined nearly $30,000 for the illegal cutting of seven pines on state property.

Friday: Seattle health officials have indicated that three people were bitten by an apparent pet monkey. It’s unknown where the primate came from and the animal has not been seen since. Please be wary if you see it and do not attempt to capture, pet, or otherwise come in contact with the creature. As always, it’s suggested you contact animal control.

Saturday: A local blood bank is under investigation after several employees were found to be selling blood at local concerts and parties. Two of the suspects are held in county jail pending bail while a third remains at large. In other news, a local man, paragliding with his pet chihuahua had to be rescued Saturday after becoming stranded in a tree.

Sunday: A birthday celebration turned deadly Sunday as first the balcony where apparently too many had gathered collapsed, injuring at least a dozen. A fire pit turned over in the crash, spreading flames into the home as well. In all two people were killed and twenty one were injured, some seriously.

Ongoing: "Bugs!" There's something exactly right about the exclamation point in the title of this 3-D IMAX feature — it makes the film seem reminiscent of 1950s horror movies in which some hapless insect is irradiated, grows to monstrous proportions and terrorizes a town. Of course, nothing is irradiated here, but thanks to the IMAX screen, they do seem to grow to monstrous proportions. Good (if occasionally gross) fun. 40 minutes. No rating, suitable for general audiences. (IMAX at the Pacific Science Center, see movie listings for showtimes).


Weather:
Monday February 18th: Mostly cloudy (High: 51°F Low: 39°F)
Tuesday February 19th: Rain showers all through the day (High: 50°F Low: 37°F)
Wednesday February 20th: Partly cloudy with a cooler night (High: 52°F Low: 35°F)
Thursday February 21st: Cloudy through the day (High: 54°F Low: 39°F)
Friday February 22nd: Mostly cloudy (High: 55°F Low: 42°F)
Saturday February 23rd: Light rain in the morning, colder nights for the next few days (High: 53°F Low: 37°F)
Sunday February 24th: Cloudy with a night breeze (High: 55°F Low: 34°F)

Week Two
Dates: Monday February 11th through Sunday February 17th
Season: Winter 2008
Month: Mid February


Announcements:
Looking for some gifts for your sweety? Or just looking to take advantage of some sales? Well this would be the week to do it. Monday through Thursday various stores in Westlake Center will be having half price sales. Get in there early to make sure you get something good. Some stores will even be increasing their hours to give those last minute shoppers plenty of time to get there someone special a gift.

South Seattle Community College Creative dance for youth ages 3-5 will be this Tuesday from 10 to 11 a.m and if it goes well more classes will be put into affect. Class participants will explore the world of music and dance using story telling, circle dancing, and creative rhythmic movement. Activity fee is $49 per session

This Tuesday and Wednesday is the Valentine's Day Trunk Show at ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery. To help spread the love (and art) around West Seattle, ArtsWest presents a Valentine's Day Jewelry Trunk Show. The Trunk Show will feature unique handcrafted jewelry designs in sterling silver, gold and semi-precious stones by Seattle-based artists Admission is free.

For this Valentines Day there are multiple events to take your sweetheart too! This Thursday why not go by the Nectar lounge to celebrate the day with a Valentine's Day 1985 theme! Or perhaps some Latin dancing and a three-course dinner available at the Century Ballroom.

Sweet Dreams: A Valentine Benefit will be this Friday. This is a Valentine benefit for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The event will be open to all ages and have music by local bands. There will also be a silent auction with varying items to bid on, make sure to get there early and take a look at all that’s offered! The event will be from 8:30 p.m. to midnight at the Capitol Hill Arts Center and costs twenty dollars to get in.

This Saturday you shouldn’t miss a chance to get a good look at the night sky. Use telescopes and gain information on observing the night sky with the Seattle Astronomical Society, weather permitting, 7 p.m. at Green Lake Park near the fishing piers.

Pair of Cats Adoption Day this Saturday. Pairs-only adoption event by Purrfect Pals, adoption fees reduced $150 per pair, all cats are spayed or neutered, viral tested and current on vaccinations, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at a many downtown pet stores.

Friday through Sunday is a celebration of African and African-American culture, named to celebrate the West African king of the Mali Empire, representing diverse cultural traditions including gospel music showcase, jazz, rap, gospel, hip-hop, R&B and traditional African styles, visual art, hands-on children's activities and the UJAAMA Marketplace with crafts and imported items, art show opening 6-8 p.m. Friday, festival noon-8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Center House, Seattle Center Pavilion and Fisher Pavilion, Seattle Center, Seattle; Youth by Youth Day with workshops, performances and craft activities for young people, noon-5 p.m.


Weather:
Monday February 11th: Still cold with a bit of a strong breeze tonight (High: 38°F Low: 35°F)
Tuesday February 12th: A bit of cloud cover but a cold night still (High: 42°F Low: 36°F)
Wednesday February 13th: Light rain through the morning (High: 45°F Low: 39°F)
Thursday February 14th: Cloudy through the day (High: 50°F Low: 38°F)
Friday February 15th: Light rain off and on to clear up by late night (High: 54°F Low: 40°F)
Saturday February 16th: Partially cloudy with a bit of sun in the morning hours (High: 52°F Low: 37°F)
Sunday February 17th: A cloudy start to the day that will break up by the mid afternoon (High: 58°F Low: 40°F)

Week One
Dates: Monday February 4th through Sunday February 10th
Season: Winter 2008
Month: Early February


Announcements:
The recent cold front that has moved through Seattle has left more then a few people still on icy ground this week. Various hills in the Seattle area have closed down in the late night hours when the temperature drops down below freezing. This trend will continue on from Monday to Wednesday. Be aware of this when traveling home late at night. Thankfully they are reopened around 6am which should keep traffic from backing up too much around the city.

Uncertain drivers need to keep area of the weather however; traffic accidents have jumped in number the last two weeks and seem only to continue to rise as the weather remains cold. Take your time, leave early, and don't speed. Tuesday afternoon a man unfortunately didn't listen to these words of advise and from 5pm to 8pm Denny Way was blocked off due to a three car accident.

That cold weather isn't keeping shoppers from hitting up some local stores today. To encourage spending even through these cold weeks many stores in downtown seattle have posted and announced large sales. Some even as high as 50% off. The sales are starting this Wednesday and some are even going to continue on into the weekend.

The weather isn't holding up RV and outdoors lovers preparing for those summer trips though. Thursday through Sunday is the Seattle RV & Outdoor Recreation Show. Held at the Qwest Field and Event Center tickets are $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and $5 for students. Event Hours are Thu-Fri: 11 AM - 8 PM; Sat: 10 AM - 8 PM; Sun: 10 AM - 5 PM.

If you’re a jazz lover make sure to get your tickets for Hot Java Cool Jazz this Friday at the Paramount Theater. The successful Starbucks jazz program, Hot Java Cool Jazz, returns to The Paramount Theatre with a unique evening of jazz performed by the best and brightest from area high school music programs.

Looking for something to entertain your little ones with this weekend? Well head over to the University book store this Saturday for Story Time with Anna and Kitri (for Children ages 3 to 7). This includes story time, crafts and games. And for the big kids? Well starting at 9pm on Saturday there is a Halo 3 online gathering going on. That’s right grab up your friends and join in in this spreading gaming phenomenon. Pick up a controller and help your team win.


Weather:
Monday February 4th: Light rain and cold temperatures, some light snow in the night. (High: 33°F Low: 27°F)
Tuesday February 5th: Clear and very cold. (High: 31°F Low: 25°F)
Wednesday February 6th: Some overcast today to take away the chill. (High: 36°F Low: 33°F)
Thursday February 7th: Light rain and hail. (High: 35°F Low: 32°F)
Friday February 8th: Still cold and heavy wind today making it feel colder then it is. (High: 36°F Low: 31°F)
Saturday February 9th: Slight warming today compared to the rest of the week. (High: 38°F Low: 35°F)
Sunday February 10th: Still a little warmer today. (High: 38°F Low: 34°F)