The amazing weather as of late has us waiting on the edge of our seats for summer to begin. Good thing we have less than 10 days until the official kickoff of the season!
Time to get out those sandals, flip-flops, shorts and tank tops and soak up some sun. But in between summertime frolicking, be sure to pencil in some time to check out a few of these events. Whether you're wanting to learn more about green building, urban food systems or permaculture -- or even if you simply want to picnic in the park with your pooch -- now is the time to do it. Why wait for tomorrow?
Seattle Summer Streets
Various Parks throughout June
“The community is leading the way, putting together events that bring us all together. Biking, walking, drawing chalk pictures, taking in the sights or shopping and eating at local establishments, Celebrate Seattle Summer Streets is a great way to spend time with family and friends,” explains Mayor Greg Nickels about the purpose of the summer-long Summer Streets Festival.
This month, the event is being held within four of the City's parks:
- Discovery Park: Sunday, June 7
- Volunteer Park: Sunday, June 14
- Seward Park: Sunday, June 21
- Magnuson Park: Sunday, June 28
Bring the doggies, pack some sunblock, and don't forget the frisbee!
Tickets: Free
Seattle International Film Festival
May 21st - June 14th
Various locations & times, see website for details
Originally started back in 1976, SIFF has become one of the most well known independent and international film festivals around the globe. Now in its 34th year, SIFF continues to showcase the best independent films to date.
With three days left of this year's festival, this is your last chance to catch any remaining films that are being showcased. If you missed out this year, be sure to check list of films that caused quite a stir here in our office.
Tickets: Starting at $5. See SIFF website for more details.
Novella Carpenter: Urban Farming
Wednesday, June 24, 7:30 - 9 PM
Downstairs at Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Avenue, Seattle
Novella Carpenter, author of Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer, and daughter of "back-to-the-land" hippies, grew up in Washington and Idaho surrounded by nature. Novella's passion for homegrown vegetables mixed with her intrigue for culture and energy helped create her vision for a small plot of urban farmland in inner-city Oakland, California that included heirloom tomatoes, beehives and a chicken coop. Ten years later, her vision became reality and she created Ghost Town Farm, filled with hens, turkeys, geese, ducks, rabbits and pigs. Come listen to Novella share her personal story of what it's like to be an urban farmer.
Tickets: $5, available through brownpapertickets.com.
Low Energy Buildings and Sustainable Communities: Designing for the Zero Carbon Economy
Thursday, June 25, 5:30-7 PM
Seattle Central Library, 1000 4th Ave, Seattle
Guy Battle, Director of Battle McCarthy Ltd., is "an environmental and building engineer known for his work in low energy sustainable buildings and urban environments. His consultancy engineering practice has worked on a vast range of projects and has an international reputation for its work in delivering cost effective eco-friendly buildings." - SPL
Tickets: $10. Full time students & Cascadia members, Free. RSVP required (see PDF for link).
Roger Thurow and Scott Kilman: A Crisis of Famine
Monday, June 29, 7:30 - 9 PM
Downstairs at Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Avenue, Seattle
"In spite of the reeling economy, the 21st Century is still a comparative age of plenty. But decades after the Green Revolution, there is still not enough food. Staggeringly, 25,000 people a day—and nearly 6 million children a year—die of hunger, malnutrition, and related diseases. Many think of famine as a natural disaster, or as the legacy of war and corrupt leaders, but Roger Thurow and Scott Kilman, award-winning writers on Africa, development, and agriculture, blame bad policies across the political spectrum. The veteran Wall Street Journal reporters’ new book, Enough: Why the World’s Poorest Starve in an Age of Plenty, serves as an indictment of the economic, political, and social forces that perpetuate hunger and famine—and the inspiring stories of the people fighting to change them." - Town Hall
Tickets: $5, available though brownpapertickets.com.
Permaculture Around The World
Friday, June 26, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
The Good Shepard Center, 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N, Seattle
Interested in permaculture? Join in the conversation and check out images of permaculture projects developed by communities, farms and city neighborhoods from around the world. Presented by Jenny Pell and Marisha Auerbach, both founding members of Permaculture Now! .
Tickets: $8 - $15, sliding scale. For information, email Jenny Pell or Marisha Auerbach.
