The Ruby Suns' Sea Lion hasn't received as much hype as some other recent Sub Pop releases, but the 2008 disc is one of the label's more interesting pop offerings of late. Leader Ryan McPhun moved from California to New Zealand in 2004, and his Kiwi experience has imbued the Ruby Suns' Beach Boys influences with South Pacific peculiarities. The drums sound more tribal, the string instruments twangier, the percussion zanier, the atmosphere other. Their music is the equivalent of biting into an orange and tasting pomegranate. (Mars Bar, 609 Eastlake Ave E, 624-4516. 9 pm, $6, 21+.)

When an SUV crashed into a gas station at the north end of Broadway two weeks ago, the question foremost in some minds was: "Will this delay the opening of Poppy?" Fear not: The new restaurant from Jerry Traunfeld—formerly of the world-famous Herbfarm, which is now officially passé—has opened next door, serving Indian-influenced dishes for around $30 per person. Among all the recent hotly anticipated restaurant openings (Spring Hill, the Corson Building, Spinasse), this may be the hottest. (The woman whose pants caught fire in the conflagration—pain at the pump, indeed—is recovering.) (Poppy, 622 Broadway E, 324-1108, www.poppyseattle.com. 5:30–10 pm.)