Cover art by Paul Butler, currently on view at Platform Gallery.

Charles Mudede on a Tunnel, an Elevator Shaft, and Living on the Edge
"The freedom that comes with riches has its double in another kind of economic freedom: the freedom of owning nothing. Both liberate you from time, obligations, and other people. I found myself living with five males in an extremely cheap but huge basement in Pioneer Square. The basement was not a place anyone was supposed to be living in, an abandoned beauty academy. At the back of the basement was a passageway leading to three offices and a broken freight elevator. Three of us made our bedrooms in the offices. I slept in the elevator shaft..."

Dominic Holden on Why the Time to Pass a Pot Initiative Is Now
"Opinion research found that Washington State voters overwhelmingly reject the idea that pot smokers should go to jail. When asked to pick between (a) completely legalizing pot, (b) making possession a noncriminal offense (like the bill that died this year), or (c) keeping it illegal, an average of 68 percent of voters said they supported legalization or decriminalization. Ahem—legislators?"

Megan Seling on Grudge Rock, a Family Feud for Rock Bands
"On this particular night, after stealing quite a few points (and playing a killer set), Helms Alee took home the grand prize, an envelope containing all of the door money. The losers of Akimbo got free haircuts and a bag of porn..."

Brendan Kiley Goes Searching for Dungeness Crab
"The very best place to get Dungeness crab is the Quileute Reservation near La Push, where you can rent a beachside cabin ($50—$200), then walk to the docks and buy a few crabs straight from the boats. Drop them in your bucket, lug them through the tiny, tattered town back to your shack, then set a pot of water to boiling, confident you're about to eat one of the best meals available to anyone, anywhere..."

Paul Constant on Twilight, Harry Potter, and the Deadly Microsoft Staircase
"Two debate teams of high-school girls were to determine, once and for all, which popular young-adult fantasy series—Harry Potter or Twilight—is the best. Beforehand, the audience was entertained by an unplanned preshow: people continually falling up the staircase..."

Wm.™ Stephen Humphrey on the Estrogenerific TV Shows Debuting This Week
"Though I go by many names ('Home of the Whopper' being one of them), there is one name I'm most proud of—and that's 'Wm.™ Steven Humphrey: The Woman's Friend™'..."

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: Inside the new Crocodile on its first weekend, Eric Grandy's SXSW recap, this week's notable concerts and parties, plus lots more in the music section; Erica C. Barnett on City Attorney Tom Carr's new challenger, plus lots more in the news section; Lindy West on drinking sake and remembering Natasha Richardson, plus lots of reviews of new movies and our lovingly updated, totally searchable movie times; a review of Stacey Levine's new book of short stories; Jen Graves reconstructs the history of one wall at the Henry; a look at two plays about infidelity; Bethany Jean Clement on the raw oysters and the hot staff at Emmett Watson's Oyster Bar; Dan Savage on scuba fetishists; Last Days; Drunk of the Week; and all the other columns and calendars.