Posted by news intern Ben Steiner

I know what you're thinking: "How I wish there was some unpaid intern somewhere who worked all day, unpaid, posting awesome events for me to go to on a News-and-Politics Events Calendar." This is a wild fantasy, of course, but it turns out it's true.

What would you find if you clicked on that link? Well, I'm glad that you asked:

A Lecture on Bullying: Featuring Dan Savage and Emily Bazelon, author of Sticks and Stones, on April 29 at 6:30 p.m.

A Discussion on the Trials and Tribulations of Face Transplantation: Did you even know face transplantion was a thing? Now you do, and you can find out how awesome it is at this discussion on April 25 at 7:30 p.m.

A Food-Filled Cinco de Mayo Funplex for Adults: Featuring beer, margaritas, music, and the city's best food trucks, all at the Food Truck Rodeo. The event is on May 5 (obviously), and starts at noon.

And!

Fun Stuff Happening at Babeland: Including an Earth Day celebration where you get to make your own flogger, happening on April 21 at 1 p.m., and a panel discussion on raising your children without sexual shame, the following Sunday April 28, beginning at 10 a.m.

This is just a taste of all the awesome stuff on our News-and-Politics Events Calendar. Check it all the time and never be bored again.

This statement just arrived from the mayor's office:

A fireworks show on the Fourth of July is a civic tradition. I, like many Seattle residents, was disappointed to learn last week that there would not be fireworks this year at Gas Works Park. That’s why I am delighted to announce that we are working with Seafair and the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce to craft a new and sustainable plan for Fourth of July fireworks in Seattle. I am optimistic that we will indeed have fireworks this year in our city. I thank Seafair and the Seattle Metro Chamber of Commerce for their commitment to Seattle and for their leadership. We will announce more details soon.

Oh my, it is an election year. Next he's gonna can the police chief or something...

Posted by news intern Ben Steiner

You: Bored, sitting on a computer all day, wishing there were something to do.

Me: Sitting on a computer all day posting awesome stuff for you to do on our News & Politics Event Calendar.

The Calendar: Stuffed full of city council hearings on aPodments, galas packed with liberals, lectures on crony capitalism, touching documentaries, immigration reform rallies, and HAND-JOB LESSONS!!! (And then there's lots of totally top-secret stuff that I can't post on Slog or I'd have to break your legs but you can look at over here.)

Now: Go to the Stranger's News & Politics Event Calendar and enjoy life more than ever before. Want to suggest a news or politics event for the best calendar on earth? E-mail me.

Posted by news intern Ben Steiner

Seattle Works is a local organization devoted to connecting people to meaningful, career-building volunteer opportunities in the non-profit sector. Like the non-profits they serve, they need your help to stay funded. That's why you're going to sign up for Seattle Works Day, held on Saturday May 18 starting at 12 p.m.

Your day will start at noon when you will join a team of other volunteers for a few hours of awesome volunteer work. There are all kinds of projects you can join in on, and they range from organizing a library at Sanislo Elementary to working at ROOTS Young Adult Shelter. Then, at 3:30, you will go to the Seattle Center's Fisher Pavillion for food, drink, fun, and a free T-shirt. Who knows, you might even make a new friend. All for just $30.

Sign up here.

(Like what you see? This is just one of many awesome events we are posting all the time on our news-and-politics events calendar!)

Posted by news intern Ben Steiner

If you, like me, religiously attended Jewish summer camp growing up, you have a Fear of Missing Out (FOMO). You can't eat because somewhere in the city, kickball is happening. You can't sleep because ditto goes for talent pageants. Fighting FOMO is tough, but I have a little trick for fighting this pervasive fear. Come closer and I'll tell you.

Closer.

My secret is called The Stranger's News-and-Politics calendar, which handily tracks all the fun politics and newsy events you don't want to miss. Come closer and I'll give you a taste.

Closer.
Even closer!

Continue reading »

Posted by news intern Ben Steiner

Sanctions are tightening and loosening, threats are flying, and the only infographics available to explain the ongoing conflict with Iran is Israeli prime minister Netanyahu's 5th grade-level bomb illustration. Reliable information on Iran is becoming increasingly difficult to come by.

That's why you should go to "Iran: the Nuclear Impasse and the Prospect of War," at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Capitol Hill's St. Mark's Cathedral. While there, you will hear from a panel of local experts on why they believe "negotiations are the only path to resolve conflict with Iran. Military confrontations and acts of terror like assassinations and cyber-terror will fail."

Speakers will include local activist and author of Tikun Olam, Richard Silverstein; president of the Iranian-American Council's Washington chapter, Reza Firouzbakht; and the former president of United Nation's Association's Seattle chapter, Dick Blakney.

No war, no sanctions. Diplomacy is the only solution.

(PS — This is one of dozens of AWESOME EVENTS that appear on The Stranger's very own hot-buttered, fudge-slathered politics-and-news calendar.)

Posted by news intern Ben Steiner

Don't just spend your Valentine's Day eating chocolate and reading The Stranger. Spend it challenging rape and rape culture with One Billion Rising. Organizers are "inviting ONE BILLION women and those who love them to DANCE, RISE UP, and DEMAND an end to this violence." Show your solidarity with One Billion Rising today between 4 and 7 p.m. at Westlake Park in downtown Seattle. There will be dancing, dance performances, and a brand-new dance for everyone to learn!

Photos from last week's Garfunkel and Oates performance at Snoqualmie Casino, and a party to celebrate The Stranger's arts and performance quarterly, A&P.

• Kelly O
• Garfunkel, Oates, and some random guy...

Continue reading »

Here's plenty of ideas, from "Seattle's Sexiest Halloween Party!" Have yourself a looky-loo! Photos may be NSFW.

• Kelly O

Posted by news intern Chelsea Kellogg

If you're one of those "independent thinkers" who doesn't rely on—or altogether trust—our handy SECB endorsement cheat sheet (due out this week, squee) to fill out your ballot, tomorrow's your shot to personally vet a herd of candidates before you vote.

On Tuesday, October 16, the nonpartisan, nonprofit group, the Seattle City Club, is hosting a booze-filled soiree for people who want face time with this season's hottest* candidates. The booze-gnosh-political-party-platter begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Seattle Center Armory (305 Harrison St.).

A whole array of political frenemies will be attending the bash, including:

Ron Bemis, candidate US Congress (7th CD)
Representative for Jim McDermott, candidate US Congress (7th CD)

Bob Hasegawa, candidate State Senate (11th LD)
Kristin Thompson, candidate State Senate (11th LD)

Reuven Carlyle, candidate State Representative (36th LD-1)

Noel Frame, candidate State Representative (36th LD-2)

Steve Strachan, candidate King County Sheriff
John Urquhart, candidate King County Sheriff

Sheryl Gordon McCloud, candidate State Supreme Court (Position No. 9)

Yes on 1240, Charter Schools Initiative
No on I-1240, Charter Schools Initiative
People for our Public Schools, No on I-1240, Charter Schools Initiative

Vote No on I-502, Marijuana Legalization
New Approach Washington (Yes on I-502), Marijuana Legalization

Preserve Marriage Washington (No on Referendum 74), same-sex marriage
Washington United for Marriage (Yes on Referendum 74), same-sex marriage

If you're afraid of missing the 6:00 p.m. Presidential and 8:00 p.m. Gubernatorial debates, don't worry—they'll be broadcast at the Armory. And if the alcohol gods favor us, we may see a smack down (or at least some involved yelling) by the end of the night.

*Debatable.

The Stranger is hosting free parties for all the debates, for voting, and on Election Night. We'll start with the voting party, which is a new thing. Look at this pretty ad for it:

• Mary Traverse

It speaks for itself, I suppose, because that's what ads do. But did you see all the nifty pols who are going to be there? A congressman, the mayor, sociable city council folk, and so many more. Rob McKenna has not replied to our invitation. So vote with us—and every politician but Rob—on October 23 at that gay-ass new club called Q (it looks neato in there).

Debates! There are three more of them, and if the last debate served to warn us, they are best experienced among company who can talk you out of suicide and within a few paces of a bar. They're all at Havana and the schedule goes: vice-presidential debate on Thursday, October 11 at 6:00 p.m.; presidential debate in a town-hall format on Tuesday, October 16, at 6:00 p.m.; and a presidential debate on foreign policy on Monday, October 22 at 6:00 p.m. Our first debate party at Havana was crowded, so get there early for a drink. Doors at 5:00 p.m. We'll live-blog the whole thing.

Finally, join us at the Showbox downtown on Election Night! Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. for the first results—as they roll in from the East Coast. We'll be there till we have Washington State's results for gay marriage, legal pot, and Rob McKenna's career. There is so much for us to share.

The Stranger is hosting free parties for all the debates, for voting, and on Election Night. We'll start with the voting party, which is a new thing. Look at this pretty ad for it:

• Mary Traverse

It speaks for itself, I suppose, because that's what ads do. But did you see all the nifty pols who are going to be there? A congressman, the mayor, sociable city council folk, and so many more. Rob McKenna has not replied to our invitation. So vote with us—and every politician but Rob—on October 23 at that gay-ass new club called Q (it looks neato in there).

Debates! There are three more of them, and if the last debate served to warn us, they are best experienced among company who can talk you out of suicide and within a few paces of a bar. They're all at Havana and the schedule goes: vice-presidential debate on Thursday, October 11 at 6:00 p.m.; presidential debate in a town-hall format on Tuesday, October 16, at 6:00 p.m.; and a presidential debate on foreign policy on Monday, October 22 at 6:00 p.m. Our first debate party at Havana was crowded, so get there early for a drink. Doors at 5:00 p.m. We'll live-blog the whole thing.

Finally, join us at the Showbox downtown on Election Night! Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. for the first results—as they roll in from the East Coast. We'll be there till we have Washington State's results for gay marriage, legal pot, and Rob McKenna's career. There is so much for us to share.

Greetings: I was wondering if you had a list of psychic or metaphysical fairs that occur in Washington throughout the year and dates, times, and places of where they occur. Thanks.

Ray Weatherford

That calendar is long retired. We laid off the metaphysical affairs editors years ago, after the Medium Depression. Can anyone help Ray out?

Right over here!