If you live in Seattle, there’s a good chance that you like books. Whether you fall asleep reading your Kindle every night (and pray that you don’t chuck it across the room during an eventful dream, like me) or steadfastly horde old-school paperback and hardback tomes (like our friend Alida, who can’t go digital because she loves the way books smell), here’s the perfect event to thaw the Seattle Freeze and give you some great new reading material. It’s called Moveable Type: A Literary Mixer, and it happens at Vermillion Gallery this Thursday, April 25.

The idea is simple. You bring your favorite book (or any book you really love) to Vermillion Art Gallery and Wine Bar at 7:30pm. Get yourself a glass of wine to calm those nerves (meeting people is scary, and Vermillion has great wine), and possibly a cheese plate (they also have great cheese), and strike out into the crowd. You might find an affable gent who loves Malcolm Gladwell as much as you do, strike up a conversation, start dating, get married and have 2.4 children! Or, you might find a cool chick who has a soft spot for 19th century Russian literature, and the two of you can go start a book club for smart people. The possibilities are really endless.

You live in Seattle, so it’s pretty much required that you love books and need a little bit of extra socialization. So satisfy both of those to-dos and get a couple of good book recommendations at Vermillion’s Literary Mixer this Thursday, April 25 at 7:30pm. Then tell me what I should read next on Facebook, Twitter or the comment section below.

Being a nerd is pretty cool these days.  This Saturday, March 30^th from 6:00pm-9:00pm at Q night club, you can finally let your inner geek get down on the dance floor at Yelps Geeks Out – Nerdy Dancing: A Glow In The Dark Dance Party!

Now is the time to freshen up on your Pythagorean Theorem and even watch an episode or two of “The Big Bang Theory”.  You’ll want to know what everyone is talking about at Seattle’s first Nerd Rave!  Not only is this geek party free, there will be all kinds of free goodies from Pop Chips, Kind Snacks, Dianne’s Delights and Theo Chocolate.

What fun is Nerdy Dancing if you can’t get your nerdy drink on? Drinks are not free, but close to it.  Tokens for alcoholic beverages are a minimum $1 donation and all proceeds will benefit The World Is Fun (TWIF), a local non-profit connecting volunteers and corporations to local charities that need help.  Nothing like getting a nerd buzz while helping out our community!

After you’ve downed a Bacardi and Coke or sampled the newest energy drink from Red Bull, you can start decorating your geeky self with FREE glow in the dark swag.  Wear some glow in the dark lip balm, slap on a bracelet and get super geeky with glow in the dark body and fabric paint.  This way when you are too shy to dance, you will at least be glowing in the dark!

If you need a ride to and from the party…that’s ok!  SideCar Seattle is offering free rides to the Nerdy Dance and home again (until 10:00pm).  All you have to do is download the SideCar Seattle app and set up your ride info. With all the free goodness, there is no reason why you can’t join in on the good nerdy fun and meet other like-minded geeks and geekets. Unleash your inner nerd this Saturday by joining Yelp (membership is free) and RSVP to Yelps Geeks Out – Nerdy Dancing: A Glow In The Dark Dance Party!

Will you wear penny loafers or a Bazinga tee this Sat at Q?  Tell us the geekiest thing you’ll be wearing on Twitter, Facebook, or in the comment section below!

(Note: This post originally ran on 9/4/12. But I just used this amazing free service again, and was once again so in love with it that I wanted to reshare with new readers. Get yourself some book recommendations!)

The Seattle Public Library never ceases to amaze me. Our main library one of the coolest buildings ever in the history of the universe, I can get DVDs of HBO shows that aren’t available (legally) anywhere online and can I download FREE ebooks onto my Kindle with just a few clicks- it’s no wonder we’ve developed a weird subculture that turns librarians into hipster folk-heroes. But now SPL has gone and blown my mind again: their new(ish) “Next Five Books” program gives you personalized reading recommendations from a real, live librarian based on your favorite past reads. And, of course, it’s FREE!

(photo courtesy of flickr user jlz)

The service is easy. You go here and basically tell a librarian what you like to read (favorite books, genres, formats, etc) and what you don’t. A few days later, you get a personal email sent your way with five book recommendations. It’s like having your own personal book concierge in your back pocket- no more staring forlornly at your monitor while you wait for your waitlist to catch up to you.

In my case, I described my penchant for novels that are “a little cerebral and a little depressing, but not too much of either), as well as a weakness for fantasy/adventure novels aimed at 12-year-old girls (yeah, I freaking loved The Hunger Games and I’m not afraid to admit it). Just two days later I got a sweet reply from David. Not only did he recommend five books that weren’t on my radar yet, he told me why he thought each one was right for me based on the picks and pans I sent him. You can see the list of recommendations he made here. So far I’m almost done with Mathilda Savitch, which is just as good as David recommended.

If you’re in need of some new reading material, you’re crazy to pass up this awesome FREE service. It’s yet another example of the Seattle Public Library being awesome, so please please please go support them. And then tell us what you’re reading on Facebook, Twitter or in the comment section below!

Sick of overpriced red roses and overhyped champagne kisses? Yeah, me too. Good news: Once Valentine’s Day is over, Seattle gets its nerd-cred back again when the EMP debuts its newest exhibit, The Art of Video Games, on February 15, 2013. If you love vegging out to any video game, whether it’s via vintage NES or your iPhone 5, you’re going to want to check this out. And if you’re super nerdy (aka awesome), you can’t miss Game Night this Friday, February 15.

Game Night kicks off EMP’s latest exhibit with a bang. For a $15 entrance fee, you can geek out to keynote speakers talking about video game art, development and more. Or you can skip the educational portion and strut your stuff at one of several video game tournaments, featuring everything from classic tabletop games to a test arcade where experimental video game designers are show-casing your stuff.

You also get first-dibs access to the new Art of Video Games exhibit they’re running. Find out what made Super Mario so super, and learn where Sonic got that sweet ‘do. Even if you can’t come hang Friday night, the exhibit is limited-time only, so get there ASAP. Admit it — you liked Duck Hunter as muchas I did.

What is your most favorite video game ever? Tell us on Facebook, Twitter or leave a comment below.

Olson Kundig, the amazing architecture firm that brought a fully-functioning urban mushroom farm to Pioneer Square last year has done it again, and this time I might be even more excited. Plan a lunch excursion to Pioneer Square in the next few weeks because they’ve turned their digs on Occidental Avenue into a FREE book exchange called The Free Book Incident. If you love books, you really can’t miss this.

The Free Book Incident isn’t a store — there’s no buying — and it isn’t a library — there’s no returning — it’s a place to go and swap books. Got a favorite that you’ve already pored through? Pass it on. Need to beef up your bookshelves? Come on down and give The Free Book Incident a perusal. According to their website, The Free Book Incident is designed “the organic experiences that occur when one searches for a new book.” So go start your search.

And give yourself some time to search, because since this is the brainchild of a fancy-pants architecture firm, the books are part of an interactive exhibit. Think teetering bookshelves that are really pieces of interactive kinetic art.

The Free Book Incident is open Monday through Friday, from 11:30am until 1:30pm daily, and should be around through February. In addition, they will also be hosting a bunch of cool events at other times and days, like author readings, meet-ups and more. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook for daily updates. And seriously, do yourself a favor and spend a couple of lunch breaks searching for something wonderful to read.

The Free Book Incident is located at 159 S. Jackson Street, Seattle, WA 98104,

Thursday night is jam packed with free literary activities on Capitol Hill and First Hill.  It’s all part of Seattle’s [AB1] first ever Lit Crawl.  Think Capitol Hill Arts Walk meets The Hideout meets Elliot Bay Bookstore.  [AB2] It’s a literary pub-crawl, first invented by San Francisco’s Litquake Festival, is a night of literary chaos designed to bring free literature to the streets in a fun and socially engaging way.  This Thursday you (and the rest of Seattle’s book nerds) can bar hop from Pill Hill to Cap Hill as you all join in the festivities from 5:00pm until well beyond your work night curfew.

Photo courtesy of: http://litcrawl.org/seattle/2012-lit-crawl-seattle-schedule

The First Seattle Lit Crawl is part of the Heineken City Arts Fest.  The City Arts Fest features a variety of artistic talents that spans four days from Wed Oct. 17^th through Sat Oct. 20^th.   Not all shows for the Seattle City Arts Fest are free; in fact, the Lit Crawl is the only free event of the night (excluding the cost of any ice-cold beers you buy and a taxi Uber ride home.  Go totally straightedge and you can enjoy watching live literary performances while guzzling fresh tap water without paying a penny!

Begin your word-nerd outing by listening to Genevieve Brazelton and City Arts editor Leah Baltus as they kick off the lit event during the 5pm happy hour at the Culture Club.   Afterwards, the Lit Crawl is split into three hour-long phases, each with a variety of performances to choose from (Click here for a full schedule).  In all, there are 17 performances with over 60 Northwest artists participating in the festivities.

You can stop by Town Hall at 6:00pm and get your laugh on with funny ladies Jennifer Worick, Jane Ganahl, Litsa Dremousis and Diane Mapes.  Or spice it up at Babeland with a 7:00pm reading by Crystal Curry and a burlesque performance by Lily Divine Productions.  At 8:00pm, join Sasquatch Books at Porchlight Coffee as Mark Baumgarten reads from his new book, “Love Rock Revolution: K Records and the Rise of Independent Music.”

From one poetic phase to the next, you and the rest of Seattle’s stumbling bibliophile’s can slowly crawl over to Hugo House at 9pm for an after party where you’ll mingle with several artists who performed throughout the night.  Poet Elizabeth Austen and novelist Peter Mountford will finish the free literary arts evening with one last reading and Book-It Repertory Theatre will perform an excerpt from Denis Johnson’s “Jesus’ Son.”

There is no better way to spend your dreary Thursday night than (drunkenly) sloshing about the rainy streets of Seattle listening to Northwest artist’s spit free poetry and prose.  Break out your galoshes, call your book club buds and find yourself at Seattle’s first Lit Crawl this Thursday Night at 5:00pm.

I was born missing the gene that gets people excited about sports. I can get behind a good tailgate or Superbowl Party, but that’s mostly because I really like chili. (In fact, if I ever find a jersey for Team Chili, I may just have to buy it.) But last week I joined some friends at a local bar to watch the first presidential debate- now THAT is a gathering I can get behind. It’s no surprise that a couple of cocktails greatly enhances the debate-viewing experience, but there were perks even for spectators not taking part in an official drinking game. Watching the debate with a crowd, and the hooting, laughter and occasional uncontrollable sarcastic outbursts is guaranteed to get you a little more invested in the upcoming election, no matter who you’re planning on voting for. Here are some of our favorite places to watch the upcoming debates:

(image from www.policymic.com)

• The Neighbor Lady: Over in the Central District, you can get some vegetarian-friendly fare, along with some cheap, stiff drinks, while Biden and Ryan go head to head.
• The Bottleneck Lounge: One of the biggest debate party venues in the city, The Bottleneck Lounge opens its doors at 4:00pm and boasts drink specials all night long.
• The Noble Fir: If you’re geeky about beer and politics, this is pretty much your happy place.
• Tini Bigs: Root for your candidate with a big martini in hand. And if you feel victorious afterward, you can always go to Hula Hula next door for some karaoke.
• Caffe Presse: Is there anywhere better to go scoff at stupid American politics than this place? Mock your candidate of choice while you snack on a cheese plate.
• The Red Door: Two words: debate bingo. Grab a seat and a bingo card at this Fremont establishment.
• Town Hall: This is a natural choice- people at Town Hall always have something smart to say. Happy hour prices on beer and wine to compliment witty thoughts.
• 74th Street Ale House: Good food and an awesome beer selection at this Greenlake establishment will ease the pain of any Sesame Street puns.
• The 5 Spot: Not just for brunch- the 5 Spot has a D.C.-themed menu right now, and they’ll be hosting all the debates with specials on martinis that match your political leanings.
• Moe Bar: In lieu of their usual drag queen shows, Moe Bar is getting political and showing “Gaffes vs. Abs: The Vice Presidential Debate.”

Where are you watching the remaining debates? Tell us your favorite venue on Facebook, Twitter or in the comment section below.

Last week I got all excited because I read about the Take a Book, Leave a Book lending library in Ballard. I love books and I love free stuff, so I thought I’d share it with you, even though I thought it was just a one-off phenomenon that wasn’t particularly geographically convenient to me, or, most likely, you. (And we all know how little Seattlites like to leave their immediate neighborhood.) But evidently this thing is kind of a phenomonem, and Little Free Libraries just like it are popping up all over our fair city. Want to find your next favorite book? Keep reading to find out where the closest Little Free Library is to you.

(image courtesy of www.littlefreelibrary.org)

Little Free Libraries are simple in theory and execution. Swing by, drop off a book you loved but aren’t going to read again, and peruse the shelf for some literary inspiration to take home. It’s community and goodwill and all kinds of other good things at their finest- not to mention a potential boon for book-lovers all over Seattle.

(image courtesy of www.littlefreelibrary.org)

So where do you find your nearest library? Local blogs covering Ballard, Queen Anne, Phinney Ridge, Beacon Hill, Wedgewood and even Bellevue have covered Little Free Libraries popping up in their neck of the woods. But there are more than the local blog scene can cover. Go to www.LittleFreeLibrary.org to find the nearest one to you.

I love how these are popping up just in time for fireplace weather to really get started. What’s the last great book you read? (For me it was The Family Fang, the riveting story of a family of performance artists.) Share your reading recommendations of Facebook, Twitter and in the comment section below!

And now we return to another favorite Yay-Today topic: books! I know you already have a crazy long library queue ready to go thanks to the “Your Next Five” program at Seattle Public Library that we told you about a couple of weeks ago, but here’s a great way to find some new reading material while you wait for your next library book to become available: the new Take a Book, Leave a Book lending library on the corner of 13th Ave NW and NW 77th in Ballard.

(Image found on www.myballard.com)

So yeah, the location may not necesasrily be part of your everyday commute. But this is so cute, and so useful, and so rife with the possibility of providing hours of entertainment that you absolutely have to strike out north, even if it means figuring out confusing new bus schedules. Show up with a book that you’ve already read and want somebody else to love, find a book that speaks to you, and peruse the attached notebook so you can giggle over the notes left by previous lenders and reading enthusiasts.

One of my favorite things about travelling is stumbling into those random little hotels or vacation rentals that have a library populated by what’s been left behind by previous vacationers. I can spend hours pouring through that random books that pop up- where else can you find physics textbooks mixed in with a rich collection of trashy romance novels? Since I can’t afford to be on vacation every day- sigh- the fact that I can relive this experience in Ballard sounds pretty awesome to me.

So book-lovers- what are you hoping to find in the Take a Book, Leave a Book library? Tell us what’s on your reading wish-list on Facebook, Twitter or leave a comment below.

First I was going to tell you guys all about Kelly O’Briens fabulous Bingo nights happening every Wednesday. But then I got sidetracked…

Photo courtesy of Laura Crowell.

Because holy crap, Taylor Shellfish is having a fun hump day Shellfish-estival! Today! In Bow! It’s like all my favorite things wrapped up and ready–just for me. Curse you full-time-no-more-vacation-days-left-thanks-for-the-insurance-and-still-keeping-me-hired job!

But then I discovered that Cupcake Royale is opening downtown (am I the last to know?!). Go on down there from 5-7 and enjoy the samples, the live music, and even a PRIZE wheel. What do I choose to do now?

Oh wait, but the decision to do something very Seattle is getting harder and harder. Because there’s not just one movie in the park, but I count two this week. Either see Hugo at Marymoor or The Adventures of Tintin at Magnuson Park. There will even be circus acts and food trucks!

So just in case you have an eeny meenie miney moe situation going on in that noggin of yours, don’t fret. I have the perfect solution. Close your eyes, point and boom, off you go! Have fun. Let us know what you do.