The Atlas Obscura is the definitive guidebook and friendly tour-guide to the world’s most wondrous places. User-generated and editor curated, the Atlas is a collaborative compendium of amazing places that aren’t found in your average guidebook.

And this month, Saturday, April 28th is Obscura Day, an international celebration of unusual places, full of expeditions, back room tours & explorations of the hidden wonders around the world. And Atlas Obscura notes two places in the Seattle area that are weird and wonderful enough to be included in the official Atlas Obscura Day celebration, the Official Bad Art Museum of Art and a tour of the Inscape Building and the Northwest Museum of Legends and Lore.

Tour #1: Atlas Obscura Day at the Official Bad Art Museum of Art, sponsored by Hendricks Gin, a “Gin made Oddly”.

All day is Atlas Obscura Day at Cafe Racer and the Official Bad Art Museum of Art.

Doors open at 10AM Saturday, April 28th. Have breakfast, peruse the Bad Art in the OBAMA, enjoy some “Hendricks Obscure Punch”.

Schedule is as follows:

2:00pm View in amazement an incredible array of bugs, marine invertebrates, isopods and lepidoptera from “Bug Man” Don Ehlen.

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3:00pm Musical performance by Operadisiac, a surreal opera comedy duo that is sure to delight. Can I share a sample video of what you may expect?… How about Operadisiac performing their own version of the Prince classic, Little Red Corvette!

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4:30pm Performance by God’s Favorite Beefcake, featuring Shmootzi The Clod of Circus Contraption fame, with music and sword swallowing and God knows what else???  Eeeek!  Check out JoDavideo’s cool videos of them performing on the very same stage last year right here. I guarantee this music will warm your heart, and scramble your brain, or your money back.

Everyone loves Shmootzi The Clod, because Shmootzi The Clod is so perfectly odd!

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6:00pm (or thereabouts) the Nu Klezmer Army will entertain with their honkin’ versions of old time favorites.

… The hijinks continue until 1am.

Tour #2: Tour of Inscape building and Northwest Museum of Legends and Lore
Peek into Seattle’s past with a tour of the city’s 77,000-square-foot former Immigration and Naturalization Services building, plus a visit to the Northwest Museum of Legends and Lore for rare D.B. Cooper, UFO, and Bigfoot-related artifacts.

Sponsored by Hendrick’s Gin, a most unusual and obscure beverage.

Come celebrate the Trolls 21st Birthday!

MacBeth is back & has some things to set straight …

Trolloween is the Birthday celebration for Seattle’s famous Fremont Troll.

October 31st is the Trolls 21st Birthday!

It is held on his Birthday October 31st at 7pm ~sharpish.
The celebration  starts in front of the Troll under the Aurora Bridge (Troll Ave & N 36th St), as he loves a good laugh and a great story.

Then revelers will be off for the annual Haunt of Fremont (a procession of costumed dancers & performers (& you) taking over the streets of Fremont.)

This 21st anniversary of the birth of the Fremont Troll, you’ll be learning about MacBeth: a wronged man, back to set things straight. Many seasoned artists and performers will present their twisted and whacky version of Shakesspeares famous tales.

Rain or dry, revelers will sing, dance, marvel, and laugh their way through the dark underbelly of  Shakespeare and Fremont.   This is an unsweetened and piquant family event with plenty of fun to scare the laughs out of any stoic kid or stogy adult.

Vamola

Costumes are always highly encouraged!

If you can lend a hand to help pull off this fabulous piece of street theater, meet by the Troll at 6:30pm.

What is Beard and Stache Fest, you ask?

It’s an entire month packed with friends, prizes, nights out, cheap eats and drinks, some friendly competition, and lots and lots (and lots!) of facial hair! So, the question you should perhaps be asking yourself is: What isn’t Beard and Stache Fest?

Registration is now open for 2011!

Sign up to show off your facial hair and support Treehouse and the foster kids of King County.

Step right up and become one of the fabulous 100 furry men that will compete for facial hair glory!

Seattle’s hairiest men to come out and have their picture taken for a great cause – Treehouse, Seattle’s non profit organization that helps foster kids in the area.

Join us Sunday, January 9th, 2011 from 1 to 4pm at The High Dive in Fremont and join the competition. Its fun and free to add your facial hair to the cause and there’s plenty of goodies and prizes in store. Participating beards and/or mustaches will be a part of a team of five, and their pictures will be displayed on individual donation cans at select locations.

So, if you can commit to having your picture displayed on a donation can to benefit an awesome foundation (I know, you think you’re not photogenic, but believe us… we think you’re adorable) then you are a perfect candidate.

More information at www.beardandstachefest.com

Cafe Racer Crafts & Curiosities

Saturday, December 18th

kicks off the first of these events,

happening every 3rd Saturday of the month

from 1pm – 6pm

at Cafe Racer

Crafts, Jewelry and Curiosities made by local artists, plus flea market items!!

Crafts & Curiosities FACEBOOK Page here

or email caferacercrafts@gmail.com

…and remember..

Cafe Racer is the official home of the

Official Bad Art museum of Art

I’m betting that if you know what fun really is,  that you’ll be there too!

A Luau Birthday Celebration at the

Official Bad Art Museum of Art

Wednesday, August 4th, 7:pm – Cafe Racer/OBAMA
5828 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle WA 98105

Cafe Racer specials featuring Food and Drink of the Islands

Music by The Ukadelics

Wednesday August 4th is the birthday of President Obama, and because Obama is a native of Honolulu, Hawaii, and because we at O.B.A.M.A. are looking for an excuse to have a party, and celebrate the Hawaiian and Tiki Culture, we’re having a Luau inspired party to celebrate OBAMA! Wear a muu-muu or Aloha shirt, have a fruity cocktail, get lei’d!

Sylvia O’Stayformore, a longtime drag hostess and fixture on Capitol hill, is taking the new light rail to explore the city. She has taken the lead pianist of her previous band, Pocket Hercules, and they are off to explore the world. First stop Orient Express. Join Sylvia and Tor Middlewood as they explore rare Bacharach, vaudeville standards, girl group songs and original compositions. It’s true intimate cabaret at it’s finest. The train cars are small so come early to get a good seat where all the action is. Dinner and Drinks are served all night.

Tor Middlewood has an abiding love for 60s Pop of all kinds, but Girl Group artists and French Pop in particular. Since he encountered reactions ranging from bewilderment to dismay when suggesting to the heterosexual musicians he’s worked with trying to work Girl Group songs into their repertoire, he thought he may as well give a drag queen performer a try. Good thing he did. He has found in Sylvia an alacrity and openness to so many kinds of music he loves, it has set the beehive, or should we say anthill, of his mind a-whirl with the possibilities.

Tor, who plays guitar as well as keyboards, has played Rock of all kinds with a plethora of musicians and can bring the RAWK with the best of them, but, feeling it’s not quite right for him to stuff a sock in his pants and perm his hair, and due to the fact that he doesn’t have a Marshall stack, has decided to turn his talent elsewhere…. for the time being. Certain songs he’s written which were turned down by other musical outfits he is in and has been in can now find an audience. He calls his pairing with Sylvia O “a little twisted, but overall, perfect. Now this is fun!”

Orient Express Restaurant and Lounge 2963 4th Ave. S. (SODO) Seattle WA. Show runs every Thursday night (January and February) from 8:00pm-10:00pm No Cover

Thursday, January 7, 2010 08:00 PM – Thursday February 25th, 2010

Restaurant reservations and information: 206-682-0683

This Sunday offers some fine one-day shopping opportunities for those on your lists with tastes toward the “alternative.” Club Motor (SoDo) hosts the gothy “Mourning Market” from noon to 6pm, and the Transcendent Church of Bass (Interbay) hosts the “Bizarre Bazaar” from 3pm to 7pm. Both are free to attend and feature a good selection of local alternative artists and craft people.

“It all began at Crypticon ’09… A group of us sinister crafters had crossed paths before but had not yet been contained in one room. So at the end of three days filled with horror and zombie filled goodness, we said goodbye until next time. But when will that be I wonder? Portland’s community had many events for us to sell our wares. But we all call Seattle our home, so why is it all business and no fun?! Miss Ginger called on the ladies to attend Dark Tea where we plotted and schemed… Mourning Market was born!”

“The Bizarre Bazaar is a community-supporting Alternative Market and Visionary Art Opening, featuring a variety of distinctive products created by local artists. We are turning the Transcendent Church of Bass into a market and filling it with art, crafts, clothing, and other epic loot. The Elixir bar will be open during the event, and downtempo DJ’s will add to the vibe. Please mark your calendars – it is free to attend, and everyone is welcome. It is a great opportunity for us to gather, connect, and support our artists by buying their creations so that they can continue to create art that is even more amazing.”

Web Sites & Directions:
Mourning Market – Club Motor, 1950 1st Avenue South, Seattle, WA?
The Bizarre Bazaar – Transcendent Church of Bass, 920 Elliott Ave W., Seattle, WA 98119

December 2, 2009 – SEATTLE, WA. The third anniversary celebration for Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery on Saturday, December 12, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM, promises to be an unforgettable affair. The event features appearances by an international cadre of compelling cartoonists and artists as well as the world premiere of PORTABLE GRINDHOUSE with editor Jacques Boyreau. An entertaining panel discussion will be held the following Sunday afternoon, December 13.

PORTABLE GRINDHOUSE: The Lost Art of the VHS Box collects colorful cover art from a selection of vintage exploitation genre films. Cleverly packaged in a VHS slipcase, this anthology celebrates the film format that changed pop culture forever. On opening night Portland-based editor and B movie aficionado Jacques Boyreau will unveil a monumental site-specific “Portable Grindhouse” mural designed by Candice Schroeder. Boyreau commissioned Schroeder to create an equally impressive mural for his “SuperTrash” movie memorabilia exhibition currently on display at the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh.

December 12 also marks the third anniversary of Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery. To celebrate the occasion, Fantagraphics Books has assembled an amazing group of cartoonists to socialize and sign books. Among the stellar line-up of guests: Femke Hiemstra (ROCK CANDY) from Amsterdam, Paul Hornschemeier (ALL & SUNDRY) and Jay Ryan (BEASTS!) from Chicago, Portland’s Dame Darcy (MEAT CAKE), and Seattle’s own Peter Bagge (HATE), Jim Woodring (FRANK), Ellen Forney (LUST), Scott Musgrove (THE LATE FAUNA OF EARLY NORTH AMERICA), and Jim Blanchard (TRUCKER FAGS IN DENIAL.) Musical entertainment will be provided by Bagge’s pop combo CAN YOU IMAGINE? featuring Steve Fisk and an opening set by the enchanting DAME DARCY.

On Sunday, December 13 from 4:00 to 6:00 PM, Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery presents a panel discussion focusing on PORTABLE GRINDHOUSE. Five distinguished experts in the field will screen short clips from their favorite exploitation film and discuss its influence on their work, as well as the broader social implications of the genre.

Panelists include artist Lisa Petrucci (KICKASS KUTIES) of Something Weird, cartoonist Marc Palm of Scarecrow Video, Seattle Times pop culture critic Mark Rahner with film critic and curator Robert Horton, co-writers of horror comic ROTTEN. The panel is moderated by PORTABLE GRINDHOUSE editor Jacques Boyreau and will be followed by a book signing and reception. Admission is free as always.

Who doesn’t love a circus? Who doesn’t love freaks? Seattle’s own PURE Cirkus returns with freaks, suspensions, jello wrestlers and fire performers this Wednesday Nov. 25th at Heavens nightclub (the former Catwalk in Pioneer Square).

Advanced tickets and more info on the SST / PURE Cirkus Roadshow

Hijinks From HazardFactory

The industrial artists of HazardFactory apply their practiced predilection for mechanized mayhem to the humble sport of miniature golf. Forget everything you expect and be prepared for innovative chaos. Compete with your chums during 21+ evenings.

Will your ball survive the destruction zone? What will you do to score when a hole dodges your perfect putt? Take on tricky mechanisms. Launch balls at moving targets. Levitation. Centripetal Actuators. Accelerator Pads. Ball Bouncers. Secret passages.

Each and every hole is dripping with excitement!
21+ fun gets your balls smashed and your holes trashed late into the night. Bring the family to one of our kid friendly matinees where technical ambassadors will explain the science behind ball levitators, elevators, launchers, and the myriad of other mind blowing tricks that power the course.

Seriously malicious competition is par for the course. The winner in a group of 4+ gets receives a free drink during happy hour. Seattle’s first annual Smash Putt! Brought to you by the same folks that bring you the annual summer Power Tool Races.

Drop it in your calendar pronto, cause you can only tee off during the last 3 weekends of November! 

More Smash Putt! INFO and details?

Check it all out here on their website

Trolloween is the Birthday celebration for Seattle’s famous Fremont Troll.

October 31st is the Trolls 20th Birthday!

It is held on his Birthday October 31st at 7pm sharp.
The celebration  starts with the Troll under the Aurora Bridge (Troll Ave & N 36th St), as he loves a good laugh and a great story.   Then revelers will be off for the annual Haunt of Fremont (a procession of costumed dancers & performers (& you) taking over the streets of Fremont.)

This 20th anniversary of the birth of the Fremont Troll, you’ll be experiencing the tale of  Dante’s Inferno. Many seasoned artists and performers will present their twisted and whacky version of this dark tale, known to us as: ‘Just a little lover’s spat ~ honey’.

Rain or dry, revelers will sing, dance, marvel, and laugh their way through the dark underbelly of Dante and Fremont.   This is an unsweetened and piquant family event with plenty of fun to scare the laughs out of any stoic kid or stogy adult.

Vamola

Come dressed as your favorite dead celebrity and take part in our costume walk across the final stage, under the Fremont Bridge, for the appreciation of your community.

If you can lend a hand to help pull off this fabulous piece of street theater, meet by the Troll at 6:30pm & check in with the volunteer coordinator to get a job.

p.s. Find your place in hell by taking this quiz: http://www.4degreez.com/misc/dante-inferno-test.mv

Here is a group pool set of photos from the Zombie Walk in the Pacific NW, which took place on Saturday 10/10/09. Just click to begin the slideshow.

For those with a predilection for things dark and heathen, it’s well worth a trip down to Portland for the Conflux Dark Arts Festival this Friday and Saturday. Last year’s event was very strong and varied in musical and visual performances and deserved even a larger audience than it had. This year’s event features steampunk favorites Abney Park and Seattle goth veterans Legion Within among many other performances.

For information and tickets see the Conflux MySpace page.

(For additional photos of last year’s event, see Pete’s Conflux flickr set.)