Things To Do In Arlington

Sample rare brews at the Seattle International Beerfest, BYOP (bring your own pillow) to a Frozen sing-along, and groove to Jack White at Paramount Theater. Later in the week, the Cougars kick off the season against the Scarlet Knights, and Arabica Lounge celebrates chess and damn fine pie with a Twin Peaks–inspired night. Have fun, and as always, check out Groupon for more things to do in Seattle. Seattle International Beerfest Lower Queen Anne | Friday, August 22–Sunday, August 24 This three-day festival celebrating rare and hard-to-find beers gathers together 200 brews from 16 countries right beneath the Space Needle. Admission includes 10 beer tickets, a souvenir glass, and reentry all weekend. Live musical acts including The Haggis Brothers and Jukehouse Hounds provide the soundtrack as guests sip 4-ounce pours on the lawn. (Seattle Center Fisher Pavilion; 305 Harrison St.; $25 in advance, $30 at the door; buy tickets here) Frozen Sing-Along Northgate | Monday, August 25, 5 p.m.–7:30 p.m. If didn’t spend your summer belting out “Let It Go” in public, well, better late than never. Bring the whole family for this movie night and sing-along at the Northgate branch of the Seattle Public Library. The library will be providing free ice pops, but pillows (for sitting) are BYO. (10548 5th Ave. NE; free) Jack White Downtown | Tuesday, August 26, 7:30 p.m. The former White Stripes frontman hits the Paramount Theatre on tour to promote his second solo album, Lazaretto, which debuted at No. 100 on the Billboard 200 chart and smashed a two-decade-long record for most vinyl albums sold in a week. Pitchfork reviewer Stephen M. Deusner called the album “the densest, fullest, craziest, and most indulgent that White has sounded.” (911 Pine St.; from $70; also playing on Monday, August 25, at 7 p.m.; buy tickets here) Washington State vs. Rutgers SoDo | Thursday, August 28, 7 p.m. The Cougars go head-to-head with the Scarlet Knights for the 2014 season opener. Doors open at 6 p.m., but those who show up early can enjoy free activities—including kid-friendly inflatables and performances from the WSU marching band—to celebrate kick-off day. (CenturyLink Field; 800 Occidental Ave. S; $15 with Groupon) Twin Peaks Chess Night Capitol Hill | Friday, August 29 at 7 p.m. Once a month, the breakfast and brunch spot Arabica Lounge stays open late to host a Twin Peaks–themed event it bills as “an evening of backwards talking, damn fine drinks, and friendly chess.” Expect TVs screening episodes of the cult-favorite show, plus themed drinks. Oh, and pie. Of course pie. (1550 E Olive Way; no cover)

Seattle is an active town, but during the gray wet days of winter, it can be difficult to get motivated to head outside for a walk or jog. But for the outdoorsy type, fun in the fresh air can be crucial to counteract the winter blahs. This is where snowshoeing comes in. It’s a less risky winter sport than downhill skiing, and a more accessible one, too. And fortunately, here in Seattle, we have many resources to help the novice get started. Free lectures Outdoor emporium REI is the spot to pick up gear and clothing, but they also offer a ton of free public programs as well. Each winter, their calendar is full of free talks on winter sports, including snowshoeing, and these are a great way to learn more about the sport before committing to heading out to the cold. These are usually offered weekday evenings, and rotated through their various Seattle-area locations (downtown, Alderwood, Issaquah, Southcenter, Redmond, even farther afield to Tacoma, Silverdale and Olympia). The programs usually require registration and do fill up, but often they can accommodate walk-ins, so it’s worth giving the local store a call even if an event does appear to be full. Organized outings After learning the basics indoors, it’s time to head out! But as a novice, one might not want to invest in pricey equipment or venture out on the trail without a little onsite guidance from experts. Puget Sound parks and recreation departments can help with both of those. The parks departments of several Puget Sound-area cities – including Everett, Edmonds, Bellevue, and Bainbridge Island – offer a wide array of snowshoe expeditions throughout the winter. They can range from beginner outings to more strenuous intermediate trips.  Snowshoes and transportation to the site are usually included in the overall cost, and most event listings include the acceptable age range for participants to help target family-friendly events. Event info and registration can be found on each parks department’s program registration site or in seasonal program brochures. REI, in addition to their free lectures, also offers outings, although theirs can be a little pricier than the parks events. Like the park events, equipment and transportation are usually provided. On one’s own Once up to speed on the process, and after getting some real-time instruction from the experts, now it’s time to plan one’s own trips. The Washington Trails Association website is the best place to check first. Their Winter Recreation Info page tracks weather conditions and has safety tips.  They also have listings of great snowshoe trails, and fellow users leave trail reports to keep others up to date on conditions and considerations.

On this week’s agenda: the Torchlight Parade, Pista sa Nayon festival, and an aquavit workshop at the Swedish Club. Plus, circus performers open a screening of Sixteen Candles and psychedelic bands take over Sunset Tavern. Have fun and as always, check Groupon for even more great things to do in Seattle. Torchlight Parade Downtown | Saturday, July 26, 7:30 p.m. Some might say it isn't officially summer until you've dragged your couch out onto Fourth Avenue and used it to claim your parade viewing spot. And those same people would probably argue that a night of pirates, giant balloons, teddy-bear drill teams, and glow-in-the-dark floats totally beats a night of bar hopping. We completely agree. (Seattle Center/Fourth Avenue; free) Pista sa Nayon Filipino Festival Seward Park | Sunday, July 27, 9 a.m.–8 p.m. Literally translating to “town festival,” Pista sa Nayon celebrates Seattle's Filipino American population with a full day of food, games, crafts, and live entertainment. The fest—which is expected to draw thousands to Seward Park—is in its 24th year in Seattle, but the tradition dates back hundreds of years to a time when rural townfolk would gather to celebrate a fruitful harvest. (5902 Lake Washington Blvd. S; free) Aquavit Workshop at Swedish Club Westlake | Tuesday, July 29, 2 p.m.–4 p.m. If you're not a mixologist or of Scandinavian descent, chances are you don't know much about aquavit, other than that it has a cool name and goes well with lutefisk—whatever that is. This class, presented by Old Ballard Liquor Co., will introduce you to the history, production, and flavor profiles of the Scandinavian spirit (flavored with caraway, by the way) and will include tastings and food pairings—it is a digestif, after all. (Swedish Club, 1920 Dexter Ave. N; $75) Sixteen Candles at Magnuson Park Wedgwood | Thursday, July 31, 7 p.m. Magnuson Park seems intent on making dreams come true this summer. In case the timeless appeal of the John Hughes classic isn't enough for you, the park is pairing its nighttime flicks with food trucks, movie trivia, and live circus performers from The Cabiri. Oh, and your dog can come too.(7400 Sand Point Way NE; $5) Northwest Psych Fest Ballard | Friday, August 1, 8 p.m. Day one of the two-day psychedelic music fest features sets from Crack Sabbath, Fungal Abyss, and frenzied jazz dynamos Diminished Men. Saturday's lineup includes Kinski, Master Musician of Bukkake, and Portland-based bands Rick Bain and the Genius Position and Wooden Indian Burial Ground, among others.(Sunset Tavern, 5433 Ballard Ave. NW; $12; buy tickets here) Master Musician of Bukkake photo courtesy of Fotografien: A. Klich, R. Schweier, J. Rillich