Take a hike.
WANDER
On-Site
What: Wend your way through snaking paths overlooking the Sound and sleuth site-specific works by artists Gretchen Bennett, Nicholas Nyland, and Carolina Silva.
Why: Nyland’s hefty, knotted nautical ropes; Bennett’s embellished walking stick; and Silva’s Air Below Ground, a stagelike structure showcasing installations and performances throughout the summer.
When: Thru Oct. 31. Party in the Park (with Hey Marseilles, food carts, and a bar), Fri., 8 p.m.-midnight.
Where: Olympic Sculpture Park, PACCAR Pavilion, 2901 Western Ave. (206-654-3100). Park admission and exhibit are free. Party tickets ($75) online at seattleartmuseum.org.
FLOAT
Four-Hour Ecology Rafting Tour
What: An educational ride ($99 per person, $449 for up to six) down the Skagit River with a lesson in life cycles (salmon, char, trout), a look at eagles, and a peek at wetlands.
Why: Science. It’s alive.
When: Call 425-238-3537 or email dddicksons@aol.com to book a date. Tours depart at 8 a.m. & 1 p.m.
Where: Skagit River Resort, The Eatery Restaurant, N. Cascades Hwy., milepost 103.5, Marblemount.
WATCH
NW New Works Festival: Mainstage Theater Showcase
What: The best of the best new performance pieces from the likes of Aluminum Siding & Mattisonthemove, DAE’s Haruko Nishimura, Shannon Stewart, and art band The Blank Department.
Why: Bizarre explorations into relationships, nature, and our own “animal mobility” on a paper stage.
When: Sat. & Sun., 8 p.m.
Where: On the Boards, 100 W. Roy St. Tickets ($14 for one show, $20 for a double) at 206-217-9888 or online at ontheboards.org.
NIBBLE
Cheese Class: Celebrating the Northwest
What: Local author Tami Parr (Artisan Cheese of the Pacific Northwest) talks you through Washington and Oregon fromage, from local favorites like WSU’s Cougar Gold cheddar to lesser-known varieties like Nonna Cappa, Yarmuth Farm’s buttery goat cheese.
Why: You’re a curd nerd. Or Dad is, and you need a last-minute present you know he’ll adore.
When: Sun., 6-8 p.m.
Where: The Calf & Kid, 1531 Melrose Ave. R.S.V.P. (required) in person or to 206-467-5447. Cost is $45.
Photo: Adriana Grant
