Friday – First Friday: “Interactivity” @ McLeod Residence – I’ve been looking forward to this. Mechanical Butterfiles? Biometrics? Lasers? Crazy hi-tech mirrors? I can’t wait! Metroblogger Samantha tells all…

Friday – Three Imaginary Girls 5th Birthday Party @ Crocodile – Boat album release & The Shaky Hands & Dolour album release & The Western States Motel. Hipsters aplenty, I’m sure.

Friday-Sunday – Aleister Crowley’s The Rite of Venus: a rock opera @ Richard Hugo House – A “musical adaptation of the infamous poets’ modern interpretation of the Eleusian mysteries. Featuring the poetry of Shelley, Swineburn and Crowley himself, with modern music by local artists and a bevy of belly-dancers.”

Friday-Saturday midnight – “Footloose” @ Egyptian Cinema – Let’s hear it for the boy, while we’re dancing in the sheets.

Friday-12th – Seattle Noir City Festival @ SIFF – A film noir festival. ‘Cause you don’t get enough of the tough guys, the dames, the crime, and the seamy, seedy side of the city by going to the Rock Bottom in Bellevue.

Saturday 10 a.m. – 36th Annual Seafair Milk Carton Derby @ sound end of Green Lake – Watch people race boats made from milk cartons. Or watch them sink. Either way. Probably a little of both.

Saturday 11 a.m. – Pioneer Square Fire Festival @ Pioneer Square – Features “the Firefighter Combat Challenge: The Toughest 2 Minutes in Sports. Competitors must climb a 5-story tower, hoist, chop, drag hoses and rescue a life-sized, 175 lb. “victim” as they race against themselves, their opponent and the clock.” And then, when they are done, they strip down to pose for those fundraising calendars that the gals seem to like so much. Ha. Metroblogger Zee give you the skinny.

Saturday 12:30 p.m. – 10th Anniversary of Hong Kong’s Return to China Celebration @ Emerald Downs Race Track, Auburn – “Buffet Lunch with prime ribs and salmon to name a few delicious dishes. We will have some presentations, games, and door prizes. This event is sponsored by Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office. You will able to meet some of the officals from that office.” – I guess they’re riffing on that Hong Kong horse race dart gun conspiracy from earlier this year. Good excuse to eat prime ribs while you bet on the ponies.

Saturday 11:30 a.m. – Seafair Pirates Landing @ Alki Beach – Why do we like pirates so much? I don’t know, we just do.

Saturday – Ballard Street Scramble – From Zee: A clever race in which competitors receive a map with 30 checkpoint locations and a scorecard with a description of a feature to be found at each checkpoint, such as “statue of woman” or “public pier”. You (and your team, if you have one) then plot your course to visit as many checkpoints as you can within 90 minutes. Each checkpoint has an assigned point value and the winners of the event are those teams or individuals with the highest score. Enjoy post-race refreshments while judges tally the scores and then pass out award ribbons. Scramble starts at 10 am.

Saturday – Wallingford Seafair Kiddies Parade and Street Fair – From Zee: There are essentially two types of people: those who like parades and those who don’t. The first group can be further divided into “those who think little kids in costumes are adorable” and those who do not. If you fit into either of the latter groups, this event is not for you, but for those of you who fit into the former groups, this is a no-miss event. The Street Fair starts at 10 am at Wallingford & N. 45th, the Parade runs from N. 45th & Corliss to Woodlawn and begins at 11 am.

Saturday-Sunday – Tivoli / Viking Days @ Nordic Museum, Ballard – “Vikings clad in authentic costumes will demonstrate all aspects of Viking life.” Does that include the pillaging? It better include pillaging. I’d go for the Swedish Pancake breakfast.

Saturday – Interpol CD release party @ Comet Tavern – The bass player looks and acts like “A Fish Called Wanda“-era Kevin Kline would, if he were to portray a bass player in a much-cooler-than-you-are rock band. Put on a fake mustache and get on down to the Comet, to fool people.

Saturday – “Neverending Story” @ Fremont Outdoor Cinema – A friend of mine was aghast that I’ve never seen this. Go, otherwise she’ll be aghast at you, too.

Saturday – 24 Hour Theater @ Seattle Center House – Eclectic Theater Company gets the jump on next week’s 14/48 by mounting 6 plays created, produced, and performed in 1 day.

Saturday – 13th annual Rocky Horror Bondage Show @ Admiral Theatre, West Seattle – Because, the normal Rocky Horror Picture Show isn’t enough. Been jonesing to wear your gimp suit in public? Don’t say I never helped ya.

Saturday – Second Light: A Night for Darfur @ Baltic Room – Dance and drank, with proceeds to a good cause.

Sunday 12:30 a.m. – Dart-Mondo @ Historic University Theater – Half improv, half stand-up, all, well, Dart. He cracks me up. Fellow Metroblogger Zee loved it, too. A late one, for all you night owls.