photo by corey knafelz [flickr] via our group pool [#].

• Congratulations to Kim Ruehl who’s stepping in as the news editor at a soon-to-relaunch No Depression and to Mike Van Baker who’s taking over the reins as Seattlest In Chief. With this, the dance-off situation gets even more interesting. [seattlest]
• Further proof that listicles are batshit crazy: Seattle’s nowhere to be found on Saveur’s top world brews rankings [bigblog], yet we are #3 in terms of sustainable cities. [dotearth]
• Microsoft is taking on debt, buying back stock. [subterfugeseattle]
• The Mayor’s Office of Film and Music and WashingtonFilmWorks’s music–networking–drinking happy hour outgrows its usual digs, moves to Sole Repair tomorrow. [hotsplice]
• Onetime Designing Woman and proud graduate of Ballard High, Jean Smart takes home an Emmy. [myballard]
• Sure, neighborhood blogging is spreading like a bad case of mono at a fine arts camp, but Justin Carder is doing his best to make starting a placeblog even easier. Beta-testers in a ‘hood without a ‘blog are encouraged to apply. [capitolhillseattle]
• Striking scenes from Nickelsville, which sprouted up in “eastern” West Seattle. [westseattleblog]

Corporal Jonathan Santos of Bellingham was just 22 years old when he died in a roadside bombing in Iraq that killed several of his friends and fellow servicemembers on October 15, 2004. Until she received his “tough box”–a soldier’s chest filled with their most valued possessions–Jonathan’s mother, Doris Kent, had no idea that he’d kept a diary of his 37 days of service in Iraq. Inside the box she found his “little green book” and a stack of videocassettes.

Local filmmakers Patricia Boiko and Laurel Spellman Smith help share the stories of Jonathan and Doris with their film The Corporal’s Diary which weaves together Jonathan’s own words and images with Doris’s meeting with the mother of the one surviving member of Jonathan’s team. The film begins a weeklong theatrical run at the Grand Illusion on September 26, but there is a free public screening on Tuesday, September 23, at 7pm at the Seattle Central Library. Boiko and Spellman Smith will be on hand to talk about their film along with Doris Kent. The film will be screened in the Microsoft Auditorium, doors at 6:30 pm.

~Gaston Bachelard (1884-1962)

* Tor author Steven Erikson delivers another book in his massive, gory fantasy series, Toll the Hounds: Book Eight of the Malazan Book of the Fallen. He’ll be reading and signing at the U-District UW Bookstore, tonight, Monday, September 22nd at 7:00 PM.

* University Bookstore and the Town Hall Center for Civic Life present French philosopher and author Bernard-Henri Lévy at Town Hall (downstairs), 7:30 – 9:00 PM tonight. Lévy will be discussing his book Left in Dark Times: A Stand Against the New Barbarism… and taking a stand. He’s a French philosopher, ergo expect lots of -isms. Tickets are $5.

* Alternatively, in the Great Hall, upstairs, NYT correspondent Dexter Filkins will be discussing his book, The Forever War (not to be confused with Joe Haldeman’s classic SF novel). A prize-winning war correspondent, Filkins is noted for the empathy he brings to his subjects, as well as his clear, accessible prose. Also, 7:30 – 9:00 PM, $5. Also presented by the Town Hall Center for Civic Life, in conjunction with Elliott Bay Books.

* Chuck Klosterman is at Elliott Bay Books tonight at 7:30 PM to read and discuss his first novel, Downtown Owl. I have not the faintest clue what it’s about. PW says, “Though no single narrative line binds the three—the event that ultimately unites them is a creaking deus ex machina—Klosterman creates a satisfying character study and strikes a perfect balance between the funny and the profound.” There you go.

Richard Corff from 360 Modern is the guest speaker at The Lab this month. 360 Modern is a resource for mid-century and modern real estate in the Seattle area. Corff will be talking about ” the convergence of intuition, passion, skills, interest and culture that prompted the creation of 360 Modern.” Should be an interesting evening.

The Lab is a monthly event held at the fabulous Velocity Art and Design showroom. Podcasts of previous Labs are available here. The next Lab is this Wednesday, 9/24, from 6-8pm.

I’m one of the few people to live in Seattle without owning a real bike. I have one of those old Sears bikes that can’t make it uphill, let alone up  the block. So I was thinking of making an adult purchase and getting one of those real bikes, so I can be like the rest of you. Except I don’t know where to go.

There’s REI, of course. But I think that’s a little too spendy for a first timer like myself.

I know of Play It Again Sports and Second Ascent. I’ve bought things from both places and like their prices. I’m not interested in a top of the line bike. Just something for under $200 that will get me up little baby hills, and maybe even has a gear or two to play with.

Do you know of any other places I could seek out such a bike? Or if Second Ascent is better than Play It Again Sports? Advice, comments, concerns are more than welcome.

Since we’re already counting down for things this week [mb], don’t forget put this year’s Bug Blast on your calendars: Sunday, September 28. It’s no secret that the Burke’s annual bug festival is near the top of my list of events for the year–my first two posts for this here Metblog, way back in 2005, were about the Bug Blast. Bugs are neat, friends, and the Bug Blast is the greatest concentration of bug-related enthusiasm in the Seattle metro area.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the shindig, and to celebrate, “The Bug Chef” David George Gordon will be cooking up delicious critter-based treats. (The last time they had a bug chef he cooked up some crickets with orzo and peppers, but the problem with eating crickets is that their spiny little legs get caught in your throat.) Along with the snacks, there will be the usual attractions, all of the bees and ants to watch, the collections of Scarabs members, and things under microscopes. The Bug Blast is free with admission to the museum, so it’s also a nice chance to check out all of the dinosaur bones and the polar bear exhibit.

photo by joshc [flickr]

Last night at the Moore, the National and Menomena teamed up with “Co-ops Rock” to raise money to support sustainable food initiatives while thrilling a full house with gorgeous music.

(a few more photos online [flickr], more typing later. In the meantime: Did you go? Did seeing a bassoon and a baritone saxophone in the service of rock music elevate the appeal of co-ops for you?)