This year’s Seattle International Film Festival doesn’t open until May 21 but it’s definitely not too early to start thinking about getting tickets. As anyone who has attended the festival in the past knows, tickets go fast and it can be a real challenge sometimes to make sure you get in to everything you want to see so a bit of planning ahead can be very helpful. For the seriously devoted, passes and ticket passages are already on sale; if individual tickets are more your thing, you’ll have to wait until the box office opens on May 8.

Although the festival schedule isn’t out yet, there are already some great things to be excited about: the festival returns to the east side with screenings at the Kirkland Performance Center (other venues include SIFF Cinema, Pacific Place, Uptown Cinemas, Pacific Place, the Egyptian, Harvard Exit, the Neptune, Cinerama, NWFF, the Paramount, the Triple Door and the Admiral) and today SIFF announced that confirmed guests include Francis Ford Coppola with his new film Tetro and Spike Lee, who will be receiving a Golden Space Needle award to recognize his contributions to film at a ceremony that will include a screening of his new film, Passing Strange.

If you really want to see some films but don’t want to commit your cash, consider becoming a festival volunteer. Volunteer jobs are easy and fun and it’s a good way to meet fellow film fans and see movies for free: SIFF’s annual volunteer meeting takes place Saturday, April 18 at 10 am at the Egyptian Theater.

Instead of all of the bad news today, let’s look at this story: 27 years ago, a Redmond man’s toddler daughter went to Ecuador with her mother for a visit where, reportedly, she died after a mosquito bite. Growing up, the girl was told that her father had died in a diving accident.

Eventually the girl learned the truth and moved to America to start looking for her father. A few weeks ago the father watched the movie “Wanted” (the power of Angelina Jolie!) and was inspired to Google himself. When he did, he found a message from his daughter, looking for her father [KOMO].

Yesterday, after all of those years, they were reunited. The daughter intends to spend the next few months in Redmond with her dad, getting to know each other and enjoying the happy ending to a sad story.

Duwamish Beach by Slightlynorth

This Saturday, join volunteers to help clean up various sites along the Duwamish waterway, starting at 10am. Volunteers are needed to help weed, spread mulch in planting areas, plant native vegetation, and pick up trash. Refreshments provided by REI.

After the work parties are finished, there is a community festival from 2-5pm at Cooper Elementary School. The event will feature art exhibits, live performances, environmental education tables and community activities including kids’ crafts, nature hikes, and a chance to win prizes.

For more information visit the website, e-mail da@pugetsound.org or call 206-382-7007.

Could you feed yourself breakfast, lunch, and dinner for $7 a day? Many no- or low-income residents in Washington State do each day with the help of food stamp benefits. $7 per day is all that is allocated through this program.

The Hunger Challenge asks for a person’s commitment to eat on this limited budget for 5 days, starting April 20th, as a way to see how those less fortunate than us live. There are rules of course:

• Eat breakfast, lunch and dinner spending only $7 per day.
• Salt and pepper don’t count but all other seasonings, cooking oils, condiments, snacks, drinks, and everything else do.
• Don’t use food you already own.
• Don’t accept food from family, friends, coworkers and others. Not even the free samples from Costco!
• Try to include fresh produce and healthy protein each day.
• Keep track of expenses, food choices, etc. and share your experiences on United Way of King County’s blog.

I have signed my husband and myself up to take the Challenge, which to someone who loves to cook may very well prove to be a good lesson in cutting back. When I mentioned to friends and a few family members that we were considering it, the average response mostly centered on the limited menu and grocery stores that one is forced to adhere to. I am going to try to feed the two of us for 5 days on $60: breakfast, lunch, and dinner, using grocery stores located on Capitol Hill (avoiding WalMart, kthx) and eating as balanced a diet as we possibly can. I’ll post once for each of the five days sharing how the experience goes, starting on Monday.

To read more about the Hunger Challenge, including a budget for additional people, click here. If you decide to take the challenge, leave a comment letting me know so we can compare notes.

6:00 PM – Jack Hitt: Eat Read Hugo
Palace Ballroom, $150
“A benefit for Richard Hugo House featuring new writing from “This American Life” regular Jack Hitt, food by Tom Douglas Restaurants and a small auction.”
[LINK]

6:00 PM – Smokin’ Spoken Word: Poetry Reading
NAAM, $5
“Presented by Miz Floes Traveling Poetry. Come and experience the Smokin’ Spoken Wurd! Hosted and emceed by Miz Floes & The Carmel Latte Duo. It’s an open mic for grown folks! Bass and percussion rhythms accompany performers as they bring fire to the mic and speak words of passion, anger and romance.”
[LINK]

6:30 PM – Ann Gonzalez: Running for My Life
Santoro Books
The bookstore hosts the local author’s publication party for her first YA novel. Yet another book to come out of NaNoWriMo. Woot!

[LINK]

7:00 PM – Dr. David Archer: The Long Thaw: How Humans Are Changing the Next 100,000 Years of Earth’s Climate
UW Kane Hall, Room 130
Dr. Kistler will receive the Walter P. Kistler Book Award from Foundation for the Future, followed by a short lecture, and an onstage interview.
[LINK]

7:00 PM – Simon Wickham-Smith & Maged Zaher: In Tandem: The Translator’s Art
Richard Hugo House, Cabaret, $5
The translaters will discuss and read from work they’ve translated.
[LINK]

7:30 PM – Franz Wisner: How the World Makes Love: And What It Taught a Jilted Groom
Elliott Bay Book Co.
Another brother memoir from the author of Honeymoon with My Brother.
[LINK]

7:30 PM – Lucia Perillo: Inseminating the Elephant
Open Books
I never thought I would ever type the words “inseminating the elephant.” I could have gone my entire life without so doing, and been happy, even content, but noooooo.
[LINK]

Seattle’s waste management contract had recently been awarded to CleanScapes, a company that has never handled a contract so large before. You’ve probably noticed the neon green/orange trucks circling neighborhoods or idling in front of a driveway but not actually picking up trash? You’re not alone. CleanScapes has apparently missed 5% of it’s pickups and residents are complaining.

On top of this, it seems that other services are also in the middle of a service snag. At my Capitol Hill apartment, our yard waste bin has not been picked up in 2 consecutive weeks. We have had to throw 2 1/2 weeks worth of food compost into the trash bin because our bin is full. Annoying to say the least.

I do have to give props to our new recycling laws though. All food scraps (including meat, dairy, and bones) can go in your compost bin. Unfortunately you still cannot compost your pet’s waste. Anyway, all other recyclables can go into the same bin, and more are accepted now. View the list here.

I’m curious who else has had issues getting garbage, recycling, or yard waste picked up in the last 2-3 weeks. Let me know in the comments!

*Photo credit: Recycled Chicken by smohundro*

Cold War Kids

Cold War Kids, promoting their new album Loyalty to Loyalty, will be at the Showbox (Market) on Tuesday, April 22nd.

Tickets are normally priced at $20, but we have 2 to give away! Interested? Email seattle.metblogs@gmail.com with the answer to this question: Which Radiohead song did these guys make a version of back in 2007? We have a winner! Thank you Daniel!

Pennywise at Showbox SoDo

A couple of nights ago, Pennywise and Pepper launched the Jegermeister Music Tour right here in Seattle at Showbox SoDo. Playing to a sold-out crowd, both bands brought it. Pennywise played first (after opening bands Authority Zero and The Expendables played). Pennywise even paid tribute to Nirvana and Kurt by playing Territorial Pissings and proclaiming Nirvana as more punk than grunge. The crowd was SO into it, it was awesome to see it live. Pennywise also announced the passing of guitarist Fletcher Dragge’s brother; Kristian Dragge. Like always they ended their set with “Bro Hymn” but this time it was in tribute to Kristian. RIP.

Pepper then went on last and sounded great! To be honest, I have never listened to them before so I really can’t review the show’s performance. I will say they had a TON of energy and a great stage presence. If you are missing the Sublime sound, Pepper may be a bit of a fix.

Click through for more if you want to see a bunch of pictures from the show.

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Celebrate filing your taxes on time with tasty discounts:

* McCormick & Schmick’s has discounted some entrees to $10.40, and is giving $10.40 coupons for later use.
* PF Chang’s has a 15% discount.
* Maggie-Moos is giving out free single-scoop cones at most of its locations.
* Cinnabon is handing out free mini-buns in the evening.
* TGI Fridays is giving out gift cards based on how much you spend on tax day.
* Taco Del Mar. Their tagline – “Taxes suck. Tacos don’t.” Free taco coupon: http://www.tacodelmar.com/

The Blue Moon Tavern has been a Seattke landmark for a very long time now – 75 years, in fact.
The Blue Moon first opened its doors in the U District on April 15, 1934, and has since served legions of thirsty students, writers, poets, politicians, beatniks, hippies, hipsters, and everyone else who has wandered in which is just about everyone, really.

HistoryLink has a great essay that talks about the history and cultural significance of the Blue Moon here, but why not celebrate their birthday the best way by heading down and having a few?

You can also stop by Saturday for a birthday celebration featuring We Wrote the Book on Connectors, A Gun that Shoots Knives, and Junkface.