Washington Weekend technically kicked off on Thursday, with a faculty/staff BBQ in Red Square, but the University of Washington has a ton of events packed into the next couple of days. Granted, I’m a bit of a nerd (and a recent Midwestern transplant to boot), so things like touring the giant research vessel at the College of Oceanography and Fishery Sciences’ Open House truly appeal to the part of me that always wanted to be a marine biologist but was thwarted by the supreme lack of ocean in central Illinois… I digress.

Additionally, today saw the official dedication of the UW Tower (formerly known as the Safeco Tower, and likely to remain known as that for as long as the Safeco name remains inscribed in the building). Tomorrow’s festivities include open houses galore, a simulated cybersecurity competition at Microsoft, and the Plateau Native Arts Celebration at the Burke Museum, including beadwork and saddle-making demonstrations.

The exhibitions and demonstrations should be enough to keep the whole family occupied for the better part of a day, and is only a few short neighborhoods away from a relaxing evening at the Ballard Jazz Festival. Enjoy your Saturday!

^{Paula Reynolds, president and CEO of Safeco, former owner of the tower, passes a symbolic key to
University of Washington President Mark Emmert.}

photo by Chris Villanueva [flickr] via our group pool [#]

• So you’d like to buy yourself a rock club? Step in where Groupee stepped off. Attractive lease terms, stone masonry. [craigslist via belltowner ]
• From notorious nightclub to notorious megachurch in under a year. Mars Hill takes over Tabella. [p-i]
• Your stockroom of Prince costumes are finally set to pay off. (ed: please please provide ample notice before the city is invaded by an army of Princealikes) [citizenrain]
• There, at last, goes the neighborhood. Abandoned block on Pine Street eaten by bulldozers to make way for apartments. So far, no lingering hipsters found fleeing the wreckage. [slog]
• Well, this is embarrassing. Chicago climber beats Seattleite to the top of Columbia Tower. [p-i]
• Macrina gets in the holiday spirit, puts bunnies on cupcakes. We melt from the adorableness. [belltowner]
• Saved by the Supreme Court: our ridiculous “top two” primary! (ed: I have no idea what this even means) [horsesass]
• Spam pays, until it lands you in jail. [cio]
• Aw, no one loves poor old Mercer Hall. But the UW’s plans to build an urban village west of campus is probably very good for the neighborhood and overcrowded students. [times]
• A clue about the new business going in at the former Wing Dome on Olive and Melrose? What does TT stand for anyway? [helloseattle]