Memorial Day weekend in Seattle brings a lot of events to mind—Sasquatch!, barbeques, relaxing before the perpetual terror of finals. For this Memorial Day weekend, I am incredibly excited to see my wonderful mother and spend some quality time with her in Portland and dessert shops throughout Capitol Hill. While I already have these super awesome plans—yes, I’m excited, be jealous—there are still many individuals who don’t have plans for this weekend. Hence, I have complied a list of some interesting ideas for what you can do to make the most of the gorgeous sunny Seattle three-day weekend. Hope you enjoy! 1) Catch some of the films at SIFF Seattle International Film Festival, better known by its acronym, is currently celebrating its 40th year. While the festival runs from May 15 through June 8, there are a ton of awesome movies playing via the festival during Memorial Day weekend, including some that I am dying to see: “A Brony Tale,” “The Amazing Catfish,” and “My Last Year with the Nuns.” Plus, there’s a documentary on Caroll Spinney, the man who we have known to be Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on Sesame Street. What’s not to love? Check out SIFF’s website to see a full list of films showing during Memorial Day weekend, as well as the rest of the films showing during the 25-day festival: siff.net 2) Get started on/finish your finals I know, this probably isn’t the most popular option for how to spend your three-day weekend, but think about how much more time you’ll have to relax once you finish those 10 to 15 page final papers. At least, that’s what I would think, but your choices people! Even if you don’t finish your finals, you should at least try to get started on an outline, or get started on studying. This doesn’t mean you have to spend all day in the library typing away as you turn into a machine. Hell, head to Cal Anderson with your Dickens and some sweet tea and take in some Vitamin D as you enrich your mind. 3) Jam out at Folklife Even if you can’t make it out to the Gorge to fiesta at Sasquatch! during Memorial Day weekend (which is entirely likely, as it’s f***ing expensive and also sold out), why not head over to Seattle Center for Folklife’s 43rd year? The event, one of the largest free folk festivals in the United States, is awesome because, as I just wrote, it’s FREE. College students love free things! This year’s festival is set to feature over 7000 performers, dances, workshops, crafts and foods, all while focusing on Washington Works, a program that explores aspects of occupational Northwest folklore. The event will help you to not only relax, but also to appreciate more of the Pacific Northwest, and who doesn’t want the opportunity to love this rich area more? Check out more info at this year’s website: http://www.nwfolklife.org/festival/ 4) Enjoy some murder with your dinner Okay, sure, murder and dinner don’t really go together like peanut butter and jelly or Ben & Jerry’s and finals’ procrastination, but hear me out. Hosted at Hotel Deca in U District, The Dinner Detective is a long-standing, year-round event that is also America’s largest murder mystery comedy dinner show. While nomming on a four-course meal, you’ll also be solving a murder case, where everyone is a suspect and everyone must laugh their way to find the killer. Sounds pretty fabulous right? Plus, their menu doesn’t look too shabby either. Check out more info about the dinner, either for this Memorial Day or in the future, to get excited to have a killer time (sorry, couldn’t resist): http://www.thedinnerdetective.com/sites/seattle/ 5) Get your beer on C’mon, when finals and summer fast approach, that can only mean one thing: it’s time to get your drank on to keep your mind off your soon-to-be unemployment. Over in Redmond, Mac & Jack’s Brewery has just the cure, every Saturday and Sunday, for free. Again, we love the free. The brewery

is the largest craft brewery in the entire state, and they prove their worth through their tours. Visitors (aged 21+ of course) are able to taste the brewery’s six creations, ranging from CU-Lator to Blackcat Porter, as well as buy some take-away at their store. Good business model, y’all. Check out their website for more info as you lick your lips in thoughts of sweet barley dreams: http://www.macandjacks.com/ Hope you all have a fantastic Memorial Day weekend!