KIRO Radio Highlights

KIRO Radio Highlights

Stories and features from the news staff of KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM.

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KIRO Radio Highlights
Get inked and see some art in downtown Seattle this weekend

You made it through the MONTH OF HELL and your reward? An end of summer weekend with a FULL closure of the Ship Canal Bridge going northbound... so plan ahead!

Looking for some new ink for your calf or maybe want to add to your sleeve that takes up your forearm, you can see some of the best Tattoo artists this weekend at the Seattle Tattoo Expo! There will be tattoo competitions, live music, and of course plenty of opportunities to get something done for yourself. You'll want to make sure you book an appointment with a participating artist and get your tickets before you head to the Seattle Center.

The Seattle Design Festival has returned and things are getting started with the block party on Saturday and Sunday at Lake Union park. There will be interactive installations, lots of hands on activities, performances and plenty more. Plus there will be the large scale interactive installations designed to be climbed on and enjoyed by people of all ages, sizes and abilities. The only thing you will need to register or buy a ticket for are the closing party and mixers, however, if you just want to head to the block party and see the work, all you gotta do is show up, free of charge.


If you look up in the sky this weekend and see something strange... it's probably just visitors from the stars checking out the UFO Festival in Burien on Saturday. There will be plenty of fun for the kids as well as an alien costume contest, live music and plenty of fun! This is going down at Town Square Park tomorrow.

In Shoreline, it's time to celebrate Shoreline at, well Celebrate Shoreline! Saturday, at Cromwell Park, there will be multiple stages of live music, theater and activities for the kids, pony rides and a beer garden for the adults. No need to worry about a ticket as this event is free.

At Willowmoor Farm in Marymoor Park in Bellevue you can learn about the world of food and what it takes to live a more sustainable life! It's time for CHOMP! This event highlights local farms, highlights chefs and restaurants who get their ingredients from local sources and resources for more sustainable options! There will also be a farmers market, zucchini races, live music and of course plenty of food. This is going down on Saturday.

There are LOTS of ways to enjoy a free movie with the family this weekend. Say Anything will be showing at the Mural Amphitheater at the Seattle Center on tonight, Raiders of the Lost Ark is being shown in Freeway Park also tonight. The last Motors and Movies event of the summer at LeMay-America's Car Museum is tonight and they are bringing the show inside the museum to avoid the rain. The movie being shown is A Minecraft Movie. Finally for the Friday night show times, Despicable Me 4 is being showing at Bradley Lake Park. Saturday at Stewart Heights Park in Tacoma Summer Bash continues with a day full of fun starting with fitness activities, vendors and a DJ, plus painting in the park and gaming truck, face painting and food. It all comes to a close at dusk with a showing of A Minecraft Movie. All these movie events are free to attend and good for the family... if they are ready for some PG-13 films.

How are you winding down your summer? Let me know at paulh@kiroradio.com

 

00:02:54
Aug 14, 2025 5:54 PM
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KIRO Radio Highlights
Gerry Griffin

James Lovell, the commander of Apollo 13 who helped turn a failed moon mission into a triumph of on-the-fly can-do engineering, has died, The Associated Press reported Friday. He was 97.

Gerry Griffin, one of four flight directors for Apollo 13 and later director of the Johnson Space Center, told KIRO Newsradio that Lovell was “one of his all-time favorite people.”

00:21:46
Aug 9, 2025 12:51 AM
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KIRO Radio Highlights
Block Parties and more keep the summer fun alive

August is here and it's the final few weeks of summer vacation, don't miss out on all the weekend fun!

It's a Block Party weekend with parties happening in South Lake Union and a brand new one in Edmonds! At the South Lake Union Block Party today, which is at the South Lake Union Discovery Center,  you'll find a community fair, beer and cocktails, lawn games, live music and the street scramble! What is a street scramble you ask?  It's described as an urban adventure where you and your team will try to find as many checkpoints before the clock runs out. Worried about over competitive teams? Don't worry, the event website says the fun is in the exploring so go at your own speed. The South Lake Union Block party is free to attend.

It's the inaugural Edmonds Block Party but they are putting on a weekend full of music that will get you moving and grooving whether you are a classic rock fan or you love the modern pop music. Not only will there be plenty of live music, games, food and more, there's also a Cornhole tournament! Those 21+ and up will need to buy a ticket on Friday or Saturday, but Saturday is free admission for those under 21! More details right here...


We will have a free day at Washington State Parks on Saturday, a perfect chance to get out and enjoy the great outdoors before locking into the back to school prep and madness. What's the reason? Well it's Smokey the Bear's Birthday! So why not celebrate by enjoying some nature and doing everything you can to prevent wildfires. 


You can get elemental this weekend at the Puyallup Gem and Mineral Show at the Tacoma Sportsman Club. There will be all sorts of crystals and minerals to learn about and buy, this runs through the weekend. Also in Pierce County, it is time for the Pierce County Fair at Frontier Park  in Graham! They will have bull riding, bumper boats, rock climbing and of course a giant slide, plus all sorts of games, food and local agriculture to enjoy! You can get tickets here

There are a few different festivals celebrating different cultures from around the world this weekend. In Tacoma, it is the In The Spirit Arts Market and Northwest Native festival. This festival has live music, a fashion show, vendors, food and plenty of art to check out as the Washington State History Museum, Tacoma Art Museum and the Museum of Glass are all part of the event and are offering free admission. Tibet Fest is at the Seattle Center Saturday and Sunday as part of the Festál series. The event's website says the event "bestows messages of love, compassion and kindness through a fusion of ancient and new Tibetan arts and culture to engage, entertain and educate." Tibet Fest is free to attend. There's also the Cambodian Cultural Celebration at Saltwater State Park on Saturday. There will be traditional dances, martial arts, games and of course food and live music. Remember, no need for a Discovery Pass! 

For the cat lovers out there, you'll want to head to Siff Cinema Uptown for Cat Video Fest! Sure you could just endlessly scroll on YouTube for cat videos, but this is a compilation of the latest and greatest cat videos, whether it be animations, music videos, or just classic cat being goofball videos. It runs about 75 minutes and when you attend, you can help cats as the festival supports the Pixie Project!

What are you getting into this weekend? Let me know at paulh@kiroradio.com 

 

 

00:03:02
Aug 7, 2025 7:47 PM
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KIRO Radio Highlights
Summer events still in full swing as we hit August

The first weekend of August is here and even though it feels like the summer is already wrapping up, we still have lots of fun to be had!

The big event this weekend is of course the Seafair Weekend Festivals. The Blue Angels have been practicing for the air show, the hydroplanes are getting ready to rip through the water, plus live music, lots of tasty treats to eat and if you are looking to save on tickets, today is Free Friday! All the fun is going down at Genesee Park and runs through the weekend. Get tickets and details right here.

If you are one of the many 12s who are excited about Training Camp being back, hang out with your fellow fans and play some football themed games and more at the Seahawks Football Fest! There will also be bounce houses and more fun for you and the family. This is going down Saturday at Lumen Field.

In Lake City, it is time for the Lake City Summer Festival and Parade! There will be live music and not one, not two, but THREE parades! There will also be craft vendors, food trucks, a car show and more fun for the family. There will also be live music near the Lake City Library and the Festival is free to attend! 

Also in the world of summer festivals, Magnolia Summerfest is here! Three days of live music, food, drinks, vendors, parades... the list just keeps going! You can even start your Saturday and Sunday with some exercise! All the action is going down at the Magnolia Playfield. Get the whole schedule and more details right here. 

In Bellevue, you can check out the Bellevue International Festival which is a celebration of cultures from around the world, with performances, food and activities from around the world. Best of all, it is free and family friendly. The festival is Saturday from noon to 5 at Crossroads Park. 

While we want to focus on the fun stuff and not say the words kids dred, 'back-to-school", but at the Washington State Fair Expo Hall in Puyallup, you can save some money at the Back-To-School Sale with Just Between Friends. According to the event page, there will be savings on clothes, shoes, toys, books and plenty more, all for 50-90% off retail prices. The event is free to attend, but you can buy tickets for early shopping. The sale runs through weekend. 

Learn about the world of professional kite flying while also flying your own during the Kite Festival in University Place. This festival runs Saturday and Sunday from 10-4 and there will be kite demonstrations, inflatables, food trucks, vendors and plenty more family fun. Plus, 250 kites will be given away each day or you can buy a kite kit to make your own. 

We got lots of sports action going on this weekend, as the new look Seattle Mariners are in town and look to gain ground in the playoff race with a big weekend series against the Texas Rangers. The Seattle Storm are in action tonight at Climate Pledge against the Los Angeles Sparks and Sunday against the Indiana Fever. Sorry, no Caitlin Clark as she is still recovering from injury. On the pitch this weekend, Seattle Reign FC takes on Angel City FC tonight at 7:30 and the Seattle Sounders play Club Santos Laguna on Sunday as part of the Leagues Cup. 


How are you making the most of what is left of your summer? Let me know, paulh@kiroradio.com 

 

 

 

00:03:04
Jul 31, 2025 6:42 PM
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KIRO Radio Highlights
Free Summer Fun this weekend

Can you believe we are already at the last weekend of July? There's been so much summer fun happening that the time is flying by! 


SeaFair continues to ramp up and one of the hallmark events is this Saturday, the Torchlight Parade! According to the event's website the parade has returned to its roots with a nighttime start and a new parade route. The new route goes along the Seattle Waterfront, starting at 7:30! There will be a pre parade run and spectators can start lining up starting at 6 pm. It's free and open to the public!


Also along the waterfront, Pier 58 is re-opening and there is a celebration today from 4-8! The pier adds around 50,000 square feet of park space, with a family friendly focus, including the new marine-themed playground and the elevated lawn space. The opening celebration is free and open to the public and you are encouraged to dance, play and come dressed in marine-themed attire! Plus local mascots will be in attendance! Learn more right here 


The Bellevue Arts Festival Weekend is here and it highlights over 350 artists using over 20 different artistic mediums, including the traditional painting, jewelry  and printmaking, but also newer forms like 3D Mixed Media. There will also be plenty of food vendors, family friendly activities, live music and special programing at the Bellevue Art Museum! More details can be found right here

If you want to see all the great food that Seattle has to offer, then the Seattle Center is where you will want to be as Bite of Seattle is here and I bet you can smell the food already! Over 300 food and retail vendors will be take over the center serving up tasty dishes from around the world, and while you enjoy your food, you can watch 3 days of live music! There will be beer and wine gardens, cider tasting, they'll have just about anything you can think of when it comes to the world of food! Bite of Seattle is free to attend, but you will be paying for your food. More information can be found here. 

There are a couple of free movies this weekend, the Rocky Horror Picture Show is being shown at Cal Anderson Park tonight as part of the Center City Cinema program. Ratatouille is being shown at the Mural Amphitheater and for both movies you are encouraged to bring your own chairs and blankets, and movies will start when the sun goes down. The Northwest Film Forum is also hosting the Children's Film Festival Seattle throughout the weekend, day passes and weekend passes are available. 


Over in Renton, enjoy a weekend on the river for Renton River Days! There will be a drone show and concert, a parade, tons of summer fun for you and the family, plus there will be the all ages chalk art competition and the Rubber Ducky Derby on Sunday! Get the full schedule and more details right here. 

If you are looking for free fun to do with the family this weekend that involves getting outside, there will be a beach shore stroll along Olympic Sculpture Park today from 10-1, with the lowest tide at around 11:52 am. Naturalists will be there to answer questions and show you how much is happening along our shores. Also this weekend is a bicycle weekend here in Seattle, that means a portion of Lake Washington Boulevard will be closed to motor vehicles from 10 am Saturday-6 pm Sunday, giving you a perfect route for a weekend ride along the water.

How are you enjoying the summer? Remember to plan ahead for traffic and to let me know about the cool stuff going on in your neighborhood by emailing me, paulh@kiroradio.com 

 

00:03:10
Jul 24, 2025 6:16 PM
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KIRO Radio Highlights
The Power of Glass

Last week I got the chance to step inside the studio of a legendary name in the world of glass. To celebrate the Seattle Art Fair, the Boathouse, Dale Chihuly glassblowing studio opened it's doors to show off their space and the decades worth of art that Chihuly and his team have created.

Once inside, we got to see the incredible glass work and other pieces of art collected in specific rooms designed by Chihuly. I didn't really think about glassblowing much until seeing the show "Blown Away" on Netflix. Through that show you are shown first hand just how difficult, demanding and rewarding the world of glass blowing can be and how hours of work, can shatter with one wrong move or one bad break.

During the hottest day of the summer, glassblowers were hard at work showing off their skills for those of us that gathered in the hot shop. That's when I got to talk to Mimi Carter, Chihuly Studio’s Vice President of Marketing and Sales.

"Dale (Chihuly) grew up in Tacoma and then went to school at University of Washington, but he also went to school at University of Wisconsin and Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). He taught at RISD for 11 years, as well as in Maine, but when he came back, he wanted to essentially create an opportunity here in Seattle"

And create opportunities he has, through his work and the work of his team Chihuly has become a common name in the world of art, especially here in Washington

"He founded the Pilchuck Glass School after he had taught in New England because he really felt that we needed something like that here. It's now become an international art center there in Stanton, Washington. You can now see his art at the Museum of Glass at Union Station, at Tacoma Museum of Art. You can obviously see it at Chihuly Garden and Glass. It's not only been a contemporary art form that really began here, but it's just continued to increase, I think, because of his mentorship and influence"

Through his mentorship and creative vision he has helped glassblowing thrive here, it is by creating and using resources for artists

"Dale was fortunate enough to have a Fulbright Fellowship, and with that fellowship,  he wrote 100 letters to 100 different factories around the world, and the only one that said yes, was the Venini factory, but that gave him the opportunity to go study with these masters in Murano, Italy. It's those types of experiences that are transformative, that artists really need in order to propel their career forward. I think, by having schools, by having programs, and it can start with Hilltop Artists, that's local here, and it starts with 12 year olds, and we've been working with them for now 30 years. It can start at Path with Art. It can be at the Artist Trust. All those organizations are organizations that Dale and Leslie fund through their foundation, actually, but they see a value to that, and they see that that type of influence, that type of investment, is what continues to snowball the interest and influence in glass blowing today."

It's amazing to see the transformation of the glass from tubes or shards into priceless pieces of art, what starts as something so simple and fragile, can be manipulated into large scale sculptures guaranteed to catch your eye. Each piece of a Chihuly sculpture is hand crafted and engineered specifically to match Dale's creative vision.

Carter had a simple explanation as to why Chihuly and other glass work stands out.

"It inspires joy, and joy is the oxygen for doing hard things. It doesn't take a master's degree in art history. It doesn't take a background. It you simply see the artwork and its color and its translucence, and it's awe inspiring. And I think you feel that physically when you see the artwork"

Maybe you are an artist looking to get into the world of glass or take your work to the next level, Carter adds the community is here to help

"I think there are programs around the Pacific Northwest. Some are community based, some are school based. Some are opportunities that are, you know, pay to play. I think researching what what you need at this juncture, whether it's university or community based, is the first step, and then really talking to people, because I don't know that it's going to happen just by researching on the Internet or AI even. It's a community that does help each other and mentor each other. You look at Donna Davies at Pilchuck Glass School, or Debbie lank at Museum of Glass. Those are leaders in the community that always want to help other young artists learn more about exploring new ideas. The community is really invested in Seattle, invested in the artists in Seattle. And we want to see it grow and flourish the way Dale did started to do this, in the early 70s. He wants it to continue.

And if this is somehow your first time hearing about Chihuly?

Here locally, you can obviously see a lot of work at Chihuly Garden and Glass here in Seattle, but also in maker's mark in Loretto, Kentucky. We'll have an exhibition opening in Grand Rapids, Michigan, at the Frederick Meyer Sculpture Garden and park. We also have a piece in Montreal, a sun that's being reconfigured that's going to be beautiful at that museum. Get in touch with us.  I'm happy to talk to anybody about where they can see Chihuly." 

You can find more information at chihuly.com

Paul Holden, KIRO News Radio

 

00:05:57
Jul 21, 2025 8:11 PM
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KIRO Radio Highlights
Another busy weekend of summer fun

The summer fun continues this weekend... even though we are about to enter the month of hell when it comes to traffic.

At the Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center, there is a three day event that brings tribes from the US and Canada together and is also part of the Seafair celebrations. It's time for the Seafair Indian Days Powwow, and if you have never been to the center it can be found right in the heart of Discovery Park. There will be traditional dances, plenty of food and art and lots of fun! It all gets started tonight at 7.

It is a weekend for the arts as we have a few art fairs! The Seattle Art Fair will be at the Lumen Field Event Center, showcasing what seems like every medium of art, including prints, glass blowing, sculptures and so much more. You can a ticket for the full weekend or just a single day. Over in West Seattle you will find the Alki Art Fair, which also runs throughout the weekend. There will be artist booths lining the beach and live music on Saturday and Sunday. You'll need a ticket for the Seattle Art Fair, but the Alki Art Fair, is free and both are family friendly!

Also in West Seattle on Saturday is the West Seattle Grand Parade, so if you want to hit the beach for some art, see the floats and all the other parade pageantry at the Alaska Junction from 11-2.

Down in Olympia, the Capital Lakefair is already underway! The Funtastic Traveling Shows Carnival has been rocking and rolling since Wednesday and will keep the fun going throughout the weekend with rides, games, and good times for all age groups. There will be lots of live music, ranging from local to national groups all weekend, a car show on Friday, the parade on Saturday, and fireworks for the grand finale on Sunday.

The Festál Program at the Seattle Center continues this weekend with the Seattle Arab Festival that will have film screenings, traditional dancing, guest speakers and of course plenty of tasty food and drinks. The Seattle Arab Festival is Saturday and Sunday.

If you are heading to the Seattle Center, you will also find BlastFest, which is an AfroBeats festival which will have you dancing all day on Saturday. That's not the only big show going on this weekend as the Capitol Hill Block Party returns for two days of music and community. The lineup is absolutely insane and the weather looks like it will be perfect for a music festival. Keep in mind, the Capitol Hill Block Party is a 21+ event.

It's time for Family Fun Night at the Fort Nisqually Living History Museum! Take a trip back in time as the kids try out games from the 19th century and the event website says to bring the picnic blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy the music, summer weather and the candy cannon! You will need tickets for this event.

Speaking of going back in time, The Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire has returned to Sky Meadows Park. Head back to the middle ages and enjoy the sights and fun of 16th Century Elizabethan England including a tea party with royalty, a knighting ceremony, human powered carnival rides and even informative birds of prey sessions! Get tickets and details from the event's website.

Lots of things to do and lots of traffic that will be impacting your weekend! Plan ahead, use public transit if possible and give yourself time to get where you need to be.

What cool things are going on in your neighborhood? Let me know at paulh@kiroradio.com

00:02:55
Jul 17, 2025 6:34 PM
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KIRO Radio Highlights
Summer Festival Season in Full Swing

It isn't a holiday weekend, but it is a BUSY weekend packed with things to do, BUT there are also construction projects that are going to most likely impact your travel plans, so plan ahead!

The Summer Festival season is in full swing and this weekend you can enjoy a feast from the sea at the Ballard Seafood Festival, which features live music, tons of tasty seafood including the specialty Salmon BBQ, plus the vendors, plenty of fun for the kids especially Festi-Bowl, which is an all-ages, all-abilities skateboard event on Saturday. The Ballard Seafood Fest runs through the weekend.

Over in West Seattle it is time for West Seattle Summer Fest! Enjoy everything West Seattle has to offer while doing all your festival favorites like enjoying live music, shopping and eating local, hanging out with the kids at the Kids Zone and plenty more. You also might have heard of the Seattle Saunter earlier this year, well the Super Saunters are back with a West Seattle version on Saturday. The walk will start at the West Seattle Water Taxi at 9 AM.

At the Seattle Center on Saturday will be the Polish Festival Seattle from 12-7. Things get started with a parade, then there will be tons of Polish music, traditional dances, cooking demonstrations and plenty of ways to learn about Polish culture.

Fantagraphics is putting on the Hot Off the Press Book Fair on Saturday from 5-9. There will be a variety of comixs, zines, music from over 50 regional and national artists. Plus there will be live music, celebrating 40 years of Fallout Records. There will also be refreshments!

In Downton Edmonds, there will be the sounds of live music and more being performed from the front steps of homes, in yards and at business fronts during PorchFest! If you are someone who loves all types of music, you are going to love this event as there is everything from rock to electronic, folk to funk, opera to ambient and plenty more. See the whole map and more at porchfestedmonds.com

Enjoy the weather with sunshine and a show during the Seattle Outdoor Theater Festival Saturday and Sunday at Volunteer Park. Throughout the weekend you will find performances across three areas of the park. Performances range from 40 minutes to 2 hours, so be sure to visit the schedule on the event's website so you can plan ahead.

There's a free showing of Mama Mia! 2 at Cal Anderson Park tonight at 6:30. This is part of Center City Cinema 2025, which shows free outdoor movies at parks across the city throughout the summer. The movie is free to attend and you can bring your own chairs and blankets!

The Seattle Storm are also in town this weekend, taking on the Connecticut Sun tonight at 7 and the Washington Mystics Sunday at 3 PM.

What are you getting into this weekend? Let me know at paulh@kiroradio.com

 

00:02:37
Jul 10, 2025 8:12 PM
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KIRO Radio Highlights
Arcades and Love Songs: The Ballad of Walter Day

For Walter Day… it was simple

 

“I wanted to be a hero. I wanted to be the center of attention. I wanted the glory. I wanted the fame. I wanted the pretty girls coming up and say, Hi, I see that you're good at centipede,”

 

You might know Walter Day from the 2007 documentary film, The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters. In the movie, we learn that Day is the head referee and scorekeeper of Twin Galaxies, an international video game scoreboard, and back in the 80’s a legendary arcade in Ottumwa, Iowa. While Walter wasn’t the true star of the movie, which focused on the world of competitive Donkey Kong, he’s become a fan favorite and if you ask me, the world of competitive gaming as we know it, is thanks to him and his work. 

 

After researching and practicing transcendental meditation, Day wanted to know what made a champion, a champion, so he got to work. 

 

“I started monitoring high scores as I traveled around the countryas a traveling salesman and I fell in love with video game arcades, and I decided I wanted to do an arcade. And when I did the arcade, I immediately started a scoreboard and tried to monitor who is the best in all the games. Next thing I know, I discovered that the video game industry had no scorekeeper and had no scoreboard so I volunteered to do it, and the video game industry went for it. So suddenly, overnight, my arcade Twin Galaxies in Ottumwa, Iowa became the world's most famous arcade. It became the mecca of video game playing. It became the crossroads. It became the Dodge City of video games, and people traveled even from other countries, even just to say they once played at the great Twin Galaxies. So suddenly we were the center of the video game universe. And everything we did was completely original, pioneering and now historically, looking back on it, it is the birth of organized competitive video gaming, which makes it the birth of competitive eSports.

 

You learn more about his story and influence throughout the rest of the King of Kong,  but his latest movie Arcades and Love Songs, directed by Ed Cunningham, is not a sequel. 



“I got pulled back in just before I learned about Walter's music, because Walter got pulled into a lawsuit. Billy Mitchell had been in a lawsuit with Twin Galaxies, which Walter had sold after King of Kong. And I actually, because some of that lawsuit, it mentioned the film. It specifically mentioned the film. And so I got back involved to help Walter defend himself from a lawsuit, from a movie that we produced, you know, almost 20 years ago that was really a strain on Walter's life, and I was there as a friend, and we reconnected through what was the hardship for him”

 

In 2014, Walter Day sold Twin Galaxies and moved on to focus on his music career, hence the name of the film, Arcades and Love Songs. Years after the release of the King of Kong, Billy Mitchell, one of the Donkey Kong players featured in the movie, was accused of cheating. Mitchell was even stripped of his high scores from Twin Galaxies, and eventually Mitchell filed a defamation lawsuit against Twin Galaxies. In 2021 Twin Galaxies countersued Mitchell and listed Day as a cross-defendant, accusing the pair of teaming up to promote the fake score in order to drive up the value of the company before sale. However, Day was later voluntarily dropped from the suit, which was also eventually settled out of court.

 

During all this Day was still nursing a broken heart

 

“Of course, in 1985 I had a glamorous girlfriend, and essentially, one night, I was very in love with her, one night, she called me up and said, Walter, I've been seeing a friend of yours, and we're done. So my heart was broken the first time, and actually the only time I ever had my heart broken. And it was a very, very big experience. But what became interesting is that a couple of weeks into the heartbreak, I started hearing music playing in me, almost like I was channeling a radio station, but that radio station was playing songs that were new, that were my songs that didn't exist in the outside world.”

 

Over 100 songs are the result of Day’s heartbreak back in the 80’s and it has been his lifelong goal to produce and perform those songs. But there was one catch…

 

“The voice is still a work in progress. When I got up on the stage, I got up there with more courage than I got up with skill in singing, because I'm brand new, because I never was a singer, never expected to be a singer, never thought of being a singer, never imagined being a singer. When I got up there on the stage, I was singing for the first time in my life in front of people, and that was a huge psychological, emotional adventure.”




Throughout Arcades and Love Songs, we follow Day on his journey with building his voice and confidence, even revisiting the inspiration behind all this music. But the film is more than just following around a man who has dedicated his life to the world of video games, it’s a story of perseverance and that we should never lose sight of our biggest goals in life. That sometimes the thing preventing you from what you’ve always wanted is yourself. 

 

“I actually began to have tremendous fears, and would even have nightmares about how, oh, it’s the end of my life and I never, ever, ever did the music and never shared it to the world so the world would find out how beautiful it is.”

 

When the word got out that Walter Day needed help making his album, the video game world stepped up

 

“I was at an event when a couple people came out of the crowd and they said, Walter, we recognize you from the King of Kong. Whatever happened to that music? Anything ever come out of it? And explained to them that it was still my dream to do, but it never happened, just because of all the difficulties of life. And they said, Well, we made a game called Color Switch. It's been successful. You know, we've got the money and we want to pay for your album as a gift, no strings attached.

 

And when Cunningham heard the news?

 

it only took me about 24 hours before I realized, you know, Walter mentioned the scene in King of Kong where he's talking about his music and he's playing his song. And it's great scene in front of this barn in Iowa in the winter. And I just thought, you know, this brings it full circle, and it's also a different story. We had no interest in doing King of Kong 2. Walter said this early on when we started filming. He's like, you know, the story is almost already written. And I think our cameras being there up to Walter's game, it made it made it a little more important, and I'm very happy with what turned out to be really it's a singer songwriter heartbreak movie about this guy with an interesting background in video games” 

 

I don’t want to spoil how the performance goes, but the film is a must for fans not only of the King of Kong, but for those looking for a little inspiration.

 

This is not an action film at all. This completely is devoted to impulses of the heart. In a sense, this is completely all about how the way people work together, and how their hearts fit together, which is becoming an important theme at this time in history, because the world is so crazy.

 

You can stream Arcades and Love Songs on multiple platforms, right now.

 

Paul Holden, KIRO News Radio

 

00:07:04
Jun 10, 2025 5:54 PM
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KIRO Radio Highlights
Memorial Day Fun: What's happening this weekend

Memorial Day weekend is here, the sun is shining, we are in for a good one!

Throughout the weekend at the Seattle Center is the Northwest Folklife Festival, and the event website says "the annual Northwest Folklife Festival is a community-powered celebration of the arts, culture, and heritage" that has been funded through donations for over 50 years. Live music and art, panels, workshops, art installations, and plenty more! Learn more right here.

At the Neptune Theatre on Sunday it is Massive Monkees Day! If you are a fan of dancing, especially, breakin, you will want to check this out! This dance battle will feature competitors from across the world in a variety of solo and group battles, plus there will be MCs and DJs keeping things moving and grooving, plus there will be giveaways! More details can be found right here.

It is an absolutely loaded sports weekend here in Seattle, while the first place Mariners aren't in town, if you are a soccer fan the Seattle Reign and Ballard FC have home matches tonight and the Sounders have a home match on Saturday. The Seattle Seawolves also play tonight and the Storm have games tonight and Sunday. I'd imagine there's a lot of families who are heading off to some sort of tournament this weekend as well.

If you are looking for Memorial Day celebrations, there will be plenty across the region, here are a couple for you to plan for: Monday at 1 PM there is a ceremony at the Tahoma National Cemetery with a musical prelude starting at noon. There will be speakers, a wreath laying ceremony and more at the Joint Services Memorial Day Ceremony at the Mountain View Funeral Home and Cemetery in Lakewood, Monday at 2. In Seattle, the annual Memorial Day Celebration is being held at the Evergreen Washelli Funeral Home, where over 6,000 flags will be placed and there will be a Memorial Day Walk. These are just a couple of examples, if you are looking for something in your area, just search online for Memorial Day events in your area.

The Seattle International Film Festival is underway and heading into it's final weekend. There are a wide variety of movies from filmmakers from across the world showing throughout the weekend at multiple theaters. They have a helpful guide on how to enjoy the festival on their website and the big finale will be tomorrow during the Closing Night celebration. After the screening of Sorry, Baby at SIFF Cinema Downtown, the after party heads to MOHAI for drinks, food and dancing.

Here's an event sent to me by a listener!

It's time for the World's Longest Yard Sale on the Long Beach Peninsula this weekend! There will be sales across the roughly 28 mile peninsula, perfect for those looking for the next cool thing for their place or a cool gift idea!

Lots going on this holiday weekend, what are you getting involved with? Lemme know at paulh@kiroradio.com

 

00:02:35
May 22, 2025 6:34 PM
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What to do this weekend: Street Fair season, full contact sports and the Seattle Saunter

Summer is right around the corner and things are really starting to get cooking here in our region!

Feel like putting on your walking shoes this weekend? The Seattle Super Saunter has returned and if you are asking yourself what is that, the event's website says it is a "self guided roughly 20 mile adventure from the city's northernmost point to the southernmost point". It's not a race, you aren't required to finish, the idea is all about getting out and exploring the city by foot and gaining a new perspective! It also raises awareness about issues regarding walkability in our region and country. You can find out more and RSVP for the post saunter function on the event's website.

If you are looking to do some shopping this weekend and want to do it at some of the great street fairs and markets, there will be plenty. The Columbia City Night Market will have food trucks and vendors, plus live music and a beer garden on Saturday night starting at 6. In the U-District there will be hundreds of booths on University Way this weekend for the U District Street Fair! 50 food trucks, free live music, the kids zone, it's the perfect kick off to the summer!

The 17th of May is an important day for Norway, as it is Norwegian Constitution Day! To celebrate, there will be a parade through the heart of Ballard, plus lots of live entertainment and specials at multiple locations throughout Ballard! The fun is getting started at 11 AM, get the full run down of events and locations here.

There's a lot of stuff going down in Tacoma and Pierce County this weekend! Saturday from noon to 5, There's the Gig Harbor Beer Festival, which will have everything you need for a beer festival, local breweries and cideries, live music and food! Also on Saturday, there's roller Derby at Pierce College during Mayday Mayhem. There will be two bouts with doors opening at 5. The Tacoma Book Fair is underway at the Waterfront Market at Ruston and Saturday is Children's Day which will have story time, snacks and lots more. Get more information right here.

Here's a couple of events sent to me by a listener!

There's a big music festival underway in downtown Everett and when they reached out, they told me that this festival is a launching pad for artists from Washington. It's called Fisherman's Village and it's three days of music across three stages! The fun started yesterday, but there's still plenty of music, art, food and fun ahead! Get the full lineup and more right here.

Also, listener Mike reminded me that we have professional rugby here in Seattle, there's a Seattle Seawolves match Saturday at Starfire Stadium in Tukwila! Tickets are still available for the match which starts at 6 PM.

How do you like to kickoff the summer? Let me know at paulh@kiroradio.com

 

00:02:22
May 15, 2025 7:4 PM
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CEO of the Washington State Hospital Association
A major health care provider is making cuts, and it likely won't be the last. 
 
Valley Medical Center is closing five clinics in King County, including an urgent care center in Renton. It's consolidating two other clinics and closing two hospital units... all by June 27.
 
Cassie Sauer is CEO of the Washington State Hospital Association, and she predicts we will see more health care providers making cuts.
00:05:23
May 14, 2025 9:10 PM
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KIRO Radio Highlights
What to do this weekend: Celebrate Mom for Mother's Day!

Mother's Day Weekend is here and the top priority should be spending time with Mom and the moms in your life, if you still need ideas on what to do, we got you covered!

Pick the perfect bouquet at the Flower Festival at Pike Place Market! There will be 35 local farmers selling and there will be live music all day. This is going down on Saturday and Sunday from 11-4.

On Capitol Hill this weekend it is Pierogi Fest! In addition to tons of tasty food to enjoy, there will also be polish clothes for sale, a beer garden and a performance from a Polish choir! This is going on at the Polish Cultural Center from Noon to 4 on Saturday.

In the Beacon Hill neighborhood on Saturday, you can check out the first of four Beacon Arts Street Fairs! It's free to attend and it's all about Mother's Day. There will be music from female-led bands, poetry writing, family fun like story time, art projects and dance workshops, plus food, an art market and a garden share for those working on your yards.

In Edmonds at the Frances Anderson Playfield on Saturday, it is the Edmonds Spring Fest! This free all ages event has over 100 vendors, plenty of food trucks and the perfect place to find something for Mom!

If you want something a little more tranquil for mom, check out BonsaiFest at the Pacific Bonsai Museum in Federal Way. This event is free and there will be hundreds of bonsai to check out and appreciate the craft that goes into each one. There will also be live bonsai making demonstrations and special exhibitions that highlight all things Bonsai. You can grab a Bonsai for mom, enjoy food trucks and there's fun for the kids as well.


Seattle Beer Week is underway starting today and running through next week. One of the headline events is tonight at 5 at the Beveridge Place Pub where there will be ten casks of beer from ten different Seattle Breweries on tap for people to enjoy. Not to mention events and specials all week long at a ton of spots around Seattle. Don't forget to try the Official Beer of Seattle Beer Week as well, the Group Project! Get more details on all the events and schedule right here.

This is one of the cooler community events of the spring if you ask me, Saturday in West Seattle is the West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day! Over 500 homes will be hosting sales and if you are looking for something in particular, you can use the helpful search features on the West Seattle Blog to find listed items.


At the Evergreen State Fairgrounds on Saturday you and the family can learn about the wonderful world of reptiles at the Seattle Metro Reptile Expo! This event has been going on since 2009 and for those that are a fan of these creatures, you'll be face to face with reptiles, bugs, arachnids and amphibians! You can find more details right here


Take your mom out to the ballgame as the red hot Mariners are back in town. The Toronto Blue Jays come to town and there's promo events for every game this weekend! Also in the world of sports, the Seattle Reign take on the Houston Dash Sunday at 5 at Lumen Field.

Here's an event sent by a listener!

The US Airforce Woodwind Quintet is putting on free concerts this weekend, one in Bellingham tonight at Western Washington at 7:30 and Saturday on Mercer Island. They are also offering a masterclass at WWU at 5 before the performance.


What are you getting into this weekend? Let me know at paulh@kiroradio.com

 

00:03:17
May 8, 2025 8:13 PM
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What to do this weekend: Free comic books, soccer and sunshine

Fresh off the warmest day of the year, we are ready to roll into a weekend full of fun here in the Pacific Northwest


It's a big day for comic book fans on Saturday, it's Free Comic Book Day! That means you can head to local comic book shops and check out a free comic from the worlds of Marvel, DC, Transformers, Godzilla, Street Fighter and plenty more! You can use the store locator to see what shop near you has not only free comics, but special events too!

Also in the world of pop culture... May the 4th be with you! The 4th of May is always a celebration of Star Wars and at the Museum of Flight you can find a ton of family fun all centered around a galaxy far, far away. Here you can train in the world of lightsabers while also watching the pros show off their skills. Plus there will be LEGO displays, an R2D2 builders club, face painting and of course cosplay! If you show up in costume you can get 3 dollars off your admission!


If you want to get out on the water and see local rowers take on Indiana University AND the New Zealand National Team, find a spot along the Waterside Trail, the Montlake Cut or the Montlake Bridge on Saturday for the Windermere Cup. You'll also be able to see the Seattle Yacht Club's Boat Parade as well, and this year's theme is back to the 80's. Find out more right here.


The Festal program continues at the Seattle Center this weekend and this weekend's celebration is for Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month! Learn about a variety of cultures and communities through song, dance, food and more. This is going down Saturday from 11-5 at the Armory Food and Event Hall in the Seattle Center.

Plenty of action on the pitch at Lumen Field this weekend! The Seattle Reign take on the Kansas City Current tonight at 7:30. Saturday the Sounders are matching up against St. Louis City SC, also at 7:30 and don't forget the March to the Match before! Also in sports, the WNBA season is around the corner and preseason hoops will be at Climate Pledge Sunday at 4.


Here are a couple events sent to me by listeners!

Tulip Town is going to stay open through the weekend until May 4th, giving you one more weekend to see the colorful fields of flowers! You'll find Tulip Town in Mount Vernon.

At the SeaTac Doubletree Hotel, it's Washingtons biggest meeting of all things macabe and spooky! It's time for Crypticon Seattle which runs all weekend long. There will be costume contests, panels, and plenty more! Tickets are available on site or online

What are you getting into this weekend? Let me know at Paulh@kiroradio.com

 

00:02:30
May 1, 2025 8:43 PM
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What to do this weekend: Dancing, Earth Day and Street Festivals

Welcome back to the weekend!

Let the music take over and enjoy the World Rhythm Festival at the Rainer Arts Center on Friday and then Columbia Park on Saturday and Sunday. This event is free and loaded with live music, drum circles, workshops and of course PLENTY of dancing! You can find more details right here.

Saturday is the Family Day Celebration at the Discovery Center. This event is free and will have hands on activities that will teach families about sustainability and the role it plays in the future. There will also be a guided tour and pop up chats for quick information sessions. Earth Day celebrations continue this weekend. There's a park cleanup at Magnuson Park from 10 am to noon on Saturday, Snohomish County Public Utility Department is putting on their energy block party at the PUD Headquarters in Everett and it's the Friends' Earth Day Celebration at Saltwater State Park, which will have educational activities and a beach walk. These events are free and open to families, but I do suggest seeing if you should RSVP!

There's a street festival in White Center on Saturday. It's the 22nd Annual Khmer New Year Street Festival and here you will learn more about the Khmer community through food, music, fashion and more, there will also be games and plenty more fun! You'll want to head to White Center between 15 and 16th Ave SW on Saturday to find the fun.

It's a weekend full of art in Olympia during the spring edition of Arts Walk! Over 100 artist exhibits will be available to enjoy and that means paintings, sculptures, music, dancing, comedy, circus art, drama and that's to mention all the other art forms that you can check out! There will also be a hands on activity area, an arts market and some special processions as well! This art walk is on both Saturday and Sunday.

Over 200 vendors will be selling their goods at the Quality Flea Center on Capitol Hill this weekend during the Punk Rock Flea Market. The event's website describes it as "The Pacific Northwest's favorite underground shopping experience". There will also be music and drinks as well, and this runs all weekend long.


Here's an event sent to me by a listener!

If you are up for a drive to the coast this weekend, the 2025 Long Beach Razor Clam Festival is this weekend and it's the perfect event for the seafood fan in your life. There's clam digging and cleaning lessons, chowder tasting, oyster shucking contests, cook offs and plenty more! This event runs Saturday and Sunday.

Lots of things to do this weekend and only so much time... what do you have going on? Let me know at pholden@kiroradio.com

 

00:02:19
Apr 22, 2025 8:8 PM
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What to do this weekend: Free days at National Parks, Motorcycles and Anime

Happy Easter weekend and are we in a prime time for our region or what? Longer days, sunnier skies, and an absolutely LOADED calendar of things to do.

Anime fans will be packing the Seattle Convention Center this weekend for three days of fun at Sakura-Con! This convention has all the staples, panels, guests and vendors, plus cosplay events, a black tie ball and plenty more! More details are on the event's website.

A reminder that two big spring events are underway, the Washington State Spring Fair is open through the weekend and the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival rolls on with the Tulip Festival Street Fair that will be all weekend long.

While there might be some rainstorms to avoid this weekend, the temperatures should still be warm enough to enjoy free entrance to National Parks! Saturday is the first day of National Parks Week and that means you can get in for free to Olympic, Mount Rainier and all the other National Parks on Saturday. If you are making the trip, you'll want to check out the National Parks website for updates on what's open, what's not and any other details you may need!


It's another busy sports weekend, especially if you are a fan of soccer! The Seattle Reign are in town taking on the Portland Thorns tonight at 7 and tomorrow at 4:30 the Sounders take on Nashville SC. The Seattle Seawolves, our Major League Rugby team takes on the Chicago Hounds tonight at 7:30 in Tukwila, the UW Huskies baseball team has a home series against Illinois throughout the weekend and the Everett Silvertips take on Portland tonight at 7 in Everett.


Learn more about the city and the buildings that make it up with the Seattle Architecture Foundation's Walking Tours! These are two hour tours that are guided and will teach you about the architecture, landscapes and urban design practices of Seattle! A perfect way to see the city through a different lens.


Here's an event sent to me by a listener!

The Washington Motorcycle Road Racing Association is celebrating 51 years of racing in Washington State with a free event! There will be races on Saturday and Sunday at The Ridge Motorsports Park for the start of their racing season. It features top of the line bikes, vintage models and races for pros and amateurs. You can find more information on the event's website.

From motorcycles to bicycles as there's a big bike swap going down in Pierce County at Tacoma Community College on Saturday. According to the event's website, the Pierce County Bike Swap is a free event where anyone can buy or sell used bikes and bike parts. There's also a practice area to try out your new ride, food trucks and vendors, and a practice transit bus to get the hang of putting your bike on the bus rack!

There will also be Easter specials going on throughout the region, so see if your local spot is doing something for the holiday!

As always if you know of cool things going on in your neighborhood, Let me know at paulh@kiroradio.com

 

00:02:38
Apr 17, 2025 7:43 PM
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What to do this weekend: Spring Fair, Packed Sports Weekend and Record Store Day

The wonderful world of the weekend has returned yet again and there is plenty to do!

If the sunshine already has you dreaming of summer days at the State Fair, well those dreams can now become realities at the Washington State Spring Fair! It's the 35th anniversary of the Fair and it has all your favorites from the fair, plus MONSTER TRUCK RIDES and other motorsports like a demolition derby and monster truck shows. There's also plenty of other entertainment like rides, animal shows and fair food. The Spring Fair runs this weekend and next.

While the rain and wind might have impacted the cherry blossoms, that won't stop the Seattle Cherry Blossom and Japanese Cultural Festival. This free event is at the Seattle Center today through Sunday and throughout the weekend you'll see art, cooking demonstrations, Japanese Wrestling, music and honestly it'll take too long to list all the fun. You'll want to check out the Seattle Center website for a schedule and more details.

Something that I learned when moving to Seattle is that there is in fact an entire city underneath our streets! If you want to immerse yourself in some Seattle history, the Beneath the Streets Underground History tour has returned and tours are once again being offered. You'll take a walking tour with a local guide who will teach you about the city's history and how much things have and will continue to change. You can get tickets right here.

We are still celebrating the spring flowers and Sunday in Tacoma you'll be able to see decorated boats and more as part of the Daffodil Marine Festival and Parade! The boats take off from the Tacoma Yacht Club and from there folks will be able to catch a view of the parade along Ruston Waterway and the Dune Peninsula Park. The parade starts at 11:30 AM and you can get more details here 

Speaking of flowers, the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is also underway and runs through the month!

The sports calendar continues to be jammed packed and we got a lot of home games this weekend. The Mariners have a weekend series against the Texas Rangers, there's a promo item for EACH game this weekend, so check out the team's website and pick your favorite. The Kraken take on the St. Louis Blues Saturday at 7, The Seattle Reign have a home match tonight at 4:30, but if pro sports aren't your thing WWE Friday Night Smackdown is tonight at Climate Pledge arena. Tickets are still available for all of these events!

If you are someone who collects records or has their eyes on a special record, you'll want to keep an eye out on all the Record Store Day deals! There are TONS of awesome shops to check out around our region, my recommendations are Easy Street Records in West Seattle and Sonic Boom in Ballard. Plan ahead and make sure you know when and where to get those special items! Record Store Day is Saturday and you can find information about record store day right here 

If arts and crafts are your thing, Hanger 30 at Magnuson Park will be the place you want to be this weekend. Best of the Northwest has returned and here you will find over 100 artists showing off their work, workshops, food trucks and plenty more. Show off your work, or learn a new skill Saturday and Sunday from 10-5.

Lots of things to do this weekend and only so much time... what do you have going on? Let me know at pholden@kiroradio.com

00:02:59
Apr 10, 2025 6:40 PM
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KIRO Radio Highlights
Weekend Events: Flower festivals and monster trucks


It's another weekend and the spring fun is in full bloom

The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival has begun and runs through the month of April. There are multiple fields of flowers to check out as well as plenty of other activities for all ages.   You'll want to make sure the flowers are blooming before you go, but on Saturday at 2 it is the Annual Tulip Parade! Get ready for the parade at the KidZone and see our furry friends join in on the fun during the Daffodil Pet Parade! You can get tickets and details at tulipfestival.org

That's not the only festival celebrating flowers this weekend, in Pierce County the Daffodil Festival has returned and the big event, the Dafodil Parade will take place at different times across the region on Saturday. Things kick off in Tacoma at 10:15, then the floats head to Puyallup, Sumner and Orting. You can get parade routes, information and more at thedaffodilfestival.org

There's a night market going down on Saturday from 3-10 in Magnuson Park at Hanger 30. It'll have your usual, tasty food, live music and oh yeah wrestling! The Taco Libre Truck showdown is a 21 and up event that has over 100 vendors, a margarita bar and luchador wrestling from 8-10. TO get details by searching Taco Libre Truck Showdown on Facebook or Eventbrite

Maybe you are looking for something more for the kids this weekend, well you will have plenty of options. At the Washington State Convention Center this weekend you can take a trip back to the prehistoric era with Jurassic Quesrt! There will be over 80 "true to life" dinosaurs as well as shows and crafts, bouncehouse and so much more! You can get details at jurassicquest.com. At the Seattle Center on Saturday and Sunday it's the International Children's Friendship Festival! This event is free and highlights art, music and dances from across the world as well as displays that will teach kids about other cultures and science. This going down 11-5 on Saturday and Sunday. Finally Monster Jam is taking over Lumen Field. Expect high flying stunts, big loud cars and plenty of fun! This going down on Saturday at 5. 

It's a weekend full of improv from Bandit Theater! There's a wide variety of shows being put on at a few locations in Seattle and in Tacoma. There's comedy shows based on first dates, couple quiz shows, science and tech and improv battles! You'll want to visit bandittheater.org to pick a show, get tickets and see which venue the shows are at. Shows are running throughout the weekend and you can get details at bandittheater.org 

What's going on in your neighborhood? Let me know at paulh@kiroradio.com 

00:02:24
Apr 4, 2025 5:0 AM
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Weekend Events: Sports, trinkets and big ol drums

he weekend is here and while we still navigate the ups and downs of early spring weather, there's still plenty to do!

Sports fans are in for a busy weekend with the Mariners back in action against the A's all weekend, The Seattle Seawolves have a Major League Rugby match on Saturday at 6 at Starfire Sports Arena in Tukwila, the Kraken take on the Dallas Stars Saturday at 7:30 at Climate Pledge and in Lynwood Rat City Roller Derby Double header! Four teams are clashing for a spot in the championship in May! This is at the Edmonds Community College and starts at 4 on Saturday. Get details at ratcityrollerderby.com 

It's also a big weekend for collectors! You'll find me down in Puyallup at the Washington State Fair and Event Center for the Washington State Gaming Expo! Vendors, panels, big names from the industry, an arcade and lots more await! If you are looking for vintage items that aren't video game related, there's a couple of markets this weekend to check out. Captain Slinky's Oddball emporium returns at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds. This is Saturday and Sunday and has over 170 different vendors and plenty more, including a newly announced arcade! More details are at oddmall.co. In White Center, the White Center Vintage marketplace is taking over the neighborhood this weekend as over 30 vendors are bringing antiques, collectibles and more vintage goodies. This runs from noon to 6. 
Finally, if vinyl records are your groove, then you'll want to head to the Seattle Armory on Sunday for the Northwest Record Show. So many different records, new and old will be available for sale, it's a perfect event to build your collection. Bring a food item to donate to Northwest Harvest and you'll get a dollar off your admission. This runs from 10-5. 

If you are looking to enjoy some music from a different part of the world this weekend there are two different Japanese Taiko druming shows you could check out! In Japenese, Taiko refers to any kind of drum but it is much more than just the instruments, it's about the performance and energy the groups bring to the stage. YAMATO, a group from Japan,  will be performing at the Moore Theatre in Belltown on Friday and will have more than 40 drums on stage, including one that comes from a 400 year old tree and weighs over a thousand pounds! Get tickets at the Moore Theatre's website. In Tacoma, Portland Taiko is bringing their show to the Rialto Theater on Saturday at 7:30. This group has been performing since 1994 all across the region. Tickets and details are on tacomaartslive.org

If you grew up on the Food Network then you are probably familiar with Alton Brown and his show Good Eats. He's since created a variety show and this might be your last chance to see it! The Last Bite will show some of Brown's food hacks, silly food songs and plenty more! It's a food meets variety show. The last two shows are right here in Washington, tomorrow at the Paramount theater and Sunday in Bellingham at the Mount Baker Theatre. Get tickets and details at altonbrownlive.com

Support the regions middle schoolers at the 2025 Spelling Bee! 80 contestants face off in a battle of words for a shot at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington DC later this year. Our own Feliks Banel is moderating the event as well! Get more details at townhallseattle.org

Lots to do and only so much time, what are you getting into this weekend? Let me know at paulh@kiroradio.com  

00:03:10
Mar 27, 2025 8:32 PM
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Weekend Events: Karoke, Holi and plenty of food


Are you looking to take your karaoke skills to the next level? Then you should enter SMASH Karaoke in Tacoma on Saturday. There will be live judges, cash prizes and all the fun of belting out a tune. This is going down at Edison Square, doors open at 7. Arrive early to improve your chances of being selected to perform and bring your a game! 

Holi celebrations continue this weekend in downtown Seattle and Phinney Ridge. At the Seattle Center Mural Ampithere it's Happy Holi 2025 and there will of course be plenty of colors to cover your friends and family in, but there will be live music, dancing, raffles and food. The event is free to attend but there will be food and color to purchase and all proceeds go towards #FeedTheNeed, which serves meals to those in need. In Phinney Ridge at the Phinney Center, the colored powder will be flying, the tasty treats will be a plenty and there will be a showcase of famous dances, including some from Bollywood! If you are heading to one of these celebrations, make sure you are wearing clothes you won't mind getting messy and stained! 

French Fest will be taking over the Seattle Center Armory with a celebration French speaking cultures, including live music, wine tasting, and plenty of activities for the kids. One of the key events? The best baguette and croissant contest! This is Sunday from 11-5. Get details and more information at seattlecenter.com 


It's the Persian New Year and celebrations are taking place at Town Hall Seattle this weekend. It's the 5th annual Nowruz (no-ruz) celebration and here you will find live performances, displays to inform about the Persian culture and activities for all ages. This event is free and starts at noon on Sunday. 

It's the 20th anniversary of the Found Footage Festival. This is where comedians Joe Pickett and Nick Prueher go through their collection of over 13,000 VHS tapes and show you all the crazy stuff they have. This year will be a special version of the show, highlighting their all time favorite finds! This is going down on Sunday at 7 at SIFF Cinema Uptown. 


In Georgetown on Saturday it is Georgetown's Bites and Sites. This event highlights tons of tasty food from the neighborhood and also helps fund neighborhood events put on by the Georgetown Buisness Association. You'll stop by the ticket booth to pick up tickets that you'll exchange for food or other specials items throughout the area! Over 30 buisnesses are offering specials so why not enjoy everything Georgetown has to offer. Get more details at georgetownseattle.org

The Monroe Community band reached out to me and wanted to let you all know that there is a free concert at the Wagner PAC Saturday at 7. This will be an all wind band, so a twist on the usual concert setting! More details are available at monroecommunityband.org 

 

 

00:02:49
Mar 20, 2025 5:53 PM
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When to see the UW Cherry Blossoms

It's almost time for the big bloom at the University of Washington! 

The famous UW Cherry Blossoms are getting ready to make their 2025 debut and will welcome in spring with bright colors and beautiful views 

UW Campus Arborist Sara Shores gives us some backstory on them.

00:02:35
Mar 19, 2025 5:48 PM
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What to do this weekend: Irish, Birding and Quilting Festivals

The start of spring is right around the corner and there's plenty going on this weekend to enjoy along with the longer days. 

Monday is St. Patrick's Day and that means LOTS to do this weekend. Irish Festival Seattle is at the Seattle Center Saturday and Sunday. The 54th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade will take over downtown Seattle on Saturday afternoon, starting at 4th Avenue and James then traveling to Westlake Park Finally, on Sunday, it is the St. Patrick's Day Dash! This 5K race features a costume contest, a post dash bash, the leprechaun lap and plenty more. You can find details and register at stpatsdash.com

There's a swap meet going on Captiol Hill this weekend at a former QFC on 15th Ave. E near Volunteer Park. This monthly meet up brings 45 vendors, artists, neighborhood businesses, and more together and you never know what you might find. Search CHASM at Quality Flea Center on Facebook for more details. 

There's a Holi festival in downtown Bellevue on Saturday from 12-4. Holi is a Hundu celebration known as the festival of colors and serves as a celebration of Spring. At downtown Bellevue Park there will be live music, colors to cover yourself, friends and family and tasty treats! Get more details at cryamerica.org 

One thing we know for sure about Washington is that we live in a state full of natural beauty, especially when it comes to birds! Birding has been rising in popularity and if you are fan of getting outside and studying our flying friends, you'll want to check out Wings of Water, the Northwest Birding festival going on this weekend. There's a wide variety of events planned, some that may fill up, but there's something for bird fans young and old, including a live raptor presentation! Details are available at wingsoverwaterbirdingfestival.com 

If quilts and quilting are more your thing, Monroe will be the place to be this weekend. There will be 400 quilts on display as well as demonstrations for you to learn new tips and tricks at the Quilters Anonymous Annual Quilt Show. This is going down at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds. There will be vendors selling all the goods you might need to make your next big project. More information at quiltersanonymous.org


If you want to catch some professional sports this weekend, Seattle Reign FC is back in action with the season kicking off on Saturday against the NJ/NYC Gotham FC at Lumen Field. That's at 7 PM. Meanwhile at Climate Pledge Arena, the Kraken take the ice tonight against the Utah Hockey Club and again on Sunday against the Winnipeg Jets. Tickets are still available for all the action! 

Plenty of ways to enjoy the weekend, how will you? Let me know at Paulh@kiroradio.com 

 

00:02:44
Mar 13, 2025 6:53 PM
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What to do this weekend: Comic Con, Irish Festivals and polar plunges

It is a jam packed weekend in the area so let's go through some of the highlights!

Emerald City Comic Con is back and rolling through the weekend. Panels, cosplay, games, and plenty of shopping to do! This is Pop Culture perfection going on in downtown Seattle at the convention center. Day passes are still available on emeraldcitycomiccon.com

St. Patrick's Day might still be a little bit away, but there are multiple Irish events throughout the weekend. Seattle Irish Week is in full swing this weekend as the Emerald City Irish Film Festival at the Pacific Science Center and there's an Irish Soda Bread Baking contest on Saturday at TS McHughs. In Tacoma at Freighthouse Square there will be over 40 vendors, leprechaun photos tasty treats and more at the 4th Annual Irish Festival. This is from 10-4

If you are feeling up for an adventure and got a hankering for some seafood, the Penn Cove Mussel Fest is this weekend! Enjoy a bunch of tasty treats from the sea with the Mussel Mingle on Friday, the Chowder tasting on Saturday and Sunday and learn more about how Mussel farming is done with the Mussel Farm Boat tours. Not every event needs a ticket so get all the details at penncovemusselfest.com 

Seattle Fitness week has begun and it is the perfect way to find your next gym or workout class. If you buy the Seattle Fitness Week Pass, you will be able to enjoy unlimited workout and fitness classes at the particpating gyms, which is around 30. This means you can find the gym, class, and instructor that will help you crush your fitness goals! Check out seattlefitnessweek.com for more details. 

The Northwest African American Museum is throwing a birthday party this weekend celebrating 17 years! This is going on Saturday from 10-5 and the celebration will include arts and craft projects, giveaways, sweet treats and plenty more! Get details at naamnw.org

Keep an eye on the forecast and get outside on Sunday for a free day at the Washington State Parks! In honor of Billy Frank Jr's birthday this weekend, no Discovery Pass is needed at popular outdoor areas this Sunday. Who is Billy Frank Jr? He was a Native American environmental leader and advocate of treaty rights. 

The Cold ones will be flowing after a cold plunge on Alki beach this weekend! The Polar Plunge is back raising money for Special Olympics and after you take dip warm up at the heated beer hall, the food truck rodeo and plenty more! Don't forget your costumes! Get more details at impact.sowa.org

What are you getting into this weekend? Let me know at paulh@kiroradio.com

 

 

 

00:02:35
Mar 6, 2025 9:6 PM
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KIRO Radio Highlights
Emerald City Comic Con Returns

Emerald City Comic Con has returned and the streets of downtown Seattle are expected to be packed throughout the weekend with superheros, wizards and other pop culture icons.

00:04:01
Mar 5, 2025 7:37 PM
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KIRO Radio Highlights
Weekend Events: Mardi Gras, Toy shows, and cold drinks

 

The days are getting longer, the sun has been shining and it is time for another weekend here in the Pacific Northwest.

This one is jam packed with things to do all over the sound!

Maybe you are a collector looking to add some vintage goodies to your collection, there's two perfect events for you this weekend! At the DoubleTree Suites in Southcenter it is the Seattle Miniature Show! There will be over 40 dealers attending showing off a wide variety of miniatures and doll houses! Admission is 8 dollars and they say on their website they are not set up for debit or credit cards so bring cash! This is Saturday and Sunday and more details can be found at seattleminiatureshow.com. 

If pop culture is more your thing, vintage toys, collectibles and comics are going to be on display and for sale at the Washington State Toy Show. Saturday from 10-4 at the Edward D Hansen Conference Center in Everett! This is the first toy show of the year and there is an early bird option for those who want a first look at what's available. Check out watoyshow.com for more details.

If you are someone who loves crafts and sewing, the Sewing and Stitchery Expo is underway at the Washington State Fairgrounds in Puyallup. There are over 400 booths and 100s of daily classes for you to learn a new skill or find inspiration for your next project. You can get details and tickets at thefair.com 

Mardi Gras is coming up next week and to celebrate the Fremont Arts Council is putting on the Petit Troll: Mini MArdis Gras Parade Sunday at Noon. Create your own float by customizing a toy truck to be part of the fun! There will be love music, costumes, dancing and plenty of creative creations! This event is family friendly and meetups begin at 11 Sunday at the Evanston Plaza. Get more details at fremontartscouncil.org 

Earn your sweet treat this weekend at the Seattle Hot Chocolate Run. There are three different distances to race and once you hit the finish line you'll enjoy tasty hot chocolate and other treats, as well as live music and vendors. You don't have to race to check out the Hot Chocolate Expo! This is going down at the Seattle Center on Saturday, get more details at hotchocolate15k.com

If you are a fan of adult beverages, you might have a reason to try something new. Seattle Cocktail week begins and according to the event's website the best bars in the city are partnering up with the world's greatest liquor brands come together to create tasty concoctions. There will be special events, classes and over 200 spirits to try! Details are available seattlecocktailweek.com. In Tacoma, the focus is on the cold ones as Tacoma Beer week begins tomorrow. This week long event will be serving up pints and special events throughout the city, including a kickoff party at Tacoma's oldest Brewery E9. In addition to the fun, there will be a beach clean up this weekend, a food drive and classes on the science of beer! Get more details at tacomabeerweek.com 

Celebrate the biggest night in film at the Grand Cinema for the Film Awards Party 2025. There will be local celebrities hosting the event, raffles, costumes and your ticket will also get complimentary beverage or snack! Get details and more at grandcinema.com

So many things to do this weekend and such little time, what do you have going on? Let me know at paulh@kiroradio.com 

 

00:03:05
Feb 27, 2025 8:11 PM
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