KIRO Radio Highlights

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

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 

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  

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 

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.

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 

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

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.

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 

We've all heard the call at one point in our life, the open air, the living free on the open seas, the hunt for treasure... the life of a pirate has long been a part of imaginations and popular culture.

A prime example is the incredibly popular anime and manga, One Piece

One Piece follows a pirate crew, complete with unique personalities and skills, on the quest for the ultimate pirate treasure... The One Piece.

Fans of the show are in for a treat this weekend as the Seattle Symphony will be performing music from the show in a series of immersive concerts on Saturday and Sunday. 

Our full conversation with John Scholes of Seattle's Morning News on KIRO News Radio. We discuss improvements in downtown and positive trends for the city, but there's still plenty of work left to do. 

Black History Month celebrations continue and this weekend at the Northwest African American Museum it's the Black Art Takeover. This is a celebration of local black communities and it's creative with a pop up market, guided tours of the museum,  panels, film screenings, STEM activities for the kids and lots more. You can enjoy all the activities as well as food and music on Saturday from 11-4. Get more details at naamnw.org

The Northwest Flower and Garden Festival has returned to the Seattle Convention Center! Get ideas for your spring cleaning plans and set your yard up for a summer of entertaining and soaking up the sun. You'll see plenty of design ideas as well as your chance to pick up just about everything you need to take care of your garden or yard. Get details and tickets at gardenshow.com 

The Chinatown-International District is hosting a free Lunar New Year celebration at Hing Hay Park this weekend. There will be plenty of vendors and the event's website says there will be over 40 food walk destinations to enjoy while soaking in live music and dancing. This is going on Saturday from 11-4. More details are available at seattlechinatownid.com. Also in the International District this weekend is the Chinese Expulsion Remembrance Rally and March. This will also start at Hing Hay Park beginning at 10 AM on Saturday. 

Enjoy old movies, with a twist! Jet City Improv is putting on Twisted Flicks! This has been a program since 1997 and the idea is taking old "B" movies and combining them with improv, music and lots more. This weekend's movie is Masters of the Universe and will be Saturday 7:30 PM at the UHeights Auditorium. Get tickets and details at twistedflicks.org 

Enjoy the Oscar nominated Short Films at the Grand Cinema this weekend, there's three different compilations of films across different showtimes throughout the weekend. You can get details on the films, which movies are in each compilation and get tickets at grandcinema.com 

 Here's a cool event for you and the kids, it's the 32nd Washington State Train Show and Marketplace at the Evergreen State Fairgrouds! There will be impressive model train displays and layouts, workshops that will sharpen your skills as a model maker and of course plenty of vendors to buy things to add to your collection.  Not only will there be plenty to see, but this is also a fundraising event for the Snohomish County 4-H foundation This event is free for those 9 and younger, and tickets are more information is available at UNWclub.com. This is running Saturday and Sunday. 

Love is in the air this weekend as it's Valentine's Day! If you still need last second plans, we got you covered!

Let's do a rapid fire round of Valentine's Day events going on: recommended by our lead producer David Burbank, catch the classic Sleepless in Seattle at Central Cinema throughout the weekend, a perfect dinner and a movie idea. At the Day 1 Playfield from 11-2 today you can build your own flower arrangement and make a handmade card for your valentine. Maybe your night is taking you to Pike Place market for dinner on the water, enjoy some laughs at the Comedy of Love Improv show at Unexpected Productions Market Theater, located right by the gum wall. Hit the ice at the Kraken Community Iceplex for the Valentine's Day Public Skate! There will be love songs, romantic lighting and a free dessert from 32 Bar and Grill with purchase of an entree. There are SO MANY more date night ideas and things going on tonight, but remember, it's all about spending time with the person or people you care about, grab some flowers, write a nice card and spend some time together!

You can get out and support some good causes this weekend. On the Evergreen Coast in Ilwaco (ILL-WA-CO), there's a Crab Crawl! There will be vendors and an art market as well as the big star of the show, the crab races! 
This event supports the Ilwaco Fire Department and the Hook and Ladder Company, which provides fire suppression, rescue, emergency medical care and hazardous materials response for the city, as well as fire safety programs.  Get more details at evergreencoastwa.com

If you love chowder, you'll want to head to the Gig Harbor Vintage Aero Museum today! It's time for the Green Gig chowder social. Once there you'll enjoy chowders from local chefs with flavor profiles from across the country. There will be live music and silent auctions as well, all raising money for early childhood education! You can get more details at gigharbourfoundation.org

Here's something sent to me from a listener! Local artists and vendors will be selling homemade goods at HANDMADELAND! This is going down  Saturday and Sunday and has over 175 vendors and the idea is all about exploration and discovery! The layout of the event encourages you to see as much as possible and will highlight small local businesses, activities for you to make and take, art installations a photo booth and plenty more. This is at Magnuson Park  Hanger 30 and is free to attend! More details are available handmadeland.club

As Black History Month continues, there are numerous events happening each weekend. Sunday at the Hyatt Regency Lake Washington it is the third annual Nlack Makers and Creative's event. This is a celebration of local black artists and is a fundraiser for the Family First Community Center. Not only will there be art, but food as well from a variety of local vendors as well. Get tickets and details by searching hyattexperiences.com for the 3rd Annual Black Makers & Creatives Art Exhibit

Just a slice of all the cool things going on this weekend, if you know about cool things going on then you gotta let me know at paulh@kiroradio.com

Strange times call for strange brews, and that's just what is being served at the 19th Annual Strange Brewfest. There's going to be live music and glass blowing and over 20 breweries serving up something special. Last year's winner of Best Strange Brew came from Bushel and Barrel Ciderhouse for their Miso Sasquatch Farmhouse Apple Cider. Now how does that sound? The fun starts tonight and goes through tomorrow at the American Legion Hall in Port Townsend.

Just in time for a cold winter weekend, the Soupocalypse has arrived in Fremont! Saturday and Sunday there will be a 16 restaurants offering up bowls of tasty warm goodness! Make sure you pick up your soup passport so you can collect stamps as you go, get 8 stamps and get a prize from Fremont Mischief! Fremont.com has more details

MoPop is starting Black History Month on Saturday with the program Black History Month: Black Beyond. This program runs from 10-5 and focuses on black artists and their contributions to science fiction and sci fi cinema.
There will be pop up exhibitions, a screening of Men in Black, complete with trivia, and Ashanti Davis will lead a Black Science Fiction Talk. Your ticket to MoPop will get you into this event. Get more details at mopop.org 

Has it been a while since your last trip to Pike Place Market? Stop by on Saturday for Local Appreciation Day!  This is the third edition of this event and kicks of Local Love Month at the Market. While you shop, buskers will provide live music, there will be artist demonstrations including pop up murals, plus try out Market Bingo, a new way to explore the market with a fun game. Spend 50 dollars or more and you'll receive a Pike Place Market pin and water bottle, while supplies last. You can get more details at pikeplacemarket.org

In Tacoma, if you consider yourself a Sportsmen, you'll want to head to the Washington State Fair Events Center for the Washington Sportsmen Show! Here you will find everything in the world of hunting, fishing, and outdoor sports! There will be plenty of demonstrations and hands on activities, including an archery challenge for prizes and a one of a kind indoor river full of live steelhead. Sharpen your skills and get ready to get outdoors by visiting thesportshows.com

Lunar New Year celebrations continue this weekend at the Seattle Asian Art Museum! There will be multiple lion dances as well as a live illustrated storytime and a community sculpture project! This is on Saturday from 11-2. Tickets and details available at seattleartmusuem.com 

Are you someone with a green thumb a seed collection? Well you can swap those seeds, talk gardening with fellow gardeners and enjoy some tasty food made from local seeds! Couple rules to keep in mind, make sure your seeds are labeled with crop and variety name and date and make sure they aren't too old to plant, 2022 or after. This is going down at the Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetlands on Saturday from 1-4 PM.

2025 is in full swing and the fun has only just begun, do you have something cool coming up? Let me know at paulh@kiroradio.com

We learn about a new resource for those who are victims of domestic violence 

How good are you at jigsaw puzzles? Think you are particularly speedy when it comes to solving them? You'll want to head to the DuPont community center for the Speed Puzzle Competition! Not only will you work with your team of 4, there will be a diner themed dinner and a puzzle swap! 40 bucks will cover your team of those ages 10 and up, and there are prizes for winning!  Get more details at dupontwa.gov

Celebrate the mascot of the Pacific Northwest, Sasquatch at the 2025 Squatch Fest! This is going down at the Cowlitz County Event Center and features presentations from Sasquatch experts, vendors, educational activities and movies and a Kids Cave for the young explorers. This is Saturday and Sunday and you can get details and tickets at kelsolongviewchamber.org/squatchfest/

New Year Celebrations continue this weekend. At the Seattle Center, it is Tet, also known as the Vietnamese Lunar Year and there will be lion dances, food and even a health fair so you can start the year off right. This is both Saturday and Sunday and is free to attend.  Sunday at Westlake Park you can celebrate the year of the snake with of course a lion dance, plus there will be giveaways and free drinks and treats, while they last. This is also a free event and the fun gets started at 11 AM. More details are available at downtownseattle.org

If you are looking to do a little shopping this weekend, check out the 4th on 4th Flea Market! This monthly event takes place on the 4th Sunday of the month in Sodo. There will be plenty of antique and vintage goods to browse, plus goods made by local vendors. Plus there will be drinks served by event partners, so you'll be able to sip while you shop. Get more details at foundmarket.net

The Harlem Globetrotters are back in town at Climate Pledge Arena! Don't miss out on all the trick shots, big time dunks and the craziest ball handling skills in the game of basketball. This is a perfect way to spend an afternoon downtown with the family. Get tickets and details at climatepledgearena.com 

The Fremont Bridge Night Market is Saturday and this edition is the Winter Feast! That means lots of food trucks, patio heaters and a covered space so no worries if any rain shows up. If it has been a while since you've been to Fremont, pay the troll a visit and do a little shopping!

Lots more going on this weekend, do you know of something cool going on? Let me know at paulh@kiroradio.com 

It's a long holiday weekend, how are you enjoying it?

Housing is one of the biggest things on the minds of Seattle residents and it's leaders. Councilmember Maritza Rivera wants to make sure those in her district are being heard. 

2025 is now in full swing and the fun is only just getting started!

Start the year off by enjoying some local art! There are art walks going on throughout the weekend. Today is the Belltown art walk from 6-9, tomorrow you can check out art in Ballard from 6-9 and Georgetown from noon to 10.

OrcaCon is this weekend and no it is not about our beloved aquatic friends, it's all about board games! According to the event's website, OrcaCon is a "cozy inclusive tabletop games convention with a focus in diversity, inclusion, and accessibility". All weekend long you can play tons of games, meet new friends, check out panels and lots more! This is going down at the DoubleTree Sea-Tac today through Sunday, get tickets and details at orcacon.org

The Pop Up or Pop Out Market is going down at the Made Space in Downtown Seattle. This will be your chance to support local creators with offerings of food, fashion, jewelry, books, art, beauty products and plenty more. This event is free and why not start the new year off by finding a new local business to support?

If you are heading up to Crystal Mountain to hit the slopes on Saturday, the Kraken are taking over! There's going to be an on-site scavenger hunt, raffles, games and a watch party as the Kraken battle the Buffalo Sabres! If you wear your Kraken gear, you can get 15% off retail, food and beverage purchases! You can get more details on the Kraken's website.

At the Fremont Abbey Arts Center tonight it will be a night of yoga and reflection during Inward and Outward. The event's website describes this as a guided experience with meditative yoga, reflective writing, lighthearted embodiment practice with live ambient soundscapes to set the vibe. Everyone is going through those new year feels, so why not connect with yourself and your community through this event! They do say you'll need to bring some cozy support for your knees, like a yoga mat, blanket or pad, a notebook and pencil and easy to move in clothes. Get more details at fremontabbey.org

If you need to put on the dancing shoes and shake off the work week. There's quite a few theme nights. The Nectar Lounge in Fremont is throwing a 90s theme prom party starting at 9 tonight and tomorrow night the theme is a 2010s Tumblr party. The Taylor Swift Tribute band 13 til Midnight is taking the stage on Sunday at the Royal Room. There's a trio of singers and a full band that will take you through Swift's iconic discography and is a perfect night for the Swifties. The early show is sold out, but tickets are still available for the 8 pm show! You can details on the dance parties at nectarlounge.com and more about 13 til Midnight at theroyalroomseattle.com

How are you getting into the groove this new year? Let me know at paulh@kiroradio.com

It was a confusing scene on New Year's Day in Las Vegas when an active-duty Green Beret took his own life in an explosion involving a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump hotel. This event has sparked a conversation about the hidden struggles many military personnel face, particularly regarding PTSD and traumatic brain injuries.

On Friday morning on KIRO Newsradio's "Seattle's Morning News," host Charlie Harger discussed the circumstances surrounding Livelsberger's death with Dave Phillips, a reporter from The New York Times who has been investigating the challenges faced by veterans like Livelsberger.

A recent study from the Allen Institute in Seattle, led by scientist Hongkui Zeng, offers promising insights into how everyday choices can help preserve brain health as we age. Published in the journal Nature, Zeng’s research explores the cellular changes in the brain associated with aging and provides practical advice on how to mitigate these effects through simple lifestyle adjustments.