The Seattle International Film Festival, or SIFF, runs from May 15-25 with a limited streaming option from May 26-June 1. And it's a big festival! 245 films will be screened over the 10-day festival. This is a movie-lover's dream. But also - a literal impossibility to see every single film on offer. So how do you pick what to see?

The Stranger 's arts editor Emily Nokes oversaw production of The Stranger’s guide to SIFF ; she and a team of staff and freelancers screened and wrote mini-reviews for more than 100 festival films. Emily will walk us through three different approaches to enjoying SIFF without experiencing FOMO or decision fatigue.

Tip: Arrive early to the shows. SIFF suggests showing up 10 minutes before show time but it’s best to arrive even earlier.

Tip: Be on the lookout for two “secret movies” at SIFF this year. We’re not sure what that means, but it sounds intriguing.

Here are a few SIFF-related things Emily mentions in this episode:

• Watching the SIFF showing of the 1982 Jim Henson fantasy adventure, The Dark Crystal, with a live soundtrack from DJ NicFit
• Emily recommends the documentary Cat Town, USA, which is about an aging Florida couple who run a retirement village for elderly cats out of their house.
• Grabbing a bite at The Sitting Room in Lower Queen Anne and/or Dick’s Drive-In for the french fries for sustenance while watching films.

You can also check out SIFF’s interactive flipbook to see what films spark your curiosity. This 64-page digital program includes the full film lineup.

Other event recommendations from this week’s episode:

• Kendrick Lamar and SZA at Lumen Field, May 17
• Brandon Vosika at The Factory, May 8- 11
• Laughs in Spanish at Seattle Rep, April 17-May 17

Where’s your favorite place to meet up around arts and culture in the region?Give us a call at 206-221-6100 or drop us a line at meetmehere@kuow.org.

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Emo music is a subgenre of punk rock that is characterized by emotional, often confessional lyrics, usually dealing with angst and social alienation. The music is sometimes raw, but almost always very melodic. Emo's heyday emerged after the year 2000, when it was popularized by bands like My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, and Panic! At The Disco. That era of emo is now strongly associated with the Millennial generation. These Millennial fans are likely feeling excited because these days, emo has taken over clubs in the Seattle area, and across the USA, with events like Emo Nite and Emo Night (two distinct emo parties), as well as “This Party Sucks! Emo Night,” and even “I’m Not OK. An Emo and Pop Punk Brunch” (hey, we did say it was strongly associated with Millennials, so there ya go).

It's a funny thing, however, because as beloved as emo may be, there seems to be no consensus on what actually counts as emo music or an emo band. If you had asked our host Dyer Oxley before this episode, he would have pointed you to the 1990s for bands like Sunny Day Real Estate, Jawbreaker, or Mineral. He was in for a big surprise. In this episode, Dyer speaks with three emo experts, KISW DJ Danny Vigill, Sub Pop's Michelle Fegahli, and KUOW's Teo Popescu, to discuss why emo nights are so popular and what qualifies as emo music in the first place.

Upcoming Emo Night Events:

Emo Nite at Neumos, May 2

Emo Night at El Corazon, May 3

Emo Night at The Airport Tavern, June 20

Other event recommendations from this week’s episode:

• Free Comic Book Day, May 3
• Music Trivia at Easy Street in West Seattle, May 5/every other Monday
• Crypticon, May 2-4

Where’s your favorite place to meet up around arts and culture in the region? Drop us a line at meetmehere@kuow.org.

Your support helps create shows like Seattle Now, Soundside, and Meet Me Here! Become a KUOW member today.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Pleasure can be a radical and a revolutionary act,” says author C Pam Zhang about her acclaimed novel “The Land of Milk and Honey.” Zhang discusses how living in Medina, WA during the pandemic inspired her dystopian and sapphic story about a chef working for the ultra-wealthy amid a global environmental collapse. We sift through food cultures, intergenerational conflict, finding joy and making meaning at the fictional end of the world. It’s a doozy!
So, push this book to the front of your TBR pile because C Pam Zhang is on tour and she'll be at Town Hall Seattle on May 8th to discuss “The Land of Milk and Honey.”

But wait! There's more! Here are some of Katie’s recommendations for what to do after you finish (and enjoy) The Land of Milk and Honey.

• “Build Your House Around My Body” by Violet Cooper Smith. This novel explores Vietnamese history, folklore, and colonial aftermath. It’s like a prequel to Zhang’s imagined world.

• Made in House… it’s not a book, it’s a restaurant, silly! This book will work your appetite. Settle your post-read bibimbap and banchan craving at this cafe in Seattle. They have locations in Fremont and Georgetown

Other event recommendations from this week’s episode:

• Seattle Independent Bookstore Day (Saturday, April 26th) – Celebrate your favorite local bookstores like Ophelia’s in Fremont.

• Vanishing Seattle Variety Show (Wednesday, April 30th) - A truly one-of-a-kind even featuring local talent. Think: stand-up comedy, drag performances, and freaky film. All in tribute to Seattle’s past.
• Shhh! Unstreamble’s Secret Screening at SIFF Cinema Uptown (April 24th) - Join SIFF and Scarecrow for a mystery “unstreamable” film.

Where’s your favorite place to meet up around arts and culture in the region? Drop us a line at meetmehere@kuow.org or leave us a voicemail at 206-221-6100.

Your support helps create shows like Seattle Now, Soundside, and Meet Me Here!
Become a KUOW member today.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.