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Erika Lee & Judy Yung: Immigration Lessons from Angel Island

Civic From 1910-1940, Angel Island Immigration Station in San Francisco served as a processing and detention center for over 1 million people. But unlike Ellis Island, this station was designed to detain, interrogate, and exclude immigrants from Asia. Erika Lee and Judy Yung, authors of Angel Island, say the station’s history reveals how U.S. immigration policies and bias played out in daily practices and decisions, with real consequences on lives and on the country itself. Presented by The Town Hall Center for Civic Life, with Elliott Bay Book Company and Wing Luke Asian Museum. Series media sponsorship provided by Publicola. Series supported by The Boeing Company Charitable Trust, the RealNetworks Foundation and the Otto Haas Charitable Trust. Tickets are $5 at www.brownpapertickets.com or 800/838-3006, and at the door beginning at 6:30 pm. Town Hall members receive priority seating. LEARN MORE: Read an Opinion column by Yung and Lee for the Los Angeles Times More about Angel Island. Thursday, September 2, 2010, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM. Downstairs at Town Hall; enter on Seneca Street.

STG: Mark Kozelek of Sun Kil Moon & Red House Painters

Music Mark Kozelek has no shortage of creative outlets: He’s been the lead singer of acclaimed bands Sun Kil Moon and Red House Painters; a record producer; a frequent contributor to compilation and tribute albums; a published songwriter whose book Nights of Passed Over contains all the lyrics to his songs; and an actor (Almost Famous, Vanilla Sky and Shopgirl). He’s also famous for his sometimes-drastic musical interpretations: His 2001 AC/DC cover album What’s Next to the Moon sounded so unlike the originals, a radio executive reportedly insisted the title track was a Leonard Cohen song. Presented by Seattle Theatre Group. Tickets are $18 here or 877/784-4849. LEARN MORE: Mark Kozelek www.sunkilmoon.com. Tuesday, September 7, 2010, 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM. Great Hall, enter on 8th Avenue.

Robert Scheer: The Culprits Behind Our Collapse

Civic Truthdig editor-in-chief Robert Scheer believes our financial meltdown is at its heart an old-fashioned swindle. Scheer, author of The Great American Stick-Up, exposes the bipartisan group that paved the way for the crash of 2008 (including power-couple Phil and Wendy Gramm, former Goldman Sachs leaders Robert Rubin and Henry Paulson, and former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers)—and says it’s still flying under the media radar. Presented by the Town Hall Center for Civic Life, with University Book Store. Series media sponsorship provided by Publicola. Series supported by The Boeing Company Charitable Trust and the RealNetworks Foundation. Tickets are $5 at www.brownpapertickets.com or 800/838-3006, and at the door beginning at 6:30 pm. Town Hall members receive priority seating. LEARN MORE: Robert Scheer on Truthdig Listen to an interview with Scheer. Thursday, September 9, 2010, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM. Downstairs at Town Hall; enter on Seneca Street.

Very Bright: Inspiration Through Words and Music

Music Designed to raise awareness of the incurable genetic condition sickle cell, this inspirational concert features real-life stories of courage and strength accompanied by gospel, jazz, and R&B music. Seattle vocalist Bridget Bazile, Stellar Award-winning singer Maurette Brown Clark, Bridgette Bryant, Shawntae Jackson, and poet Tia-Nache Yarbrough will deliver an inspiring message about the discovery of power and purpose through pain. Presented by Very Bright Foundation, a new Seattle non-profit organization established to ‘break sickle cell silence.’ Tickets are $25 minimum donation. Visit www.verybright.org for more information. LEARN MORE: www.verybright.org www.bridgetabazile.com www.maurettebrownclark.com. Saturday, September 11, 2010, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Great Hall, enter on 8th Avenue.

Short Stories Live: The Jewish Imagination

Literary The season premiere of Short Stories Live features excerpts from classic short stories capturing the Jewish imagination: Woody Allen’s "Hassidic Tales, With a Guide to Their Interpretation by the Noted Scholar"; the Depression-Era "Looking for Mr. Green" by Saul Bellow; and J.D. Salinger’s story-within-a-story, "The Laughing Man." Hosted and directed by A Contemporary Theatre Artistic Director Kurt Beattie. Presented by Town Hall with A Contemporary Theatre. Tickets are $13/$10 Town Hall members, seniors & students, at www.brownpapertickets.com or 800/838-3006. $15/$13 at the door. ACT Members call 206/292-7676 to reserve tickets as part of ACTPass and Charter Membership. LEARN MORE www.acttheatre.org. Sunday, September 12, 2010, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM. Downstairs at Town Hall, enter on Seneca Street.

ACLU of Washington: Marijuana Reform

Civic This public forum titled “Where is Marijuana Reform Heading?” features local and national panelists discussing the history, current status, and future of marijuana-law reform in Washington and the United States. Panelists include travel writer Rick Steves; Keith Stroup, founder of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws; Washington state Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles; Rob Kampia, of the Marijuana Policy Project; and Ethan Nadelmann of the Drug Policy Alliance. Presented by the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington. Admission is free, no tickets required. Visit www.aclu-wa.org for more information. LEARN MORE: www.aclu-wa.org. Sunday, September 12, 2010, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM. Great Hall, enter on 8th Avenue.

Ussama Makdisi: The Devolution of American-Arab Relations

Civic Just 100 years ago, Arabs viewed the United States as a benevolent power that was neither imperialist nor covetous. Award-winning historian Ussama Makdisi says that one single choice changed the American-Arab relationship forever: our decision to support the creation of an Israeli state. Makdisi, author of Faith Misplaced, re-examines the tumultuous history of this relationship at a time when it is more fractured, and more important, than ever. Presented by the Town Hall Center for Civic Life, with University Book Store. Series media sponsorship provided by Publicola. Series supported by The Boeing Company Charitable Trust and the RealNetworks Foundation. Tickets are $5 at www.brownpapertickets.com or 800/838-3006, and at the door beginning at 6:30 pm. Town Hall members receive priority seating. LEARN MORE: Makdisi’s Institute for Middle East Understanding bio. Monday, September 13, 2010, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM. Downstairs at Town Hall; enter on Seneca Street.

Sustainable Path: Sustainable Design

Civic The final installment of the three-part series titled “Seeking Sustainable Systems” focuses on sustainable design and features Ash Awad, vice president of Energy and Facility Services at McKinstry, and Daniel S. Friedman, dean of the College of Built Environments at the University of Washington. Presented by Sustainable Path. Tickets are $10 at www.sustainablepath.org, $15 at the door. Visit www.sustainablepath.org for more information. LEARN MORE: www.sustainablepath.org. Tuesday, September 14, 2010, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM. Downstairs at Town Hall; enter on Seneca Street.

David Plouffe: Inside Obama’s Victory

Civic David Plouffe not only led the groundbreaking digital-technology-meets-grassroots campaign that put Barack Obama in the White House, but some say he also changed the face of politics forever and re-energized the idea of democracy itself. Plouffe, author of The Audacity to Win, reveals the strategies that delivered Obama to office and how the candidate (and campaign) tackled challenges and opportunities. Presented by The Town Hall Center for Civic Life, with Elliott Bay Book Company. Series media sponsorship provided by Publicola. Series supported by The Boeing Company Charitable Trust and the RealNetworks Foundation. Tickets are $5 at www.brownpapertickets.com or 800/838-3006, or at the door beginning at 6:30 pm. Town Hall members receive priority seating. LEARN MORE: http://davidplouffe.net Video and more. Wednesday, September 15, 2010, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM. Great Hall, enter on 8th Avenue.

Life, Love, and Laughter with Jodi Picoult + 4

Literary Five of the biggest names in publishing discuss some of life’s biggest issues, as authors Josie Brown (Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives), Jackie Collins (Poor Little Bitch Girl), Mary Alice Monroe (Sweetgrass), Jodi Picoult (House Rules), and Lisa Rinna (Starlit) converge in Seattle. The bestselling writers will discuss their books, contemporary women’s issues, relationships, life, love, and laughter. Presented by Kitsap Regional Library Foundation. Tickets are $50 at www.krl.org. Call 360/475-9039 for more information. LEARN MORE: www.josiebrown.com http://blog.lisarinna.com www.jodipicoult.com http://jackiecollins.com www.maryalicemonroe.com. Thursday, September 16, 2010, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM. Great Hall, enter on 8th Avenue.

Saturday Family Concerts: Recess Monkey

Family A brand-new season of Saturday Family Concerts opens with a return engagement by Seattle’s own Recess Monkey, a rock band for tots made up of three elementary-school teachers with an ear for hooks and a gift for goofiness. Known and loved for their catchy songs with catchy titles (Boogie Monster, Busy Squirrel, and Monkey Bars), they’re finding fame and fans from coast to coast. In their music, Recess Monkey members Jack Forman, Andrew Holloway, and Daron Henry celebrate a child’s point of view, and their singable, danceable songs are as much fun for parents as for kids. Tickets are free for kids 12 and under/$5 for adults with children/$25 unaccompanied adults. Tickets are required for children and adults and are available at www.brownpapertickets.com or 800/838-3006. LEARN MORE: www.recessmonkeytown.com. Saturday, September 18, 2010, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Downstairs at Town Hall; enter on Seneca Street.

Saturday Family Concerts: Recess Monkey

Family A brand-new season of Saturday Family Concerts opens with a return engagement by Seattle’s own Recess Monkey, a rock band for tots made up of three elementary-school teachers with an ear for hooks and a gift for goofiness. Known and loved for their catchy songs with catchy titles (Boogie Monster, Busy Squirrel, and Monkey Bars), they’re finding fame and fans from coast to coast. In their music, Recess Monkey members Jack Forman, Andrew Holloway, and Daron Henry celebrate a child’s point of view, and their singable, danceable songs are as much fun for parents as for kids. Tickets are free for kids 12 and under/$5 for adults with children/$25 unaccompanied adults. Tickets are required for children and adults and are available at www.brownpapertickets.com or 800/838-3006. LEARN MORE: www.recessmonkeytown.com. Saturday, September 18, 2010, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. Downstairs at Town Hall, enter on Seneca Street.

Jonathan Safran Foer: ‘Eating Animals’

Civic Jonathan Safran Foer—the acclaimed author of Everything Is Illuminated, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and a new work of non-fiction, Eating Animals—spent his youth oscillating between omnivore and vegetarian. But on the brink of fatherhood, and facing the prospect of making dietary choices on a child’s behalf, his casual questioning became more urgent; Foer ended up visiting factory farms in the middle of the night, dissecting the emotional ingredients of meals from his childhood, and probing some of his most primal instincts about right and wrong. Presented by Town Hall with University Book Store. Tickets are $5 at www.brownpapertickets.com or 800/838-3006, and at the door beginning at 6:30 pm. Town Hall members receive priority seating. LEARN MORE: http://eatinganimals.com Read actress Natalie Portman’s Huffington Post article "‘Eating Animals’ Turned Me Vegan" Watch Foer on The Colbert Report. Monday, September 20, 2010, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM. Great Hall, enter on 8th Avenue.

Future of Health: Judith Simon Prager: Healing Words

Health When kids fall off a bike or wake from a bad dream, sometimes a make-it-all-better kiss just isn’t enough. But hypnotherapist and homeopath Judith Simon Prager believes what you say to your child in those first moments of pain or fear could make all the difference. Prager, co-author of Verbal First Aid, explains how calming words can promote healing, relieve pain, even save lives. Presented by Town Hall’s Future of Health Lecture Series with Elliott Bay Book Company. Series sponsored by Bastyr University and PCC Natural Markets; series media sponsorship by KPLU radio. Tickets are $5 at www.brownpapertickets.com or 800/838-3006, and at the door beginning at 6:30 pm. Town Hall members receive priority seating. LEARN MORE: www.judithprager.com. Monday, September 20, 2010, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM. Downstairs at Town Hall; enter on Seneca Street.

Soundings from Island Press: Peter Fox-Penner: ‘Smart Power’

Civic As the U.S. debates a new national policy on climate change, our public utilities will be transformed utterly. Peter Fox-Penner, author of Smart Power, explains the coming energy revolution, examining options for low-carbon emissions along with the real-world challenges the industry and its regulators face in retooling and financing new sources and systems. Presented as part of the Soundings from Island Press series by Town Hall and Island Press through the Town Hall Center for Civic Life, in association with Elliott Bay Book Company. Tickets are $5 at www.brownpapertickets.com or 800/838-3006, or at the door. Visit www.islandpress.org for more information. LEARN MORE: www.islandpress.org The Smart Power Web site. Tuesday, September 21, 2010, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM. Downstairs at Town Hall, enter on Seneca Street.

ISB: K-12 Science Education Panel

Science Institute for Systems Biology president and co-founder Lee Hood will join a panel of high-profile Seattleites for a discussion of K-12 science education. ISB has established the Center for Inquiry Science, a group of science educators who support Puget Sound school districts in the development, implementation, and advocacy of systemwide, research-based science-education programs. Presented by ISB, with the Technology Alliance. Tickets are $20 by emailing rduprel@systemsbiology.com or calling 206/732-1398. Thursday, September 23, 2010, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM. Downstairs at Town Hall; enter on Seneca Street.

Historic Seattle: 2010 Bungalow & Craftsman Home Fair

Special Programming Historic Seattle returns to Town Hall for its most popular annual offering. The premier event of its kind in the Pacific Northwest, the weekend-long fair includes the exhibit and sale of antique and reproduction wares, along with educational lectures on the Arts & Crafts Movement. More than 50 exhibitors from across the country who specialize in services and items designed for Arts & Crafts enthusiasts join book dealers and dealers in ephemera relating to the period. Admission is good for both days, but there is a charge for each lecture. Advance tickets before Sept. 22 are $8 admission and $8 per lecture for members; after that date, $10/$10. At the door, $10 admission, $10 per lecture /$5 for students. LEARN MORE: www.historicseattle.org. Saturday, September 25, 2010, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Enter on 8th Avenue.

Historic Seattle: 2010 Bungalow & Craftsman Home Fair

Special Programming Historic Seattle returns to Town Hall for its most popular annual offering. The premier event of its kind in the Pacific Northwest, the weekend-long fair includes the exhibit and sale of antique and reproduction wares, along with educational lectures on the Arts & Crafts Movement. More than 50 exhibitors from across the country who specialize in services and items designed for Arts & Crafts enthusiasts join book dealers and dealers in ephemera relating to the period. Admission is good for both days, but there is a charge for each lecture. Advance tickets before Sept. 22 are $8 admission and $8 per lecture for members; after that date, $10/$10. At the door, $10 admission, $10 per lecture /$5 for students. LEARN MORE: www.historicseattle.org. Sunday, September 26, 2010, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Enter on 8th Avenue.

Deborah Fallows: Seeing China through Language

Civic Linguist Deborah Fallows has spent much of her life traveling and learning languages, but nothing prepared her for the surprises of learning Mandarin, China’s most common language, or for the intensity of living in Shanghai and Beijing. But Fallows, author of Dreaming in Chinese, realized that as her skill with Mandarin increased, bits of the language became windows into the romance, humor, protocol, relationships, and humanity of modern China. Presented by the Town Hall Center for Civic Life, with University Book Store. Series media sponsorship provided by Publicola. Series supported by The Boeing Company Charitable Trust and the RealNetworks Foundation. Tickets are $5 at www.brownpapertickets.com or 800/838-3006, and at the door beginning at 6:30 pm. Town Hall members receive priority seating. LEARN MORE: About the book and Fallows. Monday, September 27, 2010, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM. Downstairs at Town Hall; enter on Seneca Street.

Mary Catherine Bateson: Aging With Purpose

Special Programming With age comes wisdom—and a renewed sense of purpose, says writer and cultural anthropologist Mary Catherine Bateson. The author of Composing a Further Life, Bateson sees aging today as an “improvisational art form calling for imagination and willingness to learn,” and calls this new stage of the life cycle “Adulthood II.” Bateson explores how people boosted by unprecedented levels of health, energy, time, and resources are finding new meaning and new ways to contribute, thinking about and approaching later lives with the full force of imagination, curiosity, and enthusiasm. Presented by Town Hall, with Elliott Bay Book Company. Tickets are $5 at www.brownpapertickets.com or 800/838-3006, and at the door beginning at 6:30 pm. Town Hall members receive priority seating. LEARN MORE: www.marycatherinebateson.com. Wednesday, September 29, 2010, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM. Downstairs at Town Hall, enter on Seneca Street.

Ken Follett: Fall of Giants

Special Programming Attention, Ken Follett fans: You might want to clear your calendar for the next four years. One of the world’s most beloved novelists (The Pillars of the Earth), Follett has a new historical epic, and it’s just the first installment in a new series called The Century Trilogy. Volume One, Fall of Giants, follows five interrelated families—American, German, Russian, English, and Welsh—through World War I and the Russian Revolution; the second book, due in 2012, will feature their descendants in the Depression and WWII; and the third (2014) will continue the tale through the Cold War. Presented by Town Hall. Tickets are $5 at www.brownpapertickets.com or 800/838-3006, and at the door beginning at 6:30 pm. Town Hall members receive priority seating. LEARN MORE: www.ken-follett.com. Friday, October 1, 2010, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM. Great Hall, enter on 8th Avenue.

Global Rhythms: Drumming!

Music A new season of Town Hall’s world-music series picks up the beat with our first ever ‘palooza of percussion’ an all star concert featuring Japanese Taiko by Town Hall favorites Kaoru Watanabe (KODO) and the legendary Kenny Endo, with Asako & Ringtaro Tateishi (Ondekoza); Senegalese Sabar by Thione Diop (Town Hall’s 2005 Africa in America) and Yeke Yeke; and Indian tabla by Samir Chatterjee, an internationally-acclaimed virtuoso and noted historian of Indian music. Tickets are $22/$19 Town Hall members, students & seniors at www.brownpapertickets.com or 800/838-3006. $24/$21 at the door. LEARN MORE www.kennyendo.com www.thionediop.com www.tabla.org Chatterjee on YouTube. Friday, October 8, 2010, 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM. Great Hall, enter on Great Hall.

Early Music Guild: Jaap ter Linden: Bach 'Cello Suites'

Music The 34th season of Early Music Guild’s International Series features a lineup of familiar artists, Seattle debuts, and exciting regional partnerships. Tonight’s opening performance features beloved Dutch baroque cellist Jaap ter Linden, who returns with his signature program: Bach’s suites for unaccompanied cello. This performance completes the cycle that ter Linden began during the 2008-09 season of the EMG series. A preconcert lecture begins at 7 pm. Presented by Early Music Guild. International Series tickets are $170/$150 senior/$50 under age 25. Single tickets are $40/$35 senior/$25 side sections/$15 under 25. Town Hall members receive a $5 discount off single ticket price. Visit www.earlymusicguild.org or call 206/325-7066 for tickets and information. LEARN MORE: www.earlymusicguild.org http://jaapterlinden.com. Saturday, October 9, 2010, 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM. Great Hall, enter on 8th Avenue.

EMG Discovery: Jaap ter Linden Master Class

Music Following his International Series appearance at Town Hall on Oct. 9, master cellist Jaap ter Linden returns to open the eighth season of Early Music Discovery Concerts, a series of affordable hour-long performances for music lovers of all ages. In this master class, the energetic and humorous ter Linden and two young, Seattle-based cellists will concentrate on the unaccompanied suites of J. S. Bach. Presented by Early Music Guild and the Seattle Cello Society. Tickets are $10/$5 students and seniors. Visit www.earlymusicguild.org or call 206/325-7066 for tickets and information. LEARN MORE: www.earlymusicguild.org http://jaapterlinden.com. Sunday, October 10, 2010, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. Downstairs at Town Hall; enter on Seneca Street.

UBS: Bill Bryson: ‘At Home’

Literary Beloved author Bill Bryson (A Walk in the Woods, I’m a Stranger Here Myself, and the new At Home) lives in a Victorian parsonage in England where not much has happened since the Romans decamped. That is, until the day Bryson decided to write a history of the world without leaving home. And now, his bathroom provides the occasion for a history of hygiene; the bedroom, sex, death, and sleep; the kitchen, nutrition and the spice trade. Journeying through the rooms of his house, Bryson shows how each has figured in the evolution of private life, demonstrating that whatever happens in the world ends up in our house. Presented by University Book Store. Tickets are free with the purchase of At Home from University Book Store beginning October 5. Additional tickets are $5 at the door. Visit www.ubookstore.com or call 206/634.3400 for more information. LEARN MORE: About the book Watch Bryson discuss the mysteries of home with BBC News. Monday, October 11, 2010, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM. Great Hall, enter on 8th Avenue.

Alex Ross: ‘Listen to This’

Music Music critic Alex Ross established himself as a true cultural historian with his international bestseller The Rest is Noise, an ambitious and award-winning history of 20th-century music. Now Ross is expanding his repertoire, approaching music “not as a self-sufficient sphere but as a way of knowing the world.” Ross, author of Listen to This, offers a panoramic view of the musical scene, from Bach to the Malcolm X Shabazz High School Marching Band. Presented by Town Hall in association with University Bookstore. Tickets are $5 at www.brownpapertickets.com or 800/838-3006, and at the door beginning at 6:30 pm. Town Hall members receive priority seating. LEARN MORE: Ross’ Web site www.therestisnoise.com Ross’ blog on The New Yorker. Tuesday, October 12, 2010, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM. Great Hall, enter on 8th Avenue.

Jonathon Keats: Language Born of Technology

Special Programming The technological realm cultivates not only new ideas and products but also some pretty remarkable linguistic innovations to go with them: How else would words like qubit (a unit of quantum information) or in vitro meat (chicken and beef grown in an industrial vat) enter our language? Conceptual artist and Wired magazine ‘Jargon Watch’ columnist Jonathon Keats, author of Virtual Words, investigates the interplay between words and ideas in our fast-paced, tech-driven society, examining how such words get coined; what relationship they have to their subject matter; and why some (blog) succeed, while others (flog) fail. Tickets are $5 at www.brownpapertickets.com or 800/838-3006, or at the door beginning at 6:30 pm. Town Hall members receive priority seating. LEARN MORE: Read Keats’ Jargon Watch columns. Wednesday, October 13, 2010, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM. Downstairs at Town Hall; enter on Seneca Street.

Edwidge Danticat: The Duty of Immigrant Artists

Literary Haiti’s devastating earthquake stirred the world into action, but celebrated Haitian-American writer Edwidge Danticat believes it shouldn’t take a natural disaster to expose a country’s suffering. MacArthur awardee Danticat, author of Create Dangerously, says immigrant artists from countries in crisis bear a responsibility to produce works that testify to the violence, oppression, poverty, and tragedy in their homelands. Presented by The Town Hall Center for Civic Life, with Elliott Bay Book Company. Series media sponsorship provided by Publicola. Series supported by The Boeing Company Charitable Trust and the RealNetworks Foundation. Tickets are $5 at www.brownpapertickets.com or 800/838-3006, and at the door beginning at 6:30 pm. Town Hall members receive priority seating. LEARN MORE: Read Danticat’s essay for The New Yorker on her family’s loss in the Haiti earthquake Read a CSMS Magazine interview with Danticat Watch Danticat’s Stories of Haiti reading. Friday, October 15, 2010, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM. Great Hall, enter on 8th Avenue.

Science: Simon LeVay: The Science of Sexual Orientation

Science Since neuroscientist Simon LeVay reported a difference in the brain structure between gay and straight men in 1991, an entire scientific discipline has sprung up around the quest for a biological explanation of sexual orientation. And now LeVay, author of Gay, Straight, and the Reason Why, explains where the science stands today. Although many details remain unresolved, he says, the general conclusion is quite clear: A person’s sexual orientation arises in large part from biological processes that are already under way before birth. Presented as part of Seattle Science Lectures, with Pacific Science Center and University Book Store. Series sponsored by Microsoft; series media sponsorship provided by KPLU. Tickets are $5 at www.brownpapertickets.com or 800/838-3006, or at the door beginning at 6:30 pm. Town Hall members receive priority seating. LEARN MORE: www.simonlevay.com. Tuesday, October 19, 2010, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM. Downstairs at Town Hall; enter on Seneca Street.

Science: Sam Harris: Science Can Answer Moral Questions

Science Sam Harris’ bestselling book The End of Faith ignited a worldwide debate about the validity of religion, and his combustible February presentation at TED is still fueling that fire. Now Harris, author of The Moral Landscape, tears down the wall between scientific facts and human values, showing that we know enough about the human brain and its relationship to events in the world to say that there are right and wrong answers to the most pressing questions of human life. Presented as part of Seattle Science Lectures, with Pacific Science Center and University Book Store. Series sponsored by Microsoft. Series media sponsorship provided by KPLU. Tickets are $5 at www.brownpapertickets.com or 800/838-3006, or at the door beginning at 6:30 pm. Town Hall members receive priority seating. LEARN MORE: www.samharris.org Harris’ February 2010 TED presentation , Read Harris’ Huffington Post article “Toward a Science of Morality”: Harris is co-founder of Project Reason, a nonprofit dedicated to… Wednesday, October 20, 2010, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM. Great Hall, enter on 8th Avenue.

Saturday Family Concerts: Elizabeth Mitchell

Family Following sold out Town Hall appearances in 2008, family artist Elizabeth Mitchell returns with an extraordinary repertoire ranging from traditional American songs and folk tunes from across the world to unlikely rock covers. Performing with her husband Daniel Littleton and daughter Storey, Mitchell thoughtfully re-conceives each song, offering subtle, thoughtful music for children and adults alike. Her CDs include the brand-new Sunny Day along with You Are My Little Bird, You Are My Flower, and You Are My Sunshine. Tickets are free for kids 12 and under/$5 for adults with children/$25 unaccompanied adults. Tickets are required for children and adults and are available at www.brownpapertickets.com or 800/838-3006. LEARN MORE: www.youaremyflower.org Watch Mitchell, Littleton and Storey perform Green Green Rocky Road , Listen to Mitchell’s NPR interview Listen to a Land of Nod "Nodcast Podcast" with Mitchell and Ella Jenkins. Saturday, October 23, 2010, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Downstairs at Town Hall; enter on Seneca Street.

Saturday Family Concerts: Elizabeth Mitchell

Family Following sold out Town Hall appearances in 2008, family artist Elizabeth Mitchell returns with an extraordinary repertoire ranging from traditional American songs and folk tunes from across the world to unlikely rock covers. Performing with her husband Daniel Littleton and daughter Storey, Mitchell thoughtfully re-conceives each song, offering subtle, thoughtful music for children and adults alike. Her CDs include the brand-new Sunny Day along with You Are My Little Bird, You Are My Flower, and You Are My Sunshine. Tickets are free for kids 12 and under/$5 for adults with children/$25 unaccompanied adults. Tickets are required for children and adults and are available at www.brownpapertickets.com or 800/838-3006. LEARN MORE: www.youaremyflower.org Watch Mitchell, Littleton and Storey perform Green Green Rocky Road , Listen to Mitchell’s NPR interview Listen to a Land of Nod "Nodcast Podcast" with Mitchell and Ella Jenkins. Saturday, October 23, 2010, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. Downstairs at Town Hall; enter on Seneca Street.

Seattle Baroque Orchestra: Pergolesi: 'Stabat Mater'

Music The Seattle Baroque Orchestra, once again under the joint direction of violinist Ingrid Matthews (music director) and harpsichordist Byron Schenkman (artistic director), opens a 2010-11 season of passion and virtuosity with a celebration of the 300th birthday of Giovanni Battista Pergolesi. This performance of his most sparkling, beloved work features two young soloists, Yulia Van Doren and Ian Howell. Also on the program: works by other Neapolitan greats Alessandro Scarlatti and Nicola Porpora, whose Cello Concert in G Major will feature Seattle’s own baroque cello star Nathan Whittaker. A preconcert lecture begins at 7 pm. Presented by Seattle Baroque Orchestra and Early Music Guild. Full series tickets are $170/$150 senior/$50 student. Three-concert series tickets are $105/$90/$30. Single tickets are $40/$35 senior/$25 side sections/$15 under 25. Town Hall members receive a $5 discount on single tickets. Visit www.seattlebaroque.org for tickets and information. LEARN MORE:… Saturday, October 23, 2010, 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM. Great Hall, enter on 8th Avenue.

Ingrid Betancourt: Lessons from Captivity

Civic In 2002, while campaigning in the Colombian presidential elections, Ingrid Betancourt was abducted by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. She spent the next 6½ years in the jungle as a prisoner. Freed in 2008 by the Colombian army, Betancourt, author of Even Silence Has an End, now sheds light on the plight of hostages and victims of terrorism through lessons in courage, resilience, and humanity. Presented by The Town Hall Center for Civic Life, with Elliott Bay Book Company. Series media sponsorship provided by Publicola. Series supported by The Boeing Company Charitable Trust, and the RealNetworks Foundation. Advance tickets are $5 at www.brownpapertickets.com or 800/838-3006, or at the door beginning at 6:30 pm. Town Hall members receive priority seating. LEARN MORE: Watch a New York Times video on Betancourt’s release Read the Vanity Fair article “Inside Colombia’s Hostage War”. Monday, October 25, 2010, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM. Great Hall, enter on 8th Avenue.

Soundings: Cristina Eisenberg: Predators as Ecosystem Regulators

Civic Wolves, sea otters, and sharks exert a disproportionate influence on their environment; dramatic ecological consequences can result when they are removed from—or returned to—an ecosystem. Scientist Cristina Eisenberg (The Wolf’s Tooth) explores the role of top predators in regulating ecosystems, along with trophic cascades and ecosystem processes—predators and their prey, what it takes to survive in a landscape, and the flow of nutrients. Presented as part of the Soundings from Island Press series by Town Hall and Island Press through the Town Hall Center for Civic Life, in association with IslandWood and Elliott Bay Book Company. Tickets are $5 at www.brownpapertickets.com or 800/838-3006, or at the door. Visit www.islandpress.org for more information. LEARN MORE: Read Eisenberg’s bio at Epernicus Her Oregon State University profile Her OSU Web page. Monday, October 25, 2010, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM. Downstairs at Town Hall; enter on Seneca Street.

Global Rhythms: Ordo Sakhna

Music Performing the songs and epic story-telling of central Asian nomadic culture, Ordo Sakhna is a ten member folk music ensemble and theatre from Krygyzstan. Through music that is by turns awe inspiring and humorous, and rooted in a profound connection to nature, Ordo Sakhna displays the color and diversity of many authentic dress styles and instruments, including the Komuz, a three-stringed lute which is played rapidly with extreme precision and choreographed movements. The group has toured widely in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Turkey and Russia; their Seattle debut is presented in collaboration with the Earshot Jazz Festival. Advance tickets are $22/$19 Town Hall members, students & seniors at www.brownpapertickets.com or 800/838-3006. $24/$21 at the door. LEARN MORE: http://www.ordosakhna.com. Thursday, October 28, 2010, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM. Great Hall; enter on 8th Avenue.

Seattle Radio Theatre: Mercury Theatre’s ‘Dracula’

Special Programming Today’s pop-culture vampires stake out movies, TV, and Facebook, but in 1938, there was only radio. And there was Dracula. On July 11, 1938, The Mercury Theatre on the Air, which later leaped into legend with War of the Worlds, presented its first radio production: Bram Stoker’s Dracula, starring Orson Welles. Seattle Radio Theatre revives the Mercury Theatre’s version of Stoker’s Gothic horror tale, with amazing Halloween-appropriate sound effects and music, plus a cast of beloved Northwest personalities. Presented by Town Hall and Seattle Radio Theatre. Advance tickets are $13 /$10 Town Hall members, students & seniors/$5 kids 12 and under at www.brownpapertickets.com or 800/838-3006; $15 /$13 Town Hall members, students & seniors/$5 kids 12 and under at the door. LEARN MORE: , Listen to The Mercury Theatre’s July 11, 1938, production of Dracula. Friday, October 29, 2010, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM. Great Hall; enter on 8th Avenue.