After months and months of what felt like nothing to do, November in Seattle is jam-packed with fun. From concerts to exhibitions to opportunities to eat delicious food, it’s all here. So here are 31 of the absolute best things to do in & around Seattle this November.
Concerts
This Philadelphia-based band had a grip on indie music in the early to mid-2000s and is going on their last tour! So take this chance to belt out your favorite songs by them like “Where’d All The Time Go?”, “Shadow People”, “Heart It Races”, and many more.
When: November 1st & 2nd
Where: 1303 Northeast 45th Street
Cost: $33-$38
This is set to be a truly can’t miss concert from genre-bending artist Yves Tumor and equally talented opener Ecco2k. Tumor continues to shift the boundaries of contemporary art and culture through music that combines rock, psychedelia, and electronica in a constant re-invention of what is to be modern pop music. Seriously folks, don’t miss this one.
When: November 3rd
Where: 1303 NE 45th St
Cost: $21.25 – $24.25
Composer and musician Ólafur Arnalds is back on the road following the release of his monumental album ‘some kind of peace’. It’s sure to be an auditory experience that you’ll remember for years to come. So if you’re looking to sit back relax and enjoy one of the world’s best, you can’t miss this.
When: November 4th
Where: 1932 Second Ave
Cost: $40 – $45
Yet another band that had a stronghold on the late 2000s, Band of Horses is the kind of soft rock that pretty much always sounds good. They’re back on tour these days for band’s new album Why Are You OK. So if you want to hear some of your favorite soft rock songs live you might as well check it out.
When: November 8th
Where: 911 Pine Street
Cost: $30.75 – $50.75
Arts
This series is a unique way to watch local artists perform and share their work with the public set in front of the scenic Seattle Waterfront. You’ll be able to watch music and visual performances each week from new performers. Upcoming performances include works by Peter Ali, Julie C & the New Moon Cypher Squad and more to be announced soon.
When: November 2nd, 5th & 12th
Where: 1951 Alaskan Way
Cost: Free
BAM Biennial 2021: Architecture & Urban Design
Explore BAM’s juried exhibition which focuses on the work of established and emerging Northwest artists, craftspeople, and designers, with an emphasis on new work. This year’s biennial focuses on specific fields and areas of studies within the realm of art, craft, and design.
When: November 5th-April 24th
Where: 510 Bellevue Way NE Bellevue, WA
Cost: $15
Ya like jazz? Well, this month you can enjoy both in-person and virtual jazz experiences. Hear from artists like Chucho Valdés, Marina Albero, Eugenie Jones, Kareem Kandi World Orchestra, The Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, and more. Well worth checking out if you’re looking to listen to something new.
When: Until November 7th
Where: Multiple venues
Cost: Varies by concert
Visit a major piece of land art
Robert Morris’ Johnson Pit #30 was just included in the National Register of Historic Places which is a huge deal. It’s a first for a contemporary land art piece so you might as well give it a visit this weekend and show it some love. Who knows, it might just become your new favorite piece of art.
Where: 21610 37th Place S, SeaTac, WA
Between & Within: New Work by Jiyoung Chung
Jiyoung Chung exhibition features her newest works utilizing the ancient joomchi tradition. It’s “a Korean method of hand felting hanji paper”. “Chung’s richly textured, dimensional joomchi sculptures create poetic visual narratives about connection, and the strengths and holes in the essential relationship between humanity, nature, and spirit.”
When: Until November 20th
Where: 512 First Ave S
Cost: Free
The Kinsey African American Art & History Collection
This art collection celebrates the achievements and contributions of Black Americans from 1595 to the present. You can see masterful paintings, sculptures, photographs, rare books, letters, manuscripts, and more that offer a well-rounded look at the African American experience.
When: Until November 28th
Where: 1701 Pacific Ave Tacoma, Washington
Cost: $18
Bodies of Discovery – Naomi Fisher: Thermodynamic Flower
This unique outdoor sculpture piece has a lot of components. It’s a part of a series of works exploring the (re)activation of the physical body in our again-accessible public space. Fisher’s specific piece “drives at the tensions between nature and capitalist dynamics via feminist theories and strategies based on surrealist art.” Don’t miss it!
When: Until November 30th
Where: Occidental Square, Occidental Ave S, and S Main St
Cost: Free
Da Vinci – Inventions at MOHAI
Chances are that most of us know all about Da Vinci’s crazy creations. However, it’s just as likely that you’ve never seen those inventions brought to life in a true scale. Grande Experiences has created an exhibit that will offer you a look at the creativity of the ultimate Renaissance man.
When: Until January 3rd
Where: 860 Terry Ave N
Cost: $17-$22
Recent Acquisitions in Contemporary Art
Love the Frye? Well, their collection is growing! You can check out 7 recent artworks by Juventino Aranda, Rokni Haerizadeh, Rose Nestler, Mary Ann Peters, Cauleen Smith, Anthony White, and Ko Kirk Yamahira. All of these works were acquired by the museum in 2019 and are being shown together now.
When: Until January 11th
Where: 704 Terry Ave
Cost: Free
Duane Linklater: mymothersside
Linklater works with a range of mediums to address the contradictions of contemporary Indigenous life both within and beyond settler systems of knowledge, representation, and value. This exhibition brings together a range of the artists’ work including sculptures, video works, and digital prints on linen from the last decade.
When: Until January 16th
Where: 704 Terry Ave
Cost: Free
Boren Banner Series: Sadie Wechsler
This piece is outside, it’s free to visit and you can do so at pretty much any time of day. Plus Wechsler’s new piece explores the history of Seattle’s own First Hill. The artist consulted the Burke Museum and members of the Duwamish Tribe in order to create a photograph that represents the ecological history of the area.
When: Until April 17th
Where: 704 Terry Ave
Cost: Free
Culture
Contact High: A Visual History of Hip-Hop
If you’ve ever wanted to see behind-the-scenes images of your favorite hip-hop artists, this exhibit is for you. MoPOP’s newest exhibit, Contact High allows visitors to see over 170 images of hip hop’s most influential artists like Missy Elliott, Jay-Z, Queen Latifah, Tupac, and more. See four decades of photography, from the late 70s to today, documenting a revolution across different aspects of life.
When: Tuesday-Thursday 10 am–5 pm
Where: 325 Fifth Ave N
Cost: $30 – $32.50
Each week on Tuesday you can attend a drag happy hour at Chop Suey. You’ll be able to watch drag icon Jane Don’t and three of Seattle’s other premiere drag beauties do their thing. It’s sure to be the most fun you’ve had at a happy hour in a while.
When: Tuesdays
Where: 1325 E Madison St
Cost: Varies
Join GKIDS and Fathom Events for the annual Studio Ghibli Fest to experience the wonder of some of the world’s most beloved animated films. You’ll be able to watch Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, Castle in the Sky, and My Neighbor Totoro. Don’t miss out!
When: Until December 9th
Where: Participating theaters around Seattle
Cost: $13.13
Crossing Boundaries: Portraits of a Transgender West
It’s Pride Month and a brand new and amazing exhibition is opening at The Washington State History Museum. This new exhibition “highlights historical narratives of transgender people in the West”. You’ll hear stories from the 1860s until the 1940s. These stories tell the history of individuals who defied gender norms and communicate the show’s themes of visibility, identity, acceptance, and history.
When: Until December 12th
Where: 1911 Pacific Avenue
Cost: $14
Let the holiday magic begin! The Woodland Park Zoo is lighting up with an immersive, interactive, and larger-than-life light experience this holiday season. You’ll get to explore bugs, prehistoric life, jungle creatures, and a massive 200-foot long dragon. It’s well worth checking out if you want to deviate from traditional Christmas lights.
When: November 12th-January 16th
Where: 5500 Phinney Ave N
Cost: $25.95 – $30.95
At Home
Seattle Arts & Lectures presents Sherwin Bitsui & Kenzie Allen
This is your chance to check out the inaugural James Welch Prize reading from home. It’s celebrating two Indigenous poets from the US and is being presented in partnership with Hugo House and Poetry Northwest. You’ll be able to also see judge Sherwin Bitsui and winner Kenzie Allen.
When: November 5th
Where: Online
Cost: $10 – $100
Now that fall is here why not get in the mood with a classic flick? We made a list of some of our favorite fall movies with some original additions. So if you’re looking to chill a bit this week, check it out.
Where: Click above to see our picks
Cafe Nordo’s Room Service brings the same level of experience you get at the cafe to your home in the form of a cinematic mystery-in-a-box. So far Nordo’s Room Service has created three different boxes each with a unique goal and theme. They include “Do Not Disturb” in which you must unlock a spectral curse; “Witching Hour” in which you must cast a spell to solve a riddle and decipher secret codes; and the latest, “The Interrogation of Alice” in which you must solve the future crimes of Alice.
Where: At home
Cost: $126-$162
Last month The Stranger asked folks from around the world to submit documentaries of 15 minutes or less on any subject as long as it’s real and true. It’s the first annual screening of this festival so you might as well check out the 12 final films that were submitted. After all, you can enjoy it from home.
When: November 12th & 19th
Where: Online
Cost: $15
Food & Drink
SRW is back with over 200 participating restaurants. It’s the best way to satisfy your taste buds and also support Seattle’s culinary community. You can choose between $20 lunches and/or $35 or $50 dinners. What’s more, you can choose between takeout, delivery, or on-site dining.
When: Until November 6th
Where: Over 200 participating restaurants
Cost: $20-$50
Each first Saturday Kremwerk puts on SIN, a fetish, EBM, and industrial night. You can expect fetish performances, drinks, and dancing. Additionally, you can see features by Seattle Shibari and professional photography by Jason Renek. If you’re looking for something new, this might just be worth checking out.
When: First Saturday of each month
Where: 1809 Minor Ave #10
Cost: $15
Fall is here, why not treat yourself to a delicious bowl of pho? Everyone loves this flavourful Vietnamese dish and luckily for all of us, there are tons of places in Seattle to grab a bowl. Don’t worry about searching though because we compiled a list of the best.
Where: Click above to see our picks
Eat at a NYT approved local restaurant
The NYT just dropped its restaurant list for 2021 and out of the 50 best restaurants in the nation, 3 Seattle spots made it. From Filipino to Korean to soul food, Seattle has some seriously delicious eats. So if you’re looking to dine out this week and try something new and very noteworthy try one of these spots. You can check each of them out by clicking above.
Where: Click above to see the NYT picks
A new Seattle coffee company is shaking things up a bit with their coffee. Want to know why? It’s because their coffee blends are full of adaptogenic mushrooms chosen specifically to help you be your best. Best of all, they have a pop-up where you can test the coffee!
When: Wednesday-Friday 9 am-4 pm
Where: 1424 11th Ave
Cost: Varies
This is your chance to enjoy a delicious and star-studded meal created by Chef Shota Nakajima, Chef Jamie Tran, Chef Maria Mazon, and Chef Byron Gomez. It’s 7 courses of deliciousness that you don’t want to miss. You can also purchase a VIP ticket to mingle with the chefs afterward if you want to learn even more.
When: November 21st
Where: 621 Union St
Cost: $420 per ticket
The Alice – An Immersive Cocktail Experience
Guests will be able to create their own liquid concoctions under the watchful eye of The Mad Hatter. They’ll also get to dive into Wonderland with a game of flamingo croquet, paint the roses red, and devour ‘Eat Me’ cake. Don’t forget to solve riddles and challenges so that you can unlock all the ingredients to create your own enchanted teapot cocktails.
When: November 24th-December 30th
Where: 1356 E Olive Way
Cost: $40 per person
There’s no way you’ll be bored this month. Bundle up, grab your umbrella and get out there to explore the best of what Seattle has to offer this November.
