Seattle Culture
Must List: This Week’s Top 5 Picks
Billy Joel, seafood, jazz, and Folklife
By Seattle Mag May 23, 2024
This article originally appeared in the July/August 2024 issue of Seattle magazine.
Billy Joel
Friday, May 24
8 p.m., T-Mobile Park, $54+
Billy Joel takes the stage at T-Mobile Park, and it’s bound to be an unforgettable night. Picture this: the Piano Man himself, under the Seattle sky, belting out all the hits we know and love. Reviews praise his shows as charming and theatrical.
Samara Joy
Saturday, May 25
8 p.m., Benaroya Hall, $20+
Samara Joy is bringing back old-school jazz in the best way possible. With her velvety voice and undeniable talent, she’s making waves in the music world. In 2023, she won two Grammys—“Best Jazz Vocal Album” and the coveted “Best New Artist” award.
Hood Canal Fjord Fest
May 25–26,
10 a.m.–6 p.m., Brinnon, Wash., $10
Kick off your Memorial Day weekend at Hood Canal Fjord Fest. It’s a festival all about celebrating the bounty of Hood Canal. Seafood lovers flock from all over the Northwest to fish and enjoy local treats. With rides, crafts, food booths, and a beer and wine garden, there’s fun for everyone.
Northwest Folklife Festival
May 24-27
11 a.m.-10 p.m., Seattle Center, Free
Another fun way to celebrate Memorial Day weekend is at the annual Northwest Folklife Festival. This community-powered event is a celebration of the arts and culture that make up the Pacific Northwest. You’ll find music performances across multiple stages, tasty bites from a variety of food vendors, crafts, and activities for all ages. And you can’t miss the big dancing tents — grab your friends and go for it.
Nicholas D. Kristof
Thursday, May 30
7:30 p.m., Town Hall Seattle, $25
New York Times columnist and Pulitzer Prize winner Nicholas Kristof has a new memoir out called Chasing Hope: A Reporter’s Life. He dives into his four decades in journalism, sharing stories from his time as a reporter, foreign correspondent, bureau chief, and columnist. Since 1984, Kristof has been globetrotting for the New York Times, covering everything from the Tiananmen Square protests to the Darfur genocide. It’s a fascinating peek into the life of a journalist who’s seen it all.
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