Feature Article

"Seattle Attractions and Events"

SO MUCH TO SEE IN SEATTLE

Seattle sightseeing runs the gamut from the vintage Pike Place Public Market to the Space Needle city landmark, but the most recent addition to the "Must See" list is the Experience Music Project (EMP), a one-of-a-kind museum dedicated to American popular music, at Seattle Center.

From the "shattered electric guitar look" of the stainless steel and painted aluminum exterior to the sub-woofers installed in the floor so spectators feel the beat, everything in this museum promotes rock 'n roll as a major American art form. Exhibits trace rock's roots to jazz, soul, gospel, country and blues and show its influence on punk, hip-hop and whatever the latest discord of choice.

Rock fans can marvel over 80,000 artifacts that helped shape music history, try their skills in a recording studio, listen to musicians tell their stories, play an instrument or learn the details of Seattle native Jimi Hendrix's colorful career. Even the non-rock crowd will appreciate the innovative displays in a dramatic new-age setting.

The EMP museum, in the shadow of the Monorail at Seattle Center, is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to ll p.m. Friday and Saturday. Admission is $19.95 for adults, $15.95 for 13-17. For more information, check Web site: www.emplive.com.

Among major events scheduled in Seattle during the summer:

• Seattle 27th International Film Festival, May 24-June 17, 2001. Various locations launch new international and independent American films. Telephone (206) 324-9996 or www.seattlefilm.com.
• Northwest Folklife Festival, May 25-28, 2001, Seattle Center. Annual event at the Seattle Center on Memorial Day Weekend features traditional arts in city's cultural heritage. Telephone 206-684-7300 or www.nwfolklife.org.
Pioneer Square Fire Festival, June 2, 2001, Pioneer Square. Fire fighters, festival-goers, street performers, craft vendors and playful historians commemorate the 1889 fire that burned Seattle to the ground.
• Seafair, July 6-August 5, 2001.Community celebrations include dozens of parades culminating with the unlimited hydroplane races and the U.S. Navy Blue Angels early in August. Telephone: 206-728-0123 or www.seafair.com,
• Bite of Seattle, July 20-22, 2001, Seattle Center. Annual food festival with tastes from more than 50 local restaurants, 25 Washington State wineries and 30 food product vendors. Local musicians and dance groups provide entertainment. Telephone: 206-684-7200 or www.biteofseattle.com.
• Bumbershoot, August 31-September 3, 2001, Seattle Center. Spread across 74 acres at the Seattle Center, art festival features 2,500 regional, national and international performers. Telephone: 206-281-7788 or www.bumbershoot.org.

For more information, contact the Seattle-King County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Visitors Information, 520 Pike St., Ste. 1300, Seattle, WA 98101, Telephone 206-461-5840.