It’s a big weekend in the neighborhood.  Here’s a few things you can get out and enjoy:

Celebrate Garfield – This is the final event to celebrate the newly remodeled Garfield High School, focusing on the new gym and performing arts center.   Things start Friday at 4:30 with the sold-out formal dedication of the performance center, with special guest and Garfield alum Quincy Jones.   The celebration continues on Saturday at 11:00 am with food, entertainment, alumni reunions, and an opportunity for everyone to check out the new facilities.

Comedy Festival – There’s a weekend-long sketch comedy festival going on at Theater Off Jackson in the ID.  I saw the preview show last night and had a really good time.  Although all of the performances were good, these are the ones that I would go out of my way to check out again:

• Sidecar – A group from NYC, they had a killer bit about a presidential debate amongst 3 guys living in a post-apocalyptic underground bunker.   Thursday at 10:30pm and Saturday at 7:30pm
• Assaulted Fish – This Vancouver BC team put a funny Canadian spin on a murderous Girl Scout Cookie sales team.  Thursday at midnight
• Hey You Millionaires – Remember those painful freshman orientations in college?  These guys have a hilariously overly enthusiastic version of one from Ohio State.   Friday at 7:30pm and Saturday at 10:30pm.

Debate Parties – Assuming John McCain shows up for the debate, there’s several neighborhood events where you can go and watch the spectacle in style:   Cafe Presse, the Bottleneck, or with the 37th District D’s down in Columbia City.

Saturday Concert – There’s an afternoon of free music and family entertainment planned at Flo Ware park at 28th & Jackson.   It kicks off at noon and goes till 5pm.

Sunday Trivia – The folks at the Bottleneck have begun a monthly team-based Trivia Night, complete with a host and prizes.