The Arts

A way to keep up with Seattle theaters, concert halls, galleries, museums and other fine-arts events.

Feel like seeing the world this weekend? Here are five local entertainment options that offer a glimpse into various cultures, far flung and close to home.

As always, you’re welcome to recommend other weekend events to readers by jumping into the comments thread.

Japanese Garden, 2012, by Greg Gilbert / The Seattle Times.

Japanese Garden: One of the city’s most beautiful, contemplative outdoor spaces opens for the season this weekend. Special programming includes a Shinto blessing and calligraphy classes. Find details here.

“La Boheme”: If you’re looking for a European sojourn, look no further than this Italian opera about 19^th-century French bohemians. Puccini’s opera has always been an audience favorite, but this particular production will be remembered as one of the crowning glories of Seattle Opera general director Speight Jenkins’ career, writes reviewer Bernard Jacobson. It runs this weekend and next at McCaw Hall.

Seattle Jewish Film Festival: It spans two weekends, and many of the films are made in the U.S., but a number come from abroad, as well. For instance, “My Dad Is Baryshnikov,” about a boy in the Bolshoi ballet academy who claims his father is, well, you  know … Read John Hartl’s preview of the festival and refer to the official site.

“My Dad Is Baryshnikov”

Sound Off! What’s more American than rock ‘n’ roll? Rap, maybe. You’ll hear both Saturday night at EMP Museum when the finals of the Sound Off! competition for bands aged 21 and under take the stage. Find a video preview of the four finalists here.

 Swedish Pancake Breakfast: Cap off your global weekend with this traditional breakfast, with music and folk dancing, from 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sunday at the Dexter Avenue North Swedish Cultural Center.

Have a great weekend!