The Arts

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

Nick Offerman

All kinds of chances to learn new things this week: for instance, did you know that psaligraphy is the art of paper cutting? Visit the Nordic Heritage Museum and find out more. There are taste adventures at Vegfest, tales of manliness from Nick Offerman, and much more to be had this week:

POP MUSIC/COMEDY

Nick Offerman

You know him as Ron Swanson on NBC’s “Parks and Recreation,” but what you may not know is that in real life Offerman really does like to make stuff, just like his TV character (read Times staffer Jeff Albertson’s interview with Offerman here). 8 p.m. Thursday at the Moore Theatre, 1932 Second Ave., Seattle; $33 (www.stgpresents.org).

Iris Dement

It’s been a long wait, but last fall the singer-songwriter Iris Dement released a new album of original songs, “Sing the Delta,” and it’s a doozy. A musician’s musician who counts Emmylou Harris and John Prine among her biggest fans, Dement appears 7:30 p.m. Saturday and March 25 at the Triple Door, 216 Union St., Seattle; $35 (206-838-4333 or www.thetripledoor.net).

MOVIES

‘West of Memphis’

Amy Berg’s thoughtful documentary is a real-life horror story, a devastating walk-through of the flawed prosecution of the West Memphis Three: a trio of teenagers who, in 1993, were accused of murdering three little boys in West Memphis, Ark. Now playing at the Guild 45th.For Seattle Times movie critic Moira Macdonald’s 3½-star review, go to www.seattletimes.com/movies.

TV

‘Splash’

A new reality-competition series that follows 10 celebrities as they train and compete in a regulation platform and springboard diving. Series premiere, 8 p.m. Tuesday on ABC.

FOOD

Food-truck roundup

The Uwajimaya store in Renton will have a dozen mobile kitchens in its parking lot from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at 501 S. Grady Way, Renton (www.uwajimaya.com).

FESTIVALS, COMMUNITY

Vegfest

Vegetarian food festival, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-March 24, Seattle Center Exhibition Hall, 299 Mercer St., Seattle; $8 at the door; 12 and younger free (www.vegofwa.org).

Best of the Northwest

Works from 140 Northwest artists, in jewelry, clothing, paintings, glass, wood, metal and clay. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, March 24, Smith Cove Cruise Terminal 91, 2001 W. Garfield St., Seattle; $6-$7, parking $5 (www.nwartalliance.com).

LITERARY EVENTS

Amanda Coplin

This author’s critically praised debut novel, “The Orchardist,” set in Eastern Washington, is a beautiful piece of storytelling and is just out in paperback — hear Coplin read at 1 p.m., Wednesday, Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way N.E., Lake Forest Park; free; and at 7 p.m., University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., Seattle.

THEATER

‘How to Disappear Completely’

Lighting designer Itai Erdal reflects on his career as well as his caretaking for his dying mother. 8 p.m. Thursday-March 24, On the Boards, 100 W. Roy St., Seattle; $12-$20 (www.ontheboards.org).

‘Good People’

Playwright David Lindsay-Abaire drew on his own “Southie” roots to depict a struggling single mom trying to support a disabled daughter in the face of long economic odds. Through March 31 at Seattle Repertory Theatre, Seattle Center; $12-$70 (www.seattlerep.org).

CLASSICAL MUSIC

Seattle Symphony

David Afkham

Guest conductor David Afkham will lead the SSO in Britten’s Cello Symphony (with guest cellist Gautier Capucon); the program also includes Mozart’s written-in-one-night Overture from “Don Giovanni” and Beethoven’s sweeping Fifth Symphony. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, noon Friday and 8 p.m. Saturday, Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., Seattle; $19-$122 (www.seattlesymphony.org).

VISUAL ARTS

Nordic Heritage Museum

Danish-Norwegian artist Karin Bit Vejle creates blizzards of fantastical, yards-long light-as-air panels of lace, cut completely by hand and astoundingly intricate. An exhibition of her work, “Scissors for a Brush,” opens Friday, runs through June 16. The exhibition also features four original paper cuts by Hans Christian Andersen on loan from the Hans Christian Andersen Museum in Odense, Denmark. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, noon- 4 p.m. Sundays, 3014 N.W. 67th St., Seattle; $4-$6 (206-789-5707 or www.nordicmuseum.org). Note: The artist will lead tours of the exhibit at 2 p.m. Friday-Saturday.

Karen Bit Vejle