Portland, OR — Portland’s hip-hop scene comes alive when Festivale Cool Nutz takes over the Alberta Street Pub for two unforgettable nights of music, culture, and community tonight and tomorrow, December 12th & 13th. Headlined and curated by Cool Nutz, one of the Pacific Northwest’s most respected hip-hop pioneers, Festivale Cool Nutz unites a powerhouse lineup of regional talent representing the best of the city’s sound.

While the approaching winter months are all about staying warm and cozy, that doesn’t mean you can’t fill your calendar with spirited holiday events across the Emerald City! Besa Gordon shared a few of her favorite productions, activities, and holiday hotspots that make this time of year in the greater Seattle area so special. These are the experiences that turn you back into a kid and remind you what the season is all about.

This episode of Almost The Weekend brings the perfect mix of fun, food, and culture as hosts Besa Gordon and Curtis “Cuddy” Delgardo run through a fresh lineup of events happening around the PNW. From holiday parties to concerts, nightlife, and neighborhood pop-ups, the ATW team breaks down what’s worth putting on your weekend radar — whether you're outside with friends or looking for something new to try.

The multi-Grammy and Emmy Award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir has returned to North America, bringing their inspirational new concert, "PEACE," to audiences across the continent, including Seattle on December 18 at the Moore Theatre. Formed in 2002 to celebrate the unique power of African gospel music, the choir has established itself as a global phenomenon, thrilling audiences with their powerful sound and infectious spirit.

The holiday season is officially underway, and this week on Almost the Weekend! host Besa Gordon sat down with Chelsea Riddick-Most, Director of Programs and Events at Seattle Center, for a deep dive into everything the campus has planned from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve. Chelsea shared a warm and detailed look into the festivities—and there is truly something for everyone.

The Re-Sole 206 is hosting Sole Food: For The Community, spearheaded by Takiyah “T-Dub” Ward, this Saturday, November 29, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. This special gathering is a marketplace rooted in care, culture, and connection, combining The Re-Sole’s sneaker donation program with local vendors, tasty food, and a deep dedication to uplifting the community. 

The Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute is transforming into a sacred space for Black imagination on Sunday, November 30. Former NFL star-turned-creative visionary, Martellus Bennett, aka MR. TOMONOSHi, is bringing his electrifying show, "Slices of Black American Life," right here to Seattle’s Central District.

Last week on Almost The Weekend!, the Art Queen of Converge Takiyah “T-Dub” Ward joined host Besa Gordon to discuss Sole Food: For The Community, The Re-Sole 206’s upcoming event that combines T-Dub’s love of sneakers with a dedication to uplifting community this Thanksgiving season. 

This week on Almost the Weekend, Besa and Cuddy are bringing the vibes, the events, and a whole lot of hometown love. Cuddy kicks things off with a stacked lineup of Weekend Warm-Up picks—from “For the Lovers Only” and R&B Live’s 10-year anniversary to Four Seasons’ immersive creative showcase and more.

Portland’s hip-hop scene comes alive when Festivale Cool Nutz takes over the Alberta Street Pub for two unforgettable nights of music, culture, and community on December 12th & 13th, 2025. Headlined and curated by Cool Nutz, one of the Pacific Northwest’s most respected hip-hop pioneers, Festivale Cool Nutz unites a powerhouse lineup of regional talent representing the best of the city’s sound.

KD Hall, a six-time Emmy-nominated TV show host, crisis manager, and non-profit leader of the KD Hall foundation, has announced the launch of her new book “Sacred Pause: A Conversation with KD Hall.” “Sacred Pause” is Hall’s first book as an author that explores and chronicles her journey with grief and a midlife crisis, inviting readers into her 30-day sabbatical of reflection, rest, and healing following her mother’s passing. 

Looking for free and affordable things to do this holiday season? Seattle Center has got you covered, with a fun and family-friendly holiday calendar packed with events, activities, and attractions through the rest of the year. From Seattle Center’s annual Winterfest series, presented by Symetra, to the Seattle Christmas Market, PNB's Nutcracker, and more, there is something for everyone to experience this November and December. 

On Saturday, Dec. 13, The Seattle Public Library’s Douglass-Truth Branch invites all of Seattle to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its community-chosen name. A half-century ago, the Central District came together to rename its library to reflect its community, marking a moment for the Black community in Seattle. 

Bestselling author, cultural organizer, and Marvel comics writer Eve L. Ewing will present the 2025 Bullitt Lecture in American History about her new book "Original Sins: The (Mis)education of Black and Native Children and the Construction of American Racism.” Hosted by Seattle Public Library (SPL), the lecture will take place on Thursday, Dec. 4 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Central Library Microsoft Auditorium.

It’s going down tomorrow night! This week, Davida Ingram, the director of Seattle King County African-Americans Reparations Committee (SAARC), joined hosts Besa Gordon and Curtis Delgardo II, aka Cuddy, on Almost a Weekend! to discuss the committee's upcoming gala tomorrow and its ongoing work in reparations across the region. 

This week on City Beats with Tra’Renee, it was all about wellness, community, and love. From getting healthy to giving back, Tra’Renee highlighted a lineup of events that bring people together in the Portland and Vancouver area.

This week on Almost The Weekend, Besa and Cuddy are serving up good vibes and powerful conversations! First, they sit down with Michael Ling Jr., one of the stars of Detroit ’67 at ACT Theatre, to talk about his journey into acting and how the play connects the past to today’s struggles and triumphs.

Acts On Stage is bringing “Detroit ‘67” to Seattle! From her award-winning stage trilogy, Dominique Morisseau delivers “Detroit ‘67” as a two-story dramedy that chronicles a family having a house party while the city is on fire. The metaphor sits on the backbeat of a country dancing to the new sound of Motown as it simultaneously finds itself in the dust of one of the most explosive moments in American history: the 1967 Detroit riots. It’s all coming together while falling apart.

This week on Almost The Weekend, Besa and Cuddy kicked things off with cozy coffee vibes featuring ALT X Coffee’s new Creative Cup Series before diving into a jam-packed Weekend Warmup filled with Halloween parties, R&B Fest, and the 12-year anniversary of BUILD 206.

Get ready to be swept away by dancing, music, and magic as George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker returns to brighten your holidays at Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB). This beloved Northwest tradition is back, promising yet another unforgettable experience for friends and family at McCaw Hall from November 28 to December 28, 2025.