Seattlest just got our stimulus check from the government—cha-ching!—and we're looking for ways to spend it that don't involve just handing it over to the oil companies. We thought we'd share some ideas: 1) A new tattoo. Recommendations for artists and studios are very welcome in the comments. 2) Gifts for Mom. Sunday is Mother's Day, and our mother is in the opposite part of the country. It would've been cool of us to surprise......

READING: This weekend, 2008 Seattle Reads author Dinaw Mengestu is making the rounds to the city's libraries to read from The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears. This novel about immigrant life in D.C. has gotten so much love from so many corners that we're kind of ashamed we haven't read it already. If you don't want to purchase this book, sign up now on the Holds list at the library: we're currently Hold #424.......