No, not the kind where you discuss issues in the comments section of the site (although you're welcome to do that too). The kind where you actually show up in person, meet some new people, and enjoy some tasty happy hour beverages and food!

It's been awhile since we've had one of these... we've all been in hibernation, I guess. But the sun is coming out, temperatures might actually top 70 degrees soon, and it's time to enjoy it! Come meet us at the Garage for good food, good drinks, and good company.

The Garage
1130 Broadway
Seattle, WA 98122

UPDATE: The weather forecast for Thursday is 75 F and sunny... and the Garage has outdoor seating!

Possible topics of conversation are the usual favorites: transportation, urban planning, housing, plus the latest hot topic, gas prices & energy conservation - or anything else you want to talk about.

It's about time for another movie night, don't you think?! We're heading back to the velvet gorgeousness of the Jewel Box Theatre at the Rendezvous (2322 2nd Ave., Belltown) for Election, everybody's favorite movie about political ambition gone horribly, horribly wrong.

For a piddly $5 voluntary donation, you'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll order nachos. It's gonna rock.

Doors at 6:30 -- Movie at 7:00

On February 8th and 9th, 2006, EMILY's List will be
offering a training opportunity for pro-choice Democratic women in Tacoma, WA. Please see attached invitation and registration form.

Their trainings are free and open to pro-choice Democratic women thinking of running for office.

Please forward this information to your networks in Washington. Feel free to contact Rebecka Rosenquist if you have any additional questions.

Rebecka Rosenquist
100 Spear Street, Ste. 1510
San Francisco, CA 94105

415.281.2806 (p)
415.658.0707 (f)
www.emilyslist.org

Get on the bus! We're teaming up with Music for America to bring you the awesomest Election Night Party ever.

Meet up with us at the Mirabeau Room (529 Queen Anne Ave. N), hook yourself up with a bus ticket-- just $10!!-- and hitch a ride to all the best election night parties around town.

Want in? Better get there early-- seats are limited, and when the bus fills up, we're pullin' out!!

VOTE TODAY!!!!!!!!!

If you can make up your mind, or are trying to pawn off some stupid excuse about not being informed, check out Amy's post

Our monthly rotating Happy Hour returns to the place it began - Maharaja Cuisine of India

Why? Because if you have $2 then you've got yourself a drink. You've also got a place to talk politics or discuss the new season of Lost... or something like that.

So circle this Thursday (Sept 29th) on your calendar because your kick-ass compadres at BetterDonkey are saving a seat for you and your friends.

Join us for $2 wells, **free** num nums, and a you-know-what-load of donkey shenanigans.

Date: Thursday, Sept 29th
Time: 5:30 pm 'til 8pm-ish
Location: Maharaja Cuisine of India, 720 E. Pike St., Capitol Hill

Love love love,
The BetterDonkey Party Posse-- Amy, Riisa, Grant, Ben, Chris, Anne Marie, and Alex

The weather is gorgeous, and so are you!!

Let's make it a date on August 25 and head over to Two Bells (2313 4th Ave, Belltown), grab a seat on the patio, and talk Seattle urban planning over burgers and beer.

Yummy in my tummy!

We Vote TODAY!!!

Our first happy hour at Maharaja was oh so much fun... how ever to top it?

Easy: Outdoor Seating!!

This month we're going to Taqueria Guaymas Cantina (6808 E Green Lake Way N) for $4 margaritas, el cheapo plates of tacos and flautitas, and of course the late afternoon summer sunshine. It's a hard life, but someone's gotta live it.

Bonus!!! Since no one won our contest this week, we're giving YOU the chance to win at happy hour! Just show up, toss your name in the hat, and if you're lucky, the drinks are on us.*

See you soon!!!

*Some restrictions apply.

Did you know that the City of Seattle alone has over 40 boards and commissions, staffed by citizen volunteers who advise the City Council, Mayor, and anybody else they damn well please?

Join the BetterDonkey Consolidated Walking Squad in the Boards & Commissions room at City Hall (600 4th Ave., Room L280) for the monthly meeting of the Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board. We'll learn what people like our very own Amy are doing to keep Seattleites from being run over by Hummers.

We'll meet up at the back door of City Hall (on 5th) at 5:45 and go into the meeting together-- be sure to get there before 6 pm or else your ass will be locked out!

Afterwards we'll hit a nearby watering hole (maybe Zaina?) for drinks, eats, and yaks. Yakking. Um. We'll talk the walk.

Do you have $2? Then June 16 is your favorite day ever!! Your kick-ass compadres at BetterDonkey are saving a seat for you at Maharaja (720 E. Pike St., right next to the War Room) for the awesomest new happy hour in town.

Join us for $2 wells, **free** num nums, and a you-know-what-load of donkey shenanigans.

Date: Thursday, June 16
Time: 5:30 pm 'til ???
Location: Maharaja Cuisine of India, 720 E. Pike St., Capitol Hill

We are so excited to hang out with you!!! And your cute friends. You're bringing your cute friends, right???

Love love love,
The BetterDonkey Party Posse-- Amy, Riisa, Grant, Ben, Chris, Anne Marie, and Alex

Public Meetings are Awesome!!

Join your BetterDonkey BFFs* for the Sound Transit Long-Range Plan Open House!

Sound Transit is reviewing its Long-Range Plan, and BetterDonkey is here to make it ten times more fun for you to learn what it's all about... and tell Sound Transit what you want for our region's transportation future (flying cars for everyone!!).

Thursday, May 26th, 2005-- Northgate
5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Olympic View Elementary
504 NE 95th Street
Seattle, WA 98115

The open house starts at 5, but we'll meet up outside a little before 6, then parade our hot selves in together. When we've had all the learnin' and opinion-voicin' we can handle, we'll head over to Gordito's for burritos & brew.

Come see The YES Men at The First Ever Better Donkey Movie Night!

With poker faced impersonation as their weapon, the World Trade Organization officials as their target, the YES Men pull off one bold prank after another in an effort to raise political consciousness. And when their outrageous stunts are actually swallowed – hook, line, and sinker – the YES Men must up the satirical ante and push the art of public spectacle to hilarious new heights.

Our plan is foolproof:

Awesome movie, superfun people, and bartenders who know their stuff. Better get there early though--seating is limited!!

Details details…

Where: Jewel Box Theatre @ The Rendezvous / 2322 2nd Ave.

Date: Tuesday, May 3

Time: 6:30 Doors -- 7:30 Movie

Map: click here

It used to be that the only people who attended public meetings were retirees, home owners, and the same tired list of people who always have a say in how our government is run.

Not anymore. Better Donkey is here to make YOUR voice heard on stuff that matters, starting with a

Town Hall Meeting on King County Election Reform

Thursday, April 14 at 7 p.m
Seattle First Baptist Church
1111 Harvard Ave. (between Seneca & Spring, near Seattle U.)
Seattle, WA 98122

Want to meet up with some Better Donkeys before?

Meet at 6:45pm at the corner of Harvard and Union. We'll all go in and sit together.

Afterwards, we'll go to The Garage (1134 Broadway) right down the street and have a drink or two.

Hit the streets with BetterDonkey when we call on people to make their voice heard on education reform.

The way we fund education in this state is totally freaking backwards.

School bonds and levies were originally intended to supplement state funds for education. Today, school districts rely heavily on levies and bonds to fund basic education, including teacher salaries. Crazy, huh?

Even crazier: Most states require a vote of 50% plus one in order to get more money for schools, but in the great "liberal" state of Washington we require a whopping 60% "supermajority" of the voters to approve new funds in order to keep our kids edumacated. But!! Right at this very moment there's a bill in the state legislature that will fix this mess-- but it won't pass if it doesn't have our support.

Better Donkey wants YOU to reach for the closest staple gun, pull on your walkin' shoes, grab a couple of friends, and hit the streets to plaster our city with posters that will raise awareness and rally support for this bill.

Join BetterDonkey.org for our fan-fucking-tastic LAUNCH PARTY!!!

There will be insanely low priced alcohol available for your consumption, and the inimitable DJ Dryhump (aka Grant) will be spinning the tunes. (Listen for the "Oompa-Loompas meet Jay-Z" mix—it’s killer.)

So be there!! Bring everyone you’ve ever met… and that guy you’ve been eyeing… and his sister… and her boyfriend, and come find out what Better Donkey is all about (hint: progressive politics. And also drinking. What could be better??). You will not be disappointed. We promise.

Oh yeah, it’s at the Crespinel Studios Gallery, 2321 2nd Ave., Seattle,WA.