The Chopin Foundation NW presents a concert featuring the winners of the 2016 NW Chopin Festival. As usual, the best young artists from our state are expected to deliver great performances of Chopin's music. The program includes winners of all age divisions, from youngsters to 16-18 years old. The Gold Medalists' concert is at 2 pm and the Silver Medalists' concert at 5 pm.

Where: Brechemin Auditorium, the UW School of Music on the UW campus in Seattle; admission free.

More: 2016 NW Chopin Festival

Serenity in Reds

This is a new edition of the popular workshop!  In this 1 day workshop you will learn how to fold, cut and add layers to the mandala / gwiazda form in a circular paper-cut. This is a fun and meditative process that yields beautiful and compelling results. All materials included with the fee and tools are provided for your use. Space is limited, so register fast!

Where: At Alisa's studio in West Seattle, 4316 SW Othello St, Seattle, WA 98136; fee $60
More: Email Alisa Lahti  for questions or to register or visit Alisa's website

This is the annual meeting of the members of the Polish Home Association. It is also an election meeting for the Board of Trustees and the PHA Officer positions. PHA members can vote by proxy, see the Polish Home website for candidate lists, proxy forms and other election info.

Where: at the Polish Cultural Center Dom Polski in Seattle, PHA members only, admission free

More: Polish Home Association site or please contact Matt Karczewski

Do you have a business idea and would like to start a company but need some entrepreneurial skills? This is an event for you! The EuroSeattle Startup Weekend is a startup workshop for local entrepreneurs, especially those who came to Seattle from Europe. You can sign up as a participant, mentor or sponsor. Co-organized by the Consulate of Poland in Seattle and Polish American Chamber of Commerce PNW with their European counterparts in Seattle.

Where: at the Amazon Arizona Bldg, 207 Boren Ave N, Seattle, tickets $99 / $50 / $25

More:  detailed workshop and sign up info, Consulate of Poland in Seattle, PACC PNW

This introductory workshop with Alisa Lahti offers an opportunity to learn the beautiful art form of Polish paper-cutting while you complete 1-3 of your own wycinanki projects. Ms. Lahti will share tips and techniques, including modifying a template to create your own unique design. Materials included with the fee and tools are provided. Space is limited so signup right away!

Where: At Alisa's studio in West Seattle, 4316 SW Othello St, Seattle, WA 98136; fee $30
More: Email Alisa Lahti  for questions or to register or visit Alisa's website

Michael Reagan

Come to meet and support Michael G. Reagan, internationally acclaimed portrait artist and see examples of his work with the Fallen Heroes Project. Learn about his mission to create portraits of the fallen heroes in service to their country. Mr. Reagan has drawn over 4,400 portraits free-of-charge for American and coalition families, including portraits of sixty six soldiers from Poland who died in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Read about Bob Michalak opening a memorial exhibition to the Polish fallen heroes in Warsaw here.

Where: Third Place Commons / Town Center in Lake Forest Park, WA; admission free

More: The Fallen Heroes Project, about the Polish Fallen Heroes Project

The book for the meeting is Inna dusza by Lukasz Orbitowski, published by Wyd. Od deski do deski in 2015. Mr. Orbitowski, 38, writes short stories, books, columns and screenplays; he was nominated to the 2014 Nike Award  for his novel Szczesliwa ziemia. Inna dusza is a highly praised factual description of a famous cold-blooded murder in a provincial city in Poland in 1990s. This is an open meeting, drop by even if you haven't read the book.

Where: at the Redmond public library; admission free, in Polish

More: about the book, author about his book in Polish TV (PL),  Polish Book Club

Irene Jacob

The Polish Film Club KINO OKO presents the movie The Double Life of Véronique / Podwójne życie Weroniki directed by Krzysztof Kieslowski and starring Irene Jacob. This 1991 film was the first foreign production for Kieslowski and its great success led to his famous Three Colors (Blue, White & Red) trilogy. The movie won three awards at Cannes, including the Best Actress for Jacob and the FIPRESCI for Kieslowski.

Evening schedule: 7:30 pm setup & film intro, 8:00 pm screening.

Where: at the Polish Cultural Center Dom Polski in Seattle; admission free

More: about the movie on the Club site, about Kieslowski

Garrick Ohlsson

Garrick Ohlsson is the only American pianist to ever win the International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw (in 1970). He returns to Meany Hall with a program that includes Beethoven's sonata in A-flat major, Chopin's scherzo #4, etudes #5 & 6, nocturne in C minor and ballade in G minor, and Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition.

Where: Meany Hall at the University of Washington campus; tickets still available

More: Ohlsson, Ohlsson at Meany Theater

The Polish Home invites everybody to a traditional wafer & good-will sharing (Oplatek) with Fr. Andrzej Galant. This is an open event - everybody is welcome to come and sing Polish and American carols along. The Polish Choir Vivat Musica will help with caroling. Everybody's invited!.

Where: Polish Cultural Center Dom Polski in Seattle; admission free - please bring a salad, pastry or a cake to share if you can.

More: please contact Barbara Strutynski

The Polish Cultural Center restaurant will be closed for Christmas on December 25, 27 and Jan 1. It will reopen as usual on Jan 8, 2016.

Where: at the Polish Cultural Center Dom Polski in Seattle,

More: PHA website