Best bets for the weekend

Labor Day already? No matter how old we get, there's something about the end of summer and the start of school that leaves us feeling like wet, squishy tennis shoes. There's that memory of wearing scratchy new clothes and looking out the window of math class, realizing that the world of possibilities had just gotten a little smaller. But, hey, it's not over till it's over. This weekend is Bumbershoot, with its own world of possibilities. And here's a menu of other dessert toppings for your final August fling:

Wheels of fortune: They cost a fortune, that is. It's a car nut's dream weekend. At the Italian Concours d'Elegance at Des Moines Marina, get an eyeful of Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Maseratis. Stop by the LeMay Museum Car Show and Auction in Tacoma for a look at more than 1,000 vintage vehicles of all kinds. Or go for "less is more": the Horseless Carriage Car Show at the Ballard Locks. Aooogah.

Get out of the rut: That's what they're calling this special weekend of events celebrating the elk rut at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park. We don't know how to spell the sound of an elk bugling, so we'll just have to repeat: Aooogah.

Last gasp: OK, we're trying to put a brighter face on things, but you can't deny a certain sweet melancholia having to do with the final weekend of lifeguarded beach swimming and the end of Jetty Island Days, during which you can hitch a free ferry out to the sandbar island at the mouth of the Snohomish. See our calendar for details

Car-free zones: The Seattle mayor's experiment at street closures, hoping to encourage bike riding and the like, might meet with less rain this weekend. Head for Volunteer Park, Lake Washington Boulevard or Columbia City.

Well hello, dahlia: It's peak season for the wünderflower. Stroll among saucer-sized blooms, like fireworks on a stalk, at Connell's Dahlia farm in Tacoma, or see the prizewinners at the Seattle Dahlia Society show in Lake City this weekend.

Free pass to Agate Passage: The Suquamish's Clearwater Casino hosts free outdoor concerts, and you can get there on a free shuttle from the Bainbridge Island ferry terminal. Save a few extra quarters to play the slots.