Best bets for the weekend

We got our snow, and then some. Now we're getting (here's a surprise) a wet — and kind of gloomy — Puget Sound January. Cheer yourself up with an outing to look for signs of life in local botanical gardens; one, the labor of love of a lively local resident, is profiled in our story today on Shoreline's Kruckeberg Garden (along with more ideas on where to go). And there are plenty of other offerings this weekend that could turn your frown upside down:

For details on all these events, search the Weekend Calendar.

Warm yourself by the fire: Remember winter solstice weekend when hurricane-force winds were expected? The weather put the kibosh on Seattle Center's Winter Solstice Fire Festival for a few weeks, but it didn't fizzle out. Instead, it was rescheduled for this Saturday and Sunday evenings, complete with flaming kinetic sculptures, propane cannons and "one of the leading fire-dance troupes in North America." (One wonders: Are there many?)

Finish up the holidaze: The snow messed with a couple of major holiday happenings on the Eastside. So if you missed them in December, take heart: You can still go see the Garden d'Lights holiday display at Bellevue Botanical Garden, or go skating at the Bellevue Magic Season Ice Arena for a final weekend.

Woof on the hoof: Dog people have two major excuses to get out for a romp this weekend: Seattle Dog Winterfest, a "dog expo" at Bell Harbor conference center on the waterfront, and the Western Washington All-Breed Dog Show (free for spectators) at the fairgrounds in Puyallup.

Snowbirds' delight? If you're betting that gas prices won't go ballistic again, you might be ready to head to the Tacoma RV Show, with the latest models in highway homes, plus ideas on how to live in mobile mode.

Get a clue: If your attic's been home for too long to the weird carving that Uncle Bob brought home from Samoa in 1946, finally find out what the heck it is: Head for Artifact ID Day at Seattle's Burke Museum, where experts will identify cultural objects from the Northwest Coast, Pacific islands and Asia.

More snow: If you just can't get enough of the stuff, introduce yourself to snowshoeing this weekend.