(Chickens on Alki Avenue! Photo by Lynn Hall)

It’s a big Thursday – here are some of the reasons why:

DINING OUT FOR LIFE: 5 West Seattle restaurants are participating in this year’s edition of the one-day/one-night benefit for Lifelong – some for lunch, some for dinner, some for lunch/dinner. Details and list are in our preview.

HIGH-SCHOOL SPORTS: 3:30 pm at Walt Hundley (34th/Myrtle), West Seattle High School boys-varsity soccer hosts Nathan Hale; 3:30 pm at Southwest Athletic Complex, WSHS varsity softball hosts Seattle Prep. (Sealth teams are on the road today.)

DIRTY MOVIE: “Symphony of the Soil” screens at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) at 5 pm, followed by a networking mixer and panel discussion, co-sponsored by the Landscape Horticultural program – details in our calendar listing. (6000 16th SW)

MULTICULTURAL NIGHT @ CHIEF SEALTH: 6-8 pm in the Galleria, you’re invited to come see Chief Sealth International High School students celebrate the many cultures to which they trace their origins, with food, entertainment, and more. (2600 SW Thistle)

STAYING CONNECTED TO YOUR TEEN: 6:30 pm at West Seattle High School, important information and advice for parents of teenagers – as previewed here. Free. (3000 California SW)

ALL ABOUT OTTERS: The Whale Trail‘s “Orca Talk” this month is actually an “Otter Talk” – learn from Leo Shaw about river otters (the ones you see around here) and sea otters (the ones you don’t). At C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7 pm, tickets available online here. (5612 California SW)

FASHION SHOW BENEFITING NW HOPE AND HEALING: 7 pm at Showbox SODO, it’s the annual “Style” fashion-show fundraiser for West Seattleite-led Northwest Hope and Healing‘s work helping breast-cancer patients. We’re told you can still buy tickets at the door; event details here. (1700 1st Ave. S.)

PUNDAMONIUM: Are you the punniest person you know? The “pun slam” at The Skylark is for you. 7 pm – details here. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

YOU KNOW THERE’S MORE … there’s ALWAYS more on the calendar, for today/tonight and beyond.