Before Modest Mouse took the stage in D.C. last Friday, they had already laid the groundwork for high expectations. For one thing, the Portland indie rock heavyweights sold out the 9:30 Club in a mere five minutes. Then, they didn’t start their own set until midnight, bringing along three different opening bands (one of which could have likely headlined the club in their own right). Although Modest Mouse now has the clout to sell out…

>> Looking to practice your Spanish comprehension? The Permanent Mission of Guatemala to the OAS is hosting an interesting free movie screening tonight at the Art Museum of the Americas — but be warned, the film does not have English subtitles. Donde Acaban Los Caminos is based on the autobiographical novel by Mario Monteforte Toledo, about a young man who arrives in San Pedro La Laguna during the military dictatorship in the first decades of…

TUESDAY: Tomorrow is a treasure trove for science and sci-fi junkies. Our reviewer raved about The Dead Travel Fast: Stalking Vampires from Nosferatu to Count Chocula. Hear author Eric Nuzum muse on the undead at Wonderland Ballroom, 1101 Kenyon St. NW, which will offer drink specials, while Olsson’s will have books for sale at the bar. Fangs and capes encouraged. 7 p.m. Over at Politics and Prose, author Ira Flatow will discuss his lengthily titled…

Authors celebrate Thanksgiving, too, so the pickings are slim this week. As always, if you know of an event not picked for this column, leave some details in the comments. Enjoy the holiday! MONDAY Fritz Stern comes to Politics and Prose to talk about the Five Germanys I Have Known. The cute one, the quiet one, the weird one, the sexy one and the troublemaker. It’s like an N*SYNC with a history of genocide. 5015…

The weekly Ist wrap-up is written by Seattlest editor Dan Gonsiorowski. Torontoist throws down the gauntlet and challenges all comers: pillow fight, bitch. They also stand up for a fellow blogger taking heat from the TTC and welcome city-wide WiFi. SFist can finally admit it: It’s possible that Bary Bonds juiced. Is Bay Area artist (tempted to put quotes around that) Thomas Kinkaid “kinda crappy” or “explosively crappy” or does he just like marking territory?…