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Ingersoll Gender Center, a Capitol Hill nonprofit that provides support and education to transgender, gender variant and genderqueer people, is celebrating its move to E Pike. The center is hosting a grand opening from 5 PM to 9 PM Thursday at the new space, located at 517 E Pike.

Ingersoll previously held its meetings at the Seattle LGBT Center and at Seattle Counseling Service. The center now joins Gay City along with the overhauled Kaladi Brothers coffee as a bustling headquarters for the area’s LGBTQ, etc. communities.

“We are so excited to have this beautiful new space right in the center of our community,” said Breanna Anderson, board member and lead for the space build-out, in a press release. “With all of the other services and agencies at close hand, it feels like the de facto LGBTQ Center Seattle hasn’t had for a long time.”

CHS has reported on some of the things Ingersoll has done in the community in the past, including the Transgender Day of Remembrance and clinics on legal advice for transgender clients.

The open house will also include a showing of art from community members, light refreshments and complementary drinks.

Here’s more to do this weekend on Capitol Hill.

Thursday, March 14th

• Celebrate 3.14 at High 5 Pie or one of the Hill’s alternative pie purveyors.
• Blitz Capitol Hill Arts Walk , 5 – 8p and later. Pick up a printed walking map at various locations, or check out the listings and Google map on the Blitz website. We’re planning to visit the Art Cave, True Love, Pine Box, Ghost Gallery, Vermillion, Babeland, Blindfold, and Frame Central. (And If we’re lucky we’ll make make it to all of these plus a few more in between.)
• Then Is Also Now lecture series: a look at the Seattle art scene. Tonight’s topic focuses on the art market which took root between the 1940’s and 1960’s. Frye Art Museum (704 Terry), 6:30p.
• Live Girls Cupcake Reading Series – a new play every day! – continues Thurs through Saturday at Annex Theatre. 7p
• Parent talk: Finding Balance in Today’s Culture of Competition is the subject of a talk  by Dr. Denise Pope, which aims to provide parents with strategies to reduce stress at home. Town Hall, 7 – 8:30p.
• Author talk: Frankenstein’s Cat and Biotech’s Other Brave New Beasts by Author Emily Anthes. Personalized pet, anyone?  Downstairs at Town Hall,  7:30 – 9p
• Author reading: Sam Lipsyte, described by New York Times as “piss-yourself” funny, reads from a new collection of short stories, The Fun Parts. Richard Hugo House, 7:30 – 10:30p.
• Palm Springs Cocktail Challenge: Taste concoctions produced by competitors, plus giveaways and a chance to win a Palm Spring vacay. (How good does that sound,  drizzlepop?) Lobby Bar, 8p.

Friday, March 15th

• Historian and author talk: Susan Starbuck talks about legendary Seattle environmentalist  Hazel Wolfe. Light refreshments available.  Women’s Century Club at Harvard Exit Theatre (807 E Roy), 12 – 1:30 p.
• Balkan Night (on Saturday too!) with 36 bands over two days at the Russian Community Center (1704 19th Ave E). We wrote lots more about it here.
• Wine tasting: sample four wines from Alsace at Paris Eastside (816 E Pike St), 5 – 7p.
• Art-by-Mail: join LxHxW as they launch the new year of original art via subscription. This month’s edition includes Allyce Wood, Cait Willis, Claire Johnson, Joey Bates, Mimi Allen, Jake Utti and Emily Pothast. Vermillion, 6 – 9p.
• Author reading: Beverly Donofrio (remember Riding in Cars with Boys ?) reads from her memoir Astonished: A Story of Evil, Blessings, Grace and Solace. Elliott Bay Book Company, 7p.
• The Rabbi’s Cat, an animated film about a cat who gains voice by swallowing a parrot, opens Friday and continues through Thursday March 21. Northwest Film Forum, weekend 3pm matinees, plus nightly 7p, 9p.
• Author talk: How the Food Industry Hooked Us on Salt, Sugar, and Fat, with author MIchael Moss discusses his findings in a discussion with Grist president and founder Chip Giller. Downstairs at Town Hall, 7:30 – 9p.

Saturday, March 16th

• Music for kids: Aaron Nigel Smith shares his hip, exuberant songs with the young ones. Town Hall, 11a – 12p, and 1 – 2p.
• Gallery talk: join artists Sharon Arnold, Todd Jannausch, and Bill Ritichie as they discuss the current installation Chamber Music. Frye Art Museum, 2p.
• Author reading: Seattle author Marcus James reads from his latest novel, Bloodlines. Gay City (517 E Pike St), 4 – 6p.
• Irish Feast with corned beef sammies and cabbage on the side. Drink specials and kisses too! Bottleneck Lounge (2328 E Madison), 4p Saturday through Sunday night.
• Framing Pictures: join three long-time Seattle film critics who have much to say on the subject of cinophilia past, present and future. This month’s topic: Bond. James Bond. Northwest Film Forum, 5p

Sunday, March 17th

• St Patrick’s Day, when we all have a bit ‘o Irish.
• A Midsummers’ Night Dream, performed by kids of Seattle Historical Arts and director Shulamit Kleinerman’s band of period instruments. Town Hall, 1 – 3p.
• Kissing lessons at Babeland, 1p. Bring your own kisser.
• Join the Gaelic Gays on St. Patrick’s Day for corned beef, drink specials and a limerick contest, to benefit for Georgia Peaches Dog Rescue. Lobby Bar (916 E Pike), 1 – 5p.
• Countdown to Broadway Farmers Market: 6 weeks until April 21st