For all new to or planning on coming to Seattle there is a Hacker News meetup that recent started (http://www.meetup.com/HackerNewsSeattleMeetup/events/2752013...), I haven't been as I live up north and driving into Seattle is something I try to do as little as possible for my own sanity. There is also a local startup group (Seattle Tech Startups: http://seattletechstartups.com/doku.php) who have occasional talks at the UW campus as well as a fairly active social calendar (http://www.seattletechcalendar.com/). Then of course there is the UW which has public lectures, Bill Gates is giving a talk next week I believe (just saw an e-mail invite for it today, but alas I am gone on vacation next week).