That’s guitarist Andre Feriante, who will be performing in West Seattle for the first time ever as part of the “Listening Room” show at the Admiral Theater this Saturday night. If you haven’t seen one of the shows yet, “Listening Room” is a new concept at The Admiral — concerts for true music lovers. We talked with Feriante this afternoon, and he’s excited about playing the historic theater, saying he’s always curious about the history of places like The Admiral.
He’s been a musician full-time for a quarter-century and has played around the world, mixing guitar with poems in multiple languages as well as songs. With him onstage will be, he explains, “two people I play with frequently — Swil Kanim, Native American violinist and storyteller — he’s an actor, with a Native American spirit tradition, and a haunting mystical quality to his sound., as well as a deep, moving presence. Also playing with us, Eric Fridrich, a blues and jazz singer with a great big warm voice, a phenomenal guitar and harmonica player – there’s going to be some contrasts since I’m a flamenco, classical, Brazilian, Latin-style solo guitarist.” And that barely describes the “eclectic” nature of what he does, Feriante adds, saying his songs “are in the Leonard Cohen, Jacques Brel style.”
Here’s the other eclectic aspect of the Listening Room show – local muralist Glenn Case will paint live onstage during the performances. One of his most recent works in West Seattle is the distinctive Cafe Revo mural:
The movie and the singing are in full swing as we write this, and the cake/cupcake partying will follow, but we can report that tonight’s real-life wedding onstage at the Admiral Theater happened in fine style. We took the wedding party’s photo above in the lobby afterward; we’ll be checking our video in a bit. Good crowd on hand to applaud now-newlyweds Melodie Anderson and John Babcock, longtime sweethearts whose story you can read here and here; we met the fine folks from Standing Ovation Films, a West Seattle-based video-production company who read about the wedding plan here on WSB and donated a wedding-video package worth $2,000 (they had three cameras in the theater!); other donated gifts included the Cafe Revo wedding dinner, the Sugar Rush Baking Company cake and cupcakes, an anonymously gifted stay at a Lake Chelan vacation home, and the volunteer services of nondenominational minister Teri Ensley, who you may also know as the ringleader of local pet-helping nonprofit Furry Faces Foundation. For the occasion, till we have wedding video to share, here’s our favorite ABBA song:
ADDED 9:52 PM: Here’s the entire five-minute wedding – minister Teri’s mike did come on after the first 10 seconds or so:
(video no longer available due to blip.tv shutdown)
MOVIE CUPCAKES: No matter which of tonight’s big movies you are going to, you’ll see cupcakes. The ones at left were photographed by Lora Lewis of Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) as she gets ready for tonight’s Winter Indoors Movies on the Wall showing of the original “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” (7 pm, West Seattle Christian Church activity center, free [cupcakes extra]); cupcakes also are in the works for the wedding celebration before the singalong “Mamma Mia!” at the Admiral Theater (7:30 pm, $8, cupcakes included).
MAKING OF A COVER DOG: We learned recently that one of West Seattle’s best-known canine cuties, Wendy Hughes-Jelen‘s Italian greyhound Sophia, would be appearing on a future cover for WS-based CityDog Magazine– and now (discovered via our Blogs page feed) Wendy has published the story of Sophia’s big day on her website. See Wendy’s story, photos and all, here (meantime, CityDog has promised to share a sneak peek at the cover when it gets close to hitting the stands).
First: Direct link to today’s long list of events from our West Seattle Weekend Lineup – just click here.
Second: We have one “what’s NOT happening” note – the West Seattle High School fundraising car wash has been called off, rainout.
Next: Tonight’s the night for two fun movie events in West Seattle. First, an update on the “Mamma Mia!” preshow wedding tonight atThe Admiral:
Melodie Anderson and John Babcock will get married onstage before the “Mamma Mia!” singalong screening, and yet another gift has appeared: Dinah Brein McClellan at the Admiral Theater says Standing Ovation Films has now donated its services to shoot the wedding and related events (including the donated wedding-party dinner at Cafe Revo). YOU, however, do NOT need to bring a gift – just help make sure there’s a good crowd to cheer on Melodie and John – they’re marrying before movietime, 7:30 tonight at The Admiral (tickets $8, available online till a few hours ahead of time, after that, at the door).
More in the mood for goofy family fun? Be at tonight’s Winter Indoor Movies on the Wall presentation of the original “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory“:
Your sponsors are the West Seattle Junction merchants; venue is the newest multipurpose facility in The Junction, West Seattle Christian Church‘s activity center (with not one but TWO big screens!) on 42nd just south of Genesee), price – absolutely free, and you’re encouraged to bring a nonperishable food item for the West Seattle Food Bank. Worth bringing a few bucks for concession sales and the special “Golden Ticket” raffle. More at the Movies on the Wall website. (Next week, the winter series finale – “Napoleon Dynamite“!)
Again – for everything else happening today and tomorrow in West Seattle, go here!
That’s the trailer for the ORIGINAL “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” a family fave that’s FREE on the big screens in the West Seattle Christian Church Activity Center this Saturday night, for the second of three Winter Movies on the Wall – that’s INDOORS, mind you – presented by Junction merchants (and co-sponsors including WSB). Movie’s at 7, doors open at 5:30, bring a chair and a donation for the West Seattle Food Bank.
Meantime, Saturday night’s also showtime at the Admiral Theater, not just for the singalong edition of “Mamma Mia,” but also for this couple to say their vows onstage for real:
(photo courtesy Melodie Anderson) We’ve been telling you aboutMelodie Anderson and John Babcock‘s wedding right before “Mamma Mia” at The Admiral, 7:30 pm Saturday – Admiral entertainment director Dinah Brein McClellan put out the call for couples after she and her team thought it might be fun to enhance the movie’s romantic theme with real-life love. She’s providing the nondenominational minister; Sugar Rush Baking Company is providing wedding cake and mini-cupcakes; Cafe Revo‘s donating a wedding dinner for four; and a secret donor’s throwing in a Chelan vacation-home stay. (Anything else for the happy couple or the fun festivities? Let Dinah know at dinah@admiralentertainment.com) You don’t have to bring anything but good cheer – it’s all part of the $8 ticket price for the “Mamma Mia” singalong (song list here; we’re thinking “Take a Chance on Me” is particularly apropos). Tickets are available online.
No, you don’t have to bring a gift. Just be there for the “Mamma Mia” singalong movie showing Saturday night. As reported here last week, 64-year-old Melodie Anderson and 60-year-old John Babcock are getting married onstage at The Admiral at 7:30 Saturday night, right before the movie, as the culmination of a love story that’s stretched across 18 years and two states, starting as an off-and-on involvement following their meeting at a holistic-health-practitioner school in San Diego, then intensifying when John followed Melodie to Seattle, where she had moved to be closer to her grandchildren. Admiral entertainment director Dinah Brein-McClellan and her team hatched the idea of an onstage wedding to go with the romantic theme of “Mamma Mia,” put out the call for interested couples, and really fell in love with John and Melodie’s story, which took a dramatic turn two years ago, as Dinah relates:
In 2007, Melodie discovered she had cancer and through it all, John never left her side. “You really see what someone is made of when you go through something like that – bald head, throwing up, he was there for me.”
The experience made the couple realize that life is precious and short and they were ready to ‘seal the deal.’ The couple got a marriage license, but due to the recession and some financial losses on properties they owned they were forced to put a wedding on hold and soon the license lapsed. When Melodie told John about the offer that the Admiral had on the table, he was a bit dubious. “Melodie is really spontaneous, unorthodox and outgoing, very different from me but that’s why I love her,” he said.
To celebrate John and Melodie’s wedding, so far, The Admiral is providing a nondenominational minister, Coffee to a Tea with Sugar is donating a wedding cake plus 200 mini-cupcakes for the audience, Cafe Revo is giving the wedding party a celebration dinner for 4, and an anonymous donor is offering a stay at a Lake Chelan vacation home. (Got anything to add? Dinah’s still looking for someone who can contribute wedding decorations and flowers – dinah@admiralentertainment.com) You can be part of the fun (and sing your heart out afterward) just by going to Mamma Mia! Saturday night, 7:30 pm, $8/ticket, available online at Brown Paper Tickets.
You may recall Admiral Theater entertainment director Dinah Brein McClellan putting out the call here on WSB for a couple to get married onstage during the upcoming singalong showing of “Mamma Mia.” At least one citywide media source read about it here and in turn, that brought forward Melodie Anderson and John Babcock, whose relationship has stretched across several years and two states (they originally met in San Diego; John followed Melodie when she moved up here) – as well as a cancer fight (Melodie is a survivor, and John’s been by her side all the way). We photographed them last night when they came to The Admiral to meet with Dinah, and today Dinah’s sent word that they are The Ones. The big event is a week from this Saturday – 7:30 pm March 14th, right before the movie. Now Dinah’s thinking it might be a great idea to “give John and Melodie a great sendoff.” The new Luna Park Italian restaurant Cafe Revo already has donated a celebration dinner for 4, and Dinah says Sugar Rush Baking Company/Coffee to a Tea‘s chipping in with a wedding cake and mini-cupcakes . Anybody else want to get in on this with something else for the lucky couple (in addition to attending the showing, not just to cheer on John and Melodie, but also to sing along with your ABBA faves)? Could be the West Seattle media event of the month, and you’ll be in the spotlight too (plus, who doesn’t love a love story?). Give Dinah a shout – dinah@admiralentertainment.com. She says John and Melodie weren’t the only ones to contact her, but she sees “something magical” about their story – love will conquer all, which is the theme of the “Mamma Mia” movie too.
Originally from the WSB Forums: The Admiral Theater has a sing-along presentation of “Mamma Mia” (trailer above) coming up March 14th, and entertainment director Dinah Brein McClellan is offering a free minister and a fun venue to a couple that would mirror the movie by getting married onstage at the showing. Interested? E-mail her: dinah@admiralentertainment.com – or call 938-0785.
HIAWATHA PANCAKE BREAKFAST: This Sunday morning, chow down while beefing up the coffers of Hiawatha-based programs: It’s the 21st annual Pancake Breakfast at Hiawatha Community Center, raising money for youth basketball programs: All-you-can-eat pancakes, with side dishes including ham, sausages, bagels and fruit, PLUS coffee/juice, free for kids 4 and younger, $4 for 5-12 and 65-up, $5 for ages 13-up, 8 am-noon Sunday at Hiawatha.
ANTI-VALENTINE COMEDY SHOW TO BENEFIT PUPPY-MILL RESCUEES: The Cathy Sorbo/Rod Long show at the Admiral Theater on February 13th is now not just a benefit for West Seattle-based Furry Faces Foundation – it’s going to benefit the North Sound dogs rescued from suspected “puppy mills,” and you’re asked to bring donations along these lines. Tickets are available online.
NATURE CONSORTIUM’S FIRST-EVER BENEFIT BRUNCH: The Youngstown Arts Center-based organization that quietly works to restore West Seattle forest land is having its first Benefit Brunch, 11 am March 14th, at the Youngstown theater. As the Nature Consortium pitch puts it, “This is a free hour-long brunch for people to come and learn more about our organization. Yes, it is a fundraiser, too. You will be asked to consider making a contribution. There is no minimum and no maximum gift requested. Nature Consortium staff, volunteers, and program participants will produce an inspirational program.” RSVP to Lisa Corbin, lisa@naturec.org or call (206) 923-0853.
That’s Madison Middle School student Bazel Rivera, who’ll be in the Admiral Theater spotlight this Saturday night as a student of a different school – the Paul Green School of Rock Music. They’re presenting a salute to The Monkees – the TV rockers whose heyday was so long ago, some of the 8-to-18-year-olds heard about it from their grandparents. Or via a recent resurgence, as Bazel explains in a quick interview clip you’ll see ahead:Read More
If you need some entertainment tonight (or just need to get out and go SOMEWHERE) – the Admiral Theater does show movies. Christmas-specific schedule is on the Admiral’s website – click each movie for its showtimes. (Shows start with “Religulous” at 3:50 pm.)
8:30-10:30 AM, TALK VIADUCT WITH COUNCILMEMBER TOM RASMUSSEN:As explained here. Drop in to talk with him about the Alaskan Way Viaduct decision-to-be, or any other city issue, Uptown Espresso in The Junction (here’s a map).
11 AM, “HOLIDAY MAGIC AND WONDER” AT THE ADMIRAL THEATER: Have some family fun before the weather goes south – hmm, north — again. Magician Steffan Soule will appear at the Admiral Theater at 11 am today and we hear Santa’s going to be there too. Read more about the show here.
10 AM-3 PM, HELP WESTSIDE BABY! The nonprofit organization that helps hundreds of families in our area every day needs people power, if you can get to their White Center HQ to lend a hand. Repost from our afternoon-evening snow coverage yesterday, note from WestSide Baby’s Nancy Woodland – even an hour can be an amazing gift, if you can spare it today:
The weather has impacted our operations this week to a near-standstill. This is especially concerning timing with orders waiting for children expecting warm clothes and toys for Christmas. We need extra hands to help us sort the many donations we’ve received (yeah!) and to fill orders for pick up by our agency partners on Monday. We’ve been closed for most of this week but will be open on Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm for volunteers, donations and pick-ups. Although our parking lot can be treacherous we’re inviting people to make their way to White Center to help out if they are comfortable driving. Because of the volume, we’d love to have adult or experienced volunteers only so that we can make the most of the time we’ll have (today) before the snow hits again. Even an hour or two makes a huge difference.
We also plan to be open Monday 9-3 (weather permitting) and possibly on Tuesday too. Thanks so much to everyone who supports WestSide Baby!
WestSide Baby is at 10032 15th SW; 15th is one of the major roads in WC’s business district. Here’s how to get there.
When you hear the phrase “holiday magic,” it’s usually in conjunction with some warm and fuzzy representation of sugarplums, lights, faux snow, and so on. But this Saturday morning at 11 am at the Admiral Theater — which along with presenting sponsor Metropolitan Market is advertising on WSB to get the word out — it’s Holiday Magic and Wonder with professional magician Steffan Soule (photo above) – here’s more info from The Admiral:
The show will connect all ages to genuine astonishment and even Old St. Nick is rumored to magically appear on-stage! Steffan promises; fluttering white doves will appear and disappear, an audience member will be suspended in mid-air, and other magical and mystical feats that will leave families gasping in disbelief.
Specially priced at $6.00 a ticket, the show will also benefit the West Seattle Helpline, which is looking to replenish their school supplies for their Students in Need Program. Executive Director Anna Fern is asking for basic supplies for elementary, middle and high school students such as pencils, notebook paper, crayons, colored pencils for map drawings, scissors, glue and pens. Backpacks are also much needed. After the magic show, there will be a photo opportunity for kids where parents can bring their own cameras to take pictures of their children with Santa for a suggested $1.00 donation, which will also go to the Helpline.
What a fun and inexpensive way to share the magic of the holidays with your whole family. There will be a dollar discount on each ticket with groups over 20. Group tickets must be purchased at the theater.
Soule is a seasoned children’s performer as well as an excellent entertainer of adult and corporate audiences. He performed a program of magic and music for children with The Seattle Symphony and has created educational and environmental magic shows that tour the country. He is also a favorite in school educational assemblies and supplies special arts programs to colleges, high schools as well as elementary schools.
For additional information on the 11 am Saturday (12/20) show, go to: steffansoule.com/admiral, or call 206-938-0785.
If you started to sing along with that clip – then you might consider cruising to the Admiral Theater tonight for the sing-along edition of “Grease” – girls’ lyrics in pink, boys’ lyrics in blue. Also on the agenda today/tonight, more holiday mania: West Seattle’s most famous Christmas tree sellers, the volunteers of the Holy Rosary Tree Lot south of Admiral Safeway, open their doors today, so we’ll be publishing our West Seattle tree-lot list/price survey by day’s end. Noon-4 pm, you’re invited to drop by the Log House Museum to help decorate – bring an ornament or something else to make the home of West Seattle history just a bit more special this season. Same hours, Santa arrives at Westwood Village … hmm, didn’t we just see him downtown Friday morning?
He’s making a lot of West Seattle appearances this holiday season (in The Junction starting next weekend), so he’ll have no excuse not to hear what’s on your list. Two more notes: Southwest Youth and Family Services continues its holiday plant sale 9 am-1 pm, and the White Center Swap Meet and Flea Market (WSB sponsor) celebrates its official grand opening with new hours, 8:30 am-4:30 pm. Lots more in the Saturday section of the Weekend Lineup (hop to it directly from here).
She wasn’t the only movie star ever to emerge from West Seattle – but Frances Farmer was inarguably the most controversial and tragic. However, local historian, musician, and lecturer Peder Andreas Nelson points out, that was only part of her story — she had a side that is not discussed as often as her sanity battle, and that little-remembered side is what will be celebrated this Friday and Saturday during “Frances Farmer’s Revenge” at the Admiral Theater, with a chance for you to re-live Hollywood’s heyday while learning how this tumultuous star shone more brightly than you may have ever heard. We sat down last week to talk with Peder, whose idea sparked the two-day Admiral festival, for a closer look at why her, and why now — read on:Read More
Friday-Saturday, SLGFF (WSB sponsor) has its first-ever West Seattle showings, at the Admiral Theater; again tonight, we’re giving away two tickets – read on for the how-to:Read More
This Friday and Saturday, the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival (WSB sponsor) includes screenings in West Seattle, for the very first time. For the second night in a row, we’re giving away two pairs of tickets – but not exactly the same way as last night: Tonight we’re spotlighting two of the documentaries that will be shown at the Admiral, both on Saturday: “Equality U” at noon Saturday, and “The Kinsey Sicks: Almost Infamous” at 4:30 Saturday. Festival organizers tell us “Equality U” (here’s its official website) received a standing ovation from audiences in San Francisco and L.A. Its director Dave O’Brien will be at the Admiral screening on Saturday, and free tickets have been offered to West Seattle High School’s Gay/Straight Alliance student group. “Kinsey Sicks” (here’s its official website) is as much comedy as documentary – and directors Alonzo Ruvalcaba and Ken Bielenberg are expected at the Admiral showing too. OK, so now – tonight’s giveaway. Courtesy of SLGFF, each night we’re giving away two pairs of tickets – one pair per winner – to either of those documentaries. First two people to e-mail us are the winners. Use this e-mailbox: westseattleblog@yahoo.com – include the name under which you want the tickets to be held at “will call” at the Admiral on the date/time of the showing you choose, as well as whether you want the tickets for “Equality U” or “Kinsey Sicks.” We’ll add an update to the end of this post as soon as tonight’s tickets have been won to let you know the giveaway is over – then, two more pairs tomorrow night. Good luck! 11:58 PM UPDATE: Tonight’s tickets have been won.
This Friday and Saturday, the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival (WSB sponsor) includes screenings in West Seattle, for the very first time. Friday night begins with “Tough Girls: Shorts“ at 6 pm, followed by “The Sensei” at 7:30 pm and “A Nightmare on Elm Street 2” at 10 pm; on Saturday, the first showing is the documentary “Equality U” at noon, followed by “The New World” at 2:30 pm, the documentary “The Kinsey Sicks: Almost Infamous” at 4:30, “Dogtags” at 7 pm, “Camp Blood: Shorts” at 9 pm, then a special “Rocky Horror Picture Show” presentation at 11:30. OK, so now – the giveaway. Tonight, tomorrow, and Wednesday, courtesy of SLGFF, each night we’re giving away two pairs of tickets – one pair per winner per night – to the movie of your choice (with the exception of “The Sensei” and “Rocky Horror,” which are expected to be hot tickets). We’re making this mondo easy – first two people to e-mail us are the winners. Use this e-mailbox: westseattleblog@yahoo.com – include the name under which you want the tickets to be held at “will call” at the Admiral on the date/time of the showing you choose, as well as which movie you want the tickets for. We’ll add an update to the post as soon as we can once tonight’s tickets have been won – then, two more pairs tomorrow. Good luck! 9:31 PM UPDATE: Tickets given away for tonight – be here again tomorrow night, when we’ll have two more to give away!
Those spotlights in front of the Admiral Theater tonight were NOT for the West Seattle debut of the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival (WSB sponsor) — screenings are under way elsewhere in the city right now but the Admiral showings aren’t till next Friday and Saturday (schedule here; watch for WSB ticket giveaways starting Monday). Tonight, the Admiral was closed to the public, rented out for a private event, spotlights and all. As for PUBLIC special events coming up – three weeks till the Frances Farmer’s Revenge extravaganza (here’s the official site).
Just last night, we told you about the Admiral Theater’s latest efforts to broaden the offerings at the historic venue, and tonight we welcome one of them as a new WSB sponsor: The Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, with a schedule involving screenings at the Admiral later this month. Here’s what the festival’s organizers want you to know: “Three Dollar Bill Cinema is thrilled to bring the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival to West Seattle¹s Admiral Theater, Oct 24-25. There¹s something for everyone in the slate of programs we¹ve lined up for our first-ever foray into West Seattle, from features focusing on family values (THE SENSEI and THE NEW WORLD) to engaging documentaries (EQUALITY U and THE KINSEY SICKS) and edgy short films (TOUGH GIRLS). From dancing zombies to trick-or-treaters, the Halloween spirit is sweeping West Seattle during our weekend at The Admiral, and we¹re joining the celebration with several spooky programs, including: CAMP BLOOD, a fun collection of creepy and comical short films; the slasher classic with a queer subtext A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 2: FREDDY¹S REVENGE; and a very special edition of a long-running West Seattle tradition, THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW. We hope to make this first of many years that the festival finds success in West Seattle. For more information on all programs and a complete guide to the entire festival, including screenings, parties and events all over town, visit www.threedollarbillcinema.org.” Thanks to the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival for joining the WSB sponsor team; the full list is on this page along with information for anyone interested in becoming part of it; we also thank everyone for their strong support of all the WSB sponsors who make it possible for us to bring you West Seattle news 24/7.
Ever been upstairs at the Admiral Theater? It’s been roped off as long as we can remember. But this Saturday night, when a triple-bill concert enables the Admiral’s new management to launch a new era in its alter-ego as a live-music venue, patrons will be able to enjoy the newly christened Crow’s Nest Lounge. Read on to find out more about the lounge, Saturday’s big show, and what else the Admiral has up its sleeve:Read More
MOVIE CUPCAKES: No matter which of tonight’s big movies you are going to, you’ll see cupcakes. The ones at left were photographed by Lora Lewis of 
No, you don’t have to bring a gift. Just be there for the “Mamma Mia” singalong movie showing Saturday night. 
She wasn’t the only movie star ever to emerge from West Seattle – but Frances Farmer was inarguably the most controversial and tragic. However, local historian, musician, and lecturer Peder Andreas Nelson points out, that was only part of her story — she had a side that is not discussed as often as her sanity battle, and that little-remembered side is what will be celebrated this Friday and Saturday during 
This Friday and Saturday, the 
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