West Seattle Blog... » WS culture/arts

‘Every Mother Counts’: Benefit CD produced by West Seattleite

WSB — Tue, 22 May 2012 01:45:17 +0000

One more week to buy this year’s “Every Mother Counts” CD at Starbucks stores – benefiting advocacy for maternal health around the world, to reduce the maternal death rate. As was last year’s CD, this one is produced again by West Seattle resident David R. Legry, with Christy Turlington Burns, EMC founder. One of the featured songs is by Eddie Vedder – you can preview it here; there are also exclusive cuts by U2, Coldplay, Beck, Alanis Morrisette, Edie Brickell/Paul Simon, and other songs by David Bowie, Faith Hill, and Sting, among others. Star-studded, to say the least; the full song list is here. Starbucks handled the cost of producing the CD and is donating $8 from each purchase. It’s scheduled to be available in their stores till May 29th – and we’re told that if you don’t see it out on display, just ask for it.

Bring art to The Mount, for those who can’t go out to see it

WSB — Wed, 16 May 2012 22:22:20 +0000

This isn’t your usual “call for artists” – this is a request for artists to show their work where it’ll be seen by people who can’t go out to enjoy it elsewhere any more. The announcement:

Providence Mount St. Vincent is looking for Artists to display their work in our McAllister Hall Art Gallery.

The art gallery at Providence Mount St. Vincent displays local art on a monthly basis featuring a different artist each month. The main goal of this program is to provide enjoyment and artistic culture for our residents, since many of them are no longer physically able to visit art galleries. We offer artist the ability to sell her or his art with the request that 20 percent be donated to our Foundation. The gallery is located on the second floor entrance on the west side of the building–a high traffic area within the Mount. The art is viewed by residents, staff, families of residents, volunteers, and visitors. We insure the art while it’s on display to protect it from any possible damage and offer a reception in the artist’s honor.

The months of June, August, October, November and December are currently open in 2012. Please contact Anna Cronin at anna.cronin@providence.org or 206.938.6242 for more information.

Video: West Seattle Symphony Orchestra’s world premiere

WSB — Wed, 16 May 2012 06:02:51 +0000

For the second consecutive Tuesday, the West Seattle Community Orchestras invited the community to the Chief Sealth International High School auditorium, to hear their musicians’ spring concerts; tonight was the 50+-member West Seattle Symphony Orchestra‘s turn. Our 7-minute video clip captures the highlight of the night, the world premiere of conductor Rob Duisberg‘s “Fantasies and Fugues.” The program also included classics – from composers including Beethoven, Copland, Haydn, and Stravinsky.

Summer Concerts at Hiawatha’s 2012 lineup, and other Admiral Neighborhood Association notes

WSB — Wed, 09 May 2012 06:37:01 +0000

(The crowd for 2011′s appearance by Caspar Babypants, who’s in the concert series again this year)
The big news from tonight’s Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting, led by vice president Karl de Jong – the music lineup for this year’s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha. As announced at the meeting (held as usual in the lower-level meeting room of Admiral Congregational Church), chosen from more than 60 applicants, by ANA president Katy Walum with help from ANA treasurer Ann Limbaugh and Hiawatha Community Center’s Tiffani Melake – “We listened to a LOT of music,” said Ann:

JULY 26 – The Local Strangers

AUGUST 2 – Mark Dufresne

AUGUST 9 – Reilly and Maloney

AUGUST 16 – The Braxmatics (this show is at Alki Beach)

AUGUST 23 – Caspar Babypants

AUGUST 30 - Curtains For You

The ANA’s website will have even more information about the concert series soon (if it’s not already there by the time you see this).

More on this topic and others, including this year’s 4th of July Kids’ Parade and local park issues, ahead:

There was some discussion of how many banners promoting the series should be put up around Admiral, and where. The concerts are so popular, some wondered if banners were needed, especially considering the cost. Others pointed out that it’s a “point of pride” to announce, even to those passing through Admiral on the way to Alki, that Admiral is home to this series.

FOURTH OF JULY KIDS’ PARADE IS ON! Longtime parade organizer Sherri Chun came to the meeting to say they have their permits (for both briefly closing streets along the route in North Admiral, and for using Hamilton Viewpoint Park for games and concessions afterward) – two porta-potties, popsicles (ANA has that concession), good weather, nothing’s changing! West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival royalty will be there as always. They haven’t locked in a keynote speaker yet.

ADMIRAL DISTRICT BUSINESS ASSOCIATION: David Whiting, who was ANA’s catalyst liaison in working with local merchants to get the association off the ground, reported on last night’s meeting. He said about eight business reps were in attendance and talked about, among other things, what other events the group might be involved with, beyond the annual trick-or-treating event and having worked with Life Care Center of West Seattle (WSB sponsor) on this year’s well-attended Easter-egg hunt.

SPEAKING OF PARKS … PARKS Q/A: Carol Baker from Seattle Parks was invited for an informal Q/A. She talked about cleanup/restoration operations at Hamilton Viewpoint and landscaping that’s “in transition” as they strive for permanent plantings that won’t block the view. She was asked about litter problems at the park, and she talked about how Parks is trying to “balance” its litter/recycling operations – minimizing the amount of cans doesn’t necessarily mean more litter outside cans, she explained – sometimes the cans themselves become litter magnet in ways you wouldn’t expect. Asked why Parks didn’t have more recycle-only cans, she said budget cuts – last year, 20 percent reduction in maintenance – mean they can’t afford to keep sending out the separate truck runs that it would take for both trash and recycling pickup. Regarding litter problems, even putting out extra bags didn’t turn out to be a solution, Baker explained – “they started disappearing.” Security issues were discussed too. One attendee asked why some private citizens have keys to park gates; there are some park volunteers who have taken on that role, according to Baker. After she left, ANA members discussed some ways of possibly helping out – such as, when they have Adopt-A-Street events, if there are enough volunteers, sending some to Hamilton Viewpoint.

OTHER TOPICS: There were recaps of this month’s Southwest District Council meeting and the April 21st Gathering of Neighbors. We also were invited to speak for a few minutes about this Saturday’s West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day; your editor here, speaking with WSCGSD organizer hat on, pointed out that the event was “born” in Admiral – the now-shuttered nonprofit Megawatt was based in a California SW storefront across from Hiawatha when, inspired by the longrunning Greenwood Garage Sale Day, it was inspired to start one for West Seattle. Megawatt presented it three times before closing in fall of 2007; WSB took it over and has been presenting WSCGSD since May 2008 – this is “our” fifth one! We also noted that the Admiral area alone has at least 60 sales, including benefits such as the West Seattle High School Girls’ Basketball Team fundraising sale and Muttley Crew Cuts’ sale to raise money for English Springer Rescue (including hot dogs!). If you haven’t already checked out the maps (clickable/zoomable and printable versions), just go here – the big day is 9 am-3 pm this Saturday (May 12th).

Admiral Neighborhood Association meets on second Tuesdays, 7 pm, at Admiral Congregational Church.

Partly shot in West Seattle, ‘Ira Finkelstein’s Christmas’ gets SIFF slot

WSB — Mon, 07 May 2012 17:45:59 +0000

More movie news: Just reported by our friends at Beach Drive Blog: “Ira Finkelstein’s Christmas,” partly shot in West Seattle last year (remember the palm trees on Alki, standing in for Florida?), will be screened during this year’s SIFF. BDB has the dates and other links. (As reported here on Sunday, the SIFF lineup also includes a short film by West Seattle photographer Bob Venezia.)

SIFF to feature West Seattle photographer Bob Venezia’s film

WSB — Sun, 06 May 2012 18:17:46 +0000

(Photo copyright Bob Venezia – Puyallup Fair, 2011)
The schedule is out for the Seattle International Film Festival, and it includes an award-winning short film by West Seattle photographer Bob Venezia, who shares this announcement:

“Animated Amusements,” a short film by West Seattle photographer Bob Venezia, is an official selection of the Seattle International Film Festival. It will be shown on May 26th at 9:30 pm at the SIFF Cinema at the Uptown as part of the program, “Animation for Adults.”

Scenes of carnival rides at night are set to the music of the late Rebo Flordigan. Shot in time-lapse and moving at hundreds of times their normal speed, the rides take on a life of their own and display brilliant patterns in colored lights.

Tickets for the program are now on sale.

Originally shot in 3D, this movie won the Artistic Achievement Award at the 2011 convention of the National Stereoscopic Association. SIFF will be presenting the 2D version.

Read more about the movie here.

Bob Venezia is a stereoscopic (3D) photographer and Photoshop expert. His love of 3D photography started in childhood with his first ViewMaster but it wasn’t until 1995 that he began creating these images on his own. Bob has been listed in the “Who’s Who” of the Photographic Society of America every year since 2006 and has a 4 Star rating with the PSA. He has had more than 220 acceptances in PSA recognized Exhibitions since 2003, and has won numerous awards, including a dozen Gold medals.

In 2009 Bob was the top exhibitor worldwide of digital stereoscopic photography according to the PSA. In 2010 he ranked number two worldwide in two categories (digital and slides). His long exposure of the Brooklyn Bridge took first place in the Electronic section of the Stereo Photo of the Year Competition for 2009 and his image of gondolas at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas was named Stereo Photo of the Year for 2010.

SIFF side note – though several films were scheduled at the Admiral Theater in the past few years, the festival is not coming to West Seattle this time around.

West Seattle filmmaker featured in ‘Beyond Borders’ tonight

WSB — Tue, 01 May 2012 11:51:41 +0000

Almost a year ago, we reported on the Kickstarter campaign for “Film Festival: Rwanda,” a work in progress by Inflatable Film, a local production company with West Seattleites in prominent roles, including executive producer Leah Warshawski. Tonight, scenes from the documentary (the video clip above is its trailer) will be part of a free 7 pm program at SIFF Film Center, 305 Harrison Street (on Queen Anne – here’s a map), “Beyond Borders: An Evening of Film.” Also featured, Stir It Up Productions, also with a documentary in progress, “Oil and Water.” More details in their full media announcement.

‘The Rehearsal Room’ opens at Chief Sealth IHS May 11th

WSB — Tue, 01 May 2012 04:39:02 +0000

That promotional video features quick clips from rehearsals for “The Rehearsal Room,” which opens May 11th for a three-show run at Chief Sealth International High School. The video is courtesy of CSIHS parent Laura Martin, as is this announcement:

Chief Sealth International High School Performing Arts is proudly staging our first musical drama since moving back to our beautifully remodeled performing arts auditorium! A cast of 21 student performers, 3 student musicians, (and several Sealth teachers in cameo roles) are in rehearsals for our musical “The Rehearsal Room.” Art imitates life in this original story about high school students trying to resurrect their school’s drama program. You’ll love the music, which features great hits from the 60’s, 70’s, 80’, 90’s and today.

Our enthusiastic cast includes a wonderfully diverse group of students from all grades, and we truly hope that all of our West Seattle neighbors will mark your calendars and attend one of our performances! Our showtimes are Fri 5-11 at 7:30 pm, Sat 5-12 at 7:30 pm, and a special Mother’s Day Matinee Sun 5-13 at 2:00 pm, with free flowers and chocolate for all moms attending this performance!

Reservations/advance tickets ($8 adults/$4 students) are available online by going here. Laura also invites supporters to “make a donation and be featured as a sponsor in our program”; you can reach her for details via sealthdramatix@gmail.com.

‘Bye Bye Birdie’ opens @ West Seattle HS May 10; benefit May 12

WSB — Tue, 01 May 2012 04:36:37 +0000

It’s spring musical season at West Seattle High School, and the WSHS Drama Club and Music Department invite you to come see “Bye Bye Birdie,” opening May 10th for six performances – 7:30 pm that night plus May 11th, 16th, 17th, 18th, and an 8 pm event on May 12th including a pre-func that’s a special benefit for the arts programs at Westside. The synopsis:

‘Bye Bye Birdie’ is one of the most captivating musical shows of our time. It is a satire done with the fondest affection, and tells the story of a rock and roll singer who is about to be inducted into the army. An English Teacher, What Did I Ever See in Him?, Put on a Happy Face, One Boy, A Lot of Livin’ to Do, Kids, Rosie and Spanish Rose are musical theatre classics. This is the tops in imagination and good old-fashioned fun.

For the five regular performances, tickets are $7 with a reservation (call 206-252-8834 or e-mail reservations@westsidedrama.com), $12/door. For the May 12th benefit – which includes a pre-show arts display, appetizers, and beverages at the St. John’s church hall next door – it’s $25 in advance, and no guarantee of space at the door, so get the specifics here.

West Seattle Sunday: Save the planet; help the animals; more!

WSB — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 16:19:36 +0000

(From the WSB Flickr group pool, red flowering currant at Greg Davis Park, by “old desolate“)
From the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar:

DON’T GET RID OF IT, RECYCLE IT: As noted here earlier this morning, 1 Green Planet‘s trucks are at Fauntleroy Church‘s lot till 3 pm – here’s what you can and can’t drop off for FREE recycling.

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm as always – with this week’s highlights listed as “Rhubarb! Green Garlic! Asparagus! Local Wheat! … CommuniTea Kombucha will be sampling in their booth this weekend only!” 44th/Alaska in The Junction.

SUNDAY JAZZ BRUNCH: Newly renamed La Romanza Bistro Italiano (WSB sponsor) in The Junction, 4521 California SW, will serenade you during brunch, which is served 10:30 am-4 pm on Sundays (menu here).

PLAYDATE FOR K-5 STEM AT BOREN FAMILIES (AND PROSPECTIVE FAMILIES): Noon today outside Fauntleroy Children’s Center (north side of the Schoolhouse at 9131 California SW) – even if you haven’t committed yet (enrollment is still open), come meet other families; here’s the calendar listing.

CATSINO! 2-6 pm today, West Seattle animal advocates invite you to join them at Beveridge Place Pub (6451 California SW) with a fun crowd gathered for a silent auction, hors d’oeuvres, and recreational Vegas-style games to help animals via these 4 organizations, as described in the event announcement:

Furry Faces Foundation (helping financially restricted folks with medical and basic care for their pets)
A.A.R.F. (rescues dogs, many of who are in dire straits)
Purrfect Pals (Cat rescue and sanctuary)
Regional Animal Services of King County (King County’s shelter, which takes in all species of animals)

$25 at the door also gets you a drink ticket and a chance at door prizes.

SEAL SITTERS BOOK: Brenda Peterson and Robin Lindsey from West Seattle-based Seal Sitters have co-authored a children’s book about two seals that visited WS, “Leopard and Silkie,” and will be at a 2 pm reading today at Elliott Bay Books (details and map here).

MUSIC AND THEATER: 3-5 pm, Bobby Woods performs at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 5612 California SW … 3 pm is also the start of today’s matinee of “Exit, Pursued by a Bear” at ArtsWest Playhouse, 4711 California SW (click their name to see their newly revamped website) … And 3 pm is also the start time for all-ages live music at Skylark Café and Club, 3803 Delridge Way SW, with Tuktu and Bobby Heinson.

West Seattle schools: Sealth jazz success in New Orleans

WSB — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 10:05:29 +0000

Jazz musicians from Chief Sealth International High School are in the Birthplace of Jazz this weekend, on the road and on a roll, according to this update from their director Marcus Pimpleton:

Congratulations are in order for the students of the Chief Sealth International Jazz Ensemble I on their outstanding performance at the Worldstrides Heritage Jazz Festival in New Orleans, LA this afternoon. The jazz ensemble received a rating of gold and trumpet player Cameron Nakatani received a Maestro Award for outstanding solo from the three-judge panel that included professors from Arizona State University, Tulane, and Loyola. The students are on the second day of a five-day trip. Tomorrow will include a Gospel Brunch at the House of Blues, followed by a full day at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. On Monday, the students will receive a clinic from the jazz-studies professor at Loyola University before heading home Tuesday night.

What you’ll hear at West Seattle Community Orchestras’ May concerts

WSB — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 04:23:05 +0000

Tonight we have details of the West Seattle Community Orchestras‘ upcoming concerts – first noted here in our coverage of the WSCO gala last month. Their official announcement, out of the WSB inbox tonight:

May 8: Stepping into Spring featuring the WSCO Debut and Intermediate Orchestras, 6:30 pm, Chief Sealth International High School.

A multifaceted show highlighting our youngest players just beginning to adults taking up instruments for the first time or after an extended absence. We are so proud of these musicians’ growth and improvement. The Debut Orchestra will show off their new skills in Sword Dance, a march and “Ode to Joy” featured in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. The Intermediate Orchestra will shine through “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Stars and Stripes Forever.” Together, both groups will add sparkle to the night with an enthusiastic rendition of the “Can Can.” Also on the program will be a very special performance of the WSCO Trombone Quartet, performing “A Song for Japan,” a gorgeous piece written to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the 2011 tsunami.

May 15: Classic to Contemporary with the Symphony Orchestra, 7:00 pm, Chief Sealth International High School

Classics, contemporary works and a world premiere – a full night of symphonic music awaits. Our Symphony Orchestra, with 50 + members, will play Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony’s gorgeous second movement, Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess”, Copland’s “Hoe-Down” and Stravinsky’s “Danse Infernale” – the Firebird Suite. Two debut works will round out the program including “A Song for Japan” featuring the WSCO Trombone Quartet and “Fantasies and Fugues” composed by the Symphony’s conductor and West Seattle resident, Rob Duisberg, Ph.D.

Admission to both concerts is free, donations welcome at the door. West Seattle Community Orchestra’s vision is to inspire an enjoyment of music-making through instruction and mentoring in mixed age ensembles culminating in quality group performances. Participation in the West Seattle Community Orchestras is offered free of charge to all students K-12.

For more information on WSCO: www.wscorchestras.org

West Seattle schools: Lafayette contingent onstage at ACT today

WSB — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 02:24:31 +0000

Thanks to Luckie for the photo and report:

Today Lafayette Elementary second-grade teacher Dano Beal led a workshop for educators at the Washington State Theatre in Our Schools conference at ACT Theatre, presented by the American Alliance for Theatre and Education. Dano gave an example of how to incorporate theater into teaching history, using creative theater games and techniques.

Several weeks ago, each student in his class was assigned the identity of an actual passenger on the Titanic. After researching the person, each student then created a character based on the historical figure and wrote and performed a first-person monologue describing their character’s connection to and experiences aboard the Titanic. To help demonstrate the assignment for the conference participants, students (l-r) Cashen Tomlinson, Claire Ellerbrook, Tennessee Herrin, and Cosmo Davis performed their classroom monologues onstage at ACT.

West Seattle music: Black Bangs rock Feedback Lounge birthday

WSB — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 06:46:19 +0000

As part of its weeklong 3rd-anniversary celebration, Morgan Junction’s rock-n-roll Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) welcomed a band tonight that, well, wasn’t just another band – it’s led by The Feedback’s general manager, Bradi Jones. Just after 9 tonight, she and her fellow Black Bangs took the stage by storm:

Tomorrow (Saturday) night at 9, you’re invited to more live music at The Feedback – a daylong video shoot by Van Eps wraps with a live performance for which they’d love to have a live audience on camera, per the FL website. But live music is only a small part of what they’re about – they’re renowned for co-owner Matt Johnson‘s cocktail creations:

See the menu here (and join the Cocktail Club here). And then there’s the food … Just stop reading and go. Happy birthday week, Feedback!

West Seattle schools: New ‘inspirational video’ from Denny crew

WSB — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 02:42:44 +0000

Next week, Denny International Middle School students have a round of testing called the Measurement of Student Progress. To spur them to success – besides all the traditional methods – the Denny faculty, with the help of volunteer filmmaker Will Braden, has made another in their series of what principal Jeff Clark calls “inspirational videos.” This one is “MSP in the Morning,” a take-off on T-Pain‘s “5 O’Clock.” The original Denny video hit was “Teach Me How to Study” (51,700+ views on YouTube!), featured on WSB (and even on KING 5!) back in winter 2011, followed in May 2011 by “The Test Goes On” (which like the new video preceded the MSP). Denny’s principal explains about “MSP in the Morning,” “We know our scholars are brilliant and college-bound—staff made this video to motivate, entertain, and connect with them. A special thank you to Denny teacher Gary Lai, and Will Braden, our volunteer producer!”