West Seattle, Washington
02 Wednesday
Big crowd inside and outside West Seattle’s Easy Street Records tonight for Star Anna and The Laughing Dogs, performing live to celebrate the release of their new album “Alone in This Together.” We’re told Star Anna lives here now, as do some of her bandmates. Even from the street, though, as this clip tweeted by @darrenkwalsh shows, they sounded great. If you missed the Easy Street show, the band’s website says they’re live downtown at noon tomorrow (like tonight’s Easy Street show, free) – AND later this summer, you’ll see them again in West Seattle during Summer Concerts at Hiawatha (co-sponsored by WSB) series, as the grand-finale act on September 1st.
9:49 PM: Thanks to Colby for sharing a ground-level photo:
EDITOR’S NOTE: Belly dancers delighted West Seattle Summer Fest crowds last weekend and will welcome you to the annual Mediterranean Fantasy Festival in the park around Hiawatha Community Center next Saturday and Sunday (July 16-17), plus they have a monthly showcase at Skylark Café and Club. With all that, we sent WSB contributor Keri DeTore out in search of the people behind West Seattle’s belly-dancing mecca status.
By Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
If you’re interested in watching a belly-dance performance, or taking classes, you might be surprised to find that you need look no further than right down the street.
Our own West Seattle and White Center neighborhoods boast a large community of belly dancers who perform and teach classes locally. In fact, when local belly dancer and costume designer Dina Lydia> was asked for an interview for this WSB story, she quickly gathered three other dancers for what became something of a panel discussion regarding our local community of dancers, its history and opportunities for involvement.
Joining Dina Lydia were Adriene Rice and Julia Demarest of Troupe Hipnotica and Imei, who performs solo.
Alki Arts owner Diane Venti, right, is celebrating her gallery’s 1st anniversary on into tonight – violinist Geoffrey Castle was scheduled to perform starting at 7. In our photo above, Diane is with nearby residents Celest and Karen, who made the first purchase of the day. The gallery’s featured artists today are Karen Dedrickson and John Constantine:
Alki Arts serves as more than a gallery – Diane also has opened it up for community events, from parenting workshops to parties to even a future-of-journalism discussion. It’s at 2820 Alki SW, online at alkiarts.com and on Facebook here (where the party invite says tonight’s festivities continue till 10).
At the West Seattle Summer Fest information booth, besides “where’s the stage?” “when’s (fill in the band name)?” and “anybody here selling strawberry shortcake?” frequent questions include the dates of other upcoming major summer events. So, a couple quick notes tonight on three of the biggest events ahead (all of which we are co-sponsoring):
WEST SEATTLE OUTDOOR MOVIES START ONE WEEK FROM TONIGHT: Next Saturday (July 16th), get to the Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) courtyard early and stake out your spot for the season’s first of six West Seattle Outdoor Movies, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (trailer above). Each movie screens at dusk and will have preshow entertainment this year (find the schedule here). Free, but bring a few bucks for concessions and raffles that raise money for local nonprofits.
WEST SEATTLE GRAND PARADE, TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY: 11 am Saturday, July 23rd, the big parade coordinated by American Legion Post 160 rolls down California from Lander to Edmunds, with floats, bands, community entries, motorcycles, and more – including traditional favorites like the Seafair Pirates and All-City Band, and there’s always something/someone new. The parade’s online at thewestseattleparade.com and on Facebook here.
ALKI ART FAIR, TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY/TOMORROW: Also on July 23rd, plus July 24th, this year’s Alki Art Fair at the beach. WSB is a co-sponsor for the first time, and while you’ll see a longer preview here in the next day or so, there’s advance word on the Art Fair website now – including the Alki Bathhouse centennial celebration, and music on two stages!
Video, photos, and reporting by Christopher Boffoli
For West Seattle Blog
Brenda Scallon is a little more than one week away from the first show for her mobile Airstream-trailer art gallery.
Scallon is a 26-year resident of West Seattle who formerly co-owned the Black Lab and Parlour gallery in Ballard.
She’s also a musician with the band Daughters of Joy. Brenda, her husband and children, live at 3815 46th Ave SW, and in this case, the specific address matters, since that’s where her trailer/gallery’s first show will be.
First, the backstory: A couple years ago she got the idea to do a mobile gallery in an Airstream trailer. She started looking around and ultimately found a 1974 Airstream in Lake Stevens for $5,000. She has been renovating bit by bit since she brought it home.
Airstream trailers, first produced in the 1930s, continue to have something of a cult following in the US. They’re desired for their classic retro, riveted aluminum design.
Scallon’s Airstream has required quite a bit of work.
She has had to seal up leaks, replace flooring and paint some of the interior surfaces. There were also a few dents to bang out, some of which occurred in her driveway when a neighbor’s tree fell on the trailer in a windstorm. Scallon has added some modern electrical components but has kept the ’70s-era sound system, which includes an 8-track tape player.
Unlike most art galleries, the trailer is not exactly spacious. So Scallon plans to put up various tents around the trailer to expand the gallery space. She is planning to do quarterly shows in various locations. The first show and open house, featuring artists Michael O’Driscoll (), E. Grace Dager, Band of Toy, and Scallon’s own art, will be on Friday, July 15th, 7-10 pm, at 3815 46th Ave SW.
Scallon is inviting local artists to contact her if they want to participate in future shows. She can be contacted at: brenda@acaravan.com
(Fauntleroy ferry dock, fog, Vashon Island; WSB photo by Patrick Sand, added 8:39 am)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
TRAFFIC ALERT: Tonight’s the first of three nights for lane closures on the westbound Spokane Street Viaduct, as part of the widening project. The westbound right lane will be closed 11 pm-5 am. (Also note that the entire westbound stretch will be closed 11 pm-5 am three nights NEXT week, 7/12-7/14.)
UP EARLY? The Westside Professionals business-networking group would love to meet you this morning, 8 am, The Kenney.
APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED FOR NEW HOUSING COMMUNITY: Strength of Place Village begins accepting rental applications today. This is a new low-income community in White Center at 14th Ave SW and 100th Ave SW, currently under construction. Sit down with a management rep to fill out an application for housing & ask questions. Child care, light refreshments and interpretation in Spanish, Vietnamese & Somali will be available, according to the announcement. Come to the YWCA Learning Center at Greenbridge (9720 8th SW), 3 pm – 7 pm. Download application here
SEE THE RIVER: The 2011 Summer Community Kayak Tour series by Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition starts tonight, 5:30-8:30pm: RSVP to Alki Kayak Tours (206) 953-0237. Tours cost $45 per person, we also ask for a $5 donation per person to DRCC/TAG to support our educational programs. All equipment, instructions, and guiding are provided. Children under 18 must be accompanied by parent/guardian. Some scholarship funding is available for Duwamish community members; please contact DRCC/TAG for more information. Meet at Terminal 107 Park in West Seattle (4700 West Marginal Way SW). More info
DANCE!: Dance Time with Lauren Petrie (at Bridge Park, which is at 3204 SW Morgan), 1st Wednesday of the month, 7 pm – 9 pm. Tonight’s theme: Summertime.
(added) REALITY SHOW VIEWING PARTY: At Beveridge Place Pub at 6:30 pm tonight, Ian Sutton and friends plan to gather to watch an episode of the reality-show “Bath Crashers,” featuring his firm Green Home Contractors working on a North Seattle bathroom remodel. (If you can’t make the party, the show’s at 7 on the DIY Network.)
Thanks to Nick for sharing the link to this newly released video by the duo Cause and Effect. Not only did we like the song (“Happiness Is Alien”), having a personal fondness for synthpop, but it’s cool to see the West Seattle backdrops that dominate the video (after the first minute or so). The scenery is what won the recommendation from Nick, who says C&E’s Rob Rowe lives here. The song is from their new multisong release “Artificial Construct II,” available July 26th.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Recycling is bigger than ever at West Seattle Summer Fest this year.
Not just because the festival zone in The Junction this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday will be aiming for Zero Waste … nor is it just because sustainability is in the spotlight in the GreenLife area again this year.
Recycling will also happen in the form of interactive art, via a first-time feature called Hack-cycle – which you could say puts the “cycle” in “recycling.”
“We’ll have equipment for people to dissemble and reconfigure bikes,” explains Rusty Oliver (right), a metalwork artist and instructor who’s based in South Park. But there’s a lot more to it than that.
If you know Rusty’s work, we have to say, it’ll be tamer than a lot of what he’s known for, such as art with flames:
However Hack-cycle plays out, consider it your introduction to metal art – just bring a bike, not part of a bike, but a bike you’re willing to, well, reconfigure, as part of what might be Summer Fest’s most memorable interactive activity yet … human-powered, in multiple ways.
(Photos by Michael Brunk, courtesy ArtsWest)
If you’re used to the monthly “Rocky Horror Picture Show” screenings at Admiral Theater – or past experiences – a few things you need to know about “The Rocky Horror Show Live,” opening July 13th at ArtsWest in The Junction. Do NOT bring toast, or rice, or any of the other routinely thrown items. Why? Explained here. However, the ArtsWest notes say, verbal audience participation IS welcome. So you don’t have to be as sweet and innocent as Brad and Janet…
… but do keep in mind, this is a production of the Summer Musical Theater Apprenticeship Program at ArtsWest, and not recommended for those under 16. Our reminder of the upcoming “Rocky Horror” run landed in the inbox Sunday night courtesy of cast member Tyler Webster, who has praise for everyone in what Tyler calls “an amazing cast” and adds, ” All of us are dedicated to this performance and have been balancing school, work, and multiple other commitments.” So show ’em some love – showtimes are 7:30 pm Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays from July 13th through July 23rd, with added 11 pm shows on Fridays and Saturdays. Tickets are available online right now – go here. (Theatergoers under 25 pay only $10!)
(Photos by Ellen Cedergreen for WSB)
Since our report of two “open” dates for West Seattle’s celebrated Walker Rock Garden revived questions about its status and fate since it went up for sale earlier this year, we asked WSB contributor Ellen Cedergreen to check out Friday’s two-hour “open” window. She talked there with its listing agent Brad Cooper, but he would not comment on its status, whether it’s been sold, is still for sale, etc. The sale listing for the 12,700-square-foot site still has the notation “pending feasibility.”
Cooper did say that the current overgrowth visible in some areas of the rock garden is about to be cleaned up for a magazine shoot.
The next listed public “open” date is 9:30 am-10:30 am on July 16th (5407 37th SW); watch walkerrockgarden.net for other dates (and we will too – whenever we find them in advance, we’ll add them to the WSB West Seattle Events calendar.).
If you’re in The Junction around 7 pm tonight, be on the lookout for a parade. WSB contributor Katie Meyer reports that A Terrible Beauty‘s new West Seattle location is celebrating its official grand opening (though it’s been open since Tuesday) with a pipes-and-drums parade – the firefighter groups from Seattle and the Eastside will start at Alaska/California and march down the block to the new restaurant/pub, where the Irish flag will be planted. Spectators welcome!
(Walker Rock Garden photo courtesy Lita Gill)
Five months ago, the home whose site includes the Walker Rock Garden – a quirky labor of love – was put up for sale. Rather quickly, its listing showed a pending deal … but so far, there is no indication that has closed (the notation remains “pending feasibility“), and for those who have wanted advance notice of chances to see the rock garden, in case its days are numbered, here it is: From time to time we have checked its website, and just happened to find it has two tour dates listed: July 1st (this Friday), 10 am-noon, and July 16th, 9:30-10:30 am. The website also promises “more times to be announced.” (Our previous inquiries asking its owners and realtor for a status update have gone unanswered so far, but we keep trying.) The Walker Rock Garden is at 5407 37th SW; read its backstory here.
As popular as the Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series (presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association, with co-sponsors including WSB) has been, many have wished for dinner options, so you don’t have to haul in your picnic for the outdoor series. Today, there’s word there will be something new this year – the Beloved Mexico food truck, which has been a fixture at the West Seattle Produce lot along Fauntleroy Way, will be there, according to ANA president Katy Walum. Definitely for the five shows that will be at Hiawatha, and they’ll also try to be at the one show set for Alki (August 11), she says. Also booked again this year: The Full Tilt Ice Cream bicycle-pulled cart with ice-cream bars, for all shows. Missed the announcement of the Admiral concert lineup? Check it out here; six Thursday nights, starting July 28th, free, all ages welcome, BYO chairs/blankets!
During open-mike time at Skylark Café and Club tomorrow (Wednesday) night, around 9 pm, Jason Brunet plans to rap. And, he says, an ABC News TV crew will be there to record him, so perhaps you’d like to be there for the crowd cutaways. Jason has gained media attention lately for an unusual reason: His mom is a “hoarder,” and his family was featured on the reality-TV show “Hoarders.” He also was recently on NBC‘s “Today” (here’s the video clip). Now, he says, ABC’s “20/20” is doing a segment about the children of hoarders, and wants to include video of him performing, so he’s hoping to have a TV-worthy audience at Skylark tomorrow (3803 Delridge Way SW). You can check out his music, by the way, at threeninjas.net.
That’s our video of the All-City Band at the end of last year’s West Seattle American Legion Post 160 Grand Parade, and you’ll see them again in this year’s parade, coming up Saturday, July 23rd. Two weeks after that, the famed band – led by West Seattle’s own Marcus Pimpleton – will celebrate its 60th anniversary. For the occasion, they’re planning a banquet/auction on August 5 – also here in West Seattle, with tickets are on sale now – and they’re looking for past participants to join an alumni band. From the Friends of All-City Band, this news release:
School’s out for summer, and the Seattle All-City Band begins rehearsals this week in preparation of a summer full of performances in Seafair parades and community celebrations throughout the region. This summer, however, is quite special to the band’s over 120 students, volunteer staff members, and supportive parent base; this marks the 60th edition of the All-City Band program.
Don’t let your young musician fall out of practice over the summer. Toni Reineke sends word there’s still room in this program (she shared the photo, too):
It’s still not too late to sign up for Summer Music at West Seattle High School! We are nearing our capacity of 60 students, but still have room for a few more.
In its 58th year, it’s taught by Seattle Public Schools music teachers and is for students who just finished 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th or 8th grades (other grades by permission).
Designed for students grades 4-8 (student must have completed at least one year of instrumental instruction)
Students who attend Seattle Public Schools as well as private schools are welcome!
Band, strings, jazz band, solos, ensembles, improvisation — and more!
Daily field recesses!
Concerts every Friday at 11:00 a.m.
Weekdays, June 27 – July 15 (except July Fourth), 9:00 to noon.For more info, please call the Fine and Performing Arts Department at 206-252-0051 or 252-0050, or contact Toni Reineke, Head Teacher, at 206-243-6955 or tonireineke@comcast.net
(WSB photo of Danny Vernon’s Illusion of Elvis at The Mount, summer 2010)
Tons of tunes in the works for West Seattle outdoor-concert fans. West Seattle Summer Fest is up first (haven’t seen the lineup yet? here it is) – then there’s the Hi-Yu Concert in the Park with the West Seattle Big Band on July 19 – the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha start July 28th – and today we have the lineup for this year’s outdoor-concert series at Providence Mount St. Vincent (4831 35th SW):
August 5th-The Haggis Brothers “Rockin’, swingin’ fiddle driven string band”
August 12th-The Illusion of Elvis by Danny Vernon. Classic car show this night, too!
August 19th-Cheryl Serio “Vintage jazz, pop and cabaret”
August 26th-Selam Band “World music”(Each event runs) 5:00 to 7:30 pm – Live music from 6:00 to 7:30 pm
The music is free, as are snow cones and popcorn, and special kids’ activities; bring your own blanket/chair; dinner and beverages (beer/wine available) can be purchased. The Mount has a special-events hotline for questions – (206) 937-3701, ext. 28652.
(WSB photos by Torin Record-Sand)
Thanks to Mark for an early pic of the Art Car roadshow, fresh off the Fremont Fair, now set up in the Feedback Lounge/Zeeks Pizza parking-lot area at California/Fauntleroy – we’re on our way for more photos. Free, fun, family-friendly (and, as Feedback proprietor Jeff Gilbert pointed out in his online preview – they all actually run!).
(Find out more about that one, created by Emily Duffy, at braball.com)
ADDED 9:23 PM: New photos, including at the very top. Here’s one with a message everyone can appreciate:
That’s from the Rev. Bill’s Bible Camp car, created by Charles Linville of Portland. More ahead:Read More
Worried you won’t make it to the Fremont Fair because of this weekend’s predicted traffic craziness? Here’s just one more reason you don’t even need to think about leaving West Seattle: The “Art Car” roadshow – which will spend most of the weekend in Fremont – is headed to West Seattle on Sunday night, according to Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) proprietor Jeff Gilbert. He shared the top photo of the “Chewbaru” – which Jeff explains as being “covered in dentures, empty tubes of toothpaste and toothbrushes. … All told, there are between 30 and 40 art cars with mind-boggling cars showing up in the Feedback Lounge/Zeeks Pizza parking lot this Sunday, June 19th. … A pretty cool Father’s Day activity that everyone can enjoy. This event is free, kid and camera-friendly. Rain or shine, though I hope if it does rain it won’t foam up any of that guy’s toothpaste!” (That’s the northwest corner of Fauntleroy/California, if you don’t often get to Morgan Junction.)
(WSB video of Massy Ferguson at Summer Fest 2010; they’re back this year)
It’s the biggest question we’ve heard asked in anticipation of West Seattle Summer Fest (coming up July 8-9-10, with WSB among the co-sponsors) – who’s playing? (Besides the Fastbacks reunion announced last month.) Finally, the music lineup is live on the Summer Fest website. See it here with full details on dates/times! Or, for a quick glance at the list of performers, click ahead:Read More
Two more local schools are getting much-needed new musical instruments, thanks to donations from the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, whose donation to Denny International Middle School and Chief Sealth International High School was reported here earlier this week. Daniel Rossi teaches instrumental music to students at six area elementary schools, including Highland Park and Concord International, which he says are also getting grants from the foundation: 20 flutes, clarinets, violins, violas, trumpets, and trombones for Highland Park, to “begin to build a collection of instruments for students to use,” and 13 flutes, trombones, and cellos for Concord, “to supplement our inventory.”
Still have the Broadway bug after Sunday’s Tony Awards? You can check out the Broadway Bound production of “13, the Musical” this weekend at ACT Theatre downtown.
It stars a West Seattle teenager – Adam Westerman, who’s previously appeared at Book-It, Stone Soup Theater, Drama Dock on Vashon, and Broadway Bound. Proud mom Eddie Westerman tells WSB that Adam is the only West Seattleite in the cast of the show, which she explains “is the only show that was on Broadway starring a cast of teenagers only. … (It’s) a story about a boy who moves from New York City to a town in rural Indiana right before he turns 13. He has to start over negotiating middle school and friends, and he learns some very valuable lessons along the way.” Broadway Bound is presenting “13, the Musical” five times this weekend, 7 pm Friday, 2 pm and 7 pm Saturday, noon and 5 pm Sunday. Tickets are online here – and Eddie says you can e-mail her for a code to get a $2 discount (ewesterman@washingtonea.org).
(Photos courtesy Denny/Sealth music programs)
The “Happiest Place on Earth” must have been the “Most Melodic Place on Earth” last weekend – and student musicians from Denny International Middle School and Chief Sealth International High School were part of it. Denny’s principal Jeff Clark forwarded this detailed report about their big trip to Southern California:
Congratulations are in order for the students of the Chief Sealth International High School Concert- Marching Band and Sealth Jazz II as well as the Denny International Middle School Marching Band, Jazz Band, and Orchestra, who traveled to Anaheim, California, this past weekend to participate in the Disney Magic Music Days and Music in the Parks Festivals.
At the Saturday Music in the Parks competition, the Sealth Concert Band earned a rating of Superior, the highest rating possible, and the 1st place trophy in the high school band AA division. The band had perfect scores in rhythm and technique and a near-perfect score in tone quality. One judge commented, “Fine reputation of school and community.” The Denny String Orchestra, Denny Marching Band, and Denny jazz ensembles earned ratings of Excellent, as well as the 1st place trophies in their respective divisions.
On Sunday morning, the Denny Orchestra participated in a Soundtrack recording session at the Disney Magic Music Days sound studio in which they recorded music to Disney animation. Still later day the Denny marching band kicked off the afternoon Disney Main St. Parade with a pre-parade march through the park, followed by Sealth being similarly honored as the featured band for kicking off the evening Main Street Parade.
Read on as the report continues – and you’ll also find out about instrument donations for the student musicians:Read More
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