West Seattle, Washington
26 Saturday
(Photos courtesy Cookie Couture, who’s in the foreground above)
By Anne Higuera
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Cookie Couture, founder and hostess of the longest-running drag show in West Seattle, is being bid a fond adieu this Saturday, in what will be her last show — “for a while.” What will happen to the show? Where-oh-where is Cookie Couture headed next? What about her Belle of the Balls bingo night, which she has also hosted to the delight of Skylark crowds? Will the Westside still be the Best Side without Cookie Couture on stage? We asked her to dish on all the deets.
First, she confirmed the West End Girls show will continue with hostess Fraya Love through June. The show, often billed as “A Drag Extravaganza,” has been a monthly staple at The Skylark for more than 8 years, and as Cookie Couture – a West Seattle resident – recalls, “I reached out to them on a whim … I was tired of having to go over to Capitol Hill every time I got booked for a show. At the time, not a lot of LGBTQ stuff was happening in this neck of the woods. I had no expectations of what it was going to be like.” The first show sold out and the momentum never stopped.
West End Girls will at minimum take a hiatus over the summer when Jizzuhbelle Johnson‘s Kenyon Hall Cabaret drag show will take over the Skylark stage during the months when their home stage at Kenyon Hall will be undergoing renovations. The longer-term plan is still up in the air because of the Skylark’s location in the planned path of light rail, but Cookie Couture says she’ll be doing what she can behind the scenes, “…making sure they will continue and thrive regardless of whether I’m involved.”
The Belle of the Balls Bingo night will also continue, with Kimme Kash joining a second host Tuesday nights at 7 pm. Cookie Couture hosted her final bingo night on Tuesday of this week. She recalls collaborating with the Skylark’s bartender Sara when the venue reopened after the pandemic. “We went from 2-3 people [when we started] to [this] Tuesday night, when there was nowhere to sit.”
As Cookie Couture steps away from the show she created, she is celebrating 10 years as a performer, and a drag presence that’s spanned not just her work in West Seattle, but locations citywide where she either performed or produced shows, from Pony on Capitol Hill to “RuPaul’s Drag Race” viewing parties and library story hours for kids to countless appearances for Pride events.
(Cookie and friends from the first West End Girls night in 2017)
That first West End Girls show is still one of her best memories. “The first one we did… I didn’t know what I was doing, A standard show has 5 or 6 performers, and we had 10 or 11. We all walked away with like $30.”
Since then, she’s honed her skills as a producer, and attracted a following that she hopes will continue to show up for the venue that has made it all possible. “I really want people to continue to support The Skylark during these weird uncertain times. There’s really nothing like it in West Seattle: punk rock one night, drag the next. It’s more important than ever to get queer art and things on the fringe out there. [There’s an effort] to minimize people like us and what we do. A “like” and a share online is amazing, but there’s nothing that’s more impactful than directly supporting the businesses.”
So where in the world is Cookie Couture going next? She admits her answer is purposely vague, but she dropped the hint that it does involve the aviation industry. “I’m taking my glamour all over the world in my new position,” she says, adding, very generically, “I’m taking some time off to explore some new opportunities.”
Those opportunities are likely to take her away temporarily, but after living in practically every neighborhood in Seattle, there’s no question where she’ll come back to. “West Seattle will always be home. Regardless if I’m gone for 6 months or 2 years, my heart and home will always be here in West Seattle.”
Cookie Couture is expecting to make appearances here and there in the coming months, particularly during Pride. She says her Instagram page at @cookiecouturequeen is where she’ll post updates. “At this point, I am scraping the bottom of my makeup kit,” she said, but, “Even though I’m putting the wig on the top shelf, it’s never too far out of reach.”
As of this writing “a few tickets” remain for Cookie Couture’s West End Girls “last show, for a while” at 8 pm Saturday (April 26), available here.
P.S. Thanks to the reader who tipped us about Cookie’s impending hiatus and suggested an interview!
(WSB photo taken this week)
Following up on our Friday report that artist Don Fels and the city Office of Arts and Culture had come to an impasse about whether the West Marginal Way bones-of-a-boat sculpture Paragon could be saved, the city’s advisory Public Art Advisory Committee just voted to “deaccession” it – which means basically disowning it so it can be removed. The city says it’s a risk of public safety because of deterioration; Fels says the deterioration is because the city neglected to maintain it. He worked for a year to gather volunteer support and donated materials but said the city wanted him to take on a liability level that he could not. Both he and city reps spoke at the committee meeting before the vote; the action still has to be finalized by the Seattle Arts Commission when it meets next month (the May 13 meeting is hybrid, 4 pm, with attendance info here). The committee’s recommendation today comes with a suggestion made by member Caitlin Truong, that Paragon’s legacy be honored, perhaps by documentation for the city’s archives, maybe even an interpretive plaque at the site. We’ll add more details to this report later.
(WSB photo taken this week)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Last July, we told you about an uncertain future for the Paragon, the giant wooden bones-of-a-boat sculpture installed more than 20 years ago at what’s now known as həʔapus Village Park and Shoreline Habitat (formerly T-107 Park; map) along West Marginal Way near the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse.
The Paragon’s artist, Don Fels, sounded the alarm at the time, asking for public support to help save the Paragon, which he declared was in “mortal danger” after deteriorating amid what he said was long-running city neglect. When last we updated, the artist had hope it would be saved.
We hadn’t checked in on the situation recently; then we heard from Fels this week. He wrote:
I am writing to tell you and your loyal readers that after a year of a great deal of effort on my part- and many others like the WSeattle Bloggers [WSB readers] and Nucor Steel – ARTS, the so-called ‘public art’ department of the City of Seattle, intend to ‘deaccession‘ the Paragon sculpture along the Duwamish, at their Public Art Committee meeting next week, April 22nd. I’m very sorry to have not provided you with a more timely notice of this, but I was not given such notice myself. This means that once the committee approves the deaccession, the next step will be for the City’s Seattle Arts Commission to formally agree to destroy the sculpture at their May 13 meeting and then begin taking it to the dump.
I am an experienced public artist, and someone who to date has had an excellent relationship with the City of Seattle arts people. But no matter what I tried to do over an entire year, I couldn’t get them to offer any assistance whatsoever to rebuild the wooden boat atop the sculpture. The final straw came when they sent me a multi-page contract to sign wherein the City laid out numerous requirements that I would have to meet in order to rebuild the sculpture, all with donated monies and services, and though unpaid, I would have to assume any and all liabilities, and indemnify the City against any damages. Several well-versed persons in the arts and the law strongly urged me not to sign. I did not.
I attach a letter here that I sent to Gülgün Kayim, the Director of ARTS, informing her of my decision. I believe it is important that interested people send letters to them as well. To be honest, I don’t expect that hearing from the public will change their mindset, or that of their legal dept, but they do need to know that people care about such insane policy decisions.
People who wish to write should do so to: al*******@*****le.gov
I am grateful from the bottom of my heart for the outpouring of appreciation for the sculpture, and only wish I had been successful in saving it.
Here’s the letter Fels sent to director Kayim. Toward the end, he suggests that what has gone awry here could happen to other city-owned public art (in which we all have an interest, given – among many other things – the public funding that goes into it):
… ARTS has forced a legacy, beloved sculpture to be scrapped and made necessary spending a large expenditure of public money to make that happen. That is a long way from not allowing the ARTS conservator to inspect and/or maintain the sculpture every so often. I cannot be expected to make up for what has ARTS failed to do. Nor can my actions undo what ARTS has caused to happen. That is not the role of the artist, nor should it ever be. Clearly, ARTS needs a robust maintenance budget for its large public art collection. And without it, other artworks in the City of Seattle’s collection will meet the same fate at the Paragon. …
We asked Office of Arts and Culture spokesperson Otts Bolisay about the situation; he confirmed that partial demolition is proposed and the next step is a meeting this Tuesday:
We’ve worked with Mr. Fels on this since last year and, unfortunately, are unable to come to an agreement. Since it’s still a safety risk, we are moving forward with deaccessioning Paragon.
We’ll present a proposal to the Public Art Advisory Committee (PAAC) on Tuesday, 4/22 to remove the hazardous parts of the sculpture. But we’ll keep the steel armature in place for one year should Mr. Fels change his mind about replacing Paragon himself.
If PAAC recommends to the Seattle Arts Commission (SAC) that Paragon should be deaccessioned, SAC will review and vote on it Tuesday, 5/13.
Both meetings are open to the public and we encourage you to attend.
The Tuesday meeting is at 9 am online, and the attendance info is here (we are requesting the agenda document); the May 13 meeting is hybrid, 4 pm, with attendance info here. You can see the “armature” to which Bolisay refers, in this old photo provided by the artist:
(Photo courtesy Don Fels)
Fels was told the Tuesday discussion is scheduled at 10:20 am, to last 40 minutes – broken down by the city as follows:
Public Art team to present deaccession recommendation (10 minutes)
Artist and community response (10 minutes)
PAAC member questions or comments (15 minutes)
PAAC motion for recommendation (5 minutes)
We are seeking information on the city’s budget for the planned demolition/removal work, as Fels contends in his letter, “Asserting that there are no funds to rebuild the sculpture, ARTS will spend an equivalent amount in removing it.”
See the sculpture’s background here.
Sound Transit‘s West Seattle Link Extension project still has a variety of uncertainties – awaiting the federal Record of Decision, for example (still projected around month’s end) – but there’s something new: Advance word of the call for station artists. We were asked to share this announcement:
STart: SOUND TRANSIT ART PROGRAM
FOR ARTISTS: LISTENING AND INFORMATION SESSIONS—PLANNING FOR ARTWORK IN THE WEST SEATTLE LINK EXTENSION PROJECTSDates and Locations
Wednesday, May 7, 6-7 pm, Seattle Public Library, Delridge Branch
Thursday, May 8, 6-7 pm, Seattle Public Library, High Point BranchRSVP by May 2, 2025
Please RSVP by emailing st***@**********it.org.Meeting Purpose
In the coming months, the Sound Transit Art Program (STart) will be hiring artists to create artwork for the future West Seattle light rail stations. STart wants to hear from West Seattleites about what is important to them in their neighborhoods while art projects are being developed. In addition, STart seeks to inform West Seattle artists about how they can apply for inclusion in an Artist Candidate Pool for art project consideration.
Listening and information sessions geared toward artists will be held in two West Seattle branches of the Seattle Public Library from 6-7 pm on Wednesday, May 7 (Delridge) and Thursday, May 8 (High Point). The conversation and content will be the same each evening, offering two opportunities for participation on different nights.
About the West Seattle Link Extension Artwork Opportunities
STart incorporates artwork in its stations and facilities to create welcoming spaces for passengers, and to contribute to the character of the communities connected with light rail. At these listening sessions, STart will describe what is known about the West Seattle Link Extension (WSLE) stations, and how artwork will play a key role in making its planned Alaska Junction, Avalon and Delridge Stations distinct and memorable. Hearing about the neighborhoods where the stations will be located is valuable to STart. The stations are currently in design and planned to be in service in 2032, connecting West Seattle with the existing Link 1 and 2 Lines. You can learn more here.
STart is working to identify locations for permanent integrated artwork and long-term rotating displays of temporary artwork. Due to the layout of the West Seattle stations, most of the opportunities will be for two-dimensional works that will be translated into a durable medium—such as cut metal, glass, porcelain enamel or mosaic—either fabricated by the artist or a third-party fabricator contracted by STart. This can be a chance for painters, photographers and printmakers to be part of the stations’ public art display. There may also be a few opportunities for works of sculpture to serve as station landmarks and draw passengers to entrances.
Artist Candidate Pool Application
STart will soon accept applications to create a pool of artist candidates for future commissioned permanent and temporary public art projects. Application materials will focus on artist’s past work, not on proposals.
This Artist Candidate Pool will be used to identify and review candidates for opportunities at the Alaska Junction, Avalon and Delridge Stations currently planned for the WSLE. Selected artists for the Artist Candidate Pool will not be under contract with Sound Transit and are not guaranteed a commissioned public art project but will be eligible as candidates until May 31, 2028. STart reserves the right to use the Artist Candidate Pool for additional art opportunities on other Sound Transit projects and to reopen the application process as needed to support additional development projects.
STart projects are developed to welcome passengers to our stations, help them find their way and relate the stations to their surrounding communities. Artists selected for STart opportunities should expect to adhere to those goals.
Questions? Please email any questions and/or interest in the Artist Candidate Pool to st***@**********it.org.
(WSB photos by Jason Grotelueschen)
Never a dull day at Easy Street Records in the heart of The Junction, but as previewed in our Saturday list, this one is really jumping – it’s Record Store Day, which offers special deals, treats, and sights. WSB contributing journalist Jason Grotelueschen sent a few scenes:
Making an appearance for just a few hours, that’s the legendary touring van used by The Melvins, featuring art by Kurt Cobain. Past the van and on down Alaska, people were still lined up as of about an hour ago:
Inside the shop, Easy Street proprietor Matt Vaughan is the busiest man in showbiz, with freebies as well as sales – he told us about 500 people were in line when the store opened at 7 am!
Vaughan said some of the hot albums of the day (all of which sold out quickly after the store opened) included Wicked: The Soundtrack (purchased by the first two people in line), Gracie Abrams, MJ Lenderman, Charli XCX/Billie Eilish, Oasis and The Cure.
The shelves continue yielding treasures, curated and restocked by staff including “Upstairs Andy” Nelson, Easy Street’s “vinyl czar:”
Outside, legendary Seattle music scene photographer Charles Peterson shared stories (of the early days of Mudhoney, Nirvana, Green River, Sub Pop Records etc) with a crew from Julien’s Auctions, as the van makes its last public appearance before it goes to auction in New York City in late May:
Easy Street is open into the evening – this year’s RSD show features SYML, already sold out, so if you see a crowd at the corner tonight, that’s what it’s all about.
NOON UPDATE: Still a good crowd of people waiting to get into the shop (the line is shorter than it was this morning, though – it stretches to the alley near Darby Winery) as of noon.
(WSB photos)
5:15 PM: It’s West Seattle Art Walk night in dozens of places around the peninsula, either hosting artist receptions or offering food/drink specials to people out enjoying art! Tonight’s biggest spotlight is shining on Alki Beach (and the sun is too, just as we arrived), where businesses have rejoined the Art Walk lineup for an incentive to invite people to the beach. Tonight five venues are participating, coordinated by the Alki Community Council, and they’re showing work by student artists from Alki Elementary. Above is from our first stop, Blue Moon Burgers; also participating at the beach tonight, West Seattle Arcade, Gary’s Place, Alki Hair Design, and the Log House Museum – our second stop:
You can see the list and map of tonight’s venues all over West Seattle here, and browse info about tonight’s artists and receptions – most of which are continuing until at least 8 pm – by going here.
6:10 PM: We stopped at the other Alki venues and discovered an adult artist at Gary’s Place:
Sibling West Seattle Arcade is featuring student art plus Naomi Benson‘s work:
And Alki Hair Design is also featuring the photography of Dené Miles:
Next month, after its late-April opening, Alki Coffee Company plans to join the Alki participants for Art Walk too.
Spring break is close, and summer vacation isn’t all that far away. Fun, creative camps and classes await students at West Seattle’s own Mode Music and Performing Arts:
2025 spring break camps in songwriting and play creation are available for K-5 – go here to sign up.
For K-8, MMPA’s 2025 summer camps will run from June 23rd through August 29th. This year we are offering our standard Monday thru Friday week-long camps, with morning and afternoon options. We are also offering new camps for 6-8th graders this year! Middle school campers will meet two days a week in the afternoon for 4 weeks. Find out more here.
Tiny Modes (0-4) classes are in a new session now too!
As always, our programming is pay-what-you-can. Please take advantage of our 100% scholarships!
MMPA is sibling to Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor), headquartered in North Delridge.
Less than four months until the 2025 Alki Art Fair! You can get in the spirit right now by dreaming up a design for the T-shirt contest announced this week:
Alki Art Fair is requesting artists to submit a design for the 2025 Alki Art Fair T-Shirt! The winning submission will receive a $200 award and recognition on the Alki Art Fair website. The design will be featured on the 2025 Alki Art Fair T-Shirt and may also be used for posters and other marketing materials for the fair.
Submissions should include the name “Alki Art Fair” somewhere in the design and reflect the mission of Alki Art Fair, which is to celebrate arts and music with the goal of advancing art education and appreciation by offering opportunities for community involvement and cultural diversity through art. Submissions must be family-friendly and appropriate for all Alki Art Fair attendees. The design must include 3 colors or less. The dates for this year’s fair are July 18-20.
Please submit your design as a high-resolution image or vector file no later than May 1st to in**@*********ir.org. Include your name and phone number and please specify if you are under the age of 18 and provide a parent or guardian contact name and phone number. Submissions are welcome from artists of all ages.
The winning submission will be chosen by the Alki Art Fair Board. The submissions will be reviewed on originality, composition and representation of the Alki Art Fair mission. Proceeds from the sale of the T-shirt will support Alki Art Fair.
Interested in entering? Find more info here!
In addition to what’s on our West Seattle list for today/tonight, here’s an event downtown with West Seattleites in the spotlight! From Heather Pilder Olson:
We wanted to let you know about a new TV pilot written and produced by West Seattle women! It’s called A Broad Abroad and it’s a comedy about the making of a travel show. It’s Rick Steves’ Europe meets Waiting for Guffman, with an irreverent female host.
A Broad Abroad is a broad comedy. Former A-list actress Vera takes a D-list job as a travel show host to resurrect her career after a public fall from grace. But while shooting the pilot in Italy, her irresponsible nepo-baby director is arrested, and Vera must step in to save the show, her job, and her budding romance with her cameraman.
Written and produced by Heather Pilder Olson, starring and produced by Angela DiMarco, two West Seattle women! Directed by Debra Pralle, this pilot was filmed in Italy in 2023 and has been making the rounds at film festivals in the US and abroad. Our dream is to turn it into an episodic TV series.
We have a special screening coming up at the Post Alley Film Festival in Seattle on March 29 (tonight). Hope you can join us for a good laugh! You can view the trailer here.
Screening and ticket information here: siff.net/cinema/in-theaters/post-alley-film-festival-x39141
The screening of “A Broad Abroad,” plus Q&A, is set for the end of the one-day festival, around 6:25 pm, at SIFF Film Center(167 Republican St., on the Seattle Center campus).
The West Seattle High School production of “Chicago,” which opened tonight, is so big, it has its own trailer video (watch it above)! And a triple-digit total of students and others involved. Here’s the overview:
Get ready to be razzle-dazzled as West Seattle High School proudly presents Chicago: High School Edition, bringing all the glitz, glamour, and intrigue of the legendary Broadway musical to the local stage! The production continues on March 28, 29, and April 2, 3, and 4 at the West Seattle High School Auditorium. Tickets here!
Set in the roaring 1920s, Chicago follows the story of Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, two fame-hungry women caught up in a whirlwind of crime, corruption, and showbiz. With iconic Kander & Ebb songs like All That Jazz, Cell Block Tango, and Razzle Dazzle, this thrilling production promises an unforgettable night of music, dance, and drama.
The cast, crew, and orchestra are fantastic this year and feature some very talented seniors, making this production especially meaningful. This production is one of the most ambitious and elaborate ever attempted by the high school. The set alone is a major achievement… but you have to come see it to appreciate it!
“This show is a celebration of all of our students’ hard work and artistic excellence,” said Daniel Wiener, the production’s director. “We’re thrilled to share their incredible performances with the community.”
Tickets are available at westsidedramatickets.ludus.com/index.php
Don’t miss your chance to experience this spectacular production and support the future stars of musical theater!
Along with director Wiener, the production also involves Band Director Ethan Thomas, Vocal Director Taylor Fritts, and Choreographer Sarah Brown (WSHS class of 2021), who produced the trailer. Curtain goes up at 7:30 pm. The theater is on the south side of the school, steps from the gym, at 3000 California SW.
As we cool down from a recordsetting warm day (73 degrees!) we have a truly cool invitation: The eighth-graders of Our Lady of Guadalupe hope to see you in the audience at their one-night-only performance of “Frozen” this Thursday:
On with the snow! Our OLG 8th graders are thrilled to invite you to their one-night only performance of Frozen! All friends, neighbors and community members welcome!
Where: Our Lady Of Guadalupe School (Walmesley Center & Gym) – located on the stage inside the gymnasium:
3401 SW Myrtle St (34th & SW Myrtle)When: Thursday, March 27th, 7:00 pm (doors open at 6:30 pm)
Show Run Time: approx 40 minutes
Cost: The event is free with a suggested donation of $1 per person. We are accepting donations to help us recoup our costs and to help build our volunteer parent, teacher and student-run program.
Concessions: Snacks and beverages will be available for purchase before and after the performance. Proceeds benefit our 8th grade musical program at Our Lady Of Guadalupe. No outside food or drink, please.
Please come check it out and support our West Seattle community. The show is one night only – don’t miss it!
On this first day of spring, another look ahead to summer – Admiral Music in the Parks will return for another year! You can help ensure the three-concert series has awesome music – here’s the announcement from coordinator Meagan Loftin:
The Admiral Neighborhood Association is excited to bring back AMP: Admiral Music in the Parks (formerly Summer Concerts at Hiawatha) for its 16th year! AMP is a beloved community event that brings neighbors and visitors of all ages out for three weeks of free family-friendly concerts in our beautiful city parks.
Mark your calendars for July 17th, 24th, and 31st and follow us on Instagram @admiralneighborhood for more details in the future.
Join us in creating the best and biggest year for AMP yet! Your support funds local musicians while also providing free community programming to everyone in our neighborhood.
AMPlify your summer and consider donating here today!
Last year’s biggest concert was the series finale, The Abbagraphs at Belvidere Park (WSB coverage here).
Siena Jeakle enjoys living in L.A., but says she’s a West Seattleite at heart. This Friday she’ll be performing close to home – at Seattle Center’s Vera Project (305 Harrison) as a part of LA-based puppet sketch comedy group Freak Nature Puppets, sharing the bill with musical artist Worn-Tin.
(Photo courtesy Siena Jeakle, above left with fellow members of Freak Nature Puppets)
Jeakle grew up in West Seattle, before moving after high school. She says she takes every chance to visit, and is excited to be back in Seattle on tour. “I love the people, I love the weather, I love the vibes. West Seattle is my Seattle,” she said.
We have featured Siena before on WSB for her podcast Tossed Popcorn, which she described as “A comedy podcast about classic movies.” She and co-host Lianna Holston won iHeart Radio’s ‘Next Great Podcast’ award in 2020. You can find links to the podcast here.
Jeakle describes the upcoming performance as an “interactive world of mischief and magic”: “Essentially, we make large DIY puppet creations and feature them in comedy sketches or concerts.”
While she’s here, Jeakle plans to show the rest of her bandmates around Alki Beach and Lincoln Park, which she visits whenever she’s in the area. “I need to prove to them the Pacific Northwest is the best place in the world,” she said.
The group has performed alongside musicians such as Childish Gambino and comedians such as Jack Black Their upcoming tour will take them from Costa Mesa to Seattle and Portland, and then back to Los Angeles. You can get tickets to the 7 pm Friday show in Seattle here.
(Photo courtesy Brenda Walden, who is at right above with artist Jamie Allaire and city rep Nathan, who installed the plaque)
By Hayden Yu Andersen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
A plaque put up this morning at the stairway on Admiral Way at 49th SW was the finishing touch for a weeks-long community mural project.
The stairway had only been complete for a few months before it was hit with graffiti vandalism, recalled area resident Brenda Walden. In response, Walden reached out to the City of Seattle with the idea to fight the vandalism with art. “Not only did I want to do something that celebrated the Alki community, I wanted it to be a welcome sign for folks who are coming into Alki,” which is just downhill from the mural site.
(WSB photo)
The mural, titled “Fun in the Sun at Alki,” blends more than a dozen colors in a portrait of Alki Beach with the mountains behind it and, of course, orcas. The design, created by local artist Jamie Allaire, was voted on by the community. The project was supported by the City of Seattle and A Cleaner Alki, the renowned volunteer group that aims to create a “cleaner, safer, more welcoming community in which to live.”
More than 30 volunteers showed up to help paint, some as young as four years old. “It was awesome to see such an incredible and positive response to the mural,” said Walden.
Allaire, a former teacher and set designer, said she drew on her experience to help direct the project and keep every volunteer engaged. “It was important to us that people of all skill levels and ages could contribute,” Allaire said. The mural was first sketched out in chalk, with sections labeled by numbers, corresponding to a color. Then, volunteers could fill in the blanks using the listed color, almost like a coloring book.
In the future, Walden and Allaire hope to paint the stairs themselves, allowing the mural to stretch all the way up the hill. According to Walden, they’re “just waiting for a dry day to do it.”
To prevent graffiti vandalism from damaging the mural, it has been given a special anti-graffiti coating, which allows paint to be safely cleaned off without harming the mural underneath. Walden and Allaire hope this will ensure the mural stays up for as long as possible, serving as both community artwork, and a visual welcome to people headed for the Alki area.
For more information about Jamie Allaire’s artwork, you can find her website here.
You can imagine that St. Patrick’s Day is busy for dancers from West Seattle-based Comerford School of Irish Dance. More than a dozen of the school’s students spent much of the day performing, including this stop this afternoon at the Center for Active Living in The Junction, where a standing-room-only crowd filled the upstairs hall:
The Comerford School’s Mike Nagan told the audience a bit about the school, which holds classes Tuesdays and Thursdays at the West Seattle VFW Hall in The Triangle (3601 SW Alaska).
Thanks to Steven Rice for the photo of the Space Needle hosting tonight’s GuideStar laser-art installation, as previewed here earlier this week. If you had trouble seeing it from this side of the bay, the photo may hint at a reason why – the light beams were slender. Converge Media streamed the show, including spoken word and music beneath the Needle – here’s the recording:
GuideStar was created by New York-based artists Mendi + Keith Obadike, commissioned by Seattle’s Wa Na Wari.
Looking ahead to this weekend, Holy Rosary Catholic Church will again be the setting for a one-of-a-kind concert, this time by the Northwest Symphony Orchestra, which has been sponsoring WSB this week to amplify the announcement. The orchestra, conducted by Anthony Spain, will be joined by singers on Saturday (March 15) to present “Music for the Soul,” a program of both instrumental and choral music that includes a world-premiere arrangement:
*Stabat Mater- Antonin Dvorak
With ChoralSounds Northwest
Soloists- Alexandra Picard, Rose Beattie, Brendan Tuohy, Charles Robert Stephens*Bogoroditse Devo (Hail Mary, Full of Grace)- Sergei Rachmaninoff – arranged for brass ensemble by Jon Boysen (world premiere)
*Du bist die Ruh- Franz Schubert
William Farmer, French Horn soloist
That’s just part of the program planned for the concert starting at 8 pm Saturday. Tickets are available online. The venue is at 42nd/Genesee.
5:20 PM: Two days after someone vandalized the sea-life mural on Alki Beach’s relatively new restroom building, artist Patrick “Dozfy” Nguyen was there restoring it today, as he told us he likely would do. The photos are courtesy of Alki resident Cami, who also shared her photo of the extensive damage shortly after it was done.
Dozfy painted the mural last June.
5:20 PM: Dozfy just sent post-restoration photos too, including this one showing two sides:
This Sunday, the Evergreen Ensemble brings their vocal artistry back to West Seattle, after sponsoring WSB this week to amplify the invitation to prospective concertgoers. They’re also offering a discount code that’ll get you 30 percent off the ticket price! Here’s the announcement:
Evergreen Ensemble Concert
REQUIEMMarch 9 – 3:00 pm, Holy Rosary Catholic Church (4139 42nd Ave SW)
evergreenensemble.com/requiemFor 30% off your ticket order, use the discount code REQUIEM30
Come hear Evergreen Ensemble’s final solo concert series of their 2024-2025 season; a stirring program that looks at the ways we confront death and tragedy through our music, and how despite the experiences of pain and despair, we can move forward with resiliency, grace, and hope.
The concert features two larger works for unaccompanied choir. Dale Trumbore‘s How to Go On was written following the death of a loved one for poet Barbara Crooker and asks, “How can we go on, knowing the end of the story?” The piece answers the question in eight movements that range from questioning and doubt, to introspection, and to an acceptance of mortality. Herbert Howells’ timeless Requiem was famously set aside after the untimely death of his 9-year-old son and was not performed for over 45 years before he was convinced to release it, at which point it quickly was recognized as one of the great choral masterpieces of the 20th century.
The program will close with a West-coast premiere of a beautiful piece titled Dawn by WA composer John Muehleisen, originally commissioned as a companion piece to the Howells. Finally, the concert will end with a beautiful set of African American Spirituals, which of course give us a message of struggle and perseverance from a group of people dealing with unspeakable worldly oppression, and who still call to us all to move forward in hope and love.
They hope the concert offers people some relief from any stress, anxiety, or grief they may be experiencing, and that they can look forward to at least an hour and a half with us where they can be in community and hear music that can soothe the soul and send them back into the world refreshed and hopeful!
For more information or to purchase tickets you can visit evergreenensemble.com/requiem or purchase your tickets at the door. For anyone ordering tickets in advance, you can use the discount code REQUIEM30 for 30% off your order!
You can learn more about the Evergreen Ensemble here.
An arts program serving two schools has just extended its fundraiser – here’s the donation invitation we were asked to share with you:
(Photo courtesy Jaeney Hoene)
Support Denny-Sealth Performing Arts!
We are inviting all community members to use the Snapraise links below to support the performing arts at Denny International Middle School and Chief Sealth International High School. Our amazing performing arts programs need your support to provide coaching, instruments, uniforms, maintenance and repair, and performance/competition opportunities for students.
We just passed the $10,000 mark with a goal of $15,000. Help us reach our goal!
Last day to contribute is Tuesday, March 11!
Denny International Middle School – https://raise.snap.app/donate/denny-middle-school-music-booster-2025
Chief Sealth IHS – https://raise.snap.app/donate/chief-sealth-intl-music-booster-2025
If you are a local business or community member wondering how you can support our programs directly, please contact DSPA co-chairs, Mary Wiener (ma***********@***oo.com) and Jaeney Hoene (ja****@**.com)
One week from today, Tibbetts United Methodist Church in West Seattle plans a tribute to the organist who’s been at their keyboard for 44 years – here’s the announcement, with some history:
(Photo courtesy John Van Lierop Jr.)
On Sunday, March 2, for the 10:00 am service, Tibbetts United Methodist Church, 3940 41st Ave SW, will honor John Van Lierop Jr’s 44 years of service as their organist. The church was not able to recognize John’s 40th year of service due to the Covid outbreak.
John started his organ playing in the church that his Father was minister of in Portland, Oregon, Hope Presbyterian Church, in the mid-’60s. His first official organ position was at Centenary-Wilbur Methodist Church in 1966 while he was a student at Lewis and Clark College in Portland. From there, John played the organ in churches in Spokane and Seattle, with his previous organist position prior to coming to Tibbetts being Mt. Baker Park Presbyterian Church in Seattle, where he served 7 years.
When John came to Tibbetts, the organ was a 2 Manuel Balcom & Vaughn pipe organ. Due to upkeep costs on that organ and other issues, Tibbetts decided to replace it with an electronic organ. After a successful fundraising campaign, a 3 Manuel Allen Digital Organ was purchased and installed in late 1989. The Dedication Recital was held in 1990, with John at the organ.
In addition to his usual organ playing in church and choir accompanying, John enjoys doing piano/organ duets during the church services. His piano partner is the talented Shirley Lindberg, who happens to be the director of the bell choirs at Tibbetts, in addition to directing the Bells of the Sound, a professional bell group based in Seattle. During these last 44 years at Tibbetts, John has worked under 7 ministers and 10 choir directors. He enjoys using the Tibbetts sanctuary with its 7-foot Steinway grand piano for his student piano recitals in Winter and Spring. Also, the Annual Guild Piano Auditions are held in church’s sanctuary.
John doesn’t plan on retiring quite yet from being the organist at Tibbetts but hopes to stay a little while longer.
Summer will be full of creative fun at Mode Music and Performing Arts and sibling Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor) in North Delridge! Registration is open for summer camps – here for example is the MMPA schedule:
Graze that and you’ll see camps including Stage Combat, D&D, more. Go here to learn more about the camps.
At Mode Music Studios, rock-band camps are the heart of the summer, with sessions for ages 6-12 and for ages 13+ – learn about those, and register, by going here!
Story and photos by Aspen Anderson
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Wander into Caffe Ladro in south Morgan Junction one of these chilly mornings, and you’ll find Eleanor Doughty‘s West Seattle in watercolor.
Lincoln Park at sunset. The Fauntleroy ferry terminal, boats coming and going. The neon glow of Luna Park Café. These familiar West Seattle landmarks, captured in rich, atmospheric layers of watercolor and ink, currently line the walls at 7011 California SW.
“My goal is helping people appreciate the places around where they are, even if they’re not a fantastic postcard view,” Doughty said.
Doughty is a Seattle-based illustrator whose work has a distinct, almost-retro quality — perhaps because she sketches on-site, absorbing the essence of a place rather than simply replicating it.
“All of these are drawn on location,” she said. “You are capturing a series of moments and trying to consolidate all of that into one picture… it’s a journal, it’s capturing a moment in time.”
Her favorite pieces on display include paintings of Lincoln Park, where she sketched along the water, and a standout of the Fauntleroy ferry terminal — layered with different boats as they arrived and departed.
“Seeing the place that you love captured in a painting — it makes people emotional,” she said.
Doughty has painted cities around the world, but West Seattle is a recent addition to her collection. Whether sketching ferry docks or neighborhood cafés, she says painting in real time offers a depth that photography cannot.
“Everyone has a camera in their pocket, but sitting on location for an hour or more gives the painting significance,” she said. “I found that the more you tap into what makes you feel something, rather than what you’re literally seeing, the more interesting the painting looks.”
Doughty’s West Seattle paintings are on display and available for purchase at Caffe Ladro, which is open daily from 6:30 am to 6 pm.
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