West Seattle, Washington
18 Thursday
(WSB photos/video)
It didn’t have to be nighttime for the lanterns, and smiles, to shine brightly during the Children’s Moonlight Festival today at the Vietnamese Cultural Center in West Seattle. We arrived just in time for the lantern parade:
That was the culmination of today’s three-hour event at the center, the traditional autumn celebration known as Tết Nhi Đồng, featuring activities, games, and treats including moon cake.
Group photos are a tradition at center events.
The center’s longtime director is Lee Bui:
If you’ve never visited, the center is often open to visitors on Saturday afternoons (2236 SW Orchard).
Too often, music and theater are seen as “extra” for kids – but the benefits prove they should be considered essential. That’s why Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor) proprietor Erin Rubin launched a nonprofit offshoot, Mode Music and Performing Arts, to provide it to more youth. A party last night at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center not only raised money for MMPA, it also showcased some of Mode’s students, like Ellie and Sophia:
The party’s emcee was Troy Nelson, who you probably know best from KEXP. Erin joined him onstage to express gratitude for the support they’re receiving in MMPA’s mission:
If you couldn’t be there but want to support MMPA’s quest to bring performing-arts education to more schools, you can donate online any time.
ADDED 3:42 PM: Update from Erin: “We had such a great night! We raised over $2500 for music and performing arts education in the schools and will continue to do so thanks to the support of our community.”
(2017 photo by Lynda Bui)
Early reminder about one of tomorrow’s highlights: The annual Children’s Moonlight Festival at the Vietnamese Cultural Center, 3-6 pm Sunday at 2236 SW Orchard (just north of Home Depot). Games, activities, entertainment, refreshments including the traditional moon cake, all free, all ages welcome. Here’s the flyer with details.
It’s a beautiful night to get out and see art … and artists! … from the fall West Seattle Art Walk list:
(Photo courtesy Click!)
FRANCES SMERSH AT CLICK! DESIGN THAT FITS: “With a Little Help from My Friends” is the painting exhibition featured tonight at Click!, created by the shop’s co-proprietor Frances Smersh, photographed with friend and fellow artist Michelle Ting. As noted this week on the shop’s blog, this is Frances’s fourth year living with younger-onset Alzheimer’s, and while she has to rely more on family and friends for everyday assistance, she continues to shine with creative expression, including this work. Stop by before 8 tonight at 4540 California SW.
Also, two stops toward the south end:
(WSB photos from here)
BONNIE KATZ SAILORS @ MITSUI GROUP: Did you know that Fitness Together-West Seattle proprietor Bonnie Katz Sailors is also a visual artist? She’s featured tonight at Mitsui Real Estate Group until 8 pm (6021 California SW). Bonnie’s show “Postcards from Washington” is centered on her oil-painting landscapes.
MEGAN SIMMONS @ VISCON CELLARS: Stop in for wine – tasting fees are waived for those out on the Art Walk – at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW) before 9 pm and meet Megan while admiring her paintings.
3 businesses mentioned above – Viscon Cellars, Click! Design That Fits, Fitness Together-West Seattle – are WSB sponsors.
Get your Halloween season going this Saturday by being part of a first-ever West Seattle event – the first Monster Bash fundraiser for nonprofit Mode Music and Performing Arts!
It’s MMPA’s first year of providing music and performing-arts education at Title I schools including Highland Park and Roxhill Elementaries, along with partial and full scholarships for families in need, all intended “to create equity in arts programming within our educational system.” And they’re raising money by offering you a night of food, drinks, music, theater, and fun! KEXP DJ Troy Nelson is hosting. Tickets are only $20 in advance ($25 at the door); the party’s happening at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), 7:30-10 pm Saturday (October 13th). Get your ticket(s) online now!
West Seattleite Tomasz Biernacki has been working on a documentary about homelessness here and elsewhere in the city. Above is the trailer for his film “Trickle Down Town”; two local screenings are planned in the next few weeks. If you want a free ticket to the Admiral Theater premiere at 7 pm October 21st, go here. “Trickle Down Town” also will be featured at West Seattle Meaningful Movies next month (no tickets required), 6:30 pm November 3rd at Neighborhood House High Point.
You might know Jim Sander best for his quirky Pigeon Point neighborhood signs. At the 27th annual Southwest Library community art showcase, you can see his salute to a notorious chapter in West Seattle (and beyond) history – if the name Rolf Neslund isn’t instantly recognizable, catch up here. Other art at the show – which you can see at the library during its regular hours for the next month – doesn’t have quite that level of backstory:
Above, the balloons are by Jeff Ferry, the orca by Adrienne Salzwedel. The next work is by John deMars:
Here’s one of the artists on hand for this afternoon’s opening reception, Gordon Miller:
His work is titled “Three Tree Point.” Volunteers served refreshments at today’s reception:
Another component of the showcase: Free all-ages art classes at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW) on the next five Saturdays – see the list here!
The announcement and photos are from West Seattle Community Orchestras:
West Seattle Community Orchestras (WSCO) is beginning its fall season under the direction of its new Executive Director, Virginia Wright. Virginia has a Bachelor’s degree in music, with professional experience in online and print design, IT/systems administration, and arts/nonprofit management and administration. She has worked in managerial roles in several music organizations in the greater Seattle area, and remains committed to supporting the continuation of the musical arts in many different ways.
Also new this fall is Nse Ekpo, conductor candidate for WSCO’s Symphony Orchestra. Nse is the first of three conductor candidates who are
“auditioning” to become WSCO’s permanent Symphony conductor.
Virginia explains: “At the end of last season, WSCO’s Symphony conductor James Pham left to pursue a conducting opportunity in Germany. During the summer the WSCO Hiring Committee met with a great group of potential candidates to fill the vacant role. Going into the Fall season, we are now ready to enter into the final stages of assessment, which will include each of our three finalists executing a full cycle of planning, rehearsals, and a final concert. This process will provide us with a good look at the working style and ability of each of the three conductors. All three are highly qualified, and it will be a wonderful opportunity to see them work with the orchestra.” (We’ll have more to report about the other two candidates later in the season.)
Nse is not truly new to us, having co-conducted WSCO’s predecessor, the Westside Symphonette, during 2007 and 2008. He says he’s delighted to be back.
Nse (pronounced EN-say) Ekpo enjoys a varied career as a performer, educator, and content creator throughout the United States and abroad. Recent engagements have taken him to Pazardjik, Bulgaria where he guest conducted the Pazardjik Symphony Orchestra. In 2018, Ekpo was named a finalist in two categories of the American Prize: Professional Orchestral Conducting, and the Ernst Bacon Award for the Programming of American Music (Professional Division).
Dr. Ekpo is currently the Concert Band Director at Lakeside School in Seattle, Washington. He holds a doctorate in orchestral conducting from the University of South Carolina, where he studied with Donald Portnoy.
WSCO is also pleased to welcome back our long-time outstanding conductors — Rachel Nesvig, Debut Orchestra; Mike Jauregui, Intermediate Orchestra; and Anton Coleman, Wind Symphony — as well as our excellent professional string coaches, Clare Bresnahan and Daniel Mullikin.
Rehearsals for the Debut, Intermediate, and Wind Symphony will begin October 2, with the Symphony starting up October 9. All rehearsals are held Tuesdays at Chief Sealth International High School. Specific start times for the rehearsals and more details are listed on our website, www.wscorchestras.org, or you can contact info@wscorchestras.org.
WSCO especially encourages student musicians (through grade 12) to sign up. No charge!
Finally, WSCO also offers classes for adults who wish to learn (or relearn!) a string (violin, viola, cello) or band instrument (flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, French horn, trombone).
It’s not too late to join WSCO for the new season! Sign up here.
Enjoy creating art? Share it with your West Seattle neighbors! Everyone’s an artist when it’s time for the Southwest Library‘s annual Artist Showcase – and the 27th annual showcase is just days away! Your first step – create up to three pieces of visual art to show off, or choose up to 3 works you’ve already created. Second step: Take your entries to SW Library (9010 35th SW) this Thursday through Saturday (September 27th through 29th). Then be there for the artists’ reception at 2 pm Sunday (September 30th)! The artists’ creations are shown at the branch through October, and the month is highlighted by opportunities to “See Art/Make Art.” (See the event list here.)
Now that fall is here (as of 6:54 pm) – it’s time to think about ways to stay warm. The West Seattle Quilters‘ first-ever showcase, this afternoon at the Senior Center/Sisson Building, was inspiration for that contemplation – as well as an occasion for admiration of the quilters’ skills.
The 40+ quilts on display spanned a variety of quilting styles and techniques, as well as quilters from kids to seniors.
The West Seattle Quilters welcome you to join them at their meetings, 7 pm on first and third Mondays at the Senior Center (4217 SW Oregon).
Group members not only work on their own projects but also collaborate on community-service quilts, made from donated fabric, given to people in need. Every year they also make a quilt that’s raffled off to benefit the Senior Center (they sold more tickets at today’s show, and the raffle will be at the Senior Center during Rainbow Bingo next Friday).
(Click here for full-size PDF flyer)
In case you haven’t already seen it in our calendar – we’re spotlighting Sunday’s Lantern Festival and Competition because lantern-makers interested in competing need to make theirs in advance and bring them to the festival. It’s set for 4:30-8 pm Sunday (September 23rd) at Southwest Teen Life Center (2801 SW Thistle). The competition is optional; prizes will be awarded, as you can see on the flyer. The festival also will feature performances, a Lion Dance, and kids’ arts and crafts. It’s presented by Van Lang Vietnamese Cultural Language School and Seattle Parks, and everyone is invited.
(Photos by WSB’s Patrick Sand, unless otherwise credited)
It was a community-wide, continent-spanning celebration in South Park this morning as 2018 Fiestas Patrias parade participants danced, walked, rolled, and rode. The Latino Riders were on two wheels – sometimes one:
The Easy Duz It car club was a parade on its own, on four wheels and sometimes two:
The parade also featured the original kind of horsepower:
Lots of music, including Mariachi Huenachi from Wenatchee:
Joyas Mestizas, who you might have seen in the West Seattle Grand Parade, was another participating folklorico group:
Other groups represented individual Latin American nations, including El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Here’s the Grand Marshal, United States District Court Chief Judge Ricardo Martinez of the Western District:
Another dignitary – newly confirmed Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best:
In the SPD entourage accompanying the chief was Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis, whose jurisdiction includes South Park:
Local schools were in the parade too, including West Seattle’s own Denny International Middle School, whose principal Jeff Clark sent photos and a report:
Congratulations to all of the Denny scholars and staff who proudly represented their culture and school marching in the annual Fiestas Patrias parade in South Park today!
Thanks to Mr. Albanes, Mr. Garcia, and Ms. Olsen, the Dolphins had the chance to show great leadership and pride as they waved to family and friends lining the streets of South Park. This parade is always a highlight of the year — this year, the tradition was as strong as ever! Go Dolphins!
Our photographer spotted the principal photographing the group:
South Park’s own Concord International (Elementary) also walked the parade route. The Fiestas Patrias parade is presented by Sea Mar Community Health Centers, whose headquarters in South Park were the start of the route, which ended at South Park Community Center, site of an afternoon-long festival and health fair.
(WSB photo from 2017 Fiestas Patrias parade in South Park)
In case you haven’t peeked ahead to the weekend via the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar – Saturday brings a big late-summer parade: This year’s Fiestas Patrias parade in South Park. The parade and festival afterward are presented by Sea Mar Community Health Centers, which explain:
Seattle Fiestas Patrias commemorates the independence of Latin American countries, many of which celebrate their national independence day in the month of September. Sea Mar Community Health Center festivals are held at both Seattle Center and the South Park neighborhood of Seattle to celebrate the Latino community living in the Pacific Northwest.
Fiestas Patrias is an expression of Latino culture: music, dance, food, folklore and many other traditions that have accumulated over the centuries. This is a fiesta to celebrate our history while taking pride in the new generations of Latinos that now call the United States home.
The parade starts at 11 am Saturday (September 15th), with Chief United States District Judge Ricardo Martinez as Grand Marshal. See the route here (PDF), leading from Sea Mar to the South Park Community Center (8319 8th Ave. S.), where the community festival begins at 1 pm.
A free weekly writing workshop for kids starts tomorrow at the library in Admiral and the leader tells us there’s still room:
Sign up now for the free semester-long writing workshop for kids, “Write YOUR Story“! Starts Wednesday, September 12th.
Free writing and book-making workshop for kids ages 8-12, Wednesdays, 4:30 to 5:30 pm, from 9/12/18 to 12/19/18. SPOTS AVAILABLE! Now enrolling, space limited. Price: $0. Classes to be held in meeting room of the West Seattle (Admiral) Public Library located at 2306 42nd Ave SW. Please note that this event is not sponsored by The Seattle Public Library.
Write YOUR Story workshops: check out our site!
Taught by writer-designer Julia Douthwaite Viglione, emeritus professor of French literature, Univ. of Notre Dame, with the help of West Seattle writer Ann Perrin.
In this workshop, participants creatively explore and expand their sense of self by thinking and writing about their life – past, present, and future. Students will receive individual attention and gradually realize how easy good writing can be when approached cooperatively.
Fall 2018 theme: perseverance. Books we will read: 1) Rascal and Gert Bogaerts, “Socrates” (1992); 2) Patricia Polacco, “Thank You, Mr. Falker” (1998). 3) Christine Ross, “The Whirlys and the West Wind” (1993).
To enroll, or to get more information, call 574-400-9362 or email juliawsea@gmail.com.
Today we welcome Moving Minds Dance as a new WSB sponsor! As with all new local sponsors, they get the opportunity to tell you about who they are and what they offer to the community:
Moving Minds Dance is a recreational dance program shaped by the teaching philosophy “we can learn all things through dance” and a mission to create a world that encourages creative thought and joyful curiosity. The company, directed by Ciara McCormack Greenwalt, began offering classes in Queen Anne in 2014 and made its way to West Seattle and Youngstown Cultural Arts Center just a year and a half ago. Ciara first came to Youngstown as an instructor for Flourish Dance Project, and she fell in love with its vibrant and welcoming community. When Flourish ended in March 2017, she knew she had to step in and continue its legacy nurturing joy, artistry and community through dance.
This year, Moving Minds is excited to be presenting new curriculum-integrated dance classes. Just like at other dance studios and after-school programs, young dancers will learn different dance techniques and prepare combinations for performances. But these classes stand apart by applying real-world topics to technical training, encouraging students to become more curious and truly think creatively about their world. Each season, all classes will focus on one guiding theme to discover through dance. This year’s themes will include social-emotional skills and inclusive communities in the fall, physics and anatomy in the winter, and storytelling and literacy in the spring. With classes offered for students as young as 18 months (Dance Together) up to 9 years (Formative Level), families can be assured that each topic will be presented at a developmentally appropriate level for each child.
One overarching goal at Moving Minds Dance is to develop dancers who are humans first, with a deep capacity for joy, wonder, strength, intelligence, poise, and kindness. This goal is achieved through the program’s unique classes, where every moment is an opportunity to learn both about dance and being human, and through a friendly network of students, parents, and teachers. Families frequently remark on how much their kids enjoy Moving Minds Dance classes, the positive rapport the teachers have with students, and the significance of a warm, personal approach to doing business. The mark of success for Moving Minds is simply seeing students light up – eyes bright, minds open, and bodies moving expressively. 
Students’ growth into confident, helpful, passionate humans is the heart of this program.
Ciara McCormack Greenwalt, director of Moving Minds Dance, has been training in multiple styles of dance for over 23 years and holds a BFA in dance from Stephens College. She began teaching in 2008, moved to Seattle in 2013, and has since taught all over the metro area, including spending two years as a teacher and administrator at Sweet Pea Cottage Preschool of the Arts. In addition to running Moving Minds Dance, Ciara teaches for the Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Community Education Department, Spectrum Dance Theater, and Evergreen City Ballet. She also performs with Intrepidus Dance and serves as Vice President for the Dance Educators Association of Washington.
For more information about class offerings and schedule, visit movingmindsdance.org or contact Ciara directly for more information by emailing movingmindsdance@gmail.com or calling 206-504-1138.
We thank Moving Minds Dance for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
Back-to-school time is also back-to-after-school time – and you’re invited to sign your kid(s) up for what Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor) and Mode Music & Performing Arts are offering in West Seattle. Here’s the announcement:
Mode Music Studios and Mode Music & Performing Arts (MMPA) are pleased to announce our fall music and performing arts classes. After a successful summer of rock band and performing arts camps, group classes and private lessons are now open for registration. All fall group classes begin in mid-September 2018.
Now enrolling for fall music lessons and classes at Mode Music Studios. Find out more at modemusicstudios.com.
Mode Music Studios Fall offerings include:
1. Private music lessons for all ages
2. Year-round Rock Band sessions
3. Tiny Modes (ages 0-4)Now enrolling for fall performing arts group classes at Mode Music and Performing Arts. For a complete list of all the fall performing arts classes, full class descriptions and prices visit modemusicandperformingarts.org
MMPA Fall after-school classes include:
1. Hogwarts Scene Study, 2nd-5th grades
2. Comedy Combat, 5th-8th grades
3. Elephant and Piggie Story Drama, K-2nd grades and more!Scholarships are available for Rock Bands, Drama Camps and Classes. For details on scholarships, email info@modemusicandperformingarts.org.
Mode Music Studios and MMPA are partner organizations located in West Seattle, near the West Seattle Bridge. Mode Music Studios offers private music and vocal lessons, rock band camps, toddler music, and more. MMPA is a nonprofit that strives to provide exciting and innovative performing arts training. MMPA believes that it is vital every child experience the arts and have the opportunity to create on and off stage. Our professional teaching artists are skilled at offering a wide variety of performing arts classes from acting technique to musical theater to play creation and performance.
Questions? 206-388-6688 and info@modemusicstudios.com or info@modemusicandperformingarts.org.
Photos by Leda Costa for West Seattle Blog
Joining a breakdance workshop with the DogPound Crew – above are Dan, Robert, and Sammy – was one of the many ways to spend the second and final day of the 2018 Arts In Nature Festival, presented at Camp Long by the Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association. The dancers were inside the park’s historic lodge, but much more was happening outside – especially at the cabins:
Above, at Cabin 1, Degenerate Art Ensemble‘s “Skeleton Flower Seed Ceremony” invited people to anonymously share their stories of dealing with challenges. Below, at Cabin 7, Paul Kikuchi presented an interactive sound installation in collaboration with his brother Joel Kikuchi:
Visitors at “Robotic Ensemble” played traditional Japanese instruments remotely using low-fi robotic hands, blending with pre-recorded soundscapes. Meantime, at Cabin 8:
That’s part of Celeste Cooning‘s “Cut Paper Meets Digital Media.” All around Camp Long, art was happening, including Angelina Villalobos creating a painting:
This is the third year that DNDA has presented the festival, whose founding organization Nature Consortium became part of DNDA in 2016.
Just back from Camp Long, where the first day of the Arts In Nature Festival continues until about 8:30 tonight. One of the unusual sights – Aaron Haba and more than 900 marigold plants. Tomorrow, they’ll be offered free to festivalgoers, and he hopes people will send him photos when they bloom – his plan is to turn the photos into a collage. We also noted West Seattle artist Natalie Fobes‘s work “Spring/Fall Convergence”:
While our photographer was at the festival, we received a note from Natalie, who explained:
This eight-piece exhibit celebrates the nature around us.
Each mobile is made of a single photograph that is printed on the front and back of one sheet of paper. Fall is represented on one side with Spring on the other.
As the wind catches the mobiles, two-dimensional photography becomes a kinetic three-dimensional experience for the viewer.
For the last couple years I’ve tried to figure out how to make photography more interactive and more than two-dimensional prints on a wall. For this exhibit I used over 800 fishing swivels and jewelry findings to put the mobiles together. (My apologies to the fishing community for buying all the size 10 swivels at Big 5 multiple times in the last few months!)
Thanks to the DNDA for choosing me as one of the artists for the Festival.
Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association, now parent organization to the festival-founding Nature Consortium, presents Arts In Nature, an experience for creating as well as viewing.
All ages are welcome to do that. And the arts are spoken and written as well as visual:
That’s Seth Zuckerman reading essays. The festival is indoor-outdoor … with artists and art throughout the park (which is at 5200 35th SW) including inside the historic lodge. Explore the website for full details, including the schedule and ticket info, before you go – highlights in the hours ahead are onstage in the field, with Naomi Wachira at 6 pm, Nikkita Oliver at 6:50, and music headliner Rev. Pat Wright and the Total Experience Gospel Choir at 7:15. If you don’t get there tonight, the festival runs noon-6 pm Sunday too.
6:58 PM: You gotta love a guy who sings songs like “My Flea Has Dogs” and “Banana Bread” (the bright side of what you can do with overripe bananas). Those are among the songs Caspar Babypants has performed, not far into his series-closing set for Summer Concerts at Hiawatha.
Always the biggest turnout of the season for the Admiral Neighborhood Association-presented series, in its 10th year. And if you’re here, stop by and say thanks to sponsors that are on site tonight, on the east side of the lawn, including WSB sponsors West Seattle Realty and Dream Dinners (we’re longtime series sponsors too).
You’ll find CB’s wife, artist Kate Endle, there with CDs and more, too! We’ll add photos and video later; the (free!) show will continue on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center (Walnut/Lander) until about 8 pm.
11:29 PM: Photos added above! And here’s CB singing “Petunia”:
At the very end of his show, he enlisted some help for an “explosive” grand finale:
And one pre-show photo:
With Mr. Babypants in that pic is Stephanie Jordan, who curated the concert series again this year – watch for word of next year’s series planning in early 2019!
(2016 WSB photo)
The National Weather Service said it again tonight – the air’s clearing and should be much better tomorrow. Just in time for this year’s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha finale – family-rock fave Caspar Babypants. Even the not-so-little have a tough time resisting the urge to dance to his irresistible tunes, like this one:
All are welcome on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center (, 6:30 pm Thursday (August 23rd). Free and fun. Bring a chair/blanket (unless you’re planning to stand up and dance throughout). The Admiral Neighborhood Association is in its 10th year of presenting the six-free-concerts series, with community sponsors’ support (including WSB).
P.S. If for some reason the sky does NOT clear as forecast, series coordinator Stephanie Jordan says, “Smokopolis 2018 will not deter Mr. Babypants – we’re keeping a close eye on air quality and will move the show inside if it’s still too icky. If you don’t see anyone in the park at showtime, we are in the community center gym.”
(WSB photo)
Six weeks after he finished restoring the Morgan Junction mural, artist Bob Henry has started work on the next West Seattle mural to be brought back to life, “Mosquito Fleet,” on the east side of the historic Campbell Building, across the alley from Junction Plaza Park.
Next in line is “West Seattle Ferries,” and then the “First Duwamish Bridge” mural at 4740 44th SW – the same one that got a band-aid courtesy of a mystery artist last year after it had been tagged by vandal(s) in a big way:
(WSB photo, August 2017)
Lora Swift of the West Seattle Junction Association plans to seek a city matching-fund grant for this project, so she is looking for muralists to bid on it, with a full scope of work proposal needed by September 4th:
We are requesting a proposal which will include a time frame, cost of materials, sub-contractors, labor, and portfolio with past work. The body of work would ideally be completed by mid-year 2019, but we could start as early as October, depending upon the weather.
(Contact her at info@wsjunction.org.) Other murals are awaiting their turn, and crowdfunding continues here. Another way to help the mural-restoration fund is by attending this Saturday’s West Seattle Outdoor Movies finale (“Black Panther,” August 26th at dusk by the West Seattle YMCA [3622 SW Snoqualmie; WSB sponsor]); it’ll be the beneficiary of this week’s raffle.
(WSB photo from 2017 Arts in Nature Festival)
By this weekend, the air is expected to be clearer, and that’s a good thing given the number of big outdoor events on the schedule! Among them: The 19th annual Arts in Nature Festival at Camp Long, presented by Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association. The festival spans both Saturday and Sunday, with visual and performing artists all around the sprawling, forest-and-meadow West Seattle park. You can see the full schedule here; find out more about the artists here. As explained here, this isn’t just a festival where you go to watch and listen – it’s also a festival where you experience and create. (And don’t miss what’s happening in and around the cabins!) You will be inspired and stirred on Saturday night by musical headliners Total Experience Gospel Choir, led by Rev. Pat Wright, who’s talking about retirement, so this might be one of your last chances to see and hear her! Festival hours are noon-9 pm Saturday and noon-6 pm Sunday; tickets are discounted when you buy online in advance, so do that here ASAP! (WSB is a co-sponsor of this year’s festival.)
(Photo courtesy Southwest Seattle Historical Society)
Before and during last weekend’s SPF30 festival on Alki, we featured the custom guitar auctioned off to raise money for the Southwest Seattle Historical Society. SWSHS shares the photo of the winning bidder, Eastside musician John Stephens, who picked it up this past week. SWSHS executive director Jeff McCord notes that the guitar “was donated by Terry and Ryan Martin of Walla Walla Guitar Company,” and adds:
The sale of the guitar has generated a $2,225 donation value for the historical society, plus buyer John has even donated the $50 shipping fee which he was entitled to getting back since he picked it up locally. Pictured are Sub Pop Guitar buyer John Stephens (left) and historical society supporter Mike Shaughnessy (right), who donated his time selling the guitar on his music-themed eBay account.
Thanks especially go out to Walla Walla Guitar Company, Mike (for his time and care on the eBay auction) and to Sub Pop, Thunder Road Guitars, Easy Street Records, and all of the other friends and supporters who helped spread the word about this special musical instrument.
If you somehow missed it … SPF30 (WSB coverage here and here) was a free music festival on Saturday, August 11th, celebrating legendary Seattle label Sub Pop Records‘ 30th anniversary.
P.S. The SWSHS has a big event next Saturday – “Fired Up Family Day” 11 am-1 pm August 25th – in the Homestead parking lot at 2717 61st SW; here’s our calendar listing.
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