West Seattle, Washington
29 Friday
STUDENTS HELPING HAITI: From left, Lafayette Elementary student council representatives Anna Goldberg, Alyx Hastings and Quinn Gerberding. Proud Lafayette principal Virginia Turner says they “conceived of, publicized and organized the fundraising effort” that brought in $1,460 for Haiti relief — the council sponsored the collection. Lafayette teacher Kent Ferris worked with the students to help them make it happen. Another big announcement:
ARTISTS HELPING HAITI: Last weekend, we brought you a progress report during West Seattle artist/entrepreneur Stephanie Hargrave‘s art sale to raise money to help Haiti. She now has the final numbers: $17,031 raised during the one-day sale! It’s going to Partners in Health, Doctors Without Borders, and Mercy Corps. Stephanie took the above photo of all the art in her studio during the sale, and adds: “My two friends who were instrumental in the effort and worked tirelessly are West Seattleites Anne-Marie Meredith and Bronwyn McNutt.” She also included a full list of the artists who participated by donating work – see that list (with information on how to contact the artists – web links or phone/e-mail) here.
NEW WEST SEATTLE HELP FOR HAITI: Kari Robins e-mailed to say:
I am a West Seattle resident and a high school teacher. I am going to be traveling to Haiti this summer with Global Volunteer Network. I will be working with orphaned children and homeless women. I want to raise money to help offset the cost of travel and participating in the program.
I will be working with children, youth and women within two camps; Pinchinat and Kay Wolf. These camps have more than 3,000 people who became homeless after the quake. I will be helping to run education classes for children as the schools have been closed down until September.
I am looking for community support to help offset the expense and to maximize my time down in Haiti.
Read more about the type of work she’ll be doing, by going here; to e-mail her with questions and/or help, kari.robins@hotmail.com.
DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS DISTRICT COUNCIL: Reps from community councils and organizations in eastern West Seattle gather monthly to talk about what’s new and what’s ahead, and you’re invited to join them. When they meet tonight at 7 in the theater at Youngstown Arts Center, the agenda also includes an update on Camp Long‘s renovation project and local proposals for the Neighborhood Projects Fund.
CHIEF SEALTH PLAYOFF GAME: The boys’ varsity basketball team plays Seattle Prep in the league semifinals, 7 pm at Prep (2400 11th Ave. E).
FREE WOMEN’S-SELF-DEFENSE CLASS: Sima Martial Arts (WSB sponsor) is presenting this free class at 7:15 tonight at the Sima studio in The Junction, 4711 42nd SW (across from the north end of Jefferson Square). Call 935-4531 to sign up.
FINAL WEEK FOR “LOVE SONG”: Tonight marks the start of the final five-performance week for ArtsWest‘s current production. 7:30 pm, tickets available online.
What else is up? Here’s the frequently updated WSB Events calendar.
West Seattle artist Stephanie Hargrave was beaming when we stopped by her studio (3234 California SW, across from the business she co-owns, smallclothes) around 1: In the first two hours of the benefit art/jewelry sale she organized to raise money for Haiti relief, she told us, more than $7,000 already had come in: “It’s exceeded my wildest expectations!” And the number was rising even as we stood there taking photos – the work you see next to her in the picture was in the process of being sold, and it came off the wall minutes later. Several other artists contributed work, including jewelry artist Frances Smersh from Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor):
The sale continues till 6 tonight; here’s a map – her studio’s in an old house, up a stairway from the sidewalk, but you’ll see the sign at street level.
(UPDATED EARLY SATURDAY) Another weekend, another big Sunday – this time, instead of the game of football, it’s the game of love. We’ve been featuring the West Seattle Valentine’s Day dining guide – see the latest updates here – highlights from the WSB sponsor ranks include brunch (mimosa carafe!) and dinner special features at Skylark Cafe and Club and a steak/shrimp special at Feedback Lounge. Also – self-defense and yoga freebies, a free movie, an art show to help Haiti, Fauntleroy’s “The Man Show” tonight, Lafayette Elementary’s theater production tonight, Twilight/New Moon double features today and tomorrow at The Admiral … From tonight through Sunday night, more than 40 events/activities, brought to you by Skylark Cafe and Club, where you’ll find FREE live music and rockin’ food:Read More
Story and photos by Mary Sheely
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Hungry?
Jessica Creager understands that a lot of people are these days — for jobs, for money, or for food.
Her show “Craving,” featured during Thursday night’s West Seattle Art Walk and continuing on display at Wallflower Custom Framing (WSB sponsor), 4735 42nd Ave SW, is a response to that reality: her paintings are focused on the “little things in life that cause her to spontaneously smile,” like a pink-frosted cupcake or a pair of Swedish Fish. Some of the paintings themselves are tiny, too, and that’s intentional, to make them more affordable to people who are feeling an economic pinch.
In fact, Creager is one of those people, but she’s not a starving artist. Instead, she’s an artist who’s looking for a job in law.
Thanks to Lora from Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) for that photo of one of the signs up for something that’s new this West Seattle Art Walk night – a shuttle between The Junction and four “southern” Art Walk venues, including shuttle sponsor Sterling Images Gallery (at Lowman Beach). Look for the pink signs. Info on spotlighted artists, plus two versions of the map – clickable Google, and printable PDF – all available at wsartwalk.com. ADDED 6:47 PM: From The Kenney – the Holy Rosary students having a bake sale to raise money for Haiti relief:
Here’s our preview about their fundraiser, as published this morning.
Of course we already have INCREDIBLE events in West Seattle every spring/summer – but a few new ones are in the works, and in case you hadn’t heard about them yet:
STREET SCRAMBLE: Just got the word on this. March 20th, get ready for Alki Street Scramble, the first in a series of Street Scrambles around the area this spring/summer. As explained on the official website, the concept is: “Thirty locations are circled on a neighborhood map. On foot or bike, how many can you visit in 90 minutes? In 3 hours?” The locations haven’t been chosen yet, but keep an eye on streetscramble.com.
(“I Feel Like Funkin’ It Up,” from 2009 Honk Fest West)
HONK FEST WEST: This raucous three-day music event is planning to spend its third day in West Seattle. It’s been mentioned briefly at some recent neighborhood-council meetings but now it looks like plans are beginning to solidify. Mark April 11 on your calendar – either for revelry or for earplugs. Here’s the official website.
We’re adding more springiness (and summer fun) to the Events calendar as we get it – we can also suggest you save May 8 for the annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, coordinated by your friendly neighborhood news site (us) – you can fan WSCGSD on Facebook! – and June 5 is not only slated as Delridge Day, but Sustainable West Seattle president Brian Allen confirms that this year’s SWS Festival is being planned in conjunction with the DD event.
As mentioned on the Delridge Grassroots Leadership site on Tuesday and in a Youngstown Cultural Arts Center e-mail update sent out this morning, a group of local teenagers is in Washington, D.C., right now, “representing Seattle and creative young people across the country at the historic concert ‘A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement‘,” as the Youngstown bulletin describes it, going on to say, “This opportunity was granted by the Grammy Foundation through Kathleen Allen, community arts liaison with Seattle Public Schools, when she was moved by the students’ performance for the opening of their exhibit at the Frye Art Gallery.” They’re the founding youth of Youngstown Records, which recently launched. The exhibit, created in collaboration with Youngstown-based ArtsCorps, is titled “I Wish I Knew Who I Was Before I Was Me,” is at The Frye Museum – free to see – through the end of May. The DC concert they attended, hosted by President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, is scheduled to air on PBS tomorrow night (read more about it here). Youngstown Arts Center, in North Delridge, is a hotbed of artistic exploration and talent – keep up with its classes and goings-on here. (Photo by, and used with permission of, Laura O’Quin) ADDED 6:26 PM: ArtsCorps just shared this update from the youth in DC:
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An update on one of the most recent “West Seattle Help for Haiti” projects mentioned here – Victoria Shaw of The Mural Project asked for art-supply donations (see the original request here). She now sends word that KeyBank in The Junction (California/Alaska) “has graciously volunteered to be the dropoff point for anyone wishing to donate new or used art supplies for the school in Haiti. There will be a box in the lobby through the end of February.” Meantime, we have news of an art project involving a local school, related to a natural disaster within our own borders:
From Madison Middle School art teacher Lisa Baker:
Students in 7th Grade Art at Madison Middle School in partnership with Eckstein Middle School designed Fundred Dollar Bills to help raise awareness about lead-contaminated soil in New Orleans post Hurricane Katrina . The art project focused on contemporary artist Mel Chin who uses his artwork for environmental and social issues. The students learned about certain plants that can absorb chemicals from the soil to return it to safe levels. The bills will be collected in an armored truck from Eckstein Middle School on February 11th, 2010, and delivered to Congress to help raise the necessary $300,000,000 for clean-up of the soil in New Orleans.
Speaking of art … From the WSB inbox: West Seattleite Mark Schlipper promoted a music festival with 11 x 17 posters on poles in a local business district – the art you see at left – and says they were gone within a day. He wonders if everyone is aware that posters like his have been legal for years.
I’m a curator of the Cumulus Music Festival. The festival, while not exclusive to it, does have a focus on Seattle and Northwest bands. As individuals and as an organization, we like to support our communities, and the artists in it. This is our second year, and as such I posted some fliers up around my neighborhood, specifically the Alaska Junction. A few local business offered their hand in support, the rest were up on utility poles.
And that’s where the issue lies.
People may not know this, but around 2002, the laws regarding postering changed, and made allowances for posting on utility poles (seattle.gov/transportation/posteringrules.htm). The responsibility for removal being placed on the poster themselves, or be fined. And yet, someone in our neighborhood felt compelled to pull down my posters within a day of putting them up. This didn’t strike me as the act of vandals, but as the act of someone who doesn’t understand the current laws regarding posting, and took it upon themselves to “fix” it.
Frankly I find it disheartening and insulting. Disheartening because we’re a community that celebrates its creative culture, often supports it, and at least seems to generally appreciate its presence in their lives, aren’t we? Because to me this is an attack on that very culture, on people who are trying to better their community with art, and on those artists themselves. Insulting because it’s defacing my legally posted work. Destroying my legally posted advertising, and essentially stealing money from me and my organization by doing so.
I commend people for taking some pride in their community, and would love to see this same enthusiasm in regard to filling the Whole Foods pit, or fining people that don’t clean up after their dogs. But this didn’t benefit anyone, just hurt someone trying to do some good.
We asked a few followup questions to try to figure out if the postering he says he did could have been so over-the-top that it was seen as a nuisance; he said, and added, “Only one poster per pole was posted. No other posters were covered. Staples were used on wood poles, tape on metal, fairly conservatively in both cases.” The issue of posters on poles was a hot one through the late ’90s and early ’00s; the onetime city ban was actually upheld in 2004, but by then city law had changed to permit them.
Every second Thursday, year-round, 6-9 pm, you can wander West Seattle, enjoying (and if you choose, often, buying) the work of great local artists, during the monthly West Seattle Art Walk. This Thursday is the big night for February, and Lora Lewis from Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) tells us artist highlights are now up at wsartwalk.com – plus you can see, and print, the walking map (get it here). Something new this time around – Sterling Images Gallery is offering a shuttle from The Junction to “Art Walk South” stops, including their gallery at Lowman Beach, The Kenney, West Seattle Cellars, and Gail Ann Photography.
Longtime West Seattle resident Victoria Shaw has a request for West Seattle’s art community (and anyone else who sees this):
I am the director of an international children’s art and cultural exchange program called “The Mural Project” (themuralproject.net).
We are working with the organization Art For Haitian Children to help them rebuild an art school in Jacmel, Haiti and to gather art supplies to take to them this Spring.
I know that there are many artists in the West Seattle area, if any of you might have extra acrylic paints, rolls of canvas and/or paintbrushes or would like to donate new items, these children would love to receive them.
If you have any questions please contact Victoria Shaw at (206) 937-9747 or
_amural98@aol.com
Yes, the Super Bowl on Sunday is the main event – and if you haven’t seen our as-complete-as-possible-so-far West Seattle Super Bowl Watching Guide, check it out here – but there’s MORE! Tonight, for example, the first High Point Neighborhood Night – And Saturday is Neighborhood Appreciation Day, with events at all your local community centers, tours of all your local fire stations, plus a work party in the garden behind C & P Coffee – and neighborliness continues Sunday with a fundraising pancake breakfast at Hiawatha Community Center (you can go straight from there to Free Sunday Yoga at SoundYoga [WSB sponsor]). From tonight through Sunday night, more than 50 events/activities, brought to you by Skylark Cafe and Club, where you’ll find FREE live music and rockin’ food – like the special Valentine brunch and dinner deals next weekend:Read More
Several more West Seattle-linked fundraisers for Haiti earthquake relief are in the works. First one is TODAY – thanks to Kristin for sharing the news of a bake sale today at the Community School of West Seattle – an idea hatched by CSWS preschoolers! Kristin writes:
It’s … from 11:45-12:30 in front of the school (22nd and Roxbury) [map] and all proceeds will go to Haiti relief efforts. The preschoolers came up with the idea during discussions of the Haiti earthquake (my daughter is in the class). It certainly isn’t a big event, but its cool for the kids to be able to do something…
And we have an update from local artist/businessperson Stephanie Hargrave (co-owner of smallclothes) about her big event next weekend – she says she has more than 30 artists signed up to contribute to the fundraising sale she’s organizing, many from West Seattle:
I’m hosting an Art Sale / Haiti Fundraiser on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14th from 11 am-6 pm at my studio located at 3234 California Avenue SW [map] in West Seattle. Anyone who would like to donate, simply give me a ring or e-mail, and by all means, forward this information along to anyone who would like to buy some art and help the earthquake victims in Haiti at the same time.
ALL proceeds will go directly to Doctors Without Borders, Partners in Health, or Mercy Corps – the art buyers will write checks to these organizations directly. My goal is to raise several thousand dollars to send off by the end of the weekend.
I’ll be selling encaustic paintings, some ceramics, and hand-made cards – other artists are donating oil and acrylic paintings, photographs, jewelry, and crafts. It should be a great selection! I’ve got painters Juan Alonso (www.juanalonso.info) and Diane Culhane on board, photographer Conrad Chavez of Brightbox Studio, and Smersh Design Jewelry!
Last but not least, we also have heard from Pepper Petersen, owner of The Pepper Boutique on Alki. She says there’s a silent auction, all proceeds to Haiti relief, as part of the art show she’s been having at Alki Starbucks this month:
“… my highest -end couture collection in the most vivid colors imaginable… It’s very beautiful… All the pieces are currently on the walls right now. But more importantly in efforts to contribute my talents in helping to fund raise money for Haiti, I worked unbelievably hard and late into the evenings to create a one of a kind couture dress in the Haitian flag colors of red and blue. It is a beautiful dress that is … hanging above the fireplace in the air from a lighting rail. You can’t miss it as you walk in the door.”
She says the retail value of the dress is $2,000 and the bids start at $500; the silent-auction card is at the store.
(WSB photo by Christopher Boffoli: Link site with new crane many’ll see today for the 1st time )
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
CONCORD ELEMENTARY OPEN HOUSE: It’s in South Park but aligned with middle and high schools: Concord International Elementary is having an open house tonight including information on its dual-language immersion program and the new Student Assignment Plan. 6:30-8:30 pm, 723 South Concord (map).
SENIOR CENTER OF WEST SEATTLE: Two series start today – “Painting Poetry,” helping people reveal and express a personal story over the course of four weeks, with its essence becoming a poem and painting. 1-2:30 pm. Same time period today, the Senior Center also will start an 8-week Great Decisions 2010 discussion group. Call (206) 932-4044 for registration information on either one.
KENYON HALL: Tonight and tomorrow, Nigerian-born British actor Tayo Aluko presents “From Africa to the White House: A Journey of Resistance, Triumph and Spirituals…a musically illustrated talk,” with Kenyon Hall’s Lou Magor at the keyboard, 8 pm. More info at kenyonhall.org.
MISSION’S 5TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY: We took a closer look at the Admiral District restaurant/bar in this story published Monday; tonight, help its owners celebrate their milestone 5th anniversary, 7 pm.
OTHER NIGHTLIFE: Open turntables at Skylark Cafe and Club at 6 pm (which is offering special Valentine’s Day deals if you haven’t heard), rock trivia at Feedback Lounge at 8 pm (both are WSB sponsors).
Till 5 pm today, the Duwamish Tribe welcomes you to an open house as their West Seattle longhouse celebrates its first anniversary. Duwamish chair Cecile Hansen spoke about an hour and a half ago, saying the tribe has sent a letter to President Obama, trying to accelerate consideration of their longstanding quest for federal recognition – briefly granted during the end of the Clinton Administration, canceled in the early going of the Bush Administration, being fought in court as well as the political arena. While the Duwamish fight for their future, you can also learn about their past – they’re showing the film “Princess Angeline,” about Chief Sealth‘s eldest daughter, twice today, and the next showing is at 3 pm. Or just check out the exhibits – remember its full name is the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center:
The Duwamish Longhouse celebrated its grand opening 1/3/2009 (our reports, with video, are here and here). It’s at 4705 West Marginal Way; here’s a map. (Other upcoming longhouse events are on the calendar here.)
The 1st birthday/anniversary (whichever you prefer) celebration for the Duwamish Longhouse is all day tomorrow – and that’s one of the weekend highlights. The West Seattle Eagles‘ concert to raise money for Haiti relief is also happening this weekend – doors open @ 8 Saturday at their aerie in The Junction – and their counterparts in White Center are having a benefit breakfast on Sunday. There are also three school open houses, a West Seattle Wildlife Habitat Project work party, the South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) “Gifts from the Earth” fundraiser, and TONS more: From tonight through Sunday night, more than 50 events/activities, brought to you by Skylark Cafe and Club, where you’ll find FREE live music and rockin’ food – like the special Valentine brunch and dinner deals just announced:Read More
Story and photos by Mary Sheely
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Alan Harrison is a man with a mission.
More precisely, ArtsWest, the theater and gallery at 4711 California SW, where Harrison is executive director, is an arts organization with a mission – as well as a new production, the Seattle premiere of “Love Song,” which opened tonight.
In fact, the mission, adopted four years ago, is spelled out in detail on the ArtsWest website:
that they require conversation, improve the imagination,
and promote cultural vibrancy as a core value for the communities of West Seattle.
Harrison credits the ArtsWest mission with the organization’s success: more tickets were sold in 2009 than in any year previous. And, like others at ArtsWest, he’s confident that the mission will help ArtsWest overcome recent setbacks. Because although ticket sales were at an all-time high, the revenue they generated still wasn’t enough to cover a drop in donations, which forced the non-profit to cover expenses with their reserve fund.
“The mission is not insignificant for us; we literally talk about it every day,” Harrison says.
The photo’s from two years ago, when we covered the first-ever midwinter break music camp at Denny International Middle School – not just for Denny students. Today, Donna Pierce shares the announcement of this year’s camp:
Band students, 4th through 8th grade: Come make music with friends from schools all over West Seattle during mid-winter break!
All-Star Mid-Winter Break Music Camp
Tues, Feb. 16 – Friday, Feb. 19, 2010 – 9 AM to 3 PM
Grades 4 thru 8
Suggested donation for tuition: $100 (or pay what you can) – Lunch providedThe All-Star Break Camps started in the winter of 2008 to help bridge the gaps from elementary to middle school and from middle school to high school by engaging elementary and middle school students in a fun and educational program led in part by high school mentors. Participants receive group instruction from certificated music teachers and participate in sectionals and small ensembles led by exceptional high school and college musicians. This will be an opportunity for students to develop friendships with kids from different schools and an excellent way to have fun playing music during the midwinter break from school.
Read on for more details, and how to register:Read More
SEAWALL, DELRIDGE SKATEPARK $ AND “DO NOT MAIL” @ COUNCIL: During the Seattle City Council‘s 9:30 am briefing time, Mayor Mike McGinn talks about his proposed property-tax measure to replace the Alaskan Way seawall. During the 2 pm meeting, they’ll take a final vote on Delridge Skatepark funding, plus consider the resolution asking the state to back a “do-not-mail registry.” Agenda here; it’ll all be live on Seattle Channel (cable 21 or online).
WATER TAXI FARES: The new fare schedule outlined here comes up for a public hearing this afternoon at 1:30 before the King County Ferry District board (aka King County Councilmembers), County Courthouse downtown.
OFFICER-BENEFITS BILL: As discussed in coverage of the case of injured-and-losing-benefits Officer Jason McKissack, EHB 1679 comes up for a hearing in the state House Ways and Means Committee in Olympia, 3:30 pm today (scheduled to be live on TVW).
ARTSWEST FREEBIE: Before the Seattle premiere of “Love Song“ opens Wednesday, get behind-the-scenes insight tonight, free, in the On Stage format, 7:30 pm, ArtsWest in The Junction.
ROCK 4 RELIEF POSTER: From West Seattleite Jamie Chamberlin, on behalf of Rock 4 Relief, the concert at Showbox SODO next Thursday night raising money for Haiti quake relief — here’s the official poster, featuring the music lineup:
Chamberlin says the poster’s by West Seattle designer Wes McDowell. As the poster says, it’s $15, 21 and over only, and you can get tickets online by going here.
EASY STREET LIST: From Rod at Easy Street Records, word that a hot Top 50 list is all in one place now – three recent posts on the Easy Street website ran down owner Matt Vaughan‘s choices for the past decade’s Top 50 In-Store Performances (West Seattle and Queen Anne stores) of all time, and they’re now consolidated in one – read the countdown and the memories here (bet you can guess which one – it happened in WS – tops the lineup). And if you like that list – here’s another new compilation of Easy Street lists – staff picks for the best of 2009.
Not too late to jump in and sign up – we’re happy to be co-sponsoring the first Alki edition of Polar Plunge for Special Olympics of Washington and the Law Enforcement Torch Run, this Sunday at Alki – plungers include police, local students, and more! – Sunday is also Dine Out Seattle for Haiti, with five West Seattle restaurants participating last time we looked, including WSB sponsors Feedback Lounge and Skylark Cafe and Club. Saturday – it’s the West Seattleite-organized karaoke benefit at Goldie’s to benefit WS Officer Jason McKissack‘s medical fund (more here) – earlier in the day, school open-house season continues, with the doors swung open at West Seattle Montessori School (WSB sponsor) and Cometa Playschool … Saturday afternoon’s also when you’ll find puppet theater at Alki Bathhouse! From tonight through Sunday night, FIFTY events/activities in all, brought to you by Skylark Cafe and Club, where you’ll find FREE live music and rockin’ food (and don’t forget the Sunday benefit):Read More
Fundraisers for Haiti earthquake relief are high on the weekend list this time around, including cash/check donations accepted at tonight’s free Seattle Symphony concert presented by the West Seattle Kiwanis, a car wash (rain or shine) at Keller Williams in The Junction on Saturday, WSUU soup lunch and “Dogs for Docs” at Beveridge Place Pub on Sunday (silent auction/raffle items needed), ongoing checkstand donations at West Seattle Thriftway, and more. As the weekend goes on, there are also music, dance, art and nature events – just the start of what’s up tonight through Sunday night – more than 40 events/activities in all, brought to you by Skylark Cafe and Club, where you’ll find FREE live music and rockin’ food:Read More
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