West Seattle, Washington
31 Friday
Last week, we shot that video of West Seattle resident and South Seattle Community College faculty member Mike Hickey reading during one of the two forums for Seattle Poet Populist candidates, and we invited you again to vote. Just checked the Poet Populist website for word of results – and we discovered that Mike won! Congratulations! Here are the final vote totals. A celebration is set for 7 pm next Friday @ Hugo House. ADDED 2:56 PM FRIDAY: Publishing this story reminded us that we had video of King County’s Poet Laureate, Dr. Mona Lake Jones, from a White Center event earlier this week, and hadn’t posted it. She spoke during the YWCA Learning Center/King County Library branch ribboncutting at Greenbridge, on 8th SW just south of Roxbury, and she was fabulous. Click ahead to see our clip of her entire 6-minute poem/speech – or just check out the start to at least see what she’s all about:
Almost 5 months after it closed for major upgrades of systems including water heating, air circulation, and electrical service, Southwest Pool reopens at noon today (here’s our preview from yesterday) … The centennial celebration at Fauntleroy Church (WSB sponsor) continues with the Fauntleroy Art Show, open to the public in the church’s fellowship hall 7:30-9 tonight and 10 am-4 pm tomorrow (long list of artists; see it here) … High-school football tonight: Chief Sealth hosts Lakeside at Southwest Athletic Complex, 7 pm (congratulations to Seattle Lutheran for a 53-0 win over Evergreen Lutheran last night; West Seattle HS plays Enumclaw @ Memorial Stadium tomorrow) … Many more events in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup, which we’ll publish later this morning.
Post-election and pre-(potential) weathermania, are you ready for some laughs? We’re welcoming a new sponsor – Twelfth Night Productions, opening “Bullshot Crummond” tomorrow night at Youngstown Arts Center. Here’s the official announcement:
“Before there was Austin Powers, before there was James Bond, there was … Bullshot Crummond! International man of action! … well … British man of action! … well … he certainly is British. Twelfth Night Productions presents Bullshot Crummond, a parody of the British pulp hero Bulldog Drummond, written by Ron House, Diz White, John Neville-Andrews, Alan Shearman, and Derek Cunningham. Bullshot Crummond was before James Bond and before special effects, providing much of the fun in this hilarious send up of 1930s low budget “B” action movies. The action opens with Teutonic villain Otto von Brunno and his evil mistress Lenya as they crash their plane in the English countryside and kidnap Professor Fenton, who has discovered a formula for making synthetic diamonds. Bullshot Crummond is called to the rescue and hilarity insues. Come see Bullshot Crummond as he saves the world one blunder at a time. Bullshot Crummond runs for a special two-week engagement at the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (map) in West Seattle, formerly historic Cooper School. Showtimes are: November 7, 8, 14, 15 at 7:30 PM, and November 9, 16 matinees at 3 PM. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students & seniors, and are available through Brown Paper Tickets (brownpapertickets.com/event/46871) and at the Youngstown theater box office one hour before showtime on performance days.” We wish the Twelfth Night Productions crew a jolly good run for “Bullshot Crummond,” and thank them for sponsoring WSB to get out the word; the complete current list of sponsors is on this page along with info on how to join them!
Reminder that just ’cause Halloween’s over, the fun isn’t. Right now, till 6 pm, Furry Faces Foundation invites you to go play casino-style recreational games at Beveridge Place Pub, which has been transformed into Catsino for the occasion (animal-advocacy fundraising). And Skeleton Theatre (see our clip in this Halloween roundup from last night) has encore performances tonight between 6 and 9 pm. Plus – live theater, anyone? “Black Gold” is at ArtsWest, 7:30 tonight, 3 pm tomorrow – here’s a production photo by Matt Durham, followed by a plot synopsis:
“Black Gold,” which is in its world-premiere run at AW, is described as: “What happens when an African-American man in Detroit buys an oil rig on eBay and discovers oil right under his own backyard? Will the poor get rich or will the rich just get richer? Six actors play over 80 roles in this fast-paced, political satire of class, race and government-gone-berserk.” Many more entertainment opportunities for today/tonight/tomorrow on our West Seattle Weekend Lineup list.
Feedback Lounge, you may recall, is what’s in progress at the old Beveridge Place Pub space in Morgan Junction, next to the ex-Corner Inn/future Zeeks Pizza space. Just found this new MySpace blog update from its proprietors, saying they’re still targeting January for opening, and that they’ve hired “99%” of their staff.
Meantime, in the “recently opened” department, The Bohemian has updates to share. When we heard they’d launched live music, we asked them to let us know as soon as there were specific listings on The Bohemian’s website – and word just came in, those listings are up now; see them here, with details on some of the regular musicians and other artists here. Jason and Terri tell us they’re also launching Jazz Sunday Brunch on November 9th, 10 am-3 pm, with “daytime lunches” soon to follow.
COMING UP: New information about Fresh Bistro, the restaurant that’ll be a big part of the ground floor of Mural, the Harbor Properties project across from Jefferson Square.
West Seattle artist Kay Kirkpatrick is about to see her work “Salute” (design at left) installed at Boise State University‘s expanded student union, during a Veterans’ Day commemoration. “Salute” is a veterans’ memorial, created from a design chosen by BSU’s art advisory board after a search that initially targeted thousands of artists; the Nov. 11 ceremony will include an Apache helicopter flyover. Kirkpatrick has public-art installations much closer to home – most notably at the Southwest Precinct, with interior and exterior pieces (including the building’s stone “sign” at Delridge/Webster) that reference nearby Longfellow Creek (see photos here).
Now to a West Seattle author who’ll be at centerstage in Oregon next month: North Admiral resident Michael 
Stusser (photo at right) sends word he’s reading from his book “The Dead Guy Interviews” at the WordStock Festival, 5 pm November 9th at the Oregon Convention Center. He says, “It’s an amazing gathering of authors, hippies and literary types in Portland – if you – or anyone you know is within 400 miles that weekend, you should check it out.” Given that Portland is fewer than 200 miles away, that means all of us. Here’s a page on the WordStock website featuring his “interview” with Mark Twain.
Straight from the semi-fabulous vinyl collection at WSB HQ, that’s some of what co-publisher Patrick hopes he might get a chance to spin during the second monthly “Open Turntables” night tonight at Skylark Cafe and Club (WSB sponsor) – and if you have those old school things known as “records,” you’re invited to come down too. As proprietor Jessie Summa-Kusiak explained in her initial announcement: “You’ve got a lonely collection of vinyl — from hand-me-down gems to awesome yard sale finds. We’ve got the Technics turntables, atmosphere, and late night happy hour prices to turn your secret DJ dreams into reality. It’s easy and fun!” Bring “half an hour’s worth of vinyl and some friends to witness your debut”; signups start at 9 pm, the spinning continues till Skylark closes at 2, and the “late-night happy hour” is from 9 till 1. Skylark’s at 3803 Delridge (map).
HIGHLAND PARK ACTION COMMITTEE: Monthly meeting at 7 pm tonight, at the Highland Park Improvement Club building — if you live in HP (map here), this is YOUR neighborhood group, with a lot going on that you can find out about, and help with, by showing up. Friday night, same location, it’s Highland Park Halloween, 5:30-8:30 pm (spooky scoop here; more West Seattle Halloween goodness here).
POET POPULIST CONTENDERS: We mentioned a month ago that two West Seattleites are in the running to be Seattle’s next Poet Populist. Tonight, one of them, South Seattle Community College‘s Mike Hickey — along with six other contenders — will read (and answer questions) during PP “Candidate Forum #2” at Youngstown Arts Center, 7 pm, free. Meantime, you’ve got one more week (till 11/4) to cast your vote here.
Not only is it Hallo-weekend — a weekend full of Halloween events, even though the actual day isn’t till NEXT Friday – today and tomorrow mark the first-ever West Seattle screenings for the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival (WSB sponsor), plus there’s a parliamentary workshop Saturday, a Nia class Sunday to raise money for Northwest Hope and Healing‘s work helping breast-cancer patients, drumming to call the salmon home to Fauntleroy Creek on Sunday — and a holiday bazaar happening RIGHT NOW — those are among 48 West Seattle events on our handy list ahead:Read More
Friday-Saturday, SLGFF (WSB sponsor) has its first-ever West Seattle showings, at the Admiral Theater; again tonight, we’re giving away two tickets – read on for the how-to:Read More
This Friday and Saturday, the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival (WSB sponsor) includes screenings in West Seattle, for the very first time. For the second night in a row, we’re giving away two pairs of tickets – but not exactly the same way as last night: Tonight we’re spotlighting two of the documentaries that will be shown at the Admiral, both on Saturday: “Equality U” at noon Saturday, and “The Kinsey Sicks: Almost Infamous” at 4:30 Saturday. Festival organizers tell us “Equality U” (here’s its official website) received a standing ovation from audiences in San Francisco and L.A. Its director Dave O’Brien will be at the Admiral screening on Saturday, and free tickets have been offered to West Seattle High School’s Gay/Straight Alliance student group. “Kinsey Sicks” (here’s its official website) is as much comedy as documentary – and directors Alonzo Ruvalcaba and Ken Bielenberg are expected at the Admiral showing too. OK, so now – tonight’s giveaway. Courtesy of SLGFF, each night we’re giving away two pairs of tickets – one pair per winner – to either of those documentaries. First two people to e-mail us are the winners. Use this e-mailbox: westseattleblog@yahoo.com – include the name under which you want the tickets to be held at “will call” at the Admiral on the date/time of the showing you choose, as well as whether you want the tickets for “Equality U” or “Kinsey Sicks.” We’ll add an update to the end of this post as soon as tonight’s tickets have been won to let you know the giveaway is over – then, two more pairs tomorrow night. Good luck! 11:58 PM UPDATE: Tonight’s tickets have been won.
This Friday and Saturday, the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival (WSB sponsor) includes screenings in West Seattle, for the very first time. Friday night begins with “Tough Girls: Shorts“ at 6 pm, followed by “The Sensei” at 7:30 pm and “A Nightmare on Elm Street 2” at 10 pm; on Saturday, the first showing is the documentary “Equality U” at noon, followed by “The New World” at 2:30 pm, the documentary “The Kinsey Sicks: Almost Infamous” at 4:30, “Dogtags” at 7 pm, “Camp Blood: Shorts” at 9 pm, then a special “Rocky Horror Picture Show” presentation at 11:30. OK, so now – the giveaway. Tonight, tomorrow, and Wednesday, courtesy of SLGFF, each night we’re giving away two pairs of tickets – one pair per winner per night – to the movie of your choice (with the exception of “The Sensei” and “Rocky Horror,” which are expected to be hot tickets). We’re making this mondo easy – first two people to e-mail us are the winners. Use this e-mailbox: westseattleblog@yahoo.com – include the name under which you want the tickets to be held at “will call” at the Admiral on the date/time of the showing you choose, as well as which movie you want the tickets for. We’ll add an update to the post as soon as we can once tonight’s tickets have been won – then, two more pairs tomorrow. Good luck! 9:31 PM UPDATE: Tickets given away for tonight – be here again tomorrow night, when we’ll have two more to give away!
As mentioned in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup (and elsewhere), the Fauntleroy Fall Festival is tomorrow – with activities spread out among the Fauntleroy Church and YMCA (both WSB sponsors) and schoolhouse for four jampacked hours, 2-6 pm. Among the entertainers: Seattle Civic Dance Theatre, which is presenting a series of miniperformances of its ballet “The Magical Doll Maker,” starting with one during the Fall Festival, 4:30 pm tomorrow in the church Fellowship Hall. (The full “Magical Doll Maker” performance is set for December 21st at Highline Performing Arts Center; more info at civicdancers.org or 206/938-3062.)
Festival season is practically year-round these days. This Sunday afternoon, it’s the biggest Fauntleroy event of the year – the Fauntleroy Fall Festival at Fauntleroy Church (WSB sponsor), YMCA (WSB sponsor), and schoolhouse. Other weekend highlights include the West Seattle High School and Seattle Lutheran HS homecoming games, the West Seattle Trails kickoff, and MUCH more — 42 West Seattle events on our handy list ahead (sponsored by Skylark Club and Cafe, with free live music six nights a week):Read More
We mentioned it when Skylark Cafe and Club joined the WSB sponsor team a few weeks back – but tonight’s the night so we’re mentioning it again: The first Trivia Night at Skylark. Proprietor Jessie Summa-Kusiak is your host; she’s presenting a four-round trivia contest every Wednesday night , 7 pm to 9 pm, sign up your team starting at 6:30. Jessie adds: “There is no minimum team size. $3 per person entry fee, cash prizes and more for the winning!” Skylark’s on the west side of Delridge, just south of The Bridge (map). (Skylark’s also doing “Come As You Aren’t” Halloween again this year – read about it on the Skylark calendar page.)
We introduced you last Saturday to the Westside Wildcats junior-football team (shown above during a recent practice at Madison Middle School); they play at home again today, with games all day starting at 9 am at West Seattle Stadium, so if the weather kept you from going out and cheering for them last Saturday, check ’em out today. Other highlights this weekend include the Thrill-O Pillowfest family overnight TONIGHT at Hiawatha, the Sunrise Heights Neighborhood Association dance, the SSCC Plant Sale, another Blessing of the Animals –. all part of the 41 West Seattle events on our handy list ahead (sponsored by Skylark Club and Cafe, with free live music six nights a week):Read More
Just last night, we told you about the Admiral Theater’s latest efforts to broaden the offerings at the historic venue, and tonight we welcome one of them as a new WSB sponsor: 
The Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, with a schedule involving screenings at the Admiral later this month. Here’s what the festival’s organizers want you to know: “Three Dollar Bill Cinema is thrilled to bring the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival to West Seattle¹s Admiral Theater, Oct 24-25. There¹s something for everyone in the slate of programs we¹ve lined up for our first-ever foray into West Seattle, from features focusing on family values (THE SENSEI and THE NEW WORLD) to engaging documentaries (EQUALITY U and THE KINSEY SICKS) and edgy short films (TOUGH GIRLS). From dancing zombies to trick-or-treaters, the Halloween spirit is sweeping West Seattle during our weekend at The Admiral, and we¹re joining the celebration with several spooky programs, including: CAMP BLOOD, a fun collection of creepy and comical short films; the slasher classic with a queer subtext A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 2: FREDDY¹S REVENGE; and a very special edition of a long-running West Seattle tradition, THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW. We hope to make this first of many years that the festival finds success in West Seattle. For more information on all programs and a complete guide to the entire festival, including screenings, parties and events all over town, visit www.threedollarbillcinema.org.” Thanks to the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival for joining the WSB sponsor team; the full list is on this page along with information for anyone interested in becoming part of it; we also thank everyone for their strong support of all the WSB sponsors who make it possible for us to bring you West Seattle news 24/7.
That’s some of what we found in the Art Lending Library at Youngstown Arts Center, which opened tonight as part of the monthly West Seattle Art Walk. The folks there tell us they plan quarterly Art Walk open houses, so the next one’s expected in January. Youngstown is among the newest of the recordsetting 43 participating venues; the Art Walk started in The Junction but now has moved far beyond, adding Delridge venues like Youngstown as well as Alki participants and, in Admiral, participants include Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor), where we caught up with photographer Karen Derby:
We interviewed Karen for this story last month about her long and challenging recovery from injuries suffered when her motorcycle collided with a minivan in Westwood almost four months ago. Turns out she used to work with Click! proprietors John and Frances Smersh. She’s got two more months left to wear a cast; because of reconstruction work on her mangled right leg, she’s had to wear loose clothing like skirts most of the time, but during the Art Walk, she happily told us, “Today is the third time in four months I was able to wear jeans!” You can see her photography at Click! all month; it’s being sold commission-free to help Karen raise money for her continuing medical expenses. Meantime, mark your calendar for the next West Seattle Art Walk, November 13th.
Ever been upstairs at the Admiral Theater? It’s been roped off as long as we can remember. But this Saturday night, when a triple-bill concert enables the Admiral’s new management to launch a new era in its alter-ego as a live-music venue, patrons will be able to enjoy the newly christened Crow’s Nest Lounge. Read on to find out more about the lounge, Saturday’s big show, and what else the Admiral has up its sleeve:Read More
Back in May, we brought you first word of West Seattle’s first-ever Art Lending Library, which made its debut at Youngstown Arts Center during Delridge Day, explained here by Seth Damm, who just sent word of an upcoming opportunity to try it out:
For all those who didn’t get a chance to participate in the first Art Lending Library, good news, we will be open one night only coming up this Thursday, October 9th from 6 to 9 pm in conjunction with the West Seattle Art Walk. Come down to the Youngstown Cultural Center (4408 Delridge SW) , browse our collection of local artwork, sign up for a library card if you don’t already have one, and select a piece for free delivery later in the month.
Youngstown is one of the newest additions to the monthly Art Walk lineup and is now one of two venues on Delridge (joining Bubbles); here’s the full list of who’s participating Thursday night (as well as during the November and December Art Walks).
Faith-based activities abound this weekend – Seattle CROP Walk in the Alki area on Sunday (WSB 2007 photo above); two chances to have your pet(s) blessed; Holy Rosary‘s annual Alumni Sunday … Meantime, tonight and tomorrow are the final performances of “The Vertical Hour” at ArtsWest, and the weekend even offers a chance to press cider with neighbors. 41 events on our handy list ahead:Read More
That’s Jessie Summa-Kusiak, proprietor of Skylark Club and Cafe, standing next to her menus (the only ones we know of where WSB is mentioned, thanks to the tater tots and their nod in this popular post). Skylark has just joined WSB to sponsor the West Seattle Weekend Lineup every Friday (you can always find the latest one here). She says Skylark is all about “beverages, food, and entertainment.” On the first count – 13 new drink specials, 11 beers on tap, one hard cider.
On the second count (menus here) – her recommendations include mac and cheese, meatloaf, SFV sandwich, or if you’re dieting, the grilled chicken spinach salad, though she also notes they’re “baking delicious desserts from scratch, and we offer not just lunch and dinner 6 nights a week but weekend brunch Saturday AND Sunday.” Plus, she’s got a lunch punch card; after 7, #8 is on the house. Re: entertainment (calendar here) – “Free live music 6 nights a week, closed Mondays. Mostly local original acts, all genres. We link to music clips on our website so neighbors can listen to a sample before deciding whether to head down. Lots of opportunities for YOU to be the rockstar. Karaoke, open mic, open tease, open turntables. Kids are welcome until 11 pm on Sundays for our all-ages show (and before 9 pm every other night).” Jessie moved to West Seattle 11 years ago and opened Skylark two years ago (she was previously a manager at Amazon). She elaborates: “My husband Charles and I met as I was forming a band here in the late 90s (he was my bass player), and we discovered that we had an odd thing in common. Both our fathers supported the family growing up in the 70s by playing guitar in rock bands. His dad was in a disco/funk cover band that played in Atlantic City, mine fronted an original jazz-fusion band in Boston. My dad currently is a composer and does film scores for Errol Morris. (johnkusiak.com; a movie he scored, “Secrecy,” screens at the Northwest Film Forum Oct. 10-16) I’ve been booking bands since college and I managed Ladyfest Seattle 2004. I always wanted my own club, even when I lived in Boston. Here in WS I also realized there was a need for a laid-back, neighborhood place that wasn’t too upscale or intimidating. All the new places going in at the Junction seemed so fancy. Also I wanted to create a place where a woman could go, alone, and have a drink and read or work on her laptop or whatever without being hit on or feeling weird. That we do have solo female regulars tells me I’ve succeeded in creating the right ambience. No TV was another requirement, since I find TVs so distracting when I’m out with friends. Exceptions are games and elections, of course … we’re planning a big election day party (cancelling karaoke for the night) and we’ll have the results projected on a big screen as they come in.” She’s launching weekly Trivia Nights on 10/15 and doing monthly Open Turntable nights (mentioned here; next one is 10/28). Welcome to Skylark Cafe and Club, 3803 Delridge (map); look for its banner atop the West Seattle Weekend Lineup tomorrow morning. Meantime, thanks for your support of all the WSB sponsors who make it possible for us to bring you fresh West Seattle news/information/discussion 24/7; they’re all listed here along with information on how to join them.
Tonight, 9:30 pm, bring your singing voice to Bamboo on Alki for the second and final audition round of “Alki Idol.” Want to see who won the first audition session last week? The list, and videos, are posted here.
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