West Seattle, Washington
07 Sunday
We’re always happy to hear about young West Seattleites’ achievements – whether the news comes from proud parents, coaches, teachers, or from the youth themselves. This announcement might be a first – a news release about a trio of Denny International Middle School students who are performing on the Skylark Club and Café calendar this Sunday, written by a proud dad who happens to work in PR. What really sells the story is the video – that’s Jet City Metro performing the Nirvana classic “Smells Like Teen Spirit” in their only previous onstage performance, the Denny 6th-grade talent show. And they rocked! Here’s their news release:
Twelve-year-old Jackson Spenser, a student at Denny International Middle School, founded a garage grunge band, Jet City Metro, earlier this year with two 12-year-old friends and fellow students. Their band has never performed in public, or even had an audition, but already they’ve landed a spot on the bill of an Americana-themed “All Ages Solo Show” this coming Sunday afternoon, September 15, at West Seattle’s Skylark Café and Club (3803 Delridge Way SW). [See details at end.]
Formed in April 2013, Jet City Metro has only performed together onstage once. As the closing act, they rocked the Denny 6th Grade Talent Show, on the last day of school this past June, with their hard-charging rendition of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”
During the performance, one Denny teacher danced along to the song onstage — throwing her arms up in the air with abandon — while the panel of teacher-judges started doing the Wave.
So pretty, we wanted to share it here on this foggy morning – Danny McMillin‘s view of Puget Sound, the Olympics, and the Foss tug Pacific Star with a barge post-sunset last night. Meanwhile, it’s the second-to-last Friday the 13th of 2013…
SCHOOL BENEFIT SALE: It’s a big weekend of garage/rummage sales, and one is already under way – until 4 pm, the first day of a 3-day sale benefiting Shorewood Christian School (but not AT the school; it’s at 56th/Charlestown)
BLOOD DONATIONS: Puget Sound Blood Center has a mobile unit at PCC Natural Markets-West Seattle (WSB sponsor) today until 3 pm (closed 11 am-noon), walkups welcome. (California/Stevens)
FAMILY NIGHT AT THE Y: This free event is open to the community, not just West Seattle Family YMCA (WSB sponsor) members – open swim, kids’ gym, more, 6-8 pm. (4515 36th SW)
RESCHEDULED OUTDOOR MOVIE: No chance of rain in tonight’s forecast, so the benefit outdoor screening of “Epic” at Schmitz Park Elementary is back on, as noted here earlier this week. Gates at 6:15 pm, movie around 7:30 pm. (50th/Spokane)
MAGIC SHOW AT ALKI COMMUNITY CENTER: Come to Alki Community Center for this show and be amazed – 6:30 pm; info in our listing. (5817 SW Stevens)
ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION FUNDRAISER: Bunco Night and silent auction at the Senior Center of West Seattle, 7 pm, raising money for Alzheimer’s research – details in our calendar listing. (California/Oregon)
HIGH-SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Two games in West Seattle tonight – both at 7 pm: WSHS vs. Seattle Prep at West Seattle Stadium (4432 35th SW); Chief Sealth vs. Cleveland at SW Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle).
YOM KIPPUR WITH KOL HANESHAMAH: Kol Nidre at 7 pm, St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church. Also find details of tomorrow’s Yom Kippur events on the Kol HaNeshamah (WSB sponsor) website. (California/Hanford)
YOM KIPPUR WITH WEST SEATTLE TLC: 7:15 pm prayer service – details here, including how to RSVP for location info.
Find even more on our calendar!
After almost half a year as interim managing director at ArtsWest, Laura Lee is now its official managing director. Board president Dawn Leverett is quoted in the announcement as saying:
“In the time that Laura has been serving as our Interim Managing Director and providing us with strategic and marketing support, we have experienced unprecedented growth. We have exceeded ticket and revenue goals for every production on our stage, hosted a record-setting annual Gala, reversed our projected deficit to end our year with a modest gain, and have started on a path of rebranding and identity strengthening. But what Laura brings to us is more than just box office successes and fundraising, she has re-energized our staff, Board and even our physical spaces. Her light and focus are leading us into a new era and we are excited for all the changes that are taking place.”
Lee is quoted as saying:
“This is a time of maturity and growth for ArtsWest and I have a firm vision as we move forward. Respecting the past, living in the moment and looking ahead to the future, we are solidifying our niche in the Seattle theatre community and reaching outward to be good business stewards in West Seattle and beyond. We are in the midst of an extensive rebranding effort and there are many exciting changes underway. We are on the cusp of turning something good into something great. I invite you to stay with us as a stronger, more contemporary mission-driven ArtsWest unfolds.”
Lee has 28 years of experience on nonprofit boards as well as being the founder of Production Sports, described as “a sports promotion/production company that has worked with U.S. Figure Skating, USA Gymnastics and the Seattle Sports Commission to bring elite, international, televised events to the Pacific Northwest.” ArtsWest’s gallery and theater are in the middle of some downtime right now, as noted here, but are close to reopening, with the new season starting October 2nd with the co-world premiere of Lauren Gunderson‘s “The Taming.” The physical box office is closed until September 26th, but online sales are happening here.
If you’re among those who still appreciate music on vinyl – West Seattle’s three-time Grammy nominee David Miles Huber has a project that might interest you. It involves the work you can hear by clicking “play” above – a recent live performance of his trademark electronic music that he’s hoping to turn into a record, with the help of crowdfunding. The project is titled “Chamberland: The Berlin Remixes,” and Huber explains:
This project is quite unique, in that it started out life as a studio project, but then took on a new life as a live performance in Berlin. These performances were then captured and transferred back into the studio setting for mixdown, mastering, and further preparation for the Limited Vinyl Edition and special digital download set.
Those who invest in this project will be receiving a whole slew of special gift and quality analog and digital product incentives (more than is actually stated in the listing), plus you’ll be doing your part to help support the year of hard (and rewarding) work that went into making it possible.
“Chamberland” is one of Huber’s Grammy-nominated works; it was up for “Best Surround Sound Album” (but not on vinyl!) earlier this year, same category in which he was nominated in 2009 and 2010. Meantime, for the record project, his Kickstarter page is here.
It’s a big autumn for West Seattle writers/artists publishing books – and we are particularly proud of the one whose book officially went on sale today: Longtime WSB contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli, whose “tiny people in a world of big food” photographs and wry captions now comprise a book titled “Big Appetites.” The first published photo in the series – more than five years ago! – was the one atop this story Christopher wrote for WSB. Since then, the “Big Appetites” series have been showcased in galleries and publications from coast to coast and around the world. And in case you missed the CBS TV feature last weekend:
That’s just one of many stories about Christopher and the new book – and how he creates the photos; several WSB’ers also sent us the link to this NPR story. He’ll be signing “Big Appetites” right here in West Seattle on Thursday night: During the September edition of the West Seattle Art Walk, Christopher will be at Click! Design That Fits (4540 California SW; WSB sponsor). Before then – read about the photo series here – and, in his own words below, what Christopher told us about how this all began, and snowballed:
The original genesis of Big Appetites was in a lot of the media I watched as a child. The concept of scale juxtaposition – with tiny figures in a normal-sized world – seemed to be employed everywhere, in films like The Incredible Shrinking Woman and Honey I Shrunk to Kids, to TV shows like Dr. Shrinker and in endless commercials from the Keebler Elves to the Pillsbury Doughboy to the tiny Ralston Purina chuck wagon that would get chased into the kitchen by a dog. When I was a child I was an avid collector of Matchbox cars, I was constantly building scale models and I also loved electric race car sets and model railroading. In a more contemporary sense, an exhibit I saw at the Saatchi Gallery in London in December 2002 (by the Chapman Brothers) which used tiny figures in large dioramas reignited the idea. I was also inspired by a work called The Travelers by Walter Martin and Paloma Munoz that used similar figures inside snow globes.
The first images I made in this series were done at the end of 2002 and in early 2003 when I still lived in New York City.
That spot on the north side of Westwood Village, between Massage Envy (WSB sponsor) and Staples, will be the new home of the Highline Medical (also a WSB sponsor) clinic that’s moving from Roxbury/17th. We confirmed the Westwood clinic plan on Saturday morning, while covering the Admiral Theater event celebrating the winner of Highline’s student “health tips” billboard-art contest, for which we published the call for votes back in June.
That’s the winning artist, Audrey, who goes to school at Holy Rosary. Her billboard is scheduled to go up this week alongside the West Seattle Bridge – here’s her winning art exhorting everyone to exercise:
Audrey’s win also is a win for her school, which gets a $500 health-education grant.
P.S. The Westwood location is scheduled to open in November; Highline clinics also have name changes in the works because they’ve become part of the Franciscan Health System.
That upcoming event is not in West Seattle but has a “huge West Seattle tie-in,” points out Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) co-proprietor Jeff Gilbert (besides the fact that he designed the poster):
A bunch of Northwest musicians have come together to re-create George Harrison’s landmark 1972 charity concert for Bangladesh on Friday, September 13, at the Hard Rock [9 pm]. And of the 20 performers, half are West Seattle residents. Tickets are $10 advance/$12 day of show, 21+, with all proceeds benefiting Roots Young Adult Shelter and the George Harrison Fund for UNICEF™. This is gonna be epic!
The Hard Rock Café-Seattle is downtown, at 116 Pike; advance tickets are available online here.
A night to remember – and photograph – as West Seattle band Daughters of the Dead Sea played their last show together, last night at Easy Street Records. That’s drummer Mia with the cameraphone; the night was a benefit for singer/guitarist Jen, who is moving back east to be with family as she battles cystic fibrosis, with which she was diagnosed in infancy. Last night’s crowd spilled out of Easy Street, with friends, fans, and family there to rock out and cheer them on:
Here’s a short song on video, featuring Jen:
Along with her music, Jen also has a legion of fans from the job she’s about to leave at Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor); we’re told she plans to work as a teacher in her new hometown.
P.S. Hobosexual and Whiskey Radio were also on last night’s bill. Watch Easy Street’s calendar for more shows coming up!
Meet the young artists whose mini-murals now adorn a dozen traffic-signal boxes/cabinets along Delridge Way SW, from SW Andover to SW Henderson (map). We mentioned the project Thursday night; on Friday afternoon, their three weeks of work concluded with a wrap party. While the celebration was inside Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, where the project was based, everyone took a field trip outside to the site where we photographed them – a painted box across from the south side of Youngstown. Also on hand (at left in the top photo, as well as seen below), artist Andrew Morrison and teacher Tess Gamez, who worked with the youth:
Morrison talked about how the work – for which the young artists were paid, as part of the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture’s Work Readiness Art Program and the Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative – taught life skills, such as showing up on time and taking responsibility to get a job done. Tess talked about how the kids got to be known in the neighborhood while working along the three-mile stretch, and how near the end someone even stopped by with snacks for the kids. Half the mini-murals follow progression of the salmon life cycle, while the rest feature other sea-life themes. Meantime, more mural work is ahead for next year:
Youngstown director David Bestock says larger murals will be painted next summer along that wall facing Delridge, as well as retaining walls in the center’s parking lot, and he’ll be pursuing funding for that work in the meantime. Since Youngstown – the historic Cooper School – is a city landmark, he had to go to the Landmarks Board this month to get approval for those future murals, and he says it was a unanimous “yes” vote. Along with the programs noted above, he points out that this all began in partnership with Southwest Youth and Family Services, Seattle Police, and Seattle Public Utilities.
P.S. Youngstown’s planning a big public open house three weeks from today, Saturday, September 21st, 1-9 pm (including performances during those final three hours) – and would love to show you what’s happening inside the historic school’s walls at 4408 Delridge Way SW.
The octopus at Delridge/Holden is just one of many mini-murals you might have noticed in recent weeks on 12 signal boxes in the area (between Andover and Henderson) – and they’re all thanks to the youth artists of WRAP, the Work Readiness Art Program, which wraps up tomorrow at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. According to this update from the Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association website, the murals are all sea life-inspired. Tomorrow (Friday) afternoon, you can thank some of the artists – and lead artist Andrew Morrison, who’s been working with them – during a “culminating event” at 2 pm in the theater at Youngstown (4408 Delridge Way SW), featuring refreshments, a slideshow of the murals, and a visit to one nearby.
Our video of West Seattle band Daughters of the Dead Sea is from a show at Easy Street Records in The Junction last October. They’ll be back at ESR this Saturday night – but it’ll be the last time, as the band is breaking up. And we’ve learned it’s not only a farewell show; singer/guitarist Jen Stinespring is battling cystic fibrosis, with which she was diagnosed in infancy, and is moving back East to be with her family, so this show is a benefit to help with her medical bills. $10 donation at the door; local fave Hobosexual is on the bill too, and ESR tells us Whiskey Radio has just been added. Show starts at 8 pm Saturday (August 31st) at Easy Street (California/Alaska).
That’s Strong Suit, the band you’ll see onstage at Hiawatha Community Center – east lawn, or in the gym if it rains – Thursday night (August 29th) at 6:30. It’ll be the final show in this year’s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series, presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association, with co-sponsors including WSB. The other outdoor-entertainment series have already wrapped for the year, so bring a blanket and/or chair, even a picnic dinner, and come bid summer farewell with Strong Suit’s guitar-pop sound. It’s been another summer of smash shows, with hundreds on the lawn each Thursday night; we’re likely to hear a series recap when ANA next meets, second Tuesday of the month – September 10th, 7 pm, on the lower level of Admiral Congregational Church (California/Hill).
West Seattle’s own King County Queens held court Friday night at Easy Street Records – three guys named Scott (drummer/singer Scott Vanderpool, guitarist/singer Scott Sutherland, guitarist Scott Muhlbeier) and one honorary Scott (credited on the inside cover as Marsh “Scott” Gooch, bass/vocals). We caught some video while stopping in:
The KC Queens have an official music video, too – see “Krautrock!” here. It’s a cut from their LP “Ladies and Gentlemen, Your King County Queens,” released by Green Monkey Records just last month – you can of course get it at Easy Street. And if you missed the KC Queens this time, they’ll be at the all-day all-night marathon Earfest at Slim’s Last Chance in Georgetown on September 7th at 7 pm.
With Cheryl Serio front and center, The Spyrographs brought retro music to the south side of the Providence Mount St. Vincent campus tonight for the fourth and final free outdoor concert of the summer. A bit of video – “Call Me,” made famous by Petula Clark in the mid-’60s:
We thank The Mount for sponsoring WSB this summer to help get the word out about the series!
P.S. – One more outdoor concert left in West Seattle this season – the final Summer Concerts at Hiawatha show, 6:30 pm next Thursday (August 29th) on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center, with Strong Suit, who you might have seen/heard at this year’s West Seattle Summer Fest. If you’re not headed out for an extended Labor Day weekend trip, we’ll see you there!
Some in the crowd at Hiawatha for Thursday night’s Fly Moon Royalty concert might not realize they were lucky – they were there for what the duo had described earlier as their last live show in this area for quite a while. Here’s a quick snip of video from Instagram:
With Action Jackson providing the beats and background as DJ/producer, Adra Boo is the voice of Fly Moon Royalty:
There’s often something extra at the concerts, and this time around, it was free face painting:
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Next Thursday at 6:30 pm, it’s this year’s finale for the Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series, featuring Strong Suit.
9:56 AM: With early-morning help from Seal Sitters volunteers, a life-size bronze sculpture of a harbor-seal mother and pup is now at its permanent home on the east end of the Alki Beach promenade. The work started early this morning and isn’t done yet – sculptor Georgia Gerber came from Whidbey Island to make sure her creation made it safely into its spot:
The sculpture, funded by grants and donations, is part of the Year of the Seal project, explained here. We’ll be revisiting the installation site later for an update; we’re told it’ll be fenced off for a while so that part of the materials can “set.” More to come.
ADDED: As promised, we went back to check:
We found volunteers Ralph and Betty in the process of what you might call sculpture-sitting; the installation will remain taped off until sometime Friday.
Here’s what’s ahead for West Seattle’s weekly free summer entertainment events this week – two of which are season finales:
SUMMER CONCERTS AT HIAWATHA: Still two more shows to go in this series, with Fly Moon Royalty onstage tomorrow (Thursday) night, 6:30 pm, as the Admiral Neighborhood Association-presented concerts (with co-sponsors including WSB) continue on the east lawn at Hiawatha (along Walnut Ave. south of Lander).
CONCERTS AT THE MOUNT: It’s ’60s nostalgia at 6 pm Friday night as The Spyrographs take the stage for this year’s fourth and final outdoor concert on the south side of the Providence Mount St. Vincent (4831 35th SW; WSB sponsor) campus. On the menu for (optional) dinner at 5:30 pm – salmon or chicken Caesar salad.
WEST SEATTLE OUTDOOR MOVIES: Saturday is the grand finale for this summer’s series (with co-sponsors including WSB), with the ’80s classic “This Is Spinal Tap” screening Saturday at dusk (around 8:30 pm; gates open at 6:30) on the big screen next to Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (4410 California SW; WSB sponsor). The movie’s free, but if you can, please bring $ for concessions and raffle supporting local nonprofits.
Separate from our ongoing festival previews for this weekend, here’s what’s ahead for the weekly free summer entertainment events this week:
SUMMER CONCERTS AT HIAWATHA: Massy Ferguson (seen above in our clip from the Hiawatha series two years ago) performs tomorrow (Thursday) night, 6:30 pm, in the fourth of this year’s Admiral Neighborhood Association-presented concerts (with co-sponsors including WSB) on the east lawn at Hiawatha (along Walnut Ave. south of Lander).
CONCERTS AT THE MOUNT: The 85th Street Big Band takes the stage on the south side of the Providence Mount St. Vincent (4831 35th SW; WSB sponsor) campus, 6 pm Friday. On the menu for (optional) dinner at 5:30 pm – steak, potato, and coconut-cream pie!
WEST SEATTLE OUTDOOR MOVIES: Second-to-last screening of this summer’s series (with co-sponsors including WSB), so if you haven’t been yet … the classic “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure” (trailer above) is this week’s feature, Saturday at dusk (just after 8:30 pm; gates open at 6:30) on the big screen next to Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (4410 California SW; WSB sponsor). Bring $ for concessions and raffle, both of which support local nonprofits.
More changes for ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery, which is undergoing a leadership transition. For one – see the new logo at left, explained by interim managing director Laura Lee: “”Our new logo tells the ArtsWest story. The square of our old logo is still visible, as we are not rebuilding a completely new ArtsWest, but instead heading into the next stage of our growth with more confidence and maturity. The square is now a three-sided box, representing the three facets of ArtsWest – our theater, gallery and education programs – and is also the physical shape of our thrust stage. The open fourth side invites us to consider the fourth wall as our audience, our community and possibilities yet to be defined. Our lettering is purposefully moving us outside of the box. The word ‘Arts’ is highlighted in orange – a bright, in your face color – just as we too fall into that realm, and the word ‘West’ is to the literal west, reminding us all of our location and roots in West Seattle.” Meantime, ArtsWest is updating its gallery/theater spaces at 4711 California SW, Lee says, and will be closed until September 26th, when she promises that “a more contemporary, cleaner and fresher ArtsWest will greet the public.” (Tickets for upcoming productions are still on sale online and by phone during the closure.)
At least several times a week, our daily calendar-highlights preview here on WSB features a \wildlife photo. One frequent contributor, Trileigh Tucker, is currently sharing even more of her work with the community – some of Trileigh’s photos are on display right now at the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor), including images from outside West Seattle – as far away as Antarctica! – as well as local scenes. You don’t have to be a member to come in and see the display, Trileigh says (though it’s Y policy to check IDs for security). Hours are 5:30 am-10 pm Mondays-Fridays, 7 am -6 pm Saturdays, 10 am-8 pm Sundays, through the end of next month, at the Y’s headquarters in The Triangle (36th/Snoqualmie).
(Thanks to Craig Young for the eagle photo, from the Admiral District on Wednesday)
Unlike last Friday – we have the sun with us for today/tonight – and these highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
ALKI FUN FEST: Games, prizes, more family fun at Alki Community Center, 5-7 pm (with a charge for wristbands) – details on the Special Events page of the summer brochure for local parks/community centers. (5817 SW Stevens)
SUMMER CONCERTS AT THE MOUNT: The series opener moved indoors last week – tonight, the regular outdoor venue on the south side of the Providence Mount St. Vincent (WSB sponsor) campus should be the perfect spot for the second of four free Friday night concerts! Convergence Zone Bluegrass Band performs at 6 pm; free snow cones and popcorn; and if you’re interested in dinner (optional, on sale at 5:30 pm), see tonight’s menu here. (4831 35th SW)
‘GUYS AND DOLLS’: 7:30 pm, second weekend begins for Twelfth Night Productions‘ “Guys and Dolls” at the West Seattle High School Theater; details in the listing. (3000 California SW)
‘ONCE UPON A MATTRESS’: Cheer for the young performers in this summer’s ArtsWest conservatory production, 7:30 pm, details in our calendar listing. (4711 California SW)
LEO GUNN: Performing at The Cask, 8 pm. (2350 California SW)
FLAT 5: Billed as the “all-time most-requested band” at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), they’re there tonight starting at 9:30 pm. (6451 California SW)
And as always, you’ll find even more listed on the calendar!
On the stage on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center, playing to hundreds of people enjoying another perfect summer evening, that’s Impossible Bird in our short Instagram video clip. (added) And here’s a full song:
Summer Concerts at Hiawatha aren’t just about the music – there’s lots happening on the sidelines, like Joyful the Clown making balloon animals for kids:
Merrill Gardens-Admiral Heights (WSB sponsor) is presenting Joyful tonight. Other freebies include popsicles from the Admiral Neighborhood Association, which presents the concert series – here’s past and current presidents Katy Walum and David Whiting:
Katy organizes the concert series, now in its fifth year (and we’re proud to have been a sponsor every year since the start). Yet more freebies tonight – coffee and iced tea from Starbucks, and peaches from Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor), which is now in its Peach-O-Rama mode. Plus: West Seattle’s own Marty Riemer is tonight’s emcee:
He told the crowd that Impossible Bird has been on his podcast many times – they’re making beautiful music onstage while families, friends, and neighbors visit. The free concert continues until 8 or so – if you’re not here already, c’mon over.
P.S. Next week, same time/place, it’s Massy Ferguson, for the fourth of this year’s six Thursday night concerts. And there’s more outdoor music in West Seattle tomorrow – the second of four concerts on the south side of Providence Mount St. Vincent, featuring the Convergence Zone Bluegrass Band; the 6 pm concert is free, and dinner’s available for purchase (menu here).
That’s Impossible Bird, the duo you’ll hear at this week’s free Summer Concerts at Hiawatha show – 6:30 pm Thursday on the lawn east of the community center, along Walnut Avenue SW south of SW Lander. This is the third of this year’s six concerts, presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association and sponsored by local businesses and organizations including WSB. Haven’t been? BYO chair(s) and/or blanket(s), come stake out a spot on the lawn, bring dinner if you feel like it – it’s a casual event, not a “sit down and sit still” type of atmosphere; usually people of all ages are dancing, chatting, visiting the sponsor tables along the edge of the lawn … come late and leave early, come early and leave late. The weather promises to be perfect once more. See the full season lineup here.
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