West Seattle, Washington
31 Friday
(‘Instrument petting zoo’ from Seattle Super String Saturday presented by SYSO)
Once again this year, students in our area are gaining musical mentorship courtesy of the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra – and that’ll include another Super String Saturday event for the community – read on for SYSO’s update on what’s ahead:
This week Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra (SYSO) begins its fifth year of providing professional musicians to coach beginning violin, viola, cello and bass players in the elementary schools in Southwest Seattle – Arbor Heights, Concord International, Highland Park, Roxhill, Sanislo and West Seattle Elementary Schools – as well as at Denny International Middle School, completely free of charge to the schools and the students’ families.
Professional musicians Kim Roy, Begin Scarseth, Daniel Mullikin and Jared Ballance bring their expertise as teachers and performers to the classroom. These talented musician-educators have served as university music faculty and private teachers, as well as having performed with such local and regional orchestras as Northwest Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Rock Orchestra, and Tacoma Symphony Orchestra. In Southwest Seattle, they collaborate with Seattle Public School music teachers to enhance violin, viola, cello and string bass instruction.
In the six elementary schools, SYSO coaches co-teach with Elementary Instrumental Music teacher Casey Cheever, who is himself a SYSO alumnus. Mr. Cheever worked with SYSO coaches last year and explains the impact of this program for both himself and his students:
(January 2011 photo)
The Kiwanis Club of West Seattle has just sent word of another free West Seattle community concert by the Seattle Symphony: 7:30 pm October 11th (one week from Friday) – second one this year:
Stilian Kirov, conductor
Alexander Lu, piano
Seattle SymphonyMOZART: Divertimento in D major
MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major
TCHAIKOVSKY: Serenade for StringsChief Sealth International High School
2600 SW ThistleThis concert is presented as part of the Seattle Symphony’s Family, School & Community programs, which are supported by 4Culture, ArtsWA, The Boeing Company, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Foundation, The Clowes Fund, Inc., Fales Foundation Trust, Elizabeth McGraw Foundation, Peach Foundation, Peg and Rick Young Foundation, Seattle Office of Arts & Culture, The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation, Snoqualmie Tribe, Ten Grands Seattle and Wyman Youth Trust.
No RSVP required – just show up!
Seahawks game is over – the potential windstorm is a few hours away – perfect time to get out and go wish Diane Venti well, on the final day for the original location of Alki Arts, which she and husband Tom Wyrick opened more than three years ago. It was expected to be “temporary” – but then suddenly, there they were, celebrating one year in business, then marking two years in business, and gaining fans not only for the art, but also for events both public and private. But two months ago, Diane announced they’d been notified the “temporary” lease was finally ending, and today is their final day – drop by before 7 pm, and/or catch up with them in the future at their other “temporary” location – Alki Arts at Harbor Steps (55 University St. downtown).
Just spotted that beautiful photo of last night’s sunset on the WSB Flickr group home page; thanks to Chris Frankovich for sharing it. Not sure if we can count on anything like that tonight, as showery weather is leading us to the first full weekend of fall. Calendar highlights for today/tonight:
WEST SEATTLE GARDEN CLUB: See the schedule for today’s 10 am-2 pm meeting in our calendar listing, including a talk titled “Awaken Your Inner Farmer”; drop in for all or part of the meeting at Daystar Retirement Village. (2615 SW Barton)
TASTINGS: Wine tasting 1-4 pm at Northwest Wine Academy on the South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) campus (6000 16th SW) … Beer, cider, cheese tasting event at Metropolitan Market-Admiral (WSB sponsor), 4-7 pm (41st/42nd/Admiral) … Bin 41 in The Junction has a Friday night tasting as always – details on its website. (California south of Alaska)
RAINBOW BINGO: It’s “crazy hat” theme night for Rainbow Bingo at the Senior Center of West Seattle (WSB sponsor) – details in our calendar listing, including the number to call ASAP to see if reservations remain! Bingo @ 7 pm. (California/Oregon)
HIGH-SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Tonight, West Seattle High School is back at Memorial Stadium downtown with a 5 pm game against Cleveland … Chief Sealth International High School is again home at Southwest Athletic Complex, facing Bishop Blanchet at 7 pm. (2801 SW Thistle)
LOTS OF LIVE MUSIC: Check the calendar to see who’s playing where (and please let us know who we’re missing – thanks!)
What a field trip for Pathfinder K-8‘s Turtle Clan kindergarteners and teacher Jennifer Niemann! We mentioned last night that they were headed downtown to perform on KEXP with West Seattle’s own kid-music superstar Caspar Babypants – and tipster Steve has kindly shared photos and a report:
What a day! The kids had a blast and I think the parents may have had an even better time. John was awesome with the kids and of course Caspar was amazing. We got a tour including a visit from Moby, who was next up on the morning show. The whole staff at the station was just great. And all before 9:45 in the morning.
We found their performance in the KEXP online archives – go here and if you choose to launch the player at 9:15 am, it’ll be right in the middle of a song – or, launch at 9:00 am and listen until they come up.
Thanks to Steve for the tip: When Caspar Babypants (himself a West Seattleite, as you probably know) performs live on KEXP radio tomorrow (Thursday) morning at 9 am, he’ll have special guests – Turtle Clan kindergarteners from Pathfinder K-8 in Pigeon Point will be singing with him sometime before 9:30 am (maybe as early as 8:45, we’re told). We haven’t found the whole story behind this yet, but we hear it has to do with a contest; Steve sends props to their teacher, Jennifer Niemann. KEXP is at 90.3 FM and live online at kexp.org.
They’re starting rehearsals a little later in the fall than usual, but the West Seattle Community Orchestras are excited as ever to welcome new and returning musicians when everything gets going two weeks from today – here’s the announcement:
The West Seattle Community Orchestras, WSCO, will be opening the fall rehearsal season on Tuesday, October 8th (delayed 2 weeks from earlier plans), with Orchestras at 3 levels, Beginning Classes for Adults in strings, winds and percussion, and Small Ensembles for upper-level musicians.
Community members young and old are invited to participate; students always participate without charge. Orchestra levels range from those just beginning, with one year or more of experience, to accomplished musicians. Each group participates in at least one performance per season.
Rehearsals will begin at Chief Sealth International High School on Tuesday, October 8th. For more information: WSCOrchestras.org
The school is at 2600 SW Thistle.
For the rest of the day and into tonight, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW) invites you to stop by and see what’s up – art, music, more. You might have driven by the historic brick ex-schoolhouse many times without ever stopping in, and this is your chance, since it’s been ramping up activities and community engagement under new management. The arts at Youngstown include performing arts as well as visual arts – above, aerialists with The Cabiri are getting ready for this year’s “Ghost Game” shows (starting October 25th); below, Mary Springer from Twelfth Night Productions:
It’s an open house at Youngstown until 6, then performances commence, all free and open to the public – whether you’ve been there before or not, even if you only have a little time to spare, stop in and see for yourself!
It’s a two-part party benefiting the West Seattle Food Bank tomorrow – including Branden Daniel and The Chics, showcased here last year when they came out with the West Seattle/West Seattleite-laden video above – here’s the update we just received:
There’s still spots open to golf in Easy Street’s golf tournament and they have now opened the After Party to the public. All proceeds to the West Seattle Food Bank!
Continuing its 25th Anniversary celebrations, Easy Street Records is holding its first Golf Tournament and After Party on Friday, September 20th — all proceeds to benefit the West Seattle Food Bank. [Whether you are golfing or not …] You are invited to join the After Party at 7:00 pm featuring NW garage band Branden Daniel & The Chics, who sound like a “Detroit garage built from a Rolling Stones r&b foundation and the rhythmic supports of classic NW garage staples, The Kingsmen.” Just bring a non-perishable item (or items!) for donation to the West Seattle Food Bank. Non-perishable donations for the food bank will be accepted throughout the weekend at the store.
The tournament starts at 10 am tomorrow (9 am check-in) at West Seattle Golf Course – here’s how to sign up:
E-mail golf@easystreetonline.com and include the following information
* Total number of players ($75 per player)
* Registrant name
* Names of all additional players
* Registrant e-mail & phone number
You’ll have to bring cash or check for the fee when you show up at the golf course tomorrow.
Hard to find comedy in West Seattle’s nightlife – but this Wednesday (September 18) will be an oasis of laughter at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) with six comics on one bill – headlined by West Seattle’s own Mona Concepcion. The “Fantasy Island” theme is inspired at least in part by Mona hailing from Saipan, the reason she describes herself as “the world’s only female Chamorro comedian.” Long before she became a standup comedian, she was a funny writer, and her blog-format website kirida.com was a mainstay on the old WSB “blogroll” page. Show’s free, and it starts at 8 pm Wednesday.
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.
| 2 COMMENTS