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ArtsWest: ‘Shipwrecked!’ opens tomorrow; gala set for June 11
April 26, 2011 9:11 am
|    Comments Off on ArtsWest: ‘Shipwrecked!’ opens tomorrow; gala set for June 11
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(Photo by Michael Brunk; courtesy ArtsWest)
Big week for ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery (WSB sponsor) in The Junction. Tomorrow night, the next theater production opens: “Shipwrecked! An Entertainment…,” which ArtsWest describes as a “raucous fantasy”; it’s written by Pulitzer Prize winner Donald Margulies and directed by AW’s Christopher Zinovitch. Read more about “Shipwrecked!” here. It’ll run through May 21st. And ArtsWest has just announced perhaps its biggest production of the year – the annual gala fundraiser dinner and auction, this year themed “Come Fly With Us” since it’ll be staged at the Museum of Flight, on Saturday, June 11th. Ticket information – and a preview of auction items including luxury getaways – is also on the ArtsWest website.

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Peeps ahoy! Easter ‘yarn bomb’ on a West Seattle bridge
April 23, 2011 7:14 pm
|      18 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

This photo arrived in a two-part communique from the mysterious, and apparently growing, YarnCore knitting collective, so we haven’t seen the new, Peeps-equipped “yarn bomb” in person. But you can probably tell which bridge it’s on – one that in fact has sported Christmas decorations for years (bright red bows, though we didn’t see them turn up last year). YarnCore’s website has other photos that’ll give you a closer look at the multi-faceted creation, which arrived one month after her/his/their first one.

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Tropical Alki: ‘Ira Finkelstein’s Christmas’ movie crew brings palms
April 23, 2011 1:16 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

The sun, the sand, the surf, the palms, the … snow-capped mountains!

As previewed here yesterday, the crew of the movie “Ira Finkelstein’s Christmas” indeed showed up today to shoot at Alki Beach – and brought the perfect props to fulfill what they’d told neighbors, that Alki would be doubling for Florida. Pull back the shot a little, of course, and the palm’s pot is revealed:

And somebody had to cart ’em around:

The crew was packing up by late morning:

Notices handed out to neighbors said they’re expecting to be back Monday; they’ve been shooting elsewhere around the city/region too, with Leavenworth playing the role of “Christmastown, Washington” – here’s a “rough cut” clip we found online:

Our story from yesterday explains what they’re doing in Seattle and why Florida figures into the plot.

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Chief Sealth Honor Choir in NYC: Carnegie Hall tomorrow!
April 23, 2011 1:08 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

You helped them get there – by supporting everything from a bake sale to car washes to concerts – and now, they’re there. The Chief Sealth International High School Honor Choir is in New York City for its Carnegie Hall appearance on Sunday night; Monica shared this photo of the choir in their hotel lobby. They flew out from Seattle Thursday morning and will return Monday night; the whirlwind itinerary includes some sightseeing and entertainment (last night, for example, they were scheduled to see “Phantom of the Opera“) but plenty of rehearsing, too – this morning, they’ll be back at it starting at 6 am our time (9 am ET), and the concert is scheduled for 5:30 our time (8:30 ET) Sunday night.

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Earth Day: West Seattle artist Russ Morgan’s ‘upcycled’ creations
April 22, 2011 1:44 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people | WS culture/arts

Last night’s Evening Magazine featured the creations of West Seattle “upcycle” artist Russ Morgan, as you’ll see if you watch the KING 5 clip above. And not only was it timely since today is Earth Day – also turns out he’s having a reception today at Hotel Monaco downtown (1101 4th Avenue, 4-6 pm – you’re invited!), according to proud sister Wendy Morgan (also a West Seattleite), who tipped us to the story and the reception. Find out more about Russ’s art at justarumor.com. P.S. Wendy tells us that in West Seattle, his work is available at Capers in The Junction.

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Movie crew coming to Alki – which is standing in for Florida!
April 22, 2011 12:41 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Thinking an unannounced festival or fun run was perhaps on the way, we had asked SDOT about those “no parking” signs in the Alki Bathhouse vicinity, but they had nothing on their special-events list. A note just out of the WSB inbox explains the signs: Alki photographer extraordinaire David Hutchinson e-mailed to say nearby residents have received a notice explaining that “Ira Finkelstein’s Christmas” will shoot exteriors in the area tomorrow and Monday. Quoting the notice, “We will be using the beach as a backdrop for Florida.” (The movie’s iMDB summary shines a little light on why.) Beach Drive Blog had reported previously on the crew’s plans to shoot in that area too.

1 PM P.S.: After rooting around for more information about the movie – we’ve added a clip above with some explanatory behind-the-scenes info (found here, where some “rough cut” clips also have been posted), including soundbites from directing/producing team members such as Jennifer Roth, just announced today as the recipient of the 6th annual Seattle Mayor’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Film.

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West Seattle’s ArtsWest has an offer for Intiman ticketholders
April 18, 2011 7:10 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(Added: “Shipwrecked” photo by Michael Brunk, courtesy ArtsWest)
If you follow the regional theater scene, you have likely heard that the Intiman Playhouse has canceled the rest of its season, though it hopes for a comeback. West Seattle’s ArtsWest Playhouse is reaching out to ticketholders left in the lurch, offering them a chance to swap their Intiman tickets for admission to the next ArtsWest production, “Shipwrecked! An Entertainment,” which opens a week from Wednesday. Read on for the announcement:Read More

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Stonework and stories from Scotty Joe, outside A Terrible Beauty
April 15, 2011 11:18 pm
|      23 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants | WS culture/arts

Story and photos by Katie Meyer
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Over the past few days, a corner of the West Seattle Junction has been transformed by the skills and charms of renowned contractor Joseph Peter Douglas (“call me Scotty Joe“). He’s applying Irish stonework by hand to the exterior walls at the northeast corner of California SW and SW Edmunds, where A Terrible Beauty Irish Pub and Restaurant expects to open next month, as reported here 3 weeks ago.

Stopping by to ask about his art, we discovered quite a story behind it.

Born and raised in Scotland, with two brothers who were stone masons, part of Scotty’s apprentice work after his training involved helping to rebuild castles in Scotland, he says, and working on stone walls originally built by Roman soldiers. “All the construction trades in Scotland – they teach you all the tricks of the trade, you know? That’s the kind of stuff you don’t mess around with. It’s not like a piece of wood you can take on and off. They just built to interlock, so that the wind could blow through them. They built dikes and big walls – we took them all apart and rebuilt them back, stone by stone. I lived and worked in a Scottish castle for a year as part of my training.”

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Westside School students celebrate ‘Big Broadcast’ history
April 15, 2011 12:40 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

A unique student musical hit the stage at Westside School (WSB sponsor) this week – “The Big Broadcast,” based on a 1940s-style radio show. The school shared these photos from some of the musical’s highlights – note the old-fashioned shampoo commercial (above) and sound effects (below):

And with Westside not that far inland, here’s the appropriately nautical touch:

One more note from Westside School: They’re still enrolling students for 4th, 5th, and their brand-new 6th grades “on a space-available basis” – you can find application info here.

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Coming to The Admiral: Longer SIFF run; Liz Taylor tribute
April 13, 2011 9:45 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Admiral Theater | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Big news from The Admiral tonight – not only is SIFF returning, it’ll have showings throughout the festival’s three-week run May 19-June 12, not just a one-week stop. Plus, Admiral manager Dinah Brein has announced an Elizabeth Taylor tribute later this month. Read on for the official announcement of both:Read More

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Junction line: Macklemore, Ryan Lewis @ West Seattle Easy Street
April 10, 2011 8:05 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

The line stretching outside Easy Street Records in The Junction this afternoon was there for a rising-star duo: Capitol Hill hip-hop artist Macklemore and musical partner Ryan Lewis, signing autographs:

Macklemore’s road to stardom is a distinctly new-millennium path – as detailed by our partners at the Seattle Times earlier this year. Right now, he’s on break from a national tour (here’s the schedule), after performing his Dave Niehaus tribute “My Oh My” at the Mariners’ home opener – here’s the Times’ video with Macklemore’s song as the soundtrack for scenes from the event:

P.S. There’s a signing event at Easy Street West Seattle next Saturday too – as part of Record Store Day, Grieves and Budo will be there at 3 pm (April 16).

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Video: Chief Sealth Honor Choir at Fauntleroy Church, pre-Carnegie
April 9, 2011 10:56 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

Fauntleroy Church‘s “Sweet, Sweet Music” series filled the church sanctuary last night with sweet, sweet voices – including those of the Chief Sealth International High School Honor Choir, now just two weeks away from their performance at Carnegie Hall (thanks in part to community fundraising for which they shared this recent thank-you note). Choir members produced part of last night’s program, not only including full-group songs like the one in our clip above, but also instrumental and solo/small-group numbers.

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West Seattle Saturday: Highlights from the events calendar
April 9, 2011 7:41 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Saturday: Highlights from the events calendar
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(Photo by Lisa Stencel, from West Seattle shores during Friday’s sunshine)
Some of what’s on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

SALES: Lincoln Park Cooperative Preschool‘s annual toys/kids’ gear and clothing consignment sale and bake sale, 8 am-3 pm, Seaview United Methodist Church (4620 SW Graham) … West Seattle Eagles Garage Sale, 10 am-4 pm, selling hot dogs and hamburgers all day too (4426 California SW).

GRAND REOPENING: You’re officially invited to visit the West Seattle Tool Library in its new location at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, starting at 9 am (with ceremony at 11 am and “Ask the Expert for the DIY” drop-in consultations under way 10 am-1 pm)

OPEN HOUSE: It’s the 28th annual Spring Open House at West Seattle Nursery today, 11 am-3 pm, free espresso, hors d’oeuvres, and gardening seminars.

TALK ABOUT SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Informal discussion with Steve Sundquist, Seattle School Board president, High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond St), 11 am -12:30 pm.

SCHOOL FUNDRAISER: Schmitz Park Elementary dinner auction and “tiki bid lounge,” Brockey Center at SSCC, 5 pm (full details here)

PET FAIR: It’s the first-ever Bark for South Park Pet Fair, 14th S. and S. Dallas, 11 am-4 pm. Some West Seattleites participating too – details here

MEMORIALS: The celebration of life for Delridge community advocate Vivian McLean is at 2:30 pm, Delridge Community Center … Tonight, the memorial for Lukiah Comer is 5-8 pm at Alki Bathhouse.

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Wayfinding kiosk installed in West Seattle’s Junction Plaza Park
April 8, 2011 2:55 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

It’s a day that’s been years in the making – the first installation of a wayfinding kiosk in western West Seattle (the pilot’s been up outside the Delridge Library for quite some time, and they’ve been on the drawing board for more than three years, part of West Seattle Walks) – and what a perfect day, since the kiosks are all about guiding you while you’re out and about. WSB contributor Ellen Cedergreen photographed ceramic artist Mike Raney and metal artist Paul Sorey with the kiosk installed today at Junction Plaza Park. Kiosks like this, with a map, art, and information about the nearby area, will eventually be up all over West Seattle, with the help of city matching-fund money.

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Why an Italian TV crew was at West Seattle’s Feedback Lounge
April 6, 2011 10:42 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(Photos by Ellen Cedergreen for WSB)
This week, an infamous chapter of Seattle rock history is being revisited – and late today, West Seattle’s Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) had a share of the spotlight. Italian journalist Ezio Guaitamacchi brought a camera crew for his interview with Gene Stout, whose career as a Seattle music critic included the ’90s heyday of grunge – including covering Nirvana, whose frontman Kurt Cobain killed himself 17 years ago this week. Stout is friends with Feedback proprietor Jeff Gilbert, so between that and the rock ‘n’ roll atmosphere – memorabilia and all – at the Feedback, it was the logical choice for the interview, covered by Ellen Cedergreen for WSB.

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Ultimate collaboration: YarnCore + West Seattle Art Attack!
April 5, 2011 3:35 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Just received another communiqué, er, weblink from yarn-bomber Jaesee of YarnCore. Couldn’t be more perfect that she and West Seattle Art Attack teamed up for a free-standing “yarn bomb” that is now in place at one of West Seattle’s most popular new restaurants. (If you don’t know the WS Art Attack backstory, this story from last summer has links to previous coverage.)

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West Seattle musicians’ Hotels in Billboard ‘Battle of the Bands’
March 31, 2011 9:13 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Long a luminous name in music coverage, Billboard says it’s “scout(ed) the U.S. to find the most promising unsigned bands,” and in the Northwest, one of their picks includes two West Seattle musicians – Hotels. Now they’re in an online “Battle of the Bands” at the Billboard website, and looking for your vote – the ultimate prize in the competition is a chance to perform live at the Billboard Music Awards. We got a note from Tilly asking us to share news of the contest; watch the Hotels video above, and cast your vote on the right side of this page (no registration required!).

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Chief Sealth Honor Choir’s thank-you note, with Carnegie in view
March 30, 2011 9:11 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

It was way back in November when we first mentioned the Chief Sealth International High School Honor Choir‘s quest to raise money for a trip to sing at Carnegie Hall – here’s our photo of choir members selling cupcakes at the Southwest Community Center Holiday Bazaar – then, four months later, they were still at it, as shown above in our photo from last Sunday, with their second “rain or shine” car wash on Alki. Tonight they’ve shared an update on those car washes, and their upcoming Eastertime trip of a lifetime:

Dear WSB and West Seattle Community

We wanted to give you an update as to how our fundraising carwashes went. With the community’s support, we raised approximately $2,200. This would not have been possible if John Frank at Alki Auto Repair had not graciously allowed our group to use his location for our events, and if generous people had not shown up and supported us. The excellent coverage from the West Seattle Blog was “game-changing” and certainly had much to do with our success.

The saying “How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice” is certainly true. When we sent in our application, we had high hopes of getting selected to perform. Once invited, choir groups must coordinate everything through the official travel agency for Carnegie Hall and there is no negotiating travel costs. At $1,800 per performer and chaperone, the total seemed insurmountable. So in some ways the route to Carnegie Hall became “fundraise, fundraise, fundraise” for us. Our students determined that they did not want anyone prevented from participating due to cost. Each family would commit what they could pay and then the group would fundraise together to pay the remaining balance. No members knew how much any of the other members were paying, we just knew the total we needed to raise.

Thinking back to our first meeting for this trip, there was a real sense of dread at the sum we were committing to raise. Fundraising is difficult, and with a fragile economy it is even more so. Thankfully, this is a very motivated group, and their enthusiasm has been infectious especially at times where it would have been easier to give up.

We wanted you to know how much your support has meant to us. Every dollar and kind word given to us has been very much appreciated. Over six months of work, we have had hundreds of people behind us, telling us we could do it and wishing success for us. This kind of experience is life-altering and greatly empowering. Certainly the full weight of this will hit each of us when we are on stage at Carnegie Hall. Thank you for your role in this.

With Gratitude,

The Chief Sealth Honor Choir

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West Seattle Tuesday: Global Reading Challenge; benefit concert…
March 29, 2011 6:03 am
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts | WS miscellaneous

(Melanie says this owl is now a fixture in her West Seattle backyard)
Good luck to the Roxhill Elementary Bulldogs, Sanislo Elementary Ice Dodos, and Concord’s Orange Dragons as they go downtown tonight to compete with seven other teams in the citywide finals of the Global Reading Challenge. Public’s welcome at the Central Library, 7 o’clock. Also today/tonight:

BENEFIT CONCERT: West Seattle Community Orchestras‘ Symphonette and Beginning Strings perform a community outreach concert at 7 pm at Concord International School (723 S. Concord in South Park) to benefit the music programs of Concord and Arbor Heights Elementary in West Seattle. Musical selections will include several of Disney’s most popular tunes from “Mary Poppins” as well as youth orchestra standards. Suggested donation, $1.

FREE SCREENING AT HEALTH FAIR: Senior Center of West Seattle‘s Health Fair 10 am-1 pm today includes free peripheral-arterial-disease screening by Futura Health Screening (WSB sponsor).

LIVING WELL WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS: Also at the Senior Center, this 6-week class begins, 1-3:30 pm, call 932-4044 to see if space remains.

INTERGENERATIONAL BOOK CLUB: Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor) sponsors an intergenerational book club. Readers of all ages are welcome. Potluck and dessert as this month, the discussion centers around “The Book Thief,” a gripping tale set in WW2 Germany. 5:30 pm; for more info, call the church office at 206 932-7777.

More on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar!

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Random acts of knitting: West Seattle gets ‘yarn-bombed’
March 25, 2011 4:42 pm
|      27 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Story and photos by Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

It’s the (yarn) bomb!

The Admiral District’s been “yarn-bombed” — by a talented knitter willing to brave the rain that fell while she was creating this:

Knitting decorative pieces to attach to public installations such as bike racks, telephone poles and bus stop signs is known as “yarn bombing” or “knit bombing.” It started as a way to use up extra yarn and, according to urbandictionary.com: “Yarn bombing is almost exclusively about reclaiming and personalizing sterile or cold public places.”

The bike-rack “yarn bomb” is the work of a West Seattle knitter known as Jaesee, who just started writing about her “Yarn Core” activities at yarncore.wordpress.com. Asked about her inspiration to start “bombing,” she replies:

“The idea was initially inspired when I was visiting Los Angeles in October and saw a bike like this. I’ve been knitting for around 2 years and have a real knack for it, but after a while knitting hats and scarves starts to get old. I’ve always considered myself mildly artistic, but I never really found my medium until I started knitting.

“So I wanted to figure out how I could make knitting more like an art project. Yarn-bombing … really appealed to me because it seemed so free-form and a little scary and exciting. I like the “danger” element of it, like you’re kind of doing something bad, but since it isn’t paint it isn’t permanent there isn’t a real threat of consequences.

I live and grew up in West Seattle and I love that it has blossomed into a very tight community, and this yarn art seemed like something that would be embraced by the community. I’m starting out small, but I’d love to eventually grow into an army of knitters, crocheters and crafters that love West Seattle and want to help make it unique and beautiful.”

Admiral District residents Meredith Hailey and her son Grayson (top photo) learned about the bike-rack “bomb” and decided to go on a hunt for it:

“There are a lot of artists in our community, and a whole lot of knitters. I’m so charmed by artists who reach out to the community and to our individual sense of play through whimsical presentations like this one,” said Meredith.

When the owner of the Admiral Shoe Repair shop noticed the bike rack, he exclaimed, “Beautiful!”

Jaesee lets on that there’s a May Day project in the works. Updates will be posted on the Yarncore website.

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Local 4th-8th graders invited to Spring Break music camp @ Denny
March 22, 2011 7:08 pm
|    Comments Off on Local 4th-8th graders invited to Spring Break music camp @ Denny
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Denny International Middle School is sponsoring a Spring Break music camp again this year, for 4th through 8th graders from anywhere in the area, no matter what schools they attend. Here’s the invitation from Denny’s music director Marcus Pimpleton:

The camp is a fun and laid-back way for students to spend the break exploring music with other youth from the West Seattle area. The camp will operate April 18th – 22nd from 9 am -3 pm and be held in the music rooms at Chief Sealth International High School, 2600 SW Thistle. Students spend two hours of each day specializing in an ensemble on their primary instrument (band for the winds and percussionists; orchestra for the strings). They have another 90 minutes each day to explore a secondary interest (jazz band, drumline, guitar, or steel drums). The rest of the time consists of games and lunch. A suggested donation of $120 is requested, but families are welcome to give as much or as little as they can afford. For more information, please contact mjpimpleton@seattleschools.org.The registration form is available via this link.

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West Seattle artist leads tour of her two-year masterpiece
March 21, 2011 10:46 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Story and photos by Ellen Cedergreen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Tomorrow (Tuesday) night, West Seattle-based painter Jennifer Carrasco opens a new series of classes at C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor). And recently, she gave her students and fans a special treat: A tour of The Ruins, a private supper club at the foot of Queen Anne Hill, where her murals cover an entire room, spanning an area half the size of a football field, including the ceiling.

Carrasco was hired for the project in 1995, by project designer Joe McDonnel and partner Virginia Wyman. It took her two years of full time work — a year to design and a year to execute, in order to finish the murals. And in addition to the “Pacific Northwest Rococo” style murals, which were actually painted offsite (in acrylics) and installed later, Carrasco’s work can also be found in the entry hall to the club, and on a life-size horse just inside the doorway. The horse, a leftover department-store Ralph Lauren prop, is painted in gold and covered in flowers.

A group of around 20 were treated to a tour of the Ruins, as well as a presentation, where Jennifer outlined how she completed such a large-scale body of work.

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Video: West Seattle prelude for Lyric Opera NW’s ‘La Bohéme’
March 20, 2011 9:58 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   The Kenney | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(Singing Marcello the painter: Jason Fowler; entering, as Rodolfo the poet: Gino Lucchetti)
On the lower level of The Kenney, the strains of “La Bohéme” have been resounding for months – as Lyric Opera Northwest prepares to perform Puccini‘s “crowd-pleaser” opera at The Moore downtown next Sunday afternoon. With the company’s founders based in West Seattle, Kim Cooney explains, The Kenney became its “secret rehearsal site” … she adds, “Sometimes at night you can hear a soprano soloist singing in the dark on the way to her car.” The rehearsing’s almost about to make way for showtime. Lyric Opera NW co-founder Pamela Casella is directing the production; co-founder Craig Heath Nim sings the role of Colline.

One of the reasons they chose “La Bohéme” for their next production: The cast includes more than a few children (as you’ll see in the background in our video clip); they have a children’s workshop on Queen Anne and this enables some of their proteges to return to the stage (some of them were in an earlier LONW production of “Oliver“). We dropped in on their rehearsal Friday night; they practiced at The Kenney again tonight, and now move to The Moore for dress rehearsals and a preview, before the Sunday 4 pm show (March 27 – ticket info here, including an online-purchase option).

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