West Seattle, Washington
16 Sunday
(Our first, as-it-happened HONK Fest West report can be seen here)
That photo shared by Eileen captures the brassy boisterousness of HONK Fest West, making its first West Seattle appearance, with bands spread along two blocks of The Junction in a five-hour-plus period this afternoon. So does this clip, in which we follow the Hubbub Club as its musicians “march” (more like danced, bounced, strode) their way from the designated performance area by the Junction Wells Fargo, to the SW Alaska sidewalk, then back:
And a serious dose of dancing-in-the-streets ensued in the raised crosswalk between Oregon and Alaska – where we found the Carnival Band during our 2nd HONK Fest visit, at midafternoon:
If you didn’t get a close-enough look at the Hubbub Club’s grinning tuba in our clip, Luckie‘s photo captures it for posterity:
And even the little ones were entranced by the splendor of the costumes as well as the music – witness Holli‘s photo of the Minor Mishap Marching Band (visiting from Austin, Texas):
So will this lovably loony street festival return next year? We’ve got the question out to organizers, though they may well be getting ready to recover after 3 days around town (Fremont on Friday, Georgetown on Saturday, then West Seattle today, plus a few bands’ performances in venues elsewhere tonight). Meantime, here’s the official festival website; here’s its Facebook page; and here’s a site where they’re encouraging people to upload photos. The whole thing runs on volunteer power and donations, as carts like this one reminded festivalgoers in The Junction today:
If you didn’t have any cash to throw in the kitty while you were enjoying the show(s), you can make an online donation here. P.S. Added Monday, one last shot from Colby – seems there wasn’t just dancing in the streets, there was a little bit of lying around in the streets too:
Noon-5 pm tomorrow, HONK Fest West brings music and merriment to The Junction, and the organizer-created map above shows the venues and times (click each marker to see where, who and when). It’s a free marching-band celebration, which has been in other Seattle neighborhoods the past two days/nights – Fremont and Georgetown. Here’s a “live report” from Harmonic Dissidents Magazine. If you’re not planning to go for the music, do note that California SW is scheduled to be closed between Alaska and Oregon (although as you’ll see on the map, there are performances outside those boundaries too). There’s a map in another format on the HONK Fest West site (as well as the schedule) – see it here.
The Junction fills with music on Sunday afternoon as HONK Fest West brings the third of its three days to our side of the bay (California SW will be closed between Oregon and Alaska) … Sunday is also when the King County Water Taxi (WSB sponsor) throws its grand-opening party, including free rides ALL DAY … And there’s a HUGE number of benefit events this weekend – a fundraiser for Jade West Café proprietor Wah Wong and family, “Borscht and Bagels” for Delridge Produce Cooperative, Dog Makeovers for the Cure, The Kenney‘s annual brunch, WSUU‘s gala dinner, WSHS Grad Night‘s car wash, two animal-advocacy groups teaming up … And to help your summer planning, check out the High Point Youth Activities Fair. Click ahead to see the whole lineup, because from now through Sunday, more than SEVENTY! events/activities are on the list, sponsored by Skylark Cafe and Club, where you’ll find FREE live music and rockin’ food:Read More
ArtsWest still has slots open in its summer Theater Conservatory program and is putting out a last-minute call tonight for actors 12 to 16 years old to audition tomorrow. The play is Aristophanes’ “The Birds” – information about the intensive July/August program leading up to its production is here. Actors need to prepare a “contemporary or classical monologue no more than 2 minutes in length” and bring a resume and headshot photo. Lindsay at ArtsWest says you can just show up there at 5 tomorrow – or if you have a question, you can call during the day tomorrow, (206) 938-0963 x 102.
If you’re on KEXP Radio‘s e-mail list, you already heard this – a couple people mentioned it when they included it in an e-mail blast as an aside, but KEXP wouldn’t confirm it for us till now – May 21st is the date they’ve picked for the celebration of West Seattle’s victory in the “Hood-to-Hood” fundraising challenge last year (here’s our June 2009 report). Their short announcement says, “KEXP is planning to take over your neighborhood Friday May 21st with a LIVE Broadcast that will include live performances from bands and artists you love along with various evening showcases and events! Look for more updates in the near future!” At least one West Seattle venue has confirmed its live slate – see this Facebook status update from Skylark Café and Club (WSB sponsor).
That’s the official venue map, organizer David Stern tells us, for the West Seattle leg of HONK Fest West, the marching-band festival that will toot, honk and, well, march its way around the city April 9-10-11. The final day is when it’ll be here on the peninsula, with multiple venues in The Junction noon-5 pm Sunday 4/11, as the map shows – here’s the full schedule in text form (or click a marker on the map, and you’ll see the full slate for that particular venue). Part of California SW will be closed for the occasion.
The Alaskan Way Viaduct is scheduled to be closed 6 am-6 pm both days this weekend. No problem – no need to leave West Seattle! Plant trees with the Rotary Club of West Seattle, local Scouts, the city and others tomorrow … then, even though it’s a private event, you should be able to enjoy fireworks on Elliott Bay tomorrow night – right about the same time Earth Hour begins … help clean up Westwood on Sunday … join in efforts to fight hunger and raise $ for other causes … From tonight through Sunday, more than SEVENTY! events/activities on our list, sponsored by Skylark Cafe and Club, where you’ll find FREE live music and rockin’ food:Read More
(Photo by Ronn Dunnett, provided by Matt Chamberlain)
Matt Chamberlain may be the most famous West Seattle musician you haven’t heard of – or haven’t heard much about. But there’s a strong likelihood you’ve heard his work, given everyone with whom he’s played/recorded. And now he’s e-mailed WSB with news that DRUM! Magazine has included him in its list “15 Greatest Groove Drummers of All Time.” Here’s an excerpt he shared from the writeup by Sam Pryor:
By creating a singular groove, Chamberlain became the first-call L.A. session drummer (sorry, Josh Freese). The diverse artists he has recorded with mirror his enormous ability to fit into any situation. Majorly pliable, Chamberlain’s skills (both physically delivered and occasionally programmed) have appeared on more than 200 albums, including those by Fiona Apple, The Wallflowers, Stevie Nicks, Dave Navarro, Master Musicians Of Jajouka, Garbage, David Bowie, Keith Urban, William Shatner, Shakira, Sean Lennon, Sarah McLaughlin, and Dido.
If you noted the L.A. reference – he spends a lot of time there working, but lives here. He explained in his note to us, “My wife and I have been residents of West Seattle for over 15 years … I live here and travel quite a bit but this is always home to me.” The “Top 15” list is in the April issue of DRUM! – which isn’t online yet (though Chamberlain has posted the full text on his website), where we also found word (scroll below the DRUM! mention in the text box on the home page) that he’s playing with Pigeonhed in a benefit at Seattle club Neumos tomorrow.
After a fab Friday night (check out the All-Access Showcase at Youngstown Arts Center starting at 6 tonight), many great ways to celebrate spring (which arrives at 10:32 am our time Saturday) – there’s a plant sale, a meeting about the potential West Seattle Community Orchard, two spring cleanups (Delridge on Saturday and Highland Park on Sunday) … West Seattle Hi-Yu‘s Tea and Silent Auction is Saturday … this weekend we also have WSB sponsors with special events, both on Sunday: Free yoga at SoundYoga and a gold-buying event at Northwest Gold Exchange/938.GOLD, and ArtsWest is into the second weekend of “Sunlight” … From tonight through Sunday, more than SIXTY! events/activities on our list, sponsored by Skylark Cafe and Club, where you’ll find FREE live music and rockin’ food:Read More
If you see that work by John Osgood, “Flowers for You,” anywhere but the exhibition space in Mural Apartments (WSB sponsor), report it to police – because it’s stolen, according to Twilight Artist Collective, which just sent word of the theft. They’ve also written about it on their website. It’s been missing for eight days now, so they decided to get the word out more widely.
Meantime, one other Crime Watch note this afternoon – from Kelly:
Just wanted to let everyone know we had a car break-in (Tuesday) night in Arbor Heights, 42nd and 102nd [map]. Never had a problem in the past 5 years until now. They rooted around in the car for valuables but we don’t own any valuables! Ha! We think it occurred after 11:30 pm.
Lists courtesy of Square One Books
Once again this Thursday, courtesy of Gretchen Montgomery @ Square One Books (WSB sponsor), we bring you her store’s five best-sellers in four key categories. (We’re testing the title suggested by Mark Matassa in comments following edition #1 – what do you think?)
Hardcover:
1. Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang by Chelsea Handler
2. The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
3. Anthill by E.O. Wilson
4. Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis
5. Born to Run by Christopher McDougallPaperback:
1. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
2. Old Filth by Jane Gardam
3. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
4. The Brain That Changes Itself by Norman Doidge
5. Ex-Cop by Warren HammondChildren:
1. The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
2. Diary of a Wimpy Kid #1 by Jeff Kinney
3. The Heart and the Bottle by Oliver Jeffers
4. In My Meadow by Sara Gillingham
5. The Witches by Roald DahlTeen:
1. Dealing with Dragons #1 by Patricia Wrede
2. Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz
3. Academy 7 by Anne Osterlund
4. The Maze Runner by James Dashner
5. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Speaking of young readers, Square One has a special bookselling event tonight at Madison Middle School — offering books that are popular with middle-schoolers, and Square One pays the tax, which means you get the equivalent of a 9.5% discount.
Since Gatewood Elementary School lost its power along with almost 2,800 other homes/businesses/facilities this afternoon, there’s been some question about whether the Westside Symphonette concert set for 7:30 tonight would still go on. Just talked to the orchestra’s leader Toni Reineke, and while she says they haven’t confirmed yet whether the power is back, they’re proceeding under the assumption it will be. If they have to call it off at the last minute, she’ll give us a call and let us know, so if you’re planning to go, you can check back here for any updates before you leave.
Along with everything else going on tonight, we were at ArtsWest for a special event announcing the six productions that will comprise its 2010-2011 season – and celebrating what’s under way in this season (the clip above is from its next show, “Tell Me on a Sunday,” with Danielle Barnum singing and Kim Dare on piano for tonight’s mini-preview). We published the 2010-2011 announcements on Twitter as they happened – but if you weren’t following along, here’s the quick list:
“Reasons to be Pretty” by Neil LaBute
“Evil Dead: The Musical“ – beware the “splatter zone”!
“A Tuna Christmas” (the holiday show – no “Plaid Tidings” this year)
“Emilie: La Marquise Du Chatelet Defends Her Life Tonight“ by Lauren Gunderson
“Distracted“ by Lisa Loomer
“Shipwrecked“ by Donald Margulies
ArtsWest leader Alan Harrison told the theater full of fans that it’s going to be a “rollercoaster” season – in a good way. More on that, on the shows, and on special ticket deals, ahead (added early Tuesday am).Read More
(Photo from “Sunlight” by Matt Durham)
It’s the first weekend for “Sunlight” at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) – you can see the play tonight, Saturday night or Sunday afternoon – and that’s just part of a HUGE slate of events: Rummage sales, book sales, food drives, a chance to help brainstorm the Seattle Waterfront’s future, benefit dinners, school open houses, live music, forest-restoration events … you HAVE to browse the list. Plus, Daylight Saving Time kicks in Sunday morning – at 2 am, forward ahead an hour to 3 am. From tonight through Sunday, more than SIXTY! events/activities on our list, sponsored by Skylark Cafe and Club, where you’ll find FREE live music and rockin’ food:Read More
Wandering around the website of our citywide-news partners the Seattle Times recently, we noticed a best-sellers’ list for West Seattle’s Square One Books (WSB sponsor). Looked like something that might interest book lovers here most of all, so we asked proprietor Gretchen Montgomery if that list might be available to WSB – and she said yes. So here’s the first edition of “What West Seattleites are reading” (working title, maybe we – or you? – will come up with something catchier).
Adult Hardcover:
1. The Pacific by Hugh Ambrose
2. Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson
3. Angelology by Danielle Trussoni
4. Rediscovering Values by Jim Wallis
5. Blackout by Connie WillisAdult Paperback:
1. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
2. A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick
3. The Forgotten by Kate Morton
4. Ghost Train to the Eastern Star by Paul Theroux
5. Little Bee by Chris CleaveTeen Bestsellers:
1. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
2. The Pendragon Series by D.J. MacHale
3. North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley
4. The Maze Runner by James Dashner
5. Madapple by Christina MeldrumChildren’s Bestsellers:
1.The Enormous Egg by Oliver Butterworth
2. Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series by Rick Riordan
3. The Lion & the Mouse (Caldecott Winner!) by Jerry Pickney
4. Happy Easter, Curious George by Margaret and H. A. Rey
5. When You Reach Me (Newberry Winner!) by Rebecca Stead
Look for the next round of “What West Seattleites are reading” next Thursday!
Only got the chance to drop by one West Seattle Art Walk venue tonight, in part because we were driving around for quite a while trying to sort out the low-bridge woes (all over now). But The Junction’s own Twilight Artist Collective is always a sure bet on the big night (not to mention other times) – in our photo, artists Michelle Anderst and Chris Sheridan, two of the 10 artists whose work is in Twilight’s new show “10 and Change,” curated by Kate Protage (read more about it here). You can see the show at Twilight (Easy Street Records‘ western neighbor) through April 5th; next West Seattle Art Walk will be April 8.
Just a quick reminder that we’re just a bit more than 24 hours away from the next edition of the monthly West Seattle Art Walk. Many of the venues – dozens around the peninsula – have information about their featured artist(s) on the official West Seattle Art Walk website; see it here, print out the walking map (here), then get ready to wander and enjoy, 6-9 pm tomorrow, from The Kenney in the south to Alki Bathhouse in the north. (We’ll also showcase some featured artists here tomorrow morning.)
(8/6/09 photo from Summer Concerts @ Hiawatha: Neil Young tribute band Ragged Glory)
Presented for the first time last year, the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha were an instant hit. Planning for this year’s Thursday night outdoor-concert series (7/29-9/2) is now under way, and ANA president Katy Walum has put out the call for musicians. If you’re interested, e-mail her at katy.walum@gmail.com; she adds, ” It helps if they include their fee for a 90-minute performance (with a short break in the middle, if desired), and any special setup or sound requirements.” (The series also is still seeking sponsors – WSB is already signed up for the second consecutive year – e-mail Dave Weitzel at dave@weitzelconstruction.com.)
Help clean up Fairmount Ravine … munch fry bread and help the Duwamish Tribe fight for recognition … go retro with “Monty Python” and “Rocky Horror Picture Show” … bid, bike, cheer, chow down, go garage-saling … From tonight through Sunday, more than 40 events/activities on our list, sponsored by Skylark Cafe and Club, where you’ll find FREE live music and rockin’ food:Read More
That’s 10-year-old Hope Lutheran fourth-grader Connor Wartelle, performing “Civil War” – one of the songs from an album he’s selling online. If you watch the video, you’ll see (and hear) it’s no sweet little “Itsy Bitsy Spider”-esque singalong – it’s power-guitar rock. We found out about Connor courtesy of proud mom Jeanne Wartelle, who tells us Connor is donating part of the album’s proceeds to Children’s Hospital. He’s been playing guitar since he was five – and his guitar teacher/mentor Rob Hampton helped Connor make the album. Rob also has written about Connor online, including a peek into the album-making process: “For example, (Connor) created the helicopter-like sound in the breakdown of “Slavery” by cranking all the knobs on my BOSS Flanger pedal. I winced when I first heard the effect, but Connor insisted that was the sound he wanted. Now I love that part.” Here’s where to find Connor’s album (“Too Small“) at Amazon.
One week from tonight, there’s a special screening at West Seattle’s Admiral Theater: The documentary “Running the Sahara,” a documentary produced and narrated by actor Matt Damon, directed by Oscar winner James Moll. According to information shared by Dinah Brein McClellan from The Admiral, it’s about three ultra-marathoners’ bid to run the entire length of the Sahara Desert – 4,300 miles, six countries – 50 miles a day. One of the athletes, Charlie Engle, will be at The Admiral for audience Q/A right after the screening. It’s at 6:30 next Wednesday night (March 10), and tickets are available online for $25 – that’s $10 less than the price at the door – here’s where to buy them; the price also includes a DVD of the film.
We’ve got photos from unique events involving two West Seattle elementary schools: First, Saturday night was Prom Night at Kenyon Hall, for Alki Elementary parents (and friends) who wanted to party like it was the ’80s all over again. Thanks to Kristina for the tip; she explained it’s an Alki fundraiser, with tickets sold at the recent benefit auction. We went over for a couple photos, intrigued by the promise of “big hair, some crazy ’80s music … satin, tuxes with shiny cummerbunds, and the like … a great time with a lot of laughter, and it’s all in the name of helping our kids!” Four promgoers paused to pose – from left, Laurie, Susan, Doreen and Linda:
Also this morning, photos from a special assembly at Lafayette Elementary on Friday – courtesy of Luckie:
She says Boxtales Theatre Company from Santa Barbara, California, enchanted the students (and others!) with stories from afar, including Mexico, Puerto Rico and Cuba. The photo above is from the Mexican story “La Calavera” (Lady Death). The performers also showed some of their masks to Lafayette students:
Luckie adds, “The Lafayette PTA budgets each year for arts assemblies, and this is the first one of the 2009-10 school year. Next, we will have the Grail Theatre of Britain, in June. Yay PTA!”
Not only the last weekend of the month, but the final days of the month … and there’s a rumor we’ll see some sunshine before the weekend’s over. Highlights include rolling up your sleeves for Admiral’s Adopt-A-Street and numerous park/greenbelt work parties on Saturday morning, lots of live music (rock, blues, jazz, more), and did we mention Girl Scout Cookies? From tonight through Sunday, more than 40 events/activities on our list, sponsored by Skylark Cafe and Club, where you’ll find FREE live music and rockin’ food:Read More
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