Here’s the list of events – you can check here for updates:

The public is invited to celebrate cultural diversity at South Seattle Community College’s 19th annual Rainbow Festival, May 19-21. The three-day event is a free ticket to explore what the world has to offer, without ever having to pack your bags. Most events take place at or near the Clock Tower Plaza at the center of campus (alternate rain site Jerry Brockey Student Center, rooms A & B). More events are being added, so visit the website for schedule updates: .

Tuesday, May 19

· 11 am-2:30 pm: Arts & Crafts Vendor Fair

· Native American flutist and performances

· Henna artist

· New Heights – alternative rock

· Choker making

· Lunch – Salmon Bake

· 1 pm: Screening and discussion of “We Shall Remain: America Through Native Eyes” (Olympic Hall 105)

Wednesday, May 20

· 11 am-2:30 pm: Arts & Crafts Vendor Fair

· 10 am: Keynote speaker and Q&A with Rory Ong, Associate Professor of Comparative Ethnic Studies at WSU (location TBA)

· Caricature artist

· Wacky Olympics & bubble blowing

· Asian Pacific Islander cultural performances

· Orbitron – hip hop

· 1 pm: Workshop, “The Resistance of Philippine Cinema,” by Geologic, poet and vocalist for hip hop duo Blue Scholars (Olympic Hall 105)

· Student talent show

· Lunch – Siva Pasifika API cuisine

· 7:30 pm: Recital featuring South students Ana Mia Keely, mezzo soprano, and Wu Tianhao, cello, plus instructor Victoria Kincaid-Theriault, piano (Olympia Hall Auditorium) and violinist William McAdams

Thursday, May 21

· 11 am-2:30 pm: Arts & Crafts Vendor Fair

· Free massages

· 11 am: Keynote speaker and Q&A with South instructor Allen Stowers

· Basketball tournament

· Nueva Era – Salsa, Latin Jazz

· African cultural performances

· Lunch – African cuisine

· 1 pm: Girl Power Slam Poetry with nationally-recognized poets Tara Hardy and Karen Finneyfrock (Olympic Hall 120)

All events are free and open to the public.

Driving directions: www.southseattle.edu/campus/map.htm#sscc.

Attention, families:

June 4: Moms & Babes group starting up! Join other moms and babies for stories, songs, and lots of fun! Time: 12-1 pm – Where: High Point Library, 35th and Raymond

Coming up later this month at Youngstown Arts Center:

SUMMER BEAT FUNDRAISER FEATURES BRAZILIAN AND AFRICAN CULTURAL LINK

Brazilian and African musicians and dancers are samba-ing and drumming their way into summer as part of a fundraiser benefiting young women and girls in Salvador, Brazil.

Bahia Street’s Summer Beat a Brazilian Festival includes dance workshops, a live performance, and food and drink as a way to share the unique blend of African and Brazilian culture in Salvador. Tickets are for a donation of 10 dollars, and the event will take place on Friday, May 29, at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center in West Seattle.

Bahia Street is a nonprofit based in Brazil, the United States and the United Kingdom that breaks cycles of poverty through education for impoverished African-Brazilian girls and young women. Bahia Street supports a center in Salvador that educates these girls for university study, giving them access to a life outside of the relentless cycle of poverty and violence that plagues their neighborhoods.

Because of Bahia Street, six girls have gone from illiteracy to university and have become activists for their communities. Outside of Brazil, Bahia Street promotes greater understanding about collaborative international development.

The event starts at 6 p.m. with workshops offering dance lessons in the Brazilian dances samba and capoeira. While the majority of the event is for ages 21 and up, these workshops are open to all ages.

A live performance begins later on in the evening, and authentic Brazilian food will be served. The performance features Brazilian dance and music from groups Vamo La, Tudo Beleza, Bahia in Motion, Bantos Capoeira Seattle, and Jeff Busch, as well as West African dance and music groups Thione Diop and Yeke Yeke. The performance will end with DJ Darek Mazzone from KEXP’s WoPop world music show.

More information can be found at summerbeat.org. Tickets will be available at Youngstown on the day of event.

From the WSB inbox today, an announcement of the next La Leche League meeting in West Seattle:

Date: Monday, May 25th 2009
Time: 10:30 am – 12 noon
Repeats: This event repeats every month on the last Monday.
Location: Seaview Methodist Church
Street: Graham Ave SW between 46th & 45th
Phone: 206 932 9912

Notes: Bring your children, your breastfeeding questions, stories, and triumphs, your partner, mother, sister or other support person, and whatever else you need to our West Seattle meeting. We always discuss the challenges faced by each mother, but, we also have a rotating roster of topics we cover on a four month rotation

Here is a description of our group:

La Leche League of West Seattle is a mother-to-mother support group for pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers and their partners and children. We provide mother-to-mother support for women wherever they are in their breastfeeding journey.

WSB publishes announcements as they come in and links them to our Announced page; the calendar listings, by date, appear on our Events calendar page. Send your announcement any time to editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!

This just in from Matt Schlede of the West Seattle Family YMCA (WSB sponsor):

Last week to register for Adult Co-ed Softball through the West Seattle & Fauntleroy YMCA, registration closes Friday.

Season starts June 3rd, and ends August 6th. One game a week on either Wednesday or Thursday nights at Evergreen Fields. $700 for member teams (50% of team must by Y members) or $750 for non-member teams.

Contact Matt at 937-1000 or mschlede@seattleymca.org with questions or to be put on the free-agent list.

Just announced by ArtsWest:

SPS SHOWCASES LATEST WORK BY LOCAL PLAYWRIGHTS

What: SPS 7th Annual Showcase of New Works,
When: May 29, 30 & 31, 7:00 pm
Price: $5

Where: ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery
4711 California Avenue SW
Seattle, WA 98116
www.artswest.org
Box Office: (206) 938-0339

Seattle Playwrights Studio (SPS) presents its 7th Annual Showcase of New Works, May 29, 30 and 31 at ArtsWest. This exciting program commemorates the eighth anniversary of the founding of SPS, and highlights the works in progress of its 21 members.

The 7th Annual Showcase of New Works comprises three evenings of staged readings, performed by local actors. Each night offers a completely different sampling of plays, followed by a reception where the audience can enjoy refreshments and conversation with the writers and actors.

Friday night features work by Lyn Coffin, Kirsten Fatland, Carl Nelson and Ann Teplick.
Saturday: Lea Galanter, Judy Jacobs, Babs Lindsay and Jeff Mandels.
Sunday: Scot Bastian, Len Goodisman, Mavis Lamb, George Savage and Dave Tucker.

SPS was created to provide the opportunity for playwrights to hear their plays-in-progress read aloud and to receive moderated feedback from fellow writers in a supportive environment. Under the support of ArtsWest, SPS meets three times per month.

Works developed within SPS have been professionally produced and have received both national and international recognition:

– Five SPS members will have productions and honorable mentions at this year’s Bill and Peggy Hunt Playwrights Contest sponsored by the Burien Little Theater.

– Two members have plays in the upcoming Kansas City Women’s Playwriting Festival.

– Other members’ works have or will soon receive readings or productions at Eclectic Theater, Theater Puget Sound’s Theatre 4, off off Broadway theatre Where Eagles Dare and the Last Frontier Theatre Conference.

Out of the WSB inbox:

We are delighted to have Thomas A. Carr, City Attorney, and Beth Gappert, Assistant City Attorney, as our speakers this month. Mr. Carr will explain the precinct liaison program and Beth will let us know how she works in partnership with the Southwest Precinct.

Lt. Steven Paulsen will also be available for questions regarding the recent shooting on Alki and any neighborhood concerns.

Please come join us and bring your questions and concerns. Remember, the police are present, every time.

Tuesday, May 19th, 7pm at the Southwest Precinct. See you there!

West Seattle Crime Prevention Council

Just out of the WSB inbox (editor@westseattleblog.com):

Lee’s Martial Arts is offering 3 Summer Camps this year for children ages 5-12 years old.

The dates are:
Monday, July 13th – Friday July 17th
Monday, July 27th- July 31st
Monday, August 10th -August 14th

Cost: $200 (Discounts and Financial scholarships available). For more information please contact Lisa Skvarla @ 206-938-3375

Received today from the West Seattle Garden Club:

May 22, 2009, Friday, 10 AM to 2 PM will be the last regular meeting of the West Seattle Garden Club for their current year, until September. Meeting at the Alki Congregational Church, 6115 SW Hinds Street.

The morning program will be in Honor of Past Presidents of the Club, Presentations to Outgoing Officers and the Installation of New Officers for the coming 2009-2010 year. Commentary on Design and Horticulture Exhibits. Lunch at noon will be a “Cold Food” Potluck provided by members, with dessert and beverages served by the club. The afternoon program will be given by Gwen Bell on “Hostas,” showing slides and sharing her knowledge and love of these striking shade plants. Visitors are welcome. $5.00 donation. More information available at 932-2540.

Just announced by Life Church in Westwood:

Life Church of West Seattle is offering a Summer Day Camp, “KIDS ON THE GO…,” for children ages 5-10 years.

The day camp runs June 15th-August 21st. Hours are 8:30AM – 4:00PM.

Before camp care and after camp care is available from 7:00AM-8:30AM & 4:00PM-6:00PM.

This is not a day care program. The program is recreational and educational, and includes activities such as a swimming lesson (twice a week), and daily field trips all around Puget Sound.

A nutritious breakfast is included in the cost of children attending the before camp program.

A morning and afternoon snack along with a nutritional lunch is included in the camp
fees and will be provided for all campers.

The after camp program is a structured program including activities, singing and training on musical instruments.

Registration is open now .The registration fee, which is $75.00, includes 2 t-shirts and must be paid in full to hold the camper’s spot.

A discount will be given to those who prepay for any four weeks,per child, in advance.

Call now for fees and additional information.

The contact information is as follows:

Life Ministries Summer Day Camp
3420 SW Cloverdale Street
Seattle, WA 98126
206-932-9200