Seattle Twist

Sensational Seattle counterculture cartoonist Peter Bagge will appear in Georgetown at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery at 7:00 PM on Friday, November 25. The book signing will be followed by a performance of his power pop combo Can You Imagine? featuring Steve Fisk next door at the MIX nightclub.

We’ve recently seen a deluge of books by earnest young rock journalists chronicling the history of Seattle’s grunge movement. But nothing quite matches Peter Bagge’s authentic observations during that era. Bagge’s work went beyond satire to help shape the attitude and aesthetics of the only significant youth movement to emerge from the Pacific Northwest. His comix still resonate today, as a new generation of readers discover his over-the-top, yet totally accessible approach to cartooning. Bagge will sign copies of his iconic Hate comix anthologies as well as more recent work, including his rockin’ all ages romp Yeah! Pick up some perfect personalized gifts for a song.

Bagge’s signing will be followed by a musical performance at the Mix with Can You Imagine? This mostly female pop combo is eerily reminiscent of the intergalactic rock group depicted in Yeah! Michelle, Rachel and Sue are joined by Bagge and legendary musician and producer Steve Fisk, combining to form a fairly amazing and unexpected delight.

Fantagraphics Bookstore is located at 1201 S. Vale Street in the heart of Seattle’s Georgetown arts community. Open daily 11:30 to 8:00 PM, Sundays until 5:00. Phone 206.658.0110.

Adventurous art mavens will descend on Georgetown on Saturday, November 12 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM for the Georgetown Second Saturday Art Attack. Many area artists open their studios to the public for this monthly event, joined by the creative enterprises that support them. The diversity of visual and performing arts programming continues to distinguish Georgetown’s lively Art Attack.

Among the highlights of the November 12 installment: Paintings by Diana Pharaoh at Calamity Jane’s; Regional underwater photography by Tom Radio at the enchanting, nautically-themed Nautilus Studio; Landscape photography by Adria McGrath at American Pie; Krab Jab Studio presents “Lost and Found”, a collection of paintings by Amy Pleasant with additional art by Julie Baroh, Milo Duke, Mark Tedin, Kyle Abernethy, and jewelry by Beau Bond; Art at the Top of the Stairs features bronze sculpture by Louise McDowell and Donna Van Norman, watercolors by Eunice Nammacher, work by Sally Jones, and Evergreen Guardian Imports’ goods from Nepal including a collection of Thangkh paintings with music by Charlie Hiestand and friends; Georgetown Trailer Park Mall kicks off the holiday season with a live Fezzcast Dance Party, Outdoor Cinema, Drunky’s Barbecue and an eclectic preview of local designers in vintage travel trailers; All City Art presents “Bubble Yum” by Mary Enslow and “Art at a Steal” featuring small and affordable art by 9 Seattle artists at All City Coffee; Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery opens “Short Run,” an exhibition of small press publications and artwork by Max Clotfelter, Patrick Keck, Martine Workman, Elaine Lin, Jason T. Miles, Chris Cilla, Andrice Arp, Tim Root, Billis Helg, Marc Palm, Eroyn Franklin, Tom Van Deusen, Tim Miller, Tory Franklin, Jesse Reklaw, Sean Christensen, and Erin Tanner, curated by Kelly Froh; “Derek Bruno Does Work” display continues at The Firm; Georgetown arts activist Amanda Michele Dellinger offers “Heart of the Attack” guided tours at artsenabler@gmail.com.

The Georgetown Art Attack is a monthly promotion of the Georgetown Merchants Association. www.georgetownmerchants.org. A printable map of participants can be found at www.georgetownartattack.com.

Come celebrate the Trolls 21st Birthday!

MacBeth is back & has some things to set straight …

Trolloween is the Birthday celebration for Seattle’s famous Fremont Troll.

October 31st is the Trolls 21st Birthday!

It is held on his Birthday October 31st at 7pm ~sharpish.
The celebration  starts in front of the Troll under the Aurora Bridge (Troll Ave & N 36th St), as he loves a good laugh and a great story.

Then revelers will be off for the annual Haunt of Fremont (a procession of costumed dancers & performers (& you) taking over the streets of Fremont.)

This 21st anniversary of the birth of the Fremont Troll, you’ll be learning about MacBeth: a wronged man, back to set things straight. Many seasoned artists and performers will present their twisted and whacky version of Shakesspeares famous tales.

Rain or dry, revelers will sing, dance, marvel, and laugh their way through the dark underbelly of  Shakespeare and Fremont.   This is an unsweetened and piquant family event with plenty of fun to scare the laughs out of any stoic kid or stogy adult.

Vamola

Costumes are always highly encouraged!

If you can lend a hand to help pull off this fabulous piece of street theater, meet by the Troll at 6:30pm.

Pinball players from around the country will gather in Belltown on November 5 and 6 for Shorty’s 14th Annual Pinball Tournament. This has become one of the most highly anticipated and closely contested competitions of its kind. Cash and prizes are awarded in several categories – some unrelated to finishing order – with the top contestant taking home the coveted grand prize of a vintage pinball machine.

This tournament attracts highly rated competitors from across the country and as far away as Europe and Asia. The competition is sanctioned by the International Flipper Pinball Association (IFPA) and points are awarded toward world championship rankings. In recent years, this event has come to represent a pitched battle between regional pinball clubs: The Vancouver Regional Pinball Association (VRPA) from British Columbia; Crazy Flipper Fingers (CFF) from Portland, OR; and the Seattle Pinball League (SPL), as well as independent players from around the Northwest. Each bring diverse attitudes to the tournament, and the competition can become fierce. Contestants are pitted in random head-to-head matches in a best-of-three, double elimination format. The cream typically rises to the top, and the final rounds provide gripping entertainment.

Anyone over the age of 21 can enter and test their skills against the region’s best players. Entry fee is a nominal $10. Doors open at noon on Saturday, November 5 with tournament play commencing at 2:00 PM. The field is narrowed to 64 players for Sunday’s finals. Spectators are free!

Shorty’s, located at 2222 2nd Avenue in Seattle, has gained a reputation as one of the nation’s most appealing pinball emporiums. Don’t miss this wildly entertaining spectacle. For more information visit: www.shortydog.com.

Zombies Invade Seattle (~again) for ZomBcon the world’s premier Zombie Culture Convention returns to Seattle October 21 – 23 at the Seatac Hilton.

A few bites about of how the infection will spread:

• Thom Carnell ensures that No Flesh Shall Be Spared
• Carnell vs Popham Round 2: Who will survive and what will be left of them??
• The Makings of Super Hero Panel Featuring Phoenix Jones and Vampy Bitme

• Zombie Tools: Blade Runners for the Apocalypse
• The Last Stand: Party at Survivor City
• Getting to the heart of the infection with Zombie Autopsies
• Zombies are People too!

Are you prepared for the zombie apocalypse?

Even Playboy is talking about it:

The Northwest Chocolate Festival features the work of twenty bean to the bar craft chocolate makers. The NWCF is the largest gathering of true craft chocolate makers in North America, October 22-34 at Seattle  Center Northwest rooms.

A taste of what you will experience

• Learn about chocolate with presentations by award winning chocolate makers
• Crush cacao beans by hand using traditional tools
• Meet cacao farmers from Ecuador and Peru
• Learn to taste and distinguish fine chocolate from different origins around the world
• Taste and experience fresh cacao fruit direct from South America, a rare experience in the United States
• Discover the health benefits of chocolate
• Learn how to temper chocolate, make truffles and ganaches, and fine desserts
• Seduce your senses in the Aphrodisiac Room
• Expand your palate with chocolate and drink pairings

The amount of artisan chocolate makers gathering for this summit on fine craft chocolate is unprecedented and certainly exciting!

You will have the chance to taste chocolate as well as attend educational workshops and presentations in five of the Northwest Rooms at the Seattle Center. The festival features 16 hours of chocolate culinary demonstrations at the culinary kitchen in the Chocolate Dessert and Confection Room, two full days of talks on culture, trade equity and cocoa agriculture in the World of Chocolate Room.

They also offer the opportunity to enjoy wine, coffee, tea, and beer paired with chocolate in the Beer and Wine Garden.

Don’t miss out on the Aphrodisiac room to experience the sensual nature of chocolate and foods.

And don your mask and fancy ball gown for the Chocolate Masquerade Ball on Saturday night 8-12pm (21+)

http://www.nwchocolate.com/index.php/masquerade-ball

Don’t miss the October 8 installment of the Georgetown Second Saturday Art Attack. We welcome our newest neighbor Elysian Brewing as they host their annual Great Pumpkin Brew Festival at their new facility on Airport Way S. Over 50 flavors of pumpkin beer from area brewers will debut, including a batch from Georgetown Brewing. Can’t brew too much beer in our little arts community. Nosiree!

Elsewhere in Georgetown: Celebrate the season in the Georgetown Trailer Park of Terror with an outdoor cinema, indie art venues and live music by The Sweet Spots; the Nautilus presents sinister “Games of Pain and Sorrow” and other sculptures of organic materials by James Bassett with performances by Acep the Magician and Orryelle Bascule Defenestrate; legendary underground cartoonist Trina Robbins presents the work of illustrator Nell Brinkley at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery; Calamity Jane’s displays intaglios by Inga Scheibel and mixed media by Kree Arvanitas; shadow boxes by Morbid Anatomy on view at American Pie; Krab Jab Studio hosts a Halloween show featuring artists Jeff Menges, Mark Tedin, Julie Baroh, Milo Duke, Morbid Anatomy, Luke Green, Yvette Endrijautski, Peter Pan, Amy Pleasant, RK Post, Sam Hamrick, Kyle Abernethy, Wendy Wees, and Beau Bond; the Georgetown Art & Cultural Center opens “New Clear,” a show curated by unique families of Seattle’s Joanna Hall featuring Lilly Warner, Joanna Hall, Justin Kane Elder, Karie Jane and Sam Mikolon with a live DJ; Deborah Scott’s “Waiting for Prince Charming” continues at All City Coffee; and “Does Work,” a site specific installation by Christopher Derek Bruno remains on view at The Firm. Our SoDo neighbors at the Sunny Arms are hosting “Art on Airport,” an all day open studio. Georgetown arts activist Amanda Michele Dellinger offers “Heart of the Attack” guided tours at artsenabler@gmail.com.

The Georgetown Art Attack is a monthly promotion of the Georgetown Merchants Association. See www.georgetownmerchants.org. For a map of participants visit: www.georgetownartattck.com. “Like” us on Facebook.

Seattle’s beloved J.P. Patches makes his farewell performance at noon Saturday 9/17, where he’ll take the main stage at the Fishermen’s Fall Festival at Seattle’s Fishermen’s Terminal.

The event, in its 23rd year, benefits the Seattle Fishermen’s Memorial, a nonprofit organization that promotes fishing-industry safety and helps families who’ve lost loved ones at sea.

For those transplants or those too young to remember seeing him on KIRO-TV, JP Patches was a staple on weekday mornings for those kids lucky enough to be able to watch before going to school.

Here’s a cool video of him without makeup, taking viewers on a tour of the old Queen Anne KIRO studios:

September 13, 2011 – Seattle, WA. Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery welcomes two diverse professionals in the field of comix for an extraordinary event on Saturday, September 24 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Editor and curator Warren Bernard will discuss cartoons in the service of commerce in connection with his new book and exhibition Drawing Power: A Compendium of Cartoon Advertising. He’ll be joined by provocative contemporary cartoonist and visual artist Tom Neely presenting his new graphic novel The Wolf.

Drawing Power examines the use of comic strip characters and cartoonists themselves as pitchmen for commercial goods beginning in the late 19th century. The colorful book and accompanying exhibition survey the American institution of cartoon advertising featuring comic strips, commercials, slogans, and merchandise employed to appeal to a broad range of consumers. Comics historian Warren Bernard has an extensive background researching and archiving material for important books, exhibitions, and institutions, including the Prints and Photographs Division of the Library of Congress. Bernard also serves as the Executive Director of the annual Small Press Expo (SPX) in Bethesda, MD.

Los Angeles artist Tom Neely will appear to read from and sign his new graphic novel, The Wolf. The book tells a simple love story, but one woven with surrealist horror, werewolf lore and its own brand of nightmare logic. With The Wolf, Neely progresses from the traditional cartooning style to a form that blends a fine arts approach to imagery. Neely’s paintings and illustrations have been featured in galleries, magazines and literary journals, as well as records, posters and CDs for bands like The Melvins, ISIS and Wolves in the Throne Room, among others. Earlier this year, he garnered attention as one of the authors of the cult hit mini-comic Henry & Glenn Forever. Neely’s self-published novel, The Blot, won an Ignatz Award in 2007 and made it onto several of the industry’s “best of” lists that year, including “Best Comics of the Decade” in The Comics Journal.

Listing information

Drawing Power exhibition reception and slide discussion with Warren Bernard
Special guest Tom Neely presenting The Wolf
Saturday, September 24, 6:00 to 8:00 PM.
Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery
1201 S. Vale Street (at Airport Way S.) Seattle 206.658.0110 www.fantagraphics.com
Open daily 11:30 to 8:00 PM, Sundays until 5:00 PM

Now in its 6th year  Arts-A-Glow brings the magic and wonder of lantern art to Burien.  Join in the celebration on:

Saturday September 10th, 5:00-10:00pm

This is a FREE event.

This year the festival has changed locations and is presented in the lovely Dottie Harper Park, 421 SW 146th, ‘a magical evening in the forest.’

It will be a breathtaking walk in nature with lanterns created by many talented artists, those you create on-site, or lanterns you bring to join in the interactive procession (MAP).

This event will include lantern making , performers, face painting, tea leaf reading and treats for everyone to sample.

A special performance by Lucia Neare’s Theatrical Wonders is also planned.

Don’t miss it!

The Aki Matsuri Festival (or “Fall Festival”) now in its 14th year, is a celebration of the rich cultural heritage of Japan and is presented yearly by the Eastside Nihon Matsuri Association (ENMA).

The Aki Matsuri festival will be on Bellevue College’s main campus this weekend

Saturday, September 10th (10:00am-6:00pm) and

Sunday September 11 (10:00am-4:30pm.)

Admission & parking are FREE!

The festival features several special events such as a leather artist, Kimono presentation, Mikoshi Gishiki (full scale Omikoshi from Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America) and Taiko drum presentations.  Bonsai, Taiko, and Japanese garden presentations as well as puppet shows.

Be sure to catch the West Cascade Puppet Brigade’s ‘The Inch-High Samurai’ a tale of a tiny young man who sets off in the world to find his fortune.  He proves to be braver and more clever than the largest and scariest of foes.

See ‘The Inch-High Samurai’ on

Saturday September 10th in the Carlson Theater at 12:30pm & 2:45pm

& Sunday September 11th in Room E129 at 1:45pm & 4:00pm.

Please note that the times and venues are not the same for each day.

ENMA (Eastside Nihon Matsuri Association) is a non-profit organization of volunteers who want to preserve and further the arts and crafts of Japan for the enjoyment of the greater Seattle community.

The Labor Day weekend, harbenger of the end of summer, brings North America’s largest urban arts festival, Bumbershoot to Seattle.

Now in the 41st year,  Bumbershoot is world renowned for showcasing musical talent.  And while there are a myriad of music choices, Bumbershoot by it’s very name is an umbrella of the arts (from the slang: bum•ber•shoot —n. informal An umbrella.)

So be sure not to miss:

The Magic Show at the Center Pavilion everyday from 11am-8pm, a multimedia exhibit that explores illusion, conjuring, levitation, and transformation.

Get your guns up with 2010 Stranger Genius Award winner Marya Sea Kaminski’s Bonnie and the Robberi, a collection of rock covers, original songs, and monologues that explore societal themes of women with firearms, love, and violence and is backed by the musical talents of Landlords Daughter.

Bumber by Number a fully interactive color by number show featuring some of Seattle’s favorite visual art talents and is curated by the beloved Marlow Harris & Jo David.  Pick up a veggie and join in the communal art creation.

Movies at SIFF Cinema and McCaw Hall feature projects: Films4Families, 48 Hour Film Project, Nerds Unite, and Animation for Adults, just to name a few.

Just in case you spend all your Bumbershoot days watching movies, seeing visual art shows, eating and shopping the vendor booths.  You can still catch a fabulous line up of musicians at Bumbershoot After Dark, a collaboration with Decibel, One Reel,  Seattle Center, & Kaos Theory.  This late night (10pm-4am) celebration at Exhibition Hall, features some of the most acclaimed electronic music performers and deejays.  Saturday brings the musical stylings of Craze, Claude Van Stroke, Jokers of the Scene, and The Dowlz. Sunday’s line-up is Z-Trip, Four Tet, and Dam Funk. Bumbershoot After Dark is boasting this collaboration “to be the most adventurous stage configuration that any of the organizations have ever produced throughout their 100+ years of collective experience.”

Be warned if you go to Bumbershoot expecting to get a glimpse of John Oates fabulous mustache, you will be disappointed.  It has only been seen once in the last 25 years: last year’s National Moustache Convention where he was a special guest.  

For a breakdown of all the Bumbershoot events & happenings check the official SCHEDULE. Hall & Oates take the Bumbershoot main stage on Monday.

“Bumber By Number” is an interactive and fully immersive Paint-by-Number art exhibit curated by Marlow Harris and JoDavid for the 2011 Bumbershoot Arts Festival.

The show features an interactive audience participatory paint-by-number homage to Edouard Manet’s “The Picnic” (“Le Dejeuner sur L’Herbe”) by artist Ryan Feddersen. In addition, bask in the glory of Victoria BC artist Bill Blair’s amazing life-size paint-by-number banners and guitars, and local Seattle artists create incredible canvases of altered vintage Paint-by-Numbers.

There is a special Bumbershoot Arts preview on Thursday, September 1st, 3pm to 9pm and you can see all the art shows at that time.

You can also view the show at Bumbershoot that takes place over Labor Day weekend, Sept. 3-5

Seattle artist and photographer Jennifer Zwick took not one but two different Paint-by-Number paintings and rose to the challenge of transforming both into dynamic works of art.

Here are her finished pieces with her darling son, Owen, ready to assist.

Joey Veltkamp chose a lovely religious theme, which he transformed into his own personal LGBT Rainbow Jesus.

The Stranger’s art director, Aaron Huffman was up to the task, bringing new light to this tired old horse painting.

Seattle artist David Kane transformed this mundane landscape into a science fiction fantasy painting:

Elizabeth Jameson completely transformed a landscape into a disco glow-in-the-dark scene of delight:

Sean Hurley had some fun with a still life that he altered into his own signature style:

The Environment Coalition of South Seattle (ECOSS) presents Lucha Libre in the Street in South Park. This is a family-friendly event. Kids’ activities start at 4 p.m. with free lucha-mask face painting, bouncy house and more. The Mexican-style wrestling, featuring Luchadores Independientes de Washington, begins at 6 p.m. Cheer on your favorite wrestler whether they be good or evil. There will be a contest to win adult Lucha Libre masks.

The event is free for all! Come, have fun and help support our local merchants. There will be plenty of time to eat at a local restaurant, fill up the gas tank at a local station, take home some of the best Latino baked goods around, buy a piñata for your next party, grab that much needed bag of dog food, or even come early and get your oil changed.

The event will take place at the intersection of 14th Avenue South and South Cloverdale Street on Saturday, August 20, from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.

The Georgetown Art Attack returns on Saturday, August 13 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. This monthly event allows patrons to explore the creative industrial arts corridor as artists open their workspaces to visitors and Georgetown’s many creative enterprises turn up the heat.

Among the highlights: Trailer Park Cinema presents the 1961 classic “Door to Door Maniac” starring Johnny Cash and Little Ronnie Howard and ten independently curated vintage trailers full of vintage finds, local art & kustom goods at the Georgetown Trailer Park Mall; Augie Pagan’s “Peripheral Visions” at The Firm; Rat City Brass at 9 Lb. Hammer; Calamity Jane’s features paintings and drawings by Ken Hershenson; American Pie shows mixed media works by Yvette Endrijautzki and screen prints by Randal Hutchinson: the Nautilus studio presents the paintings of Robert Lane; Sage Artistry Studios proprietor Sherri Gamble invites the public to get their hands dirty with earth plaster finishes and experience other nature-inspired artistry through textiles, glass, and sculpture; Krab Jab Studio welcomes new artist Milo Duke with “Mercado Milo”, featuring portraits of produce with resident artists Michael Hoppe, Kyle Abernethy, Julie Baroh, Mark Tedin and Tenaya Sims; The Quiet Rrriot exhbition featuring Stella Marrs, Nikki McClure and Megan Kelso at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery; grand opening of Tin Can Studio dance/art/event space in the Old Rainier Brewery building in neighboring SoDo; and the usual carousing that distinguishes the historic Georgetown neighborhood.

The Georgetown Art Attack is a monthly promotion of the Georgetown Merchants Association: www.georgetownmerchants.org. For a printable map visit www.georgetownartattack.com. “Like” us on Facebook for regular updates and images.