March 2011

Broken Records, the six-piece indie band from Edinburgh, Scotland will play a free in-store performance at Sonic Boom Records tonight before hopping over to Tractor Tavern for a performance later tonight.

The band is touring to promote their latest album, “Let Me Come Home” which was recorded with producer Tony Doogan (Mogwai, Delgados, Belle & Sebastian) and released in October of last year.

Catch the band for free at Sonic Book Records at 7 p.m. or see them play a full set at the Tractor Tavern with U.S. Royalty and Ambulance at 9 p.m. for $12 at the door.

The West Seattle Rainbow Girls hosted a membership drive party Sunday, Feb. 27, where they regularly meet, at the Alki Masonic Hall, 4736 SW 40th. The girls are gearing up for their car wash fundraiser Saturday, March 19, noon to 3:00 p.m. in the Masonic parking lot.

The International Order of Rainbow Girls began in 1922, then created for Masonic daughters and their friends, but today any girl ages 11-20 who is interested in joining Rainbow Girls is welcome. It is nondenominational.

"Rainbow is more about believing in yourself and following a good life, and being accepting of others," said Jan Fernandez-Hunter, "
Mother Advisor" of the West Seattle Assembly #18. Kala Broxey, 15, is their "Worthy Advisor." The 16 members of this assembly, and adult advisors, encourage others to join.

“I’ve lost control,” I said to Martin in the face of gusting winds and crowds swarming the doors.
He rightly replied, “You never had control.”

It has been almost three weeks since the occasion of Bertha Davis’ 97th birthday was used to launch the Ballard Historical Society and Bring Back the Bell steering committee’s effort to complete the Centennial Bell Tower project but my ears are still ringing.

It’s not that the bell when specially rung by Don Aupperle was inordinately loud (although I wasn’t standing beneath the bell). What’s still ringing is the buzz surrounding the party, the project, the community support and the turn-out.

Like many dogs in West Seattle Cooper, owned by Cindy Rose, is a rescue dog. Cooper is Golden Retriever "mix" which might include some Rottweiler Rose suspects.

She got him through the Humane Society when he was four, and that was five years ago making him nine today.

"He's really smart," said Rose, "When he sees my walking partner he will stand at the door and get all excited.He recognizes people."

Cooper carries his own stuffed dog around the house and when Rose comes home he does," What I call his happy dance. He does circles around the house, and it's not a very big house so he has to run to one end and turn around and run to the other end."

Rawhide bones are his favorite treats but he's generally a dry dog food fan for his regular diet. He's been know to attempt to "eat" smaller dogs, pulling madly at his leash so Rose now crosses the street to keep him under control. That may be where the Rottweiler part of Cooper comes out. He's a genuine, heavyweight leash tugger.

At 125 pounds, "That's a lot to hold on to," Rose added.

How to nominate your pet for Pet of the Week:

Ghost Light Theatricals' production of Caryl Churchill's The Skriker will premiere next week and promises a tale of dark magic, manipulation and fear.

Written by Churchill in 1994, the play tells the story of the Skriker, a dark, shape-shifting fairy drawn to desperation. After attaching herself to two teenage girls, the Skriker wreaks havoc with their lives, haphazardly granting minor wishes. Using dark magic, she ultimately drags both girls into a rotting underworld filled with a macabre ensemble of broken fairies. Helpless against her power, the girls become increasingly desperate to save themselves and each other.

"I was drawn to the challenge of telling a story using movement and very difficult language," said Artistic Director and founder Beth Raas-Berquist. "I am interested in the themes of societal taboos and environmentalism, as well as the stereotypes of women in fairytales explored in the script."

This is Raas-Bergquist's 13th play for Ghost Light Theatricals, who has also directed plays at almost every fringe theatre in Seattle and teaches at Seattle Children's Theatre, The Village Theatre, Seattle Public Theater, and Youth Theater Northwest.

Press release:

This Sunday, March 6, 2011, the Admiral's 3:40 matinee of Harry Potter boasts a special guest; a one of a kind, custom made Mini Cooper Convertible, decked out in Harry Potter style! The sports-car will be available for sale at the theater.

Imagine this July when the last installment of the Harry Potter Series comes out, you can have the top down and driving to the movie theater in style! You will totally be the envy of everyone and you can show off what a HUGE fan you are!

Owner, Alexia Johnson had this 2006 car made especially for her at the Oxford England
factory. "I have been a long time Harry Potter fan and I wanted my British car to reflect my favorite British story. I went to the Mini dealership in 2005 and choose everything that I wanted to have on my car. It has a supercharged engine and it is manual".

Woodland Park Zoo’s annual poop event is here. The Spring Fecal Fest means it’s time for local gardeners to enter their bid to purchase the highly coveted Zoo Doo or Bedspread that Dr. Doo has been piling all winter.

Zoo Doo is the most exotic and highly prized compost in the Pacific Northwest, perfect for vegetables and annuals, composed of exotic species feces contributed by the zoo’s non-primate herbivores. Bedspread, the zoo’s premium composted mulch, is like Zoo Doo but with higher amounts of wood chips and sawdust. It’s the perfect mulch for perennial beds and woody landscapes such as native gardens, rose beds, shrubs, tree rings or pathways.

But not everyone can buy this compost, only winners of a drawing can.

To purchase Zoo Doo or Bedspread, gardeners should send in a postcard before March 18 to be considered for the drawings. For Zoo Doo, the postcard should be marked “Zoo Doo.” For Bedspread, postcards should be marked “B.S.” Only one postcard per person is eligible for each drawing. Entry cards will be selected randomly for as many entrants possible. Dr. Doo will personally contact the lucky drawn entries.

Ballard residents at 8th Ave and N.W. 50th share messages on a wooden fence.
In green a message reads "Sarah Palin 2012 - 2014 1/2". One of the residents explained that when her roommate heard that Sarah Palin might run for President, he wrote this somewhat ironic message.
"She didn't finish her term as governor of Alaska and that's why he wrote 14 1/2," the resident said.

Art
Shelli Park-Burien artist who works in oil and also sumi ink/soft pastel on paper. Artwork on display at Normandy Park City Council Chambers, 801 S.W. 174th St. March 7-April 15. Open House, March 10, 7-9 p.m. Sponsored by Normandy Park Arts Commission with financial contribution from commission member Robert Frey.

Exhibits
Highline Historical Society-- "Burien Families at Work and Play." Vintage photos showcase both business and leisure activities of Burien residents over the past century. Burien Community Center, 14700 6th Ave. S.W. Through April 30. Free. Monday - Thursday, 8:30 a.m.- 8 p.m. Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Festivals
Poverty Bay Wine Festival-Tastings from 22 Northwest wineries. Live music. Food. Two car shows. March 4-6. Landmark on the Sound, 23660 Marine View Dr. S, Des Moines. Friday 5- 10 p.m., Saturday Noon- 7 p.m., Sunday Noon- 5 p.m. Tickets $30 at the door or $25 in advance good for one-day admission. Proceeds support Rotary Club of Des Moines projects.

Theater

There are a lot of 5K charity races out there but the Cove to Clover event between Normandy Park and Burien, set for Sunday, March 13, is unique.

As might be expected, a former Mt. Rainier climbing guide designed the course.

"We set out to create something unique that would showcase the best attributes of our community. There are thousands of flat, peaceful 5Ks in the world-- this is not one of them," organizer John Nelson declared. "I believe the shared suffering we experience as we overcome the rigors of the course helps bond the diverse individuals of the community. People outside our community are discovering the magic we've stumbled upon and are joining in the pain...er...fun."

Right out of the 1 p.m. starting gate at the Normandy Park Cove, 1500 S.W. Shorebrook Dr., runners will face the nearly 500-foot "Snake Hill."

And once on top, runners might not have much time to enjoy the beautiful views of Puget Sound or the ethereal sounds of a Highland piper. Instead they must overcome "The Uprising," a runner obstacle staged in a Celtic battle scene reenactment.

Runners may opt to bypass "The Uprising" but the route is about .01 mile longer.