July 2012

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A bearded man shaking his hips like Perry Farrel to folk rock, a small woman with jewels on her forehead and a Totoro backpack dropping so much bass it hurts your throat, and a mob of dancers on stage as a man in a bubble walks across the audience; this is Capitol Hill Block Party in a nutshell.

Between 10th and 12th Avenue on Pike Street in Capitol Hill, what is usually a bustling area for traffic and local eateries became the outlet for blog-buzz worthy musical acts. Local bands and national independent music success stories gathered for three days of synth-pop, hard rock, and rambunctious folk.

Local group Father John Misty (fronted by former Fleet Foxes drummer Josh Tillman) started things off with a late afternoon set on Friday. The only thing unfortunate about the band’s performance was the lack of audience. Playing so early, many people still hadn’t gotten to the festival.

By Elizabeth Wang

For over 25 years, Carso’s Pasta Co. has been distributing homemade-style pastas to restaurants and markets all around Seattle neighborhoods.

Though their productions boast making pasta for Ken’s Market and The Ballard Market, creating original crab cake recipes for PCCC Natural Markets and even having mixed together the cheese and pasta for the Seattle-famous Beecher’s “World’s Best” Mac & Cheese, Carso’s Pasta Co.’s humble roots began just across the Ballard Bridge on the edge of Queen Anne.

Having worked for years as a chef at a steak and seafood restaurant, Dave Brown, founder and CEO of the family-owned business, knows a thing or two about food. When he started writing pasta specials to switch up the menu, his dishes quickly became the number one seller at the restaurant.

“I kind of became possessed with it,” Brown said. “It’s just another art form to me.”

Yesterday, community members lined the streets of Greenwood Ave and other streets as the 62nd annual Greenwood Seafair Parade made its way through. Drill teams, marching bands, Girl Scouts, Scholarships for Women, clowns, Seafair Pirates, old-timey prisoners, and people dressed up as vegetables all participated in the parade.

The sun was shining and the day reached a high of 79 degrees. As for Seafair weekend, the sun is sticking around, so if you don't make your way down to the festivities, you can at least plan something nice to do outside.

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UPDATE WITH SLIDESHOW: Saturday 12:45 p.m.

Click on photo to see more shots of what is going on today at this weekend's Alki Art Fair.

UPDATE July 28:
The music schedule for the Alki Art Fair, after multiple changes is now complete and ready to go according to organizers of the annual art and music event. The complete list is below or available for download.

Original Post:
The annual Alki Art Fair is set for July 28 and 29 on Alki Avenue SW between 59th and 64th Avenues SW and the music and events are now finalized according to organizers.

The event features the usual tents of vendors, live music on two stages, and lots of food but the highlight of course are the dozens of local artists who jam pack their tents with everything from water color paintings, to jewelry, to oil paintings, photography, and much more.

On Saturday there will be an Official WSH Class of ’82 Reunion Rock & Punk act in the form of Rod Moody. Following Moody on stage will be a vintage swimsuit fashion show.
The act that closes Saturday night is Matt the Hoopla, a band that describes itself as "An Electrifying 70s Rock Experience."

Beginning their fourth season of concerts the Hiawatha Concerts in the Park series is brought to you by the Admiral Neighborhood Association.

The first act for 2012 is The Local Strangers described by the organizers as "a Seattle soulful-Americana band with powerful vocals, intricate harmonies, and poignant, relatable songwriting."

The Local Strangers website offers a bit more saying they are , "featuring Midwestern transplants Aubrey Zoli and Matt Hart. They thrive on stage in an energetic display of passion – whether backed by their 6-piece band or as an acoustic duo – creating an unmistakable connection with every audience.

Press release from Sergeant Cindi West, King County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer:

"I have had quite a few of you request info on Concealed Pistol License applications and gun purchases. Here are some statistics."

Monday 7/9 – NEW CPL’s = 18
Monday 7/16 - NEW CPL’s = 19
Monday 7/23 – NEW CPL’s = 41

Friday 7/6 – NEW CPL’s = 22
Friday 7/13 – NEW CPL’s = 21
Friday 7/20 – NEW CPL’s = 29

Frame of reference - Last year; same dates:

7/22/2011 = 19
7/25/2011 = 18

"Monday’s statistics are pretty drastic – almost double what we normally get! Here are the numbers for Gun Transfers. (sales)"

Typical Friday 30
Typical Monday 90

Friday 7/20 40
Monday 7/23 115

"Many of you have asked why we think these numbers are high. I have been told that the numbers typically rise just prior to a presidential election and when there is some major incident similar to that of the Colorado shooting. Again. We have no specific data that indicates these ARE the reasons but it appears to be a common trend when the numbers increase."

The sad condition of Roxhill Elementary School got an impressive facelift on July 26 as 300 Seattle and Bellevue based T-Mobile employees brought their best makeover efforts to the school. The effort, part of a national community outreach program called "Huddle Up" had volunteers painting, planting and beautifying the school concentrating on creating a T-Mobile After School space.

That space is now a customized afterschool area stocked with furniture, school supplies, books and games.

The workers painted murals, constructed shelving and cubby storage spaces, and created outdoor games and playground graphics.

The T-Mobile Huddle Up is aimed at connecting kids, primarily from single-parent families in high-need, urban communities, to positive people, places and programs.

Now in its seventh year, T-Mobile Huddle Up has transformed more than 68 afterschool programs nationwide, and is taking on 10 more “extreme makeovers” in 2012.

The action started at 9:00 a.m with a 30 minute opening program and Rep. Eric Pettigrew from the 37th Legislative District who said, "Your work here today will have a major impact and actually change lives."

Press release:

We’ve been walkin’ and talkin’ together for a year now. Wow… How very cool. Think back on the people you’ve met and the conversations you’ve had… the things you’ve seen because you were on foot instead of behind the wheel… Think of how much you look forward to the monthly stroll with neighbors you haven’t even met yet.
Join us on Sunday, August 5th for our First Anniversary Walk-n-Talk! We’re starting year two… Let’s wander along the same route we did on the first Walk-n-Talk a year ago: circumnavigating Lake Burien.
Location: Start at Burien Town Square. Meet at the grassy knoll


Who: Walkers of every level and ability


Date: August 5, 2012
Time: Meet at 2:00 p.m. Start walking at 2:15 p.m.

Route: A 2.25 mile loop going west from Burien Town Square, around Lake Burien, and back to Town Square. (Fairly flat, with some sloping areas. Only partial sidewalks provided.)

Press release:

AUDITIONS FOR: ChoralSounds Northwest
Performance or Event Title: Auditions for Fall 2012 Concert

Description: Rediscover the fun of singing by joining ChoralSounds Northwest (CSN). New members are especially welcome to this Burien-based mixed-voice adult chorus that performs traditional choral music as well as new arrangements with a decidedly theatrical style. Be a part of the exciting renaissance of Burien’s own ChoralSounds Northwest, under the gifted direction of new Artistic Director Brian J. Winnie.

CSN’s 2012-13 season will include four concert runs, including the return of a Masterworks Performance in June which includes John Rutter’s Requiem and Gloria, as well as the popular Christmas and Spring concerts.

More Information about ChoralSounds Northwest: http://www.nwassociatedarts.org/csn/aboutchorus.asp

Auditions: Adults 17+
Audience: All ages.

Admission Fee: Membership dues for singers are $60 for the quarter. Scholarships are available.

Press release:

Sue Rahr, director of the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center in Burien, has joined Central Washington University’s Law and Justice Department Advisory Board.

She is the former King County Sheriff—the first woman elected to that position in its 155-year history.

Central's satellite campus at Highline Community College in Des Moines offers a bachelors degree in law and justice.

“It’s fantastic to have such an outstanding member of the law and justice community on our board,” said Charles Reasons, professor and chair of CWU’s Law and Justice Department. “In addition to being a well-respected officer who has risen through the ranks of law enforcement, Rahr provides an important role model for the young women in our program.”

Rahr has been in law enforcement for 32 years. At the beginning of her career, she spent five years on patrol and in undercover narcotics. She was promoted to sergeant and supervised patrol and later, special units in burglary, criminal warrants, and special assault Units.