January 2008
Wade Madsen’s Local Legacy
The Seattle choreographer brings a rich dance history to the local Men in Dance Festival.
All the city’s a stage for local choreographer Wade Madsen, who sees dance in commonplace movement everywhere—from the near collision of pedestrians in a crosswalk to the careful waltz of coffee-bearing baristas. His conversational style evokes choreography, too, as his hands swoop, glide and occasionally smack into objects in their quest to express. Such ordinary…
Big Stores, Little Stores: Exploring Seattle’s New Liquor Landscape
As you may know, Washington State liquor laws have changed dramatically this year. I talked about it here back in June, which doesn’t seem that long ago. But in the rapidly changing liquor landscape, that’s much longer than it seems. Since then, we’ve heard about spirit and booze sales plunging, people moon-shining bottles across the…
Shopping in Seattle: Five Must-Do Fashion Events
Last week marked the official 175th anniversary of Tiffany & Co., a landmark the iconic American company has marked by resetting the 128.54-carat, 135 year-old Tiffany yellow diamond in a platinum setting with 481 white diamonds totaling over 120 carats — just a little bauble. This is the fifth setting for the diamond, one of…
Indecision 2012 for Kids
A local author translates election drama and rhetoric into entertaining children's literature.
As the political fur flies this month, insert a little levity into the conversation with Mount Baker author Ben Clanton’s book, Vote for Me!, in which a donkey and an elephant duke it out in a familiar blue and red rivalry. The rhetoric accelerates to a mudslinging climax of self-promotion (“How can you NOT vote…
Give Little Kids a Lift with Luv Chicken Cushions
This stylish kid's booster seat outsources phone books once and for all.
Too big for a highchair, too little to reach the table? In the old days, sitting on a phone book would do the trick, but now, we reach for a Luv Chicken booster cushion. Created by Renton mom and graphic designer Ann Hurley, these lightweight, 4-inch-tall square wonders are covered in vinyl-coated cotton and come…
Swoop Bags: The Ultimate Small Toy Wrangler
A local mom invents a tool to help keep those little toys in order.
Ever step on a Lego barefoot? Then you understand why View Ridge graphic designer and mom Sarah Kirk felt the need to create the ultimate brick wrangler, the Swoop bag. Inspired by a storage bag that her grandmother made 30 years ago for her brother’s Lego collection, Kirk makes her bags from durable cotton canvas…
Geek Out on Design, Hear Opera in a Bar, Go Greek and Other Weekend Musts
MUST LEARNSeattle Design Festival The second annual showcase of our region’s diverse design talent is centered at “The Design Block,” a cordoned-off area in South Lake Union (along John Street, between Ninth and Westlake) that features six cargo containers transformed into exhibit spaces, including: a pop-up retail shop for locally designed products. There’s also lectures,…
LA Versus Seattle: A Serious Case of Pinot Envy
Just got back from a week in sizzling So Cal, visiting my sis, going to see The Book of Mormon (Yes, it lived up to the hilarious hype. Get your tickets for the Seattle dates!) and soaking up loads of local flavor. Had the BEST Mexican food ever – crispy duck skin tacos at a…
Questions for Seattle Playwright Cheryl West
The award-winning playwright discusses Pullman Porter Blues, premiering at Seattle Rep.
BD: How did you come up with the idea/storyline for Pullman Porter Blues?CW: First, the history of the Pullman porters is a great American story, a story of this country’s first organized black labor union. This accomplishment was no small feat and one that cost many lives and even more jobs. Considered some of the…
Forage for Mushrooms at Lake Quinault
WHERE: Lake Quinault Lodge in Olympic National Park. WHY: For the 11th annual Quinault Rain Forest Mushroom Festival (10/19–10/21. $25–$30. Lake Quinault Lodge; 360.288.2900; olympicnationalparks.com) where fungi fanatics and beginner foragers can join in lectures and forest forays with mycology giants like UW’s Dr. Steven Trudell, or enjoy a ’shroom-centric menu and cooking demonstrations by…
Where to Shop for Locally Crafted Liquor
A few neighborhood stores that stock a good selection of local craft distillery fare.
If recent changes to our state’s liquor landscape have left you feeling a little…dispirited, we’re here to help. We’ve scouted out a few neighborhood options that stock a good selection of local craft distillery fare. The U District’s Wine World and Spirits carries the most brands—with nearly three-dozen local distilleries in stock—but you’ll also find…
See Flipping Fantastic Acrobaticalism in Nanda’s “The Jacket”
Acrobatics group Nanda juggles humor, martial arts and amazing athleticism.
Combine the zany comedy and mad juggling talent of the Flying Karamazov Brothers with the slo-mo martial arts moves of The Matrix, and the result is local acrobatics group Nanda. Its show, The Jacket, blends slapstick, pop culture satire, ninja moves (known as “kung faux”), circus arts and a dancing robot to achieve a thoroughly…