Seattle Culture
The Performance Art of Goddess Kring
Shannon Kringen retains her colorful and quirky personality from her public access tv show
Of all the personalities on local public access, though, perhaps one of the most memorable was Shannon Kringen — the colorful pagan woman whose Goddess Kring show featured stream-of-consciousness monologues combined with naked performance art. Kringen recently announced that she had uncovered a large cache of VHS tapes containing all episodes of her show, generating some renewed interest in this bygone era of TV. The discovery of these artifacts led me to reach out to her to learn more about her interesting story.
Must List: April 25-May 1
Seattle Black Film Festival, Peter Rabbit, and a pair of star-crossed lovers
Catch Seattle’s Black Film Festival, or see the tale of Peter Rabbit come to life. Rock out with AJR, or be swept up in one of the greatest love stories ever told. And don’t miss the Procession of the Species in downtown Olympia.
Celebrate Indie Bookstore Day This Saturday
From Elliott Bay Book Co. to Third Place Books, Seattle bookshops are ready for the big day
28 bookstores across the Seattle area are gearing up to mark the day, including iconic shops such as Fantagraphics Bookstore, Queen Anne Book Co., Third Place Books, Left Bank Books, Elliott Bay Book Co., and University Bookstore.
Finding Place in Pictures
Artist Sky Hopinka’s first solo museum exhibit in the northwest showcases his creative approach to language and identity
“I had cassette tapes and workbooks, but it was hard because I was living in Washington, and my tribal language has roots in Wisconsin,” Sky Hopinka says. Learning alone, he could listen to prerecorded Hocak phrases and practice writing letters and words, but an essential component was missing — another person to speak with.
Photo by Sky Hopinka, Mnemonics of Shape and Reason (Still), 2021. Digital Video (Color, Sound); 4:12 Min.
Seattle: Where Every Day is Earth Day
The city nabs a top spot on the nation's greenest cities list
Seattle ranks as the second-greenest city in the United States, just behind San Francisco. The study evaluated cities on sustainability metrics including air quality, public transportation, access to green space, and bike-friendliness.
Must List: April 18-24
Earth Day, Fat Ham, and Bruce Hornsby
Catch Bruce Hornsby at Benaroya Hall, or hang out with nature at a state park on Earth Day. See Fat Ham, a funny take on Hamlet, or explore the impact of pop culture on our daily lives. And don’t miss 54 dancers moving as one in The Seasons’ Canon.
The Wild Sauna of Seattle
A taste of Norwegian culture comes to the Pacific Northwest
In the heart of Kirkland, tied up to a public dock, one of the United States’ first floating saunas bobs on Lake Washington, providing a unique experience inspired by sauna culture in Norway. On a recent crisp chilly day, I had the opportunity to visit Von Sauna…
Feeding Ghosts to Free Them
Artist Tessa Hulls creates a revealing graphic novel to help her deal with childhood trauma
Seattle artist Tessa Hulls’ new graphic novel Feeding Ghosts is a deeply stirring narrative of loss, mental illness, and intergenerational trauma. She says that she wrote it to answer this question: What broke my family? Much of the book is about repetition, and how three generations of women in Hulls’ family were emotionally crippled by an isolation that kept them from experiencing belonging. She also came to the project as an attempt to heal her relationship with her own mother…
Must List: April 11-17
Jim Gaffigan, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Sampha
Catch Jim Gaffigan turning everyday quirks into comedy gold, or celebrate cherry blossoms and Japanese culture. Laugh along with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler’s comedic genius, rock out with The Black Crowes on their comeback tour, and don’t miss the chance to hear Sampha sing.
Back to the Future
Seattle's Central District is reclaiming its rich history
One of the Central District’s original settlers was Black pioneer and businessman William Grose — the owner of the Our House hotel and restaurant on Yesler Way and the first Black person to buy property in what was known as East Madison in 1882.
Illustration by Martin Haake
The One-Stop Waterfront
Everett is in the midst of a metamorphic makeover
For decades, Everett has been associated with Boeing planes and the naval base, where nearly a dozen combined Navy and Coast Guard ships are currently homeported. It’s a bit industrial, and maybe not the location many Seattle-area folks have historically been excited to settle in. That’s all changing with the expansion of Everett’s waterfront and surrounding areas, leading to new, exciting, and walkable spaces to explore, stay, and dine.
Illustration by Martin Haake
Must List: April 4-10
A breakdance showdown, Jo Koy, and the Boot Scootin' Boogie
Join bestselling author Brianna Madia for a chat about her latest memoir, catch comedian Jo Koy live, or see a thrilling breakdancing battle. Explore the unique perspectives of women at the Everett Film Festival, or head over to the Emerald City Hoedown for four days of country-western dancing.
An Urban Oasis, a Suburban Sensibility
Why Maple Leaf is unique among Seattle neighborhoods
Located northeast of Green Lake between Interstate 5 and Lake City Way, Maple Leaf feels more suburban than much of the city, with single-family homes outnumbering larger apartment complexes. Despite its suburban feel, the neighborhood is firmly within Seattle city limits, and conveniently located with easy access to both the Northgate and Roosevelt Light Rail stations.
Illustration by Martin Haake
Join The Must List
Don't miss a thing.
Get Seattle's best events,handpicked
and delivered to your inbox weekly.