‘Shipwrecked’ Mariners author to appear at Costco
May 1, 2012
Seattle Mariners fans can dig deep into the team’s troubles in “Shipwrecked: A Peoples’ History of the Seattle Mariners” — author Jon Wells’ account.
The author is scheduled to appear at Costco, 1801 10th Ave. N.W., from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 5 to sign the book. Fans can meet the author and discuss the book and Mariners baseball.
Wells accuses team executives of shortsightedness and stubbornness, even as results failed both fans and the team’s bottom line. Despite the challenges, Wells sees optimism ahead for the team.
“Despite the heroic efforts of many great players, the Seattle Mariners haven’t been to the World Series because their owners’ relentless passion for the bottom line has repeatedly undercut chances for success on the field,” a passage from the book reads.
Wells, a Seattle resident, is also the publisher of the independent Mariners’ game program The Grand Salami. Learn more about the program and “Shipwrecked” at www.grandsalami.net.
Downtown Issaquah ArtWalk returns May 4 for 11th season
May 1, 2012
ArtWalk returns May 4, as the Downtown Issaquah Association launches the spring and summer tradition.
The event is from 5-8 p.m. along Front Street and Sunset Way. The event is held the first Friday of each month, May to September.
Artists from local high schools add a special feature to the season’s first ArtWalk, Downtown Issaquah Association Executive Director Karen Donovan said.
Look for the young artists’ works at the historic Hailstone Feed Store, 232 Front St. N., and the former Stella’s Vintage Clothing, 195 Front St. N.
ArtWalk participants can also listen to live music. Kaleidoscope is due to perform in front of the Issaquah Library, 10 W. Sunset Way. Hear the Issaquah Singers at the Issaquah Valley Senior Center, 75 N.E. Creek Way. Participants can also listen to music at the feed store.
Downtown restaurants, businesses, galleries and other venues plan to participate as ArtWalk launches its 11th season.
A plant steals the show in Liberty High School’s ‘Little Shop of Horrors’
April 24, 2012
Pam Edmonds (left) is Audrey and Tucker Goodman is Seymour in Liberty High School’s production of ‘Little Shop of Horrors.’ By Tom Corrigan
A very lively, talking, singing plant, but still a plant.
Liberty High School is presenting the musical spoof “Little Shop of Horrors” at the school starting April 27. There are five more shows through May 5.
For those who don’t know, “Little Shop” is based on the exceptionally cheesy, cult horror movie of the same name. At its center is a plant that feeds on human blood. In the musical, it’s all tongue in cheek, of course.
“It’s definitely been an experience,” said senior Sheady Manning-Bruce, 17, who actually plays the plant, Audrey II.
Peek behind the scenes as documentary examines ‘Costco Craze’
April 24, 2012
Issaquah-based Costco sells $4 billion in produce, almost $2 billion in televisions, 55 million rotisserie chickens, 2.6 billion gallons of gasoline and 3 million pairs of eyeglasses each year.
The largest warehouse club chain on the planet is the subject of a CNBC documentary, “The Costco Craze: Inside the Warehouse Giant,” scheduled to debut April 26.
ArtEAST assembles 150 Feet of Art for auction
April 24, 2012
Among the 12-by-12 originals in artEAST’s 150 Feet of Art are Mary Masterson’s the watercolor ‘The Bird of Paradise,’ by Katalin Fazekas. Contributed
Issaquah’s nonprofit art gallery, artEAST, presents its sixth annual 150 Feet of Art Auction and Fundraiser, launching April 27 and culminating May 12.
As in the past, artEAST literally has 150 feet of art for sale starting April 27, said Karen Abel, artEAST executive director. The kick-off event is free and open to the public.
The gallery has put together 150 12-by-12 artworks, none costing more than $350, even if actually valued at more than that amount.
“There are some great bargains to be had,” Susan Walker, event chairwoman, said.
But there is one big difference between this show and previous auctions. For the first time, the show has a lead juror in Seattle artist Stephanie Hargrave.
Youth musicians compete for votes
April 24, 2012
Four local musicians are competing in the Classical KING FM 98.1 Young Artist Awards. They are Jay Grinols, Robert Yan, Jonathan Kok and Nile Canai. To help them in the competition, cast your vote at www.KING.org through April 27. On May 4, the grand-prize winner will win an evening on Northwest Focus LIVE as the featured guest.
The Young Artist Awards competition, now in its first year, encourages enjoyment and performance of classical music for regional young musicians as part of the Classical KING FM educational initiative, in partnership with Seattle Chamber Music Society.
Horton hears a cue in Village Theatre’s ‘Seussical Jr.’
April 17, 2012
Rachel Donka (left), as JoJo, and Sarah Dennis, as The Cat in the Hat, enact ‘Oh the Thinks You Can Think’ from the Village Theatre KIDSTAGE production of ‘Seussical Jr.’ By Jean Johnson/Village Theatre
In the can-do universe of Dr. Seuss, “Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!” is the mantra.
The latest “think” from the KIDSTAGE program at Village Theatre is “Seussical Jr.” — a musical based on the poetic pulses and colorful characters of Dr. Seuss, a.k.a. Theodor Seuss Geisel.
The musical debuts at First Stage Theatre a little more than a month after students in Issaquah and around the globe celebrated 100 years since Geisel’s birth March 2. The film adaptation of the seminal Dr. Seuss tale “The Lorax” opened the same day.
So, as Dr. Seuss re-enters pop culture in grand fashion, young performers at Village Theatre started rehearsals on Geisel’s birthday.
Line up to see local actor in ‘Urinetown’
April 17, 2012
Some teenage performers need audiences to go to Urinetown.
No, Urinetown is not a real place, at least not outside of a satirical musical with the same name.
Andrew Gryniewicz, a Sammamish Plateau resident and student at Bishop Blanchet High School in Seattle, plays the psychopath Hot Blades Harry in the show.
(Gryniewicz starred as Edna in the Village Theatre KIDSTAGE production of “Hairspray” last summer.)
The drama program at Gryniewicz’s school is presenting “Urinetown” the musical from April 27-29 at The Moore Theatre, 1932 Second Ave., Seattle. Tickets cost $15 to $28. Call 877-784-4849 toll free or go to www.stgpresents.org.
In “Urinetown,” a prolonged drought has caused a water shortage and a soulless corporation controls all toilets. Citizens must relieve themselves in public restrooms. Violators get sent to a penal colony called — you guessed it — Urinetown.
Sculptor of downtown art piece dies
April 17, 2012
Richard Beyer, creator of downtown Issaquah’s most recognizable sculpture, died April 9 — almost 11 years after a unveiling a life-size piece depicting late City Clerk Linda Ruehle across from City Hall.
Beyer, also known for creating the whimsical “Waiting for the Interurban” sculpture in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood, died at age 86 in New York City. The sculptor suffered a stroke March 27 and never regained consciousness.
Bystanders sometimes outfit the Ruehle sculpture and the Fremont piece in clothing and accessories meant to reflect the season or holidays. (The downtown sculpture donned a Salmon Days Festival T-shirt, a golf cap and a bouquet of flowers after the 2001 debut.)
Giada de Laurentiis returning to Costco
April 17, 2012
Food Network star and celebrity chef Giada de Laurentiis is due in Issaquah soon to sign cookbooks for local fans.
The cookbook author, known for the Italian recipes she prepared on the Food Network show “Everyday Italian,” is scheduled to appear at Costco, 1801 10th Ave. N.W., at noon April 26 to sign “Weeknights with Giada” — a collection of quick and simple recipes.
De Laurentiis last appeared at the flagship Costco in April 2010.
Besides the Food Network gig, the Rome-born de Laurentiis oversees a line of cookware, pasta and sauces.
