You are browsing the archive for Keith.

by Keith

Syttende Mai

May 17, 2008 in Ballard by Keith

With the great weather Syttende Mai was a great success.  Photos and more detail coming.

-Keith

PS I went over the Ballard bridge at about 11:30 and then at 1:30 and I saw no closed lanes, no repairs … nothing.  Much ado about nothing.

No Comments »

by Keith

Syttende Mai THIS SATURDAY

May 15, 2008 in Ballard by Keith

Syttende Mai, Norwegian Constitution Day, is coming up this Saturday, May 17th. There will be a whole day of festivities the centerpiece of which is the annual parade (which in breaking news is now moved back to 4pm). There will also be Nordic entertainment at Bergen Place, a dinner and dance, Fjord horses, children’s games and more. Check out the whole schedule at Ballard’s official event website. I understand that Ballard has the largest SM celebration in the US. By the way, I celebrate 5/17 every year for a different reason — this is the day that I first arrived in Ballard in 2001.
In the spirit of the day I thought I would recommend a couple places to celebrate after the parade where the Nordic spirit lives on in Ballard:
1. The Viking Tavern (6404 24th Ave. NW). Definitely an “old Ballard” standard bearer since 1950 (although also increasingly popular with “hipsters” as younger newcomers to Ballard are increasingly, and somewhat pejoratively, referred to in posts about the Viking and Ballard in general). The Viking has all the comforts you would expect in an old school neighborhood joint: comfy vinyl booths, ballgames on TV, Rainier on tap, shuffleboard, and house-smoked meats. Why do you think they have made it all these years?! BTW I love their moto “we smoke our own”
2. The Copper Gate. (6301 24th Ave … just down the hill a block) “Scandalnavian since 1946″ per the CG website, the bar actually puttered out a couple years ago (after years of being a somewhat notorious dive that was sketchy at best) but soon after closing its doors it was resurrected by the owners of hugely popular Ballard restaurants La Carta de Oaxaca and Thaiku who in the process of rethinking the space created just about the perfect paean to Ballard: respectful of Ballard’s unique heritage but at the same time looking forward, reinventing itself, and not taking the whole thing too seriously.
The thing that really jumps out at you when you walk in the door is the Viking-hull-sheathed bar and collection of vintage nude photography, but the whole space is appealingly decorated. It is modern but not radically contemporary, and the seating configurations, soft lighting and softly thumping house music give it a hip but laid back vibe, perfect for hanging out with friends for company over a couple drinks and small plates. The kitchen puts out decent Scandinavian-inspired dishes like house cured gravlax, meatballs with lingonberry preserves and celeriac/potato mash and aquavit-coffee braised shortribs. They also have Nordic and Ballard (Maritime) beer and appropriate uncommon liquors that include housemade aquavit and Tyrkish peber vodka … along with some really interesting cocktails.
Well … I hope to you see out on the 17th in your bunader. Long live the Constitution!

Tags: , , , , , ,
No Comments »

by Keith

Controversial Photo Exhibit Removed After ArtWalk

May 12, 2008 in Ballard, Ballard Art by Keith

I recently posted on Ballardite Blog about some of the exhibits I was drawn to at the second Saturday ArtWalk held last Saturday in Ballard, May 10th. One of my favorite installations of the evening, by Jim Wilkinson, an Edmonds photographer, was at KISS Cafe. The exhibition entitled “Normal Sometimes Naked People” featured large grids of bold, beautiful color photographic portraits on stretched canvas. The photos were striking, especially grouped as they were in the space, which features a high loft-ceiling and bold wall colors that really made the photos pop. Some of the pieces were erotic; there were nudes of women and of men with a couple photos of nude men posing together. In an interesting angle a couple of the photos featured strikingly tatooed KISS co-owner Amanda Whisler

After the show I decided to look for more information on the photographer, who was erroneously referred to in ArtWalk materials as John Wilkenson. I eventually tracked down his Flicker page. Under a picture of one of the pieces from the show he wrote:

The Artist’s Reception Sat May 10th was great. On Sunday, one of the owners of the cafe called me and told me that he had taken down one of my 2 photo pieces, and he wanted me to chop off the bottom third of this piece. All because of the nude guy (bottom right corner). [...] I of course immediately removed the entire show [...]

Wow. I did read in an ad for the show on Craigslist that the nude photos would be taken down after the opening and someone also mentioned that to me during the opening as well … but clearly there was some subsequent dispute over what would remain and what would come down, and why.  I will post with more details when I get them.

Tags: , , , , ,
1 Comment »