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Take a Sunday morning dance class with the best drummers and teacher in town at the old Crown Hill Elementary School. The old school lunchroom has been revitalized and is now a spacious and light filled room for activities such as dance. Class movement is deceptively simple and a pleasurable way to get a great workout in a community of other adults seriously intent on having a good time in a non-verbal venue. Leading the group is the amazing Lara McIntosh who is a knowledgeable and intuitive teacher with an accessible teaching style. After class you’ll feel better, stronger, and happier.

Class is Sunday mornings 10 to 11:30
at the old Crown Hill Elementary School
9250 14th Ave NW

Check out Lara’s website for more details

http://www.wassadance.com/

The 5th Annual Sustainable Ballard Festival is coming up this weekend (September 27th and 28th at Ballard Commons Park), brought to us for free by Sustainable Ballard, a local non-profit organization developing a grassroots vision of sustainability for the community of Ballard (www.sustainableballard.org).

From Saturday to Sunday (11-5pm), the Festival will feature a variety of progressive organizations who are at the forefront of discovering and implementing sustainable, green solutions, such as Seattle Electric Vehicle Association and the Sunyata Group. The festival will include various lectures and workshops from eco-gurus and authors on ways to incorporate sustainable living through alternative (but affordable!) transportation, gardening, eating, home/decor remodeling, art and products and the local business where you can find them. They also have fun art projects, puppet shows and “baby oragami” for kids.

Insider tip– Mainstage Festival Sponsor, Earthues (www.earthues.com), a Ballard fair-trade, women-owned textile and eco-friendly natural dye workroom, will host a demo on dying with indigo powders onto fabrics from 10-5pm on Saturday. Seriously, when else would you ever get to do this? Call Weaving Works to reserve your space 206-524-1221.

Come early to the Sustainable Ballard Festival either day and you could be one of the first 200 people that receive a free copy of Chinook Book, full of local event and shopping savings of up to $3,000!

Wayne Wichern and Daria Wheatley are bringing their designer hats to Ballard. Their work has been featured in galleries and special events all over the west coast, such as the Seattle Opera, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, MOHAI and the San Francisco Fine Art Museum. They will exhibit their fall line of handmade millinery, available for purchase, and of course to ogle over, at the upcoming October Art-Walk weekend at the home of New York Fashion Academy (www.newyorkfashionacademy.com).

Friday, October 10, 10am-6pm

Saturday, October 11, 10am-9pm

www.hats2008.com

Let’s face it, this Saturday’s Art-Walk event will probably be the last dry and relatively warm Art-Walk night for the next, oh, I don’t know… nine months? So we are rolling off the couch, and from 5-9pm we will enjoy the cool, descending summer evening on Market Street.

Here are some of the options for this Saturday’s Art-Walk:

Opening Celebration at Monster Art and Clothing

Join the Monster crew to celebrate the very recent opening of the newest clothing and accessory storefront in Ballard with savory delectables, music and maybe even some trapeze action. (Corner of Ballard Avenue and 20th in the Cors and Wegener Building).

Glassblowing at Art By Fire

Pretend to have talent like Dale Chihuly and go to the Art By Fire Gallery at 5465 Leary Ave. NW. For $29 and 15 minutes of inflated, molten glass, you can blow like the pros. Call in advance for reservations (206-789-1490).

Beats at Triple

Did you even know that there was probably the coolest shoe store outside of San Francisco in the space above Rudy’s Barbershop and King’s Hardware? Triple features an array of beat-boy (and girl) styled sneakers and usually hosts DJs to spin records while you shop on Art-Walk nights(www.tripleseattle.com). Check it.

So what’s the connection between Coldplay and eighty year olds?  Read on to find out…

Seattle is a fairly youthful city full of single hipsters.  When I first visited Ballard, even before I moved to Washington state, the joke was that the drivers were so bad as it was a neighborhood of old people who could barely see over their steering wheels.  Their cars would inevitably have bumper stickers such as “Honk if you’re Norwegian.”  These old folks would populate the Eagles Club on 24^th Street or the Leif Erickson Hall by the old QFC.  These were people who had grown up in the area and purchased their cottages and craftsman houses for prices that make present day buyers cry.  Ten years ago Ballard was far from hip.  However, there was something about it that charmed me, I kind of liked the fact that the streets were full of the elderly, to me it was like having a whole neighborhood of grandparents.  However, I didn’t always feel so drawn to the elderly.

When I was a little girl my grandmother, though she was old herself, used to take me along during her volunteer visits to nursing homes.  I fully admit to being terrified, as I was too young to understand what I was seeing.  The old people some of who couldn’t talk well due to missing teeth or breathing problems seemed like monsters to me, as they would reach out to touch me with their gnarled hands.  I didn’t understand that they were happy to have visitors, particularly a young child to fuss over. 

 Over the years I have lived here, I noticed that instead of the older faces I was used to seeing on Ballard streets, the faces have gotten younger and younger.  I first clued into the fact that Ballard had become hip when the Tall Grass Bakery opened on 24^th Street.  When I talked to one of the owners, they mentioned that Capitol Hill was just too overdone and had chosen Ballard.  Like mushrooms springing up new bars and restaurants such as Bal Mar, the Matador, Volterra, La Carta de Oaxaca, etc.  A younger population was drawn to the nightlife and the condos rapidly being built at the same time the older population was dwindling. 

However, Tuesday night these generations cross paths at a special  showing of the movie “Young at Heart.”  This film festival winner is about a real group of east coast seniors who rock out to Coldplay, the Ramones, James Brown and many groups you wouldn’t expect to even be known by this age group.  This amazing group performs this music for others startling everyone by the song choice, passion and emotion of their performances.  Don’t be put off by the fact that this movie is being shown at the Greenwood Senior Center as the event if open to all age groups with a suggested donation is $3.   I dare you to watch the following You Tube clips and see if it spins your notion of aging on its head. 

UNFORTUNATELY THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED

Event is Tuesday, August 26^th and  located at:  The Greenwood Senior Center is located at 525 N. 85th St.   For more information call 206-297-0875. 

Young at Heart Sings Talking Heads “Road to Nowhere”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wgrM-R6yfY&feature=related

Young at Heart Sings Coldplay “Fix You”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-3IT4TeSxY&feature=related

Unfortuately this event has been cancelled

Since 1907, the citizens of Ballard have joined forces in attempt to “free Ballard” from Seattle hegemony. One store, Archie McPhee, helps us Ballardians in this everyday struggle.

A cross between a cracked-out tiki bar and the magic shop in Pee Wee Herman’s Great Adventure, Archie McPhee’s features thousands of random and quirky toys, candy, party supplies, costumes and miniatures—think yodeling pickle figurines, giant underpants, etc. Among the random shit-fest, is a “Free-Ballard” retail industry, featuring an array of wearable propaganda such as hats, T-shirts, bumper stickers, and even games and toys. McPhee’s started the modern-day “Free Ballard” movement about eight years ago, and has been promoting the liberation of Ballard with pride and a sense of humor ever since. Download your own “Free Ballard” poster, courtesy of Archie McPhees here. And if you don’t jive with the “Free Ballard” campaign, there are thousands of other reasons to go there. Temporary tattoos, counterfeit Australian coins and bills, or maybe you’ll run into Blayne from Project Runway.

www.archiemcpheeseattle.com

2428 NW Market Street

Monday-Saturday 10am-7pm, Sundays 11am-6pm

Perched beneath the shadows of the Ballard Bridge like an anchored looming pirate ship, is the Jolly Rogers Taproom, adorned with skull and cross bone flags and a fortified iron-gate patio for the summer patrons. When we spotted a lively bunch of Ballardians enjoying the summer evening out on the terrace, we knew we would fit in well here. 

Home of the Jolly Rogers Winter Ale, loaded with 9% alcohol and guaranteed to make your eyes drift in opposite directions and snarl at strangers, the Taproom hosts 14 freshly brewed uniquely Northwest Maritime ales and lagers. Also fresh is all the produce in the menu; the onions and pickles are chopped in the Taproom’s kitchen before they’re drowned in deep-fried deliciousness. We recommend the onion rings; they’re so huge and thick you could plop one on your head and it’d pass for a yarmulke.  

Even though we were the obnoxious drunk girls talking too loud on our cell phones, no one punched us out, and to us, that is good service and good people.

Jolly Rogers Taproom

1514 NW Leary Way

Ballard WA 98127

www.maritimebrewery.ypguides.net

If you’re walking down Market Street, and you pass a non-descript door with only the marking, “Live Girls!” posted to a sandwich board and a staircase leading to a dark basement, your better judgment might guide you to keep on walking. In most cases that’s usually a smart bet, but not this time.

Market Street (between Ballard Avenue and Leary Way) has been the home of the Live Girls! Theater since 2005, and has been dedicated to promoting local women playwrights, directors and artists ever since. Their goal is to “empower women artists to be leaders and provide the public with opportunities to see plays by women”, and that’s hot, because let’s face it, like in many other industries, women are severely underrepresented in theater. While there are many talented women playwrights out there, most produced plays are not by women. Live Girls! Theater helps bring the female perspective to the forefront.

As a small, fringe theater group, their company members commit to a year of supporting the Live Girls! mission by partaking in various aspects of administration and production. It’s entirely volunteer-operated, so let’s support our local Girls!– go to the next production or pony up some cash and be a sponsor.

Here’s what’s coming up next at the Live Girls! Theater:

World Premiere!

June Carter Cash Project

Sept 12 – Oct 4

Fri 8pm Sat 4pm and 8pm

“In 2008 Live Girls! will commission three one-act plays from local writers.  Each writer will choose a song recorded by the iconic songstress June Carter Cash and create play inspired by that song.  These three new plays will be produced together in one evening as a tribute to this legendary singer, writer and humanitarian.”

Other show listings can be found on the Live Girls! web site: http://www.livegirlstheater.org/. Ticket and donation information are also available.

Sitting unmarked on Ballard Avenue for the past nine years was at one point the largest distributor of handmade, original greeting cards in the United States. Souvenir, owned and curated by Curtis Steiner  (www.curtissteiner.com) with a friendly sales associate named Liberte, is less of a boutique and more of a decorative art gallery, full of quirky and eccentric surprises from the all original handmade cards (only $6.50 each!) made from vintage photos, match boxes and gold leaf to early 20th century botanical lithographs. Steiner is a real artist and craftsman– his stuff, 1,000 Blocks, is a permanent feature in the Seattle Art Museum–as anyone could probably decipher from the glassine baby doll dresses dangling in the storefront of his shop. This store is more than just retail, it’s a museum of treasures, but here, you’re encourage to touch– and even wear the exhibits. 

5325 Ballard Ave NW
Seattle, WA 98107
View on Google Maps

Tel 206-297-7116

Hours: Tue-Sat 11-5.30, Sunday 12-4

The upcoming weeks are busy ones as we move into the latter half of summer.  August promises to bring us plenty of fun things to do in our own little area!

The “Deadliest Catch” boat is open for tours! Come see the now-famous Sea Star, from the pilot episode and first season.  There’s a gift shop, and you might have a chance to talk to former crew members on board!  206-550-2623, Dock 9 at Fisherman’s Terminal, 9am-6pm. $10 adults, $7.50 Seniors/kids, kids under 5 free.

Emerald City Contra Dance

Phinney Neighborhood Center, 6532 Phinney Ave. N.  206-440-9839 emeraldcitycontra@pobox.com
Dance from 7:30 to 10 p.m., beginner’s workshop at 7 p.m. $7 General Admission; $6 Seniors, PNA members, SFS members; $4 students. All dances taught, no partner necessary. Light, comfortable clothing recommended. Please do not wear cologne, perfume, oils, powders or other scented products.

August 1. Dale Russ (fiddle) and Mike Saunders (guitar). A master Irish fiddler noted for his power and grace teams up with an equally masterful guitar player.

August 8. Flootie and the Bowfish consists of Matti Mero on guitar and mandolin, Craig Shaw on flute, Steve Sutlief on bass, and Melissa Coffey on whistle, flute, and fiddle. Hal Mueller calls.

Ever wanted to make something from handblown glass?  Here’s your chance – Join Art By Fire during ArtWalk to create either an ornament to hang or a footed float that will sit like a paperweight. Beautiful colors to choose from and lots of fun. It will only take 10 to 15 minutes for you to create your own masterpiece. $27. Saturday, August 9, 5 – 8:45 p.m. Please call 789-1490 to reserve your space.

Sunset Tavern has some great music lineups headed your way.  Check out the cheap entertainment this weekend!  5433 Ballard Ave. N.W.,  784-4880

August 1, 10 p.m. Film School (Beggars Banquet), The Purrs, Blue Skies For Black Hearts. $10

August 2, 9 p.m. Chopperfest! A Benefit For John and Donna Fisher With Duff Mckagan’s Loaded Guns and Rossetti Girl Trouble, Red Jacket Mine and the I Love Myselfs. $8

August 3, 9 p.m. Little Penguins, Faunts (Friendly Fire Records), Patterns. $6

Want something different in your music?  Come check out Swamp Soul at the Highliner Pub, 3909 18th Ave. W. (283-2233) Saturday, August 9, 8 – 11 p.m. $12 (Over 21 only) Swamp Soul plays traditional and contemporary Cajun, Creole, and zydeco dance music from Louisiana. Enjoy multiple waltzes, easy two-steps, varied swing, and sultry Louisiana blues. Fun for both couples and singles.