Kendra August 24th, 2008
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 24th 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 …
Cameron August 8th, 2008
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:
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SeattleMeg July 2nd, 2008
Forget joining the insane crowds at the Needle or Gasworks Park, stumbling over drunks, and a 2-hour snarl of traffic once it’s over. Stay here and plan your holiday weekend!
Start your day by joing other summer beach naturalists at Carkeek Park to learn about the beach, what lives and grows there, and what washes up. Enjoy nature and learn a little about your local beach. Make sure to wear good sunscreen for the glint off the waters! (I personally love wading in my Crocs; the waves go right through the holes.)
Enjoy a free concert at the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks after lunch. The Seattle Civic Band entertains you on the 4th from 2-3pm with patriotic and marching music. Come early to grab a seat or bring your own lawn/folding chair.
At 6pm, you can while away the hours until right before sundown at the Ballard Jam House, 1707 NW Market Street. Playing on the 4th will be the Welch/Stickney Ensemble (Modern original jazz). The best thing about this set is that it’s also a relief fundraiser for a cyclone in Myanmar/Burma! No cover charge, but donations are highly encouraged and all proceeds go to the International Burmese Monks organization for those affected.
Head home just before sunset and watch fireworks from the best seat in the house - your own TV with your friends. Share nibbles and drink responsibly as you get the best view of both the …
Cameron June 30th, 2008
Ska, soul and rock and roll are brewing in the streets of both Ballard and Georgetown. Get Down Moses (already awesome for naming itself after the Joe Strummer & Mescaleros song on the Streetcore album), is no stranger to Ballard. After playing just two and a half weeks ago at the Tractor Tavern, GDM will revisit our humble home, July 5th at the Bit Saloon. Cough up just $5 and spend your hangover with GDM. You can preview their music at www.myspace.com/getdownmoses. I recommend “Sodo”, a Sublime/Operation Ivy beckoning anthem (with extra heavy organ jams) to Seattle’s gritty industrial district, Georgetown, “where the trains and the beggars meet.”
Following the 5th of July, the Georgetown Orbits, a more traditional, straight up Reggae influenced band, will open for the legendary Skatalites on the 9th at Nectar Lounge (not Ballard, sorry). Here’s your chance to witness one of Jamaica’s earliest reggae pioneers and one of Seattle’s own torch carriers. You’re welcome.
Ben May 2nd, 2008
Good Ballardites! Local radio station KEXP, is bringing it’s broadcasting prowess to the Ballard neighborhood for a full day of musical goodness this Friday, May 9.
All things 90.3 have designed the hostile takeover of Ballard today in celebration of Ballard being crowned winner of KEXP’s Hood to Hood Challenge. The station holds an annual Spring pledge drive which creates one of the largest portions of funding. It has become habit over the last three years, in an effort to promote local funding to create some good ol’ completion among the Seattle neighborhoods. Ballard has championed the last two years.
This years events will take place at a variety of locations beginning with John Richards broadcasting live at 6 a.m from Cupcake Royale/Vérité Coffee and moving to Sonic Boom Records, across the street, where Cheryl Waters will take over at 10 a.m. and eventually Kevin Cole will man the mic from 2 p.m. till 6 p.m. Musical guests will be on hand for live performances. Common Market and Arthur & Yu will be performing during Richards broadcast; Throw Me the Statue, Mochipet and Man Plus will be performing for Waters and the Sonic Boom crowd; and Velella Vellela and Cloud Cult will be live during Cole’s show.
The party doesn’t stop after 6 pm either. Neighborhood pubs will also be taking part, hosting several parties. From Portalis to Hatties Hat, drink specials and other KEXP DJ’s will be spinning until late into …
