If you're hungry for life, spend a little time with "Mame."A sentimental choice from the golden era of musical theater, the 1966 Tony winner debuted 20 years before Broadway was invaded by the spectacle-driven likes of Andrew Lloyd Weber's "Les Miserables" and "Phantom of the Opera." David Armstrong directs and delivers a fine, if not perfect, production. There's plenty to enjoy in this lively offering, which obviously cost an arm and a leg to mount.
In Florence, Italy, out of the darkness of the Middle Ages, the Renaissance was born, and Seattle Art Museum has brought us a taste of what many art historians believe is one of its defining artistic achievements: the north doors of Florence's Bapistery. These "Gates of Paradise"-as SAM has titled the exhibit-were designed and created by Lorenzo Ghiberti from 1425 to 1452. The doors consist of 10 panels depicting stories from the Old Testament. Numerous figures and heads representing the prophets and lesser humans, including the artist himself, surround the panels. It's a masterwork that forever changed the course of European art. When you see the exhibit-and you owe it to yourself to go-be prepared to spend considerable time with it. Although it is small (just three of the panels-Adam and Eve, Jacob and Esau and David-and four figures) each piece is worthy of intense study.
The Seattle Gilbert & Sullivan Society, known for its world-class productions of the comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan, will present this week its Second Stage production of "The Gypsy Princess" by Emmerich Kalman, part of the Hans Wolf Memorial Operetta series established by the Society in 2007.
PARTNERSHIP: Northwest Hospital & Medical Center, 1550 N. 115th St., has signed a letter of intent with the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance to develop a new cancer-treatment facility offering proton-beam radiation therapy on its campus.The new facility will be the first of its kind in the region and one of seven in the country that will offer precisely targeted doses of radiation that will minimize damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
SOFTBALL: The Wallingford Community Senior Center, 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N., Suite 140, will be home to the only two 50+ co-ed softball teams (recreational and competitive) in Seattle as they start practices in March. Games will take place May through July in Lower Woodland Park.For more information, including league fees, call 461-7825.
ST. BENEDICTOPERATIC EDUCATION: Seattle Opera brought its 2008 Opera Goes to School to St. Benedict's School, 4811 Wallingford Ave. N., for a four-day workshop that culminated with a performance on Friday, Feb. 22.During the workshop, the third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students acted, sang, studied theatrical movement and performed with the orchestra as they work on their performance of "Theft of the Gold: The Ring."
SCREENING: KAVU Inc. will screen the award-winning biofuel travel documentary "The Oil & Water Project" for the first time in the Northwest on Tuesday, March 4, at 7 p.m. at Seattle Raft & Kayak, 7777 62nd Ave. N.E. The film follows Seth Warren and Tyler Bradt on their vegetable oil-powered trip from Alaska to Chile. DINING FOR DARFUR: A dozen North End eateries will give 25 percent of their sales on Tuesday, March 4, to Mercy Corps' relief efforts in Darfur, Sudan, as hungry patrons Dine for Darfur. Participants include:*Agua Verde Café, 1303 N.E. Boat St.*Atlas Foods, 2752 N.E. University Village and 2675 N.E. Village Lane*Caffe Vita, 4301 Fremont Ave. N.*Chinoise, 1618 N. 45th St.*Irwin's, 2123 N. 40th St.*The Northside Grill, 8550 Greenwood Ave. N.*Pagliacci Pizza*Pied Piper Alehouse, 2404 N.E. 65th St.*Seven Coffee Roasters, 153 N. 78th St.*Top Pot Doughnuts, 6855 35th Ave. N.E.*Trabant Chai Lounge, 1309 N.E. 45th St.*Tutta Bella, 4411 Stone Way N.Last year's campaign raised $70,000. The event's organizers, Chow Foods Restaurants, expanded this year's event to include eateries in Portland, Ore.According to the organizers, each $12 raised will keep another displaced person in Darfur supplied with clean water for a year.WINE-TASTING FUND-RAISER: Ivar's Salmon House, 401 N.E. Northlake Way, will have a wine-tasting fund-raiser on March 12, from 5 to 8 p.m., that will feature wines from Washington wineries.For a $20 minimum donation, guests will receive a tasting glass and a booklet describing the participating wineries. All donations will benefit Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center.For reservations, call 632-0767.
Rainier Radio (rainierradio.org) is a nonprofit Internet radio station that went live Jan. 23 and now features more than 400 hours of jingles, classic radio shows and other programming from Washington. The program started as the brainchild of Ross Davis, former general manager of Seattle Community Colleges Television (SCCTV) and Rainier Radio. According to John Sharify, Davis' successor as general manager for SCCTV, Davis' idea was to provide a public archive of radio history from Seattle and around Washington.
In our rushed society we sometimes go too far in desperate haste to save time. Some things should not be rushed, and before attending my first speed-dating event, I was convinced this was one of them.
It didn't make any local media reports. But last Friday, Feb. 22, a deal was struck in the state Legislature that could fundamentally change how elections are done in Seattle.The deal concerned two identical bills with different numbers that had been overwhelmingly passed by the Senate (29-20) and the House (56-38). Because the bills had different numbers, one had to be passed by the other chamber, by this week, in order to be forwarded to Gov. Christine Gregoire's desk for her signature. And the Senate version (championed by the venerable Sen. Rosa Franklin) won out. The governor is expected to sign it into law.Oh, the bill? It would allow local jurisdictions (cities or counties) to hold referenda on public financing of elections. And Seattle is at or near the top of the list of Washington cities likely to put such a measure on the ballot in November 2008.
Questions or comments about the following applications or actions should be directed to the Regulatory Services Division, Washington State Liquor Control Board, 3000 Pacific Ave. S.E., P.O. Box 43098, Olympia, WA 98504-3098, or call (360) 664-1600.LICENSE APPROVALS7-ELEVEN STORE 2360-14366: a grocery store selling beer and wine, at 4612 Stone Way N.PAIR FOOD & WINE: a restaurant lounge selling spirits, beer and wine, at 5501 30th Ave. N.E.
The following information was provided by the city's Department of Planning and Development. Written comments on projects should be mailed to 700 Fifth Ave., Suite 2000, P.O. Box 34019, Seattle, WA 98124-4019.Appeals are made to the Office of the Hearing Examiner, Seattle Municipal Tower, 40th Floor (SMT-40-00), 700 Fifth Ave., Suite 4000, Seattle, WA 98104. Appeals must be accompanied by a $50 filing fee in a check payable to the City of Seattle.The project number is in parentheses. For more information, call 684-8467.PERMIT DECISIONS10503 INTERLAKE AVE. N. (3008119) on a Land Use Application to install three modular trailers and two tents for temporary use as fire station (Station 31). Existing single-family residence to be demolished. Existing play area to remain. The following appealable decision has been made based on submitted plans: Determination of Non-Significance (no Environmental Impact Statement required). Environmental review completed, and no conditions imposed. The hearing examiner must receive appeals of this decision no later than Thursday, March 6.4557 11TH AVE. N.E. (3008231) on a Land Use Application to allow Hansen-approved fire station (Fire Station No. 17). Project includes installation of four temporary trailers and two fabric-covered structures. Parking for 11 vehicles will be provided on the site. The following appealable decision has been made based on submitted plans: Determination of Non-Significance (no Environmental Impact Statement required). Environmental review completed, and no conditions imposed. The hearing examiner must receive appeals of this decision no later than Thursday, March 6.
The Seattle Police Department is still investigating three North End cases, including the assault of a University District woman with a hammer, a gang-related shooting of a middle-schooler near Northgate Mall and the stabbing death of a man found on Greenwood Avenue North.
Longtime Seattle City Councilmember Richard Conlin has never been a political firebrand: he's too even-tempered and "Seattle nice." But as the new council president, he has helped the council come up with a 2008 agenda and a set of priorities that deal with everything from gang violence to planting more trees in the city (see sidebar). Conlin is also faced with countering Mayor Greg Nickels' fondness for a top-down, centralized-power structure at City Hall.
GROUP FILES SUIT TO STOP WETLAND FILLINGThe Friends of Magnuson Park (FOMP) group has filed suit in U.S. District Court to prevent the filling of wetlands in Magnuson Park. The lawsuit is in response to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' decision to issue a permit under the Clean Water Act to the City of Seattle to fill 5.86 acres of wetlands for the development of lighted fields.The lawsuit contends that the Army Corps of Engineers' decision violates the Clean Water Act, the National Environmental Policy Act and the Administrative Procedures Act.FOMP is seeking an injunction to prevent filling of the wetlands and judgment requiring the Army Corps of Engineers to comply with the federal laws.For more information about the lawsuit, visit the website at www.saveourpark.org, or call the FOMP group, at 526-0506.