Frye Art Museum will host CRITICS WRAP 2007, an occasion for local film commentators to "celebrate the best and castigate the worst" of the waning year's cinema fare, Friday, Dec. 14, at 7:30 p.m. Herald and KUOW film critic Robert Horton, moderator, will be joined by Kathleen Murphy (Queen Anne & Magnolia News), Tom Tangney (KIRO-AM) and Andrew Wright (The Stranger). But what is Javier Bardem doing here? Even is free, like the parking. 704 Terry Ave.
If sincerity and intention count for anything, the salute "Back Home Again: A John Denver Holiday Concert" offers a pleasant if rather unexceptional dose of country twang. Think of it as a John Denver Christmas album without John Denver. Despite talented musicians, a half-dozen bales of straw and 40-plus poinsettia plants scattered across the stage, the concert is a lukewarm experience that never quite engages the heart. Fortunately, it's not a long show - about an hour and 20 minutes with one intermission.
I confess. I LOVE "Black Nativity." I've seen it every year since moving to Seattle nine years ago. And I never tire of it. So in honor of the show's 10th anniversary, I decided to drop in on a rehearsal and interview the performers who had been with the production since its Seattle debut.If you haven't seen "Black Nativity," you should know that Langston Hughes' gospel play unfolds in two parts: the birth of Jesus as seen through the improvisational music and dance traditions of African-American culture, followed by a rousing gospel songfest. Hughes retells the Nativity story as if he himself had followed that star to Bethlehem to find all races of people kneeling together in peace beside that tiny manger.
Queen Anne's Youth for Human Rights group co-sponsored the 12th annual Seattle Human Rights Day events on Dec. 6, which commemorated the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted 59 years ago on Dec. 10, 1948. Author and legal scholar Kenji Yoshino was the keynote speaker, and Mayor Greg Nickels gave the opening address. Yoshino, author of "Covering: The Hidden Assault on Our Human Rights," is a professor of law and former deputy dean at Yale Law School.
A gentleman who loved golf and the piano, and instilled in his family a love of the outdoors Stanley Ernest Larsen, a Queen Anne resident for more than 60 years, died at home on Nov. 28. He was 98.
The Seattle Board of Park Commissioners has named Magnolia resident Donna Kostka as its seventh member.The entity is a seven-member citizen board created by the City Charter. Three members are appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the City Council; three members are appointed by the council; and one is appointed by the Parks board.
Beau Gagon of the Scientology Environmental Task Force was in charge of the leaf blowing at last Saturday's Adopt-A-Street cleanup addressing both Queen Anne Avenue North and Roy Street. About 20 bags of leaves and garbage was collected in two hours. No leaves cluttering the Magnolia street and yard at left, snapped by itinerant shutterbug Mike Davis one winter's eve ... Can we say winter yet?
Currently the evergreen, winter-flowering shrub, Daphne bhuloa, is showing off its full-blown blooming splendor, and even with the cold temperatures, its fragrance is noticeable many feet away. The scent is slightly musky, which leads to thoughts of warm and pleasantly humid temperatures. Then a gust of wind slaps your cheek, ending those brief daydreams. Regrettably, the plant does not do well as a cut flower. The scent soon disappears, the small petals wither and the leaves get droopy, all within a few hours of bringing the branches, covered with blooms, indoors.
A reader called last week to talk about my recent column concerning cell phones in public spaces and what that space invasion might say socially and culturally about us. My caller was a 50-year-old health professional and he said he'd too been subjected to endless drivel-laden cell phone conversations while riding public transport. I'm not sure I buy his theory but I found it interesting enough to relate, almost verbatim, to you, faithful readers:
"I can't talk now-I'M ON DEADLINE!" I slammed the receiver down and turned back to my rickety Underwood. (Actually, it's really a rebuilt Compaq computer from Costco, but to promote the image of a harried journalist, the mention of an old, rickety typewriter works better.) Clark Kent never had these problems, I thought, but then everything he writes is at super speed.
The third and final public meeting about developing an art park in what was once called the Dexter Pit was held on Jan. 8, and not much had changed about the design since the last meeting in June, according to Siteworkshop landscape architect Mark Brands. Artist Andy Cao's seven inverted water-drop-shaped steel frames covered in blue, stainless-steel mesh with LED lights on the tops still form the shape of the Big Dipper in the middle of the former gravel pit.
An interior designer by trade, Magnolia resident Elizabeth Lonseth has turned herself into a romance novelist. But forget the steamy action in traditional bodice-rippers; her book, "Leave It With Him," is a Christian romance, and were it a Hollywood movie it would garner a solid "G" rating.That's to her advantage, because Christian romances are hot sellers, according to Adam Cothes, publicist for the Winepress Publishing Group, the company Lonseth has worked with to get her debut book into print. "That's certainly a trend," he said. "It's been going on for some time." Also a growing trend is first-time authors like Lonseth using self-publishing companies such as Winepress, which operates on a print-by-demand basis.
WNBA franchise committed to Seattle, but will businesses on Queen Anne feel impact? Vacant tables are at a premium in local bars and restaurants on game night. On an off-night, the chances of finding a table are much simpler, as Queen Anne watering holes keep busy with both regulars and drifters seeking a drink or two after work or dinner. When Key Arena at the Seattle Center is occupied, local bars like Floyd's Place, Moxie and Tini Bigs on First Avenue in lower Queen Anne play temporary home to local sports fans seeking a social space to congregate and watch the game. When the Sonics played host to the Western Division's first place Dallas Mavericks, barstools and tables were at capacity before, during and after the 90-70 Sonics loss.
Magnolia Village is suffering greatly from the removal-and stubbornly not replaced-drive-up collection boxes. No parking, double parking, life and limb at stake, gridlock on McGraw. WE DESERVE BETTER. There is no reason whatsoever the Post Office can't install drive-up boxes.
In response to a letter written by Ian B. Crosby pertaining to rental housing inspections (Jan. 9), Rental Housing Association (RHA) has clarifications to offer as some of Mr. Crosby's statements were misleading and misinformed.