Kirkland Performance Center keeps on bringing the Eastside bigger names - pop icon Melissa Manchester, rock legend Dave Mason, breathtaking Ailey II and The Amazing Kreskin among others - KPC has 38 presented artists; this does not include their shows through locally based producing partners, including StoryBook Theater, Keith Highlanders Pipe Band, International Ballet Theatre, Bronn Journey, The Comedy Underground, Washington Wind Symphony, Jim French Productions and Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra.The Brothers Four, Sept. 22-23Four-part harmony. Join KPC staff after the show to toast another season.Melissa Manchester, Sept. 29Grammy-winner Melissa Manchester performs hits such as "Whenever I Call You Friend" and "Midnight Blue."John Jorgenson Quintet, Sept. 30A pioneer of American gypsy jazz; performed with Elton John for six years. Part of KPC's Art of the Guitar Series.Gran Folklorico de Mexico, Oct. 19 Rhythmic performance presented in authentic costumes with Mariachi, Marimba and Jorocho bands.
The Northwest Musical Theatre production of "Guys and Dolls" comes to Kirkland Performance Center at the end of the month.The time-honored play stars Nathan Lacy (from Broadway's "42nd Street"), who plays Sky Masterson, and Tiffany Jewell (Miss Idaho-Miss America), who plays Sarah Brown.
Parklane Gallery is covering both ends of the spectrum with its August show, which runs Aug. 8-Sept. 3. The community's only cooperative, artist-owned art gallery features the stunning nature photographs of longtime member Larey McDaniel juxtaposed by the calming Japanese-inspired Sumi-e ink work of newcomer Kate Jones.Larey McDanielMcDaniel clearly has two loves: music and photography. He has been playing clarinet with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra since 1961 and also performs with the Seattle Opera and the Pacific Northwest Ballet orchestras. His official foray into photography began in fifth grade when he toted a Kodak Brownie camera on a trip to Glacier National Park.Eventually, he segued into portraits, wedding photography and more recently, architectural photography, where he worked with an interior designer and a residential building contractor.
The warmth and slowness of August has descended upon our gardens and their gardeners. Aside from watering and keeping the crops picked, this mood of summer laziness should be thoroughly indulged. The French got it right when they chose to make this month their national holiday.But if we can't go to the seashore for the whole month, then set the sprinklers early in the morning or late in the evening, hang up a hammock or find a supremely comfortable lounging chair with a table. Stack the books high, leave room for over-sized long, cool drinks and grab the time to reflect upon your recent frenzied garden-touring/plant buying season.So, you didn't plant tropicals this year and therefore you are feeling that your garden has no charm. The collection of plants from the garden tours and specialty nursery visits that you tucked in have created a potpourri of confusion that falls completely short of your garden vision. Not to mention the strange weather that has caused all your old favorites to perform in ways never before seen.
There is nothing more refreshing than a swim on a nice, warm summer day. Even if you don't know how to swim, performing water exercises requires no swimming skills, and usually incorporates some of the same body movement. Non-swimmers may initially be a little afraid of water, but their success and enjoyment of water exercise soon overcome the fear, and many of them add swimming lessons to their exercise regimen.How much does water weigh?Water's resistance varies according to depth and speed, which you can always control. One gallon of water weighs approximately 8 pounds. When you swing one leg through the water, you are meeting approximately 37 pounds of resistance. The faster you move your leg, the harder you work against this resistance. With this said, water training can be a very efficient way to achieve fitness and almost any activity can be enhanced with aquatics.
From August 13-19, 10 teams from around the globe will compete for the Junior Little League Softball World Series title in Everest Park. This is the eighth year in a row that Kirkland has hosted the event. One of the perks is that a team from District 9 represents the local area each year. The Kirkland National Little League team - which was undefeated all season - topped the team from Redmond in the District 9 playoff game July 11. Teams represent nine different regions of the world, including Europe, Latin America, Canada and the Asia-Pacific. The United States is parceled into the South, Southwest, East, West and Central.A team from Germany, of the American Ramstein Air Force Base, will represent Europe. A team from the Philippines will represent Asia-Pacific. Other teams have yet to be determined; some of the playoff games don't finish until Aug. 10.Teams can comprise of up to 14 13- and 14-year-old players, two coaches and a manager. Twelve umpires, one from Aruba, one from the Philippines and the rest from the U.S., will preside over the games.
Dive team's first meet The Kirkland Orcas Diving Team held its first home meet at Peter Kirk pool with its new Olympic-level diving board on July 23 against the Shoreline Gators. The Orcas have 18 divers between the ages of 8 and 15.Seven Orcas claimed first place:Alayna Brand: 11 and under girls developmental; Zoe Pinczower: 11 and under girls novice; Celia Pinczower: 12-13 girls novice; Megan Filpis: 12-13 girls developmental; Josh Hutchinson: 12-13 boys developmental; Nolan Miller: 12-13 boys novice; Molly Groven: 14-15 girls novice.The Orcas are part of the Puget Sound Dive League, which includes teams from the cities of Shoreline, Edmonds and Lynnwood and a team from the Northwest Center.
The Seattle Synchronized Swim Team, based out of the Northwest Center-run pool at St. Edward State Park, has surfaced victorious from the U.S. Opens in Orlando with eight national champions. The team has stamped an exclamation point at the end of another phenomenal year. The highly prestigious event features competitors from around the world and required a qualifying score at a championship meet or zone (there are four zones in the United States) level meet during the year. The Pacific Northwest Association, to which the Seattle club belongs, holds several meets each season, from January through April. The season culminates with the association championships where the top three competitors in each age group event category advance to the regional competition meet. The association's region includes Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Alaska and Montana. This year the regional championship was in Bozeman, Mont.
August can be a busy time for Seattle Opera, whose 2006 summer offering "Der Rosenkavalier" opens last week. The Richard Strauss work was staged in Seattle in January 1969, September 1975 and August 1997. My husband Hal and I attended the 1969 production, which I much enjoyed, but I have fond memories of the 1975 production during the Glynn Ross era. In August 1975, Seattle Opera's resident stage director Lincoln Clark had just returned from a trip to Santa Barbara where he had visited his former teacher, sponsor and good friend Lotte Lehmann seeking advice on staging Seattle's upcoming production. It was advice Lehman was most qualified and willing to give. She had worked with the composer, Richard Strauss and his librettist, and was very familiar with the opera, having started singing the role of Sophie, then Octavian and finally graduating to the role of the Marschallin; indeed, she became the composer's favorite Marschallin for the way she interpreted his music and staging. She played the role for many years in Europe and the United States, winning universal acclaim as the definitive Marschallin of her time. The highlights of Madame Lehmann's advice were shared at a preview and surprise birthday party for my Leo-born husband. The late Archie Drake, among others, was present at the party and had many stories to share of the legendary Lotte, having also been a student of hers. Lotte Lehmann died in August 1976 at the age of 89. Lincoln Clark, grateful that he had made that final visit to his mentor, put her advice to good use, making the Seattle Opera's 1975 production of "Der Rosenkavalier" a most memorable one. The 1997 "Rosenkavalier" was a luscious, lavish production, featuring sumptuous sets and opulent, colorful costumes. Strauss's music was beautifully interpreted. The dazzling Act Two was all in silver-and-white satin when Octavian, in his capacity as Rosenkavalier, delivers the silver rose to Sophie. The silver rose signifies the perfection of true love not affected by the passage of time; it will neither wither nor fade.
Another Seafair weekend has just passed. The weather was stellar, there were few notable incidents of injury or drunken disturbances, and the traffic inconveniences will soon be forgotten. Yet, this year, the scream of the fighter jets overhead conjured up so many negative feelings.War is raging in the Middle East. The sound of the jets instantly connected me to the villagers in southern Lebanon, the city dwellers in Beirut, farmers in Bekka Valley, Palestinians, the people of Afghanistan and many other residents of the besieged regions of the world. Here in Seattle, we are relatively safe in our daily lives, and yet we bring in this show of force and noise as an integral part of our summer festivities?This disconnect has bothered me in past years, but I had always found it hard to step on the toes of those who find the tradition inspiring. But this year the incongruity is just too much. Our utility fees have expanded greatly, every thinking person is struggling with the new reality of filling their gas tanks, and finally the issues of global warming are showing up in public debate. And yet, for four days, vast amounts of fuel are expended - and for what? Does a local tradition need to be discontinued?
Here it is, August already! Huge to most of us who live here year round. Much ado. Every inch to be reveled in.Let the phone ring, e-mails pile up ... it's recess! When life should be lived each moment. Not just on the weekend if and when you can carve out a little extra time. For me, that means outsideness, rather than sitting in my office, fused to my laptop, tending to every thought that flits around the edges of mind (no matter how obsessed that sounds). No, this month is about a break in the page, the quiet within. Even amidst all the organized merry-making, the devised traditions our city is so good at promoting while I struggle to answer the most elemental Seattle Center question: which festival, exactly, occurs this week? Had I not overheard a woman down at Pike Market say August is all about peace of mind because Mercury is no longer in retrograde, I might not have thought to write about how I feel about this warm-and-windless month that goes through me like champagne partly because it's all too rare in this convergence zone I call home. I have no idea what she meant; Mercury in or out of anything feels like one New Age-ism too many for me, even if it is a big celestial proactive thing or whatever. But from the look in her eyes, it's something good, and that's enough definition for me.
I've come across a great discovery in the past year of so-breathing is a magical process for moving swiftly through life! I've also come to realize that life repeatedly throws each of us into breathing patterns that are stifling. As you read on, ponder how you may benefit from greater awareness of this seemingly simple act.First, take a snapshot of your breath this very moment. Shut your eyes, and continue breathing for the next minute or so as you've been doing the past few moments. Notice the character of your breath. Is it fast or slow, shallow or deep? What pattern does the air travel as it flows in and out? What parts of your body seem to be moving in cadence with your breath? Can you feel your spine flex as you breathe? Overall, focus on your breathing for a moment and compare what you notice to the information below.There are different types of breathing, and our breathing automatically adjusts to what's going on inside of us. If you're startled, your breath may naturally stop for a moment. With brisk movement, your breath automatically keeps pace with the increased demand for respiration. When you are in a relaxed state, your breathing tends to become slower and deeper. The unconscious breathing mirrors your life experience. Better yet, conscious breathing does, too. Conscious breathing is a chance to intervene on your own behalf.
I was telling my friend about "The Descent," absolutely one of the most authentically terrifying horror movies I've seen in years, when she called a halt to my rhapsodizing about its scare tactics. She wasn't kidding. Movie stuff that comes oozing up from the darkness behind the brain seriously freaks her out. So how come I've loved hair-raisers since forever? What's in it for me?Maybe it's connected with going about as far as you can go into really bad places (we're not talking dreck flicks here, but genre classics) ... and coming back alive. A film like this breathtaking British stunner works like a nightmare trip, the darkside equivalent of a vision quest. Vicariously surviving "The Descent" into hell confirms your power over death. The best horror movies teach us that, rephrasing Dylan Thomas, we do not have to go gentle into that bad night.
As I sat down to write a column on a different subject (the IRS getting rid of folks who audit rich people's taxes), I was distracted remembering the banner headline on the front page of a recent Seattle Times: Gay-marriage backers may be out of options!I am as puzzled by the flap over two men, or two women, getting married as I am by the people who, after six years of George W., still refer to him as a conservative.I am even more puzzled that this is a big issue for straight people.Who cares who marries whom?Well, for one, Jeff Kemp cares. A former second-string NFL quarterback, Kemp, the president of some group called Families Northwest, is quoted in the same newspaper as saying: "Every child has a birthright to a mother and father. The country needs that. The court recognized that."Kemp's quote shares a page with the story that a jury in Texas just found Andrea Yates, a good Christian woman who got a little off the track and drowned her five children because she was saving them from Satan, was found not guilty by reason of insanity at her second murder trial. According to the story, Yates could be released from jail relatively soon because she is "stable" on her meds.People who have some belief in the sanctity of the family, in a country where more than 40 percent of marriages now end in divorce, want to protect unborn children from having two daddies and no mommies.I wonder what the deceased Yates toddlers would say.
Last weekend, several friends and I headed north to attend the Gay Pride event in Vancouver, B.C. After dropping off our overnight bags at a friend's south of downtown, Mark, Ed and I continued into the West End for a morning of strolling down Davies Street, with its eclectic book stores and retail shops, exploring the seawall and outskirts of Stanley Park and later climbing down to the clothing-optional Wreck Beach on the shores of the University of British Columbia.The culmination of this celebratory weekend, which we've made a rite of passage over the last three years, is the Vancouver Pride Parade on Sunday. With more than 185,000 spectators and 130 floats, the parade is the largest in western Canada. After a breakfast at my favorite greasy spoon on Denman Street, we met some friends at Delany's, downed an iced mocha and flirted with the locals at this gay-owned and operated coffee house. Soon after we discovered a perfect viewing spot along Beach Avenue close to the parade reviewing stand, where a mistress of ceremonies stood in his flowing, tye-died gown ready to make both friendly and surly comments on the proceedings.Earlier this summer I'd attended Seattle's Gay Pride Parade, which I'd viewed as a stunning success, especially considering how hesitant I felt about moving the parade off Capitol Hill, the historical heart of Seattle's gay community, to downtown. I marched along Fourth Avenue this year, passing out material promoting CAMP, the Gay Men's Annual Retreat sponsored by Q-Squared and held over Labor Day weekend. In addition, I'd gone ahead to watch portions of the parade prior to our contingent starting to march.So I wondered what Seattle might learn from Vancouver, or vice-versa, with the hopes of improving our parade and making it a not-to-miss experience rather than a missed opportunity or bungled afterthought.