Seattle Sun Newspaper - Vol. 7, Issue 5, May 2003
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Out and about briefs
Art show at University House
More than 30 original works by members of the Women Painters of Washington are currently featured in the Spring Juried Exhibition at the University House at Wallingford retirement community, located at 4400 Stone Way N. The free exhibit, which is open to the public, runs through June 6. The exhibit was organized by curator Peggy Weiss and showcases works by Annie Leddy, Rosemary Belknap, Gillian Bull, Emily Kane and several other Women Painters of Washington members. For more information about the exhibit, call Lynn Carpenter of University House at 545-8400.
Northgate Toastmasters
Toastmasters International, the world's largest non-profit organization dedicated to teaching people to be better public speakers, has opened a new branch in the Northgate area.
Those interested in Toastmaster's goal of "effective oral communication for the betterment of mankind," or for those who want to be able to speak in front of a crowd, are invited to attend the weekly Thursday meetings at the Olympic View Community Church.
For details, call John Sutherland at 360-568-3372, or see www.toastmasters.org.
PNA Good Neighbor Auction
The Phinney Neighborhood Association's 20th Annual Good Neighbor Auction is scheduled for Saturday, May 10, and residents should reserve their tickets soon: last year's event sold out. This year's event, whose theme is "Hats Off to Phinney," will include such items up for bid as a week in Budapest, Hungary; two weeks of meals prepared for your freezer; a catered overnight sailing trip; and weekend getaways. Other items available can be seen at www.phinneycenter.org. Auction attendees will sit at reserved tables of 10, two bottle of wine to a table. Those who want to volunteer or donate items can contact the Phinney Neighborhood Center at 783-2244, or e-mail volunteer@phinneycenter.org.
Improv at Giggles
In an era screaming for laughs, affordable comedy is coming to North Seattle. The Temps, an improvisational acting troupe, is settling in for a two-month stint at Giggles Comedy Club in the University District. The group, formerly known as Just Improv, is made up a several veterans of Seattle's improv and sketch comedy scene, including Kyle Adams; Karsten Cross; Kelly Dermody; Troy Fischnaller and Josh Knisely, winners of The Stranger's 2001 Outstanding Comedy award; Shanan Kelly; Cory Nealy; Deron Sedy, the 2001 Fringe Festival's Audience Favorite; Mike Standish; Luke Thayer; and Amanda Wiehe.
This month, The Temps will perform at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, May 7, and Wednesday, May 21. Admission is $6. Giggles is located at 5220 Roosevelt Way. For information call 526-JOKE.
Green light for Stone Way QFC
City regulators have approved QFC's plans to build a multi-story, mixed use development on Stone Way, between N 39th and N 40th streets in Wallingford. On April 21, the Design Review Board endorsed QFC's plan for the project, which includes a 34,000-square-foot supermarket, two levels of parking, 26 residential units and a smaller retail space. It would replace the former Safeway store building, which currently occupies the site. Several neighbors have spent more than a year trying to persuade QFC and the City's Department of Design, Construction and Land Use to reshape the project more to neighborhood specifications. While QFC has added several amenities, such as an improved facade, the new development will still cause traffic headaches for the area, said Alicia Van Buskirk of the Wallingford Community Council. "There's been absolutely no operational plan that shows that this whole thing will work within the neighborhood," she said.
Mayor visits Lake City, Meadowbrook
Mayor Greg Nickels toured Meadowbrook and Lake City in April, stopping by ongoing and planned community projects to lend his support and hear input from those involved. The tour started with a town meeting with students at Nathan Hale High School, where the mayor taped a public service announcement with the school's radio station. The mayoral entourage then moved on to the Meadowbrook play area, where plans for "Annie's Playground" are coalescing. After discussing traffic problems on N 105th Street, Nickels hopped a van at the Meadowbrook Community Center for the Lake City branch library. There, Nickels heard residents' hopes for improved sidewalks in the area and a possible Lake City monorail route. The tour finished at Cranium's coffee shop on Lake City Way, where Hizzoner shook hands and reviewed sketches for a proposed art installation in front of the shop's entrance.
Greenwood-Phinney ArtWalk
The eighth annual Greenwood-Phinney ArtWalk will be held on the second weekend in May. More than 45 businesses and churches will participate in this year's ArtWalk, according to the Greenwood Arts Council, the event's organizer. During ArtWalk, Greenwood and Phinney avenues, between N. 65th and N. 87th streets, will be inundated with art of all types: paintings, sculpture, photography. The Phinney Center Gallery, at 6352 Phinney Ave. N, will also feature an exhibit of six selected artists. ArtWalk-ers can pick up maps to the event at participating businesses, the Greenwood Neighborhood Service Center, Greenwood Library and Phinney Neighborhood Center. The ArtWalk will be held Friday, May 9, from 6-9:30 p.m., and Saturday, May 10, from noon-5 p.m.
Civic Light moving to Shoreline
Civic Light Opera is planning to leave its home of 25 years the auditorium at the old Jane Addams building in Meadowbrook for more upscale digs at the Shoreline Conference Center.
Rick May, the theater company's managing director, said Summit School, the primary tenant at Jane Addams, needed more use of the auditorium. "We were faced with operating at a very reduced basis here or finding a new home," he said.
May thinks Civic Light theatergoers won't miss the wooden seats and school house ambience of Jane Addams. The 600-seat theater in Shoreline has "nice, comfortable upholstered seating," he said.
Civic Light's final show at Jane Addams is a production of the musical "Gigi," which runs until May 17. Its inaugural season in its new home, which begins this fall, will include the musicals "Kiss Me, Kate," "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," "I Do! I Do!" and "On the Town." For details, call 363-2809.
Farmers markets open
The University District and Lake City both have farmers markets starting their seasons in May with celebrations as well as produce.
The Lake City Farmers Market opens May 29, at 3 p.m., with live music, an alpaca and a sheep shearing demonstration. The market will be at NE 127th and 30th NE, behind the fire station. The season continues every Thursday afternoon until mid-October.
The University District Farmers Market opens May 24, at 9 a.m. There will be live bluegrass music and appearances by several City and King County officials. The U-District market will be held every Saturday until late November at the University Heights Center at University Way and NE 50th Street.
Both markets offer fresh produce from Washington state growers. There are also cooking demos, music and food tasting regularly. For more information, call the Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance at 632-5234.