Listen: Live Jazz at the Earshot Festival
Seattle’s most famous jazz festival kicked off yesterday and is gracing our city’s myriad jazz venues through the 7th of November. Each year the locally based music nonprofit and magazine dedicated to all things jazz brings in an impressive array of musicians that span genres, decades, and influences. For this 33rd rendition, Earshot does not disappoint. On the roster this year: Cuban pianist Chucho Valdez will headline the festival accompanied by jazz vocalist Diane Reeves and saxophonist Joe Lovano, all performing at Town Hall Seattle. Other formidable acts include pianist Marina Albero, the Kareem Kandi World Orchestra, and the Immanuel Wilkins Quartet. Visit earshot.org for the complete schedule.
Watch: The Crystallization of Time at the Museum of Museums
In Crystallized Time is a new group exhibition curated by Anthony White at the Museum of Museums (MoM) that’s now on display through December 27th. For this show, the Capitol Hill gallery brings together artists that “are sensible to speed accruing in societal structures as they develop technologically.” The works on display recall digital moments in non-digital realms, and what the MoM show description explains as a mashup of “deceitful” images that have been subverted to make us question our own feelings of familiarity. We’re particularly intrigued by Sean Downey’s graphically vivid paintings. We are also eager to see the other 25+ artists on display and the “false nostalgia” that technology may bring through the vehicle of these contemporary works.
Try: The New Volunteer Park Cafe and Pantry
This Capitol Hill mainstay, located just next to its namesake park, shut down during Covid much to the dismay of many a Seattleite. But, after a prolonged hiatus, the cafe is back under new ownership. This V2 Volunteer Park Cafe will continue to be an all-day affair complete with an espresso bar, pantry case, and rotating bevvy of breakfast and lunch options, but the chef in charge is bringing in new selections and up-leveling the food game. The renovated menu boasts an assortment of toasts with not-so-standard accoutrements, thanks to Canlis alum Crystal Chiu. Avocado toast gussied up with a healthy dash of zaatar, a tangy, salty pickled egg salad, and the already-famous NY-deli style breakfast sandwich that has been known to sell out before 10am all grace the new menu. Chiu also brings her savoir-faire to the sweets section with offerings like vegan coconut hazelnut cake, cocoa nib brown butter meringue, strawberry rhubarb galette, and chocolate babka. Hours and menus can be found here.