Arts and Culture in Seattle—August 2022

WATCH: 2022 Sundance Institute Indigenous Short Film Tour

Storytelling is woven into all Indigenous cultures. Sharing stories is the way traditions, values, beliefs, and history have been passed down from generation to generation; it is, in large part, how Natives have been able to survive. The 2022 Sundance Institute Indigenous Short Film Tour is a testament and current to the power of storytelling. Through film, the festival celebrates Native perseverance and offers a deep, engaging perspective from Indigenous artists. The tour features a 91-minute program of six narrative and documentary short films directed by Indigenous filmmakers, highlighting titles from the 2022 Sundance Film Festival shorts program and works from the alumni of Sundance Institute’s Indigenous Program. The Institute has been long committed to supporting Indigenous artists and their voices—sustaining a film circle that has now spanned over four generations.

The short films featured look beautifully and carefully created—watch the trailer here and see for yourself. Works come from artists of varied Native backgrounds, including the Ífugão tribe, the Ho-Chunk Nation, the Diné Nation, the Zapotec peoples, the Roadrunner clan in the Pueblo of Laguna, and the Cherokee Nation. If you haven’t heard of most (or some) of these Indigenous communities, let this be an encouragement to see and hear their stories from the source.

August 17th - 26th @ NW Film Forum
Showtimes / Get Tickets

ATTEND: Day In Day Out

Have you yet to attend an outdoor music festival before Seattle summer ends? Maybe you debated going to Cap Hill Block Party but electronic hyperpop Gen-Z-centric music isn’t your thing? Get a ticket to Day In Day Out (DIDO) this weekend! The second installment of the three-day festival has a lineup full of indie, rock, and contemporary artists seemingly specifically curated to capture a snapshot of millennial alt nostalgia. While DIDO is certainly more low-key than Block Party, it isn’t lacking in energy or fun; headliners include prominent indie rockers The National, indie-pop singer/songwriter Mitski, and loveable prince of indie-rock mac DeMarco. The lineup continues with contemporary indie stars Japanese Breakfast, Soccer Mommy, Animal Collective, hardcore punk band Turnstile, noise-rap alchemist JPEGMAFIA, R&B songstress Jamila Woods, and many more. Expect to hear from your favorites, discover a new artist (or a few), and get to know the local Seattle music scene better with bands like La Luz and Hollis. DIDO will also include food trucks and a beer garden with DJs from various Seattle bands spinning in between sets. Snag a 3-day or single day pass and enjoy the last of our sunny days while you can!

August 12th – 14th | 3:00 – 11:00 pm @ Fisher Green Pavillion
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 EAT: Tailwind Café’s Fresh Lunch

New menu alert! The beloved Tailwind Café & Bar inside of Good Weather, located in the heart of our own Chophouse Row, recently announced the re-emergence of their new menu with rotating lunch bowls. You may be just as excited as we are, or you may be wondering: what’s all the fuss about? Firstly, we’ve missed their full menu (it was so good). Secondly, this business has been a staple in our community and when the pandemic hit, they were forced to close the café leading the good folks at Good Weather to get creative with their ventures. The team came up with Good in Seattle: a delivery service that distributed local farm, purveyor, and small business boxes to the community. Not only did this pivot provide their employees with job security and recipients with delicious food, but it also allowed them to build relationships with local business and farms producing some of the best produce, meats, cheeses, grains, designs, and sounds.

Good Weather and Tailwind forged a positive path during a dark time, and although Good in Seattle has since been dissolved, they’re rekindling many of the relationships they’ve made during the depths of the pandemic. Experienced chef Jacob Wilson is on board to build out the menu while local farms like Cedarville Farm (featured this week) will be providing organic produce. Currently, Tailwind’s offering two weekly-rotating bowls that feature vegan options and fresh, seasonal ingredients from farms and purveyors they’ve known and loved for years. The evolving re-introduction of Tailwind’s menu isn’t simply about having more lunch options nearby, it’s a testament to our community’s strength and bonds. We can’t wait stop by every week to try everything they’re cooking up!

Tuesdays – Fridays | 11:30 am – 2:30 pm @ Tailwind Café at Chophouse Row
 Check their IG for updates

Arts and Culture in Seattle—July 2022

ATTEND: CAPITOL HILL BLOCK PARTY

Buckle up, Cap Hill—Block Party is back. The past two pandemic-ridden Seattle summers haven’t felt the same without the iconic three-day long music festival, but with required vaccinations and updated COVID safety protocols in the mix, it’s time for the party to make a comeback. This year’s 69+ performer lineup is stacked with a ton of glitzy fun, including hyperpop princess Charli XCX, DJ’s Diplo and Jai Wolf, millennial-favorite Toro y Moi, Zoomer favorite 100 gecs, soul pop singer Remi Wolf, and overnight rap star Flo Milli. Local artists like Enumclaw, The Black Tones, Archie, and The Grizzled Mighty will also grace Capitol Hill Block Party’s (CHBP) multi-stage set up.

While the abundance of music acts are enough of a draw, this year’s CHBP is sure to be an especially good time in the wake of spending Seattle’s sunniest seasons socially distanced. With food trucks, beer gardens, indoor activations, local businesses, and a cool-down zone in our very own Chophouse Row, there is something for everyone to enjoy and spaces for everyone to connect. Block Party has always been an opportunity to bring people to Capitol Hill and showcase all the great parts of our neighborhood; this is one you won’t want to miss.

 July 22nd  – 24th | Get Tickets

EXPERIENCE: SEATTLE ART FAIR + XO SEATTLE

Yet another renowned event is making a triumphant return this summer since the pandemonium of the pandemic: The Seattle Art Fair. A one-of-a-kind destination for the best in modern and contemporary art as well as a showcase for the vibrant arts community of the PNW, the Seattle Art Fair is featuring a whopping 85+ international and local gallerists, museums, and programs for its sixth installment. Each day of the fair brings new public projects to view and exciting events to attend, like interactive panel discussions, book signings, and artist talks. Some local highlights to look forward to include Peter Gronquist’s communion (featuring a real pool of water), a full-size totem pole from Preston Singletary, and many more. There’ll be specialty cocktails and beer, coffee and pastry carts, and a lounge to grab lunch so you won’t go hungry while attempting to view every art installment.

Debuting in tandem with the Seattle Art Fair is XO Seattle’s Grand Opening Summer Art Party. Riding on the trajectory of Out of Sight, an annual survey of PNW contemporary art ran by longtime friend Greg Lundgren, XO Seattle is seeking to feature a major roster of emerging and established contemporary artists working in a variety of media. Designed and curated by Austin Bellamy Hicks and Julianne Johnson with co-curation by Erik Molano and Moses Sun, XO Seattle describes their space as not a gallery or art fair, but as an “ephemeral and ever-evolving presentation or “happening””. This collective of artists, builders, and community organizers are focusing on short-term cultural programming and creating a commission structure for selling pieces that favors artists. Joining the Summer Art Party is HRVST House, a Black owned Seattle based production company, who will be showcasing DJs and local performers during the event. XO Seattle’s model is fresh and groundbreaking for the PNW art scene; if you (regrettably) miss the opening party, don’t worry—featured art will remain on view and dynamic weekly events abound.

Seattle Art Fair: July 22nd – 24th | Various Times @ the Lumen Field Event Center
Get Tickets

XO Seattle Summer Art Party: July 22nd | 5:00 – 10:00 pm @ 419 Occidental Ave S.
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CELEBRATE: KEXP50

Happy 50th birthday KEXP! Our beloved local radio station is celebrating half a century on air, and you’re invited to the party. Bring family and friends out for a free afternoon of fun that will melt into a sweet summer evening, featuring performances, activities, food, drinks, and of course, live music. Taking place at the Seattle Center, KEXP50 will boast two stages in the courtyards adjacent to their studios for concerts; Performers include !!!, Sons of Kemet (in their last-ever US appearance), Thao (formerly of Thao and the Get Down Stay Down), Tomo Nakayama, LIVt, and a special surprise guest. The party will also have a public Gathering Space that will host a beer garden, special commemorative merchandise, food trucks, live on-air DJs, opportunities for community members to share their vision for the future of KEXP, presentations from KEXP’s business supporters, and the unveiling of the newest set of donor tiles on the side of KEXP’s facility.

KEXP has come a long way since 1972, when four students at the University of Washington came together to create a radio station where students could learn the art of broadcasting and listeners could discover music. Built on the ethos that DJs should have reign over their own programming and that loving music is about expanding one’s scope, seeking new sounds with intention, and connecting through art, KEXP has created an ever-growing community of music lovers and music makers from all backgrounds. Thank you KEXP for being a strong pillar of Seattle culture and community; Let’s party!

August 6th | 12:00 – 7:00 pm @ the Seattle Center

More Details

Arts and Culture in Seattle—June 2022

Celebrate: Pride on Capitol Hill

No Seattle Pride celebration is complete without a visit to Capitol Hill—the queer epicenter of our city bejeweled with rainbow crosswalks and LGBTQ+ establishments. Pride parades and bar activations abound during Pride weekend (June 24th-June 26th) with PrideFest often dominating Cal Anderson and the neighborhood at large on Saturday, June 25th. We love and support all the events and celebrations that Capitol Hill provides during Pride season, but we have a reverence for a particular community staple: The Wildrose. There are only a few lesbian bars left in the United States and our very own Wildrose is one of them. For the past 34 years, The Rose has been celebrating Pride and this year is no different.

Join The Wildrose this Pride weekend as they welcome a diverse selection of local and regional artists Friday through Sunday. This year, after a two-year hiatus, they’re partnering with Kendall’s DJ and Event (KDJE) and KEXP to curate and manage a robust and dynamic lineup of talent, including Adra Boo, Brittany Davis, Bijoux, DJ Skiddle, DJ Brynn Taylor, and many more. The Rose has ambitious programming for Pride weekend with Friday festivities taking place from 6 pm – midnight, Saturday festivities from 1 pm – midnight, and Sunday festivities from 1 pm – 10 pm. Their weekend-long event also includes dancers, live performances, and multiple bar activations. Snag a single day or full weekend ticket to support your local lesbian bar this Pride season.

June 24th – 26th

More Info + Tickets

COMMEMORATE: REVIVAL: Juneteenth Pop Up Market

Juneteenth is the oldest nationally observed commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. It’s a time for the Black community to celebrate and the nonblack community to self-educate, honor, and embrace Black culture through its art and history (which should be a daily practice). As residents in Seattle, a predominantly white city, arguably one of the most impactful ways we can implement this practice is to support our local Black owned businesses and organizations. This Juneteenth, join the Capitol Hill EcoDistrict at Midtown Plaza for their REVIVAL: Juneteenth Pop-up Market, a celebration of the Black owned business in our community. Connect with their community partners, Arte Noir, the Central Area Collaborative, and Craft3, to uplift Black businesses in the heart of the Central District, a historically African American neighborhood. KEXP 90.3 FM, hosted by Larry Mizell Jr. and DJ Riz, will broadcast live from the event providing music and ambiance while you explore the market. Discover Black retailers, food vendors, and resources from community organizations that specialize in elevating thriving Black communities. Check out Capitol Hill EcoDistrict’s Instagram and Facebook to learn more about their vendors and community partners.

June 19th | 11:00 am – 3:00 pm

More Info

SEE: Romare Bearden: Abstraction at The Frye

Our favorite free entry museum, the Frye, is welcoming a large body of work by Romare Bearden on June 25th, featuring over fifty-five paintings, works on paper, and collages. This exhibition is the first to fully explore Bearden’s influential abstract work created between 1952 and 1964. The New York avant-garde artist is not only recognized as one of the most creative and original visual artists of the twentieth century, but he is also celebrated for his work as a writer, social worker, and activist. As an instrumental organizer of the time, he was the first art director of the Harlem Cultural Council, a prominent African American advocacy group, and was involved in the founding of The Studio Museum in Harlem. Fleeing to New York in childhood to escape the Jim Crow South, Bearden studied art and established a thriving career by 1945 then transitioned to non-representational subjects in the ‘50s. A trailblazer of the “stain painting” method, Bearden continually reimagined what artmaking could be, developing additional techniques that incorporated the mediums of casein and collage.

Abstraction will be on display at the Frye until September 18th and is a historically moving exhibit you won’t want to miss. Check the Frye’s calendar for curator tours and workshops surrounding Romare Bearden’s works.

June 25th – September 18th

More Info

From The Ground Up

Source: https://monocle.com/magazine/the-entrepreneurs/5/from-the-ground-up/

Things to do in Seattle—June 2021

T R Y

A Sweet Pride Treat

The newest addition to the Flora restaurant family, The Flora Bakehouse serves up delicious baked goods, leavened breads, sweet and savory pastries, and rotating seasonal vegan and vegetarian breakfast bites. Throughout the month of June this LGBTQ-owned cafe is also serving rainbow cakes and cookies and 50% of the proceeds go towards Camp Ten Trees, a summer camp specifically for LGBTQ youth and youth from LGBTQ families. June 27 through 28 stop in for slices of the colorful cake. If cupcakes are more your style, Cupcake Royal’s “The Gay” vanilla confetti cake promises not to dissappoint, and Frankie & Joe’s Harvey Strawberry Milk has also made a deliciously colorful comeback. Those treats also support LGBTQ causes, but you can also learn more about how to support Seattle’s LBGTQ-owned bars and restaurants here.

V I E W:

Black Refractions at the Frye Museum

The latest exhibit at the Frye Museum, Black Refractions: Highlights from the Studio Museum in Harlem features a stunning array of works from more than 80 black artists that span time, genres, materials. The collection hails from the famed Studio Museum that has inspired countless artists and highlights the breadth of the museum’s works. Frye’s exhibition includes iconic pieces by artists such as Barkley Hendricks, Faith Ringgold, Lorna Simpson, Alma Thomas, and James VanDerZee, as well as Seattle’s own Jacob Lawrence and Noah Davis, among many others.

W A T C H:

A Drive-In Movie with a Meal from Stonehouse Cafe and Bar

This Rainier restaurant is offering up a roster of movies all summer long. This Friday, pop in for a roadside viewing of Black Panther. Other popcorn favorites like Men in Black, Jurassic Park, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens are just around the corner. Tickets are $15 per person with a minimum of $60 per car. Cars with fewer folk can use the leftover funds towards food and beverage purchases, and the Drive-In menu offers build-your-own burgers, fish & chips, chili, and other solid comfort-food fare.

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Things to do in Seattle—May 2021

D I S C O V E R:

Doug Baldwin on Crosscut Live

On May 27 Crosscut Live, a virtual event series hosted by the local news publication, will bring in Doug Baldwin to discuss the American reckoning over race one year after the murder of George Floyd. After mass protests with calls to defund the police and examine our rampant systemic inequality, brands and organizations (like the NFL) jumped on the bandwagon to denounce racism, but what changes really came about? 

Local reporter Monica Guzman will discuss this year in review with Baldwin, one of the most eloquent and forthright athletes from our region. 

Baldwin, a Super Bowl Champion and 2-time Pro Bowler, is also known for establishing the Players Coalition, an NFL player-led organization that advocates for criminal justice and education reform. It’s worth noting that the coalition has been successful in helping pass all of the ballot initiatives it has supported into law. Tickets for what will surely be an impactful conversation are available here.

T R Y:

Smoked brisket enchiladas at Jackalope

After 17 years of ownership, the beloved proprietors of El Sombrero on Rainier Avenue in Columbia City have retired and a new tex-mex restaurant will soon be opening up in the location. In keeping with tradition, the newly-minted Jackalope will serve up a medley of down-home barbecue-inspired eats with a Mexican spin. Jackalope came about after the Columbia City resident Graham Ayers, general manager of Jack’s BBQ, decided he wanted to run a restaurant in the neighborhood.This Jack’s BBQ sibling restaurant is sure to have equally crave-worthy food. The previous El Sombrero space is currently undergoing a gut-renovation, and should be ready to open for business on Labor Day weekend. While the menu is still in progress, you can expect to revel in towering dishes of nachos, rich smoked brisket enchiladas, and perhaps a smoky Mezcal margarita or two. Stay tuned for more info here.

V I E W:

Some in-person art at SAM

It’s true; the lack of in-person arts and culture events during the pandemic hit us hard. But while films and virtual events managed to ease the lock-down doldrums, nothing could truly replace the feeling of visiting a museum in flesh and bone, and witnessing works of art up close. That’s why we are so relieved that the Seattle Art Museum has officially reopened to the public. With good measures in place, guests can reserve tickets for upcoming shows online and delight in art in person again. We highly encourage checking out the latest Jacob Lawrence show that is on display through May 23rd. If you aren’t quite ready to come out of confinement, make a note to visit the upcoming Monet show in June. That exhibition will feature dozens of the artist’s paintings of rocky cliffs and coastline in the seaside village of Etretat. Tickets are available here. 

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Things to do in Seattle—April 2021

D I S C O V E R:

A Nigerian Cyberpunk film at Siff 

The annual Seattle International Film Festival is back after last year’s hiatus. Now for the first time ever, attendees can stream the three week festival from home and watch featured films on their own time. 

On the top of our must-see list is the film This Is My Desire from Nigerian directors Arie and Chuko Esiri. Set in Lagos, the film follows two Nigerians who try to improve the lives of their families by attempting to find a better future in a foreign city. After plans collapse, they are confronted with realizations about how what they seek isn’t necessarily found elsewhere. A beautiful and gracefully shot film with striking notes of cyberpunk throughout, this cinematic experience is not to be missed. 

Check out the entire SIFF film roster here, and don’t sleep on Seattle’s most extensive foreign film festival!

T R Y:

A Hawaiian/Japanese Gastropub in the International District

What used to be Kaname Izakaya in the International District is now Itsumono, a new gastropub fronted by chef Sean Arakaki. Chef Arakaki, a Hawaiin native, previously worked at Eden Hill before opening this delightful gastropub where he cooks up playfully indulgent and delicious pub fare. The menu features dishes like a teriyaki take on a traditional burger, steaming bowls of Saimin, curly fries dusted in nori, and a Karaage-Nashville hot chicken mash-up. Arakaki’s more gourmet background comes into focus via the ever-rotating line-up of daily specials that have more of a haute vibe (and are frequently highlighted on their instagram account). 

Itsumono is Japanese for “regular,” and you will soon become one after trying this new International District gem. The restaurant is now open for take-out and some dine-in, and is open Wednesday through Saturday from 5 to 9:30pm.

L I S T E N:

To some poetry during National Poetry Month

April is national poetry month, which means it’s a great time to read, write, or listen to some poetry. All throughout the city, terrific poets will be hosting readings. We’re particularly excited about poets like Portland’s Kim Stafford who will read alongside Claudia Castro Luna, the Washington State Poet Laureate on April 21. Also on April 21, Tamiko Beyer will read from her book Last Days. A little later in the month you can catch award-winning poet Natalie Diaz, author of When My Brother Was an Aztec via the Seattle Arts & Lectures Series. 

And if you’d like to let the springtime season inspire you to try your hand at some verse, check out Hugo House’s generative poetry workshop provided by resident Jeanine Walker, who will be sharing some poems and prompts on Wednesday April 14 at 6pm. RSVP for this free event here.

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Things to do in Seattle—March 2021

D I S C O V E R:

The Hidden Worlds of Kazuo Ishiguro

World-renowned author Kazuo Ishiguro first received public acclaim in 1989 after the arrival of his book Remains of the Day, and later won the Nobel Prize upon publishing Never Let Me Go. The author has become known for his penetrating stories that go deep into the internal lives of his characters, sometimes revealing more about themselves by what they withhold than what they share. The Nobel Prize committee lauded Ishiguro as an author “who, in novels of great emotional force, has uncovered the abyss beneath our illusory sense of connection with the world.” In his latest novel Klara and the Sun Ishiguro ventures into new terrain (though somewhat reminiscent of Never Let Me Go with its futuristic setting). The book follows a young girl and her Artificial Friend Klara who is purchased from a store to keep her company. Join Ishiguro for a virtual and insightful talk on the release of his new book with Zen Buddhist priest Ruth Ozeki on March 13 at 2pm. Tickets are available here. 

T R Y:

A Biodynamic Wine & Plate of Pasta via Taste Washington

Historically this rather huge Washington-based wine convention takes place in an arena over multiple days. This year, the event has gone virtual, but in lieu of in-person tastings, Taste Washington has drummed up dozens of promotions spanning the entire month of March. While this virtual iteration might not afford all the camaraderie that the annual event typically entails, the event organizers have gotten creative with their offerings. Peruse weekly menus complete with Washington wine pairings, and restaurant delivery options here. We’re particularly interested in the Italian varietal-focused wine tasting box available via Seattle restaurant Spinasse, featuring natural and biodynamic wines including a Nebbiolo from Swick Wines and a Wilridge Pinot Grigio-- the perfect wines to pair with some Spinasse favorites, like prosciutto di parma and marinated artichokes with honey mascarpone, hazelnuts and mint to start, and some wild boar cavatelli and tajarin al ragu as the main course.

R E A D:

An Arthouse Mag from Big Little News!

The sudden closure of the long-loved and oft-frequented Pike Place newsstand left a gaping hole in our hearts, and made it decidedly difficult to find cool magazines in Seattle. Big Little News is here to save the day, and offset Covid doldrums with their tantalizing array of art house and design-oriented magazines. In addition to periodicals and other things published on paper, the new Capitol Hill news shop will also offer treats, chocolate, bubbles, snacks, and even curated boxes filled with thematic local goods. Big Little News is located at 1102 E Pike, boasts an impressive collection of 250 different magazines, newspapers, and zines, and is open daily from 11am to 7pm. 

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Bring Your Kid to (Co)Work!

We know that WFH is getting old, but let’s all agree that School From Home must be even worse. Do you AND your kids need a place to escape the monotony, get a change of scenery and really focus?

The Cloud Room offers a safe and inspiring environment to get work done. Our workspace is equipped with operable windows, HEPA filters, socially-distanced circulation and plexiglass protective barriers between each desk.

For a limited time, when you sign up for a membership at the Cloud Room, your student (ages 13+) can receive a membership for 50% off. From just two visits per month, to unlimited access, we have a plan for every need.

Contact us at (206) 739-9004 or hello@cloudroomseattle.com for more information!