The Burien Arts Association is hosting another “Sing & Sketch” tonight (Thursday, Mar. 11th) at BTB Advertiser Burien Press.

According to Erin Williamson:

“Relax at the Burien Press while enjoying a terrific cup of joe & delectable pastries, pies and sandwiches.“

Here are the details:

WHAT: “Sing & Sketch” music/art party.

WHEN: Thursday, Mar. 11th, from 6pm–8pm.

WHERE: Burien Press, located at 423 SW 152nd Street in downtown Burien (across from the new City Hall/Library); phone: 206-453-5412.

COST: No cover, just bring your creativity or your interest in watching/listening.

INFO: From a poster:

Come enjoy a song and art circle!

For the Musicians: Share you latest songwriting creation or just play an old favorite while others join in.

For the Visual Artists: Enjoy the chance to do some figural drawing or painting while listening to live music.

For Everyone, art and music appreciators alike: Relax at the Burien Press while enjoying a terrific cup of joe & delectable pastries, pies and sandwiches.

Poster Art by John Unbehend

BROUGHT TO YOU BY BURIEN ARTS & Burien Press

For more Information contact: burienarts.org

[Would you like to have a “Blogvertorial” Ad and/or Event Listing like this on a popular, fast-growing website seen by nearly 50,000 interested Local Readers every month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]

“Images of America: Three Tree Point,” a locally-written book we’ve previously reported on, has finally been released and will be on sale for just $20 each at a book-signing party at The Tin Room this Friday, March 12th beginning at 3pm.

Longtime residents-turned-authors Doug Shadel and Pam and Guy Harper will be autographing and selling books, as well as sharing anecdotes in the back of the Tin Room (923 SW 152nd in Olde Burien; 242-8040), at a historic table made from the old wooden sign from the Three Tree Point store.

This should be a lively event full of historic stories and interesting photos, as well as a way to acknowledge a nice success story for these local folks.

Here are some more excerpt photos and captions from the book:

“Images of America: Three Tree Point” is available at area bookstores, independent retailers, and online retailers, or through Arcadia Publishing at (888)-313-2665 or www.arcadiapublishing.com.

Arcadia Publishing is the leading publisher of local and regional history in the United States. Our mission is to make history accessible and meaningful through the publication of books on the heritage of America’s people and places. Have we done a book on your town? Visit www.arcadiapublishing.com.

by Marilee A. Cogswell
Manager, 
Burien Library

Happy nearly-springtime to all those B-Town Bookworms out there!

DID YOU KNOW?

Voters Approve Levy Lid Lift for libraries!!

Thanks to dedicated community advocates and library supporters, voters approved Proposition 1 on the February 9 special election ballot by 52%, authorizing a one-year increase in the property tax level to fund essential library services.

With the passage of Proposition 1, voters restored the full allowable library levy rate of 50¢ per $1,000 assessed property value for 2011.

The additional revenue will sustain library operations, including hours of service, new and replacement materials, computers and software upgrades, and regular preventive maintenance.

Thank YOU VOTERS!!

KCLS WELCOMES RENTON LIBRARIES, PATRONS & STAFF:
Renton Libraries are now part of the King County Library System! Though many details involved in merging the library systems are being worked out, two key changes are now in place for Renton Library patrons:

1. Expanded library hours in downtown Renton.
2. Immediate eligibility for a Seattle Public Library Card.

Welcome!!

PROGRAMS AT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARIES:

• TechConnect!!! Burien Library Saturday March 13th 10am -2pm: TechConnect is an interactive library open house showcasing the many ways KCLS technology connects you to reading, recreation, entertainment and lifelong learning.  Whether you’re tech-savvy, tech-challenged or somewhere in between, TechConnect will enhance your use of the library!  King County Library TechLab van will be in our parking lot demonstrating the latest in downloads available.  TechConnect stations will be set up throughout the first floor of the library demonstrating our databases, how to use the library catalog, children’s story time online, and much much more. There will also be Spanish language station ‘Biblioteca’ showing library technology for Spanish speakers.  Visit every station and enter to win the prize drawings, winners announced on the hour, must be present to win.  Sponsored by the Burien Library Guild.
• Crumac Concert: Burien Library, Sunday March 14th 5pm. This Irish trio creates traditional music on fiddle, uilleann pipes, whistles, and guitar
  Ages 5 and older.
• Get Loose with Seuss! Burien Library, Friday March 19th, 10:30am. Presented by Harmonica Pocket. Sing along with the Doctor’s ‘One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish’ and other Seussian favorites! All ages welcome Sponsored by the Burien Library Guild.
• Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss! White Center Library, Friday March 19th, 3pm. Presented by Harmonica Pocket. Celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday with stories, songs and silliness. Sponsored by the White Center Library Guild.

BOOK REVIEW:
‘The Eight’ By Katherine Neville

Part historical fiction, part mysticism, part modern day suspense thriller – this tale follows the discovery and disappearance of the powerful Montglane Chess Service. The chess service imbues unlimited power to anyone playing. The task of hiding and protecting the chess pieces from abuse falls upon the novices of Montglane Abby in the year 1790.  In 1972, modern day computer expert Catherine Velis is hired to recover the valuable chess pieces and soon finds herself entangled in a global plot.

Excellent!

Until next time…see you in the stacks!

Marilee A. Cogswell is the Manager of the Burien Library.

Burien Arts (BA) has been part of the area arts scene, community activities and has “lived” in the “Little Blue House” Art Gallery in Dottie Harper Park for nearly 50 years, since the early 1960s.

Sadly, its time in that house is reaching its end, as it will be closing shop the end of March.

According to a press release:

“The model the founders developed served the community and the organization well for many years. Changes in demographics, growth / development in the city and relocation of the key facilities that have drastically reduced gallery traffic has led us to examine how Burien Arts can better serve the community.”

“Because of all the changes that have and are taking place in Burien, the BA Board of Trustees is using this as an opportunity to really reexamine our role in the community,” said John Unbehend, President of the BA Board. “The repositioning will be both a physical (meaning we’ll eventually be moving to a more visible / accessible location) and a directional one (how we bring a sustainable set of visual arts / services to Burien).”

Some of Burien Arts past activities have included:

• Burien Art Gallery
• High School Art exhibitions
• Artist United partnership
• Strawberry Festival
• Shakespeare-in-the-Park
• Numerous musical events

Its current mission statement is as follows:

The Burien Arts Association Mission is to engage, enrich and entertain all the communities, generations and visitors to the Burien / greater Highline region through creative and innovative arts programming.

The press release goes on to say:

We anticipate that one out growth of the repositioning will be expanding to include arts educational and enrichment programs that compliment those offered by the area schools and the city of Burien.

The questions we have to ask the community and answer for the organization are the fundamental ones that journalist use when they develop a story:

• Who? Who are people we are serving in the Burien / Highline area (artistic, scholastic, ethnic and age groups in our area)?
• What? What are the artistic (visual, performing, literary) activities that the community wants and will support to allow BA to be a sustainable force in our area.
• Where? Where should BA be physically located to be accessible to the greatest number of people:
  • foot traffic, drop-ins and event participants for a new gallery
  • participation in community events (festivals, farmers market, Burien Days)
  • accessibility for people with disabilities
  • Students (elementary, middle school, high school and college).
• When? When is now! With the new town center, building projects, new restaurants and relocation of the Strawberry Festival we have to get a grip on our future now.
• How? How do we find a new gallery facility that meets the community needs? How to we provide a set of products (art shows, Shakespeare, poetry / literary experiences, educational opportunities) the community will eagerly provide support – attendance, participation and financial.

The first step will be to gather as much input from the community members as we can. This will take the form of:

• Discussions with art groups and individual artist in the community to learn how they want to participate.
• The individuals that we serve in the community through our web site, email burienarts@gmail.com and public meetings.
• Working with the merchants and Discover Burien to find how we can best support one another.
• Join in close discussions with the City of Burien (parks and rec., council, city management) to make sure we’re clear on how we can support and reinforce their activities in the arts so that BA is not duplicating their fine efforts.

This data will provide the foundation for decisions on how we reposition ourselves to better serve the Burien / Highline community!

- John Unbehend for the Burien Arts Board of Trustees
3/7/10

The current show at the Burien Arts Gallery is “Page Turner: Contemporary Artist Books,” a free exhibit of handmade artists books, which continues through March 19.

Hours are Thursday-Friday Noon – 5 pm, Saturday 11 am – 5 pm and Sunday 11 am-4 pm, and the gallery is located at 421 SW 146th Street.

This could be your last chance to set foot in this historic, quaint “Little Blue House,” as we’re not yet sure of what the future holds for it.

The days are getting longer, the sky brighter, flowers are starting to bloom, bugs are coming out and its Photo Friday – what better way to celebrate the coming days of Spring than by celebrating with a stunning “Springtime In Burien” photo slideshow by area Pro Photographer Francis Zera?

This set of amazing macro nature photos is Exhibit A in why we love Photography – through the eye of a talented artist like Francis, one can see things that you normally might not notice, and see it in a beautiful new way.

According to Francis, who shot these pics Wednesday:

Today’s brief spell of late-afternoon sunshine got me thinking about spring, and I had an opportunity to wander around a private garden on the east side of Burien.

The plants and trees were just starting to bloom, and I found some pretty interesting stuff, including this insect that was swimming around in a dewdrop that was poised on a new tulip leaf.

This little guy appears to be a Hypera zoilus Kaldari, aka Clover Leaf Weevil, swimming in a dewdrop. According to the Wikipedia entry, they seem to prefer dry places to wet, so I’m thinking it might have been simply unlucky enough to have been nailed by a big raindrop and subsequently trapped inside the droplet by the surface tension.

It was still alive when I photographed it, and was moving around within the confines of the droplet.

For those technically inclined, I was using a Canon 5D Mark II with a 180mm f/3.2 macro lens.

Here’s Francis’ stunning spring slideshow:

Click to View Francis Zera’s Photo Slideshow

Francis Zera is a professional architectural and commercial photographer, as well as Co-president, Seattle/Northwest chapter, American Society of Media Photographers. See his portfolio at http://www.zeraphoto.com or follow him on Twitter here: http://www.twitter.com/zeraphoto. Francis can be reached at 206-659-ZERA.

Our friends at White Center for the Arts are holding a very unique “Python-A-Thon” fundraiser this Sunday, March 7th, from Noon – 8pm at Big Al Brewing (in White Center), where episodes of the classic “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” TV show will be shown non-stop.

Participants are encouraged to bring potluck food items, dress in costume (lumberjack anyone?), bring penguins to put on the telly, and walk like you’re in the Ministry of Silly Walks, all while donating to a worthy local arts association.

Here are the details:

WHAT: “Python-A-Thon” viewing party of classic Monty Python TV episodes to help raise funds for White Center for the Arts.

WHEN: Sunday, March 7th from Noon – 8pm.

WHERE: Big Al Brewing, located at 9832 14th Ave SW; (206) 453-4487 (website here)

INFO: From a poster:

Big Al Brewing Presents Monty Python Video Festival

“Continuing Education”

Earn your letters in Pythonology

Finding it hard to get promoted even though you have a MM- Master of Monty?

Get your Doctor of Pythonology (DP), and silly walk your way to the top!

DP courses in:

• The Arts
  • -Why lumberjacks sing
• Optical Sciences
  • -How not to be seen
• Aeronautics
  • -What makes sheep fly
• Military History
  • -German humor and the demise of the Wehrmacht
• Veterinary Sciences
  • – Learn to determine the difference between “Dead” and “Resting”

And much much more!

If you’re silly enough, you too could become a fully accredited Doctor of Pythonology, capable of answering such puzzling questions as…

• “Why is there a penguin on the telly”?
• “If she’s a go’er why is she with him”?
• And, “Did the Vikings invent spam”?

Classes begin on Sunday, March 7th

First class of the day starts at 12 noon

Location: Go to www.bigalbrewing.com for directions

Extra credit will be given for bringing pot luck and coming to class as your favorite Monty Python character.

To get you in the mood, here’s the classic “Ministry of Silly Walks” sketch:

“Getting the pictures you meant to take” is the slogan for the latest advertiser to The B-Town Blog – The Photo Junkie Project. Self-proclaimed photo junkie and local mom, Heather Mathias, created The Photo Junkie Project, an online photo retouch service.

Heather is a photographic artist with over 10 years experience in graphic design, digital photo manipulation, and traditional photography, including photo exhibition and darkroom/photo lab work. Not only does Heather love pictures, she also loves to help people.

After becoming a mom, Heather thanked her lucky stars she knew Photoshop. She could turn that “perfect” picture into a “masterpiece” by eliminating the toy-ridden living room in the background. She could brighten up the “cutest picture ever”, that was unfortunately taken on the day the camera flash decided not to work. She could even be creative in the way she sent pictures to family. For example, one Christmas, everyone in Heather’s family received a refrigerator magnet depicting her one-year old as a DJ grooving on a toy music station.

Heather’s love of photography has allowed her to turn her archive of pictures into fun projects for family, friends…and herself. “It has become an obsession that only grandparents can truly appreciate,” jokes Heather. But in all seriousness, Heather feels her photo projects have been the best way, and the most fun way, to keep her family that lives in the Mid-West involved in her daughter’s life here in Burien.

Now Heather would like to help other people with their photo projects. Whatever the subject may be…family pictures, vacation shots, random snapshots of interesting and unique things, eBay/Craigslist items…and whatever the project may be, Heather would like to help you get the pictures you meant to take.

Heather’s online retouch service, The Photo Junkie Project, offers a range of services from simple touch-ups to complex manipulations. Pictures can be cropped, color corrected, and brightened or darkened. Items can even be added or subtracted from a picture; and entire photographs can be manipulated.

The Photo Junkie Project also offers a resize service, which can open the window to different ways of displaying your favorite pictures; for instance, in a locket, a wallet sleeve, or a circular photo frame – or transformed into a refrigerator magnet!

Prices are well below professional photo lab standards, which can be upwards of $75/hour; but the quality is not.

Heather is constantly developing ways to help other people with their photo projects. So if there is a service you are interested in, but you do not see it listed on the website, just email in a request. The Photo Junkie Project is here to help.

The Photo Junkie Project
www.photojunkieproject.com

Heather Mathias
heather@photojunkieproject.com
206.431.3001

[Would you like to have a “Blogvertorial” Ad and/or Event Listing like this on a popular, fast-growing website seen by nearly 50,000 interested Local Readers every month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]

The Burien Art Gallery will be hosting “Page Turner: Contemporary Artist Books,” a free exhibit of handmade artists books, beginning this Friday, March 5th at its Dottie Harper Park “Little Blue House” location at 421 SW 146th Street.

The exhibit features original work from 22 artists whose work has been shown in galleries throughout the U.S. and internationally.

Art lovers throughout the Puget Sound area are invited to visit the exhibit and also to lend support to the Burien Arts Gallery which plans to close temporarily following the show while it searches for a new location (EDITOR’S NOTE: We’ll have further details on the gallery closing soon, so stay tuned).

The  exhibit will include original works from the following artists:

• Ken Botnick
• Diana Guerrero-Maciá
• Regin Igloria
• Chandler O’Leary
• Carrie Iverson
• Rachel Dennis
• Mandolin Brassaw
• Nicolette Ross
• Molly Brooks
• Lloyd McMullen
• Neil Clark

Several university faculty will also be featured, including:

• Jana Harper and Amy Thompson (Washington University, St. Louis)
• Inge Bruggeman (Oregon College of Art and Craft)
• Jessica Spring (Pacific Lutheran University)
• Don Olsen (Art Institute of Portland)
• Megan Sterling (Harrington College of Design)
• Valerie Wallace (Portland State University)

According to a press release:

Visitors will experience “poetry, surprise, fury and wit” in the time-honored visual form of the handmade artist book.

Artist, educator and exhibit curator Kelda Martensen also noted that the artists featured are bringing a fresh look to this time-honored visual form.

People “will be both delighted and surprised,” she said of the innovative exhibit. “Each artist book sets the viewer on a creative journey. Visitors will find themselves in the stirring position of interpreter to a powerful conversation between artist and page as images and narrative unfold.”

A complete listing of artist biographies and images of selected artist books are available at http://contemporaryartistbooks.blogspot.com/.

The exhibit will be available March 5 – March 19, and the hours are Thursday-Friday Noon – 5 pm, Saturday 11 am – 5 pm and Sunday 11 am-4 pm.

Admission is FREE.

WHAT:  “Page Turner: Contemporary Artist Books” exhibit

WHERE: Burien Arts Center, located at 421 SW 146th St, Burien WA 98166

WHEN:  Friday, March 5th through Sunday, March 21st

COST: FREE

INFO: Exhibit info at http://contemporaryartistbooks.blogspot.com/, Burien Arts: http://burienarts.org

Since it’s Photo Friday here at The B-Town Blog, what better way to continue our exploration of one of our favorite arts than by showcasing an interview done by one Photographer (Francis Zera) with another (Jason Smith)?

Seattle photographer Jason Smith recently opened a show of his work at Burien’s Vino Bello (636 SW 152nd St.). Jason works as a photographic printer, as in, the old-school method of making prints using darkrooms, enlargers, vats of stinky chemicals, and fiber-based archival papers. There’s nothing digital about the work in this show, but that doesn’t make it anachronistic, rather, the prints offer a timeless look at ordinary (and sometimes extraordinary) objects and situations.

Professional Photographer Francis Zera was fortunate enough to be able to spend some time with Jason as he hung the art at Vino Bello, as well as during the show’s opening night, where he took some time to talk about his inspiration for the show, which we now present in this SoundSlideshow:

Click to Play Francis Zera’s SoundSlideshow

Burien Little Theatre has teamed up with local business The Jungle Gym to offer a “Kids Night Out” on Friday, March 5th so parents can easily attend a performance of “A Midsummer’s Night Dream.”

“Midsummer” is Arne Zaslove’s 1950s Rock ‘n’ Roll adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which continues at BLT through Sunday, March 21st (read our previous coverage here).

According to a press release:

Want a night at the theater and can’t find a babysitter? Problem solved! The Jungle Gym has teamed up with Burien Little Theatre to offer a “Kids Night Out” in conjunction with the theater’s performance of A Midsummer’s Night Dream on Friday, March 5.

On March 5 before the show drop the kids off for 3 hours of free play, games, snacks and a movie! The Jungle Gym is located at 191 S.W. 152nd Alley, Burien, WA 98166 and the cost is $25 per child from 7:45-11:00 p.m. This place is full of fun and exciting things for kids ages 3 and up to do, like the zip line, tumble track trampoline with pit, beams, bars and much more!  Reservations are required, and kids must be potty-trained to attend.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is set in a gymnasium at Athens High School on graduation day 1957, and in a neighboring forest. A group of magical fairies intervene and meddle with the lives of two young couples for whom “the course of true love never did run smooth.” A live band and rockin’ tunes make this a treat for all ages!

Show dates & times:

• Feb. 26 at 8:00 p.m.   Friday
• Feb. 27 at 8:00 p.m.   Saturday
• Feb. 28 at 2:00 p.m.   Sunday Matinee
• March 5 at 8:00 p.m.   Friday
• March 6 at 8:00 p.m.   Saturday
• March 7 at 2:00 p.m.   Sunday Matinee
• March 12 at 8:00 p.m.   Friday
• March 13 at 8:00 p.m.   Saturday
• March 14 at 2:00 p.m.   Sunday Matinee
• March 19 at 8:00 p.m.   Friday
• March 20 at 8:00 p.m.   Saturday
• March 21 at 2:00 p.m.  Sunday Matinee

For $25 per child parents get a three-hour break so they can have a date night to see a great, funny play – to reserve a space at The Jungle Gym on the evening of March 5, call 206-248-3547.

For tickets to see A Midsummer Night’s Dream, go to wwww.burienlittletheatre.com or call (206) 242-5180.

Longtime Burien resident and local artist Dave Branson was out and about this last weekend, spending time sketching at Seahurst Park Beach, which played a significant role in his life growing up here since his family used to own a 9-acre wooded waterfront residential lot nearby.

Here’s what Dave had to say about this sketch:

It was a beautiful sunny day Saturday, so we went to Seahurst Park, and I did this sketch while we were there.

I was young when the sea wall went up at Seahurst Park, and it’s always felt like the park’s dominant feature to me. My Dad would jog at the park regularly, and I would join him sometimes when he could pry me away from Saturday morning cartoons. I remember when the sea wall was new and the concrete pavers on the path along the top of the wall hadn’t settled yet. They were musical because they would ring a little bit when we ran along the path.

Now I’ve heard that the northern part of the wall will be removed, just like the southern wall has been. It will take some getting used to. I’m still not used to how the southern half of the park has changed. I know it’s all for the best, environmentally, and now the beach will feel like the dominant feature of the park when our family visits the park in the coming decades.

And for a little historical background on this part of Burien and the Branson family, here’s some info taken from the city’s website:

In the early 1900s, the land known as Eagle Landing Park belonged to the Branson family. The Branson property was part of a 200-acre parcel owned by the Seahurst Land Company, which supplied water to local residents from springs on the property. The original Branson estate was a 9-acre wooded waterfront residential lot. In 1915, a relative of the owner built a residence in the northern portion of the property, which was upgraded and expanded in the 1930s. A county road through the property was platted but never built, and has been vacated since 1935. The property was logged about 90 years ago, when much of the timber in Burien, Seahurst, and Gregory Heights was felled to supply wood for America’s Liberty Ships in World War I.

The steeply sloped property sits atop two geologic units – glacial lake clay and silt below, and glacial outwash sand and gravel above – both deposited during glaciation of Puget Sound in the last Ice Age. Springs trickle from the hillside at an elevation of about 50 feet. The area has a long history of slope instability, according to oral history and the topographic features of the site.

To see more of Dave’s art, check out his blog: http://popsiclemud.blogspot.com.

by Scott Schaefer

On Friday afternoon (Feb. 19th), it was such a spring-like winter’s day that I decided to take a long walk around downtown Burien and go on a “photo safari.”

Armed with my trusty yet tres’ portable Olympus DSLR E-450, with my fave 50mm prime lens mounted, I set off and started shooting.

Some of you may have even seen me out and about, as I recall being honked at by at least two cars (hopefully they were both friendly honks and not “get the flip out of the way” ones).

After returning to our office and unloading the camera (I took 126 pics in about 1.5 hours’ time) and reviewing the shots, one kept popping up at me – of Kim David Hall’s “Art Clock” on SW 152nd, with the reflection of Vino Bello’s sign from across the street in the face:

While the reflection may look superimposed, it’s not – and if you look closely you can see how the clock body itself is out of focus and overexposed. That’s because the camera’s metering system latched onto the reflection, and both focused and set the exposure for that. Pretty cool.

For all you photo nerds out there, here’s some of the pic data:

• Camera: Olympus E-450
• Exposure: 1/4000 sec
• Aperture: f/2.0
• Focal Length: 50 mm
• ISO Speed: 400

(and BTW, yes Michele…you have my permission to display this print in your wine bar! Oh, and be sure to go to the Animals First Foundation fundraiser and see Woodrish there tonight!)

Okay, since I’m in a photo mood, here are some others I shot today around downtown B-Town – click on images to see larger versions:

So…do YOU have any interesting photos you’d like to share with our readers on “Photo Friday”? If so, either email them to us here, or upload them to our Flickr Group here.

REMINDER: We’d like to remind everyone that our friends at the Highline Historical Society will be presenting “Soldiers in Petticoats: The Struggle of the Suffragettes” at the SeaTac City Hall this Sunday, Feb. 21st, beginning at 2pm.

Local actress Tames Alan will perform, dressed in full period costume and acting totally in character, to talk about the struggle of American women to gain the right to vote. From what we hear, Tames does an excellent job of acting so this should be entertaining.

Plus…it’s FREE.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Highline Historical Society’s “Soldiers In Petticoats: The Struggle of the Suffragettes”

WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 21st beginning at 2pm

WHERE: SeaTac City Hall, located at 4800 South 188th Street in SeaTac.

COST: This is a FREE event.

INFO: From a press release:

In the authentic clothing of a suffragette, Actress Tames Alan returns to talk about the struggle of American women to gain the right to vote. In 1867, the passing of the 14th Amendment defined “citizen” as “male,” thus denying women the right to vote. On this 100th Anniversary of women’s right to vote in Washington State, learn how American women adopted the militant tactics of English suffragettes to earn the right to vote and regain citizenship in their own country. Discover how the suffragettes influenced child labor laws, the use and dispersal of birth control, the Temperance movement, and the right of women to earn a college degree.

This engaging program is free.

It is brought to the community by the Highline Historical Society with the support of Humanities WA.

Immediately followed by a reception for the elected women of Highline.

Tames Alan is an actress, historian, and fashion history teacher who has combined her skills to create Living History Lectures for people of all ages. Since 1986, she has been touring her programs throughout the United States and Canada, where she is known for in-depth research and a lively presentational style. Tames studied theater and history at Willamette University in Oregon and theater at the American Conservatory Theater and the Dell Arte School in California. She taught fashion history at the Art Institute of Seattle, and is a historical consultant to museums, libraries, and historical festivals throughout the Pacific Northwest.

For more information, visit the Highline Historical Society’s website here.

The City of Burien currently has openings on three of its four resident-run Advisory Commissions, which is a great way to become involved with your city and give something back to your community, with an application deadline of 5pm Friday, Feb. 19th.

Burien residents, as well as residents of the North Highline Annexation Area, which will become part of the City on April 1st, are encouraged to apply for current openings on these boards:

• Arts Commission
• Planning Commission
• Parks & Recreation Board

All appointments are made by the City Council and are for four-year terms (ad-hoc committee appointments are for the duration of the study or special purpose).

To apply, please fill out the city’s Online Application Form.

You can also download an Advisory Board Application and mail it drop if off at city hall:

Citizen Advisory Board
City of Burien
400 SW 152nd St, Suite 300
Burien, WA 98166

Please note that applications are continually being accepted for future board openings.

For more information, please call Monica Lusk, City Clerk at (206) 248-5517 or via email, or visit the city’s Advisory Board website here.

Burien Photographer Jennifer Leone’s first public showing of her work will start this Sunday, Feb. 21st and run for seven weeks at the Fireside Cafe and Gallery in Kent.

The showing kicks off with an open house this Sunday from 3pm to 6pm at the cafe and gallery, which is located at 12010 SE 240th Street on Kent’s East Hill (adjoining Kent Covenant Church). A number of mounted and framed large-format prints will be on display, as well as a selection of matted prints.

Jennifer’s photos will be on display through April 9th.

The Fireside is open Monday through Friday 9am – 5pm, and Sundays 8:30am – Noon. Baristas are on hand Monday through Thursday, from 9am – 11am.

Samples of Jennifer’s work can be found online at http://jennslens.zenfolio.com/.

Through the end of February, online orders are eligible for 10% off the entire order in celebration of the Fireside opening – use coupon code FIRESIDE221 at checkout.

Here’s Jenn’s “artist statement” from her website:

My photography has been an on-and-off thing until this past year, when my life was uprooted and I was left to dig myself out of my own dirt. It’s taken on a life of its own, as I learn more and practice more it yields me better results. I’m hoping to fill out my skeletal portfolio with more than just scenic and personal-interest shots (my two tabby/torbie kitty sisters, Grynne and Bearrett, butterflies, flora, and light capture) with people and abstract/action shots… In short, something more than personal eye candy.

Here’s a sample of Jenn’s work:

Burien Little Theatre’s classic, 50s-themed rockin’ version of Arne Zaslove’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” continues at the Burien Community Center this weekend, with shows Friday and Saturday at 8pm, and Sunday at 2pm.

Tickets are $7-$20 online (click here to order) and $17-$20 at the box office, with the $10 student ticket price in effect until the end of the month.

The show runs through Sunday, March 21st.

If you haven’t seen it yet, here’s a video promo that shows off the production – check out the costumes, slicked back hair and big sideburns:

Read our previous coverage here.

We stumbled upon a sketch by Burien resident Dave Branson, who is letting us post his rendition of the new Library/City Hall Building he created on Monday, Feb. 15th.

Here’s what Dave had to say about this particular piece:

This is a sketch of the Burien Library and City Hall I did on February 15, 2010.

I have to remember to use a different pen next time I combine ink and watercolor. The pen bled a bit when it got wet.

I like the simple but strong architecture of the Library. It’s modern and original without being too cluttered or trying too hard to be avant-garde. I also enjoy libraries in general.

While out on errands today, I stopped and took a few photos of the building, trying to find an angle that showed off the elements of it that I like, then I based the sketch on one of those shots.

To see more of Dave’s art, check out his blog: http://popsiclemud.blogspot.com.

Our friend Shelli Park of White Center for the Arts tells us that their one-year anniversary is fast approaching, and they’ll be celebrating it at their Third Saturday Art walk on Saturday, Feb. 20th, from 6pm to 9pm in various businesses in White Center.

The photo at left was shot by Brian Barr, whose work will be on display at WCFTA’s new community gallery, DREAM.

Here are the details:

WHAT: WCFTA monthly Art Walk, celebrating their one-year anniversary.

WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 20th, from 6pm to 9pm.

WHERE/FEATURING:

• Salvadorean Bakery: Chuck Northcutt – photography on canvas
• Café Rozella: Carole Ellis – photography
• Triangle Tavern: Chase Evans – Spoken Word @ 6:15 DJ sets @ 7:00
• Full Tilt Ice Cream: Julie Luke – Acrylic on Canvas
• Proletariat Pizza: Baso – photography
• Dzul Tattoo: Urban and Tattoo Art
• Dream Community Gallery: Fusion Dance Crew @ 6:30; Brian Barr – Portraits of White Center; Amanda Helmick – Mixed Media; Amanda Pickerel-Winer – paintings
• Big Al Brewing: Raina Anderson – photography
• DubSea Café: Hye Young Kim – dyed yarn and acrylic, Micheal Olson – DJ –reggae/dub plus more!

INFORMATION: More info available at www.whitecenterforthearts.org.

And here’s a letter regarding accomplishments made during WCFTA’s first year:

“Dear Lovers of Art in White Center,

White Center for the Arts (WCFTA) believes that the White Center community’s rich tapestry of culture and local arts should be shared with everyone. Our work to establish a permanent home for the arts in the neighborhood is off to a great start! In the past six months we:

• Established an after-school art program in the local Highline District Middle and High School
• Established the Third Saturday Art Walk, exhibiting more than 25 local artists in 9 months time.
• Are hosting Community Artists Meetings to open the lines of communication
• Established a working relationship with local, county, and state arts organizations and continue to identify and foster new partnerships within the community to create a web of services and support for artists and youth.
• Partnered with the YWCA at Greenbridge to showcase local artists in the lobby on a quarterly basis, and are working with Youth Media Institute and the Highline School District to implement non-violent extracurricular creative youth activities in the schools and in the White Center Downtown Business District.

But we have more work to do, and we are in urgent need of your support so that we can create the anchor of our vision and visiability, DREAM Community Gallery. We are asking for a small donation of $10.00 from 100 people, a $15.00 donation from 55 people, and 10 $100.00 donations. You will be supporting the entire White Center Cultural Community, helping to give visibility to local artists in all media, ages, and neighborhoods. A gift right now will assure that WCFTA can continue on our mission to be a catalyst for the coming together of the arts and cultural community of White Center. The time has come for a permanent home for the arts in White Center. Our current projects are:

• DREAM, a Community Gallery sustained by an in-house Coffee House, providing un-juried exhibition space for local artists and performers, and providing a safe gathering place, and empowering activities, for youth
• Development of our arts education programming
• Collection of oral histories and artifacts for a permanent local history collection
• Facilitating cross medium and cross cultural collaborations, and continuing to bring positive business to White Center through the Art Walk

We appreciate gifts of any amount, and in return WCFTA is working hard to promote art and culture in the daily life of White Center residents. We are to receive a $5,000 grant. We need more to open our Community Gallery by February 20^th, the first anniversary of White Center for the Arts. We have scheduled two dance performances, a musician, and two artists for the evening of February 20^th, and they are counting on your gift to help make this happen. When combined with the work of our dedicated volunteers, established, emerging, and students artists, the community as a whole will benefit from seeing our mission to bring art, and the celebration of culture and heritage to all of White Center and its neighbors, succeed.

To give a tax deductible donation, visit our website: http://www.whitecenterforthearts.org/

Sincerely,
Shelli Park
Chair, White Center for the Arts

P.S. You may be fortunate enough to have an employer that will match your gift. This is a great opportunity to give maximum impact with your gift to White Center for the Arts.

Even if you don’t live in White Center, but know that this is a worthy cause, please donate and know that you are supporting strong work in a beautiful community.”

(Photo by Brian Barr)

Ric Jacobson is the Des Moines Rotarian in charge of lining up the largest line-up of wineries – 25 – in the six year history of the Poverty Bay Wine Festival, which is coming to the Landmark Event Center in Des Moines on March 6th and 7th.

Ric reports that the following Northwest wineries will be at the festival on Saturday and Sunday to serve the guests. If you taste a wine you want to take home, bottles will be for sale at the event. All proceeds of the sale of wine will go directly to the Rotary Club of Des Moines, who use the funds for the many great things they do for the community.

The following wineries will be in attendance for the event:

• Canyon’s Edge
• Chandler Reach
• Covington Cellars – NEW
• Coyote Canyon Winery – NEW
• Burien’s own E.B. Foote Winery (WLB Advertiser)
• Eaton Hill
• Erin Glenn
• Fall Line
• Five Star Cellars
• Fort Walla Walla Cellars – NEW
• Kestrel – NEW
• Knipprath – NEW
• Masset Winery
• Otis Kenyon
• Page Cellars
• Pondera – NEW
• Sleeping Dog
• Sodo Vino – NEW
• Stina’s Cellar
• Two Vintners – NEW
• Vashon Winery
• Vin du Lac – NEW
• Waving Tree
• Willis Hall
• Windy Point

Des Moines Rotarian, Dave Loft, in charge of food and goodies at the Poverty Bay Wine Festival has lined up the “best of the best” for food and snacks for wine-fest guests:

• Des Moines’ Anthony’s HomePort
• Des Moines’ Salty’s at Redondo
• Charley’s on Central Avenue in Kent
• Cafe Pacific Catering
• Forte Chocolates
• Kauzlarich Smoked Products
• Panera Bread
• Poverty Bay Coffee
• Waters to go
• Redondo Fred Meyer
• Archery Bistro
• Elliot Bay Brewery

The sixth annual Poverty Bay Wine Festival is surely the hottest ticket in town – well lots of towns, surrounding Des Moines. Your ticket includes fun, music, wine, food and even beer, all presented in the historic and magnificent Landmark Event Center (aka Landmark on the Sound), which is located at 23660 Marine View Drive South in Des Moines.

Tickets for the event are just $20 in advance from CorkyCellars (206-824-9462), Des Moines Drug or your local Des Moines Rotarian.

Parking and free shuttles will be available in the South Marina Parking lot.

All attendees must be 21 years of age and photo ID is required.

Click here for more information.

We’re huge fans of Photography here at The B-Town Blog, and while we are only rarely able to achieve it, we always appreciate it, honor it, and encourage others to experience it.

I mean, have you ever really thought about Photography? How it’s almost a kind of magic that can capture a moment in time and turn it into beautiful art? And how cool it is that in this nascent digital age that more and more magical moments are being captured by more people than ever before?

Nah…neither did we.

But seriously, that’s why we’re promoting a show opening Friday night, Feb. 12th, at Vino Bello, featuring Jason Smith, a Seattle-based photographic printer. This guy’s done tons of work for other artists, much of which has been exhibited internationally, and now it’s his turn to display his own hand-processed and hand-printed true black-and-white images right here in Burien.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Jason Smith Photographic Exhibit.

WHEN: Open reception is Friday night, Feb. 12th from 6pm – 9pm.

WHERE: Vino Bello, located at 636 SW 152nd in downtown Burien.

The Northwest Symphony Orchestra’s annual Valentine’s Concert is this Friday, Feb. 12th at the Highline Performing Arts Center right here in romantic Burien.

This concert will feature numerous concertos, symphonies and other thoughtful masterpieces, and will include guest artist, cellist John Friesen.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Northwest Symphony Orchestra’s Valentine’s Concert

WHEN: Friday, February 12th beginning at 7:30pm

WHERE: Highline Performing Arts Center, located next to Highline High School.

FEATURING: Scheduled performances include:

• Tango Again, Dell Wade (Northwest Composer)
• Concerto in E Minor for
• Violoncello and Orchestra, Edward Elgar with guest artist John Friesen
• Symphony No. 5, Alexander Glazunov

GUEST ARTIST: Cellist John Friesen is known for his exciting and passionate performances.

He has performed in New York, Washington, D.C., Moscow, Montreal, Tokyo and elsewhere and has released three solo recordings, “Sotto Voce”, “Soul” and Suites 1, 2 & 3 by J.S. Bach.

For more info on John, check out his website.

More info on NWSO is available at their website.

Although the high school setting may be different than what you remember from the William Shakespeare classic, the story remains the same; and once the 1950s music kicks in, Burien Little Theatre’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” really rocks.

“Midsummer” kicks off spring with the right note in Burien Little Theatre’s 2009-2010 “escape” themed season. The classic romantic Shakespeare comedy is retold in a musical adapted by renowned Seattle actor/director Arne Zaslove, and featuring 1950s rock and roll.

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” opens at Burien Little Theatre on Friday, Feb. 12th, and will run through March 21st. Tickets are $7-$20 online and $17-$20 at the box office.

During the month of February all student tickets are available for $10, thanks to a grant from the City of Burien (read our previous coverage here).

In addition, Burien Little Theatre will be hosting free bonus readings of Donald Margulies’ Dinner with Friends, a bittersweet comedy about marriage, during the run.

A performance schedule including dates, times and ticket prices is available at www.burienlittletheatre.com or call the ticket office at 206-242-5180.

The Story and Production
Arne Zaslove opens his 1950s rock and roll adaptation of the Bard’s classic comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the gymnasium of Athens High School, on graduation day, 1957. This comedy of magic potions, misled lovers and mistaken identities works well in Zaslove’s high school setting, complete with toe-tapping, finger-snapping numbers from the 1950s that include “Don’t Be Cruel,” “I Will Follow Him,” and Elvis Presley’s “Love Me Tender,” among others.

Updated in 2008, Zasloves’ seamless adaptation from Shakespeare’s timeless setting to the more contemporary 1950s allows the audience to experience the characters in familiar roles. In Zaslove’s version, Theseus is the mature high school principal and the lovely Hippolyta is the friendly and well liked drama/gym teacher. Lysander, the hero, is described as “Mister Popularity,” and Hermia is cute, the quintessential homecoming queen. There’s also a knockout, a charmer, a clown: all characters familiar in every high school yearbook. The score, sung by the characters, allows them to tell the story in a contemporary, upbeat way, in a language the audience can relate to – rock ’n’ roll.

Since its premiere in 1968 when Zaslove was teaching theater classes at the University of Washington, this musical version of A Midsummer’s Night Dream has offered audiences a unique, current staging of one of Shakespeare’s most popular comedies. And, as Lysander so aptly states in the play, while “the course of true love never did run smooth,” in this adaptation it never sounded better!

The Cast
A Midsummer Night’s Dream is directed by Maggie Larrick and features the diverse acting talents of:

• Claire Fernandez (Starveling/Fairy Mustardseed)
• Toni Guidry (Helena)
• Kris Hambrick (Puck)
• Russ Kay (Peter Quince/Egeus)
• John Mallory (Demetrius)
• Kate Moyer (Titania)
• Jennifer Pierce (Snug the Joiner/Fairy Peasblossom)
• Lynne Randall (Hermia)
• Kevin Schilling (Francis Flute)
• Caleb Slavens (Lysander)
• Sara Sorden (Snout/Fairy Cobweb)
• Don Speirs (Nick Bottom)
• James “Tuq” Tucker (Theseus)
• Brad Walker (Oberon)
• Laura York (Hippolyta)

Free readings of Dinner with Friends
During the run of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Burien Little Theater will also host free Saturday afternoon readings of Dinner with Friends, a bittersweet comedy about marriage, fidelity, infidelity and friendship written by Donald Margulies. Please join Burien Little Theatre at 2 pm on the following Saturdays to enjoy this unique opportunity:

• Feb. 20
• March 6
• March 20

About Burien Little Theatre
Exciting live theater has been a tradition in Burien since 1955. Incorporated in 1980, Burien Little Theatre (BLT) has been a leading producer of quality live theater serving residents of the Seattle and south Puget Sound areas.

Burien Little Theatre is committed to being an entertainment leader by producing intriguing professional shows. The company’s mission is to treat audiences to productions of the highest artistic integrity that excite, engage and involve both the local and expanding theatrical communities in the Puget Sound region.

BLT is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) entity and operates on revenue from ticket sales, donations, grants, sponsorships and volunteers.

Schedule for A Midsummer Night’s Dream:

• February 12 at 8:00 p.m. Friday – Opening Night – Let’s HOP!
• February 13 at 8:00 p.m. Saturday
• February 14 at 2:00 p.m. Sunday Matinee - $7 Dollar Sunday
• February 19 at 8:00 p.m. Friday
• February 20 at 8:00 p.m. Saturday
• February 21 at 2:00 p.m. Sunday Matinee
• February 26 at 8:00 p.m. Friday
• February 27 at 8:00 p.m. Saturday
• February 28 at 2:00 p.m. Sunday Matinee
• March 5 at 8:00 p.m. Friday
• March 6 at 8:00 p.m. Saturday
• March 7 at 2:00 p.m. Sunday Matinee
• March 12 at 8:00 p.m. Friday
• March 13 at 8:00 p.m. Saturday
• March 14 at 2:00 p.m. Sunday Matinee
• March 19 at 8:00 p.m. Friday
• March 20 at 8:00 p.m. Saturday
• March 21 at 2:00 p.m. Sunday Matinee – It’s dawn and the dream is over – although you are still humming the tunes!

Theater Location:

The Theater at the Burien Community Center Building
425 SW 144th Street
Burien, WA 98166-1545
(206) 242-5180

The Community Center is located at the northwest corner of the intersection of 4th Avenue Southwest and Southwest 146th Street in Burien.
Directions available at www.burienlittletheatre.com.

Ticket Prices & Packages:

ONLINE TICKET PRICES: 
Purchase online and save!

• General Senior/Student
First Weekend:        $16.00        $13.00
Middle Weekends:        $18.00        $15.00
Last Weekend:        $20.00        $17.00
• TICKETS AT THE BOX OFFICE: 

                General        Senior/Student 
All Shows:            $20.00        $17.00
• Special Discount: During the month of February, Student Tickets are just $10 (City of Burien Grant)
• NEW THIS SEASON: SEVEN DOLLAR SUNDAY 
The first Sunday Matinee of every run is just $7.00!
• PLAY with YOUR FOOD DINNER PACKAGE: This package includes a two-course meal at Mark Restaurant & Bar plus a ticket to the show; cost is $35 per person.

To Purchase Tickets:

• Show tickets may be purchased online at www.burienlittletheatre.com or call 206-242-5180.
• Fabulous Four-Packs are available for the 2009-2010 Season!

On Thursday morning (Feb. 4th), workers from Seattle-based Western Neon installed a brand spankin’ new neon sign at the soon-to-be-opened Tin Theater in Olde Burien.

Proprietor Dan House was there, along with many of his staff, watching as two workers carefully unloaded the sign from a flatbed truck, hitched it to a crane and hoisted it up into position.

House says that the sign will likely be lit up late this afternoon, so if you’re near the area you might want to drop by and check it out – it’s a classic, new “old looking” neon sign based on the shape and style of the old Burien Beauty Salon sign.

The Tin Theater is still under construction in the spot formerly occupied by the Dan the Sausageman retail store behind what is now The Tin Cellars, with plush chairs and a big screen and assorted audiovisual stuff on order and a projected opening in about two months. Stay tuned to The B-Town Blog for full details.

And if you’re wondering where the classic red “Dan the Sausageman” neon sign has gone, House reassures us that it’s packed away safely in storage.

Publisher/Editor Scott Schaefer was on the scene and he took these pics:

Click to View Scott Schaefer’s Photo Slideshow

Burien Arts is holding its second annual all-day Highline Vintage Jazz Festival with two sessions on Saturday, Feb. 20 at the Highline Performing Arts Center, located at 401 South 152nd Street in Burien.

The all-day music fest will feature two unique three-hour performances, the first from 2pm – 5pm and the second from 7pm – 10pm, with some of the region’s most well-known jazz musicians playing Dixieland, swing, solo stride piano, gypsy jazz and more.

Tickets to the event cost just $20 per show or $35 for a full-day pass, and are available through Brown Paper Tickets here.

Identical twin banjo pickers The Canote Brothers will MC.

Matinee performance musicians will include:

MATINEE (2:00 – 5:00 pm):

• Holotradband: Traditional / Dixieland
• Tony Marcus and Patrice Haan (Leftover Dreams): Swing Standards
• Pearl Django: Gypsy Jazz
• Rouge: French Cabaret

EVENING SHOW (7:00 to 10:00 pm):

• Harley’s Horns A’Plenty: Swing Standards
• Ray Skjelbred: Stride piano
• Uptown Lowdown Jazz Band: Traditional / Dixieland
• Del Rey & Craig Flory: Blues /Jazz/Traditional

The Festival will also feature:

• Outdoor musical entertainment
• Dancers
• Great food
• Raffle prizes
• Free transportation to and from local restaurants and bars (which will likely be having specials for festival-goers)
• And more!

The Highline Vintage Jazz Festival is the brainchild of Burien Arts’ board member and fixture in the local music scene, Lance Haslund. Lance is a part-time musician and lifetime lover of all music, particularly jazz. He has been promoter of small concerts in the Burien area for several years and says:

“The Highline Vintage Jazz Festival will fill a void in the local festival scene.

To my knowledge, until now the Puget Sound area has not provided a showcase for multiple styles of early jazz in one event.

As Burien emerges as one of the new vital places for the arts in the region, we pay tribute to the people who moved here and grew the community during the Big Band era, and offer a faithful rendering of the music of their youth.”

Burien Arts is a local non-profit dedicated to enriching the community by providing engaging and innovative arts programming to the Highline region and beyond. Vitally active since 1965, Burien Arts maintains a crucial role in the artistic fabric of the community.

Tickets to the event are available online through Brown Paper Tickets (www.brownpapertickets.com) or by calling: 1-800-838-3006. Tickets will also be available at the door on the day of the festival.

Buy your tickets now by clicking here!

For more information, please check www.burienarts.org, call 206-244-7808 or email info@burienarts.org.

Here are some videos shot at last year’s fest featuring the Bulldog Brass Band:

Story by Rachel M. Lusby
Photos by Jim Branson

Longtime local business, Burien Books, is up for sale.

Burien Books was owned and operated by Virginia Pearce for 50 years. Pearce passed away recently at the age of 96 (read Jim Branson’s tribute to her here) and now the bookstore is being placed for sale by her nephew Joe Wisen.

“It’s a part of the estate,” Wisen said. “I cannot keep it running.” Wisen says he has other businesses of his own to run.

Burien Books is located at 643 SW 152nd St. and has been a staple in the community. One customer says she can find the books she needs for her book club, even when she cannot find them at bigger bookstore chains.

The last five or six years, Wisen says, Pearce was “getting tired.” He said she started to do things she enjoyed like working in her garden and bringing things into the store to decorate instead of dealing with the business aspect of things.

Marian Floyd has worked at Burien Books for 17 years and thinks the store may be the oldest one in the area to be owned by one person. “Even the feed store has changed owners,” she said.

Never having been modernized, the bookstore has used a wooden drawer that predates even the oldest of cash registers. It has sections for quarters, nickels, dimes and pennies and sections for paper money but no buttons.

Floyd said Virginia believed this had worked just fine for 50 years and there was no need for any “modern contraptions.” They do not even use a calculator. The store does take credit cards but uses a hand-operated card swiper with carbon paper.

Floyd says the bookstore has mostly repeat customers and a great reputation in the town.

“We brought our children here and now they’re bringing their children,” she said. “People don’t want to go to a bigger bookstore.”

Wisen says there have been some people to show interest in buying the store, but nobody who has been real enthusiastic. He has posted the sale on sites like craigslist.com, and has run ads in the Seattle Times and other local publications. He hopes the store will be sold and maintained.

“I would hope they would keep it open,” Wisen said. “It’s been there a long time.”

Wisen says the store has a large customer base but if it does not sell soon, he will have to close it down. “I think they [customers] will be disappointed.”

Floyd says there are many customers who come in “just to chat.”

“They like a place where they can come in and the employees know their names.”

If the store were to sell, Floyd strongly feels it would be updated.

“It will be modernized,” she said. “That is probably a good thing, actually.”

Floyd foresees there being computers involved and maybe some online sales and purchases from and by the store. She also hopes they would implement things such as “book readings, author signings, and childrens’ story times.”

If you’re interested in purchasing this page in Burien’s history, contact Joe Wisen at j.pacrim@yahoo.com or phone him at (206) 246-2725.

The Rotary Club of Des Moines has announced that their Sixth Annual Poverty Bay Wine Festival will be held on Saturday, March 6th, from Noon– 7pm, and Sunday, March 7th from Noon – 5pm at the historic Landmark Event Center (formerly Landmark on the Sound) just down the road in Des Moines.

The opening night gala will be held Friday night, Mar. 5th, beginning at 7:30pm.

This festival is a must for anyone who loves wine, as well as for anyone who wants to support the work of Rotary, which supports schools and families in our community and around the world or anyone who enjoys an afternoon of good food, good wine and great music.

“The wine festival is an opportunity for wine-lovers to come taste samples from 25 Northwest wineries,” said Rotary spokesperson Catherine Carbone-Rogers. “All of the wineries typically offer two, three, or four different wines. Each winery will have wine by the bottle for sale. The festival is also a great opportunity to see the newly-restored Landmark Event Center, a unique architectural gem of the Des Moines community. Many people have driven by for years but have never had the opportunity to see the interior.”

What can participants expect while at the event? Besides the wine tasting from 25 Northwest wineries, there will also be a sampling of food from local restaurants, along with numerous musical guests throughout the festival. Here’s the preliminary lineup:

Friday, March 5 (Gala):

• Steve Ryals Trio
• Ed Taylor and TaylorMade

Saturday, March 6:

• Darren Motamedy Duo
• 4th Degree

Sunday, March 7:

• Rouge
• Billet-Deux

For just $20, participants receive a souvenir wine glass and 10 tokens, a sampling of delicious foods, and live music. What if you run out? Don’t worry, there’ll be tokens for sale at the event.

And for all you non-wine drinkers, Pikes Brewing will also have a booth.

Major sponsors are Anthony’s HomePort, 98.9 KWJZ, Landmark Event Center, Fred Meyers, Powell Brothers Custom Homes, Highline Times/Des Moines News, Kent Reporter and The Waterland Blog and its sister sites.

The opening night Gala will be Friday, March 5th at 7:30pm at the Landmark Event Center. The theme is A Night in the Vineyard. A lavish buffet will be provided by Anthony’s HomePort. Tickets for the gala are $75 in advance, $85 at the door. The ticket price includes food, entertainment, and wine.

Wine Fesival tickets are priced at $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Tickets for the Wine Festival and Gala are available at Corky Cellars, located at 22511 Marine View Drive in Des Moines (206-824-9462); or online at www.dmrotary.org.

Poverty Bay Wine Festival is the major annual fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Des Moines. Lisa Meineke is the club President and Brian Snure is chair of the wine festival.

The main purpose is to raise funds for the charitable projects of the Rotary Club of Des Moines that include:

• Financial and volunteer support of Des Moines Food Bank
• Financial and volunteer support for Fireworks Over Des Moines on the Fourth of July annually
• “Dictionaries by the Dozens”: Rotary provides a new children’s dictionary to every third grade student in Des Moines
• Mini-grants of up to $1000 to schools or teachers in Des Moines for special projects
• College scholarship of $2,500 to a Highline Community College student
• Pacific Middle School essay contest
• Funding for after school program at Pacific Middle school
• Financial support to Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence, a non-profit benefiting Highline Public Schools
• Financial support for a women’s shelter in South Africa
• Purchase of sewing machines for women in Peru so they can generate income

“We hope to have more attendees than ever this year,” Carbone-Rogers added. “Each year, we have taken the wine festival up a notch with the number of wineries, the entertainment, and the food. The gala is classier every year, and the Landmark Event Center is an amazing venue. We also hope that people coming to the event will get interested in Rotary and join us in our work to support community causes and families,” she added.

For more information on the Des Moines Rotary, please click here: http://dmrotary.org/aboutrotary.php.

Burien’s annual “Empty Bowls” fundraiser for the Highline Area Food Bank was a smash hit Friday (Jan. 29th), setting records in both attendance (964 diners) and total amount of money raised (over $13,000).

“We had 477 people attend during lunch and 487 who came out for dinner,” said Mike Werle, Highline Food Bank Executive Director. “The amount of money raised was a little over $13,000.”

Werle added, “There must have been over 40 people who volunteered at the event, many of who were probably not counted because they didn’t come through the front door. Therefore I think we had over 1,000 people who contributed to the dollar total.”

“Do me a favor and put a big plug in for all the work that Gina Kallman and Debra George put in to make this event happen.  They are awesome!”

Here’s a Photo Slideshow shot during the dinner serving by Scott Schaefer:

Click to View Scott Schaefer’s Photo Slideshow

Also, as previously reported, BTB Photographer Michael Brunk took these shots during the lunch hour:

Click to View Michael Brunk’s Photo Slideshow

During the month of February, all students are eligible for reduced ticket prices of just $10 for Burien Little Theatre’s production of Arne Zaslove’s 1950’s Rock ‘n’ Roll version of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

Recently the City of Burien and the Arts Commission awarded Burien Little Theatre a grant, which will be used to reduce student ticket prices during the first three weeks of BLT’s latest show. Students can expect to pay just $10 per ticket on the weekends of Feb. 12-14; Feb.19- 21; and Feb. 26-28 (in March student ticket prices go back up to $17 at the door.)

Last fall, BLT applied for and received a 2010 Arts & Culture grant worth $20,000 from the City of Burien.

From the city’s website:

“The purpose of the City’s Arts and Culture Fund is to support both arts and heritage organizations as well as artists who will enhance cultural opportunities for City residents while also attracting regional artists and audiences that can contribute to Burien’s identity as an arts and culture-oriented City.”

Burien Little Theatre applied for funding for its production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” This musical comedy with a live rock n’ roll band and 22 fun songs from the 50s is blast for the whole family. No student should miss this very accessible version of a classic romantic comedy!

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is set in a 1950s gymnasium at Athens High School on graduation day 1957, and in a neighboring forest. A group of magical fairies intervene and meddle with the lives of two young couples for whom “the course of true love never did run smooth.” Botched love spells, hilarious characters and 1950s rock ‘n’ roll make this show a treat for young and old, those in love and those between love.

Midsummer opens Feb. 12th and runs through March 21st. Shows are Fridays & Saturdays at 8:00pm and Sundays at 2:00pm.

Show Dates & Times:

• February 12 at 8:00 p.m.     Friday
• February 13 at 8:00 p.m.     Saturday
• February 14 at 2:00 p.m.     Sunday Matinee - Seven Dollar Sunday
• February 19 at 8:00 p.m.    Friday
• February 20 at 8:00 p.m.   Saturday
• February 21 at 2:00 p.m.    Sunday Matinee
• February 26 at 8:00 p.m.   Friday
• February 27 at 8:00 p.m.   Saturday
• February 28 at 2:00 p.m.   Sunday Matinee
• March 5 at 8:00 p.m.          Friday
• March 6 at 8:00 p.m.          Saturday
• March 7 at 2:00 p.m.          Sunday Matinee
• March 12 at 8:00 p.m.        Friday
• March 13 at 8:00 p.m.        Saturday
• March 14 at 2:00 p.m.        Sunday Matinee
• March 19 at 8:00 p.m.        Friday
• March 20 at 8:00 p.m.       Saturday
• March 21 at 2:00 p.m.        Sunday Matinee

Email or call for a reservation at tickets@burienlittletheatre.org, or via phone at (206) 242-5180.

For more information about BLT please visit www.burienlittletheatre.com.

BTB Advertiser E.B. Foote Winery wants our Readers to know that this is the final week for Breeder Theater’s “Snowbound,” which ends its run Sunday, Jan. 31st.

The only shows with tickets available are this Wednesday (Jan. 27th) and Thursday (Jan. 28th), so you’d better act fast (you can order online here).

Written by local playwright T.M. Sell and directed by BTB Photographer Michael Brunk, the story is set at a lodge in the Washington mountains (see our Review here and our Non-Review here). As winter snows block the passes stranding the guests, the local sheriff stops by with troubling news about an escaped convict:

• Could one of the guests be the suspected killer?
• Can any of them really be trusted?
• And just how many references to Alfred Hitchcock titles are in the show anyway?

“Snowbound” also features music by Nancy Warren. The stage manager is Andrew Pogue. The cast includes Andrew Smith, Laura Smith, Teresa Widner, Steve Scheide, Kelly Johnson, Scott Green, Martin J. McKenzie and Brenan Grant.

Here’s the schedule:

• Friday Jan. 15
• Saturday Jan. 16
• Sunday Jan. 17
• *Wed. Jan. 20 (benefits Highline College Foundation)
• Friday Jan. 22
• Saturday Jan. 23
• Sunday Jan. 24
• Wed. Jan. 27 – TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE
  
• Thursday Jan. 28 – TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE
• Friday Jan. 29 – SOLD OUT!
• Saturday Jan. 30 – SOLD OUT!
• Sunday Jan. 31 – SOLD OUT!

Tickets are just $20, and include the play, hors d’oeuvres and a wine tasting by E.B. Foote.

You can purchase them at the winery (127-B SW 153rd in Burien; 206-242-3852), at CorkyCellars in Des Moines (206-824-9462) or online here.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• And Now, Our Actual Reviewer Reviews “Snowbound”
• Non-Reviewer Doesn’t Review Breeders Theater’s “Snowbound”
• PHOTOS: Behind-The-Scenes Peak At Breeders Theater’s “Snowbound”
• The Pass May Be Closed, But Tickets Are Now On Sale For Breeders Theater’s “Snowbound”

Burien’s Hi-Liners will be holding auditions for their upcoming production of “High School Musical 2” on Jan. 25th, 29th and 30th, and they’re looking for talent.

And for the first time ever, they’ll be featuring a student band as well.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Auditions for “High School Musical 2” including for a student band

WHEN: Monday Jan. 25 ~ 4-8pm; Friday Jan. 29 ~ 4-6pm; Saturday Jan. 30 ~ 3-7pm

WHERE: Lake Burien Presbyterian Church, located at 15003 14th Ave SW.

INFO:  High School Musical 2 On Stage! synopsis: What time is it? Summer time! School’s out—and the Wildcats  are back for an all new adventure. Join Troy, Gabriella, Sharpay, Ryan and the rest of the East High gang as they dive into the enchanted world of Lava Springs Country Club and put their talent to the ultimate test!

Click HERE to sign up to audition.

Do you play an instrument?  We need Drums, Electric Bass, Guitar, Keyboard, Trumpet, Trombone and Sax for our band!  You’ll receive training from our music director and play for every performance of High School Musical 2!

Sign up for a band audition HERE.

NOTE: All auditioners are asked to be available for Callbacks. If you are not available, please inform the directors at your audition.

COST: Tuition for this production is $350.00, which includes a T-Shirt and DVD of the show. For information regarding payment plans and other forms of financial assistance please contact The Hi-Liners at 206-617-2152.

DATES: Performance dates and times will be:

• Saturday April 24 ~ 7:30pm
• Sunday April 25~ 1:30pm
• Friday April 30~ 7:30pm
• Saturday May 1~ 7:30pm
• Sunday May 2~ 1:30pm

All performances will be held at the Renton Carco Theater, located at 1717 SE Maple Valley Highway in Renton.

Tickets will go on sale in February.

Sign up here: http://www.hi-liners.org/mainstage/audform.html

Just in Time for Valentine’s Day fun, and priced at an affordable $14 (for two!), Burien Little Theatre presents Arne Zaslove’s 1950’s Rock ‘n’ Roll musical romantic comedy “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

Here’s more info from a press release:

This Valentine’s Day do something exciting for your sweetheart and take your honey to a matinee at the Burien Little Theatre for just $14. That’s right, Feb. 14, St. Valentine’s Day, is “Seven Dollar Sunday” at BLT! That means all tickets are just $7 on Feb. 14: Better live theater at a low low price. Add dinner after the show with The Mark Restaurant and Bar’s dinner and a show package, and you have a complete Valentine’s Day event for two for just $54. Valentine’s Day simply can’t get any sweeter. So get out your poodle skirt, find your rotary phone, call up your sweetheart and make a date for Feb. 14th. But hurry, Seven Dollar Sunday is always a sellout and when it falls on St. Valentine’s Day, tickets will be gone before you can eat a box of chocolates.

Directed by Burien Little Theatre’s own Maggie Larrick, this Midsummer will have you singing along with star-crossed lovers during this romantic comedy from Feb. 12 through Mar. 21.

“It’s the most approachable of Shakespeare’s shows,” said Larrick. “And the musical numbers in each scene really tell the story.”

The play is set in a 1950s gymnasium at Athens High School on graduation day 1957, and in a neighboring forest. A group of magical fairies intervene and meddle with the lives of two young copuples for whom “the course of true love never did run smooth.” Botched love spells, hilarious characters and 1950’s rock ‘n’ roll make this show a treat for young and old, those in love and those between love.

Midsummer opens February 12 and runs through March 21. Shows are Fridays & Saturdays at 8:00pm and Sundays at 2:00pm.

Show Dates & Times:

• February 12 at 8:00 p.m.    Friday
• February 13 at 8:00 p.m.    Saturday
• February 14 at 2:00 p.m.    Sunday Matinee - Seven Dollar Sunday
• February 19 at 8:00 p.m.    Friday
• February 20 at 8:00 p.m.   Saturday
• February 21 at 2:00 p.m.    Sunday Matinee
• February 26 at 8:00 p.m.   Friday
• February 27 at 8:00 p.m.   Saturday
• February 28 at 2:00 p.m.   Sunday Matinee
• March 5 at 8:00 p.m.          Friday
• March 6 at 8:00 p.m.          Saturday
• March 7 at 2:00 p.m.          Sunday Matinee
• March 12 at 8:00 p.m.        Friday
• March 13 at 8:00 p.m.        Saturday
• March 14 at 2:00 p.m.        Sunday Matinee
• March 19 at 8:00 p.m.        Friday
• March 20 at 8:00 p.m.       Saturday
• March 21 at 2:00 p.m.        Sunday Matinee

Tickets are available online at www.burienlittletheatre.com, by email at tickets@burienlittletheatre.org or by phone at (206) 242-5180.

For more information about BLT, please visit www.burienlittletheatre.com.

by Theresa Frasch

I emailed the link from The B-Town blog to my friend Pam a few days ago and said, “You are the only one I know that would do this with me. Want to?” After a little cajoling and the promise of boxers, she and her daughter agreed.

We were in the first group to get on the light rail. Everybody was assigned different stops to “de-pant.” We were stop number two. There were two guys sitting in our section looking very nervous. One of them said to the other, “I don’t think I’m going to be able to do this.” I asked which stop they were and he said, “Two.” “Well, so are we – so we’ll all do it at the same time. Remember, when the doors close”

At stop number two we were prepared. Just as the doors were closing and we were preparing to de-pant we heard a lady walking toward us. She was saying, “That is highly inappropriate.” She walked through our car repeating that phrase as we were taking our pants off. Guy number two lost his nerve! He regained it at stop number three with a little help from his new found friends.

All five of us got off at the Beacon Hill stop to mix it up a little and wait for the next train. That was pretty safe – it was underground. Then we got off at Columbia City – out in the real world, but still pretty protected. The ultimate test was the Rainier Beach stop – right in the middle of the street, nowhere to hide, traffic coming from both directions.

The train was rolling to a stop. We girls said we were going to do it. The guys said they weren’t. I told them they’d regret it if they didn’t. “Next year,” they said. The doors opened. “Come on,” I said. They protested. Finally I grabbed one and just pulled him out the door with us and the other one followed. We had so much fun watching the passersby faces! When we got back on for our final destination our new friends thanked us for “making” them go with us.

Thanks to Emerald City Improv for giving us such a good laugh and a chance to have some fun.

Here’s a Photo Slideshow of Sunday’s “No Pants!” pics, taken by various Flickr Photogs:

Click to View Photo Slideshow

Here’s a video from today’s “No Pants!” Subway ride in NYC:

Read our other coverage here.

Story & Photos by Michael Brunk

Coming soon to Advertiser E.B. Foote Winery is Breeder Theater’s latest production: “Snowbound,” which opens Friday, Jan. 15th

Written by local playwright T.M. Sell, the story is set at a lodge in the Washington mountains. As winter snows block the passes stranding the guests, the local sheriff stops by with troubling news about an escaped convict:

• Could one of the guests be the suspected killer?
• Can any of them really be trusted?
• And just how many references to Alfred Hitchcock titles are in the show anyway?

The cast and crew have been hard at work since the end of November preparing the show for its debut on January 15th. The process includes extensive scene rehearsals as actors work with the director and stage manager to refine their movements on stage, their characterization and the all-import line memorization. In collaboration with the author, the script is also put through a final scrubbing as it is finalized for the show. The schedule for “Snowbound” was especially challenging logistically with interruptions for the Christmas and New Year holidays.

All of the hard work will soon pay off as the production concludes the final technical rehearsals this coming week and is finally performed in front of a live audience. This is the part that makes the effort worthwhile, as the audience feedback lets the cast know how well they’ve done their job.

“Snowbound” is directed by The B-Town Blog’s own Michael Brunk with music by Nancy Warren. The stage manager is Andrew Pogue. The cast includes Andrew Smith, Laura Smith, Teresa Widner, Steve Scheide, Kelly Johnson, Scott Green, Martin J. McKenzie and Brenan Grant.

The show will open on January 15th and run through January 31st with twelve performances. Show times are 7pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 2pm on Sundays. In addition there are 7pm performances on the 20th, 27th and 28th.

Here’s the schedule:

• Friday Jan. 15
• Saturday Jan. 16
• Sunday Jan. 17
• *Wed. Jan. 20 (benefits Highline College Foundation)
• Friday Jan. 22
• Saturday Jan. 23
• Sunday Jan. 24
• Wed. Jan. 27
• Thursday Jan. 28
• Friday Jan. 29
• Saturday Jan. 30
• Sunday Jan. 31

*Jan. 20 show benefits Highline College Foundation

Tickets are just $20, and include the play, hors d’oeuvres and a wine tasting by E.B. Foote. You can purchase them at the winery (206-242-3582) and also at Corky Cellars in Des Moines (206-824-9462).

For more information please visit www.breederstheater.com.

For more info on E.B. Foote Winery, their website is here.

And of course, since “Snowbound” is Directed by Photographer Michael Brunk, you know we just have to include his Photo Slideshow:

Click to View Michael Brunk’s Photo Slideshow

Burien’s annual “Empty Bowls” fundraiser for the Highline Area Food Bank is coming to Moshier Community Art Center Friday, Jan. 29th, with both a lunch and dinner serving, along with one-of-a-kind original bowls handcrafted by area Potters.

This is always a great, fun and fulfilling event involving great food, art and fundraising for Burien’s hungry, and you can bet The B-Town Blog will be there.

Here are the details:

WHAT: “Empty Bowls” fundraiser for the Highline Area Food Bank

WHEN: Friday, Jan. 29th:

• 11am – 2pm: Lunch
• 4pm – 8pm: Dinner

WHERE: Moshier Community Art Center, located at 430 South 156th, Burien

COST: Just $10 donation, which will get you both a good solid meal AND a work of art in the form of a beautiful handmade bowl!

INFO: From their flier:

JOIN US FOR A MEAL AND HELP FIGHT HUNGER IN OUR COMMUNITY!

Friday, January 29, 2010

Lunch served 11:00 AM-2:00 PM

Dinner served 4:00-8:00 PM

Moshier Community Art Center, 430 S 156th, Burien

$10 (minimum) Donation

Proceeds to benefit Highline Food Bank

Moshier Community Art Center Potters have teamed up with the Highline Food Bank and Discover Burien to bring you Empty Bowls 2010. Empty Bowls events can be found around the country raising money to combat hunger in our communities. Potters have donated bowls to be filled with soup at this fun event…all are invited!

Your $10 (minimum) donation will get you the opportunity to pick out a beautiful handmade bowl, as well as a simple but wonderful meal of soup, bread, dessert and drink; all donated by local businesses. 90% of proceeds go to the Highline Food Bank, which serves over 750 area families per month, and 10% will go to provide art programming for low income youth.

www.MoshierArtCenter.org or phone: (206) 988-3700

Here’s a video we shot at least year’s event, where over 800 participants helped raise over $10,000 (let’s break that record this year!):

Well, 2009 was a year wasn’t it? And now that it’s over, it’s time for us to find another way to reflect on it – this time courtesy Photographer Michael Brunk, who put together a special SoundSlideshow of what he considers the best B-Town Blog photos of the year, as shot by himself, Scott Schaefer, Francis Zera, Maureen Hoffmann, Janet Grella and Gregory Rehmke:

Click to Play Michael Brunk’s SoundSlideshow

The grand finale of 2009 as well as to the first decade of the 21st century is this Thursday night, Dec. 31st, and here’s just a taste of what’s going on in the general Burien area for New Year’s Eve 2010.

First off, keep in mind that law enforcement in King County will be out in full-force, conducting their “X-52″ DUI patrols around the area, so get a designated driver, walk, ride your bike or take a cab if you’re going out.

Secondly, we recommend calling your establishment of choice prior to just showing up, just to make sure that they’re open and that everything’s hunky dory.

And if we haven’t listed something else you know of, please email us so we can add it to our list!

BURIEN:

Bistro Baffi Italian Cuisine (BTB Advertiser), 15217 21st Ave SW Burien; (206) 244-0737
Six-course New Year’s Eve Dinner for $100 per person, with two seatings on Thursday, Dec. 3st: 5pm-7:30pm or 7:30pm-closing.

Collier’s/The House Restaurant (BTB Advertiser), 643 SW 152nd Street, Burien; (206) 420-3338
New Year’s Eve Dinner/Party; music begins at 9pm; serving 4-course Prix Fixe dinner until 9pm, then it’s time to bring in the NEW YEAR! During dinner they will host music by Jim Locklear, then at 9pm Jim will be joined by chef Will Collier and his former bandmate, Allan Tegelburg. House Specials on tapas and wine! “If you plan to join us for dinner, reservations are strongly recommended.”

Mick Kellys Irish Pub, 435 SW 152nd Street;
 (206) 246-2473
DJ Ken@ 10pm, champagne toast at midnight, No cover.

The Mark Restaurant, 918 SW 152nd Street, Olde Burien; (206) 241-6275
New Year’s Eve Murder Mystery Party – this event will be fun for everyone…for the shy or the outgoing. Join us as we navigate you through “Murder at the Four Deuces” with gangsters, hit men, politicians, entertainers, molls and many other interesting guests in attendance. THIS IS A TOTALY NEW MYSTERY FROM LAST YEARS. Price is $45 per person and includes Dinner, Toast at Midnight, Party Favors and of course…murder! You must register ahead of time and receive your character packet!

Elmer’s Pub, 15027 Ambaum Blvd SW Burien; (206) 439-1007
Live band Grey Sky Falling, champagne toast at midi and music until 1:30am.

The Tin Room, 923 SW 152nd Street
, Olde Burien; 
(206) 242-8040
No cover, Dinner Specials, Champagne toast at midnight.

Side Street Kitchen & Bar, 717 SW 148th St (206) 402-5428
No cover, will be open until at least midnight.

DES MOINES:

NEW – “SALTY PAGAN” BLUE MOON RITUAL TONIGHT!
Possibly the most interesting NYE festivity will be a “Blue Moon Ritual,” followed by New Year’s Eve Party from 7pm on at the Saltwater Unitarian-Universalist Church (25701 14th Place So., Des Moines); will include food, dancing and merriment. Participants are invited to bring “1. An idea of what you would like to be rid of and an idea of what goals you have for the coming year. 2. A white candle or a white flower or something silver. 3. CD (If you would like to hear your own music played), as well as potluck finger food (items such as sandwich, vegetable, cheese, fruit, or pickle trays, beverage or other snack item). Dress from casual to fancy and everything in between, and childcare is available for this event.

Butler Bar & Grill, 22341 Marine View Drive South
, Des Moines; (206) 429-3709
$5 cover, “Cory Wild’s Band” is playing starting around 9pm; Champange toast at midnight, $1 shots, door prizes, and a raffle for $250 Butler’s gift certificate.

Mandarin Kitchen, 22612 7th Avenue South
, Des Moines; 
(206) 878-8511
Karaoke, drink specials and great food.

Lighthouse Bar, 22239 Marine View Drive South
, Des Moines; (206) 824-4920
$10 prime rib $5 shots – Washington Apple’s Apples, Crown Royal, Jägermeister, Jose Cuervo tequila, Smirnoff vodka, Captain Morgan & $5 long island iced teas. 10pm on complimentary late night snacks, not to mention pool and comfy couches.

BTB Reader Phillip Levine reports that a very unique sculpture was stolen from his yard recently, and he sent us this info and photo in case any other readers have seen it:

Bronze sculpture by Tom Jay, measuring 80″ high x 9″ in diameter.

Taken from my home the other day, which is located near Arbor Lake and the old Puget Sound Jr. High (aka Puget Sound Park).

Here’s a pic of it – have you seen this?:

If you know the whereabouts of this distinctive-yet-missing sculpture, please email Phillip Levine ASAP at:

levinepr@comcast.net

Story by Scott Schaefer
Photos by Michael Brunk

On Thursday (Dec. 17th), “The Passage,” the large, two-piece Mother/Daughter sculpture by Dan Das Mann that anchored Burien’s Interim Art Space, was de-installed, hoisted by crane, lowered and secured on a flatbed truck in preparation to be carted away, en route back to its “home” in California after spending a year as the centerpiece to an innovated and sometimes controversial experiment in community art.

Co-Curators Dane Johnson and Kathy Justin were there, along with volunteers and hired workers who, over the course of the last two weeks, have removed all pieces from B/ IAS, the one-year art project in a space on SW 150th that once housed Bartells Drugs and its parking lot.

Now devoid of all art, the place will return to its empty parking lot-like self, the chunks of asphalt no longer representing anyone’s artistic vision, but rather an uncertain future for this lot. There will be no more controversial “naked lady statue” (“Paradigm Shift” by Mike McGrath), no more worries by the Fire Department about the use of fire as “art,” no more loud dance music blasting out of speakers, no more smashing pumpkins, and no more “art” here.

Will it house a new cinema? Another section of Town Square? A park of some sort?

Or perhaps…another, new art installation?

Only time will tell, and we here at The B-Town Blog would like to tip our collective hats to all the artists, volunteers, workers, students, community activists, city officials, gardeners, developers, visitors and observers who were all brought together by this idea, and who shared numerous joyous, fun events over the last year.

It seems like it was just yesterday that Photographer Francis Zera captured this time-lapse of the installation of “The Passage”:

Yet here we are repeating that scene, only in reverse – Photographer Michael Brunk stopped by over the last two days and documented the “de-installations” with this Photo Slideshow:

Click to View Michael Brunk’s Photo Slideshow

Also, as our salute to the ending of B/ IAS and the exiting of “The Passage,” we present an encore of our artist Danielle Burton’s vision of this sad ending:

And because we enjoyed covering the arts and events at this place, here are other Photo Slideshows and Videos we’ve posted about B/ IAS:

Click to View Michael Brunk’s Photo Slideshow

Click to View Scott Schaefer’s Photo Slideshow

Click to Play Michael Brunk’s SoundSlideshow

Click to View Scott Schaefer’s Photo Slideshow

On April Fool's Day, we showed off how much we suck at Photoshop with this lame doctored image of "vandalism" to The Passage. Everyone of course was fooled.

Read our previous coverage of B/ IAS here.

We’re proud of our latest Intern, Bryan Charles of Big Picture High School, who’s not only learning new things about storytelling, but has been teaching himself Flash and making numerous animations, all based around his original “3 Frog Bros” cartoon.

Here’s his latest creation, “3 Frog Bros Episode 5” in which the Frog Bros have a close encounter of the strange, and oftentimes funny, kind (keep in mind that he drew and animated this entire thing himself, with the only help coming from friends doing voices):

Have a cartoon idea for Bryan? Email him here!