May 27 - Cascadia Weekly
Transcription
May 27 - Cascadia Weekly
Smoldering Man, 3.ɀɆ * Fuzz Buzz, 3.ɁɁ * Free Will Astrology, 3.Ƀɀ c a s c a d i a REPORTING FROM THE HEART OF CASCADIA WHATCOM SKAGIT ISLAND COUNTIES *{05.20.15}{#20}{V.10}{ * FREE} SKITO SEA LESS SNOW, MORE ACTIVISM, P.08 AUDIENCE THROWBACK THURSDAYS Kicking it at Maritime Heritage Park, P.14 APPROVED Best of Brass Monkey, P.16 BEERS & BRATS Get your grill on, P.34 Public Library Susan Stark Christianson: 2pm, Ferndale Library FOOD 34 c a s c a d i a ThisWeek B-BOARD 27 A glance at this week’s happenings MUSIC 20 FILM 24 WEDNESDAY [05.20.15] WORDS Karen Myers Barker will share photographs of the island she calls home as one of more than 40 artists taking part in the semiannual Ski to Sea Book Sale: 10am-6pm, Bellingham Public Library David Gessner: 7pm, Village Books GET OUT Group Run: 6pm, Skagit Running Company 2 Sedro-Woolley Farmers Market: 3-7pm, Hammer Heritage Park THURSDAY [05.21.15] ONSTAGE What-A-Sho!: 7pm, Bellingham High School Marina: 7:30pm, Mount Baker Theatre Best of Brass Monkey: 7:30pm, iDiOM Theater Man and Superman: 7:30pm, Lincoln Theatre, Mount Vernon Good, Bad, Ugly: 8pm, Upfront Theatre The Project: 10pm, Upfront Theatre Folk Dance: 7:15-10pm, Fairhaven Library MUSIC ONSTAGE Ski to Sea Variety Show: 12pm, Cirque Lab Little Shop of Horrors: 2pm, Bellingham Arts Academy for Youth Laughing at the Stars: 8:30pm, Star Club MUSIC Northwest Folklife Festival: 11am-10pm, Seattle Center COMMUNITY Historic Fairhaven Festival: 12-7pm, throughout the historic district GET OUT Ski to Sea Race: 7:45am-5pm, from Mt. Baker to Bellingham Bay Rabbit Ride: 8am, Fairhaven Bike Audubon Bird Tour: 2pm, Whatcom Museum WORDS Ski to Sea Book Sale: 10am-6pm, Bellingham Public Library Chuckanut Radio Hour: 7pm, Heiner Theater, WCC VISUAL ARTS Art by the Airport: 10am-5pm, Hampton Inn’s Fox Hall Seconds Sale: 10am-5pm, Good Earth Pottery Artists’ Studio Tour: 10am-6pm, throughout Lummi Island FOOD Spaghetti Sauce Taste-Off: 4:30-7:30pm, Maple Hall, La Conner FRIDAY [05.22.15] MONDAY [05.25.15] ONSTAGE DANCE Friday Night Dance Party: 7:30-10pm, Bellingham Dance Company Pancake Breakfast: 8-11m, American Legion, Ferndale Blossom Time Breakfast: 8am-12pm, Bellingham Senior Activity Center Mount Vernon Farmers Market: 9am-2pm, Waterfront Plaza Anacortes Farmers Market: 9am-2pm, Depot Arts Center Community Meal: 10am-12pm, United Church of Ferndale Bellingham Farmers Market: 10am-3pm, Depot Market Square SUNDAY [05.24.15] Tanya Hladik and Friends: 6-8pm, Community Food Co-op Night Beat: 7:30pm, First Congregational Church What-A-Sho!: 7pm, Bellingham High School Marina: 7:30pm, Mount Baker Theatre Little Shop of Horrors: 7pm, Bellingham Arts Academy for Youth Best of Brass Monkey: 7:30pm, iDiOM Theater Blender: 8pm and 10pm, Upfront Theatre Inflammable Circus: 8:30pm, Cirque Lab Broken Holmes: 9:30pm, iDiOM Theater FOOD Art by the Airport: 10am-5pm, Hampton Inn’s Fox Hall Artists’ Studio Tour: 10am-6pm, throughout Lummi Island May 23-24 throughout the lovely land mass DANCE Blossom Time Parade: 12pm, downtown Bellingham VISUAL ARTS Lummi Island Artists’ Studio Tour happening ONSTAGE Guffawingham: 9:30pm, Green Frog PHOTO BY THADDEUS HINK, THINK STUDIOS CASCADIA WEEKLY #20.10 05.20.15 DO DO IT IT 22 MAIL 4 VIEWS 6 CURRENTS 8 WORDS 12 GET OUT 14 STAGE 16 ART 18 FOOD COMMUNITY MUSIC Northwest Folklife Festival: 11am-9pm, Seattle Center Della Moustachella hosts the fire-focused Inflammable Circus happening May 22-24 at the Bellingham Circus Guild’s Cirque Lab WORDS Open Mic: 7pm, Village Books FOOD Memorial Day Barbecue: 12-5pm, BelleWood Acres Camp Cooking Basics: 6pm, REI VISUAL ARTS Arts Academy for Youth Marina: 7:30pm, Mount Baker Theatre Broken Holmes: 7:30pm, iDiOM Theater Inflammable Circus: 8:30pm, Cirque Lab Blender: 8pm and 10pm, Upfront Theatre Art by the Airport: 2-8pm, Hampton Inn’s Fox Hall MUSIC University Choir: 7pm, Performing Arts Center Concert Hall, WWU Northwest Folklife Festival: 11am-10pm, Seattle Center GET OUT MUSIC GET OUT Northwest Folklife Festival: 11am-10pm, Seattle Center George Cables: 7:30pm Byrnes Performing Arts Center, Arlington Wild Things: 9:30-11am, Cornwall Park WORDS Ski to Sea Book Sale: 10am-6pm, Bellingham Library SATURDAY [05.23.15] COMMUNITY ONSTAGE WORDS Ski to Sea Block Party: 5-9pm, Boundary Bay Brewery Little Shop of Horrors: 2pm and 7pm, Bellingham Ski to Sea Book Sale: 10am-1pm, Bellingham TUESDAY [05.26.15] MUSIC All-Paces Run: 6pm, Fairhaven Runners Andean Mountain Hummingbird Project: 7pm, Whatcom Museum’s Old City Hall FOOD 34 DONT MISS UFC 187 MAY 23 - AT 7PM IN THE 10 SPORTS BAR! B-BOARD 27 EXPLORE it all FILM 24 AT SWINOMISH CASINO & LODGE MAINSTAGE MUSIC every thursday in may every friday & saturday Win up to $2500 every hour from 6pm-11pm Complete the phrase & WIN! Must be players club card member. The Pop Offs - May 22 & 23 EXPLORE our Rewards! CASCADIA WEEKLY The Hitmen - May 29 & 30 #20.10 05.20.15 DO IT 2 MAIL 4 SWINOMISH PAYDAY VIEWS 6 Enjoy spectacular views with our outdoor patio seating. Make a reservation today (360) 588-3525 CURRENTS 8 WORDS 12 GET OUT 14 STAGE 16 ART 18 MUSIC 20 13MOONS PATIO 3 SwinomishCasinoandLodge.com 1.888.288.8883 *Management reserves all rights THISWEEK FOOD 34 WORDS 12 GET OUT 14 STAGE 16 ART 18 MUSIC 20 FILM 24 B-BOARD 27 Editor & Publisher: Tim Johnson ext 260 { editor@ cascadiaweekly.com All good things must come to an end. That theory was proven this week when blues great B.B. King passed away at age 89 after a lifetime spent making memorable music for the masses. And, although he’s not dead, when David Letterman takes the stage for his final Late Show appearance May 20, an important piece of television history will come to a close after a 35-year run. CURRENTS 8 VIEWS 6 MAIL 4 #20.10 L E T T E RS STA F F Music & Film Editor: Carey Ross ext 203 {music@ cascadiaweekly.com VIEWS & NEWS 4: Mailbag 6: Gristle and rhodes 8: A weekend of action 10: Last week’s news 11: Police Blotter, Index ARTS & LIFE 12: troubled waters 14: Throwback thursdays 16: Short and sweet 18: Artistic meditations 22: Clubs 24: Hints of Hardy 26: Film Shorts REAR END 27: Bulletin Board 28: Wellness 29: Crossword Art Director: Jesse Kinsman {jesse@ kinsmancreative.com Graphic Artist: Roman Komarov {roman@ cascadiaweekly.com Send all advertising materials to [email protected] Advertising Account Executive: Scott Pelton 360-647-8200 x 202 { spelton@ cascadiaweekly.com Distribution Distribution Manager: Scott Pelton 360-647-8200 x 202 { spelton@ cascadiaweekly.com Whatcom: Erik Burge, Stephanie Simms, Robin Corsberg Skagit: Linda Brown, Barb Murdoch Letters Send letters to letters@ cascadiaweekly.com 31: Advice Goddess Smoldering Man, 3.ɀɆ * Fuzz Buzz, 3.ɁɁ * Free Will Astrology, 3.Ƀɀ c a s c a d i a REPORTING FROM THE HEART OF CASCADIA 32: Comix 33: Slowpoke, Sudoku 34: get your grill on WHATCOM * SKAGIT* ISLAND COUNTIES {05.20.15}{#20}{V.10}{FREE} SK SKITOSEA KITO AUDIENCE Kicking it at Maritime Heritage Park, P.14 ©2015 CASCADIA WEEKLY (ISSN 1931-3292) is published each Wednesday by Cascadia Newspaper Company LLC. Direct all correspondence to: Cascadia Weekly PO Box 2833 Bellingham WA 98227-2833 | Phone/Fax: 360.647.8200 [email protected] Though Cascadia Weekly is distributed free, please take just one copy. Cascadia Weekly may be distributed only by authorized distributors. Any person removing papers in bulk from our distribution points risks prosecution SUBMISSIONS: Cascadia Weekly welcomes freelance submissions. Send material to either the News Editor or A&E Editor. Manuscripts will be returned if you include a stamped, self-addressed envelope. To be considered for calendar listings, notice of events must be received in writing no later than noon Wednesday the week prior to publication. Photographs should be clearly labeled and will be returned if accompanied by stamped, self-addressed envelope. LETTERS POLICY: Cascadia Weekly reserves the right to edit letters for length and content. When apprised of them, we correct errors of fact promptly and courteously. In the interests of fostering dialog and a community forum, Cascadia Weekly does not publish letters that personally disparage other letter writers. Please keep your letters to fewer than 300 words. NEWSPAPER ADVISORY GROUP: Robert Hall, Seth Murphy, Michael Petryni, David Syre THE CORRECT CORRECTIONS TAX In the recent edition, the Gristle references the county already having a .1 percent sales tax for corrections. I hope that is not in reference to the .1 percent sales tax related to RCW 82.14.460, sales and use tax for chemical dependency or mental health treatment services or therapeutic courts. If the county is using this tax for corrections it is being misspent and the people who fought for this tax should be aware of it. —Kate Clark, Bellingham LESS SNOW, MORE ACTIVISM, P.08 THURSDAYS CASCADIA WEEKLY TOC Arts & Entertainment Editor: Amy Kepferle ext 204 {calendar@ cascadiaweekly.com THROWBACK 4 mail Production 30: Free Will Astrology DO IT 2 Cascadia Weekly: 360.647.8200 Editorial 20: Sounds like Ski to Sea 05.20.15 Contact APPROVED Best of Brass Monkey, P.16 BEERS & BRATS Get your grill on, P.34 COVER: Courtesy of Whatcom Events Editor’s Reply: This is a good question for clarification. Washington State provides for a variety of small sales taxes local governments may employ for special purposes. Some instruments may be enacted through legislation, others require approval by voters. In 2009, Whatcom County joined most other counties in Western Washington by enacting a .1 percent sales tax by council action to enhance programs and services to address mental illness and chemical addiction. In 2006, voters approved a .1 percent sales tax to bolster and continue countywide emergency medical service (EMS) by a staggering margin—nearly 70 percent in favor of the proposal. Under the requirements of the enacting ordinance, a portion of the EMS tax also goes to support law enforcement services. In 2004, voters approved a .1 percent sales tax for jail facilities and operations. State law provides this sales tax of up to .3 percent, subject to voter approval, to support criminal justice programs, including relief of congested court systems and overcrowded correctional facilities. It is this latter sales tax for public safety and corrections that the county proposes to fully tap through voter approval to fund a new jail. THE FAITH IN ‘GOOD FAITH’ As a member of the Catholic Church and living in Bellingham for the last 38 years, my faith has guided me in issues that I stand for. Catholic social teaching states that workers have the right to organize labor unions, bargain with management and—indeed—call strikes when management does not act in good faith. I was shocked today to hear that, not only has the hospital refused to negotiate in good faith, but that St. Joseph Hospital, a Catholic institution, has locked out caregivers who have tried for more than a year to negotiate a new contract for fair wages. A friend shared with me that many of the caregivers are paid $11.44 an hour (a rate that has not changed in more than three years) with the prospect of small raises over time to a maximum of slightly over $15 after 22 years. As a Catholic, I find this shameful treatment coming from a Catholic institution, compounded further by the fact that St. Joseph Hospital workers are the worst compensated in the state, according to the caregivers’ union and Jobs with Justice. Time will tell, but I believe Dale Zender, —Bill Walker, Maple Falls HIDDEN HEROES Who are these people who run to break up fights, rescue people from suicide attempts, bandage the wounded, and comfort the mentally ill? They are our police officers, sheriff deputies, firefighters, paramedics, doctors and nurses who keep the peace, save lives and restore people to health. There is a group of men and women hidden from view who perform the same actions around the clock every day of the year, yet most of us have never heard of or seen them. These are the professionals who work in our Whatcom Mexican and Latin American dishes, signature cocktails and more than 75 brands of tequila. e in n our ou diverse selection sele ecti ction including i Indulge fresh soups, salads, seafood, pasta, dishes grilled to order and specialty items from the chef carving station. Specialty coffees, breakfast pastries and desserts. SATURDAY, TURDAY MAY 16TH • 6PM Tickets kets Only $2 20 Sandwiches, handmade calzones and FOOD 34 Cocktails, hot appetizers, THREE EE SPANISH BANDS, BA ONE AMAZING AZING NIGHT! soups, salads & sandwiches. Woodstone pizzas made from scratch. With 10 mouth watering dining options under one roof you’ll want to make your next destination at the place where, everything can happen! —Ray Baribeau, Associate Chaplain, Whatcom County Jail Send us your letters But keep ‘em short (300 words or less). Send to [email protected] or mail to P.O. Box 2833, Bellingham, WA 98229 B-BOARD 27 VIEWS 6 Kick back, relax and enjoy your favorite drink. Contemporary cuisine from the Far East. CURRENTS 8 WORDS 12 A truly outstanding dining experience. Serving a variety of delicious cuisine from a diverse menu. MAIL 4 Enjoy oy appetizers appeti app etizer zerss from from The The Steak Steakk House, Stea Hous Hous o e a wide selection of cigars, full bar service with comfortable seating, big-screen TVs and a custom humidor. GET OUT 14 STAGE 16 ART 18 MUSIC 20 The multiple award-winning Steak House with an extensive wine list. FILM 24 CAN HAPPEN DO IT 2 I have a disease. It’s called Multiple Sclerosis, which is a neurodegenerative disorder that is slowly and silently destroying my central nervous system. However, if you were to meet me and didn’t know about my MS, you would have absolutely no idea of my incurable condition by just looking at me. This is eerily similar to what is happening at an ever-increasing rate to our oceans through acidification from the burning of carbon based fossil fuels like coal, oil, and to a lesser extent, natural gas. It seems almost inconceivable that there are still people who want to try and convince others that we as humans are having absolutely no effect on our warming oceans and unpredictable weather patterns. They continue to argue that because there are no obvious and easily noticeable changes on our oceans surfaces that must mean that we, as humans, are not to blame and this is nothing more than a cyclical pattern. I certainly wish that it was that easy for me to make my MS symptoms just vanish by considering them nothing more than a figment of my imagination. Fortunately, science has MRIs that show the hidden deep brain lesions that are a direct cause for my symptoms, much like we have instruments that can detect significant increases in CO2 at the deepest levels of the ocean where our planet deposits such atmospheric waste. Here in Whatcom County we have a choice where we can take a stand against further CO2 being pumped into the atmosphere and the rise in acidification of our oceans, which is a direct result thereof, by opposing the coal port at Cherry Point. China, like the rest of the world, can redirect their future energy investments into sustainable nonpolluting infrastructure. And let our oceans try and stabilize before it’s too late, if it isn’t already? 05.20.15 THE DEGENERATIVE DISEASE OF FOSSIL FUELS SATISFACTION #20.10 —Nancy Orlowski, Bellingham County Jail. They are the nurses of the medical team, the corrections deputies and leaders, and the three mental health and chemical dependency counselors. They provide much-needed care to often-uncooperative people in a dreary and unsafe environment. Corrections deputies break up fights and respond to life-threatening situations. They do everything they can to prevent suicides, but sometimes do not succeed. Their ability to do the stressful things they are tasked with while maintaining high morale and a cheerful demeanor is amazing. They show a level of teamwork and camaraderie that would do a Navy SEAL team proud. The number of inmates who need medications and/or medical care on any day would astound you. Nurses on the medical team perform many of the duties one would see in a hospital, while frequently enduring abuse from angry inmates. They work with the compassion of their profession in cramped, inadequate areas. Yet these smiling men and women show up every shift to provide the best care possible. Because of the overall environment of teamwork and cooperation, counselors are often guided to those in need by nurses or deputies. These therapists reach out to inmates to provide mental evaluations and chemical dependency treatment, often dealing with resentful people perhaps not in their right minds. They work day in and day out toward a better outcome for their clients. Police Week and Corrections Week has just passed. Several corrections deputies and two nurses were honored with awards and recognition for saving a man from a suicide attempt. Quick identification by the control deputy and rapid response by the deputy team was crucial. Corrections deputies and nurses rushed in to add their skills before sending the man to hospital for treatment. A life was saved and an integrated group was later recognized. This kind of teamwork and dedication to keeping people safe is standard for these professionals. I have been fortunate to witness many acts of kindness and compassion toward difficult people during the more than 2,000 hours that I have spent as a volunteer in our jail. These people who come to work every day with a positive attitude and superb professionalism are my heroes. CASCADIA WEEKLY PeaceHealth CAO, has it in him to do the right thing. Do not lock them out, negotiate a fair wage! EXPERIENCE EVERYTHING SilverReefCasino.com I-5, Exit 260 | Ferndale, WA | 866.383.0777 EASY TO FIND, HARD TO LEAVE Events subject to change without notice. Must be 21 or over to play. Management reserves all rights. ©2015 Silver Reef Casino 5 views CASCADIA WEEKLY #20.10 05.20.15 DO IT 2 MAIL 4 VIEWS 66 VIEWS CURRENTS 8 WORDS 12 GET OUT 14 STAGE 16 ART 18 MUSIC 20 FILM 24 B-BOARD 27 FOOD 34 THE GRISTLE 6 THE ELECTION THAT WASN’T: For all the fussing and farting about “fair and equitable representation by district” that has consumed the Charter Review Commission this cycle, more attention might be spent encouraging and recruiting excellent people into public office. Filing Week ended for local elections last week, and what a lackluster show it was. Incumbents filed early and vigorously for reelection; challengers trickled in late in a footsore and tuneless, glum parade. A few last-minute applications smacked of quiet desperation. Of 106 county and city offices with candidates filed, 87 have a single candidate. That means only one election in five will have a contested outcome in November. For the City of Bellingham, in particular, there will be no November election, with no challengers at all for any elective office. The reasons for a colorless campaign season are perhaps as numerous as the unchallenged offices themselves. Overarching all, though, there are just a heck of a lot of very minor special purpose districts—fire districts, water districts, school districts, park districts, hospital districts, cemetery districts—with few interested bodies to flesh them out. Flagging interest in higher offices is part of a longemerging trend, across the state and nationally. The number of incumbents running for re-election without challenge in either the primary or general election in Washington continues to increase, from 25.9 percent in 2012 to 34.1 percent in 2014. A third of elections across the state drew no challengers at all. Politics is becoming a game of solitaire. One county race clawed on to the primary ballot this November—a contest for the seat being vacated by Pete Kremen. Three contenders for the seat vacated by Port of Bellingham Commissioner Jim Jorgensen will also tussle in August; and the City of Ferndale continues to bubble with the ferment of democracy. But at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars to run an election (estimated at about 46.7 percent of the Auditor’s total budget for 2015) these paltry primaries are an expensive proposition. Twenty years ago, the 1995 primary featured seven vigorous contests for county, port and COB offices. By 2011, this number had dwindled to just two. In 2013, just one. The situation in Bellingham is particularly grim. With so little on the ballot to interest and engage voters, we might expect to see low turnouts in both August and November. Meanwhile, the Charter Review Commission continues to churn out endless proposed amendments designed to forever curtail Bellingham’s participation in county elections—amendments that without a vote of resistance from Bellingham are likely to pass. At least one of these amendments is designed to lock the door behind them all, requiring supermajorities of future voters to overturn. The essential problem with the commission’s “district only” fixation is Whatcom County’s three voting districts were never drawn to be representative of cohesive communities. They’re an artifact left over from Whatcom’s political structure prior to the adoption of the Home Rule charter in 1978, when the county was governed by three elected commissioners. Bellingham was carved across three districts because, as the county’s population center, it eased (and still does) apportioning roughly equal populations to each district. When the charter was adopted, seven coun- OPI N IONS T H E G R IST L E BY ALAN RHODES Smoldering Man A BELLINGHAM SIGNATURE EVENT was recently approached by a chap named Dave Berens who wanted my help in promoting a signature event for the city. He identified himself as the unofficial, unauthorized non-representative of an anonymous underground breakfast club. That sounded legitimate enough for me, and I liked his idea, so I’m in. Dave’s proposal was inspired by the gigantic Burning Man festival that takes place in the Nevada desert every summer. The event draws tens of thousands and is quite a spectacle. Given that Bellingham is the City of Subdued Excitement, Burning Man is probably too dramatic for us, so we’re putting on Smoldering Man instead. At Burning Man many attendees create art installations on the desert sands. We’ll do this at Smoldering Man as well, using the abandoned GP waterfront site. But unlike Burning Man, where everything is disassembled at the end of the party, we’ll leave our stuff up, figuring that anything we build will be better than any ideas the port officials have come up with for the space. We’ll probably have to schedule this when the port commissioners are away on a retreat, because they aren’t very creative and most likely wouldn’t go along with this. We want music at Smoldering Man, so we’re extending an invitation to Pussy Riot to be the headliner. As far as we know, the ladies are all out of prison by now. Pussy Riot got into big trouble a couple of years ago for belting out a blasphemous song in a Moscow cathedral. Keeping in that cheeky spirit, we I want to feature Pussy Riot singing irreverent ditties atop the Flatiron Building, home of Faithlife. Moderately exciting activities will be going on all around town as part of Smoldering Man. One idea is to have some sort of reenactment, similar to what Ferndale does with its annual Civil War reenactment. We wanted to come up with an equally horrifying and destructive historical event for our purposes, so we thought that recreating the opening day of Bellis Fair Mall would be good. Other local celebrations have inspired us as well. We’ve always liked the annual Welding Rodeo up at Bellingham Technical College, so we’ll have a Smoldering Man welding rodeo. Since Bellingham is such a lefty peacenik town, maybe people could bring guns in, melt them down, and reassemble them as toys, art objects and jewelry. Given Bellingham’s laid-back ambiance, we figure security can be casual at Smoldering Man, so we’ll be hiring middle school students. This will teach the kids responsibility and provide them with an opportunity to use some of the non-violent conflict resolution techniques they learn in school these days. Being middle schoolers, many of our security team members will have curfews, but since this is the City of Subdued Excitement, we’re expecting activities to wrap up by 7:30 or 8pm. VIEWS EXPRESSED ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF CASCADIA WEEKLY Even though this is a Bellingham signature event, we want people from the rest of the county to feel included, so we’ll be reaching out to them. Inspired by the Hands Across the Border celebration that takes place at the Peach Arch border crossing, we’ll be staging Hands Across the City Limits. We hope to get enough people involved so that Bellinghamsters can form a human chain around the entire perimeter of the city. We’ll then reach out to county people who, hopefully, will be waiting on their side of the line to reach out and shake hands. After the handshake, we’ll invite them into town for all the Smoldering Man festivities. We figure most county people will want to take part in the fun. There will be some, however, who won’t want to touch the hand of a Bellinghamster, fearful of contracting a liberal virus that will cause them to turn gay, vote for Democrats, develop a taste for tofu and accept evolution and global warming. The Burning Man festival ends with the ceremonial lighting of Burning Man, a 40-foot effigy built by volunteers. Since Smoldering Man strives for a more restrained approach, we’ll stroll down to Fairhaven and just set fire to some damp rags draped over the statue of Dirty Dan Harris in the Village Green. As the puny flames fizzle out and the partially charred rags dribble to the pavement, we hope to see smiles on the faces of festival attendees, happy Bellinghamsters and Whatcomites who will already be thinking, “Someday when my grandchildren ask me about Smoldering Man, I will look at them and say, “I was there at the beginning.” EVERY FRIDAY & SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MAY! Drawings every hour from 6pm to 11pm. Winners spin the Power Wheel to win cash and prizes up to $250,000! Winners Club Members get a free daily entry! Get a Bonus Entry for every 1000 Rewards Points earned Watch your email for chances for more entries! Entries stay in the barrel all month! FOOD 34 B-BOARD 27 DO IT 2 Every Thursday in May, you can win tickets to see a Mariners game from an exclusive Private Suite!* #20.10 05.20.15 Hourly from 6pm to 9pm, drawing winners will get 2 tickets for the suite. At 10pm, one lucky winner each week will get: tickets for 6 in the private suite, VIP parking, and Northwood “Team” T-shirts and hats for your whole “team”! Winners Club Members get a free entry on the day of each drawing. See Winners Club for details. *Suite Dates: Vs Toronto July 25 & July 26, or Vs Texas August 8 & August 9 877.777.9847 1RUWKZRRG5RDG/\QGHQ:$ www.northwoodcasino.com FILM 24 MAIL 4 WIN MARINERS TICKETS IN A PRIVATE SUITE! MODERN COMFORTS AND OLD FASHIONED HOSPITALITY MUSIC 20 VIEWS 6 CURRENTS 8 HOW TO WIN ART 18 250,000 $ STAGE 16 WIN UP TO GET OUT 14 FUN JUST TWO TURNS OFF THE GUIDE MERIDIAN BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA N GUIDE MERIDIAN RD E BADGER RD LYNDEN NORTHWOOD RD CASCADIA WEEKLY cil positions were grafted on to three divisions that serve more as a bookkeeping function than a description of political allegiances. Zooming out beyond November, elections are an excellent means to challenge ideas and assumptions and to introduce some rigor into policy. Yes, Mayor Kelli Linville is an excellent and capable administrator, and she has a council determined to work with her to achieve city goals. But there’s not a lot of variation of opinion on City Council, and that can lead to groupthink. The one City Council member who consistently pushes back against the assertions of the administration, Jack Weiss, has not sought reelection. He recommended April Barker, president of the Birchwood Neighborhood Association, to replace him; and while that’s a powerful endorsement, she enters office without even a cursory evaluation by voters. This week, Bellingham City Council pushed forward a number of agreements that amount to subsidies on the order of millions of dollars. Council is on the threshold of agreeing to cover half the costs associated with recreational boating on Lake Whatcom for another season while simultaneously investing millions of dollars to protect and restore the reservoir. They approved a dense packet of incentives and tax credits to help spur development in designated urban villages that include Samish Way and the central waterfront. They’re designed to achieve the city’s infill goals and put properties back on the tax rolls, but they don’t arrive without near-term outlay and forgone revenue. Council approved the package without a detailed financial analysis of the costs of the incentives or their efficacy. Later this summer, they’ll consider additions to the city’s urban growth areas (UGAs) that will introduce capital infrastructure costs of nearly $60 million, according to planning estimates. Meanwhile, according to data presented by the city’s Finance department, the city’s carried debt has doubled since 2010, at the bottom of the recession, climbing from $49.3 million to $104 million—or $610 per resident in 2010 to $1,261 per resident in 2014. Much of that increase arrives by way of upgrades to the city’s sewage treatment facility, but its growth against the context of other city expenses and forgone revenue deserves rigorous debate. Unfortunately for the health of our city government, voters won’t get that debate. WORDS 12 GO NORTHWOOD FOR CASINO ! THE GRISTLE 7 N E WS P OL I T ICS F U ZZ BU ZZ I N DE X FOOD 34 MUSIC 20 FILM 24 B-BOARD 27 currents ART 18 , CURRENTS 8 WORDS 12 GET OUT 14 STAGE 16 The idea for the marathon was developed by the Mount Baker Club, a group of conservationminded citizens that were attempting to have the North Cascades area designated as part of the National Park system. VIEWS 6 MAIL 4 DO IT 2 05.20.15 #20.09 CASCADIA WEEKLY 8 of being in the ski business this the least amount of snow I have ever seen.” Pete Coy, race director for more than 40 years, echoes Howat’s alarm, noting, “93 percent of the snowpack is gone. I don’t know if it’s global warming, El Niño, or whatever.” He phrased it right. There is no way to know if the low snow is due to climate change or a fluke in ocean dynamics. As any climatologist will tell you, climate and weather are two different things. The word “weather” describes short-term changes in specific geographic areas. “Climate” is the aggregate of those changes over time around the globe. Weather doesn’t dictate the climate; climate dictates the weather. Weekendof Action NO SNOW WON’T STOP R ACE; IT WILL ACTIVATE IT BY ROB LEWIS M emorial Day is coming again and in these parts that means another chance for the region to show off its marquee civic event: Ski to Sea. Folks are rightly proud. Where else can you start atop a mountain, ski down, crosscountry ski, run, bicycle, canoe and finally trailbike to the sea; then climb in a kayak and paddle in the presence of lush, low-slung islands? It’s called a race, but it’s really more a celebration. In one exuberant relay, Ski to Sea manages to sum up the entire region, top to bottom, reminding all of us just how lucky we are to live here. This year, unfortunately, will be a little different, for there’ll be no “Ski” in Ski to Sea. The snow’s just not there. A frustrated Duncan Howat, general manager of Mount Baker Ski Area, explained in a video message to his customers. “In my 50 years I spoke with Guillaume Mauger, of the Climate Impacts Group at the University of Washington. He said existing data cannot parse how much of the lack of snow is due to climate change and how much to other factors. Rather, he described this ski season as a “dress rehearsal” for what’s to come, saying scientists have “very high confidence that the climate will warm significantly over the coming century,” leading to low-snow events like the one we’re now experiencing. This last winter was 5 degrees Fahrenheit above normal. So it’s a question that keeps facing us: Do we wait for absolute certainty, when it will be too late, or do we act now in the hopes of averting disaster? For local citizens already concerned about the changing climate, it’s a question they can’t ignore. There’s another thing they can’t ignore. It’s called the Arctic Challenger, and it’s moored in Bellingham Bay at the foot of Cornwall Avenue, tucked away behind the Horizon Lines cargo ship. In fact, Ski to Sea kayakers will paddle by it on their way to Fairhaven. The Arctic Challenger is part of a larger fleet, assembled by Royal Dutch Shell, to explore for oil this summer in the Arctic, specifically the Chuckchi Sea. It is a savior Classes July 1 - Aug 21 360.383.3080 whatcom.edu/summer 8PM FRIDAY MAY 29 CASCADIA WEEKLY #20.09 05.20.15 DO IT 2 MAIL 4 VIEWS 6 CURRENTS 8 WORDS 12 GET OUT 14 STAGE 16 WCC is an equal opportunity institution. ART 18 Apply Now! MUSIC 20 FILM 24 B-BOARD 27 Have fun and get ahead at Whatcom. FOOD 34 HIKE. BIKE. SWIM. STUDY. W CC Gr ’s su lin e m e at m Tr clas line er an se -u qu sf s g p ar er o of te ab w cl r le he as off cr re se ers ed y s : its ou go Kicking off the weekend will be a rally and march at 4pm Fri., May 22 at the corner of Magnolia Street and Cornwall Avenue. Saturday, there will be a kayaktivist training on Bellingham Bay, to get ready for Sunday’s flotilla. “This is our last chance to stop arctic drilling,” says Chiara Rose, one of the lead organizers for the group. “We call on all people of courage and conscience to come join us, oppose arctic drilling and show your concern for the climate and the future of Ski to Sea.” It’s a good time to look back at the history of Ski to Sea. It turns out, the whole thing started in 1911 as the Mt. Baker Marathon. According to Ski to Sea organizers, “the idea for the marathon was developed by the Mount Baker club, a group of conservation-minded citizens that were attempting to have the North Cascades area designated as part of the National Park system.” ATTEND I’m sure those early WHAT: Food not conservationists never Drilling rally at imagined that the greatthe corner of est threat to their beCornwall and Magnolia. Food, loved mountains would music, speakers, one day be something kindred spirits as vast and invisible 5pm March as a warming climate. to The Hub. Nor could they imagine Video’s, Music, Speakers that glaciers in the reWHEN:Friday, gion would retreat by as May 22, 4pm much as 30 percent in --------------the coming century, acWHAT: Kayakcording to research data. tavist training But such is the reality we at Zuanich Park. Other trainings now face, whether as orat 3-5 pm Thurs, ganizers, as racers or as May 21 at Zuana community. It’s not a ich Park. comfortable subject, but WHEN: Saturneither is it going away. day, May 23, 10am For whatever reasons, --------------Mother Nature is giving WHAT: Cheer us a glimpse into Ski on the “No to Sea’s future if the Snow-sHell No” climate keeps warming team. After Race up. It might be a good Grand Flotilla to protest the time to remember the Arctic Challenger, conservationist spirit of Zuanich Park Ski to Sea’s origins. Mt. WHEN: Sunday, Baker and the Salish Sea May 24, All day and everything in beMORE INFO: ShellNo Actween have been hugely tion Council, good to us these last Bellingham 100-plus years. Maybe it’s time for us to turn back and ask what we can do in return. “CONTINUE THE LEGACY.” These are the words in boldface across the Home Page of the Ski to Sea website. Amen. That is what we all want; to hand off the baton of snow-blessed Ski to Seas from this generation to the next, and then to the next, and to the next, and the next. On vessel, intended to contain a potential blowout when all other measures have failed. It’s supposed to work by lowering a containment dome over the blowout, vacuuming up the oil, gas and water, separating them on deck, and then burning off the oil and gas by means of a “flare boom” extending off the bow of the vessel. Critics note that when the system was tested using water, a moderate breeze blew the water back at the boat, soaking the deck. What, they ask, can be expected when it’s burning oil and gas blowing back, especially in the fierce winds of the Arctic? They also note that the same containment-dome type of system was tried during the Deepwater Horizon blowout in the Gulf of Mexico and failed. Lastly, they say, sea trials for the containment dome were conducted in relatively calm Puget Sound waters in June; no comparison to the Chuckchi Sea in September. The storms there are mighty, as Shell learned on their first attempt to drill there, when heavy winds and towering seas repeatedly disabled their vessels, eventually washing the main rig ashore, in what would come to be known as the wreck of the Kulluk. The Chuckchi Sea is uniquely rich in arctic life, nurturing whales, polar bears, walruses and five kinds of seals. It is also extremely remote, with the nearest Coast Guard station 1,000 miles away in Dutch Harbor. If a spill or blowout occurred, it would be almost impossible to get help. An oil disaster in the Arctic would all but permanently despoil one of the last pristine places on earth. But there’s an even broader climate concern: We can’t afford to burn the reserves we already have, let alone drill for more. “This is no-win for the region and the planet,” activist Herb Goodwin said. Either things go wrong out there and the Arctic is despoiled, or Shell gets their wells going and starts flooding the market with oil we can’t afford to burn without tipping the climate over the edge.” He notes a recent study in the journal Nature that confirms there is “no climate-friendly scenario in which any oil or gas is drilled in the Arctic.” When talking about the climate, it’s important to keep in mind that it’s not just our climate we’re talking about, but also our children’s climate. The carbon we put in the atmosphere today will destabilize their climate tomorrow. As their guardians, don’t we have a moral responsibility to safeguard the climate they will one day depend on? Local climate activists are answering that question by organizing a Weekend of Action to raise awareness about the climate and oppose Shell’s drilling plans in the Arctic. They have fielded their own Ski to Sea team, and after the race is over, plan a flotilla of “kayaktivists” to protest the Arctic Challenger in Bellingham Bay. 9 The W FILM 24 LAST WEEK’S NEWS MAY13-18 BY TIM JOHNSON CASCADIA WEEKLY #20.09 05.20.15 DO IT 2 MAIL 4 VIEWS 6 CURRENTS 8 WORDS 12 GET OUT 14 STAGE 16 ART 18 MUSIC 20 t k h e e Wa at s B-BOARD 27 FOOD 34 currents ›› last week’s news 10 05.13.15 WEDNESDAY A man is killed by a train in Bellingham. Police say the man was walking home along the tracks, his hearing evidently obstructed by headphones, when he was struck from behind by the train and thrown to the side of the tracks. Jacob Allen Davis, 30, suffered severe head trauma and dies en route to the hospital. It’s the 11th fatality on BNSF tracks this year, according to the Associated Press. Three dairies in Yakima Valley are operating under stricter sanitation standards following resolution of a years-long lawsuit. While the dairies admitted no wrongdoing in the settlement, the agreement will make strides toward cleaning up groundwater pollution and provide immediate relief to those people whose drinking water has been contaminated. The settlement holds clear implications to other dairy-intensive communities struggling with groundwater issues, including Whatcom County. 05.14.15 THURSDAY In a historic gathering, leaders from the Lummi, Lower Elwha, Spokane, Quinault, Yakama, Tulalip, Northern Cheyenne, and Swinomish tribes and the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation of British Columbia, stand together to oppose North America’s largest coal export terminal. The united tribes assert the proposed Gateway Pacific Terminal at Cherry Point would interfere with the Lummi Nation’s fishing rights and demand that federal regulators void the permitting process for the coal pier. “We can no longer allow industry and business to destroy our resources, water and land,” tribal leaders said. “No mitigation can pay for the magnitude of destruction to treaty resources for today and generations from now.” More than 900 caregivers, including nursing assistants, lab techs, housekeeping, dietary, unit secretaries, staged a strike last week in protest of unfair labor practices. PeaceHealth anticipated the protest and locked union members out for three days, replacing them with temp workers. Caregivers say PeaceHealth St. Joseph Hospital and Labs made $50 million in profit last year, and Cascade Behavioral Hospital, part of Acadia Healthcare made $83 million in profit while each refused to heed calls for increased staffing and investment in frontline care. Their union has been negotiating with management for more than 18 months. Lummi Nation plans a series of public meetings to gather community input about the best use of property near Slater Road. The tribe recently received federal approval to put 80 acres into trust land status, an assembly the tribe may consolidate with 84 acres paced into trust status in 2013. ing she was abused by former priest Michael Cody, who was pastor of St. Charles Parish in Burlington and Assumption Parish in Bellingham. In a deposition Cody, now 84, acknowledged having inappropriately touched girls. A psychiatrist in 1962 advised the Archdiocese that Cody had molested at least eight girls. The archbishop sent Cody to treatment but allowed him to return to work. 05.15.15 FRIDAY Gov. Jay Inslee declares a statewide drought emergency. Snowpack is at historic lows, rivers are dwindling and irrigation districts are cutting off water to farmers. State agencies fear early-season and higher-elevation wildfires. Bellingham City Council quarrels and agrees to postpone an interlocal agreement that would subsidize a season of recreational boating on Lake Whatcom in the amount of about $100,000. The money covers about half the cost of inspections for invasive species that could be introduced to the reservoir by boats. A fee paid by boaters covers the remainder of the cost. 05.18.15 MONDAY The Seattle Archdiocese agrees to pay $1.2 million to settle a lawsuit brought by a woman who said she was molested by a priest in the 1960s and ’70s. The Sedro-Woolley resident sued in Whatcom County Superior Court in 2012, alleg- SUBIN CRIMINAL DEFENSE Aggressive, Experienced, Effective Free Consultation Receptionist: (360) 734-6677 Cell: (360) 820-4907 In a divided vote, Bellingham City Council approves a package of incentives and tax credits to help spur development in designated urban villages such as Samish Way and the central waterfront. These could amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxpayer subsidies, which some on council believe deserve more discussion. 99%+ FOSSIL FUEL-FREE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT BellinghamFinancialPlanners.com COLSON FINANCIAL GROUP, INC., REGISTERED INVESTMENT ADVISOR Fee-Only Financial Planning | Fee-Based Investment Management Ronald Scott Colson CFP®, MBA, President (Direct) 303.986.9977 (Toll Free) 800.530.3884 4740 Austin Court Bellingham WA 98229-2659 NUMBERS OF LOCAL CANDIDATES WHO FILED EACH DAY LAST WEEK 70 BLACK AND BLUE CEMENT BALLOONS On May 12, Bellingham Police checked on a report of a man dressed like a clown throwing around a block of cement near Broadway Park. The 47-year-old ran from police and hid in several private yards. He was eventually collared and arrested for trespassing. ALIEN SKIES On May 12, a Mount Vernon resident observed strange lights above the city. “I was going out to my car to put something in the trunk and I happened to look up in the sky,” the witness reported. “What I saw was this bright orange/red light slowly across the sky. I first thought that it was either a plane or a helicopter but then I noticed that there was no engine sound at all. The next thing that I noticed was that there were things dropping from it like sparks that drop from a sparkler. All of a sudden,” the witness reported, “it made a 90-degree left turn toward me and just hovered there. All that time I still did not hear any engine sound at all. After about two minutes, it seemed like, the thing started to go straight up and the light faded and pretty soon I could not see it at all.” Tue B-BOARD 27 10 0 Wed Thurs MUSIC 20 10 25 Fri 141 NUMBER of elected county offices NUMBER of candidates who have filed with candidates who have filed for office in 2015. for office in 2015 GET OUT 14 106 ART 18 Mon 19 STAGE 16 25 FILM 24 20 83 CHANCE in 100 a county office has no challenger and is settled before the election is held. WORDS 12 On May 18, University Police checked on a student who was acting strangely and wearing only a hoody, boxer shorts and dirty socks. 30 $802,049 ELECTION costs in Whatcom County in 2013. $9.55 COST per ballot cast in Whatcom County in 2013, expressed as the cost of each ballot cast in the August and November elections (14,325 and 69,709 respectively). 34.1 PERCENT of state offices in 2014 for which there was no challenger. 57 54 PERCENT of Republican and Republican- PERCENT of Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters who have positive impressions of their party’s candidates. Nearly 77 percent of Democrats and Democratic leaners view Hillary Clinton favorably. leaning registered voters say they have an excellent or good impression of their party’s presidential candidates. Young voters registered higher levels of apprehension about their field of candidates than older voters. CURRENTS 8 On May 8, a Blaine resident spotted two vehicles, one a small tan car and the other a black SUV, cruising through the neighborhood, stopping in turn at each set of rural mailboxes on the street. “The resident spoke with the occupants, who claimed they had been hired to clean out all the newspaper delivery boxes in the area,” police reported. “The resident called the newspaper, who called back about an hour later to confirm the resident’s suspicion that they had not hired anyone to do that. The homeowner called police, as it was possible the people had actually been emptying mailboxes. The suspects had left the area by that time and were not located in town, and all patrols were advised.” 62 VIEWS 6 SCHOLARS WEEK 40 MAIL 4 THE PROFESSIONALS On May 13, University Police checked on a noise disturbance in Red Square on Western Washington University campus. A group of students were mocking a religious supporter in the area, police reported. “Noise found to be at an acceptable level,” police reported. “Subjects reminded to keep noise down.” 50 48 47 PERCENT of Americans who approve PERCENT of Americans who disapprove of President Barack Obama’s job performance, according to a Gallup poll. of President Barack Obama’s job performance, according to Gallup, a statistical dead heat. SOURCES: Whatcom County Auditor; Ballotopedia DO IT 2 On May 13, University Police returned to Red Square to check on religious protestors who were reported photographing other people. On May 7, Anacortes Police responded to a report of a fight. “An officer arrived and spoke with two sisters, one 26-year-old from Anacortes and one 30 year-old from Mount Vernon, who stated that they had been assaulted by the Anacortes woman’s boyfriend,” police reported. “After a few minutes the suspect, a 26-year-old Anacortes man, came outside and held his wrists out stating, ‘go ahead and book me.’ The officer began to handcuff the man for officer safety, but he then struggled, grabbed, and scratched the officer before being secured by the officer and a backup unit that had arrived in the area. Once the subject was secured, officers were able to determine that he had been drinking that afternoon and a verbal argument escalated to the point where the subject struck his girlfriend and shoved her sister when she confronted him about his behavior.” The man was arrested on assault and domestic violence charges as malicious mischief as a result of approximately $500 damage incurred to his girlfriend’s car during the scuffle. 60 05.20.15 On May 8, Blaine churchgoers arrived to discover someone had apparently entered the church during the night. Blaine Police officers were meeting the reporting parties in the church parking lot when their suspicions were confirmed by the male transient who walked out of the sanctuary to join them. “The 29-year-old traveler had entered the church overnight seeking shelter and food and appeared to have other challenges including several arrest warrants, one of them from Blaine Municipal Court,” police reported. “The officers concurred with the church members about the exigent circumstances and did not arrest the man for burglary, and passed on a trepsass warning to visit only when regular church functions are in progress. He was, however, arrested on the warrants and transported to receive food and lodging at the jail.” On May 8, University Police noted two women fighting near the Ridgeway residence complex on campus. One was described as a blonde in a black dress; the other was blonde with a brown streak in her hear wearing a blue sweater. “Been vehemently arguing for over 15 minutes,” police observed. “No weapons.” #20.09 THE CHRISTIAN THING TO DO FOOD 34 On May 15, Belligham Police spoke to a man who had found bones while digging in his flower bed that evening. CASCADIA WEEKLY FUZZ BUZZ index GRAVEYARD SHIFT 11 doit FOOD 34 words B-BOARD 27 COM M U N I T Y L E CT U R E S WED., MAY 20 BOOK CLUB: Bring a book you enjoy, share the title, what you liked about it, and read a brief excerpt at the I-Like-This-One Book Club meeting at 4:15pm at the Everson Library, 104 Kirsch Dr. The discussion will be led by Cynthia Rogers. GET OUT 14 STAGE 16 ART 18 MUSIC 20 FILM 24 WWW.WCLS.ORG WORDS 12 CURRENTS 8 VIEWS 6 MAIL 4 DO IT 2 05.20.15 #20.10 CASCADIA WEEKLY 12 BOOK S WOR DS ERIK LARSON REVIEWED BY CHRISTINE PERKINS Dead Wake A TALE OF TRANSATLANTIC TROUBLES ay the name “Lusitania” and most people can conjure a luxury ocean liner, glamorous passengers and tragedy. An iceberg? No, that’s the Titanic. Disastrous fire? The Hindenburg zeppelin. Torpedo? That’s it! Named for the ancient Roman province that covered most of modern Portugal and part of Spain, the RMS Lusitania was a British ship of the Cunard line. Built in 1906, it was outfitted with sumptuous furnishings, a wireless telegraph and electric lights. Capable of speeds up to 25 knots, the ship was known as a “transatlantic greyhound.” It made 201 successful crossings from New York to Liverpool before its fateful end on May 7, 1915, sunk by a German U-boat off the coast of Ireland. The attack was not without warning. Indeed, the Imperial German Embassy had taken out a full-page ad in 50 American newspapers, informing travelers that “vessels flying the flag of Great Britain or any of her allies, are liable to destruction.” Alas, most of the passengers and crew were too busy preparing for their journey to read the paper, or too quick to assume their ship would be protected by a British convoy once it entered the dangerous waters of the war zone. Captain William Thomas Turner was himself not overly concerned about his ship’s safety. Though he had heard of increased U-boat activity along shipping channels, he may not have received Cunard bulletins advising zig-zag maneuvering in the event of a U-boat sighting. Furthermore, he had confidence the Germans would uphold centuries-old rules of war and not attack civilian vessels. Turner hadn’t counted on Kptlt. Walther Schwieger, captain of the 210-foot S long Unterseeboot-20. Pleasant and well-liked by his crew, Schwieger nevertheless proved to be a ruthless commander, willing and eager to increase his kill record, measured in tonnage without regard for lives lost. While Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania author Erik Larson pays significant attention to major figures such as Turner and Schwieger, he also brings readers into the lives of the passengers—from those in first class to those less fortunate—as well as the Lusitania’s seamen, stewardesses and cooks. Larson sprinkles countless vivid details throughout his narrative—the color and cut of a passenger’s suit, the contents of a valise, the exchange of cabins when a woman complained of noise. It makes one wonder how these bits of inGET IT formation came to light. HOW: Dead Wake Did anyone survive, is available in a and, if so, who? Larson variety of formats: book, large keeps readers in suspense print, audiobook until the final chapters. CD, downloadable He also injects intriguaudiobook and ing questions about the eBook. British Admiralty’s mysMORE: To place a hold on a library terious Room 40, a topcopy, visit www. secret intelligence unit wcls.org or use tracking Germany’s every a mobile device move. How much did they with the Library Now app (available know, and why did they for free download not use the information from your favorite they had to prevent the app store; select Lusitania tragedy? Whatcom County Larson’s strength is Library System identifying compelling if you live in the county or Bellingstories, conducting thorham Public Library ough research and craftif you live within ing dramatic, readable Bellingham city narratives. My favorlimits). ites are In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror and an American Family in Hitler’s Berlin, about the U.S. Ambassador in the lead-up to World War II, and Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America, about a serial killer loose at the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893. Read one (or both) while waiting for Dead Wake to become available at your public library. Christine Perkins is Executive Director of the Whatcom County Library System. She’s a reading omnivore, devouring fiction and nonfiction and discussing books with two local book clubs. ALL THE WILD: Acclaimed nature writer David Gessner reads from All the Wild That Remains: Edward Abbey, Wallace Stegner and the American West at 7pm at Village Books, 1200 11th St. In the book, Gessner takes to the road himself in pursuit of two very different men. WWW.VILLAGEBOOKS.COM MAY 20-23 SK I TO SEA BOOK SALE: The annual Ski to Sea Book Sale takes place from 10am-6pm Wednesday through Friday, and 10am-1pm Saturday, at the Bellingham Public Library, 210 Central Ave. Most items are $1, and, on Saturday, purchases will be $4 a bag. WWW.BELLINGHAMPUBLICLIBRARY.ORG THURS., MAY 21 THE ART IST IC LIFE: Jonica Tod and Paul Hanson of Village Books focus on “The Artistic Life: Obsession in Books” at a brown bag presentation at 12:30pm at Whatcom Museum’s Old City Hall, 121 Prospect St. The duo will present a wide array of books, from novels, to histories, to pictorials, which illustrate and explore what “art” is. Suggested donation is $3. WWW.WHATCOMMUSEUM.ORG PROSE WRIT ING PRIMER: An info session on an upcoming “Prose Writing for All Genres” course at Western Washington University takes place from 5:30-6:30pm at Village Books, 1200 11th St. The sevenweek writing class will be taught by Laura Kalpakian. WWW.WWU.EDU/REALSIMPLE CHUCK ANUT RADIO HOUR: Christopher McDougall, author of Natural Born Heroes: How a Daring Band of Misfits Mastered the Lost Secrets of Strength and Endurance, will be the featured author at the Chuckanut Radio Hour at 7pm at the Heiner Theater at Whatcom Community College, 237 W. Kellogg St. Performance poet Kevin Murphy, Weekly columnist Alan Rhodes, an episode of the “Bellingham Bean” and more will be part of the live taping. Entry is $5. WWW.VILLAGEBOOKS.COM SAT., MAY 23 BTP BOOK SALE: Bellingham Books to Prisoners will host a Book Sale from 10am-3pm at 228 E. Champion St. Most books are $1, and all proceeds from sales go toward postage for shipping packages to prisoners. WWW.BELLINGHAMBTP.ORG WISDOM OF GRANDMOTHERS: Women’s Voices: The Wisdom of the Grandmothers author and filmmaker Susan Stark Christianson shares the book and documentary film of the same name at 2pm at the Ferndale Library, 2125 Main St. The project initially grew out of a desire to find out more about the indigenous prophesy that states there won’t be peace on earth until the voices of the doit FOOD 34 end of life issues and join an interesting discussion circle at the monthly Death Cafe taking place from 6:30-8:30pm at Moles Family Funeral Home, 2465 Lakeway Dr. Entry is by donation. WWW.DEATHCAFE.COM 778-7323 GEOLOGIC T IME: Western Washington University geology professor Don Easterbrook shares ideas from Cruising Through Geologic Time in the San Juan Islands at 7pm at Village Books, 1200 11th St. The book includes geologic descriptions of the geology of all of the islands with more than 400 photos, maps, and laser, sonar and satellite images, cross–indexed so the geology of any specific island can be easily found. WWW.VILLAGEBOOKS.COM WED., MAY 27 HIGH SCHOOL BOOK CLUB: Students in 9th through 12th grade are invited to a High School Book Club meeting at 4pm at the Ferndale Library, 2125 Main St. Books, snacks and prizes will be part of the fun. 305-3600 THURS., MAY 28 MONTEGO’S TALE: Bellingham-based author Jack Shaughnessy reads from Montego’s Tale (about his friendship with a horse) and Puzzle Pieces on the Path (a random collection of personal musings, memories, observations and imaginings) at 7pm at Village Books, 1200 11th St. WWW.VILLAGEBOOKS.COM WWW.BOBWALLIN.COM BLOCK PART Y: All ages are invited to take part in a Ski to Sea Block Party taking place from 5-9pm at Boundary Bay Brewery, 1107 Railroad Ave. The free event will feature music, prizes, commemorative beer glasses, and more. WWW.SKITOSEA.COM SAT., MAY 23 BLOSSOM T IME PARADE: Floats, marching bands, firetrucks and horses can all be expected at the annual Ski to Sea Blossom Time Parade beginning at noon in downtown Bellingham. The route will begin at the corner of Alabama Street and Cornwall Avenue and finish at N. State and York streets. WWW.SKITOSEA.COM B-BOARD 27 FILM 24 MUSIC 20 ART 18 ? R A C W NE Has you Has your our car car kept keptt up wi wit with ith th h your your urr b sy life busy fe? e? ? If n not not, it’ss time e to ssay ay y ‘out ut wi w with itth th he ol old l and nd in with tth the he new!’’ We n We make m itt eas easy asy to u upgr pgra rad de d e to o a vehicle vehic icle that works w wo for f you. o ou SUN., MAY 24 HISTORIC FAIRHAVEN FEST IVAL: Arts and crafts vendors, a beer and wine garden, live music, exhibits from nonprofits, children’s activities, food booths and an opportunity to watch the final leg of the Ski to Sea race will be part of the Historic Fairhaven Festival happening from 12-7pm throughout the historic district. Entry to the block party is, per usual, free and open to all ages. Whatcom Transportation Authority buses will be running throughout the day from downtown Bellingham and the WWU campus. NEW EW W OR O USED US SE E AU UTO O LOAN OA A RA ATE TES S AS A LOW W AS APR A R* WWW.FAIRHAVEN.COM OR WWW.RIDEWTA.COM WED., MAY 20 PLANE TARIUM SHOW: Travel to ancient Egypt to see how science was used to tell time, make a workable calendar, and align huge buildings at a “Stars of the Pharaohs” show at 6pm at Western Washington University’s Spanel Planetarium. Additional public shows happen June 3 and 17. Tickets are $10. WWW.TICKETS.WWU.EDU DEATH CAFE: Bring your perspective, thoughts, insights and questions surrounding WED., MAY 27 WAT ERFRONT FORUM: “A Waterfront for the Community: Towards a Shared Vision for Bellingham’s Waterfront” will be the focus of a forum hosted by the BlueGreen Waterfront Coalition beginning at 5:30pm at Northwood Hall, 3240 Northwest Ave. This forum will bring together diverse voices offering positive visions for the waterfront and encourage public input that will help ensure the redevelopment process leads to a clean, sustainable waterfront and family-sustaining jobs for Bellingham. 676-0099 OR WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/EVENTS CASCADIA WEEKLY COM M U N I T Y STAGE 16 a r o f e m i t is it GET OUT 14 BELLINGHAM READS: Patrica Wood’s Lottery will be the focus at a Bellingham Reads book discussion group meeting at 6:30pm at the Dodson Room at the Bellingham Public Library, 210 Central Ave. New members are always welcome. WORDS 12 TUES., MAY 26 SHREDDING EVENT: Attend a free “Shredding Event” from 12-2pm in the parking lot at Bob Wallin Insurance, 1844 Iron St. Sound Recycling will be on hand to shred whatever documents you need shredded. Please remove all metal binding clips and staples. CURRENTS 8 671-2626 WWW.YWCABELLINGHAM.COM VIEWS 6 OPEN MIC: Local writer and teacher Laurel Leigh helms the monthly Open Mic at 7pm at Village Books, 1200 11th St. Published and unpublished writers are encouraged to attend and enjoy a welcoming audience. Share your writing about memories and history—or any creative work in progress. Sign up in advance at the main counter or by calling the number listed here. MAIL 4 MON., MAY 25 LEADERSHIP BREAKFAST DEADLINE: Today is the deadline to register for the YWCA’s annual “Leadership Breakfast” fundraiser happening at 7am Fri., May 29 at the ballroom at the Best Western Lakeway Inn, 714 Lakeway Dr. A Leg to Stand On author Colleen Haggerty will be the keynote speaker. A minimum $50 donation is requested; funds raised support the YWCA transitional and emergency housing program. DO IT 2 WWW.WCLS.ORG FRI., MAY 22 05.20.15 grandmothers are heard, and shares the stories of grandmothers from Siberia to Patagonia. WWW.GETCOACHEDBELLINGHAM.COM #20.10 On Sun., May 24, Bellingham’s Silk Road Dancers will help kick off the Ski to Sea block party known as the Historic Fairhaven Festival COACHING WEEK: As part of International Coaching Awareness Week, attend a Laser Coaching Salon and Mixer from 4-6:30pm at Poppe’s 360, 714 Lakeway Dr. The free event features 20-minute coaching sessions, no-host cocktails and appetizers. Sign up at the door. 13 *APR = Annual An Perce centage Rate.. Ratess aree based b on an evaluationn of ccredit edit andd are ed ar subje ject to chan ange. ngee. (3 (36 360) 0) 734-2 734-2043 34 Ind ndustria du ustrialCU.org lC FOOD 34 outside RU N N I NG C YCL I NG CASCADIA WEEKLY #20.10 05.20.15 DO IT 2 MAIL 4 VIEWS 6 14 PHOTO BY LINDSAY PAYNE CURRENTS 8 WORDS 12 GET OUT 14 STAGE 16 ART 18 MUSIC 20 FILM 24 B-BOARD 27 H I K I NG BY AMY KEPFERLE Throwback Thursdays KICKBALL AND COMMUNITY AT MARITIME HERITAGE PARK s the Executive Director of the Downtown Bellingham Partnership, Nick Hartrich has a duty to make sure the city’s urban core is both vibrant and inclusive for all. It’s one of the reasons he’s excited about the new “Throwback Thursdays” Urban Kickball League taking place every Thursday at Maritime Heritage Park. We caught up with “NickySix”—Hartrich’s kickball alias—to find out more. Cascadia Weekly: ”Come rain, come shine, return to Maritime” is the tagline of the Throwback Thursdays urban kickball events. Why does the Downtown Bellingham Partnership think it is important to kickstart renewed activity at Maritime Heritage Park? Nick Hartrich: Maritime is our primary urban public park and belongs to everyone in this city, and that includes families. The Partnership has a goal to promote a thriving downtown, and we can’t do that unless we have all people engaged in our work. Throwback Thursdays is an urban experiment to see if a little bit of creative hustle will bring families to Maritime. It’s working. CW: There’s a large homeless population that is present at the park on a regular basis. Do you think that keeps people away? NH: I’m not a specialist in homeless behavior or the larger economic disparity that is at the root of this question, though when I took the executive director position at the Partnership I made it my goal to visit Maritime once a week. Today, my goal is twice a week, and that has taught me some interesting things about people and the park. I’m trying to make a difference by inviting new people to the park, aiming to lessen the divide and help reach a wider demographic for park use and people A understanding. The best way to do that is experiment with ideas like Throwback Thursdays. After our first game, I overheard two mothers (with kids) say to each other, “This park is absolutely beautiful, and yet we have never been here.” We’re starting something. CW: How are events such as the Urban Kickball League tackling the unification of both factors of the Bellingham population—i.e., those who want to utilize the park for community activities, and those without homes who might be using it as a home base? NH: It’s teaching us to embrace the reality that is downtown Bellingham, not to ignore it. When I asked four community leaders to individually captain a kickball team, I was asking them to embrace the differences that are apparent and to take a risk with the unknown. Their efforts are now bringing 60 players and two dozen families to Maritime every Thursday. More, too, if your readers attend. CW: You were officiating for the first game of the spring league last week. How did it go? NH: It was the most fun I’ve had in a Bellingham park in the 16 years I’ve lived here. These industry teams—and the people on them—are amazing and hilarious. CW: Can you share a few highlights? NH: I encourage readers to check out the Throwback Thursdays Facebook event page for running commentary; it’s worth it. CW: Are you looking for crowds to cheer on the teams at urban kickball games? NH: Absolutely. The success of these games is magnified by those that attend as spectators, and you’ll just have to come see for yourself why. The final tournament game on Sat., June 13 will be a series of championship games with kids activities. If you ever needed an excuse to bring your family to this park, this is that opportunity. CW: If Throwback Thursdays are successful, will there be a summer league? NH: We’ve already got teams signed up to play. CW: How else can people who want to get involved do so? NH: The best way to stay is to check out ATTEND involved the Downtown BellingWHAT: Throwham Partnership Faceback Thursdays Urban Kickball book page and let us League know what you think. WHEN: CW: Downtown Belling5:30-7:30pm ham Partnership is workevery Thursday ing with the city’s Parks through June 11. A final tourand Recreation Departnament game ment to produce Throwtakes place back Thursdays. What othfrom 11am-4pm er ways are both entities Sat., June 13 working to being energy WHERE: Maritime Heritage and community to MariPark, 500 W. time Heritage Park? Holly St. NH: We’re helping supCOST: Entry is port Parks and Recrefree ation and the City of INFO: www. downtownbelBellingham with a sumlingham.com mer concert series every Friday in August: food trucks, music, everyone alike can come help reshape the culture of this park. It will follow Downtown Sounds, which starts July 1, so we will have two full months of urban music that will make this one of the best summers downtown has ever seen. CW: Anything else? NH: Throwback Thursdays are an urban experiment in helping make place. It doesn’t have to be a 100 percent success in order for it to have been successful. We’re building a new city of elected officials, business and community leaders, and you won’t find these people sitting behind a desk all day. You’ll find them playing kickball at Maritime on Thursday nights. SUN., MAY 24 GROUP RUN: All levels of experience are welcome at a weekly Group Run beginning at 6pm in Mount Vernon at the Skagit Running Company, 702 First St. The 3- to 6-mile run is great for beginners or for others wanting an easy recovery. Entry is free and no registration is required. SK I TO SEA: The reconfigured multi-sport Ski to Sea race begins at 7:45am at the Mt. Baker Ski Area and ends at 5pm. View the competitors along the way, or head to the Historic Fairhaven Festival to check out the final leg of the race at at Fourth Street and Harris Avenue, outside the Index Industries building, near the entrance to Marine Park. FRI., MAY 22 WILD THINGS: Kids, adults and adventurers can join Wild Whatcom Walks for “Wild Things” excursions from 9:30-11am every Friday in May at Cornwall Park. Entry is by donation. WWW.WILDWHATCOM.ORG MAY 22-24 PLOVER FERRY: The Plover ferry starts running this weekend and continues through the summer from 12-8pm Friday and Saturday and 10am-6pm Sunday departing on the hour from the Blaine Visitor’s Dock, Gate II at Blaine Harbor. Suggested donation for the rides is $1 for kids and $5 for adults. WWW.DRAYTONHARBORMARITIME.ORG BIRD TOUR: North Cascades Audubon Society president Pam Borso leads “Audubon Bird Tour: Meet Our Raptors” at 2pm at Whatcom Museum’s Syre Education Center, 201 Prospect St. Borso will introduce key owl and hawk species and share how these birds of prey are faring in our changing land and sea habitats. Entry is free with museum admission. WWW.WHATCOMMUSEUM.ORG TUES., MAY 26 ALL-PACES RUN: Staffers and volunteers are always on hand to guide the way at the weekly All-Paces Run starting at 6pm every Tuesday at Fairhaven Runners, 1209 11th St. The runs are 20 minutes out and back on two key routes—by the water or through the woods. Entry is free. GET OUT 14 WORDS 12 WWW.MTBAKERBIKECLUB.ORG WWW.WNPSKOMA.ORG CURRENTS 8 RABBIT RIDE: Join members of the Mount Baker Bicycle Club for a “Rabbit Ride” starting at 8am every Sunday at Fairhaven Bike, 1108 11th St. The 32-mile route takes riders down Chuckanut and back via Lake Samish. The group also holds weekly rides Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. VIEWS 6 NAT IVE PLANT WALK: Join the Koma Kulshan Chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society for a Native Plant Walk with ethnobotanist Abe Lloyd focusing on “Coastal Ethnobotany” at 6pm at the North Chuckanut Trailhead parking lot, where you’ll continue on to Woodstock Farm. Entry is free and no registration is required. MAIL 4 THURS., MAY 21 WWW.SKITOSEA.COM DO IT 2 WWW.SKAGITRUNNERS.ORG ART 18 WED., MAY 20 STAGE 16 Jim and Daphne Hamilton will talk about their experiences with the Andean Mountain Hummingbird Project at an Audubon Society presentation Tues., May 26 at Whatcom Museum’s Old City Hall MUSIC 20 FILM 24 B-BOARD 27 FOOD 34 doit WWW.WHATCOMMUSEUM.ORG WWW.MOUNTBAKERCLUB.ORG MAY 23-24 BOAT ING CENTER OPEN: The Community Boating Center has resumed operations for the 2015 season from 10am until sunset on Saturdays and Sundays at their headquarters at 555 Harris Ave. Rentals include kayaks, sailboats, rowboats and paddle boards. Registration for youth camps and adult classes are currently available online. Starting June 22, the center will operate through the week. WWW.BOATINGCENTER.ORG #20.10 HUMMINGBIRD EXPEDIT ION: Find out more about the Andean Mountain Hummingbird Project when Jim and Daphne Hamilton lead an Audubon Society presentation at 7pm at Whatcom Museum’s Old City Hall, 121 Prospect St. Suggested donation is $3. THURS., MAY 28 NAT IVE PLANT WALK: Join the Koma Kulshan Chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society for a free “Downtown Plants” Native Plant Walk starting at 6pm at the Environmental Learning Center, 514 W. Holly St. Attendees will follow the Native Plant Teaching Trail in Maritime Heritage Park along Whatcom Creek and learn about the plants, their names, and uses in native Salish tradition. The walk will be led by anthropologist Allan Richardson. No registration is necessary. WWW.WNPSKOMA.ORG CASCADIA WEEKLY PACIFIC TRAIL HIKE: Join members of the Mount Baker Club for a hike on the Capilano Pacific Trail in North Vancouver, BC. The trail follows the Capilano River, passing through a variety of terrain, including beaches, rocky shores, steep canyon cliffs, and dense rainforest. Meet at 8am at Sunnyland Elementary to carpool. 05.20.15 WWW.FAIRHAVENRUNNERS.COM SAT., MAY 23 15 FOOD 34 stage DA NCE CASCADIA WEEKLY #20.10 05.20.15 DO IT 2 MAIL 4 VIEWS 6 16 PHOTO BY KIM LINCOLN PHOTOGRAPHY CURRENTS 8 WORDS 12 14 GET OUT 16 STAGE 16 ART 18 MUSIC 20 FILM 24 B-BOARD 27 T H E AT E R IAN BIVENS AND ANGELA KISER IN THE CRAFT BY AMY KEPFERLE Short Shots BEST OF BRASS MONKEY ’m a dedicated reader of short stories. Why? For one thing, there’s no beating around the bush when it comes to character development. If something momentous and interesting—or at least pertinent to the story arc—doesn’t take place in the first few pages, it’s probably not going to. The same school of thought also translates to short plays. Events and relationships need to move along quickly when you’ve only got 10 or 15 minutes to tell a tale, and the playwrights penning the scripts are forced to make things happen or risk ending up with nothing at all. I’m happy to report that at a recent viewing of the six plays making up the “Best of Brass Monkey” at iDiOM Theater, everyone involved seemed to be on board with moving the action forward with alacrity. As part of iDiOM’s Spring Rep series—which began April 23 and concludes May 30—the “Best of Brass Monkey” offerings are based on themes ranging from surprises to revenge, angst, magic and wishes (plus one wild card pick). The topics of the plays, and the plays themselves, are a product of the downtown Bellingham theater’s 2014/2015 season, and didn’t just appear out of thin air. Throughout the past year, iDiOM hosted short play “cold readings” on the aforementioned topics, with submissions coming in from both near and far. At the end of each live reading, the audience voted for their favorite script, with the winning entry from each event being added to the “Best of Brass Monkey” lineup. Helmed by artistic director Glenn Hergenhahn-Zhao and longtime iDiOM I PROF I L ES veteran Ian Bivins (who also acts in two of the plays), there’s something for just about everyone. For example, Will Arbery’s The Dust Veil of 536 A.D—based on an actual longago weather event that darkened the skies between Europe and Asia Minor and brought decreased temperatures, drought and food shortages to the affected regions—starts things off on a serious and haunting note as a family must struggle to keep hope alive and either “fight the dust” or die. For those who prefer love stories, there are a couple twisted versions of the genre to be found. Colby Day’s Wishes sees a ghost fall in love with a girl, and vice-versa, but will the requests they’re granted by their very strange wish-granters allow them to find everlasting love? (I’m not telling.) Conversely, In Lu Tyler’s The Flower and the Song, SEE IT two misfits are searching WHAT: Best of Brass Monkey for their soul mates, but WHEN: 7:30pm are stymied by a variety May 21-22 and of factors—including a May 28-30 very proprietary cat. WHERE: iDiOM Weird relationships beTheater, 1418 Cornwall Ave. tween humans are further COST: $10-$12 explored in Andrew Biss’ INFO: www. The Craft (a play within idiomtheater. a play where a man and com woman onstage are sharing their inner dialogues with the audience rather than the lines of that “other” play) and in Raven Burnett’s An Evening of Surprises, where literally nothing is as it seems and each character has his or her own secrets to share. Another play by Colby Day kind of defies description. No Farting in Beantown is comedic, sure, but it’s also kind of tragic, as those who flout the law are jailed for their crimes. Perhaps that story’s not for you. That’s O.K. Similar to the theater’s ballyhooed 48 Hour Theater Festival—which is coming up again June 6-7, so mark your calendars now—it’s great fun to see so many stories being told in such a short time, and in such different fashions. And, if one play doesn’t appeal to you, there’s a good chance the next one—and perhaps the one after that—will. doit STAGE THURS., MAY 21 GOOD, BAD, UGLY: Watch “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” at 8pm every Thursday at the Upfront Theatre, 1208 Bay St. At 10pm, stick around for the “Project.” Entry is $4-$7. 733-8855 OR WWW.THEUPFRONT.COM MAN AND SUPERMAN: Academy Award nominee Ralph Fiennes plays Jack Tanner in Man and Superman at a big-screen National Theatre live showing at 7:30pm in Mount Vernon at the Lincoln Theatre, 712 S. First St. Tickets are $12-$16. The reinvention of Shaw’s witty, provocative classic shows again at 2pm Sun., May 31. WWW.LINCOLNTHEATRE.ORG MAY 21-22 WHAT-A-SHO!: Theater, dance, music and poetry readings—with a little comedy inbetween—will be part of the “What-a-Sho!” variety show at 7pm Thursday and Friday at Bellingham High School, 2020 Cornwall Ave. Tickets to the all-ages performances will be $8 at the door. 676-5006 MAY 21-23 MARINA: Bellingham TheatreWorks presents the world premiere showing of the musical Marina at performances at 7:30pm Thursday through Saturday at the Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N. Commercial St. The story focuses on Marina, a grief-stricken woman who owns a cabaret and must deal with “the woes and wonders of life in Blaine, Washington circa 1908.” Tickets are $10-$24. 734-6080 OR WWW.MOUNTBAKERTHEATRE.COM SPRING REP: A Spring Rep series continues this week with showings of Best of Brass Monkey at 7:30pm Thursday and Friday at the iDiOM Theater, 1418 Cornwall Ave. See Broken Holmes and In a Handbag Darkly at 9:30pm Friday and 7:30pm Saturday. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Additional Spring Rep shows continue through May 30. WWW.IDIOMTHEATER.COM MAY 22-23 BLENDER: Mainstage players will join forces with other top-notch improv groups from around the region at “Blender” shows at 8pm and 10pm Friday and Saturday at the Upfront Theatre, 1208 Bay St. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door; see the mingled magic happen again at May 29-30 performances. WWW.THEUPFRONT.COM MAY 22-24 LIT TLE SHOP OF HORRORS: An uproarious version of Little Shop of Horrors performed by youth ages 13-16 can be seen at 7pm Friday, 2pm and 7pm Saturday, and 2pm Sunday at the Bellingham Arts Academy for Youth, 1059 N. State St. Tickets to the musical are $10. Since the second cast will be taking over this weekend, there’ll be an Opening Night Gala starting at 6pm Friday. Tickets to that event are $15. Additional showings happen through May 31. WWW.BAAY.ORG doit FILM 24 B-BOARD 27 FOOD 34 INFLAMMABLE CIRCUS: Della Moustachella hosts “Inflammable Circus” shows at 8:30pm Friday and Saturday at the Bellingham Theatre Guid’s Cirque Lab, 1401 6th St., suite #102. The third annual fundraising fire show features stunning aerials, flaming bellydancing, torch juggling, fire contortion, world-class fire poi spinning and more, all set to music by Bar Tabac, the Cornwall Marching Band, and Strangely. Tickets are $12-$22. Show up starting at noon Sunday for a variety of circus performances happening throughout the day. Tickets for Sunday’s festivities will be $10 at the door only. WWW.BELLINGHAMCIRCUSGUILD.COM SUN., MAY 24 ART 18 MUSIC 20 LAUGHING AT THE STARS: Comedians from Bellingham and beyond entertain the masses at the weekly “Laughing at the Stars” Stand-Up Comedy Show at 8:30pm at the Star Club, 311 E. Holly St. Joel O’Connor hosts the entertaining event. Entry is free. WWW.STARCLUBBELLINGHAM.COM MON., MAY 25 FOLK DANCE: Join the Fourth Corner Folk Dancers to learn lively folk dances from Eastern Europe, Greece, Turkey, and Israel from 7:15-10pm every Thursday at the Fairhaven Library, 1117 12th St. Suggested donation is $5; students and first-timers are free. STAGE 16 GET OUT 14 WORDS 12 CURRENTS 8 at 6:30 pm ~ All Welcome 4LYPKPHU:\P[L VIEWS 6 THURS., MAY 21 meditation center bellingham.shambhala.org MAIL 4 DA NCE New Thursday Evening Class Begins May 14th, 7:00 pm Open Meditation ~ Thursdays (360) 380-0456 S EO P L E GP ’S Voted #1 Italian Restaurant S KA DANCE PART Y: A mix of swing, Latin and ballroom will be highlighted and danced to with an introductory lesson at the weekly Friday Night Dance Party from 7:30-10pm at the Bellingham Dance Company, 1705 N. State St. Admission is $5-$7. 10 GI T P U B LI IN C FRI., MAY 22 H Try our New Full Gluten-Free and Vegetarian Menus! WWW.BELLINGHAMDANCECOMPANY.COM SAT., MAY 23 BALLROOM DANCING: All ages and levels of experience can attend “Ballroom Dancing” events from 6:30-9pm on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month at the Bellingham Senior Activity Center, 315 Halleck St. The social dances feature traditional ballroom and swing music for foxtrot, east coast swing, waltz, nightclub two-step, cha cha, rumba, salsa, samba and more. Entry is $5. (360) 671-7764 SEND YOUR EVENT INFORMATION TO [email protected] by Evening Magazine & King 5 TV! Bockwurst & Bratwurst Organic Apricots & Melons Dalmation Fig Spread Coriander Goat Cheese Tortilla Warmer & Keeper Delicious Sandwiches 15% Off Any # Wines 95* 15 $ Four Course Sunset Specials NOW AVAILABLE DURING LUNCH! Ê££>È«ÊUÊ->ÌÊEÊ-ÕÊΫȫ 15 Entrees to choose from ««iÌâiÀ]Ê-Õ«ÊÀÊ->>`]ÊiÃÃiÀÌ Now Offering Ravioli, Gnocchi & Veal /FX%FTTFSU0QUJPOTtCréme Brulee made In-House *Offer valid 7 days a week (holidays excluded) For additional offers visit www.granaio.com CALL FOR RESERVATIONS The Way To Artist Point 11am–3pm 360-592-2297 Dinner hours www.everybodys.com Hiway 9 – Van Zandt DO IT 2 WWW.BELLINGHAMSHCOOLS.ORG 05.20.15 HONK!: Squalicum High School’s drama department finishes up its season with performances of Honk! The Musical at 7:30pm Thursday and Friday, and 2pm and 7:30pm Saturday, at the school’s Forum Theater, 3773 E. McLeod Rd. Tickets to the family-friendly adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Ugly Duckling are $5-$10. #20.10 MAY 28-30 CASCADIA WEEKLY WWW.ACOUSTICTAVERN.COM JOY Living with GUFFAWINGHAM: A weekly open mic for comedians, “Guffawingham!,” takes place at 9:30pm every Monday at the Green Frog, 1015 N. State St. Entry is free. Lunch hours 3pm–10pm 360.419.0674 WWW.GRANAIO.COM [email protected] £ääÊÊÌ}iÀÞ]Ê-ÕÌiÊ££ä]ÊÕÌÊ6iÀ 17 doit B-BOARD 27 FOOD 34 visual G A L L ER I ES OPEN I NGS P ROF I L E S U P COM I NG E V EN TS THURS., MAY 21 AF TER HOURS ART: Bring your favorite pencil and sketchpad and study the female figure with poses inspired by the paintings and sculpture of Tom Sherwood at an “AHA! After Hours Art: Figure Sketching” gathering from 5:30-7:30pm at Whatcom Museum’s Lightcatcher Building, 250 Flora St. Entry is $13-$18; register in advance. CASCADIA WEEKLY #20.10 05.20.15 DO IT 2 MAIL 4 18 “VEILED IN VIOLET,” BY SHARON KINGSTON VIEWS 6 CURRENTS 8 WORDS 12 GET OUT 14 STAGE 16 ART 18 MUSIC 20 FILM 24 778-8961 BY STEPHEN HUNTER Homage A NEW LOOK AT NATURE ne sunny Thursday, I stretched out in my self-driving car and typed in: “Great food and someplace beautiful.” Opening my eyes, I found myself in Edison. How does this tiny village enjoy a monopoly on tasty eats and good art? I enjoyed sandwiches and homemade soup in a blooming garden overlooking the slough, then stepped next door to Smith & Vallee Gallery. Their current homage to the work of Sharon Kingston and Eric Eschenbach is more than merely beautiful; it’s a comment on the clash of nature and civilization. Think of the English Romanticist, J.M.W. Turner, and his pictures of clouds and sky. Now, think Minimalism. Subtract boats, water and architecture— everything but sky—and you have Kingston’s “atmospheric” paintings. As some artists listen to jazz or classical music, Kingston fuels her creative energy with the poetry of Rilke and Denise Levertov. Hence, one canvas: “A Ballast Against all that Light-filled Loveliness,” in which you feel the lift of the clouds against the blue above, their dark undersides revealing the hint of a rainstorm. She describes her portrayal of atmosphere as O intended “to create spaces that are undefined, contemplative and allow room to reflect and accept uncertainty.” Kingston has cultivated a discipline of careful and subtle gradation of light and shadow. A row of five cloud portraits with a mere suggestion of horizon beneath is an engaging sight. “Ineffable,” is almost as beautiful as a real sunset, in tints of rose and blue and already the blackness of night rising from the earth. What distinguishes these splendid paintings from photographs of clouds and sky? It must be the mediation of the artist’s heart. The gallery chose landscapes by Eschenbach to complement Kingston’s skies. He displays a distinctive, personal style: a whiff of Primitivism and a set of favorite color choices—light yellow green, tawny yellow, baby blue SEE IT water and clouds always WHAT: “Homage” white. He achieves his deWHEN: 11am-5pm scriptions with consistent Wed.-Sun., through ease, without fussiness or May 31 WHERE: Smith trying to be too exact. & Vallee Gallery, Most of these free and 5742 Gilkey Ave., confident scenes are innoEdison cent of human presence. INFO: www. See, for example, his “Wismithandvallee. com lapa Bay,” and “Deception Pass.” In the beautiful “Gold Creek,” however, a grand sweep of river is pocked with weathered stumps where a forest once stood. A century ago, Modernist painting gloried in portraits of factories, warehouses, ships and locomotives. So too, in his “Padilla Bay,” Eschenbach includes the twinkling lights and trailing steam of oil refineries beyond the tide flats. Is it accidental or deliberate that the curators have exiled this lovely painting to the back room, on the wall opposite the toilet? Not quite so hidden are two marvelous landscapes by Lisa Gilley, whose work has been spotlighted previously at the gallery: “Hidden Valley” and “Alaska Range” have the same exciting, crisp, abstracted approach to landscape as in one of my favorites from the 1920s, the Canadian, Lawren Harris. I could stare at them for hours. As usual, some fine woodwork is on display, including geometric sculptures by Andrew Vallee in cedar, walnut and maple. And Peregrine O’Gormley’s small, exquisite pieces—a knotted skink in black walnut and a massive earthworm in bronze—never cease to amaze. MAY 22-24 ART BY THE AIRPORT: The Whatcom Art Guild will host its annual “Art by the Airport” spring show from 2-8pm Friday and 10am-5pm Saturday and Sunday at Hampton Inn’s Fox Hall, 3985 Bennett Dr. The judged show will feature the work of more than 45 well-known community artists. Offerings include fine art originals, affordable prints, photography, handcrafted fabrics, pottery, jewelry and more one-of-a-kind items. Demos and a daily raffle will also be part of the festivities. Entry is free. WWW.WHATCOMARTGUILD.COM MAY 23-24 LUMMI STUDIO TOUR: More than 40 artists and craftspeople will be showing their work at 23 locations as part of the semiannual Lummi Island Artists’ Studio Tour taking place from 10am-6pm Saturday and Sunday throughout the lovely land mass. Peruse and purchase everything from paintings to prints, notecards, jewelry, photography, sculpture, glass, pottery, metalwork, stonework and more. Entry to the self-guided tour is free; pick up maps at participating locales, or at the Islander store (directly to your left when you exit the ferry). WWW.LUMMI-ISLAND.COM SUN., MAY 24 SECONDS SALE: Reap the rewards of imperfection, experimentation and maturation at the annual “Ski to Sea Seconds Sale” from 10am-5pm at Good Earth Pottery, 1000 Harris Ave. Bring boxes and bags along to stock up on “perfectly good pots at perfect prices.” WWW.GOODEARTHPOTS.COM ONGOI NG E X H I BI TS ALLIED ARTS: In honor of Arts Education Month, view professional work by Allied Arts Teaching Artists in Whatcom County through May at Allied Arts, 1418 Cornwall Ave. WWW.ALLIEDARTS.ORG ART IN THE CIT Y: Works by Sarah Denby, Francis X Donovan, Peter Rand, Samuel EisenMeyers, Jeremy and Ron McManmon and more can be seen at Art in the City through June 14 at 1213 Cornwall Ave. The pop-up gallery is intended to bring energy and diversity to the Cornwall block and surrounding areas. (503) 415-1642 OR [email protected] ART WOOD: Mirrors, art pieces for the walls and small tables by Ray deVries will be highlighted through May at Artwood Gallery, 1000 Harris Ave. Visitors can also view watercolor paintings by Brenda Lowery. WWW.ARTWOODGALLERY.COM FISHBOY GALLERY: Check out the contemporary folk art of RR Clark from 1:30-5pm every Mon.-Fri. at the FishBoy Gallery, 617 Virginia St. 714-0815 OR WWW.FISHBOYGALLERY.COM FOOD 34 B-BOARD 27 WWW.FOURTHCORNERFRAMES.COM Ski to Open eekend W a ! Se e Now Reserv FILM 24 Bre June wery T 13 @ our noon WWW.GOODEARTHPOTS.COM MUSIC 20 Sunday-Thursday 4-6pm 601 West Holla;\*MTTQVOPIUWA *--:; ART 18 WWW.JANSENARTCENTER.ORG Family Friendly HoPPY Hour ChuckanutBreweryAndKitchen.com MONA: “Neo-Naturalists,” “Etsuko Ichiwaka, Hakoniwa Project: To Touch & Be Touched,” and “Study in Green” are currently on display at La Conner’s Museum of Northwest Art, 121 S. First St. Entry is free. WWW.MONAMUSEUM.ORG STAGE 16 WWW.MATZKEFINEART.COM Join us for the LIVE TAPING of the Chuckanut Radio Hour featuring the author of BORN TO RUN GET OUT 14 MATZKE GALLERY: “The Celebration of Spring” shows through June 14 at Camano Island’s Matzke Fine Art Gallery and Sculpture Park, 2345 Blanche Way. The multi-artist exhibit is open every weekend. &KULVWRSKHU 0F'28*$// May 25TH 12-5PM Natural Born HEROES Tickets $5 available at Village Books & brownpapertickets.com One FREE with each purchase of Natural Born Heroes Sunday, June 14, 7pm WWW.SCOTTMILO.COM WWW.SKAGITCOUNT Y.NET/MUSEUM SMITH & VALLEE: View “Homage” until May 31 at Edison’s Smith & Vallee Gallery, 5742 Gilkey Ave. The exhibit features works by oil painters Sharon Kingston (Bellingham) and Eric Eschenbach (Seattle). WWW.SMITHANDVALLEE.COM WATERWORK S: “Keeping Time,” paintings by Anelecia Hannah Brooks, can be viewed through May 25 in Friday Harbor at Waterworks Gallery, 315 Argyle St. WWW.WATERWORKSGALLERY.COM WHATCOM MUSEUM: “Tom Sherwood: A Golden Perspective,” “The Owl and the Woodpecker: Photographs by Paul Bannick,” and “A Curator’s Perspective: Selections from the Collection” can currently be viewed on the Whatcom Museum campus. WWW.WHATCOMMUSEUM.ORG BBQ Tickets & Flag Reservations available at bellewoodfarms.com 6140 Guide Meridian (360) 318 7720 Join us for a Booked at the Baker Series event with renowned author and environmentalist DAVID SUZUKI at the Mount Baker Theatre MAIL 4 SK AGIT MUSEUM: “Salt of the Earth” shows through July 12 at La Conner’s Skagit County Historical Museum, 501 S. Fourth St. Through May 31, visitors can also view “The Art of Mark Iverson: A Friend Remembered.” Support of Growing Veterans =>Help Us Build A Human Flag sign up now =>Badd Dog Blues Society Live Music! =>Barbeque $15, Spirits & Brews =>Lawn Games =>In How a Daring Band of Misfits Mastered the Lost Secrets of Strength and Endurance B U I L D I N G YO U R DO IT 2 SCOT T MILO GALLERY: A new collection of oils and pastels by Amanda Houston will be featured through May in Anacortes at the Scott Milo Gallery, 420 Commercial Ave. in the Heiner Theater at WCC Introducing PROFESSIONAL BRAND 05.20.15 WWW.LACONNERQUILTS.ORG WORDS 12 Thursday, May 21, 6:30pm QUILT MUSUEM: View “Revealing the Hidden” (Contemporary QuiltArt Association), “Impressions in Fabric” (Denise Miller and Nancy Ryan) and “Pastels and More: Selections from our Permanent Collection” through June 28 at the La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum, 703 S. Second St. 7LFNHWV DYDLODEOHDW9LOODJH %RRNV7KH0RXQW %DNHU7KHDWUHDW PRXQWEDNHUWKHDWUHFRP 5HFHLYH21()5(( 7,&.(7ZLWKHDFK SXUFKDVHRIKLVERRN /HWWHUVWR0\ *UDQGFKLOGUHQ DYDLODEOH-XQH SUHRUGHU\RXUFRS\WRGD\ Stand out in today’s competitive job market. Info Session Thurs., May 28 | 5:30 p.m. Technology Development Center 1000 F Street Read more at villagebooks.com VILLAGE BOOKS 1200 11th St., Bellingham 360.671.2626 CURRENTS 8 JANSEN ART CENTER: “Promising Futures: Whatcom County High School Student Art,” an exhibit of works by Seattle-based artist Quincy Anderson, and the continuing Spring Juried Exhibit can be seen until May 30 at Lynden’s Jansen Art Center, 321 Front St. VIEWS 6 GOOD EARTH POT TERY: Ann Marie Cooper’s works will be featured through May at Good Earth Pottery, 1000 Harris Ave. #20.10 FOURTH CORNER FRAMES: “Hidden Treasures” shows from May 22-June 30 at Fourth Corner Frames & Gallery, 311 W. Holly St. The exhibit features the work of Robert Finnigan (1927-1997), a New York artist with a strong mid-century style of what he called “Modified Realism.” A reception takes place June 5 during the next Art Walk. CHUCKANUT BREWERY & KITCHEN CASCADIA WEEKLY doit 19 wwu.edu/enrich Active Minds Changing Lives AA/EO B-BOARD 27 FOOD 34 music Ski to Sea FOR YOU AND ME CASCADIA WEEKLY #20.10 05.20.15 DO IT 2 VIEWS 6 BY CAREY ROSS MAIL 4 CURRENTS 8 WORDS 12 GET OUT 14 STAGE 16 ART 18 MUSIC 20 MUSIC 20 FILM 24 SHOW PREVIEWS › › RUMOR HAS IT 20 lthough the racecourse itself has undergone some rerouting due to the nearly nonexistent snowpack in the mountains (climate change is real, folks), Ski to Sea soldiers on with all the pluck, creativity and dogged determination the event has shown since its inception some 40 years ago. Which is a good thing, not just because the multi-stage race has become a hallmark of our community, participated in and watched by thousands every year, but also because with Ski to Sea come Ski to Sea celebrations. I think it has been well established around these parts that the only thing we love as much as a community race is a community party to celebrate that race. In past years, it seemed that nearly every venue in town had some sort of Memorial Day/Ski to Sea weekend blowout taking place, but times and entertainment trends change, and these days the events are fewer in number, but what they lack in quantity, they make up for in other ways. For many years now, when we look to celebrate just about anything, we’ve looked to Boundary Bay Brewery to throw us a party—and the brewpub rarely disappoints. As of this week, the beer garden—a harbinger of summer for locals, transplanted locals and newcomers alike—is open and the potent pints are flowing. Coincidentally, Boundary’s beer garden also happens to be the place for a couple of events that bookend the Ski to Sea festivities. The first, which begins at 5pm Fri., May 22, is a newish annual happening, the Ski A to Sea Community Block Party. The familyfriendly gathering features games, raffle prizes and other giveaways, and various other elements that combine to form a fun outing. Music is, of course, an important piece of this, and will come courtesy of a band that, like Boundary, is also a beloved local institution, the Atlantics. Best of all, engaging in this community revelry will cost you nothing, although you’d be well-advised to indulge in a pint (or three) of the beer (or the house-brewed root beer for those members of the family who aren’t yet of age) that is the brewpub’s reason for being. As they so often do, Boundary has brewed something especially for the occasion, and a limited run of Ski to Sea ESB will be on tap and flowing strong. But if you miss your chance at that particular party, Boundary will offer you redemption just a couple of days later when they play host to a Ski to Sea barbecue that takes place Sun., May 24. Intended to be a decidedly lower-key affair than the Community Block Party, this is the place to go when you don’t feel like cooking dinner and wouldn’t mind a wander through downtown Bellingham with a stop to slake your thirst in the always-welcoming beer garden. The barbecues heat up at 4pm; at Rumor Has It IN THIS AREA, Ski to Sea is the big event on our immediate horizon. But as hard is it can be to believe, Bellingham is not, in fact, the center of the known universe, and one need not travel very far during the upcoming holiday weekend to find an even larger happening that draws huge musical acts and huge crowds alike. What I’m talking about here is Sasquatch. In case you’ve been somewhere dark and sweaty for the past decade-plus, the Sasquatch Music Festival is a giant music festival that takes place over Memorial Day weekend at the Gorge Amphitheatre. It draws top-drawer talent that this year includes Sleater-Kinney, Robert Plant, Kendrick Lamar, Modest Mouse, and about a jillion other musicians. Truthfully, my interest in Sasquatch or any other festival of its ilk waxes and wanes—but it mostly wanes. Unless, of course, said giant festivals happen to include local bands and musicians, in which case, I get real interested real quick. I’m pretty interested right now. The parties responBY CAREY ROSS sible for piquing that interest are Odesza and Manatee Commune, who are scheduled to play Sasquatch this weekend. Odesza, Sasquatch alums, are alums of Western Washington University as well. This dynamic duo of Harrison Mills and Clayton Knight met in college, set out to create their own dreamy brand of EDM music, moved to Seattle—and then suddenly they were everywhere. Their YouTube videos garnered thousands of views in the blink of an eye, their Facebook likes (the currency of the times in which we live) climbed to a couple of hundred thousand, and they went from playing Bellingham-sized rooms to Sasquatch and Coachella. Now their shows are selling out all over the world and they are, as they say, living the dream. Although Manatee Commune’s rise hasn’t been quite as meteoric—yet—Grant Eadie (the Manatee in question) is building an impressive career nonetheless. What Eadie does is a little unusual in the realm of electronic music—and a lot compelling. From the beginning, his mix of recorded music and live instrumentation have exhibited real vision—not the mention the courage to trust that vision—and as he’s grown and become more experienced, that vision has become distilled rather than diluted. I’m far from the only one to be swayed by Eadie’s charms, and he’s been enjoying increasing exposure that will see Manatee Commune perform not just at Sasquatch, but at Bonnaroo as well. Add to that the fact that Eadie has played more than his fair share of benefits and fundraisers in this town, leading me to believe he possesses a strong streak of community-mindedness, and has a reputation for being unfailingly nice, and I’m inclined to say success couldn’t happen to a more deserving dude. 734-8158 OR WWW.COMMUNIT YFOOD.COOP NIGHT BEAT: Soprano Amber Sudduth-Bone and pianist Jay Rozendaal will perform works by Barber, Menotti, Heggie, and Deak at a Bellingham Music Club “Night Beat” concert at 7:30pm at the First Congregational Church, 2401 Cornwall Ave. Thom Mayes on bass, baritone Nathaniel Voth, and soprano Anjani Briggs also will perform. Tickets are $10. WWW.BELLINGHAMMUSICCLUB.ORG FRI., MAY 22 GEORGE CABLES: The Arlington Arts Council hosts a concert with jazz pianist George Cables at 7:30pm at Arlington’s Byrnes Performing Arts Center, 18821 Crown Ridge Blvd. Barisax player Gary Smulyan, bassist Chuck Deardorf, and drummer Matt Jorgensen will play along. The show opens with the Arlington High School Jazz I, directed by John Grabowski, with a special guest, Thomas Marriott, on trumpet. Tickets are $15. WWW.NWFOLKLIFE.OG TUES., MAY 26 UNIVERSIT Y CHOIR: Attend a “University Choir” performance at 8pm at Western Washington University’s Performing Arts Center Concert Hall. Entry is free and open to the public. 650-3130 WED., MAY 27 SPRING CHORAL CONCERT: Students in the mixed treble choir, concert choir and Showstoppers choir will perform at a “Spring Choral Concert” at 7pm at Bellingham High School, 2020 Cornwall Ave. Admission is free and open to the public. 676-6470 MILO PE TERSEN QUARTE T: The Milo Petersen Quartet performs at a concert that will pay homage to master guitarist Wes Montgomery at 7pm at the Whatcom Jazz Music and Arts Center at the Majestic, 1023 N. Forest St. Entry is $5 for students and $10 general. WWW.WJMAC.ORG WWW.BYRNESPERFORMINGARTS.COM MAY 22-25 NW FOLKLIFE FEST IVAL: More than 5,000 performers from throughout the region and beyond will perform at the 44th annual Northwest Folklife Festival 11am-10pm Friday through Sunday, and 11am-9pm Monday, at the Seattle Center grounds. THURS., MAY 28 TRIBUTE CONCERT: The Mount Vernon High School instrumental music department celebrates our country’s troops at a Tribute Concert at 7pm at the Lincoln Theatre, 712 S. First St. Tickets are $4-$8. WWW.LINCOLNTHEATRE.ORG FOOD 34 B-BOARD 27 FILM 24 MUSIC 20 MUSIC 20 ART 18 STAGE 16 GET OUT 14 WORDS 12 1255 Barkley Blvd. | 360-746-8815 CURRENTS 8 WITH THIS COUPON VIEWS 6 This year’s cultural focus, “Beats, Rhymes and Rhythms: Traditional Roots of Today’s Branches,” will highlight in great depth the cross-cultural roots of Hip Hop in the Northwest. Per usual, the event is free. 2 ENTREES 10%OFF MAIL 4 CO-OP CONCERT: Hear songs influenced by Tanya Hladik’s love of the natural world and the deep mystery of life when the singer and songwriter performs with Brit Keeton and Zach Bauman from 6-8pm at the Swan Cafe at the Community Food Co-op, 1220 N. Forest St. Entry is free. UP TO DO IT 2 THURS., MAY 21 BUBBLE TEA » NO MSG » VEGETERIAN DISHES AVAILABLE 05.20.15 musicevents Delicious Home Style Asian Cooking #20.10 7pm Fence-Fire will show up to provide a soundtrack of live music, and if you happen to be there and still hungry after 8pm, Boundary will even cook you a pizza. But Boundary Bay isn’t home to the only Ski to Sea beer garden in town. And the other one can be found at a place that has also earned status as a muchloved local mainstay. To find this fun, you’ll have to do as the Ski to Sea racers do and take yourself to Fairhaven. This is where the finish line is located and is also the place where you’ll find the Historic Fairhaven Festival, an event that kicks off at 10am Sun., May 24 and runs all day, drawing thousands of people, consuming much of the Southside and causing a traffic nightmare for anyone foolish enough to try and drive or park anywhere near the heart of Fairhaven or its surrounding side streets (hot tip: the Whatcom Transportation Authority provides ample shuttle opportunities. Take advantage of them. Trust me on this). Of course, this is the party that used to be known as It All Ends in Fairhaven, an apocalyptic-sounding name that I took great glee in writing about every year, which, now that I think of it, might have been a contributing factor to its name being changed to the much more benignsounding Historic Fairhaven Festival. Regardless of what it’s called, the event ATTEND remains much the WHAT: Community same. Music hapBlock Party pens all day long on WHEN: 5pm Fri., two stages, and such May 22 bands as Spaceband, WHAT: Ski to Sea BBQ Nashville Northwest, WHEN: 4pm Sun., Divas and Dudes, Up May 24 from the Ashes, and WHERE: Boundary more will be workBay Brewery, 1107 ing hard to entertain Railroad Ave. COST: Free you mightily. Along INFO: www. with the ample supbbaybrewery.com ply of music will be --------------an equally ample supWHAT: Historic ply of foodstuffs, at Fairhaven Festival WHEN: 10am a variety of differSun., May 24 ent booths. And it WHERE: Fairhaven wouldn’t be the It All COST: Free Ends at the Historic INFO: www. Fairhaven Festival fairhaven.com without the beer and wine garden, which I’m told will feature unique entertainment all its own. The entertainment is free, the food and drink are not, the bus is a dollar. Feel free to make a day of it. CASCADIA WEEKLY SKI TO SEA, FROM PAGE 20 21 FOOD 34 B-BOARD 27 musicvenues See below for venue addresses and phone numbers Boundary Bay Brewery 05.20.15 05.21.15 05.22.15 05.23.15 05.24.15 05.25.15 05.26.15 WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY Aaron Guest (early), High Mountain Stringband (late) Happy Hour BBQ w/Chas Justice Ski to Sea Community Block Party ART 18 MUSIC 20 MUSIC 20 FILM 24 Brown Lantern Ale House Cabin Tavern Commodore Ballroom Open Mic STAGE 16 GET OUT 14 Irish & Folk Night, Piano Night Paul Klein Ebb, Slack & Flood Open Mic Live Music East Coast Dave and The Boobs Akio Chai Forsyth, Casey Graham The Mavericks, Whitney Rose Jungle Milky Chance, Fmlybnd Milky Chance, Fmlybnd Father John Misty, Courtney Marie Andrews Eric Apoe and They The Fire Inside Les Dames Dangereux Chuck Dingee Bandzandt Bow Diddlers Girl Meets Boy DJ Boombox Kid Ski to Sea After Party Corner Pub Knut Bell and the 360s Edison Inn DJ J-Will Bass Area Crew CLINTON FEARON/ May 23/Wild Buffalo Bellewood Acres (VJEF.FSJEJBO-ZOEFOt | Bobby Lee’s Pub & Eatery 8.BJO4U&WFSTPOt | Boundary Bay Brewing Co. 3BJMSPBE"WFt]Brown Lantern Ale House $PNNFSDJBM"WF"OBDPSUFTt ]The Business$PNNFSDJBM"WF"OBDPSUFTt | Cabin Tavern8)PMMZ4Ut]Chuckanut Brewery8)PMMZ4Ut] Commodore Ballroom(SBOWJMMF4U7BODPVWFSt ]Conway Muse4QSVDF.BJO4U$POXBZ ] Corner Pub"MMFO8FTU3PBE#VSMJOHUPO CASCADIA WEEKLY #20.10 05.20.15 DO IT 2 MAIL 4 VIEWS 6 CURRENTS 8 WORDS 12 Ski to Sea BBQ w/ Fence-Fire Karaoke Conway Muse Glow Nightclub Bellingham Firefighters Pipes & Drums Fundraiser Weeknights - 7:00 p.m. 22 Listen to our live audio stream! Find us on Facebook. 05.23.15 05.24.15 05.25.15 05.26.15 FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY The Lowest Pair (early), James Beach (late) Achilles Wheel, The High Council Rose's Pawn Shop Slow Jam (early), Buzz Brump (late) Open Mic (early), Guffawingham (late) Aaron Crawford Karaoke KC's Bar and Grill Gallowglass Karaoke Karaoke Jonathan Warren & the Billygoats The Original Devillies Main St. Bar and Grill Karaoke Electric Soul Society Old World Deli Soul Magnets and Limited Run Stop the Buck Little Joe Argo Max's Midnight Kitchen Royal Karaoke Karaoke Country Night DJ Jester Rumors Cabaret Leveled Throwback Thursday DJ Postal, DJ Shortwave DJ Mike Tolleson The Shakedown Hump! Dance Party The Spider Ferns, Nightmare Fortress, Casey Proctor N7E Comp Release w/Agonizer, Dead Hookers, more Karaoke Competition Finals Phoenix Phoenix Faucher Four Skagit Valley Casino Bryan John Appleby, K. Skelton, Biagio Biondolillo Skylark's Walt Burkett & Vocals The Sonja Lee Band Star Club Aireeoke TGIF Karaoke Songwriter Night Pad Pushers Cat Bomb, The Purrs, Tin Foil Cat Swinomish Casino and Lodge The Popoffs The Popoffs The Underground DJ B-Mello DJ B-Mello Karaoke Karaoke Karaoke Karaoke Jam Night Karaoke Road to Rockstar Free Funk Friday Clinton Fearon and the Boogie Brown Band Flannel, more Via Cafe and Bistro Karaoke The Village Inn Wild Buffalo ‘90s Night Treble Tuesday Tom Waits Night Aireeoke MAIL 4 Laughing at the Stars DO IT 2 Karaoke Karaoke w/Zach FATHER JOHN MISTY/ May 24/Commodore Ballroom #20.10 Swillery Whiskey Bar ROSE’S PAWN SHOP/ May 23/Green Frog The Devilly Brothers GET OUT 14 Rockfish Grill The Shadies CURRENTS 8 Kulshan Brewing Co. Marcel's Bluegrass Night ART 18 Write Riot WORDS 12 Open Mic VIEWS 6 Honey Moon STAGE 16 H2O Lindsay Lou and the Flatbellys (early), Terrible Tuesday Soul Explosion (late) 05.20.15 Green Frog B-BOARD 27 05.22.15 FILM 24 05.21.15 THURSDAY MUSIC 20 MUSIC 20 05.20.15 WEDNESDAY Open Mic w/Chuck D. The Green Frog /4UBUF4UtXXXBDPVTUJDUBWFSODPN | Edison Inn $BJOT$U&EJTPOt | The Fairhaven )BSSJT"WFt| Glow&)PMMZ4Ut]Graham’s Restaurant.PVOU#BLFS)XZ(MBDJFSt | H20, $PNNFSDJBM"WF"OBDPSUFTt | Honey Moon/4UBUF4Ut]KC’s Bar and Grill8.BJO4U &WFSTPOt ]Kulshan Brewery +BNFT4Ut | Make.Shift Art Space 'MPSB4Ut | Main Street Bar & Grill .BJO4U'FSOEBMFt ]McKay’s Taphouse&.BQMF4Ut | Nooksack River Casino.U#BLFS)XZ%FNJOHt | Poppe’s-BLFXBZ%St| Paso Del Norte 1FBDF1PSUBM%S#MBJOFt ]The Redlight /4UBUF4UtXXXSFEMJHIUXJOFBOEDPGGFFDPN]Rockfish Grill $PNNFSDJBM"WF"OBDPSUFTt ]The Royal &)PMMZ4Ut]Rumors Cabaret 3BJMSPBE"WFt| The Shakedown /4UBUF4UtXXXTIBLFEPXOCFMMJOHIBNDPN]Silver Reef Casino )BYUPO8BZ'FSOEBMFt ]Skagit Valley Casino Resort 5984 N. %BSSL-BOF#PXt ]Skylark’s Hidden Cafe UI4Ut]Star Club &)PMMZ4UtXXXTUBSDMVCCFMMJOHIBNDPN]Swillery Whiskey Bar8)PMMZ4U]Swinomish Casino $BTJOP%S"OBDPSUFTt |Temple Bar8$IBNQJPO4Ut] The Underground &$IFTUOVU4Ut | Underground Coffeehouse 7JLJOH6OJPOSE'MPPS886 | Via $BGF#JSDI#BZ%S#MBJOFt ]7JMMBHF*OO1VC /PSUIXFTU"WFt ]7JOPTUSPMPHZ8)PMMZ4Ut] Wild Buffalo 8)PMMZ4UtXXXXJMECVGGBMPOFU]5PHFUZPVS MJWFNVTJDMJTUJOHTJODMVEFETFOEJOGPUPDMVCT!DBTDBEJBXFFLMZDPN%FBEMJOFTBSFBMXBZTBUQN'SJEBZ CASCADIA WEEKLY See below for venue addresses and phone numbers FOOD 34 musicvenues 23 FOOD 34 Film VIEWS 6 CURRENTS 8 WORDS 12 GET OUT 14 STAGE 16 ART 18 MUSIC 20 FILM 24 B-BOARD 27 MOVIE REVIEWS › › SHOWTIMES CASCADIA WEEKLY #20.10 05.20.15 DO IT 2 MAIL 4 REVIEWED BY TY BURR 24 Far From the Madding Crowd A MODERN LOVE STORY ar From the Madding Crowd is a Masterpiece Theatre version of Thomas Hardy’s 1874 novel, shot with sumptuous taste and care, rife with emotions repressed and unbound, and featuring expertly nuanced performances from a tony, mostly British cast. It will greatly please discerning audiences while causing Hardy to spin discreetly in his grave. That’s a fair tradeoff, especially if the movie sends you back to the book. Carey Mulligan (An Education) makes for a more modern Bathsheba Everdene than the one on the page—yes, Hunger Games fans, this is where your no-nonsense Katniss got her surname (with a slight spelling tweak) and spine—but if the heroine seems more 21st-century free spirit than 19th-century path-breaker, her dimples and indomitability overcome all objections. The novel was daring in its day for poking ragged holes in England’s class system. In the opening scenes, shot amid the rolling Dorset landscape on which Hardy overlaid his fictional Wessex, Bathsheba is a poor relation helping out at an aunt’s farm; shortly thereafter, a dying uncle’s bequest puts the young woman in the novel posi- F tion of running a large farm of her own. No husband needed, thank you. Meanwhile, Gabriel Oak (Belgian actorhunk Matthias Schoenaerts) has lost the sheep farm by which he tried to bootstrap himself up from the peasantry, and his fumbling marriage proposal to Bathsheba has come to naught. With pleasant Victorian coincidence, he finds himself hired on to help manage the Everdene estate, smoldering manfully and sympathetically for the remainder of the film’s two-hour running time. To read the book is to be immersed in Hardy’s almost obsessively detailed description of outer events and inner intents. You’re never sure where the novel is going because he describes everything down to the wallpaper glue and follows every emotion back to its source. There are fires and drownings and fallen women and returns from the dead; there’s also a sharpness of psychological insight that’s well ahead of its time. A movie can’t begin to re-create this exhaustive narrative flow, although John Schlesinger’s 1967 adaptation of Far From the Madding Crowd, starring Julie Christie as Bathsheba and Alan Bates as Oak, gave it a good three-hour go. That version is weird in a 1960s way that oddly matches up with Hardy’s own eccentricities, and it’s truer to his undercurrents of eroticism—the other reason the novel ran into problems—than this very romantic but not remotely kinky new film. Granted, the scene in which the cad army officer Sergeant Francis Troy (Tom Sturridge) demonstrates his swordsmanship on and around Bathsheba in a secluded glade is almost as ripely pre-Freudian as in the book. By this point, Bathsheba is also being wooed by William Boldwood (Michael Sheen), a repressed landowner sent into a tizzy after she sends him a teasing anonymous valentine. Far From the Madding Crowd envisions a rural England on the verge of societal meltdown— no wonder it horrified keepers of public morals—and the movie, to its credit, holds on to the book’s singular vision of a willful woman undoing several social strata of hapless men. So, are we supposed to be on Team Troy, Team Boldwood, or Team Oak? Hardy keeps a reader guessing, but the movie votes for Farmer Oak early on. Schoenaerts has been alarmingly intense in several European dramas (Bullhead, Rust and Bone), but here he’s steadfast and doe-eyed, always doing the right thing by Bathsheba and the farm while she busies herself elsewhere, the silly. No, it doesn’t make much sense, unless you accept that a work of subtle and acerbic social acuity has been transformed into a reasonably intelligent romance and that one of the rules of romance is to keep lovers apart even if it renders them vaguely dull-witted. That said, Mulligan has the quickness necessary for a screen Bathsheba, and the sense and foolhardiness too. The director is Thomas Vinterberg, a Dane who has made some fine, nerve-racking films The Celebration (1998), The Hunt (2013)— but whose gift for naturalism doesn’t sit well with the story’s melodramatic turns. Vinterberg seems slightly embarrassed by them; he also seems uninterested in the vanishing rural England of characters and dialects that the book depicts in such profusion. The locals who threaten to take over Hardy’s narrative, with names like Joseph Poorgrass and Laban Tall, speaking in Dorset idioms that barely qualify as English, are nodded to only in passing here. That raises an interesting point: Can only an Englishman do right by Hardy? Can a Dane play the 19th-century British class-war blues? Vinterberg’s Far From the Madding Crowd looks tremendous and it positively swoons with rough passions filmed at golden hour. It’s a very solid night at the movies. 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True professionals and of course, the money I saved was worth the trip North” - Marshall, Bellingham, WA www.DueckRichmond.com DO IT 2 $31,995.00 #73635A - GREY Y 05.20.15 CERTIFIED $22,995.00 $22,995. .00 ACCIDENT FREE AND OFFERS… SS CONVERTIBLE, REMOTE ENTRY, A/C, REMOTE START, BLACK HOCKEY STRIPE PACKAGE, SEAT TRIM, LEATHER APPOINTED FRONT SEATS, TRANSMISSION, 6 SPD AUTOMATIC, STEERING WHEEL MOUNTED AUDIO CONTROLS, MODEL CONVERSION CHEVROLET 2SS, REAR VISION PACKAGE, REAR PARKING ASSIST, AUDIO SYSTEM- PREMIUM AUDIO SYSTEM WITH 10" SUBWOOFER. 16145 MILES #20.10 CONVERTIBLE, POWER WINDOWS/LOCKS/SEATS, KEYLESS ENTRY, AIR CONDITIONING, TURN-BY-TURN NAVIGATION BY ONSTAR, SPOILER RR, WHEELS, 18" PAINTED ALUMINUM, XM RADIO, REAR VISION PACKAGE. 23641 MILES WORDS 12 2012 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS CASCADIA WEEKLY 2012 Chevrolet Ch Camaro 1LT CURRENTS 8 Experts in helping you register & import back to the US *Hassle Free VIEWS 6 CARS COST LESS IN CANADA! 25 FOOD 34 film ›› showing this week BY CAREY ROSS pretty good time at the movies. +++ (PG-13 • 1 hr. 54 min.) FILM 24 Clouds of Sil s Mar ia: Featuring a trio of powerhouse performances from Juliette Binoche, Kristen Stewart, and Chloe Grace Moretz, this movie is a shrewd meditation on aging, show business and aging in show business, all set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Swiss Alps. +++++ (R • 2 hrs. 4 min.) ART 18 Avengers: Age of Ultron: Summer blockbusters, meet your new God. ++++ (PG-13 • 2 hrs. 21 min.) STAGE 16 Poltergeist: The original was the first horror movie my sister and I ever saw together—she felt great terror and I took great satisfaction in poorly re-enacting various scenes of the movie in order to freak her out over and over again. This movie might have some things going for it—namely that it, much like its predecessor, was produced by Steven Spielberg—but it can never match the glory of what came before. +++ (PG-13 • 1 hr. 33 min.) The Age of Adeline: Blake Lively, a preternaturally beautiful woman who never seems to age, plays Adeline, a preternaturally beautiful woman who never seems to age. +++ (PG-13 • 1 hr. 49 min.) MUSIC 20 B-BOARD 27 FILM SHORTS Tomorrowland: All I know about Tomorrowland is it’s the place at Disneyland where Michael Jackson (disguised as Captain EO) lives and it is also home to Space Mountain, which is good enough for me. All I know about its cinematic namesake is that it stars George Clooney, is directed by Brad Bird and isn’t a remake or part of a franchise. More than good enough for me. +++ (PG • 2 hrs. 10 min.) Ex Machina: Alex Garland (28 Days Later, Sunshine) crafts for us a prescient story about a future in which machines become sentient and robots are our sexy new gods. +++++ (R • 1 hr. 48 min.) CASCADIA WEEKLY #20.10 05.20.15 DO IT 2 MAIL 4 VIEWS 6 CURRENTS 8 WORDS 12 GET OUT 14 IRIS 26 Far From the Madding Crowd: See review previous page. +++++ (PG-13 • 1 hr. 59 min.) Fur ious 7: Seven movies in, and this series remains high-speed Hollywood entertainment at its most implausibly pleasurable. Although this movie will always bear the distinction of being Paul Walker’s cinematic swan song, it serves his memory well. ++++ (PG-13 • 2 hrs. 9 min.) Welcome to Me: Kristen Wiig is a rare talent, capable of creating characters that are funny without being completely ridiculous and portraying serious roles that are imbued with equal measures of humor and humanity. In this, she plays a woman with borderline personality disorder and lottery winnings who buys herself a talk show and proceeds to work out her mental and emotional issues in front of a live studio audience. ++++ (R • 1 hr. 45 min.) What We Do in the Shadows: Spawned from the twisted minds responsible for Flight of the Conchords, this is the completely hilarious, must-see vampire spoof we have all been waiting for. +++++ (Unrated • 1 hr. 27 min.) Home: An animated adventure in which an alien teams up with a little girl on a quest to find her mother. At some point, the alien eats a urine cake, which pretty much lets you know the level of humor you can expect here. ++ (PG • 1 hr. 33 min.) Hot Pursuit: This isn’t the worst movie you’ve ever seen and that’s the absolute best thing I can say about it. + (PG-13 • 1 hr. 27 min.) Ir is: This film pairs legendary 87-year-old documentarian Albert Maysles with Iris Apfel, the quick-witted, flamboyantly dressed, fearless 93-year-old style maven who has had an outsized presence on the New York fashion scene for decades. +++++ (PG-13 • 1 hr. 23 min.) Mad Max: Fur y Road: In 1981, George Miller unleashed his futuristic, post-apocalyptic fantasy The Road Warrior on the movie-going public, and the Mad Max saga was born. Now, some 30-plus years later, Miller reboots his franchise, with a little help from stars Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron, and proves himself to still be the right man to deliver a crazy, frenetic, ass-kicker of a Mad Max movie. +++++ (R • 2 hrs.) POLTERGEIST Monkey Kingdom: The House of Mouse sends a bunch of cameras to southern Asia to follow a monkey mother and her baby. You can have your by-the-numbers princesses. This is the Disney movie I’ve been waiting for my whole life. +++++ (G • 85 min.) Paul Blar t: Mall Cop 2: I would watch Modern Times Forever, an experimental Danish film with a running PEP PER SISTERS COOKING OUTSIDE THE BOX Open Nightly Except Monday 1055 N State St SINCE 1988 B’ham 671-3414 time of 10 days, sans bathroom breaks, before I would watch 10 minutes of this brain-cell killer. Suck on that, Blart. + (PG • 1 hr. 34 min.) Pitch Per fect 2: Sure, it’s thin on plot and many of its jokes are infantile at best, but it’s a movie about competitive a cappella singers, not Citizen Kane. The girl-power vibe, killer soundtrack and increased presence of scene-stealing Rebel Wilson make it a Showtimes Regal and AMC theaters, please see www.fandango.com. Pickford Film Center and PFC’s Limelight Cinema, please see www.pickfordfilmcenter.com Windermere Real Estate Whatcom, Inc. (360) 393-5826 [email protected] BUY YOUR OWN HOME! More than 100 families just like yours have purchased affordable, high-quality homes in our community! It’s easier than you think. Let us show you how. 360-671-5600, x2 [email protected] www.KulshanCLT.org “Medicare 101” will be the subject of discussion with Australia Cosby, Coordinator of the Whatcom County Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) program, from 6:30-8pm Thursday, May 28 at the Cordata Community Food Co-op, 315 Westerly Rd. The workshop will examine the ins and outs of the Medicare system including what Medicare does and does not cover, Medicare enrollment, enrollee rights, health plans and supplements, Part D prescription drug plans, and Medicare savings programs. Entry is free, but you need to register. More info: 734-8158 or www.communityfood.coop Co-Dependents Anonymous meets from 7-8:30pm most Mondays at PeaceHealth St. Joseph’s Community Health Education Center, 3333 Squalicum Pkwy, conference room B. Entry is by donation. More info: (360) 676-8588 A Grief Support Group meets at 7pm every Tuesday at the St. Luke’s Community Health Education Center, 3333 Squalicum Pkwy. The free, drop-in support group is for those experiencing the recent death of a friend or loved one. More info: 7335877 SEEKING SALES REPRESENTATIVE CASCADIA WEEKLY NEWSPAPER BELLINGHAM, WA The Cascadia Weekly, the region's #1 Arts and Entertainment Newspaper, is in search of an energetic, charismatic and driven full time Sales Representative to join our team. We need someone that can develop their own territory and wants to be a part of the community. {Requirements} Team Oriented Deals well with ambiguity and little direction able to meet sales goals and remain on task Self Starter Detail oriented Deadline driven Tech savvy Comfortable with cold calls and can maintain relationships with clients Must have own transportation and cell phone Baseline pay, plus commission, stipend for gas and cell phone. Send your cover letter describing your experience and why your a good fit for the position and your resume to [email protected]. No phone calls. B-BOARD 27 FILM 24 MUSIC 20 ART 18 Dermatologist Liz Vennos, M.D., will focus on “Melanoma Prevention: Start Young, Grow Old!” at a presentation at 6:30pm Thurs., May 26 at the St. Luke’s Community Health Education Center, 3333 Squalicum Parkway. Dr. Vennos will review the latest information STAGE 16 Professional, knowledgeable, fun & friendly to work with. Learn how easy it is to compost your food scraps by harnessing the work of worms at a free “Vermicomposting with Callie Martin” workshop at 6:30pm Tues., May 26 in Mount Vernon at the Skagit Valley Food Co-op, 202 S. First St. Callie Martin is the Waste Reduction/Community Education/Outreach Specialist for Skagit County. Please register in advance. More info: www.skagitfoodcoop.com GET OUT 14 REALTOR ® on how to prevent malignant melanoma skin cancer starting at a young age. Entry is free; register in advance. More info: (360) 778-8238 or www.bellinghamderm.com WORDS 12 Cerise Noah An “Intro to Yoga” course for all ages and skill levels takes place from 10:3011:30am Fridays from May 22-June 19 at the Deming Library, 5044 Mt. Baker Hwy. Come once, or to all five sessions. Please bring your own yoga mat (or towel or blanket) and water bottle. Entry is free and no registration is required. More info: 305-3600 CURRENTS 8 range of cancer prevention and therapeutic strategies including diet, herbs and nutrients, chemo, radiation, and more. Entry is $5. More info: 734-8158 or www.communityfood.coop VIEWS 6 “Take Control of Your Health: Cancer” will be the focus of a discussion with Jim Ehmke, CN from 6:308:30pm Wed., May 20 at the Cordata Community Food Co-op, 315 Westerly Rd. Ehmke will talk about a wide MAIL 4 MIND & BODY DO IT 2 200 MIND & BODY 05.20.15 200 MIND & BODY #20.10 200 MIND & BODY CASCADIA WEEKLY 200 FOOD 34 bulletinboard 27 28 CASCADIA WEEKLY #20.10 05.20.15 DO IT 2 MAIL 4 VIEWS 6 CURRENTS 8 WORDS 12 GET OUT 14 STAGE 16 ART 18 MUSIC 20 FILM 24 B-BOARD 27 FOOD 34 Down 1 Grafton whose works are in letters 2 “That’s it!” 3 “Gloomy” guy 4 Naive 5 Damsel in distress’s cry 6 Out to lunch 7 7’7” center Ma- B-BOARD 27 FILM 24 MUSIC 20 ART 18 STAGE 16 GET OUT 14 Last Week’s Puzzle WORDS 12 32 Turns brown, maybe 33 Obstruction in the night 37 Pinky, for one 38 More reptilian, in a way 39 Common Market inits. 40 Besting 42 Prefix on the farm 43 By way of 44 Tooth doc’s deg. 45 Broadcast studio 2015 Jonesin’ Crosswords (editor@jonesin crosswords.com) CURRENTS 8 took off 19 Drug dropped in the ‘60s 20 “Girls” creator/ star Dunham 21 Rap’s ___ Boys 23 Come together 27 Pirates’ stashes 28 Seek water with a divining rod 29 Birthplace of Robert Burns 31 “___ Ho” (“Slumdog Millionaire” showstopper) 45 Tater Tots brand 46 Color in “America the Beautiful” 47 Longest river in France 48 Get up 50 Off-road goer, briefly 52 Equal, in Cannes 56 Driver’s lic. figure 57 Basketball Hall of Fame coach Hank 58 Lifeboat mover 59 Tiny complaint MAIL 4 1 Long stories 6 Bridge support beams 11 “I’m not feelin’ it” 14 Communications officer on 49-Across 15 Not at all 16 Tatyana of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” 17 Manhattan area where punk rock nute ___ 8 Obsessive whaler of fiction 9 Man of many synonyms 10 It accrues with unsavory language 11 Bottle handy with fish and chips 12 Borden’s spokesbovine 13 Lies low 18 Bach’s “Mass ___ Minor” 22 Body wash, e.g. 23 Build on 24 “Just ___ know ...” 25 High school in a series of 1980s-’90s novels 26 They’re closed, don’t you see? 30 Puts back 33 Biol., e.g. 34 “___ + Cat” (PBS Kids show) 35 Chill-causing 36 “Put ___ in it!” 38 Stunned 41 Emphatic exclamation, in Ecuador 42 Gets in on the deal VIEWS 6 Across alert 46 “Northern Exposure” setting 49 See 14-Across 51 “The Misanthrope” playwright 53 “Suits you to ___” 54 “The Family Circus” cartoonist Keane 55 What some goggles provide 60 “Able was I ___ I saw Elba” 61 Choice of words 62 Home of the Burj Khalifa 63 “Curious George” author H.A. ___ 64 Hits with snowballs 65 Splitsville FOOD 34 rearEnd ›› “.My TV is Broken”—so I’ll do this puzzle instead 05.20.15 DO IT 2 In a criminal case, sometimes it takes a trial. (360) 685-4221 www.Lustick.com rdict endant: e V def ury J We e nd th fi ury, the J lty Gui Not lty Gui ____ ____ rson . l _ l _ a _ e __ pe ay w ____ ry Fore So s Ju ____ CASCADIA WEEKLY #20.10 Highly Experienced Trial Attorneys Former Federal, State & Local Prosecutors Nationally Recognized & Award Winning Attorneys 29 ([SHULHQFH7DL]p / D E \ U L Q W K MUSIC 20 ART 18 Whistler was an influential painter in the latter half of the 19th century. He advocated the “art for art’s sake” credo, insisting that the best art doesn’t need to teach or moralize. As far as he was concerned, its most important purpose was to bring forth “glorious harmony” from chaos. But the immediate reason I’m nominating him to be your patron saint for the coming weeks is the stylized signature he created: an elegant butterfly with a long tail that was actually a stinger. I think you’ll thrive by embodying that dual spirit: being graceful, sensitive and harmonious and yet also feisty, piquant and provocative. Can you manage that much paradox? I think you can. ǡʹͶǡͷ ± ǡͶǦͷƬǦ Ǥǯ ʹͳͳǤ̷ ǤǤ TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Renowned author COLD BEER GREAT FOOD STAGE 16 GET OUT 14 WORDS 12 CURRENTS 8 VIEWS 6 MAIL 4 DO IT 2 ARIES (March 21-April 19): James McNeil Weekly events is Open! Live Music Thursdays & Some Saturdays All music starts at 7:30PM Monday PM Meatloaf Monday | Trivia 7 Tuesday Tacos, Tallboys and Tequila Wednesday Karaoke Night, starts at 7PM Thursday Knut Bell Live Music 7:30PM Enjoy this beautiful weather in our BEER GARDEN! Horseshoes and Put Put with stunning views of the Valley! Open 11-9 Monday thru Wednesday Thursday 9-9 Saturday & Sunday Always open later if everyone is having a good time! 14565 Allen West Ro #9Bow, W9 Over 100,000 Hits Per Month! Friday Steak Night 5PM Unwind Special- Geared toward (but not exclusive by any means) .30 0#.0*(-&$(&'!.01 We know you can't really enjoy a drink on your lunch break so come back and unwind with your lunch 0$"$(/2%.0.<7.30;012#0(-* Dump Run special- Bring in your receipt from the Skagit Transfer Station and get a beer and a shot for just $4 (bartenders choice) George Bernard Shaw was secure in his feeling that he did good work. He didn’t need the recognition of others to validate his self-worth. The British Prime Minister offered him a knighthood, but he refused it. When he found out he had been awarded a Nobel Prize for Literature, he wanted to turn it down but his wife convinced him to accept it. The English government also sought to give him the prestigious Order of Merit, but he rejected it, saying, “I have already conferred this order upon myself.” He’s your role model for right now, Taurus. Congratulate yourself for your successes, whether or not anyone else does. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “Aha!” is your mantra for the coming weeks, Gemini. Keep it on the tip of your tongue, ready to unleash. This always-readyto-be-surprised-by-inspiration attitude will train you to expect the arrival of wonders and marvels. And that will be an effective way to actually attract wonders and marvels! With “Aha!” as your talisman, all of your wake-up calls will be benevolent, and all of the chaos you encounter—or at least most of it—will be fertile. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Do you chronically indulge in feelings of guilt? Do you berate yourself for the wrong turns and sad mistakes you made in the past? These behaviors may be sneaky ways of avoiding change. How can you summon enough energy to transform your life if you’re wallowing in worries and regrets? In presenting the possibility that you might be caught in this trap, I want you to know that I’m not sitting in judgment of you. Not at all. Like you, I’m a Cancerian, and I have periodically gotten bogged down in the very morass I’m warning you against. The bad news is that right now you are especially susceptible to falling under this spell. The good news is that right now you have extra power to break this spell. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In the TV comedy-drama Jane the Virgin, the fictional character known as Rogelio de la Vega is a vain but lovable actor who performs in telenovelas. “I’m very easy to dress,” he tells the wardrobe supervisor of a new show he’ll be working on. “Everything looks good on me. Except for peach. I don’t pop in peach.” What he means is that his charisma doesn’t radiate vividly when he’s wearing peach-colored clothes. Now I want to ask you, Leo: What don’t you pop in? I’m not simply talking about the color of clothes that enable you to shine, but everything else, too. In the coming weeks, it’s crucial that you surround yourself with influences that make you pop. 30 VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Are you willing to #20.10 CASCADIA WEEKLY 05.20.15 FREEWILL ASTROLOGY ǡǡ ǡƬ FILM 24 B-BOARD 27 FOOD 34 BY ROB BREZSNY entertain an outlandish possibility? Here’s my vision: You will soon be offered unexpected assistance, either through the machinations of a “guardian angel” or the messy blessings of a shape-shifting spirit. This divine intervention will make it possible for you to demolish a big, bad obstacle you’ve been trying to find a way around. Even if you have trouble believing in the literal factuality of my prophecy, here’s what I suspect: It will at least come true in a metaphorical sense -- which is the truest kind of truth of all. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “Glory” is the theme song of the film Selma. It’s an anthem about the ongoing struggle for equal rights by African Americans. I want to borrow one of its lines for your use in the coming weeks: “Freedom is like a religion to us.” I think those will be good words for you to live by. Are you part of a group that suffers oppression and injustice? Are you mixed up in a situation that squashes your self-expression? Are you being squelched by the conditioned habits of your own unconscious mind? It’s high time to rebel. The quest for liberation should be your spiritual calling. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): If you’re planning on breaking a taboo, sneaking into a forbidden zone, or getting intimate with an edge-dweller, don’t tell boastful stories about what you’re doing. For now, secrecy is not only sexy; it’s a smart way to keep you safe and effective. Usually I’m fond of you telling the whole truth. I like it when you reveal the nuanced depths of your feelings. But right now I favor a more cautious approach to communication. Until your explorations have progressed further, I suggest that you only discuss them sparingly. As you put your experiments in motion, share the details on a need-to-know basis. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): There are many possible ways to create and manage a close relationship. Here’s one of my favorite models: when two independent, self-responsible souls pledge to help each other activate the best versions of themselves. If you don’t have a partnership like this, the near future will be a favorable time to find one. And if you already do have an intimate alliance in which the two of you synergize each other’s quest for individuation, the coming weeks could bring you breathtaking breakthroughs. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): It’s a challenge to drive a car through Canada’s far north. For example, if you want to get from Dawson in the Yukon Territory to Inuvik in the Northwest Territory, you take Dempster Highway. It’s gravel road for the entire 417-mile trip, so the ride is rough. Bring a spare tire and extra gasoline, since there’s just one service station along the way. On the plus side, the scenery is thrilling. The permafrost in the soil makes the trees grow in odd shapes, almost like they’re drunk. You can see caribou, wolverines, lynx, bears, and countless birds. Right now, the sun is up 20 hours every day. And the tundra? You’ve never seen anything like it. Even if you don’t make a trip like this, Capricorn, I’m guessing you will soon embark on a metaphorically similar version. With the right attitude and preparation, you will have fun and grow more courageous. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Aquarian author James Joyce wrote Ulysses, one of the most celebrated and influential novels of the 20th century. The narrative is both experimental and tightly structured. Its chaotic stream-of-consciousness passages are painstakingly crafted. (Anyone who wonders how the astrological sign of Aquarius can be jointly ruled by the rebellious planet Uranus and the disciplinarian planet Saturn need only examine this book for evidence.) Joyce claimed he labored over Ulysses for 20,000 hours. That’s the equivalent of devoting eight hours a day, 350 days a year, for over seven years. Will you ever work that hard and long on a project, Aquarius? If so, now would be an auspicious time to start. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): The English writer and caricaturist Max Beerbohm moved away from his native land when he was 37 years old. He settled in Rapallo, Italy, where he lived for much of the rest of his life. Here’s the twist: When he died at age 83, he had still not learned to speak Italian. For 40 years, he used his native tongue in his foreign home. This is a failing you can’t afford to have in the coming months, Pisces. The old proverb “When in Rome, do as the Romans,” has never been so important for you to observe. ©2015, Amy Alkon, all rights reserved. Got a problem? Write Amy Alkon, 171 Pier Ave, #280, Santa Monica, CA 90405, or e-mail [email protected] FOOD 34 B-BOARD 27 FILM 24 ART 18 STAGE 16 GET OUT 14 WORDS 12 CURRENTS 8 SKAGIT VALLEY CASINO U.S.I.T. VIEWS 6 In the sock department, as in other areas, it’s the nuances that count. So, go ahead and make a statement—but maybe one that stops short of “I’m really a Japanese schoolgirl!” Novelty sock wearing for men has actually been a thing in North America for a few years. The really wacky ones may work as what anthropologists and animal behaviorists call a “costly signal.” This is an extravagant or risky trait or behavior that comes with a substantial price—handicapping a person’s or critter’s survival or chances of mating—thus suggesting that it’s a reliable sign of their quality. An example is a peacock with a particularly lush (and heavy) tail. His managing to escape predators while dragging around big feathered hindquarters like a train on a royal wedding dress tells peahens (girl peacocks) that he must be a real Chuck Norris among big feathery birds. Still, there are costly signals—“I’m man enough”—and too-costly signals: “It’s raining men! Hallelujah!” To figure out where the line lies for you, average all the variables: degree of manliness, girliness of sock choice, occupation (like if you’re a British graphic designer or a guy who goes to work in oversize red shoes), and the eccentricity level of the women you like. But keep in mind that certain socks are risky for any man, such as—and yes, these actually exist—Superman insignia socks, complete with tiny red capes attached. Sure, let your socks tell a woman that you want to take her home with you— but maybe not so you can tear off all your clothes and make her watch as you play with your action figures in your Superman Underoos. MUSIC 20 I’m a 31-year-old straight guy. I dress pretty boringly—except for my socks. I go for crazy colors and patterns. My buddy says these make me look “weird” and “less manly.” Come on. Do women really want you to be a carbon copy of every black-sock-wearing dude out there? —Mr. Fun SHOP CIGARETTES & SMOKELESS TOBACCO MAIL 4 Is there some crater somewhere where all his promises go to die? There is sometimes a good reason your boyfriend can’t return your text for days, like that it’s 790 B.C. and there’s a snowstorm and he’s sending his eunuch with the bum knee over the Alps with a set of stone tablets. When there is no good reason, his acknowledging an error, like by admitting to being “distracted,” is a first step in mending his ways. That is, except when he shows you—repeatedly—that it’s his only step (perhaps because it’s tricky to text you back when his other, more local girlfriend is sitting right next to him). Getting somebody to respect your boundaries starts with appearing to have them. Sure, there are sometimes allowances to be made, like for an all-nighter at work or illness. As a friend of mine once wrote: “Sorry I didn’t respond to your email; I was in a coma.” But a man who cares about you generally acts in ways reflecting that—like by dashing off a text to tell you “sleepy—w/write u in am” or “kidnapped. w/be in touch w/ransom demand.” Instead, this guy gives you yet another apology—which basically translates to, “Sorry that it’ll be a few days before I can do this to you again.” To have a caring, attentive man, you’ll need to make room for him in your life. You do this the same way you make room for a new TV: by putting the old broken one out on the curb. It’s tempting to keep believing the excuses, which allows you to believe that you’re loved. Unfortunately, believing you’re loved never plays out like actually being loved. The problem is, in the moment, our emotions are our first responder, and reason—that slacker—burrows under the covers, hoping it won’t get called in to work. Overriding wishful thinking-driven gullibility takes planning—having a prepacked set of standards for how you want to be treated and then pulling them out SOCKS AND THE CITY $5000- $7850 * DO IT 2 I’ve been dating this guy long distance for six months. He’ll often fail to return texts for an entire day or even a few days. I keep breaking up with him, but he keeps apologizing, acknowledging that he can be “distracted” and then offering convincing excuses or making me feel I’m overreacting. This is getting old. —Annoyed 05.20.15 THE SHOO MUST GO ON LOWEST PRICES IN THE AREA! #20.10 THE ADVICE GODDESS at excuse o’clock and holding them up to how you’re actually being treated. This is how you end up with a boyfriend who keeps his word. Keeps it and puts it on his phone and texts it to you—as opposed to keeping it in a drawer with slightly used chopsticks, old answering machine tapes, and a Ziploc baggie of his sister’s hamster’s ashes. on most brands CASCADIA WEEKLY BY AMY ALKON EXPRESS DRIVETHRU 31 *Price at time of printing. Limit five cartons/rolls per customer per day. Must have valid ID. Cigarettes are not legal for resale. Prices subject to change. No Returns. Skagit Valley Casino Resort and U.S.I.T. Tobacco Shop owned by Upper Skagit Indian Tribe. SURGEON GENERAL’S WARNING: Quitting Smoking Now Greatly Reduces Serious Risks to Your Health. CW CASCADIA WEEKLY #20.10 05.20.15 DO IT 2 MAIL 4 VIEWS 6 CURRENTS 8 WORDS 12 GET OUT 14 STAGE 16 ART 18 MUSIC 20 FILM 24 B-BOARD 27 FOOD 34 rearEnd ›› comix 32 tomorrow exchange buy * sell*trade B-BOARD 27 Sudoku FOOD 34 rearEnd ›› sudoku FILM 24 Arrange the digits 1-9 so that each digit occurs once in each row, once in each column, and once in each box. MUSIC 20 ART 18 Region's #1 Source for Arts and Entertainment. GET OUT 14 STAGE 16 2 WORDS 12 $WȮCNQ'ZEJCPIGEQO CURRENTS 8 &190619005VCVG5Vé 5'#66.'7&+564+%6 7PKXGTUKV[9C[0'é $#..#4&09/CTMGV5Vé VIEWS 6 8 5 6 3 7 4 MAIL 4 9 2 3 4 DO IT 2 2 2 05.20.15 3 9 6 2 6 4 #20.10 1 2 2 8 5 6 CASCADIA WEEKLY 4 33 FOOD 34 34 FOOD chow REVIEWS PROF I L ES CASCADIA WEEKLY #20.10 05.20.15 DO IT 2 MAIL 4 VIEWS 6 CURRENTS 8 WORDS 12 GET OUT 14 STAGE 16 ART 18 MUSIC 20 FILM 24 B-BOARD 27 RECIPES 34 BY ARI LEVAUX Beer and Brats INVITE YOUR GRILL FRIENDS eople from Wisconsin are generally a congenial, easygoing lot. Until Scott Walker came around, there wasn’t much to argue about, except, well, beer and bratwurst. Wisconsin’s largest ancestry group is German, and the original immigrants brought their bratwurst with them. Today, bratwurst are a defining characteristic of the local cuisine. And while brats—which rhymes with “pops,” not “rats”—are beloved by all Sconnies, there is quiet discord with respect to the purely Wisconsin ritual of bathing brats in beer. They disagree, for the most part politely, not only over when to do this, but also why. The dominant sentiment among beer soakers, within and beyond Wisconsin, is that the brats should soak in hot beer before going on the grill. There is, however, a small but highly knowledgeable contingent of brat scholars that puts its brats in warm beer after cooking, not before. Bratwurst is a raw, pork-based sausage that must be thoroughly cooked before serving. The idea behind soaking bratwurst in hot beer prior to grill- P ing is they cook all the way through ahead of time, so the grill master needn’t worry about serving an undercooked pork sausage. The pre-cooked brats spend a brief amount of time on the grill to get browned, and are served. By spending less time on the grill the brat is less likely to dry out, and some pre-soakers believe the brat soaks up a meaningful enough amount of beer to influence the flavor and juiciness. The beer also makes the sausage casings more pliable, and less likely to split. Once, when I told a bartender from Milwaukee that I wanted to try the beer bratwurst thing, he preached to me about the holy trinity of beer flavorings: garlic, onion and black pepper. And before he would agree to fill my growler, he made me promise to pre-cook in Old Milwaukee, not the fancy micro-brewed IPA he was pouring. But in Sheboygan, Wis., widely considered to be capitol of the bratwurst belt, many locals politely shake their heads at this pre- soaking business. Chuck Miesfeld is a fourth-generation sausage maker and owner of Miesfeld Meat Market in Sheboygan. He agreed to speak with me about when to soak a brat in beer, and why, in hopes that it might help “straighten those people out.” “The whole deal with soaking them in beer,” Miesfeld told me, “is about keeping the brats warm until you put them on your hard roll. If you’re cooking brats on a charcoal grill, which is the only way you should be doing it, and there’s nobody standing there with a hard roll, there has to be a way to keep them warm.” As for the idea that the pre-soaking in beer results in a juicier brat, Miesfeld isn’t impressed. If a brat dries out on the grill, he said, it was either overcooked, or a subpar product. But while the primary purpose of a postgrill soak in beer is to keep the brats in optimal shape for serving, Miesfeld concedes that the submersion adds more than heat. “You do grab some flavors from the beer, but that’s not the real point. If you were doing it for flavors you’d want to leave the brat in there a long time, but you don’t want to leave the brats in too long, because they get mushy. It’s just a half-half hour thing.” Miesfeld’s post-cooking brat bath includes butter and onions in the beer. And as the bartender from Milwaukee had advised, Miesfeld urged me not to use good beer. It should be kept at around 170-180 degrees, he said, which is not quite simmering. And there is no place for black pepper, despite what the bartender from Milwaukee says. While he isn’t a pre-soaker, Miesfeld does drop the brats into cold water for five minutes before grilling, which softens the casings, making them less likely to split. The key to the proper grilling of brats is to not have the fire too hot, he told me. Control any flare-ups with water, and turn them often. When the internal temperature reaches 180 degrees, it’s done. I followed Miesfeld’s instructions, mixing a can of cheap lager with a tablespoon of butter and half an onion, sliced, on a burner. And against everyone’s advice, I couldn’t help making another beer bath with a highquality IPA. I compared brats that were pre-soaked in each of my two beer baths with those that were immersed after grilling. I also made a brat that was simply grilled, and without any exposure to beer (except in my mouth). The brats placed in beer after grilling were noticeably juicier, with the first bite exploding awkwardly in my face. They had more of a beery flavor, and I’m sure the butter didn’t hurt. I preferred them. The pre-soaked brats were closer in flavor to the non-soaked brat, and juicier, but less juicy than brats soaked after cooking. As for any difference between the fancy IPA and the cheap lager, I couldn’t detect any. At least, on this point, Mr. Miesfeld, myself and the bartender from Milwaukee can all agree. doit WED., MAY 20 Students will be coming from China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Thailand and Vietnam. Host families are compensated to cover living costs. Hosts may include married or unmarried couples, with or without children, single hosts, homes with extended family members, ember ers, er s, native nat ativ ivee iv and non-native English speaking families, homes with and nd d wi w without thou outt pe ou pets ts in Bellingham, Ferndale and Lynden. WWW.CIAOTHYME.COM (360) 384-7474 BLOSSOM T IME BREAKFAST: Get fed before the Ski to Sea Parade at an annual “Blossom Time Breakfast” taking place near the parade route from 8am-12pm at the Bellingham Senior Activity Center, 315 Halleck St. Tickets are $4 for kids, $6 for adults or $18 per family. 733-4030 MOUNT VERNON MARKE T: The Mount Vernon Farmers Market opens for the season today from 9am-2pm at the city’s Waterfront Plaza. In addition to the fresh, local food, expect activities for kids, cooking demos and special events through the season, which continues through Oct. 17. WWW.MOUNTVERNONFARMERSMARKET.ORG ANACORTES FARMERS MARKE T: Vegetables, fruit, baked goods, fresh meat and dairy, cut flowers, wine, eggs, art and much more can be found at the Anacortes Farmers Market, which takes place from 9am-2pm every Saturday through Oct. 24 at the Depot Arts Center, 611 R Ave. WWW.ANACORTESFARMERSMARKET.ORG COMMUNIT Y MEAL: Shepherd’s pie, green salad, bread and brownies will be on the menu at the bimonthly Community Meal from 10am-12pm at the United Church of Ferndale, 2034 Washington WWW.BELLINGHAMFARMERS.ORG MON., MAY 25 BARBECUE BENEFIT: Attend a Memorial Day Barbecue from 12-5pm at BelleWood Acres, 6140 Guide Meridian. Entry to the barbecue is $15; funds raised benefit Growing Veterans. There’ll also be lawn games, live music from the Badd Dog Blues Society, brews and spirits and more. FILM 24 WWW.BELLEWOODFARMS.COM TUES., MAY 26 CAMP COOK ING BASICS: Equipment (stoves, cook sets and fuel), planning and preparation, along with some tips and tricks to make your meals the hit of the trip, will be part of a “Camp Cooking Basics for Backpackers” clinic at 6pm at REI, 400 36th St. Register in advance for the free workshop. 647-8955 OR WWW.REI.COM DO IT 2 PANCAKE BREAKFAST: Attend a monthly Pancake Breakfast from 8-11am at Ferndale’s American Legion, 5537 2nd Ave. The breakfasts are held on the fourth Saturday of every month, excluding July and December. BELLINGHAM FARMERS MARKE T: Peruse and purchase a plethora of locally grown produce, ready-to-eat foods, crafts and more at the Bellingham Farmers Market from 10am-3pm at the Depot Market Square, 1100 Railroad Ave. The market runs every Saturday through Dec. 19. 05.20.15 SAT., MAY 23 714-9029 H O M E S TAY whatcom.edu/international #20.10 383-3200 St. Entry is free and open to all. Call 360.383.3270 or email [email protected] WED., MAY 27 SEDRO MARKE T: Suss out spring offerings at the weekly Sedro-Woolley Farmers Market from 3-7pm every Wednesday through September at Hammer Heritage Park (on the corner of Ferry and Metcalf streets). WWW.SEDROWOOLLEYFARMERSMARKET.COM MEDITERRANEAN RECIPES: Chef Nahla Gholam will bring the flavors of Lebanon to life at a “Recipes from Around the Mediterranean Sea” class from 6:30-8:30pm in Mount Vernon at Gretchen’s Kitchen, 509 S. First St. Entry is $40. WWW.GRETCHENSKITCHEN.COM CASCADIA WEEKLY PART Y OF ONE: Celebrate the art of dining alone when Mary Ellen Carter leads a “Party of One” cooking class from 6-8pm at the Community Food Co-op, 1220 N. Forest St. The menu will include a savory flatbread, charred asparagus with hollandaise sauce, chicken scaloppini, and, for dessert, a fruit crisp with a dollop of cream. Entry is $35. Sample sauces and vote for your favorite at a “Spaghetti Sauce Taste-Off” taking place Thurs., May 21 at La Conner’s Maple Hall WORDS 12 INCOGNITO: Get surprised by seasonal ingredients at the monthly “Incognito” dinner at 6pm at Ciao Thyme, 207 Unity St. The details of the multi-course menu are concealed until mealtime. Entry is $68. CURRENTS 8 WWW.LOVELACONNER.COM MUSIC 20 Whatcom Community College needs homestay hosts! VIEWS 6 SPAGHE T T I TASTE-OFF: Join the La Conner Chamber of Commerce for a “Spaghetti Sauce Taste-Off & Silent Auction” from 4:30-7:30pm at Maple Hall, 104 Commercial St. Entry is $6 for kids and $8 for adults and includes samples of all the sauces and a full-plate spaghetti dinner. Beer, wine and dessert will be available for an additional fee. MAIL 4 THURS., MAY 21 ART 18 INTERNATIONAL STUDENT WWW.GRETCHENSKITCHEN.COM STAGE 16 HOST A WCC MEMORIAL DAY GRILLING: Danny Geer from La Conner Seafood and Prime Rib Restaurant focuses on “Grilling Recipes for Memorial Day” at a course from 6:30-8:30pm in Mount Vernon at Gretchen’s Kitchen, 509 S. First St. Entry is $40. GET OUT 14 WWW.LYNDENCOMMUNIT YCENTER.ORG B-BOARD 27 FOOD FOOD 34 34 LADIES TEA: Dress up for a fancy tea with traditional tea sandwiches and other delectable treats, music and door prizes at an annual “Ladies Tea” from 2-3:30pm at the Lynden Community Center, 401 Grover St. Entry is $9; women of all ages are invited. 35 T HURSDAYS, M AY 21 & 28 EARN TICKETS: Now - May 28 W EEKLY D RAWINGS : 2 - 7:30 pm 8 PM G RAND P RIZE D RAWINGS : $10,000 $5,000 • $2,500 PLUS! LUNCH BUFFET – JUST – PLAYERBUCKS! At Rewards Club Center BEE GEES GOLD DANCE PARTY Starring John Acosta as Barry Gibb Saturday, July 25 at 8 pm 9 AM – 3 AM NOW - MAY 25 15 $ FREE-PLAY * Present your card at Rewards Club Center to activate your Free-Play offer at card-in. Comedy Central & Showtime Comedian SEBASTIAN MANISCALCO Friday & Saturday, September 25 & 26 at 8 pm Casino opens at 9 am daily. Must be 21 or older with valid ID. *Must be a Rewards Club Member. Must be present to win. Visit Rewards Club Center for details. Management reserves all rights.