Seattle on the Fringe

Yoga for Hope

Stacey Merrick — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 09:58:03 -0800

Tomorrow City of Hope presents the second annual Yoga for Hope benefit in Seattle! It’s a two-hour, outdoor yoga class at the Memorial Stadium at the Seattle Center on July 10 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Nine of Seattle’s top yoga teachers will teach participants of all levels about the sacred number 108, including practicing 108 sun salutations underneath the Space Needle at Memorial Stadium.

FEATURED YOGA EXPERTS AND PRESENTERS

Amber Tande
Brian Charlton
Cosetta Romani
Dora Gyarmati
Jennifer Hill
Jennifer Isaacson
Jenniferlyn Chiemingo
Laura DeFreites
Tami Hafzalla

REGISTER

Register for $30 online or at local Lululemon Athletica stores located at Pacific Place, University Village and Bellevue stores. Yoga for Hope is sponsored by Yoga Blaze and will feature swag bags, a raffle and prizes for top fundraisers.

ABOUT CITY OF HOPE

City of Hope is a leading research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. Designated as a comprehensive cancer center, the highest honor bestowed by the National Cancer Institute, and a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, City of Hope's research and treatment protocols advance care throughout the nation. City of Hope is located in Duarte, Calif., just northeast of Los Angeles, and is ranked as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” in cancer and urology by U.S.News & World Report. Founded in 1913, City of Hope is a pioneer in the fields of bone marrow transplantation and genetics. For more information, visit www.cityofhope.org.

Cirque du Soleil Comes to Seattle!

Stacey Merrick — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 15:19:23 -0800

I have always wanted to see Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas but every time I have been to Las Vegas and tried to get tickets for the show it has been sold out at least 2 months in advance. Last Saturday, however, I was able to skip the trek to Vegas and I hopped in my car and cruised across the bridge to see Koozå, which is playing at Marymoor Park until July 11.

The show was breathtaking, just as I expected. Cirque du Soleil has been around since 1984 and originated in Montreal, Canada and has a justified reputation for being a jaw-dropping spectacle that will amaze even the most jaded audience. I am definitely jaded, as I've seen a lot of performing arts and circus acts over the years, but nothing compares to Cirque du Soleil and I found myself gasping and clapping and cheering during the show. Cirque du Soleil has the best performers, best set, best live band, and best costumes, in my opinion.

Koozå is a touring production that premiered in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in April 2007. It was tough to pick a favorite performance, but I think I'm going with the Wheel of Death. The Wheel of Death act is composed of two bad-ass dudes, one crazy giant contraption, and guts... lots of guts.

You really have to see it live. It is very impressive. Tickets are still available.

5focus: A Fun and Thorough Workout in South Lake Union

Stacey Merrick — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 10:28:14 -0800

I love working out, but I am fickle. I get bored of the same old workout routine and I'm always looking for something new. Last night my friend Stacy invited me to join her at 5focus in South Lake Union for a Kinesis Class. The Kinesis Class includes the use of a kinesis machine, which is a special type of cable machine designed to give you a constant resistance weight training workout that provides less of a risk of injury than the typical weights you usually find at the gym. The kinesis machine also allows you to workout several different muscle groups at once which reduces the time needed for your workout. There are only a handful of kinesis machines in gyms in the Seattle area, and they really do give you a great workout. Mode of Fitness in Capitol Hill also has a kinesis machine.

So, the class is structured like a circuit training class and has stations, and it looks like this:

The class felt like working with a personal trainer rather than an aerobics instructor. I was sweaty and out of breath at the end of class and it was awesome and I'm going back. If you are bored of just going to the gym and running on the treadmill and lifting weights, I suggest you try this class. Your first appointment is free, but make sure you schedule an appointment because class sizes are small and they fill up.

Seattle Doesn't Stop Believin'

Stacey Merrick — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 10:58:31 -0800

What is it with Seattle and the song Don't Stop Believin' by Journey? On election night 2008, the people who flooded the streets of Capitol Hill broke out into song when the results were in that Obama won the election.

Last Saturday, April 10, there was a Seattle flash mob celebrating the TV show Glee in Westlake Center. The first song was, indeed, Don't Stop Believin'. Watch the video.

Weekend Getaway: Bandon, OR

Stacey Merrick — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 12:44:50 -0800

My aunt and uncle own a rental house in Bandon, OR, so this week a couple of my friends and I decided to make the trek to the Oregon Coast and enjoy a few days on the beach. I hadn't been to the house before because I thought the trip was too far away for a quick getaway from Seattle. It takes about 7 hours to drive to Bandon from Seattle. It turned out that a 7 hour drive is not as bad as it seems, and it is well worth the effort to get to Bandon.

For one, the beach house is RIGHT on the beach. At night during high tide, we felt like the waves were crashing right next to the front deck. If you are interested in renting, you can do so on Bandon Beach Sand Castle. The beach itself is spectacular with miles and miles of sandy beaches. The weather was surprisingly warm for this time of year (65 degrees), but Bandon is pretty close to the California border so I'm guessing the weather is warmer in sourthern Oregon than the Puget Sound. I wouldn't recommend swimming in the ocean in Bandon, but maybe it's a little easier to get into the cold ocean water in the summertime.

Bandon is a tiny town, but it is home to the biggest golf course I have ever been to, Bandon Dunes Golf Resort. Bandon also offers horseback riding on the beach, ATV rentals, and it is near the Sea Lion Caves. We went to the Sea Lion Caves on our drive back to Seattle, which is what I recommend doing if you decide to visit the caves, because they are about 1.5 hours north of Bandon on Highway 101 and you don't need to spend a lot of time there, because it's pretty smelly, but definitely worth checking out.

Seattle Celebrates International Pillow Fight Day April 3

Stacey Merrick — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 20:48:34 -0800

Who has two thumbs and loves a great pillow fight? ~~This gal~~ Everyone! OK, maybe not everyone (and maybe not people who don't have thumbs) but a lot of people in Seattle are like me and love pillow fights, so I'm anticipating a big turnout for this event. There will be a great big pillow fight at Westlake Center Plaza in Downtown Seattle on April 3 from 2pm - 3pm. April 3 is International Pillow Fight Day.

How do you participate? All you have to do is show up at Westlake Center at 2pm on April 3, bring a soft pillow, and commence pillow fighting with other people who are holding pillows. More information can be found on the Facebook event page for the International Pillow Fight Day: Seattle.

Science Fuses with Stand-Up Comedy

Stacey Merrick — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:31:49 -0800

What does a person do after they spend years studying biology and eventually get a Ph.D in ecology and evolution? You probably are not going to guess such a person would become a stand-up comedian, but that is the case for Tim Lee. In fact, he claims his career path makes perfect sense. Lee explains:

I used to give talks in front of smart people who'd try to pick apart my logic. Now I give talks in front of drunk people who try to pick apart my jokes. The drunken audience is easier to please but more violent when disappointed.

Lee's style of comedy is accessible to both nerds and non-nerds, so anyone can enjoy his show. Meaning, you do not have to have a Ph.D. in ecology to understand his jokes. You can find a couple of videos of portions of his show on Tim Lee's YouTube channel.

Tim Lee is playing at the Jewelbox Theater April 2 and 3 at 8pm. Tickets are $20. More info and buy advanced tickets online.

Curling: Learn How to Play

Stacey Merrick — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:26:33 -0800

I spent much of last weekend watching the Olympics, and the event that I spent the most time watching was curling. It was not the most exciting sport to me, but it was like a logic problem that I felt I needed to solve but I just couldn't figure out. Every time I thought I knew what was happening, I was wrong. I even went so far as to look up curling rules online, but I still just didn't get it. Today, Seattlest posted an informative post about curling, but I think if I'm going to attempt to learn this mysterious sport I need to actually do it. I need to put on one slippery shoe and one shoe that is not slippery, grab a hunk of granite and a funky broom and get out on the ice and go for it.

There is a place here in Seattle that offers an introduction to curling for a mere $15 ($40 max per family). The Granite Curling Club has several open houses throughout the year when an instructor will give us curling novices an introduction to curling. There will be open houses coming up this weekend:

Saturday, Feb 27 11am - 5pm
Sunday, Feb 28 9am -12pm

More details about the open houses from the Granite Curling Club website:

The Open House process goes something like this:

You arrive, sign a waiver and pay $15 ($40 family max).

Depending on how busy we are, you may have to go upstairs and wait for your group to be called.

We clean your shoes and fit rubber grippers on them to protect our ice surface.

Your instructors lead you through some stretches, safety guidelines, and information about the game.

A group of 8 - 20 people goes out on the ice for some curling instruction and play.

Once your lesson is done, you can visit us upstairs for snacks and to learn more about curling and our club.

We have 5 sheets of ice, so we can optimally accommodate around 40 people at any given time. If we are very busy, we may have larger groups and/or less time on the ice.

Generally you will be on the ice for 1-2 hours which includes instruction and a small game. If we are very busy, you may have to wait up to 2 hours to get on the ice.

The Granite Curling Club is located east of Aurora Ave. N on 130th St in Seattle.

And now, curling and heavy metal:

13th Annual Stanger's Valentine's Day Bash

Stacey Merrick — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 10:21:34 -0800

I've said it before and I'll say it again, The Stranger's Valentine's Day Bash is the most entertaining thing to do on Valentine's Day, whether you are single or in a relationship.

This year marks the 13th Valentine's Day that Dan Savage will destroy tokens of the people of Seattle's failed relationships in front of a crowd. This year I am not bitter and I do not currently have anything I would like destroyed on stage in front of a large crowd of strangers, but I have been up on that stage in the past and I encourage you to bring something to be destroyed if you are still licking the wounds of a recent break-up. It's really really fun.

The 13th Annual Stranger's Valentine's Day Bash takes place at Neumo's in Capitol Hill on Saturday, February 13. Door's open at 8pm, show starts at 9:30pm, tickets are $6 advanced, $8 at the door. 21+

Double Dutch and Hula Hoop Fitness Workshops

Stacey Merrick — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 09:48:57 -0800

NW Double Dutch and Fringe Fitness have joined forces to bring a fun day of jump rope, double dutch, and hula hoop for adults. Saturday at the Century Ball Room on Capitol Hill will be a morning of mini workshops for only $5! These are one time workshops that will give you the opportunity to try classes in a quick, fun and pressure free environment. No experience required.

10:00-10:30am Beginning Jump Rope
10:30-11:00am Beginning Hula Hoop
11:00-11:30am Beginning Double Dutch
11:30-12:00om Beg/int Hula Hoop

Also, the new 5 week series of Fringe Fitness and NW Double Dutch classes start on February 6th. Register online (see below for links) or in person on Saturday.

Feb 6 - Mar 6, Saturdays 10am Hula Hoop Fitness (info and online registration)

Feb 6 - Mar 6, Saturdays 9am Beginning Double Dutch (info and online registration)

Feb 6 - Mar 6, Saturdays 11am Intermediate Double Dutch (info and online registration)

Punk Show Tonight at Mars Bar

Stacey Merrick — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 12:38:26 -0800

Is there a bar called Mars Bar in every city in the US? I'm asking because I just got back from a long trip that included a few days in NYC. Sure enough, there is a punk rock dive bar called Mars Bar in East Village, which is totally unrelated to the Mars Bar here in Seattle. Is it as cool as Mars Bar in Seattle? I can't say for sure, but I can say that Mars Bar in Seattle is cleaner.

I guess Mars Bar in Seattle is technically called Cafe Venus and the MarsBar, but everyone I know calls it Mars Bar.

You know, the greatest thing about being a blogger is I can start off a post by posing an overgeneralized and under-researched question and then go on some random tangent and it just doesn't matter.

My friends Marzi and RJ told me about the show at Mars Bar tonight and I'm going, because if they say a show is going to be good, I believe them. They have advised me to go to many punk shows in recent years and they haven't let me down yet. Bands playing tonight are Heavy Guerrilla, Brewtal Thirst, and Joey Piss Drunk. The show starts at 9pm and there is a $6 cover.

Cafe Venus and the MarsBar is located at 609 Eastlake Ave E in Seattle near REI.

Salsa!

Stacey Merrick — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 12:07:43 -0800

Now that the weather is crap, and will continue be crap until June, I feel a need to find a replacement for fun outdoor activities so I won't be sitting around all winter in a haze of seasonal depression. That's why I have started going to Salsa night at Century Ballroom.

From what I can tell, there is a pretty big Salsa scene in Seattle. I am a complete ignoramus about the whole scene, but I can tell you that the few times I have gone Salsa dancing I have had a blast. I have danced with many very patient dance partners who have been kind enough to help me learn to dance. Patient and friendly dance partners are key to having a good time dancing, and Salsa night at the Century has plenty of those kind souls.

Salsa night at the Century Ballroom is every Thursday night for $7. There is a 30 minute beginner lesson at 9pm, and then they have open dance from 9:30pm - 1:15am. I have also been to Bachata night at Halo on Wednesday nights, which is pretty low key, and it's a good place to practice Bachata.

I found a great website for Salsa in Seattle that lists many many different places to go dancing and learn how to dance. I have discovered that it doesn't really matter if you have a partner, there is always someone who will dance with you. I definitely recommend checking it out.

Ski & Snowboard Pre-Season Bash at Club Motor

Stacey Merrick — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:35:38 -0800

Um... so... this event is supposed to be a pre-season bash, but to the delight of skiers and snowboarders in the northwest, winter came early this year. Celebrate an excellent start to our winter season at Club Motor this Friday!

Bands playing include The T Bagging Bandits, Guns of Nevada, The Pop Can Pipers, and Rane Stone.

If you are attending the Ski Fever & Snowboard Show at the Washington State Convention Center on Friday, transportation will be provided by OurPartyBus.com.

As for me, I'll be enjoying some pre-season freshies on the slopes of Crystal Mountain tomorrow. See you there!

Reader Giveaway: Cherry Poppin' Daddies

Stacey Merrick — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:38:58 -0800

One of my all-time favorite albums is Ferociously Stoned by the Cherry Poppin' Daddies. I bought the cassette tape when the album first came out, and then I bought the CD, and that CD wore out, so I bought another copy of the CD, then that CD disappeared so I bought another copy. Then, one summer day while I was driving with the top down on my jeep, I decided to listen to the CD, but it flew out of my hand and of my car. So, I immediately went to a record store and bought another copy. Thank goodness for technology because now I have the album stored on my hard drive. My point is the album is so good that, over the years, I have gone to a lot of trouble to make sure that album stays in my music library.

I am thrilled to announce that the Cherry Poppin' Daddies have TWO new albums out and they are playing at the Tractor Tavern on Nov 21. The two albums are called Susquehanna (a genre-hopper similar to their other full length albums, touching on Latin, punk, swing, ska, new wave, rockabilly, and more) and Ska-boy JFK: The Skankin’ Hits of the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies (a showcase of their Ska material, similar to how their successful album Zoot Suit Riot was a showcase of their swing material). Both are in stores now! Here are a couple songs from the albums for you to listen to now:

Mongoose and The Snake - a rockabilly tune From Susquehanna
Hi and Lo – a Ska/Punk tune from Ska-boy JFK and Susquehanna

Even better news is I have some Cherry Poppin' Daddies swag to giveaway. The first reader to comment on this blog post and name their favorite Cherry Poppin' Daddies song gets one copy of each new CD mentioned above, 1 signed poster AND some stickers, pins, and buttons.

Crystal Mountain Opens This Wednesday!!

Stacey Merrick — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:10:33 -0800

Today marks two very important and wonderful occasions: the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the announcement of this season's opening day at Crystal Mountain. Crystal Mountain is opening this Wednesday, Nov 11, with limited operations: the Discovery, Chinook Express, Quicksilver & Forest Queen lifts will run from 9am-4pm. Lift tickets will be discounted to $30 for adults and $25 for youth and seniors. Kids under 10 ski free.

Now, I want you to close your eyes for one second, take a deep cleansing breath, then open your eyes and look at the below image:

That could be your view on Wednesday instead of this:

Keep up with news of Crystal Mountain by becoming a fan on Facebook. Also, check out the Crystal Mountain Ski Patrol blog.

Trolloween!

Stacey Merrick — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:42:42 -0800

Whenever a friend of family member visits me in Seattle, I always take them to see the Fremont Troll. To me, the Fremont Troll represents the quirky undertone of Seattle which makes it a really fun place to live. This Saturday (Halloween), the Fremont Troll is turning 20 and there is going to be a celebration like nobody's business.

Trolloween, Oct 31st at 7 PM sharp, is the birthday party for the Fremont Troll. We will start the celebration with him under the Aurora Bridge, as he loves a good laugh and a great story. We will soon be off on the annual Haunt of Fremont.

This 20th anniversary of the birth of the Fremont Troll, we'll be experiencing the tale of Dante’s Inferno. Many artists and performers will present their twisted & whacky version of this dark tale, known to us as: ‘Just a little lover’s spat, honey’.

Rain or dry, we will sing, dance, marvel, and laugh our way through the dark underbelly of Dante and Fremont. An unsweetened and piquant family event with plenty of fun to scare the laughs out of any stoic kid or stogy adult.

Come dress as your favorite dead celebrity and take part in our costume walk across the final stage, under the Fremont Bridge, for the appreciation of your community.

If you have been to the Fremont Solstice Parade, you know the Fremont Arts Council goes all out for their festivals, so I expect Trolloween to be amazing this year with lots and lots of performers and artists.

This is a free event but donations are welcome.

Georgetown Haunted History Tour

Stacey Merrick — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:18:52 -0800

Tonight I'm going on the Georgetown Haunted History Tour. The tour isn't one of those haunted house tours where people jump out and startle you. At least, I don't think people will jump out and startle you. This is my first year doing to the tour so I guess I'll find out. This is a tour of actual haunted sites throughout Georgetown. I'll report if I see a ghost. Below is information posted on Brown Paper Tickets:

The Haunted History Walking Tour is now in its 5th year, and is hosted by Friends of Georgetown History. Starting at Coliman Restaurant on East Marginal Way and winding through the Georgetown neighborhood to the original Rainier Brewery on Airport Way, the tour features Georgetown's past and current characters, architecture and ghosts. The Walking Tour departs every 20 minutes beginning at 6PM on October 23 and 24.

Location: Georgetown, Seattle (begins at Coliman [Mexican] Restaurant)

Date and time: Oct 23 and 24, tours every 20 minutes beginning at 6pm, last tour begins at 7:40pm

Price: $10

First (ever) Annual Bikery Art Auction

Stacey Merrick — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:27:17 -0800

I'm really excited about The Bikery. It is a nonprofit organization located on the corner of 14th & Jackson that offers, among other things, bicycle maintenance classes on a sliding scale. I'm a DIY kind of gal, and I know a lot of other people are like me and don't want to spend the money and/or can't afford to bring their bike into a bike shop to get repaired. I mean, even an annual tune-up can get pricey if you take it to a bicycle mechanic at a bike shop. Did you even know that you need to tune-up your bike every year? Do you know what a tune-up entails? If not, you better go to The Bikery and find out. The Bikery offers a place and instructors who will show you how to take care of your bike.

The Bikery is a volunteer run non-profit organization that strives to improve the accessibility of the bicycle both as a form of sustainable and healthy transportation and as the foundation of a distinct culture throughout the city of Seattle and particularly in the Central District. Through collaborative hands-on education and the sharing of empowering skills, the Bikery strives to cultivate the personal, social, and environmental benefits of cycling.

Because it is a non-profit, The Bikery, of course, needs the support of the community. One way you can help is you can attend the first Bikery Art Auction on October 25. You can also donate art for the auction (the deadline for submissions is October 23). Please contact The Bikery with submissions or questions at 206-568-3535, info@thebikery.org, or during open hours. The Bikery is located at 1265 S. Main St., Suite #104 (Sat 12-6, Sun-Tues 2-8). The auction will be held at 20/20 Cycles.

Zenzi Burlesque Presents: The Private Collection

Stacey Merrick — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:26:46 -0800

A new burlesque show is coming out from local Seattle group Zenzi Burlesque and Rainy Night Productions October 9 - 10. Not a typical burlesque show, this performance includes vaudeville, music, film, and dance and the show takes you through a full theater experience.

As usual with Zenzi burlesque shows, tickets are selling out fast so I suggest you buy your ticket in advance. Tickets are $15 and you can buy your ticket here.

Location: Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way SW, Seattle

Date and Time: October 9 9pm and October 10 7pm, 9pm

Price: $15 (buy tickets in advance here)

Rockabilly Ball

Stacey Merrick — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:07:52 -0800

I brushed up on my swing dancing at the Century Ballroom on Sunday and I have my outfits all picked out for this weekend's Rockabilly Ball at the Tractor Tavern in Ballard, so I think I'm ready for the weekend's festivities. This year marks the 22nd year of the three day event, and the lineup is hot.

Thursday: Roy Kay Combo, Jukehouse Hounds, Billy Dwayne and the Creepers, The Shake The Shack Rock'n Roll Party featuring: Vince Mira, Mark Pickerel, Christy McWilson, Billy Joe of the Dusty 45s and many more special guests.

Friday: The Star Devils, Rockin’ Lloyd Tripp and the Zipguns, Captain Jeffrey and the Chumbuckets, Slim Sandy

Saturday: Starkweather Boys, Rocky Velvet, Hillbilly Casino, The Still Creek Brothers

This is my first year attending this event and I have heard great things about it, and I have also heard that it sells out every year, so if you want to attend, make sure you get your tickets. Tickets are $15 for each night Thursday, Sept 24 - Saturday Sept 26. You can buy tickets in advance here.

I will be selling videos of past Rockabilly Balls for RJ of Smartass Press Productions at the event. Stop by and buy a video from me, or just say "hi," and compliment on my awesome hair, which will be courtesy of Marzi Mezzanotti.