Seattle on the Fringe

Decibel Festival 2011

Stacey Merrick — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 10:55:03 -0800

I'm a fan of the Decibel Festival, and this year it is happening September 28-Oct 2. Over the past nine years, the Seattle-based Decibel has booked over 700 artists ranging from experimental, to leading-edge electronic dance music and visual art. With a focus on live performance, interactive multimedia art, state-of-the-art sound and technology-based education, Decibel has solidified itself as one of the premier electronic music festivals and promotional organizations in the world.

In 2010 the Decibel Festival celebrated it's 7th anniversary, pulling in over 18,000 people to Seattle. The 2010 edition featured over 150 artists and educators performing at over a dozen venues over the four-day festival.

The 8th edition of the Decibel International Festival of Electronic Music Performance, Visual Art and New Media will be taking place September 28th through October 2nd. This year there will be several new venue partners, including The Paramount Theatre, The Showbox Market, The Crocodile and Fred Wildlife Refuge. Additional venues for the 2011 program include Neumos, The Triple Door, The Baltic Room, Sole Repair and The Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall at Benaroya (more venues TBA). With increased venue capacities and new downtown locations, this year is going to be amazing. For more informational, check out dBFestival.com, Decibel Festival on Facebook, or Decibel Festival on Twitter.

Adult Bike Repair Class at Bike Works

Stacey Merrick — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 20:30:34 -0800

If you want to buy a holiday gift for a friend or family member who rides a bike, or if you want to treat yourself, I have an idea for you. Enrollment is now open at Bike Works for the next sessions of ABC, the Adult Basics Class (Jan. 16th – Feb. 20th) and the intermediate level class, DEF, aka Developing Excellent Fixing-Skills (Jan. 5th – Feb. 9th).

Bike Works is known for its community youth programs, but they also offer a few amazing classes for adults. I took the Adult Basics Class a couple of years ago and I cannot even begin to describe how much I learned. I'll tell you this much, it's a beginner class but I finished that class feeling like I knew a whole lot about bike repair. Now I can make minor adjustments and fixes to my bike and I don't have to take my bike into a shop to get a tune-up every year. The class began with super basic stuff like learning how to change a tube and eventually covered more advanced stuff like overhauling a headset. I haven't been able to find a more thorough beginner class for this price anywhere else.

The intermediate class covers more details about bike repair like truing a wheel, how to set up derailleurs for reliable shifting, the secrets of overhauling complex three piece bottom brackets and advanced braking systems and much, much more.

These classes fill up up fast, so act quickly if you want to secure your spot by getting in the form and fee. The forms are available here. The fee for the class is $100 if you commit to 9 -18 hours of volunteer work, which is usually working on bikes so it's basically homework AND you are doing something for the community. If you can't commit to volunteering, you can pay $150 for the class.

ABC class schedule: Sundays, 1:30-3:30pm January 16th – February 20th

DEF class schedule: Wednesdays, 6:30-9:30pm January 5th – February 9th

Happy Halloween from Hello Kitty and Sanrio!

Stacey Merrick — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 07:18:55 -0800

It's the 50th anniversary of Sanrio and, if you happen to be near Seattle Center today (perhaps for zombcon), I strongly suggest you look for the Sanrio mobile pop-up tour. Trust me, it's hard to miss and, if you are a Sanrio fan or know someone who is, you will not want to miss the free giveaways and the option to purchase limited edition Sanrio items. I got a cute tote bag when I saw the tour in San Francisco last weekend. I mean it's really cute. Many collectible items are only available on the tour. Sanrio Monopoly! Sanrio 50 character skateboard deck!

The pop-up tour will be in Seattle Center all day today.

Character appearances Goody bags to the first 50 people to visit the shop and make a purchase!
Coupons for free Hello Kitty band-aids with any purchase!
Free snacks, stickers and goodies handed out sporadically to crowds!
Chance to play the Sanrio spin wheel – grand prize winners receive a $10 Target gift card!
Video and pictures will be taken randomly by Sanrio – fans have a chance to appear on Hello Kitty’s blog and facebook!

Haunted House

Stacey Merrick — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 10:50:10 -0800

Halloween is my favorite holiday, mostly because I love zombies. I also love a good haunted house, and it took me a couple of years to find a good one in Seattle.

My favorite haunted house in Seattle is KUBE 93 FM's Haunted House at the old Georgetown Morgue in SODO. I went last year and I was properly frightened from the experience. I don't want to give away too many details, but there were rooms that grossed me out, rooms that gave me vertigo, and rooms that startled me so much that I screamed out loud. Also, it's at an old morgue. An old morgue! So creepy.

Now, I am kind of a wimp when it comes to being scared so I scare pretty easily, but this was not a kiddie haunted house by any means. Casper the Friendly Ghost does not live in this haunted house. Although, it's not going to scar children for life, either, like, if you took your kids to the movies to see The Godfather or The Black Hole.

My advice is get there about 20 or 30 minutes before they open so you don't have to wait in line forever. Or, there is the option to pay $10 more per person to get in the VIP speed line, which means you get to cut in front of the line. You can buy tickets online, and view the haunted house schedule online.

Paddle Boarding on Lake Union

Stacey Merrick — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 09:22:20 -0800

Summer is almost over <sob> but a great way to cool off during the last warm days of the year is to get out on Lake Union or Lake Washington. I rented an SUP (Stand Up Paddle board) from Northwest Outdoor Center on Lake Union for an hour and I had a great time. Paddle boarding is a new sport where you stand on a surf board and paddle with an oar to move yourself around. I didn't take a lesson because it's not too difficult to learn. If you know how to use an oar, you can paddle board. The first time I tried it I struggled for about 20 minutes with balancing on my feet on a more advanced board, but NWOC has 3 different kinds of paddle boards which range from easy to expert, and the easy boards are very stable. I watched the following video by John Denny and East Coast Paddle Surfing before I went out on the water and that was all I needed to know.

It only costs $13/hour plus tax to rent a paddle board and oar, and NWOC provides you with a life vest. I recommend calling ahead to reserve your paddle board to make sure they will have one available to use.

The view from Lake Union is spectacular, of course, because you have a great view of Gasworks Park, the Space Needle, St. Marks Cathedral, downtown Seattle, and more. My only complaint was the noisy sea planes, but it is kind of cool to watch them take off and land in the lake.

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.