Category Archives: Local Events

Clean and Green, Local Events

Tour and imagine the Beacon Food Forest this weekend

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This is the site that will become the Beacon Food Forest. Construction will start later this year. Photo courtesy of Friends of the Beacon Food Forest.

The Beacon Food Forest team invite the community to visit the Food Forest site during the Beacon Hill Festival this Saturday, June 2, to imagine what will soon be.

Christina Olson tells us: “The Food Foresters will have their site ‘planted’ with over 40 varieties of fruit and nut trees, berry bushes, compost bins, beehives, and everything else needed to realize a great community gathering spot and food resource.”

There will be signs in the ground to show what will eventually be planted or built in each location. Olson says, “You stroll along the path, you see a sign that says ‘#1: Apple’ then you look at the handout and see that #1 is the Chehalis Apple, which is large, yellow and sweet; it ripens in September. You stroll further and see #40 and read that that is the location of the beehives. And on and on. There are over 45 trees, berry bushes, or built elements that will be located.”

Grading of the site will begin in July, after which it will be a construction zone for a while as waterlines, retaining walls, paths, and other features are constructed. This weekend is the best opportunity to visit the site and visualize the future Forest before the mess begins.

The Beacon Food Forest is located immediately west and downhill of Jefferson Park, on the big grassy slope along 15th Avenue South between Dakota and Spokane Street. Follow the signs along the Park footpath to the tour starting point.

History of the Hill, Local Events

All are invited to celebrate Southeast Seattle Community History Project

Those interested in the history of our part of Seattle should journey to nearby Columbia City this Friday, June 1, at 5:30 pm for a free all-ages public event celebrating the Southeast Seattle Community History Project.

The Community History Project’s goal is to use traditional historic preservation methods combined with community-based research to identify and illuminate the people, places, events, and policies that shaped Southeast Seattle during the post-World War II era. See the Project’s website here.

Some of the Project’s activities have included studies by community organizations such as El Centro de la Raza, the Northwest African American Museum, the Wing Luke Asian Museum and the Washington State Jewish Historical Society; essays on geographic and social themes related to the neighborhoods within Southeast Seattle; a new local history app by HistoryLink.org; and a multilingual poster series in Chinese, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

The event is at the Royal Esquire Club, 5016 Rainier Ave. S. in the Columbia City Historic District. Deputy Mayor Darryl Smith and City Councilmember Sally Clark will be there to join the celebration. Free Southeast Seattle posters will be available.

For more information, contact Melinda Bloom at 206.682.0228 or melinda.bloom@seattle.gov.

Arts, Local Events, Volunteering and Giving

Volunteers needed for Beacon Rocks!

Volunteers are needed to help put on the Beacon Rocks! summer music series. Help is needed for these roles (at all three events unless noted):

  • “Set up” shift, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.: unloading tables and chairs, setting up canopies, creating an information booth, helping folks cross at the crosswalk, helping performers get set up, setting out garbage/recycling cans, putting up signage, supporting youth volunteers and vendor set up.
  • Sound system technician, June 24 and July 29, 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Poetry facilitator, June 24
  • Event emcee, August 26, 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • “Running the show” shift, 12 noon – 3 p.m.: vendor support, information booth, assisting performers’ set up, crosswalk assistance, support of youth volunteers
  • “Break down” shift, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.: rounding up and putting away tables, chairs, canopies, signage, garbage/recycling.

Volunteers will get a free t-shirt. To volunteer or for more info, call or email ROCKiT Community Arts Volunteer Coordinator Liz Walsh-Boyd at lizzie583@msn.com or 206-324-6351.

The events’ themes have been decided. They are:

  • Sunday, June 24: “Transportation” theme. Light rail representatives and possibly Metro transit will be there
  • Sunday, July 2 “Save the (Weather-vane) Whale” theme. Water fun and a project to restore the “fallen” whale to the top of the Garden House
  • Sunday, August 26 “Barter Your Way” theme. An assortment of services/products and people who “trade” in these items.

Each event will also have a poetry activity.

These folks volunteered their time and labor to make the first Beacon Rocks! series happen in 2010. Photo by Julia Cheng in the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool.
Arts, Local Events

Hillbettys headline June Folk Club concert

The Hillbettys.

Next Sunday, June 3, “all girl bluegrass band” the Hillbettys are headlining the monthly Garden House Folk Club concert. The Hillbettys — Paisley (upright bass), Alyse (banjo), Milly “Racoon” (fiddle), and Kate (guitar) — will play “mountain music for the masses” at the Garden House, 2336 15th Ave. S. Dinner is at 6 p.m. and the music starts at 7 p.m. Admission is $7 for adults, free for kids.

John Shaw will open the show. Shaw is a songwriter who has written 60 songs on commission over the last three years, many of them as a fundraiser for Beacon Hill International School’s PTA. He is also writing a book on the the visionary tradition in America’s national anthems, due out in late 2013.

Dinner, or “Beacon Bento,” is now available at Garden House concerts. Local restaurants Baja Bistro, Inay’s Kitchen, Taqueria Luisa, and Travelers’ Thali House will provide a variety of ethnic dishes, including mole enchiladas, pork Adobo, Tunga burritos, and Janti thali as take out meals to enjoy outside in the fresh air before the show or cabaret-style during the show. All meals are $10 or less. See the menu here.

Arts, Local Events

Schedule announced for Beacon Hill Festival

A performer at last year's Beacon Hill Festival. Photo by Furchin in the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool.

This year’s Beacon Hill Festival (Saturday, June 2 at the Jefferson Community Center, Jefferson Park) will feature two stages full of entertainment to go along with the food, games, vendors, and other activities at the festival.

Here is the current schedule (subject to change):

Park Stage

  • 11:00 Lion Dance — Jeffrey
  • 11:15 Ala Carte (a capella group)
  • 11:45 Jiffy (rock band)
  • 12:30 Kimball Elementary
  • 1:00 Washington Middle School Jr Band
  • 1:30 Washington Middle School Jr Strings
  • 2:00 Maple Elementary
  • 2:30 Skin Deep Belly Dance
  • 3:00 Tumbuka (marimba band)

Court Stage

  • 11:45 Hank Davis (singer-songwriter)
  • 12:15 Zumba — Carol
  • 1:15 Kung Fu Demo
  • 2:30 Dearborn Elementary S.C.A.T.S. (Seattle Cirque & Acrobat Team)
  • 3:30 Splinter Dance

Thanks to ROCKiT Community Arts for putting this schedule together and sending it out to us!

Local Events

Beacon Hill Festival is next week

The silent auction at last year's Beacon Hill Festival. Photo by Wendi Dunlap.
The 20th Annual Beacon Hill Festival is only a week away! Make plans for next Saturday, June 2 from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Jefferson Community Center, 3801 Beacon Ave S. (You won’t be able to miss it. The event is big!) There will be food, musical performances, bouncy toys, carnival games, vendors, a silent auction, and more. Admission is free for the whole family, and money raised through the vendors and silent auction will go to support scholarships and programs at the community center.

Local Events

Buy or sell at the Beacon Bazaar June 9

Saturday, June 9 is a big day with the Beacon Boogie and Block Party starting in the evening, but earlier in the day is another community event: the 7th Annual Beacon Bazaar, benefiting the Beacon Hill International School Parent Teacher Association.

The bazaar is at Beacon Hill International School, 2025 14th Ave. S., from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. There will be vendors selling tasty international cuisine, arts and crafts, clothing, books, and various other specialties from tables set up in front of the school along 14th Avenue South. Community members are welcome to set up tables to sell their own items; table rentals are $20 for BHIS PTA members and $30 for non-members. Vendors may keep their earnings, or donate all or part of them to the BHIS PTA.

Here is the information and vendor registration form. If you have questions, contact Bazaar Coordinator John Shaw at johnshawtoo@hotmail.com.

Arts, Local Events

Beacon Boogie and Block Party coming June 9-10

Mark your calendar for a weekend of music and food on June 9 and 10, when the 2012 Beacon Boogie and Block Party comes to North Beacon Hill.

On Saturday, June 9, there will be a series of performances, all within a half-block of Beacon and Hanford: from 5-8 p.m., The Hugh Sutton Trio will be at Bar del Corso, and Dina Blade at Kusina Filipina. From 6-9 p.m., Audio Couture will perform at Victrola Coffee, and Supersones at El Quetzal.

On Sunday, the action moves north, closer to the junction of Beacon and 15th, with a hip hop extravaganza presented outside The Station coffee shop from 4-9 p.m. (Stay tuned for the lineup as it is finalized.) From 6-9 p.m., the Greg Ruby Trio will play at Travelers Thali House, and from 7-9, Atasha Manila will be at Inay’s.

There will be other activities as well. Watch this space for more details.

Admission will be a donation of $5, with no charge for kids 12 and under. The event is sponsored by the Beacon Hill Merchants Association in collaboration with Luis Rodriguez at The Station and other participating merchants.

Local Events

A busy Beacon weekend ahead

Station 13 as it was in 2010. Celebrate its new renovation at a community open house this Saturday. Photo by Jason Simpson.

It’s a busy weekend this week, particularly on Saturday morning. Take your pick from several events, including:

Saturday:

The Seven Hills Seattle and Scandinavian history walk starts on Queen Anne Hill at 9 a.m. and finishes right here on Beacon Hill. Information here.

Fire Station #13 Open House from 11-1 p.m. will celebrate the station’s reopening after renovation. All are welcome. Information here.

Franklin Arts Festival from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m will feature music, art, and food for the whole family. Information here.

Beacon Hill animator Tess Martin’s short, Hula Hoop, will play at SIFF Cinema Uptown at 10 a.m. as part of the Seattle Times and SIFF 3 Minute Masterpiece contest. Admission is free. Information here.

Sunday:

All are invited to a Lewis Park work party to assist in improving the park. These volunteer events are every first and third Sunday, starting at 10 a.m. at the park, 12th Ave S and Golf Dr S. Tools, gloves, water, and refreshments are provided.

A bit later in the day is a cooking demo at El Centro de la Raza with chef Vincent Rivera of Jazz Alley, who will demonstrate how to cook carnitas, pozole, and ceviche. Information here.

And finally, the ROCKiT Community Arts board meeting is Sunday from 1-3 p.m. at the Garden House, 2336 15th Ave. S. The meeting is open to the public.

Education, Local Events

Franklin Arts Festival raises funds with music, art, and food

Painting by Franklin student Aren Roberson, courtesy of Franklin PTSA.

Just down the hill, the annual Franklin Arts Festival returns this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Franklin High School, 3013 Mount Baker Blvd. The festival will feature student performances including the steel drum band, kung fu team, jazz band, Quaker band, and lion dancers, along with displays of visual art, ceramics, and wood arts. Franklin High School is celebrating its centennial this year; it opened in September 1912 as the second purpose-built high school in Seattle.

Student clubs will sell a variety of items including heirloom tomato and vegetable plants, woodcrafts, notecards featuring student art, and original ceramic “Quaker cups” hand-thrown and fired by Franklin alum and artist Francis Roque and glazed by Franklin students. Refreshments will also be for sale.

The festival raises funds to benefit Franklin’s art, drama, and music programs and student clubs.