Legendary Trolls: Jakob Two Trees
“Long ago,” Theo said, “this land was ruled by beings of another world. Sprites and hidden folk. Nymphs and animal spirits. But the largest of all were the trolls.” He gestured to the giant ahead, and Thomas took in the vast, wooden creature, awestruck. “They tended to the land, caught fish in the rivers, and planted trees. Then one day, Man came to the forest. With axes brandished, they felled the trees that had been planted. They tore up the land and declared it their own.
“A moot was held in the forest between all who lived within it. The rodents cried out, filled with terror, ‘What do we do?’
Legendary Trolls: Oscar’s Interludes
i.
my heart splits into six fragments.
and the king is the first to rise.
ii.
he gazes out at all the birds that
comprise his myth and his monarchy.
iii.
feathers descend like snowflakes while whales
salute and serenade with blowhole trumpets.
Other Legendary Trolls: Seattle Kraken
NB: Thank you so much for agreeing to this interview, Mr. Kraken. I think a lot of people were confused when the Seattle Kraken’s mascot turned out to be…not a Kraken. Can you give us the inside scoop?
BK: Call me Brodie. Mr. Kraken is my dad and he's a huge bummer. I’m so stoked to get a chance to set the record straight, man. It’s been heavy since that little troll weirdo got picked over me.
The HaHa Report: Laughter Really IS Medicine
Happy holidays, my dear darling comedy nerds! For this edition of my Haha Report, I wanted to take a break from interviews, overviews, and previews to wish everyone a very haha-filled holiday.
Parker’s Pages: Recipe for a Charmed Life
Recipe for a Charmed Life by Rachel Linden made for a perfect evening, and I can’t recommend it enough. If you are looking for something fun and easy to get in to, this is the book for you! Whether describing a perfect Parisian dish or the green-blue water of the Sound, Linden has descriptions to die for, and a perfect grasp of pacing. And as if that wasn’t amazing enough, her characters are likable, with strong convictions that propel them forward in satisfying (and sometimes tense) ways.
Max’s Musings: Vulnerable Poe
In addition to short stories, Poe found his calling in the realm of poetry. With classics like “The Raven” and “Annabel Lee” standing among his most famous poems, Poe seemingly and eloquently duels both forms.
For this week. I wanted to choose a poem that I have not been exposed to before. I’m hoping it’s new for you as well. I selected “Deep in the Earth”, written in 1847, for discussion due to its simplicity yet deep sense of open vulnerability.
Punk Rock Flea Market: Mainstay of Seattle’s Underground Arts
I had last been to the Punk Rock Flea Market (PRFM) in July, while they were hosting the Seattle Zine Fest. The legendary market is currently hosted at 416 15th Ave E—the retail space of an old QFC. Capitol Hill Seattle Blog's Justin Carder chronicled the PRFM's journey, saying it has filled voids in the community by occupying the retail spaces of at least four shuttered storefronts.
Indie Albacore Earns Local Respect at St. Jude Market
One of the great American seafood sins of our times pertains to albacore tuna, specifically that we view this truly beautiful and delicious fish as essentially canned cat food. Shockingly few Pacific Northwest denizens are even aware that the waters off our coast are a notable seasonal albacore fishery, one rated Best Choice by the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch List no less. Sometimes you just need to hit the docks of Fishermen’s Terminal to learn the truth. Enter Joe Malley, captain and owner of 95’ fishing vessel St. Jude.
Blithe Spirit Adds Levity and Camp to Holiday Season
All Hallows may have come and gone, but some ghosts still come haunting. It is a tradition of the holiday season after all—spirits haunting the arrogant wealthy. And as Charles Dickens said in A Christmas Carol, “There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.”
Black Nativity Rejoices in Community Strength at Intiman Theatre
This year marks the second annual performance of what director Valerie Curtis-Newton calls “a re-imagined version” of the show, which was interrupted in 2020 when COVID caused what was to be the almost two-year mandated closure of all theatres and live performances. Curtis-Newton’s mission is to “bring community back to our lives” and find hope in the face of the devastating effects of the pandemic, which, according to the CDC, continue to include mental and emotional health as well as compromised abilities for how we interact socially with each other.
Intentional Shopping: How to Impact Fashion Sustainability
Who doesn’t enjoy the feeling of buying something for yourself or someone you love? Finding the perfect “thing” can be fun, and even life-changing. But if you aren’t careful, the feel-good chemicals generated when shopping—adrenaline and dopamine—can make the activity addicting.
Interstella 5555 Unites Anime and Daft Punk Fans in Anti-Corporate Music Message
So obviously, when I saw that Daft Punk was re-releasing their 2003 animated film Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem and that it would be playing at Seattle’s SIFF Uptown theater, I got a ticket. The animated film sets the 2001 album Discovery to a story about an extraterrestrial band who’s kidnapped and brought to Earth by a power-hungry music executive who makes them massively popular and exploits their talent.
Iconic Convos: Pike Place Market
Iconic Convos brings a lighthearted twist to celebrity interviews by conceiving imaginary chats with Seattle's most famous non-human icons.
Nicole Bearden: Before we begin, I would like to thank you, Pike Place, for finding time to speak with me today. I know how busy you are—you never get a day off!
Pike Place Market: Haha, that's right! But I am happy to have the chance to speak on my own behalf for once, and perhaps set the record straight on a few things.
What Will it Take to Keep Cinema Spaces Alive?
The cineplexes have suffered, yes, but it’s the neighborhood theaters and the art houses that are facing the brunt of the downturn. If people choose to see a film, they are more inclined to see it in a theater that provides an experience. It is not enough to be with strangers staring at a large screen. Now that screen has to be so big you have to turn your head, or the seats have to recline, or there needs to be a meal service and alcohol. People are searching for the nouveau riche instead of the walkable and homey.
Bathroom Battleground: The Fight for Human Rights and Dignity
Do you need to use the bathroom? Better have your ID ready. Does that sound absurd? Just wait—it might become reality sooner than you think. And it won’t just affect trans women, either. It’s likely to impact any woman who doesn’t fit narrow definitions of femininity.
Artist Peters + Curator Silva Collab at Frye for New, Timely Exhibit
The harmonious pairing of artist Mary Ann Peters and Alexis L. Silva has culminated in a truly outstanding show of Peters’ work at Frye Art Museum, the edge becomes the center. In this show, based on research on displacement and the Middle Eastern diaspora, Peters conducts archival research in several countries (Lebanon, Mexico, and France), then uses her artworks to contextualize her findings. I sat down recently with Peters and Silva to discuss the impetus for this body of Peters’ work and the professional synthesis between artist and curator.
Max’s Musings: David Guterson
Where do poets turn to for inspiration?
For this week, I wanted to choose a poet whose roots lie in the heart of the Pacific Northwest. David Guterson, a Seattle native with decades of hiking experience, published Turn Around Time in 2019. Guterson describes Turn Around Time as “a waking poem for the Pacific Northwest,” as the collection is full of poems with nature-enriched imagery paired with Washington artist Justin Gibben’s illustrations.
To Tech Millennials, With Love: Lauren Appelbaum’s Latest Seattle Rom-Com
It’s often said that there is the technical and the creative and ne’er the twain shall meet. But local author Lauren Appelbaum aims to show otherwise with the release of her debut novel Rachel Weiss’s Group Chat.
The HaHa Report: Molina Molina
Producer, podcast host, stand-up, improviser, writer, influencer. These are hardly enough words to describe the mega-talent that is Molina Molina. With just three years in the Seattle comedy scene at the age of 23, she has taken the city by storm. I caught up with her to chat comedy, harnessing your voice, and much more as she gears up to perform for her second consecutive year at the San Francisco Sketch Festival (the US’s largest sketch festival), featuring talent like the cast of Futurama and Bill Murray in January 2025
Spread Some Holiday Queer (Cheer!) with a War on Christmas
After seeingScott Shoemaker’s War on Christmas!, I can say confidently that this is a show you absolutely cannot miss. With a wicked sense of humor, fantastic musical parodies, and costumes that are equal parts stunning and hilarious, War on Christmas! has it all. Even this writer, a known Christmas naysayer, found the holiday spirit while watching this spectacular production, and it will no-doubt melt even the Grinchiest of hearts. This annual Christmas show, brought to us by Shoes and Pants Productions and Theatre Off Jackson, makes a wonderful introduction to the holiday season and will fill you with Xmas joy.
