Iconic Convos: Black Sun
BS: The more people change, the more they remain the same. People, seasons, time—they all cycle, they all come back to incipience.
I bear witness to the spinning wheels of time, the turning clock of seasons, and the joys and sorrows of man—I bear it all and it is both a heavy burden, and a lightsome ecstasy.
A trio of squirrels playing tag in my tree friends' branches. The cries of a woman brought to regret by a loathsome monster. And in between are the mediocre events, such as life and death which keep us turning—I see all.
Sound Cinema: The Grand Illusion
It is tough when a beloved institution closes its doors, but it’s wonderful when it can be given an excellent send off. The Grand Illusion Cinema has been at 1403 NE 50th Street in the U District for over 50 years, the last 20 of which have been as a completely volunteer-run non-profit. The theater will be closing soon and having its final screenings this month.
Will Seattle Fund Social Housing?
With the historic November election still visible in our rear view mirrors, Seattle voters will be taking to their ballots again in just a few weeks’ time for the February 11, 2025, special election. Among their bubbles will be a voter initiative regarding social housing—this time to fund it. The initiative will appear on the ballot as Prop 1A, but will compete against a City Council alternative called Prop 1B, currently being backed by the Seattle Chamber of Commerce.
Max’s Musings: Yeats
Where do you turn to when you feel alone?
William Butler Yeats, also known as W. B. Yeats, was an Irish poet and playwright. With standalone poems like “The Second Coming”, “The Lake Isle of Innisfree”, and “Sailing to Byzantium”, I wanted to choose a lesser-known poem of his for discussion this week.
Missed the Northern Lights in 2024? Check Out Project Aurora
A year marked by breathtaking Puget Sound aurora borealis visits may be behind us, but the work of Ballard-based multimedia artist Ginny Ruffner immortalizes the phenomenon with Project Aurora—a newly permanent exhibit at the National Nordic Museum. The medium of LED lights guided by programmed microprocessors towers over the entrance lobby of the museum thanks to support from the Kongsgaard Goldman Family.
Parker’s Pages: The Highest Tide
Jim Lynch is a Washington native and you can tell. This book practically reeks of the Puget Sound, of Olympia, and the clear water of the bay; you can hear, taste, and feel it on each page. This novel was written by someone who knows the Sound like an old friend, and although I’m not a natural born Seattleite, I could picture each place described in this novel with sharp clarity. Be they skittling crabs, spitting geoducks, or a squirming sea slug, this book brings the animals of the bay to life.
The Beacon Calls Fans to Classic Nosferatu
The Beacon is located at the very edge of Columbia City, nestled in a wall of ivy and wedged between nail salons and a neon-illuminated funeral home. The single-screen cinema opened its doors in 2019, boasting an eclectic mix of curated films. Amidst the popularity of Robert Eggers’ new film, it’s only logical for a place like The Beacon to showcase one of its predecessors: Werner Herzog’s Nosferatu: The Vampyre.
Max’s Musings: Shakespeare Sonnet
Shakespeare’s thought provoking, gut-wrenching, and philosophical sonnets hold their own weight and intrinsic merit. Tempted with many different pinpoints of poetry to discuss, I ended up selecting “Sonnet 100” due to its depiction of a poet’s relationship with their melodious muse and how it allows its readers to contemplate relationships both past and present, and how they still play into their lives today.
Juni One Set: Stunning Immersive Mythos with Myriad Arts
It began like many myths do: in darkness. Thin beams of light panned over the space from the back of the house, curious and searching. Nishimura and Kohl descended upon the stage with headlamps strapped to their brows, exploring the space with a playful curiosity. Once they arrived, lighting by Jessica Trundy illuminated the set and established the world of the performance. Transparent projection screens stretched across three points of the set, two of which concealed platforms the performers utilized throughout the performance.
Legendary Trolls: Frankie Feetsplinter
So we have a youthful, impetuous character on our hands. The brash invasion into the city from the forest differentiates him from his fellow Way of the Bird King kin. His stance—crushing a bench under his foot with two open, ready-for-action hands at his hips—seems to invite a challenge. Yet his demeanor is not overtly hostile and resembles more of a teenager's defiance. He seems possessive of the National Nordic Museum, posted at the entrance like a guard.
Rat City Roller Derby Radiates Blaze of Women’s Empowerment
Roller derby is a sport built on grit, strength, and feminism. These qualities distinguish it from most mainstream sports, which are dominated by men athletes and administrators. Even where women’s leagues exist, the structures that support them are often still dictated by men-dominated decision-making. Roller derby stands out because its foundation has been shaped by women. It is one of the few sports where women aren’t just participants, but are the driving force behind every aspect of the game.
Creature Panic Chats beso bears, Guerilla Art at Punk Rock Flea Market
I found them in the middle of their half-workspace, half-gallery corner of flea market paradise. They were surrounded by their signature beso bears and clutching a black marker with a corgi sock as a custom grip. A 6x4’ painting with three bears appearing to pounce in place in a meadow with a stream hung overhead. A few sculptures—conglomerations of various scavenged items—were placed at the edges of this scene to delineate the creative zone.
Max’s Musings: Poe on Love
Why do poets use poetry as their medium of choice?
I wanted to continue sharing my thoughts on Edgar Allen Poe’s poem “Deep in Earth” from last week through another lens due to the impact it yields on me.
Legendary Trolls: Bruun Idun
Bruun Idun, your ancestors saw the glacial ice as it covered the world. They watched as it receded and carved this land. The retreating ice dug deeply for water to seep and swell, rising to fill basins. The water created islands, inlets, bays, coves, straits, and peninsulas. It teemed with life birthing new species and giving a home to others. The whales ruled near the surface and the octopuses kept their kingdom below the murky depths. The water blossomed as the land called to new creatures.
Legendary Trolls: Troll Mama
“There’s Trolls in them thar hills!”
The Trolls of which I speak are, of course, the much talked about sculptures brought to the Pacific Northwest (and beyond) through a unique collaboration between Danish recycle artist and activist Thomas Dambo, Scan Design Foundation, and several Coast Salish tribes—especially members from Muckleshoot and Snoqualmie.
Legendary Trolls: Song of the Trolls
We the Trolls of the Sound
Wish for you to gather ‘round
As we tell our tale of all our deeds,
Our arrival here, our sowing seeds….
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.
