September 2018 theater openings – back to school edition
by Miryam Gordon SGN A&E Writer
Reliably, when kids go back to school, theater productions explode all over Seattle. This month, we have very interesting choices, from playwrights some may be particularly wishing to see on stage (Karen Zacarias, Native
Gardens, Dominique Morriseau, Skeleton Crew), a homegrown musical incubated in Village’s new musical development pipeline (The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes) and an exciting all-female Richard III that follows last year’s Henrys. see SEPT. OPENINGS page 4
Photographic Center Northwest presents BY THE BOOK: 9+ Designers
by Sharon Cumberland SGN A&E Writer
Hey, kids – the circus is coming to town! The Cirque du Soleil, that is – Canada’s most fabulous gift to the world. From September 7th to November 4th Redmond’s Marymoor Park will again host the famed spectacular that replaces exotic animals with humans who can do what humans aren’t supposed
Seattle Erotic Cinema Society announces SECS
The Seattle Erotic Cinema Society announces their second erotic film festival, SECS Fest, September 7th-9th, 2018.
Jadyn Muralt, Cherisse Martinelli, Alexandria Henderson, Carly Hebert, and Lia Lee in Showtunes Theatre Company's Legally Blonde at Cornish Playhouse – Photo by Danielle Barnum
Cirque du Soleil's “Volta” – Photo by Patrice Lamoureux, Costumes by Zaldy
Photo by Brian Allen
Photo courtesy of SECS Fest
Sister Act Aug 17
The Devil Wears Prada Aug 24
To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar Aug 31
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL
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to be able to do – fly through the air, twist into pretzels, walk upside-down on their pinkie fingers…! If you’ve been to a Cirque du Soleil show you know what I’m talking about. If you haven’t, well, you’re in for a treat. But before the show can begin, the “grand chapiteau” – the big tent – along with a family of smaller tents – has to be erected, and some of us lucky reporters were invited to watch one go up.
On a sunny Tuesday, on the vast field in Marymoor Park that plays host to the annual visit of Cirque du Soleil, a gaggle of guests donned hard hats and neon vests to follow publicist Steven Ross into a massive tent that drooped like a deflated balloon around four very high masts supporting a central ring where the ropes, chains, and other apparatus dangled. We were instructed to stay within the compass of the four masts while a gang of fifty or so men and women stationed themselves at ten-foot outer posts that had tops attached to the edges of the tent and bottoms unattached and sagging inward. On a signal, two or three people grabbed each post and dashed outward, pushing them upright into place as light flooded inside. Another stalwart worker stationed at the base of the mast busily cranked it higher to raise the roof as the posts moved outwards. The crew repeated this process around the circumference of the tent, lifting each section to the sound of posts scraping across asphalt pavement – a surprisingly musical racket, as though the tent itself had a voice that was both raucous and joyful.
Steven, our host, said that the crew placed 1,500 stakes to lift the tent, which measures 51 meters wide and 25 meters high. That’s 55 yards (167 feet) wide and 82 feet high – a very “grand chapiteau,” indeed. He also told us that the tent itself is made by hand in France at the Ferrari workshop, and
that each traveling show gets its own new canvas tent that resonates with the theme. Those of us who saw last year’s “Luzia,” with its Mexican motif, will remember that the tent was white and yellow. This year’s show, “Volta,” is set in an urban universe, so the tents are designed with swirls of gray and white – a color combo that is both thematic and sustainable since the white tent requires less energy to cool or heat. Stephan, a native of Montréal where Cirque du Soleil is headquartered, said that 126 workers travel with the show, but that they hire an additional 150 local workers in every city they visit. “Local people can answer questions about the community better than we can,” he said, “and even though we all speak English, we often travel to places like Japan and other countries where we need local people who know the area and who speak the language to work in the box office, food service, and security.”
But Steven also said how very glad he was to see Seattle Gay News represented among the guests since, he told me, “the show speaks to concerns of the LGBT community because the theme centers on difference, self-acceptance, and freedom.” He told me (no spoilers) that the focus character, Waz, moves from discontented attempts at conformity to self-acceptance and happiness. Both Joey Arrigo, the dancer who plays Waz, and Darius Harper, the main singer in the show, are members of the LGBT community. They and the large cast of performers enact a narrative about transformation and liberation. The show’s tag line, “Freedom is the ultimate achievement,” sets the tone for a show every bit as spectacular as past shows, but with a very strong theme addressing the issues surrounding identity and acceptance of one’s true nature.
“Volta” expresses this contemporary theme with urban forms of acrobatics and music – specifically BMX cycling, parkour, double-dutch rope skipping, street dancing, and skating – and especially the introduction of electronic music, a first for the company. French DJ M83 coordinates the
backtrack with five live musicians to make sure the music supports the pace of the performers, while producing the edgy, contemporary tone to this very new direction for Cirque du Soleil.
So – youngsters and oldsters, one and all – I’m here to tell you that the tents are up, the seventy vans that carry the sets and equipment are lined up in the back lot, the local hires are in training and the performers are
warming up. We are days away from the first performances of “Volta” so make your plans to see the newest entry in the long-running entertainment juggernaut of Cirque du Soleil. The “grand chapiteau” awaits! Cirque du Soleil’s “Volta” will be at Marymoor Park in Redmond, WA from September 7-November 4. For more information and tickets, visit cirquedusoleil/volta
Joey Arrigo as Waz in Cirque du Soleil's “Volta” – Photo by Michael Kass, Costumes by Zaldy
Raising of the “grand chapiteau” at Marymoor Park – Photos by Sharon Cumberland
SEPT. OPENINGS
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Peruse below and see other tantalizing offerings. Ding! The bell just rang! Hurry!
Prelude to a Kiss, Strawberry Theatre Workshop, 9/6-10/6
Peter and Rita fall for each other and decide to get married. During their wedding reception, an old man kisses Rita. Peter soon realizes that the kiss has caused Rita and the man to switch bodies. As he searches for a way to switch them back, Peter faces the dilemma of loving Rita in the body of a terminally ill man or staying married to a stranger posing as his wife.
www.strawshop.org/prelude.html
Native Gardens, Intiman Theatre, 9/630 (at Jones Playhouse)
You can’t choose your neighbors. In this new comedy by Karen Zacarias, cultures and gardens clash, turning well-intentioned neighbors into feuding enemies. Pablo, a rising attorney, and doctoral candidate Tania, his very pregnant wife, have just purchased a home next to Frank and Virginia, a wellestablished D.C. couple with a prize-worthy English garden. An impending barbeque for Pablo’s colleagues and a delicate disagreement over a long-standing fence line soon spirals into an all-out border dispute, exposing both couples’ notions of race, taste, class and privilege.
http://intiman.org/nativegardens
Skylight, ACT Theatre, 9/7-30 (opens 9/13)
David Hare’s play about a man and woman reuniting after several years apart. Is the gap between them unbridgeable, or can they resurrect their relationship? An intensely clear-sighted, complex, and thought-provoking drama about power, politics, and a love affair. www.acttheatre.org
Waitress, Paramount Theatre, 9/11-16
Inspired by Adrienne Shelly’s beloved film, Waitress tells the story of Jenna, waitress and expert pie maker. Jenna dreams of a way out of her small town and loveless marriage. A baking contest in a nearby county and the town’s new doctor may offer her a chance at a fresh start, while her fellow wait staff offer their own recipes for happiness. www.stgpresents.org
Richard III, Seattle Shakespeare Company and upstart crow collective, 9/1210/7 (at Seattle Rep)
Richard III is the continuation of the story of the rise of the York family dynasty told in Seattle Shakespeare’s 2017 epic twopart production of Bring Down the House (based on Shakespeare’s Henry VI trilogy). Richard is the last son of the royal York family, and he is as charming as he is cunning. Through scheming and seducing (and a few murders along the way), Richard secures the crown for himself…but can he hold it? Attempting to thwart his ill-gotten rise to power are some potent women who envision hope for their country in a new generation of leaders. A gripping portrait of a cunning villain’s rise and fall from power with an allfemale acting company. www.seattleshakespeare.org
Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, Taproot Theatre, 9/12-10/13
Sherlock Holmes is back and searching for clues to explain a mysterious death on a haunted moor. Five fearless actors conjure over 35 characters to deliver laughter and chills in this dizzyingly inventive adaptation of The Hound of the Baskervilles. Bite your nails and howl with delight as Holmes and Watson face their most diabolical case ever. www.taproottheatre.org
The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes, Village Theatre, Issaquah: 9/13-10/21, Everett: 10/26-11/18
Joshua Carter stars as Howard Barnes who is a perfectly average American guy; he likes baseball, grilling, and his daily routine. That is, until the day he wakes up to discover his life has become a musical. Desperate to return things to normal, Howard embarks on a fantastical quest through the realm of musical theatre. A Village Original from the 2013 Festival of New Musicals, The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes is equal parts satire, romantic comedy, and love letter to
the American musical. Can Howard escape? Or will he be trapped with singing orphans and dancing cats… forever? www.villagetheatre.org
Jane Eyre, Book-It Repertory Theatre, 9/13-10/14 (opens 9/15) Book-It premiered this Julie Beckman adaptation in 2001. Orphaned as a child, Jane Eyre musters up the courage to take
a governess job at Thornfield Hall, where she meets the brooding Edward Rochester. Though she finds herself captivated by his kind spirit, she is distracted by strange occurrences at the house. In this revolutionary piece of literature, eponymous heroine Jane maintains her integrity and inner strength as she grows into adulthood. www.book-it.org
Sarah Harlett as Richard III in Seattle Shakespeare Company and upstart crow collective's Richard III at Seattle Rep – Photo by John Ulman
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show, Seattle Children’s Theatre, 9/13-10/21
The timeless classic has made its way off the page and onto the stage. Based on author/illustrator Eric Carle’s beloved book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar is the story of a caterpillar trying to satisfy his insatiable appetite, on his journey to becoming a fullfledged butterfly. www.sct.org
The Journey of the Saint, eSe Teatro, 9/14-30 (at ACT Theatre)
This madcap Journey begins in Spain and circles southern South America, following the real-life pilgrimage of the mummified remains of Saint Fortunata. A devoutly Catholic actor and an atheist theatricaleffects designer traverse the ocean, Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Peru in 1786, with the Inquisition on their trail. www.acttheatre.org
Two Sisters and a Piano, Theater Schmeater, 9/14-10/6
Set in 1991, during the Pan American Games in Havana and while the Russians are pulling out of Cuba, this play portrays two sisters, Maria Celia, a novelist, and Sofia, a pianist, serving time under house arrest. Passion infiltrates politics when a lieutenant assigned to their case becomes infatuated with Maria Celia, whose literature he has been reading. Author of Anna and the Tropics, Nilo Cruz refuses to paint his characters in black & white.
www.schmee.org
A Small History of Amal, Age 7, Forward Flux Productions and Prathidhwani, 9/18-10/6 (at West of Lenin)
Audiences will travel to Mumbai, India, where they will meet Amal, a 7 year-old boy who uses his explorer’s heart and a little Bollywood magic to fight the god of death. Exploring universal issues through the eyes of a small boy, this imaginative play weaves together heartache and triumph as it invites us to examine our connection to family, our city, and the world. It is inspired by Rabindranath Tagore’s play, The Post Office http://forwardflux.com/
Skeleton Crew, ArtsWest, 9/20-10/14
In the depths of the 2008 Great Recession, rumors of shutdown start to spread at one of Detroit’s last auto-stamping plants, forcing a tight-knit family of workers to face a devastating question: what will you sacrifice to survive? In the spirit of August Wilson’s Pittsburgh Cycle, award-winning playwright Dominique Morisseau’s new play lays bare the trials of the human spirit with verve, wit, and an electrifying voice of uncommon poetry.
www.artswest.org
, 9/2011/18
Venture into the forgotten wing of a natural history museum where a gathering of self-styled occultists, reading from an ancient text, unwittingly unleash the five Nocturnal Fears – Harm, Loneliness, Failure, Filth and Chaos. As the humans scramble to patch the fabric of darkness the audience enjoys a “four-curse meal” of interactive and innovative cuisine with the charmingly beleaguered sprites in Nordo’s employ. With frothy cocktails and genuine scares, this evening is for adults only. www.cafenordo.com
Everything You Touch, Washington Ensemble Theatre, 9/21-10/8
Sheila Callaghan’s fantastical dark comedy explores society’s obsession with body image and fashion and jumps between the opulent and vapid 1970s and present day. When Jess, a moody and uncertain young woman, hears that her mother, who she has
not seen in 10 years, is on her deathbed, she embarks on a cross country journey fueled by self-loathing. Accompanied by Victor, a mercurial fashion designer turned travel companion who may or may not be real, Jess discovers who she is, what she’s made of, and how to wear it well.
Alexandria Henderson stars as Elle Woods in a diverse take on the “Hollywood blonde” of the movies. The transformation of UCLA sorority girl Elle Woods develops as she tackles stereotypes and scandal in pursuit of her dreams. Her quest to prove her worth to her ex-boyfriend by studying law at Harvard leads her on a quest to discover her true worth. Meanwhile, her passion, positivity, and perseverance transform the lives of both her friends and enemies! www.showtunestheatre.org
In their play, Blood Relative, Ren ruthlessly exposes the ongoing mythology about biological family and the swing in “all-or-nothing” relationships when the Hallmark version of ”happy family” disappoints. Redefining family drama, Blood Relative confronts the limitations of biological kinship, and the potential to create reliable loving bonds.
The Two-Step, Christine Longe solo performance, 9/27-30 (at 18th & Union)
Edith travels the world through her dreams and memories. She discovers how to connect with herself while celebrating community, universal love and bold risks taken in order to breach physical and cultural barriers. A tribute to the unique life of Christine’s influential grandmother, Betty McLain, a longtime ballroom and folk dance instructor for Pacific Northwest senior communities. www.18thandunion.org
Cyla’s Gift, Samara Lerman solo performance, 9/27-10/13 (at Taproot Theatre)
A story of train-hopping, border-crossing danger, adventure, magic, and loss. When the ghost of her grandmother, Cyla Tine, starts visiting Samara in the middle of the night, she is compelled to travel through
interwoven family stories of survival. What happens when your family lineage stops with you? What happens to the stories and memories of generations past?
www.taproottheatre.org
“Ze”: queer as fuck!, Ren Lunicke solo performance, 9/27-28 (at 18th & Union)
“Ze”: queer as fuck! is a dark comedy about sex, gender, and the expanding parade of labels and identities Michelle/ Ryan (now Ren) claims on zir way to pride. (*ze/zir are early days gender neutral pronouns.) In this international queer origin story, Ren rips the bandage away from zir startling puritanical upbringing and is catapulted by zir experiences through a complex and surprising “coming out” process as a genderqueer, kinky, femmesexual, polyminded, gay-divorcee.
Dean Cynthia Wreen is having a terrible week! Her college is in dire financial straits and a plan to close its tiny, all-but-forgotten natural history museum is sending unexpected shock waves across campus. At home, her ex-lover, Greer, is staying with her, sending shock waves of a different sort through her current relationship with her (much younger) girlfriend, Andromeda. A lesbian sex comedy about the perils of monogamy, certainty, and academic administration.
https://www.brownpapertickets.com/ event/3121312
Three Days of Rain, Albatross Theatre Lab w/Penguin Productions, 9/28-10/6 (at The Slate Theater)
New York City, 1995, and Walker Janeway and his sister Nan reunite with their childhood friend Pip to read the will of their inscrutable father, famed architect Ned Janeway. After a shocking bequeathing of assets, long-hidden secrets and repressed memories are unearthed as the three attempt to make sense of their parents’ inexplicable lives. Act Two finds the same three actors portraying their parents in 1960, where a creative dilemma and romantic entanglements are revealed that none of their children could have imagined.
http://www.albatrosstheatrelab.com
The Witching Hour, Café Nordo
The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes at Village Theatre – Photo by Mark Kitaoka
Christine Longe in The Two-Step at 18th & Union – Photo by John Small
BY THE BOOK
foray, examining photographic books as a marker within the medium’s canon, and the role of designer within a traditional team of editors, photographers, printers and publishers engaged in the collaborative process of a book’s creation.
The designers featured in this exhibition began working on photography books before, or in the midst of, changing technologies, including the beginnings of desktop publishing in the 1980s, the emergence of the Internet in the 1990s, and on-demand printing and binding in the early years of this century. Those same years brought an exponential increase in the production of photographic books, exhibitions, and collections as the medium achieved attention within the broader sphere of contemporary art. With the publication of Andrew Roth’s The Book of 101 Books: Seminal Photographic Books of the Twentieth Century in 2001, the photographic monograph was confirmed as an object worthy of collection, in addition to the photographs contained within them.
This relatively small pool of individuals in the United States played a major role in the contemporary history of photography through the seminal volumes they were a part of producing, including seminal books by Diane Arbus, Robert Adams, Richard Avedon, Elinor Carucci, Imogen Cunningham, Lee Friedlander, Danny Lyon, Sally Mann, Stephen Shore, Alfred Stieglitz, Sylvia Plachy, Mary Peck, Andres Serrano, Edward Weston, Art Wolfe, and more.
The exhibition will include over 100 books, including select titles chosen by each featured designer from his/her own career. Features designers in By the Book include: Wendy Byrne, Eleanor Caponigro, Yolanda Cuomo, Roger Gorman, Katy Homans, Ed Marquand and studio, Catherine Mills, Mary Shanahan, and Lorraine Wild. This exhibition is presented thanks to the support of 4Culture.
SPECIAL EVENTS:
RECEPTION – Thursday, September 13 – 5:30pm Members Preview and Tour | 6:00pm Public Opening.
PANEL DISCUSSION with designers Wendy Byrne, Roger Gorman, Ed Marquand, and Catherine Mills – Saturday, September 15, 4:00pm-6:00pm. Free with RSVP. Please join us for a conversation with featured designers from the exhibition as they share stories of working with photographers, editors, and publishers, and how they arrived at now-iconic solutions.
RELATED WORKSHOP:
YOUR PHOTOBOOK REALIZED –Saturday-Sunday, October 27-28, 12:30pm5:30pm. Cost: $500.
Join photographer and Blurb Creative Evangelist Dan Milnor and book veteran and PCNW executive director Michelle Dunn Marsh to engage in a hands-on exploration of design, editing, sequencing, and format to conceptualize your work in book form. Attendees of the workshop must have a developed body of work and bring 30-40 small prints to complete project.
RELATED COURSES – FALL: IN PRINT: VISUAL LITERACY
FROM IMAGE TO PAGE – Mondays, 6:00-9:00pm. Faculty: Conor Risch
HISTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY –Tuesdays, 6:00-9:00pm. Faculty: Dr. Elizabeth Brown
RELATED COURSE – WINTER: THE PHOTO BOOK – Wednesdays, 6:00-9:00pm. Faculty: Eirik Johnson
Photographic Center Northwest (PCNW) is an educational institution facilitating creation, conversations, and experiences of significant photography. Through our certificate program in fine art photography, exhibitions, and an array of public programming, PCNW fosters dialogue in the region through the global language of today. Photographic Center Northwest is located at 900 12th Ave. The gallery is open Mon-Thurs, 12:00pm-9:00pm.; SatSun, 12:00pm-6:00pm. (206) 720-7222. For more information, visit pcnw.org.
ABOUT PCNW
By The Book: 9+ Designers – First row (l-r) Designed by Lorraine Wild, Roger Gorman, Yolanda Cuomo; Second row (l-r) Yolanda Cuomo, Lorraine Wild, Catherine Mills; Third row, (l-r) Designed by Katy Homans, Wendy Byrne, Yolanda Cuomo; Fourth row, (l-r) Wendy Byrne, Mary Shanahan, Roger Gorman. – Images courtesy of PCNW
SECS FEST
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The festival will feature new short and feature films from around the world, and will include 2 archival films.
SECS Fest has compiled a diverse international selection of new short films and two feature length films that reflect the diversity of human sexual experience. Presented alongside the modern program will be two archival films introduced by film scholar, David Church, PhD.
Attendees can expect to experience a range of film genres, sexual orientations, and sexual activities. Both narrative and documentary films will showcase a variety of interests – sexual curiosity and anxiety, fetishes, BDSM, sex work and more. Special attention is given to films that defy audience expectations for sexually explicit films, that some believe are inherently sexist and hetero-centric. SECS strives to include films made by and depicting underrepresented populations, reaching beyond today’s mainstream adult cinema, to bring you a more inclusive sex-positive program.
Opening night, on Friday, September 7th will kick off with the Northwest Premiere of Fantasy, a drama-comedy feature about a couple’s journey through surreal sex therapy exercises in order to strengthen their relationship.
The weekend will include several shorts programs with a variety of themes. Our “Sex Work” shorts program will include both documentary and fictional narratives by and about sex workers. Our “Femme Is Fierce” program featuring films exploring the feminine side of erotic fantasies will world premiere Spark Erotic’s Heaven with a Q&A post screening. Our “Angst” shorts collection navigates films about sexual anxiety and fear and will world premiere local filmmaker Craig Downing’s What We Want Saturday, September 8th, will feature the USA premiere of ISVN, which takes a glimpse into the life of porn star Valentina Nappi. Part documentary, part experimen-
tal and fully explicit, our second feature is sure to please any fan of Nappi.
We will close the festival on September 9th with our “Real and Surreal” shorts program, which will include the world premiere of Gush – a documentary that is sure to have festival attendees leave the theater in discussion or, at the very least, Google searching. Our closing program will include a Q&A with Gush’s director Kate Sinclaire and star Ciel, alongside the cast and crew of Spark Erotic’s The Pickup The complete lineup for SECS Fest 2018, including all feature films and shorts, is currently online at secsfest.org.
All film screenings will be held at the Grand Illusion Cinema, 1403 NE 50th St., in Seattle’s U-District. Individual event tickets are available for $12/General, $10/SECS members. They can be purchased online at secsfest.org. No one under 18 admitted.
About Seattle Erotic Cinema Society
The Seattle Erotic Cinema Society was founded by the Foundation of Sex-Positive Culture and is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. SECS hosts an ongoing monthly series showcasing films that celebrate the artistry of erotic cinema while also inspiring diverse communities to engage in adult conversations about sex.
SECS Fest aims to bring world-class erotic cinema to Seattle audiences in an annual festival including short films, features, documentary, and archival films. With an attention to selecting films that are inclusive of authentic adult sexual expression, the films will show a diversity of representations: race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, kink, body-type and standards of beauty, age, and ability. And it is through the exhibition of authentic sexualities alongside opportunities for audiences to participate in discussions and post-screening Q&A sessions that the festival can act as a catalyst for honest, nonjudgmental conversations and the spreading of sex-positive values.
Courtesy of Seattle Erotic Cinema Society
Gush – Photo courtesy of Kate Sinclaire
Fantasy – Photo courtesy of SECS Fest
Dramatically astute Operation Finale a visceral hunt for historical truth
by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN A&E Writer
OPERATION FINALE
Now playing
Argentina. 1960. A number of German expatriates and their allies have taken up residence in the South American country, growing in power and influence as they settle into their new lives. Dashing Klaus Eichmann (Joe Alwyn) has begun romancing the beautiful Sylvia Hermann (Haley Lu Richardson). Her kindly blind father Lothar (Peter Strauss) recognizes the handsome young man’s name, the shudder going up his spine when he hears it one he tries to keep to himself. He makes a report to Jewish authorities in Israel about this encounter, and even though he can’t see he’s still all but certain Klaus is the son of Adolph Eichmann (Ben Kingsley), one of the most powerful leaders of the Nazi party and the architect of what became known as “The Final Solution,” the plan that resulted in the mass execution and slaughter of over six million Jewish men, women and children during WWII.
Once Eichmann’s identity is confirmed, a plan is set in motion to kidnap him out of Argentina and bring him back to Israel to stand trial. Peter Malkin (Oscar Isaac) is one of the operatives tasked with planning and executing this mission. He brings with him doctor Hanna Elian (Mélanie Laurent), her skill cooking up narcotic compounds to subdue a target without doing perma-
nent damage vital to the team’s success. But after getting Eichmann under their control, and to also admit who he is and stop hiding behind an alias, the commercial airline that is tasked to airlift them back Israel refuses to do so unless the Nazi signs a release saying he’s leaving Argentina willingly. With time running out, it falls to Malkin to get this signature, the veteran counterespionage assassin entering into a battle of wills with a man he’d just as soon put a bullet in and not someone he feels is worthy of engaging with in serious moralistic debate with.
Based on the true story about how the Israeli government was able to get their hands on Adolph Eichmann and force him to stand trial for his crimes against humanity in front of a worldwide televised audience in 1961, Operation Finale is an absorbing drama masquerading as a hardboiled, John le Carré-style political thriller. Featuring a massive ensemble cast and an assertive, methodically introspective script written by Matthew Orton, director Chris Weitz (About a Boy, A Better Life) delivers a dialogue-driven think piece that makes up in intelligent nuance what it lacks in unrelenting thrills or suffocating suspense. It’s a good film, overflowing in strong performances and memorable moments, and if not for bits of oddly misplaced humor and a noticeable lack of a character development for key members of the Israeli team assigned to kidnap Eichmann, it’s possible this effort might have ended up being something special.
As it is, there is still plenty to love, Weitz putting together a motion picture that treats its audience with respect while it subtly builds to an earth-shattering conclusion that had me reaching into my bag searching for a handful of tissues. The emotional core of Orton’s script is nakedly raw, the level of honest authenticity it exudes casting a palpable spell upon the proceedings that held my eyes glued to the screen. The scenes between Isaac and Kingsley as they sit in a tiny bedroom on the top floor of an Israeli safe house are stunning, the actors engaging in an effortless back-and-forth that offered up a great deal of perceptively complex themes that are worthy of further dissection afterwards.
Unfortunately, the relationship between Klaus and Sylvia is never as compelling as I felt it needed to be, their whole relationship rather perfunctory as far as the larger narrative is concerned, their scenes more about setting up events happening later in the film than they are in doing anything substantive. This is a shame because had their romance been more believable, if it had had more of a kick, the overall effect that would have had on what transpired could potentially have been magnificent. As it turns out, while Richardson and Alwyn are quite good, I found it difficult to be moved by either of them, Sylvia relegated to being picturesque feminine window dressing while Klaus became a one-dimensional Aryan monstrosity who was a twirling mustache away from descending into pure cartoonish caricature.
But Isaac is superb, and subpar CG deaging effects for the WWII scenes notwithstanding, so is Kingsley. As stated, the two actors reach stratospheric heights whenever they share the screen, their moments having a kinetic virtuosity that’s merciless in their intellectual minutia, Weitz and Orton pulling out all the stops as each man attempts to psychologically one-up the other as they pursue their own individual agendas. These sequences are the story’s beating heart, everything building to that will-he-or-won’the moment where time has run out and Eichmann’s signature is the only thing standing between the Israeli operatives completing their mission or ending up getting captured by Argentinean authorities loyal to the German and his Nazi collaborators.
As the outcome is never in doubt, Eichmann’s trial a vital part of the historical record, the fact there is any suspense at all as the clock ticks closer to doom is honestly rather incredible. But Weitz does a nice job staging and cutting the action in a way that heightens the inherent trauma of the situation, editor Pamela Martin (The Fighter), cinematographer Javier Aguirresarobe (Thor: Ragnarok) and composer Alexandre Desplat (The Shape of Water) all at the top of their respective games as they strive to give the film its pulse-pounding life. While likely not the breakneck thriller the ads and trailers may have promised, Operation Finale is nonetheless a fascinating drama that recounts a piece of lesser known history that should never, ever be forgotten.
Oscar Isaac and Ben Kingsley in Operation Finale – Photo courtesy of MGM
Imaginatively inventive Kin a frustrating sci-fi mess
by Sara Michelle Fetters
SGN A&E Writer
KIN
Now playing
I keep trying to convince myself that I liked the science fiction road trip suspensethriller Kin more than I actually did. It features a lovely central performance by newcomer Myles Truitt as the 14-year-old hero Eli Solinski who is forced to go on an unforeseen adventure with his ex-con older brother Jimmy (Jack Reynor). There are some inspired visuals, especially considering the film’s relatively modest budget. I was also impressed by the sound design supervised by Joseph Fraioli, and the same goes for composer Mogwai’s (Before the Flood ) inventive electronic score. Then there is the suitably whack-a-doo performance from James Franco as the story’s primary villain Taylor Balik, his exuberantly sleazy magnificence a thing of disgusting beauty that, while reminiscent of similar turns in features like Spring Breakers and Homefront, is almost worth the price of a matinee ticket all by itself.
But the movie is a mess, a tonal nightmare that never manages to create an authentic time or place that’s even moderately believable. Few of the human beings populating this story ever do anything that feels natural, and once the central narrative kicks into high gear things just keep getting more and more ridiculous as they progress. Even though it’s all based on directors Jonathan and Josh Baker’s striking 2014 short film Bag Man, it almost feels as if they and screenwriter Daniel Casey are making things up as they go along. It’s a hodgepodge of various ideas that are reminiscent of any number of ’80s and ’90s favorites like Stand by Me, Flight of the Navigator, The Last Starfighter, Explorers, The Terminator and The Matrix, and while I appreciate the fact the filmmakers don’t shy away from a number of tragically adult themes, the fact they do so little of affecting merit with them is too big a problem to be easily overcome.
Eli Solinski is a quiet, inquisitive teenager who spends his nights secretly scavenging copper and other precious metals from condemned building sites in downtown Detroit. His adoptive father, Hal (Dennis Quaid), a respected construction foreman, is an authoritative taskmaster who doesn’t want his son to follow in his older brother Jimmy’s previously incarcerated footsteps, the young man just out of prison hoping for a fresh start. But after a brutal tragedy leaves him shellshocked, Jimmy convinces Eli to join him on an impromptu trip to Lake Tahoe to visit their mother’s favorite vacation spot, promising him Hal will join them later when he can. But this is a lie. Jimmy is running from vicious criminal Taylor Balik, the local Detroit underground powerbroker deter-
mined to put bullets in the entire Solinski family as revenge for a heist gone murderously wrong. Also following the brothers are a pair of mysterious motorcycle riders clad in futuristic metallic outfits utilizing technology well beyond anything currently possible. They’re after Eli, the youngster concealing a lethal secret he has no clue is as dangerous as it ultimately proves to be.
There are about half-a-dozen plot strands fighting for supremacy at the heart of the Baker brothers’ feature debut, none of which are developed enough to make anything that happens have a lasting impact. During one of his clandestine explorations Eli finds a room filled with robotic-looking corpses as well as an electronic black box that when opened transforms into some sort of rifle with massive destructive capabilities. There’s also a section of the story where the two brothers make a brief pit stop at a strip club where they pick up a woman, Milly (Zoë Kravitz), with a proverbial heart of gold while also making instant enemies with her violent brute of a boss. At a certain point the FBI also gets involved led by inquisitive agent Morgan Hunter (Carrie Coon), her pursuit of Jimmy and Eli becoming increasingly complicated as she learns more about what led them to go on the run in the first place.
It’s a crazy sequence of events, and rarely do the Baker’s show they’re able to keep control of it all. It does not help that Casey’s script does Jimmy no favors, and while his narrative arc is supposed to be redemptive, his character is such an obnoxious dimwitted jerk caring about him is next to impossible. Other than a couple of solid scenes, one in a Las Vegas hotel room and another in an isolated jail cell, Reynor has a devil of a time trying to get a handle on the character, displaying precious little of the charisma, complexity or charm he so effortlessly brought to features like Sing Street, Free Fire and Macbeth in the recent past. Quaid is also wasted in a thankless role, and if not for the ruggedly gruff parental concern he shows where it comes to Eli it’s honestly amazing he makes any sort of memorable imprint.
All of that being so, there are such moments of creative gusto littered throughout the picture it’s hard not to want to cut Kin a break and tell people to take a chance on it even with its frustrating cavalcade of shortcomings. Truitt is quite strong as Eli, delivering a thoughtful, emotionally nuanced performance that’s reminiscent of River Phoenix in Stand by Me or Sean Astin in The Goonies. There’s also a crackerjack, if still nonsensical, climactic twist that, while not unexpected, is so expertly executed it couldn’t help but make me smile. None of which is enough to make the film work, but it does make me wish it did, and here’s hoping that whatever the Baker brothers attempt to do next is a little bit better plotted and thought out than their admittedly imaginative debut sadly proves to be.
Foul-mouthed Happytime a surprisingly toothless puppet comedy
by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN A&E Writer
THE HAPPYTIME MURDERS
Now playing
The cast of ’90s television favorite “The Happytime Gang” are being murdered. Recently sold into syndication, all seven of the principal actors, puppet and human alike, were all set to be splitting $10-million amongst themselves at the end of the year. If one or more of them were to die? Their take would either go to their spouse or to the remaining cast members, and someone out there wants all of that money for themselves and no one else.
After his movie star brother Larry (Victor Yerrid) ends up torn to pieces by a vicious pack of tiny dogs, hard-boiled private investigator Phil Phillips (Bill Barretta), a one-time Los Angeles cop forced to leave the force in disgrace, takes it upon himself to solve the crime. His old boss Lieutenant Manning (Leslie David Baker) decides the best course of action is to bring the determined puppet back onto the force as an advisor, assigning his angry ex-partner Detective Connie Edwards (Melissa McCarthy) to work with him hoping they’ll rekindle their former law enforcement magic and catch the murderer. But things go sideways when all of the clues start pointing back at Phil as far as these killings are concerned, puppet-hating FBI Agent Campbell (Joel McHale) ready to hall him off to jail even if all the evidence linking him to the crimes is suspiciously circumstantial.
Brian Henson, the director of The Muppet Christmas Carol and Muppet Treasure Island, son of the late Jim Henson, branches out into Who Framed Roger Rabbit meets Team America: World Police meets Meet the Feebles territory with the R-rated absurdist noir comedy The Happytime Murders. This is a film that posits a world where puppet and human live side-by-side and not altogether in perfect harmony, most of the flesh and blood majority treating their flufffilled, felt-covered counterparts as second class citizens worthy of nothing short of constant ridicule. It’s an insane premise but one that isn’t nearly as original or as imaginative as it possibly could have been, and for an uncouth, disturbingly offensive comedic potboiler Todd Berger (It’s a Disaster) plays things surprisingly safe for most of its thankfully brief 91-minute running time.
I don’t have a lot to say here. I didn’t hate this movie. There are some decent jokes, and Henson knows how to stage a visually imagi-
native sight gag featuring puppets doing a whole cacophony of very strange things better than just about anyone save likely his late father or living legend Frank Oz. There’s a great supporting turn from Maya Rudolph as Phillips’ devoted secretary Bubbles, and McCarthy has a marvelous hysterical moment at a puppet-filled poker table where she cuts loose with inspired foul-mouthed ferocity as only she can. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to chuckling a handful of times, and when the film finally came to an end I basically left the theatre with a shrug of the shoulders practically nonplussed about anything I’d just sat through and endured.
But endured is the right word. The pacing of this comedy is rather excruciating, things moving so slowly and with such ponderous precision maintaining interest in what is happening at any given moment is spectacularly difficult at times. More frustrating, while I wasn’t ever offended by any of the film’s humor some of Berger’s jokes do grow tiresome, especially ones involving McCarthy’s gender, while a lot of the rest of it just comes across as lazily mean-spirited and little else. Unlike Team America, there’s no edge to all of this Philip Marlowe meets Mike Hammer meets Eddie Valiant sleaziness, and not even the sight of Elizabeth Banks twirling around a stripper pole slicing up carrots for a trio of horny fuzzy rabbits ended up being anything particularly memorable. Unlike Meet the Feebles, easily the worst film Peter Jackson has ever been associated with, this one doesn’t have the guts to become truly, unfathomably exploitive in order to risk becoming a rancid piece of cinematic excrement more deserving of being flushed down the toilet than it does a theatrical exhibition.
Instead this movie just sort of is. I’m sure a person could get offended by certain elements, but with so shockingly little imagination fueling things I can’t say my reaction to what was happening ever rose to that level. I’m positive some viewers will find some of what transpires between Phillips and Edwards to be absolutely hysterical, but with so few of the jokes striking my funny bone the laughs the film did happen to generate for me were few and far between. Henson’s journey into adult filmmaking isn’t a disaster; it’s just not anything worthwhile. If this is how the puppet impresario intends to get the R-rated side of his career started, there’s little about The Happytime Murders that’s sensational, less that’s inspirational, and almost nothing that’s celebrational, making closing the curtain on this bit of comedic mayhem especially easy to do.
Myles Truitt in Kin – Photo courtesy of Lionsgate
Melissa McCarthy in The Happytime Murders – Photo courtesy of STX
TO GET A CALENDAR LISTING: To have your meeting or event considered for the Community Calendar, please mail, fax, or drop off details to: SGN, Attn: Community Calendar, 1707 23rd Ave., Seattle, WA 98122. SGN phone: (206) 324-4297. E-mail: sgn2@sgn.org.
INCLUDE: Date, time, location, contact phone # for publication (if possible), brief description of event & sponsoring organization. DEADLINE: Tuesday 5pm. ACCESSIBILITY: Is your event accessible to LGBTQ people with visible or hidden disabilities? See Jean’s List webpage www.scn.org/activism/calendar/disabilities. html for Marla Nonken’s disabilities accommodations lists.
NOTE: 10-digit dialing has come to the Seattle area. The (206) area code must now be used to dial local calls. Location of meetings/events is in Seattle unless otherwise noted.
SATURDAY - September 1
Seattle Frontrunners Fun Run. 9am. Greenlake (outside Evans Pool). Every Saturday. GLBT running & walking club sponsors weekly runs, monthly potlucks, track & field activity, annual Run With Pride. (206) 4488518. www.seattlefrontrunners.org.
Positively Living Coffee Social. 9:30am-12 noon. Cupcake Royale, 1111 E Pike St. Every Saturday. Casual social get-together for the HIV community. Anthony, 206-957-1600. Sponsored by LIfelong. Rainbow Walk for LGBTQ Elders 50+ - Green Lake Walk. 12 noon-1pm. 7201 E Green Lake Dr. N. Every Saturday - Come Rain or Shine! - Meet at the Wading Pool (along the north end of the lake). Hot coffee and beautiful Rainbow umbrellas to use “just in case.” For info, call (206) 393-3400;. Wheelchair-friendly walk. Sponsored by Generations Aging With Pride. Oasis Youth Center in Tacoma - For Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender & Questioning Youth, Ages 14-25. 6pm-12 midnight. Call for location & details. Every Saturday. (253) 671-2838. www.oasisyouthcenter.org. (Also Thursdays & Fridays 4-10pm.)
SUNDAY - September 2
Border Riders Motorcycle Club First Sunday Ride. Contact Border Riders for details and rendezvous point. Meets 1st Sunday most months. BRMC provides a social & educational fraternity for individuals interested in recreational motorcycle touring. www.borderriders.com Center for Spiritual Living. 8:25, 9:45, 11:30am. 5801 Sand Point Way NE. Blessings & we hope to see you soon! (206) 527-8801 ext 203, www.cslseattle.org
Ravenna United Methodist Church. 8:30am “Seattle’s most dangerous Sunday school” - 9:45am Worship. 5751 33rd Ave NE. A reconciling congregation, fully inclusive and affirming of LGBTQ persons. (206) 525-7988. Seattle Unity Church. 9am & 11am Sunday Services. 200 8th Ave N. “Come join our Gay & Lesbian-friendly, spiritual family at Seattle Unity Church. Our mission is to bring love, miracles & spiritual awakening into everyday life!” (206) 622-8475; www.seattleunity.org. Seattle Soto Zen. 9:15am Zazen Instruction, 9:30am Zazen. 101 Nickerson St, Lower Level. Follow the traditional forms of the Soto school of Zen in a spirit of warmth & inclusion. Anyone interested in meditation, whether new or experienced in Zen practice or other traditions, is welcome. (206) 323-1659, www.seattlesotozen.org
Gay Men’s Bowling in Everett 9:30am. Glacier Lanes, 9630 Evergreen Way, Everett. Every Sunday. Spectators welcome. Join us for lunch afterwards! Sponsored by the Snohomish County Gay Men’s Task Force. For info email John at johndmarsh@mac.com; www.gaysnohomish.org Tacoma First United Methodist Church. 9:30am Worship, 11am Adult Education. 423 Martin Luther King Way, Tacoma. This reconciling congregation welcomes with warm hands, warm hearts & open minds GLBT persons seeking a spiritual home. (253) 627-0129, www. fumctacoma.org University Lutheran Church. 9:30am Worship, 10:30am Coffee Fellowship, 11am Adult Forum & Education Hour. 1604 NE 50th St. All are welcome. We choose love. (206) 525-7074. universitylutheranseattle.org
Central Lutheran Church. 10am Worship. 1710 11th Ave (just north of E Pine St). An open & affirming church, which in Lutheran churches is called “Reconciled in Christ.” “We seek to share God’s love with all people regardless of race, age, gender or sexual orientation.” All are welcome. (206) 322-7500.
East Shore Unitarian Church. 10am Sunday Service. 12700 SE 32nd St, Bellevue. An open & affirming congregation. (425) 747-3780.
Gethsemane Lutheran Church. 10am Worship. 911 Stewart St. A downtown faith community centered in justice. An open & affirming congregation. (206) 682-3620. Plymouth Church United Church of Christ. 10am Workship. 1217 6th Ave. Love your (LGBTQ) neighbor as yourself. (206) 622-4865, plymouthchurchseattle.org
Queen Anne United Methodist Church. 10am Worship. 1606 5th Ave W. (206) 282-4307.
Unity Church of Kent. 10am. 218 State Ave S, Kent. A welcoming congregation open to people of all races, religions, creeds & lifestyles. Join us any Sunday for an inspirational message, joyful fellowship & a fresh spiritual outlook. (253) 854-9747.
University Congregational United Church of Christ. 9am all ages education; 10am Worship. 4515 16th Ave NE. UCUCC is an open & affirming congregation. (206) 524-2322; www.universityucc.org.
community calendar
Wallingford United Methodist Church. 10am Worship. 2115 N 42nd St. A progressive congregation. In 1984
Wallingford UMC became the 9th reconciling Methodist church in the U.S. (206) 547-6945 (office); (206) 2855077 (George).
All Pilgrims Christian Church. 10:30am Worship. 500 Broadway E. Come as you are. All are welcome. A congregation of the Disciples of Christ & the United Church of Christ. (206) 322-0487, www.allpilgrims.org
St. Clement’s Episcopal Church. 10:30am Worship. 1501 32nd Ave S. Great music. Dynamic preaching. Holy communion. Encountering the transformative and unconditional love of God in Christ. Join us! www. stclementseattle.org
Seattle Sunday Bowling. 10:30am. West Seattle Bowl, 4505 39th Ave SW (at SW Oregon St). Open bowl every Sunday for the GLBT community & friends. You don’t have to worry about how you bowl! $6.50 + $3 shoe rental. (425) 785-4729.
S Bayview St. Where people of all genders and sexualities, and families of all shapes & sizes are welcome and celebrated. A welcoming and affirming community since 1987. welcometablecc.org
Emerald City Metropolitan Community Church Seattle. 11am Worship. Chapel at University Temple United Methodist Church, 1415 NE 43rd St. MCC is a progressive Christ-centered faith community committed to providing a nurturing environment for individual & community growth thru Jesus Christ while celebrating unity in diversity. MCC is Seattle’s oldest Gay-friendly church. (206) 325-2421, www.mccseattle.org.
Meditation for GBT Men. 11am-1pm. Cal Anderson House, 400 Broadway. Suitable for beginning & experienced meditators. Sponsored by Dharma Buddies. Contact Forrest Rode, (206) 920-6117, or Doug Allison, doug.l.allison@gmail.com. Find us under “Dharma Buddies” under Meetup.com or DharmaBuddies.org. (Women are invited to contact our sister meditation group at www.LotusSisters.org.)
St. Paul’s United Church of Christ. 11am Worship. 6512 12th Ave NW. An “open & affirming” congregation. “We celebrate our diversity in religious background, sexual orientation, race, age & abilities.” (206) 783-6733; www.stpauluccseattle.com.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. 11:15am (also 7:30am, 9am, 5pm). 15 W Roy St. We are an accepting, progressive, Anglo-Catholic parish, renewing its people for their Christian lives in today’s world through worship, spiritual formation, engagement in the arts, and acts of compassion. www.stpaulseattle.com
Holy Covenant International Christian Community Church. 12 noon. 4525 19th Ave NE. Outreach to the LGBT community. holycovenantccc@gmail.com
Just for Today (NA). 12-1:15pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. Every Sunday. Drop-in 12-step Narcotics Anonymous group open to anyone in recovery. (206) 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org
New Beginnings (SLAA). 12 noon-1pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E #201, O’Neil Room. MEETS DAILY (except Saturday). Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous is a 12-step/12- tradition-oriented fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope to overcome sex and love patterns of addiction. (206) 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org Paths to Recovery Al-Anon Family Group. 12-1:30pm. Seattle University Student Center, 901 12th Ave, Room 122. Every Sunday. LGBTQ supported. The Al-Anon Family Groups are a fellowship of relatives & friends of alcoholics who share their experience, strength & hope in order to solve their common problems. We believe alcoholism is a family illness & that changed attitudes can aid recovery. Greater Seattle AIS 24-hour number (206) 625-0000; www.seattle-al-anon.org Rainbow Walk for LGBTQ Elders 50+ - Green Lake Walk. 12 noon-1pm. 7201 E Green Lake Dr. N. Every Sunday. (See related listing Saturday at noon for details.) For info, call (206) 393-3400;. Wheelchair-friendly walk. Sponsored by Generations Aging With Pride. Knights of Mantra Monthly Meeting. 3pm. The Cuff, 1533 13th Ave. Meets 1st Sunday each month. K of M/ Jet Chapter is a fun-loving leather/Levi social & charitable organization that raises money for various causes & organizations. (206) 329-0886. www.facebook.com/ kofmjetchapter/ Rain City Soccer Club - Kickabout. Sunday afternoon usually at 3pm. Location varies. Join us for Seattle’s mostly-weekly mostly-LGBTQ pickup soccer game. We play an organized, 2-hour scrimmage on nice fieldturf surface. Sometimes there is a brief training/practice session before we play. Usually there is a “one-beer” after the scrimmage. To sign up visit www.raincitysoccer.org PFLAG/Whatcom County (Bellingham) Monthly Meeting. 5pm. Community Food Co-op Bakery, 405 E Holly St, Bellingham. Meets 1st Sunday each month.
Parents & Friends of Lesbians & Gays is a national support organization for parents, spouses, & families of GLBT persons, as well as those minorities. www.whatcompflag.org; PFLAG/Puget Sound: (206) 325-7724. Shame to Grace (SAA). 6-7:30pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. Every Sunday. Sex Addicts Anonymous is a fellowship of men & women who share their experience, strength & hope with each other so they may overcome their sexual addiction & help others recover from sexual addiction or dependency. Seattle SAA helpline (206) 237-8828, SAA International Service Organization 1-800-477-8191. (206) 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org Integrity/Puget Sound. 7pm Worship & Fellowship. St. Mark’s Cathedral, Thomson Chapel, 1245 10th Ave E. Integrity is an international ministry of Gay & Lesbian Episcopalians, their friends & families, dedicated to education, support & service within the Church & the GLBT community. (425) 226-2746.
Noche Latina - Latino Night. 10pm. Capitol Lounge, 916 E Pike St. Every Sunday. Go-go dancers at 10:30pm; drag show at midnight. 21+ ID required. $10 cover. Co-sponsored by Entre Hermanos.
MONDAY - September 3
HAPPY LABOR DAY!!!
Rainbow Walk for LGBTQ Elders 50+ - Volunteer Park Walk. 12 noon-1pm. 14th Ave E & E Prospect St. Every Monday - Come Rain or Shine! - Meet at Black Sun sculpture across from museum. Hot coffee and beautiful Rainbow umbrellas to use “just in case.” For info, call (206) 393-3400;. Sponsored by Generations Aging With Pride.
SLAA New Beginnings: 12 Steps of SLAA. 12-1pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201, in the O’Neill Room. Every Monday. SLAA step-study meeting starting with Step One in “A Gentle Path.” The meeting is open to anyone interested in doing 12-step work. No matter where you are in the steps, or if you haven’t begun, feel free to join us. Books, paper, and pens provided. You need only bring your willingness to grow!
SOBER On Meds. 1-2pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. Every Monday. 12-step group open to anyone in recovery & living on a medicine regimen. (206) 3222437; www.sasgcc.org
Strength Over Speed (SOS). 2-3:30pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. Peer support for Gay and Bisexual men recovering from crystal meth addiction. www.strengthoverspeed.org. (206) 322-2437; www. sasgcc.org
Freely Speaking Toastmasters. 7pm. Seattle Unity Church, 200 8th Ave N. Every Monday (except holidays & the last Mondays in August & December). Seattle’s only LGBT speaking club. www.FreelySpeaking.org
Trans Youth Group. 7-8:30pm. Lambert House, 1818 15th Ave. Every Monday. A chance for youth to talk with others about their experiences & concerns related to identifying as Transgender. www.lamberthouse.org Lambert House Art Night. 7:30-9:30pm. 1818 15th Ave. Every Monday. Bring your ideas & let’s have some fun. (206) 322-2515, www.lamberthouse.org
Destiny/Unity AA Meeting in Tacoma 7:30-8:30pm. Christ Episcopal Church, 310 N “K” St, Tacoma. Every Monday. LGBTQ-friendly AA meeting. (253) 474-8897. (Also meets Fridays.)
Washington Gender Alliance Support Group Meeting in Shoreline 7:30pm. Center for Human Services, 17018 15th Ave NE, Shoreline. Every Monday. www. washingtongenderalliance.com
TUESDAY - September 4
LGBTQ+ Group. 1:15-2:15pm. Orion Center, 1828 Yale Ave. Every Tuesday. A group for LGBTQ youth ages 13-24 & their allies. Sponsored by Youthcare. (206) 622-5555.
Rainbow Walk for LGBTQ Elders 50+ - Alki Beach Walk. 2-3pm. 61st Ave SW & Alki Ave SW. Every Tuesday - Come Rain or Shine! - Meet at Statue of Liberty statue. Hot coffee and beautiful Rainbow umbrellas to use “just in case.” For info, call ((206) 393-3400;. Wheelchair-friendly walk. Sponsored by Generations Aging With Pride.
defeatHIV Community Advisory Board (CAB). 5:307:30pm. Cal Anderson House, 400 Broadway @ E Jefferson St. Meets 1st Tuesday each month. CAB builds community involvement in order to advance defeatHIV’s clinical research into a potential gene therapy cure for HIV infection. If you want to learn more about our efforts to ensure that all of Seattle’s communities that are affected by HIV have a strong voice in the cure research of defeatHIV, please come to one of our community dinner meetings. More info, contact Michael Louella, (206) 667-5810; mlouella@fredhutch.org
Gay Men’s Task Force of Snohomish County in Everett 6-8pm. Snohomish Health District, 3020 Rucker Ave Ste 309A, Everett. Meets 1st Tuesday each month. Open to all Gay & Bisexual men in Snohomish County. “We will be discussing issues concerning the local Gay community & value your opinion, voice, comments, suggestions & attendance. Come join us as we build community in Snohomish County.” David, (425) 339-5238. LGBTQ Questioning & Allied Youth Drop-in Group in Renton 6-8pm. Renton Area Youth Services (RAYS), 1025 S 3rd St, Renton. Every Tuesday. Confidential. Snacks provided. Bring friends or come alone - anyone 12-18 is welcome. Questions? Call Sarah Hardin, (425) 271-5600 ext 155, or email sarahh@rays.org
Strength Over Speed (SOS). 6-7:30pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. Peer support for Gay and Bisexual men recovering from crystal meth addiction. www. strengthoverspeed.org. (206) 322-2437.
Diverse Harmony. 6:30-9pm. Seattle First Baptist Church, 1111 Harvard Ave. Every Tuesday. Diverse Harmony is the nation’s first Gay/Straight Alliance Youth Chorus. Youth ages 13-22 are welcome regardless of sexual orientation. www.diverseharmony.org
No Man’s Land - For Female-Identified Youth, Ages 22 & Under.
7-8:30pm. Lambert House, 1818 15th Ave. Every Tuesday. Topics range from family issues to school happenings to like/lust/love relationships. All Queer females welcome. Come discuss how smart. strong Queer women live their lives. (206) 322-2515, www.lamberthouse.org
Tuesday Night Sex Addicts Anonymous (GLBTQI). 7-8:30pm. All Pilgrims Christian Church, 500 Broadway E (enter at 509 10th Ave E; buzz in, Colonial room). Every Tuesday. SAA is a fellowship of men & women whose primary purpose is to stop addictive sexual behavior & help others recover from sexual addiction. Seattle SAA helpline (206) 237-8828. SAA International Service Organization 1-800-477-8191. Different Drummers. 7:15-8:30pm. Every Tuesday. Hand drumming classes for Gay men. For info & location call Dennis at (206) 363-4500 or www.outdrum.com Men’s Discussion Group. 7:30-9pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. Every Tuesday. Peer group for Gay & Bi men. (206) 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org Here & Now Gay & Lesbian AA Meeting in Tacoma 7:30pm. Christ Episcopal Church, 310 N “K” St, Tacoma. Every Tuesday.
Spiritual Empowerment. 7:30-9pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. A vibrant drop-in workshop for those of any spiritual belief. (206) 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org Seattle Otters Water Polo Team. 8-9:30pm. Medgar Evers Pool, 500 23rd Ave E (at E Cherry St). Every Tuesday & Thursday. GLBT & GLBT-friendly co-ed water polo team is open to all who want to play. Beginners & experienced players welcome. Check our website for up to the minute details, or call the Otter Hotline (206) 414-8797. www.otterpolo.com. [EXCEPT no water polo mid-June through Labor Day Weekend.]
Seattle Poetry Slam. Doors 8pm, Show 8:30pm. Rebar, 1114 Howell St. Every Tuesday. A spoken word poetry event that features a weekly open mic, feature poet, and slam (poetry competition). Come out and express yourself. LGBTQ- & QTPOC-friendly; all genders welcome. $5. 21+. seattlepoetryslam.org
WEDNESDAY - September 5
Mature Friends Walk Around Greenlake. 11am. Meet up at 10:50am with a group of older men gathered at the north end of the parking lot that is next to the boathouse along the southwest side of Greenlake. Every Wednesday. Walk around Greenlake followed by lunch at a local restaurant. www.maturefriends.org
Rainbow Walk for LGBTQ Elders 50+ - Volunteer Park Walk. 12 noon-1pm. 14th Ave E & E Prospect St. Every Wednesday. (See related listing Monday at noon for details.) For info, call (206) 393-3400;. Sponsored by Generations Aging With Pride.
True Colors: Connecting LGBTQ Teens in Shoreline 4-5pm. Every Wednesday. Discussing your important issues, building a supportive community. For information, location & to REGISTER call Lindsay Bagley (206) 362-7282 x 8018 or email lbagley@chs-nw.org Positively Living. 5-7pm. Lifelong, 1016 E Pike St., 3rd Fl. Every Wednesday. Social and support group for the HIV community with various topics for discussion and conversation. Anthony, 206-957-1600. Sponsored by Lifelong.
GLOBE (GLBTQ Loving Ourselves, Becoming Empowered): A Support Group for GLBTQ+Youth (14-20) serving Snohomish County & surrounding communities. 6-8pm. Phone or email for location. Every Wednesday. Sponsored by PFLAG Everett. Brenda, (425) 263-2908. globeleaders@hotmail.com Queer Seattle Book Club. 6pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E (upstairs). Every Wednesday. This month’s title is “History of Violence” by Edouard Louis, a memoir composed as a novel about the author’s brutal coming-out in a French village. https://faculty.washington.edu/swittet/ SGLBookClub/ Lotus Sisters Meditation & Dharma DiscussionNorth. 6:15-8pm. Ravenna Bryant neighborhood. Every Wednesday. Call (206) 525-7295 for location. www. LotusSisters.org.
Southeast Seattle Lesbian Evening Group. 6pm. Southeast Seattle Senior Center, 4655 S Holly St. Meets 1st Wednesday each month. RSVP to Kate Hawkins (206) 722-0317. www.sessc.org. FREE. Center for Spiritual Living. 6:30pm-Meditation, 7pmService. 5801 Sand Point Way NE. Blessings & we hope to see you soon! Info (206) 527-8801 ext 203, www.cslseattle.org
Seattle Frontrunners Fun Run. 6:30pm. Volunteer Park, 14th Ave E & E Prospect St. Every Wednesday. Meet at Black Sun sculpture across for museum. (See Saturday at 9am.)
Ingersoll All-Trans Drop-In Support Group. 7-9pm. Seattle Counseling Services, 1216 Pine St, Suite 300. Every Wednesday. All Transgender, Gender Variant, Gender Queer, Gender Questioning, allies, family & friends are welcome. This is a drop in group to get & give support, social interaction & information for the whole Gender community. No fee. www.ingersollcenter.org
Mature Friends Weekly Bridge Group. 7pm. Wallingford Community Senior Center, lower level of Good Shepherd Center, 4649 Sunnywide Ave N. Every Wednesday. All levels welcome. MF is a social organization for Gay men & women, 40 years & over. www. maturefriends.org
community calendar
PFLAG/Renton Monthly Meeting. 7pm. St Luke’s Episcopal Church, 99 Wells Ave S, Renton. Meets 1st Wednesday each month. Parents & Friends of Lesbians & Gays is a national support organization for parents, spouses & families of GLBT persons, as well as those minorities. PFLAG/Renton: 425-235-4139. PFLAG/ Puget Sound: (206) 325-7724. www.seattle-pflag.org.
Mature Friends Pinochle Group. 7:30pm. Wallingford Community Senior Center, lower level of Good Shepherd Center, 4649 Sunnywide Ave N. Meets 1st & 3rd Wednesday each month All levels welcome. MF is a social organization for Gay men & women, 40 years & over. www.maturefriends.org
Washington Gender Alliance Open Support Meeting in Everett 7:30-9pm. Everett United Church of Christ, 2624 Rockefeller Ave, Everett. Every Wednesday. Trained peer facilitators lead a structured support meeting helping people deal with issues of gender identity & expression. All adults are welcomed, including those who are questioning, allies, or identify as FTM, MTF, Transgender, Queer, or Intersex, among others. (360) 445-2411; www.washingtongenderalliance.com.
Pride Skate Seattle. 8:30-11pm. Southgate Roller Rink, 9646 17th Ave SW. Meets 1st Wednesday each month. $8 admission includes skate rental. Must be 18+, with 21+ bar. Performances, roller skating, and fun! See you there! www.southgaterollerrink.com
THURSDAY - September 6
ALISS - Aging Lesbians in South Seattle Lunch Gathering. 11:30am-2:30pm. Southeast Seattle Senior Center, 4655 S Holly St, Rainier Ave S & S Holly St., Arts & Crafts Room. Meets 1st Thursday each month. This is a group primarily for Lesbians but all are welcome to attend. Facilitator: Fai Coffin; Cost: Free for gathering; $5 suggested donation for lunch. Metro route 7. Wheelchair accessible. Kate, (206) 722-0317; www.sessc.org. Safe and Sober (AA). 12 noon-1pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. Open meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous. (206) 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org
BABES Women’s Support Group/Lunch Meeting. 12 noon-2pm. Call for location. Every Thursday. The BABES Network is a peer led agency; a sisterhood of women facing HIV together. (206) 720-5566 or 888-2921912; www.babesnetwork.org.
Rainbow Walk for LGBTQ Elders 50+ - Green Lake Walk. 12 noon-1pm. 7201 E Green Lake Dr. N. Every Thursday - Come Rain or Shine! - Meet at the Wading Pool (along the north end of the lake). Hot coffee and beautiful Rainbow umbrellas to use “just in case.” For info, call (206) 393-3400;. Wheelchair-friendly walk. Sponsored by Generations Aging With Pride.
Oasis Youth Center in Tacoma - For Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender & Questioning Youth, Ages 14-25. 4-10pm. Call for location & details. Every Thursday. (253) 671-2838, www.oasisyouthcenter.org
First Thursday Art Walk in Downtown Seattle/Pioneer Square. 5-9pm. Art galleries in Downtown Seattle/Pioneer Square host opening night receptions. Seattle Art Museum is free today.
Rouge at Maximilien. 5-7pm. 81a Pike Place Market. Live Parisian music during First Thursday Art Walk. Seattle Human Rights Commission. 6-8pm. Seattle City Hall, 600 4th Ave. Meets 1st Thursday each month. SHRC is made up of 15 citizen representatives who advise the Mayor, the City Council, & all City of Seattle Depts in matters regarding human rights. The commission advocates for justice & equal opportunity & collaborates with & educates the public & private sectors about how to prevent & eliminate discrimination city-wide. Meetings open to the public. (206) 684-4540.
B-GLAD (Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Trans & Questioning Adolescent Drop-In Group). 6:30-8pm. Call for location. Every Thursday. Sponsored by Youth Eastside Services, which offers many programs for GLBT youth. (425) 747-4937.
Boys Group - For Male-Identified Youth, Ages 1422. 7-8:30pm. Lambert House, 1818 15th Ave. Every Thursday. Youth take the opportunity to talk about issues that relate to their everyday lives, with the facilitation of a male volunteer. (206) 322-2515 ext 16. www. lamberthouse.org
Seattle Prime Timers Coffee Reunion. 7pm. Northgate Mall, 491 NE Northgate Way. Meets 1st Thursday each month. Monthly social meet & greet. Look for your fellow Prime Timers at a table in the Food Court at the south end of the mall. Info: www.seattleprimetimers.org. 21st Century Bowling. 7pm. West Seattle Bowl, 4505 39th Ave SW. Every Thursday. Regular league bowling. Jeff, (206) 932-3731; leagues@wsbowl.com. [EXCEPT no bowling June, July, August.]
Taste of Western Square Dancing. 7-9pm, St. Andrew’s Church, 111 NE 80th St. Free taste of square dancing courtesy of Puddletown Squares, Seattle’s MOST modern square dance group for the LGBTQ community. Come out, meet people, and make new friends! All encouraged and welcome. Info at www.puddletownsquares.org or call Ben Bryson at (206) 290-9216. (ALSO Thursday, Sept. 13, same time and location.) Buddhism & Recovery. 7:30-9pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. Every Thursday. A meditation/recovery group. (206) 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org
Emerald City Social Club. 7:30pm. Call for details & location - phone staffed most Tuesday evenings or leave message. Meets 1st Thursday each month. ECSC is a confidential crossdressing social & support organization for Transvestite & Transsexual individuals, primar-
ily MTF, which offers confidential membership, private monthly meetings, frequent events on the town, & help in coming out. (425) 827-9494.
Gay Fathers Association of Seattle. 7:30-9pm. Group Health, 201 16th Ave E, Central Bldg, Lower Atrium. Every Thursday. Support meetings for Gay fathers & Gay men who are currently or previously married. Safe, anonymous, non-judgmental environment of caring fathers & friends. You are not alone. For information, community events & “questioning” visit www.gfas.org or our message board at http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/ gayfathersseattle
Gay Male Sexuality & Relationships. 7:30-9pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. Every Thursday. Ongoing support group open to Gay and Bisexual men. (206) 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org [NOTE: Please contact the facilitator prior to attending.]
Seattle Otters Water Polo Team. 8-9:30pm. Medgar Evers Pool, 500 23rd Ave E (at E Cherry St). Every Tuesday & Thursday. (See Tuesday listing at 8pm.) [EXCEPT no water polo mid-June through Labor Day Weekend.]
FRIDAY - September 7
Ageless in Recovery (AA). 12 noon-1pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. Every Friday. A drop-in AA group for 55+. (206) 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org
Rainbow Walk for LGBTQ Elders 50+ - Kubota Gardens Walk. 12 noon-1pm. 9817 55th Ave S. Every Friday - Come Rain or Shine! - Meet at the corner of 55th Ave S and Renton Ave S. Hot coffee and beautiful Rainbow umbrellas to use “just in case.” For info, call (206) 393-3400;. Wheelchair-friendly walk. Sponsored by Generations Aging With Pride.
Road to Recovery (SLAA). 12 noon-1:30pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. Every Friday. Ongoing 12step group for sex and love addicts. (206) 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org
Oasis Youth Center in Tacoma - For Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender & Questioning Youth, Ages 14-25. 4-10pm. Call for location & details. Every Friday. (253) 671-2838, www.oasisyouthcenter.org
LGBTQ & Allies 18+ Free Friday Night Drop-In Volleyball. 6-7:45pm. Miller Community Center, 330 19th Ave E. Every Friday. 206-684-4753. Strength Over Speed (SOS). 6-7:30pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. Peer support for Gay and Bisexual men recovering from crystal meth addiction. www. strengthoverspeed.org. (206) 322-2437. Game Night. 7pm-11pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. Every Friday. Card games, board games and fellowship. (206) 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org
Lambert House Queer Movie Night. 7-9:30pm. Lambert House, 1818 15th Ave. Every Friday. Lambert House is a nationally-recognized activities & resource center for GLBT & questioning youth, ages 14-22. (206) 322-2515, www.lamberthouse.org
Rain Country Dance Night. 7-11pm, lessons at 7:15pm. The Cuff, 1533 13th Ave. An evening of country-western dancing for the LGBTQ community. FREE. www.raincountrydance.org.
Destiny/Unity AA Meeting in Tacoma 7:30-8:30pm. Christ Episcopal Church, 310 N “K” St, Tacoma. Every Friday. LGBTQ-friendly AA meeting. (253) 474-8897. (Also meets Mondays.)
LGBT Friday Night Al-Anon Family Group. 8-9pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201 - in the O’Neill Room. Every Friday. The Al-Anon Family Groups are a fellowship of relatives & friends of alcoholics who share their experience, strength & hope in order to solve their common problems. We believe alcoholism is a family illness & that changed attitudes can aid recovery. Greater Seattle AIS 24-hour number (206) 625-0000; www. seattle-al-anon.org; (206) 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org
SATURDAY - September 8
(See previous Saturday for ongoing activities.)
A Gathering of Men in Edmonds 8:15-11:30am. Edmonds UUC, 8109 224th St SW, Edmonds. Meets 2nd Saturday each month. Men gather monthly for drumming, singing, storytelling & sharing of life experience. We create a safe, confidential & sacred space in which a man can speak his truth from the heart, to heal & empower himself. We are fiercely non-political, non-sectarian & non-judgmental. All men are welcome. www.agatheringofmen.org
Cascade Cactus & Succulent Society Odd Show & Sale (9/8 & 9/9). Sat: 9am-6pm; Sun: 9am-4pm. Sky Nursery, 18528 Aurora Ave N, Shoreline. Sound Transit Neighborhood Forum & Open House. 9-11:30am, Seattle Lutheran HS Gym, 4100 SW Genessee St. Learn about the planned Link light-rail extensions to West Seattle and Ballard, and give your input. RSVP encouraged at https://wsblink.participate.online/. Info on the project available at www.soundtransit.org/Projectsand-Plans/west-seattle-and-ballard-link-extensions. Georgetown Art Attack. 6-9pm. Meets 2nd Saturday each month. Reflects the industrial-strength character of the neighborhood. For information stop into Georgetown Records at Airport Way S & S Vale or visit www. georgetownneighborhood.com
Ballard’s Second Saturday Artwalk. 7-10pm. Pick up maps at participating shops & galleries located in the Ballard business district (Ballard Ave NW & NW Market St area). Meets 2nd Saturday each month. Enjoy an evening of art as local galleries & businesses showcase artists from Ballard & beyond. (206) 784-9705;
visitballard.com
Dwight Yoakam and Joe Nichols in Concert. 8pm, Tulalip Amphitheatre, 10200 Quil Ceda Blvd, Tulalip. 21 time nominated, Grammy award winning Dwight Yoakam is joined by Joe Nichols for a night of country music under the stars. Tickets start at $70 and are available at https://bit.ly/2Ifu85q. More information: www.tulalipresortcasino.com or (360) 716-6000. (Coming Sept. 8: Dwight Yoakam & Joe Nichols.)
SUNDAY - September 9
(See previous Sunday for ongoing activities.) Cascade Cactus & Succulent Society Odd Show & Sale (9/8 & 9/9). Sat: 9am-6pm; Sun: 9am-4pm. Sky Nursery, 18528 Aurora Ave N, Shoreline. Lotus Sisters Guided Meditation. 11am-1:30pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. Meets 2nd Sunday each month. Senior students lead the meditation, provide dharma talks or reflections & lead discussion. (206) 329-5908; www.LotusSisters.org. (Meets in 2nd floor meeting room; no elevator.)
No Safeword Writers Group. 1pm. See website for location. Meets 2nd & 4th Sunday each month. NSWG exists to provide mutual support for members’ efforts. Support is in the form of critique & commentary on each other’s work, information about publishing opportunities, & discussion of issues facing writers. NSWG’s primary focus is erotic writing - but they welcome anyone who writes. The only requirements are to write, to attend, & to be respectful. For info & location, www.nosafewordwritersgroup.org
Pride Lives Resource Walk. Meet at 4pm at Cal Anderson Park Reflecting Pool. Pride Lives returns to the spaces we live, work, and play for the 4th year to provide crisis resource materials (specifically suicide prevention) to our community. This is a completely volunteer-run event. Help spread the message that no one is alone, and help is available when needed. For more information or to volunteer, visit www.pridelives.org.
Dignity/Seattle. 6pm-Prayer Service. Ravenna United Methodist Church, 5751 33rd Ave NE. Meets 2nd Sunday each month. Dignity/Seattle is the local chapter of the nationwide organization of GLBT Roman Catholics. “We celebrate our inherent dignity with pride in liturgy, mutual support, work for justice, & social activities.” Gender-inclusive & relationship affirming liturgies & prayer services. All welcome. (206) 325-7314.
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Allyship - an organization of LGBTQ individuals fighting for economic and social justice. www.LGBTQAllyship. org, allyship@yahoo.com, (206) 279-8169.
American Veterans for Equal Rights - www.aver.us Another Gay Social Club! - www.meetup.com/AnotherGay-Social-Club/ Bellingham/Whatcom County - www.theslowlane. com/guide.html
BiNet Seattle is a mixed gender, social group for Bisexuals, their partners & other Bi-friendly folks - www. binetseattle.org.
Bremerton/Kitsap County - www.outwestsound.org Cascade Rainbow Community Center (Mount Vernon) - (360) 840-8499 and on Facebook.
COLAGE unites people with LGBTQ parents and caregivers into a network of peers and supports them as they nurture and empower each other to be skilled, self-confident, and just leaders in our collective communities - www.colage.org
Central Washington University GALA Hotline: (509) 963-1994.
DIFFA/Northwest (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS). (206) 763-8885; www.diffanorthwest. org DOMESTIC VIOLENCE & SEXUAL ASSAULT: Crisis Clinic, (206) 461-3222 (24 hour line); King County Sexual Assault Resource Center (KCSARC) - 24-hour crisis line for information, support, & medical & legal assistance: 1-888-99-VOICE; Northwest Networksupport & advocacy for Bisexual, Trans, Lesbian & Gay Survivors of Abuse & Dating Violence, (206) 568-7777 (voice), 517-9670 (tty), www.nwnetwork.org; Pierce County Domestic Violence Helpline: Teresa, (253) 798-4166; Seattle Counseling Service for Sexual Minorities - offers on-going support groups for men: 323-1768; Seattle Police Dept Domestic Violence Unit, (206) 684-0330; State Wide Domestic Violence Hot Line, 1-800-562-6025. In an emergency call 911 Report domestic violence and sexual assault. Equal Rights Washington - (206) 324-2570; www. equalrightswashington.org
Gay City promotes wellness in LGBTQ communities by providing health services, connecting people to resources, fostering arts, and building community. Gay City Health Project’s Wellness Center provides anonymous & confidential HIV/STD testing. 517 E Pike St. More info or to schedule an appointment, (206) 860-6969. www.gaycity.org
Gay & Lesbian National Hotline (GLNH): 1-888-THEGLNH (1-888-843-4564). Non-profit, peer-counseling, information & local resources telephone hotline for GLBT people across the country.
Generations Aging With Pride empowers elder LGBTQ adults to live with pride and dignity by promoting, connecting, and developing innovative programs and services that enhance belonging and support, eliminate discrimination, and honor the lives of older members of our community - (206) 393-3400; gapseattle.org
Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA) - (206) 363-9188; www.thegsba.org
HIV/AIDS Program, Seattle/King County Dept of Public Health, provides confidential/anonymous information about & testing for HIV/AIDS. (206) 205-7837. For a comprehensive list of HIV/AIDS service organizations see the GSBA Guide or visit www.thegsba.org or call Lifelong AIDS Alliance, (206) 328-8979. Imperial Sovereign Court of Seattle & the Olympic & Rainier Empire - www.facebook.com/ISCSORE; www. imperialcourtofseattle.com
Lambert House - (206) 322-2515; www.lamberthouse. org LGBT Library - 517 E Pike St. Open Mon-Fri 2-8pm; Sat 2-5pm. A wide range of fiction and non-fiction for the LGBT community and allies can be borrowed free of charge.
LGBT MS Connection - (206) 250-5002; LGBTMSConnection@gmail.com. Support group for LGBT persons with MS and their partners and their caregivers. Sponsored by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Lifelong AIDS Alliance - (206) 328-8979, www.lifelongaids alliance.org Lion’s Main Art Collective - www.lionsmain.org
MEN: Gay City: (206) 860-6969, www.gaycity.org; Knights of Mantra: (206) 329-0886, www.jetchapterkofm.com; Mature Friends: Gay men & women 40 & over, www.maturefriends.org; Northwest Bears: www. nwbears.com; The Olympians: www.TheOlympians. net; POZSeattle: www.pozseattle.com; Q-Squared: www.qsquared.org; Rain City Jacks: www.raincityjacks. org; Seattle Gay Couples: www. seattlegaycouples. org; Seattle Men in Leather: www.seattlemeninleather. org; Seattle Prime Timers: Gay & Bi men 40 & over, www.seattle primetimers.org; Tacoma Older LGBT: www.tacomaolderlgbt.org. (See also listings under Bisexual, Parenthood, People of Color, Transgender.)
MUSIC: Diverse Harmony: www.diverseharmony. org; Rainbow City Band: 1-866-841-9139 ext 2126; rainbowcityband@onebox.com; www.rainbowcity band. com; Seattle Men’s Chorus and Seattle Women’s Chorus: (206) 388-1408, (206) 323-0750. www.seattlechoruses.org.
Northwest Lesbian & Gay History Museum Project - gayhistnw@aol.com
Northwest Rainbow Alliance for the Deaf - www. nwrad.org
Olympia/Thurston County - www.RainbowCenterOly. org
Out & Equal Workplace Advocates/Seattle Regional Affiliate supports the work of LGBT employees and the growing number of ERGs (Employee Resource Groups) making a difference within local companies, including Alaska Airlines, Amazon.com, Amgen, AT&T, Bank of America, Deloitte, Macy’s, Microsoft, Russell Investments, Safeco Insurance, Starbucks Coffee, Xerox. www.outandequal.org/affiliates/seattle Out & Proud Grays Harbor Coalition - http://outandproudgh.org
PARENTHOOD: Families Like Ours provides a gateway for LGBT families interested in adoption & provides a network of safe placement agencies, training, support & resources: (206) 441-7602, www.familieslikeours. org; Family Works offers support, information & activities for LGBT families: (206) 694-6727, www.familyworksseattle. org; Gay Fathers’ Association of Seattle offers support groups & social activities: www.gfas. org; Proud & Loud Families - Northwest, www.meetup.com/proudand-loud-families-northwest, plfnorthwest@aol.com; Queer Parent Networking Dinners: (206) 568-7777, qpnd@nwnetwork.org, www.nwnetwork.org; Rainbow Families of Puget Sound: www.rainbowfamiliesps.org PFLAG is the national organization for parents, families, allies, and LGBTQ people united for equality with chapters in Seattle, Bellevue/Eastside, the Puget Sound region and across Washington state. PFLAG Seattle: (206) 325-7724, info@pflagseattle.org, and www.pflagseattle.org; PFLAG Bellevue/Eastside: (425) 483-6642, info@bellevue-pflag.org, http://community. pflag.org/PFLAGBellevue; PFLAG Pacific Northwest: www.pnwpflag.org; PFLAG Washington State: www. pflagwsc.org.
PEOPLE OF COLOR: AARTH (African American Reach & Teach Health Ministry), (206) 850-2070, www.aarth.org; Asian/Pacific Islander Queer Network Program at API Chaya, (206) 467-9976; Center for MultiCultural Health, (206) 461-6910, www.multiculturalhealth.org; Entre Hermanos, GLBT Latinos/as, (206) 322-7700, www.entrehermanos.org; Ile LaiLai, (206) 781-3565, iya@ilelailai.org; Men of All Colors & Cultures Together (MACCT), (206) 923-8313, macctseattle@yahoo.com, www.macctsea.org; Northwest Two Spirit Society, https://www.facebook.com/ groups/nw2spiritsociety/, Nubian Pride Productions, nubianpride@gmail.com; People of Color Against AIDS Network (POCAAN) offers rapid HIV testing, M-F, 10am-5pm, (206) 322-7061, www.pocaan.org and on Facebook; QBASS - Queer Black Alliance of the South Sound, (253) 256-1846, weareqbass@gmail. com; Sistah 2 Sistah, LBT women of African descent, (206) 322-7061, (206) 255-8951; Somos Seattle, somosseattle.org; Trikone-Northwest, GLBT South Asians, (425) 985-4376, www.trikonenw.org; Two-Spirit Honor Project, 1-866-685-0164; U.T.O.P.I.A. Seattle, www.utopiaseattlewa.org; VietQ Greater Seattle, vietqorganization@gmail.com Pierce County AIDS Foundation - (253) 383-2565; www.piercecountyaids.org Pride Foundation - (206) 323-3318; www.pridefoundation. org Pride Lives - www.facebook.com/PrideLives/ Project NEON is a program of Seattle Counseling Service providing FREE information & services to Gay
community calendar
& Bi men to reduce health risks associated with methamphetamine use. (206) 323-1768. www.crystalneon.org
Public Health-Seattle & King County Online Comprehensive Health Information for Sexual Minorities: www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/personal/ glbt.aspx
Q Law: The GLBT Bar Association of WA - (206) 682-6711; www.q-law.org
Rainbow Center - Resource Center for Tacoma/Pierce County LGBTIQA community. Through education, advocacy and celebration, the Rainbow Center expands resources, and safe space for the LGBTQIA community. Sponsors Tacoma Pride Festival. (253) 383-2318, www. rainbowcntr.org
SEAMEC interviews, researches & rates candidates for public office on issues of concern to the LGBT community. www.voteseamec.org
Seattle Area Support Groups & Community Center (SASG) is a non-profit organization that builds community and cultivates powerful, healthy lives by providing emotional support and personal development services to those affected by HIV/AIDS, the Queer communities, and those who love them. Our work is done in a spirit of safety, trust, inclusiveness, and celebration of individual differences. (206) 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org
Seattle Bisexual Women’s Network - BiSeattle.wixsite. com/SBWN and on Facebook.
Seattle Counseling Service for Sexual Minorities is a community mental health service for GLBT persons & their families providing comprehensive mental health services on a sliding scale. (206) 323-1768.
Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, The Abbey of St. Joan - (206) 860-3666; www.theabbey.org
Snohomish Health District HIV/AIDS Program provides free confidential/anonymous HIV counseling & testing 9am-5pm Monday-Friday, until 7pm Tuesdays. (425) 339-5298.
South Sound Q Calendar - LGBTQ events in Tacoma, Olympia & Sound Puget Sound area; www.SouthSoundQCal.com Spokane/Inland Northwest - www.outspokane.com; www.stonewallnews.net
SPORTS & RECREATION: Bent Car Guys: www. bentcarguys.org; Border Riders Motorcycle Club: www.borderriders.com; Bottom Dwellers Scuba Club: www.bottomdwellers.org; Capitol Hill Cyclers: join their Facebook group or email capitolhillcycling@ groups.facebook.com or jordan.l.simonson@gmail.com; Cascade Flag Football: www.cascadeflagfootball.org; Cascade Flyers: www.cascadeflyers.org; Emerald City Mudhen Rugby: www.mudhenrugby.com; Emerald City Softball Association: www.emeraldcitysoftball. org, www.eteamz.com/womensecsa; Ethyl Forever Car Club: ethylforever@hotmail.com; Festival of the Babes: www.festivalofthebabes.com; Olympic Yacht Club: www.oycnw.org; OutVentures: outdoor education & recreation activities, www.outventures.org; Pacific Northwest Gay Rodeo Association: www.pacificnwgra.org; Puddletown Squares: www.puddletownsquares.org; Rain City Soccer: www.raincitysoccer.org; Rain Country Dance Association: a country-western dance organization catering to the LGBTQ community but open to all, www.raincountrydance.org; Sea Dawgs: LGBT ice hockey - SkateSeaDawgs@gmail.com and on Facebook; Seattle Frontrunners: www.seattlefrontrunners.org; Seattle Gay Basketball Association: www. seattlegaybasketballassociation.com; Seattle Orca Swim Team: www.orcaswimteam.org; Seattle Otters Water Polo: www.otterpolo.com; Seattle Quake Rugby: www.quakerugby.com; Seattle Tennis Alliance: www. seattletennisalliance.org; Seattle Unified Bowling Association (SUBA): magee98106@aol.com, www. teamseattle.org/bowling.htm, www.theprideleague. com, Century 21 League; Seattle Volleyball Club: www.seattlevolleyballclub.com; Ski Buddies: www. skibuddies.org; Team Seattle Gay Sports Network is an umbrella organization for a wide range of local GLBT sports activities, (206) 367-4064, www.teamseattle.org (see website for comprehensive list of sports clubs); Triangle Recreation Camp at Bender Creek: recreational camping for GLBT folks. Must be 21; ID required. trc@ camptrc.org, www.camptrc.org, 1122 E Pike St #1069, Seattle 98122-3934. Strength Over Speed - www.strengthoverspeed.org Tacoma/Pierce County - Rainbow Center, 2215 Pacific Ave, Tacoma, a resource center for the LGBTIQA community of Pierce County, (253) 383-2318, www. rainbowcntr.org
TRANSGENDER: Emerald City Social Club: (425) 827-9494; Gender Alliance of the South Sound: www.SouthSoundGender.com; Gender Diversity: www.genderdiversity.org; Gender Justice League: www.genderjusticeleague.org; Gender Odyssey: www.genderodyssey.com; Hermanos Trans Latino & Foreign-Born Support Group: (206) 322-7700; Ingersoll Gender Center: (206) 329-6651, www. ingersollcenter.org; Lion’s Main Art Collective: www. lionsmain.org; The New BoyZ Club: www.olympiaftmgroup.webs.com; Olympia Trans Discussion Group: www.facebook.com/pages/Olympia-Trans-DiscussionGroup/262449878114; [trans] ACTION: Trans* & Gender Non-Conforming Sex Workers’ Support Group - a safe, peer-led space. mail@utopiaseattle.org; TRANSform Washington: transformwashington.com; Trans Resource & Referral Guide: kctransguide.org; Washington Gender Alliance: (360) 445-2411, www. washington genderalliance.com WOMEN: Aging Ballard Lesbian Exchange (A.B.L.E.): We are Lesbians 60 years (generally) and up, living (mostly) in the north half of Seattle. The purpose of the group is to connect, socialize and support each other. ruthemilyvogel@gmail.com; Aging Lesbians in South Seattle (ALISS) - Lesbian Group at the Southeast Seattle Senior Center. This is a gathering primarily for Lesbians but all are welcome to attend. Kate, (206) 722-0317; www.sessc.org; BABES: support groups for HIV+ women. (206) 720-5566, 1-888-292-1912; Coming Out Women Support Group of Tacoma: www. comingoutwomen.org; Festival of the Babes: www. festivalofthebabes.com; Mature Friends: Gay men & women 40 & over, www.maturefriends.org; Puget Sound Old Lesbian Organizing for Change: http:// psoloc.org, (253) 777-3357; Older Lesbians Organizing for Change/WA State Chapter: gloria@oloc.org, mary@oloc.org, www.oloc.org; Pacific Northwest Lesbian Archives: www.pnwlesbianarchives.org; RainshadowWomen: RainshadowWomen@aol. com; Seattle Bisexual Women’s Network: BiSeattle. wixsite.com/SBWN; Seattle Girls of Leather: www. sgol.org; Tacoma Lesbian Concern (TLC): www.tacomalesbianconcern.org; Tacoma Older LGBT: www. tacomaolderlgbt.org; Women of West Seattle (WOWS): a fun, member-driven social group for Lesbians, http:// groups.yahoo.com/group/womenofwestseattle; YWCA Women’s Health Outreach: providing low or no-cost mammograms for income eligible 40+ LBTQ individuals. Follow us at http://lbtqhealth-ywca.blogspot.com, twitter.com/ingridWHO or email lbthealth@ywcaworks. org, (206) 461-4493. (See also listings under Bisexual, Parenthood, People of Color, Transgender.)
YOUTH: B-GLAD (Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Trans & Questioning Adolescent Drop-In Group): Youth Eastside Services offers many programs for GLBT youth, including B-GLAD, (425) 747-4937; Coyote Central: www.coyotecentral.org; Diverse Harmony: www.diverseharmony. org; GLSEN/Washington State (Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network) & Washington State GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance) Network: GLSEN works to create safe schools for LGBT students. WA GSA Network supports youth-led GSA’s to fight harassment & homophobia in Washington state schools. (206) 330-2099; www.glsenwa. org; www.wagsa.org. GLOBE (GLBTQ Loving Ourselves, Becoming Empowered): a support group & HIV/STD prevention program for GLBTQ youth, 14-20, in Everett, (425) 263-2908, www. globeyouth.org; It Gets Better Project: www.itgetsbetter.org; Lambert House: an activities & resource center for LGBT youth, 14-22, in Seattle, 1818 15th Ave @ E Denny Way; (206) 322-2515, www.lamberthouse.org; Lifelong HEYO (Health Education Youth Outreach): for LGBTQ youth, ages 16-24: (206) 957-1665; www. llaa.org/HEYO; www.MatthewsPlace.com; The Mockingbird Society: (206) 323-KIDS (5437), www.mockingbirdsociety.org; Oasis Youth Center: for GLBTQ youth, ages 14-25, in Tacoma, (253) 671-2838, www. oasisyouthcenter.org; OUT There Adventures: www. outthereadventures.org; Parents, Family & Friends of Lesbians & Gays (PFLAG)/Puget Sound: (206) 3257724, www.seattle-pflag.org; Peace for the Streets by Kids from the Streets (PSKS) Drop-In Center & Young Adult Shelter: 1609 19th Ave @ E Pine St., (206) 7268500; www.psks.org; Pizza Klatch: weekly lunchtime support groups for LGBTQ youth in Thurston County, www.pizzaklatch.org; Prism: for LGBTQ youth, 14-21, in Puyallup - Cherise.Alexander@ multicare.org; www. facebook.com/PuyallupPrism; Proud Out Wonderful (POW!): for LGBTQ youth, 13-21, in South King County, (206) 326-9112, www.facebook.com/proudoutwonderful; Q Youth Resources: in Kitsap County - (360) 698-3335; www.kchaf.org; Renton Area Youth Services (RAYS): LGBTQ, questioning and allied youth drop-in group, ages 12-18 - Sarah Hardin, (425) 271-5600, ext 155; sarahh@rays.org; Roots Young Adult Shelter: 1415 NE 43rd St., (206) 632-1635; www.rootsinfo.org; Safe Schools Coalition: www.safeschoolscoalition.org; (206) 451-SAFE, (206) 451-7233 (non-emergency), 1-877-SAFE-SAFE (1-877-723-3723) (crisis line); Seattle Young People’s Project (Queer Youth Resource Board): (206) 860-9606, www.sypp.org; Street Youth Ministries (SYM): (206) 524-7301 ext 111; www. streetyouthministries.org; Teen Link: (206) 461-4922, 1-888-431-TEEN; The Trevor Project: 866-4-U-Trevor; www.thetrevorproject.org; True Colors - Connecting LGBTQ Teens: in Shoreline, (206) 362-7282 x 8018, lbagley@chs-nw.org; Vista Youth Center: for LGBTQ, questioning and allied youth, ages 14-21, in Kennewick, (509) 396-5198, www.vistayouthcenter.org; YouthCare/ Isis Program (Transitional Living Home for LGBTQ Young Adults, 18-22): (206) 522-8412; YouthCare/ Orion Center Young Adult Shelter: 1828 Yale Ave @ Stewart St. (206) 622-5555; Youth in Focus: (206) 723-1479; www.youthinfocus.org; Youth Suicide Prevention Program (OUTLoud-GLBTQ): (206) 297-5922, ext 116, 1-800-273-TALK, www.yspp.org
20 [HEALTH & WELL-BEING]
ENERGY/BODYWORK
TIDY'S LANDSCAPING & HAULING
We Do - All Types of Yard Work, Hauling, Gutter Cleaning, Demolition, Etc....Free Estimates. Call 206-3548949 For More Info & To Schedule Appointment. 34/3.
Therapeutic massage. 30 years experience. Relaxation, major/minor injuries, chronic muscle pain. Small Ballard home office/studio. Massage table or massage chair. Convenient parking. (I’m a Gay-friendly straight male graphic artist, web author.) First session 50% off = $45/1.5 hours (travel extra). By appointment only. References available. Chris Pringer, Reiki Master, 206-286-0899. If you get a voice message mentioning “extension #,” please hang up and call back again; otherwise, please leave a message. Brochure, testimonials, etc. via chalicebridge.com/BMI-Brochure. html. 44/21
21 [LICENSED MASSAGE - NON-SEXUAL]
ENJOY A SOOTHING MASSAGE
Swedish, Deep Tissue, Sports, and Hot Stone Massage on Capitol Hill. $65 an hour. Jeff, LMP. 206-6500542; rjeffa@hotmail.com; www.broadwaymassage. com. 29/3
13212 SE Eastgate Wy, Bellevue, WA 98005 (425) 649-7563 | adoption@seattlehumane.org
Is your life missing a furry friend? Now is the perfect time to open your world to a pet in need. Coldwell Banker’s Homes for Dogs program with Adopt-a-pet.com has helped place 20,000 dogs into homes across the country. Could your place be the next happy ending for a pet in need? Make your house a home by visiting the shelter and bringing back the pet of your dreams.
Late Summer Love Aug. 31-Sept. 3
We know who you’re crushing on this summer. Cats and dogs! Be swept off your feet by one of the charming adoptable pets at Seattle Humane in Bellevue. Adoption fees are $25 off this Labor Day Weekend, Friday, August 31st through Monday, September 3rd! The shelter’s sweet adoptable pets are ready to meet you and love you forever. Consider wrapping up your summer with the rewarding adventure of pet adoption. This isn’t just a summer fling – its everlasting love! See available pets at seattlehumane.org.
EXCEPTIONAL BODYWORK
Given by highly trained LMP. I specialize in injury treatment, acute, chronic, and repetitive stress motion. I have a studio on CapHill, and one just north of the UW. Insurance accepted. Matt Shafer, LMP, 206-2357766. 41/12
EROTICALLY CHARGED nude full body rubdown from playful top, stimulating the senses. Get seduced. Incalls in Renton area. Scott, 206-355-4469. 33/3
GREAT MASSAGE
Given by highly-trained, clean-cut, handsome guy. I have two private studios, one on CapHill, and one just north of the UW. Call/text Matt, 206-235-7766. In/ out calls. 41/12
Audrey
Meet Audrey, a beautiful black and white 1-year-old American Pit Bull mix. Audrey is a California girl who loves to play fetch though she's still working on the return-and-drop part of the game. She has so much energy that she participates in our dog playgroups and in our Run-Dog-Run program where trained volunteers take the dogs for runs up to four miles. Audrey might be described as a go-getter in the way she likes to play. As much as she likes to play she also enjoys going back to her crate for a good snooze. Training will be key with this girl, and we offer a free on-campus training course with every adoption. Audrey loves treats and treats are great training tools. If you've been looking for an active girl to go with you on all of your outdoor adventures, visit Audrey today at Seattle Humane!
Audrey has been spayed, microchipped, vaccinated and behavior tested. She will go home with a certificate for a complimentary veterinary examination and an identification tag. Most dog adoptions include 30 days of pet insurance from Trupanion and six weeks of training in one of our on-campus dog behavior courses, a great way to learn and bond together and maybe meet a few hiking partners!
Introduce to teenagers. Resident dogs are required to visit Audrey prior to adoption. Cat-free home.
Queen Athenabeana
Queen Athenabeana, a 6-year-old black long-haired girl! Queen Athenabeana was surrendered to Seattle Humane due to no faults of her own. Queen Athenabeana is a sweet and quiet girl who longs for a best friend to open her heart to. Queen Athenabeana will need to go to a quiet home without too many people coming or going. Her history with other cats is unknown, so if introducing to another cat - a slow introduction will be required. Come meet Queen Athenabeana at Seattle Humane! She can't wait to meet you!
As with all of our cats, Queen Athenabeana is spayed, microchipped and vaccinated. She will go home with a certificate for a complimentary veterinarian examination and an identification tag. PLUS, most cat adoptions include 30 days of pet insurance from Trupanion – a great way to start off on the right paw!
RAIN CITY JACKS
RCJ is Seattle’s private club hosting hundreds of group jack-off events since 2005. Hot, friendly, and genuine male bonding for men 18+ only. Email or visit our web site for information. info@raincityjacks.org; www. raincityjacks.org. 30/12
FREE & ANONYMOUS HIV & STD COUNSELING/TESTING Walk-In or by Appt
GAY CITY HEALTH PROJECT 517 E. Pike St. M-F: 3pm-8pm; SAT: 12:30pm-5pm More Info & to Schedule Appt 206-860-6969
