SGN Feb 15, 2019 - Part 2

Arts & Entertainment

Ladies take the night at the 61st Grammy Awards Aleksa and Arnaldo: The best of friends

by Jessica Price SGN A&E Writer

61ST ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS

STAPLES CENTER

LOS ANGELES

February 10

The 61st annual Grammy Awards, true to form, offered up nearly four hours of highs and lows that were by turns tedious and unexpectedly spectacular. Hosted by

LIGHTNING STRIKING

the ever-laid back Alicia Keys, the evening turned out to be a huge win for the ladies – not only in awards and nominations but in the evening’s most spellbinding performances and surprise guests.

The night started on a high with host Alicia Keys feeling the love for the assembly of stars (calling out Dolly Parton seated in the first row, among others). “When you really want to say something, you say it with a song,” she said, bringing out none other than see GRAMMYS page 3

AGAIN: Klaus Nomi returns to Earth in Alien/Angel at Café Nordo

by Maggie Bloodstone Special to the SGN

CAFÉ NORDO

ALIEN/ANGEL

Through February 24

If ever there was a show I was willing to brave Snowmageddon for, this would be the one. My homesickness for the dear dead days clubbing on 1st Ave. in the early ‘80s has become more acute every passing year,

see ALIEN/ANGEL page 3

by MK Scott SGN Contributing Writer

ALEKSA MANILA & FRIENDS

A BENEFIT FOR PRIDE ASIA NEIGHBOURS NIGHTCLUB

February 23 @ 6pm

ARNALDO! DRAG CHANTEUSE MARCH IS CABARET MONTH OPENING NIGHT THE TRIPLE DOOR

February 27 @ 7:30pm

For over 20 years, Seattle has been blessed to have “Arnaldo! Drag Chanteuse” and Aleksa Manila, who was awarded 2018’s GSBA’s Community Leader of the Year award and the Mayor’s 2018 Outstanding Leader Pride Award. Both of these lovelies are great leaders, uber-talented, and the best of friends. Like most friends and professional partners, they complement each other. I had a chance to chat with each of them recently.

see ALEKSA & ARNALDO! page 4

Noir City returns with an exploration of 1950’s film noir

by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN A&E Writer

NOIR CITY FILM FESTIVAL

SIFF CINEMA

EGYPTIAN THEATRE

February 15-21

Starting tonight with a special screening of director Richard Fleisher’s little-seen hard-boiled 1949 classic Trapped starring Lloyd Bridges, the Noir City film festival returns to the SIFF Cinema Egyptian Theatre on Capitol Hill for a week-long presen-

see NOIR CITY page 5

GRAMMYS

former First Lady Michelle Obama, Lady Gaga, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Jennifer Lopez to introduce the night and explain how music has been a touchstone in each of their lives.

After a dynamic erotic-jazz-club style performance of “Money” atop a dazzling piano that once belonged to Liberace, Cardi B made history when she took home the Grammy for Best Rap Album for Invasion of Privacy, making her the first solo woman ever to win the award. (The world’s fiercest female pianist, Chloe Flower, was up to the task of not only partnering with Cardi, but in making the spirit of Liberace proud).

Hometown LGBTQ pride in Seattle was already at a high for six-time nominee (and three-time 2019 winner) Brandi Carlile as she delivered one of the evening’s most emotionally raw performances with a stunning rendition of “The Joke”. Given the song’s theme of alienation and release, Carlile’s anthem earned her a well-deserved standing ovation. Though not included in the broadcast, she received awards in no less than three stellar categories: Best American Roots Performance and Best American Roots Song for “The Joke”, as well as Best Americana Album for By the Way, I Forgive You. From her earliest days of residency at Queen Anne’s Paragon and playing packed shows at Capitol Hill’s Wildrose, Carlile’s fans have believed in her and are elated that their hometown hero has reached this pinnacle of success and recognition. To many, she is not only an awe-inspiring talent but a relatable figure in the lesbian community that made good and stayed true to her Seattle roots. Carlile’s six nominations made history as the most in one year by a native Washingtonian artist, as well as making her the most-nominated woman this year.

Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper picked up two Grammys for “Shallow”, including Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Song Written for Visual Media. While Bradley

ALIEN/ANGEL

and those days come rushing gloriously back to me every time I hear anything by Nina Hagen, Grace Jones, Joy Division... And Klaus Nomi.

Sadly, I discovered him just shortly before his return to his home planet in 1983 (where he no doubt shares a heavenly art deco castle with David Bowie, Jobriath, Leigh Bowery, Charles Ludlam, and several Cockettes), an early casualty of what was then known as “GRID”. To say he was ahead of his time is an understatement on a par with Donald Trump being known to stretch the truth on occasion. He landed in the early ‘70s Manhattan club scene from Alpha Centauri by way of Dadaist Berlin, donning kabuki makeup and PVC tuxedos while giving brilliant new life to pop standards like “Lightning Strikes”, “Just One Look”, and “The Twist”, as well as his own New-Wavey compositions, like “Total Eclipse” and “Simple Man”. Being operatically trained and frustrated at not being allowed to play soprano roles with all their romantic, angry, insane passion, he took arias like “Mon Coeur S’ouvre” from Samson and Delilah and made them his own. Had he lived, he would surely have given Freddie Mercury a run for his money and quite possibly end up with a Vegas residency along with his performance partner and BFF Joey Arias in Teatro ZinZanni today. That is how far ahead of just about everyone he was. Devin Bannon probably wasn’t even born when I was hogging the dance floor at Tugs or the Vogue, but there’s no denying he’s somehow been touched by Nomi’s

Cooper was representing “A Star Is Born” at the BAFTAs in London, Lady Gaga took on both roles to perform the duet in a throwback to her original rocked up style. Wearing a brilliant jewel-studded jumpsuit, her platinum hair elegantly tousled and wild, Gaga looked every bit the seasoned rock vixen. A Star Is Born and the evening’s awards marked yet another career high.

From Janelle Monáe to Bebe Rexha, self-proclaimed queer and gender-fluid women continued to rule the night. Luscious latex had a high fashion moment as seen in Monáe’s “Make Me Feel” performance. Dolly Parton and goddaughter Miley Cyrus delivered a stellar “Jolene”.

immortal essence in this labor of Liebe. For me, it was a delicious flashback to the minimalist performance spaces of yore, with pre-show music from ‘78-’83 and the superb guitar and keyboard duo of Cathy Moore and Anastasia Workman. “Space Oddity” segues into “See Me, Hear Me” segues into

Most sizzling duet was undoubtedly St. Vincent, who kicked off a stripped-down version of “Masseduction” dressed in a bodysuit and thigh-high boots but was soon joined by an equally leggy Dua Lipa in an identical slicked back bob. The pair performed a chemistry-laden medley of the single mixed with “One Kiss” and “Respect.” St. Vincent’s single “Masseduction” won Best Rock Song, and the avantelectro-rock artist was also nominated for Best Alternative Music Album for the album of the same name. (Incidentally, Masseduction also won Best Recording Package before the broadcast). Dua Lipa took home Best New Artist.

And the wins kept coming for the ladies: Kacey Musgraves accepted awards for Album of the Year and Best Country Album for Golden Hour, as well as Best Country Solo Performance (“Butterflies”) and Best Country Song (“Space Cowboy”). H.E.R. took home Best R&B Album, and Ariana Grande’s Sweetener won Best Pop Vocal Album. Ella Mai earned her first Grammy for Best R&B Song with “Boo’d Up”. With the most diverse and exciting Grammy Awards show in recent history, the start of 2019 already feels like a victory lap for women in music united across all genres.

“Transmission,” setting the perfect tone for Bannon’s manifestation of Nomi from his lederhosened youth in post-war Germany through his all too short career.

European and American TV interviews and performances such as Nomi’s best-known moment as backup singer for David Bowie on a ‘79 episode of “Saturday Night Live” (shown briefly on a circular backscreen) tie the tale together. And while Nomi and Bowie are both certainly Space Cadets, Nomi stayed there, and his extraterrestrial quality is highlighted by the appearance of a videotaped “Planetary Commandant” monitoring his progress and eventual return to the universe (played by a well-known local cabaret/boylesque/opera performer whose name is also a planetary reference, and who also choreographed the show. No spoilers here.)

But what I came for and expected was the singing. I hoped for perfection, but was prepared to settle for less, as we’re talking about the ultimate one-in-a-billion talent here. I am delighted to say I was not disappointed, even with my realistic expectations. Bannon comes as close to channeling Nomi as possible for a mere mortal. The love for the music and its performance is undeniable, and the unpretentiousness of his approach to Nomi as a character makes the viewer feel a part of the creative saga. While Bannon’s reluctance to truly let loose with the high notes in the first act is understandable, he overcomes Nomi’s formidable vocal shadow by the second act and nails the upper ranges of “Lightning Strikes” and “Total Eclipse” enough to lift me out of my seat. The sheer ditziness of Nomi’s arrangement of “Falling In Love Again” is damn near flawless and inspired

chills up my vertebrae, as did the sublime “Mon Coeur S’ouvre”. Androgynous backup mannequins Christopher Sweet and Chloe Albin filled out the spare stage, posing and prancing in 2-tone catsuits.

I knew what was coming in the third act. I still associate Henry Purcell’s “Cold Song” with the AIDS epidemic because of Klaus Nomi, and when you hear it, you’ll understand. Bannon’s voice cracked once –only once – at the beginning, but you knew why. No applause at the end, just suspended breath and some quiet weeping (mine).

While the non-musical parts could do with some finessing and fleshing out in relation to the places and times, it all comes together with Bannon’s prescient, empathetic performance, and will surely be the closest you will get to the real thing. And the tiny Café Nordo space captures the atmosphere of ‘80s bar/cabaret theater at its pinnacle perfectly, even with the fancyschmancy dinner offerings: four courses of pies in honor of Nomi’s day job as a pastry chef: lamb pasty, sweet potato pie, prime rib shepherd’s pie and key lime pie made the evening a feast for all the senses.

For me, it was early-’80s heaven without the acid. The brief post-disco/punk, preMTV era that crested gloriously before the crash of the plague years. When everything should have been possible.

Your homework assignment: watch the documentary Nomi Song and Argh! A Music War, with Nomi performing “Total Eclipse” (as well as Joan Jett, X, The Police, Devo, Gary Numan, The Go-Gos, Dead Kennedys, and pretty much anybody who was anybody in 1982). Then seek out his albums: Klaus Nomi, Simple Man, Encore, and the posthumous “unfinished opera”, Za Bakdaz

MK Scott: How and when did you first meet?

Arnaldo: Wow, I met Aleksa at a barbecue party at a mutual friend’s home. I was still singing with the Seattle Men’s Chorus then, and I think they had a video of me performing either my Carmen Miranda or Patsy – not sure anymore – or maybe I had my cabaret videos with me in the car, I forget. I knew they were showing some

course, it was a fundraiser and we did not expect to get paid, but she always had something for us: a thank-you card, a lip gloss, a token of appreciation, a flower – something to express her gratitude. Very generous and loving even back then...and that’s why she is so much loved today. I admire that in her very much, because some people get very entitled when they reach a certain stature and use their position or popularity to take advantage of others. Not Aleksa – she protects, she makes sure things are fair, and her attention to detail and excellence are admirable.

videos of my performances, and I remember Aleksa watching intently. She was so curious, I could see, but still quite shy. Later on, another chorus friend was involved with YAMS (Young Asian Men’s Studies), and I was being interviewed for an article, so he invited me to come to their office, and then I saw Aleksa there as intern or volunteer, and then that’s how we truly got to know each other. And then when I did “Girls, Girls, Girls” at Northwest Asian American Theatre, I think Aleksa was at six of the eight performances...LOL! And we just became very good friends after that until today. My, that must be 20 years ago!

Aleksa: I believe it was about 20 years ago at a mutual friend’s house party. This was pre-drag...and the host was showing a performance by Arnaldo with the Seattle Men’s Chorus on VHS. This would have been the first time I had seen an Asian drag queen sing live. And she was doing her “I’ve Got Your Picture” number. So as you can imagine, I was mesmerized! I think the performance was even held somewhere in Europe, so I was even more impressed. Then, of course, Arnaldo showed up at the party and I was starstruck [and have been] ever since. I had only been in Seattle for a few years, so it was important to find a community of Filipino immigrants, and being gay was a plus. Arnaldo has not only left an impression on me as a drag performer but as a role model.

MK: What was it like the first time you worked together?

Arnaldo: Aleksa first invited me to perform at the very first ICON. It was held at Timberline after they moved (not at the old Timberline). Steve [MacFarlane] and I were dating, and I remember there were artworks by Steve for auction as well. I already saw then that Aleksa was a fabulous organizer and very respectful to the performers. She made us feel important and made sure we got what we needed as performers. Of

so beautiful. She affects me in very positive ways as a Filipino, an Asian-American, a drag queen, an immigrant, and so on. We have discussions on relationships, family, religion, politics, racism, and other deep topics. Because of this type of friendship, she’s able to challenge my thought process on many things, be it personal or running an organization.

When I was asked to sing with Pink Martini, Arnaldo was the only friend I phoned right away to share the fabulous news with. I remembered her being so happy and proud for me. Looking back, I needed that encouragement and trust that I was worthy. After all, she’s “Arnaldo! Drag Chanteuse” – what better standard of live drag performance should I use? Everyone knows I’m not a professional songstress, I’m more of a karaoke queen.

But Arnaldo has a magical way of making anyone feel like a diva. The true test of a brilliant star is to see how they treat their number one fan off-stage. And we should

ASIA, a collective I founded in 2012. Pride ASIA’s mission is to celebrate, empower and nurture the multicultural diversity of the LGBTQ communities through the Asian-Pacific Islander lens.

MK: What are your upcoming projects, solo or together?

Arnaldo: Aleksa has tons of projects lined up all the time – I don’t know how she does it. And she does them all so well! Together, we still have Pride ASIA, and it is maturing and growing as well. We also work closely with the Filipino American Community of Seattle on their LGBTQ initiatives and with other Asian community organizations on their LGBTQ programs as well. As for me, I continue my work with cabaret and music for the “March Is Cabaret Month” festival and Pacific Northwest Cabaret Association and plan to perform in other cities again, time and opportunities permitting. I am extremely grateful that I am able to do what I love to do and at the same time open hearts and minds.

Aleksa: It would have been about 2004 when I organized “ICON: a celebration of art, drag & life!” for Seattle Counseling Service. It was held at the Timberline (now closed) and sold out. I asked her to do her Eartha Kitt–inspired look, and she was sensational! She has now been in the cast of ICON for 15 years! She’s a crowd favorite and a headliner. I couldn’t be happier and more grateful for her generosity. With the caliber of her performance art, one would think she might be a diva. And in some ways, she is, because of her level of perfection and artistry. However, her grace and humility are stellar. From that first time working with her, I knew she was an angel to be with. We have now been involved in each other’s projects for almost two decades, so our first time definitely influenced our loyalty and appreciation for each other’s work.

MK: How has your friendship evolved over the years?

Arnaldo: We respect each other’s opinions very much. We bounce ideas off each other a lot. We both get very excited with new visions and goals, and we ask each other a lot of questions and we listen to each other. Like any other relationship, it took time to get to that stage where we can truly feel safe with each other. She is my treasured family.

Aleksa: I most certainly started as a fan of Arnaldo! When I started doing drag is when I think our friendship started to bloom, partly because I had a growing understanding of the art of drag in an elevated fashion: where she had brought it and continues to do so. My admiration of her ability to balance her drag artistry and her professional responsibilities inspired me. Though we’re chummy, I consider her like an older sibling who guides me. I never really had one growing up, so she’s taken that role (unbeknownst to her). Our friendship has so many levels and layers that are

all take a lesson or two on family values from Arnaldo. I have been very lucky to have witnessed Arnaldo and Steve MacFarlane’s almost 20 years of love. How can that not be a source of inspiration! Also, watching Arnaldo care for her mother is something that’s near and dear to my heart.

MK: What do you like most about working with each other?

Arnaldo: We work well together because we know and respect each other’s boundaries. If it’s my project, I lead and she helps, and if it’s her project, she leads and I help. We build on each other’s successes. We know that that we are stronger together, and we are very honest with each other, especially when we ask what the other thinks. Sometimes, I jokingly refer to Aleksa as “my secret weapon,” because I know that if I call on her to help, the project will be very, very successful! She gives 100% all the time...no matter the size of the project.

Aleksa: There is such a fine art to critiquing. And that’s one of the most valuable traits of Arnaldo that I appreciate. She does it in a way that allows me to make things better and in a very collaborative way. Arnaldo is very communal in her approach to performance. Because of her history of working with chorales, musicians, bands, and especially the Seattle legend Bob Bruneau, I continue to learn to be appreciative of and sensitive to working with diverse groups. This extends to community organizing. For example, she’s a very critical and integral part of the success of Pride

Aleksa: Besides our leadership roles with Pride ASIA, we’re also involved with the Filipino Community of Seattle’s Gay Filipino Pageant (date TBD). I’ll be hosting my annual “Aleksa Manila & FRIENDS” on February 23, which will be a fundraiser for the Pride ASIA celebration (May 2019). [A full list of events is at aleksamanila. com]. I am looking forward to “March Is Cabaret Month,” which will debut at The Triple Door, followed by a series of shows at Egan’s Ballard Jam House.

COMING UP:

See Aleksa Manila at the 17th Annual Aleksa Manila & FRIENDS show on February 23 at 6pm at Neighbours Nightclub. (1509 Broadway) Tickets: $10 advance – friends2019.bpt.me; 800-838-3006 OR $15 at door. All proceeds benefit Official Pride ASIA.

See Arnaldo! Drag Chanteuse at the March Is Cabaret Month Opening Night Show on February 27 at 7:30pm at The Triple Door (216 Union St). Tickets: $25 (& $35 front row) advance at https://tickets. thetripledoor.net/ and at the door.

March is Cabaret Month continues every Fri & Sat in March at 7:30pm & 9:30pm at Egan’s Ballard Jam House (1707 NW Market St). For the full schedule, visit http://www.marchcabaret.com/

NOIR CITY

tation of devious dames, cagey grifters and dirty cops all doing things they shouldn’t be. This year’s festival is a celebration of the 1950s and features an eclectic series of titles, some familiar, some not so much, that presciently speak to just the type of social and political climate many living in the United States find themselves uncomfortably dealing with today.

Racial inequality. Economic disparity. Political indiscretion. Communist aggression. Police brutality. Gender roles. Everything in the news right this very second (along with a heck of a lot more) is all here, the festival diving in feet first as far as this B&W exploration of the darker side of the human condition is concerned, each film a dynamic evisceration of the cultural status quo audiences will hopefully be excited to see.

One title that raises my pulse to its boiling point is Robert Aldrich’s quick-tempered 1955 classic Kiss Me Deadly. In my opinion this is one of the greatest motion pictures ever made, the aggressively nasty piece of pulp fiction an explosive mystery of death, double-crosses, mistaken identities, fast cars, faster women and a Pandora’s Box of secrets that if opened might inadvertently lead to the end of civilization as we know it. Ralph Meeker is author Mickey Spillane’s ace detective Mike Hammer, and the current case he’s on is one he literally ran into late at night driving along a seemingly quiet country road. This is a mesmerizing little shot of abhorrent adrenaline directed with furious intensity by Aldrich, everything building to a now-classic final scene that’s borderline apocalyptic in how it views humanity and what people have done to both one another as well as the planet they call home.

Other films that have me eager to head out to the Egyptian and give them a look? How about Stanley Kubrick’s second feature Killer’s Kiss? It’s a hardcore boxing melodrama about a struggling fighter making all the wrong decisions as he attempts to do what he thinks is right. Then there’s Jacques Tourneur’s 1956 stunner Nightfall with a young Anne Bancroft and an intense Aldo Ray as two strangers thrust together after a bank robbery goes south and one of them is mistaken for being a thief and a

murderer by the police. I’m equally excited to get a look at Samuel Fuller’s brutal The Crimson Kimono on the big screen, the thriller a showcase for future Die Hard star James Shigeta as well as a stunning visual achievement courtesy of ace cinematographer Sam Leavitt (The Defiant Ones). There’s plenty more, not the least of which is Orson Welles’ highly influential tale of police corruption on the Mexican border Touch of Evil, the pugnacious political thriller Pickup on South Street (also directed by Samuel Fuller) featuring a marvelous Richard Windmark at his rock ’em-sock ’em best, William Wyler’s crushing law and order procedural Detective Story with Kirk Douglas delivering one of the finest performances of his career and Otto Preminger’s visually resplendent stunner Angel Face featuring heartrending turns from stars Robert Mitchum and Jean Simmons. All of the films in this year’s festival eviscerate the status quo and attempt to shine a light on parts of the American Dream that aren’t so warm and fuzzy. They dig deep into the marrow, the scalpels uti-

lized to cut away the flesh oftentimes covered with the failed hopes and dreams of star-crossed lovers or determined everymen (and everywomen) crushed to see what they’ve spent their lives fighting for destroyed right before their eyes.

Once again Czar of Noir and TCM “Noir Alley” host Eddie Muller has done a terrific job crafting this week-long festival for the folks at SIFF. By tackling the films of the ’50s he’s not only brought a bevy of ruggedly unsettling, yet still wickedly enjoyable classics back to the big screen for a theatrical presentation, he’s also managed to shine a light on the morally complex world of today in the process. This year’s Noir City has it all, and audiences heading out to the SIFF Egyptian to give any one of these titles a look is in for a real blood-soaked, bulletriddled and lipstick-smeared treat.

For ticket information and full schedule head on over to the SIFF Cinema Egyptian Theatre or go to https://www.siff.net/yearround-cinema/film-festivals/noir-city.

Isn’t It Romantic an adorable dissection of rom-com clichés

by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN A&E Writer

ISN’T IT ROMANTIC

Now playing

Aussie immigrant Natalie (Rebel Wilson) is a New York City architect who specializes in designing parking garages. She loves her job, has a doting assistant, Whitney (Betty Gilpin), and is best friends with office mate Josh (Adam Devine) who is constantly trying to convince her to go sing karaoke with him. She also has trouble speaking up in meetings, especially when her boss puts her on the spot in front of their latest client, a cockily self-absorbed entrepreneur named Blake (Liam Hemsworth) who callously mistakes Natalie for an administrative assistant. Most of all, the young woman is a certified cynic who absolutely despises romance, especially the candy-colored sensationalistic version of it put forth in every Hollywood romantic comedy since the invention of cinema. On her way home after work, Natalie is mugged while getting off of the subway and knocked unconscious. After she comes to it is immediately apparent something is wrong. Her apartment has magically quadrupled in size, is completely spotless and is filled with all the latest fashions that all fit her perfectly. Her sketchy next-door neighbor Donny (Brandon Scott Jones) has somehow become her stereotypical, borderline offensive ultra-gay best friend. Back in the office, Whitney has morphed from being her mousey assistant to becoming her bitchy, impeccably dressed adversary

eager to engineer Natalie’s fall from grace. Meanwhile, while Josh is as kind, sensitive and friendly as ever, he’s also stopped pining for her, the lovable doofus catching the eye of swimsuit model and yoga ambassador Isabella (Priyanka Chopra). Strangest of all, the formerly American Blake has not only become an Australian just like her, but he’s also putting on the full-court press to make Natalie his girlfriend, pulling out all the rich guy rom-com moves in order to get her to fall head over heels for him.

That’s right, in the world of The Final Girls director Todd Strauss-Schulson’s latest genre evisceration Isn’t It Romantic Natalie has woken up from her brief coma to find herself stranded inside a stereotypical Hollywood romantic comedy, a PG-13 one free of any sexual intercourse or f-driven four-letter-words to boot. Working from a story dreamt up by “Life Sentence” creator Erin Cardillo and a script written by Cardillo, Dana Fox (How to Be Single) and Katie Silberman (Set It Up), the movie is a surprisingly winning bit of comedic silliness that had me grinning throughout. While its one-joke premise does wear a little thin, so much so that even at less than 90-minutes in length the movie still feels a wee bit long, there’s just enough energetic pizazz and imaginative zaniness here to keep things interesting.

The best stretch of the film starts when Natalie wakes up in the hospital after her mugging and continues all the way up to the moment she realizes she’s in some strange alternate Hollywoodized romantic reality she’d like to have nothing to do with. These continuous 15 or so minutes poke knowing

yet affectionate fun at the genre, doing so in ways that are so inspired I couldn’t help but chuckle out loud multiple times. I loved all of Wilson’s observations as her character desperately tried to figure out what was going on while also acerbically commenting on the insanity that is happening all around her. I also quite enjoyed the re-introduction of all the characters, Hemsworth and Jones particularly making the most of all that is asked of them. As for Chopra, from the moment Isabella meets Josh it is immediately apparent the talented actress was going to go for broke as far as her lively, goofily eccentric performance was concerned. She steals every scene she’s in, and honestly the movie could have used more of her.

Things lose some of their focus after that for a little while. The dynamic back at Natalie’s office is treated as something of an afterthought, and for all of Gilpin’s efforts the script leaves Whitney so out to dry it’s almost as if the writers liked the idea of her character’s transformation and wanted to explore the genre’s unfortunate penchant for not allowing workplace female friendships in rom-coms but didn’t have the first clue as to the best way to handle any of that. There’s also not a lot in the way of narrative cohesion which makes it somewhat difficult to get emotionally wrapped up in these events, all of which makes Natalie’s eventual realizations who it is she is supposed to love and the reasons why that’s so not mean near as much as they by all accounts should.

The film does right the ship during its climactic stretch, things going full My Best Friend’s Wedding meets Four Weddings

and a Funeral sprinkled with itty-bitty bits of Pretty Woman in ways that are frequently inspired. I was also more than a little shocked just how much I ended up liking Devine in this. Working with StraussSchulson again after his goofily histrionic turn in The Final Girls and once more a potential romantic interest for Wilson for the first time since the Pitch Perfect series, the typically obnoxious and over-the-top comedian actual gives a restrained, moderately nuanced performance that I found kind of endearing. He shows a level of emotive restraint I can’t say I’ve seen from him before, and as events danced their way towards their inevitable conclusion I ended up liking Josh way more than I initially thought I was going to.

Wilson remains something of an acquired taste, and I do still find her more palatable as a supporting player than I do an outright lead. Still, this is unquestionably the most consistently delightful she’s ever been, some of her pithy comebacks and unvarnished observations hitting my funny bone with a spirited glee I kind of adored. As for the overall film, Isn’t It Romantic is pretty darn amusing, and if Strauss-Schulson and the writers don’t make quite as much out of their inventive scenario as they potentially could have, that doesn’t make what they have delivered any less enjoyable. It’s a fun little romantic frolic that dissects the clichés of the genre with lovably perceptive respect, and in the end becomes a diverting piece of adorable fluff I’m glad I took the time to see.

Disturbing Donnybrook a bleak American nightmare

by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN A&E Writer

DONNYBROOK

Now playing

“Jarhead” Earl (Jamie Bell) is an exUnited States Marine living somewhere in Upstate New York with his family. Wanting to provide a better life for his two children he robs a local general store for the entry fee to a secretive once-a-year bareknuckle backwoods cage fight known as the Donnybrook where the winner takes home a cool $100,000 and the losers are lucky to head back home with their lives. Before leaving he makes an enemy of drug dealer “Chainsaw” Angus (Frank Grillo), and while the two have never been friends after their latest confrontation it’s safe to say their mutual distaste for one another has grown into a full-fledged homicidal rage.

Nonetheless, after making sure his wife and daughter are squared away safe, Earl hits the road with his son heading towards the Donnybrook, picking up Angus’ estranged sister Delia (Margaret Qualley) along the way. With her brother on their trail, they are all also followed by local Sheriff Don Whalen (James Badge Dale). He has it in for Angus for reasons of his own, and he honestly doesn’t care whose toes he steps on or what laws he breaks in order to see the violent criminal buried six-feet underneath the ground. All four individuals are on a collision course at or near the Donnybrook that potentially none of them will survive, Earl’s gambit to make a better life for his family one that for all

its selfless intent might have inadvertently spelled their collective doom.

Based on the book by Frank Bill, writer/ director Tim Sutton’s (Dark Night) aggressively bleak Donnybrook isn’t for the faint of heart. A morose descent into the underbelly of the American Dream that has been turned inside out, this movie is a dangerously brusque human melodrama where survival is a victory and compassion is a sentiment that might get a person killed. It is an intense, singularly focused story of vitriol, recrimination and punishment that grows in catastrophic intensity as it goes along, Bell’s magnetic, uncomfortably resolute performance the pugnaciously heartfelt glue that holds everything together.

This isn’t an easy film, and based on how nondescript most of the character interactions and narrative constructions turn out to be, and having not read the source material, I can only assume Bill’s book ties most of its disparate plot strands together a bit more cohesively than Sutton’s adaptation does. But the director unapologetically trusts his audience, his confidence that they’ll be able to put all the various pieces of this puzzle together on their own obvious right from the start. He is presenting a melancholic aria for a vanishing America, a land where those struggling and fighting for survival do so in a realm that looks upon their suffering more as a spectator sport than it does anything else. This is a place where empathy and kindness are quickly vanishing into the ether, those who exhibit either sentiment just the type of people nihilistic sociopathic executioners like Angus are out to destroy.

Some of this can be a little too indistinct for its own good. It’s never clear why Whalen is so willing to do anything he can to get face-to-face with Angus, the sheriff’s single-minded pursuit of vengeance a seemingly self-destructive act of lunacy I found vexingly odd. As such there’s not really anything Dale can do with his performance save look determinedly miserable no matter what might be happening. On top of that, by the time Whalen and Angus do finally meet up with one another the moment is so fleetingly inessential I couldn’t help but wonder why Sutton’s script had up to then been making such a big deal out of it in the first place. The director is making some sort of statement about revenge that I honestly didn’t find altogether clear, the ephemeral nature of it all just too imprecise for me to be able to find any meaning in what he was attempting to say.

To a lesser extent the same could be said about Delia, but Qualley’s powerfully melancholic performance is such a thing of plaintively mournful beauty it didn’t matter to me that Sutton’s scenario wasn’t spending a lot of time fleshing out the more complex interiors of her psychologically damaged character. There is a grace to what the actress is doing that I found affectingly poignant, and while it’s clear doom and despair stalk her every move those fleeting moments of hope the young woman joyfully allows herself to exude make the painful tragedy to come all the more devastating because of their presence.

Yet it is Bell who impresses the most. A man of few words, that does not mean that Earl isn’t speaking volumes with every

action (or inaction) he chooses to take. His propensity for kindness and understanding is never in doubt. At the same time, it’s equally clear that this is a man who can take great joy in his violent talents, and while he always respects his opponents it’s obvious he still sees himself as their superior no matter what their apparent size, strength or ability might be. Bell finds a way to inhabit the haunting interiors of this broken man who has seen all that he once thought was innocent and pure in the world stripped down to its bloody, callously venal interior. The young actor’s inhuman calmness masks a powerful rage that might never get bottled back inside once it’s been unleashed, and whether or not Earl is able to find peace at the end of his journey is an unanswered question the movie thankfully refuses to definitively answer.

In the spirit of full disclosure I wasn’t certain I liked Sutton’s film when it came to an end. The last 15 minutes are a serious punch to the gut that left me reeling, and while the outcome wasn’t unexpected, that didn’t make what transpired any more palatable. But I couldn’t get any of what I just saw out of my head for hours after I had viewed it, the final bits of dialogue coupled with a haunting fade to blank left me with lots to mull over and contemplate. Donnybrook matters because it doesn’t hesitate to speak truth to power in ways that go from unpleasant to unbearable in the blink of an eye. It is a timely parable of life’s indignities that cuts right to the marrow, its pugilistic nightmares universal in their allencompassing emotional magnitude.

Visually dynamic Alita a 3-D success

by Sara Michelle Fetters

SGN A&E Writer

ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL

Now playing

Searching through the junkyards of Iron City, cyberphysician Dr. Dyson Ido (Christoph Waltz) discovers the remains of an advanced female cyborg powered by a human brain. Reading faint scans of life, the esteemed doctor is able to reanimate her components, attaching them to a stateof-the-art cybernetic skeleton he originally designed for someone sadly no longer amongst the living. Once awakened, this young woman, age unknown, has no memory of who she is or where she was from. Dr. Ito christens her “Alita” (Rose Salazar), proceeding to treat her as the teenage daughter he wished he could have had.

Alita is amazed by the world around her. Its colors. Its textures. Its smells. Its ugliness. Its beauty. All of it is revelatory, and even though Dr. Ido is wary of letting his new charge stumble around too freely, he also understands he has to let this youngster discover her place in Iron City no matter what it might be. Problem is, Alita is no normal cyborg. Hidden within her are the skills and talents of a warrior, ones powered by technological mechanisms so advanced powerful forces will stop at nothing to get their hands on them. But Alita’s drive to protect life, all life, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, is strong, and while she’s determined to learn about who she is and where she comes from, she’s equally driven to make sure those who are doing ill to others are held accountable for their crimes.

There’s a lot going on in director Robert Rodriguez’s (Desperado, Sin City) and co-screenwriter/producer James Cameron’s (Titanic, The Terminator) visually dynamic Alita: Battle Angel, an ambitious adaptation of the wildly influential Japanese Manga series conceived and written by author Yukito Kishiro. This dystopian 26th-century landscape is a wild, anything-goes hodgepodge of a variety of science fiction concepts and tropes going back to the invention of the genre, all of it brought to life with imaginative precision by the filmmakers. This is a vio-

lently dangerous world overflowing in eccentric wonders, and while not all of it is as fresh or as original as I’m certain Rodriguez and Cameron hope it is, that does not make what transpires any less magnetically thrilling.

The reason for this is entirely due to the titular character. Alita is a curious, wideeyed youngster whose heart overflows in compassion and hope. She is an intelligent teen who wants to think the best about everyone she encounters while at the same time firmly believing that those who do wrong need to face justice. She is excited about learning everything that life has to offer and is energized with every new emotional experience, allowing herself to become infatuated with a fresh-faced young man, Hugo (Keean Johnson), more because she can than because doing so will end up doing her any sort of practical good.

I love this about the movie. I adored that Alita was so full of hope, so overflowing in optimism. I liked that she goes out of her way to find pleasure in life and that she isn’t afraid to showcase her abilities even as she is learning what they might be. There is profound joy to be found in the moments she plays this century’s most popular sporting event, a bizarre amalgam of the game from Rollerball, demolition derby and NASCAR called “Motor Ball” that’s as silly as it is rambunctious. Alita, even though she’s a cyborg, is still blissfully human, and it’s rare to watch such an expensive, action-filled piece of science fiction viewed through the eyes of a protagonist who is entirely decent and unquestionably humane.

Outside of all of that optimism, however, is a rather traditional story of the powerful elite doing what they can to subjugate the remainder of humanity no matter what they cost using all means necessary that are at their disposal. In this case that’s the mysterious Nova, a powerful despot who resides high above Iron City in Zalem, the last of the floating metropolis and a place only the world’s elite can call home. He wants Alita’s heart and contracts a variety of thugs, reprobates and enforcers to get it for him, a list that includes Motor Ball impresario and clandestine crime lord Vector (Mahershala Ali) and Dr. Ido’s disgruntled ex-wife and fellow cybernetic genius Chiren (Jennifer Connelly).

It’s this facet of the story that can grow tedious. Cameron and co-writer Laeta Kalogridis’ (Shutter Island ) script is fairly rudimentary as it pertains to all the baddies out there wanting to do Alita harm, and while the most powerful of them, a gigantic fellow cyborg named Grewishka (Jackie Earle Haley) who gets upgraded several times in order to become even close to as powerful as his diminutive prey, is admittedly pretty scary, he isn’t so much so that he masks the overfamiliarity of the plight the heroine and her friends find themselves forced to deal with. As lethal as things get there’s also not much in the way of anything approaching a substantive surprise save one primary plot twist. There’s just not a lot of tension, which considering this is an incredibly expensive, expertly produced high-octane science fiction action film is something of a minor problem.

Emphasis on “minor.” I got a kick out of Alita: Battle Angel. Rodriguez, a slapdash barnburner of a filmmaker more content to make low rent throwaways like Machete, Planet Terror or a Spy Kids sequel more than he is to work on anything substantive, shows an ability to take his time and to trust his audience in ways he frankly never has before. There is a visceral energy to the action sequences that is superb, ace cinematographer Bill Pope’s (The Matrix, The Jungle Book) lush, visually opulent 3-D camerawork cut together masterfully by editors Stephen Rivkin (Avatar) and Ian Silverstein (Predators) in a way that allows there to be kinetic cohesion to these moments that’s extraordinary. This is all coupled with outstanding motion capture effects that bring many of the characters, most notably Alita, to life in ways that fascinate and inspire. The film also features extraordinarily immersive sound design that helped catapult me right into the center of the screen almost as if I were living there alongside the characters, the dust, grime and grit of Iron City so palpably thick there were times it was almost as if I could feel it sticking to my own skin as events exploded around me.

This is an origin story, Cameron and Kalogridis pulling elements from four of Kishiro’s original stories in order to craft their adaptation. As such it resolutely feels

unfinished, things only progressing to a certain point with a number of important questions and confrontations left to be answered and completed by the viewer utilizing their own vivid imaginations. It also means this is half a story, the climactic cliffhanger, while not as blatantly obnoxious as the ones at the end of epic adventures like Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug or Avengers: Infinity War is still moderately annoying. What the filmmakers do here inadvertently makes their film feel like a prequel to a sequel we’ll sadly never see, than it does a cagey way to force the audience to become even more a part of the story than they otherwise would have been, and as such I’m not at all certain a paying audience will walk out of the theatre satisfied.

As for me, I’m far more okay with all of this than I normally have been in the past. I found relative newcomer Salazar to be outstanding as Alita and was simply blown away by both her performance as well as the motion capture effects that were required to help her bring this character to vibrant, exhilarating life. I was equally mesmerized by this world, found myself obsessing over multiple facets of it even if I could oftentimes feel all the science fiction influences that likely played a major part in inspiring not just Rodriguez’s and Cameron’s designs for the finished film but just as likely Kishiro’s source material as well. Even if I wished Johnson’s performance and character could have been better developed and not come across as if Hugo was some forgotten member of a 1990s boy band looking to radically reinvent himself, and even though the motivating factors fueling the villains as they attempt to hunt down the heroine are somewhat trite in their banal unoriginality, I still enjoyed this adventure quite a lot. Alita: Battle Angel has its own sense of purpose and moves with a cagily confident self-awareness that’s wonderful. Even if this story doesn’t continue with future adventures, I’m still satisfied by what Rodriguez, Cameron, Kalogridis and the remainder of the cast and crew have delivered, and I for one plan to see it again, in 3-D even (which I normally despise), as soon as possible.

Nutty Mega Time Squad a goofy time travel lark

by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN A&E Writer

MEGA TIME SQUAD

Now playing

Tired of working for their cantankerous small town crime lord boss Shelton (Jonny Burgh), dimwitted best friends John (Anton Tenet) and Gaz (Arlo Gibson) rob a new Chinese antique shop thinking they’ll keep the cash and go into business for themselves. During the robbery John nabs a nifty bracelet thinking it is nothing more than a kooky trinket, the clerk warning him to leave it with him otherwise he’ll be back begging the elderly gentleman to take it off of his hands.

After Gaz betrays John to Shelton, John is aghast to discover his life is in danger as his former boss now wants him dead for having the temerity to think he could go into business for himself. Additionally, it turns out the antique shop was a front for a Chinese triad and they’ve given him until the next morning to return the money he stole or otherwise they’ll do lethal harm to those he cares about. This leads the thief to learn why the knickknack came with such an ominous warning. Turns out the bracelet is a time travel device that allows John to move backwards a few minutes into the

past whenever he presses a hidden button, a new version of himself created with each use. Thing is, if he ever interacts with himself a vicious Chinese demon will begin stalking each new John to gorge itself upon, meaning no matter how many Johns there are none of them are allowed to get to know one another otherwise all of them will be catastrophically doomed to become a carnivorous creature’s lunch.

Don’t stress yourself out if that sounds like baloney. In the case of New Zealand import Mega Time Squad it’s best to just go with the flow and let the quirky charms of this bizarre little gross-out supernatural crime comedy work their magical spell and not worry too much that the majority of writer/director Tim van Dammen’s purposefully odd motion picture doesn’t make a lot of sense. The whole thing is a rather lackadaisical adventure centered around a lovable loser who learns by spending time with multiple versions of himself what is most important in life and tries to stop being so greedily self-centered. It’s plenty of goofy merriment filled with shocking moments of extreme gore and instances of sincere selflessness both of which frequently took me by surprise. While not altogether an essential piece of low budget B-grade entertainment that doesn’t make it any less entertaining, van Dammen’s han-

dling of it all having far more pugnacious pizzazz than I initially anticipated it was going to offer up.

All of which means John does end up meeting himself after he realizes just what is happening each time he uses the bracelet, consequences be damned. More, once he learns what might happen if he keeps interacting and making plans with himself, he still continues to do so thinking that if enough Johns join forces it doesn’t matter what outside forces, whether they be demonic or they be any of Shelton’s goons, will attempt to do him in. John thinks he’s stronger together with his selves, that each version of him can watch the backs of all of the others, and if something truly heinous does happen, one of him can always bounce back in time to set it all back straight.

Makes sense, right? Of course it doesn’t, but that’s all part of the genre stew that van Dammen has cooked up for the audience to enjoy. There are a series of bungled robberies, dueling gangs fighting for supremacy (one lorded over by Shelton as if he was a college track coach barking out orders to disinterested athletes; the other composed of multiple Johns learning how to get along with one another) and a mysterious demon out to satiate its hunger for blood, all of which saunter through the movie with a laissez-faire fortitude that’s inexplicably

glorious. There’s also an endearing friendship-slash-romance between the original John (at least I think it’s the original John; quite purposefully it’s never entirely clear as far that is concerned) and Shelton’s matter-of-fact, down to earth sister Kelly (Hetty Gaskell-Hahn), watching it play itself out to conclusion a heartfelt joy.

I’m not going to say Mega Time Squad is some great masterpiece that goes beyond its meager low budget roots and becomes some sort of eccentrically comedic science fiction masterpiece. It’s too thin, too pleased with its own warmhearted absurdity and ridiculously earnest tomfoolery for that to be the case. But van Dammen thankfully holds true to the rules of this world as far as he crafts them early on, and while I’d need to watch the film again to be certain, I can’t say I feel like he breaks any of them after they’ve been explained. He also gets a wonderfully screwball star turn out of Tenet that fits things nicely, the way the actor manages to craft such a winningly complicated performance while playing scenes against multiple versions of himself impressive. The movie’s a lot of fun, this nutty little New Zealand effort a gonzo charmer I hope people take the time to see.

1533 13th Ave. - 323-1525

SEATTLE

BATHS

SEATTLE

BATHS

CLUB Z - (men)

1117 Pike near Boren - 622-9958

HOT HOUSE SPA & SAUNA - (women)

CLUB Z - (men)

1117 Pike near Boren - (206) 622-9958

SW corner of Pike & 11th

(stairs behind Wildrose) - 568-3240

HOT HOUSE SPA & SAUNA - (women)

SW corner of Pike & 11th

STEAM WORKS - (men)

1520 Summit - 388-4818

(stairs behind Wildrose) - (206) 568-3240

STEAM WORKS - (men)

1520 Summit Ave - (206) 388-4818

RESTAURANTS & BARS

88 KEYS - 315 2nd Ave. S. - 839-1300

RESTAURANTS & BARS

BALTIC ROOM - 1207 Pine St. - 625-4444

THE BOTTLENECK LOUNGE

2328 E. Madison St. - 323-1098

88 KEYS - 315 2nd Ave. S - (206) 839-1300

C.C. ATTLE’S BAR & GRILLE

BALTIC ROOM - 1207 Pine St. - (206) 625-4444

1701 E. Olive Way - 726-0565

THE BOTTLENECK LOUNGE

2328 E. Madison St. - (206) 323-1098

RETAIL SHOPS

DIESEL BAR - 1413 14th Ave. - 322-1080

GLO’S - 1621 E. Olive Way - 324-2577

HOT MAMA’S PIZZA - 700 E. Pine St. - 322-6444

BABELAND - 707 E. Pike St. - (206) 328-2914

JAZZ ALLEY - 2033 6th Ave. E. - 441-9729

CASTLE SUPERSTORE #17

JULIA’S - 300 Broadway Ave. E. - 860-1818

1017 E. Pike St - (206) 204-0126

KREMWERK - 1809 Minor Ave. #10 - 682-2935

DIEGO PELLICER - 2215 4th Ave. S - (206) 624-0070

MADISON PUB - 1315 E. Madison - 325-6537

DOGHOUSE LEATHERS

NEIGHBOURS - 1509 Broadway - 324-5358

1312 E. Pike St. - (206) 257-0231

OUT WEST - 5401California Ave. SW

EMERSON SALON - 909 E. Pike St. - (206) 323-7437

FANTASY UNLIMITED

THE PINE BOX - 1600 Melrose Ave - 588-0375

POCO WINE ROOM

2027 Westlake Ave. - (206) 682-0167

1408 E. Pine St. - 322-9463

1510 1st Ave - (206) 624-1784

POKE BAR - 1542 12th Ave - 402-5178

HASHTAG - 3540 Stone Way N - (206) 946-8157

PONY - 1221 E. Madison St. - 324-2854

HERBAN LEGENDS - 55 Bell St - (206) 849-5596

HERB(N) ELEMENTS

PURR - 1518 11th Ave. - 325-3112

R PLACE - 619 E. Pine - 322-8828

11013 Lake City Way NE - (206) 535-8769

RE-BAR - 1114 Howell at Boren - 233-9873

ROOT TABLE 2213 NW Market St. - 420-3214

LAUGHING BUDDHA TATTOO

1534 Broadway - (206) 329-8274

THE CANTERBURY - 534 15th Ave. E. - 322-3130

CHANGES IN WALLINGFORD

CAPITOL CIDER - 818 E Pike St. - (206) 397-3564

C.C. ATTLE’S BAR & GRILLE

2103 N. 45th - 545-8363

1701 E. Olive Way - (206) 726-0565

SEATTLE EAGLE - 314 E. Pike - 621-7591

SHORTY’S 2222 2nd Ave - 441-5449

THE NEW YORK XCHANGE

STOUT -1530 11th Ave - 397-3825

225 Broadway E. - (206) 726-3300

TOULOUSE PETIT

ONYX LEATHER

THE CRESCENT - 1413 E. Olive Way - 720-8188

THE CANTERBURY

THE CUFF COMPLEX

534 15th Ave. E - (206) 322-3130

CHANGES IN WALLINGFORD

2103 N. 45th - (206) 545-8363

THE CRESCENT

1413 E. Olive Way - (206) 720-8188

THE CUFF COMPLEX

1533 13th Ave. - (206) 323-1525

DIESEL BAR - 1413 14th Ave. - (206) 322-1080

GLO’S - 1621 E. Olive Way - (206) 324-2577

HOT MAMA’S PIZZA

700 E. Pine St. - (206) 322-6444

JAZZ ALLEY - 2033 6th Ave. - (206) 441-9729

JULIA’S - 300 Broadway Ave. E - (206) 860-1818

KREMWERK - 1809 Minor Ave. #10 - (206) 682-2935

THE LUMBER YARD

9619 16th Ave. SW - (206) 695-2007

MADISON PUB - 1315 E. Madison - (206) 325-6537

NEIGHBOURS - 1509 Broadway - (206) 324-5358

OUT WEST

5401California Ave. SW - (206) 937-1540

THE PINE BOX - 1600 Melrose Ave - (206) 588-0375

POCO WINE ROOM

1408 E. Pine St. - (206) 322-9463

POKE BAR - 1542 12th Ave - (206) 402-5178

PONY - 1221 E. Madison St. - (206) 324-2854

QUEER BAR - 1518 11th Ave - (206) 687-7491

R PLACE - 619 E. Pine - (206) 322-8828

RE-BAR - 1114 Howell at Boren - (206) 233-9873

ROOT TABLE 2213 NW Market St. - (206) 420-3214

SEATTLE EAGLE - 314 E. Pike - (206) 621-7591

SHORTY’S 2222 2nd Ave - (206) 441-5449

STOUT -1530 11th Ave - (206) 397-3825

TOULOUSE PETIT

601 Queen Anne Ave. N - (206) 432-9069

UNICORN - 1118 E Pike - (206) 325-6492

UNION - 1318 E. Union St. - (206) 328-1318

WILDROSE - 1021 E Pike - (206) 324-9210

ZIPPY’S GIANT BURGERS 9614 14th Ave SW - (206) 763-1347

1605 12th Ave. #8 - (206) 328-1965

601 Queen Anne Ave N - 432-9069

UNICORN - 1118 E Pike - 325-6492

OZ - 3831 Stone Way N - (206) 251-0630

PACIFIC NORTHWEST SHOP

4411 Wallingford Ave. N. - (206) 535-6920

PANACHE - 225 Broadway E. - (206) 726-3300

PONDER - 2413 E Union - (206) 420-2180

RUCKUS - 1465 E Republican St - (206) 257-4805

TABOO ADULT VIDEO

9813 16th Ave SW - (206) 767-4855

TRUE LOVE ART GALLERY & TATTOO

1525 Summit Ave. - (206) 227-3572

UNDER U 4 MEN

709 Broadway Ave. E - (206) 324-6446

UNCLE IKE’S

2310 E Union St - 1-800-GET-DRUGS 501 15th Ave E - 1-800-GET-DRUGS

9822 15th Ave SW - 1-800-GET-DRUGS

WILD AT HEART

1111 NW Leary Way - (206) 782-5538

BELLINGHAM

LOVER'S

193 Telegraph Road - (360) 752-1862

RUMORS CABARET 1119 Railroad - (360) 671-1849

DES MOINES

ADULT AIRPORT VIDEO 2 21635 Pacific Hwy S

ADULT

LOVER’S - 112 SE Everett - (425) 353-3607

LOVER’S - 3402 Broadway - (425) 252-8754

KENT

WILDROSE - 1021 E. Pike - 324-9210

ZIPPY’S GIANT BURGERS

5633 Airport Way S - 466-5954

9614 14th Ave SW - 763-1347

LOVER’S - 25801 104th Ave. SE - (253) 852-1720

RETAIL SHOPS

THE FANTASY SHOP 604 Central Ave. S - (253) 850-8428

CASTLE SUPERSTORE #17

NASHVILLE’S SPORTS BAR (Drag Shows) 114 - Railroad Ave. N - (253) 852-0909

1017 E. Pike St - 204-0126

DOGHOUSE LEATHERS 1312 E. Pike St. - 257-0231

LA CONNER

EMERSON SALON - 909 E. Pike St. - 323-7437

HASHTAG - 3540 Stone Way N - 946-8157

NEW YORK EXCHANGE

THE HERON INN & WATERGRASS DAY SPA 117 Maple Ave. - (877) 883-8899 info@theheron.com

225 Broadway E. - 726-3300

ONYX LEATHER - 1605 12th Ave. #8 - 328-1965

OZ - 3831 Stone Way N - 251-0630

PANACHE

OLYMPIA

225 Broadway E. - 726-3300

RUCKUS 1465 E Republican St. - 257-4805

DARBY’S CAFE

THE FANTASY SHOP 9630 16th Ave. SW - 762-3299

211 5th Ave. SE - (360) 357-6229

LOVER’S 3959 Martin Way E, Suite D - (360) 456-7300

TABOO ADULT VIDEO 9813 16th Ave SW - 767-4855

JAKES - 311 4th Ave. E - (360) 956-3247

TOYS IN BABELAND - 707 E. Pike St. - 328-2914

UNDER U 4 MEN

PORT ANGELES

709 Broadway Ave. E. - 324-6446

MAPLE ROSE INN 112 Reservoir Rd - (800) 570-2007

UNCLE IKE’S 2310 E Union St - 1-800-GET-DRUGS

SPOKANE

501 15th Ave E - 1-800-GET-DRUGS 9822 15th Ave SW - 1-800-GET-DRUGS WILD AT HEART 1111 NW Leary Way - 782-5538

ANDY’S - 1401 W. 1st Ave. - (509) 747-0304

THE BLIND BUCK

BELLINGHAM

204 N. Division St. - (509) 343-9425

GLOBE BAR AND KITCHEN

LOVER’S 193 Telegraph Road - (360) 752-1862

204 N. Division St. - (509) 443-4014

NYNE BAR AND BISTRO

RUMORS CABARET 1119 Railroad - (306) 671-1849

232 W. Sprague Ave. - (509) 474-1621

DES MOINES

EVERETT

KENT

LA CONNER

TACOMA

CASTLE SUPERSTORE

OLYMPIA

PORT

SPOKANE

TRI-CITIES

TACOMA

TRI-CITIES

TUKWILA

Meetings Events Activities

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.

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

- February 16

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. 10am-12 noon. Cupcake Royale, 1111 E Pike St. Every Saturday. Casual social get-together for the HIV community. (206) 9571600. Sponsored by LIfelong. New Beginnings (SLAA). 12-1pm. Peer Seattle, 1520 Bellevue Ave #100, Room 3. Meets daily. 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.peerseattle.org. Lambert House Queer Rec. 1pm. 1818 15th Ave. Meets 3rd Saturday each month. Outdoor & indoor adventures for youth ages 22 & under. www.lamberthouse.org

PNW G/B/Q Longhaired Men. 2pm. Locations vary. Check the website or call for details. An informal social group for longhairs, growers, longhair admirers & their friends. We gather for brunch on the 3rd Saturday each month to socialize, chat & often go out afterwards for coffee or some activity. Please join us! For information & to RSVP: www.longhair.shorturl.com

Seattle Prime Timers Monthly Potluck. 2pm. Plymouth Church, 1217 6th Ave (downtown between University & Seneca), lounge. Meets 3rd Saturday most months.

Cost: $5 per person (please try to bring exact change) to help pay for room rental. Please bring a dish that will serve eight or more to share. Free parking below the church (entrance on University). Enter lounge via garage elevator or front doors on 6th. Info: www.seattleprimetimers.org.

Imperial Court of Seattle Coronation. 6pm (doors 5pm). Renaissance Seattle Hotel, 515 Madison St, Madison Ball Room. Please join the Imperial Sovereign Court of Seattle and HMISM, Rainier XLIV Emperor Paul Paradisco and HMISM, Olympia XLVII Empress Drew Paradisco for Seattle Coronation - THE GREATEST D! Tickets $50 presale, $60 at door. Visit the Imperial Court of Seattle Facebook page for more info. 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.)

“A Certain Type of Brilliance” by Liz Cruz. 7pm. Calamus Auditorium at Gay City, 517 E Pike St. A celebration of femmes. Tickets: $15 general, $12 student/senior, $20 sponsor. www.gaycity/arts.

“Skeleton Flower.” 7 & 9:30pm. Erickson Theater, 1524 Harvard Ave. World premiere of Degenerate Art Ensemble music and dance theater production exploring a creative person’s struggle with identity, depression, and the awakening of personal power. Tickets and more info at www.degenerateartensemble.com/skeleton-flower.

SUNDAY - February 17

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 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 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

Baha’i Prayer & Fellowship Circle. 10am. Pearl Warren Bldg, 606 12th Ave S. Meets 3rd Sunday each month. Share prayers, readings, thoughts & music. All backgrounds, all faiths welcome. (206) 391-2188. 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 Worship. 1217 6th Ave. Love your (LGBTQ) neighbor as yourself. (206) 622-4865, plymouthchurchseattle.org

University Congregational United Church of Christ. 9am all ages education; 10am Worship. 4515 16th Ave

community calendar

NE. UCUCC is an open & affirming congregation. (206) 524-2322; www.universityucc.org.

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

Ethyl Forever Car Club, Pacific NW Region Lambda Car Club Monthly Tire Kick/Social. 10:30am. Randy’s Restaurant, 10016 E Marginal Way S (south of the Museum of Flight). Meets 3rd Sunday each month.

This monthly informal auto enthusiasts’ event starts with breakfast and a show & tell, and continues to a chosen point of interest. Open to all LGBTQ persons & friends who have an interest in the automobile, not just collector or performance vehicles. ethylforever@hotmail.com

Northminster Presbyterian Church. 10:30am Worship. 7706 25th Ave NW. A village church in the city open to all. (206) 783-3402. www.northminsterpres.org (Conveniently located a block from the Metro #40 bus route.)

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.

Welcome Table Christian Church. 9:45am Meditation; 10:30am Worship; Labyrinth 2nd Sundays 1-4pm. 1322 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 Seattle’s oldest Gay-friendly church. (206) 325-2421, www.mccseattle.org.

Imperial Court of Seattle Coronation Week - Victory Brunch. 11am-1pm. Renaissance Seattle Hotel, 515 Madison St. Tickets $30 presale, $35 at door. Visit the Imperial Court of Seattle Facebook page for more info.

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” on Meetup.com or at DharmaBuddies.org. (Women are invited to contact our sister meditation group at www. LotusSisters.org.)

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

Just for Today (NA). 12-1:15pm. Peer Seattle, 1520 Bellevue Ave #100. Every Sunday. Drop-in 12-step Narcotics Anonymous group open to anyone in recovery. (206) 322-2437; www.peerseattle.org New Beginnings (SLAA). 12-1pm. Peer Seattle, 1520 Bellevue Ave #100, Room 3. Meets daily. (See Saturday listing at noon for details.)

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

Orca Swim Team Workout. Sun: Afternoon; Mon/ Weds/Fri: Evenings; Tues/Thurs: Mornings. Seattle University, Redhawk Center, 14th Ave & E Cherry St. Pre-registration required. Orca Swim Team workouts are for both competitive & recreational swimmers. www. orcaswimteam.org

Imperial Court of Seattle Coronation Week - Alaska Birdwater Party. 2-5pm. CC Attle’s, 1701 E Olive Way. Dignitaries from Alaska in town for Coronation put on a fine afternoon of drag entertainment. Visit the Imperial Court of Seattle Facebook page for more info.

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

Seattle Poly Potluck & Discussion Group. 5-8pm. (contact for new location) Meets 3rd Sunday each

February 16 thru February 24

month. For people interested in polyamorous, open, and ethically non-monogamous relationships. $5 donation; please bring a potluck dish. This event is open to the public. Look for us on Facebook or Meetup. Shame to Grace (SAA). 6-7:30pm. Peer Seattle, 1520 Bellevue Ave #100. 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. peerseattle.org

Pride League Bowling. 6:30pm. West Seattle Bowl, 4505 39th Ave SW. Every Sunday. Regular league bowling. Jeff, (206) 932-3731; leagues@wsbowl.com. “A Certain Type of Brilliance” by Liz Cruz. 7pm. Calamus Auditorium at Gay City, 517 E Pike St. A celebration of femmes. Tickets: $15 general, $12 student/senior, $20 sponsor. www.gaycity/arts.

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.

MONDAY - February 18

New Beginnings (SLAA). 12-1pm. Peer Seattle, 1520 Bellevue Ave #100, Room 3. Meets daily. (See Saturday listing at noon for details.)

SOBER On Meds. 1-2pm. Peer Seattle 1520 Bellevue Ave #100. Every Monday. 12-step group open to anyone in recovery & living on a medicine regimen. (206) 3222437; www.peerseattle.org

Strength Over Speed (SOS). 2-3:30pm. Peer Seattle, 1520 Bellevue Ave #100. Peer support for Gay and Bisexual men recovering from crystal meth addiction. www.strengthoverspeed.org. (206) 322-2437, www. peerseattle.org

Seattle Women’s Commission Meeting. 5:30-8pm. Municipal Bldg, 600 4th Ave Rm 221. Meets 3rd Monday each month (except December). SWC is a 20-member volunteer advisory board that advises the Mayor, City Council, & all City of Seattle departments on matters concerning women & women’s rights. Meetings open to the public. (206) 684-4537.

PFLAG/Kitsap County (Bremerton) Monthly Meeting. 6-7pm. Kitsap Pride, 532 5th Ave #20, Bremerton Meets 3rd Monday 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.kitsappflag.org and on Facebook. kitsappflag@yahoo.com. (888) 636-0652. PFLAG/Puget Sound: (206) 325-7724.

Orca Swim Team Workout. Evening. Seattle University, Redhawk Center, 14th Ave & E Cherry St. (See Sunday afternoon listing.)

Freely Speaking Toastmasters. 7pm. Gay City, 517 E Pike St, downstairs space. Every Monday (except holidays & the last Mondays in August & December). Seattle’s only LGBT speaking club. www.FreelySpeaking.org

PFLAG/Everett (Snohomish County) Monthly Meeting. 7pm. Stillaguamish Public Meeting Room #1, Robert J. Drewell Bldg., 3000 Rockefeller Ave, Everett. Meets 3rd Monday 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.pflageverett.org; PFLAG/Puget Sound: (206) 325-7724.

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 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.)

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

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 - February 19

Orca Swim Team Workout. Morning. Seattle University, Redhawk Center, 14th Ave & E Cherry St. (See Sunday afternoon listing.)

New Beginnings (SLAA). 12-1pm. Peer Seattle, 1520 Bellevue Ave #100, Room 3. Meets daily. (See Saturday listing at noon for details.)

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.

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

Seattle Police Department LGBTQ Advisory Council Monthly Meeting. 6-8pm. Seattle Police Department

East Precinct Community Meeting Room, 12th Ave & E Pine St. Meets 3rd Tuesday most months. An opportunity for the GLBT community to speak openly with the SPD to dialog on public safety issues, plan officer training on sexual-minority topics, suggest ways to improve communications & procedures, explore protection strategies to minimize Gay-bashing incidents, & address other related concerns. The Sexual Minority Community Advisory Council has been established by the SPD to increase relationships & communication between the community & the SPD. Members of the GLBT community are invited to attend. kim.bogucki@seattle.gov

Strength Over Speed (SOS). 6-7:30pm. Peer Seattle, 1520 Bellevue Ave, Suite 100. Peer support for Gay and Bisexual men recovering from crystal meth addiction. www.strengthoverspeed.org. (206) 322-2437; www. peerseattle.org

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. It’s easy, it’s fun & anyone can do it! Learn traditional African & AfroCaribbean rhythms & basic hand drumming techniques. Experience connection, community & spirituality. Drums are provided. For info & location call Dennis at (206) 363-4500 or www.outdrum.com

Men’s Discussion Group. 7:30-9pm. Peer Seattle, 1520 Bellevue Ave, Suite 100. Every Tuesday. Peer group for Gay & Bi men. (206) 322-2437; www.peerseattle.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. Peer Seattle, 1520 Bellevue Ave, Suite 100. A vibrant drop-in workshop for those of any spiritual belief. (206) 322-2437; www. peerseattle.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.

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 - February 20

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 New Beginnings (SLAA). 12-1pm. Peer Seattle, 1520 Bellevue Ave, Suite 100, Room 3. Meets daily. (See Saturday listing at noon for details.)

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 Living Positively. 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. (206) 957-1600 or www.lifelong.org. 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. University Book Store Cafe, 4326 University Way NE. Every Wednesday. This month’s title: “Forbidden Colors” by Yukio Mishima. 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.

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.)

Orca Swim Team Workout. Evening. Seattle University, Redhawk Center, 14th Ave & E Cherry St. (See Sunday afternoon listing.)

community calendar

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, donations welcome. 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

NOW Seattle Monthly Member Meeting. 7pm. 3720 Airport Way S. The Seattle chapter of the National Organization for Women will discuss the book “Keep Marching: How Every Woman Can Take Action and Change Our World” by Kristen Rowe-Finkbeiner. Open to all Seattle-area NOW members and friends. Info: https://nowseattle.org.

“It’s Only Kickball, Stupid.” 7:30pm. 18th & Union Art Space, 1406 18th Ave. A bittersweet comedy about that first middle-school crush, written by Caroline Prugh, directed by Darren Johnson, and starring Jordi Montes and Jessica Severance. Part of Fantastic.Z’s 7th Annual New Works Festival. Tickets ($25 generous, $20 general, $15 student/senior) at www.brownpapertickets. com/event/3917280. (Runs nightly thru Feb. 23.)

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.

THURSDAY - February 21

Orca Swim Team Workout. Morning. Seattle University, Redhawk Center, 14th Ave & E Cherry St. (See Sunday afternoon listing.)

BABES Women’s Support Group/Lunch Meeting. 12-2pm. Call for location. Every Thursday. The BABES Network is a peer led agency; a sisterhood of women facing HIV together. (206) 720-5566 or 888-292-1912; www.babesnetwork.org.

New Beginnings (SLAA). 12-1pm. Peer Seattle, 1520 Bellevue Ave, Suite 100, Room 3. Meets daily. (See Saturday listing at noon for details.)

Safe and Sober (AA). 12-1pm. Peer Seattle, 1520 Bellevue Ave, Suite 100. Open meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous. (206) 322-2437; www.peerseattle.org

Seattle LGBTQ Employees for Equality (SEqual). 12 noon. Seattle Municipal Tower, 700 5th Ave, Room 4070. Meets 3rd Thursday each month. Open to the public.

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 (Also Fridays 4-10pm & Saturdays 6pm-12 midnight.)

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.

Seattle LGBTQ Commission. 6:30-8:30pm. Municipal Bldg, 600 4th Ave, Room 221. Meets 3rd Thursday each month. Seattle LGBTQ Commission is made up of 15 volunteer members who work to ensure that the City of Seattle fairly & equitably addresses sexual minority concerns. Meetings open to the public. (206) 684-4514. www/seattle.gov/lgbtq

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

GLBT Legal Clinic. 7-9pm. Meets 3rd Thursday each month. QLaw Foundation holds a monthly legal clinic addressing the legal needs of LGBT individuals & couples. Volunteer attorneys provide FREE 30-minute consultations. For information and to schedule an appointment, call (206) 235-7235. Clinic volunteers return calls on Tuesdays between 12 noon-3pm. For information, visit www.q-law.org/legalclinic PFLAG Bellevue/Eastside Monthly Meeting. 7-9pm. First United Methodist Church, 1934 108th Ave NE, Bellevue. Meets 3rd Thursday each month. Wheelchair accessible. We offer support and education in a safe, confidential, and welcoming atmosphere and serve East King County communities including Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Issaquah, Mercer Island, Sammamish, Bothell, Woodinville, Duvall, Snoqualmie, and Carnation. The first half of each meeting is dedicated to support, the second half is usually a guest speaker. See http://community.pflag.org/PFLAGBellevue. Contact us at info@ bellevue-pflag.org or (425) 483-6642. PFLAG Bellevue/ Eastside is a support and advocacy group, uniting mem-

bers of the LGBTQ community with friends, families, and allies. PFLAG does not promote one political or religious view and is inclusive to people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and faiths. Parents & Friends of Lesbians & Gays is a national support organization for parents, spouses & families of GLBT persons, as well as those minorities. 21st Century Bowling. 7pm. West Seattle Bowl, 4505 39th Ave SW. Every Thursday. Regular league bowling. Jeff, (206) 932-3731; leagues@wsbowl.com.

Buddhism & Recovery. 7:30-9pm. Peer Seattle, 1520 Bellevue Ave, Suite 100 Every Thursday. A meditation/ recovery group. (206) 322-2437; www.peerseattle.org

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. Peer Seattle, 1520 Bellevue Ave, Suite 100. Every Thursday. Ongoing support group open to Gay and Bisexual men. (206) 322-2437; www.peerseattle.org [NOTE: Please contact the facilitator prior to attending.]

“It’s Only Kickball, Stupid.” 7:30pm. 18th & Union Art Space, 1406 18th Ave. (See Feb. 20, 7:30pm listing. Runs nightly thru Feb. 23.)

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.)

FRIDAY - February 22

Ageless in Recovery (AA). 12-1pm. Peer Seattle, 1520 Bellevue Ave, Suite 100. Every Friday. A drop-in AA group for 55+. (206) 322-2437; www.peerseattle.org

New Beginnings (SLAA). 12-1pm. Peer Seattle, 1520 Bellevue Ave, Suite 100, Room 3. Meets daily. (See Saturday listing at noon for details.)

Road to Recovery (SLAA). 12-1:30pm. Peer Seattle, 1520 Bellevue Ave, Suite 100. Every Friday. Ongoing 12-step group for sex and love addicts. (206) 322-2437; www.peerseattle.org

Lake City Seniors LGBTQ2+Allies Peer Support Group. 1-2:30pm. Lake City Community Center, 12531 28th Ave NE. Meets last Friday most months. Please call to confirm. Small group of mostly 50+ come together to connect, share and learn from one another. For questions or more information, please contact Claudine Wallace, (206) 472-5471 or claudinew@soundgenerations.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 (Also Thursdays 4-10pm & Saturdays 6pm-12 midnight.)

LGBTQ & Allies 18+ Free Friday Night Drop-In Volleyball. 6-7:45pm. Miller Community Center, 330 19th Ave E. Every Friday. (206) 684-4753.

Orca Swim Team Workout. Evening. Seattle University, Redhawk Center, 14th Ave & E Cherry St. (See Sunday afternoon listing.)

Strength Over Speed (SOS). 6-7:30pm. Peer Seattle, 1520 Bellevue Ave, Suite 100. Peer support for Gay and Bisexual men recovering from crystal meth addiction. www.strengthoverspeed.org. (206) 322-2437; www. peerseattle.org

Game Night. 7pm-11pm. Peer Seattle, 1520 Bellevue Ave, Suite 100 Every Friday. Card games, board games and fellowship. (206) 322-2437; www.peerseattle.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.)

“It’s Only Kickball, Stupid.” 7:30pm. 18th & Union Art Space, 1406 18th Ave. (See Feb. 20, 7:30pm listing. Runs nightly thru Feb. 23.)

LGBT Friday Night Al-Anon Family Group. 8-9pm.

Peer Seattle, 1520 Bellevue Ave, Suite 100, Room 3. Every Friday. (See Sunday listing at noon for details.)

Greater Seattle AIS 24-hour number (206) 625-0000; www.seattle-al-anon.org; (206) 322-2437; www.peerseattle.org

SATURDAY - February 23

(See previous Saturday for ongoing activities.) Fantastic.Z: “B-Sides.” 4pm. 18th & Union Arts Space, 1406 18th Ave. Staged readings of five LGBTQ short plays, part of Fantastic.Z’s 7th Annual New Works Festival. Tickets $10 (suggested), available at www. brownpapertickets.com/event/3917280. Mature Friends Monthly Potluck. 6pm-appetizers; 7pm-dinner. Wallingford Community Senior Center, Good Shepherd Center, 4649 Sunnyside Ave N, Suite 140. Monthly potluck meets last Saturday most months.

MF is a social organization for Gay men & women, 40 years & over. www.maturefriends.org

Radical Women - Black History Month Panel Discussion on “Fighting Racism on the Job.” 6pm doors & dinner option; 7pm-panel discussion. New Freeway Hall, 5018 Rainier Ave S. Featuring a panel of workers, feminists and union activists who are standing up against harassment and discrimination on their jobs. An open discussion will follow the speaker’s presentations. $2$5 door donation; dinner available for $8-$10 donation. For more info & to reserve childcare, (206) 722-2453. RWseattle@mindspring.com. Wheelchair accessible. “It’s Only Kickball, Stupid.” 7:30pm. 18th & Union Art Space, 1406 18th Ave. (See Feb. 20, 7:30pm listing.)

SUNDAY - February 24

(See previous Sunday for ongoing activities.) No Safeword Writers Group. 1pm. See website for location. Meets 2nd & 4th Sunday each month. NSWG exists to provide mutual support for members’ efforts. For info & location, www.nosafewordwritersgroup.org Seattle Prime Timers Rap Group. 1:30pm. Peer Seattle, 1520 Bellevue Ave, Room 100. Meets 4th Sunday each month in the Ian MacKintosh Room. This month’s topic: Understanding Evil. Coffee and tea will be served. Info: www.seattleprimetimers.org

Black Tie Red Carpet Oscar Viewing Party. 5pm (doors 4:30). Century Ballroom, 915 E Pine St. Don your most elegant black tie or red-carpet-fabulous attire and watch the Oscars in style on the big screen. Features best-dressed and awards ballot contests, red carpet runway strut, complimentary photos, and expert commentary from hosts Waxie Moon and Rebecca Mmmmm Davis. Specialty cocktails, bubbly, wine, beer, and food will be available. Ages 21+ only. Tickets $15 advance, $20 at door, $95 VIP package (limited number available); www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4068242.

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 Everett/Snohomish Cty - www.gaysnohomish.org Freely Speaking Toastmasters - www.freelyspeaking.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; info@gapseattle.org; gapseattle.org

GLSEN/WA - Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network - (206) 330-2099; www.glsenwa.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.

Peer Seattle (formerly Seattle Area Support Groups) 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.peerseattle.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 & Bi men to reduce health risks associated with metham-

community calendar

phetamine 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

Q Law GLBT Legal Clinic - (206) 235-7235. Queer Geek! - queergeekseattle.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) i- SEE LISTING for Peer Seattle.

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. Seattle LGBTQ Commission - (206) 684-4503. www/ seattle.gov/lgbtq Seattle Out & Proud - (206) 322-9561; www.seattlepride.org

Seattle Police Department Sexual Minorities Community Advisory Council: kim.bogucki@seattle.gov Seattle PrideFest - www.seattlepridefest.org Servicemembers Legal Defense Network - (202) 328-3244; www.sldn.org

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

Three Dollar Bill Cinema - TWIST: Seattle Queer Film Festival; Translations: Seattle Transgender Film Festival; Outdoor Cinema at Cal Anderson Park. www. threedollarbillcinema.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; OKAY! LGBTQ+ Outreach for Kent Area Youth: (253) 859-0699 ext 3034. OKAY! is an open support group for youth ages 13-19 who identify as LGBTQ+. A program of Kent Youth & Family Services; OUT There Adventures: www.outthereadventures.org; Parents, Family & Friends of Lesbians & Gays (PFLAG)/Puget Sound: (206) 325-7724, 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) 726-8500; 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

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