Seattle Gay News
Issue 12, Volume 42, March 21, 2014
ISAMU NOGUCHI
AND
QI BAISHI:
Beijing 1930
February 22 - May 25, 2014
Frye Art Museum is proud to present Isamu Noguchi and Qi Baishi: Beijing 1930, an exploration of artistic and intellectual exchanges between American sculptor, landscape architect, and furniture designer Isamu Noguchi (1904-1988) and Qi Baishi (1864-1957), now considered one of the most important Chinese artists of the twentieth century. The work of Noguchi has long been associated with Japan. Indeed his introduction to ancient sculpture and garden design traditions during a stay in Japan in 1931 is thought of as a turning point in his early career. Less well known is the story of Noguchi’s six transformative months in Beijing from July 1930 to January 1931. There, Sotokichi Katsuizumi (1889-1985), a Japanese businessman and collector of Chinese painting, introduced him to Qi Baishi. Noguchi spoke no Chinese and Qi no English, but they quickly formed a friendship and Noguchi began to study with the master ink painter. Under Qi’s influence, Noguchi took up brush, ink, and paper – the key tools of East Asian traditional painting and calligraphy – to create the series of more than one hundred works later called the Peking Drawings. Seen together as a group and alongside examples of Qi’s paintings – as they are for the first time in this exhibition – these impressive works suggest the importance of China in Noguchi’s artistic formation, usually eclipsed by his relationship to Japan. In fact, the often-overlooked Peking Drawings acted as a laboratory in which Noguchi discovered a language of abstraction that informed his entire career. Isamu Noguchi and Qi Baishi: Beijing 1930 was organized by the University of Michigan Museum of Art in collaboration with The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden
“Lotus and Dragonfly” by Qi Baishi
Museum, New York, and consultant Alexandra May. The seeds of the exhibition were found in a group of ten works by Qi Baishi and Isamu Noguchi donated by Sotokichi Katsuizumi, a UM alumnus, to the University of Michigan Museum of Art in 1949. These are complemented by loans from the Noguchi Museum and important public and private collections in the United States. The exhibition features thirty-one works by Noguchi and twentyfive works by Qi Bashi, and also includes Noguchi’s ink brushes, the seal carved and presented to him by Qi, and materials from Katsuizumi’s archive. Isamu Noguchi and Qi Baishi: Beijing 1930 is organized by the University of Michigan Museum of Art in collaboration with The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum, New York. Lead support for this exhibition is provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art and the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional generous support is provided by the University of Michigan Center for Chinese Studies, Confucius Institute, and the Blakemore Foundation. The exhibition at the Frye Art Museum is made possible through the Frye Foundation with generous support of Frye Art Museum members and donors. It is sponsored by 4Culture, Washington State Arts Commission and the ArtsFund. Media sponsorship is provided by KUOW 94.9 FM. The Frye Art Museum is located at 704 Terry Ave. The museum is open TuesdaySunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., with extended hours on Thursday until 7 p.m. The museum is closed Monday. Admission is always FREE. Courtesy of the Frye Art Museum
“The Wrestler” by Isamu Noguchi
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Celebrating 41 Years!
Tracy Martin
Joshua Carter in Little Shop of Horrors
by Eric Andrews-Katz SGN A&E Writer LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS ACT THEATRE Through June 15th The musical Little Shop of Horrors is a success story in itself. Celebrating another union between The 5th Avenue Theatre and ACT Theatre, Little Shop is being presented at ACT Theatre. Risk the venture to “Skid Row” and go see this wonderful production! The story is simple: Boy meets girl. Boy grows plant to impress girl. Plant grows a cannibalistic appetite and tries to dominate the world. It is set on Skid Row in a decade of a century “not too long before our own.” Seymour Krelborn is a schlep that works for Mr. Mushnik in his almost bankrupt florist shop. He is secretly in love with the flower assistant, Audrey, a vapid blond with low self-esteem and an involvement with a sado-masochist dentist. To impress Audrey, Seymour has been nurturing a sickly, new breed of “fly-trap” type of plant he’s named Audrey II in her honor. When he accidentally cuts a finger and finds out that Audrey II thrives on droplets of human blood, Seymour finds it cute. When the plant talks and demands human sacrifice in exchange for magical success, Seymour
begins to ponder the difference between what he has had and what he has now. The cast is small and everyone does a fantastic job. David Anthony Lewis plays several roles including Orin Scrivello, DDS, the sadistic dentist. The different characters he presents are all done very well and are funny. Audrey’s sadistic boyfriend is a parody of a ‘50s hood and an obsolete Elvis impersonator, delivering the song “Dentist!” about the joys of inflicting pain on others, and is a pure joy. Jeff Steitzer is Mr. Mushnik, the owner of the florist shop. He’s a man beaten down by the consistent failure of his business and thrilled about the sudden success that hits … until he finds out the reason. He easily becomes his character, giving a well-rounded performance. Nicole Rashida Prothro, Alexandra Henderson, and Naomi Morgan play the “urchins.” They are a combination of a Greek Chorus, adding musical commentary throughout the musical, and a soulful, girl-group from the 1960s. Often sitting on the sidelines, observing or making musical aside commentaries, their presence is perfect. The unison of their singing blends harmoniously, their attitudes are sharp, and just watching them interact is great fun. Each of the trio is given a chance to take lead and belt out, showing all of their individual talents. The three main characters all seem hand crafted for this local production. The cen-
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terpiece of this musical is the huge puppet of Audrey II, manipulated by Eric Esteb and voiced by Ekello J. Harrid, Jr. As it comes to life, the plant develops a distinctive personality, a street-smart toned style sounding like a PG Richard Pryor. Demanding human blood, Audrey II grows quickly, taking over the stage with its great voice and creative animation. Joshua Carter is the nebbish Seymour, the gifted, nerdy botanist responsible for finding and nurturing the carnivorous Audrey II. He is the embodiment of nerd and hopeful loser, fitting this role as if a tailored glove. His facial expressions easily show the torment of being so low on the social totem pole, and yet emotes the hopefulness of wanting to get the girl of his dreams. Jessica Skerritt is excellent as Audrey, the ditzy blond love interest. Ms. Skerritt is fantastic as the vapid shop assistant, avoiding clichés while showing a true caricature of the character. This gifted actress brings out Audrey’s innocence easily, and the chemistry between her and Joshua Carter is perfect synergy. This co-production of Little Shop of Horrors by the 5th Avenue and ACT Theatre is a great joining of talents. Once again, the meshing of these two local theaters has proven to be a successful venture. As with the past co-productions (Vanities, the musical, Grey Gardens), the collaborative effort is well received. The musical is fun, entertaining and highly enjoyable. Even if you’ve seen (either of) the movies or have seen the stage production before, this show is presented very well. You will leave tapping your toes, with a smile on your face, and have a legitimate excuse to avoid gardening. If there were ever an example of a ragsto-riches musical history it is Little Shop of Horrors. The musical started out as a low budget movie, written (and filmed) in 24 hours by Roger Cormen. It was also the fourth film by future Academy Award winner, Jack Nicholson as the dentist. The nonmusical, black and white film was soon, and deservedly, forgotten. In 1982 Howard Ashman and Alan Menken (future Academy Award winners of Disney fame) took the thrown away film and made it into an Off-Broadway musical that ran for over 2,000 performances. In 1986 Frank Oz remade the movie using the musical as a basis and starring Steve Martin. Little Shop of Horrors would wait until 2003 before it made its Broadway debut.
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Andy Barrett
Mt. Hood National Forest
by Albert Rodriguez SGN A&E Writer Rather than looking at the mountains and forests from a distance, go see them up close. The Northwest is abundant with national parks, freshwater lakes, campgrounds, white-capped mountains, hiking trails and woody areas to escape to for a weekend. Just a few hours away from Seattle is Mt. Hood, Oregon and a scattering of towns and ski resort communities on the foothills. Interestingly enough, Mt. Hood is second to Mt. Everest as the most summited mountain on the entire planet. In this neck of the woods (yes, pun intended) you are literally surrounded by Doug fir trees, snowy peaks, chirping birds and the purest clean air. Here’s more information about this very scenic, unspoiled part of Oregon state.
tyrest Black Beverly Hills plush memory foam beds, which will have you snoozing in no time. My room also had a fireplace with complimentary Duraflame logs. On-site, The Resort at the Mountain includes a heated outdoor pool, 27-hole and three 9-hole golf courses, tennis courts, Altitude restaurant and bar, seasonal Mallards Cafe & Pub and a 5000-square foot spa (The Spa) with wonderful treatments for individuals and couples, not to mention a reasonably-sized relaxation room with floor-to-ceiling windows. Bike rentals and day excursions, from mountain biking to tubing to hiking can be coordinated as well through the hotel’s front desk. But the resort also has a Nature Concierge (Nate), who is extremely knowledgeable about everything – trees, foraging, mountains, rivers, Mt. Hood history; you name it, he knows it, and he’s available for guided tours and daily explorations. I absolutely loved the location
View of Mt. Hood
GETTING THERE Mt. Hood is approximately an hour to 75 minutes from Portland, and drivers can consult their vehicle GPS systems for directions. For non-drivers, there are seasonal shuttles that will get you as far as Sandy from downtown Portland and then you can transfer to the Mt. Hood Express (www. mthoodexpress.com) that will transport you from Sandy City Hall to Timberline. Resorts and lodges, such as the two recommended below, can assist with individual shuttle pickups from PDX Airport, Union Station or downtown Portland for a fee.
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ACTIVITIES Mt. Hood is open year-round, attracting visitors during the cold and warm months. A day lodge at Timberline Lodge provides ski passes, chair lifts and equipment rentals for those wishing to play on the mountain, along with a few concession stands that are available for quick meals. Mt. Hood Skibowl (www.skibowl.com) offers lots of snowy terrain for skiers and snowboarders, but it also hosts Cosmic Tubing on weekends and holidays, where guests can slide down the slopes while listening to cool tunes and facilities lit up with neon lights. Mt. Hood Adventure Park at Skibowl (www.skibowl. com) has a list of fun activities for all ages, including snowmobiling, rock climbing, bungee jumping, mountain biking, Malibu Raceway, ziplining, pony rides, scenic sky chairs and plenty of things to keep the little ones occupied, if traveling with a family. The Hood River County Fruit Loop (www. hoodriverfruitloop.com) is a 35-mile selfguided tour of fruit orchards, forests, farmlands and peaceful communities. These activities, and those offered by The Resort at the Mountain, should be enough to keep you busy for a Northwest trek to Mt. Hood. courtesy of TIMBERLINE LODGE
ACCOMMODATIONS The Resort at the Mountain (www. TheResort.com) is nearly hidden amongst tall trees in the highlands of Mt. Hood. Featuring 157 spacious rooms, suites and villas separated into multiple buildings, the resort is a year-round destination for travelers wanting convenient access to recreational activities on and off the mountain, aside from having a place to simply unwind. All rooms are equipped with 42-inch TVs, lengthy work desks with ergonomic chairs, alarm clocks with electronic device plug-ins, mini refrigerators, personal coffeemakers with Starbucks medium blend packets, rainwater showerheads, robes and Simmons Beau-
of The Resort at the Mountain, plus the incredibly friendly staff and extra touches, like complimentary Starbucks brewed coffee and fruit-infused ice water in the lobby. It’s really like a home away from home. Another option, and it’s a great one, too, is Timberline Lodge (www.timberlinelodge. com). Opened initially in 1937, this National Historic Landmark played an important role in the 1980 suspense film The Shining, serving as the movie’s exterior setting (no interior scenes were shot at the lodge). Timberline Lodge is settled on the south slope of Mt. Hood at 6,000 feet above sea level, making
the views from the 70-guest room hotel beyond breathtaking. With rooms to fit every budget, including “chalets” that can accommodate groups in bunk beds with access to shared rest rooms, Timberline Lodge is a favorite even amongst non-skiers. Celebrities from Olivia Newton-John to Reese Witherspoon, who recently stayed and shot on location here, are also big fans of this cozy mountain getaway. The centerpiece of the lodge is its main lobby, a circular space with 98-foot high chimney, sofas, armchairs, antique light fixtures and upstairs bar with divine lookouts to the snowy slopes. The Cascade Dining Room is known for its lunchtime buffet with a terrific spread that includes house-made pastas, salads and soups, carving station, fresh fruit, make-your-own-waffles and an assortment of yummy desserts. Besides skiing or snowboarding, guests can also absorb the spectacular sites in an outdoor heated pool with 4-foot and 10-foot deep ends. There is event space and a coordinator on the property to assist with any wedding planning, for couples wanting to tie the knot with a true Northwest backdrop.
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Overflowing with Pride? Good. Don’t just celebrate it here at home, go party with the world! From New York City to Berlin to Tel Aviv, Gay Pride is an opportunity to explore a new city, a new country, even a new continent, and be part of a fun-filled, momentous occasion. Here are eight destinations to get your Pride on this year.
by Albert Rodriguez SGN A&E Writer
GoThaiBeFree.com
Phuket Pride Parade
Kevin Dooley
Phoenix Pride Parade & Festival
April 5-6 www.phoenixpride.org Arizona shouldn’t be punished for attempting to pass anti-Gay legislation; after all, the conservative measure was strongly opposed by residents of the state’s urban areas, including Phoenix. The sixth largest U.S. city hosts one of the biggest Pride celebrations in the Southwest with multi-cultural flair – the Latino and Native American communities are well-represented in Saturday’s parade, stretching from 3rd and Thomas to 3rd and Indian School with the festival happening at Steele Indian School Park through 9 p.m. Two new restaurants to make a beeline for are The Gladly (www.thegladly.com), featuring amazing home-style favorites in a sleek ambiance, and the Phoenix Public Market Café (www.phxpublicmarket.com), an upscale-deli meets bistro establishment with freshly made soups, sandwiches and its own meat carving station. If staying downtown, the Hotel Palomar Phoenix (www.hotelpalomarphoenix.com) or The Westin Downtown Phoenix (www.westinphoenixdowntown.com) both provide stylish accommodations with a good selection of restaurants, bars and entertainment-sports venues, plus light rail access, within footsteps of their front entrances. Less chic, but also close by and possibly more affordable, is the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel (www.sheratonphoenixdowntown.com). Each of these properties have outdoor pools, contemporary amenities and on-site dining.
Phoenix Pride Parade
Phuket Pride
April 20-27 www.phuket-pride.org Thailand is now a must-go destination for Gay travelers, thanks in part to the tropical resort community of Phuket. A short 90-minute flight from Bangkok, this beachfront city lures visitors with active nightlife, centuries-old Buddhist wats (temples), traditional Thai cuisine and, of course, sunny weather. LGBT tourists are welcomed year-round with open arms, though strongly encouraged to attend Phuket Pride in late April. The PLU (Phuket Loves You) Club is organizing 2014’s festivities, tying in a safe sex awareness campaign with the week-long event that hopes to raise 1 million TBT for the cause. For retail therapy, Jungceylon (www.jungceylon.com) is the largest and most contemporary shopping center in the southern portion of the kingdom with cinemas, pubs and designer stores, while the Phuket Weekend Market (Talad Tairod, no website) is where to barter for souvenirs, local goods and beachwear. The Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort and Villas (www.outriggerthailand.com) not only has standard rooms and suites, but also villas for couples or groups. If you want to splurge, try the ultra luxurious Sawasdee Village (www.phuketsawasdee.com) – it’s paradise within paradise.
lifeayumihamasaki.blogspot.com
Tokyo Rainbow Pride
April 27 www.tokyorainbowpride.com
Tokyo is a must-see destination, one of the world’s most exciting cities to visit, that is gradually opening its doors to LGBT tourists. The Shinjuku Ni-chome district is full of locals-only and foreigners-welcome bars, although you’ll have to make your way to the bustling ‘hoods of Shibuya and Harajaku, where the parade is expected to slither through. “Many Lives, Many Loves” is this year’s event theme, which includes an outdoor stage at Yoyogi Park with live performances, community information booths and food/beverages. You’ll want to shop at any of dozens of Uniqlo stores (www.uniqlo.com) around the city for reasonably-priced, durable and fashionable clothes, and then check out Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa (www.sensoji.jp). If you can afford a room at the Park Hyatt Tokyo (www.tokyo. park.hyatt.com) in Shinjuku, you’re in for a dreamy experience, or something simpler and more affordable in the same vicinity is Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo (www.keioplaza.co.jp).
dewereldmorgen.bebelgian
Belgian Pride Parade
Tokyo Pride Parade
The Belgian Pride (Brussels) May 2-17 www.thepride.be
Aside from chocolate and frites, Brussels boasts a major arts scene, dozens of independent fashion boutiques, UNESCO World Heritage sites, and a very active LGBT community that hosts a multi-national, giant Pride bash each year. The Belgian Pride attracted over 80,000 spectators in 2013, who gathered downtown to watch the colorful parade, and then partied until the wee hours of morning along the Rue du Marche-au-Charbon, where several of the busiest Gay bars in town are located. For sightseeing, the Atomium (www.atomium.be) is a marvel piece of architechture, the Musee Magritte (www.musee-magritte-museum.be) and Belgian Comic Strip Center (www. comicscenter.net) are definite to-dos, and the historic Grand-Place makes for a good photo op. Le Meridian (www.lemeridienbrussels.com) puts you literally within footsteps of the BrusselsCentral train station and walking distance to city center; rooms are elegantly furnished and the immaculate semi-rotunda lobby is perfect for people-watching with afternoon coffee. see PRIDE page 19
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tion. He was condemned to manual labor and few of his paintings survived. At the time of these debates on national identity in the United States and China, Mark Tobey reflected on “the art of the future,” writing that it “cannot germinate in antagonism and national rivalry but will spring forth with a renewed growth if man in general will grow to the stature of universal citizenship.” The exhibition provides audiences in the twenty-first century with the opportunity to consider and compare the mature work of both Teng and Tobey and to reexamine twentieth-century debates on their artistic endeavors beyond the ideological inflections and Cold War rhetoric of their day. The exhibition is accompanied by a catalogue, published by the Frye Art Museum, that describes Tobey and Teng’s artistic and intellectual exchange and its potential for developing a shared vocabulary in Western and Eastern art practice. The question of whether Tobey succeeded in combining or replacing the traditions of Chinese and Western art is examined in the context of emerging scholarship. The catalogue contains essays by JoAnne Birnie Danzker and David Clarke. Mark Tobey and Teng Baiye: Seattle/ Shanghai is organized by the Frye Art Museum and curated by Jo-Anne Birnie Danzker and Scott Lawrimore. The exhibition is funded by the Frye Foundation with the generous support of Frye Art Museum members and donors. It is sponsored by 4Culture. Seasonal support is provided by Seattle Office of Arts & Culture and ArtsFund.
“Forest Dance” by Mark Tobey
Frye Art Museum is proud to present Mark Tobey and Teng Baiye: Seattle/ Shanghai, the first exhibition in the United States to explore artistic and intellectual exchanges between American artist Mark Tobey (1890-1976) and his Chinese contemporary Teng Baiye (1900-1980). The two met in the 1920s, when Teng moved to Seattle to study sculpture and complete a master’s degree at the University of Washington. During this period, Tobey studied calligraphy with Teng, and the two artists formed a deep friendship. In 1934, Tobey visited Teng in Shanghai and soon thereafter embarked on his seminal “white writing” paintings, works considered by Western critics to be indebted to his study of calligraphy, ink painting, and the Bahá’í faith. It was a time of “revolutionary sensations,” Tobey would later say, when “the old and the new were in battle” and his “angle of vision” was shifting. The exhibition considers Teng’s influence as both a cultural interpreter and an artistic practitioner on the development of Tobey’s distinctive artistic practice and – through Tobey – on the discourse on abstraction in mid-Century American art. Whether Tobey’s work had remained “American” or become “oriental” was a subject of debate among contemporary observers in the United States. Merrill Rueppel, the director of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, wrote in 1968 that Tobey was “never for one moment anything but an American,” explaining that he had “taken the calligraphy of the orient and made it the foundation of his own art without becoming oriental.” Similarly, William Seitz, curator at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, wrote that in Tobey’s work “the Eastern dragon had been harnessed to Western dynamism.” In China, similar questions regarding the extent of foreign influence on the work of Teng Baiye were raised. Scholar David Clarke notes that Teng’s “sojourn in the Pacific Northwest and his sophistication in handling both Western and Chinese cultural
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knowledge gave him valuable resources with which to contribute to the tasks of assimilating lessons from elsewhere while building a national culture [in China in the 1930s].” Nevertheless, after 1949, and especially during the Cultural Revolution (1966-76), Teng’s paintings were denounced as spiritual pollu-
The Frye Art Museum is located at 704 Terry Ave. The museum is open TuesdaySunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., with extended hours on Thursday until 7 p.m. The museum is closed Monday. Admission is always FREE. Courtesy of the Frye Art Museum
“Untitled” by Mark Tobey
Celebrating 41 Years!
“Untitled” by Mark Tobey
Photograph of Teng Baiye, 1926
“City Reflections” by Mark Tobey
“Above and Below” by Mark Tobey
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“Cranes and Pine Tree” by Teng Baiye
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Le Zinc, a great Capitol Hill dining experience courtesy of
John Doe
by Ken Campbell SGN A&E Writer French cuisine. The very phrase sounds hoity-toity. But if there’s one thing I love, it’s trying new things. So when a friend of mine told me that I could use a little dose of culture and invited me to dinner at a new French restaurant that had just opened its doors right here on Capitol Hill, how could I refuse? Hoity-toity is fine by me when someone else is footin’ the bill. The place in question is called Le Zinc, named for the countertops made of the stuff commonly found in French bistros. But before I get to dishin’ the dirt on French cuisine, I must issue a disclaimer. First of all, I am not, I repeat NOT a food critic. I have no culinary training of any kind. I’m not even remotely close to being a “foodie” and would never want to be called one. Secondly, I virtually never
touch a stove, if I can help it. Most of my meals take 60 seconds to prepare in a microwave. The ones that aren’t are either brought to my table at whatever restaurant, diner or greasy spoon I’m sitting in at the time or handed to me in a paper sack by someone wearing a paper hat. I’m not even well-traveled. I certainly haven’t ever been to France. The only thing that even remotely connects me to French cuisine is that my heritage is a quarter French and even that is up for debate. But instead of a lofty, overly sophisticated, highbrow opinion of food, I thought it would be refreshing to come at this from the opposite end of the spectrum. The food idiot. Someone with a palate so mired in the unremarkable that experiencing French cuisine for the first time should almost border on a religious experience. So, let’s start with first impressions shall we? After stepping through Le Zinc’s front door it seemed to me this would be an ideal
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place to take a first date. The atmosphere is subdued; cozy even. It’s a perfect place for getting to know someone or dropping a bomb of bad news or coming out as whatever to your closest friend. Intimate. Yes, that’s the word I’m looking for. It’s very intimate. It somehow manages to feel modern and old world at the same time. Amongst the décor you’ll find several interesting antiques including some sort of absinthe brewing contraption that looks like a soap dispenser from the Four Seasons. Most of the walls are adorned with original paintings collected by manager, Parris Broderick. If asked, he will be all too happy to give you the lowdown on each one of them. Now, on to the food. Since this was all new to me I let my friend do the ordering for me. First to arrive at the table was the appetizer, which surprisingly enough was French fries. I had always thought the “French” in French fries was a misnomer. But after a little research I discovered that it is still up for debate whether French fries originated in France or Belgium. They arrived at my table in a rather unique cone shaped apparatus of chrome that had a little sidecar attached with a very tasty dipping sauce. I’m not sure if this is how they usually do it in France, but if they do, I think we should adopt the practice here. Next to arrive was a small pot of steaming mussels, which I sort of inhaled, because they were prepared so deliciously well by our very charming chef du jour, Jaron Witsoe. (Tisch! That’s French! *smooch smooch smooch* See? I’m becoming more cultured already.) Next came the Croque Monsieur (which to me looked like a ham and cheese sandwich) but a more accurate description would be Pain de me, smoked ham and Gruye’re de Comt’e. Usually I’m not that partial to ham
and cheese, but I changed my tune after the first bite. It practically melted in my mouth. I also got to sample the Moules au Fenouil, which was comprised of fennel, pork belly, Pernod, sweet onions and tomato; and for dessert, the chocolate torte. All of which, I washed down with a glass of Cote de Gascogne, Dom Tariquet, 2012 Colombard-Ugni Blanc. All of their wines, I’m told, are imported from small French wineries in order to give patrons a sample of the local flavor. If cocktails are more your cup of tea, you might want to check out Happy Hour from 4-6 p.m. and 10 p.m. to close daily. They have a very colorful selection to choose from, all of which find their origins in Prohibition era America. Enjoy $6 featured cocktails plus Kronenbourg, select wines and well liquors for $4. Penn cove mussel bowls are half price and French fries $3! In addition, Le Zinc offers an assortment of exceptional absinthes, ritualistically prepared over an absinthe fountain and accoutrements. All in all, it was a great dining experience and I left feeling slightly more sophisticated than I had going in. Le Zinc is located at 1449 E. Pine St. Check it out mon petite. You won’t be disappointed.
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Copyright 2014 Chris Bennion
HIGH SOCIETY SHOWTUNES THEATRE COMPANY ILLSLEY BALL NORDSTROM RECITAL HALL BENAROYA HALL March 29 & 30 SEATTLE, WA – SHOWTUNES Theatre Company stages a sparkling Spring concert version of Cole Porter’s High Society at the Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall at Benaroya Hall on Saturday, March 29 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, March 30 at 2 p.m. High Society is based on the 1939 play The Philadelphia Story by Philip Barry, which inspired a 1956 MGM movie musical High Society starring Grace Kelly, Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra. A stage musical version of High Society opened on Broadway in 1998 with a book by Arthur Kopit. It features the beautiful Cole Porter tunes, “Ridin’ High,” “Just One of Those Things,” “Let’s Misbehave,” “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” and “It’s All Right With Me” with additional lyrics by Susan Birkenhead. This bubbling musical takes us back to the 1930s as wealthy Long Island socialite Tracy Lord is planning her lavish summer wedding to George when her ex-husband Dexter turns up and disrupts the proceedings.
Complications for the festivities include a philandering father, an overwhelmed mother and a nosey magazine reporter and photographer trying to get an exclusive scoop. This “swell” party of a show marks the 24th production for SHOWTUNES Theatre Company. With fourteen years under their belts, SHOWTUNES produces concert versions of countless unsung American musical theatre gems. This upcoming production will be the fourth concert in a row presented at Benaroya Hall’s acoustically rich yet intimate Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall. A cast of talented local musical theatre professionals, with scripts in hand, will use minimal staging props and costumes to bring the original book and score of Cole Porter’s delicious High Society to life. David Hunter Koch directs and Mark Rabe serves as music director. The cast includes: Danielle Barnum (Tracy Lord), Jared Michael Brown (Dexter Haven), Matt Giles (Mike Connor), John X. Deveney (Uncle Willy), Katherine Strohmaier (Liz Imbrie), Matthew Posner (George Kittredge), Analiese Guettinger (Dinah Lord), Valerie Piacenti (Margaret Lord), and Paul Klein (Seth Lord) with Mallory King, Marissa Ryder and Mike Spee rounding out the Ensemble. Tickets are $31 - $46. Student and senior tickets are $21. Tickets are available online at SHOWTUNESTheatre.org, over the phone at (206) 215-4747 or in person at the Benaroya Hall ticket office (Third Ave. & Union St.). Ticket office hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; and Saturday, 1 p.m. - 6 p.m. About SHOWTUNES Theatre Company: Based in Seattle and founded in 1999, SHOWTUNES creates concert versions of many unsung American musical theater gems. Led by Broadway veteran Martin Charnin (Artistic Director) and company founder Maggie Stenson Pehrson (Executive Producer), the company currently presents a two-concert season at Seattle’s stunning Benaroya Hall. Drawing from the vast array of musical theatre talent in the area, SHOWTUNES has staged 23 productions and will announce their 2014-2015 Benaroya Hall Season this April. Courtesy of SHOWTUNES Theatre Company Copyright 2014 Chris Bennion
(l-r) Mike Connor, Tracy Lord, and Dexter Haven
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PRIDE continued from page 10
Honolulu Pride Parade and Celebration
June 7 www.honoluluprideparade.blogspot.com
Daniel Rameirez / Flickr
Honolulu Pride Parade
The best thing about attending Honolulu’s one-day Pride festivities is that you can take a dip in the ocean or walk half a block to Hula’s Bar & Lei Stand (www.hulas.com) when the parade comes to a halt at Kapiolani Park. With a 10 a.m. start time (at Magic Island), you have plenty of time to grab breakfast at Hula Grill Waikiki (www.hulagrillwaikiki.com) or latte at Honolulu Coffee Company (www.honolulucoffee.com), both along the route on Kalakaua Avenue, before the parade gets underway. Hawaii’s recent passage of Gay marriage will undoubtedly be integrated into this year’s celebration, as their festival is called. The Aloha State’s capital city has many LGBT-supportive hotels, among them the Park Shore Waikiki (www.parkshorewaikiki.com), located across from Kapiolani Park, the Sheraton Waikiki (www. sheraton-waikiki.com) and Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach (www.outriggerwaikikihotel.com).
Portland Pride Festival & Parade
June 14-15 www.pridenw.org
Joshua Liberles
And if you need a reason for a three-hour road trip to Portland, the Rose City kicks off the Northwest’s Pride festivities two weeks before Seattle and two months before Vancouver, BC. Available now are $60 VIP passes that include special VIP entrance (no waiting in line), two-day festival access, a pair of beverage tickets, official 2014 Pride tee-shirt, special access to Pride Northwest Lounge and bonus extras. Sunday’s parade begins at the corner of West Burnside Avenue and NW Broadway, then proceeds on NW Davis through Chinatown and along the riverside to Tom McCall Waterfront Park, where the festival will be set up. “Happy Hour” on Departure Restaurant + Lounge’s outdoor deck (www.departureportland.com), especially on a bright afternoon, affords you an excellent view of the Willamette River. If you want accommodations very close to the action, Hotel Rose (www.hotelroseportland.com) is directly across from the park and RiverPlace Hotel (www.riverplacehotel.com) is situated right on the waterfront. It doesn’t get much closer than that! No car? No problem. Bolt Bus (www.boltbus.com) offers the cheapest fares between Seattle and Portland.
Portland Pride Parade
Dublin Pride
June 14-29 www.dublinpride.ie
TempleBar.ie
Dublin Pride
The Irish do know how to party, and Dublin is a city that is quickly reinventing itself – thus, it’s attracting hip, young new residents and tourists. Back-to-back weeks of Pride events climax with a parade that starts at the “Garden of Remembrance” and finishes at Merrian Square, marching past one of the most reputable teaching institutions, Trinity College, home of the Book of Kells (www.tcd.ie/Library/bookofkells). Tens of thousands are expected to participate in this year’s parade, commemorating its 30th anniversary with the theme “Live, Love & Be Proud.” I suggest a meal at the locally-beloved 37 Dawson Street (www.37dawsonstreet.ie) with cool interior and wonderful simple food, or the cozy Coppinger Row (www.coppingerrow.com); and for accommodations The Marker (www.themarkerhoteldublin.com) is relatively new, slick and has a rooftop bar, or The Fitzwilliam Hotel Dublin (www.fitzwilliamhoteldublin.com) is absolutely lovely and rests across from St. Stephen’s Green.
Las Vegas PRIDE Night Parade & Festival
September 5-6 www.lasvegaspride.org
Visit us online www.sgn.org
LasVegasPrideshawna3377.blogspot.com
Whatever happens in Vegas probably won’t happen anywhere else; this place is crawling with possibilities that spell m-e-s-s-y. You’re always assured a real good time in Sin City, especially when the popular desert destination goes all out for its Pride celebration in early September. The glittery parade is slated for Saturday evening, beginning at 8 p.m. at West Charleston Boulevard, and then traveling up 4th Street to Ogden Avenue. Sunday is reserved for the festival, over at the Clark County Amphitheater with more than 100 exhibitors onhand, aside from live entertainment and snack stations. Las Vegas has become a mecca for world-class cuisine with a bevy of restaurants to suit every budget. Two of my current favorites are Andrea’s at the Encore (www.wynnlasvegas.com) for sumptuous Asian dishes in a sleek, open dining room, and Simon Restaurant & Lounge at The Palms (www.palms.com) for brunch featuring a make-your-ownBloody Mary Buffet, a “White Trash” menu and cute servers dressed in pajama bottoms. For weekend stays, MGM Resorts International is the leading Gay-friendly hotelier in Southern Nevada, presenter of the 2014 Las Vegas PRIDE Night Parade. One of its showcase properties, the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino (www.mgmgrand.com) provides guests with spacious rooms, premiere on-site dining and nightlife options, and, of course, a refreshing outdoor pool with deck.
Las Vegas Pride Parade
March 21, 2014
Seattle Gay News 19