Join us for Afternoon Tea at the Seattle Teacup which will feature a discussion with to learn more about refugee resettlement & support the International Rescue Committee. The Seattle office of the International Rescue Committee empowers refugees, asylees and victims of human trafficking to achieve self-sufficiency, community integration, and independence as they rebuild their lives in King County. Since 1976, more than 19,000 refugees from over 30 countries have resettled in Washington State with the help of the IRC. The IRC Seattle expects to serve 500 refugees during FY2009.

Tea and discussion will be held Thursday, July 9, 2009 from 6:00-7:30pm at the Seattle Teacup, 2128 Queen Anne Ave N, Seattle WA 98109.  The guest speaker is a former refugee who has established a new life for herself in the Seattle area.

Interbay golf course is offering outdoor concerts this summer.  The first one is set for Thursday July 2 and the concerts run each Thursday through the end of August.  Seating starts at 5pm and there is no cover charge.  The music goes from 5:30—8:30pm.  Reservations are available at 206-285-6079. 

Here is the schedule for the summer:

July 2—Roosevelt High School Jazz Combo
July 9— Scott Lindenmuth
July 16—Pearl Django
July 23— Susan Carr Ensemble
July 30- Stickshift Annie with Kimball and the Fugitives
August 6- Fred Hoadley Trio
August 13- Roosevelt Jazz Combo
August 20- Gail Pettis
August 27—Stick Shift Annie with Kimball and the Fugitives

Queen Anne resident Jenny Cross appears in the regional premiere of “Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming“–a toe-tappin’, knee-slappin’, heartwarmin’ bluegrass gospel extravaganza–at Taproot Theatre this summer.

This musical captures the charm and nostalgia of a post-war Appalachian country church on a night in October 1945. It’s filled with celebration and a contagious beat that’ll get your feet tappin’! Written by Connie Ray, conceived by Alan Bailey, musical arrangements by Mike Craver.

“Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming” opens on July 10 and runs through August 8, with low-cost previews on July 8 and 9, and a pay-what-you-can performance on July 15. For more information, visit
www.taproottheatre.org.

Cross’s past Taproot credits include roles in ”Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor(r) Dreamcoat,” plus directing touring productions.  She also teaches theatre classes.

Taproot Theatre Company is a professional, non-profit theatre company with a multi-faceted production program. Founded in 1976, Taproot Theatre serves the Pacific Northwest with Mainstage Productions, Touring Productions and Acting Studio. Taproot exists to create theatre that explores the beauty and questions of life while bringing hope to our search for meaning. Taproot Theatre Company is a member of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), Theatre Puget Sound (TPS), and the Greenwood-Phinney Chamber of Commerce.

Free activity on July 3rd, 8:00 – 10:15 pm aboard the schooner Adventuress at Lake Union Park, 860 Terry Ave N, Seattle.

The songs of the sea are easy to learn and fun to sing. All ages welcome. Broadside, the all-women chantey group, will be on board as songleaders to keep the music rolling, with opportunity for anyone to lead a song or just join in the chorus. The schooner Adventuress will be docked at the Historic Ships Wharf during the song. Admission is free, donations accepted. Refreshments & maritime CDs are for sale. Wayne Palsson hosts. For more information, (206) 447-9800 or check their website.

Mark your calendars!  After debuting in Magnuson Park last week, Fremont Outdoor Movies is back in the neighborhood for its summer-long run. Next week’s movie is “Shaun of the Dead”, preceeded by the Red, White, and Dead Zombie Party. This is a timely celebration in light of Michael Jackson’s death.  A viewing of Thriller is eminent.  Doors open for movie seating at 7:30, pre-show starts at 8:30 and the movie begins at 9:30. Don’t forget to bring your own low-back chairs.

Seattle Opera announced today that the company will receive a $500,000 grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation in support of Amelia, a newly commissioned American opera. The grant is a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to provide crucial support for the production of new contemporary opera, enabling Amelia to be produced by two other American opera companies following the opera’s world premiere in Seattle in May 2010.

The Charles Simonyi Fund for Arts and Sciences will be the production sponsor for Amelia with a generous gift of $300,000. Featuring music by American composer Daron Aric Hagen, an intensely personal libretto by American poet and writer Gardner McFall, and a story by Stephen Wadsworth, Amelia is Seattle Opera’s first commissioned work during General Director Speight Jenkins’ tenure.

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation grant will be used over a four-year period to support the production and presentation of contemporary opera at Seattle Opera and at two additional American opera companies. The grant will provide funding that will underwrite rental and royalty expenses for up to two other companies to present Amelia. It will also cover the cost of set and costume modifications undertaken by Seattle Opera to make the opera compatible with multiple companies.  A percentage of the grant will fund any necessary score or libretto revisions and will fund audience development materials that can be shared in the various cities. By subsidizing some of the costs of presenting a new work, the grant will help reduce the financial risk during challenging economic times and help establish Amelia as an important addition to American opera. Seattle Opera intends to design and implement an overall community strategy and audience development plan that would follow Amelia from one city to the next.

It is the hope that this groundbreaking collaboration with The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation will create a new model for opera companies that will encourage the development and performance of contemporary opera.

One of our readers asked if I was going to blog about the news related to Michael Jackson’s death on June 25th.  I said that generally we stick to reporting the news that is local to Queen Anne and not something of the magnitude of the passing of the 80s pop icon in Los Angeles.  

But, then I thought about it, and I couldn’t resist posting a note that I am in LA right now, a mere few blocks from UCLA Medical Center where Michael was brought in. I can tell you that it was chaotic from the moment he arrived and the news hit the police scanners.  No less that 6 news helicopters circled overhead for the entire afternoon and the news crews were out talking with anyone who wanted to make a comment.  The text messages were flying!  I received several from friends in Seattle who knew I was here and wanted to get my “first hand report.”

So, there it is.  I stayed away from the crowd, watched the news on TV, and will wait like others for details as they are made available.

For more credible information about Jackson’s death, you can try the Yahoo.com or Comcast.net links.  And certainly feel free to post a thought about how you feel about all this.

We have a lot of cyclists in Queen Anne who enjoy their bike time.  Don’t forget that between now and September 7, Sundays are reserved for Bicycle Sunday, presented by Seattle Parks and Recreation and the Cascade Bicycle Club. Click for a printable .pdf file of the map and other information.

Bicycle along Lake Washington Boulevard south of Mount Baker Beach to Seward Park’s entrance.

Lake Washington Boulevard will be closed to motorized traffic 
from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Later today Via Tribunali is being honored for its authentic Italian pizza. A delegation from the Associazionne Verace Pizza Napoletana is in town to certify seven pizza places as “Napoletana,” including our new Via Tribunali. There are rules for making Neapolitan pizzas. Certified restaurants must use specific ingredients, a wood-burning oven and the final product must conform to the tradition. The other certifications presented this week go to the Via Tribunali in Fremont, Georgetown and Belltown, Ristorante Picolinos in Ballard, Tutta Bella in Issaquah and Pizzeria Pulcinella in Rainier Beach.

If you saw all the firefighters rushing over the Ballard Bridge just before 6:30 p.m., they were headed to an engine fire in a boat at Fishermen’s Terminal. My Ballard reader Silver says the boat’s name is the “Wonderland,” which was kicking out a lot of smoke. Magnolia Voice has the story here.

The Crown of Queen Anne Fun Run and Walk, benefiting the Queen Anne Helpline, will be held on Saturday, July 11th. “When times are tough, the Tough go running and walking” is the tagline for this year’s 24 annual Seafair event.

Walkers and runners will assemble at the Queen Anne Lutheran Church, 2400 8th Ave West. The magnificent 3.3 mile course takes participants along the boulevard of Queen Anne Hill will begin at 5th & Halladay, where neighbors will also have coffee, water, and music to cheer you on. The run/walk ends at Coe Elementary School.  Following is the schedule:

6:45-7:30am Number Pickup
7:30-8:00am Group Stretch
8:00am Start of Race (Walkers)
8:20am Start of Race (Runners)

Costs: Pre-registration $30;  Day of Race $33
T-shirts, short sleeve included with registration and donations gladly accepted.

Convenient registration events will be held at both of the Queen Anne Metropolitan Markets (upper and lower) Thursday & Friday July 9th & 10th from noon until 8:00 pm.  Or you can register online.

The Queen Anne Farmers Market had a beautiful day for the opening of the market season last Thursday.  They are back in operation again this Thursday and will continue every Thursday this summer.  You will enjoy the bountiful delights of organic fruits and vegetables, fresh seafood, crafts, and entertainment.  Check out their website for all things “Queen Anne Farmers Market” and come out tomorrow!

3-7 pm, Thursdays
June 18 – October 1, 2009
W Crockett Street @ Queen Anne Ave. N (near Pasta & Co) 

This tip comes from our friends at the IMAX at the Pacific Science Center, 200 Second Avenue North | Seattle, WA 98109.  Don?t let kids have all the fun?  Science with a Twist is an after-hours event series for adults 21 and over. Join us on select Thursdays for cocktails shaken up with science food, lectures and fun!

Science with a Twist presents Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: The IMAX Experience

Thursday, June 25, 2009
Cocktails & Science 6pm
Film Screening 7pm

Join Science with a Twist, the Decepticons and Autobots for a celebration of epic proportions. Arrive early for pre-movie cocktails and then experience Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: The IMAX Experience on the biggest screen in Seattle! With select scenes filmed with IMAX cameras, director Michael Bay has seamlessly integrated IMAX footage with state of the art CGI to create an unprecedented look and feel for this highly anticipated sequel.

Tickets on sales now! www.pacsci.org/twist

This is a 21 and over event (ID required). Tickets are $20/General Public, $17/Pacific Science Center members and includes first drink from the bar and all entertainment.

The issues of the middle east are constantly in headline news.  The Associates in Cultural Exchange’s World Language Program (ACE) is offering three language camps – Arabic, Persian, and Urdu – for kids, ages 10-14. The camps are completely free with lunch included. The camps are designed to introduce children to a different language and culture, as well as providing them with a basis in their chosen language.

All classes are taught by native speakers, all of whom have received professional training. Teachers use creative methods to teach the language and the culture, music, and history.

The camps serve as an excellent opportunity for children to expand their horizons. It is important for children to receive this kind of education early since studies have shown that they are better suited to learning foreign languages. Studies have also demonstrated that the study of foreign language increases a child’s basic skills and performance on aptitude tests.

The ability to speak a second language is an increasingly valued ability in today’s globalized world. Speakers of languages, such as Arabic, Urdu, and

Persian, are in short supply and especially highly valued by international charities and humanitarian groups, companies, and governmental agencies, to name a few.

The World Language Program specifically works to raise international awareness and cultural understanding through foreign language education.

For more information, contact the program director, Maka Janikashvili, at makaj@cultural.org or by phone at 206-217-9644 ext 201. ACE is located at 200 W. Mercer Street, Suite 108, Seattle, WA and was established in 1973.

Join fellow Girl Scout Alumnae for a time  to  mingle, enjoy delicious hors d’oeuvres, and have fun catching up with others!  Learn what’s new with Girl Scouting and connect other women who believe that girls can and should lead lives of courage, confidence and character!  $5 ticket price at the door. All Girl Scout alumnae welcome!

Twist Restaurant and Lounge
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
6-7:30 p.m.
2313 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98121

Please contact Sue Ramsey to RSVP at suesr@girlscoutsww.org or (206) 633-5600 ext. 215.

Girl Scouts help build girls of courage, confidence and character  who make the world a better place. Check out their website at www.GirlScoutsWW.org.

Atlas Pilates is a new Pilates Studio located on Warren Ave N in the ground floor of the Bernard Apartments building of Lower Queen Anne. This studio offers private personal training, as well as inexpensive mat classes. The studio is fully equipped with the finest Gratz Pilates apparatus custom fabricated in New York, and is finished with low VOC materials for excellent indoor air quality.

Magnolia resident Teresa Shupe opened Atlas Pilates Studio in March, after more than a decade as a staff instructor at The Pilates and Physical Therapy Center of Seattle. She was tested and certified in 1998 – following a long apprenticeship – in the Pilates Method by Joseph Pilates’s only chosen protegee Romana Kryzanowska. Teresa, a former professional modern dancer, also holds a Black Belt in Kajukenbo Kung Fu. She has trained and taught Pilates in Seattle, New York, Chicago and Auckland.

Pilates instruction is focused on developing functional strength, stretch and control. It emphasizes proper breathing, good posture, and purposeful healthy exertion. For decades, it has been the serious fitness method of choice those who depend on their body for their livelihood. Among its demanding adherents are Olympic and professional athletes, models, and professional dancers. Many of Atlas’s clients are referred by physical therapists who are transitioning their patients into post-rehabilitation lifestyle fitness routine.

Thousands of people packed Fremont for the annual Solstice Parade.

The most popular attraction is the naked and (mostly) painted bikers, who kicked off the beginning of the parade. Complete coverage of the parade and the Fremont Fair on our sister blog, FremontUniverse.com.

According to the Seattle PI 911 blog, a 29 year-old pedestrian was hit on lower Queen Anne Friday night. According to the Seattle Fire Dispatch page, aid 2, engine 2, medic 10 and ladder 4 were all dispatched to the intersection of Elliot Ave W and Western Ave W just after 6 p.m. The PI says the man was transported to Harborview with non-life-threatening injuries.

Our featured pet this week is Emma.  She has been in and out of the Seattle Animal Shelter for 2 years now, and the folks that work there love her so much they refuse to give up on her.

Emma would make a wonderful  companion.  She does have some anxiety, and does not like to be away from her caretakers, likely as a result of being shuffled around as much as she has.

Emma is about 4 years old, a stellar athlete, very intelligent, a bit of a clown, affectionate, and housebroken.  She loves people, excursions to Discovery Park, Tiger Mountain, and just about any place to  walk or hike. She also loves to play tug-of-war with her favorite toy. She is spayed, micro-chipped, and had all her shots.

Emma’s ideal family would be patient, completely dedicated, have prior dog and/or pit bull terrier experience, enjoy exercising her twice daily, be at home a lot, and/or have the ability to take her almost everywhere with them. A cat-free home is best, but she may be fine living with a mellow, male dog. Emma is ready to put roots down with a family that will love her as much as she will love them.  Timeis running out for Emma and she needs a hero to save her life.

Emma is temporarily staying in one of the shelter’s foster homes and is not at the shelter.  If you would like to meet and possibly adopt this wonderful dog, fill out a Dog Adoption Application (download here)  and email it to the Seattle Animal Shelter Foster Dog Program. You can also fax it to 206-386-4285 or drop it off at the shelter.

For details on how to adopt Emma and other animals available at the shelter, visit the website.