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0 $*0. 0/#*- /*( -* $). RETURNS TO THE ‘HAM TO SIGN A glance at what’s happening this week
HIS LATEST TOME, B IS FOR BEER, MAY 30 AT VILLAGE BOOKS
COMMUNITY
05.27.09
Ladies Night out: 5-8pm, downtown Bellingham
WEDNESDAY 05.30.09
ON STAGE
SATURDAY
The Magic of Ireland: 7:30pm, Mount Baker Theatre All in the Timing: 7:30pm, Phillip Tarro Theatre, Mount Vernon
ON STAGE International Night: 7pm, WWU Performing Arts Center Spr ing Play Festival: 7:30pm, Bellingham High School All in the Timing: 7:30pm, Phillip Tarro Theatre, Mount Vernon Spitfire Gr ill: 7:30pm, RiverBelle Dinner Theatre, Mount Vernon Games Galore: 8pm, Upfront Theatre The Boys from Syracuse: 8pm, Bellingham Theatre Guild Director ’s Cut: 10pm, Upfront Theatre
WORDS 14
GET OUT 16
STAGE 18
WORDS Susan Colleen Browne: 7pm, Village Books
05.28.09
THURSDAY ON STAGE A Midsummer Night ’s Dream: 7:30pm, Black Box Theatre, WCC Good, Bad, Ugly: 8pm, Upfront Theatre Bard on the Beach: Continues through Sept. 26 at Vanier Park, Vancouver B.C. The Project: 10pm, Upfront Theatre
DANCE Capstone Concer t: 2pm and 7:30pm, Ving! Contra Dance: 8-11pm, Bellingham Senior Center
MUSIC
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Whatcom Symphony Orchestra: 7:30pm, Mount Baker Theatre Skagit Symphony: 7;30pm, McIntyre Hall, Mount Vernon Amer ica: 8pm, Silver Reef Casino
Jean Kilbourne: 1pm, St. Luke’s Education Center Craig Romano: 7pm, Village Books
VISUAL ARTS Coast Salish Talk: 4:30pm, WWU Bid for Better Brushes Auction: 6-8pm, Squalicum High School
WORDS Tom Robbins: 2pm, Village Books
COMMUNITY Compete for a Cause: 9am-3pm, Boundary Bay Ferndale Farmers Market: 9am-3pm, the Riverwalk Bellingham Farmers Market: 10am-3pm, Depot Market Square
05.29.09
FRIDAY ON STAGE A Midsummer Night ’s Dream: 7:30pm, Black Box Theatre, WCC All in the Timing: 7:30pm, Phillip Tarro Theatre, Mount Vernon Spitf ire Gr ill: 7:30pm, RiverBelle Dinner Theatre, Mount Vernon Games Galore: 8pm, Upfront Theatre The Boys from Syracuse: 8pm, Bellingham Theatre Guild Director ’s Cut: 10pm, Upfront Theatre
05.31.09
SUNDAY ON STAGE
DANCE Capstone Concer t: 7:30pm, Ving!
MUSIC Little Anthony & the Imper ials: 7pm and 9:30pm, Skagit Valley Casino Resort Amer ica: 8pm, Silver Reef Casino
WORDS Chr ystos: 7pm, Old Main Theater Chr istine Gleason: 7pm, Village Books
($./ & ) $ )/$/$ . (0.$ .# & .+ -$ ) - ! - ) . ) # ++4 ) $)".—NOT TO MENTION A PLETHORA OF TOGAS—WILL BE PART OF THE BOYS OF SYRACUSE, WHICH OPENS MAY 29 AT THE BELLINGHAM THEATRE GUILD
The Boys from Syracuse: 2pm, Bellingham Theatre Guild All in the Timing: 2pm, Phillip Tarro Theatre, Mount Vernon Spr ing Play Festival: 7:30pm, Bellingham High School Comedy Night: 8pm, Fairhaven Pub
DANCE Capstone Concer t: 2pm, Ving!
MUSIC Fidalgo Youth Symphony: 2pm, McIntyre Hall, Mount Vernon Whatcom Chorale: 3pm, First Congregational Church
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06.02.09
WORDS Laura Laf frado: 7pm, Village Books
COMMUNITY Engineers Without Borders: 12:30pm, Whatcom Museum
VISUAL ARTS Beyond Borders Reception: 6-8pm, Viking Union Gallery, WWU
TO GET YOUR EVENTS LISTED, SEND DETAILS TO CALENDAR@
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#21.04
TUESDAY
CASCADIA WEEKLY
WORDS
05.27.09
Poetr y Night: 8pm, the Darkroom
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MONDAY
WORDS 14
GET OUT 16
06.01.09
CURRENTS 8
Spencer Hoveskeland Tr io: 4-6:30pm, American Museum of Radio
VIEWS 6
Primp, shop and repeat during “Ladies Night Out” May 29 at a variety of venues in downtown Bellingham. The female-friendly event will be followed by a fashion show and live music at the Copper Hog
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THIS ISSUE
Editor & Publisher: Tim Johnson E ext 260 ô editor@ cascadiaweekly.com
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Cascadia Weekly: E 360.647.8200
Editorial
On Tuesday, President Obama announced his nomination for the next Supreme Court justice. Sonia Sotomayor, 54, a daughter of Puerto Rican parents who was raised in Bronx public housing project, will become the country’s first Hispanic member of the nine-person court if her nomination passes.
VIEWS & NEWS 4: Words from our readers 6: Amy Goodman 8: Live large and track small 10: War and crime
GET OUT 16
Contact
12: Parties, pot, poop 13: Last week’s news
ART & LIFE
CONT ENT S
CREDI T S
L E T T ER S
Arts & Entertainment Editor: Amy Kepferle E ext 203 ô calendar@ cascadiaweekly.com Music & Film Editor: Carey Ross E ext 204 ô music@ cascadiaweekly.com
Production Art Director: Jesse Kinsman ô graphics@ cascadiaweekly.com Graphic Artists: Kimberly Baldridge ô kim@ kinsmancreative.com
14: Word up
Stefan Hansen ô stefan@ cascadiaweekly.com
16: On the fly
Send All Advertising Materials To Ads@cascadiaweekly.com
WORDS 14
18: A world of talent 20: The doctor is in 22: Song snarling 26: Up, up and away
CURRENTS 8
30: The horror of Hell
REAR END 31: Services, Wellness
VIEWS 6
33: Crossword 34: Advice Goddess ` 35: Ogg’s World, Troubletown
MAIL 4
36: This Modern World, Tom the Dancing Bug
37: Free Will Astrology
Advertising Sales Manager: Nicki Oldham E 360-647-8200 x 202 ô nicki@ cascadiaweekly.com Account Executives: Rosemary Guarino E 360-647-8200 x 254 ô rosie@ cascadiaweekly.com Marisa Papetti E 360-647-8200 x 252 ô marisa@ cascadiaweekly.com Frank Tabbita E 360-739-2388 ô frank@ cascadiaweekly.com
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©2009 CASCADIA WEEKLY (ISSN 1931-3292) is published each Wednesday by Cascadia Newspaper Company LLC. Direct all correspondence to: Cascadia Weekly PO Box 2833 Bellingham WA 98227-2833 | Phone/Fax: 360.647.8200 info@cascadiaweekly.com Though Cascadia Weekly is distributed free, please take just one copy. Cascadia Weekly may be distributed only by authorized distributors. Any person removing papers in bulk from our distribution points risks prosecution SUBMISSIONS: Cascadia Weekly welcomes freelance submissions. Send material to either the News Editor or A&E Editor. Manuscripts will be returned of you include a stamped, self-addressed envelope. To be considered for calendar listings, notice of events must be received in writing no later than noon Wednesday the week prior to publication. Photographs should be clearly labeled and will be returned if accompanied by stamped, self-addressed envelope. LETTERS POLICY: Cascadia Weekly reserves the right to edit letters for length and content. When apprised of them, we correct errors of fact promptly and courteously. In the interests of fostering dialog and a community forum, Cascadia Weekly does not publish letters that personally disparage other letter writers. Please keep your letters to fewer than 300 words. SUBSCRIPTIONS: One year $70, six months $35. Back issues $1 for walk-ins, $5 for mailed requests when available. Cascadia Weekly is mailed at third-class rates.Postmaster: Send all address changes to Cascadia Weekly, PO Box 2833, Bellingham, WA 98227-2833
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Letters Send letters to letters@ cascadiaweekly.com. THE GRISTLE, P.6 $)/ -) /$*) ' )$"#/ + x THIS THIS MODERN WOR OR O RLLD, D, P.36 WORLD,
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COVER: Design by Jesse Kinsman, photo by Angie Babbit. NEWSPAPER ADVISORY GROUP: Robert Hall, Seth Murphy, Michael Petryni, David Syre
CENTRAL TO NOWHERE What Bellingham’s acting Public Works Director Tom Rosenberg did not say at the recent Waterfront Advisory Group meeting, in his otherwise comprehensive and heartfelt presentation about traffic flows in the redeveloped central waterfront, is that the plan to use Central Avenue for heavy arterial access includes decking over a 17-by-120-foot section of intertidal zone between the Granary building and the current pier. Are we really planning to inaugurate the long-awaited rehabilitation of our waterfront by covering 120 feet of existing beachfront (however derelict) with 120 feet of new roadway? Would a private developer ever be able to get this past shoreline review? There was “no idea” as to where to build a permanent roadway to replace this “temporary” appropriation (and expansion) of the Central Avenue pier for arterial use. Using the pier for heavy traffic contradicts most of the key principles adopted by the Waterfront Futures Group and precludes (or indefinitely delays) many of the long-envisioned possibilities for constructive reuse of the historic Granary as a pedestrian-oriented waterfront facility. Enough of “Waterfront Futures.” How about “Waterfront Now?” All studies so far—including the Bellingham Central Waterfront Development Plan of 1986, the blue-ribbon American Institute of Architects Regional Urban Design Assistance Team report of 1992, the Port’s own Inner Whatcom Waterway Planning Study, and
the Waterfront Futures Group Final Recommendations of 2004—have unanimously advised reserving the Central Avenue right of way for pedestrian use. We could have a publicly accessible downtown waterfront this summer if we decided to. The plans to do so—for thousands, not millions, of dollars—have been there for 25 years. If we need new roads, let’s figure out where to put them, and how to pay for them, permanently— not “temporarily” over the very waterfront we are trying to preserve. —George Dyson, Bellingham
THE SOCIAL ECONOMY I appreciate Alan Rhodes’ efforts to educate us on the virtues of socialism, inform us of its list of top supporters (unfortunately, not including President Obama), and help us to overcome our longstanding negative connotations with the word. I am inspired to become a card-carrying DSA member myself (if I can scrape together the coin, or maybe volunteer in exchange?). What Alan doesn’t do (probably due to space limitations) is catalog all the detrimental features of the popular economic model, i.e. capitalism. So here’s one from “the public.” A favored argument against socialism is that people won’t be motivated to work because there is no reward. In my case, that is complete hogwash. I personally take greater satisfaction from applying myself to benefit the public good
FOOD 38 CLASSIFIEDS 31
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at Red River Cafe
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—Carole Jean Lince, Bellingham
EDITOR’S REPLY: We too were pleased to carry Bridget, but the column’s focus was limited to issues related to and arising from sexual contact, and not the larger realm of intimate relationships. As Alkon observed, “The woman was blacking out during sex, not before, and complaining [afterward] that she wasn’t getting enough sex. The guy didn’t say he continued after she blacked out,� he was seeking help for his partner’s escalating abuse of alcohol.
STAGE 18 GET OUT 16 DO IT 2
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Win your share of $600 and Silver Reef prizes every Thursday in May! Drawings begin at 6pm.
05.27.09
Ever since the Cascadia replaced the fabulous (and local!) Bridget Between the Sheets with the Advice Goddess, I have been repeatedly triggered and angered. Amy Alkon’s advice seems not much more than belittling and misogynistic, and I appreciate Nikki Schormann’s willingness to speak up about it. SpeciďŹ cally, Schormann addressed disturbing advice, in which a man requests advice about his girlfriend who is either blacked out or blacks out during sex because she is so intoxicated. Alkon feels this is a big distinction— her interpretation is because this woman did not black out until after the sex had begun (remembering nothing of it later), that she had clearly consented to the sexual activity despite her high level of intoxication. This is incredibly unsettling. I agree with Schormann that Alkon’s attitude and beliefs about this are damaging. A person who is blacked out or intoxicated to the point of blacking out cannot consent to sexual activity. The use of alcohol or other substances can interfere with someone’s ability to make clear decisions about the level of intimacy they are comfortable with. The more intoxicated a person is, the less they are able to give conscious consent. Sexual assault is about power and control. Clearly, the man in question had more power and more control than the woman he was having sex with—both
Sunday through Thursday
WORDS 14
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CURRENTS 8
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—Elizabeth Hart, Bellingham
If someone is so drunk that they are blacking out before they ďŹ nish having sex, they are too drunk to be able to give consent. Even if we presume from her decisions that respecting her own body is not one of the girlfriend’s main priorities, that doesn’t mean we should all just laugh and pretend it’s OK that her boyfriend doesn’t respect her body either. Alkon’s response to this critical letter was evasive—promoting an “excellent bookâ€? on addiction not only neglects to address the criticism, it smacks of selling out. Instead of setting up straw arguments and suggesting that it takes “integrityâ€? to publish an article that does nothing but support the status quo, maybe Alkon should take a look at sexual abuse statistics in Washington State and America at large. Maybe it wouldn’t be such a terrible idea for Alkon to enroll in one of the women’s studies classes she mentions so disparagingly.
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—Ryan Rickerts, Bellingham
APHRODISIACS ANONYMOUS, PART II
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before and after she blacked out. In order for consent to occur, both partners must be equally free to act, not under coercion, able to clearly communicate their willingness and permission, and be honest and sincere in their desires. It scares me that as a society we do not talk about consent. Alkon is not the only person spreading these harmful ideas, and it’s especially upsetting to think of our youth being inuenced by this and other popular misrepresentations of what healthy sexual relationships are. Alkon argues that the man was requesting advice about getting help around his girlfriend’s alcoholism, not around the issue of consent. While this may be true, it is irresponsible and destructive to not address this glaring issue and educate him and other readers about true consent and healthy sexual activity. Furthermore, I do not consider it an act of bravery on the part of Cascadia Weekly to continue paying a non-local columnist lacking in compassion and accountability in favor of very questionable science.
CASCADIA WEEKLY
than I do from paid work. Why? Because a living, breathing smile looks better to me than George Washington’s mug. As a software developer, my skills are in high demand, but doesn’t change my motivations. The ever-escalating ďŹ nancial arms race is what alters the spirit of my work. I have to charge the “going rateâ€? for my services to try and keep pace with the capitalist masters who tirelessly raise the rate on all my expenses (including education, health care and utilities) but not necessarily raising my wages, pension or vacation days. You know the score—they have to maintain their proďŹ tability! Like the quest for peace in our wartorn nation, de-escalating the economic contest is a matter of trust. Will people keep working just to beneďŹ t their neighbor? Will somebody provide what I need for free? I have to assure you that I would, and because other people in this community are obviously also so motivated, I would keep doing it for my neighbors in Bellingham. It’s a system that can work as well as any other masterminded by geniuses and villains alike.
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CURRENTS 8
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THE GRISTLE
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FAST AND FAMINE: Fast on the heels of FAST—
the report of falling city finances by the Fiscal Alternatives For Stability Taskforce appointed by Bellingham Mayor Dan Pike—Whatcom County Executive Pete Kremen delivered his annual State of the County address this week. Both reports foretell continued gloom. “Across the nation the news is not encouraging,” Kremen reported. “Business closings, higher unemployment rates, foreclosures and cutbacks are now mainstream issues facing all of us. We have watched helplessly while major banks and industries have literally disappeared and others have been taken over by the federal government. These historic events have hit all levels of government. State and local governments are facing enormous budget deficits. Over the past several months we have heard about measures being taken to respond to the recession including layoffs and cutbacks, elimination of programs, tax increases and the State pushing off costs of services to counties and cities. “Whatcom County, he admitted, “has its own fiscal challenges to face.” The mayor’s FAST report, delivered to reporters last week, carried similar tidings, suggesting continued cuts of as much as an additional $8 million from an anemic city budget. Taskforce recommendations were supported by a broad spectrum of departmental directors. “In light of anticipated drops in revenues, the administration took decisive operating budget reduction approaches in late summer of 2008 and in the construction of the 2009 spending plan,” FAST report authors said. “More than 20 vacant or soon-to-be vacant [full-time equivalent postions] were eliminated. Council collectively concurred with the plans but was advised that the quickly changing national, state and local economic environment might necessitate further recalibration of the ’09 budget early in the year. “In fact,” they said, “actual financial results for [the fourth quarter] of 2008 and [first quarter] of 2009 revealed the… spending plan was not conservative enough.” Early 2009 sales tax receipts were down an average of 15 percent compared to the previous year, with business taxes “falling into negative territory as well, though less starkly,” they admitted. Kremen sketched a similar pattern in his remarks to County Council this week. “Working with the county departments we were able to cut expenses and trim our total budget by $9.4 million in 2009 and by $11.1 million in 2010,” he reported. “Reviewing first quarter 2009 reports we are witnessing the continued decline of revenues,” he said. “This decline results in increased budget gaps despite the reductions made last year. This impact is most strongly felt in the General Fund, which provides the vast majority of the services we provide. Today, we are projecting a $3.3 million shortfall in revenues in 2009 and another $3.8 million in 2010. The uncomfortable truth is—Whatcom County is at a crossroads.” The crossroads he referred to are mapped similarly for the City of Bellingham—the col-
OP INIONS
T HE GR I S T L E
BY AMY GOODMAN
‘Drill and Kill’ CHEVRON, SHELL AND THE TRUE COST OF OIL THE ECONOMY is in shambles, unemployment is soaring, the auto industry is collapsing. But profits are higher than ever at oil companies Chevron and Shell. Yet across the globe, from the Ecuadorian jungle, to the Niger Delta in Nigeria, to the courtrooms and streets of New York and San Ramon, Calif., people are fighting back against the world’s oil giants. Shell and Chevron are in the spotlight this week, with shareholder meetings and a historic trial. May 13, the Nigerian military launched an assault on villages in that nation’s oil-rich Niger Delta. Hundreds of civilians are feared killed by the Nigerian military. According to Amnesty International, a celebration in the Delta village of Oporoza was attacked. An eyewitness told AI: “I heard the sound of aircraft; I saw two military helicopters, shooting at the houses, at the palace, shooting at us. We had to run for safety into the forest. In the bush, I heard adults crying, so many mothers could not find their children; everybody ran for their life.” Shell is facing a lawsuit in U.S. federal court, Wiwa v. Shell, based on Shell’s alleged collaboration with the Nigerian dictatorship in the 1990s in the violent suppression of the grassroots movement of the Ogoni people of the Niger Delta. Shell exploits the oil riches there, causing displacement, pollution and deforestation. The suit also alleges that Shell helped suppress the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People and its charismatic leader, Ken Saro-Wiwa. I interviewed Saro-Wiwa in 1994. He told me: “The oil companies like military dictatorships, because basically they can cheat with these dictator-
ships. The dictatorships are brutal to people, and they can deny the human rights of individuals and of communities quite easily, without compunction.” He added, “I am a marked man.” Saro-Wiwa returned to Nigeria and was arrested by the military junta. Nov. 10, 1995, after a kangaroo show trial, Saro-Wiwa was hanged with eight other Ogoni activists. In 1998, I traveled to the Niger Delta with journalist Jeremy Scahill. A Chevron executive there told us Chevron flew troops from Nigeria’s notorious mobile police, the “kill ‘n’ go,” in a Chevron company helicopter to an oil barge that had been occupied by nonviolent protesters. Two protesters were killed, and many more were arrested and tortured. Oronto Douglas, one of Saro-Wiwa’s lawyers, told us: “It is very clear that Chevron, just like Shell, uses the military to protect its oil activities. They drill and they kill.” Chevron is the second-largest stakeholder (after French oil company Total) of the Yadana natural-gas field and pipeline project, based in Burma (which the military junta renamed Myanmar). The pipeline provides the single largest source of income to the military junta, amounting to close to $1 billion in 2007. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, popularly elected the leader of Burma in 1990, has been under house arrest for 14 of the past 20 years, and is standing trial again this week. The U.S. gov-
VIEWS EXPRESSED ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF CASCADIA WEEKLY
ernment has barred U.S. companies from investing in Burma since 1997, but Chevron has a waiver, inherited when it acquired oil company Unocal. Chevron’s litany of similar abuses, from the Philippines, to Kazakhstan, Chad-Cameroon, Iraq, Ecuador, Angola, and across the U.S. and Canada, is detailed in an “alternative annual report” prepared by a consortium of nongovernmental organizations and is being distributed to Chevron shareholders at this week’s annual meeting, and to the public at TrueCostofChevron.com. Chevron is being investigated by New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo about whether the company was “accurate and complete” in describing potential legal liabilities. It enjoys, though, a long tradition of hiring politically powerful people. Condoleezza Rice was a longtime director of the company (there was even a supertanker named after her), and the recently hired general counsel is none other than disgraced Pentagon lawyer William J. Haynes, who advocated for “harsh interrogation techniques,” including waterboarding. Gen. James L. Jones, President Barack Obama’s nationa security adviser, sat on the Chevron board of directors for most of 2008, until he received his high-level White House appointment. Saro-Wiwa said before he died, “We are going to demand our rights peacefully, nonviolently, and we shall win.” A global grassroots movement is growing to do just that. Denis Moynihan contributed research to this column. Amy Goodman is the host of “Democracy Now!,” a daily international TV/radio news hour airing on more than 750 stations in North America.
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STAGE 18
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5415 MT. BAKER HWY DEMING, WA 98244
GET OUT 16
Literature LIVE!
EVENTS
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1 BOOK 3 EVENTS!
Saturday, May 30th
#OCKTAILS Exit 221 /NLY 3ECONDS 7EST OF THE &REEWAY -AIN s #ONWAY 7!
(360) 445-4733
1pm
t� (FREE
event) Venue: Bellingham Far mer’s Market Local chefs will create recipes from the book using local ingredients.
: 2:00pm (FREE event) e show! Author event including slidgs Gallery
din Venue: Village Books Rea & Harley Soltes hor) (aut g Bor n nno Join Sha on event! rno afte fun (photographer) for a
:
0Author Reception and 4-C ourse Meal made with recipes from the book! Venue: Pastazza (in Barkley Village) Yum, yum, YUM! For cos t and reservations, please call PastĂĄzza at (36 0) 714-1168. Go to Villagebooks.com for more info about all the Chefs on the Farm events!
VILLAGE BOOKS 1200 11th St., Bellingham 360.671.2626 VILLAGEBOOKS.com
MAIL 4
“Chef ’s at the Marke
Rusty Dodge • Steeb & Libby • Peadar McMahon Caryn Simmons • Linda Tessier • Chris Fuller
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Recipes and Inspiration n from the Quillisascut Farm School of the Domestic Arts
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–Chefs on the Farm:
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Celebrate fresh, local food!
Excellent (ALF 0OUND "URGERS
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Chocolate
FILM 26
Updated Summer Menu
MUSIC 22
Live Music Saturday Night
Frittata
CASCADIA WEEKLY
lapse of revenues and the retreat of state and federal resources to replace them has cut fat from the bone. Now the bone will be carved into as well, foretelling a loss of public services, a loss most keenly felt in times of economic downturn. FAST authors lamented, “Even after the austerity measures the mayor, council and departments have taken since late summer of ’08, 2010’s city revenues will fall an estimated $6 million below the level of expenditures necessary to sustain the scope and depth of government employment and services offered in the ďŹ rst quarter of ‘09. Simply stated, we are larger and more complex than the expected-tobe-available revenue resources to support us. Both 2011 and 2012 appear to have similar challenges, unless actions are taken to align expenses and revenues,â€? an effort the FAST team undertook in the form of speciďŹ c recommendations to streamline operations and gain efďŹ ciencies. “What’s more,â€? they disclosed, “closing the $6 million gap in 2010 would not undo the backlog of capital maintenance on city assets that already exists and nor would it accommodate care for expanded greenway assets or programming of any kind. Six million dollars, in other words, are projected to be needed to maintain the status quo and not further deplete General Fund reserves. In fact, if we were to continue the pace of expenditures through 2010, we would reduce the General Fund reserve to just over $2 million, or less than one month’s operating expenses, by the end of 2010. This,â€? they concluded, “is not tenable.â€? “That’s,â€? Kremen agreed in his closing remarks, “the path Whatcom County government is on right now.â€? Puncturing a cherished conservative belief in the inďŹ nite bundles of cash lying around the corners of City Hall, dollars being ground up in furnaces under the clunky, sticky, noisy gears o’ Government, the challenge is not one of waste, but almost entirely one of revenues—they crashed and burned when the twin engines of sales and construction-related taxes lost altitude in a recession. The problem is compounded, as the FAST team observes, because “by historic trends, our region is typically ‘last in’ and last out’ when it comes to our national recessions,â€? meaning Whatcom may well expect anemic conditions to last a while. The crisis requires leadership, and we’ve seen ample of that from local ofďŹ cials laboring to cut expenses. Well done. Now we need to see real leadership in Olympia as well.
Tea
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Brewers Night June 3
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currents commentary
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NATHAN RICE
NATHAN RICE
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BY NATHAN RICE
LI BE
LARGE ,
TRACK
SMALL
BELLINGHAM COMMUNITY BOATING CENTER PROVIDES ACCESS TO WATER
efore Captain George Vancouver sailed his big ship into Bellingham Bay in 1792, native Lummi canoes had plied its waters for thousands of years. Today,
speeding power boats and large, billowing spinnakers outnumber the smaller, people-powered craft on the water. But Bellingham’s Community Boating Center is working to keep the age-old small boating tradition alive in this place Outside Magazine called the “Best Paddling Town in the USA.”
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diesel-electric motor, keeping in mind the “track small” environmental ethic. “Pedal and Paddle” trips offer another break from burning fossil fuels with a paddle down to Larrabee State Park and a bike ride back to Fairhaven on the pleasant Interurban Trail. And the creative, environmentally conscious offerings of the Boating Center don’t stop there. A Recycled Boat Race is also in the works and in need of volunteers. Picture a soapbox race of sorts on the water, with boats made from pop bottles and milk jugs. The community focus is apparent at the Boating Center, from its inclusive and discounted events to its network of donors and volunteers that provide boats, maintenance and repair expertise, and instruction. To kick off the summer season, the Community Boating Center will host Splash Days on Sat., May 30, when anyone can come and sail, paddle or row for free all day. “Part of the impetus to start this whole thing was the bay itself,” Longman explains. “Its huge and its right there, and probably 80 percent of the people who live in Bellingham have never been on it, probably haven’t even touched it. Its remarkable.”
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sheltered from strong southwest winds, and provides space away from larger boats. “If it’s really nasty out there, you can learn to sail in here where it’s a little less intimidating,” Longman explains. Instruction and safety are the other services provided by the Community Boating Center. As inviting as the bay can be on a sunny day, playing on a big, cold body of water has inherent risks. Small boating fatalities, though rare, serve as stark reminders of the fact. That’s why safety is a big part of the Boating Center’s classes and curriculum. “The water in the bay is around 49 degrees [Fahrenheit] year round,” says Callaizakis. “If someone goes in, they have a pretty short amount of time before they go hypothermic. We educate people to understand the risks, to understand the water and to respect it. But people shouldn’t be afraid of it.” The Boating Center’s Ski to Sea Paddler Rescue Course helped ensure a safe race for the hundreds of paddlers that landed in Fairhaven last Saturday to conclude Bellingham’s biggest paddling (and skiing, biking and running) event of the year. A recent grant from Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) will also fund a Safe Sea Kayaking Seminar once a
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— MICHAEL CALLAIZAKIS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COMMUNITY BOATING CENTER
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“ONE COOL THING ABOUT BELLINGHAM IS THAT WE HAVE SUCH A HUGE HISTORY OF BEING ON THE WATER. WE ARE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE BACK OUT THERE. “
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month, free to the public. True to their educational mission, course offerings go far beyond basic safety. The recent marriage of Elakah Kayak Tours and the Community Boating Center brought Program Coordinator Mike Passo on board. His years of kayaking and guiding expertise have added to the educational repertoire, with a focus on natural history and inclusiveness. A new bioluminescence paddle takes place on the new moon for ideal viewing of the glowing “Tinkerbell” algae that dance through the dark water. Free beginner and adaptive workshops allow all people, regardless of age, physical or mental ability, or economic means to learn basic boating skills. Multi-day tours are also a new offering this year with three-day trips to the San Juan Islands, focusing on natural history, astronomy and wild harvest. “Mothership Trips” shuttle paddlers to the San Juans aboard the Gato Verde catamaran, which, when not riding the wind, is powered by a plug-in
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tion of the Boating Center used to be a parking lot. Conveniently, many bus routes end nearby as well. Longman saw the transformation from parking lot to boating facility back in the mid-1980s when his uncle Tip Johnson started Fairhaven Boatworks, a similar operation that closed its doors in 2007. The need for a lasting facility for small boats was made apparent by a groundswell movement of small boaters who met with the Port of Bellingham to advocate for such access. Eventually, a lease for the space was secured by founding board members Mary Dubrow and Deb Dempsey, whose nonprofit vision formed what is today’s Community Boating Center. “There’s no other place in Bellingham that has the qualities that this place does,” Longman says, “and this is the ideal place for a small boat facility on the bay. We don’t plan on going anywhere.” Nestled in the inlet where Padden Creek flows into the bay, the Boating Center’s public access is
CASCADIA WEEKLY
“One cool thing about Bellingham,” says Michael Callaizakis, executive director of the Community Boating Center, “is that we have such a huge history of being on the water. We are trying to get people back out there. Hopefully, people will see us as a hub for small boating.” Since 2007, the nonprofit Community Boating Center has provided Bellingham with affordable small boat storage, rentals and instruction with easy access to the water, all in an effort to get folks out and enjoying the bay in a “small is beautiful” fashion. It seems an obvious fit for Bellingham, where, as Paddler Magazine said, “sea kayaking is a way of life.” Despite Bellingham’s reputation as a paddler’s paradise, being a small boater here comes with its challenges. Access is one issue. As Boating Center Board President Forrest Longman puts it, “How many points around the bay can you actually walk down and touch the water?” Few places have easy access and a soft beach for putting a kayak in the water rather than the asphalt boat ramps that service larger boats. Carrying your boat over a riprap ATTEND bulkhead is no fun either. WHAT: Splash Another issue is facilities, Days, Free boating and instruction like storage and rentals. The WHEN: Saturday, marina slips in Squalicum May 30th from 9 Harbor only take boats lonam to 5 pm ger than 26 feet. The Boating WHERE: ComCenter, on the other hand, munity Boating Center, 501 Harris only stores non-motorized Avenue boats that are shorter than INFO: sailpaddle24 feet, a needed niche for row.org small sailboats, dories, rowing sculls and kayaks. With WHAT: Bluegrass on the Bay, rentals to boot, it makes Boating Center getting out on the bay that Fundraiser much easier for anyone. WHEN: Friday, “You can come down to June 6, 7 pm the Boating Center and WHERE: Boundary Bay Beer Garden go sailing without owning WHO: The Loose a boat, a trailer or even a Digits, Prozac car,” Callaizakis says. “Ride Mountain Boys, your bike down here and go King Ludd sailing.” The obvious environmental advantages of small, non-motorized boating is enhanced by this kind of access, which stays true to their “Live Large, Track Small” ethic, referring to the size of a boat’s path through the water. It’s a nice irony that the loca-
9
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BY TIM JOHNSON
War Torn SPECIAL COURTS GIVE VETERANS A SECOND CHANCE EVAN KNAPPENBERGER— well known among local peace activists— pleaded guilty last week to domestic violence harassment, a gross misdemeanor, in Whatcom County Superior Court. Knappenberger, 24, was sentenced to 30 days on work release. His plea hardly matches his pubic life. Knappenberger is a member of the Bellingham chapter of the Iraq Veterans Against the War. He has been an advocate of nonviolence and ending the war in Iraq, and has organized rallies and protests against the war. March 4, Knappenberger, who suffers from a form of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to his military service in Iraq, blocked his wife inside the bathroom of their Samish Neighborhood home as he tried to work out his troubles. “Basically, Evan was considering suicide and he was trying to convince his wife to stay by his side,� Knappenberger’s attorney, Jeffrey Lustick, explained. “She did not want to stay by his side, so she called 911—not to get him arrested, but to get him some help with his mental state. When the cops came, they took him into custody and charged him with felony unlawful imprisonment. That’s really unfortunate. “There was no physical contact,� Lustick noted. “From the 911 tapes, there are no threats; there is not even any profanity. It’s just, ‘I am sitting in front of the door and I am not going to move until you help me.’ The Veterans Administration couldn’t accept him for PTSD issues until this case was resolved,� he explained. Knappenberger apologized to his wife in court last week. “What’s next for him,� Lustick said, “is a period of recovery where he undergoes therapy and treatment to stabilize his life.� Knappenberger is one of thousands of veterans returning home from service in Iraq and Afghanistan who face an often jarring return to civilian life. “I am seeing an increasing number of cases involving Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans, and each have a similar character,� observed Lustick, who has served in the National Guard.
“We really ought to be thinking about a veterans’ court,â€? Lustick said. “Veterans as a class are going to have common issues that we can address in a manner that’s more humane. It really rubs me the wrong way that if you go off and rob somebody or beat somebody up and you have a drug problem, we’ve got court for you—we’ve got a drug court. But if you’ve gone over and fought in one of our wars and you’ve come back messed up—post traumatic stress—there aren’t court resources for that. The “veterans court,â€? an idea sprouting up across the country, is aimed at getting nonviolent soldiers with otherwise clean records into treatment, sparing them a criminal conviction. Treatment can include psychological counseling or drug and alcohol rehab. Veterans and those on active duty are steered toward the court. It is generally offered to offenders whose crimes, mostly misdemeanors, are believed to be related somehow to their military service. “When someone commits a certain type of petty offense and they can show that they have PTSD or some physical limitation due to service-related injuries, the court may admit them to veterans court,â€? Lustick explained. “In veterans court, they will receive a c ertain amount of social and psychological services that are usually available at a discount rate or are paid for by the court.â€? Organizers of veterans courts say the need for them is real and growing. The ďŹ rst veterans court began in Buffalo, N.Y., in January 2008. Authorities said it is too early to tell whether the courts reduce the rate at which defendants break the law again, but Buffalo has seen en-
WAR, CONTINUED ON PAGE 13
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POLICE SCANNER
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FUZZ BUZZ THE CONTINUING CRISIS Over the week of Ski to Sea, Bellingham Police broke up 12 domestic quarrels, logged nine liquor law violations and seven instances of disorderly conduct, cited five violations of the city’s noise ordinance and four loud parties, handled three wild drunks and an equal number of people exposing themselves or urinating in public places, and arrested two DUIs. Among them: On May 22, campus cops searched for a drunk student stumbling along High Street at 4 in the afternoon. They did not find her. On May 23, threats were made against the life of a person drinking at a party on Williams Street. On May 24, a drunk attempted to enter a music event at Boulevard Park on Ski to Sea Weekend. He was stopped at the entrance by police after he was observed nearly colliding with a parked car. He was arrested for DUI and booked into jail. On May 24, an unknown suspect hijacked an 18-pack of beer from an Alabama Street convenience store and fled with it to a waiting car. On May 24, someone lifted some fried chicken from a convenience store on Sunset Drive. On May 24, nine teens were scolded by police for being on the fire escape of a building in the Lettered Streets area. On May 24, Bellingham Police responded to a loud party complaint on Indian Street. On May 25, Bellingham Police responded to a loud party complaint on Maple Street.
SHIT FIT On May 15, employees at Village Lighting in Bellingham refused to allow a man to use their restroom. Enraged, the man grabbed a length of copper pipe and began smashing cardboard boxes that contained merchandise. The man threatened an employee and left. Police caught up with the man after he’d voided his bowels. He kicked his feces at police, where-
upon he was tasered and arrested.
INDEX
On May 25, a 40-year-old Bellingham man was cleaning out a storage unit in Roosevelt Neighborhood when he exchanged sharp words with a passerby. He asked the man to leave. Instead, the man picked up a three-foot-long 2x4 and clobbered the 40-year-old. The victim of the assault received minor injuries. The man who assaulted him ran across the across into the apartment of a complete stranger, who screamed at the man to leave. He fled. The 30-year-old was picked up later by police and booked on assault and trespass charges.
HILLBILLY HIJINKS On May 20, a man with a rifle opened fire in the direction of the car of a passing U.S. Border Patrol agent near Sumas. The agent heard gunshots and reported bullets flying over the top of his marked USBP unit. The agent fled to a nearby farm and called for backup. Sheriff’s deputies later arrested the 43-year-old shooter, who declared he was only aiming at crows.
UP IN SMOKE On May 23, Bellingham firefighters were dispatched to a Samish area home. Extinguishing the blaze, firefighters discovered an apparent marijuana growing operation and contacted police. Police officers obtained a search warrant and found an undisclosed number of marijuana plants. The house was unoccupied at the time. Their investigation continues.
THE ART OF THE SALE On May 23, a man walked on to a woman’s property near Texas Street. He asked if she’d like to buy some meth or pot from him. When she refused, he propositioned her for sex. When he realized his salesmanship and charms had failed and she was phoning police, the man ran off.
BLACK HELICOPTER On May 15, University Police received a report of a low-flying helicopter near the track field. People who had been in the area at the time of the report said they did not observe any such aircraft.
CALL SMOKEY On May 20, University Police received a report of men tossing lit toilet paper from the Sehome hill tower into the trees of the arboretum. They were gone by the time campus cops arrived.
|{ | {~ ¹x x
NUMBER OF TOP three fire response calls in Bellingham in 2008: Building fires, cooking fires, outdoor rubbish fires.
PROPERTY LOSS from fires in Bellingham, in millions.
z z
STRUCTURAL FIRES IN Bellingham in 2008, in-
}{
NUMBER OF "FALSE calls" logged by Bellingham
cluding fires extinguished before firefighters arrived.
Fire Dept. in 2008.
xx |{x
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE incidents handled countywide by Bellingham Fire Department and Medic One in 2008.
| }y|
NUMBER OF POLICE incidents in 2008 in which
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CHANCE IN FIVE a response by Bellingham Fire
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formal reports were filed by Bellingham Police (more than 180,000 911 calls were handled).
Department is for Medic One emergency medical response.
COMBINED OPERATING BUDGETS of Bellingham fire and police departments in 2009 (52 percent of city expenditures).
SOURCE: Bellingham Fire Dept.; Bellingham Police Dept.; Fiscal Alternatives for Stability Taskforce (FAST) report.
THE WEEK IN REVIEW
BY TIM JOHNSON
PASSAGES
THURSDAY A U.S. Geological Survey researcher tells a Congressional subcommittee that an earthquake fault that runs under south Whidbey Island is larger than previously realized. The researcher believes the fault may cross the Cascades and connect with other faults across Western Washington between Victoria, B.C., and Yakima. The USGS claims the fault could produce a magnitude 7.5 earthquake.
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FRIDAY A totem pole in front of the Whatcom County Courthouse is missing a head, and county officials are asking the person who took it to give it back. In March, the carved head of Russell Peabody was broken off from the bottom of the totem pole. In 2007, the county spent $40,000 restoring the 22-foot cedar pole, which was originally created by Lummi carver Joseph Hillaire in 1953, to commemorate the meeting of Roeder and Peabody with Lummi leaders 100 years earlier.
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SATURDAY The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office reports a body was found in waters near Sucia Island. San Juan County officials say the body was that of a man and appeared to have been in the water for about two weeks. Records indicate two people are missing from nearby areas—one from Whatcom County and one from Sidney, British Columbia.
05.26.09
TUESDAY Bellingham Mayor Dan Pike picks Ted Carlson as the city’s new Public Works director, where he will oversee 240 full-time employ-
The creation of northwest artist Anthony Howe received grudging praise when it was installed at downtown Bellingham’s WTA transit station this week. Under a light breeze, the 8-foot-diameter, globe-shaped stainless steel construction dubbed “Axiom Dyno Trilobyte” rotates under pressure from inner spirals and wind-catching cups. The $65,000 sculpture was originally commissioned when the station was planned for remodel in 2008.
ees and a $102.7 million operating budget. Curently the department’s operations director, “Ted brings to this position a great deal of internal and external credibility, impeccable technical skills and a strong team orientation,” Pike said. Carlson begins the director position July 1. Jim Darling, executive director of the Port of Bellingham for 15 years, announces he will leave the position to join Northwest consulting firm Maul Foster & Alongi, Inc. Port Commissioners will appoint an interim replacement, while a search is conducted for a new strongman. Darling’s resignation will take effect July 10.
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The company hired to build a $400 million development on the Everett waterfront, files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization, leading one commissioner to despair that the project seems to have fallen to pieces. Everett Maritime, a subsidiary of Maritime Trust of Chicago, lists debts of more than $10 million.
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WEDNESDAY
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Community activist Catherine Chambers announces she’ll run for the City Council Ward 6 seat being vacated by Councilwoman Barbara Ryan. Chambers, 55, has worked as case manager/social worker at Catholic Community Services, Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services of Whatcom County, Whatcom Counseling and Psychiatric Clinic and more. She’s also volunteered with Campfire USA and is active in the Whatcom County Democrats. Michael Lilliquist is also running for the seat.
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Promising vigorous commitment to the protection and restoration of Lake Whatcom, Dan McShane says he wants return to Whatcom County Council, this time to take Ward Nelson’s place in District 1. “The county also needs to take its role on economic development much more seriously,” he says. “Projects that do not meet sound community economic development goals should no longer be supported.” The licensed geologist served for eight years on the council, including two as that body’s chair. He’s served on the County Economic Development Investment Board for three years; he’s served on the Whatcom County Flood Advisory Committee for 11 years.
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couraging signs. More than 90 percent of the veterans’ treatment appointments have been kept there, dwarfing the average rate of 35 percent at general treatment clinics, officials said. Of 128 veterans who have been referred to Buffalo’s program, only four have opted to try their luck in the regular criminal system, said Patrick Welch, a 61-year-old Marine veteran of the Vietnam War who now serves as a mentor. Offenders who toe the line and follow the treatment regimen can see their charges reduced or dropped. Those who mess up can be sent to jail. Still, veterans courts have their critics. J. Steven Beckett, director of trial advocacy at the University of Illinois’ law school, a state already exploring the idea of a veterans court, said he has no legal objection to the idea, noting that judges “can do all sorts of things.’’ But he questioned the need to create a system for just one group. “I think veterans should receive treatment by the courts in recognition of the service that they’ve given to the country, but I don’t understand why the court can’t regularly and routinely do that without having a special court,’’ he said. “This is the era of specialized courts,” Lustick countered. “We have, already, in Bellingham Municipal Court, a domestic violence court. We have drug court. There’s federal grant money that can be funneled into specialized courts, so this wouldn’t necessarily be something that Whatcom County would need to spend a whole lot of money to operate.” This report was prepared with materials from Associated Press
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BY AMY KEPFERLE
Rhyme and Reason THE POETS AMONG US
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The Moon sits on the sky. Looks down at the Kids Playing Before they go in.
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—MADELINE BOWLER, AGE 5
CASCADIA WEEKLY
WORDS WED., MAY 27 SLOW LIFE: Local author and gardener Susan Colleen Browne will read from her book Little Farm in the Foothills: A Boomer Couple’s Search for the Slow Life at 7pm at Village Books, 1200 11th St.
671-2626
THURS., MAY 28
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POETRY HAS
power. Proof of this came on a recent Wednesday evening, when the Rotunda Room at the Whatcom Museum of History & Art was crammed to the rafters with an assortment of community members both young and old. They’d braved the bracing rain to either recite their original verse or listen to the winners of the Sue C. Boynton Poetry Contest do their thing. Before the 25 word merchants took turns at the podium to share their visions, the audience was filled in on what it takes to put the annual poetry contest together. First, judges—which included lauded scribes Kathleen Flenniken and Oliver de la Paz—had to go through the 230plus poems that were submitted this year to find the winners (apparently, it was not an easy task). After the pieces were chosen, volunteers contacted the victors to see if
they’d be available May 13 to read. In the next month or two, works by the 15 Merit Award winners will begin to be seen on Whatcom Transit Authority buses, and the 10 Walk Award inductees will have their poems mounted on plaques outside the Bellingham Public Library SEE IT WHAT: Sue C. for all to enjoy. Boynton Poetry At this point, you may be Contest Winners wondering just who in the heck WHERE: BellingSue C. Boynton was, and why ham Public Library, there’s a poetry contest named 210 Central Ave., and Whatcom Tranafter her. Boynton—who sit Authority buses passed away in 1981—lives on INFO: whatcomcf. in the memories and hearts of org residents in part because of her passion for poetry. A Whatcom County resident beginning in 1906, Boynton’s love for stringing words together came to her later in life, and has been kept alive thanks to members of her remaining family. Her granddaughter, Jan Pierson, was on hand at the ceremony to talk about her grandmother’s verve for verse, and shared one of Boynton’s poems. Whatever their inspiration, the 25 poets—who ranged in age from 5 to 87, and everywhere in between—showed they understand what it means to make an impression by stringing words together to produce images that stay in the mind’s eye long after they’ve been read or heard. One thing many of the poems had in common was the way they breathed tangible, earthy life into this region we call home. Squalicum and its “brick dust and tide mud,” was invoked, as was a paean to reefnetters, “Eldridge heights overlooking night-shined Bellingham Bay,” an ode to bare feet, Contra dancing at the Fairhaven Library (“at arm’s length, you can almost love anyone”), Mossyrock’s Mayfield Lake, a poem that included the phrase “rain hairshirts,” Mount St. Helens as a fiery saint and master gardener, Bellingham trains, storm watching, Boulevard Park and wives of fishermen. Last year’s Boynton winners can still be seen lining the walkways at the library, so be sure and take a look at them before they’re replaced with this year’s crop. They may only be words, but they’re also reminders of the past and hope for the future. They are our stories, and they matter.
NAKED TRUTH: Sociologist and author Jean Kilbourne—she of the Killing Us Softy documentaries—talks about “The Naked Truth: Advertising’s Image of Women” at the Womencare Shelter’s 30th anniversary celebration at 1pm at the St. Luke’s Education Center, 3333 Squalicum Pkwy. Tickets are $50, and include lunch.
671-8539 OR WOMENCARESHELTER.ORG
FRI., MAY 29 CHRYSTOS: Poems focusing on everything from cultural appropriation to environmental racism and sexuality will be explored when “urban Indian” poet Chyrstos shares her words at a free performance at 7pm at WWU’s Old Main Theater.
650-6804 ALMOST HOME: Christine Gleason shares stories from her book Almost Home: Stories of Home and the Human Spirit in the Neonatal ICU at 7pm at Village Books, 1200 11th St.
VILLAGEBOOKS.COM
SAT., MAY 30 CHEFS ON THE FARM: Author Shannon Borg and photographer Harley Soltes will talk about and sign copies of their book Chefs on the Farm: Recipes and Inspiration from the Quillisascut Farm School of the Domestic Arts at 2pm at Village Books, 1200 11th St. The two will also be on hand at 11am at the Bellingham Farmers Market, and will be featured at a special 5pm dinner at Pastazza.
671-2626 OR VILLAGEBOOKS.COM TOM ROBBINS: Northwest icon and author Tom Robbins will return to Bellingham for a 2pm book signing of his tome, B is for Beer, at Village Books, 1200 11th St.
VILLAGEBOOKS.COM
SUN., MAY 31 ELEPHANT INSEMINAT ION: Poet Lucia Perillo reads from her latest collection, Inseminating the Elephant, at 4pm at Village Books, 1200 11th St.
671-2626
MON., JUNE 1 POE TRY NIGHT: Sign up to read from your written words at the weekly Poetry Night at 8pm at the Darkroom, 310 W. Champion St. Readings begin at 8:30pm.
POETRYNIGHT.ORG
TUES., JUNE 2 UNCOMMON WOMEN: Laura Laffrado reads from Uncommon Women: Gender and Representation in 19th Century U.S. Women’s Writing at 7pm at Village Books, 1200 11th St.
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“No one deserves to be treated as if they are nothing.
WED., JUNE 3
SAT., MAY 30 COMPE TE FOR A CAUSE: BeneďŹ t the Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center while enjoying rousing games of Backgammon at “Compete for a Causeâ€? from 9am-3pm at Boundary Bay Brewery, 1107 Railroad Ave. Registration forms can be picked up at 13 Prospect St.
676-0122 OR WHATCOMDRC.ORG
COMMUNIT Y MEAL: All are welcome to attend a free Community Meal from 10am-12pm at the United Church of Ferndale, 2034 Washington St.
303-4058 OR WCNWEBSITE.ORG
TUES., JUNE 2 NO BORDERS: Engineers Without Borders will present a free program on their orphanage project in Thailand at 12:30pm at the Whatcom Museum, 121 Prospect St.
WHATCOMMUSEUM.ORG
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Local Meat, Fish, Cheese U-Build Hero Sandwiches Flutes, Drums, Rattles Vitamins, Herbs & Teas Cones, Drinks, Propane Native Arts, Crafts, Shirts Kid’s Toys & Novelties ••••••••••••••••••••••••
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FERNDALE MARKE T: The Ferndale Farmers Market happens from 9am-3pm every Saturday through Oct. 17 at the Riverwalk on Main Street.
FERNDALEFARMERSMARKET.ORG
We’re one mile west of I-5 on Grandview road. Exit 266 in Ferndale Tuesday-Saturday 10-6. 360-366-4013
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BELLINGHAM MARKE T: The Bellingham Farmers Market is open for business from 10am-3pm at the Depot Market Square, located at Railroad Avenue and Chestnut Street.
BELLINGHAMFARMERS.ORG
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ICE CREAM PARTY: A Shavuot Ice Cream Party begins at 5:15pm at the Chabad House, 717 High St. The event celebrates the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai and will include the reading of the Ten Commandments.
JEWISHBELLINGHAM.COM
Be the Difference. Sign-up to volunteer today
CURRENTS 8
LADIES NIGHT OUT: Party and primp for a cause as part of “Ladies Night Outâ€? happening from 5-8pm at dozens of downtown Bellingham businesses. At 8pm, a fashion show, live music, drink specials and more will begin at the Copper Hog, 1327 N. State St. Goody bags will be given to the ďŹ rst 300 participants, so get your $10 tickets early. (P.S. Proceeds will go to Womencare Shelter.)
306-8301
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FRI., MAY 29
And that made the difference.�
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POWER UP AMERICA: Attend a rally for Clean Energy Jobs Day at noon at Bellingham’s’ Depot Market Square on the corner of Railroad Avenue and Chestnut Street. Local ofďŹ cials, clean energy companies and institutions that teach careers in related ďŹ elds will be on hand.
(808) 989-0126
I came up with the courage to tell someone.
We can’t afford to Buy a Bigger Ad, So See Our Daily Specials at thebowlnroll.com
Open Late thebowlnroll.com 207 W. Holly Street
733-9355
05.27.09
THURS., MAY 28
No one deserves it.
#21.04
COMMUNITY
I always thought it was my fault. I was wrong.
CASCADIA WEEKLY
MODERN MEMOIRS: Award-winning author Laura Kalpakian will host an informational meeting about her “Writing the Modern Memoir� course—which begins in the fall—at 7pm at Village Books, 1200 11th St.
650-3308
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getout HIK ING
RUNNING
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WED., MAY 27 PLANT WALK: Members of the Washington Native Plant Society will lead an introductory plant walk at 6pm at Whatcom Falls Park. Learn more about woodland, wetland and riparian plant species at the free event.
WNPS.ORG
GET OUT 16
STAGE 18
ART 20
MUSIC 22
FILM 26
THURS., MAY 28
WORDS 14 CURRENTS 8 VIEWS 6 MAIL 4 DO IT 2 05.27.09 #21.04 CASCADIA WEEKLY 16
doit
BY TRAIL RAT
Winging It THE SKY IS NOT THE LIMIT IN THE wide, wild world of outdoor adventure there are two basic personality types: 1) those whose sole purpose in life is to defy gravity as much as is humanly possible, and 2) those who don’t want to die. Although I have always harbored aspirations to the former, my irremediable unwillingness to “go big” whether traveling over rock, snow or water clearly classes me in the latter. Having admitted as much, the older I get, the more I find myself clinging to the one and only time in my life whence I actually succeeded in overcoming my inherent cowardliness. It was spring break 1992 and I was somewhere in the middle of Ireland trying my damnedest to prove my manhood to anyone who happened to be on hand. Somehow, through a jangled, Guinness-marred sequence of events that to this day remain inexorably muddled in my mind, a plucky, stouthearted man named O’Gara somehow managed to goad me into going skydiving with him. Sure enough, early the next morning, there I was rattling through the sky 15,000 feet above the fair Emerald Isle with a helmet on my head and a parachute strapped to my back. Other than the weird sensation of my vital organs being pushed into my throat as I plummeted through the atmosphere, I recall little else other than one brief but illuminative instant of wondering just how much more enjoyable the whole experience would be if only I had a pair of wings.
Fast-forward 17 years. It’s a cold, dreary afternoon in early 2009 and I’m hunkered down in a local watering hole trying my damnedest to bolster my sagging spirits. Suddenly, up on the SEE IT wall, a trio of be-winged A four-minute video of base jumpers comes wingsuit base-jumping in Norway can be seen gliding across the 30at: youtube.com/ inch flat screen like a Vwatch?v=bvOvd5wWMHY formation of oversized READ IT: Birdmen, flying squirrels. Batmen, and Skyflyers: “My god!” I bellowed, Wingsuits and the Pioneers who Flew in Them, Fell in clapping the shoulder Them, and Perfected Them, of the poor unsuspectby Michael Abrams ing fellow sitting next to me, nearly knocking him off his stool. “They’ve done it! THEY’VE FINALLY DONE IT!” Wingsuit flying has been around for at least 70 years. However, as with most experimental aviatory equipment, the development of a safe, reliable, fully functional wingsuit has not come cheap. Since the original wingsuitist, Clem Sohn (a.k.a “The Batwing Flyer”) went pirouetting 10,000 feet to his death in his homemade canvas/steel prototype during the Paris Air Show in 1937, more than 70 aspiring wingsuit flyers have met their demise, including the designer of the first “modern-era” polyester-based wing suit—Patrick Gaydon—who came crashing back to earth on April 13, 1998 while testing a modification to his parachute. Undaunted, Jari Kuosma of Finland and Robert Pecnik of Croatia soon teamed up to capitalize on Gaydon’s wingsuit improvements by establishing BirdMan, Inc., the first company to successfully manufacture and commercially market wingsuits to the general public, in 1999. Currently, the United States Parachute Association recommends any jumper flying with a wingsuit have at least 200 logged jumps and be accompanied by a certified wingsuit instructor, or 500 jumps without an instructor. Although yours truly likely won’t ever don a wingsuit himself, he’d hate to think he didn’t at least do his part to help pique somebody’s interest in the possibility that sometime, somewhere down the line, they might be able to prove their man and/or womanhood by taking flight with their very own set of wings.
BIKE CLINIC: Learn about everything from adjusting your drive trains and brakes to fixing flats at a “Bike Maintenance Clinic” at 7pm at WWU’s Outdoor Center in the Viking Union. Cost is $5 for students, $10 for guests.
650-3112 DAY HIKING: Outdoor author Craig Romano shares tips from his book Day Hiking: Central Cascade—Stevens Pass, Alpine Lakes, Lake Wenatchee at 7pm at Village Books, 1200 11th St. The event is free.
VILLAGEBOOKS.COM
SAT., MAY 30 SELF-RESCUE: In recognition of National Safe Boating Month, the “Sea-Kayaking Wet Exit and Self-Rescue” class being held from 9am-12pm at Fairhaven’s Community Boating Center will be free.
SAILPADDLEROW.ORG BOAT ING DAY: Sail or row a boat or paddle a kayak throughout the day—for free—as part of opening day at the Bellingham Bay Community Boat Center, 501 Harris Ave.
714-8891 OR SAILPADDLEROW.ORG WORK PARTY: A work party happens from 10am-12pm on the Bay to Baker Trail above the new Squalicum Creek Park. You’ll be weeding invasive plants, so dress appropriately.
COB.ORG NCI PICNIC: Canoe trips, live music, a picnic buffet, sustainability tours, naturalist walks and more will be part of the North Cascades Institute’s annual picnic from 11am-3pm at the Learning Center on Diablo Lake. The event is free, but reservations are recommended.
NCASCADES.ORG ROLLER BETTIES: “Derby Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” will be the theme of today’s Bellingham Roller Betties bout against Everett’s Jet City Bombers at 5pm at the Bellingham Sportsplex, 1225 Civic Field Way. Sugar Sugar Sugar will provide halftime entertainment. Tickets are $5-$12.
BELLINGHAMROLLERBETTIES.COM
SUN., MAY 31 HERB WALK: Suzanne Jordan will lead a “Native Herb Walk” from 1-3:30pm leaving from the Fairhaven Courtyard on the southern end of the WWU campus. You’ll learn how to identify dozens of native plants and when to harvest them for optimum vitality, potency and nutrition. Cost is $20-$24 and you must register through the Co-op in advance.
734-8158
WED., JUNE 3 FIRST GEAR: Learn to make biking safe, comfortable and fun at a “First Gear” bicycling class from 7-9pm at the Co-op’s Connection Building, 1220 N. Forest St. The event is free with prior registration.
671-BIKE OR EVERYBODYBIKE.COM
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CURRENTS 8
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doit S TA G E WED., MAY 27 THE MAGIC OF IRELAND: A new musical, The Magic of Ireland, can be seen at 7:30pm at the Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N. Commercial St. The show features dialogue by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Frank McCourt and his brother Malachy, as well as a plethora of song and dance from the Emerald Isle. Tickets are $36-$48.
734-6080 OR MOUNTBAKERTHEATRE. COM
MAY 27-31
ART 20
MUSIC 22
ALL IN THE T IMING: Eight plays by David Ives can be seen when “All in the Timing” shows at 7:30pm Wed.-Sat. and 2pm Sun. at Mount Vernon’s Phillip Tarro Theatre at Skagit Valley College. Tickets are $10 and additional shows happen through May 31.
(360) 416-7723
THURS., MAY 28
WORDS 14
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GOOD, BAD, UGLY: Catch “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” at 8pm at the Upfront Theatre, 1208 Bay St. At 10pm, stick around for “The Project: Mad Comedy in the Making.” Cost is $5 for the early show, $3 for the late one.
THEUPFRONT.COM
CASCADIA WEEKLY
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BY AMY KEPFERLE
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International Night CULTURE ON CAMPUS ONCE A year for the past nine years the stage at the Performing Arts Center at Western Washington University becomes a melting pot of talent representing cultures and countries from around the globe. The annual event is known as “International Night,” and, in addition to showcasing a bevy of backgrounds and border crossings, is reputed to be a whole lot of fun. “The intent is to have a space for different students from the overall campus community to showcase their talents,” says Ethnic Student Center (ESC) event coordinator and past stage manager and emcee Maribel Galvan. “I really like the fact that we’re able to come together to show everybody what we have to offer.” This year, audiences will be treated to dances performed by the Filipino American Student Association ATTEND and the African Caribbean Club, Merengue and salsa WHAT: International Night routines showcased by the Salsa Club, Swing Club WHEN: 7-10pm Sat., members strutting their stuff, spoken word perforMay 30 mances, live music and much, much more. WHERE: Performing “It’s a very big variety,” Galvan says. “Plus, it’s a Arts Center, WWU lot of fun—and it’s always good to see your friends COST: $5 for students, $7 general perform and root for them.” INFO: 650-6146 Galvan says the event’s popularity and pull is twofold, though. In addition to entertaining the masses, International Night is also a fundraiser for scholarships for members of the Ethnic Student Center, a student-run organization that provides resources and a safe
environment for those new to Western or others who are simply seeking a stronger sense of community. Clubs that benefit from being part of the 15-yearold ESC include the Black Student Union, Queer People of Color, the aforementioned African Caribbean Club—who are “dedicated to representing Africa and the Caribbean Islands in a positive light and are determined to eliminate the unfair labels and stereotypical views of our homelands”—the Latino Student Union, Hui O’ Hawai’i, the Native American Student Union, and the Vietnamese Student Association. “It’s a space for under-represented students at Western,” Galvan says. “It gives them the chance to become a bigger part of the campus culture, as well as network with other students, staff and faculty.” Participants in the clubs, Galvan says, are also responsible for a number of other events that happen on campus, hosting everything from community dinners to car shows, cultural nights and a variety of workshops. A dress rehearsal will take place before International Night opens to the public, but Galvan says the event isn’t dependent on auditions, as they want to make it available to anybody who wants to participate. “It keeps a lot of the students motivated to be part of the campus at large,” Galvan says, and opens to the doors of communication for those who might be interested in joining a particular group. If you go to International Night, keep in mind that, although we live in one corner of the United States, we’re all part of a much larger global community.
BARD ON THE BEACH: Othello kicks off the 20th season of Bard on the Beach tonight at Vancouver, B.C.’s Vanier Park. The Shakespearian play shows in repertory with The Comedy of Errors, All’s Well That Ends Well, and Richard II through Sept. 26. Ticket prices vary.
BARDONTHEBEACH.ORG
MAY 28-29 MIDSUMMER DREAM: Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream can be seen at 7:30pm at Whatcom Community College’s Black Box Theatre. Tickets are $5 for students, $10 general.
647-9242
MAY 29-30 MIXED BAG: Attend “Games Galore” shows at 8pm at the Upfront Theatre, 1208 Bay St. At 10pm, show up for “Director’s Cut” gigs. Tickets are $8$10.
733-8855 OR THEUPFRONT.COM SPITFIRE GRILL: Watch the musical Spitfire Grill and have some supper at 7:30pm at Mount Vernon’s RiverBelle Dinner Theatre, 100 E. Montgomery. Tickets are $16-$40, depending on whether or not you eat. Additional showings happen through July 20.
RIVERBELLEDINNERTHEATRE.COM
MAY 29-31 THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE: Watch a musical retelling of Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors when The Boys from Syracuse shows at 8pm Fri.-Sat. and 2pm Sun. at the Bellingham Theatre Guild, 1600 H St. Expect mistaken identities, shipwrecks and, perhaps, happy endings. Tickets are $8-$12 and additional showings happen through June 14.
733-1811 OR BELLINGHAMTHEATREGUILD.COM
doit FOOD 38
ch Delicious Lun es
FILM 26
isite Wedding Cakes
La Vie En Rose 111 W. Holly St.
MUSIC 22
SPRING PLAY FEST IVAL: See a variety of one-act plays performed by students at the “Spring Play Festival” happening at 7:30pm Fri.-Sun. at Bellingham High School, 2020 Cornwall Ave.
676-6575
Exqu
ART 20
Watch a musical and nosh on a delicious meal when Spitfire Grill shows every Friday and Saturday through July 20 at Mount Vernon’s RiverBelle Dinner Theatre
CLASSIFIEDS 31
Yum Birthday Cakes my
360-715-1839
DANCE THURS., MAY 28 FOURTH CORNER FOLK: The Fourth Corner Folk Dancers meet from 7-10pm every Thursday at U & Me Dance, 1027 N. Forest St. Suggested donation is $5.
380-0456
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MAY 29-31
CONTRA DANCE: Beauty and the Beats will provide live tunes at tonight’s Contra Dance happening from 8-11pm at the Bellingham Senior Center, 315 Halleck St. Suggested donation is $8-$10.
676-1554 OR BELLINGHAMCOUNTRYDANCE.ORG
WED., JUNE 3 BALLROOM DANCE: Sentimental Journey will provide live music at a free Ballroom Dance from 6-8pm at the Leopold, 1224 Cornwall Ave.
733-3500
Serving breakfast all day.
Breakfast, Lunch &
ESPRESSO breakfast & lunch special mon–fri 7:30–3:00 Seven Days a Week 232 36th St. Sehome Village
360-738-3311
U U
Drink Sangria On Our Patio T U E S - S U N 5-11 P M
LIVE MUSIC T U E S -T H U R - S AT 8 P M 1053 N. STATE ST. -ALLEY DOWNTOWN BELLINGHAM Production Winery t Wine Bar Light Appetizers & Desserts
05.27.09
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BACK PAIN SEMINAR: Dancers and other movement artists are encouraged to sign up for today’s “End to Back Pain!” seminar at 12:45pm at Northwest Ballet, 1417 Cornwall Ave. Cost is $10 per person or $18 per family.
738-2288
CASCADIA WEEKLY
SAT., MAY 30
DO IT 2
MAIL 4
VIEWS 6
CAPSTONE CONCERT: Collaborative works choreographed and performed by upcoming graduates of WWU’s dance program will be part of the annual “Capstone Concert” at 7:30pm Fri.-Sat. and 2pm Sat.-Sun. at their downtown studio, Ving!, located at 311 E. Holly St. Admission will be a suggested $5 at the door.
650-7293
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WORDS 14
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COMEDY NIGHT: A weekly Comedy Night happens at 8pm every Sunday at the Fairhaven Pub & Martini Bar, 1114 Harris Ave.
FAIRHAVENPUB.COM
STAGE 18
SUN., MAY 31
19
CLASSIFIEDS 31
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visual
GALLERIES
OPENINGS
PROFILES
EVENTS THURS., MAY 28 BIDS FOR BRUSHES: Attend “Bid for Better Brushes”—a silent auction benefiting high school art students—from 6-8pm at Squalicum High School, 3773 E. McLeod Rd.
676-65661
MON., JUNE 1
CURRENTS 8
WORDS 14
GET OUT 16
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ART ART 20 20
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TWO-MAN SHOW: “My Mother Taught Me Better Than This,” a two-man BFA review featuring prints by Douglas Bosley and maps by David Wall, shows June 1-6 at the Lucia Douglas Gallery, 1315 14th St. A reception happens June 5.
LUCIADOUGLAS.COM
VIEWS 6 MAIL 4 DO IT 2 05.27.09 #21.04 CASCADIA WEEKLY 20
doit
BY AMY KEPFERLE
Dr. Sketchy’s ANTI-ART CLASS KICKS ASS IT WAS
obvious something interesting was on the roster when the Reverend Solomon Olmstead carried a tray full of glasses of what looked like Maker’s Mark on ice into the room and set it next to the leopard print divan on the elevated stage. The second local incarnation of “Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art Show”—a worldwide phenomenon created in 2005 by Brooklyn artist and model Molly Crabapple whose catch phrase is “what happens when cabaret meets art school”—was about to begin, and the crowd at the Temple Bar was ready to get to work. In this case, that meant taking everything from pens, pencils, paintbrushes or charcoal in hand to sketch a series of poses featuring the lovely Miss Lillian White, a blueeyed blond with come-hither eyes, a penchant for red feathers and high heels and the ability to remain still for long periods of time. The Reverend had schooled us on the particulars—no cameras, no lewd and/ or lascivious comments and nobody allowed who wasn’t planning on drawing—
so everybody was good to go by the time the fun started and Lillian struck her first pose. Now, I’m no Picasso. I was armed with a Mead drawing pad my 10-year-old niece left behind last time she ATTEND visited and a cadre WHAT: Dr. Sketchy’s of pens I’d collected Anti-Art Class WHEN: 6:30from my “everything 9:30pm Mon., drawer.” The woman June 8 in front of me had a WHERE: Temple variety of paint, a Bar, 306 W. Chamsuper-deluxe sketch pion St. COST: $10; tickets pad, Dixie cups and go on sale June 1 a huge eraser (among INFO: 676-8660 or other things). A guy drsketchy.com in the back had set up an easel. Ultimately, it didn’t matter who had the better supplies on hand or what their degree of commitment was. Once the drawing contests got started, every artist was considered equal. Short poses came first, and, after judgment by the Rev, winners were declared and bestowed with the tumblers of whisky I’d seen earlier. Steeb Russell won for “best cleavage” in one of the contests, and one woman got a drink simply because Olmstead liked the way she focused while drawing. We were also challenged to draw with the opposite hand, draw with both hands and compose the best leg we could. When the longer poses started, I soon found myself the champion of the “most inappropriate” drawing. We couldn’t include any genitals, but other than that it was a no-holds-barred challenge. I don’t think I can share the disturbing content of my winning piece, but I can tell you it made the Reverend blush and garnered me a round of applause (not to mention a $10 gift certificate to Dakota Art and a new sketch pad). By the time the night ended, it was clear Dr. Sketchy’s is the place to be on the second Monday of every month. We’d gotten there early, and were still packed like sardines in the anteroom at the Temple. After all, the event includes sassy models, booze and a chance to win things. No wonder it’s a such a draw.
TUES., JUNE 2 BE YOND BORDERS: A closing reception for “Beyond Borders” happens from 6-8pm at WWU’s Viking Union Gallery.The show will be up from 11am-5pm through June 5.
650-6534
WED., JUNE 3 HERITAGE RECEPT ION: Meet the artists who took part in the “Lynden Heritage Art Show” at a reception from 6:30-8pm at the Lynden Public Library, 216 4th St. The art will be up June 1-6.
354-5413
O N GO I N G E X H I B I T S ALLIED ARTS: Kuros Zahedi’s trash-inspired “Urban Alchemy” exhibit can be seen until May 29 at Allied Arts, 1418 Cornwall Ave.
676-8548 OR ALLIEDARTS.ORG BLUE HORSE: Pieces by more than 60 artists from the Northwest Pastel Society are on display as part of the “Members’ Exhibit” through May 28 at the Blue Horse Gallery, 301 W. Holly St.
671-2305 MONA: “Finds Refined” and “Phillip Levine Survey: Sculpture, Drawings, Paintings” can be perused through June 14 at La Conner’s Museum of Northwest Art, 121 S. First St.
(360) 466-4446 OR MUSEUMOFNWART.ORG QUILT MUSEUM: Sheila Groman’s “Visions in Fiber” and Karin Franzen’s “Birdscapes” can be seen through June 28 at the La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum, 703 S. 2nd St. Admission is $5.
LACONNERQUILTS.COM SEASIDE GALLERY: “Tulip Mania II” shows through May 31 at La Conner’s SeaSide Gallery, 112 Morris St.
LACONNERSEASIDEGALLERY.COM SK AGIT MUSEUM: Peruse “Harvesting the Light: Images of Contemporary Skagit Farm Life” at La Conner’s Skagit County Historical Museum, 501 S. 4th St. Entry is $3.
(360) 466-3365 OR SKAGITCOUNT Y.NET SMITH/VALLEE: New pieces by Dederick Ward and Keith Sorenson and works on paper by Guy Anderson and William Cumming can be seen Fri.-Sun. through May 31 at Edison’s Smith/ Vallee Gallery, 5742 Gilkey Ave. smithandvallee.com WESTERN GALLERY: See “Michael Vanderbyl Designs” through May 30 at WWU’s Western Gallery.
650-3900 WHATCOM MUSEUM: “World of the Shipwright,” “On a Grand Scale” and “ARTIFACTual: The Object In View” are currently on display at the Whatcom Museum, 121 Prospect St.
WHATCOMMUSEUM.ORG
HIGHLAND GAMES
CLASSIFIEDS 31 FILM 26
SAT. & SUN., JUNE 6 & 7, 2009
FOOD 38
49th ANNUAL SCOTTISH
Phone: 360-366-3199
MUSIC 22
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ART 20
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For Information n Phone/Fax:360-647-8500 7 8500 www.bhga.org
0IPE "ANDS 3ATURDAY /.,9 s #ELTIC -USIC 3HOWCASE 3UNDAY /.,9
A Country Fair with a Scottish Flair! Printing & design courtesy of The Record-Journal
WORDS 14 CURRENTS 8 VIEWS 6
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music RUMOR HA S I T
MUSICpreview
BY CAREY ROSS
Scott H. Biram DIRTY OLD ONE-MAN BAND
CASCADIA WEEKLY
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IT IS
the nature of songwriters to walk miles and miles in other people’s shoes. Most of them populate their songs with people they’ve never met, experiences they may not have had, emotions they’ve only slightly felt. Bruce Springsteen, for instance, without a doubt one of the greatest songwriters of his generation, has built a career upon styling himself as a working-class poet, despite the fact that he’s never had a blue-collar job—or a job of any kind, really, other than playing music. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. If the songs—and, by association, the songwriter—are good enough, the purposefully blurred line between fantasy and reality is faint enough to be nonexistent. But sometimes authenticity doesn’t just come from orchestrating the words and emotions of a song just so. Sometimes songs just can’t help but ring true, not because of what they say or how they say it, but because the person responsible for those words and emotions has lived and felt them all.
Scott H. Biram is one such man. Hard living, endlessly touring, plagued with misfortune, Biram doesn’t just look and sound like a badass, he is one. In fact, Biram’s toughness, always evident in his music, has become the stuff of legend. In 2003, Biram was almost killed when he was hit head-on by an 18-wheeler going 75 mph. Barely one month later, he took the stage at a club in his adopted hometown of Austin, Texas—with two broken legs, a broken foot, a broken arm, intestinal damage and an I.V. still hanging from his arm, no less—and busted out a performance that brought down the house, despite the fact that he spent the whole
Rumor Has It WELL, BELLINGHAM, YOU certainly showed up
and showed out Sunday night for Lucero at the Wild Buffalo, didn't you? I've been to some shows and I've seen some enthusiastic audiences in my time, but it's been awhile since I've witnessed a glut of folks shouting out requests, singing along to every song, thrusting lighters into the air and spontaneously embracing when the band played "their" jam. Not sure if the crowd was drunk on booze and a sunny three-day weekend or intoxicated by lead singer Ben Nichols' sheer dreaminess (think it might've been a little bit of both), but it was a genuine spectacle. In fact, three of the best non-local shows I've witnessed in some time have taken place at the Buff—in the form of Black Mountain, Justin Townes Earle, and the aforementioned Lucero—so whatever you're up to, Buff, keep on doing it. But it ain't all out-of-towners appearing on the Buffalo's stage. If you'd like to catch a crackerjack lineup of Bellingham bands and help out a good cause at the same time, Big Brothers Big Sisters is throwing a benefit Sat., May 30 at the bar featuring the Braille Tapes, Jenni Potts, and Go Slowpoke. Back in February, the Braille Tapes said they'd be playing just a few more shows before calling it a day sometime in June. Apparently scheduling conflicts and life itself have proven to be both the irresistBY CAREY ROSS ible force and the immovable object for the band, and so, soon there will be no more Braille Tapes. Which is a real shame, as this is an excellent, excellent band. Needless to say, if you are a fan, you should probably be at the show. Musical fundraising is also taking place on behalf of the upcoming LadyFest, which is set for the end of June—the festival, not the fundraiser, that is. The fundraising will happen Fri., May 29 and will include the charitable efforts of Cheetah Speed, Tolero, the Contra, Serious Black, Bodyguard, and more. Admission is by donation and the location is easy enough to discern should you decide to devote a little effort to the matter. But it's not all about raising money. Sometimes it's just about showing up and having a good time. If this sounds like an entertainment option you'd like to explore, hit up WWU's Outdoor Center on May 28 for No-Fi Soul Rebellion and So Adult, who will provide the live entertainment component of the Outdoor Center's annual Gear Swap. As No-Fi is riding high after the recent release of Oh Please Please Please, and So Adult—a band I am rapidly growing to love—will play their first show with new drummer Bo Stewart (he of Brownes Condition and Shook Ones), it should be a good show.
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WHATCOM CHORALE: Sacred works for choirs, orchestras and soloists can be heard when the Whatcom Chorale and Sinfonia performs at 3pm at Bellingham’s First Congregational Church, 2401 Cornwall Ave. Tickets are $5-$15.
738-7166 OR WHATCOMCHORALE.ORG UNIVERSIT Y CHOIR: Attend a free performance by WWU’s University Choir at 3pm at the Performing Arts Center Concert Hall.
WWU.EDU JAZZ PROJEC T: The Spencer Hoveskeland Trio will do their thing at today’s Art of Jazz concert from 4-6:30pm at the American Museum of Radio and Electricity, 1312 Bay St. Entry is $15.
650-1066 OR JAZZPROJECT.ORG
FOOD 38 CLASSIFIEDS 31 FILM 26 MUSIC 22 ART 20 STAGE 18 GET OUT 16
FIDALGO YOUTH SYMPHONY: The Fidalgo Youth Symphony presents its “Spring Finale” concert at 2pm at Mount Vernon’s McIntyre Hall, 2501 E. College Way. Tickets are $15.
MCINT YREHALL.ORG OR F YSMUSIC.ORG
23
ILF MINCHFOF
SUN., MAY 31
WORDS 14
music seven nights a week, a certain amount of musical whatdoings tend to fly just under the radar. But when an event features 10 bands playing on back-to-back nights at the bargain price of a dollar a band, it seems said happening should be the source of much talk and the foundation for many upcoming weekend plans. So how come no one seems to be chatting about Cap’n Funster’s Freedom Rockfest? If you haven’t yet been clued in, this fest was dreamed up and executed by longtime local rocker Mikey Funster, takes place May 29-30 at the Rogue Hero and features bands both local and regional. Best part: it only costs five dollars a night, which, if you do the math, means this all this amassed talent comes real cheap. Showing up to entertain Friday night will be Slow Suicide, Skullbot, the Jebs, Sugar High Mustangs, and Sons of the Widow James. If your ears and liver are intact come Saturday, show up at the Rogue again for Sugar Sugar Sugar, Thee Sgt. Major III, the Fixers, the Star Spangled Bastards, and Stone Axe. Cap'n Funster's Freedom Rockfest takes place May 29-30 at the Rogue Hero, 1313 N. State St. Cost: $5 per night. More info: myspace.com/theroguehero
CURRENTS 8
IN A town where it is entirely possible to see great live
VIEWS 6
MORE BANDS FOR YOUR BUCK
SK AGIT SYMPHONY: Violinist Rachel Frankenfeld will perform with the Skagit Symphony at a 7:30pm concert at Mount Vernon’s McIntyre Hall, 2501 E. College Way. Tickets are $22-$35.
(866) 624-6897 OR MCINT YREHALL.ORG
MAIL 4
Funster's Fest
WHATCOM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: Broadway comes to Bellingham when the Whatcom Symphony Orchestra presents its “Something Wonderful” pops concert at 7:30pm at the Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N. Commercial St. The revue will celebrate the career of music legend Oscar Hammerstein, and will include a number of guest artists. Tickets are $10-$39.
734-6080 OR MOUNTBAKERTHEATRE.COM
DO IT 2
BY CAREY ROSS
BROTHER DALTON: Neo-traditional, oldtime sounds can be heard when Brother Dalton’s Euphonic Elixir gives a free concert from 3:30-5:30pm at Stuart’s at the Market, 1530 Cornwall Ave.
714-0800
05.27.09
show singing from a wheelchair. Just a few months ago, calamity struck again when the snarling songwriter broke his leg—badly, because he never does anything the easy way—and was forced to postpone several tour dates, an occurrence rare enough to be almost unheard of in Biram’s world. True to form, he appeared onstage at SXSW just a short time later, performing with a rod in his “foot-stompin’ leg.” There’s mental toughness and there’s gritting it out, and somewhere far past both those points is where you’ll find Biram, abusing his 1959 Gibson, snarling out his songs and daring death itself to stand in his way. When Biram plays Sun., May 31 at the Nightlight Lounge, it won’t be the first time he’s blown through Bellingham on his seemingly nonstop tour. You may not recognize him offstage (he’ll be the largely unassuming looking dude likely sporting some scruffy facial hair and his trademark trucker’s cap), but once he takes the stage, he’s pretty tough to forget. This selfproclaimed “dirty old one-man band” doesn’t as much sing his songs as he growls and snarls his way through them, his voice starting somewhere down around his gut, working its way through those mangled intestines until it finally wrenches itself free. He wends his way from the dirtiest of the Delta blues to footstompin’
SAT., MAY 30
#21.04
FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
hillbilly music to punk-tinged rock ’n’ roll that’s anything but straightforward. His audiences usually start out looking a little mystified by how all that big noise could be coming from one dude with a funky, old-schoollooking microphone and a battered guitar, then transition to a bit of trepidation as they begin to question his sanity (as one reviewer said, “We all wanna be entertained, but nobody wants to get stabbed in the head with a screwdriver”), HEAR however by the WHO: Scott time Biram calls H. Biram, The Gallus Brothers, it a night, the Hillstomp show has taken WHEN: 8pm Sun., on the feel of May 31 an old-school WHERE: Nighttent revival. light Lounge, 211 E. Chestnut St. But instead of COST: $8 a fire-and-brimMORE INFO: stone preacher, nightlightlounge. the person recom sponsible for this religious experience is a downhome boy from the Blackland Prairie of Texas. When it comes to music, we are often willing to trade that which is genuine for a reasonable facsimile thereof, as long as it comes complete with the right sound and some of the fury. But if actual authenticity turns your crank, look no further than Austin’s rough-and-ragged dirty oneman band.
miscMUSIC
CASCADIA WEEKLY
BIRAM,
MUSIC preview
PHOTO BY HOLLIE HUTHMAN
MUSIC preview
;>EEBG@A:F% P:
05.27.09
05.28.09
05.29.09
05.30.09
05.31.09
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
MONDAY
Laura Overstreet
T-Bone Taylor
CLASSIFIEDS 31
See below for venue addresses and phone numbers Archer Ale House
T-Bone Taylor
Back Porch Alley
Auditions Night and Young Musicians Series (early), College Night (late)
FILM 26
FOOD 38
• ( Venues – Boondocks
MUSIC 22
Boundary Bay Brewery Brown Lantern Alehouse
Mike Jones (early and late)
Karaoke with Caleb
Yogoman's Wild Rumpus
ART 20 STAGE 18 GET OUT 16 WORDS 14 CURRENTS 8 VIEWS 6 MAIL 4 DO IT 2 05.27.09 #21.04 CASCADIA WEEKLY 24
D'va and the Dog (early), Swagger Saturdays (late)
Paul Klein (tap room), Barnum Jack (beer garden)
Happy Hour Music w/ Robert Sarazin Blake Open Mic
Jazz Jam feat. Blues Union
Panther Attack
Early Morning
Chuckanut Ridge Wine Company
Barb Furlan (early), Scrub (late)
Rane Nogales Quartet
Commodore Ballroom
Kaskade, Luke McKeehan
Taking Back Sunday
Department of Safety
TUESDAY
DJ Spooty
Chuckanut Brewery
Common Ground Coffeehouse
06.01.09 06.02.09
Peaches
The Crystal Method
Griff J, Cyrus Fell Down BABY GRAMPS/May 29/Underground Coffeehouse What's in his beard, anyway?
The Hive Dwellers, Chain and the Gang
Archer Ale House UI 4U t | Boondocks .FUDBMG 4U 4FESP 8PPMMFZ t | Boundary Bay Brewing Co. 3BJMSPBE "WF t ] Brown Lantern Ale House $PNNFSDJBM "WF "OBDPSUFT t ] Chuckanut Brewery 8 )PMMZ 4U t ] Chuckanut Ridge Wine Company / 4UBUF 4U t ] Commodore Ballroom (SBOWJMMF 4U 7BODPVWFS t ] Common Ground Coffeehouse 1FBTF 3PBE #VSMJOHUPO t ] Department of Safety UI 4U "OBDPSUFT t ] Edison Inn $BJOT $U &EJTPO t ] Fairhaven Pub & Martini Bar )BSSJT "WF t ] Graham’s Restaurant .PVOU #BLFS )XZ (MBDJFS t ] Green Frog CafÊ Acoustic Tavern / 4UBUF 4U t ] Honey Moon / 4UBUF 4U t ] Hot Shotz / 4UBUF 4U t
05.29.09
05.30.09
05.31.09
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
The Popoffs
Kong
DJ Mikey Swift
DJ Triple Crown
DJ Booger
The Sumner Brothers
Petunia and the Vipers
Green Frog CafĂŠ Acoustic Tavern
Lovestash
Coty Hogue
Honeymoon
Open Mic
The Naked Hearts
Country Karaoke
Nightlight Lounge
Open Mic w/Chuck D feat. Fritz and the Freeloaders
Open Mic
Plant Party
The Shadies
Michevious Conduct
Spokane Flirts, Top 40 DJ
Karaoke
The Playlists
The Playlists
Karaoke
Urban Fallout II feat. DJs Booger and Velveteen, more
Scott Biram, Gallus Brothers, Hillstomp
'80s Night
Karaoke w/Betty Desire
Karaoke w/Poops
'90s Night
A Million Years Ago, Cumulus, M. Bison, more
Poppe's
New York Dolls
The Manvils
Ship to Ship, Halophile, The Days The Nights
Slow Suicide, Skullbot, The Jebs, Sugar High Mustangs, Sons of the Widow James
Sugar Sugar Sugar, Thee Sgt. Major III, The Fixers, S.S.Bastards, Stone Axe
Royal
One Hit Wonder Night
DJ Jester
DJ Jester
DJ Jester
Rumors
Betty Desire Show, DJ Velveteen
DJ Buckshot, DJ Deerhead
DJ Q-bnza
DJ Mike Tollenson
America (pavilion), Tony and the Tigers (lounge)
America (pavilion), Tony and the Tigers (lounge)
Karaoke
Little Anthony and the Imperials (showroom), That '80s Show (lounge)
Pop Culture
Chad Petersen & Friends
Thomas Harris Trio
The Spencetet
Johnny Mahler
Paisano Collective
Silver Reef Hotel Casino & Spa Skagit Valley Casino Skylark's Three Trees Coffeehouse
MIKE JONES/May 29/Back Porch Alley
DJ Jester
'70s Disco Night
Karaoke w/Poops
DJ Postal, DJ Shortwave
Irish Pub Session
Open Mic feat. John Eros
Bar Tabac PEACHES/May 31/Commodore Ballroom
Underground Coffeehouse (WWU)
CURRENTS 8
Mark DuFresne
VIEWS 6
Rogue Hero
The Dears, Jets Overhead, Black Diamond Bay
MAIL 4
Fidalgo Swing
WORDS 14
DJ Clint Westwood
Richard's on Richards
Tivoli
DJ Cide
Sabrina Y Los Reyes
Old Foundry
RockďŹ sh Grill
DJ GrapeNuts
DO IT 2
Main St. Bar and Grill
Karaoke and Salsa Lessons
College Night
05.27.09
Hot Shotz
Comedy Night
MUSIC 22
DJ Bam Bam
ART 20
Glow
Open Mic w/Chuck D feat. All Women
Country Dave
STAGE 18
Karaoke
TUESDAY
Paisano Collective, Young Jesse
Watertown Pub
Karaoke w/DJ Steve
Wild Buffalo
The Pack, The Productionists
Baby Gramps, Matt Novak
Live Music Live, GMK, Linda and Ron’s Dad
The Clumsy Lovers
Braille Tapes, Jenni Potts, Go Slowpoke
The Hedonists, Kat Rosa, Joel Ricci
The Aggrolites, The Trutones
Main Street Bar & Grill .BJO 4U 'FSOEBMF t ] The Nightlight Lounge & $IFTUOVU 4U ] Old Foundry & .BQMF 4U t ] Porterhouse Pub 8FTU (BUFT 4U .PVOU 7FSOPO t ] Quarterback Pub and Eatery UI 4U t ] Richard’s on Richards 3JDIBSET 4U 7BODPVWFS t ] RockďŹ sh Grill $PNNFSDJBM "WF "OBDPSUFT t ] The Rogue Hero / 4UBUF 4U t ] The Royal & )PMMZ 4U t ] Rumors Cabaret 3BJMSPBE "WF t ] Silver Reef Casino )BYUPO 8BZ 'FSOEBMF t ] Skagit Valley Casino Resort / %BSSL -BOF #PX t ] Skylark’s Hidden Cafe UI 4U t ] Star Bar $PNNFSDJBM "WF "OBDPSUFT t ] Stuart’s at the Market $PSOXBMM "WF t ] Swinomish Casino $BTJOP %S "OBDPSUFT t ] Three Trees Coffeehouse 8 )PMMZ 4U t | Tivoli $PNNFSDJBM 4U t | Underground Coffeehouse 7JLJOH 6OJPO SE 'MPPS 886 | Watertown Pub $PNNFSDJBM "WF "OBDPSUFT t | Wild Buffalo 8 )PMMZ 4U t XXX XJMECVGGBMP OFU ] 5P HFU ZPVS MJWF NVTJD MJTUJOHT JODMVEFE JO UIJT FTUFFNFE OFXTQSJOU TFOE JOGP UP DMVCT!DBTDBEJBXFFLMZ DPN %FBEMJOFT BSF BMXBZT BU QN 'SJEBZ
#21.04
Fairhaven Pub
Bob Caloca and Friends
MONDAY
GET OUT 16
Edison Inn
06.01.09 06.02.09
CLASSIFIEDS 31
05.28.09
FILM 26
05.27.09 WEDNESDAY
CASCADIA WEEKLY
See below for venue addresses and phone numbers
FOOD 38
• ( Venues –
25
CLASSIFIEDS 31
FOOD 38
film
F IL M T IME S
CASCADIA WEEKLY
#21.04
05.27.09
DO IT 2
MAIL 4
VIEWS 6
CURRENTS 8
WORDS 14
GET OUT 16
STAGE 18
ART 20
MUSIC 22
FILM 26
RE V IE W S
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REVIEWED BY TODD MCCARTHY
Up ANOTHER INSTANT CLASSIC FOR PIXAR DEPENDING ON
what you think of Cars, Pixar makes it either 9½ out of 10 or 10 for 10 with Up, a captivating odd-couple adventure that becomes funnier and more exciting as it flies along. This tale of an unlikely journey to uncharted geographic and emotional territory by an old codger and a young explorer could easily have been cloying, but instead proves disarming in its deep reserves of narrative imagination and surprise, as well as its poignant thematic balance of dreams deferred and dreams fulfilled. The two leading men are 78 and 8 years old, and the age range of those who will appreciate the picture is even a bit wider than that. Like previous classic films about escape from the mundane, from The Wizard of Oz to Wall-E and many in between, Up is universal in its appeal. At the same time, it may be the most subtle Pixar production to date in its use of color schemes, shapes, proportions, scale, contrast and balance. The ghost of Chaplin hovered over Wall-E, and although Up is a more talkative film, it also delves back into earlier eras for inspiration. The first thing on view is a mock '30s-style black-and-white Movietone newsreel documenting
the exploits of maverick explorer Charles Muntz, who heads back to South America to redeem himself after a giant bird skeleton he presents in the United States is denounced as a fraud. Not long after comes an exquisite interlude that, in less than five minutes, encapsulates the lifelong love affair between Carl Fredericksen and his wife Ellie. The two were brought together by their mutual enthusiasm for Muntz, and it remained Ellie’s lifelong dream to emulate the adventurer and travel to Paradise Falls in South America. But life has other plans, and Ellie must settle for a happy life with balloon-seller Carl (voiced by Ed Asner). When she dies, she leaves behind a scrapbook as well as a very grumpy widower, who retreats into self-enforced exile. He wants no company, content to live out his days in the house he shared with Ellie, which becomes surrounded by giant construction projects. Finally faced with eviction, Carl concocts a plan. In a surprising and brilliantly visual sequence, thousands of colored balloons
hatch from behind the house, prying it from its foundation and carrying it skyward; Carl intends to fly it to South America, fulfilling Ellie’s dream. However, he’s got an unplanned passenger in the form of Russell (Jordan Nagai), a roly-poly, eager-beaver Junior Wilderness Explorer who’s previously tried to enlist the old goat’s help to win him a badge. The trip goes uneventfully—no time wasted on navigational challenges—the better to quickly achieve the destination. The arrival is stunningly portrayed, with thick fog clearing to reveal bizarre rock formations atop a mesa adjacent to the falls. Carl and Russell quickly come upon the very sort of rare bird Muntz went back to find decades before, a brilliantly plumed, gawky 13-footer they name Kevin. Kevin’s antics throughout are so humorous and beautifully animated they would be at home in a “Looney Tunes” highlights reel, as would a breed of attack dogs commanded by Muntz himself (Christopher Plummer), who sends the canines in search of the elusive bird. At just 89 minutes, Up is unusually short for a Pixar film, and the action climax comes on rapidly. One setpiece features the two old-timers, Carl and the swashbuckling Muntz, going mano a mano aboard the latter’s spectacular, zeppelin-like flying ship, and numerous vertigo-producing shots show characters clinging for dear life. Despite the sheer volume of incident and action required of any film that includes young kids as a major portion of its target audience, Up is an exceptionally refined picture; unlike so many animated films, it’s not all about sensory bombardment and volume. As Pixar’s process is increasingly analyzed, the more one appreciates the care that goes into the writing. The underlying carpentry here is so strong, it seems it would be hard to go too far wrong in the execution. Unsurprisingly, no one puts a foot wrong here.
5-8pm: PRIMP, SHOP & SIP
PICK UP A COPY AT Affordable Business Systems, Bay City Supply, Community Food Co-op, Fairhaven Runners & Walkers, Film is Truth, Gone Diving, Greenhouse, Griggs Office Supplies, Haggen, Mother Baby Center, NW Handspun Yarns, Pastazza, Quicksilver Photo Lab, Samuel’s Furniture, The REStore, Village Books, Pickford Cinema, or Yes Massages
ONLY
$10
FOOD 38 CLASSIFIEDS 31 FILM 26 26 FILM
www.SustainableConnecitons.org
Choose local businesses taking action for a healthy community.
Visit us online li att V Vacationland-RV.com ti l d RV 1400 Iowa Street Bellingham, WA 98229
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YOUR OFFICIAL ACCOMODATIONS FOR THE GORGE & BEYOND! Look for us at these events: ~ ÛK`]Û<f\ÛJmee]jÛ9]Y[`Û?gmk]ÛÛÛÝÛÛÛ:gd\hdYqÛ³ÛK`]Û>gj_]ÛÛÛÝÛÛÛG`ak`Û³Ûl`]Û>gj_] 9meZ]jk`gglÛÛÛÝÛÛÛJYkimYl[`Û ÛÛÛÝÛÛÛNYjh]\ÛKgmjÛ³ÛK`]Û>gj_]ÛÛÛÝÛÛÛ~ Û<f\Û=]kl
DO IT 2 05.27.09 #21.04
We’ll Deliver to The Gorge or Any Other of Your Summer Music Venues!
CASCADIA WEEKLY
Stop Standing in Line and Get an R.V.!
MAIL 4
VIEWS 6
CURRENTS 8
Pick up a Ladies’ Night Out map at any participating business that lists special sales, beauty services, and refreshments happening all over town! Exclusive deals all weekend at select businesses.
8pm: PARTY FOR A CAUSE! A Benefit for Womencare Shelter Enjoy a fashion show, live music, drink specials and more at the Copper Hog! Amazing goody bags for first 300 tickets sold. Doors @ 7:30. $10 Presale tickets available at The Copper Hog, Digs, Frank James, Left Right Left, and Swell.
Save on Groceries, Movie Rentals, Eating Out, Coffee, Farm Fresh Food, Health Care, Home Improvement, Pet Supplies, Photo Copies, Shoes & Clothing, FUN and much, much more!
WORDS 14
Live Music by: DJ Buckshot, DJ Frosty Muggo, & Kristin Allen-Zito of the Trucks
Allied Arts Argyle Salon Barbo Furniture Bayou on Bay Belle Flora Buffalo Exchange The Copper Hog Digs Downtown Emporium Eva Frank James Fitness Exotica Garys’ GB Heron Georgie Girls Greenhouse Kids Northwest Left Right Left LuLu Merch-Bot NW Handspun Yarns The Paperdoll Plum Hair Studio Swell Temple Bar Unique West
Make your money back in as little as one shopping trip!
MUSIC 22
PART IC IPAT ING BU SINESSES:
Save on items you need and want from locals.
ART 20
TH
SAVE MONEY NOW!
STAGE 18
M AY 29
GET OUT 16
FRIDA Y
27
FOOD 38
spring!
FILM
REVIEW
new selections arriving daily...
CLASSIFIEDS 31
REVIEWED BY TY BURR
Anvil! The Story of Anvil
Historic Fairhaven 7 3 4 . 7 8 0 3 www.bluehorizonclothing.com
ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S A LONG WAY TO THE TOP
FILM 26
Eff!Xjmefsnvui!BSOQ!! XpnfoĂ&#x2013;t!Ifbmui!Ovstf!Qsbdujujpofs!'!Dmbttjdbm!Ipnfpqbui
)471*!495.3:11 xxx/cfuufsifbmuiczdipjdf/dpn!!!!!Dpwfsfe!cz!nptu!jotvsbodf!qmbot 35!zfbst!pg!fyqfsjfodf jo!dmjojdbm!qsbdujdf
XpnfoĂ&#x2013;t!Ifbmui!Dbsf XXV!Mjcfsbm!Tuvejft Tvnnfs!Tfttjpo!xjui Upn!Nppsf
GET OUT 16
STAGE 18
ART 20
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3487!Nbjo!Tusffu-!Tvjuf!4 Gfsoebmf-!XB!:9359
MCSM!343!!Nzui!'!Gpmlmpsf MCSM!449!!Nztujdjtn xxx/xxv/fev Enjoy the summer with Mt. Baker Bicycle Club weekly rides: Tuesday am: Pioneer Park Tuesday pm: Ramp-Up Wednesday: Training/Race Saturday am: The Donut Ride Be part of the fun: 4OUR DE 7HATCOM s "ELLINGHAM 4RAVERSE #HUCKANUT #ENTURY s -T "AKER (ILL #LIMB &IND MORE RIDES AND EVENTS AT WWW -T"AKER"IKE#LUB ORG OR CALL
CASCADIA WEEKLY
#21.04
05.27.09
DO IT 2
MAIL 4
VIEWS 6
CURRENTS 8
WORDS 14
Kvof!34Ă?Kvmz!42
28
PEP PER SISTERS
COOKING OUTSIDE THE BOX Open Nightly Except Monday
1055 N State St
SINCE 1988 Bâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ham
671-3414
HUMILIATION IS
a daily fact of life if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a 50-year-old headbanger whose band never made it big. You attract 174 fans to an arena that holds 10,000. Your day job is delivering hot food to public schools in the greater Toronto area. You get a part-time gig working as a telemarketer for one of your longtime fansâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and you last three days. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been trained my whole life to be polite,â&#x20AC;? explains Steve â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lipsâ&#x20AC;? Kudlow about that last mishap, which seems unduly modest given that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen him playing slide guitar with a dildo in the opening scenes of Anvil! The Story of Anvil. Like that beautiful, mischievous titleâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Zen meathead poetry, reallyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Sacha Gervasiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s documentary stares down abject failure until it becomes a tattered form of grace. Anvil! is one of the sweetest, funniest ďŹ lms Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen this year. Also the loudest and most foulmouthed. Despite having the trappings of Spinal Tap-style parodyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the drummerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name is Robb Reiner, for pityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sakeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Anvil was and is a real band. Led by Kudlow and Reiner, it roared hoarsely out of Canada in the early 1980s and was poised to achieve greatness alongside its bludgeoning peers Anthrax, Slayer, and Megadeth. Indeed, successful metalheads like Metallicaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lars Ulrich testify in the ďŹ lm to Anvilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inďŹ&#x201A;uence. Admits Slash of Guns Nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Roses, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everybody ripped them off and left them for dead.â&#x20AC;? Lips would probably say, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thanks, but Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not dead yet.â&#x20AC;? A rubber-faced optimist with the bounce of a large, over-caffeinated sheepdog, he remains
certain that rock godhood is just around the corner, even as his wife and family make vague noises about moving on. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a fan base out there of sorts, though. An Eastern European Anvil idolator named Tiziana arranges an overseas tour at 1,500 euro a popâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;in theory. The band saddles up and heads out, only to be bogged down in misbegotten club dates where they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get paid, prompting Lips to complain that â&#x20AC;&#x153;this is so unfair to Anvil,â&#x20AC;? and Reiner to isolate the problem as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Three words: We havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t got good management.â&#x20AC;? Director Gervasi is himself a lifelong fan, and his sympathetic approach extends to interviewing family members and dumpster diving in the archives. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one thing to hear Lipsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s grown siblingsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;an accountant, a businesswoman and an endocrinologistâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;marvel at their brotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s refusal to grow up. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s another to hear Reiner tell how his father, an Auschwitz survivor, gave unconditional blessing to his sonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s thundering life path. There at last is the real subject of Anvil! The Story of Anvil. How long can you stretch the eternal teenage daydream of noise and outrageous fame before it snaps? How long before the last fan starts listening to someone new? Gervasi manages the trick of portraying the bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s predicament with blunt, clear-eyed hilarity while simultaneously wishing them the very best. He gives these aging, hopeful children the saving grace of a happy ending, but his real achievement is showing us they deserve one.
SCHEDULE
CLASSIFIEDS 31
FOOD 38
FILM BY CAREY ROSS
SUGAR
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Ghosts of Girlfr iends Past: A bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;played by Matthew McConaugheyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;attends his younger brother's wedding only to be haunted by his former girlfriends in spectral form. The question is not whether this movie is any good, it's more about how producers were able to convince McConaughey that he couldn't ďŹ lm the whole thing while shirtless. â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026; 1( t IS NJO
4VOTFU 4RVBSF ] ] ]
Sin Nombre: This ďŹ lm tells the tale of two intertwined journeys. Sayra, a young Honduran woman, travels to America with her father and uncle in search of a better life. Her path crosses that of a ZPVOH .FYJDBO HBOH MFBEFS &M $BTQFS XIP JT USZJOH to outrun his past and elude vengeful rivals. Together they ride the rails, and ďŹ nd trust and camaraderie
along the way. â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026; 3 t IS NJO
1JDLGPSE ] Star Trek: Directed by J.J. Abrams and completely recast, this Star Trek JOTUBMMNFOU OPU POMZ FYQMPSFT "space, the ďŹ nal frontier," but could also be said to be "boldly going where no man has gone before." In case you hadn't already guessed, "These are the voyages of the Starship, Enterprise." â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026; (PG-13 t IST NJO
#FMMJT 'BJS $BMM GPS TIPXUJNFT Sugar: A ďŹ lm detailing the story of Miguel "Sugar" Santos as he struggles to pull himself out of poverty
Up: See review previous page â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026; 1( t IS NJO
#FMMJT 'BJS $BMM GPS TIPXUJNFT X-Men Or igins: Wolver ine: The ďŹ rst in what is said to be a series of X-Men origin stories focuses on Hugh Jackman's Wolverine, and tries to do so in such a way that we all forget that X2: X-Men United DPWFSFE QSFUUZ NVDI UIF FYBDU TBNF UFSSJUPSZ â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026; 1( t IS NJO
4FIPNF ] ] ]
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Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian: After the original Night at the Museum proved to be a surprise breakout hitâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;to the tune of some NJMMJPO JO XPSMEXJEF CPY PGmDF SFWFOVFÂ&#x2030;B TF-
quel was all but assured. Look for a ďŹ lm low on plot and good writing, but high on top-notch CGI effects and sheer star power. Probably worth the ticket price just to see Hank Azaria in another gleefully over-thetop supporting role. â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026; 1(
#FMMJT 'BJS $BMM GPS TIPXUJNFT
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Drag Me To Hell: See review on the next page. â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026; 1(
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Terminator Salvation: Much like he did with the Batman series, Christian Bale has, in the nick of time, come along and saved yet another multi-jillion-dollar movie franchise on the brink of celluloid EFBUI /FYU TUPQ GPS IJN UIF 0WBM 0GmDF :PV LOPX just in case Obama could use the help. â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026; (PG-13 t IST NJO
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in the Dominican Republic using his single-minded ambition and god-given talent to throw a wicked fastball. An insightfully wrought sports movie that gets its emotional heft and depth from everything but baseball. â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026; 3 t IS NJO
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Dance Flick: The Wayans brothers spoof all those urban dance-off ďŹ&#x201A;icks, from You Got Served to Step Up. The question is, of course, is this really necessary? Poking fun at these already ridiculous ďŹ&#x201A;icks is a little like aiming a nuclear warhead at a defenseless, unmoving target. But, then again, who am I to judge? â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026; 1(
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Angels & Demons: This companion piece to the turgid affair that was The DaVinci Code manages to mostly steer away from the mistakes of its predecessor. The emphasis is on action over philosophy, the plot is less convoluted and Tom Hanks has far better hair. Ron Howard, however, is still the director. Do with that info what you will. â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026; 1( t IST NJO
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â&#x20AC;&#x153;[Sin] contains risk, violence, a little romance, even fleeting moments of humor, but most of all, it sees what danger and heartbreak are involved. It is riveting from start to finish.â&#x20AC;? Ebert
Anvil: The Story of Anvil â&#x20AC;&#x153;Anvil lives somewhere in that thoroughly entertaining gray area between self-parody and the triumph of human spirit.â&#x20AC;? SF Chronicle (****Four Stars) t 64" t NJO t 1( 'SJ 1. 4BU 1. 4VO 1.
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Drag Me To Hell
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returns to his roots in Drag Me to Hell, a flagrantly schlocky horror yarn that will titillate the teens without alienating the director’s far pickier fanboy contingent, who will find the Evil Dead-style action they’ve been clamoring for in a surprisingly potent PG-13 package. When the bank forecloses on an old gypsy’s house, it’s the unlucky young loan officer who risks having her soul repossessed in this throwback to both Raimi’s early work and '50s B-movies. As its no-nonsense title suggests, Drag Me to Hell offers a kicking-andscreaming riff on the classic curse movie—and if the material scarcely warrants feature length, so be it. Scant of plot and barren of subtext, the film is single-mindedly devoted to pushing the audience’s buttons, and who better than Raimi to do the honors? The movie’s first scene cements the tone, as an innocent boy (though not so innocent as to avoid being cursed) attempts to outrun his imminent damnation, only to be thrown from a balcony and swallowed whole by a gaping, fiery chasm in the earth. It’s hard to imagine such a fate awaiting Christine (Alison Lohman), a sweet young lady gunning for the assistant manager job at her local bank, until we see the almost comically unkempt old hag who comes begging for an extension on her mortgage. With one bad eye, gnarled fingernails and inexplicably jagged dentures, Mrs. Ganush (Lorna Raver) is clearly the reason Raimi and his brother Ivan decided to write this in the first place. She’s as
memorable a villain as Christine is forgettable a heroine, and the fact that Mrs. Ganush means bad business is so evident in her introductory scene that the mere appearance of her car in the parking garage is enough to make neck hairs stand on end. On the losing end of a showdown that makes creative use of a stapler and several other everyday office supplies, Mrs. Ganush manages to grab one of Christine’s buttons and utter a nasty incantation. “Soon it will be you who comes begging to me,” she predicts. But the crusty old crone expires before Christine can ask her to lift the curse, leaving our hell-bent heroine with no one but her skeptical fiance (Justin Long) and an in-over-his-head street-corner psychic (Dileep Rao) to advise her on how to escape her fate. The scares are all delivered in Raimi’s usual tongue-in-cheek style. And while it may be odd to find so many laughout-loud moments amid such genuine tension, were it not for Raimi’s comic touch, audiences would likely be outraged by a good deal of the material— the fate of Christine’s kitten, for instance, or the movie’s unapologetically backward characterization of gypsies. Drag Me To Hell seems to have lucked into what little relevance the mortgage crisis lends its story, otherwise it’s so slight as to seem better suited to an hour-long Masters of Horror episode. Still, there’s no denying it delivers far more than competing PG-13 thrillers (including several from Raimi’s own Ghost House shingle).
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EMPLOYMENT WANTED Housesit ter/Petsit ter Available I am an experienced housesitter/petsitter available to take care of your home and loved ones while you are away. References available upon request. Fee based on day-to-day needs of home and pets. I may also be interested in partial barter
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BUY SELL TRADE “On the Spectrum” thrift store is now open! All of our proceeds go to organizations that support people on the Autism spectrum. This year’s recipients are the Univervisity of Washington (CHDD), Autism Society of Washington, Wintros Academy, Toddler Learning Center, and Autism Outreach. We only sell pre-washed, gently-worn clothing. We have brand name clothing for men, women, children, and infants. We also accept donations at the store or email us for the pick-up schedule onthespectrum@ hotmail.com). 4152 Meridian Street, suite 113, Bellingham [(360) 733-3013](across from Lover’s Pkg.). THREE BED FURNITURE BARNS GMC Furniture Barm has 200+ beds, All sizes, $79.95 Queens; George’s 58th Year on Guide Rd; 398-2771 Please Lv. Msg.
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BUY SELL TRADE 400 RENTALS
SOAPS, LOTIONS, WOOL HATS ,TRUFFLES, JEWELERY Hand milled oatmeal soaps, hand and body lotions, hand knit wool hats and chocolate truffles for sale. Call Rena at 360-714-0570
Street next to Civic Field Now available for rent: Lovely 4 Bedroom, 1 ½ bath refurbished older home on dead end street in Bellingham’s York district next to Civic Field and greenbelt. Partially fenced yard with creek. Convenient public transportation. All appliances (including gas stove and forced air heat). Cable ready. $1,400/ month includes water, sewer and trash/recycling. First, last and deposit to move in. Background/credit check required. Call Harlyn at 360333-2484. Reply to the email address above for pictures.
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RENTALS: WWU
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$570 Studio near WWU Walking Distance to WWU. Free Wireless internet and basic cable TV. Perfect for students who need quiet space! Call 360-305-1447 for viewing! $1950 / 5br - WWU 5 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms Available September 1, 2009. 1 Year Lease. Big Bedrooms and Big Closets. Close to Lincoln WTA Bus transfer to WWU. All Bedrooms have cable. Nice yard and plenty of parking. Gas Heat, Stove, Refrigerator, Washer and Dryer. No Pets. No Smoking. Call 360-224-2272 for address and to set up a showing. $1600 / 4br - 4 bedroom 1.5 bath house 4 bedroom 1.5 bath, walking distance to WWU. W/D, huge yard. Available 7/1/2009. Call 360320-4778.
RENTALS: BELLINGHAM $1100 / 3br - Cozy Condo in small complex 3br 1.5 bath 2 story Condo in 5 unit complex washer, dryer, and dishwasher included in unit, wood floors down stairs, carpet upstairs, tile in bathrooms, bay windows, covered parking, w/s/g paid, $1100 per month. Move in Specail June 09 rent only $550, 360739-1447 $1400 / 4br - Dead End
Hey Home Buyers Rates are low and selection is high. 8K Tax Credit plus Zip Realty Rebate. Zero Down Loans. Call your local Realtor,
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$650 / 1br - 1 BR 1 BATH APT IN FAIRHAVEN! One bedroom, one bathroom apartment in Fairhaven, across the street from Boulevard park. Small apartment with a huge deck and a gorgeous view of the bay & the park. $650 rent for June and $650 deposit moves you in before the first. Cats okay with an extra refundable deposit of $200. W/S/G/ included, you pay gas, electric, cable, etc. You would be taking over our lease for the month of June, then have the ability to sign a new lease with our AMAZING independant landlord. No washer/dryer but apartment is very close to laundry mat, and right on the 401 bus line . Call either cell phone to set-up a time to see the apartment and get an application. No application fee, it just gets mailed to our landlord and he decides who moves in from there. Zach & Amber 360-201-6432 or 206661-6995. $500 Home Sweet Home Private Home with big yard has daylight basement for rent. 1 Bedroom, 1 large room with side by side fridge/freezer, breakfast bar and half a bath. $500 plus 1/3 utilities. If interested please call Mary @ (360) 739-4362. $375 Cute sunny room for summer! Utilities included! Looking for somebody to take over my lease for July and August! Sign a new lease after August if you’d like, for $415 a month. I’m discounting the room to $375 for the summer. If you’re not interested in taking over a lease, you can sign a new lease for $415. These prices include all utilities! Deposit is $415 and fully refundable upon move out. First month plus deposit ($790) moves you in! Call me if you’re interested in seeing it! (425) 299-7232. $635 3199 Racine St #105 1bd available now at Barkley Ridge. Contact Landmark for more details at 360-738-1022. $510 / 1br - Cozy lower
400 RENTALS unit 600 sgft. 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath apartment, on-site laundry room, w/s/g paid, no pets $510 a month rent, $520 deposit, up to $200 off first months rent. Call (360)6718761.
RENTALS: FERNDALE $1195 / 3br - Beautiful 3 bedroom house - 1,675 sq ft plus 1,955 sq ft of storage 1538 MAIN ST. (Ferndale) - Lovely, bright three bedroom one bathroom home (approx 1675 sq ft) located in Ferndale. This charmer has high ceilings, wood floors, double pane windows, and a fireplace with beautiful surrounding built-ins. Spacious kitchen features a large island and new appliances including a dishwasher, side-by-side fridge and convection oven. Gas heat, hot water and range. Large basement for storage with front loading W/D. Side entrance with mud room. Lots of parking available. Large fenced yard. Two out buildings available. Small pet negotiable with pet deposit on a case by case basis. Available with two weeks notice. RENT: $1195.00 DEP: $1195.00. Contact us at chuckanut@ msn.com or (360) 733-3640.
ROOMMATES WANTED $340 SUNNY ROOM Room available 6/15 through August 31st with option to release Sept 1st in GORGEOUS house with amazing roomies! We’re located on H & Halleck in the lettered streets, one block away from a bus line and a 10 min walk to downtown. There is a Haggen less than 5 mins away. The room has two windows that are oriented on the house so that sun filters in all day. A bed, dresser, desk, etc would easily fit in this room and it has a walk in closet with built in shelving. Utilities are garbage, wireless internet, and electric which should be no more than $25/month and probably $5-10 less. Please call Holly at 360-67-9324. Older female looking to share 2 bd apt. Also on Busline. All utilities inclu.also w/d . I have a cat and dog. No smoking except outside. No other pets. No drinking No drugs. Please call Shirley 6710636 for more information. $375 Roommate Wanted Looking for a roommate for house in Lynden. Very nice, quite neighborhood in the middle of town. Within walking distance of Fairway shopping center and Downtown Front Street. Asking for $375 plus 1/3 of utilities.
400 RENTALS Bathroom is recently remodeled. Bedroom for rent is a very open basement. I am easy going and very easy to get along with. No pets and no smoking. I will maintain the lawn at my cost. Please call Darrell @ (360) 8151602. $325 Rooms for Rent Two bedrooms for rent in four bedroom two and a half bath town house in Barkley Village, $325 each garbage, sewer, and water included. Other utilities separate cable, electric, and wireless internet. House is in Barkley Place close to Haggens, 331 bus stop, and local parks. Two males currently living in the house but have no preferences on gender. In addition the garage has been turned into a game room/commons with a pool table, darts, etc. If interested contact Kristian at 518-926-8900. $350 1 open in 4 bed 4 bed, 2 bath, 3 story duplex. 3 female roomates, 2 cats, 1 dog. would like to have room filled by July. no deposit, no lease, month to month as long as you help find your replacement (which is what i am doing now.) roomates are all in mid twenties and working. amazing view of Bellingham Bay, close to downtown, close to WWU. call gregory if interested, 360-621-3672. 4Bd. 3 1/2 Ba. newer home. wd. flrs. on main flr. Great Room, formal dining, laundry rm. 1/2 ba. Master suite on main flr. 3 Bd and 1 full ba. upstairs. 2300 sf combined for main and upstairs flrs. Full daylight basement partially finished w/ full bath, 1700 sf. plenty of room. Low maintence yard. $1200.00 Deposit. No Pets. N/S Call Mark 360-421-4202.
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CLASSES & WORKSHOPS Experience the joy of playing marimba (woodenkey xylophones) at a free introductory class. Information: HYPERLINK “mailto:nancysteele @ comcast.net”nancysteele@comcast.net or 360-920-6494. Cheer and Dance! All girls aging from 7-14 are welcome to come cheer and dance! You will learn basic cheer jumps, work on flexibility, and learn short choreographed dances. No experience necessary! Date and Cost: Every Monday 4pm-5pm. Only $10 an hour! La Vida Dance Studio: 929-B North State St., Bellingham, WA. For more inforamtion or
500 BULLETIN BOARD to add your name to the list please email: brwneyebeauty@hotmail.com 6:15 am Yoga Class Early Morning Yoga with Dave Koshinz at Everybody’s Yoga 1609 Broadway, Suite 202 (Upstairs), Bellingham WA 98225 360.738.2207 yogabellingham.com. Change the course of your day with an early practice! Tuesday and Thursday, 6:15-7:30 am $35 per month for once per week, $50 for twice This is a mixed levels class. Payment is due at the beginning of each month. Beginner Quilting Classes Learn the basics of quilting, including rotary cutting, using templates, basic piecing, paper piecing, applique, seminole patchwork, log cabin, strip piecing, circular piecing while completing a 40”x40” wall quilt. 6-2hr classes for $60. nancls60@juno.com Dynamic Dance Classes New dance classes offered in Bellingham: Hip Hop, All skill levels and abilities welcome. Join us every Tuesday 4-5pm @ BAAY- Bellingham Arts Academy for Youth (located at 1059 N. State St.). Beginning Modern Dance: every Tuesday 6-7 @ the Chinese Martial Arts Academy. Contact Improvisation Classes: suitable for teens and adults 16 and over. Every Tuesday 7-8pm @ Chinese Martial Arts Academy (located at 1705 N. State St., near Hot Shots and Bellingham Fitness). All classes are $10 drop-in or $35 for the month More info at DancePlant.org. Instructor: Nicole Byrne, nicole@baay.org Knitting Lessons by Jen Interested in learning to knit but don’t know where to start? Wish you could learn at home where you’re comfortable and you can find the time? Then I’m your girl! My name is Jen and I’ll do everything for you that I wish someone had done for me when I started knitting. Let’s make a scarf, dishcloth or hat for your first project! Call Jen at 303-7300 Music Theory and Lefthanded Guitar Instruction Take your songwriting to the next level. I also specialize in left handed guitar instruction. Email Adam at bluebiz@ mac.com for more info. CHILDREN’S DANCE CLASSES Creative Dance and Beginning Ballet for children. Ferndale - 6 miles North of downtown Bellingham. Ballet Arts Northwest, (360) 333-0293
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Down 1 Div. that lost Super Bowls XIX-XXXI 2 Figure seen at Tiananmen Square 3 Where signs of visiting prostitutes are most frequent in the aviary? 4 Rice variety 5 Where a ďŹ&#x201A;ea might hang out? 6 Victrola maker 7 Brand-spanking ___ 8 Naval tech. specialist 9 It preceded Roosevelt 10 Rice partner 11 Where youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re likely to ďŹ nd three-dayold undies? 12 Mazda roadster 13 Silver Bullet Band leader Bob 15 It may get the last photo in the calendar: abbr. 21 Game with a 20 at the top of the board 22 1980s home
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by stress 61 Grouped together 62 Diverts trafďŹ c 63 Say with conďŹ dence 64 Memo header, for short 65 Pinnacle
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Movinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; On Up
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BY MATT JONES
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REAR END BY AMY ALKON
THE ADVICE GODDESS TYPE DIRTY TO ME A couple years ago, I “met” a guy online, and we started e-mailing and sexting (sending sexy texts via cell phone). We decided to meet, but he canceled. I figured he was married, and dropped it. Within a few months, his sexts were popping up again. Five months ago, I met my boyfriend. The other guy was sexting me about once a month. I got a naughty thrill from messaging back. But, as my feelings for my boyfriend intensified, my thrill morphed into disgust. I’d delete the evidence and pledge not to do it again. Well, he sexted me last week, I sexted back, forgot to erase it, and my boyfriend saw it on my phone (by freak coincidence, not snooping). Not only is he still scarred from his ex-wife’s cheating, my texts to this guy were similar to those I’d sent him. So, I pretty much ruined that thrill for him, and destroyed his trust. I immediately expunged the other guy from my life. My boyfriend left for three hours, then returned, saying we’ve invested too much to walk away. He tells me to stop apologizing, but I want to flog myself and hurt as much as I’ve hurt him. —Punishment Glutton
Just 20 years ago, if you wanted to dash off a suggestive thought or two, you would’ve had to buy a card, stamp it, mail it and wait a week. The heat kind of goes out of “What are you wearing?” if your recipient’s first thought is “Today... or when this was postmarked?” Technology frees up a lot of people—some of them, far too much. Nobody marches over to a stranger in the drugstore and remarks “I guess the central concern is: Do you look more like a flounder or a moose? Or a Chihuahua? Or one of those midget ponies? Or some sort of unholy incarnation of all four?” But, under the virtual ski mask of online anonymity, blog commenter “WTB” had no problem dashing that off about a TV star. And just as the Internet provides a level of disconnect where some people (especially celebrities) are no longer people, simply attractive targets, cheating by text message makes it easy to short-circuit accountability. The hands all over you are only yours, and there are no sweaty sheets or motel keys to manage; it’s the affair you
AMY ALKON
can snap shut and drop in your purse. Although you sent similar messages to both guys, at least you didn’t resort to time- and thumb-saving measures like typing out the elevator scenario once and clicking “multiple recipients.” Your boyfriend apparently feels you’re worth the risk, and is trying to move on, which is a bit difficult with you hanging off his ankle, wailing about how sorry you are. You might instead turn this into an opportunity to strengthen your relationship by taking a step too few couples do: Come up with a policy for monogamy instead of taking for granted that you won’t twotime (or two-text) each other. Decide what your boundaries will be, and how you’re supposed to answer if opportunity knocks (or vibrates). Oh yeah, and assuming honesty will be an important part of your future together, start by cutting the lame protestations about how disgusted you were—every time— as in, “Oh, this is so disgusting...here, just let me write back once more... Oh, I’m so grossed out. SEND!”
OFF TO A BED START I’ve been hooking up with a coworker for four months, but I really want to be his girlfriend. We had sex on our second date, and after that, our dates stopped being dinner and turned into my going straight to his place. I really want to ask how he feels about me, but I’m afraid of scaring him off. If I’m just a booty call, I’ll be hurt! —Pining
As one of my blog commenters observed, dating customs vary from culture to culture. In some cultures, a girl shows she’s available by putting a flower behind her ear. Like a lot of girls in this culture, you just put your ankles behind yours. That’s fine if all you want is a hookup, but very often, sex on the first or second date is sex on the last date. This doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t see the guy again, just that you won’t see him clothed and seated across a restaurant table from you. Don’t ask this guy how he feels (ick!). Ask him to a museum at 10am, and invite him to join you and your friends some evening, and you’ll soon discover whether he’s interested in activities that are a little more boyfriend than boytoy. If he keeps turning you down, you’ll have your answer about his feelings—that they’re something along the lines of “How cool...these days, you can get almost anything delivered, free of charge.”
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#21.04
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CANCER (June 21-July 22): One of the tastiest frogs in the world is at risk of dying out as a species. The “mountain chicken” frog, once a fixture on the chain of Caribbean islands known as Montserrat, has become endangered through loss of habitat, disease and over-hunting by humans. In response to the crisis, conservationists have airlifted a number of survivors to new homes, attempting to save their kind from extinction. I think it’s time for you to arrange a comparable intervention of your own, Cancerian. A sweet and delicious part of you or your world is not exactly thriving, and needs some strenuous help and care.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): A Florida woman, upset that her local McDonald’s had run out of Chicken McNuggets, phoned the 911 emergency service line for help. In an unrelated incident, a Florida man took the same action when Burger King told him it had no lemonade to sell him. I recommend that you not indulge in similar overreactions in the coming week, Leo. The Drama Queen or Drama King archetype is threatening to possess you, and I suspect you’ll have to act forcefully to keep it away. If you’re successful, you’ll be visited by a far more congenial archetype—the Social Butterfly. And that would prove to be amusing and productive. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Most of you Virgos have built-in safeguards that ensure you won’t abuse power. That’s why I feel uninhibited about advising you to grab all the new authority and influence you can get in the next few weeks. It’s one of those phases in your astrological cycle when you’re more likely to be in line for promotions, new privileges, and increased clout. I hope you won’t be shy. You may have to be uncharacteristically aggressive as you claim your rightful potency and rewards.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In the coming days,
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knowing I am nothing,” said Indian philosopher Nisargadatta Maharaj. “Love is knowing I am everything. And between the two my life moves.” According to my calculations, Sagittarius, you’ll be more on the “knowing you are everything” side of the polarity for the next few weeks. That’s because a flood is imminent. I expect you’ll be on the receiving end of a massive outreach from the universe—an influx of invitations, inquiries, and offers to make connection. You should also be prepared for the dizzying pleasure that comes from seeing how profoundly interlinked and interdependent you are.
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GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Research shows that if a stranger gazes at you for at least 8.2 seconds, he or she is definitely interested in you. If, on the other hand, the look lasts 4.5 seconds or less, there’s no attraction. I’m guessing that the percentage of long scrutinies you receive in the coming weeks will be higher than usual. Your raw charisma levels will be up, as will your ability to make strong first impressions. How do you plan to exploit the advantages this will give you, Gemini? According to my projections, it’ll be a good time to meet some allies of the future.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “Wisdom is
S U M M E R
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): This is my pledge to you, Capricorn: I promise to use all my otherworldly connections to get your karmic debt reduced in the next few weeks. In return, I ask that you make these pledges to me: You promise not to be a self-pitying martyr or a cranky beast of burden or a willing victim of rank manipulation. You agree not to just follow sloppy orders or passively capitulate as some bad guy with a nice smile tries to lower your standards. And finally, you swear to feed a really healthy desire that will ultimately help give your other desires more integrity and nobility.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “We all have a blind spot in love,” says astrologer Jessica Shepherd at moonkissed.com. “Never simple to figure out and even harder to see head on, our blind spot is as unique and complexly layered as we are.” But it’s not a hopeless cause, I would add. In fact, you may ultimately be able to discern the contours of your special ignorance about romance; you may find a way to fix the unconscious glitch that has undermined your quest for meaningful intimacy. How should you proceed? Well, you will need skillful ingenuity, a willingness to gaze upon a flustering truth about yourself, and maybe a little miraculous grace. And now here’s the very good news, Aquarius: It so happens that all these things are available to you right now.
2009 OPENING NIGHT FRIDAY, JUNE 5TH 7:00PM
F U N
Bells Season Opener vs. Kitsap Post Game Fireworks presented by
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SATURDAY, JUNE 6TH 7:00PM -Free Massage from Chappaz Massage -Game 2 vs. Kitsap
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): It’s a ripe time to revise and rework your past, Pisces. I’ll trust you to make the ultimate determination about how best to do that, but here are some possibilities. 1. Revisit a memory that has haunted you, and do a ritual that resolves it and brings you peace. 2. Return to the scene of an awkward anomaly that remains unsettled, and finally do a duty you neglected. 3. Make your way back to a dream you wandered away from prematurely, and either re-commit yourself to it, or put it to rest for good. 4. Dig up and contemplate a secret that has been festering, and come to a decision about what you can do to heal it.
SUNDAY JUNE 7TH 4:00PM -Post Game Kids Run the Bases -Game 3 vs. Kitsap
Tickets starting at $6
E V E R Y O N E !
For information on Season Tickets, Mini-Plans & Group Outings Contact: (360) 527-1035 or visit www.bellinghambells.com
CURRENTS 8
are at your best, you get into a groove but not into a rut—humming along with creative efficiency, not just going through the motions or repeating the same old tired shticks. When you’re at the top of your game, it’s because you’ve surrounded yourself with stimuli that make you feel peaceful and comfortable. Other people may work well under pressure and accomplish most when they’re driven by stress, but you usually need to be at ease in order to access your deep brilliance. From what I can tell, everything I just said is a description of what will be happening in the coming weeks.
VIEWS 6
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): When you Tauruses
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): As I was driving out in the country, I spied a curious statement written in large crooked letters on a homemade sign: “I have seen the truth and it doesn’t make sense.” I’m guessing you might feel that way yourself right now, Scorpio. You have summoned the courage to see the deeper reality beneath the official story, but that has made you more confused than you were when you only possessed a smattering of iffy facts. So you’re smarter and better informed, but are nonetheless feeling less secure. My advice: Don’t flee back into the fake comfort of comfy delusions. If you can maintain your poise in the face of the raging ambiguity, you will ultimately be rewarded with a big dose of cathartic clarity.
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report in the online version of Northern California’s Arcata Eye newspaper, I came across this entry: “A dreadlocked man attacked a lamp post on the Plaza with his mighty fists, punching it while yelling and, in the memorable description of a witness, ‘fighting amongst himself.’” I immediately thought of you, Aries. According to my analysis of the omens, you’ve been fighting amongst yourself with—how shall I say this?—crafty ferocity. I’d be ecstatic if I could convince you to call a truce, begin peace talks, and maybe even begin practicing some crafty tenderness toward yourself.
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ARIES (March 21-April 19): While reading a crime
05.27.09
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY
the surprise and delight quotient will be way up. I bet you’ll be more prone than usual to uttering exclamations. There may also be a confounding “aha!” and a mind-wobbling “What the frack?!” mixed in there, although I think the emphasis will be on developments that educate and entertain you. Since you will probably be ushered in the direction of the frontier, I think you should find new ways to express your amazement. Instead of cliches like “Jesus H. Christ!” or “Holy crap!”, why not try something fresh, like the following: “Great Odin’s raven!”... “Radical lymphocytes!”... “Cackling whacks of jibber-jabber!”... “Frosty heat waves!”... “Panoramic serpentine.” Any other ideas?
#21.04
BY ROB BREZSNY
ASTROLOGY
CASCADIA WEEKLY
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chow RE V IE W S
BY IAN CHANT
Peepfest A SUGAR-COATED SPIRIT QUEST
CASCADIA WEEKLY
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JUST A couple of days ago, I signed my name to what I presume to be a legally binding document containing the line, “I assume any and all risks associated in participating with this event, including, but not limited to, choking, tummy aches, bad guts, indigestion... and general disdain for Peeps after I am done.” That’s just one portion of the contract I put my name to for the sake of participating in Peepfest. The principle is simple: at high noon this coming Sunday, I will fulfill every red-blooded American boy’s childhood dream of participating in a competitive eating contest. But the hallowed halls of the Coney Island Hot Dog Eating Competition this ain’t. My fellow gustatory gladiators and I will be pitting ourselves against a legion of 960 neon green Peeps, each of us with one goal in mind: to consume as many baby-chicken-shaped blobs of gritty, sugarcoated, marshmallow goodness as we can in one hour, or until we enter diabetic comas. Now, in the name of full disclosure, it’s not as if anyone made me sign on the dotted line. Quite the contrary, in fact; when I heard the phrase “peep
eating contest” a few weeks ago, I jumped at the chance to get involved. Then I sat down to speak with veteran Peepfest contestant and organizer for this year’s event, Ryan Siu, and found out just how wrong I was. Siu, who’s been participating in Peepfest since its inception in 2003, describes the annual dietary debacle as “the best meal that you don’t get to keep.” That’s because the most important of Peepfest’s very few rules is that you keep eating Peeps until you can eat no more. And you know you can eat no more when you start puking. Event judges will be fairly serious about making sure contestants “Peep ‘til they pop,” not out of sadism, but a genuine concern for the safety and comfort of the participants. “It’s best for everyone involved if you vomit,”
Siu says. And why is that? “One, we get to take pictures of you embarrassing yourself… and two, you don’t have to digest all that sugar. Oh God, it is so much sugar.” At this point, becomATTEND WHAT: Peepfest ing a Peepfest com2009 petitor seems like, well, WHEN: 12pm Sun., kind of a bad idea. Then May 31 again, that’s kind of the WHERE: Maniac point. “I do it because Roasting, 205 Grand Ave. it’s fun. And it’s a bad COST: Entry fee is $5 idea,” Siu says. “There INFO: 738-8348 are lots of bad ideas that I come up with that I don’t do, this is one of the few that I do.” And there’s a lot to be said for that, for seeing something profoundly silly and saying, “Yeah, that’s stupid, but I’ll do it anyway.” Though, to be honest, there’s probably more to be said for being a Peepfest audience member, on hand to watch a large group of people do something very stupid and unhealthy just because they can. A good audience is key to Sunday’s carbohydrate catastrophe, turning it into a spectator sport and motivating competitors, Siu opines. As a competitor, meanwhile, I’ve found there’s just no way to really prepare for Peepfest. You can try to make yourself ready for the physical revulsion involved in sliding Peep after Peep down your gullet. You can meditate for days on end, convincing yourself you’re prepared to confront the daunting prospect of eating marshmallow chicks until you vomit, and being OK with it. But it’s like trying to prepare for your 21st birthday— you will be surrounded by friends and wellwishers intent on damaging your body to the point that it turns on you in violent fashion, leaving you foaming at the mouth and weeping in a parking lot. Even if you think you’re ready, you’re not. Peepfest is more than just a candy-eating contest. It’s a sort of sugar shock-induced spirit quest where you don’t really know what you’re getting into until you’re too far in to turn back, and no one will come back from it unchanged. And frankly, you just can’t tell me you don’t want to come and gawk at that.
Loverboy September 26
General admission and reserved seating available. There will be concessions and a beer garden at each event. See the full schedule at right.
TICKETING INFO For more ticket information, including pricing and start times, visit our website at www.nooksackcasinos. com. Or inquire in person at Nooksack River Casino. Also, visit our website and sign up for email updates on concert times, ticket sales, and more.
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Concerts to be held at the new Nooksack River Amphitheater directly behind Nooksack River Casino in Deming. Visit our website for directions and parking information.
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WAR September 12
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Coming in July, August and September 2009! Bring a blanket or beach chair and groove to your favorite bands – from country star Gretchen Wilson, to 70’s funktastic fusion band WAR.
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Rock n Roll Riot August 29 All-day festival, with Customer Appreciation Pricing of $10 General Admission.
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The Guess Who August 15
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