/March%202011

scene scen THE

Arts and entertainment for the Eastside

March 2011

Hip-hop

Eastside artists rep suburbia in a city music scene

St. Patty’s Day You guide to March 17

Inside scoop: wine

| dine | art | fashion | cheap thrills

THE scene

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the editorial note

Take pride in 425

THE

5 DRINK

A guide to get your Irish on March 17

F

or Jay-Z, it was the “concrete jungle where dreams are made of.”

For Dr. Dre, Ice Cube and countless gangster rappers, it was the City of Compton and for Blue Scholars, it was The Ave., where they attended UW. For Eastside rappers, it’s the 425 area-code, and the suburban neighborhoods that made them the artists they are today.

Rap music is more than its gritty reputation of offensive lyrics and half-naked women. It’s art; sacred sound and lifeblood for those who dedicate their lives to it. For the people in our cover story, it’s everything from how Neema Khorrami carries himself to how he feeds his family. For Jason Chen and Michael Akrish, it’s an outlet for them to throw their stories, joy, emotion and pain into, more expressive of who they are than any essay they wrote in college.

Although many great genres of hip-hop exist from crunk to underground, skeptics may not realize how intellectual parts of hiphop are. Listen to Macklemore or artists signed to the indie label Rhymesayers Entertainment. You’ll hear songs about politics, class, diversity, recognizing privilege and breaking stereotypes. On the lighter side, you’ll hear music that rejoices in an artist’s hometown for providing an identity, local culture, life lessons and pride.

You may not know it Bellevue, but you are also referenced in rhymes, spit about in recording sessions and repped on stage.

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Gabrielle Nomura, Assistant Editor gnomura@bellevuereporter.com

Funnnyman Maniscalco toured with Vince Vaughn

9 COVER STORY

Hip-hop artists rep suburbia in a city scene

9

12

12 DINE

Sushi 101

14 FASHION

KIRO 7 TV anchor sports her baby bump with style

17 OUT & ABOUT

14

Publisher Janet Taylor

Assistant Editor Gabrielle Nomura

Where to go, what to see

17

The Scene is a publication of the Bellevue Reporter.

2700 Richards Rd. Suite 201, Bellevue WA, 98005.

425.391.0363 thebellevuescene.com

Managing Editor Craig Groshart

Follow us on Twitter@bellevuescene

7 LAUGHS

Contributing Writers Nat Levy, Celeste Gracey and Heija Nunn Layout Designer Tek Chai Photographer Chad Coleman Advertising Kali Stanger, Sales Manager 425.802.7306 Advertising 425.453.4270.

A division of

the works

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Making theater come alive Hanging out with set-design pros

T

STORY & PHOTOS BY CELESTE GRACEY

he curtain lifts, a beautiful set hangs like the art it is, and the audience sighs at the sight. The screens flip like a rolodex, a moving art gallery.

Unlike the immortal aspects of theater, such as the scripts and songs, sets have a different destiny - primarily the garbage heap.

After nine months of planning and work, Village Theatre’s technical director Brad Bixler does his best to save them for other productions.

He found a home for the beautiful front porch in “Anne of Green Gables,” but storing sets isn’t worth the cost, he says.

He can only hope to be as lucky with the set of “Iron Curtain,” a new musical “commie-dy” about Soviet Russia, which the Village’s shop was busy building through February.

“When you’re doing new work you always leave yourself a little more room and a little more money,” Forrester says. “This time around, I think we’re on fairly safe ground.”

Because most musicals require several scenes, they have to be fairly flat to fit, and “Iron Curtain” has a fair share of scenes, Forrester says. “Flat is a fact of life.”

Jeff Scott, Village Theatre’s lead scenic artist, works on a backdrop for the musical “Iron Curtain.”

The musical, which opens March 16, tells the story of two unsuccessful American playwrights who are forced at gunpoint to write a communist musical.

In a workshop, Franz used a large Sharpie marker to make the staircase spindles appear three-dimensional. The room is larger than the stage, giving ample space for the artists to paint the set’s floor, which is laid out in tiles.

A comedy production, the set’s design ads to the flair of humor. It includes grandiose staircases for flashy Broadwaystyled dancers.

In an adjacent paint shop, an artist stands on a backdrop in his socks, while he carefully paints steal beams. His long brush stretches to the floor.

Lights were used seemingly everywhere, lining the stage and filling a large hanging sign.

During tech week, the team uses a flatbed truck to haul the set in several trips to Village, a few blocks down the road.

“Everything lights up,” says set designer Bill Forrester. The lights “lend an air of fun to all that’s going on.”

Although the system usually works out, Bixler has rolled awkward pieces down the road on a dolly.

In the paint shop, artists worked on large paintings of famous communist leaders, including Karl Marx. Childish graffiti of glasses and hats turned the iron-faced portraits into a work of humor.

Forrester began planning the Iron Curtain design in early summer with Village’s Artistic Director Steve Tomkins.

Luckily, the painters responsible for the portraits weren’t responsible for ruining them with graffiti, says master scenic artist Julia Franz.

“Iron Curtain” is a new musical, which comes with its own set of challenges, chief among them that things can change last minute.

He had seen the musical during a workshop production at Village a few years ago, and asked Tomkins if he could do the design. Tomkins remembered him, when it came to the mainstage.

Once the design is done, Bixler’s assistant draws out how to technically build the set, much like an engineer does with an architect’s design.

Forrester says he enjoys working with Village. “You know

Julia Franz, Village Theatre’s master scenic artist, works on adding depth and detail to the railings on a grand staircase for the musical “Iron Curtain.” your designs are going to be executed very well.” His work isn’t done until opening night. A veteran in the field, it’s a relief, time to move on.

For the artists, it’s a celebration, Bixler says.

“Opening nights are generally a big party.”

Issaquah Reporter staff writer Celeste Gracey can be reached at 425-391-0363, ext. 5052.

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march 2011 | thebellevuescene.com | 5

Paint the town green | March 17

BY GABRIELLE NOMURA | PHOTOS BY CHAD COLEMAN & COURTESY OF NORDSTROM

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he Irish call it La Fheile Padraig.

We call it a good excuse to party (with good food and Guinness).

What started as a religious holiday has become a green-themed extravaganza where people all over the world celebrate Irish culture, history and heritage.

Luck of the Irish

• Saint Patrick was actually English, not Irish by birth.

• St. Patrick’s Day didn’t become a national holiday in Ireland until 1903, and the first parade wasn’t held in Dublin until 1931.

• Last year, an estimated 13 million pints of Guinness were consumed on St. Patrick’s Day. • The color originally associated with St. Patrick was blue; it changed to green in the 19th century.

• There are more Americans of Irish origin than there are Irish in Ireland (36 million Americans claimed Irish ancestry in 2008; population of Ireland was 4.4 million at the time).

• Corn beef and cabbage is not an Irish dish, it’s an Irish-American specialty that combined cheap ingredients for poor Irish immigrants in the 19th century.

• Boiled bacon is traditionally eaten on St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland.

• Shamrocks traditionally symbolize the rebirth of spring.

Pubs and watering holes Mustard Seed Pub and Grill 5608 119th Ave. SE, Bellevue.

425-603-9001 and Mustard Seed Too 425-746-8852 1428 156th Ave. NE, Bellevue.

Irish red ale, corn beef and cabbage and Guinness specials. Open until 2 a.m.

Paddy Coyne’s pub will have live music on St. Patrick’s Day. Paddy Coyne’s Irish Pub (pictured above) 700 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue.

425-453-8080 Bagpipers and live Irish music. Limited menu. Open until 2 a.m.

Roanoke Inn 1825 72nd Ave. SE, Mercer Island.

206-232-0800 Drink specials, Irish whiskey, shamrock champagne and hot corn beef and cabbage. Open until 11:30 p.m.

The Spot Off Main 20 103rd Ave. NE 425-646-6434 Drink specials. Beer tournament at 9 p.m.

Door prizes for most festive attire and contest winners. All are entered to win to win a trip to Las Vegas. Open until 2 a.m.

J Michael’s Pub & Eatery 15770 Redmond Way, Redmond.

425-883-6065 Irish stew, green beer, festive decorations. and party favors, prizes and live music.

Beer distributor’s giveaway, such as T-shirts and glassware.

The Goose Pub and Eatery 12001 NE 12th St. Ste 90, Bellevue.

425-454-1554 Green beer and Guinness specials.

Open until 2 a.m.

JJ Mahoney’s Irish Pub 8932 161st Ave. NE, Redmond.

425-558-1866 Limited menu and green beer.

Three Lions English pub 8115 161st Ave NE, Redmond.

425-284-3399 Pints and pub fare. Open until 11 p.m.

Don’t-get-pinched style Items available at Nordstrom (shop.nordstrom.com).

Kate Spade New York ‘Cueva Rosa’ Stud Earrings $45.00

Tom’s $43.95

Butter London ‘3 Free’ Nail Lacquer $14.00

Nixon ‘The Rubber Player’ Watch $150.00

Fossil ‘Jeweled Tab’ Leather Clutch $39.90

THE scene

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Sebastian Maniscalco Frank, frustrated – and funny

BY GABRIELLE NOMURA | COURTESY PHOTOS

W

ith a highly-observational eye for things to be cynical about, Sebastian Maniscalco doesn’t need to hide behind the “F” word, cracks at his overweight mother-in-law or crude sextalk like some comedians. For example, he’ll recount his adventures wading through an accumulation of exploded clothing, debris and material in an apparently war-torn country: T.J. Maxx; or comment on the dangerous nature of Craigslist, a popular online service that allows users to get a little too intimate with random strangers (“It’s practically like walking around in New York City, going up to a random person and saying, ‘Hey, you wanna come to my house?’”). The tan, handsome Sicilian with East-Coast tinged speech, has got it all: looks and a killer, sarcastic sense of humor.

Oh yeah, he’s also practically BFF’s with Vince Vaughn (well, he toured across the country with him for a month in a tour bus, at least).

scene: You’ve worked with so many talented entertainers:

Prince, B.B. King, Al Green, Anita Baker and Gladys Knight to name a few. Ever get star-struck?

SM: I did a commercial to promote Prince’s performance in the Super Bowl at the Venetian Las Vegas hotel.

Having worked at the Four Seasons Hotel before, I was used to celebrity clientele like serving Shaquille O’Neal and Robert De Niro. But when Prince walked in, I was star-struck. I think the whole room was. The man has presence. It’s like an aura. I mean, he’s Prince.

scene: If they could make a movie about you, who would

play you and why?

SM: I’d have to go with Leonardo DiCaprio. I have a friend who says he can transform himself and imitate people well, even though he doesn’t look like me. Scratch that.

Ben Stiller.

scene: How would you describe your standup

in one word?

SM: Observational. A lot of people can relate to the frustrations I bring to the stage, so maybe ‘relatable’ is a better word.

scene: What’s one TV show you would kill to be on?

SM: This is going to sound weird, but I’d love to be on “Top Chef.” I can’t cook that well, but I love watching the show. Probably “Modern Family,” too. I could play the pissed-off neighbor across the street.

scene: Talk about your standup experience?

SM: The audience was yelling ‘sandman, sandman.’ I didn’t know then, but at the Apollo, that’s what they call an act who stinks. It was just awful.

scene: Ouch. Why did you continue with comedy?

SM: I always knew I had an innate ability to make people

We call

BullSh* * . . . on workout elitists FEEL FREE TO VENT HERE

Heading to the gym should be all about getting

correspondent on “Jay Leno,” critiquing the fashion of unsuspecting churchgoers and airline passengers, to appearing on Comedy Central’s “Premium Blend.”

What gig stands out?

SM: Touring across the country with Vince Vaughn.

From front to back, that was probably the best experience I’ve had in my career. I got to work with people like Justin Long and Dwight Yoakam. You really felt like you’ve kind of arrived when you’re working with that kind of group. Ten years earlier, my dad had come home with a newspaper article about how Vince Vaughn had made a low-budget movie, “Swingers.” I really admired [Vaughn].

Next thing you know, 10 years later, I’m in a tour bus with this guy.

scene: Have you ever been to Bellevue before?

Comedian Sebastian Maniscalco. laugh by telling stories. Everybody has to fail to succeed.

With comedy, one night you’re on top of the world, and the next night you’re not.

scene: What’s Vince Vaughn like? He picked you to be in his film, “Vince Vaughn’s Wild West Comedy Show: 30 Days & 30 Nights - Hollywood to the Heartland.”

SM: You don’t say much when you’re around Vince Vaughn. He’s a talker who’s always cracking jokes.

Anyone who’s that funny is a cool guy to be around.

I never realized he was such a huge video gamer.

scene: You’ve done everything from being a style

your sweat on. Pumping out some iron. Hitting the treadmill. Working hard to look hard.

But some gyms, and people, take things up a notch. And not in a good way. That’s why I’m calling BS on you, pretentious gym user.

Candles on the windows. Towels that cost more than a normal wardrobe. Live DJs. Really?

It must be hard to get a good workout on a treadmill while smelling the stench of one’s own pretentiousness wafting up into the nostrils. But at least once you’re done sweating, you can wipe yourself off with that 1,200 thread-count towel.

Going to the gym should be all about hard work. It should be raw, a place where you can let out your

SM: I was at the Parlor Live Comedy Club a year or two years ago. There’s probably some of the smartest crowds in the country in Bellevue. Very smart people. They get it.

The Parlor is one of my favorite places to play.

scene: Who are your heroes?

SM: My father. He came here as an immigrant from Sicily at 15 with nothing. He’s a hair stylist and he opened his own businesses in Chicago. You’ve gotta respect a man who provides for his family, works hard and lives the American dream.

Sebastian Maniscalco will perform at the Parlor Live Comedy Club March 17-19. For tickets and more information, go to parlorlive.com and sebastianlive.com.

emotions and run away your stress. It shouldn’t feature the latest soothing croons of Sade, or the ability to watch Gossip Girl while you slowly ride the stationary bike. Let’s not even get started on the showers or a so-called “ambiance.” With apologies to Jeff Foxworthy, if your gym bill exceeds your mortgage payment and you have to dress up to workout, you might be a pretentious gym user.

This column is written by anonymous readers. Contribute by telling us what irks you by e-mailing gnomura@bellevuereporter.com.

THE scene

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Eastside rappers: Repping suburbia in a city hip-hop scene

BY GABRIELLE NOMURA | PHOTOS BY CHAD COLEMAN

F

ifteen years ago, Jason Chen was a skinny TaiwaneseAmerican kid in the Bridle Trails neighborhood copying down the lyrics to “Gangster’s Paradise” on the radio.

Since then, he’s accumulated a few things: a diploma from Sammamish High School, a degree from University of Washington and a career-type job in Seattle’s International District, but the 25-year-old Eastsider never outgrew his love for hip-hop music.

Neema Khorrami (above, far left) is a recording artist, like Jason He’s grown up and graduated in that department too: Chen (pictured on page 10), raised in suburbia before entering from eager listener to full-on emcee (known by his stage name, “Know Choice”). Chen’s opened for some of the Seattle hip-hop scene.

Seattle’s most well-known acts: Blue Scholars, Common urban art. It’s been the outlet for cries of people living in Market and even big-name headliners such as Gift of Gab poverty and oppression, an art that Lauryn Hill called, and Zion I. Seattle Weekly gave Chen props for his stage “The spiritual movement of the blacks.” presence (especially the former Bboy’s dance moves).

Chen, a Bellevue-born artist, has to work harder to NW Asian Weekly commended him for his lyrics about be taken seriously than people who rap in Seattle–the race and defying stereotypes, too. region’s dominant hub for hip-hop music, and the city Like the many other non-black rappers who pervade where most of the venues and opportunities are. Chen is the local hip-hop scene, Chen often wonders how to from the Eastside, not the East siiiide. And while growing approach his music without stepping on turf historically up a racial minority is not necessarily easy, his story is reserved for African Americans. After all, hip-hop is an

[ more EASTSIDE RAPPERS on page 10 ]

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the

2011

Pride for one’s hometown

Jason Chen [ EASTSIDE RAPPERS from page 9 ]

not predominately of struggle and hard times, but of a moderately-affluent upbringing in suburbia.

“I used to be embarrassed that I grew up here, some of my friends growing up were like bougie frat boys,” Chen says.

“But in my heart, I can’t escape that I’m from Bellevue.

Now that I’ve grown up, I embrace that I’m from here.”

That took a while.

In the hip-hop world, pride for one’s hometown is a big deal: A hometown can be an inspiration for a song. When a rapper mentions the local area code on stage, it’s an easy way to pump up a crowd and inspire pride for where one comes from.

Jason wrote a song about his city. But instead of being meant to make the audience go crazy, it’s an honest story of his sometimes difficult relationship with Bellevue: “See, I was raised in a red town, where I rep now/ In a neighborhood where it’s a lot less brown … Me and my city think so differently … [But] It’s part of who I am, it’s my history.”

Bellevue-raised rapper Michael Akrish, 26, says being from an affluent city makes some people not sure whether they’re worthy of being able to rhyme.

“In Seattle, there’s often a negative connotation with Bellevue because of its wealth,” says Akrish, who, with a mom who worked for radio station KUBE 93 and a DJ father, grew up listening to alternative hip-hop artists such as Talib Kweli.

This negative connotation presents an opportunity for Akrish and Chen to make songs that break that stereotype.

While some of their high-school classmates did indeed drive new BMW’s and owned boats, others lived on food stamps and ate free/reduced lunch at school. It presents an opportunity for songs about middle-class, heterosexual, male privilege and even about the struggles they’ve encountered: Akrish’s road to recovery with alcoholism and witnessing of a friend’s death, Chen’s encounters with racism in public school, like being asked by a teacher, “You’re Asian. Why aren’t you good at math?”

Negativity associated with Bellevue also presents

challenges, like being hesitant to tell someone where home is, for fear of being looked down upon or not taken seriously in an urban scene.

Not all Eastside rappers feel that way.

On a Friday night in February at Club Broadway in Everett, the words: “When I say four-two, ya’ll say five …” echo from rapper Neema Khorrami’s microphone.

Khorrami was born at Overlake Hospital, but grew up in Kenmore. Still, he feels like he’s part of the Eastside. And he’s not ashamed.

Nor have his suburban roots seem to have affected his street cred. The 29-year-old veteran (who’s known as “Mr.10K” on Twitter for the feat of having sold 10,000 CDs out of his trunk in a little less than a year) has perfected his act. Clad in a Seahawks jersey and black fitted cap, he raises his blue cocktail in the air, inspiring the audience members to raise their beers and mixeddrinks in the spirit. When he says bounce, the people dance. Hands raise above heads, pounding up and down to the heavy beat that Khorrami shouts his lyrics over, expressing himself with the moving gestures, points and

cover

march 2011 | thebellevuescene.com | 11

n is a big deal in hip-hop

Michael Akrish hand motions, that only a rapper looks cool doing.

For novices, Khorrami looks like success. He doesn’t have a day job, he raps for a living. He’s owner and CEO of his own record label “The Art Music,” and his upcoming release “The Essence” was picked up by national distributor SMC Recordings/Fontana Distribution. He only uses “Mr.10k” because it’s got a nice ring to it. In reality, Khorrami has sold more than 40,000 CDs since 2002. He’s a crowd-pleaser and a hustler – both good things.

“Hip-hop to me is an art form that I love,” Khorrami says.

“It’s a lifestyle. It’s the way I carry myself. But it’s an art, first and foremost, and I’m an artist.”

As far as local hip-hop goes–Bellevue, Redmond, Issaquah, Kenmore–everyone, no matter where they’re from, is entitled to a chunk of that Seattle hip-hop scene as long as they’ve got talent and drive, Khorrami says.

Chen may not have the grimy roots of a “proper” rapper, but he certainly has the drive.

At his friend’s home recording studio in Shoreline, Chen

Neema Khorrami spits a song with precision. His jaw, inches away from the microphone, smiles for a split second when he messes up before trying another take. The baseball player on the logo of his Mariner’s cap dances up and down as Chen bounces to the track he hears in his headphones.

audience blush. A few weeks later, he’s rapping with one of the groups he performs with, That1Show, at the Nectar Lounge. Recording, performing, hustling to get it all done – thus is the life of someone walking down the road paved by the high-top Nike sneakers of local veterans like Khorrami, Macklemore, Grieves, Sabzi and Geo. And when Chen finally reaches hip-hop glory, he’ll tell everyone exactly where he’s from.

As he lays down the vocal part of the song, the beat bumps in the control room next door, where his friend, Luke Redford, facilitates the recording on the computer and plays back the vocals for Chen to listen. Chen’s vocals hit the amplifier and compressor, which squishes everything and eliminates the high sounds for a more Jason Chen, “Know Choice”: Member of group, even audio. It’ll take about five hours That1Show (thatoneshowtv.com) and solo artist (knowchoicenow.com). total for Redford to complete the final product.

Info on the artists:

The week after the recording session, Chen performs as a guest in another emcee’s show at a bar in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood, taking the stage with a husky-smooth voice and a smile that makes girls in the

Michael Akrish, “Akrish”: akrish.bandcamp.com.

Music available on iTunes.

Neema Khorrami, formerly known as “Unexpected Arrival”: myspace.com/unexpectedarrivalmusic

12 | thebellevuescene.com | march

the bite

2011

Sushi 101: S

ushi can be many things. To some, it’s a delicacy. To others, just raw fish. But whatever your opinion of the famous dish may be, a lot goes into it. Some of the etiquette surrounding sushi can be just as complex as the compact rolls.

Before you get anywhere, you first need to know what everything is. When the lay eater thinks sushi, the immediate thought is fish wrapped in rice and seaweed.

Wrong! There are several different types. The rolls that have become the mascots for all sushi are called Maki, which come in the form of the popular California Roll. Nigiri sushi, the most commonly ordered type, consists of the piece of fish sitting a top a bed of rice, with pinches of wasabi concealed in between.

Now that you know what you’re dealing with, let’s get to the ritual. First, beverages.

For the drinkers, Sake is a highly desirable, rice-based alcoholic refreshment. If you are with friends, you should each pour for the others, never for yourself.

it’s more than a meal, it’s a ritual STORY BY NAT LEVY | COURTESY PHOTOS Don’t be afraid to offer your sushi chef a drink either.

You will also receive a bowl of miso soup, which is acceptable to drink.

Now, time to order. Beginners may be tempted to play it safe and stick with the tried and true California Roll, consisting of crab, avocado, cucumber, wrapped in rice and seaweed. But if that’s all you’re planning on eating you’re better off getting your sushi at the supermarket.

Other options include sashimi, which is the most basic of foods served at a sushi bar. It consists simply of fresh seafood. When ordering this, make sure to ask the chef what the freshest options of the day are. Most restaurants have nearly limitless combinations, so don’t be afraid try a couple of different options.

Now onto some of the key customs. When you’ve decided what to order, you’ll notice several items on your plate. They include wasabi (a green paste that is a form of Japanese horseradish), a small plate for soy sauce (shoyu), and some ginger (gari). With Nigiri, dip the sushi into the soy sauce, but avoid touching the rice with the sauce. If it’s not hot enough dab a little extra wasabi on, but be judicious. Each roll, or piece will have vastly different flavor, so don’t hesitate to take a piece of the ginger leaf to cleanse the pallet. Make sure not to put the leaf on the sushi or ingest too much.

These are only the basics of the ritual surrounding one of the most popular foods in the world. In-depth explanations are easy to find online, or from a local sushi chef.

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march 2011

Vogue mama:

the look

Nine months of baby-bump style

BY GABRIELLE NOMURA | PHOTOS BY ALEX LIM AND COURTESY OF JENNI HOGAN

I

n November 2009, Jenni Hogan, KIRO 7 TV anchor, broke some very exciting news on camera after the morning newscast: She was pregnant. Twelve weeks, to be exact.

The pink Olian wrap-dress viewers saw her wearing on TV weeks later was no coincidence. On May 20, 2010, she gave birth to “lil’ pookette,” as the native Aussie calls her baby girl, Siena.

“I felt the most beautiful I had ever felt. Every day, being pregnant blew me away that we can create humans,” says Hogan, whose accent has settled comfortably into American-English, with subtle hints of Australian.

While Hogan was mostly excited to put on weight and loved turning to the side to show off her little bump, it wasn’t all easy.

“Some days it was tough to look at myself getting rounder in the face, but I quickly understood that I was my own worst critic,” says Hogan, who was able to see her body’s transformation in the TV monitors at work.

“The wonderful network of people in my life made me feel nothing but beautiful.”

But as her athletic physique (she rowed crew for University of Washington) and waistline changed from hourglass to apple, it got harder for even the lanky TV anchor with model good-looks to feel comfortable in her shape 100 percent of the time. How did she get through those tougher moments?

Surprisingly, not by trying to hide her new, round belly.

As someone who enjoys being on TV each week, and who isn’t afraid to share intimate family moments on YouTube like some of her daughter’s first words (“mama”), Hogan has never been one to hide from the spotlight. And the 22,818 adoring fans who follow her on Twitter are, no doubt, grateful for that. Through her pay-itforward values, like her baby shower at Bellevue’s Lucky Strike Lanes & Lounge where, instead of asking for gifts, she asked for guests to bring diapers, formula and bottles to donate to Northwest Harvest for needy families, Hogan has become near localroyalty. Certainly she’s the queen of social media, but like Princess Di, she puts her popularity to work, advancing the charities and causes she believes in.

Also like the former Princess of Wales, Hogan is a bit of a style icon.

Each Friday, she fearlessly posts photos of her “outfit of the day” on her website and Facebook page (“Fashion Friday Olive dress! Fall is approaching and I hear

One of Hogan’s ‘Fashion Friday’ ensembles she wore while pregnant in the KIRO 7 studios. Each Friday, Hogan posts photos of herself in her outfit of the day on Facebook and on her website. olive and ivory are the colors to stock up on. Testing out the olive today on TV!”). What might be mortifying scrutiny for some, Hogan looks forward to, saying the online votes, tweets, re-tweets and comments based on her outfits are positive or helpful. The online followers and fans who watch Hogan on TV, “genuinely want me to look good – once I had lint on my shoulder and someone let me know via Twitter,” she says.

And it’s true. Despite the occasional creeper-comment, most people say things like, “You ROCKED the news this morning with your cute outfit. Love the blouse,” or “Perfect fall colors, reminds me of the leaves on the trees changing colors!”

During her pregnancy, Hogan not only continued giving her regular 70,000 viewers their 4:30 a.m. traffic report, but also being with-child didn’t slow down her “Fashion Fridays” either. They helped her gain popularity, setting the Pacific Northwest’s chunk of the Web abuzz each Friday morning, in addition to giving pregnant Hogan–bump, heels, abovethe-knee frocks and all, a chance to shine.

Fabulous style and fashion-savvy – these are what helped Hogan highlight, not hide, her glowing confidence and excitement for Siena’s arrival. [ more VOGUE MAMA on page 15]

the look

march 2011 | thebellevuescene.com

| 15

Great health and style should be combined to work together for new moms. Pregnant women need flattering clothing for going out or day-to-day wear, but as women continue to climb the corporate ladder, they also need garments where they can still look puttogether and professional, says Buck, a former lawyer who was arguing in court right up until a couple days before giving birth.

[ VOGUE MAMA from page 14 ]

“People tell you that being a mom will be amazing, but you really have no idea until it happens,” says Hogan, who felt feminine emphasizing her curves and legs in dresses, boots and heels during the months before baby. “The Clothes she loves: other day I was rolling around on • Maternal America dresses available at From Bump to Baby - Urban the floor, imitating Siena. Rolling Maternity Wear (bumpbellevue.com) it’s “Something you could wear after around next to my 8-month old – pregnancy, too.” Choose Spun: “The designer is a mother on Mercer Island. now that came close to being at the Wear the clothes as your tummy starts to grow in the first trimester.” Local top of my list for the most fun I’ve designer Hadley Stilwell (hadleystilwell.com). “You can wear these clothes to ever had.” work and they’re breast-feeding friendly.”

Hogan entered into motherhood in Budget tips: the age of chic pregnancy. Inspired • Buy basics on the cheap (black pants and a skirt) at Target or by mommies who set the trends in Motherhood Maternity. cute comfort like Gwen Stefani and • Utilize your current wardrobe. “Wear the jeans Angelina Jolie, the maternity clothes you love, but keep them unbuttoned and market took off between the late ’90s get a maternity belly band (it goes and early 2000s, as non-singer/actor/ over your jeans so you can’t see heiresses took note of the trends they they’re undone.” Online and at Motherhood Maternity for around $6. saw in magazines and on TV.

Jenni Hogan’s tips for moms-to-be

It’s nowadays that a pregnant Heidi Klum heads to the Emmy’s with a glitzy, black gown clinging to her protruding bump, and Vogue Magazine features articles such as, “Expecting In Style: What The Pregnant Gisele Should Wear This Fall.” Diaper bags now look more like purses and come in Coach and Vera Wang varieties. Pregnant women still wear the typical figureflattering empire-cut tops and dresses, but they also wear tight garments, says Kelly Buck, owner of Bump to Baby - Urban Maternity Wear in Bellevue.

“A lot of people think they want something flowy, but that can make you look bigger than you are,” says Buck, who recommends skinny jeans or leggings. “It’s such a different world: 40 or 50 years ago, seeing a pregnant woman was really taboo and not something people were used to.”

Of course, clothes can only go so far. The good old fashion rules like getting enough exercise, drinking water and proper nutrition will also help pregnant women not only look, but feel great, says doctor Kristin Graham, head OB/GYN physician at Overlake Hospital.

“No, you are definitely not eating for two. That’s one of the first things I tell my patients,” says Graham, who puts a typical healthy weight-gain at 25 to 35 pounds, depending on a variety of factors.

As someone who spent her nine months on camera in the KIRO 7 studios, Hogan can relate. She says pregnancy is individual, some women want to flaunt their bellies, others are more reserved, and that’s OK, too.

But for a woman whose very public job has caused her to be criticized for things like her Australian accent, being too smiley and not serious enough, and dressing too trendy, flaunting her bump was just like being proud of all the other parts of her that make her Jenni Hogan.

“I remember practicing with my husband, trying to sound more American,” says Hogan. “Until my bosses took me aside and said, ‘Hey, just be you.’

And who she is, TV anchor and fashionista aside, is a proud, beaming mama.

Other things to spoil the mom-to-be:

Belli Oil from the Belli Skincare line, based out of Issaquah: “I used this and I don’t have one stretch mark.” belliskincare.com.

Cute nighty to wear at the hospital:

Bella Materna sleepwear (www.bellamaterna.com.) based out of Lake Union.

Relax while waiting for baby:

“Get a pedicure. You can’t control the gown they give you, but you can control what your toes look like (and you’ll be looking at them a lot when you’re delivering). Go to Red Door Spa at the Bravern. While you’re there, accidentally book yourself a PreNatal Massage.”

Workout with baby:

“I invited other new mothers to my personal trainer sessions. Twelve moms showed up and we called it ‘Mission: Hot Mama.’ We all brought our babies and used them as weights. It was great bonding time while getting back into shape.”

Diaper bag:

“The one I use the most is from Target.

It’s brown with pink dots and can fit everything really well. I don’t think it’s even for diapers, it’s just a big bag that I bought to carry my stuff to take to the hospital. Now it gives me good memories, as that was the day Siena came into my life. So I use it as a diaper bag.”

Husband and wife, Josh and Jenni Hogan, hold 8-month old Siena, born May 20, 2010. “Yes, 5-20 like the freeway. Trust me to have a traffic baby,” Hogan says.

THE scene

16 | thebellevuescene.com | march 2011

Downtown Bellevue

Where to go • What to do • What to see • Where to be “Do what you love and you’ll always love what you do!” comments Jill Dillon, owner of Between Friends Consignment and Gifts. The secret is most definitely out about this modern-day consignment store and the great deals (and some steals!) are happening every day.

Behind its modest storefront doors, the treasures at Between Friends pack a lot of punch. Jill’s fashion talents are found throughout the shop by way of ensuring the merchandise is not only current in both trends and seasons, but also fresh and ever-changing. You’ll find classic brands such as Coach,

Burberry and Tory Burch to today’s most popular denims, loungewear and athletic apparel. On any given day, you’ll be sure to find something that is just the right fit!

With the addition of women’s workday clothes, pre-teen trends, shelves of accessories and home décor, it’s no wonder Between Friends has quickly become the talk of the town.

Consignments are by appointment and browsing the store is highly encouragedJill is excited to see you!

High End Women’s Consignment Clothing and Accessories

Wen Zhenfei

Thru March 6

Charlie Barr

Come by and shop, chat and relax

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alignment but without years of treatment. “Treatment is faster and easier than ever. Minor corrections of can be done with traditional braces and more esthetic options like tooth-colored braces, Invisalign, or even lingual brackets (on the tongue side of the teeth). Orthodontics is never a quick fix, but maybe quicker than you think.” reports Dr. Wisanu Charoenkul.

More Treatment Options Than Ever Many adults have experienced some relapse of dental crowding in the years since having their braces removed and lack of consistent retainer use. Many patients call Lake Hills Orthodontics in Bellevue hoping to re-correct lost tooth

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loud & about

My Online ‘Hood

F

orget Allstate, like a good neighbor Facebook is there.

Facebook is an important part of my neighborhood. Back when I was a deliberate Facebook holdout I had no way of knowing how helpful, entertaining and

BY HEIJA NUNN yes, potentially embarrassing it can be to actively participate in what amounts to an online community center. Instead of secretly lurking via a spouse or child’s account, having my own outand-proud online profile means I can stay in touch with my diverse networks; school friends, the “write people” collected in a dim-lit Sea-Tac bar, actual neighbors, my favorite flagger, strangers who became friends in taxis and on long plane trips, people I used to work with, people I currently work with (Craig Groshart, you are my second-favorite editor ever!) people I might like to work with (not you John Curley, you had your chance!) and in a nervewracking recent development, my own son.

March An Eastsider’s guide

My favorite thing about Facebook is that it’s instant.

Lost dog in the ‘hood? Post it on Facebook. Chances are someone knows someone who knows someone who named their dog after an expensive cut of steak and then failed to tightly fasten its electronic collar.

Fresh out of babysitters or vodka? Facebook can probably hook you up right away! Or maybe you’re like me and have a shameful addiction to trashy TV. I have found my peeps on Facebook, people who know what a Real Ho is, and are happy to Watch and Snark (or Watch and Lurk) “The Bachelor” along with me every Monday night. Facebook is fun. Facebook is useful. Facebook is also the only public place I can go wearing my bathrobe. Unless driving the kids to school counts as public.

Wanna say Hiya to Heija? Follow her on Twitter (@Heija) Friend her on Facebook or relax, sit back, and silently judge her life in the flickering glow of your computer screen at her blog The Worst Mother in the World (www.Heija.com).

| 17

hard-swinging and high energy jazz that swept the nation in the 1930s and 1940s.

Tickets and more information are available at 206-523-6159 and online at www.srjo.org.

March 3-9

BAM Student Wednesday

Today students get their time in the museum without paying as part of BAM’s Student Wednesday. It happens from 1-5 p.m. the second Wednesday of every month at the museum, 510 Bellevue Way NE.

March 3-11, 12, 13

International Ballet Theater

The company will showcase “Giselle” in three performances at The Theatre at Meydenbauer. The ballet tells the story of a peasant girl whose true love for a nobleman is not realized until her death. It is the oldest continuously-performed ballet in history.

Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. March 11-12 and 2 p.m.

March 13 with tickets $50 for adults; $40 for students/seniors; and $25 for children. They’re available at www.brownpapertickets.com/ event/121705 or by calling 800-838-3006. The theater is located at 11100 NE Sixth St. in Bellevue.

One of the best uses for Facebook and most dangerous for businesses is the word-of-mouth marketing that happens. A few days ago TV actress Josie Bissett asked for ophthalmologist recommendations and got a landslide of responses, ironically the most “liked” doctor isn’t even on Facebook. I feel for the other Eastside eye doctor who probably doesn’t know how many people read the post about how he kept a mom with two toddlers waiting an hour and half for a three-minute exam.

Social media is perilous, too. Chronic smart-asses like me may occasionally find themselves having to explain perfectly innocent (and funny!) remarks that have been taken too seriously.

march 2011 | thebellevuescene.com

March 3-12, 13

Issaquah Paddle Sports

March 3-5

Bellevue Philharmonic Orchestra

Families and students can get a sneak peek at the Bellevue Philharmonic Orchestra’s Masterworks II performance at the group’s dress rehearsal this morning. At intermission, students are invited to talk to Music Director Michael Miropolsky. It’s free at The Theater at Meydenbauer, 11100 NE Sixth St., Bellevue.

March - April 30

Stephanie Reilly’s exhibit

“Thoughts from the Divine,” continues through April 30 at Pogacha of Bellevue. The show features a series of mixed medium pieces on canvas that use alphabet letters and found objects as a base and build layerupon-layer of texture and color into the finished works. Pogacha is at 119 106th Ave. NE.

March 3-6

A Tribute of Benny Goodman

Will be performed by the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra tonight at the Kirkland Performance Center. It’s part of the orchestra’s 16th season. The concert begins at 3 p.m. and will be the

It’s time to start getting outside again and Issaquah Paddle Sports is offering a two-hour tour along the shores of Lake Sammamish and a portion of Issaquah Creek. The tour both days will be led by a professional kayak guide and will last from 9 a.m. to noon. Register for $6 per person and rent a kayak for $10 single, sit-on-the-top kayak; $15 for a double or triple. They provide free dry suit and life vests. You’ve got to pre-register by calling Issaquah Paddle Sports at 206-527-1825. The tour begins at Lake Sammamish State Park, 2000 N.W. Sammamish Road, Issaquah. More information is available at www.kayakacademy.com

March --through May 15 Jules Steiner: The Great Innovator

A temporary exhibit, “Jules Steiner: The Great Innovator,” is on on display at the Rosalie Whyel Museum of Doll Art through May 15. Steiner was unquestionably among the most imaginative doll and toy makers of the 19th century. His inventions included mechanical toys and walking and talking dolls. The exhibit will display a number of rare Steiner dolls.

The museum is located at 1116 108th Ave. NE.

Calendar submissions:

The free community calendar is published on a spaceavailable basis. If you have questions or would like to submit an item, please e-mail assistant editor Gabrielle Nomura at gnomura@bellevuereporter.com

18 | thebellevuescene.com | march 2011 Dear Rose, My friends and I eat out once a week at a favorite Asian restaurant in Bellevue, and I am continually annoyed by many of the restaurant patrons’ behavior when they open their wooden chopsticks from the paper wrapping, pull them apart, and begin rubbing them against each other as if they are a saw and the edges of the chopstick are rough (when they are not). What are your thoughts on the etiquette of this gesture? – Annoyed

Dear Rose, I will be meeting my boyfriend’s parents for the first time next month and would like your ideas on how I can make a lasting impression with them. – Nervous

Ask Rose

Dear Annoyed , I too, wonder why anyone would think they have

to rub chopsticks back and forth many times before using them. The majority of wrapped wooden chopsticks are already very smooth. When broken apart at the bottom, the broken part is not used to eat with, so it should not matter if the break is not perfect. The explanation lies in the past. Previously, the American chopsticks were not of the best quality and rubbing them together made sense. No longer. Japanese and Chinese people do not see the need and it shows we are out of touch with the realities of the situation.

The issue of chopstick etiquette can fill a whole column. I leave you with a few pointers, and more later. When one takes from a communal dish, you are required to turn your chopsticks around and use the base, so as not to share germs. Do not use the end that was just in your mouth. We should observe people who are a part of that culture and take their lead lest we embarrass ourselves by our actions.

That goes for any culture, as well. There is one exception to that rule: eating noodles loudly with one’s mouth open and slurping. Even though such a style is the norm elsewhere, one must simply heed Mothers’ advice. Close your mouth while eating and chew silently! There are no excuses for this eating behavior!

Dear Rose,

What is the etiquette of wearing white as a wedding guest?

– The Perfect Wedding Guest

the voice

Dear Nervous, Like a job interview, this is another time in your life where you

will want to present the very best version of yourself to those around you. I strongly encourage you to follow these guidelines to win his parents’ approval.

Dress conservatively, which means no short shorts, towering high heels or a low cut shirt; as this could be misinterpreted and cause a long-lasting and negative first impression.

If you wear makeup, make sure that it is softly applied for a day look (not a night out on the town). Be sure to take a small gift, like a small box of Fran’s Sea Salt Caramels or some ribbon-tied seasonal blooms. Do not drink too much, even if everyone else does, as you will want to keep your wits about you at all times. Do not be overly affectionate with your boyfriend. Public displays of affection are a no-no. Do not swear. Don’t moan about your boyfriend or nag him in front of his parents or talk about past loves. Be sure to share your opinions and join in on the conversation without being controversial or too blond. This shows that you are able to hold your own. Be gracious, and follow up in a timely manner with a hand-written thank you note for their hospitality. .................................................................................................

Dear Rose, I am very uncomfortable in settings in which I am with people I am meeting for the first time, especially in social settings. How does one start a conversation? – Small Talk Dear Small Talk, A lady and a gentleman properly introduce themselves to a party guest, share how they know the party host, and politely compliment the person to whom they are speaking. It is good to ask a question such as where a tie or dress was purchased. We all like to be told that we have a pretty smile, have beautiful eyes, or that we are wearing the perfect outfit. Topics of conversation can include favorite places to vacation, current human interest stories, sporting events, the latest must-see TV show or movie, a new restaurant, or even the weekend weather. Try to be humorous and not a bore, and listen to the person you are talking too. A lady or a gentleman does not speak loudly, stand too close, swear, share their medical or emotional ailments, or talk about themselves too much. It is always better not to discuss politics or religion, especially in a first meeting, and avoid gossip at all cost. Laugh, but not too loud and remember the most important tip of all, the best conversationalists are the best listeners.

Dear The Perfect Wedding Guest,

White is considered to being only the bride’s domain, unless the wedding invitation states that “white” attire is requested. It is always an honor to be invited to a wedding. It is such an important occasion for the hosts and their close family. Weddings demand more careful observation of a few basic rules of etiquette than almost any other occasion. Make a note of the dress code and, for instance, whether it is a black tie or evening wedding that will require a more formal outfit than a day wedding. On another topic, it is important to be sure to reply to your invitation as soon as possible to inform your hosts of your availability. It is very bad manners not to respond to a wedding invitation by the RSVP date.

Finally, when in doubt, wear pastel colors.

Rose Dennis has 15 years experience as a tenured college professor at Edmonds Community College, teaching classes in Fashion, Retail, Marketing and Business Management. (Photo courtesy of Team Photogenic)

Want to Ask Rose? Send your questions to askrose@live.com

THE scene

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march 2011 | thebellevuescene.com | 19

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