360 June 20 2013 by Skagit Publishing

A day of blues in Anacortes PAGE 3

Skagit Valley Herald Thursday June 20, 2013

Reviews

On Stage

At the Movies

Music: Kayne West, Bill Frisell Video Games: “The Last of Us”

The Lincoln hosts “Foolin” Around with Patsy Cline” on Friday

“Monsters University” – prequel doesn’t quite measure up to original

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Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

E2 - Thursday, June 20, 2013

NEW ON DVD THIS WEEK “Jack the Giant Slayer”: A young farmer (Nicholas Hoult) opens a gateway to a world of giants. This is the latest film foray into giving classic fairy tales a modern look. It combines a likable hero with a fun story and flashy special effects to make the movie fee fi fo fun. Director Bryan Singer ramps up the action, especially in the final battle where, despite the medieval nature of the weapons, the fight is as explosive as any modern-age donnybrook. He excels in the use of 3-D technology, giving a true sense of how big the giants are when they are looking down upon their smaller opponents. Typical fairy-tale elements are given nice tweaks, such as having the princess be less of a damsel in distress and more of an equal to her heroic saviors. There is a slight comical touch to the king played by Ian McShane. But in the end, he’s less of the comic relief and just as much a hero. The combination of the strong special effects and solid acting translates to “Jack the Giant Slayer” accomplishing one titanic feat — it’s huge fun to watch. One word of warning: The giants’ taste for human blood may scare young moviegoers. “Stoker”: “Stoker” is a visual treat from the creative opening credits to the colorful splendor of nature that’s almost blinding. Director Park Chan-wook embraces texture, shapes and colors with such exuberance that each scene is a celebration of the visual. It’s almost brilliant enough to distract from a plot that has some very dark problems. Mia Wasikowska turns in a creepy performance as India, a young woman who just turned 18 and has lived an emotionally confined life. That world gets even smaller and darker when her father dies in an automobile accident. The arrival of Charles Stoker (Matthew Goode), an uncle she never knew existed, could be the spark she needs to come out of her emotional cocoon. The film’s big question is whether she will emerge as a beautiful butterfly or killer moth. “21 and Over”: A birthday celebration goes very bad. “Rectify”: First season of the cable series about the release of a man who has been on death row for 19 years. “American Mary”: Medical student gets involved with underground surgeries. “Quartet”: Concert at a home for retired musicians is disrupted by the for-

YOUR ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND RECREATION GUIDE TO WHAT’S GOING ON IN SKAGIT COUNTY AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS

Upcoming movie releases Following is a partial schedule of coming movies on DVD. Release dates are subject to change: JUNE 25 The Call - Sony The Incredible Burt Wonderstone - Warner No - Sony

This Weekend / Page 5 Check out the third annual Summer Solstice Celebration tonight on the Skagit Riverwalk in downtown Mount Vernon

JULY 2 Tai Chi Hero - Well Go USA JULY 9 Dead Man Down - Sony The Host - Universal Spring Breakers - Lionsgate Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor - Lionsgate JULY 16 Evil Dead - Sony 42 - Warner JULY 23 Detention of the Dead - Anchor Bay Ginger & Rosa - Lionsgate New World - Well Go USA Trance - Fox

Inside

JULY 30 Black Rock - Lionsgate G.I. Joe: Retaliation - Paramount n McClatchy-Tribune News Service

mer wife of one of the residents. “Movie 43”: The dark comedy stars Gerard Butler, Hugh Jackman, Richard Gere and Julianne Moore. “NOVA: Meteor Strike”: A 7,000-ton asteroid falls to the ground near the Ural Mountains in Russia. “Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated Season 2 Part 2: Spooky Stampede”: Features 13 mystery solving episodes. “Understanding Art: Hidden Lives of Masterpieces”: Series documents the Louvre’s study days, in which works by major artists are examined. “Springhill, Series 1”: A family’s life is thrown into turmoil by an unwelcome arrival. “Workaholics: Season 3”: TelAmeriCorp’s chief slackers clock in for another shift. “Nature: Great Zebra Exodus”: A look at the zebras who live on Botswana’s Makgadikgadi Pans. “The Wild West”: Miniseries that looks at the real stories behind three of the West’s most famous figures. “Lifeforce”: The Tobe Hooper film is now available on Blu-ray. “Slugterra: Slugs Unleashed”: Five episodes of the animated series. n Rick Bentley, The Fresno Bee

SUBMISSIONS Email features@skagitpublishing.com vrichardson@skagitpublishing. com (recreation items) Deadline: 5 p.m. Friday for the following Thursday edition Phone 360-416-2135 Hand-deliver 1215 Anderson Road Mount Vernon, WA 98274 Mailing address P.O. Box 578 Mount Vernon, WA 98273

Music, Game Reviews..................6-7 Travel............................................8-9 On Stage........................................ 10 Tuning Up..................................... 11 Movie Listings............................... 13 Movie Mini-Reviews..................... 13 Get Involved.................................. 14 Hot Tickets.................................... 16 At the Lincoln Theatre.................. 16 Out & About.............................18-19 COVER: Randy Oxford / R. Peto photo

Online events calendar To list your event on our website, visit goskagit.com and look for the Events Calendar on the home page HAVE A STORY IDEA? w For arts and entertainment, contact Features Editor Craig Parrish at 360-416-2135 or features@skagitpublishing.com w For recreation, contact staff writer Vince Richardson at 360-416-2181 or vrichardson@ skagitpublishing.com TO ADVERTISE 360-424-3251

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

Thursday, June 20, 2013 - E3

MUSIC RANDY OXFORD

A DAY OF TOP-SHELF BLUES IN ANACORTES

R. Peto photo

RAFAEL TRANQUILINO BAND

Skagit Valley Herald staff @360_SVH

DIRTY RICE Washington Blues Society International Blues Challenge semifinals When: 3-9 p.m. Sunday, June 23 Where: H2O, 314 Commercial Ave., Anacortes. Tickets: $10. www.anacortesh2o.com/ event/international-blues-challenge-2 or 360-755-3956.

LADY A & THE BABY BLUE FUNK BAND

Kary Lee photo

THE LINEUP Wide Willie Washburn: 3-3:25 p.m. Dirty Rice: 3:40-4:05 Rafael Tranquilino Band: 4:204:45 Lady A & Her Baby Blue Funk Band: 5-5:25 Blues Playground: 5:40-6:05 The Road Dogz: 6:20-6:45 James Howard Band: 7-7:25 The Randy Oxford Band: 7:408:05 n Top scorers will be announced at 8:30 p.m.

Some of the region’s finest rhythmand-blues acts are coming to Anacortes, as part of taking their music to national and international audiences. The Washington Blues Society will hold one of its statewide semifinals at 3 p.m. Sunday, June 23, at H2O in Anacortes. Other semifinals will be held in Spokane, Snohomish and Kennewick. The top-scoring acts from each round will advance to the Washington Blues Society International Blues Challenge finals. The winner earns a trip to perform in Memphis, Tenn. Sunday’s scheduled performers include Wide Willy Washburn, Dirty Rice, Rafael Tranquilino Band, Lady A & The Baby Blue Funk Band, Blues Playground, The Road Dogz, James Howard Band and The Randy Oxford Band.

Kerri Dowd photo

JAMES HOWARD

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

E4 - Thursday, June 20, 2013

MOVIES

ofia Coppola could have easily gone the studio route in choosing a distributor for her new movie, “The Bling Ring.” Instead she chose the upstart company that set loose the viral image of James Franco as a resplendently thugged-out Jesus. The Facebook posting of the actor in his “Spring Breakers” lizard-king persona, surrounded by his bikiniclad co-stars, Coppola director Harmony Korine and rapper Gucci Mane at a “Last Supper”-style banquet table, spread across the Web in late March with a tide of 20,000 thumbs-up. By the time the company called A24 released “Spring Breakers,” the $5-million crime romp had exploded across the cultural consciousness. It was a trending topic on Twitter for several weeks and had about 600,000 Facebook likes before it set perscreen attendance records its opening weekend and clocked the biggest premiere of a movie in limited release this year. Inside a converted industrial space with 20-foothigh ceilings and sweeping views of the Hudson River, the A24 crew of twentyand thirtysomethings work shoulder to shoulder at long communal tables. With nary an executive suite in sight and no management hierarchy immediately apparent, the scene, more Pinterest than Paramount, calls to mind a Silicon Valley start-up, not the kind of corporate complex where moviemaking decisions typically get made. But then, A24 isn’t interested in business as usual in Hollywood. Less than

Werdiger says, “by tapping into elements of it that are really evocative and compelling to people in a way that does not register as something they want to spend money on.” Which is precisely where social media fit into the company’s strategy. A24’s “Last Supper” post on Facebook worked for “Spring Breakers” because it easily stood alone as a comic homage for sharing among friends on the Web. But it also carried the caption “On Friday, be good. We’re saving you a seat” — a wink to the Good Friday holiday — and linked to a website selling tickets to the movie. The post wasn’t an ad, per se, but it engaged its potential audience. “For studios, the digital campaign is an offshoot of the main campaign,” says A24 Films via AP John Hodges, head of acquisitions for A24. “For us on Emma Watson is shown in a scene from “The Bling ‘Spring Breakers,’ it was the Ring.” spine of the campaign. It’s different when it’s the leadthe director says. “They the art-house ghetto. ing narrative as opposed to saw a way to reach both an “There is an audience additional material.” art-house audience and a out there for these films,” Korine, the shock indie popcorn movie audience. says A24 co-founder Danauteur behind such disquiThey knew a lot about iel Katz. “And there are eting cult films as “Trash By CHRIS LEE / Los Angeles Times social media. And they platforms that didn’t exist Humpers” and “Julien had a strategy to make it 12, 18, 24 months ago that Donkey-Boy,” had never work. I thought their whole allow us to create a profile heard of A24 before it a year in operation, the another of the year’s biggest approach was smart.” for a project that didn’t acquired the domestic disproduction and distribulimited-release openings. Thus far, the company exist without national tele- tribution rights to “Spring tion company is attempting Opening in five theaters has specialized in titles that vision advertising.” Breakers” last fall. But the to rewrite the indie-movie in New York and Los Ange- fall under the umbrella “We want all our films director quickly warmed to playbook by erasing the les last weekend before term “artsploitation”: pres- to cross over,” says David A24’s efforts to virally disdivide between art-house opening wide this week tige films such as A24’s Fenkel, another A24 cotribute on-set photos of the cinema and the multiplex. across the country, “The March-released drama founder. film’s stars preening in fluoThe industry is taking Bling Ring” has already “Ginger & Rosa” and “The But to hear it from Jesse rescent bikinis and a series notice: “Spring Breakers” made bigger cultural waves Spectacular Now” (which Patrone-Werdiger, who of lurid trailers that created has grossed more than $14 than anyone could reason- premiered at the Sundance concentrates on market“stickiness,” or awareness million to date — a sizable ably expect from an $8 mil- Film Festival and hits theing and social media for for the small film. score for an independently lion film whose biggest star aters in August) featuring the company, helping small “They saw that marfinanced feature without is Emma Watson from the attractive ingenues who films bridge that divide in keting was a creative act studio backing. “Harry Potter” franchise. cast off their social inhibithe modern movie market- that could be entertaining tions to learn life’s lessons. place requires bypassing Many predict that A24 Coppola says she was in and of itself,” Korine But the company’s larger traditional promotional could follow up that success convinced that A24 would says.”They were thinking goal is less genre-specific: with “The Bling Ring.” On use tactical marketing methods in lieu of a kind in a different way, tryA24 wants to inject modest- of asymmetrical marketing ing something newer and the heels of a widely publi- finesse to help turn “The ly budgeted films into the cized, glitzed-out premiere Bling Ring” into a crossapproach in tune with Gen- maybe more radical with national conversation, pro- eration Y consumer habits. their approach. That broke at the Cannes Film Festiover hit. viding the films, and their val last month, Coppola’s “I thought this movie “We’re always cognizant the film out. It became directors, a hard-won culripped-from-the-headlines can reach both a young something more like a culof trying to sell the film tural event.” crime drama delivered and a grown-up audience,” tural exposure that defies by not selling it,” Patrone-

With ‘Bling Ring,’ A24 aims to broaden art-house scope

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

Thursday, June 20, 2013 - E5

THIS WEEKENDin the area Summer solstice celebration

Welcome the arrival of summer at the third annual Summer Solstice Celebration from 6 to 8:30 p.m. today, June 20, on the Skagit Riverwalk next to the Tulip Tower in downtown Mount Vernon. Enjoy food, live music and an auction featuring patio umbrellas and Adirondack chairs painted by local artists.

Auction preview begins at 5:30 p.m. Ages 21 and older. $30. Proceeds will benefit the Mount Vernon Arts Commission. Tickets are available at the Mount Vernon Parks and Recreation office, 1717 S. 13th St.; Gretchens, 509 S. First St.; and from Mount Vernon Arts Commission members. For information, contact Mount Vernon Parks and Recreation at 360-336-6215.

SUMMER FILM SERIES Enjoy free screenings of classic

films at 7 p.m. Fridays at the Anacortes Public Library, 1220 10th St., Anacortes. 360-293-1910, ext. 21, or library. cityofanacortes.org. Next up: June 21: “The Searchers”: This classic Western stars John Wayne as Civil War veteran Ethan Edwards, who returns to Texas during the Texas-Indian Wars. Ethan embarks on a quest to find his abducted niece (Natalie Wood), now assimilated into the tribe that kidnapped her.

TOUR VINTAGE AIRCRAFT The Collings Foundation’s Wings of Freedom tour will bring a World War II vintage Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, Consolidated B-24 Liberator and North American P-51 Mustang to the Skagit Regional Airport through Friday, June 21. Tours and flights are being offered at the terminal building, 15400 Airport Drive, Burlington. The planes will be open for ground tours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to noon Friday. $12 adults, $6 ages 11 and younger, free for WWII veterans. Flights on the B-17 or B-24 are $425 for a 30-minute flight; on the P-51 fighter, $2,200 for a half-hour, $3,200 for a full hour. For information or flight reservations, call 800-568-8924.

RESTORATION CELEBRATION The La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum will celebrate the completion of its seven-year, $450,000 restoration of the Historic 1891 Gaches Mansion with a Restoration Celebration on Friday through Sunday, June 21-23, at the museum, 703 S. Second St., La Conner. The opening presentation, refreshments and commemorative brick path dedication will begin at noon Friday, followed by hourly guided tours from 1 to 5 p.m. and an old fashioned ice cream social and live music on the lawn from 6 to 8 p.m. Enjoy refreshments in the formal parlor at 11 a.m. and hourly guided tours from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The museum will be free and open to the public all three days. 360-466-4288 or lacon nerquilts.com.

ORCA SING The 14th annual musical event to honor the southern resident Orca whales will take place at 6 p.m. Saturday, June 22, at Lime Kiln Point State Park on San Juan Island. Bring a picnic and enjoy the free acoustic music performance. Tours of the lighthouse will be offered before and after the concert. Discover Pass required for parking. For information, contact the Whale Museum at 360-378-4710, ext. 30, or visit whalemuseum.org.

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

E6 - Thursday, June 20, 2013

REVIEWS MUSIC CDS Compiled from staff reports and news services

Kanye West

to mainstream and radio rules like other pop stars. He may lose some fans because his new sound isn’t easy to digest, but he’ll likely gain others, too.

Blues and folk, elemental and evocative, underpin the music here, from Elvis Costel“Yeezus” lo’s oozing charm and menace as a devil figure in “That’s Me” to the slide-guitar bite It’s hard to digest of Ryan Bingham and Will Dailey’s “Brothn Mesfin Fekadu, Associated Press all of Kanye West on erly Love,” the swamp groove of “And Your his new album. Days Are Gone” with Sheryl Crow and Phil “Yeezus” is the Bill Frisell and Dave Alvin, and the gospel-flavored rapper’s darkest, “Big Sur” fervor of Taj Mahal’s “Tear This Cabin eeriest and most erratic album of his six Down.” Neko Case offers a dose of attitude solo releases. He is in militant form on Guitarist Bill Frisell with “That’s Who I Am,” while Rosanne the 10-track set, rapping over beats that has created a sound Cash betrays matriarchal melancholy on are artsy, electronic and gloomy. It’s a far all his own, fluid and “You Don’t Know Me” and Kris Kristofstretch from the contemporary rap and languid at its core but ferson, with his seriously weathered voice, is pop success he achieved with more than a capable of dissonant a natural as the tortured patriarch on “How dozen Top 10 hits, including “Gold Digger,” distortions and pointillistic precision, and Many Days.” “Stronger” and “Heartless.” But that isn’t he has flexible and eclectic tastes. In the Mellencamp himself appears only at the necessarily a bad thing. last few years alone, he’s released albums of end, to sum it all up with “Truth,” and cap “Yeezus” continues on the dark and emo- John Lennon covers and abstract solo guiwhat proves to be a successful new career tive path he set on 2010’s “My Beautiful tar improvisations; worked with folksinger Dark Twisted Fantasy” and “808s & Heart- Abigail Washburn, Brazilian singer Vinicius move. break,” which was released two years earCantuaria, and avant-garde composer John n Nick Cristiano, The Philadelphia Inquirer lier. The production throughout “Yeezus” Zorn; and revived his electronic experimenis exceptional, with Rick Rubin, Daft Punk, tal project Floratone. Hezekiah Walker No ID, RZA and more helping out. The “Big Sur” is an outgrowth of an artist “Azusa: The album flows nicely, with songs including residency Frisell did in California and finds Next Generation” layered vocals and transitions that elevate him playing with violinist Jenny Scheinman them to great heights: “On Sight” starts (who shares the lead on many tracks), vioIt seems like a celthe album with the right energy and West list Eyvind Kang, cellist Hank Roberts and ebration of faithful gets an epic and soulful assist from Charlie drummer Rudy Royston. The Big Sur Quinendurance on HezeWilson on the closing track, “Bound 2.” tet, as the group is called, mines the widekiah Walker’s 14th It’s a classic Yeezy effort and arguably the screen Americana styles Frisell has been album, “Azusa: The Next Generation.” album’s best track. exploring on and off since at least 1997’s The Grammy- and Stellar Award-winning Lyrically, though, West isn’t always at his “Nashville,” with touches of surf rock (“The singer, along with the famed Love Fellowbest. The album lacks deep storytelling from Big One”), chamber jazz (“Hawks”) and ship Choir, has put together a collection the 36-year-old, which he powerfully deliv- folk balladry (“We All Love Neil Young”). of uplifting praise and worship songs that ered on past albums. He sounds random The strong melodies, genre-blending and should please the soul. The topics of mainand frustrated at times, and at others, he’ll flashes of humor are nothing radically new taining faith and overcoming life’s obstacles frustrate you. from Frisell, but they’re still rewarding. are familiar, but musically the songs have West raps about religion a good amount fresh feel, thanks to the album’s stellar pron Steve Klinge, The Philadelphia Inquirer on “Yeezus,” which is his Jesus-like moniduction by Donald Lawrence and Walker. ker. “If I don’t get ran out by Catholics, here Walker also collaborates with some of come some conservative Baptists,” he says ‘Ghost Brothers gospel’s best on the 10-track set: Timiney on “Black Skinhead.” And on “I Am God” of Darkland Figueroa-Caton is powerful on “More — well, you get it. Than a Conqueror,” Brian Courtney WilCounty’ But religious folks won’t be the only son croons nicely on the mid-tempo tune Various artists ones upset with the album: While West has “Grace,” and on “Amazing,” Stephanie promoted “Yeezus” with performances on Fisher Oplacio’s vocals soar on the standout “Saturday Night Live” and video projecAs you can gather track. Other guests include Deitrick Hadtions to match the album’s wild sound, he’s from the title, the Stereleasing it without a huge single on radio phen King-John Mellencamp stage musical don, John P. Kee and Donnie McClurkin, who provides hope on “Breakthrough.” or on the charts. There isn’t even an official “Ghost Brothers of Darkland County” is Walker doesn’t sing much. But he plays music video. While he charted new territory not exactly “The Sound of Music.” And the an influential role on his new project as the on “Twisted Fantasy,” that album was sprin- Mellencamp-penned songs here, produced kled with radio-ready anthems like “All of by T Bone Burnett and performed by a col- co-writer, co-producer and the central voice the Lights.” lection of stars and cult favorites, grippingly that continually galvanizes the 200-member mass choir with his encouraging song introFor the performer with the largest voice reflect the haunting, gothic nature of the show while being able to stand on their own ductions and inspiring words. in rap — and sometimes in all of music apart from the book. — he deserves praise for not conforming n Jonathan Landrum Jr., Associated Press

Morgan Heritage

“Here Come the Kings” With a batch of songs that feature their signature vocals mixed with a nice blend of traditional roots music and love songs, reggae band Morgan Heritage’s “Here Come the Kings” feels like a celebration. The new album is their first in five years. The title track is striking, “Call to Me” is uplifting and groovy, and “Perfect Love Song” is filled with good vibes and pitchperfect harmonies. The album’s themes are familiar for the band — the message of love, positive thoughts and simplicity is at the core. But “Here Come the Kings” still shows the reggae outfit’s progress musically. That’s especially true on “Girl Is Mine,” an impressive and bold cover of Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney’s 1982 hit song. Morgan Heritage not only does the song justice, they also give it a nice reggae twist. n Bianca Roach, Associated Press

Alison Moyet “The Minutes”

Alison Moyet is not trying to impress you. True to her punk roots, the English artist didn’t make “The Minutes,” her first studio album since 2007, to please anyone. And, by doing so, she has created a remarkable collection that takes her rich contralto to new edges. Moyet, the iconic voice in the 1980s synth-pop duo Yazoo, revives her electronic roots here, merging with an experimental blend of synth sounds that express modernity, technology and introspection. Producer Guy Sigsworth has built brilliant moments into the album’s fabric, demanding listeners be armed with good headphones. Moyet’s voice is at its most complex and her lyrics are darkly poetic, in perfect defiance of commercial conventions. As she proclaims on “Right as Rain,” an ubercool club piece, “If you can’t be happy with me, be unhappy with me, stay unhappy with me.” n Michelle Morgante, Associated Press

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

Thursday, June 20, 2013 - E7

REVIEWS VIDEO GAMES Chris Campbell, Scripps Howard News Service

‘The Last of Us’

game wisely has characters and situations call back upon how survival involves difPlatform: PlayStation 3 ficult decisions and not every questionable Genre: Action action is without meaning. Publisher: Sony While you control Joel, Ellie is the star ESRB Rating: M, for Mature and the reason to push on. It won’t take Grade: 4.5 stars (out of 5) long before you really immerse yourself in the story of these two trying to make do in The most striking a place that just wants to dissolve into nothmoments in “The Last ingness. In this world, resources are few and of Us” come when the vital. The game doles out the ability to craft music is low, the room new items at a smart pace and never makes is dark and you once you feel overly powerful, which makes the again crawl along the fear of death and the need to be cautious floor avoiding detecever-present. tion from a hideously Not everything in “The Last of Us” works mutated person and as it should, though. For a game so heavily then — BAM! — another one surprises you and takes a chunk reliant on stealth and strategic maneuvering through various spaces, the artificial intelout of your jugular. Few games provide the eerie atmosphere ligence governing Ellie and some enemies and believable realism of a post-apocalyptic breaks down in dumb ways. Ellie will amble right past soldiers without them noticing, or society like “The Last of Us.” The opening she’ll knock over a set of bottles that should visuals present a city, country and world otherwise alert the infected, who attack thrown into chaos when a biological event when they hear noise. You can sneak up and sends humans into two basic camps: survieliminate enemies quietly, but their comvors (the few) and infected (the many). Decisions by individuals, groups and gov- rades will step right over that dead body, ernments all make sense on the surface, but seemingly unconcerned. These break the how those actions affect those closest to you otherwise deeply immersive experience and gets presented in stark terms and leaves the remind you that this, well, is a game. After finishing the story mode, make sure main character forever changed. you spend time in the excellent online multiThat person is Joel, and in 2033 he’s doing what he can to just get by each day in player. The small teams and continued focus on survival rather than traditional running a world ruled by anarchy and martial law. and gunning equates to fantastic teamwork Not long after we catch up with Joel, he must safeguard a teen named Ellie, and she and satisfying gaming. The game’s hiccups can snap you out instantly becomes the heartbeat of the game. of your absorption into Joel and Ellie’s This isn’t a Hollywood version of the adventures, but those moments are only apocalypse where everyone has the best occasional. I can think of few other games intentions and characters are defined in in the last couple of years in which you can black and white. A companion early on lose yourself and feel emotionally attached executes an unarmed man, and instead of to the outcome. walking away and forgetting about it, the

Celebrate the arrival of SUMMER and the SUMMER SOLSTICE! THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 2013 6pm - 8:30pm • 5:30pm Preview Food, Live Music, Libations & Auction

Tickets $30, may be purchased at MV Parks & Recreation office, 1717 S. 13th or Gretchens, 509 S 1st.

For more information call: 360.336.6215 Must be 21 years or older to attend this event

Umbrella Artist Cathy Schoenberg

Stroll on down to the Skagit Riverwalk next to the Tulip Tower and enjoy an evening with artists, art lovers and community members. Support the work of the Mount Vernon Arts Commission by participating in an auction of patio umbrellas and Adirondack chairs painted by local artists.

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

E8 - Thursday, June 20, 2013

TRAVEL

Photos by Niranjan Shrestha / AP

LEFT: A flight takes off for Katmandu from Lukla airport, Nepal. Carved out of side of a mountain, the airport was built by Sir Edmund Hillary in 1965, and at an altitude of 9,325 feet, it has earned the reputation of being one of the most extreme and dangerous airports in the world. MIDDLE: Policemen stand on the runway during bad weather conditions. RIGHT: Several flights get ready to take off after a couple of days of bad weather disrupted flight services.

ADVENTURE OF MOUNT EVEREST BEGINS AT TINY NEPAL AIRSTRIP By BINAJ GURUBACHARYA and NIRANJAN SHRESTHA Associated Press

LUKLA, Nepal — As soon as the decades-old Twin Otter landed at Lukla airport, passengers burst out in applause. They do that for nearly every safe landing at the often terrifying airport at the gateway to Mount Everest. At an altitude of 9,325 feet, the small airstrip here has earned a reputation as one of the world’s most extreme and dangerous airports. The single runway is narrow, short and sloped. Miss the runway by a few feet and the plane would hit a mountain. “After you cross the river there is no turning back, you have to land,” said Pramod Poudel, a Tara Air pilot who has flown hundreds of these flights to Lukla. Carved out of the side of a mountain, the airport was built by Sir Edmund Hillary in 1965 — 12 years after he became the first man to conquer the world’s highest peak — to help the local yak herders known as Sherpas spur development in the impoverished area.

An Italian climber waits at Lukla airport. Now what once was a dirt strip is one of Nepal’s busiest airports, the Tenzing-Hillary Airport — named as well for Hillary’s climbing partner Tenzing Norgay. The thousands of mountaineers and trekkers who visit the Everest region have to fly to the airport if they want to avoid a daylong bus trip from Katmandu and five days of trekking to reach here.

The airport has handled up to 79 flights on one day — far beyond the acceptable capacity for such a facility, said Rinji, the airport’s air traffic controller, who, like most Sherpas in the Everest region, uses only one name. “It is really challenging, because of the geographical location of the airport and high

mountains that surround it. Topography is challenging and the traffic volume is challenging,” said Rinji. “There is little space for aircraft to maneuver because of the high mountains and narrow valley.” Poudel, the pilot, said he and his colleagues need to concentrate hard when landing on the single runway, which is less than 500 yards long, slopes some 12 degrees and is barely 65 feet wide. “Because there is no way to go around again, we have to calculate many things like air speed, tail wind, fog,” he said. “If you don’t do the proper calculation or proper exercise, then it” — meaning an accident — “happens.” The airport can only handle special short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft like the Twin Otter or Dronier that take about 18 passengers. It has room for only four of these planes to be parked at one time. The runway is one-way for both takeoff and landing. Aircraft have to land from the southwest and take off toward the northeast

because at the end of one side of the runway is a mountain. When winds are blowing in an unfavorable direction, all takeoffs and landings have to stop. Crashes are not uncommon. In 2008, 18 people were killed when a Twin Otter plane belonging to the domestic Yeti Airlines smashed into the side of the runway and caught fire while trying to land in heavy fog. Investigators said the pilot should not have attempted to land in those conditions. In August 2010, 14 people were killed when a Dronier belonging to the domestic Agni Air crashed after it was forced to turn around due to bad weather conditions at Lukla. In May 2004, another Yeti Airlines Twin Otter crashed while approaching Lukla, killing all three occupants in an accident blamed on heavy cloud buildup and pilot misjudgment. One plane was unable to stop on the short runway and smashed into a wall. Another skidded off the runway. A third lost its front landing gear as it tried to land and skidded down the runway, forcing the airport to shut for two

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

Thursday, June 20, 2013 - E9

TRAVEL days. No one was killed in those crashes. In addition to trekkers, the flights bring in food, construction materials, beer and other supplies required by the local population in this poor area. And it has changed life here. Once a tiny village, Lukla now has 3,000 people, many of them drawn to tourism work. Sherpas wait outside the airport hoping to be hired as porters by trekkers staying in the mountains for anywhere from a few days

Local travel

to a month. But the burgeoning population attracted by the airport has created severe drinking water shortages and sewage problems. And when a curtain of fog descends on the airport during the popular October trekking season, flights can be cancelled for days. As many as 2,500 passengers have been left stranded here with little food and no accommodation. Even on its best days, the airport is open for only a few hours.

offers travel opportunities for participants ages 12 YOGA ADVENTURE SERIES: and older (adult supervision Join Dawn Jex for day trips required for ages 18 and and yoga. Each adventure younger). 360-336-6215. includes activities at an area Next up: attraction combined with a “San Juan Island: Someyoga class. For information thing for Everyone”: 7:30 or to register, call Jex at a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday, July 360-631-0587 or visit yoga19, departing from and returngypsies.com. Next up: ing to Hillcrest Park, 1717 S. Vancouver Granville Island 13th St., Mount Vernon. JourTour and Yoga: July 13. Travel ney to San Juan Island to visit via Amtrak to Vancouver, B.C., the 12th annual SJI Lavender ride the foot ferry to the mar- Festival at Pelindaba Lavender kets and bistros of Granville Farm, followed by a no-host Island, then enjoy practicing lunch at Roche Harbor and a yoga in Ron Basford Park. behind-the-scenes tour of the Sample the confections of the Westcott Bay Cidery and San island markets, then make Juan Island Distillery, where your way back to the train you’ll taste their ciders and station and home, or make a spirits. Ages 21 and oldery. weekend of it and stay awhile $75-$77. Register by July 12. in Vancouver. Purchase train Abbotsford Airshow: 9 tickets through Amtrak ($44). a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. False Creek Ferry round trip 9, departing from and returntickets ($10) must be puring to Hillcrest Park, 1717 chased at the terminal. Ron S. 13th St., Mount Vernon. Basford Park yoga and GranCheck out the 51st annual ville Island guided tour, $40. Abbotsford, B.C., International Airshow. Proof of citizenship SHORT TRIPS: Mount required (passport, DMV enhanced driver’s license or Vernon Parks and Recreation

A man named Funru said his father once owned the land where the airport sits and helped Hillary dig the airstrip. “When I first began working at the airport, it used to be nothing like this. It was like a river bank. Every evening we had to collect rocks and fill the potholes so flights could land the next morning,” Funru said. n Binja Gurubacharya contributed to this story from Katmandu. NEXUS card). $68-$70. Register by Aug. 2. ESCORTED TOURS: The Whatcom County Tour Program offers a variety of day trips and longer tours, with most trips departing from and returning to the Bellingham Senior Activity Center, 315 Halleck St., Bellingham. For information or to register: 360-733-4030, press #, ext. 47015, or wccoa.org/index. php/Tours. Next up: Fall Foliage Mississippi River Steamboat Cruise: Oct. 4-12. $3,199-$3,999. New York City and Upstate New York Fall Colors Tour: Oct. 4-13. $2,999-$3,799. $300 deposit due at signup. Final payment due in August. EXTENDED TRIPS: The Oak Harbor Senior Center is organizing two small-group trips for 2014: Mississippi River Cruise: America’s Heartland, Nashville to New Orleans, March 19–30; and Scotland, June. Contact Pat Gardner at pgardner@oakharbor.org.

The Skagit Symphony Presents the Sixth Annual

Tour Gardens Located In and Around La Conner With LIVE Music in Every Garden

Sunday, June 30, 2013 10 am to 5 pm Tickets: $25

For tickets and information: Online at www.brownpapertickets.com

360-848-9336 • www.SkagitSymphony.com WILL CALL or to purchase tickets day of event only: La Conner Civic Garden Club, 622 S. 2nd St., La Conner

E10 Thursday, June 20, 2013

Thursday, June 20, 2013 E11

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

ON STAGE in the Skagit Valley and surrounding area June 20-30

TUNING UP Playing at area venues June 20-27 FRIDAY.21 THE BEATNIKS 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., Skagit Valley Casino Resort, Winners Lounge, 5984 N. Darrk Lane, Bow. No cover. 877-275-2448.

FRIDAY.21 “FOOLIN’ AROUND WITH PATSY CLINE,” WITH MEG MCLYNN AND THE PURPLE PHOENIX COUNTRY BAND 8 p.m., Lincoln Theatre, 712 S. First St., Mount Vernon. $15-$19.50. 360-336-8955 or lincolntheatre.org.

THURSDAY.20 R X Bertoldi Trio (blues, folk, Americana): 7:30 p.m., Conway Muse, 18444 Spruce/Main, Conway. $7. 360-445-3000. Jerri Mercer: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Jansen Art Center Piano Lounge, 321 Front St., Lynden. No cover. 360354-3600.

FRIDAY.21

Friday.21

Sunday.23

Friday.28

COMEDY

MUSIC

THEATER

Jerry Percio: 8 p.m., Concrete Theatre, 45920 Main St., Concrete. Rated R. $15. 360941-0403 or concrete-theatre.com.

THEATER

“A Rotten Demise”: interactive comedy murder mystery, 7:30 p.m., 1st Street Cabaret & Speakeasy, 612 S. First St., Mount Vernon. $45 dinner and show, $30 dessert and show, $20 show only. Reservations required: 360-336-3012 or riverbelledinner theatre.com. “The Woman in Black”: ghost thriller, 7:30 p.m., Anacortes Community Theatre, 918 M Ave., Anacortes. $18. 360-293-6829 or acttheatre.com. “Sister Robert Anne’s Cabaret Class”: musical comedy, 7:30 p.m., Whidbey Playhouse, 730 SE Midway Blvd., Oak Harbor. $18. 360-679-2237 or whidbeyplayhouse.com.

“Foolin’ Around With Patsy Cline” (tribute concert): with Meg McLynn and The Purple Phoenix Country Band, 8 p.m., Lincoln Theatre, 712 S. First St., Mount Vernon. $15-$19.50. 360-336-8955 or lincolntheatre.org.

THEATER

“The Woman in Black”: ghost thriller, 8 p.m., Anacortes Community Theatre, 918 M Ave., Anacortes. $18. 360-293-6829 or acttheatre.com.

“Sister Robert Anne’s Cabaret Class”: musical comedy, 2:30 p.m., Whidbey Playhouse, 730 SE Midway Blvd., Oak Harbor. $18. 360-679-2237 or whidbeyplayhouse.com.

“Sister Robert Anne’s Cabaret Class”: musical comedy, 7:30 p.m., Whidbey Playhouse, 730 SE Midway Blvd., Oak Harbor. $18. 360-679-2237 or whidbeyplayhouse.com.

Thursday.27

Saturday.22 THEATER

“The Woman in Black”: ghost thriller, 8 p.m., Anacortes Community Theatre, 918 M Ave., Anacortes. $18. 360-293-6829 or acttheatre.com. “Sister Robert Anne’s Cabaret Class”: musical comedy, 7:30 p.m., Whidbey Playhouse, 730 SE Midway Blvd., Oak Harbor. $18. 360-679-2237 or whidbeyplayhouse.com.

THEATER

“A Rotten Demise”: interactive comedy murder mystery, 7:30 p.m., 1st Street Cabaret & Speakeasy, 612 S. First St., Mount Vernon. $45 dinner and show, $30 dessert and show, $20 show only. Reservations required: 360-336-3012 or riverbelledinner theatre.com. “Sister Robert Anne’s Cabaret Class”: musical comedy, 7:30 p.m., Whidbey Playhouse, 730 SE Midway Blvd., Oak Harbor. $18. 360-679-2237 or whidbeyplayhouse.com.

“Sister Robert Anne’s Cabaret Class”: musical comedy, 7:30 p.m., Whidbey Playhouse, 730 SE Midway Blvd., Oak Harbor. $18. 360-679-2237 or whidbeyplayhouse.com.

Saturday.29 THEATER

“Sister Robert Anne’s Cabaret Class”: musical comedy, 7:30 p.m., Whidbey Playhouse, 730 SE Midway Blvd., Oak Harbor. $18. 360-679-2237 or whidbeyplayhouse.com.

Sunday.30

Lane Fernando: 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., Varsity Inn, 112 N. Cherry St., Burlington. No cover. 360-7550165.

The Beatniks (classic British invasion rock): 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., Skagit Valley Casino Resort, Winners Lounge, 5984 N. Darrk Lane, Bow. No cover. 877-275-2448.

Duffy Owens & Friends (Native American flute): 7 p.m., Washington Sips, 608 S. First St., La Conner. No cover. 360-3991037.

Randy Hamilton: 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., Big Lake Bar & Grill, 18247 Highway 9, Mount Vernon. 360-4226411.

Jukebox Duo (sock hop): 7 p.m., Mount Vernon Elks, 2120 Market St., Mount Vernon. 360-8488882. Open to the public.

Tiller’s Folly: 8:30 to 11:30 p.m., Rockfish Grill, 320 Commercial Ave., Anacortes. 360-588-1720.

Son of Kong (classic rock): 10 p.m., Draft Pics, 516 S. First St., Mount Vernon. No cover. 360-336-3626.

Gloria Darlings (folk-grass): 8 p.m., Conway Muse, 18444 Spruce/ Main, Conway. $7. 360-4453000.

$cratch Daddy: 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., Conway Pub & Eatery, 18611 Main St., Conway. 360-445-4733.

Amy Hindman (soft rock, Americana): 7 p.m., Washington Sips, 608 S. First St., La Conner. No cover. 360-3991037.

Alan Hatley: 8:30 to 11:30 p.m., Rockfish Grill, 320 Commercial Ave., Anacortes. 360-588-1720.

Southbound: 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., H2O, 314 Commercial Ave., Anacortes. 360755-3956.

Fanny Alger: 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., Longhorn Saloon, 5754 Cains Court, Edison. No cover. 360766-6330.

Jack Mattingly & Whisky Fever: 8:30 p.m., Edison Inn, 5829 Cains Court, Edison. 360766-6266.

THEATER

“A Rotten Demise”: interactive comedy murder mystery, 6:30 p.m., 1st Street Cabaret & Speakeasy, 612 S. First St., Mount Vernon. $45 dinner and show, $30 dessert and show, $20 show only. Reservations required: 360-336-3012 or riverbelledinner theatre.com. “Sister Robert Anne’s Cabaret Class”: musical comedy, 2:30 p.m., Whidbey Playhouse, 730 SE Midway Blvd., Oak Harbor. $18. 360-679-2237 or whidbeyplayhouse.com.

Skip Hamilton: 6 to 9 p.m., Frida’s Gourmet Mexican Restaurant, 416 Commercial Ave., Anacortes. No cover. 360-2992120.

Big Business, Helms Alee, Dog Shredder: 10 p.m., The Shakedown, 1212 N. State St., Bellingham. $10$12. 360-778-1067.

SATURDAY.22 t

Thursday.20

Marley’s Ghost: 8 p.m., Conway Muse, Renaissance Room, 18444 Spruce/Main, Conway. $12. 360-4453000.

SUNDAY.23 SmokeWagon: 5:30 p.m., Edison Inn, 5829 Cains Court, Edison. 360-766-6266.

WEDNESDAY.26 International Blues Challenge Competition: 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., H2O, 314 Commercial Ave., Anacortes. 360-755-3956.

Knut Bell & The Blue Collars: 5 to 9 p.m., Conway Pub & Eatery, 18611 Main St., Conway. 360-445-4733.

Gary B’s Church of the Blues (blues, classic rock): 6 to 10 p.m., Castle Tavern, 708 Metcalf St., Sedro-Woolley. 360-855-2263.

Smoke Wagon, Hot Damn Scandal, Chivalry Timbers: 10 p.m., The Shakedown, 1212 N. State St., Bellingham. $5. 360-778-1067.

Fidalgo Swing: 6 to 9 p.m., Rockfish Grill, 320 Commercial Ave., Anacortes. 360-588-1720.

Sly Mr. Y (classic rock): 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., Skagit Valley Casino Resort, Winners Lounge, 5984 N. Darrk Lane, Bow. No cover. 877-2752448.

Randy Hamilton: 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., Big Lake Bar & Grill, 18247 Highway 9, Mount Vernon. 360-4226411.

THURSDAY.27 Slough Dogs: 7:30 p.m., Conway Muse, 18444 Spruce/Main, Conway. 360-445-3000.

Vieux Farka Touré: 9:30 p.m., The Wild Buffalo, 208 W. Holly, Bellingham. $12. Ages 21 and up. 360-746-8733.

Andy Koch (jazz, soul): 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Jansen Art Center Piano Lounge, 321 Front St., Lynden. No cover. 360-3543600.