Results tagged “events” from Belltowner

This is totally for real, although I can hardly believe it myself. You may recall seeing the Super Bowl halftime alternative television special called the Lingerie Bowl, which showed models dressed in lingerie battling against each other in a football match. The event was so successful that they have now expanded into ten teams. The "Lingerie football league's" new teams are: The Los Angeles Temptation, Phoenix Scorch, San Diego Seduction, Dallas Desire, New England Euphoria, Chicago Bliss, Atlanta Steam, Miami Caliente, Tampa Breeze, and *drum roll please* the Seattle Mist!

The season kicks off in fall of Sept. 2009 and will be aired on cable tv. Apparently 50 women showed up last week to try out for Seattle's team, out of which only 12 made it. Although the LFL's founder hasn't secured an arena, sponsorship or front-office staff, he claims former Seahawks have contacted him about coaching. Click here to check out the official website.

The Pacific Science Center is having a very special after hour event on Oct. 16 from 7 to 10pm. "Science with a Twist" will be an evening of celebrating the arrival of Lucy, the world's most famous fossil, followed by cocktails and cuisine from Lucy's homeland, Ethiopia. At the end of the evening guests will have the opportunity to meet expedition leader Pasquale Scaturro, and enjoy the IMAX film Mystery Of The Nile, which documents Scaturro's famous descent from the Blue Nile to the sea.

Purchase your tickets to this limited event by clicking here.

Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes on the Discovery channel's famous show Mythbusters? Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage will host an Inside The Scientist's Studio style presentation at The Moore Theatre on Oct. 4. From stories of myths gone wrong and outtakes of segments never seen on air, it's sure to be an entertaining evening. Please note however that the "Behind The Scenes At Mythbusters" show will not include experiments or explosions. It may be a pretty interesting show to check out.

For more information on tickets and show times click here.

You never know, you could be the parent of a little Shirley Temple in the making. Kid Models is holding an open casting call in Belltown for children between the ages of 6 months to 9 years old to be featured in their multi-channel marketing and advertising campaigns.

Children between the ages of 6 months and 4 years should show up on Wednesday Sept. 24 between 9:30am and 2pm., and children 5 to 9 years old are asked to come on Thursday Sept. 25 from 11:30am to 4:30pm.

The casting call will be held at iCandi Studios, located at 2600 Western Ave. For more information please contact Wendy at 206 849-1870.

H&M's downtown location finally opens its doors this Thursday. If you're anything like me, you've been looking forward to having one of these stores in the neighborhood. They sell a wide variety of affordable and fashionable clothes.

Although the official opening of the store is scheduled for Thursday, apparently there is a pre-shopping event today featuring celeb DJ Samantha Ronson. I wonder if Lindsey Lohan will be there?

Open Circle Theater will now call Belltown its home this fall. The theatre company will be moving into the space next door to the Freehold Theatre on 2nd ave.

Apparently Open Circle recently lost its home of 10 years in South Lake Union to development, but aided by the support of Paul Allen's Vulcan Inc. and their property manager CB Richard Ellis, Open Circle had the breathing room to be able to wait for the perfect space. It seems they've found it.

Open Circle plans to premiere the new space with the opening of their original H.P. Lovecraft production, H.P. Lovecraft NECRONOMICON this October. Click here for details.

Welcome to the neighborhood!

On Thursday Sept. 18 there will be a Lock and Key Singles Party at See Sound Lounge in Belltown. Every female attendee will receive a lock, and every male attendee a key. The object is, you guessed it, to find your matching lock or key. For two hours attendees will get to know each other in hopes of trying to match their locks and keys. Once a match is found, their name is entered into a prize drawing and a new lock and key is awarded. The more matches you find, the more times your name is entered into the drawing.

Apparently over 75 people attended the last Lock and Key event last month. Sounds promising!

The event coordinators encourage attendees to be within the age range of 30's & 40's, although something tells me if you show up as a hot 21 year old it won't be a huge problem.

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased by clicking here.

For those of you Belltowners that may have questions about the Sound Transit expansion plan that will be on your November ballot, there will be a question and answer session held this evening at the McLeod Residence with Sound Transit's Executive Director of Policy, Planning and Public Administration, Ric Ilgenfritz.

The event is being coordinated by Friends of Seattle and is not intended to be a lecture, but more of an opportunity for attendees to ask questions regarding the proposed investment in our bus and rail system.

There is a $10 suggested donation which includes a drink. Hey, can't beat that. The session starts up this evening at 5:30pm. Click here for more information.

Stroll over to Westlake Park today to check out gravity-defying giant sand sculptures.

The event also includes other activities and music. It runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. While it's free, donations for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Puget Sound are accepted.
Photo credit Joe Mabel.

Seattle's beloved Pike Place Market is celebrating 101 years of age this upcoming Sunday August 17. In honor of this big birthday celebration, Seattle celebrates what is known as Sunset Supper at the Market this Friday August 15. More than 70 first-class restaurants, wineries, breweries and beverage companies serve their delicious creations in a buffet style setting right on the cobblestones of Pike Place. The event also includes live music and a chance to win prizes in raffle contests.

The official website says that tickets are now closed for the event. But those who wish to find tickets may still have luck on Craigslist. Here is one set of tickets I found you may be interested in.

Happy Birthday Pike Place!

Tomorrow Saturday Aug. 2, the Bravo channel is holding open auditions for their show Make Me a Supermodel. If you think you've got what it takes to be reality tv's latest and greatest star, show up at The Triple Door between 11am and 3pm.

The winner of last season's Make Me Supermodel won $100,000 and a New York Model management modeling contract.

There is no height requirement, but you must be at least 18 years old. No modeling experience is required, though if you are a model currently represented by an agency, you're still eligible to try out. For more information go here.

Top Pot Doughnuts' Belltown location on 5th ave. is having their second annual doughnut eating contest tomorrow Saturday July 26 at 2pm. Bring your sweet tooth and come on down for your chance to be crowned Doughnut Eating Champion 2008.

In addition to the competition there will be a live performance by the band, The Saturday Knights. Admission is free, and people of all ages are encouraged to participate.

Click here for more information.

Belltown's Jimmy K Salon is currently showcasing the work of artist, Starheadboy in the last place you'd expect--the bathroom. The artist's unique paintings are created on a variety of objects from broken skateboards to clipboards.

To check out more photos of Starheadboy's art, click here.

The Dark Knight, the latest of the Batman series is taking over box office sales and has critics raving. Give yourself the opportunity to see the film on the Imax's famously big screen. You can attend The Dark Knight at Imax any day of the week and can choose between variety of show times throughout the afternoon into the evening. Tickets can be purchased online by clicking here.

I'm pretty excited to see the film on the big Imax screen myself. I feel this is one of those films that will be amazing on a large screen.

Treat yourself to a dose of culture this upcoming weekend by attending a performance of A Midsummer Nights Dream at the Seattle Center's Fisher Pavilion. The event is free and is part of a series of this summer's Shakespeare in the Park produced by Seattle Shakespeare Company. It sounds like a lovely way to spend summer afternoon. The show starts at 2pm this Sunday July 27.

For additional information click here.

Have you checked out Pike Place Market's Summer Sundays yet? Each Sunday from June 8- Sept. 28, hundreds of people line up to witness chef demonstrations at the market. It's a delicious way to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon in Seattle.

This Sunday the markets chef demonstration will be held by Dick Schouweiller of Buca Di Beppo. The event starts up at noon sharp on Pike Place. Click here for more information.

A yard sale will be held at Belltown's P-Patch on July 26 from 9am-4:30pm. Items to be sold include furniture, books, CDs/DVDs, household items, tools, toys, gifts, clothing, electronics and more.
All of the proceeds will go towards purchasing much needed new equipment to keep our P-Patch garden up and running.

Click here for more information.

It's that time of year again for The Bite Of Seattle at the Seattle Center. Also known as, your favorite excuse to stuff yourself full of elephant ears. The festivities start up this Friday July 18, and run until Sunday the 20th. Entry is free of course and the forecast is sunny skies.

In addition to having access to some of most delicious food Seattle has to offer, there are also wine tastings, musical acts, and cooking demonstrations. Click here for more information.

Belltown's fourth Punk Rock Flea Market will be held at the Underground Events Center on July 26 at 1pm. The market serves as a place for vendors selling everything from records, to art, to falafels. There is also a line up of bands for your listening pleasure.

The market coordinators insist that the name of the event need not lead the public astray. Punk Rock Flea Market welcome people from all lifestyles with any taste of music.

If you are a vendor and interested in renting a table or would like more information on the event, click here.

Seattle's Sub Pop Records is throwing a two-day festival at Marymoor Park on July 12 & 13 and a comedy show tonight July 11 at 8pm at the Moore Theatre in Belltown. The events are in honor of the music label's big 20 year anniversary. Proceeds from ticket sales will go to beneficiaries of each participating act's choosing.

Sub-pop is famous for first signing Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mudhoney and many other bands from the Seattle grunge scene. They continue to run strong with popular bands such as The Postal Service and The Shins under their belts. It's pretty cool to see them still going strong 20 years into it. For more information on Sub-Pop's events this weekend click here.

The McLeod Residence is throwing a Secret Society TGIF party this Friday with DJ's Colby b, Bret Law and Mad Rad. These string of parties are thrown every second Friday of the month. Says DJ Colby B of the party, "We are gettin' ready for another hot dance party!"

The McLeod Residence is Belltown's latest place-to-be bar. With a wide variety of patrons, a cool atmosphere, good music, and good drinks, it's got all the ingredients for success. I highly recommend checking it out!

As you may recall back in June, a nest of baby peregrine falcons were found dead atop the downtown Wamu tower. At the time the cause of death was undetermined, however after further research, scientists have determined that the cause of the baby chicks death was linked to a type of bacteria called mycoplasma. "Mycoplasmas are very common bugs, and most animals including humans carry them," says Washington State University's head of microbiology.

Maybe for some reason the chicks were exposed to it at just the wrong time or in the wrong amount," he said. "Maybe they were cold, or just unlucky. It's all pure speculation."

Sad story. At least now we have some answers.

You heard it right! In honor of the "Running of the bulls" event held this week in Pampalona Spain, Belltown is throwing a little bull-running fiesta of it's own tonight.

The starting point is the alley between 1st and Second, at Battery and the finish line is the new deck behind Txori restaurant. Where do the bulls come in you ask? "Bulls" will be provided by several local restaurants, mounted on shopping carts.

Participants are encouraged to show up at Txori around 6pm to register for the event which costs $20 and begins at 8pm. All proceeds go to Puget Sound Blood Bank and participants receive a t-shirt along with registration. Make sure to wear white pants and a red sash around your waist!

"Viva Belltown!"

Looking for a night out with your buddies? Belltown's See Sound Lounge has a new Ladies Night every Wednesday. Ladies receive free entry however both guys and girls are free to enjoy their happy hour from 6-10pm offering $3 Drafts, wine and champagne. All Stolichnaya vodka cocktails are on special for $4, and they also offer a $4 appetizer menu.

I stopped in the other night with a group of girls to check things out and we were pleasantly suprised to see that the place was packed. The DJ plays a variety of old school and top 40 mash-ups. If you're looking for a mid-week party in Belltown this is definitely your destination.

Click here for more information.

On July 12 there will be a Belltown community clean-up event called "Green and Clean." The event is sponsored by Belltown Community Council, Belltown Business Association, and Mars Hill Church.

Volunteers are encouraged to show up at 10am in front of Mars Hill Church.

I love the idea, it sounds like a great way to bring Belltown together as a greener community! Click here for more information.

This Friday Belltown will have it's first 4th of July block party from 3-10pm. There will be food, art and food vendors, music, and a view of the Elliott Bay fireworks. There's even a section for kids if you want to bring the little ones along.

The party will be held outside of Belltown's Mars Hill Church, although the party is a non-religious event. Sounds fun!

It's that time of year again for Seattle's Gay Pride march. The parade will take place on June 29th, starting at 11:00 am from the corner of Union St. and 4th Ave. It will be limited to about 2 hours in length this year.

Parade participants include Alaska Airlines, Catholic Parents of Lesbians and Gays, Woodland Park Zoo, and Leather and Fetish Pride Contingen amongst others.

The temperature is expected to reach the high 80's this weekend so bring your glitter infused sunblock!

As Belltowner reported last month, Belltown's first full service grocery store opened their doors this week. Kress IGA is equipped with baked goods, chocolate, cheese, flowers, pasta and even more from local providers.

Writes Seattlest of their visit to the store, "...we are pleased to report that the store offers lots of services and goodies...a display of asparagus at under a dollar per pound offered promise of good deals."

I'm on my way there now! Downtown has a grocery store! Yay!

Got a band that's just waiting to be discovered? Belltown's Mars Hill Church is planning a Block Party on the 4th of July. They already have three bands scheduled to play, however are seeking a headliner. This could be you!

Bands interested should send an email with a link to your music to: perry@marshillchurch.org

The Block Party is a non-religious community event. Click here for more information.

Art alert! On June 21st at noon there will be "stencil jam" following a short workshop at Belltown's Underground Events Center at 2407 1st ave. What this "stencil jam" entails is getting a group of artists together with old and new stencils, a whole mess of spray paint, and a few walls in need of beautification. "I've got the walls, and now we need your help to create a bitchin' new stencil mural in a few short hours." says the events coordinator Josh.

Artists are encouraged to bring large pieces to fill the space and serve as graphic anchors.

Click here for more information.

Vietnam veteran Jim Hinde, one of the founding members of the Pike Place Market Buskers Guild who performed for over 18 years in the market passed away this week.

Perhaps you heard his anti-war and protest ballads which became familiar background music to the market. "He would show up at the Market at 8 a.m. and start playing in the morning. He played three sets a day. He treated it like a job, and he did it impeccably," says his friend Jim Page.

Surely Jim will be missed, and we all send out warm wishes to his family.

Contributions can be made to the Jim Hinde Memorial Fund, P.O Box 21804, Seattle, WA 98111.

An art alert for all you art lovers. Belltown's Drop City Gallery is having an opening reception tonight June 12th from 5-8pm for their show, RECLAIM.

The show is a collaborative installation by artists John Fleming and W. Scott Trimble. Their show focuses on vertical and horizontal realms, building from the castoffs they collect in the area, such as bricks and wooden pallets from both new construction sites and remnants from the old neighborhood.

The show is free and it looks really cool. Click here for photos.

Educate yourself on how to get the most bang for your buck.This upcoming Saturday June 14 Whole Foods will be hosting a Value Fair.

The fair will educate guests that "value" in today's economy is more than a buzz word, but a lifestyle by presenting live demonstrations, shopping tours, and samples.

For more information go here.

The coldest June in more than a century is right! Take a stroll through Belltown and you will notice empty restaurant patios and depressed looking pedestrians with wool coats. Let's face it, this weather sucks!

We want to take sunny strolls in the sculpture park and sip cold happy hour beers on patios! We're tired of staring blankly out of our apartment windows at streets drenched with rain wishing we could go outside and play.

The National Weather Service says temperatures should climb to about 70 by the end of this week but are expected to drop back to around 60 by Sunday. So, I guess that's kind of good news. At least you can leave your coat at home for a while.

Prepare for awesomeness. Kung Fu Panda, Dreamworks latest animated comedy starring the voices of Jack Black, Jackie Chan, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Lucy Liu, and Seth Rogen is now at the Imax theatre.

In case you haven't heard, Kung Fu Panda's plot is about an awkward chubby panda who aspires to be a kung fu warrior. The film is rated a high 86 on Rotten Tomatoes. with a consensus that, "Kung Fu Panda has a familiar message, but the pleasing mix of humor, swift martial arts action, and colorful animation makes for winning Summer entertainment."

For tickets and showtimes go here.

Sad news. Apparently a nest of chicks that a Peregrine falcon couple had left atop the Wamu tower was found dead. The first of the deaths occurred on May 30, according to a blog posted by the Falcon Research Group on Monday. The chick was under 2 weeks old. A second death was reported on Thursday.

The deaths are "an unusual event," says Skagit County-based Falcon Research Group. "We have not seen this type of mortality among peregrines breeding in Seattle or elsewhere for that matter."

The bodies of the chicks were retrieved by researchers and will be tested at Washington State University to determine what went wrong.

The Pacific Science Center's newest exhibit kicks off this Sunday. The exhibit, called "Speed" is sure to knock your kids socks off. "Speed" engages visitors in the scientific and human qualities of going fast. Racing cars, planes boats and eccentric custom vehicles, are featured in the exhibit. Not a parent? No problem. Go indulge your inner speed-hungry kid.

The exhibit begins this Saturday May 31 and runs until September 1. For more information go here.

B.J. Novak from the hit show "The Office" who plays Ryan the temp and also writes for the show, will be performing stand-up in Belltown this Friday May 30 at The Moore.

He's a pretty funny guy, I'm sure the audience will be in for a real treat.

For more information on the show go here.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull hit theatres this weekend marking it the second biggest Memorial Day weekend opening ever, bringing in $311 million in global box office sales.

Although it appears many crtics are saying it wasn't that great, come on, it's just one of those must-see's.

For showtimes at Belltown's Cinerama go here.

I hope you are enjoying your long weekend in honor of Memorial Day. And for those of you who didn't get a long weekend (myself included) well.... I hope you're enjoying working,

Whether you're pro-war or anti-war, today is a time to reflect on those brave soldiers who dedicated their lives to serving their country.

Hats off to them. Happy Memorial Day Belltown.

That's right, today when the traffic is congested as usual around 6pm in Belltown, it will be time to turn that frown upside down! Governor Chris Gregoire made the proclamation that today is officially "Drive Nice Day" in a statewide effort to encourage Washington residents to "drive nice."

Driving instructors will be will be located throughout Seattle and Tacoma today in the morning watching traffic. They'll tally the scores and the one with the fewest bad driving marks will be named the nicest driving city. Allstate Insurance will give the winning city $10,000 to promote safe driving.

Did you know that on average, two people are killed in automobile collisions in Washington state each day and more than 100 people are injured? Whoa! Time to be more nice indeed!

The McLeod Residence has a live photobooth on site. Residents and visitors can swing by and grin for the live cam which uploads automatically to Flickr. Ha! Cool idea.

It's time for one of Seattle's biggest yearly events, The Northwest Folklife Festival. For those of you who are not familiar with Folklife Festival, it is "a festival with opportunities for individuals and communities of the Pacific Northwest to celebrate, share and sustain the vitality of folk, ethnic and traditional arts for present and future generations."

The event is totally free and is pretty fun.

The weather looks like it will be fairly sunny, so it should be a good time to hang outdoors. The festival begins May 23rd at the Seattle Center and lasts until the 26th.

For more information on Northwest Folklife Festival go here.

Attention Sex and the City fans, tickets for The Big Picture's May 30th premier of the new film go on sale today (Friday) at noon at their door. Walk in purchases only!

The address is 2505 First Avenue. Hurry! Run!

That's right, the Space Needle is in need of a good scrub. Apparently our favorite Seattle icon hasn't been cleaned since 1962. Yikes. The cleaning began yesterday and will continue for the next five to eight weeks.

If you look out your window between the hours of 11pm-6am you'll see little sillhouettes of the dangling cleaners doing their work.

Apparently these german-based cleaners have an impressive cleaning resume. They are known for cleaning iconic structures around the world, including Mt. Rushmore and the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.

Wow. No bath for over 40 years. I imagine the Space Needle will have an impressive new look when it's cleaning is done.

Always wanted to be an actor? Want to get involved in the Belltown community? Here's an idea for you. There are still several spots available at The Freehold Theatre's "Intro to Acting" class which begins this week. It's a great way to get out and meet people and have fun at the same time. For more information on their new Belltown studio and classes offered, go here.

Taste more than 200 cheeses from local and international producers at the fourth annual Seattle Cheese Festival at Pike Place Market. From costume parades to tasting seminars you're in for a seriously cheesy time.

The festival begins this Friday May 16th and runs through Sunday the 18th. For more information go here.

If you haven't seen Robert Downey Jr. tear it up in Ironman at Cinerama yet, you should. Ironman has some seriously awesome action scenes, a surprisingly great script, and you can't possibly go wrong with a venue like the Cinerama. Convinced yet? Great.

For showtimes go here.

That seems to be the latest rumor swirling around the streets of Belltown according to a recent post in CultureMob.

"It's going around the streets of Seattle like wildfire that Johnny Depp is going to buy the old Crocodile Cafe and make it much, much cooler (and hotter) than it ever was before." reads the post.

Meh. Sounds like hogwash to me. Seattlest seems to share the same opinion.

This month Belltown's BLVD gallery presents "Combine, A group show of Cut Paper, Collage, and Assemblage". The show takes a look at a group of artists that have incorporated collage in their work as a way to further explore the boundaries of what they are capable of outside of the tradition artistic media.

If you're interested in attending the artist reception, it will take place this Friday at the gallery from 6-10pm.

For more information go here.

Amazon Fresh, Amazon's latest online grocery service, is now available in the neighborhood. Seattle Daily photo snapped this photo of an Amazon Fresh truck over the weekend and ponders whether the service will catch on in Belltown.

Are there any Belltowners out there that have tried it yet? I can't say I have.

Update: Amazon Fresh is only available to those who fall under 98109 zip code in the Belltown area. I called Amazon Fresh to get the info straight from the horses mouth, and they informed me that 98121 is on their list of upcoming areas to be covered although there is no exact timeline as of yet. Stay tuned!

That's right, it's Cinco de Mayo! Also known as, Americans' favorite excuse to get really loaded.

But did you know that hardly anyone in Mexico actually celebrates Cinco de Mayo, since it's not a federal holiday? A lot of people think that its the Mexican independence day, which it's not. In reality, Cinco de Mayo commemorates the victory of Mexican forces led by General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín over French forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Mexico's independence day is actually the 16th of September.

But hey! Let's all get loaded anyway by swinging into Belltown's favorite Mexican restaurant, Mama's for their happy hour specials from 4-6:30pm today.

On her way to work this week, a Belltowner snapped this photo of the neighborhood's latest attempt at solving the dog poop problem. Bag dispensers! Hallelujah! We all know how obnoxious it can be when the sidewalk is like a mine field of dog poop. Let's just hope people are kind enough to use them.

Some jerk has been shooting downtown pigeons in the head with darts from a blow gun, lodging directly behind the birds' eyes without penetrating their brains. That requires some serious aiming skills. Looks like someone has been playing too much Halo.

That's just creepy. Please stop.

You heard it. No pants are allowed at the No Pants Party on May 2 at Belltown's newest hipster bar at McLeod Residence.

Pants are totally last season anyway.

For more information on this pantless party, go here.

Let's all give a warm round of applause for Belltowner Robin Lynn Smith, co-founder and artistic director of Freehold Studio/Theatre Lab. She is the winner of the 2008 Gregory A. Falls Sustained Achievement Award. The Gregory A. Falls award honors individuals who devote their "time, energy and talent to Seattle's theater community" and whose careers "have had an influence on theatre locally and beyond."

The Freehold Theatre recently moved to Belltown from Capitol Hill. I am thrilled to have this reputable theatre as a part of our neighborhood, and send out a heartfelt high five to Robin for her achievement award.

Next week is quite a big deal for the Seattle electronic music scene. Tuesday, April 22 Hot Chip will be performing at The Market Showbox. Hot Chip has been voted best album of the year twice by Mixmag "the world's biggest dance music and clubbing magazine". This is sure to be a jam packed high energy show that is worth checking out. Unfortunately electronic music legends John Digweed and Sasha will be playing a DJ set at The Showbox Sodo on the same night. Sasha and Digweed have maintained themselves in the top 10 DJ's of the world for years. These guys are amazing. Tough choice indeed for electronic music lovers!

Either way, you're sure to be in for a musical treat. For more information on showtimes and tickets go here.

There will be a celebrity in Belltown this weekend! Judy Gold, an Emmy Award-winning actress, comedian (HBO & Comedy Central) and star of the critically acclaimed Off Broadway Show "25 Questions for a Jewish Mother", will perform stand-up preceeding the showing of the film Making Trouble at The Cinerama this Sunday at 4pm. This event is part of The Seattle Jewish Film Festival,a "cinematic exploration and celebration of Jewish life, culture, identity and history".

Following the film Judy Gold will participate in post-film discussion with the audience.

For more information go here.

Art alert for all you Belltown art lovers. The work of Alison Keogh will be exhibited at Drop City Gallery starting tomorrow, Friday April 11th. Keogh's exhibit, "In-Cite", is a three-part exhibition featuring Shards of Clay: a site specific installation on the gallery floor; Graphite Botanicals: delicate and intricate studies of plant matter, and a series of Newsprint reliefs.

Drop City Gallery is about 10 minute walk from Belltown located at 964 Denny Way, just across from Denny Park. There will be an opening reception at the gallery tomorrow from 6-9pm.

For more information go here.

Chris Rock, in my opinion one of the funniest people in history, will be performing at the historical Paramount Theatre Apr. 10 (tomorrow) and Apr. 11. The shows are sold out (to my knowledge) however you can still find some tickets for pretty good deals on Craigslist. There are none selling in the Belltown area, but there are quite a few selling in relatively close neighborhoods. I'm on a search to find some myself.

On Wednesday April 9 (tomorrow) Reunion 2008: A Beer for Hope event is taking place at Whole Foods Market on Westlake ave. (Since we don't have a Whole Foods in Belltown just yet we'll just have to walk a few extra blocks for now.) The event goes from 6 to 8pm and there is a $2 minimum suggested donation. All proceeds go to the Institute for Myeloma & Bone Cancer Research.

For more information go here.

Non-profit, environmentally aware bank, ShoreBank Pacific has announced that it will open a new center in Belltown.

The new 1,926 square-foot banking center will replace ShoreBank Pacific's temporary offices in Georgetown.

"We envision our new banking center as a networking hub for people and businesses that have interest in sustainability and are looking to define their approach." says senior vice president and north Washington regional manager Ad Duer.

The new bank is scheduled to open in Belltown this summer.

I compiled a list of events in the Belltown neighborhood this weekend. From DJ's, to jazz, to film, there are quite a few things going on.

Friday Apr. 4 (tonight)
DJ Paolo Mojo @ See Sound Lounge
"Swagger" @ Venom

Saturday Apr. 5
Fun, Rock, and POPS! @ The Moore
David Sanborn @ Jazz Alley

Sunday Apr. 6
Omni, Tess Jubran, Future Fossils @ Rendezvous Jewel Box Theatre
The Bank Job @ The Big Picture

Plans to build a 100% privately financed entertainment facility designed to host professional basketball and hockey in downtown Seattle were announced today by B2inc. They intend to call the new arena, The Emerald City Center.

B2 co-principal and former Seattle SuperSonic, Fred Brown, made the announcement: "Today is a historic day for the city of Seattle, the state of Washington, and the Pacific Northwest. I am very proud to announce the first step towards hopefully bringing a NBA championship and another Stanley Cup back to Seattle."

They have identified several potential locations for the arena including Seattle's SoDo district near Safeco Field, Pier 46 on the waterfront between Qwest Field and Safeco and the Seattle Center.

After a media advisory was sent out by WongDoody communications stating that their client B2's announcement would happen this morning, Greg Nickels didn't seem to impressed with the idea. He responded that "KeyArena is our region's sports and entertainment facility. We remain focused on improving KeyArena so that it will remain the region's sports and entertainment facility for years to come."

As interesting as the news is of a potential new arena, I found myself more interested in finding out about the name WongDoody Communications. WongDoody? I thought it must be some sort of April Fools prank. After doing a bit of research, I have learned that not only are they for real, but you'll also be interested to know that their chief executive's name is Ben Wiener. Hee hee.

If you haven't heard of the English band Morcheeba, you must do so. These guys have a very original trip-hop/loungy sound with a bit of pop, and rhythm and blues. Although their band members have changed around a bit over the years they have always kept a consistent quality of music. They will be performing April 9 (next Wedesday) at the Market Showbox.

Go here to listen to their music profile.

Warriors gathered at Pike Place Market this weekend for yet another pillow fight organized by The Seattle Pillow Fight Club.

Hey!!! Are those feathers we see?! I thought there were only boring foam pillows allowed! Shucks. Had I known I would have gone. Hopefully they cleaned up their mess this time so they don't get guff like they did for the Ballard fight.

More photos of this weekend's fight can be viewed here.

There is a gathering scheduled for this evening at 6:30pm for supporters of Tibetan independence. Attendees are are invited to dress warmly and bring a candle for a vigil to march from Westlake Park in downtown Seattle.

Monday is supposed to be a coordinated day of support worldwide for Tibet, as it is the day the Olympic torch arrives in Beijing, host city for this summer's Olympic Games. Tibetan independence supporters are using the 2008 Olympics to highlight what they believe is China's unfair occupation of the province.

Thats right, pick a ball and get a prize on Tuesday Nights at Citysearch's 2007 highest voted downtown restaurant, Qube here in Belltown. Pick a red ball and it means your entire check is free, a purple ball will get you one free drink, a yellow ball will get you a $10 certificate, and a blue ball wins you a free dessert. Sounds like fun to me!

For more information on this event go here.

After seeing all those photos of the famous Ballard pillow fight that happened last week, I was so sad to have missed it. To my gleeful surprise, Seattle Pillow Fight Club will be organizing yet another fight this time outside of the famous fish stand on the corner of Pike and Pine. The three minute fight will begin this Saturday at 3:15 rain or shine. Remember no feather pillows allowed. (aw phooey!) Make sure to conceal your pillow, and listen for the whistle before you start swinging.

Fight! Fight! Fight!

"Dodge flying fish. Float away to an island. Sip Pike Blend, available only at the original Starbucks, the little brew that launched an empire. Twirl around twice for a panoramic effect of Elliott Bay, the Olympic peaks, the top sliver of Mt. Rainier, and magazine-chic islands surrounding the Pacific Northwest's fabled Emerald City," reads Seattle CityPass's website, a service that provides a discounted ticket bundle to the most popular attractions in Seattle.

Hearing about this CityPass was music to my ears, since although I am a Seattle native, surprisingly I haven't visited many of Seattle's tourist attractions. The pass goes for about $40 bucks which includes tickets to Argosy Cruises Harbor tour, The Seattle Aquarium, The Pacific Science Center, Woodland Park Zoo, andThe Museum of Flight.

Go here for further information.

I've always thought that the Whole Foods on Westlake is a hot spot for singles, but now it's official. Whole Foods along with The Stranger is throwing a singles shopping event this Wednesday night called, "How big is your basket?" Wine tasting begins at 6 p.m. and shopping at 7 p.m.

"Legends in Their Own Minds: The Habit Strikes Back" will be running Fridays and Saturdays through March 29 at the Jewel Box Theater at the Rendezvous. The show is a reunion performance by members of The Habit, one of the best sketch comedy troupes to come out of sketch-rich Seattle. Together again for the first time in six years, eight Habit members promise to "bare their souls for your amusement" with a series of monologues that reveal "glorious triumph and crushing defeat." Tickets are $10 at the door.

For more information go here.

Buh-bye Tabella, and hello to the new Mars Hill Church. "It's amazing how God can change things," said Sarah Rosenberger, a Lynnwood mother who attended Mars Hill's service last Sunday.

An estimated 400 eager people crowded in to attend the first service at Mars Hill Church's new downtown campus last weekend. Seated on what was once one of Seattle's most notorious dancefloors, attendees witnessed Tabella's extreme makeover.

The go-go dancer cage is now a coat hanger. The condom dispenser is now a diaper changing station. The disco ball is now a rotating Jesus statue. (Ok, that last part is not really true.)

It seems like most Belltowners are really happy about the change in the neighborhood. "We're very glad we have a church there," says Belltowner Sam Alramahi. Instead of gunshots, we're hearing rock bands sing about how Jesus laid down His life for others. Instead of rowdy crowds in search of a brawl we're seeing tame churchgoers in search of inner peace.

Everclear will be playing a benefit concert at Mars Hill for New Horizons street youth center on April 5. For more information go here.

Grammy winning producer, writer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist, K.D. Lang will be performing tonight (Thursday) and tomorrow at The Moore Theatre. Her sound is a little bit of jazz mixed with country with a hint of pop.

When I was living in Los Angeles working as a waitress I served K.D. Lang a salad once. I just thought I would let everyone know about that substantial piece of information.

For information on showtimes and tickets go here.

This Saturday March 22, a Punk Rock flea market will be taking place at 2407 1st Ave. The market will offer secondhand and vintage clothing, housewares, used records, cds, videos, books, buttons, political propaganda, tote bags made of felt and feathers, cards and postcards, action figures, lampshades, belt buckles, bicycles, jewelry, comic books, video games and gaming systems, computer hardware, screenprinted t-shirts, art prints, buttons, baby clothes, leather goods, toys, and I think you get the idea.

There will be live bands, alcohol and food as well. Sounds pretty cool.

For more information on this event go here.

This week Cinerama will be playing one of the most famous films ever made, Lawrence of Arabia. The film received seven Academy Awards, including Best Director, Best Picture, Best Color Cinematography, Best Color Art Direction/Set Decoration, Best Sound, Best Music Score, and Best Film Editing.

For more information on showtimes go here.

Freehold Theatre currently located in Capitol Hill's Odd Fellows Hall, offers drama classes, presents plays and brings theater to underserved populations, including at prisons and hospitals. Apparently the building was purchased last fall by local a real-estate developer who announced at that he would charge them "market rate" rents, estimated to be about twice what they had been paying. Freehold will therefore be relocating to Belltown at the end of the month to second avenue.

I am pretty excited to have these guys be a part of the neighborhood, as they put on some great productions.

Freehold is asking for volunteers to help with the move.
For more Information call : 206-323-7499

Viceroy Room's Wednesday NIght's known as the "Soul Hole" is quite the mid-week Belltown sensation. The night was even voted Best DJ NIght in the City Seattle by Metropolitan Magazine.
Patrons relax and sip while the DJ plays obscure and old classics of the soul, funk, and R&B variety.

For more information go here.

It's that time of year again for a bit o' the Irish. The annual St. Patrick's Day Parade will take place on Saturday March 15th at 12:30pm, beginning on 4th Ave and Jefferson, continuing on to the Reviewing Stand at Westlake Park. From 12-3pm the Monorail will provide free transportation to the Seattle Center where the official 2008 Irish Festival is taking place. The Festival will feature booths selling Irish and Celtic products, Irish music, dancing, workshops, lectures, cultural displays, children's contests and activities.

For more information go here.

Always wanted to know more about wine? Tired of trying to act like you know the difference between Cabernet Sauvignon and a Pinot Noir?

Neighborhood favorite wine tasting bar, The Local Vine offers a course that covers the basics about white and red wines, wine evaluations, tastings and selections. Participants taste, evaluate and discuss at least six different wines. They even provide educational materials to take home. The next class date is set for this Sunday, March 9 from 4-5:30pm.

For more information go here.

DJ Colette will be playing at See Sound Lounge Friday March 7 (tomorrow). One of DJ Colette's musical trademarks is improvising vocals while she spins records. It should be a great show not only because she's an excellent DJ, but also because See Sound Lounge is known for their excellent late night happy hour.

For more information on tickets go here.

Looking for some great music in Belltown this week? This may be your answer. Choklate is a highly praised local jazz singer who will be making her debut at Jazz Alley tonight. "Choklate's vocals have an earthy quality, making it easy to relate to her, and the growl beneath her voice aims for the heart." writes Prefixmag.com's Norman Meyers.

I personally had the pleasure of meeting her the other day in a clothing store and was delighted by her personality. Both fun-loving and extroverted I'm sure her show will be a real treat.

Tickets are on sale here and the show runs March 4 (tonight) and March 5.

Whoa. An unidentified woman wearing pink pajamas has climbed onto the fourth-floor ledge of her apartment building, about 50 to 70 feet above the street at the Josephium building on 2nd Avenue. According to news reports police officers have passed cigarettes and water to her and are talking to her from a nearby window. Apparently at one point 100 people gathered below, therefore closing streets to traffic. Let's all hope she smokes her cigarette and drinks her water and decides she should go back inside.

Update at 12:15 p.m.: Southbound lanes of 2nd Ave. are now open. Police are still talking with the woman.

Update at 12:30 p.m.: Police were able to talk her down! She's been transported safely to Harborview Medical Center.

With daylight savings time beginning in just a few weeks, it means winter is finally almost over. Soon we will be trading in our down coats for t-shirts and our snowboots for flip flops. Belltown is one of the best spots on a sunny day in Seattle. With the gleaming water just steps away and the charming urban surroundings it really just doesn't get much better.

Uh-oh, drama on the art scene. According to art critic Regina Hackett, there is a shortage of art exhibits featuring black artists in conjuction with Black History Month. She feels its a sign of Seattle's overall discrimination towards the black community.

CoCA Gallery however, is one of the few in full Black History Month force, featuring the art of black Seattle based artist, Ronald Hall. The exhibit includes 20 paintings, prints, photographs and posters that explore the theme of race from around the world, many artworks drawn from his private collection.
The gallery is located at 2721 First Avenue.