The Exchange Club of Highline (which serves White Center) is now selling the latest Entertainment Books for $25, which contain two-for-one and other coupons offering up to 50% off at local businesses, plus new bonus cards for up to $30 in extra savings.

Here’s what our friends at the club would like us to share:

In these tough economic times, the Entertainment Book can help buyers save on dining out, groceries, services, attractions, movies and more.

The Entertainment Book has hundreds of ways to enjoy life AND save some money doing it.

The Exchange Club of Highline uses their proceeds from the sale to help meet the needs in the Highline community such as helping local Food Banks, the Boys and Girls Club, and local schools, just to name a few.

Visit the Exchange Club of Highline website to see the entire list.

Entertainment Books can be purchases from these Exchange Club members’ businesses in Burien:

• Collins Chiropractic at 619 SW 152nd
• E. B. Foote Winery at 127-B SW 153rd
• Economy Wiring/YB Tubless at 633 SW 148th
• Interiors by Jayme at 633 SW 153rd
• Schafer & Husmoe at 15511 3rd Ave. SW
• Doug Moreland Attorney at 417 SW 152nd
• Edward Jones at 645 SW 153rd St

More info on the Exchange Club from their website:

Established in 1961, Exchange Club of Highline was formed with the goal of bringing business and community leaders together to support Youth, Americanism, Community Service, and the prevention of Child Abuse. By holding an annual fundraiser, the money generated is used to meet the ongoing needs of existing community organizations, and members volunteer their time to other community projects. As needs are brought to the club’s attention, members decide on the course of action allowing flexibility and responsiveness to the ever-changing needs of our Highline community.

White Center’s Holy Family Parish is holding a Community Street Fair on Sept. 11th and 12th on Roxbury with food, fun vendors, both a chili and salsa cook-off, live music and much more.

They’re also looking for vendors, so if you’re interested you’re asked to please contact the parish office at (206) 767-6200 or via e-mail at office@hfseattle.org.

Here are the event details:

WHAT: Holy Family Community Street Fair.

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 11th from 9am – 6pm and Sunday, Sept. 12th from 9am – 4pm.

WHERE: 9622 20th Ave SW & Roxbury in White Center

INFO: Principal Frank X. Cantwell says:

“The theme of our Street Fair is ‘honor the diversity of our community.’

So many of the events in the community tend to honor only one nationality at a time.

We are trying to get everyone together at once.”

Here’s the poster:

More info available at their website here.

Highline/SeaTac Botanical Gardens will be hosting their annual “Ice Cream Social and Plant Sale” on Sunday, Aug. 15th, with special guest Ciscoe Morris and FREE ice cream to the first 300 guests.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Ice Cream Social & Plant Sale with Ciscoe Morris.

WHEN: Sunday, August 15, 2010, 1:00pm to 4:00pm.

WHERE: Highline/SeaTac Botanical Gardens, located at 13735 24th Ave S, SeaTac, WA 98168.

INFO: From a flier (download PDF here):

Join us in the garden on Sunday, August 15th for our 4th annual Ice Cream Social.

This year’s Celebrity Guest will again be Ciscoe Morris, who hosts “Gardening with Ciscoe” on KIRO 97.3 FM radio and KING 5/NWCN television, and is the author of the best-selling garden tome, “Ask Ciscoe”, as well as a weekly column in the Seattle Times.

Ciscoe’s topic will be “Create a Hummingbird Haven in a Pot or Garden ”

The fun starts at 1:00 p.m., with Ciscoe taking center stage in the Celebration Rose Garden at around 2:30 p.m.

Local nurseries & designers will plant 10 gorgeous pots. Register to vote for your favorite container & get a chance to take it home for free. Door prizes & free ice cream to the first 300 guests!

More information: www.highlinegarden.org or 206-391-4003.

Other featured events include:

• Silent Auction
  Bid on a variety of great items including two Aw Pots personally planted by Ciscoe, a room at SeaTac’s Radisson Hotel, a sightseeing flight around Seattle with pilot Warren Hendrickson, an original oil painting by Kathy Wyckoff, garden art, garden tools, a complete bird-gardening kit, and more!
• “Humm-dingers!!!”
  Local nurseries and designers will again plant up 10 gorgeous pots donated by Aw Pottery. This year’s theme is plants that attract hummingbirds. Just show up and register to vote for your favorite container and get a chance to take it home for FREE!!! HGBF members get two extra chances to win! Memberships will be on sale the day of the event.

Participating designers and nurseries include Clinton Bamboo Growers, Design of the Times, Dogwood Design, Minter’s Earlington Greenhouse and Nursery, Furney’s, West Seattle Nursery, Herr Backyard Garden Center, and Branches Garden Center.

• Free Aw Pottery Pot to first 40 new members!
  Be one of the first forty people to join the Highline Botanical Garden Foundation during the event and receive a gorgeous, frost-proof Aw Pottery pot! (NOTE: IF YOU PLAN ON ENTERING THE CONTEST, BRING A VEHICLE LARGE ENOUGH TO TAKE HOME YOUR WINNINGS! THE PLANTED POTS ARE BETWEEN 24″ AND 36″ TALL AND MAY WEIGH AS MUCH AS 75 POUNDS!)
• Door Prizes Galore!!!
  Register to win two free passes to the 2010 NW Flower and Garden Show, a “Cascadia” compost bin from the City of SeaTac, and gift packages from Benson’s Best Bites, Hey Paison, The Tin Room Bar and Grill, 909 Coffee and Wine, Vino Bello, Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub, and Elliot Bay Brewpub.
• Free Ice Cream to the first 300 guests!
  Please join us in the garden for an afternoon of the very best in gardening “edu-tainment”, ice cream, and of course, brussels sprouts!

For directions to the garden, click here.

by Rachel M. Lusby

Fraught with sadness and anger, Keasha Beard plummeted into a deep depression for over two years.

Now in her early 20s, Beard is back on her feet with a smile on her face. She has created her own destiny by way of “The K. Beard Experience,” a spoken word poetry show of enormous subject variety which incorporates story-telling, poetry and hip hop rhythm.

Starting at the beginning, Beard grew up, as she describes, “basically poor.” She lived with her father, who was rarely home, and most often had to take care of herself; sometimes even having to solicit the neighbors for cash to go get something to eat from the 7-11.

One thing Beard did have that was all her own, was basketball, and she was extraordinary at it.

“I grew up alone,” says Beard, “and I knew that basketball was the only way out of Seattle, so I put my all into the game.”

Beard used basketball as a means of escape from the trials of her young life.

By the time she reached high school, she was considered one of the best point guards in the state of Washington. She secured an athletic scholarship to New Mexico State University, was written about in High School Sports Magazine, and had a role in the acclaimed documentary “The Heart of the Game.”

Beard injured herself in high school, severely damaging her leg. She had surgery to fix the problem, however it did not work and her leg ended up healing at a 45 degree angle. She attempted to play basketball for New Mexico State, but as she says she “ended up being on the injured reserve list” for the entire season.

The pain from all the pressure on her leg was unbearable, and she had to give it up. Doctors were telling her if she did not stop playing basketball, by the time she was 40 she would be unable to walk.

This is where she slipped into the dark hole of depression. She says she felt sad and angry and had no way to deal with it. Growing up, when she was dealing with difficult issues she would just go play basketball and not have to think about it. Now, she had to face things head on; her outlet no longer available to her.

After leaving college she returned home to live with her grandparents. She humorously describes in her show the rules laid out before her by her grandmother. “My grandmother told me I either had to go to school or get a job,” says Beard.
In the meantime, life was getting harder. “I wanted to die,” states Beard plain and simply.

And she tried to do just that.

“I was so far gone that I tried to commit suicide and the only reason why I’m alive today is because of my grandmother, who found me and rushed me to the hospital.”

Beard had gone into the bathroom and swallowed half a bottle of Aleve.

In her piece entitled “Priceless” Beard describes this event. She begins by talking about family.

“I don’t think people appreciate their families enough,” she says.

In great detail, Beard discusses how although dysfunction ran rapid through her family, they are still the most important aspect of her life. She has a brother she claims has “been to juvy more than anyone she knows,” and an uncle who has been in and out of prison. Her mother always lived far away, and her father was rarely around.

Despite all this, however, Beard says she loves her family simply because no matter what she may do, they will always be right there for her.

“You’ll eventually have to go home,” she says.

One of her uncle, says Beard, has the “greatest quote.” He says “you can love your family, but you don’t gotta like ‘em.” Beard laughs as she says this, and attests to its truth.

Beard was put into therapy after her suicide attempt. She saw several different therapists who put her on several different types of antidepressants; none, she says, worked at all.

“One of those drugs had me seeing things!” Beard exclaimed.

It was not until she saw the “old man” therapist that she began to come up. He had her keep a journal of her daily activities or simply what she was thinking; whether she wrote in prose or poetry did not matter.

“I just snapped awake,” says Beard.

This is where the change began. Like many others, Beard had lost her job and was having a nightmare of a time finding a new one.

“The idea for the show kind of came out of no where,” she says.

Two things she knew, though, were she liked to write and she liked to entertain people.

“So I combined my spoken word, my knack for making people laugh, and my unique way of storytelling,” says Beard. “It took me eight months to put everything together, but ever since my first show, it has been taking off fast. Faster than I ever thought it would.”

The K. Beard Experience implements a very simple stage, with no props or backdrops, just her presence.

The show touches on several subjects. Beard gets personal in describing her rise in basketball, her fall into depression, and her climb back out of the hole. She also talks about world issues, such as the current economic recession and even has a bit regarding the child prostitution problem seen in so many parts of the world.

The K. Beard Experience sends audience members free falling through an atmosphere of emotions; they laugh, they cry, they ponder. Beard says she likes to start the show off on a light note, get more serious but leave the audience feeling good again at the end.

Beard’s family is also involved with her show. Her uncle, Chad Miller, and his wife Correna Miller worked the door at her show on July 18th.

“I am so proud of her,” says Chad. “She’s come a long way. She grew up in the not-best parts of town and has made the best out of a difficult situation.”

Correna has great affection for the show.

“I think it is phenomenal,” she says. “It is entertaining but inspirational and touching.”

Beard believes her best bit in the show is “War of the Worlds.” This piece is about many of the skewed ideals we see world wide, such as the “love of money.”

“Why does money have to be our main religion?” raps Beard.

She describes how selfish people can be; how the value of a necklace seems to be in the forefront of a person’s mind, rather than how the value of that necklace could be used to feed children who are starving to death.

Beard talks about all the warring between nations and the obsession with looking young; all the creams and make ups, and Botox injections. “This ain’t Neverland,” she says. “That ain’t fairy dust and MAC ain’t Tinkerbell.”

Beard says there is a war in the world, and it is reality. “…And Tom Cruise can’t save us.”

Beard is now taking her show nationwide, with her next gig to be in Portland, OR.

For a full calendar, go to www.kbexp.com. You can also follow her on Twitter, Facebook and other networking sites; all can be found on her website.

Here’s a video interview of her:

White Center’s annual Jubilee Days is underway, with the opening of the Carnival and fireworks Wednesday night.

One of the oldest summer festivals in King County, Jubilee Days will be celebrating its 87th year of providing free great family and community entertainment. This classic summer festival features participants from neighborhood schools, businesses and other organizations. This year’s parade (Sunday at 10am) will feature several well known performing groups, including the Charros Association of Washington, which will have a performance Charros showing the training skills and agility of the horses and horsemen alike.

There will also be a Kids Parade, which begins staging at 9am at McDonalds. It will start first, then will be followed by the Grande Parade, which runs down 16th starting from 112th Street (at McDonalds), and heads North to 100th.

• THUR. 7/15: Carnival
• FRI. 7/16: Carnival
• SAT. 7/17, 7:30am: White Center Kiwanis Club Pancake Breakfast, 9615 20th SW, Holy Family School
• SAT. 7/17, 10am: Street Fair
• SAT. 7/17, 10am: Food Vendors Open
• SAT. 7/17, TBD: Beer Garden Open
• SAT. 7/17: Carnival
• SAT. 7/17, 10am: Car Show and Shine
• SUN. 7/18, 10am–11am: Parade
• SUN. 7/18 – Street Fair
• SUN. 7/18 – Food Vendors
• SUN. 7/18 – Beer Garden Opens
• SUN. 7/18 – Carnival Opens

Here’s the detailed entertainment schedule:

SATURDAY, JULY 17:

• 7:30 am – Noon: White Center Kiwanis Club Pancake Breakfast at Holy Family School, 9615 20th SW
• 11:00 12:30: Perfect Weather
• 1:00-2:15: The Middle Age Crisis Band

The M.A.C. Band (Middle Age Crisis Band) was founded as a way to deal with the stresses of middle age life, raising teenagers, and to make some fun music. With members Reiko, Paul, Einar and Caius, the M.A.CThe Middle Age Crisis Band is a hard pumping, fun and punkish/ J-pop style band that plays all original music (sometimes in Japanese). With songs like “Parent Teacher Conferences on Lithium” and “I’m not your Maid”, the MAC Band delivers music with lyrics that adults of any age can relate to, and that appeals to “all ages” audiences as well. Among the bands influences are The Presidents of the United States, Ramones, B-52’s, Blondie, and Shonen Knife. Band members: Reiko- Lead vocals (Japanese and English), keyboard, guitar, Einar – Lead guitar, vocals (English), Caius – Drums, Paul- Bass.

Visit our Myspace page for music samples http://www.myspace.com/macbandsea A partial list of places played in the Seattle Area: Funhouse, The Central Saloon, The Skylark, Merchants Café, 88 Keys, Poggie Tavern, Blue Moon, Beacon Pub, Rainier Valley Cultural Center, L.A.B. at the Seattle Drum School, S.L.A.B. at the Seattle Drum School in Georgetown Partial song list (all original songs): Parent Teacher Conferences On Lithium, Alpha Boy, The Bromance of Bert and Ernie, I Am Not Your Maid, Mom + Me, Up and Down, Time Traveler, Old Like Me, What?, Taken for Granted, and more on the way.

• 3:00-3:45 Gadzooks

We are a pop punk band hailing from the mean streets of Seattle.

• 4:30-5:15 Blue Ribbon Boys

• 5:15-6:00 Rat City Ruckus
• 6:45-7:45 20Riverside

20 Riverside is a six-piece band playing a unique and infectious mix of hip-hop funk infused with lively and mature instrumental solos. To quote one a 20 Riverside song, the music is “funk, blues, jazz, rock, reggae and hip-hop.” All six met in high school but didn’t start playing music together until several years later. They are now one of the stand-out up-and-coming funk and hip-hop bands in the Seattle area.

• 8:15-9:15 Khingz

If punk rock and blues met in a dark, cigarette smoke fogged speak easy in Gotham City and were overwhelmed by jazz-induced lust and bore a child they raised in a ghetto to an alternative soundtrack out would come Khingz.

One-half of the Seattle-based group Abyssinian Creole, Khingz offers his highly anticipated 2009 debut, From Slaveships to Spaceships, on Fresh Chopped Beats / MADK Productions. …Spaceships is Khingz’ first release since 2001′s Vitamin D helmed production Mi Vida Negra, written under his alias Khalil Crisis.

As Khalil Crisis, he was torn between a life of crime and his desire to be a force for change and control of his own life. From Slaveships to Spaceships is the culmination of Khingz’ transformation from a youth with a crime-haunted past, to a man of honor. The actualization of his higher self was inspired by his motivational and self-esteem building work with youth programs in Seattle (King County), Washington. Khingz also ventured east where he provided similar service for youth in Brooklyn (Kings County), New York. This move proved to be life-changing. In addition to his tales of hood antics and experience, he began to include rhymes about liberation and has inspired his listeners to think past the corners.

In recent years Khingz has embraced a nomadic lifestyle, as evidenced by long stays in Brooklyn, Oakland, and Vancouver, BC. …Spaceships, reflects these travels, sharing Khingz’ broadened perspective without losing the fire that formed him into an emcee originally. His live performances have been praised as reigniting showmanship and raw emotion as key elements in moving the crowd, earning him the respect and following of his peers and fans. The education that Khingz has extracted from both the streets and scholars has proven invaluable as his lyrics and philosophy reflect. Khingz pushes the boundaries of conscious thought-provoking Hip-Hop with his feet planted firmly in his experience as a battle-tested reality MC. He gives credence to his commitment as an elite and original artist successfully (and often tortuously) forging his own path rather than follow in the footsteps of others.

…Spaceships is a window into Khingz’ actual journey past the imprisoned mentality plaguing some of the communities he’s lived in. He has a message for oppressed people everywhere – “You are the prize over which everyone is fighting, seize yourself.” With …Spaceships he is extending a hand to his people – all of you – and asking you to step off the slaveship and step on board the spaceship. See you there.

• 9:45 Gabriel Teodros

Gabriel Teodros is an intimate storyteller with an electrifying stage presence; smart, soulful, South Seattle raised with roots in the Horn of Africa. One of the most innovative and influential MCs to come out of the Northwest region, Gabriel Teodros has been making noise internationally with his classic debut “Lovework” The long-awaited follow up LP “Colored People’s Time Machine” is due Fall 2010!

Gabriel Teodros is the everyday journeyman with more stories to tell than most people twice his age. Having seen both city and countryside through the eyes of a struggling artist and immigrant child, Teodros spins observations and wordplay into internationalism on wax. Linking first and third world people’s struggles, he is sincere when he says “we in this together son, your beef is mine.”

From ciphers at Westlake to spending months in Vancouver and Brooklyn, Gabriel’s story is one of trial, tribulation and a search for redemption. The contrast of his onstage ferocity with his offstage humility reveals a multifaceted spirit who understands that the political is personal. Whether addressing political repression and resistance in East Africa or reflecting on the effects of patriarchy in his relationships, Teodros captures each moment soulfully with his unmistakably (north)west coast delivery.

Teodros has left a mark in the underground NW hiphop scene as one half of the duo Abyssinian Creole (with emcee Khingz & DJ WD4D), and since the late 90′s has been seen rocking microphones from classrooms to theatres, clubs, stadiums, protests, prisons to street corners alongside the likes of Zap Mama, Kanye West, Talib Kweli, Lupe Fiasco, K’naan, Ozomatli, Barrington Levy, KRS-One, Digable Planets and Fishbone to name a few. Even before dropping his solo masterpiece, Lovework, Teodros already had love from a community who eagerly anticipate his next story to tell.

Since the release of ‘Lovework’ Gabriel Teodros reached #1 on the CMJ Hip Hop Charts, released 4 music videos, was featured on NPR and in URB Magazine’s “Next 100″, and has been recieving rave reviews everywhere from Rolling Stone to Okayplayer.com Gabriel has also been staying busy on tour in support of the ‘Lovework’ album, working with youth in South Seattle & doing whatever he can to help other artists get their voices heard while recording the future classics right out of his home.

Sunday, July 18:

• 11 am -12 pm Gary Allen May
• 12:30 pm -1:30 pm Wrecked Chords

The Northwest has always had it’s fair share of loud, obnoxious rock n’ roll from the introduction of the three chord anthem, “Louie, Louie”, to Mudhoney’s “You got it”, just to name a few. The Wrecked Chords don’t have any plans to change the scope of this long standing tradition. They play loud, three chord rock n’ roll that leans more towards bands like the Cramps, and Girl Trouble with a heavy 50’s undertone. Their live show consists of just enough “slop”, and punk rock attitude, making them one of Seattle’s funnest bands to shake your ass to. They’ve just released their debut album titled, “Hot Mess” for the Rockin’ Stan record label. The band spent 2 days recording with producer Chris Martin at Birdhouse Studios in June of 2009. The end result being a well put together pile of shit that has quickly become a favorite amongst our diverse music community. You can catch the bands live show at venues such as the Funhouse, Comet, and The Central Saloon. Their CD is available through www.rockinstanrecords.com and all local record stores. “It’s not garage, it’s garbage!” -JT

• 2 pm – 3pm Amateur Radio Operator

Somewhere between memory and echo lies the stories and sounds of ARO, living in the silence between the big parts; the reverb after the snare hit, the sound after the fall of a building, or wind through big big trees. We chase the ghosts stories of work, old dogs, broken radios, industrial rivers, rust, and death by knocking on the tops old guitars and rusty snare drums with a Big Muff running through eight seconds of delay.

• 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm Rat City Brass

United by their mutual appreciation of classic mid-century instrumental pop – particularly the music of Herb Alpert’s Tijuana Brass – a group of seasoned Seattle musicians came together in the fall of 2009 to form Rat City Brass. Since then, the group has played to captivated crowds at numerous club shows and festivals in the Puget Sound area.

The Rat City Brass instrumentation consists of two trumpets, trombone, keyboard, guitar, bass, drums and percussion. It’s a big group that creates a big sound. RCB make it even bigger by throwing in just the right amount of contemporary kick for the modern listener. With top-notch musicianship, soaring melodies, rocking rhythms and cool breezy stage presence, Rat City Brass is guaranteed to raise smiles from old-school music aficionados and jaded hipsters alike. Rat City Brass is pleased and proud to come back home to play their first White Center Jubilee Days on July 17th.

• 5pm – 6 pm

Infused by a passion for American roots music in all its varied forms, The Dusty 45s’ sound blurs the line between genres to create a style that is, in it’s final distillation, entirely fresh and new. Singer/ Songwriter, Billy Joe Huels, paints his illustrative and personal stories with a signature ’65 Gibson steel string guitar, and combines elements ranging from honky-tonk and swing to pure rock. Enter in Seattle’s finest with top-notch vocal harmonies, twangy guitars, upright bass and drums, top it off with Huels’ fiery trumpet and The Dusty 45s’ unique sound is complete.

Professional, confident, and experienced, The Dusty 45s’ Billy Joe Huels (lead vocals, guitar, trumpet), Jerry Battista (lead guitar, vocals), Kelly Van Camp (drums, harmonica, vocals), and Jeff Gray (upright bass, vocals), play to packed houses from coast to coast. Six independent releases have earned the band regular airplay, glowing reviews, and sales reaching over 20,000 units in the U.S. and abroad. The band has appeared alongside countless other major artists and entertainers, and in 2008, The Dusty 45s were also honored to meet Barack Obama and perform for his campaign.

by Gina Bourdage

One of the oldest forms of entertainment has seen a resurgence in recent years, flourishing in all its glory, entwined with modern influence, verve and brazen roar from its early days of backroom enticement to its current place as one of Seattle’s favorite forms of entertainment…Burlesque.

One of the neo-burlesque rising superstars is a lovely lady from our neighborhood, no other than Miss Inga Ingénue. I recently was able to speak with Miss Ingenue (which, trust me…with a jet-setting schedule like hers, is no easy task) as she welcomed me into her glittering world of the art of burlesque through how she got her start:

Q: What got you started in the performing arts?

A: The movie “Singin’ In The Rain” . . . when I was a kid, I wanted to dance like Gene Kelly and look like a show girl. I started taking dance lessons when I was three years old at a studio in White Center called Dance Workshop, run by a lovely woman named Evelyn Kier and her daughter Susan Wright, a former dance trainer for Olympic athletes.  I studied ballet, jazz, tap and modern dance with Ms. Wright until I was 19, when I was accepted into the dance program at Oberlin College in Ohio.  I studied modern dance intensively there for a year; a back injury brought me back to Seattle when I was 20.  I stopped dancing altogether for a few years; until one day a friend took me to see a burlesque show at the Rendezvous in Belltown . . . I was hooked!  After that, I started going to as many burlesque shows as I could find.  I landed a volunteer gig as a pick-up girl at a burlesque show in Pioneer Square–I would go on stage after every act and pick up performers’ discarded costumes.  Now, five years later, I perform and teach all over the country!  I can’t believe that this is my life–I pinch myself every morning!

Q: Where did you grow up?

A: I grew up in south Arbor Heights, right on the border between Arbor Heights and White Center.

Q: Where do get the ideas for the wide variety of acts that you perform?

A: Everywhere!  Music, TV, fashion, colors, objects, people–anything I find interesting or funny will usually get incorporated into an act/costume/hairpiece at some point.

Q: Do you have a favorite piece that you like to do? Why?

A: My most recent favorite solo piece is my “Archetype Act”.  I debuted at the Seattle Erotic Art Festival this last May, and I’ll be performing it again at The Blue Moon Cabaret at El Gaucho this summer.  It’s a 6min long piece involving opera, techno, the Muppets, Kate Nash, and three gorgeous costumes that were hand made for me!  Epic!  I love performing it because I get to play three distinct female sexual archetypes in one act:  innocent, vampy, and carnal.  In the end . . . well, you’ll just have to see it to find out I perform my favorite group number with my troupe Dance Belt (www.dancebeltusa.com) – we learn music video choreography and perform and teach it at The Century Ballroom in Seattle, such as Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” and Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”.  We recently learned the choreography to Beyonce’s “Ego” video–I’m obsessed with it!  It’s SO sexy!

Q: What would you like people to know about Burlesque that they may not know already?

A: Burlesque is the art of “tease” as expressed through movement, costume, and direct relation to an audience.  It’s intended, like most forms of theater, to take an audience on a journey–the nudity and rhinestones just make for a more interesting trip.

Q: Do you have a role model in the industry that you look up to?

A: I have two role models in the Burlesque world, and I’m very lucky to work with both of them regularly:  Miss Indigo Blue and Waxie Moon

Q: You have been noted as having amazing costumes (http://winkthemovie.com/), where do you get them?

A: Up until recently, I made all of my own costumes.  This year I’ve been fortunate enough to have several costumes made for me by an amazing costume designer named Danial Webster (dwdonline.com), including my spectacular new “Archetype Act” costumes.

Q: You are obviously in great shape, what is a normal workout routine for you?

A: Wow, thank you!  I take kick boxing and yoga classes two to four times a week . . . depending on the week

Q: What has been your favorite part of being on the Sin on Heels Tour?

A: I had a great time on the Sin On Heels tour!  I wouldn’t change a thing!  The best part about it was getting to work with the other fantastic artists who were booked–it was like going on a sparkly road trip with my best friends.

Q: What do you have coming up next?

A: I’m currently choreographing an entire show called “SHINE:  The Burlesque Musical”!  Come see it!  It will play at Theatre Off Jackson July 8-11 and 15-18.  www.shinemusical.com

Here are some videos of Inga in action:

All Photos are by www.DeboraSpencer.com.

The mailman delivered our latest gizmo gadget (a state of the art Ultra Flip HD Camera) a few weeks back and we thought “what the flip should we do with this ding-dang newfangled thingamabob?”

Out of the red, white and blue, it occurred to us that our third President, one Thomas Jefferson, who loved new gadgets and devices and inventions and discoveries, would have gotten a kick out of this powerful little digital camera, the size of a deck of cards, not much smaller than a hand-held booklet-sized copy of what is known as the Declaration of Independence.

It was 234 years ago right now, that our Founders were “cutting and pasting” their final draft of what became known as that treasured and precious document, the Declaration of Independence, whose primary author was the then 33 year-old future President Jefferson.

So someone said:

“Let’s take our camera around White Center and Burien (and Normandy Park and Des Moines) and ask our fellow neighbors and friends and passersby to read aloud the Declaration into our new little camera, piece the quotes together into one colorful video, and release it to the nation and world on our various neighborhood news blogs.”

And so we did – well actually Mark Neuman did, then Scott Schaefer edited it – see if you can find yourself, or a friend or two:

(…at the end of the video, look for some amusing outtakes as well as terrific “Happy Birthday USA!” salutations)

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY WHITE CENTER!

Just a few miles south of White Center, Burien’s annual Wild Strawberry Festival runs all weekend, with tons of FREE entertainment, music, arts, food, performance art, and much more.

The fest runs from 10am – 6pm today (Saturday June 19), and 10am – 5pm Sunday (June 20) at the Burien Town Square, on SW 152nd and 5th SW (map/directions here).

Be sure to come find our sister site The B-Town Blog near the intersection of SW 151st and 5th SW, where they’ll be “blogging live” all weekend.

Here are some of the weekend’s highlights:

Saturday, June 19:

• Anunnaki Project Trapeze Performances
• Stiltwalker Ellarella
• NW Parkour
• B-TOWN Bike Fair
• Kiwanis Pancake Brfst—8-10am, Burien Fire Station E
• lliott Bay Brewery Activities

Sunday, June 20:

• Abyssinian Dancers
• Manuela Horn—The Yodeling Wonder
• 5K Run/Walk— 150th & 4th SW
• Car Show
• Elliott Bay Brewery Activities

Here’s a map of the site:

To download and print your own copy of the event brochure, which includes a schedule, sponsors, site map and more – just click here for a PDF version, then hit the “Print” button.

There will be a FREE “Night of Swing” this Saturday night, June 19th beginning at 6pm at Grace Church, located at 10323 28th Ave SW.

Along with live music from the West Seattle Big Band, there will also be free professional Swing Dance instruction from F.J. Abaya, internationally know ballroom champion.

There will be dancing, there will be music, there will be refreshments and prizes…all FREE!

WHAT: Night of Swing

WHEN: Saturday, June 19th:

• 6-7pm: Free professional Swing Dance instruction from F.J. Abaya.
• 7-8:30pm: West Seattle Big Band will play. People will dance.

WHERE: Grace Church, located at 10323 28th Ave SW.

It’s “Guy’s Night Out” in White Center this Saturday (June 19), with a fundraiser for WestSide Baby that runs from 5pm – 10pm at the White Center Eagles Hall, located at 10452 15th Ave SW.

“WestSide Baby provides essential items to local children in need,” says their flier, “and we think men care about this need too!”

Tickets can be purchased online here – $25 just to attend or $50 to get into the game.

Here’s info from a flier:

Two great guys are holding a fantastic fundraiser for WestSide Baby this weekend and you should be there! Early this year two of our favorite supporters approached us with the idea to hold a Guys Night fundraiser.

WestSide Baby provides essential items to local children in need and we think men care about this need too!  Because our biggest event of the year is an afternoon Tea, we jumped on the idea to share WestSide Baby’s mission and impact with men in our community who care about kids.  Providing adequate diapers and safe carseats and portable cribs should matter to everyone.

WHAT: Guys Night Out Fundraiser 
Benefitting WestSide Baby

WHEN: Sat. June 19th @ 5pm – 10pm

WHERE: White Center Eagles   10452 15th Ave. SW

• Spaghetti Dinner, Texas Hold ‘Em and Poker Tourneys, Pool, Horsehoes, Raffles, Auctions and More!
• Hosted by supporters, Gerard and Kemp
• Initial Buy In Reservation $50
• Ticket Only – No Poker  $25
• More information at WestSide Baby News and Events or purchase tickets HERE

More information:

You can expect a great all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner by the Sons of Italy.  Big Al Beer at a discount and a full cash bar (with more discounts) provided by the Eagles.

Auction items will be offered up sporadically during the tournaments.  No long drawn out processes here!

• Featured items:
• 2 Seattle Seahawks tickets – Club Level
• 3 Nights at an Ocean Shores Condo
• Half-Day Seattle Brewery Tour by Evergreen Escapes
• New Snowboard
• New Guitar
• Top Gun DVD Autographed by Viper
• Choice beverages
• And more…..

Raffle tickets will be available at $10 each with more than 30 items pulled together for 10-15 great wins.

Featured items:

• Lots of Columbia Sportswear
• Fleece jackets
• 3 Piece Snow Removal Kit for the car
• Duffel bags

We’re sorry to report that Tesla is having an excellent sales season and has sold BOTH of the amazing cars they planned to use for our demos and had to withdraw from the event.

Twelfth Night Productions is holding auditions for “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” this weekend – June 5th and 6th.

Auditions will be held Saturday (June 5) and Sunday (June 6) from Noon – 5pm at St James Place, which is located at 9421 18th Ave SW.

Here are the details:

“How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”  follows the rise of J. Pierrepont Finch, who uses a little handbook called “How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying” to climb the corporate ladder from lowly window washer to high-powered executive, tackling such familiar but potent dangers as the aggressively compliant “company man,” the boss’ whiny, nephew, the office party, backstabbing co-workers, caffeine addiction and, of course, true love.

AUDITIONS: Please prepare a  short  comedic monologue and 32 bars of a song from a musical that showcases your vocal range.  Please bring your own music, an accompanist will be provided.  Wear comfortable clothing for the dance portion of the audition. Please email tnpauditions@gmail.com  for an audition time.

WHEN:  June 5th and 6th from 12 – 5 PM Callbacks June 9th 6:30 – 9:30 PM

WHERE:  St James place; 9421 18th Ave SW;  Seattle

SCHEDULE AUDITION:  please email  preferred audition times to tnpauditions@gmail.com

PRODUCTION INFORMATION: How to Succeed will run Aug. 6 – 22nd at West Seattle High School; 3000 California Ave SW.  Rehearsals will begin June 13th.

Auditions: June 5th and 6th from 12 – 5 PM’ Callbacks: June 9th, 6;30 – 9:30.

Please contact for an audition time: tnpauditions@gmail.com

Audition Requirements: 
Please prepare a short comedic monologue and 32 bars of a song from a musical that showcases your vocal range. No songs from the show, please. Bring your own music, an accompanist will be provided.

White Center’s 87th annual(!) Jubilee Days is set for the weekend of July 14-18, and there’s still room for Vendors, including artists, crafters, farmers, food (including mobile vendors), non-profits, community groups, and many other types of businesses.

Jubilee Days is an excellent White Center tradition that offers a great opportunity to reach members of our diverse community, as well as people from across Seattle who come here for the carnival, great band line-up, local products, and an all-around good time.

The 2010 Theme is “Come Together, Embrace Our Differences,” and it will take place on 17th Avenue SW, between 98th and 102nd, with a musical stage and beer garden.

This year’s festival will mark the 22nd year that White Center has participated in a Seafair-sanctioned community event.

This year will also include:

• A locally-grown Farmers Market
• A fireworks display to kick off the event
• Returning vendors, volunteers, musical and magic performers, carnival, children’s entertainers and more
• The famous Beer Garden
  
• Golf Tournament
• Parade

Vendor fees range from $50-$120, and cover booth space for both days of the event. Electricity is available at an additional cost.

Here are the full details, as posted on the Jubilee Days website, which also includes downloadable forms:

Want to be a Vendor at Jubilee Days? We Hope You Do!

Jubilee Days will be bigger and better than ever in 2010 – a carnival with rides, music stage, beer garden, parade, and expanded street fair with a broader base of vendors. Jubilee Days vendor booths are now open to artists, crafters, farmers, restaurants, mobile food establishments, non-profits, community groups, and almost any other type of business! Jubilee Days offers an excellent opportunity to reach members of White Center’s diverse community, as well as people from across Seattle who come to Jubilee Days for the carnival, great band line-up, local products, and an all-around good time.

Basic Info for Prospective Vendors:

Days/Hours: Saturday July 17th from 10am-midnight (though some vendors choose to close earlier, between 8pm and midnight) and Sunday July 18th from 10am-6pm.

Location: The street fair will be on 17th Avenue SW, between 98th and 102nd, adjacent to the musical stage and beer garden.

Fees: Vendor fees range from $50-$120 (much less than many other festivals) and cover booth space for both days of the event. Electricity is available at an additional cost.

Booth Set-up: Vendor check-in will take place prior to the opening of the event, about 6:30am-9am. Specific booth location assignments will be made approximately one week prior to the festival, and are subject to change up until the day of the festival. Vendors will need to supply their own tables, chairs, tents, etc.

® for a printer-friendly version of this info, please click here

Ready to Apply to be a Vendor?

All vendors must submit a completed application, with payment. Applicants will be provided with additional info after being approved.

1. Click here to download the Vendor Application (PDF file) and fill it out

2. Choose your payment method

• Credit Card or PayPal: Click here to add the type of booth(s) you want to the cart. When you check out, you will be taken to the PayPal site where you can enter your card information or just log into your account if you have one. Include your PayPal receipt or confirmation number with your application when you submit it.
• Check: Make check payable to White Center Jubilee Days and mail it in with your application

3. Mail your completed Vendor Application to:

White Center Jubilee Days VENDORS
1612 SW 114th St. PMB 198
White Center, WA 98146

Questions?

Please contact Lauren at vendors@jubileedays.org or (206) 350-9613.

*Food vendors are required to have the applicable Food Service Permits. Permit info and applications, as well as lists of food exempt from permit requirements are available from King County: http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/ehs/foodsafety.aspx.

*Goods and services sold by vendors must be legal to sell to persons of all ages in King County and the State of Washington, and should not include weapons (real or toy) or other hazardous items.

From sister site The B-Town Blog comes word that El Tianguis, the first Latino-themed street market in the region, is set to open this Sunday, May 30th, in the Town Square Park of downtown Burien (which is less than four miles south of White Center).

The weekly market will feature goods and services that are traditionally found in open-air markets in Latino countries, including food and drink, fresh fruits and vegetables, clothing, arts and crafts, and much more.

The market is open not only to Latinos, but to anyone who appreciates Latino culture, products and amenities.

Not to be confused with a swap meet or a flea market, El Tianguis Latino Market will offer up a fun, family atmosphere that is a fusion between a Farmer’s Market and a street fair. Vendors are encouraged to offer their products at competitive prices so that clients feel welcome to do their regular shopping at the market as well as to indulge in exotic, specialty items.

According to their website, shoppers can expect:

Products will include Latino food and beverages, arts and crafts, home and garden, clothing, electronics, and many other items that are traditionally available in markets in Latino countries.

This weekly market is being put on by El Mercado, PC, a not-for-profit group that is:

…dedicated to the cultural and economic development of the Latino community, and has chosen Burien to launch the market because of the city’s earnest desire to integrate its growing Latino population with the general public. By reaching out to Latinos and offering them a stake in the community, the city of Burien has proven to be a shining example of how to tear down the walls that divide us rather than build them up, of how to embrace our differences rather than to reject them.

The market will be held on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Burien Town Square Park on 5th Place SW between SW 150th & 152nd Streets – at the same location where the current Discover Burien Farmers Market is held.

For more information, or to apply to be a vendor, contact El Mercado, PC, at info@elmercado.org or at 206-334-2285. You can also get more details at their website here: http://elmercado.org/

Here’s a map to the market:

View Larger Map

Coming up on May 29, local youth will have the opportunity to participate in a fun and  dynamic event dedicated to empowering them make a difference in their community.  SUMMIT UP 2010, free to all youth participants, will take place from 11:00-4:00 pm at the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center on Delridge.

SUMMIT UP 2010 will offer food, entertainment, workshops, service learning hours, and the chance for young people to check out paid internship and job opportunities.  Youth participants in SUMMIT UP 2010 will have free admission to the after party Saturday evening, which is 8$ at the door for nonparticipants.  The event has been organized by the Youth Media Institute of Seattle, and will be hosted by the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center.

WHAT: SUMMIT UP 2010 youth summit, free for all youth participants

WHEN: Saturday, May 29, from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. Afterparty from around 7:00 to 11:00 pm.

WHERE: Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way Southwest, Seattle, 98106.  Metro bus routes #120 and #125 stop directly in front of the Center.

INFO: For more information, visit the Youth Media Institute’s website, or contact estevan@youthmediaseattle.org.

The Highline Historical Society’s annual Highline Garden Tour fundraiser has been expanded to include five private gardens as well as the Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden, and will be held on Saturday, June 12th.

Garden Tour participants will enjoy outstanding gardens, artist displays, musical performances, two separate plant sales, Master Gardener advice and coupon specials throughout the day.

There also will be a screening of the Ken Slusher documentary about the piece-by-piece transfer of the lovely Seike Garden out of the path of SeaTac Airport expansion to its new home at the Botanical Gardens.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Highline Historical Society’s fundraising Highline Garden Tour.

WHEN: Saturday, June 12th, from 10am – 5pm.

TICKETS: Advance tickets are $12.00 for parties of 4 or more, and $15.00 for individual tickets.

Day of sale tickets will be $18.00.

Tickets may be purchased at Burien Bark and Herr Backyard Garden Center in Burien, or from the Society by telephone at 206-241-5786.

INFO: To join the Highline Historical Society (we’re members), click here.

The Society thanks business sponsors John L. Scott Real Estate agent Susan Plecko, Burien Bark, Herr Backyard Garden Center, The Bean, and Sal’s Deli for their generous support of the Garden Tour.

Beloved children’s songwriter and performer Dan Cohen, known to his fans as Danna Banana, will perform a free show for local families at the White Center Library this Wednesday, May 12.

Children age three and older and their families are invited to the White Center Library Wednesday at 6:30 for award-winning singer/songwriter Dan Cohen’s MAD about Books performance, in which he’ll “take stories from the page to the stage” for the entertainment of all.  Cohen, aka “Danna Banana” has performed all over the country, and he’s popular with both young kids and their parents, as his songs are catchy, entertaining, and educational.

WHAT: Dan Cohen, aka “Danna Banana” performs MAD about Books.

WHEN: Wednesday, May 12 at 6:30 pm.

WHERE: White Center Library, 11220 16th Ave SW, Seattle, 98146.

INFO: This free performance is hosted by the King County Library System at the White Center Library.  For more information and video clips of Danna Banana, check out his website. From www.dannabanana.com:

danna banana, dubbed ‘best party entertainer’ by New York Magazine, is a singer by training and a kid at heart. He’s done shows in venues big and small all over this land, as well as parties for everyone from Ernie Anastos to Rosie O’Donnell.

He’s also a veteran tunesmith, with credits ranging from Disney (Jojo’s Circus show and cds) to country (‘Your Reward’ on Sara Hickman’s Motherlode). He’s been entertaining kids and families since his first cd, Bananappeal, won him a Grand Prize in the prestigious John Lennon Songwriting Contest. And he uses all that experience-as a writer, performer, husband, and father– to create his unique, hummable, hilarious songs.

The modern pop production and fresh, funny lyrics ‘make parents and kids hoot with laughter’ (New York Magazine)