Our friends at White Center for the Arts are holding a very unique “Python-A-Thon” fundraiser this Sunday, March 7th, from Noon – 8pm at Big Al Brewing, where episodes of the classic “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” TV show will be shown non-stop.

Participants are encouraged to bring potluck food items, dress in costume (lumberjack anyone?), bring penguins to put on the telly, and walk like you’re in the Ministry of Silly Walks, all while donating to your neighborhood arts association.

Here are the details:

WHAT: “Python-A-Thon” viewing party of classic Monty Python TV episodes to help raise funds for White Center for the Arts.

WHEN: Sunday, March 7th from Noon – 8pm.

WHERE: Big Al Brewing, located at 9832 14th Ave SW; (206) 453-4487 (website here)

INFO: From a poster:

Big Al Brewing Presents Monty Python Video Festival

“Continuing Education”

Earn your letters in Pythonology

Finding it hard to get promoted even though you have a MM- Master of Monty?

Get your Doctor of Pythonology (DP), and silly walk your way to the top!

DP courses in:

• The Arts
  • -Why lumberjacks sing
• Optical Sciences
  • -How not to be seen
• Aeronautics
  • -What makes sheep fly
• Military History
  • -German humor and the demise of the Wehrmacht
• Veterinary Sciences
  • – Learn to determine the difference between “Dead” and “Resting”

And much much more!

If you’re silly enough, you too could become a fully accredited Doctor of Pythonology, capable of answering such puzzling questions as…

• “Why is there a penguin on the telly”?
• “If she’s a go’er why is she with him”?
• And, “Did the Vikings invent spam”?

Classes begin on Sunday, March 7th

First class of the day starts at 12 noon

Location: Go to www.bigalbrewing.com for directions

Extra credit will be given for bringing pot luck and coming to class as your favorite Monty Python character.

To get you in the mood, here’s the classic “Ministry of Silly Walks” sketch:

White Center for the Arts‘ next event is an “Art Walk” this Saturday, Oct. 17th, from 6pm to 9pm, with stops at numerous places in White Center.

Here are the details:

WHAT: White Center For the Arts 3rd Saturday Art Walk

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 17th, 6pm to 9pm

WHERE: Here are the scheduled art stops

• The Salvadorean Bakery (1719 SW. Roxbury St.)
  Raina Anderson: photography
  They are running a special for those who stop by during the ART WALK:
  • Option 1: two pupusas and one tamale of your choice for $6.50.
  • Option 2: one pupusa, one tamale of your choice, rice and beans for $6.95.
  • The choices for pupusas are: pork, pork cheese and beans, chicken and cheese, cheese and beans, cheese and loroco; and zucchini and cheese.
  • The choices for the tamales are: chicken, pork and sweet corn.
• Full Tilt (9629 16th Ave South)
  Onion Carillo and Jody Luna Robinson
  With Music by Shit Gets Smashed and The Shiners
• Proletariat Pizza (9622 16th Ave SW)
  Amanda Helmick: mixed media
• Dzul (9622 16th Ave SW)
  Tattoo and Airbrush Urban Art
• Café Rozella (9434 Delridge Way SW)
  Robert Houk Jr.: Painting
  Carlos Espinoza: Carving
• Big Al Brewing (9832 14th Ave SW) – CLOSED ON THE 17th
  Julio Castro: photography

INFO: More info available at their website: www.whitecenterforthearts.org

White Center for the Arts‘ next event is coming Saturday, Sept. 19th, this time at a new venue – Big Al Brewery, located at 9832 14th Ave SW.

Here are the details:

WHAT: White Center For the Arts 3rd Saturday Art Event, featuring:

• Photography exhibit by Alexander Meas and Ken Champoux
• Live bands, Proletariat Pizza, Full Tilt Ice Cream, Big Al’s Beer and “fun surprises”

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 19th , 7pm to 10pm

WHERE: Big Al Brewery, located at 9832 14th Ave SW, Seattle;‎ – (206) 453-4487‎

INFO: Lots of art, artists, live music, pizza and microbrew, with a portion of the night’s take going towards funding WCFTA’s Community Gallery/Coffeehouse, and After-School Arts Education program.

Here’s more from their press release:

And now for something completely different…

At least the venue is different.

White Center for the Arts September Third Saturday Art Event is being hosted by Big Al Brewery!!

September 19th, 7PM until 10PM.

Come enjoy Art, Music, Food, Beverage, and Prizes; a rockin’ Saturday night, and help WCFTA reach it’s funding goal.

Please pass this along to all of your friends and make it a party!

A “Customer Appreciation Block Party” is coming to SW 116th and Ambaum Blvd. SW on Saturday, Aug. 1st, starting at 10am, with free food, door prizes, discounts, drawings and more.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Customer Appreciation Block Party with food samples, grilled specials, serivce discounts, tons of items on sale, the works!

WHEN: Saturday August 1st starting at 10am

WHO: Geno’s Coffee & Bakery, Berry’s BBQ, Pinoy Grocery, Arsenio’s for Hair & Tiffiany Nails

WHERE: 11618 Ambaum Blvd & SW 116th St

WHY: Showing some love back to the community for being such great customers. Come get your nails done, your hair styled, a BBQ masterpiece, some fresh baked treats and shop a huge sale!

It only happens once every four years, so you might as well get out and enjoy Election Day 2008 at Big Al Brewing, where a potluck viewing party will happen.

Big Al Brewing Co. is located at 9832 14th Ave SW in White Center; phone: (206) 453-4487

Here are the details:

• Potluck dinner – bring a small main dish and a small side dish so there will plenty of “food distribution” for all
• Tasty beverages
• Watch election night results on the big screen
• Doors open 3pm (or after you’ve voted) and will stay open until midnight
• Ice Cream will be provided by Ann and Justin at Full Tilt Ice Cream
• Donations: Some rocky times are around the corner and many of our neighbors will be caught short and unable to provide for their families. You can help by bringing non-perishable food items for the White Center food bank or with a donation of $20 or more receive a unique limited addition “Obama brick” as an election night keepsake

Monday night’s Blog Party 2.0 Food Bank Fundraiser was a rockin’ success, bringing in 166 distinct food items and $280 in cash/checks, split evenly between the Highline and White Center Food Banks!

Two large food barrels were filled, and all donations will go to hungry and needy neighbors in the White Center/Burien areas.

We at the White Center Blog would like to shout out a huge THANK YOU to everyone who braved the weather and showed up at Elliott Bay Brewery in Burien!

Some highlights of the evening:

• Local comic Winlar did a hilarious set of original musical comedy
• Skwish’s Luke did a rousing (yet very grungy) solo acoustic set
• Lost in the Bamboo finished the night with a killer set
• And sadly, WCB Publisher/Editor Scott Schaefer was forced to sing “Folsom Prison Blues” live (and yes, there’s video of this so stand by…)

We’ll be posting more photos and exclusive videos soon, so please check back in…and again, THANKS EVERYONE for helping to feed your hungry neighbors!

This just goes to show that a neighborhood blog needn’t be just about how quickly you can post local news – it can also be about serving the community as a resource for change.

Just a gentle reminder to all WCB Readers – our Food Bank Fundraiser is this Monday night, Aug. 25th, from 6pm on, at Elliott Bay Brewery, which is located at 255 SW 152nd Street in downtown Burien (map below).

This event is co-sponsored by our sister website, The B-Town (Burien) Blog, and will serve as both a lively “Blog Party” featuring local talent (two local bands and a local comedian will be playing, starting at 8pm), as well as a fundraiser for both the White Center and Highline Food Banks.

There is NO cover charge, but a suggested donation of two cans (or boxes) of food would be appreciated (there will be at least one large barrel visible and ready for donations throughout the night).

From the White Center Food Bank website:

The White Center Food Bank serves more than 1,200 hungry families each month. In 2007, we provided enough food for more than 53,000 individuals including 21,000 children under the age of 18. We could not provide these services to the White Center community without the generosity of our donors and volunteers. However, more help is needed to meet the overwhelming demands of this community!

If you can’t make it to the party, you can donate online directly to the WCFB by clicking here.

For more insight into how the current recession is affecting food banks in the northwest, read this Seattle Times article; here’s a snippet:

As more residents struggle with the rising price of gas and food, the organizations that are their safety net are beginning to falter. Providers are running seriously over budget on fuel. Volunteer drivers are quitting. Staff members who commute are finding jobs closer to home. Demand is up as much as a third at some food banks — and donations are down that much or more.

We will be “blogging live” from the event, but hope to see (and meet) you there in person!

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We’re only one week away from our special Food Bank Fundraiser/Blog Party, which is scheduled for MONDAY, AUG. 25th, starting at 6pm at Elliott Bay Brewery, located at 255 SW 152nd in downtown Burien.

Aside from being a fun and festive gathering, this event will also serve as a Fundraiser for both the Highline and White Center Food Banks, and while there’s NO COVER CHARGE, we kindly ask that you bring at least two cans or boxes of food to help feed your neighbors in need.

So come on out and have some fun while helping a great cause, and mark your calendars for what’s sure to be a night full of:

• NO COVER CHARGE (suggested donation of 2 cans or boxes of food is asked)
• Fundraising for Highline and White Center Food Banks!
• Live Blogging!
• Live Comedy from local Comedian “Winlar”
  
• Live Music from area band “Lost in the Bamboo”
  
• Food courtesy Elliott Bay Brewery!
• Fun!
• Drinks!
• Humor!
  
• Much more, just show up!
  

We’ll see ya then!

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