White Center Now: The blog about White Center

The White Center Arts Alliance is moving forward with great plans for the White Center community.  Be a part of this wonderful organization.  The Arts Alliance is seeking new members.  If you are interested in participating come by Cafe Rozella on Monday, October 6th at 7 p.m.  Or contact Ricardo at guarnero@caferozella.com.   Join now!

La Vida Nueva – Zapotec women’s weaving collective visits Seattle

(Café Rozella: 9434 Delridge Way SW  206.763.5805 www.caferozella.com

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Just received this announcement – note it’s for an event this weekend as well as a call for playwright participation in an event next month:

The White Center Arts Alliance and DramaQueen Theatre are co-sponsoring a White Center “Future of the Arts” community planning meeting and visioning session on Sunday, September 28th from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at the White Center ALL ABOUT ARTS studio space at 9444 17th Ave SW.

White Center artists, community leaders and other interested parties are encouraged to attend. The agenda will focus on the short and long-term future of the arts in the White Center community. Phone Nancy Calos-Nakano at (206) 795-0833 for further details.

Also, looking for local playwrights for Live Theatre Week. 5 playwrights to read and present a 10 minute play will be presented on Oct 16,17,18 at ALL ABOUT ARTS studio space. Novice and seasoned writers should turn in a copy of their work to: Nancy Calos at culturalart@msn.com or Karen Kinch jkkinch@msn.com for details, approval, scheduling and entry. There is a small stipend awarded to the writer. Women Writers from all backgrounds are encouraged to enter. Event is called “The Rivers that We Carry – Voices from West of the Duwamish”

Tall Latte at Half-Price – Rush Hour Special 6:00 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.\

Weary commuters, we know what a grind it is to get in your car and join the mad rush to that beloved job. So Cafe Rozella wants to make your commute a little easier. Pull up to Cafe Rozella, jump out of your car and get a tall latte for half the usual price! Just come in before 7:30 am and say, “I want my commuter special!” While supplies last.
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Keep up on current affairs and latest White Center developments at the WC blog: whitecenternow.com

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Freebie 2.0 download of the day. If you are like me, as you work at your computer, either on the web or while writing, you run into stuff that you want to save for later or merely want to have around for later use (like a software key, an address or a phone number). If you use gmail, you could email it to yourself but that has its limits. Well there is a tremendous freeware download called Evernote that allows you to record, save, copy and generally memorialize anything on your PC and best of all it syncs with all your computers so if you save something on your laptop while surfing at Cafe Rozella it will be in your Evernote clipboard in your home desktop. The download can be found at: Evernote download.

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News and Views:

Get to know potential President Sarah Palin

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Upcoming Events

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Hot music and cool treats – The Allegations rocked Full Tilt last night, and here’s a sample.

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Ricardo shared a lively Reptet reminiscence earlier in the week (click here if you missed it) – as you can see by our video from tonight’s performance, they definitely lived up to advance billing. And what a gorgeous night – guess this makes up for some of that August rain. Here’s where to find out more about Reptet (billed on their website as “an original jazz sextet from Seattle.”

REPTET brings their award-winning and energetic jazz to Rozella.

Friday September 12th at 7 p.m.

Reptet is a sextet consisting of six multi-instrumentalists all of whom are members of the internationally acclaimed Monktail Creative Music Concern based out of Seattle, WA. They have established themselves as a group of considerable excitement, flair and vision while simultaneously debunking preconceived notions of what a jazz group ought to be. Their music has been aired on radio stations across the United States and Europe, and their members have toured internationally. The arts organization Earshot Jazz has described them as, “A hot progressive combo of Seattle’s best young players. Their music is intense, taut, and fresh.” With the release of their second full length CD Do This!, Reptet has established themselves as an irrepressible force in modern jazz.

Press Quotes
“This Seattle sextet does it all: it grooves, it rocks, it squawks – occasionally, it even talks. Mostly, it sounds like a New Orleans jazz band on crystal meth.” ~Alex Gelfand’s Critics pick for the best release of 2006, Jazziz Magazine~

“Trumpeter Samantha Boshnack’s open voicings, jaunty tempos and buoyant timbral mixes for two winds and two brass have a friendly monster feel that conjures a bittersweet and elegiac mood of orchestral grandeur.” ~Downbeat~

“A juggernaut jazz band, arresting, compelling, and just plain cranked-up. Do This! is one of the most convincing albums of the last several years from Seattle jazz players.” ~Earshot Jazz~

Yeah, we don’t normally do midweek shows but this one is going to be amazing. Fatigo from Phoenix is a Latin/Americana freakout. Oh Man is the local support on this bill. They are a delightful dance explosion.

Ohman
http://www. myspace. com/ohmanthatisawesome

Fatigo
http://www.myspace. com/fatigo

Click To Play

First of two White Center Now video clips – that’s Charanga Danzon, “Seattle’s new Cuban music ensemble,” playing outdoors at Cafe Rozella tonight. Full Tilt had live music too – from a much different island nation – Tom Matchett from the UK rocked the shop tonight:

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A group of very charming young people just came by the Cafe.  Their English was halting so I spoke to them in Spanish, to which they were thrilled.  They also loved our poetry wall with its emphasis on Pablo Neruda.  Turns out they are dancers from Argentina and are here to perform traditional Tango.  (As readers may know the Tango originated in Argentina.)  They will be performing in late September.   Please check here for more details.

Most people are not aware that we sit near a small store-front mosque.  Everyday, you can see Muslims from the Horn of Africa make their way to the mosque for prayers.  They are a very handsome people and carry themselves with regal bearing.  I find it fascinating that they have travelled so very far away to wind up in chilly Seattle (the Switzerland of America).  I am still waiting for the day, soon to arrive, when we can enjoy fresh falafel sandwiches in White Center.

If White Center is any indication, Seattle continues to be a draw for people from other parts of the country — especially the midwest.  The greatest number come from Michigan followed by the Chicago area and Minnesota.  Then there’s the couple from the Yukon (I know that’s Canada).

Just finalized plans for an exhibition and sale of Oaxacan rugs.  The rugs are made by a women’s collective in Oaxaca, Mexico.  Oaxaca is heavily indigenous and the rugs will bring that imprimatur.  We will likely have music to go along with the exhibition.  That should happen on September 24th of 25th.   Click here for more details.

Charanga Danzon will provide the music this Friday at the Cafe.  Charanga Danzon plays traditional Cuban music and is comprised of some excellent musicians.  Should be a fun performance.

Michelle Smith-Lewis’ photos of vintage signs from Seattle will be showing for the month of Sept. Artists reception is at 8pm this Friday the 29th of August. 9629 16th Ave sw Rat City, wa 206-767-4811

Click To Play

As promised in our earlier post about tonight’s live music at Cafe Rozella, here’s a quick sampler of the show that followed, a couple blocks south at Full Tilt Ice Cream. This was a CD-release party for Centaur Hearts, with Arbitron and One Million Teeth also on the bill – we showed up as the night began, so OMT is who you see in our video clip. Tomorrow (Saturday) night – more live tunes at Full Tilt – which proprietor Justin says got shoutouts from KEXP and the Stranger.

From Youngstown, a benefit for after-school programs on August 21, 2008.
SKIFFLE: A BENEFIT FOR YOUNGSTOWN’S ALL ACCESS PROGRAM
August 21
Doors open at 6 PM; show at 7 PM
$25 suggested donation

What’s a skiffle? Skiffle, an antiquated slang term for “rent party,” is derived from the fringe American art form comparable to jug band music. “Skiffle” music was developed during the early 1900s in New Orleans. Here in Seattle in 2008, Skiffle means an opportunity for local artists to come together, jam out and present collaborative visual art and musical performances to raise money for Youngstown All-Access, our after school programming in partnership with Rock School, Arts Corps and the Service Board.

During the day, eight teams comprised of community members, local artists and bands will create a work of art out of a blank canvas including guitars and basses. These masterpieces will be auctioned off the same night and accompany performances from The Boogilistics, Camille Bloom & Recovery, Scribes, and very special guests Bison, featuring members from Pearl Jam, The Presidents of the United States of America, Guns N’ Roses, and the Dusty 45’s, as well as artists and students from Arts Corps, Rock School and the Service Board.

Presenting agency Blank Canvas seeks to inspire self-expression and impact communities through art and collaboration, producing “Artist Throwdown” events to bring communities together to create spontaneous and collaborative paintings all in one day, in one place, in the service of charity.

The big event this weekend is the

Pasefika Annual Festival

White Center Heights Elementary School

10015 6th Ave. S.W.

10 am until 5pm

Pasefika’s 5th Annual Festival. There will be performances by various Pacific Island groups. Also there will be drawings for gifts donated by vendors, sponsors and community partners, as well as food booths. Free admission.

Full Tilt is having Rat City Ruckus on Friday at 9pm http://www.myspace.com/ratcityruckus

and our first art opening with Chris Hunter Saturday at 8pm http://www.myspace.com/alkigypsy

If you have any events, news, or concerns, drop us an email at whitecenternow@gmail.com