White Center Now: The blog about White Center

(Seattle Derby Brats in action; photo by Frank Blau)
Big event coming up this weekend at Southgate Roller Rink! Manya shares the news on behalf of the Seattle Derby Brats:

On January 26th, at 5 pm, the Portland Rosebuds and the Seattle Derby Brats Galaxy Girls will bout at Southgate Roller Rink in White Center. They are two of the best junior roller-derby teams in the country, and they are also ranked #1 and #3 in the world.

The Seattle Derby Brats were started by a Rat City Rollergirl at Pathfinder School in West Seattle. The ‘brats’ now number 103 girls, ages 8 to 18, drawn from all areas of the Northwest.

The Galaxy Girls evolved as the competitive travel team that bouts other teams in the state and country. If you would like to read more on this sport, there’s a video at seattlederbybrats.com, the second part shows some of the girls in an actual bout.

If you enjoy great action and athleticism, come join us at Southgate Skate Center on Saturday night!

Southgate is at 9646 17th SW.

Thanks to Chris for the original tip – and it’s confirmed on the Southgate Roller Rink Facebook page: The rink is featured in tonight’s edition of “Top Chef” on Bravo. The Rat City Rollergirls are featured too. The show’s official webpage says it’s on at 10 pm.

Big party at the rink! From Southgate co-owner Erin Venables:

Pride Skate Seattle is celebrating their one-year anniversary, October 3rd, 9-11 pm, $7 @ the door! Come roller skate, visit the Washington United for Marriage Referendum 74 booth, and don’t forget to attend the after party and Baby Ketten Karaoke at Company Bar just one block away from the roller rink. We hope to see everyone there.

Party on wheels! No doubt some are still recovering today from last night’s second annual Rat City Roller Prom at Southgate Roller Rink – a prom for grownups. WCN contributing photojournalist Nick Adams caught some of the scenes – including what you might call a class picture:

(Click for larger image)
There were quiet moments …

(Jerad and Mar talk during the Roller Prom)
… and showy moments:

Plus, awesome outfits. New meaning to the term “skating gloves”:

(T’wanda, Marilyn, and Francois)
And what would a prom be without a spotlight dance? Or … skate.

There was of course a prom queen – and Amy got flowers:

Taking off the skates at night’s end is such sweet sorrow …

This was not only a rocking-and-rolling good time, it was also a benefit for the White Center Food Bank.

Tomorrow night, two and a half hours, two DJs at White Center’s Southgate Roller Rink, 8:30-11 pm. DJ FeenX tells us that for her and DJ McLovin‘, “It’s our first of what we hope will be many DJ events. The theme of the night is ‘Come Roll With Us!’ and there will be games and prizes, as well as VERY cool screen fx that we are scratching on site with the music.”

One year, plus a couple weeks, after its grand reopening, the skating rink that for a while was NOT a skating rink celebrated its first birthday/anniversary tonight. Southgate Roller Rink was renovated, and is owned by, the Rhoads family – we photographed Josh and Clayton tonight.

Hey, look who DJ’d tonight! Christopher Mychael:

Some of the rink’s art is nostalgia-evoking too:

An afterparty was planned tonight at Company.

They’re celebrating tonight during Adult Skate Night, starting at 8:30 pm, with “original 1970’s Southgate Roller Rink DJ Christopher Mychael … playing the tunes!” More details on the Facebook event page.

Today’s old skates, tomorrow’s art. Well – May’s art. Tonight, Amanda from the White Center Art Walk presided in the basement of Southgate Roller Rink as artists came by to pick up skates to turn into the “dynamic roller-skate sculptures” that WCAW is seeking. The artists’ marching – um, rolling – orders are:

– Max out your design at 4′ wide x 2′ tall
– Utilize up to (5) pairs or (10) skates
– Make it wall mountable
– Like the Native Americans with the Buffalo hunt, include as much of the roller skate as possible (ie; the boot, truck and wheels). A surplus of clay wheels are also available for use.
– Sculptures must be completed by May 9th

They’ll be spotlighted during the May 19th White Center Art Walk.

Five artists picked up their materials while we were there this evening.

Artists who haven’t already signed up for this – you have just a few days to go! White Center is on a roll and your creation can be part of it, if you get in on this:

White Center Art Walk is continuing the call to artists for dynamic roller skate sculptures. Let your imagination ROLL WILD! Our first round this past summer was very successful, and there is some amazing art hung up at the rink. There’s plenty of room on the walls, and hundreds of skates just waiting for you and your ideas to be a permanent part of the Southgate Roller Rink in White Center.

Sculpture Criteria and Instructions:

– Max out your design at 4′ wide x 2′ tall
– Utilize up to (5) pairs or (10) skates
– Make it wall mountable
– Like the Native Americans with the Buffalo hunt, include as much of the roller skate as possible (ie; the boot, truck and wheels). A surplus of clay wheels are also available for use.
– Sculptures must be completed by May 9th
– Participation fee is $20 which covers skates, hanging and promotion of the May 3rd Saturday Art Walk.

The roller rink will play host to a fundraiser on May 16th benefiting WCAW to commission and install public art for White Center. This will also be an early unveiling of the art work before the Art Walk on May 19th.

Please email whitecenterartwalk@gmail.com by March 1st if you would like to participate. Skate pick up will begin on Tuesday, March 6th.

Thanks!
White Center Art Walk

A request we were asked to share with you, from Andrew McCarty:

I am wanting to find out if anyone locally has any information regarding what happened to the old skate boot sign that was on the top of the Southgate Roller Rink. (originally called the Southgate Rollerdrome back in the day)

Obviously the sign disappeared at some point, and the current owners do not know where. I’d love to get any information regarding its whereabouts or even some better pictures of the sign as I am trying to organize a group to either find the original and restore it, or craft a new one. It looks like from pictures that I’ve seen, that it had neon lighting, but because the photos are so grainy and in black and white, it would help to have better quality photos if we decide to craft ourselves a new one.

Any help would be great! Please e-mail dr.andros@comcast.net with any information.

Thank you very much!

Story, photos, and video by Deanie Schwarz
Reporting for White Center Now

When the decades-old Gay Skate night at Skate King in Bellevue ended last year, it was the only organized skate night in the Seattle metro area for the GLBTQ community and friends. Partners Tim Kelly and Patrick Savedra (above), old friends of Southgate Roller Rink owners Erin and Josh Venables, began making the 15-minute drive from their Capitol Hill home when the newly renovated rink in White Center opened earlier this year. After months of conversations. deliberations and planning, they have all teamed up to begin a new era with “Pride Skate” on the first Wednesday of every month at Southgate.

The kick-off was last Wednesday and the crowd was good, according to Erin Venables, who told WCN that her “boutique roller rink” is proud to be part of the close-knit White Center neighborhood that she says she has learned is much different than what she used to think before going into business here. And she is proud of providing the venue for the GLBTQ community too. She’s confident the Pride Skate guests are going to discover all of the great things about White Center that she has.

As a tribute to the spirit of Pride Skate, Erin redesigned the Southgate logo incorporating the rainbow colors. Joining the team to welcome the Pride Skaters to White Center, The Company Bar on 16th, one block east, has begun holding a brand new karaoke night on the first Wednesdays for after-Pride Skate gatherings.

“It was one of these things where we saw that a lot of people wanted to still be skating once a month, especially as fall and winter approaches when there are fewer things to do outside. I think, for the community, it is along the lines of Gay Bingo or Gay Bowling. These things have always been there for everyone,” Patrick said.

“The unique thing about skating is you don’t have to be a champion level to skate; you can be at the beginner level and still have a really good time,” Michael adds.

Beyond the fun exercise, there is the oh-so-important music, which the team has been putting a lot of energy into selecting. “We want to make it for us,” Michael says. “So, it’s a mix of current stuff you will hear at the clubs and the more nostalgic disco – like Donna Summers and the Bee Gees,” Michael said. They are targeting music that will appeal to the 18-and-older crowd, as well as to the much-older skaters who will jam to the music of the ’70s. “We want songs which are fun to skate to and have everybody find something they will like.”

They’ve tried to get on every public calendar they could think of because they don’t have a lot of money for advertising yet, but posters that Patrick made (he’s a fashion photographer with his own studio at Pioneer Square 614) have been distributed around a few areas of town. The plan is for future posters with real skater models chosen on skate night as the event moves forward. They have also been networking the idea around town and received such great feedback about bringing back skating to a vibrant new venue that they were encouraged to forge ahead with the project.

The relocated skate night is the continuation of a legacy event within the LGBTQ community that offers socializing, exercise and a whole lot of fun at an affordable price. The $7 cost for the night includes two and half hours of skating, customized music, rental of brand new skates, as well as the snack bar with slushees and munchies.

Michael and Patrick say they have bumped into friends who remember skating at Southgate when they were younger and are thrilled that Pride Skate has landed in their old hood. “But we have noticed that there are assumptions from some people who haven’t skated at Southgate that all skate rinks are unkempt or smelly or haven’t been updated; but that isn’t the case here. These owners are young with very fresh eyes on an industry that is full of people who have been running their businesses for a long time. I think Erin and Josh are innovative. They are doing a lot which is appealing to younger people and that is what is bringing them here. They have a fresh perspective on music and how a place like this should run and look, “ Patrick said. “And they have brand new skates here! That’s really important,” Michael said with a laugh.

A Facebook “Pride Skate” page is set up so you can find updates on schedules, hours, costs, and special theme nights. Michael and Patrick say that next month’s Pride Skate will be a few days after Halloween but everyone is welcome to come in costume or get that second costume that you didn’t wear for the actual holiday, but nobody is pressured to do so. They are looking forward to meeting you and your friends, gay or straight, on Wednesday, November 2, 9-11 PM. As owner Erin told WCN, “It’ll be when we can all be fabulous together.”

(Photos by Deanie Schwarz for WCN)
Yes, you can have a prom on rollerskates – check out Blair and Dina Lydia Johnson from neighboring Highland Park, at tonight’s Rat City Roller Prom, raising money for the White Center Food Bank at Southgate Roller Rink.

MORE PHOTOS ADDED EARLY THURSDAY:
Some of the scenes, also photographed and reported by Deanie:

Davin Kim, raised in White Center and now living in West Seattle, and Maricris Mende of Beacon Hill were getting ready to meet the beat on the floor – with some punchy punch.

That’s Steven Hensyel, Rat City Roller Prom organizer, with his prom date, getting their picture taken by RJB Photo. Steve conjured up this roller prom featuring three hours of skating, free skates, PBR on tap, spiked punch and prom photos. This was the first time Steve has organized an event like this and he told WCN that next year will be even better. So, if you couldn’t make it this time, you’ve got a chance next year to support a great cause.

Lots of tuxedos (pale blue and peach were faves) were rented for the night, but few were donning top hat and tails like this guy – spinning with his baton in his mouth.

Above and below, it wasn’t all tuxedos – name the fashion trend of decades gone by and chances are someone at the prom was representing it …

Promgoers also were invited to a pre-func at Company and an afterparty at Mac’s Triangle Pub.

In case you hadn’t heard about this one yet – latest announcement received – great way to help the White Center Food Bank:

White Center is putting the “fun” back in fundraiser with a second chance at prom the way it could have been, and this time it’s on roller skates. Who says prom is just for high school teenagers? We’re taking it back and adding a few grown-up enhancements. Formal attire is highly encouraged but that doesn’t mean you can’t get that baby blue ruffled tux you always wanted to have the nerve (and occasion) to wear. What else are you going to do with that hideously overpriced bridesmaid’s dress your sister/bff made you buy for her wedding? RJB Photo will be on-site to photograph you and all your friends as many times as you like and as silly as you want to be.

Tickets: $20 includes skate rental, 3 hours of skating/dancing, “formal” photo booth by RJB Photo and some adult beverages. 21+

Photos by RJB Photo
Proceeds to benefit White Center Food Bank

Wednesday 9/21/2011 8:00pm – 11:00pm
Southgate Roller Rink
9646 17th Avenue Southwest
Seattle, WA 98106

Tickets: brownpapertickets.com/event/190246
Facebook: facebook.com/RatCityRollerProm

Story and photos by Deanie Schwarz
Reporting for White Center Now

Southgate Roller Rink hosted the Rat City Rollergirls All Stars‘ bout vs. the visiting Texacutioners today – a fast and furious sport spectacle which ended with the All Stars slamming to victory in their namesake neighborhood’s recently reopened rink, 132-110.

This was the first bout that the All Stars have held at Southgate in a number of years. RCRG told WCN that White Center holds a special place in the hearts of the team members. This morning’s bout was scheduled quickly and was a trial run for future bouts for the All Star team, which is composed of members from all four Rat City teams. RCRG held the bout for their season ticket holders (also known as the Rat Pack) – it was not open to the general public.

Southgate Roller Rink will continue to host bouts with an emphasis on Junior teams, but also with adult teams on the horizon. More information about the All Stars and tickets for Rat City Roller Girls public bouts at KeyArena can be found at ratcityrollergirls.com and general skating hours and upcoming Southgate bout announcements can be found at southgaterollerrink.com.

We were just mentioning that there’s Roller Derby tonight at Southgate Roller Rink – when we noticed our partners at the Seattle Times have published the story they’ve been working on for a while. It includes the video you can watch above. Full story here.

8:39 AM: Big party in downtown White Center today – Cambodian New Year, with SW 98th closed off east of 16th SW for the occasion, events are scheduled to start at 10:30 am.

11:07 AM UPDATE: From Deanie Schwarz at the celebration – we added her video of the benediction above; here’s the schedule for the next few hours:

11:30 Rappers SJ and Princy
11:50 Dance Troupes: Coconut Dance and Rice Dance
12:00 Traditional Games and Banana Eating Contest
12:30 Healthy Cooking Demos
1:00 Dance Troupe: Scarf and Karp Dance

Then tonight, it’s Roller Derby at Southgate Roller Rink! Details here.

(Photo by Deanie Schwarz for White Center Now/West Seattle Blog)
Shortly after the renovated Southgate Roller Rink opened its doors to general-public skating for the first time in more than five years (here’s our original February story about the reopening plan), this line snaked out the door and out along the walkway to the front door last night. Once inside – an energetic crowd. The following photos are by Ellen Cedergreen for WCN/WSB. First, the Derby Girls took the floor in early evening before the official opening session, to work on fundamentals:

Then at 8:30 – the first public session:

The old saying “a good time was had by all” seemed to be in order. Even for Ronda Stapleton, who Ellen says may have been the first to take a tumble, but was still smiling, bravely showing off her bruised arm:

Southgate has a skate shop, too, in case you want to buy your own skates and gear (rental skates are included in the admission fee if you need them):

Video in the works.

WCN contributor Deanie Schwarz sent video from the “soft open” for Southgate Roller Rink, officially opening tomorrow night.

ADDED EARLY THURSDAY. More from Deanie:

Rat City Rollergirls’ Annie Warhead and Know Mercy (l, r) say that lots of other RCRG’s teams’ members are planning on attending Thursday night’s event.

That’s Jesse, Company Bar owner, narrowly escaping a fall by holding onto the table where “Meaty” of Uncle Mike’s BBQ is putting on skates. Meaty was celebrating his 65th birthday tonight. Company Bar will be offering happy hour-priced drinks all weekend to anybody who has their Southgate admission ticket when ordering at Company.

Born and raised in West Seattle, Gil McLynne said he used to go to the Southgate Rink all the time when he was a kid. It’s been about ten years since he’s been on skates. Asked how many times he fell tonight, Gil said he preferred not to disclose that, but girlfriend Megan quickly chimed in that she made it around several times without falling. In spite of a couple of falls, Gil was excited about Southgate, “This is so great. It is really awesome. These guys are going to do great here.” Gil thought a men’s derby league might be a fun idea.

Keshia Elder and Ada Johanson, both skaters, are the first Southgate employees. They fit all the customers with brand new skates and while they will provide the right fit for your shoe size, they can’t guarantee you will remain vertical and moving.

(Photos by Deanie Schwarz for WCN)
Inside Southgate Roller Rink, with two nights to go until it officially reopens Thursday night, it’s really starting to look like a rink! WCN contributor Deanie Schwarz stopped by to check in – and the shot that really hits it home is the one with the shelves full of skates:

The Seattle Derby Brats are a flat-track junior girls derby (ages 8-17) and two of their members, Board Member and Coach Kathi Webster (aka Katy Didit) and her daughter Mallie (aka Mal intent) were hard at work when Deanie stopped by, siting the logos which will adorn the south wall of the rink.

The derby grrrls are hand-painting the official Southgate Roller Rink logo (which can soon also be found on T-shirts available for purchase in the rink shop, along with inline skates, and assorted gear). Soon to be added on the wall will be the logos for the Seattle Derby Brats and the Rat City Roller Girls. Teen Night for the Grand Opening is Friday, and All Ages Derby Skate is Sunday night.

Owner Josh Rhoads told Deanie that the nearly 10,000-square-foot floor will receive another plasticking coat in about a month. Skate time on the newly stripped and refinished floor helps smooth down newly exposed surface fibers and allows the first few coats to completely absorb. Additional finishing coats will be added over the next few months too, to gradually build up the floor. Co-owner John Venables told Deanie that he won’t be happy until there are at least five coats of finish protecting the unique old-growth oak and maple wood laid more than 80 years ago in a one-of-a-kind, skater-friendly, octagonal configuration. (Here’s her February report on the reopening plan.)

(Photo by Deanie Schwarz for WSB/WCN)
One month after WCN contributor Deanie Schwarz broke the news that the former Southgate Skate Center is returning to its roots as Southgate Roller Rink, she reports tonight that the opening date is set – actually more like an opening weekend, Thursday, April 7, through Sunday, April 10, with a private “soft-open” event planned immediately preceding the four-day weekend. (We neglected to post her previous update on the rink here on WCN – so in case you didn’t already see it on partner site West Seattle Blog, she reported two weeks ago about the first Rat City Rollergirls sighting at Southgate!)