More block party lessons!

Originally uploaded by seattle.metblogs.

guy at the gate: if you already purchased a ticket you don’t need to stand in that enormous line!

minus the bear: het! It isn’t 90 degres outside, maybe you kids could dance a little bit?

audience: haha. Thanks for telling us were prettier than Midwesterners though.

The Museum of History and Industry is supposed to move downtown, to the space they bought in the Convention Center. But they’ve been spending a lot of time hanging out in South Lake Union lately, and now it looks like they could move here instead [P-I].

The Naval Reserve Armory building is being used for not a whole lot right now. I’ve been there for one fashion show and one New Years Party, but the place doesn’t see a whole lot of action. I have been worrying over what was going to happen to the building, which is of course a historic spot, once this neighborhood turns into Allentown. So I’m cautiously thrilled that MOHAI might move in there. The building would be used by a group who’d appreciate its history, and it won’t turn into the next venue for Paul Allen to empty out his junk drawer. Plus, the museum would provide a little shelter for the neighboring Center for Wooden Boats, which could always use some help.

The move isn’t a certain thing, but the Mayor has sent a resolution letter to City Council seeking approval to start negotiations. I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed.

Block party q & a

Originally uploaded by seattle.metblogs.

1. How in the hell are you supposed to get to Neumo’s? through the beer garden, naturally.

2. Rhythmic fist pumping to Band of Horses? apparently so. And a
saxophone solo for an onstage Rolling Stones cover. No Mat Brooke
though

3. Hottest instrument? Melodicas all over the place!

4. Headliner? the kid with the ping pong clown nose and anarchy helmet picked Pretty Girls Make Graves. I’ll trust his judgement on this one. Plus a special guest appearance by Felecia Fellatio and double
dutch jump roping!

5. Reggie Watts’s British accent? no idea really.

What the hell is wrong with the Puget Sound area this month?

The Pilchuck murders.
The Kirkland murders.
The Skyway murders.
And now, the attack on the Jewish center.

Since July 11, that’s 10 dead (so far). And the odd thing is that as best I can tell, all the area’s murders in the last 3 1/2 weeks have been from these four incidents. For an area with a low murder rate (1/2 that of Boston, 1/3 of Tulsa), 10 murders is a substantial number — and that’s before we add in the 7 from the Capitol Hill shootings.

What’s happening here? Is it all just a bunch of random, non-sensical events? Or is there some sinister thread tying everything together? Is it even worth pondering?

One last thing. Here’s a priceless quote from our friendly local bloggers who prefer three right turns to one left:

…An eyewitness quoted in this Seattle Post-Intelligencer piece confirms earlier reports the suspect believed responsible for the killing of one and wounding of five at the organization’s offices today did indeed say, “I’m a Muslim-American and I’m mad at Israel.” Moreover, police tell the P-I they’ll be trying to protect Seattle synogogues and Jewish organizations. Yet the FBI tells the paper the incident is not terrorism-related, apparently discarding the ascendant model of atomized terrorism rather quickly.

“Atomized terrorism.” Well, there you go. Brown equals terrorist. If it had been a Christian Identity sort who walked in and said, “I’m an Aryan; I’m angry at Israel,” would the neologism “atomized terrorism” get trotted out? Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean we’re all out to get you, guys. Just me.

The shootings at the Jewish Federation were apparently a hate crime. [Seattle Times] Stating “I’m a Muslim American, I’m angry with Israel,” a man walked into the building and started shooting. Five women were brought to Harborview with gunshot injuries. Three are in critical condition.

Does it really need repeating that no matter how oppressed you feel, you won’t solve it by killing random uninvolved people? How hard a concept is this?

The shooter, according to KING 5, was a 31 year-old man originally from Pakistan with a criminal record. So far authorities don’t think he had any ties to any terrorist organization, but they’re still looking.

What a lovely way to start the weekend. Our thoughts are with the victims.

photo of Ryan Walker courtesy KING5.com

Everett police are asking for your help in locating a missing youth they are calling an “endangered” runaway.

Ryan Walker was last seen on June 29th.

He is 14 years old. He is 5’1″ and weighs about 100 pounds. He may possibly still be in the Everett area. If you have any information on Ryan’s whereabouts, please contact the Everett PD at (425) 257-8400

For the past hour and a half I’ve been hearing helicopters. I live in First Hill, near all of the hospitals so it’s not an entirely unfamiliar sound but when it goes on long enough, I know somehting’s up.

There’s been a shooting downtown at the Jewish Federation Building. [King 5's coverage, complete with video]

Police have taken into custody at least one suspect; one victim is confirmed dead and at least five more have been injured. Some victims have been taken to Harborivew already; police have released no identifying details but it’s reported that at least three victims are women, one of them a pregnant woman.

The incident began at about 4 pm. Police have closed off the area around the building–2nd and 3rd at Lenora–and urge people to stay away until further notice.

Food is a very tribal activity. We all eat and some find very little more enjoyable than enjoying wonderful food with others in our tribe. I’m one of those..
Well do I have an activity for you tonight! Be it a first date or your 40th anniversary, what better way to enjoy the company of that special someone than with an evening of wonderful food?

Bring a date and enjoy a meal that’s sure to be both romantic and memorable. Have fun together as you learn to create starters, sweets and everything in between–it’s the perfect date night.

Menu:
Pasilla Chile and Avocado Vichyssoise with Warm Sonoma Goat Cheese Crostini
Grilled Halibut and Nectarine Skewers with Sticky Pomegranate – Wasabi Glaze
Oregano Grilled New York Steaks with Fennel, Artichokes and Whole Garlic
Plum and Blackberry Mascarpone Mousse.

Sur La Table is located at 90 Central Way in Kirkland.
Phone: (425) 827-1311
FAX: (425) 827-9561

spotted: stretch jaguar

Originally uploaded by seattle.metblogs.

So much sexier (& fuel efficient!) than your stretch Hummers.

having trouble planning your weekend? let’s fire up the recommend-o-tron for some assistance!

Friday

• From the exceptionally good lineup, you’d never guess that the Capitol Hill Block Party is such a small-scale event. A few stages spread over a few blocks and far more bands than you’ll ever be able to see no matter how hard you try. As an illustration, take a look at exactly why you’ll you’re rushing in an insane frenzy to make the most of the action: enthusiastic drumming and accessible shoegaze from the Helio Sequence (5:45, main); infectiously danceable rock complete with the possibility of racquet smashing Tennis Pro (6:15, neumo’s); up-and-coming in a huge way tweepop wonderkids BOAT (6:30, vera); three guys who used to be in other bands have now joined forces to create the Sea Navy (8:00 vera); this weblog has already showered so much affection on Band of Horses (8:15, main) that you’d think we were getting royalties, but they’re just that good; thrash about energetically to Pretty Girls Make Graves (9:45, main) or go see poplicious Visqueen (9:45, vera), a band that I once played a show in a windstorm that nearly threw them from the stage while hardly missing a beat. An embarrassment of riches.
• Office Space plays at Cinema on the Lawn. Everyone there will know every line from every scene. Start drinking early.
• Don’t like music or going outside? The Seattle Art Museum hosts a David Lynch festival at the Museum of History and Industry. They’ll be screening Lost Highway, along with some television clips and informed panels to discuss just how fucked up the movie is. Or maybe I’m biased by having watched it when I was irredeemably hungover on a bright Sunday afternoon. [sam]

Saturday

• If you haven’t purchased tickets, get up early for the remaining day-of-show tickets because it’s time for more Block Party than you can shake a stick at, even if that stick is holding a stack of chocolate covered fruit: “horror/punk” Schoolyard Heroes (2:00, main), teen sensations Smoosh (3:15, main); if any band sounds like a direct sunlight on pavement it’s Silversun Pickups (4:30, main); former Carissa’s Wierd drummer Sera Cahoone (5:15, neumo’s) in hopes of a hoedown from her new band; Minus the Bear (5:15, main); big shots Speaker Speaker (5:15, vera); high energy fun from the Saturday Knights, cleverly enough, playing on a Saturday night (6:30, vera); Six Organs of Admittance (8:00, neumo’s) out of curiousity; hip-hop from Common Market (8:30, main), a dose of mellow melancholy from Magnolia Electric Company (9:15, neumo’s); and, of course, the legendary reunion of Murder City Devils (9:30, main). [Ed: this could be simplified to "just camp at the mainstage all day" --yes, but what fun would that be? we're all about the scurrying.]
• Alternately, how funny would it be to go to Redmond to see “Maddox” read from the Alphabet of Manliness just because you couldn’t get a ticket for the block party? [upcoming]

Sunday: take a nap already!

Be sure to stay tuned to this channel over the weekend. If When something crazy exciting happens at the block party, we’ll post low resolution camphone pictures to keep you updated. If you see us there, say hi — maybe we’ll put your picture on the internet!