It’s 1872 and Phileas Fogg, a mysterious English gentleman who lives his life by such mechanical precision that he fires his servant for bringing him water for shaving a mere two degrees off his preference, is at the Reform Club while some other members are discussing a newspaper article that says with the completion of a new railway in India it is now possible to travel the world via steamer and rail in a mere 80 days. The others scoff at the idea, but Fogg is so convinced that he can do it that he not only bets £20,000 (a fortune in those days), but declares that he will leave right away, pausing only long enough to have his new servant pack a bag.

Taproot Theatre‘s theatrical adaptation of Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days is a fun, fast-paced adventure tale filled with suspense, excitement, and not a small amount of humor. The cast of five ably represent a broad selection of characters from around the world (only Ryan Childers, as Phileas Fogg, has the luxury of playing a single role; Alyson Scadron Branner, Nolan Palmer, and Bill Johns wear a number of hats and Andrew Litzy acts out an amazing 18 characters in the course of the play) with such enthusiasm and credibility that the simple stage setting instantly transforms into a variety of world settings, from London to Suez to Calcutta, Yokohama, New York and all points in between. Simple but effective sound and lighting effects enhance the telling of the tale–you know that the actors are really sitting on a stack of boxes but you’re so engaged that you’re perfectly able to see that elephant they’re riding.

As they race to keep on track of their schedule, Fogg and his servant Passepartout, encounter a number of obstacles and delays, including being chased by Detective Fitz from Scotland Yard who is convinced that Fogg is a bank robber wanted back home in London and the rescue of an Indian woman, Aouda, about to be burned to death on a funeral pyre. Fogg is sure he can overcome any obstacle but the more time he spends with the people who surround him, the more Fogg begins to realize that not all of life can be managed with mathematical precision. Just as things look most bleak for him, Fogg learns at last that success doesn’t just come from pocket watches and schedules, but also and most importantly from the imprecise human heart.

Around the World in 80 Days plays at Taproot Theatre through June 20 and is equally appealing for adults and children over 10.

11:00 AM – Nancy Rawles: My Jim
SPL University Branch
The Washington Center for the Book at The Seattle Public Library invites everyone to take part in Seattle Reads My Jim, a project designed to foster reading and discussion of works by authors of diverse cultures and ethnicities. Nancy Rawles’ novel re-imagines Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the slave’s perspective.
[LINK]

2:00 PM – Various: Seattle Noir
Seattle Mystery Bookshop
Edited by Curt Colbert, the authors include GM Ford, Skye Moody, Rob Lopresti, Brian Thornton, Patricia Harrington, Simon Wood, and, of course, Curt (his is a Jake Rossiter story). Come see who shows up to chat and possibly read from their work.
[LINK]

4:00 PM – Nancy Rawles: My Jim
SPL Douglas-Truth Branch
The Washington Center for the Book at The Seattle Public Library invites everyone to take part in Seattle Reads My Jim, a project designed to foster reading and discussion of works by authors of diverse cultures and ethnicities. Nancy Rawles’ novel re-imagines Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the slave’s perspective.
[LINK]

It’s the first weekend of SIFF and choosing from all the excellent films available can be an overwhelming task. No need to stress: we’re sure you’ll like whatever movies you go see, but we especially think you’ll like these:

Nurse.Fighter.Boy [siff] : A film that is at turns both dreamy and gritty in which a widowed nurse shares her dreams of Zion (Jamaica) with her son, who uses music to weave a spell of magic around them. Meanwhile, a boxer struggles to hold to his own dreams and keep afloat the gym owned by his suddenly deceased friend and mentor. As their lives become entwined, so do their dreams. A story about hope, faith and trust accompanied by a gorgeous soundtrack. [zee] May 22, 7:00 pm (Harvard Exit); May 23, 4:30 pm (Harvard Exit); June 6, 1:30 pm (Admiral Theater)

Terribly Happy [siff] : Although I gave up once I realized that my screener wasn’t subtitled, this city cop in a small town Danish noir at least looked stylishly done. The description cites the Cohen brothers and David Lynch; so your mileage may vary. [josh] May 22, 4:00 pm (Uptown); May 25, 7:00 pm (Egyptian)

Trimpin: The Sound of Invention [siff] : A European native who moved to Seattle to access technological components for his elaborate, unusual sculptures, Trimpin shuns the usual accroutrements of the successful artist and gains renown for working resolutely within his own self-made world. Follow as he creates a perpetual motion machine, colloborates with the Kronos Quartet, and builds a tower of self-tuning electric guitars for the EMP guitar gallery. [zee] May 22, 7:00 pm (SIFF Cinema); May 23, 1:30 pm (SIFF Cinema); June 1, 4:30 pm (Kirkland)

The Yes Men Fix the World [siff] : The bastard love child of Sacha Baron Cohen and Michael Moore? Sending up corporations with hoaxes and stunts to reveal the evils of globalism and the corruption of free trade. Likely to be a crowd pleaser among those who cheered from the balcony at last year’s Battle in Seattle premiere. [josh] May 22, 7 pm (Neptune); May 23, 11 am (Neptune); June 4, 4:30 (Kirkland).

Spring Breakdown [siff] : Parker Posey, Amy Poehler, and Rachel Dratch plumb the comedy goldmine of grown-up losers reliving their teenaged pasts through a babysitting assignment on South Padre from a conservative senator. If not for the cast and writing crew, you could preemptively dismiss this as a surefire trainwreck. Instead, it could be worth a look for more than rubbernecking. [josh] May 22, 9:30 pm (Neptune), May 23, 4:15 pm (Neptune).

I Sell the Dead [siff] : A comedy-horror more comic than actually horrific about a grave robber on the night before his execution relating the history of how he got into the “snatching” business to a priest intent on hearing all the details. His increasingly funny vignettes illustrate the difficulties in obtaining enough bodies to satisfy a greedy employer, the challenges of dealing with the not-entirely-dead, the struggle to stay ahead of rival snatching gangs and why you should never trust a corpse. [zee] May 22, midnight (Egyptian); May 25, 9:30 (Neptune)

Modern Life [siff] : Only a few minutes of this film feature anything other than long quiet takes of country roads or static shots of conversations at kitchen tables. Yet, laconic pacing aside, it manages to be an oddly mesmerizing look at the ongoing extinction of small family farms in the steeps of France told almost entirely through interviews with reticent elders whose cherished way of life seems likely to die with them. [josh] May 23, 11 am (Uptown); June 2, 7:00 pm (Harvard Exit).

Sunset Boulevard [siff] : One of the best films ever made, the classic tale of morality, madness and murder in Hollywood is made all the better by viewing it on the big screen. An in-person introduction by TCM’s Robert Osborne adds to the appreciation. [zee] May 23, 1:30 pm (Harvard Exit)

I’m No Dummy [siff] : Ventriloquism’s popularity has waxed and waned since its first big wave of popularity back in the 1930′s and some people think it’s about to hit another peak cycle now. Archival footage and interviews with past and present practitioners tell the history and development of ventriloquism and what makes inspires performers to pick up the practice. [zee] May 23, 6:45 pm (SIFF Cinema); May 24, 4:00 pm (Pacific Place); June 3, 7:00 pm (Kirkland)

we live in public [siff] : The bloggiest of bloggable movies at the entire festival presents the chronicle of early internet artist/entrepreneur Josh Harris’s ill fated experiments with communal and private public living. Puts the current wave of ‘lifecasters’, twitterati, and oversharers into perspective. [josh] May 23, 7 pm (Neptune); May 24, 11 am (Egyptian).

The Cove [siff] : a terrifyingly intense look inside the captive dolphin industry, featuring a Japanese dolphin park, anarchistic activists, and interviews with Flipper’s onetime trainer. Hardly a day at the park. [josh] May 24, 3:45 pm (Egyptian); May 25, 6:30 pm (Neptune)

Paper Heart [siff] : this is-it-or-isn’t-it documentary is about a young woman who’s sworn never to fall in love traveling around the country to make a low-budget, excessively precious, heartfelt documentary about people who are in love. Along the way she runs into Michael Cera, who seems bound to spoil all of her contradictory plans with his excessive charms. [josh] May 23, 7:00 pm (Uptown); May 24, 4:00 pm (Uptown).

7:00 PM – Nancy Rawles: My Jim
SPL Central Library
The Washington Center for the Book at The Seattle Public Library invites everyone to take part in Seattle Reads My Jim, a project designed to foster reading and discussion of works by authors of diverse cultures and ethnicities. Nancy Rawles’ novel re-imagines Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the slave’s perspective.
[LINK]

7:30 PM – Simon Van Booy: Love Begins in Winter: Five Stories
Elliott Bay Book Co.
“In the five impressionistic stories in Van Booy’s latest collection, the author continues to develop his highly original style and his overriding theme of isolation versus connection. His characters are often terribly lonely, so much so that when they do find love, it is treated as a miraculous occurrence … More about what is felt than what happens, Van Booy’s stories pay beautiful homage to human connection.” – Booklist
[LINK]

Country Financial and RMS Titanic (the people who managed artifacts from the famous sunken ship) have teamed up together to create a traveling exhibit of Titanic memorabilia and it is coming to Redmond this weekend.

Titanic: Treasures from the Deep uses recovered artifacts to tell the stories of those who were on the ill-fated ship. An onsite photo booth allows visitors to have a souvenir photo with a Titanic background, retrievable from a mobile phone after the event. The exhibit is free and runs from Thursday, May 21 through Sunday, May 24 at the Redmond Town Center. Hours are noon to 8 pm Thursday through Saturday, 11 am to 4 pm Sunday.

For more details check out the touring exhibit’s website.

12:00 PM – Doug Stanton: Horse Soldiers: The Extraordinary Story of a Band of U.S. Soldiers Who Rode to Victory in Afghanistan
Elliott Bay Book Co.
“Not just an epic war story, Horse Soldiers is a beautifully written, intimate portrait of the men and women who lived the battle on the fields of fire—and at home, too. Their secret mission against the Taliban was intelligent, brave, and undertaken with great care for the good people of Afghanistan. Doug Stanton’s superb account is an invaluable insight for policy makers and the public for years to come.” – Greg Mortenson
[LINK]

12:00 PM – Nancy Rawles: My Jim
SCCC, Room BE1110
The Washington Center for the Book at The Seattle Public Library invites everyone to take part in Seattle Reads My Jim, a project designed to foster reading and discussion of works by authors of diverse cultures and ethnicities. Nancy Rawles’ novel re-imagines Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the slave’s perspective.
[LINK]

1:30 PM – Bill Fletcher: Solidarity Divided: Crisis In Organized Labor & New Path Toward Social Justice
UW Bookstore, U-District
Fletcher, a union insider, examines labor’s new global battlefield from the perspective of an activist of color. In Solidarity Divided, he asks the movement to consider a wide-ranging reexamination of its structure to face the new global struggle for social justice. Sponsored by the Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies.
[LINK]

4:00 PM – Nancy Rawles: My Jim
Seattle University, Wyckoff Auditorium
The Washington Center for the Book at The Seattle Public Library invites everyone to take part in Seattle Reads My Jim, a project designed to foster reading and discussion of works by authors of diverse cultures and ethnicities. Nancy Rawles’ novel re-imagines Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the slave’s perspective.
[LINK]

6:00 PM – Smokin’ Spoken Wurd: Poetry Reading
Northwest African American Museum
Presented by Miz Floes Traveling Poetry. Come and experience the Smokin’ Spoken Wurd! Hosted and emceed by Miz Floes & The Carmel Latte Duo. It’s an open mic for grown folks! Bass and percussion rhythms accompany performers as they bring fire to the mic and speak words of passion, anger and romance.
[LINK]

7:00 PM – Jack Straw 2009 Writers Program Reading Series
Jack Straw Productions
Lana Ayers, Anna Balint, Rachel Dilworth, Alma Garcia, Laura Hirschfield, Kim-An Lieberman, Priscilla Long, Michael Magee, Angela Martinez Dy, Madeline Ostrander, Kevin Simmonds, Storme Webber
[LINK]

7:00 PM – Michael Mead w/ the Qadim Ensemble: This Darkness Is Your Candle
All Pilgrims Church
An evening of “Ecstatic Poetry and Sacred Music.”Mythologist and storyteller Michael Meade will weave ecstatic poetry with ancient “wisdom tales”, while The Qadim Ensemble offers devotional music of the Middle East. Qadim celebrates the rich spiritual heritage found in traditional Arabic, Jewish, Turkish Sufi, Greek, and Moroccan music.
[LINK]

7:00 PM – Simon Van Booy: Love Begins in Winter: Five Stories
UW Bookstore, U-District
This is the second collection of stories by author Simon Van Booy. It features five sentimental stories of relationships, neuroses, and obsessions. Like his first collection, The Secret Lives of People in Love, it delves into the themes of loneliness and connections between people, and the seeming miracle that is falling in love.
[LINK]

7:30 PM – Robyn Schiff: Revolver
Open Books
The poet reads from her second collection, published by the University of Iowa Press. She is an associate professor at the University of Iowa, where she is the director of the undergraduate creative writing program. She also coedits Canarium Books.
[LINK]

7:30 PM – Tom Robbins w/ Les LePere: B Is for Beer: A Children’s Book for Grown-ups / A Grown-up Book for Children
Elliott Bay Book Co.
I was going to go ahead and cut’n'paste Elliott Bay’s text, but I can’t bring myself to do it. Tom Robbins is immensely popular, so I’m sure this appearance will sell out. Plus, you know, beer. It’s a book about beer! Tickets are free, but FCFS. If you’re a Robbins fan, get on down.
[LINK]

The Dreampower Foundations was established this year to inspire and empower people, particularly young people, to develop their strengths and discover their life purpose. One of the ways they hope to accomplish this mission is by producing a film called Star Kids, about four children whose special gifts are the key to the world’s survival.

The non-profit organization is holding a production party to introduce the first shot scenes of the film, to introduce the film to the community and to raise funds towards completing the project. This production party takes place 3 pm Sunday, May 24, at Central Cinema with entertainment and music by local artists and performers, a meet and greet with the film’s cast and crew, a Q&A with direction William Spiritdancer, raffle prizes, a silent auction, free appetizers, and face-painting and other kid-friendly activities.

The event is free but space is limited, RSVP through their website to ensure your spot at the party.

If you’ve seen the trailer for Morris: A Live with Bells On, the “mockumentary” that opens this weekend at SIFF, you might have assumed that the existence of Morris dancing is itself part of the joke.

You would have assumed wrong, but don’t feel too bad – while there are plenty of Morris dancers all over the world, even here in Seattle (note this photo by Ashley Fisher of some Morris dancers at Gasworks Park for evidence)–this traditional English folk dance isn’t exactly a household name kind of dance.

Over a hundred dancers who come from British Columbia to Arizona and all points in between are hoping to do something about that, celebrating both the North American debut of the film and the Northwest Folklife Festival with appearances this weekend at the Seattle Center. Morris dancers will parade the Center grounds and perform outside of SIFF Cinema before the 11 am screening of A Life in Bells on Saturday, May 23.

Morris is a style of dance which includes rhythmic stepping and choreographed routines by ribbon and bell festooned dancers who use accessories including sticks, swords, and, of course, handkerchiefs, to carry out their performances. Be sure to stop by SIFF Cinema or the Northwest Folklife Festival this weekend to see it for yourself.

Image via KOMO

That was some rainstorm last night, for being in Seattle and all. (Personally, part of the reason I moved out of Florida is because lightning is scary, so I’m ok with it hardly ever happening here.) KOMO’s cameras caught a few images of lightning hitting the Space Needle during the observation deck’s operating hours, which probably made for a pretty memorable visit for anyone who was up there. The top of the Space Needle has 25 lightning rods (including the tower), but in this climate they don’t usually get much of a workout.

Soon you’ll be able to order pulled pork sandwiches with Maximum/Minimum sauce from various locations all over Seattle.

MAXIMUS SAUCE
Everything plus the kitchen sink, this sauce has a wash of beer cooked down with a six-pepper blend that’s just this side of dangerous. Is it that good? Yes.

MINIMUS SAUCE
Rich and tangy, sweet and salty, Minimus rests on the well-balanced edge of tamarind, honey and molasses. Apply liberally.

Part of the Sugar Mountain brand (which includes the ever tasty Beecher’s Handmade Cheese), this soon-to-open mobile kitchen is starting to catch the attention of Foodies everywhere. Eat All About It posted this photo of the funky truck, affectionately named the Pigstream, a week ago. Besides pulled pork sandwiches, the truck will also serve up veggie sandwiches and veggie chips. Sandwiches will cost $6.

The truck will be found starting June 1st at the corner of 2nd and Pike in the daytime, and likely cruising around at night serving the bar rush.