tiny vipers, from 2007

[The original version of this post listed incorrect dates. Tiny Vipers is on Saturday; the other shows were on Thursday.]

• Jesy Fortino, who performs quietly intense folk-inspired songs under the moniker Tiny Vipers, recently completed her second album, recorded first in her home and then interpreted by Andrew Hernandez in a classic analog studio in Austin. Tonight she celebrates the Sub Pop release of that work, Life on Earth, at the Fremont Abbey, a beautiful meditative space whose high raftered ceilings seem like the perfect setting for her shows. With Damien Jurado and Lazarous. SATURDAY: $8-14, 8:30 pm [brownpapertickets]
• THURSDAY: Oh, and Karl Blau is at the Crocodile [twitter] and it’s the anniversary of Soul Nite at the Northwest Film Forum. [publicola]

Have you seen this hat? Apparently this guy robbed a bank in Maple Valley last week–he handed the teller a note and mentioned a gun, and then left on foot with his loot [PI]. (This is much less stylish than the guy that escaped via innertube last year.) Anyone who has seen this man, with his hat with fake dreadlocks and also presumably a sack with a dollar sign on the side is urged to call the sheriff’s office at 206-296-3311.

photo by amit gupta [flickr].

Memo to Seattle bars, cafes, and restaurants. Foursquare, the enhanced successor to Dodgeball has turned going out into an even more fun game by awarding weekly leaderboard points, conferring achievement badges, and crowning “mayors” of a venue’s most frequent offenders. Along the way, users can share insider tips and post to-do lists to add a sense of play to their city explorations. In addition to adding a lightly competitive edge to your friendly neighborhood nightlife, it’s also a de facto way for fans to promote their favorite places among their circles their friends.

Forward-looking New York — and now now San Francisco (see above) — venues have stepped up to the plate and are treating their mayors and ardent fans to little perks just for dropping in. It’s time for Seattle’s finest to hop on this trend ASAP. We’re a tech-friendly city; so let’s be on the front end of this trend. In these troubled economic times, we need every possible excuse for going out.

(any local establishments already onboard? let us know! and ping foursquare while you’re at it. [via foursquare.tumblr.com] )

Eva Abram. Photo courtesy of Seattle Storytellers Guild

11:00 AM – Eva Abram: Storytelling
Northwest African American Museum
“This summer at the Northwest African American Museum, gifted griots—storytellers—will enchant young and old with tales recounted following oral traditions. Children of all ages are invited to experience the art of storytelling and the power of stories…” (NAAM)
[LINK]

12:00 PM – Joe R. Lansdale: Vanilla Ride
Seattle Mystery Bookshop
The long awaited number 7 in a great series: “Hap Collins and Leonard Pine–best friends, freelance troublemakers, and tough guys with good intentions–find themselves in the crosshairs of the Dixie Mafia and the lethal Vanilla Ride after an old friend asks Leonard to rescue his daughter from an abusive, no-good drug dealer.” If you are not familiar with the series, Lansdale has taken the usual “buddy” trope somewhere completely different: wise-cracking, old friends from East Texas, Collins is a straight, white guy, while Leonard is black and gay. The books are funny, smart, and slick.
[LINK]

3:00 PM – Make A Book! Workshop
SPL Montlake Branch
Instructors from the Seattle Center for Book Arts show you how handmade books can add a creative twist to traditional soft-cover and hard-cover books. All bookmaking materials and supplies provided. For ages 12 and up.
[LINK]

3:00 PM – Zine Drop In Workshop
SPL University Branch
“Attention zine-enthusiasts! We will provide paper, copier, markers, scissors, glue sticks, papers of different colors and textures and magazines for cutting. You bring your ideas and any special materials you want to use. We also take donations for the materials box if you want to leave your old magazines or interesting papers.” (SPL)
[LINK]

6:30 PM – Shannon Borg: Chefs on the Farm : Recipes and Inspiration from the Quillisascut Farm School of the Domestic Arts
SPL Capitol Hill Branch
“A program for serious foodies – take a journey from farm to plate! Learn about the seasonal workings of life on a goat cheese farm when Borg reads from “Chefs on the Farm.”” (SPL)
[LINK]

7:00 PM – Lisa Mantchev: Eyes Like Stars
UW Bookstore U District
The local playwright will sign her debut novel, which has garnered excellent reader reviews, so far: “Thirteen-year-old Bertie strives to save Theater Illuminata, the only home she has ever known, but is hindered by the Players who magically live on there, especially Ariel, who is willing to destroy the Book at the center of the magic in order to escape into the outside world.” (Publisher’s description)
[LINK]

7:30 PM – Samuel Ligon, Sam A.J. Rathbun, & Amy Schrader: Drift and Swerve
Elliott Bay Book Co.
“Samuel Ligon, who teaches at Eastern Washington University’s Inland Northwest Center for Writers, also edits the superb literary journal, Willow Spring. Joining him tonight are two recent contributors, A.J. Rathbun and Amy Schrader, who will also read from their work.” (EBBC)
[LINK]

this photo of downtown seattle by trevin chow [flickr] arrived via our group pool [#].

• Mainstage congestion to be alleviated, VIP interfaces with bathhouse traffic to be increased at this year’s Capitol Hill Block Party. [lineout]
• Pony is looking to open its more permanent doors with a patio in August. [chs]
• Librarian provides tips and tricks for hacking the library. [enjoymentland]
• The Ice Cream Invasion continues, with frozen dairy gaining a foothold on the beach. [seattlest]
• Burke-Gilman’s missing link hits a snag in the form of a lawsuit. [myballard]
• Seattle will once-again be represented on Project Runway, this time with a whole lot less permatan. [citizenrain]

Because I’ve been too busy to even see 500 Days of Summer for free (there were free passes for last night) and a slew of other movies coming out (Bruno, Food, Inc.) maybe I’ll have better luck with these FREE music options.

Side note: I stole this directly from a STG email. Thanks for my weekly update!

KEXP and The Seattle Center are proud to present Concerts At The Mural in partnership with STG, every Friday, July 31 – August 21, 2009 at Seattle Center’s Mural Amphitheatre. Included in this series is the annual KEXP BBQ on Saturday, August 8. All Mural concerts and the KEXP BBQ are free to the public and all ages.

Friday 7/31, 5-8pm
Blitzen Trapper & Throw Me The Statue

Friday 8/7, 5-8pm
Dyme Def & Fresh Espresso

Saturday 8/8, 7th Annual KEXP BBQ! 2-9pm
Dinosaur Jr, Viva Voce, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Japandroids, Born Anchors & More (to be announced)

Friday 8/14, 5-8pm
The Dodos & Army Navy

Friday 8/21, 5-8pm
Fruit Bats & Johnny and the Moon & More
(to be announced)

Due to the painfully low response (as in none!) to last week’s giveaway for Lebowski Fest 2009 tickets, we’ve got little choice but to push the deadline out a little further.  So, as an amendment to the previous contest, all I ask is that you submit your favorite The Big Lebowski quote in the comments section of this post or the original one, of which we’ll pick two lucky winners via random selection at midnight this Friday (7/17).  I should have realized that us Lebowski fans are mostly represented by slackers and dope fiends who probably decided to just go bowling instead of submit an entry. Let’s hope this 5 second investment of your time is worth the $40+ worth of tickets we’re giving away to TWO people!

That being said, there still might be preferential treatment given to anyone motivated enough to send in a picture.

Is Cassandra Peterson posing for book cover paintings, these days, or is someone in the art department simply a huge Elvira fan?

7:00 PM – Caitlin Kittredge and Kevin Radthorne: Reading & Signing
UW Bookstore U District
The authors read from and sign their respective books: Street Magic (A Black London Novel) and The Pool of Shikama, Part 1 & Part 2.
[LINK]

7:30 PM – Jonathan Melber: Art/Work – Everything You Need to Know (and Do) As You Pursue Your Art Career
Elliott Bay Book Co.
A helpful and handy business guide for visual artists. And if you are an artist trying to make a living, you are a business: learn how to run that business successfully. It’s not selling out, I swear.
[LINK]

save carbon credits and frequent flyer miles by celebrating bastille day closer to home. photo by shawn [flickr] via our group pool [#]

Over the last eight years the prevalence of stateside celebrations of Bastille Day seems to have increased, with a possible liberal embrace to counterbalance “freedom fries” foreign policy mentalities buoying the holiday’s place in the hierarchy of US-observed niche holidays to somewhere above Casimir Pulaski Day and well below Cinco de Mayo. Though the infamous Parisian garrison held only seven political prisoners of modest importance when it was stormed in 1789 [wiki], don’t let that dampen your celebrations of revolution and liberty and all that as options abound locally.

• Starting at 3 pm and running until midnight, take Georgetown and the Corson Building by storm. The Adventure School has prepared an all-day fête, complete with live music from the Pharmacy (a Seattle homecoming), Schoolyard Heroes, and Caspar Babypants); family fun (chicken races! bouncehouse!), burlesque from the Atomic Bombshells, and delicious foods. $20, the Corson Building, 5609 Corson S. [theadventureschool]
• Campagne turns post alley into a block party with simple foods and cheap wines. [voracious]
• Le Pichet continues their annual tradition, celebrating with music from Absinthe Minded Professors & DJ Miss Broadway and classic Paris street foods. [lepichetseattle]
• Cafe Presse is always delightful, too.
• Though their event calendar shows nothing specific to commemorate their namesake neighborhood’s rise to fame, take any excuse to visit newly-opened Bastille in Ballard and dive into their mouth-wateringly great menu. With their high beamed ceilings, white tiles, cozy dark wood booths, and exceptional collection of decorative artifacts, stunningly chandeliered back bar, and expansive outdoor seating, they’ve created one of the most comfortable and aesthetically-pleasing spaces in the city. You won’t want to leave.

Isn't this an awesome cover? The art department at Walker obviously has mad skills. Considering the number of craptastic covers that get slapped on perfectly wonderful books, Williams should be very pleased.

6:30 PM – David B. Williams: Stories in Stone: Travels Through Urban Geology
SPL Northgate Branch
“When most of us pass through the Concourse A food court at Sea-Tac Airport, we’re likely to notice coffee cups, bagel crumbs, and frenzied fliers trying to retie their shoes outside the security checkpoint. Seattle freelance writer David B. Williams sees beyond all that: He sees Jurassic-era fossils in the concourse’s limestone walls. In fact, Williams says every stone structure has a geological story that goes back to Earth’s creation.” — Town Hall Seattle
[LINK]

6:30 PM – Mark Caro: The Foie Gras Wars : How A 5,000-Year-Old Delicacy Inspired The World’s Fiercest Food Fight
Pan Pacific Hotel
The latest in the Words & Wine series. I would argue with Caro’s title, though; hasn’t he ever heard of the Pastry War? The Spice Wars? San Elizario Salt War? I hardly think that one city banning foie gras is in the same category. Also, if I want to be really, really pedantic, I could point out foie gras can only be confirmed back to 5 BC, although the technique of gavage can be traced back to 2500 BC (4500 years ago.) Either way, there is nothing to support the statement that foie gras is a 5000 year old food product. Tsk and neener.
[LINK]

7:00 PM – Nalo Hopkinson: The New Moon’s Arms
UW Bookstore U District
Presented by Clarion West: “Nalo Hopkinson, author of the Gaylactic Spectrum Award-winning novel The Salt Roads, writes provocative fiction that challenges our assumptions about history, race, and gender. Her novels and short stories draw on her Caribbean heritage to create a powerful, unique voice and a perspective that is rich with island folklore. Hopkinson’s recent novel The New Moon’s Arms won Canada’s Prix Aurora and Sunburst Awards.” UW Bookstore
[LINK]

7:30 PM – Cecilia Hae-Jin Lee: Quick & Easy Korean Cooking
Elliott Bay Book Co.
I am unbelievably happy to be able to pimp a cookbook. You can’t imagine how old economics, environmentalism, politics, and roman a clefs get after two or three hundred blurbs. I can’t wait to make Korean comfort food from Lee’s gorgeous book.
[LINK]