March 2012

Bird Lovers: Head to Sequim this Spring

Bird Lovers: Head to Sequim this Spring

The Olympic BirdFest with the Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society kicks off March 30.

WHERE: Sequim, Washington. WHY: For the Olympic BirdFest with the Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society (3/30–4/1; times and prices vary. Dungeness River Audubon Society, 2151 W Hendrickson Road; 360.681.4076; olympicbirdfest.org). The annual celebration offers beginner and advanced birders the chance to search for such fine feathered friends as the yellow-rumped warbler and the elusive marbled godwit,…

Real Estate: Three Seattle Craftsman Homes

Real Estate: Three Seattle Craftsman Homes

The iconic Seattle home makes a strong showing in three local neighborhoods.

Craftsman homes first started appearing in Seattle around 1900 as an offshoot of the British Arts and Crafts movement, which emphasized the handmade over the mass-produced, and design simplicity over the ornate Victorian homes of the era. Found in neighborhoods all across Seattle, especially Capitol Hill, Queen Anne, Leschi, West Seattle and Wallingford, the Craftsman…

Melissa Vail’s Cheeky New Bracelets

Melissa Vail’s Cheeky New Bracelets

A local designer's refreshing spin on the classic gilded tennis bracelet design.

Go giddy piling on Ballard-based crafter (and former Seattle mag publisher) Melissa Vail Coffman’s “badminton bracelets,” a cheeky take on the classic gilded tennis design. Hand-beaded with glass, silver and colored crystals, the slinky wristlets are available in an array of bead finishes, which range from antique to a diamond-like shine (in case you can’t…

Wraphabillement's Wundercoat!

Wraphabillement’s Wundercoat!

A savvy new coat line brings you outerwear that multitasks as well as you do.

When Elizabeth Roberts, a former Microsoft recruiter, philanthropist and busy mom of three, added yet another accolade to her résumé with a fashion line late in 2011, she blamed it on her iPhone. “Our phones work harder than ever and do so many different things,” she explains. “I started to wonder why none of my…

Deals on Rosanna Dishes

Deals on Rosanna Dishes

The popular tableware outfitter now has an outlet store in Georgetown.

Rosanna tableware fans, take a deep, cleansing breath: For years, Rosanna Bowles’ flash sales on her popular dishware sets have been the stuff of shopping legend. Legions of fans line up early to snag deals on glassware, mug gift sets and dinnerware—all while trying to avoid flying elbows. But we can shop sans shoving now…

A Yarn Bomb Hits Redmond

A Yarn Bomb Hits Redmond

Seattle artist Suzanne Tidwell festoons Anderson Park trees with festive knitwear.

If you spent any time in Pioneer Square’s Occidental Park last summer, you noticed the trees were a bit warmer and cozier than usual, their trunks wrapped in brightly striped sweaters. The trend—known as “yarn bombing”—is happening nationally, with avant-garde crafters knitting thousands of rows with which to wrap utility poles, parking meters, park benches…

Film: Spring Arts Preview 2012

Film: Spring Arts Preview 2012

A bird's eye view of the best film festivals and film series in Seattle this spring.

FESTIVALS Seattle Jewish Film Festival (3/15–3/25), seattlejewishfilmfestival.org Irish Reels (3/17–3/18), irishreels.org Seattle Deaf Film Festival (3/30–4/1), deafspotlight.com/SDFF National Film Festival for Talented Youth (4/26–4/29), nffty.orgLangston Hughes African American Film Festival (4/14–4/22), lhaaff.tumblr.com Seattle International Film Festival (5/17–6/10), siff.net SPECIAL SERIES IF IT’S MONDAY, IT’S THE ’80s On Monday nights in March and April, SIFF is…

Theater: Spring Arts Preview 2012

Theater: Spring Arts Preview 2012

The shows we're most looking forward to on stage this season, including the nomadic New Century Thea

First Date: A New MusicalCoproduced by ACT and the 5th Avenue Theatre (their powers combined, the theaters hope to reach wider audiences), this new musical comedy explores the inner monologues of two nervous youngsters trying to survive their first date. 3/10–5/20. Times and prices vary. ACT (A Contemporary Theatre), 700 Union St.; 206.292.7676; acttheatre.org Holy…

Visual Art: Spring Arts Preview 2012

Visual Art: Spring Arts Preview 2012

So many visual arts events this spring are geared toward the big clay convention coming to town. Her

Gary HillThis Seattle-based video, sound and installation artist has been blowing people’s minds for decades, as evidenced by Glossodelic Attractors, an expansive survey of his work (or rather, his “psychotropic languaging vehicles”), which reveals his preoccupation with communication and the intersection of the corporeal and the verbal. 3/31–9/16. Times and prices vary. Henry Art Gallery,…

Literature: Spring Arts Preview 2012

Literature: Spring Arts Preview 2012

Seven author appearances you won't want to miss in Seattle this spring.

Louise Glück: Acclaimed New York poet. Known for: Winning a Pulitzer Prize for poetry, serving as U.S. poet laureate (2003–2004) and penning unflinching, gorgeous poems. Reading: As part of Seattle Arts & Lectures. 3/15. 7:30 p.m. Prices vary. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St.; 206.621.2230; lectures.org Alain de Botton: Funny and philosophical Swiss writer of keen…

Comedy: Spring Arts Preview 2012

Comedy: Spring Arts Preview 2012

Five funny ladies bring the laughter to Seattle this spring.

Funny ladies are in full force this spring, offering comedic readings, performances, dance and discussions on subjects ranging from smarty-pants to the deliciously strange. Sardonic: Longtime culture critic Fran Lebowitz—whose acerbic wit Martin Scorsese recently captured in his biographical documentary Public Speaking—shares her curmudgeonly commentary with fellow columnist Dan Savage.3/2. 8 p.m. Prices vary. Benaroya…

Music: Spring Arts Preview 2012

Music: Spring Arts Preview 2012

6 events and 3 new albums reflect the wide range of Seattle’s music scene.

Superstar soprano Renée Fleming joins the Seattle Symphony to stun the audience with her spectacular vocals (conducted by music director Ludovic Morlot) on a diverse mix of compositions by Maurice Ravel, Ben Gibbard, Leonard Cohen and others.3/16. Times and prices vary. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St.; 206.215.4747; seattlesymphony.org If you’ve been missing the retired maestro…