Arts | The B-Town (Burien) Blog TEST https://btb.nwlens.com Burien News, Events, Politics, Arts & more Sat, 20 Apr 2019 21:13:17 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.1 https://btb.nwlens.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/cropped-BTBExtraLogo1-32x32.png Arts | The B-Town (Burien) Blog TEST https://btb.nwlens.com 32 32 VIDEO/PHOTOS: Dozens brave Polar Bear Plunge to bring in the New Year https://btb.nwlens.com/video-photos-dozens-brave-polar-bear-plunge-to-bring-in-the-new-year/ Wed, 02 Jan 2019 17:01:56 +0000 http://b-townblog.com/?p=135620 On a chilly yet clear New Year’s Day, dozens of citizens braved the cold waters of Puget Sound to plunge into 2019 at the annual Polar Bear Plunge at Burien’s Three Tree Point.

This year’s event splashed down in a new location due to high tides – at the intersection of Maplewild Ave SW & SW 172nd.

The winner of the coveted Polar Bear Plunge spirit trophy was Jeanninne Bassinger, a B-Town resident since 2015, who was dared to plunge by her roommate Rick (who did NOT participate himself, but was there cheering her on):


Here’s raw video from our Facebook live stream (be sure to “Like” our page here to see future live videos):


And here are photos courtesy Jana Kleitsch (click images to view larger photos/slideshow):








Jana works at a San Francisco based startup, Chairman Mom, as a User Experience Designer. Chairman Mom is a subscription-based community platform for working mothers. For $5 a month, women can ask and answer the tough questions about life, work and motherhood without judgment, guilt or fear of being called a “bad mom” (a phrase that is banned from the site). The community is designed to create an environment free of bullying and negativity, encouraging real connection and honest discussions, with the goal of ultimately setting more working moms up for success.

]]> Put on your red shoes…BUFO fave BowieVision will play on New Year’s Eve https://btb.nwlens.com/put-on-your-red-shoes-bufo-fave-bowievision-will-play-on-new-years-eve/ Fri, 21 Dec 2018 20:52:28 +0000 http://b-townblog.com/?p=135394 Put on your red shoes and dance 2018 away with BowieVision at the Nectar Lounge on New Year’s Eve!

Remember that amazing David Bowie Tribute Band that played at the Burien UFO Festival? Then you won’t want to miss them when they play at their Stardust New Year’s Eve Bash – classic Bowie hits will transport you to Mars and back, just in time for the 2019 countdown.

Here’s a reminder of them at BUFO:

Glitter, ice-blue suits and lightening bolt make-up strongly encouraged.

S.O.S – a Police tribute band – opens.

GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY!

BOWIEVISION
Website
Combining world-class vocals, deft musicianship, Bowie-inspired costumes, and masterful stage presence, the BowieVision experience is simultaneously epic and intimate. The seven-piece musical juggernaut draws sell-out crowds to premiere venues in the Northwest and beyond by bringing passion and precision to songs from nearly every phase of Bowie’s eclectic career: rock anthems like Rebel Rebel, All the Young Dudes, and Suffragette City; the wide-screen balladry of Life on Mars?, Space Oddity, The Man Who Sold the World, and Changes; mid-70s “plastic soul” (Golden Years, Young Americans, Fame;) art-pop statements like Fashion, Heroes, Sound and Vision, Ashes to Ashes, and I’m Afraid of Americans; and the high-sheen 80s classics Under Pressure, Let’s Dance, China Girl, Modern Love, and Blue Jean. Accept no substitutes: BowieVision is the real deal.

S.O.S.
Facebook

Born out of a shared love of the incredible studio sound and otherworldly live performance of this band, Mitch Wilson, Anthony Medici and Cory West come together to form S.O.S., A Tribute to the Police. Portland based S.O.S. brings the high-energy performance, unique lead vocals, guitar tones, evocative vocal harmonies and intense rhythms that catapulted Sting, Andy and Stewart to rock royalty! A show not to be missed!
]]> VIDEO: Poet-in-Residence Raúl Sánchez reads his original poem to City Council https://btb.nwlens.com/video-poet-in-residence-raul-sanchez-reads-his-original-poem-to-city-council/ Thu, 06 Dec 2018 00:00:59 +0000 http://b-townblog.com/?p=134914 Burien’s Poet-in-Residence Raúl Sánchez read ‘Bountiful Burien,’ his new, original poem about Burien to the City Council at Monday night’s regular meeting.

Managed by former Burien Arts Association Executive Director Erin Williamson, this effort was part of the city’s 25th anniversary celebration. Raúl received $1,300 plus meals and lodging from an Arts Commission grant, and also hosted a reading and poetry workshop for residents.

His collection of poetry “All Our Brown-Skinned Angels” was nominated for the Washington State Book Award in Poetry. Raúl is a Washington State Associations of Poets board member, a Jack Straw Fellow, judge for the Poetry on Buses, and TEDx participant. An active mentor and teacher, Mr. Sanchez has led numerous writing workshops.

Here’s the video, which includes an introduction by Erin Williamson:

Here’s text of Raúl’s ‘Bountiful Burien‘:

Bountiful Burien
Raúl Sánchez December 3rd, 2018

Wholesome winds blow across the Salish Sea,
the city stands unsullied, while anxious waves
crash against the rocks untamed shore
as seen from Poet’s Nest.
The Lushootseed people knew their natural treasures,
revered and protected the old-growth forest and their
hunting grounds. Along the Duwamish, tended
cranberry bogs in the riparian waters.
Nestled in briny air, old trails and winding roads
spread this city from the magnificent valley
Michael Kelly viewed,
Sunnydale still its name.
Jacob Ambaum hacked the early roads in 1909,
now First Avenue cuts through the city
north to south, like an arrow in flight.
West of the Boulevard, there is a glacial spring
that feeds Burien Lake, pristine—
beyond the shadow of the Needle, glass towers,
loading cranes and jungle to the north
where ferries cruise from Vashon to the mainland.
Olde Burien shows vestiges of the early days
made old by time, we still adore that rusty,
rusty old sign for Tin Shop plumbing supplies
and Hayes Feed Country Store still open for
urban farmers. Ambaum Boulevard,
a testament between modest and affluent homesteads.
Winding roads lead to the shore where luxury homes
watch the sun set across Puget Sound.
In Burien, people speak the language of food
Thailand’s curry, Vietnamese Pho, Oaxacan mole,
Italian meatballs, Tortas Locas, Australian meat pies,
Greek lamb and Nepalese Thukpa soup.
“Go ahead Smarty Pants,
I will see you at 909 for coffee and wine!”
From Three Tree Point to Manhattan
across Five Corners up to Boulevard Park
we revel in Duane’s Garden patch to watch
the colors bloom beneath the Flight Path.
From all points, Shorewood, then south to
Seahurst Park, Burien; this land of dreams,
watches the world fly in and out.
Just west of ninety nine, Burien’s indelible
history shines like sunlight through
the center of Helios Pavilion, it’s green spears
point to Tahoma and The Mother of Waters
waits, while the clouds evaporate.
Seola beach gushes with light, and Seahurst Park
a destination at the very end of Shorewood Drive.
Burien is a place of destiny—
awaiting all with open arms.

]]> Man In Black Friday special: Watch 'The Maury Island Incident' for 50% off! https://btb.nwlens.com/man-in-black-friday-special-watch-the-maury-island-incident-for-50-off/ Fri, 23 Nov 2018 18:48:29 +0000 http://b-townblog.com/?p=134471
Why brave all the kooky, crazy crowds when you can stay warm and cozy inside and watch the locally-produced, award-winning film ‘The Maury Island Incident’ at an out-of-this-world 50% OFF Black Friday discount?
This 30-minute film was shot locally in Burien, Des Moines, Tukwila and off the shores of Maury Island, and is on sale for 50% through this Sunday, Nov. 25.
It’s based on declassified FBI documents, and tells the incredible, tragic and forgotten story of Harold Dahl, who on June 21, 1947, alleged a UFO sighting over Puget Sound, sparking ‘the summer of the saucers,’ the modern era of UFO obsession, the first appearance of a ‘Man in Black’ and a governmental battle over UFO sighting jurisdiction reaching all the way up to FBI Executive Director J. Edgar Hoover.
Written/Produced by local residents Steve Edmiston, Directed/Produced by Scott Schaefer, Executive Produced by John White, Produced by Danny House and Laura Beth & Scott Peterson, this film has won numerous awards, including ‘Best UFO Film Short’ at the International UFO Congress and the ‘Audience Choice Award’ at the Gig Harbor Film Festival.
The union-made film features Tony Doupé as Dahl, Allen Fitzpatrick as the Man In Black, John Patrick Lowrie as J. Edgar Hoover, David S. Hogan as Special Agent Mitchell, and many others.

GET A SPECIAL 50% DISCOUNT:
Use the password ‘maninblackfriday‘ and save 50% OFF the rental or full purchase of the film (NOTE: this discount expires Nov. 25, 2018 and there is a limited number available) – here’s a direct link:

https://vimeo.com/r/2eU6/eWtKbFhEYk

More info on the film is available here: http://www.mauryislandincident.com

]]> VIDEO: Steve Edmiston presents 'The Lost Cause' to Port of Seattle Commission https://btb.nwlens.com/video-steve-edmiston-presents-the-lost-cause-to-port-of-seattle-commission/ Thu, 15 Nov 2018 03:29:04 +0000 http://b-townblog.com/?p=134060 Des Moines resident Steve Edmiston’s solo media and citizen activism campaign addressing noise and pollution impacts from increased flights at Sea-Tac Airport – The Briefing Project – continued this week with his presentation of specific actions he seeks to compel the Port of Seattle Commissioners to adopt. 
Titled, “The Lost Cause,” and inspired by the famous scene from the Jimmy Stewart film, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Edmiston proposed 10 initiatives, ranging from general policy objectives to specific mitigation-related actions to initiatives seeking reform of Port culture to process improvements.
“I get told all the time that trying to move the Port of Seattle toward placing the health of humans and protection of the environment as a priority – a ‘first do no harm’ approach – is a lost cause. Maybe so – but as Jimmy Stewart said, ‘they’re the only causes worth fighting for.”
The Accords are designed to be easy for citizens to understand and track for the purpose of accountability (download PDF here).
“These ten actions each reflect, quite clearly, the Port’s priorities. Right now, none of these actions have been taken. The Briefing Project’s stakes – the quest, in film theory – are to convince at least three Commissioners to sign on. If they don’t, the quest fails.”
Here’s Edmiston’s public comment (running time 2:57):

In addition, Edmiston also sees the Accords as an ongoing tool for community education, awareness, action and electoral accountability.
“The Accords are designed to become questions for any citizen to ask at any meeting with a Port Commissioner or Port staff. Anyone can ask – will you agree to audit the claimed historical mitigation expenses given that the Port used to claim $400 million, but now claims $300 million – isn’t it reasonable to ask what happened to the disappearing $100 million? Or ask why won’t you maximize your leadership position and leverage and make it a policy priority to do everything you can do under the law to curfew night flights?”
Finally, Edmiston believes the Accords can have great influence in the voting booth.
“What will be easier in our airport neighbor communities than having an objective checklist to compare candidates and incumbents in the upcoming 2019 Port elections?”
And because he referenced it, here’s the famous ‘Lost Causes’ scene from the film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington:

“The idea behind the Accords is to provide cities and citizens a simple, ongoing, public measurement – a gradebook, or scorecard, of how the Port Commissioner choose to act, or fail to act, to the newest information they have, including the information provided by The Briefing Project. Any one of Commissioners can introduce these actions as policy, to be advocated for and implemented to the extent permitted by law. Any three of them can pass a resolution creating the policy. This is what the Commissioners chose to do, when inspired to do so, after the federal immigration ban, and on climate change. They went above the minimum requirements of federal law – they sought to fix the problem. Unfortunately, the Port has not applied this approach or advocacy for addressing the impacts on the airport neighbor communities. So the Accords are designed to shine a bright light on the choices being made – or not made – by the Port.”
Here’s a transcript of Edmiston’s ‘Accords’ presentation:

THE BRIEFING PROJECT EPISODE 13

The Lost Cause – November 13, 2018

Thank you. I’m Steve Edmiston for The Briefing Project. Today’s comment is inspired by the “lost cause” speech from Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, for two reasons. First, no surprise, I’m often told this project is a lost cause because of the Port’s economic growth ambitions and the disparity in our respective level of influence. Second, in film-speak, today reveals the list of actual project quests, meaning, here, the specific actions that will, “lost cause” or not, quantify success.
I’ve titled these actions the “Port of Seattle Airport Neighbor Community Accords.” The Accords are designed to provide cities and citizens a simple, ongoing, public measurement – a gradebook, or scorecard, if you will, of how each of you act, or fail to act, respond or fail to respond, to the information provided and the actions requested. Any one of you can introduce these actions as policy, to be advocated for and implemented to the extent permitted by law, just as you did on immigration, and on climate change. They are legal. They are within your authority. They reflect choices. I have the full text for the Clerk; I’ll read the Accord headings now.

First: The Health of Humans and the Environment is a Paramount Duty and Pre-Condition to Increased Frequency of Aircraft Operations (requiring reversal of the Port’s 2018 bylaw amendment deleting the commitment to community quality of life).

Second: Transparency Is a Core Value Requiring Independent Audit of Historical Mitigation Expenditures. 

Third: Trust is a Core Value Requiring Non-Interference with Independent Health and Environmental Studies. 

Fourth: Tax Levy Funds Shall Be Prioritized for Airport Neighbor Community Mitigation.

Fifth: Establishing a Nighttime Curfew to Protect Human Health Shall Be a Policy Priority Supported by Port Resources. 

Sixth: Fully Remediating the Failed Commitments for 3rd Runway Usage Shall be a Policy Priority. 

Seventh: Establishing Increased Glide Slopes for All Runways to Reduce Noise and Protect Human Health Shall Be a Policy Priority Supported by Port Resources. 

Eighth: Establishing a Regional Airport to Preserve Statewide Economic Growth and Simultaneously Reduce the Unfair Burden on Airport Neighbor Communities Shall be a Policy Priority Supported by Port Resources.

Ninth: Citizen Complaint Processes Shall be Reformed to Provide Meaningful Engagement and Solutions. 

Tenth: A Moratorium Shall be Placed on Capital Projects That Expand Aircraft Operation Capacity Until a Comprehensive Plan Developed in Collaboration with Airport Neighbor Communities to Protect Health and the Environment is Achieved.

It’s a big list. Perhaps certainly, a “lost cause” list. But as Jimmy Stewart’s Mr. Smith said, “they’re the only causes worth fighting for.”

Much later in the meeting, as part of the 2019 Budget Resolution discussion, Commissioner Peter Steinbrueck introduced:

“…a proposal that I believe has been vetted by staff and law department and Commissioners to create an airport communities fund with an initial endowment of $10 million for five years. And the purpose is to “strategically address airport growth and the environmental impacts or effects associated with that including noise, pollution and health, potentially, and the concerns that have been raise publicly from various voices in the communities.” Commissioner Steinbrueck acknowledged that use of federal aviation funds within the 65 dB boundary is restricted, and “the intent here is to address some of the unfunded abatement measures.”
The Commissioner added “it would not be difficult to identify high priority uses over five years for this amount of money.”

In response to Steinbrueck’s proposal, Edmiston responded:

“I greatly appreciate this proposal for potential action – and leadership – offered by Commissioner Steinbrueck. This is moving the needle in the right direction. I hope that this type of action reflects the beginning of a long-term commitment that will require a much more significant investment. I agree with Commissioner Felleman’s comment that ‘my really my only concern is that the needs are so much greater than the fund and that we create an unreasonable expectation about all that could be accomplished with this sort of resource. But I’m ultimately tremendously sympathetic I’m bearing a disproportional brunt of this regional asset.’”

About The Briefing Project
The Briefing Project is a social media and documentary film project that merges journalism, editorial commentary, citizen activism, and the ‘it’s happening before our eyes’ elements of a reality-show, all serving an anticipated documentary about five elected officials with a choice to make to continue, stop, or mitigate, the harms caused to humans and the environment by noise and emissions from overflight operations. He has committed to spend no more time than the Commissioners provided to the FAA and to the Port’s own staff for a briefing in 2017: forty-three minutes. The project’s twist? As a citizen, Edmiston must provide his briefing during two-minute public-comment segments, as provided by Port bylaws. He estimates it will take a year to complete.
About Steve Edmiston
Steve is a business, intellectual property, and entertainment lawyer. He is also a screenwriter and independent film producer. He has written and produced award-winning feature-length and short films (including “Crimes of the Past,” “A Relative Thing,” “Farewell to Harry,” “The Day My Parents Became Cool,” “The Periphery Project,” and “The Maury Island Incident”). He serves on the Port Townsend Film Festival Board of Directors, and has taught screenwriting and producing at Seattle University, University of Washington, and Seattle Film Institute. 
Like The Briefing Project on Facebook: 

See all The Briefing Project episodes: 

]]> 'The Maury Island Incident' Mural has found a new home – in Des Moines https://btb.nwlens.com/the-maury-island-incident-mural-has-found-a-new-home-in-des-moines/ Wed, 07 Nov 2018 01:24:02 +0000 http://b-townblog.com/?p=133825
During the filming of the award-winning film “The Maury Island Incident,” a local artist named Nancy Pahl was commissioned by Executive Producer John White to create a mural that visually described the historic local 1947 UFO story.
The movie was filmed in Olde Burien, Des Moines, Tukwila and off the shores of Maury Island (the full film can be viewed online here); here’s a trailer:

The mural, which was located on the east side of a building at 901 SW 152nd Street in Olde Burien, has been used by many UFO buffs around the world to describe what happened – an historic 1947 UFO sighting, the first record of a Man-In-Black (and his brand new black Buick), along with the US Air Force B-25 airplane that took the so-called disc artifacts, then caught on fire and crashed near Kelso.
The building was purchased recently, and so the mural had to come down.
But it has a new home, according to White.
“I just agreed to give it to Des Moines – free of course,” White said.
The exact location has yet to be determined, but stay tuned to the blog for updates.
White added:

“Thanks to Scott (Schaefer) and Steve (Edmiston) for making a film that led to the creation of the Burien UFO Festival and the Burien Film Festival.
“Let’s hand it over to Des Moines and let them enjoy it. Thanks for all the feedback. Thank you to the City of Des Moines in having in interest in displaying this Mural. Perhaps it will spark a UFO Festival there too. It’s all good.”

For more info on this story, visit http://www.mauryislandincident.com.

]]> ART: See 'Portraits of Puget,' by our former Intern Bryan Shickley https://btb.nwlens.com/art-see-portraits-of-puget-by-our-former-intern-bryan-shickley/ Tue, 06 Nov 2018 22:00:36 +0000 http://b-townblog.com/?p=133754 Former South King Media Intern Bryan Shickley has been creating ‘Portraits of Puget,’ some samples of which he is sharing with us.
Bryan was a student at Burien’s Big Picture High School, and he interned for us for three or so years, starting in 2011 (view his previous blog work here).
Since graduating, this talented young man earned a Bachelor of Arts with an emphasis on Fine Art and Animation from Evergreen College. In our humble opinion, Bryan’s skills have improved exponentially, very near the level of Disney/Pixar quality (for comparison, check out his first Art we posted on Jan. 3, 2011).
Most recently, Bryan has been focusing his skills on comic book work.
“I have been finding more and more employment in the realm of comic book inking, a medium of incredibly high contrast – there is black and there is white – which makes portrayal of an image that much more difficult and specific to render,” Bryan told us. “I then took out my artistic angst on some local sights of Puget Sound and tricked Scott Schaefer into posting my work. Please enjoy.”
Click images to view larger versions/slideshow of his ‘Portraits of Puget’:

Aerial view of the Burien Library, a great source of inspiration for my current work.

The famous Tin Theater at sunset, a great deal of nuanced purples over a vibrant autumn color scheme.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northwest Realty, our neighbors and longtime Real Estate Sponsors…an experiment with lens flares and flora textures.

The Des Moines waterfront and fishing pier, an experiment with clouds and waves.

What on earth even is this water tower in Des Moines? It allowed me to work with silhouettes.

Mt Rainier from Kent. an experiment with layers and separating them.

Some sort of sign. Showing off foliage skills with a high contrast.

Paying tribute to the more talented artists.

A sunset at The Cove. Looks almost nuclear.

A heavily outlined interpretation of the White Center Sign

More work with foliage, a mixture of calm pastel yellow and a fierce amount of rose.
Bryan also produced this video, which includes some handy advice for other Artists:

If you would like to see any more of Bryan Shickley’s work, you can follow him on any of these platforms:

]]> VIDEO: See ShanzDev's great 'Out and About' from Saturday's Boo In Burien https://btb.nwlens.com/video-shanzdevs-great-out-and-about-from-the-boo-in-burien-saturday-afternoon/ Sun, 28 Oct 2018 03:22:38 +0000 http://b-townblog.com/?p=133447 Northwest Video Blogger @ShanzDev was ‘out and about’ at Discover Burien’s ‘Boo In Burien’ on Saturday, Oct. 27, and here’s her great video from it:


Follow @ShanzDev here:

]]> Highline Indigenous Theater + Music Festival will be Oct. 31 & Nov. 1 at PAC https://btb.nwlens.com/highline-indigenous-theater-music-festival-will-be-oct-31-nov-1-at-pac/ Tue, 16 Oct 2018 00:38:57 +0000 http://b-townblog.com/?p=132947
All are invited to a very unique and special two-night Indigenous Theater + Music Festival at the Highline Performing Arts Center on Halloween (Oct. 31) and Nov. 1.
This event will celebrate the brilliance and vitality of contemporary Indigenous artists with the remarkable and legendary NYC-based Spiderwoman Theater, along with nationally acclaimed PDX-based recording artist Black Belt Eagle Scout (on Oct. 31) and virtuoso violinist Swil Kanim from the Lummi Nation on night two of the festival (on Nov. 1).
Guests will also enjoy a very special welcome from the awesomely talented Seattle-based Red Eagle Soaring Native youth theater artists on Nov. 1!
This program is made possible by: Aanmitaagzi, Highline Public Schools Native Education Program, The UW Indigenous Wellness Research Institute, Red Eagle Soaring, Ontario Arts Council, & Canada Council for the Arts.

WHAT: Highline Indigenous Theater + Music Festival (All ages)
WHERE: Highline Performing Arts Center, 401 S. 152nd Street, Burien, WA 98148
WHEN:

  • Wednesday, Oct. 31, 6-8:30 p.m.
  • Thursday, Nov. 1, 6-8:30 p.m.

COST: FREE
TICKETS: Get tickets FREE here

More info here: https://www.facebook.com/events/253788758612533/
Here are videos of some amazing Indigenous artists (almost entirely women) who will be at the festival:



The Highline Performing Arts Center is located at 401 S. 152nd Street:

]]> Raul Sanchez named Poet-in-Residence for Burien Community Poetry Project https://btb.nwlens.com/raul-sanchez-named-poet-in-residence-for-burien-community-poetry-project/ Tue, 09 Oct 2018 16:20:19 +0000 http://b-townblog.com/?p=132735 Raul Sanchez – a Washington poet and translator – has been selected for Burien’s citizen-led Poet-in-Residence project.
Mr. Sanchez will visit Burien in early November, attend local events, and host a free, public writing workshop on Nov. 3 that is open to poets of all ages and experience levels.
Mr. Sanchez will write a poem in response to his time in Burien and share the work with community in December 2018 to close the city’s 25th anniversary.
Raul Sanchez’s collection of poetry “All Our Brown-Skinned Angels” was nominated for the Washington State Book Award in Poetry. He is a Washington State Associations of Poets board member, a Jack Straw Fellow, judge for the Poetry on Buses, and TEDx participant. An active mentor and teacher, Mr. Sanchez has led numerous writing workshops.
On Saturday, Nov. 3, poets and aspiring poets of all levels are invited to a public writing workshop taught by Raul Sanchez. Participants will explore the “poetry of place” and craft their own poem. The workshop is free and open to all. Register by emailing Erin Williamson at erin@leadinkscreen.com.
The Poet-in-Residence Project is the brainchild of Burien resident Erin Williamson, who believes that poetry can be a tool for productive civic dialogue. Questions about the project can be emailed to Erin at erin@leadinkscreen.com.
Here’s a TEDx talk Mr. Sanchez gave in 2014:

And him reading from his work “All Our Brown-Skinned Angels“:

The project received grant funding from Burien’s Art Commission and 4Culture.

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