Eclectic Magic

.
A design by Stacy Rozich, one of six designs by local artists featured on T-shirts available at Cairo during Eclectic Magic, a low-key but delightful pop-up shopping experience for the holidays. Cairo is open 12-6pm everyday now through January 3rd and they're having an opening this Friday night featuring music from Alaska's, Wild Orchid Children, and Stephanie. I don't know the other two but I had the great pleasure of seeing Alaska's at the Anne Bonny for Expo 87 the other weekend and would jump at the chance to repeat the experience.

Alaska's at the Anne Bonny for Expo 87 the other weekend

More info at Cairo.

Tonight & Tomorrow Night:

[ more info ]

It's Cave Week at Pacific Standard

.
[via The Anne Bonny]


[via LineOut]

Present Life, Past Lives

Some miscellany for Monday as I'm juggling a ton of stuff this week.

The other day Emily and I took a walk through the woods in Seward Park, one of several Olmstead-designed parks on Lake Washington.

It's kind of crazy having an old-growth forest in the middle of Seattle – it feels really remote in parts. The other day I was there (just me) and this song came up on shuffle, which was weird and cool and added to the mood:

Grand Hallway Seward Park mp3 (More info at The Stranger.)

It is rare and memorable when shuffle gets something right.

Saturday we walked along the waterfront on a path that goes north out of downtown Seattle.

There's a big grain elevator there and this ship from Panama was unloading its haul, while another waited at anchor in Elliott Bay.

Sometimes even just looking at boats feels like vacation. After that we went to Lowell's in the market and had some clams and Manny's.

Later that night we went to The Anne Bonny and caught the opening of Bald Man Art, a new exhibition by Ezra Dickenson, while enjoying some refreshing beverages with gallerist and proprietor Spencer Moody. I recommend stopping by soon and often – it's a great show and the Anne B has a never-ending collection of interesting things going on.


Tonight Spencer's band Triumph of Lethargy Skinned Alive To Death is playing at the Showbox. Here's a video for their song "Demolition Man."


Triumph of Lethargy is playing with Past Lives. I meant to post about the record release party for the new Past Lives EP several weeks ago, and not just because it had one of the cooler flyers I've seen recently:

Past Lives is destined for greatness – check out some samples on their MySpace page, pick up the EP now at Suicide Squeeze, and head over to their website for more info.

And I think that pretty much brings us up to speed for the moment….

Art, Home Accoutrements, Dead People's Furniture

.
Emily and I were out west briefly last October and had the chance to check out the Anne Bonny (1355 Olive b/w Melrose & Bellevue). Emily got a really cool sweater with a horse on the back, and we also snapped up this artwork by proprietor Spencer Moody (better known as front man of the Murder City Devils, Dead Low Tide, and Triumph of Lethargy Skinned Alive to Death). They are going to hold it for us till we're in Seattle again this fall. I think it's interesting because it captures this icon of weird America but pulls it out of context in both place and material. It reminds me of Richard Prince's outlook that way, as does the Anne Bonny itself.

I highly recommend checking out the shop if you're ever in Seattle (or if you're always in Seattle). On the surface it's not much different than other antique/junk stores, but it sets itself apart with a particularly unique point of view, bolstered by an upstairs gallery showing a steady succession of up-and-coming Northwest artists. The line between curated junk and artwork is totally blurred, and to me that is the best way to look at either of those things.

Check out theannebonny.com for more info.

Photos top and bottom courtesy the Anne B's flickr page