About the movie: “Atomic Blonde” stars Charlize Theron, James McAvoy, and John Goodman. Oscar® winner Charlize Theron explodes into summer in Atomic Blonde, a breakneck action-thriller that follows MI6’s most lethal assassin through a ticking time bomb of a city simmering with revolution and double-crossing hives of traitors. The crown jewel of Her Majesty’s Secret Intelligence Service, Agent Lorraine Broughton (Theron) is equal parts spycraft, sensuality and savagery, willing to deploy any of her skills to stay alive on her impossible mission. Sent alone into Berlin to deliver a priceless dossier out of the destabilized city, she partners with embedded station chief David Percival (James McAvoy) to navigate her way through the deadliest game of spies.
Before Brandon and I got hitched, we had a blast taking our engagement photos with the lovely and talented photographer Jackie Donnelly.
Brandon and I are kids-at-heart, so when we started brainstorming ideas of where we should take our engagement photos, the Pacific Science Center came to mind. We have a lot of fun memories of visiting Pacsci when our nieces were younger and the space is full of creativity and color. When we mentioned this idea to our photographer Jackie, she suggested we hop on the Seattle Center Monorail to get there (we live in Capitol Hill) and snap some fun photos on our way. Perfect!
When I lived on Queen Anne and worked downtown at The 5th Avenue Theatre, I would often take the monorail to work. The monorail offers beautiful views (ABOVE traffic, so it’s an efficient ride) and gives you such a fun “true Seattle” experience. I love to think how different this city was when it was first built in 1962 for the world’s fair. I get warm and gleeful feelings every time I ride the monorail, sometimes feeling nostalgic for a time I wasn’t even alive.
The monorail goes from downtown (Westlake Center) to the Seattle Center Armory. If you haven’t been to the Armory in a while, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the restaurants they now offer. I’ve used the Monorail to get to food and wine events at Seattle Center, to see shows at Seattle Rep, and to visit the Pacific Science Center.
One of the best burlesque duos in the world, Kitten N’ Lou, are back with a gaggle of talented pals this summer! “Camptacular” returns to The Triple Door June 30 – July 3 and Kitten N’ Lou are hosting a giveaway right now!
Kitten N’ Lou Present: CAMPTACULAR!
“A summer camp-y spectacle that’ll melt your face off”
Get ready for the return of the wettest hottest American-est summer show ever, this 4th of July weekend!
Kitten N’ Lou, the “World’s Show-busiest Couple” and internationally celebrated dyke darlings, bring you a “brilliantly deranged” spectacle (TimeOut NY) that takes you to the campiest of summer camps, featuring an all-star cast of Seattle dance, drag, and burlesque icons including Stranger genius Cherdonna, international gender-blending icon Waxie Moon, and very special guest star from the Windy City….”the honey badger of burlesque” herself, Jeez Loueez!
Kicking off this summer: In the grand tradition of classic and awesomely awful American summer camp movies like Meatballs, Troop Beverly Hills, and Dirty Dancing, CAMPTACULAR takes you on a surreal, hilarious, and nostalgic trip to the great outdoors, where campers roast their weenies by the fire, tell bizarre ghost stories, frolic in sleeping bags, fall in love in the moonlight, and sneak into the woods….all culminating in the most epic camp “talent show” Seattle has ever seen…these shows sold out and had audiences raving last summer, don’t miss your chance to go back to Camp Two Raccoons!
Starring a bombastic and diverse cast of internationally celebrated theater, drag, cabaret, burlesque, and contemporary dance tastemakers, CAMPTACULAR is the ultimate stand-up-and-salute extravaganza to escape reality and usher in the summer with a bang!
Starring:
*Kitten N’ Lou*
Cherdonna Shinatra * Waxie Moon * Jeez Loueez*
Faggedy Randy * J Von Stratton * Markeith Wiley
*Scott Shoemaker * Josh Hartvigson * Randy Ford
Praise for Kitten N’ Lou productions:
“Feminist icons!” (The Australian Times)
“Genius!” (Huffington Post)
“Outrageously camp… show-stopping couple!” (The UK Daily Mail 2013)
“Kitten N’ Lou revolutionize camp.” (CityArts Magazine 2014)
“Absurdist duo Kitten N’ Lou’s larger than life groove had the audience cheering” (Huffington Post, 2014)
“Insanely fun to watch” (Verbicide Magazine, 2014)
“Underneath the fabulousness, there’s real dancing going on…” (Seattle Weekly)
Recently, I had the privilege to ride on one of Kenmore Air‘s seaplanes for the first time, thanks to the folks at Seattle Attractions! I’ve never seen the city like this! The take-off and landing were super smooth. All passengers wear headphones during the flight which pipe in great information about the area you fly over, along with soothing music along the way. Did you know West Seattle was its own city from 1902 until 1907? I never knew!
Seattle Attractions hosted a live Facebook video (complete with an interview with the pilot and gorgeous shots of our entire flight from take-off to landing). I suggest watching it to get an idea of what these flights are really like.
If you’re planning to travel to Seattle, host out of town guests, or just want to experience all the fun that our city holds, check out Seattle Attractions Trip Planner for a handy itinerary builder.
One of my favorite musicals of all time, “Cabaret,” returns to Seattle’s Paramount Theatre June 13 – 25. This is the national tour of the Tony Award®-winning production. Read on to learn how you can enter to win one of two pairs of tickets from Seattle Pockets and Swink Style Bar!
Set in the bawdy world of the Kit Kat Klub, the story revolves around a young American writer and a nglishE cabaret performer in 1931 Berlin, as the Nazis rise to power.
During the second week of performances (June 20-25) audiences can experience the Kit Kat Klub like never before, with immersive cabaret style table seating in the front of the orchestra level, reminiscent of the Broadway run at Studio 54 in New York.
Want to enter to win tickets to see “Cabaret” at The Paramount on June 13?
You can use the form to enter via blog comment, Facebook, Instagram, and/or Twitter. Enter via one method or multiple.
More about this production of Cabaret:
Jon Peterson, a veteran of Roundabout’s CABARET on Broadway and well known for his various roles on London’s West End, including CATS, A Chorus Line and The Sound of Music, stars in the role as the Emcee while Leigh Ann Larkin, known on Broadway for her roles in Gypsy (Dainty June) and A Little Night Music, is making her CABARET debut as Sally Bowles.
John Kander, Fred Ebb and Joe Masteroff’s Tony-winning musical features some of the most memorable songs in theatre history, including “Cabaret,” “Willkommen
,
” and “Maybe This Time.” CABARET is set in the infamous Kit Kat Klub, where the Emcee, Sally Bowles and a raucous ensemble take the stage nightly to tantalize the crowd––and to leave their troubles outside.
“Five stars! WILLKOMMEN HOME. A Broadway jewel returns in all its glittering glory.”
Seattle’s Can Can is a “Moulin Rouge-inspired cabaret hailed for creative retro entertainment” in Pike Place Market.
Tickets for their upcoming show ICE CREAM (June 9 – October 1) are on sale now. AboutICE CREAM: The infamous, historic venue will transform into a doo-wop ice cream shop — a colorful backdrop for this effervescent, dance-crazed spectacle of glitz, glitter, and above all, glutes! Inspired by all-time-favorite summer cult-classics like “Grease,” “Cry Baby,” “Hairspray,” and “Beach Party,” ICE CREAM celebrates revelry with the finest in Market fresh food, craft cocktails, and Can Can’s own unique brand of entertainment.
This show is totally up my alley and sounds like a perfect distraction from reality. See the show at 7pm Wednesdays through Sundays, 9:30pm Fridays & Saturdays. Got kids and no babysitter? This production offers family-friendly brunch showings at 12:30pm and 2:30pm every Saturday and Sunday! “It’s high kicks, culinary delicacies, and world-class cabaret during the weekend’s Magnificent Matinees when Can Can’s award-winning dance theatre company performs a fresh version of ICE CREAM intended for audiences of all ages — kids welcome!”
I want to win tickets toICE CREAM via seattlepockets.com!
2) For additional entries, tag friends in the comments of my Facebook post about the giveaway! You can tag up to five friends for five entries (one friend per comment).
Prize includes 2 tickets to ICE CREAM at The Can Can in Pike Place Market (date subject to availability). Giveaway ends 5/13/17 at 11:59pm Pacific Time. Winner will be contacted 5/15/17. Prize can not be exchanged or returned for cash.
Brandon and I had the chance to see “Here Lies Love” at the Seattle Rep. This “Revolutionary Musical Experience from David Byrne & Fatboy Slim” is one of the best productions I’ve seen in Seattle in many years. If standing/dancing for 90 minutes for you isn’t an issue, I strongly suggest buying the standing ticket seats so that you can be a part of the immersive theater experience on the floor. For those not comfortable or able to stand for that long, we’ve had friends who sat for the show and also thoroughly enjoyed it.
It’s a history lesson wrapped up in an immersive dance party. It’s a timely and emotional tale of the life of Imelda Marcos and her husband Ferdinand (Ferdinand was the 10th President of the Philippines). It starts out as a dance party and the show includes the audience for many dance moments throughout the show. I found it incredibly strange to break into dance during or directly after moments that focused on poverty, scarcity, fear, power struggles, and other upsetting moments in the story of Imelda’s life and the struggle of the people of the Philippines. This juxtaposition was incredibly powerful, showing how we so often learn of the struggles of others, then turn a blind eye and stay comfortably within our own bubbles. The floor seats in the Seattle Rep have all been removed and the staging, lighting, and visuals are really fantastic. The voices of the cast are truly incredible. I was blown away.
I asked on my personal Facebook page what others thought of the show. Here’s what some friends and friends-of-friends had to say:
“The show was incredible! I think the cast of “Here Lies Love” was one of the top three casts I’ve seen in the past few years – right up there with the original Broadway cast of Hamilton and Allegiance! I loved that it was immersive. It also struck a balance between being entertaining yet making you feel uncomfortable plus a history lesson to boot!”
-Stacy Justino
“A few things: The most remarkable immersive theater I’ve ever experienced. I laughed, cried, sang karaoke and line danced. I think each type of ticket has pros and cons. I had to sit for most of it because of some physical issues and was every bit as happy as my friends who stood (and got herded around throughout the show). The stagecraft and costuming are truly exceptional. Not that the cast and writer/director team don’t deserve a ton of credit; they absolutely do. But when I talk about the show, I talk at least as much about the dresses and multimedia pieces as I do the actors.”
-Jill Lightner
“My favorite thing about “Here Lies Love” was the incredible cast—top notch singing, acting, and dancing from everyone. And Filipino actors actually playing Filipinos! As a Filipino American, I can’t tell you how much that means to me. I watched “Here Lies Love” from the floor, and while I enjoyed the innovative staging, I did feel like not all of the stage moves were necessary. I’m going to watch the show again from the gallery to see how the experience is different. Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos plundered the Philippines and were responsible for the execution and torture of thousands of people. “Order 1081” was a powerful song about martial law, but I wish there had been more about how the Philippine people suffered under the Marcos regime. “Here Lies Love” makes Imelda Marcos much too sympathetic. I hope that “Here Lies Love” encourages more people to learn about the true history of the Philippines and the Filipino people.”
-Madeline Moy
“I loved how the audience was encouraged to participate at whatever level they were comfortable with. The choreography of everyone, including the stagehands and audience wranglers, assisted in making the setting a safe space for all. We were welcomed to this amazing, dazzling world that was a visual and audible delight. Totally worth the cost of admission. One of my top five theatre experiences.”
-Hollie Daye
“I loved this out of the box (or seats!) experience, we felt like we were a part of the show. At one point, Imelda was singing directly to my husband, and we were both swooning. It was an amazing experience that I would happily see again. Bravo Seattle Rep, hope to see more unique shows like this in the future.”
-Tiffany Middleton Jessup
“The best immersive theatre experience I have ever, well…experienced! A feat of technological and human staging that was so well executed, I am still thinking about it many days later. I am so glad I saw it from the floor and cannot wait to go back and experience it again.”
-Rachael Brister
“Get ready to move and be moved, this immersive show encourages dance. This can be challenging and even overwhelming, but it is worth it . . . it is just a bit overambitious and asks a bit much of its audience, but the immersive experience is unique and totally worth it despite its shortcomings . . . perhaps most importantly, I don’t think it quite deals adequately with the abuses of the regime it sets forth as a hero(ine) for most of the show, then vilifies at the end (though I do enjoy some moral ambiguity). Despite all that, I think it has great songs and costumes, hits some good emotional notes, is interesting and a lot of fun, and makes for a totally worthwhile theater experience. Imperfect, but a very solid B+ despite its flaws. Also, I will consume anything David Byrne does with glee.”
– Isaac Kaplan-Woolner
Have you seen the show? Join the conversation and share your review on this Facebook post.
“Here Lies Love” plays The Seattle Repertory Theatre in Seattle Center and has been extended through June 18, but I hear tickets are going fast. Details and tickets here.
Video:
Photos by Navid Baraty via Seattle Repertory Theatre
