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Arts and entertainment for the Eastside November 2012

Falling in love with fall Cozy colors for your home Kidsâ€™ camp really rocks Turkey still frozen? Chill out!

2 | TheEastsideScene.com | November 2012

THE scene

scene

November 2012 | TheEastsideScene.com | 3

Inside Story

THE

Photo by Carey Rose

Family Traditions

Dear reader, I think it’d be safe to say that at one point or another, we’ve all had to deal with a family member who decided, this year, we’re going to try something new for Thanksgiving. For me, it was my dad, and it was Thanksgiving 2005. Deep frying the turkey was all the rage, and of course, my dad HAD to try it out. Oh, Dad. Flash forward to Thanksgiving morning and this is the scene: my mom, my two brothers, our family friend Dmitry and I are circled around a huge pot full of oil in the backyard - Dad’s got the turkey on a huge pole, headed toward the pot - and I’m thinking, “Nothing good can come of this.” Step 1: Dad drops the turkey in the pot. Step 2: Flames erupt from said pot. Step 3: The Prosser family runs for cover. In the same tradition of “Tent Fight 2004” Mom is yelling at Dad, my brothers are laughing - and I’m checking to make sure my eyebrows are still in place. By the time things calmed down, dad was claiming the turkey was done and returns to the pot. As it turns out, he’s right (Mom hates that) - and dinner, fried to perfection, is served. For our November issue of the Scene, we’re skipping the chaos that comes with deep-frying the turkey. In fact, we’re skipping the mess all together, and showing you how to take the bird directly from the freezer - to the oven. We’ll also take a look at Chase Culp’s Rock-It Music Academy (yep, there is a school of rock on the Eastside), the struggles that come with being an actor in the Pacific Northwest and - of course - how to avoid the wine rut. Because, really, the only solution for a dad with a Thanksgiving experiment on the mind is a nice glass of wine and maybe some protective gear.

09 12

LIFESTYLES

DRINK

Spruce up your living space with warm colors

How to avoid the wine rut this season

EASTSIDE LIVING

MUSIC

Get to know the Eastside Real Estate Community

Chase Culp helps make rock ‘n’ roll dreams a reality

ARTS

LIFESTYLES

Making ends meet as an actor in the Northwest

Where do Eastsiders go to hibernate?

NIGHTLIFE

What’s happening on the Eastside (and beyond) this month?

LOUD & ABOUT

Heija Nunn tells feathery tales

The Scene is a publication of the Bellevue Reporter. 2700 Richards Rd. Suite 201, Bellevue WA, 98005. 425.453.4270 Follow us on Twitter TheEastsideScene.com @bellevuescene Publisher

Janet Taylor Managing Editor Craig Groshart

Keegan Prosser, Assistant Editor kprosser@bellevuereporter.com

Assistant Editor Keegan Prosser

A publication of

Contributing Writers Rose Dennis, Heija Nunn and David White Design and Layout Craig Groshart and Keegan Prosser Advertising Advertising 425.453.4270

Lifestyles

4 | TheEastsideScene.com | November 2012

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With the days getting shorter and the temperature dropping, fall is in full swing. And, now that you’ve put away the patio furniture, it’s time to spruce up your home with new seasonal items, colors and textures. But just because Halloween and Thanksgiving are the major holidays in fall doesn’t mean you should only deck your home with pumpkins, goblins or turkeys. There are plenty of ways to incorporate the look and feel of the season with textures, finishes and accent pieces. As the weather gets cooler, add colorful blankets and throws in different weaves to add interest to your existing furniture. Engage all your senses by incorporating scented candles throughout your home – fall staples like apple, caramel and cinnamon will make every room more warm and inviting. Don’t feel like you need to buy all new decor for the season. Spray paint is a simple and inexpensive way to update existing items you may already have around the house, like candlesticks, a serving tray or picture frames in the new, fashionable colors. Once you have found the items that you want to makeover, lightly sand them to ensure a smooth surface. Next, wipe down the surface to remove any dust or debris. Apply even coats of primer and then add the color of your choice. It should be dry to the touch in just minutes.

As a focal point in living rooms, the mantel is an ideal location to display your new beautiful fall creations. Adding lighted elements, like lanterns or candles, can also bring additional warmth to the room. Don’t have a mantel? Don’t worry - instead, your dining table can be made over to display your seasonal decor pieces. To protect the top from any scratches or stains, place a runner underneath your new tablescape. Burlap is a perfect choice for this time of year, helping you bring the look and feel of fall right into your dining room. Once your indoors are looking grand, focus on outdoor elements, such as the front porch, to create a welcoming feel for trick-or-treaters or holiday guests. Easily transform boring, clay pots with a few coats of spray paint; try one of the season’s richest colors, like hunter green, for a woodsy feel. Once dry, add mums in gold or purple and place them on your porch. Continue your makeover with a new door mat and wreath on your front door. Not only will you increase your home’s curb appeal, but you’ll also show guests that they’re welcome in your home. Don’t wait until December to begin decorating for the season. Fall is the perfect time to make an impact and showcase your design style and vibrant new seasonal colors throughout any area of the house. - ARA content

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THE scene

10/2/12

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November 2012 | TheEastsideScene.com | 5

Drink

6 | TheEastsideScene.com | November 2012

How to avoid the wine rut this fall BY DAVID WHITE Whether you’re a veteran oenophile or a budding wine enthusiast, you’ve probably fallen into a wine rut at one point or another. Perhaps you’ve never been disappointed by a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, so these days, it’s all you buy. Or maybe you stock your pantry with perennial crowd pleasers like Washington state Merlot and California Chardonnay, so those are the only wines you drink. All too often, I find myself reaching for Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. My favorite examples combine all the elements I look for in Pinot – rich, ripe aromas of cherries along with fresh herbs and earth, together with lively acidity – so regardless of the season or the meal, it’s my go-to wine. Such complacency is easy to understand. After all, we’re creatures of habit. But it’s silly. The world of wine is infinite. There are, quite literally, thousands of different wine grape varieties planted in dozens of countries. Tasting different wines is the best way to learn, and surprising your palate is the best way to keep things fun. So be adventurous. To begin, consider exploring different regions. If you like Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, try a classic, Left Bank Bordeaux or see what Chile has to offer. If you regularly reach for Sonoma Pinot Noir, explore the wines of Burgundy,

Oregon, or New Zealand. Next, look for wines with similar profiles. If you like Chardonnay, consider Viognier. If you like Sauvignon Blanc, try Torrontes or Albarino. If Pinot Noir is your go-to grape, try Tempranillo or Blaufränkisch. If you’re a fan of Cabernet Sauvignon, consider ordering Malbec or Merlot. Seek obscurity. Some of the most exciting wines are hard to compare to the more popular styles on the market. This summer, for example, I’ve fallen for Muscadet, a white wine produced in France’s Loire Valley from a grape called “Melon de Bourgogne.” Typically, the wines are marked by subtle yet precise aromas of apples, limes, and seawater. Thanks to extended contact with the dead yeast cells left over after fermentation, Muscadet is also known for exhibiting a creamy mouthfeel. These wines are perfect with shellfish and light seafood dishes. Plus, like most obscure-but-delicious wines, Muscadet is generally affordable. Orange wines also are worth finding. Despite the moniker, these wines aren’t made from oranges – they’re white wines produced like red wines, remaining in contact with their skins for an extended period during fermentation. As a result of this process, the wines pick up features that are typically associated with red wines, like tannins. These wines are certainly unusual – many taste sour – but they’re captivating.

Unpopular doesn’t have to mean esoteric – there are plenty of fun, food friendly wines that simply haven’t caught on in the United States, even though they’re guaranteed hits. Austrian Grüner Veltliner, a white, and Sicilian Nero d’Avola, a red, are two varieties that’ll pair with virtually everything. Both work great if all your dinner companions have ordered something different. The wine world is vast, so avoiding complacency is easy. You just have to embrace surprise. David White, a wine writer, is the founder and editor of Terroirist.com. His columns are housed at Wines.com, the fastest growing wine portal on the Internet.

THE scene

November 2012 | TheEastsideScene.com | 7

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8 | TheEastsideScene.com | November 2012

The big (bird) freeze

Dine

A frozen bird should be the least of your worries on Thanksgiving Day It’s Thanksgiving morning, friends and family are on their way to your house for dinner - and the turkey is still frozen. But according to O. Peter Snyder, Jr., Ph.D., president of the Hospitality Institute of Technology and Management in St. Paul, Minn. this could be a good thing. Yep, you can cook the entire turkey from the frozen state. The FDA Food Code allows this, Snyder says. Want to learn how to take your bird from the freezer to the dinner table? Follow these steps for a 12-to-13-lb. frozen turkey. Start 5 to 5 1/2 hours before you want to serve the cooked turkey. Set the oven temperature at 325ºF. It is much better that the turkey be done 30 minutes before mealtime than to rush and serve an undercooked turkey. Remove the wrapping from the turkey and put the turkey on a rack on a pan that has been covered with foil to

Holiday Special

make cleaning easy. You can also cook the turkey in a covered roasting pan if you have one. Put the turkey in the oven. Do not worry about the bag with the heart, liver, etc. in the neck cavity or the neck in the center of the turkey. They can be removed during cooking, after the turkey thaws. There will be Salmonella and Campylobacter jejuni bacteria on the turkey. However, because it is frozen, there is no drip, and transfer to hands or counter is not a significant risk. Cooking the turkey on a shallow pan on

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a rack assures even cooking. Cooking in a pan with sides shields the bottom of the turkey from heat, and the cooking on the bottom will be non-uniform. In the first 2 to 2 1/2 hours, the legs and thighs get up to approximately 100ºF. The breast, about 1 inch into the flesh, is still at the soft ice point, about 25ºF. At this point, begin to monitor breast temperature with a tip-sensitive digital thermometer as it thaws. You may also use a dial roast thermometer. Insert it into the breast, because it is the slowest cooking part. After about 3 1/2 hours, the legs and thighs will be around 150 to 160ºF, and the breast, about 40 to 50ºF. The bag of heart, liver, etc. and the neck can be removed at this time, to be made into stock, if desired. At 4 1/2 to 5 hours, the turkey is nicely cooked. Check the temperature. The leg and thigh should be tender and at a temperature of 175 to 185ºF, while the breast will be moist at a temperature of 160 to 170ºF. The pop-up timer (if there is one) should have popped. Cooking turkeys to these temperatures is adequate to assure the reduction of Salmonella and Campylobacter jejuni to a safe level. Not only is this an excellent way to cook turkey, but it also has benefits over

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cooking a thawed turkey. If you thaw a turkey in a home refrigerator, there is a significant risk of raw juice with pathogens at high levels getting on refrigerator surfaces, other foods in the refrigerator, countertops, and sink, thus creating a hazard and a need for extensive cleaning and sanitizing. The second benefit is that, because the breast has greater mass, it takes longer to thaw. Therefore, the thigh and leg are well cooked and tender, while the breast is not overcooked and dried out. The breast will cook to a juicy 160-to-165ºF endpoint without difficulty. To assure a quality and safe turkey, monitor the final temperature with a tipsensitive digital thermometer, and always wash your hands before touching and handling the cooked turkey. But what about the stuffing? When the giblet bag is removed, the turkey can be stuffed. You may need to wear silicone gloves to protect your hands because they turkey will be hot. As always, don’t overstuff the turkey and be sure to remove all of the stuffing when the bird is done. Take the temperature inside the middle of the stuffing: it should be 165ºF. And think about heating up the stuffing before putting it in the turkey according to the directions in the Stuffing Science article for more safety. Got a bigger bird? Old data from the USDA would say add 2 hours more at most, so 5 hours becomes 7 hours. And if you have to hold the cooked bird, make sure it stays above 130F.

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November 2012 | TheEastsideScene.com | 9

Eastside Living

Q &A

ON THE SCENE S t e l la P ow ell e xPloreS

the

P eoPle

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t r en dS

that

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the

SP –

from our client s include des tinations like S u n V a l l e y, P a l m S p r i n g s , P h o e n i x a n d t h e Hawaiian Islands.

I learned you two recently announced a new partnership as a dedicated residential real estate team specializing in the Eastside neighborhoods – how did that come about?

LB –

L o c a l l y, o u r c o r e m a r k e t s a r e t h e ver y neighborhoods where we have lived and raised our families, which ranges from Magnolia to Mercer Island and Sammamish. Our personal and professional networks today are centered in Medina, Clyde Hill, Wes t Bellev ue, Mercer Island and the Sammamish and Issaquah plateau communities.

LB –

T h e r e ’s a l o t t o d o w h e n b r i n g i n g a proper t y to mar ket and it helps to have not just the extra set of hands but an added opinion and exper tise to ser vice our clients. We’ve been fr iends for many year s and hold each other in the highest regard, which is impor tant in any business relationship. We each bring something unique to the p a r t n e r s h i p, p l u s i t m a k e s w o r k m o r e f u n a n d e n j o y a b l e – w e ’r e s i m p l y b e t t e r t o g e t h e r.

SP –

What would you say are the most compelling reasons to work with your team versus the many other brokers out there?

MB –

I t ’s t r u e — w e c a n li t e r a ll y f i ni s h each other sentences. I like to say client s are get ting a t wo for one.

S P – What are your particular areas of specialization in the partnership? LB –

I n a d d i t i o n t o b e i n g a b r o ke r I ’m an interior designer and professional h o m e s t a g g e r, w h i c h c o m e s i n h a n d y w h e n tr ying to reposition a proper ty for a new h o m e b u y e r. O f t e n t i m e s a h o m e r e q u i r e s some thought ful editing so a new owner can visualize themselves living there.

M B –And

I ’m a p r i c i n g e x p e r t a l o n g with year s of ex perience in home design, building and construc tion. I love to do the research, analy ze the reac tions from open houses and broker showings and t h e n e n g a g e i n t h e n e g o t i a t i o n s . A c t u a l l y, t h a t ’s o n e o f t h e r e a s o n s t h a t I p a r t n e r e d with Libby – she adds so much value to the proper ty through her magic in design and m a r k e t i n g – i t ’s a w i n / w i n .

SP –

And your new digs at Realogics Sotheby’s International Realt y – how’s that going?

e a S tSi d e r e al e S tat e C ommuni t y

LB –

M a j a B ut l er

B &B

Libby Buckley

Maja Butler c 425 761 2772 Libby Buckley c 206 769 2046

BellevueLuxuryProperties.com M B – F a b u l o u s ! We ’r e e n j o y i n g t h e tremendous international exposure that the Brand of fers us and the suppor t of our innovative executive team. We joined this company because we wanted to of fer our clients ever y advantage we could in t h i s i n d u s t r y a n d t h a t ’s p r e c i s e l y w h a t o u r company does. SP –

So given the global footprint will you be working in other markets?

MB –

Ye s b u t n o t d i r e c t l y – w e a r e f i r s t and foremost local exper ts but our net work is global so we c an make refer r als to top broker s in mos t mar ket s. Common reques t s

F o r o n e w e ’r e t w o p e o p l e, s o w e have t wice the resources and we simply do more. And we of fer a complete one s top solution t hat includes mar ket researc h, proper t y positioning, pricing and interior design, world - class mar keting, ef fec tive n e g o t i a t i o n s a n d eve n w h e n i t ’s t i m e t o move – we even of fer use of our moving truck.

MB –

A n d I ’d s a y w e ’r e w e l l c o n n e c t e d – of ten times matching a buyer and seller before a proper t y even hit s the mar ket. This also speaks to being knowledgeable a b o u t w h a t ’s r e a l l y g o i n g o n v e r s u s w h a t t h e NWML S repor t s or is printed in a headline. We k now our loc al real es t ate busines s.

S P – D o n’ t f o r g e t f u n t o w o r k w i t h r i g h t ? I ’ d buy something just to tour homes with you guys. MB –

This is a relationship business and so we of ten share mar ket dat a, tour proper ties and of fer price opinions to potential clients k nowing that one day they ’ll move for ward. A nd if not, we’ve made many fr iends.

LB –

We love to s tay connec ted. t h e y ’r e r e a d y, s o a r e w e !

When

10 | TheEastsideScene.com | November

Cover

2012

Tonight, we rock photos and story By Keegan Prosser It started as a series of secret shows in the back of a warehouse just off of Bel-Red Road. Drum instructor Chase Culp was teaching lessons in a rented space next to Donn Bennett Drum Studio and was asked to help a new band practice for some upcoming performances. When word got out, one band grew to a few - and what started as impromptu jams at the back of his studio, turned in to a series of weekly shows. Eventually, the acts outgrew the back room, and Culp was left with a new opportunity. “We had the idea of taking kids and forming rock bands,” says Eric Snyder, Culp’s band mate and business partner. “At the time, there was really no one else in the Northwest doing that.” Twelve years, and many musicians later, the rock camps are still going strong.

School of Rock

The camps - recently deemed Rock-It Music Academy - have become a sort of breeding ground for musicians on the Eastside, with past students including members of former Eastside bands Daphne Loves Derby, This Providence and Gatsby’s American Dream (which has morphed into a new project called Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground). Culp and Snyder currently operate three, eight-week long rock camps each year. The classes, offered to both beginner and advanced students, take place every Sunday. They also offer a series of one-week long summer camps. “When I was 12, I was in a rock band, but we were terrible,” Snyder says. He and Culp agree that the camps are a great opportunity for budding musicians to learn both the art, and business of playing music - from people who are actually live and breath it. “It’s cool to be able to help these kids. And talk to them about what we’ve learned,”

Snyder says. In addition to doing regular lessons and running the camps, Culp and Snyder are working musicians, playing drums and guitar, respectively, in Seattle-based post-grunge band the Crying Spell. Collectively, the pair have toured throughout the United States, Australia, Caribbean, and South America.

The students

Approximately 65 percent of the students currently enrolled in the fall session also take lessons with either Culp or Snyder - but it’s not a prerequisite for signing up. Additionally, while some bands enroll in the camp as a group, there is also the option to sign up as an individual. “On the first day, we listen to everyone play a song and kind of figure out their level and ask them what kind of music they like,” Snyder says. From there, the teachers break the kids up in to groups they believe will play well together. “We try to find a good balance and keep the kids happy,” Snyder says. And although rock ‘n’ roll is the standard genre of choice, there is the opportunity to explore genres outside of the rock spectrum. This fall, a jazz trio consisting of Interlake High School students Andrew Spearman, 17, Zach Sweetser, 17, and Stanley Ruvinov, 16 signed up for the camp. Spearman heard about the camp from Culp during one of his regular drum lessons, and saw it as a great opportunity to practice with Sweetser and Ruvinov. The group first participated in the camp over the summer and while they dabbled playing Iron Maiden covers the first time around, this fall they’ve been focusing solely on jazz and blues.

The lessons

Each week, Culp and Snyder cover a range of topics - including rhythm section, dynamics and soloing. Beginners students focus first on learning the their instrument and progress to taking on cover songs.

Story

November 2012 | TheEastsideScene.com | 11

Benny Scholl, 14, signed up for the Rock-It Music Acamedy with his bandmates Nick Mihas, 14, and Nick Olson, 15. Known collectively as Avoid The Void, Scholl described their sound as Punk-metal.

Sam Shoemaker, 11, plays drums during a rock camp class on Sunday, Oct. 14. In addition to playing with musicians at Rock-It Music Academy, Shoemaker plays in another band. “Some of the students in the beginners class are really good players, but have never played with other musicians,” Culp says. “And playing with other people is completely different than playing by yourself.” The advanced students, who’ve either participated in the camp before or have experience playing in a band, work on performance and creating their own material. Culp also tries to bring in working musicians to come and work with the students at the rock camps. Past guests have included Scott Rockenfield (Queensryche), Michael Shrieve (Spellbinder) and Kenny Aronoff.

The show must go on

Culp says one of the most rewarding things about teaching these classes is seeing how drastically the young musicians can improve in just two months. “By the end of the camp I want them to get on stage and perform a complete song,” Culp says. “I want to make sure they can perform it - and not just play it.” As such, the culmination of each session is a finale concert, which offers campers the chance to perform live onstage in a concert for their friends and families. The public concert for the fall session will take place Sunday, Nov. 11 at Studio 7 in Seattle and costs $10. Up next for Culp is expanding the rock camp, something he and Snyder have already started to do through their connections with Donn Bennett and Evolution Studios. Culp has also begun to partner with local record labels and bands to get rock camp participants in to local shows. This January, Culp will also introduce a new audio-recording course led by producer Kelly Gray. “It’s a whole different world. When I was a young musician, I didn’t have access to that,” Culp says. The next Rock-It Music Academy session begins in January, but registration is open now through Donn Bennett Drum Studio. The cost is $300 per person for 8 sessions (billable @ $150 per four classes). If you sign up with a friend you receive $25 discount!

Bassist Wesley Trader performs onstage during one of the Rock-It Music Academy classes.

Lifestyles

12 | TheEastsideScene.com | November 2012

Heading south for the winter

A look at why this Eastside couple flees Washington for warmer weather during the wetter winter months story and photo By Keegan Prosser For most of us that live in the Pacific Northwest those three(ish) magical months of sun seem to be a godsend. It’s what keeps us motivated during the gloomy weather the rest of the year. But for many Northwest natives, those three months aren’t enough. Bellevue residents Bill and Judy Morton are definitely among those people. That’s why, as soon as the sun disappears, so does this pair of snowbirds - fleeing Washington for the winter months to soak in the sun. A travel writer for most of his career, Bill, 67, has spent a lot of his time traveling to warmer places - including repeat visits to Mexico, Arizona and Argentina. But for the past 5 years, he and his wife have been heading to Indian Wells, Calif., where they own a second home. “It’s hugely popular for Seattle people to go down there,” Morton says. He says this has a lot to do with the cheaper property costs - and the dryer climate. Originally, the Morton’s shared ownership of a property with another couple, but they decided to purchase their own home 18 months ago. “We see ourselves spending more like eight to nine months down there in the future,” Morton says. Similar to the Mortons, Bellevue residents Bob and Lucie Fjealstead like to ditch the gloomy winter weather for something on the sunnier side. The Fjelsteads first fell in love with Maui when they visited for their honey-

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Bill and Judy Morton left Washington to head to Indian Wells in mid-October. They’ll travel between their two homes every few weeks during the winter months. moon. After visiting several times they decided to purchase their first property in 1995 bought their first property. The condo served as the perfect escape for 14 years. “We were looking for a third bedroom and a Lanai,” Bob says. In 2009 the couple purchased a condo at Honua Kai, a 628-unit resort located on the world-famous Kaanapali North Beach that has become the Fjelstead’s home away from home. In addition to warmer weather, the Fjelstead’s Maui digs offer a variety of activities - something that keeps the outdoor enthusiasts and recreational photographers more than occupied. The resort also offers easy access to popular restaurant Duke’s - and is just a hop, skip and jump away from the beach. Avid fans of the University of Washington Huskies, the Fjelstead’s generally stay on the Eastside through football season - what they consider to be the best time of the year to be here. “And then we get to jump off and go to the beach for five months,” Bob says. But escaping to the beach doesn’t necessarily mean escaping from their life in the Kirkland/Bellevue area. In fact, their place in Maui has become so popular with family and friends that the schedule can get crazy at times. But the ends are far, far greater than the means. Both the Fjealsteads and the Mortons admit there is a price to pay for the majestic scenery and milder weather associated with summers in the Pacific Northwest. “The traffic is a lot worse - and everything feels a lot more hurried than down in the desert,” Morton says. And while the spoils of Southern California have drawn them in, Morton says spending time in the desert has actually made him more accepting of the weather in Washington. “We were up here in May and June when it was still rainy - and it didn’t bother me,” Morton says. “So many people were screaming, ‘When’s summer coming?’ But I knew that that in the desert is getting to be in the hundreds.” He says that’s too hot.

THE scene

November 2012 | TheEastsideScene.com | 13

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14 | TheEastsideScene.com | November 2012

The Actor’s Life:

Arts

Making it happen on the local stage By Keegan Prosser The Pacific Northwest might not seem like the most obvious place to be an actor, but with theaters that continue to deliver quality material - and a plethora of talent to choose from - the Northwest is becoming one of the most sought after markets for new and exciting productions. And as theaters in Sattle and the Eastside continue to garner national attention, so too, are the actors who are helping to build them up.

The transplant

Aaron C. Finley has been working as an actor in Seattle for the past five years. Originally from Montana, Finley moved to Seattle in 2004 to pursue a music degree at Trinity Lutheran College. While studying at TLC, he was cast in his first play, playing the title role in the musical, “Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat.” During the course of the production, he was encouraged to audition for Village Theatre, a regional professional theatre in Issaquah, where he further developed his love for theater and decided to transfer to Pacific Lutheran University, where he graduated in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts in Acting and Directing. “You are forever unemployed,” says Finley about the general inconAaron C. Finley as musician Roger in the 5th Avenue production of “RENT.” Photo by Mark Kitaoka. sistencies of the business. “The day you sign your contract, you sign your unemployment papers.” staying in your car.” And while Finley admits being an actor can be challenging finanKeeping with this theme, Deaver says she doesn’t know many actors who make a cial, he’s been lucky enough to land jobs pretty steadily. living being a full time actor in Seattle - not because they aren’t talented, but because In addition to working at Village Theatre, Finley has worked at the 5th Avenue, ACT, there aren’t a lot of opportunities for consistent work. Showtunes, Artswest, Taproot Theatre, Centerstage and others. Most recently, Finely For the past five years, Christine has been starring in a number of productions at the starred as Roger in the 5th Avenue Theatre’s production of “RENT.” Starting Nov. 7 the Teatro ZinZanni theaters in Seattle and San Francisco (presently operating in Costa actor will star as Perchik in the Village Theatre’s production of “Fiddler on the Roof.” Mesa). Deaver is currently starring as Diva Gracie Hansen in Teatro ZinZanni Seattle’s While Finley has been lucky enough to make acting a full-time job, that wasn’t production of “Return to Paradise, ” (running through Jan. 27, 2013). always the case. He says that early in his career, he would supplement his income by working shifts at Purple Cafe & Wine Bar in Seattle, owend by the Heavy Restaurant Keeping it local Group; he even helped to open the bar’s Bellevue locale, and has developed a strong In regard to why the Northwest seems to have such a strong theater community, relationship with their management team. Finley says it has everything to do with the local theaters. “They love that I do what I do - and are very flexible,” says Finley, who lives with his “The 5th Avenue and Village Theatre have really jumped in to this idea of fostering wife and two young children in Seattle. Finely says if he was ever in a bind, he could new works - which isn’t done a lot in other cities,” Finley says. probably pick up some hours. In 2011, Finley also became an educator at the Village He says people are more willing to bring new material to these theaters because it’s Theater’s KIDSTAGE Institute, where he teaches middle school and high school acting about as far away as they can get from the prying eyes of New York critics. It also gives classes. producers the opportunity to test the new productions on an audience that appreciates and understands good theater. The traveler Like Deaver, Finley has considered relocating to bigger markets to pursue his dream, Born and raised in Seattle, actress Christine Deaver spent several years working in he doesn’t feel that moving his family on a whim would be the best decision to make the theaters throughout the Greater Seattle area - including ACT, the Seattle Children’s at this time. Especially because he’s developed a career here, and can find work on a Theatre and Teatro Zinzanni before moving to Los Angeles five years ago - where she regular basis. Plus, he says, the quality of life is a lot nicer in Seattle than New York. currently works as an actor, writer, singer and voiceover artist. “I’ d rather live in a nice house here than in a tiny apartment in New York,” Finley Deaver explains that the theatre community in this area is very small, and tight-knit, says. it is still very competitive - especially for women. Another thing that keeps Finley in the area is the opportunity to be a member of the “There are more women acting then men - so there is always an abundance of male Actor’s Equity Association in Seattle. As a union member, Finley has a pension plan, parts,” she says. 401k and health insurance - something most struggling actors dream to achieve. And while Deaver insists that her heart remains in the Pacific Northwest, she moved “Because you can build relationships with the local theatres, it’s somewhat easier to to Los Angeles because she felt she had exhausted all her resources in the local theatre get your equity card in Seattle,” Finley says. community. And while that doesn’t neccessarily make landing a job any easier, the show must “It got to the point where I either had to move to New York or LA - and it’s easier to go on. start in LA than it is in New York,” Deaver says. “I figured, at least it would be warm

November 2012 | TheEastsideScene.com | 15

Laughs

Keepin’ it Smoove

By Keegan Prosser His claim to fame may be that he wrote the funniest skits to never make it on to “Saturday Night Live,” but actor/writer/comedian JB Smoove (real name Jerry Brooks) seems to be doing just fine. Born in Plymouth, North Carolina and raised in upstate New York, Smoove began his TV career on Russell Simmons’s “Def Comedy Jam” in the early 1990s. He’s since acted in a number of movies - including Mr. Deeds, Date Night, Hall Pass, The Sitter, We Bought a Zoo. and The Dictator. Most recently, the funnyman lent his voice talents to “Ice Age 4,” and “Smurfs 2.”

However, his big break may have been his recurring role as Larry David’s eccentric buddy Leon Black on HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” In addition to acting, Smoove runs comedy website TheRuckus.com, and continues to make waves on the stand-up circuit for his crass, yet relatable, jokes. An avid fan of cars, pool and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, Smoove currently resides in the City of Angels with his wife and teenage daughter, yet he remains loyal to his East Coast roots - using his experiences in New York as the crux of his wildly inappropriate - and hilarious - act. The Smoove-talker brings his Ruckus Tour to the Parlor Live Comedy Club Nov. 29- Dec.1.

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Laugh’s Comedy Club

Parlor Live

11-1/3: Darryl Lenox

11-1/3: Dan Soder

11-1/3: Steve Byrne with special guest Roy Wood Jr

11-5/6: Seattle International Com- 11-8/10: Jackie Kashian featuring edy Competition Brian Boshes 11-25: Seattle International Com- 11-23: Brad Upton edy Competition Finals 12099 124th Ave. NE, Kirkland 109 S. Washington St., Seattle 425-823-6306; www.laughscom206-628-0303; www.comedyunder- edy.com ground.com

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In Good Company

16 | TheEastsideScene.com | November 2012

A Cinderella night for Pacific Northwest Ballet

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followed by Cinderella that was choreographed by PNB’s founding co-artistic director Kent Stowell. PNB company dancer’s impressed the audience with their character roles and technical movements. The gorgeous costumes by the late Martin Pakledinaz were breathtakingly beautiful. After the performances Cinderella’s celebration continued with an after party on the McCaw

Hall stage. While the clock hands slowly approached midnight, patrons, guests and company dancers celebrated PNB’s past, while anxiously discussing the next 40 years under the continued leadership of PNB’s Artistic Director Peter Boal. Bravo PNB!

acific Northwest Ballet’s black-tie opening gala – The Dream Continues – attracted more than 400 patrons Sept. 21. Under the direction of event co-chairs Alesha Shemwell and Sharon Richardson, the 40th anniversary raised $340,000. Committee members worked endlessly in creating a memorable Rose Dennis event. The evening began with a red-carpet walk to a private cocktail reception. Then guests were then “called” to dinner and escorted through gates into Cinderella’s Garden. The party décor was like a fairy tale dream come true with pumpkins, roses, topiaries, chandeliers, fabric and candles, which were creatively displayed to set the party mood. Following dinner, guests enjoyed a one-time only performance with the special appearance of retired principal dancer Patricia Barker as the Ringmaster in Jerome Robbins’ Circus Polka. This was then

Rose Dennis writes about events in Bellevue and the Greater Seattle area. She lives in Bellevue.

November 2012 | TheEastsideScene.com | 17

Etcetera

Feather brained or feather head

loud & about

torytelling in all forms is a core parenting skill. And just like playful rough-housing, what starts as an innocent tall-tale can devolve into a justifiable need for a mommy timeout. Often, when I am in the car with just one child, they take full advantage of my inability to make eye contact and the chance to talk without interruption from irritating siblings. This past summer as my 8-year-old daughter, Sistafoo, and I sat in stop-and-go traffic on 520 she asked me if she could get a feather in her hair. I don’t have one, I don’t want HEIJA NUNN one, but I don’t begrudge anyone else their right to wear one with peacock-like pride. However the idea of sourcing, purchasing and then dealing with a feather in my own daughter’s tangle-prone hair sounded like a hassle. So instead of saying “no” I said “Why don’t you just wait for yours to grow in?”

I calmly explained that one of the other weird things that happens to girls as they grow up, is that between the ages of 10 and 14 they grow a feather near their hairline on one side of their scalp. I told her that a few might grow a blue tinted or pinkish red plume. This all made perfect sense to her. And really, why wouldn’t it? Crazy things happen in puberty. Telling my kids long and detailed tall-tales is not unusual. I do it all the time. What made this feathery tale different is that I must have been distracted by a shiny object because I forgot to say “just kidding” before she got out of the car. I forgot about it entirely, until I heard her telling a playmate about it. Whoops. To be fair, she was breaking a house rule by discussing a sensitive topic like puberty, city politics or the graphic surgery shows she likes to watch on Animal Planet. But I realized that my silly little tale needed to be recalled. And then I forgot about it – again. After school started, I waited on the playground for Sistafoo and her Wednesday play date and I noticed, with some chagrin, that her sweet little friend had a feather in her hair near her left temple. I decided to confess my story sin to nearby parents to get some advice on how and when to tell my daughter that I had allowed her live a misinformed life. “Keep it short and sweet,” they advised. I am pretty sure they also suggested I videotape it, but maybe that was just my idea. When Sistafoo and friend piled into the car she im-

mediately pointed to the feather in her classmate’s hair. I pointed my camera towards them as they gamely nestled their heads together for a fun video chat. As I stumbled through my apologetic preamble Sistafoo chimed in “A feather can grow into your hair remember? She got one, my mom did! It was pinkish-brownish, but she had it so late, when she was old, so then they had to pluck it.” “That’s freaky!” shrieked her friend. Guilt consumed me even as I stifled giggles. I continued to stumble towards confession: “Here’s the problem, Sistafoo. When we were driving that day and we were on the freeway, and it was a hot day, and I love you, and you’re fun and funny, and (looking at the friend) she has a really good sense of humor and she’s a good sport … so I think she is going to be okay when I tell her that I was making that up.” Stunned silence followed by piercing yelps; “That’s mean! That wasn’t short and that wasn’t sweet!” Fortunately though, as the dust settled, both girls agreed that a storytelling mom was better than a “so serious mom.” But I have strict instructions to keep it to a car ride from now on. Permission to keep telling feathery tales is a huge relief to me. I thought I was completely plucked. Wanna say Hiya to Heija? Follow her on Twitter (@Heija) Friend her on Facebook or relax, sit back, and silently judge her life in the flickering glow of your computer screen at her blog The Worst Mother in the World (www.Heija.com).

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Nightlife

18 | TheEastsideScene.com | November 2012

Nightlife in November Bake’s Place

11-10: Sinbad

155 108th Avenue NE, Bellevue, 425-454-2776

11-18: Alice Cooper

11-10: Red Hot Blues Sisters

More: www.emeraldqueen.com

11-15/16: Dee Daniels 11-23: Geoffrey Castle – Deep Well Sessions

The Fifth Avenue Theatre

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1308 Fifth Ave., Seattle, 206-625-1900

11-4: New Orleans Night Out with special guest Branford

Marsalis

11-24: The Four Freshmen More: www.kpcenter.org McCaw Hall

11-1/11: The Addams Family Benaroya Hall

321 Mercer St., Seattle. 206-7339725

11-30: Elf

11-12: Steve Winwood US Tour 2012

200 University St., Seattle, 206-215-4800

More: www.5thavenue.org

11-26: Straight No Chaser

11-23/25: Brandi Carlile with the Seattle Symphony More: www.seattlesymphony.org/benaroya

Key Arena 305 Harrison St., Seattle, 206-684-7200

Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley Sixth Avenue and Lenora Street, Seattle, 206-4419729

11-1/4: Manhattan Transfer 11-16/25: Taj Mahal Trio More: www.jazzalley.com

5700 Pacific Highway East, Fife. 253-594-7777

11-28/29: Celtic Thunder

Sip Restaurant

More: www.seattlecenter.com/events

1084 NE Park Drive, Issaquah, 425-369-1181

11-15: Eugenie Jones

11-9: Leonard Cohen

Meydenbauer Center

11-10: Neil Young & Crazy Horse

11-29: Ryan Shea Smith

11100 NE Sixth St., Bellevue, 425-637-1020

11-13: Rush

More: www.siprestaurant.com

11-15: FunnyDummy.com Ventriloquist

11-15: Red Hot Chili Peppers

11-23/25: Annie

Sliders Cafe

More: www.keyarena.com

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4721 Tolt Avenue, Carnation, 425-333-577

Kirkland Performance Center

Emerald Queen Casino

Cat Power

11-30: Jessica Lynne & Rachel Mae

350 Kirkland Ave., Kirkland, 425-893-9900

Moore Theatre

11-2/3: My Fair Lady

11-2: Global Dance Party 11-10:Seattle Rock Orchestra performs Led Zeppelin 11-16/17: Dance Theatre of Harlem More: www.stgpresents.org/moore Neptune Theatre 1303 NE 45th St., Seattle, 206-781-5755

11-9: An Evening with Ken Burns 11-16: Richard Marx

Best Steak Best Chef Best Service

More: www.stgpresents.org/neptune

Snoqualmie Casino 37500 SE North Bend Way, Snoqualmie, 425-888-1234

11-4: The O’Jays 11-15: Boz Scaggs 11-18: The Righteous Brother Bill Medley More: www.snocasino.com Teatro ZinZanni 222 Mercer Street Seattle, 206-802-015

11-1: Love, Chaos & Dinner!

Paramount Theatre

More: www.dreams.zinzanni.org

901 Broadway, Tacoma, 253-591-5890

The Tractor Tavern

11-1/17 (various dates): Wicked 11-27: Glen Campbell More: www.stgpresents.org/paramount Showbox At The Market

Come enjoy John Howie Steak as we strive to provide you with a dining experience to judge all others by.

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1932 Second Ave., Seattle, 206-812-3284

5213 Ballard Ave., NW, Seattle, 206-789-3599

11-21: Bryan John Appleby plus Pollens and Shenandoah Davis

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1426 First Ave., Seattle, 206-628-3151

Triple Door

11-8: Stars

216 Union St., Seattle, 206-838-4333

More: www.showboxonline.com/events.php

11-29: Lee DeWyze

Showbox SODO

More: www.tripledoor.com

1426 First Ave., Seattle, 206-628-3151

Village Theatre

11-3: Cat Power

303 Front St. N., Issaquah, 425-392-2202

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11-17 and on: Fiddler on the Roof More: www.villagetheatre.org

THE scene

November 2012 | TheEastsideScene.com | 19

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