SGN February 17, 2017 - Section 2

Seattle Gay News

Issue 7, Volume 45, February 17, 2017

Arts & Entertainment

Twenty years of RENT: An interview with Skyler Volpe

Seattle Asian American Film Festival Feb. 23-26 w/ LGBTQ shorts program

Skyler Volpe – Photo courtesy of iu.edu

by Eric Andrews-Katz SGN A&E Writer RENT – 20TH ANNIVERSARY BROADWAY ACROSS AMERICA PARAMOUNT THEATRE February 21-26

Courtesy of seattleaaff.org

The musical RENT reached its 20th year anniversary mark this year. To celebrate the milestone a new national tour has been launched, and will be playing at Seattle’s Paramount Theatre next week. The Seattle Gay News caught up with Skyler see SKYLER VOLPE page 5

The Seattle Asian American Film Festival (SAAFF) presents its 5th annual festival February 23-26, at SIFF Cinema Egyptian (805 E Pine St) (Opening Night) and at the Northwest Film Forum (1515 12th Ave) (Friday through Sunday) on Capitol Hill.

The 55 films on the program feature the best in recent independent cinema by and

about Asian Americans. SAAFF’s theme this year is #StarringUs, which underscores SAAFF’s mission to spotlight Asian American voices, perspectives, and histories by screening independent films that reflect the diversity and richness of the Asian Amerisee SAAFF page 8

Thalia’s Umbrella presents Toni Erdmann a humanistic When Love Speaks – comedy of heartbreak and a celebration of love poetry forgiveness

Phyllis (Christine Marie Brown) and Thyrsis (Terry Edward Moore) in When Love Speaks – Photo by John Ullman

by Miryam Gordon SGN A&E Writer WHEN LOVE SPEAKS THALIA’S UMBRELLA (AT TAPROOT THEATRE) Through February 25

“Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” Well? Should I? Don’t I get an answer?

If you have ever read any poetry and felt like maybe someone should be there answering “Yes” or “No,” then you are thinking like David Wright. Wright was reading see LOVE page 4

Peter Simonischek plays Winfried Conradi (aka Toni) in Toni Erdmann – Photo courtesy of chicagoreader.com

by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN A&E Writer TONI ERDMANN Now playing

German music teacher Winfried Conradi (Peter Simonischek) doesn’t see a lot of his daughter Ines (Sandra Hüller). She’s a corporate strategist assisting in a major restructuring plan for a multinational company based in Bucharest, and as such it isn’t like she’s able to head home to see her ecsee TONI ERDMANN page 13

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February 17, 2017

Celebrating 41 Years!

Metallica, Sturgill Simpson announce upcoming Seattle concerts

by Albert Rodriguez SGN A&E Writer Two acts who performed on the Grammy stage last weekend are headed to the Seattle area in the months ahead.

First up, Metallica. The hard rock icons collaborated with Lady GaGa on a version of “Moth Into Flame” during the awards telecast, which wasn’t to my liking, but now they’re giving fans what they really want, a North American summer tour to promote the band’s new album, Hardwired… To Self-Destruct. Metallica’s previous appearance in the Emerald City was back in 2003, when they headlined a concert at then-Qwest Field with Linkin Park, The Deftones, Mudvayne and Limp Bizkit; it was such an amazing show! They’ll perform at the same venue again, now CenturyLink Field, with a single opening act, Gojira. Aside from songs from Hardwired, you’re likely to hear other Metallica classics, such as “One,” “Enter Sandman,” “Nothing Else Matters” and “Master of Puppets,” to name a few. Tickets for Metallica, appearing August 9 at CenturyLink Field, are on sale now at LiveNation. com, all Ticketmaster outlets, or charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000.

Second, fresh from snagging the Grammy for Best Country Album, singer-songwriter Sturgill Simpson just announced new dates on his tour that includes a performance at Marymoor Park in early fall. The musician left a railroad job in Utah six years ago, after his wife made him quit and relocate to Nashville to launch his recording career, which in a short time span has produced one EP and three full-length albums, including last year’s A Sailor’s Guide to Earth. Simpson will play an outdoor concert at Marymoor Park in Redmond on September 30 with tickets available now at aeglive.com.

A few more new shows to announce: Laura Marling at The Showbox Market on April 28, Marsha Ambrosius with Eric Benet at the Moore Theatre on May 1, Richard Thompson at The Triple Door on May 16-18, Rene Marie at The Triple Door on May 20 and Justin Townes Earle at the Neptune Theatre on May 30.

The Academy Awards are happening next Sunday and you’ll be happy to know that Justin Timberlake is set to perform his nominated tune “Can’t Stop the Feeling” (from Trolls), which won a Grammy last

weekend for Best Song Written for Visual Media. All five of the Best Original Song nominees are being performed live on the telecast, including Lin-Manuel Miranda and Auli’i Cravalho dueting on “How Far I’ll Go” (from Moana) and Sting, who’ll sing “The Empty Chair” (from Jim: The James Foley Story). Joining them will be John Legend, who’ll perform both numbers from La La Land, “City of Stars” and “Audition.” The Oscars take place Sunday, February 26 at 5pm PST. Less than a week after he was hospitalized and forced to retire from touring, R&B-jazz artist Al Jarreau passed away.

The seven-time Grammy winner, who scored a major hit in 1981 with the single “We’re in This Love Together,” died on February 12 in Los Angeles from unknown causes, although he had been hospitalized before in 2012 for pneumonia while performing a string of live shows in France. Jarreau had been scheduled to appear at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley on April 4 and 5; refunds are available through the venue’s website, jazzalley.com, or by calling (206) 441-9729.

2017 Grammys: Seattle Symphony wins its third Grammy; Bowie and Adele earn multiple awards

by Albert Rodriguez SGN A&E Writer 59TH GRAMMY AWARDS STAPLES CENTER (LOS ANGELES) CBS – 5PM PST (8PM EST) February 12 “Music’s Biggest Night” turned out to be enormous for Adele, David Bowie and Chance the Rapper, who each captured multiple prizes at last Sunday’s Grammy Awards. But it was also huge for the Seattle Symphony, which nabbed its third gramophone in the category of Best Surround Sound Album. Although the award, one of several that were given out in the Classical Music field during The Premiere Ceremony on Sunday afternoon, primarily goes to its engineers, Dmitriy Lipay and Alexander Lipay, the symphony is also recognized as the recording artist and shares the credit.

The ensemble’s Dutilleux’s Sur le même accord; Les citations; Mystère de l’instant and Timbres was nominated for Best Engineered Album, Classical as well. Under the direction of conductor Ludovic Morlot, this marked the third consecutive year that the Seattle Symphony has won a Grammy; it is also the proud recipient of a Pulitzer Prize.

Adele went five for five, winning every award she was up for, including the most coveted three of the night, Album of the Year for 25 and Record and Song of the Year for “Hello.” Greg Kurstin, who co-wrote the British star’s monstrous hit, earned a giant accolade for himself, Producer of the Year, Non-Classical. Aside from making multiple trips up to the podium, Adele opened the three and a halfhour main telecast belting out “Hello” on

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a round platform positioned in the middle of Staples Center, home to the Grammy Awards, and later reinterpreted George Michael’s “Fastlove” into a moving ballad during a tribute to him.

Also going five for five was Blackstar, the final album released by David Bowie before his passing a year ago. The iconic artist himself was bestowed four Grammys on Sunday, including Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance for the title track, Best Alternative Rock Album and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical. Additionally, art director Jonathan Barnbrook took home the Grammy for Best Recording Package.

Though no one from Bowie’s family attended the Premiere Ceremony or main telecast to receive his awards, members of the band who played on Blackstar did show up and shared brief stories about working with the legendary performer in the studio.

Chance the Rapper had reason to celebrate, too, claiming a trio of gramophones, Best New Artist, Best Rap Album for Coloring Book and Best Rap Performance for “No Problem.” The hip hop newcomer, whose brother, Tyler Bennett, came out publicly as Bisexual recently, beat out heavyweights Kanye West and Drake for the rap album prize.

Beyonce, shut out in the major categories, managed to come away with a pair of Grammys, Best Urban Contemporary Album for Lemonade and Best Music Video for “Formation.” Meanwhile, younger sister Solange was a surprise winner for Best R&B Performance for the acclaimed track “Cranes in the Sky.” Making it a family affair, their mother, Tina Knowles, introduced Beyonce’s artsy and trippy performance on the broadcast.

Other winners were The Chainsmok-

ers and vocalist Daya, getting the award for Best Dance Recording (“Don’t Let Me Down”), Flume taking his first Grammy for Best Dance/Electronic Album (Skin), Cage the Elephant also a first timer for Best Rock Album (Tell Me I’m Pretty) and folk-Americana standout Sturgill Simpson for Best Country Album (A Sailor’s Guide to Earth).

Half the fun of tuning into the Grammys is watching the performances, which included a lackluster collaboration of Metallica and Lady GaGa. It was loud and wild, with some unfortunate technical problems, but overall it was a messy and badly conceived performance, the complete contrast to GaGa’s awesome Super Bowl Halftime Show appearance the weekend before.

Bruno Mars channeled The Purple One for a tribute to the late great Prince, and while it deserved to be better, much credit goes to the pop star for his A+ effort.

Most of Sunday evening’s performances were over the top or uninspiring, such as a sloppy tribute to the Bee Gees that sounded and looked like a trainwreck, featuring Demi Lovato, Tori Kelly and Andra Day. I felt sorry for Barry Gibb for having to sit through it, probably vomiting immediately afterwards. Cutie pie ginger Ed Sheeran turned in a dull version of his mediocre new single “Shape of You,” but it allowed fans a good five minutes to just stare at our TV screens. And, James Corden’s obnoxious and headache-inducing emceeing of the telecast reminded me how much nicer the Grammys are without a host.

One final note, Transgender actress Laverne Cox sizzled in a tight black dress with cutouts on either side, as she introduced Lady GaGa.

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Seattle Gay News 3

Annex Theatre presents Scary Mary and the Nightmares Nine

by Miryam Gordon, SGN A&E Writer SCARY MARY AND THE NIGHTMARES NINE ANNEX THEATRE Through March 4 A vigorous, inventive and visually stimulating show has just opened at Annex Theatre. Director Eddie DeHais and their team of enthusiastic actors and technicians are pulling out all the stops they can for Scary Mary and the Nightmares Nine, a new play

by Amy Escobar.

A relatively large cast of eleven never seems to overpower the small stage, in part due to expert positioning by DeHais. The nightmares referred to are created by an ensemble of five (Kai Curtis, Emily Pike, Kelly Johnson, Sarah Winsor and Raymond Williams) who wield a variety of puppets created by expert puppeteers Ben Burris and Zane Exactly. They are a series of scares that might haunt any of us, and are representative of those felt by people struggling with depression.

Jenn Ruzumna, as a very loud Librarian, leads off the action, with her sidekick literary loons (Cody Smith and Jordan Moeller), with a wacky intro to the slightly ominous fairytale and becomes the narrator for the story. She introduces the main characters.

Mary (Corinne Magin) is purported to be struggling with depression. More about that shortly. Her best friend Nell (Kiki Abba) tries to engagingly entice her to a glitter party but Mary is having none of it.

She’d rather stay home in her pajamas with Alabaster, her cat (Carter Rodriquez).

As she busies herself mending torn pants, she pricks her finger, propelling her into a nightmare realm where Slither is stalking her to eat her! She’s given a choice: let herself get eaten or choose the challenge of nine nightmares. If she succeeds the tests of the nightmares, she’ll live.

The production has some moments of

Corinne Magin as Mary in Scary Mary and the Nightmares Nine – Photo by Joe Iano

wonderful wackiness and sometimes-ominous darkness. The intention of the writer is well-developed by DeHais and company.

But that’s not necessarily because the script makes it so very clear. The notion that Mary is depressed is not well established by a short scene where someone just wants to stay home. While Nell is a supportive best friend, a lovely tribute to those who stand by someone struggling with depression, the daily battle is not nearly completely enough presented. To a certain extent, Mary is presumably struggling with demons every sin-

gle day – not just on this one occasion.

DeHais’ set design sets an immediate off-kilter tone with oddly-angled bookshelves and lots of intriguing shelf items.

The engaging ensemble uses everything they’ve got – odd voices, dancing, singing, well-done puppetry – to put over the nightmares and the challenges. There’s even some oddball choreography stuck in there for kicks.

All in all, it’s an engaging production with enough heart for several additional plays! Whether it succeeds in demonstrat-

ing the purported “shero journey” where fighting demons makes Mary a winner, the production-craft with which it is created makes the whole much bigger than solely the scripted frame.

For more information, call 206-7280933 or go to www.annextheatre.org.

Discuss your opinions with SGNcritic@gmail.com or go to www.facebook. com/SeattleTheaterWriters. More articles can be found at MiryamsTheaterMusings. blogspot.com.

LOVE

continued from cover a lot of poetry and decided that some of it, particularly the love poetry, sounded like it should be conversations and scenes. So, he put dozens of poets together in piles of potential dialogue, with a large portion of Shakespeare, Marlowe, and Ben Jonson, and made a lovers’ play.

First presented in 1992 by Seattle Shakespeare Company, When Love Speaks is being remounted in a pleasant and amusing fashion by Thalia’s Umbrella at Taproot Theatre’s small new space. Four talented actors and a cute Dionysian helper become visitors to an island resort – the kind where love might be born, but lust is also sometimes disguised as love.

Christine Marie Brown and Terry Edward Moore start out by appearing as the most in-love couple ever, only to have Moore suddenly become quite the temporary lover.

Katherine Jett, the most shy and abashed and funny, is perhaps hopelessly in love with Alyssa Kay, who doesn’t mind, but seems to be looking for someone a little assertive.

Poetry that you might know well and poetry that you might never have heard before is combined and wound into inventive moments of passion, persuasion or pique.

Poetry inflames or confuses, entices or entreats. It is all the dialogue.

The director, Daniel Wilson, directed the initial presentation as well. He is supported by a wonderful set design by Ro-

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Stella (Katherine Jett) and Thyrsis (Terry Edward Moore) in When Love Speaks – Photo by John Ullman

berta Russell, who also lights the stage.

She has created a light wood deck with airy curtain openings that invite you to step outdoors to sit near the water and drink and woo. Kelsey Rogers’ colorful costumes continue the beachy resort feeling.

If you’re looking for something romantic for Valentine’s week or month, this

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90-minute production might be just the after-dinner romp. Thalia’s Umbrella is also partnering with various additional local poets who will present a few minutes of their own contemporary love poetry after the production is done.

For more information, go to www. thaliasumbrella.org or http://www.brown-

papertickets.com/event/2721049 or call 800-838-3006.

Discuss your opinions with SGNcritic@ gmail.com or go to www.facebook.com/ SeattleTheaterWriters. More articles can be found at MiryamsTheaterMusings. blogspot.com.

Celebrating 41 Years!

SKYLER VOLPE continued from cover

Volpe, who plays the pivotal role of Mimi Marquez, to discuss how the show has progressed and insights to the performance.

Eric Andrews-Katz: Who were your earliest influences in becoming a performer?

Skyler Volpe: I guess it would have to be all of my theatre/dance teachers when I was young. I started dancing when I was three years old, and many of my teachers were performers themselves. They inspired me. I loved performing in the end-of-year recitals.

I remember always looking up to my teachers and thinking, “If they can do it, so can I.” Andrews-Katz: What was the show that gave you the theatre bug?

Volpe: When I think about it, it actually might be RENT. I started listening to the music when I was young. It was on Broadway when I was five years old, and my mom loved it. She played it in the car all the time.

That was the first show that I knew all the lyrics to all the songs. I knew then that I wanted to do that. My mom says that one day I was in the back of the car, singing along with the CD, and she noticed that I was singing along with the curses from the Bag Lady in the “Christmas Bells Are Ringing” section. It was then she realized “maybe this isn’t the best choice to play around younger children.”

Andrews-Katz: Tell us about your band, Greasy Slax.

Volpe: Thank you for asking about that.

My roommate, our best friend and myself started the band in college. We all loved old American songs (folk songs and spiritual songs) and started covering them. They are such beautiful music and are slowly disappearing over the years. I remember hearing a cover band do some of the music years ago and thought, “If they can do it, so can I.” In fact, that has been the driving force in my life; if I see someone doing something I admire, I try to do it for myself Andrews-Katz: Your resume says you have puppetry training. How has that

Skyler Volpe as Mimi Marquez in RENT – Photo by Carol Rosegg

played a part in your career?

Volpe: About two years ago it came into use. I was playing a parrot in a pirate musical. I was puppeteering this big, beautiful parrot for this company in New York. It was a gorgeous puppet that lit up from the inside, and had an animated head. I worked closely with them to learn how to handle the puppet and make it rap. I was a rapping parrot puppet in a pirate musical.

Andrews-Katz: What are the biggest challenges when playing Mimi in RENT? Volpe: It changes all the time. I think the hardest thing, consistently, has been the physicality of the role. Mimi is this fiercely vivacious girl, even though she is sick and dying. This goes on throughout the entire show. It was hard for me to figure out how to make that come across visually, consis-

tently throughout. She has these two polar opposites, and is going from one extreme to the other. Somehow I had to find a way to a happy medium. Once that was found, I had to maintain it.

Andrews-Katz: As this is the 20th Anniversary for RENT, how is the show still relevant?

Volpe: I think it is still relevant in many ways, especially now. The story of RENT has these characters living in a kind of harrowing circumstances, but ultimately they are trying to live generously as much as they can. It is because of that they create this supportive family that is so welcoming, making them all feel safe even though the world around them isn’t. It is something we can still identify with now, and adds to the timelessness in RENT; finding a family,

whether born into or built as you go, it is important that they make you feel safe so that you can deal with the world.

Andrews-Katz: After 20 years, is the show obsolete?

Volpe: I don’t know if it really is obsolete. I guess, since it is set in the early/mid ’90s, because they talk about screening calls through the answering machine – we don’t do that now; we get a picture of who the caller is instead. There are a lot of tiny references that don’t apply anymore. I think the show is still relevant though. Since most of us were so young when RENT first came out, we did a lot of research, as a Company, on the subject. We watched stuff on our own as well, but we watched documentaries on the AIDS epidemic. Our director was a young man in New York at the time RENT takes place, and he spoke to us about his own experiences and observations at the time. We heard the stories and we did our research.

Andrews-Katz: What happens to Mimi after the show ends?

Volpe: We talked about that in rehearsals. In all realistic possibilities, she dies. In her situation, you don’t get magically better.

Mimi maybe has about ten minutes or so more to live once the curtain comes down. In the original source, La Boheme, Mimi dies.

End of story. The author of RENT (Jonathan Larsen) made the conscious decision to have the curtain close while Mimi is still alive. He wanted to end the musical with a note of hope; that there is something better. If you live your life generously, it will have meaning.

Andrews-Katz: If you could play any role – regardless of all limitations – what would it be and why?

Volpe: That is such a hard question. I think if I had to choose right now, I would love to play the Lafayette or the Jefferson roles in Hamilton. That would be so fun.

RENT opened on Broadway in April 1996 and continued through September 2008. Sweeping the Tony Awards that year, including Best Musical, it also won the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1996.

Verbinski’s Cure a chillingly unsettling treatment

by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN A&E Writer

A CURE FOR WELLNESS Now playing Ambitious Wall Street stockbroker Lockhart (Dane DeHaan), on the verge of a major promotion, is given an unusual assignment by the executives currently in charge of his firm. It seems their CEO, Pembroke (Harry Groener), has lost touch with reality, sending a letter claiming he has no intention to return to his company and that he has decided to remain at an exclusive spa in the Swiss Alps for the foreseeable future. With a massive merger with another firm in danger of falling apart due to his absence, these executives task Lockhart with going to the spa and bringing back their CEO, and in no uncertain terms do they press upon him that failure isn’t an option.

I won’t say anything more as far as plot is concerned as it pertains to director Gore Verbinski’s (Pirates of the Caribbean) ambitious, surreal and deeply unsettling metaphorical horror-thriller A Cure for Wellness.

Rest assured, this spa, run by a secretive German named Dr. Volmer (Jason Isaacs), is quite the unusual place, its residents not so much getting better as they are transforming into an emaciated zombie-like state they seem to have few if any issues about. It’s a mystery inside a puzzle trapped within an enigma lurking in the center of a nightmare, Lockhart’s chances of discovering what is going on, let alone escaping from this mountain fortress, dubious at best.

Working from a story he concocted with screenwriter Justin Haythe (The Lone Ranger, Revolutionary Road), it’s safe to

say Verbinski’s reach far exceeds his grasp at times. This is a long, sometimes pretentious enterprise, one that calls to mind influences ranging from Stanley Kubrick, to Kaneto Shindô, to John Carpenter, to Tod Browning, to Val Lewton, to Rod Serling, to Roger Corman. At the same time, it’s decidedly original, telling a horrifying tale of self-determination, ambition, malice, greed, kindness, regret and love that continually got under my skin. The film is beautifully terrifying, and while not every piece works nearly as well as some of those around it, I was so swept inside the intoxicatingly gruesome ambiance the director had created I could have cared less about any of the elements that didn’t work while reveling in all of the ones that did.

Unsurprisingly, this is certainly a visually opulent affair. Exquisitely designed by four-time Oscar nominee Eve Stewart (The King’s Speech, The Danish Girl), featuring astonishing art and set direction, the movie is a feast for the eyes, something to look at, revel in and dissect seemingly in every frame. Bojan Bazelli (Pete’s Dragon) shoots things magnificently, he and Verbinski choosing to engage in a series of long, exaggerated takes where the camera becomes a window into the soul of the health spa, slowly but surely revealing it to be an unparalleled house of horrors. It’s an unnerving approach, one that fits the material nicely, and even at almost two-and-ahalf-hours in length not once did I look at a watch, grow bored by anything that was happening or wish to leave my seat.

Not that some sequences don’t drag on a little too long or prove to be a little on the obnoxious side of the equation. There’s a side plot concerning the inhabitants of

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the village below the spa that never quite works, one extended bit where Lockhart journeys into their midst to hopefully get a handful of answers obnoxiously underwhelming. It also never makes a great deal of sense as to why the staff at the spa aid and assist Dr. Volmer as they do, their mindless obedience more taken for granted than it is satisfactorily explained. Finally, while the climactic maelstrom of fire and fury is certainly exciting, it’s also much too on-the-nose considering how ephemeral and inexplicably nondescript the majority of the story is, bringing things to a somewhat literal close that’s not altogether satisfying.

Even so, A Cure for Wellness captured me within its disconcerting web. I found DeHaan to be a suitably complex and wounded hero, his selfishness and egotistical superiority giving way to new feelings of sacrifice, determination, resilience and even love with compelling specificity. I was also quite taken with veteran British actress Celia Imrie (Bridget Jones’s Diary, Highlander), her performance as one of the spa’s wealthy clients a fascinatingly cryptic marvel that grows in luminous intensity as her character’s story arc draws to a disturbingly ghastly close.

Best of all, though, is relative newcomer Mia Goth. The young actress is dazzling, and while the less known about her character the better, rest assured she navigates through some unbelievably complex terrain with attention-grabbing aplomb. Equal parts naive and knowing, fragile and resilient, Goth gives the movie notable texture, continually pushing Lockhart to discover the truth even if his doing so might lead to unimaginable tragedy. She’s glorious, the luminosity the actress displays striking in its mesmerizing virtuosity.

Verbinski has always been a stylistic filmmaker, one who can justifiably be taken to task for not caring a lot about the substance just as long as it all looks amazing and crafts a disquietingly chilling spell.

But when he manages to combine his more florid visual tendencies with a solid script, like with his remake of The Ring, the Oscar-winning animated feature Rango and the criminally underrated dark satirical comedy The Weather Man, the director typically creates features that are impossible to resist. While I need to dive into these particularly nerve-racking waters again for another swim, I find myself believing A Cure for Wellness deserves to be amongst Verbinski’s best, and the more I dissect its various layers the more confident in that determination I find that I become.

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Seattle Gay News 5

Dane DeHaan in A Cure for Wellness – Photo courtesy of collider.com

AKRON: An interview with screenwriter and director Brian O’Donnell One of the most inventive Gay coming-of-age films ever is finally out on DVD and VOD!

by MK Scott SGN Contributing Writer At the 2015 Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival I was thrilled to see a new coming of age film about two Gay college students who are conflicted by a family secret. (This was in my Top 5 of the best films at the 2015 SLGFF.) What I found was an inventive tale of two Gay lovers with no coming out issues, no health issues or small community conflicts, it is a simple story of two families that dealt with a family tragedy and how it will affect the family now that old wounds resurface.

The film synopsis from the AKRON website reads: Benny and Christopher, college freshmen, meet playing football and begin a relationship. They fall in love supported by their family and friends. As their love for each other grows, a past tragic event involving their mothers comes to light. This revelation tests their own love and Benny’s close-knit family.

Throughout this reflective love story, with the beauty of rural Ohio as its backdrop, Benny travels an emotional journey that examines both his own feelings and his family’s ability to come to terms with the past. AKRON is a sensitive and unique independent film that puts a progressive, Midwestern spin on a classic family drama.

So I was doubly thrilled to have a chance to speak with writer/director, Brian O’Donnell by phone.

MK Scott: Brian, I am thrilled that your film, AKRON is finally on DVD and video on demand. This was one of the best films that I saw at the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival back in 2015. That – in fact it, one audience member commented at the post-screening, who noticed it was the first post coming out, post queer film, post acceptance and pro love genre, which was fabulous, very inventive and very unique.

Brian O’Donnell: Well, thank you. I appreciate that.

MK: Based in the Midwest, you have full acceptance, but other conflict, so it was very refreshing to see. How did you get the idea for the story?

Brian: I started writing at NYU years ago and I worked in the theatre for years and then I stopped writing altogether – I’m also a painter – but always with the intention of writing something again at some point. So I went to the opera one night, with a friend of mine who brought me to see Il Travatore at the Metropolitan here in New York and I was really inspired by the really classic structure – thematic structure – two houses against each other because of fate – because of something that happened. So all of the characters are good people, but they’re all struggling with an incident in their lives.

And there’s a very strong love relationship between the lead characters and a very strong relationship between the mother and child in the opera. And as I was watching it, I thought, this is what I would like to write.

I’d like to write a Gay version of this. Obviously, not the same story, but the same concept, the same – I’ve been trying to figure out how to write about Gay love. And – and will write about Gay love in the – from a different perspective, so that we can be

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AKRON Director Brian O’Donnell – Photo by Beto Bruzadin

past, as you said, we can be past the coming out scenes, we can be past the struggle of just because a character is Gay doesn’t mean they necessarily have to be dealing with shame or dealing with homophobia.

I was very much inspired by young people that I’m meeting these days who are coming out and living in their truth at a much earlier age and many of them are being accepted by their friends and their families and many of them are having boyfriends and breaking up, having new boyfriends and living a life that was very different than the life that I was growing up with and very different than what I’d seen in movies. I think – it was really exciting to write scenes between two guys talking to each other where they’re both out, they’re both happy and healthy and they can be talking about things that interest them that have nothing to do with their Gay identity other than the fact that they are Gay men who have these interests.

MK: Wonderful, ’cause one thing I found to be extremely unique was the fact that it’s like I have seen so many films that have to do with coming out, have to do with family acceptance and so forth – so

February 17, 2017

I’m glad we were able to move beyond that and not even have a story reflected on that.

It was actually the fact that, okay, we’ve already done the coming out process, you know, off camera, and the family acceptance off camera, so let’s get on to the next chapter of the story.

Brian: I’m glad you responded to that and that’s what a lot of people are responding to and honestly that’s what the actors responded to and in the movie we have a Mexican American father in the Midwest.

And he (Joseph Melendez) said that he read it and he realized he’d never seen this role before – this role never existed before for a Latino father to be accepting and loving of their Gay son and he was excited to do it for that reason. So it really was – the concept was to re-frame things and to talk about where we are now, where we should be now, where we can be now and to draw the line a little bit further ahead so that we don’t have to create characters that are based on the same things that we’ve been seeing in the past. I think people are still coming out, people are still struggling, obviously there’s incredible homophobia out there, and so I encourage people to make the stories that

you want to make, and, in fact, if it’s a coming out story, make it, but I would also encourage people to try and take a different perspective so that it’s not a clichéd story, because we have seen so many of those.

MK: And I had noticed that you actually are from Akron, Ohio, yourself.

Brian: Yes, I am.

MK: Was any of the film autobiographical?

Brian: It wasn’t. No, I mean, as – it was a very exciting thing for me to set in Ohio so as I was writing I could put them in locations that I knew already – and when we went there, we pretty much got to shoot in all those locations that I imagined, so that was – that was fun. But it’s not based on any of my personal story or any story of individuals that I know personally. It’s really a work of fiction.

MK: Now, where did you come up with the idea about the tragic family incident between the mothers?

Brian: That was really the very first scene that I thought of, what the film was built on. I think it was important to have an underlying theme that anybody could relate to. So whether you’re straight, whether you’re Gay, whether you’re young, whether you’re old, I wanted to concentrate on things that would resonate to people because of experiences in their own life. So starting off with the scene that we do, and understanding that there is grief that’s been experienced by characters in the film, and then you see how that affects different members of the family in different ways.

It was really a central component of the script as I was writing it. Just as first love was, just as the moment in a young person’s life when they let go of their mother’s hand as the primary source of love and hold onto their first boyfriend’s hand and what that means to a parent and what that means to a son at a moment when the son is a young man. Right? So these were things that anybody can relate to. And so it was fun to focus on those things.

MK: And where did you find that beautiful cast of Benny and Christopher?

Brian: Well, we hired a casting agent there in New York, who works in theatre and in film. I think we saw over fifty guys for each of those roles and really talented Broadway actors and theatre actors and – Matthew Frias, who played Benny, sent us a tape in from the West Coast, and as soon as we saw it, immediately knew he was Benny. He was flawless in his audition tape.

Edmund Donovan, who plays Christopher, came in and did an audition in front of us in New York and it was again the same thing – it was just – you could tell that they understood the roles, that they had worked on the nuances of the scenes; of course, it doesn’t hurt that they’re good looking.

They looked like movie stars. But it was the connection that they had to the material and the understanding of not just their roles, but the whole, the script as a whole.

They did not meet until the day before the shoot. We gave them Skype times so they met virtually and introduced themselves to each other and worked on the script with each other, but we were thrilled that they brought not only the professionalism that we saw in the auditions, but the chemistry that is really palpable when you watch the film, That’s all them, they’re just really terrific young actors.

MK: ’Cause they had actually had such great chemistry. All the way throughout –

Celebrating 41 Years!

in fact, meeting and getting together was just so instantaneous, the chemistry was fabulous. And so the only – basically, the only conflict that they had was the fact that their mothers hated each other.

Brian: Exactly! It’s clear that they’re not the same person, that they have slightly different goals in life and as young people, you’re blind to that, so yeah then – the main force of conflict certainly comes from the incident that occurred between their mothers and the fact that their loyalty is tested.

Whose side do they choose at that age?

That stage? And how the love for both your mother and your boyfriend – and you’re put in that situation. It’s really an impossible choice to make.

MK: And it also had a Romeo and Juliet kind of thing while – and, of course, in this case, a Roman and Julian kind of thing – scenario.

Brian: Okay, well, it’s very early stages right now. I’m working on the script um – so – I’m still in a really fun discovery stage right now. But if all goes well the script would be shot mostly in India – in Mumbai. It’s based on my experiences – I’ve been several times; I have very dear friends who live in Mumbai. And I’ve met some really extraordinary people and have been exposed to the Gay world there that’s – that I have never seen depicted on film – that I think might surprise and really touch people when they – when they see these characters. So I’m still a bit – I’m still at the stage right now that I’m excited about the story. I’m excited about the characters.

So I’m hoping to finish the script and start working to collaborate with producers there. AKRON was shown in Mumbai at the film festival, which is the LGBT film festival in Mumbai. It was mind-blowing! It

large grants that make a difference, often matching grants to organizations which works with LGBT elders, the LGBT Center and the largest funder to set up a twentyfour hour drop-in center for kids who need a place just to get off the street. It’s a terrific day job, for sure. And I also am the national grant manager at Broadway Cares, which I do now on a part-time basis, but I’ve been affiliated with them for 18 years now. So I’ve been in the fight to support with HIV and AIDS and LGBT rights and support groups for quite a long time now.

MK: Okay, and I’ve got one last question – this is my burning question. In your own coming out process, what was your biggest conflict or your biggest hurdle?

Brian: My biggest hurdle in coming out – it took me awhile. I’m 46 now. I was born in 1970; I lived and grew up in Ohio.

When I moved to New York, I lived in the

back then, because obviously there was a – a strong desire there, there was a strong – there was a strong desire to meet a man who I could fall in love with, but I wasn’t sure how that would happen. How it could possibly play itself out. So little by little, I was able to, you know, figure it out and – the first time that I fell in love with a guy, then it was over. Oh I get it, now. This is actually quite simple. But I had a lot of fear and a lot of things that obstructed me to get to that point.

That’s what I wanted to show in the movie – I wanted the characters to be for the audience to recognize that these characters are Gay because they fall in love with each other and the love that they have and the chemistry is not deniable that – being Gay certainly does include having sex with men, but certainly does include being attracted to men. But to me I want-

(sitting) Matthew Frias and Edmund Donovan in AKRON – Photo courtesy of thedevilstrip.com

Brian: Yes, I was really inspired by traditional dramatic structures, but really injecting a very progressive theme on top of those.

MK: Now, any chance that you might be revisiting the story again? Like with a sequel or any kind of related story?

Brian: That’s a good question, and it was funny. As soon as we were done shooting it, the crew was mostly young, mostly straight kids, actually from Ohio, kept saying so when are we doing the sequel when they get married? And I said, well, do we know if they get married? Do we know if they stay together? I don’t even know.

I don’t really know personally what happens after the last page of the script. I think that’s one of the strong things about the very ending is that the audience is – is left not knowing exactly what’s going to happen to them and is possibly curious.

I’m writing another script that is a completely different story, but it would be a good – it could be a fun idea a few years down the road to revisit it. God knows I’d love to work with all the actors again.

MK: Alright, and so tell me a little bit about the next film that you’ll be doing?

was in this old art-deco theatre downtown.

And they sold out every screening – five hundred young Gay men were in the audience to watch my movie and they cheered during scenes, they applauded after certain lines. I mean a lot of the film festivals that I’ve been to – LGBT, the crowds tend just to be an older crowd – that they’re not necessarily sure how to crack that nut of getting younger people there. But in Mumbai it was almost exclusively young people, so just very exciting energy over there and I’d like to tap into that with my next project.

MK: And, also, I read that you are the executive director of the Calamus Foundation. Tell us a little bit about that.

Brian: Yeah, sure. Calamus Foundation is a small, private grant making organization that was created by a man named Shelly Kaplan who was an architect here in the city who passed away about seven, eight years ago now and left in his will a certain amount of his fortune to create a foundation – a trust to create a foundation to make grants to LGBT – and it’s part of the AIDS organization – mostly here in New York, but across the state as well, so I work with a really fantastic board there to give some

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Village and went to NYU. I was certainly meeting Gay people. But this was also at the time when there was no medication for HIV and AIDS and I was in a position of how does one come out and be Gay – if one can’t have sex, because you’ll have to have sex. Obviously, I was well aware of condom use and safe sex, but it made it – it – it was a very – it was a very scary time for anybody, but it was a very scary time for Gay men. And, it was hard to create – to open myself up to my Gay identity without having it be immediately attached to incredible fear and, as well, I was born and raised Catholic. I was not in fear of eternal damnation, but I did think about my parents – I was worried about their reaction and them – if you add to that, you come out as Gay and then they think you’re going to die of AIDS. You know, it’s just so strongly linked back then that I think it really was a – it was a difficult time for me to come out. So kids are coming out in their teens now – as early as like ten, but then we didn’t have the Internet. We didn’t have access to a lot of information. It was just getting enough bravery, getting enough courage to navigate through the reality

ed to portray it as being Gay means you have the drive, the ability, the need to fall in love with another man. And have it be about love.

MK: And, I think, that’s one of the reasons why the film is just so unique, and it is a complete original. And that’s why I think people should see it, because it is completely different than any other Gay film out there. You know, it’s like someone said in the audience, it was like this is: you basically have invented a completely new genre.

Brian: Well, I’m thrilled that that’s the response. I’m really glad that people are connecting to it, for sure. It was a movie that I wanted to see, that I hadn’t seen, so I thought I guess I better make it.

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AKRON is now available from Wolfe Video, Amazon and across all digital platforms including iTunes, Vimeo On Demand, and WolfeOnDemand.com MK Scott is a Seattle-based arts blogger.

Check out his blog at outviewonline.com.

Don’t Knock Twice a ghostly disappointment

by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN A&E Writer DON’T KNOCK TWICE Now playing After nine years of battling addiction and other personal demons, American-born sculptor Jess (Katee Sackhoff) has returned to London clean, sober and filled with the hope of reentering the life of her now teenage daughter Chloe (Lucy Boynton). While the youngster is understandably wary about reconnecting with her mother, disturbing current events make reconciliation not so much desirable but a necessity.

Chloe believes a supernatural force is stalking her, looking to do her harm because she partook in some silly midnight dare. While Jess is initially incredulous that things are exactly as they’ve been described, her disbelief doesn’t make her desire to do right by her child any less substantial. Together, they will battle an evil force that defies rational understanding, crossing planes of existence that will test them both like nothing ever has before.

Don’t Knock Twice is a handsomely mounted supernatural thriller with its fair share of enjoyable thrills and chills. It is also a little too routine as far as its core components are concerned, many of its primary tricks and twists telegraphed long before they happen. Director Caradog W. James (The Machine) plays around with Howl screenwriters Mark Huckerby and Nick Ostler’s latest concoction as best he can, and his emphasis on Jess’ internal emotional struggle is laudable, but overall the movie is undone by its tired over-famil-

SAAFF

continued from cover can community.

OPENING NIGHT will feature a collection of films by Seattle-area filmmakers, including veteran television executive Matt Chan, creator of A&E’s “Hoarders,” and “TEDx” storytellers, Tay and Val. The festival will also feature a Saturday afternoon screening of LGBTQ shorts.

HIGHLIGHTS of the festival include: OPENING NIGHT – THURSDAY, February 23 – 7:30pm @ SIFF Cinema Egyptian • A Taste of Home – Ever wonder how chop suey came about? Which came first, pasta or Chinese noodles? How did they get those fortunes into the fortune cookies? Join host Val Tan as she travels through 100 years of the Seattle Chinatown International District (C-ID) in search of “A Taste Of Home,” which features five of the oldest Chinese American food establishments in the C-ID. (54 Mins) • Who Killed Donnie Chin – On July 23rd, 2015 Donnie Chin was murdered in Seattle’s Chinatown. He was the Guardian Angel of the neighborhood and his murder remains unsolved. (8 Mins) • Year of the Dragon – Seattle poet Troy Osaki channels the spirit of Bruce Lee in a powerful monologue, revisiting the challenges the action star faced as an actor of color. Along the way, Osaki unpacks the Asian American experience. (4 Mins) FRIDAY, February 24 – 8pm @ NWFF • Massive Monkees: The Beacon – The Massive Monkees Crew started in the mid’90s as a group of kids bonding around a love of hip-hop and dance at a local rec center. After winning world championships and earning many other accolades in the break dance community, the crew now runs their own studio, The Beacon, in the heart of Seattle, where they teach, mentor, and inspire people of all ages. (30 Mins)

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(l) Jess (Katee Sackhoff) and Chloe (Lucy Boynton) in Don’t Knock Twice – Photo courtesy of rottentomatoes.com

iarity, everything building to a pointless last-second reveal that’s as unfortunate as it is tedious.

What’s funny is that, even with major issues affecting the horror portions, there’s still a lot about this movie that I really like, most notably the relationship between Jess and Chloe. The fact that Huckerby and Ostler don’t pander to the audience, don’t spell everything out, that’s a good thing. Even better, James asks his two actresses to play things fairly close to the chest, both doing a good job of not revealing more about their respective pasts than is necessary. As a family drama about an estranged mother and daughter attempting to reconnect un-

der impossibly tragic circumstances, much of this works quite well, and I admittedly began to wonder what the story might have been like had the filmmakers went the full Tennessee Williams route and omitted all of the supernatural demonic nonsense.

That’s honestly where this thriller comes up regrettably short. The mythology surrounding the primary evil, ostensibly the demonic spirit of a woman killed for being a witch (even though no proof existed she was one) who now haunts and kills anyone silly enough to knock twice on the door to her former home, is lazy and unconvincing. The script combines elements of various Japanese thrillers (like Ju-On),

FRIDAY, February 24 – 9pm @ NWFF • Breathin’: The Eddy Zheng Story – Arrested at 16 and tried as an adult for kidnapping and robbery, Eddy Zheng served over 20 years in California prisons and jails. (60 Mins)

• Girls Like Girls – Hayley Kiyoko – A story of love. (5 Mins) • Nu’ó’c – A Vietnamese-American teen attempts to piece together and understand their mother’s experience as a Vietnam War refugee. The journey pulls us into a fantastical series of iconic historical photographs and images, ultimately highlighting the complexity of fully understanding another’s experiences – and opens up possibilities for building relationships based on simply being present. (5 Mins) • Separar – A clean home, a few drinks, and a long overdue conversation. Where does a relationship go when it has no where else to go? (11 Mins).

• Two-Sided Ride – Alex, a Gay hopeless romantic, drives for a ride-booking company in hopes of a love connection in the big city. His trials and tribulations lead him to lose his way until fate takes over. (9 Mins) (Co-presented by Three Dollar Bill Cinema and Asian Adult Adoptees of Washington)

SATURDAY, February 25 – 12pm @ NWFF • Painted Nails – Witness the American dream crumble when Van, a Vietnamese nail salon worker, discovers her health problems, including two miscarriages, are the result of toxic chemicals in the products used in her salon. She courageously becomes involved in the fight for safe cosmetics and transforms from a self-described shy woman who speaks minimal English to a forthright advocate who testifies before Congress. (57 Mins) SATURDAY, February 25 – 2pm @ NWFF LGBTQ IN FOCUS (Shorts Program) – Featuring seven short films: Best Buds; Coming Full Circle: The Journey of a Transgendered Korean Adoptee; Gaysians; Girls Like Girls – Hayley Kiyoko; Nu’ó’c; Separar; and Two-Sided Ride.

• Best Buds – Two best friends get more than what they had bargained for during their weekly hot box ritual. (11 Mins) • Coming Full Circle: The Journey of a Transgendered Korean Adoptee – What is it like to go “back” to a country you never knew? Pauline Park was born into a poor family in post-war Korea. Adopted by white American parents, she left Korea as a 7-month old baby boy and grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 54 years later, she embarked on a journey of discovering and connecting to her past, where her birth name literally means “the second son.”

This film follows Pauline as she visited Korea for the first time after she left. (24 Mins) • In Gaysians, five queer and trans Asian Americans from New York City explore their relationships with their family and culture in this illuminating patchwork documentary. (12 Mins)

February 17, 2017

SUNDAY, February 26 – 11am @ NWFF • Meh’s Tammakhoung – A young man grows closer to his grandma through her papaya salad recipe. This film is directed by a member of the ACRS Southeast Asian Young Men’s group, which serves high school and middle school aged Southeast Asian young men from refugee and immigrant families. (11 Mins) SUNDAY, February 26 – 12pm @ NWFF • Tyrus – Pamela Tom’s award-winning tour-de-force documentary about 105-yearold Chinese-American visual artist, Tyrus Wong, and his breathtaking scope of work across multiple artistic media and his personal and professional journey navigating racial bigotry in 20th century America.

Seventeen years in the making, Tom’s film makes meticulous use of Tyrus Wong’s exquisite art, archival footage, illuminating interviews, and commentary from Wong himself to document how his unique style, melding Chinese calligraphic and land-

Dario Argento’s best works (like Suspiria) and American creep-fests like Candyman but unfortunately doesn’t do anything interesting with this material. Instead, it is haphazardly presented and emotionally undercooked, and even when things descend into full dimension-hoping chaos I can’t say my pulse ever rose to any measurable degree.

It all looks terrific, however, and much like he showcased with the criminally underrated (and barely seen) sci-fi drama The Machine, James’ visual chops are impressively superior. Richard Campling’s (Age of Heroes) production design and Alex Woodward’s art direction are standout attributes that help the film craft a suitably eerie ambiance. Cinematographer Adam Frisch navigates things with classy, confident grace, the images he creates casting a suitably ominous spell. All of that is coupled with a terrific performance from Sackhoff, the actress crafting a strong, intelligent heroine who utilizes her insecurities and personal setbacks as fuel to keep her engine revving in order to see her daughter doesn’t become food for an undead adversary eager to feast on her soul.

All of which makes Don’t Knock Twice a frustrating mixed bag. The two key performances are good, and the actual human drama between the main characters proves to be a compelling foundation worth building upon. But the actual horror and thriller aspects just don’t gel together with any of the other elements, making James’ latest genre effort a movie I respect multiple elements of even if I can’t say I enjoyed nearly as much of it as I can’t help but wish I did.

scape influences with contemporary Western art, helped the Disney animated film, Bambi (1942) specifically, and early Hollywood in general establish their signature visual styles. TYRUS makes a critical contribution to the documentary tradition and to American society in correcting a historical wrong by spotlighting this seminal, but heretofore under-credited figure. (77 Mins) SUNDAY, February 26 – 6pm @ NWFF • Tiger Hunter – The story of Sami Malik, a young Indian man, who travels to 1970s America to become an engineer in order to impress his childhood crush and live up to the legacy of his father – a legendary tiger hunter back home. When Sami’s job falls through, he takes a low-end job and joins a gang of oddball friends in hopes of convincing his childhood sweetheart that he’s far more successful than he truly is. (94 Mins) To see the FULL schedule, to purchase tickets, and to get the latest updates, visit http://seattleaaff.org/2017/schedule.

Most films will be followed by panel discussions or Q&A with the films’ directors.

TICKETS: Opening Night: $15 | $13 (students and seniors) – Regular Tickets: $11 | $8 – Festival Pass: $75 About Seattle Asian American Film Festival SAAFF showcases works by Northwest Asian American filmmakers, as well as films from across North America dealing with Asian American people, issues, and themes. SAAFF is the only film festival in Seattle to provide a space for Asian American voices, perspectives, and histories by screening independent films that reflect the diversity and richness of the Asian American community. For more information about SAAFF, visit seattleaaff.org.

Courtesy of Seattle Asian American Film Festival

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February 17, 2017

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Celebrating 41 Years!

Opulent Great Wall a muddled monster mess

by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN A&E Writer THE GREAT WALL Now playing The East meets West giant-monstersattacking-ancient-China fantasy adventure The Great Wall is both a heck of a lot better than anticipated and far worse than anyone could have possibly imagined. Directed by legendary auteur Zhang Yimou, uncontestably one of the world’s greatest living filmmakers, the man’s list of classics including cinematic essentials like Raise the Red Lantern, Hero, House of Flying Daggers, Ju Dou and To Live, the movie is a visual feast. Featuring stunning costumes designed by Mayes C. Rubeo (John Carter), incredible production design courtesy of Oscar-winner John Myhre (Memoirs of a Geisha, Chicago) and eye-popping art and set direction, oftentimes there’s so much going on in the frame it’s almost impossible to take it all in.

Then there are the Chinese members of the cast, a selection of all-star talents both veteran and newcomer who give the material a level of grit and gravitas it would never have obtained without their participation.

The gorgeous Jing Tian is Lin Mae, a fearless warrior who defies gravity as she leads her troops into battle. Zhang Hanyu is the weary and wise General Shao, commander of a vast legion known as the Nameless Order tasked with protecting all of China from a strange, carnivorous adversary. Rounding things out is the great Andy Lau as military adviser Strategist Wang, a man determined to uncover the secrets of the creatures at the foot of The Great Wall in order to make

sure victory remains possible no matter how elusive it might initially appear.

Sadly, as glorious as all of those elements might be, none of it matters nearly as much as it potentially could have had this been a strictly Chinese production without Hollywood input. Considering that the story was conceived by Max Brooks (World War Z) and The Last Samurai collaborators Edward Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz while the screenplay was written by Carlo Bernard (The Sorcerer’s Apprentice), Doug Miro (The Uninvited) and Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton), it goes without saying this was never going to be the case. There is a serious disconnect between material and the filmmakers, nothing ever connecting in a way that could be construed as even moderately satisfying. Worse, in the end the whole thing becomes nothing more than a stereotypical White Savior monstrosity, Matt Damon’s ace bowman and mercenary William Garin showing up at just the right minute to lead the Chinese to victory.

For so many writers, the story itself is pretty rudimentary, almost as if the six of them took turns writing lines on the front and back of a restaurant napkin while downing vast quantities of sake. Battlescarred warrior William and his trusted compatriot Tovar (Pedro Pascal) have arrived in China hoping to trade for a magical substance known only as “Black Powder.”

Coming to the base of The Great Wall, they are captured by the Nameless Order who are under the command of the revered General Shao. But before any decision can be made as to the pair’s destiny, Shao’s legions are under assault from a vicious, carnivorous horde of ancient creatures known as the Tao Tei. Forced to take up arms in order

to survive, William and Tovar prove themselves to be powerful fighters, the two suddenly faced with the choice as to whether they should stay and assist the Nameless Order in their travails or steal away in the night with stolen supplies of Black Powder hidden in their saddle bags.

The initial attack by the Tao Tei is extraordinary, showcasing Yimou at the height of his powers. Soldiers balletically fling themselves off of the Wall descending into a horde of lizard-like carnivores only to spring back to the top in order to rearm themselves. Massive fireballs are launched via mechanical catapults, while various groups of well-armed soldiers attempt to take the creatures out by hand when a handful of them breach the defenses. It’s all staged about as spectacularly as one could hope for, and while nothing rises to the level of the bamboo forest fight sequence in House of Flying Daggers or the graceful lakeside duel to the death in Hero, the director deftly conjures up images and moments that recall both films all the same.

But it’s all so stupid. Worse, it barely makes any sense, and there are times where it felt like huge portions of the narrative had been excised from the finished film for no easily discernible reason. A key supporting player portrayed by Willem Dafoe, a man who has been waiting a quarter of a century to make his escape from China, is nothing short of a complete idiot, his supposedly fool-proof plan a reckless boondoggle that’s categorically insane. An entire subplot revolves around magnets and the effect they have on the Tao Tei, but how and why it works is never convincingly explained.

More than that, there is mention made that this strategy to fight the beasts has been uti-

TONI ERDMANN continued from cover

centric father anytime she wants. But when a break in his teaching duties is coupled with the tragic natural death of his beloved dog, on a whim Winfried decides to head to Romania for an unannounced visit, surprising his daughter at her place of work.

Ines does her best to bear the burden of having her father around for a couple of days, withstanding his cracks about her workaholic lifestyle and his constant practical joking as best she can. What she never could have predicted is that, after his visit had apparently come to an end, Winfried would return in disguise, pretending to be her firm’s CEO’s idiosyncratic life coach “Toni Erdmann.” Ines doesn’t know what to make of this, especially after she realizes this isn’t some brief gag but a long-term ploy her dad intends to maintain until she learns some mysterious life lesson; what that is supposed to be she hasn’t the first clue.

Writer/director Maren Ade’s Toni Erdmann is considered by many to be the frontrunner to win the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. After its debut at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival it was immediately hailed as an instant classic, even landing on Sight & Sound magazine’s list of the 100 best motion pictures of the 21st century even though it still hadn’t even seen a theatrical release in its home country of Germany at the time of publication. By all accounts, this is one of the most critically acclaimed cinematic achievements in recent memory, and as such my excitement to give it a look was understandably high.

All of which can’t help me feel slightly disappointed in the fact that, while I enjoyed and admired Ade’s latest endeavor a great deal, I was not nearly as bowled over by the 162-minute comedy-drama hybrid as much as many of my fellow critics appear to be. Do not misunderstand, this is a good movie, at times even a great one, I

Sandra Hüller and Peter Simonischek in Toni Erdmann – Photo courtesy of trbimg.com

just don’t think it’s a masterpiece, at least not on the first watch, and while I’ll be happy to reassess those feelings with a second viewing, as of right now I’m hard-pressed to understand what all the euphoric fuss has been about.

What I will say is that there isn’t nearly enough praise being thrown in Hüller’s direction, and pretty much everyone, everywhere is calling her performance a work of unadulterated brilliance. It’s even better than that, the talented actress extraordinary, her fearless emotional dexterity as she traverses through Ade’s complex dramatic minefield mind-blowing. Raw and

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unvarnished, subtle yet full of explosive, unexpected rejoinders, Hüller goes for broke, and much of what we learn about Ines and her relationship with Winfried has everything to do with how she wordlessly reacts, or chooses not to react, to any of his increasingly absurdist antics. This is a marvelous performance, and it is something of a pity the actress didn’t receive Oscar recognition for her stunning virtuosity.

The movie, however, tends to move in fits and starts, Ade juggling a multitude of themes, concepts and ideas without always knowing exactly what she wants to do with them. While the core of the story is the rela-

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lized before but for some reason was kept secret from the Nameless Order for 900 years, the only reason it’s been revealed to the soldiers now having to do with the young Chinese Emperor (Junkai Wang) wanting one of the creatures as some sort of living prize or pet.

Then there are the Damon elements. It isn’t that William’s insertion into the story isn’t plausible, it is. It’s just that the cadre of story and screenwriters allow him to show up and save the day even though his character knows practically nothing of the enemy the Chinese are fighting or the strategies they’ve devised over the centuries to stop them. While I’m not saying the character could not emerge out of this carnage a hero, that’s perfectly fine; but to make him the primary reason success or failure comes to pass is a tired, culturally insensitive cliché that’s close to inexcusable, the film’s climax off-putting and insufferable in large part because of this.

It’s hard to understand what it was that attracted Yimou to this project, the revered director certainly never showing an interest to work inside the Hollywood studio system before now. While he certainly doesn’t brush the film off or not give it his full attention, that doesn’t make the risible aspects or the blatantly stupid portions any less unacceptable. There are facets of The Great Wall to be adored, maybe even reveled in, there are just not enough of them to make sitting through all the turgidly offensive and grotesquely asinine bits worthwhile. The movie is a muddled monster mash that’s as disappointing as it is insignificant, and I imagine as far as Yimou is concerned he’ll think twice before accepting another paycheck from Hollywood anytime soon.

tionship between father and daughter, that’s only the tip of the iceberg as the filmmaker is also looking at current European dynamics revolving around everything from politics to currency to corporatization to cultural homogenization. It’s a lot of stuff to try and absorb, and not all of its struck a chord with me, Winfried/Toni’s comedic antics sometimes undercutting the points I found myself believing Ade was trying to make.

Nonetheless, this is a compelling film, one filled with intriguing insights. There’s so much to comprehend and mull over I tend to think it’s flat-out impossible to understand all of the various ins and outs in a single viewing. More, when it is funny, and as Toni Erdmann is billed as a comedy the laughs are intentional, it is exceedingly so, a couple sequences in particular so hysterical I almost couldn’t believe what it was I was witnessing. Better, Ade has a fantastic ability to meld humor and melodrama in ways that are natural and intimate, a late act meltdown resulting in an extended showcase of naked frustration blossoming into a naturalistic embrace of forgiveness and understanding that had me choking back tears while I giggled uncontrollably.

All of which obviously makes Toni Erdmann a good movie; I’m just not ready to proclaim it a masterpiece. Not to say Ade’s third feature isn’t one, it might in time prove to be an all-time classic piece of cinema, I just don’t think an initial glance is enough for me to state anything that leads in that particular direction. While much of this film is glorious there are also some lumpy segments that don’t appear to go anyplace substantive, making the extreme length something of a minor problem. But when Ade’s opus works it admittedly does so with a level of precision and genius that’s mesmerizing, making this a modern comedy of heartbreak, forgiveness and family deserving of multiple looks.

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E. PROSPECT ST. • SHAFER MANSION E. ALOHA ST.

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• B&B ON BROADWAY E. ROY ST. • UNDER U 4 MEN

E. VALLEY ST. 14TH AVE. E.

11TH AVE. E.

FEDERAL AVE. E.

10TH AVE. E.

BROADWAY AVE. E.

E. WARD ST.

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BROADWAY E.

• THE CANTERBURY E. REPUBLICAN ST. E. HARRISON ST.

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• UPS STORE

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11TH AVE.

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• CASTLE SUPER STORE

NAGLE PL.

Cal Anderson Park

• LAMBERT HOUSE

BROADWAY

HARVARD AVE. E.

Seattle Central Community College

C.C. ATTLEʼS• BOYLSTON AVE.

E. JOHN ST.

• NEUMOʼS

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BELMONT AVE.

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NEW YORK EXCHANGE • STUDIO 229 • PANACHE • LAUGHING BUDDHA TATTOO •

BELLEVUE AVE.

• SEATTLE COUNSELING SERVICE FOR SEXUAL MINORITIES MELROSE AVE.

• JULIAʼS

DENNY WAY

E. OLIVE ST. GLSEN ONYX LEATHER • SEAMEC

• STOUT • PURR

• UNICORN • POST OPTIONS •WILDROSE • HOT HOUSE

BATHS

CLUB Z - (men) 1117 Pike near Boren - 622-9958 HOT HOUSE SPA & SAUNA - (women) SW corner of Pike & 11th (stairs behind Wildrose) - 568-3240 STEAM WORKS - (men) 1520 Summit - 388-4818

RESTAURANTS & BARS

88 KEYS - 315 2nd Ave. S. - 839-1300 BALTIC ROOM - 1207 Pine St. - 625-4444 THE BOTTLENECK LOUNGE 2328 E. Madison St. - 323-1098 C.C. ATTLE’S BAR & GRILLE 1701 E. Olive Way - 726-0565

THE CANTERBURY - 534 15th Ave. E. - 322-3130 CHANGES IN WALLINGFORD 2103 N. 45th - 545-8363 THE CRESCENT - 1413 E. Olive Way - 720-8188 THE CUFF COMPLEX 1533 13th Ave. - 323-1525 DIESEL BAR - 1413 14th Ave. - 322-1080 GLO’S - 1621 E. Olive Way - 324-2577 GNOCCHI BAR - 1542 12th Ave - 328-4285 HOT MAMA’S PIZZA - 700 E. Pine St. - 322-6444 JAZZ ALLEY - 2033 6th Ave. E. - 441-9729 JULIA’S - 300 Broadway Ave. E. - 860-1818 KREMWERK - 1809 Minor Ave. #10 - 682-2935 MAE’S CAFE 6412 Phinney Ave. N. - 782-1222 MADISON PUB - 1315 E. Madison - 325-6537 NEIGHBOURS - 1509 Broadway - 324-5358 OUT WEST - 5401California Ave. SW THE PINE BOX - 1600 Melrose Ave - 588-0375 POCO WINE ROOM 1408 E. Pine St. - 322-9463

RETAIL SHOPS

CASTLE SUPERSTORE #17 1017 E. Pike St - 204-0126 DOGHOUSE LEATHERS 1312 E. Pike St. - 257-0231 EMERSON SALON - 909 E. Pike St. - 323-7437 NEW YORK EXCHANGE 231 Broadway Ave E - 726-7978 ONYX LEATHER - 1605 12th Ave. #8 - 328-1965 PANACHE - 225 Broadway E. - 726-3300 RUCKUS 1465 E Republican St. - 257-4805 STAN’S ADULT SUPERSTORE 9630 16th Ave. SW - 762-3299 TOYS IN BABELAND - 707 E. Pike St. - 328-2914 UNDER U 4 MEN 709 Broadway Ave. E. - 324-6446 WILD AT HEART 1111 NW Leary Way - 782-5538 YOUR CHOICE VIDEO 9811 16TH AVE SW - 768-0711

BELLINGHAM

LOVER’S 193 Telegraph Road - (360) 752-1862 RUMORS CABARET 1119 Railroad - (306) 671-1849

BAR MYX - 1212 California St. - 425-610-4071 LOVER’S - 112 SE Everett - (425) 353-3607 LOVER’S - 3402 Broadway - (425) 252-8754

KENT

LOVER’S 25801 104th Ave. S.E. - (253) 852-1720 THE FANTASY SHOP 604 Central Ave. S. - (253) 850-8428 NASHVILLE’S SPORTS BAR (Drag Shows) 114 - Railroad Ave. N. - (253) 852 - 0909

14 Seattle Gay News

February 17, 2017

T.

NS

E. PINE ST.

E.

O DIS

MA

• DOGHOUSE LEATHERS

E. PIKE ST. • CHOP SUEY • MADISON PUB • DIESEL BAR • PONY

PONY - 1221 E. Madison St. - 324-2854 PURR - 1518 11th Ave. - 325-3112 R PLACE - 619 E. Pine - 322-8828 RE-BAR - 1114 Howell at Boren - 233-9873 SEATTLE EAGLE - 314 E. Pike - 621-7591 SHORTY’S 2222 2nd Ave - 441-5449 SPINNAKER BAY BREWING 5718 Rainier Ave S - 725-BEER(2337) STOUT -1530 11th Ave - 397-3825 TOULOUSE PETIT 601 Queen Anne Ave N - 432-9069 UNICORN - 1118 E Pike - 325-6492 WILDROSE - 1021 E. Pike - 324-9210 ZIPPY’S GIANT BURGERS 5633 Airport Way S - 466-5954 9614 14th Ave SW - 763-1347

EVERETT

• THE GASLIGHT INN

• POCO WINE ROOM

• THE CUFF COMPLEX • GNOCCHI BAR

E. UNION ST.

SEATTLE

• RUCKUS

E. UNION ST.

LA CONNER

THE HERON INN & WATERGRASS DAY SPA 117 Maple Ave. - (877) 883-8899 info@theheron.com

OLYMPIA

DARBY’S CAFE 211 5th Ave. S.E. - (360) 357-6229 LOVER’S 3959 Martin Way E. Suite D - (360) 456-7300 JAKES - 311 4th Ave. E. - (360) 956-3247 URBAN ONION 116 Legion Way - (360) 943-9242

PORT ANGELES MAPLE ROSE INN 112 Reservoir Rd - (800) 570-2007

SPOKANE

ANDY’S 1401 W. 1st Ave. - (509) 747 - 0304 IRV’S (Drag Shows) 415 W. Sprague Ave. - (509) 624 - 4450 NYNE BAR AND BISTRO 232 W. Sprague Ave. - (509) 474 -1621 SPOTLIGHT LOUNGE 321 W. Sprague Ave. - (509) 624 - 0722

TACOMA

CASTLE SUPERSTORE 6015 Tacoma Mall Blvd. - (253) 471-0391 CLUB SILVERSTONE 739½ St. Helens Ave. - (253) 404-0273 THE FANTASY SHOP 2301 6th Ave. - (253) 272-6640 LOVER’S 7002 Tacoma Mall Blvd., #F - (253) 475-2271 THE MIX - 635 St. Helens Ave. - (253) 383-4327 RAINBOW CENTER 2215 Pacific Ave. - (253) 383-2318 SHAKABRAH JAVA CAFE 2618 6th Ave. - (253) 572-2787 TANDEM FOR GEAR, CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES 3019 6th Ave, Ste. B - (253) 301-3026

TUKWILA

LOVER’S 530 Southcenter Blvd. - (206) 248-5085

WENATCHEE

THE CELLAR CAFE 240 N. Mission St. - (509) 662-1722

Celebrating 41 Years!

community calendar

Meetings Events Activities

FOR A CALENDAR LISTING: Send details to: SGN, Attn: Community Calendar, 1707 23rd Ave., Seattle, WA 98122. SGN phone: 324-4297. E-mail: sgn2@sgn. org. INCLUDE: Date, time, location, contact phone # for publication (if possible), brief description of event & sponsoring organization. DEADLINE: Tuesday 5pm.

ACCESSIBILITY: Is your event accessible to LGBTQ people with disabilities? See Jean’s List webpage www. scn.org/activism/calendar/disabilities.html for Marla Nonken’s disabilities accommodations lists.

NOTE: Phone numbers accompanying listings are within area code (206) & locations of meetings/ events are in Seattle unless otherwise noted.

SATURDAY - February 18

Seattle Frontrunners Fun Run. 9am. Greenlake (outside Evans Pool). Every Saturday. GLBT running & walking club sponsors weekly runs, monthly potlucks, track & field activity, annual Run With Pride. 448-8518. www.seattlefrontrunners.org.

Crystal Meth Anonymous. 10:30am. Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church, 1729 Harvard Ave. Also meets Mon @ 6:30pm, Thurs @ 6:30pm, Sun @ 6:30pm. More info: crystalmeth.org.

Lambert House Queer Rec. 1pm. 1818 15th Ave. 3rd Saturday each month. Outdoor & indoor adventures for youth ages 22 & under. www.lamberthouse.org Seattle Prime Timers Monthly Potluck. 2pm. Capitol Hill Presbyterian Chruch, 1729 Harvard Ave. Enter via the north parking lot where there is FREE parking. There is a $4 per person door fee to help pay for the room.

Please try to bring exact change. Please bring a dish that will serve eight or more. www.seattleprimetimers.org Lifelong Gay Bingo. 6pm. Fremont Studios, 155 N 35th St. Flaunting all the flashy sequins, Gay Bingo is bound to bring out Seattle’s A-Listers in all of their fabulous attire. Take an awkward dance photo with our incredible backdrop, enjoy a glass of spiked punch & bask in the glory of our Winter Formal Royal Court (who you’ll help choose). Hosted by the always-dazzling Aleksa Manila.

Tickets: $50. www.llaa.org/event/gay-bingo Oasis Youth Center in Tacoma - For Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender & Questioning Youth, Ages 14-25. 6pm-12 midnight. Call for location & details. Every Saturday. (253) 671-2838. www.oasisyouth center.org.

(Also meets Thursdays & Fridays 4-10pm.)

Rainbow Duplicate Bridge. 6pm. Bus-accessible Central Area location. Every Saturday. Games also on Tuesdays & Thursdays. $4 fee includes coffee & snacks.

For more information visit www.rainbowbridgeclub.org or email rainbowbridgeclub@gmail.com

Seattle Poly Potluck & Discussion Group. 5-8pm. (contact for new location) Meets 3rd Sunday each month. For people interested in polyamorous, open, and ethically non-monogamous relationships. $5 donation; please bring a potluck dish. This event is open to the public. Look for us on Facebook or Meetup.

Shame to Grace Sunday SAA. 6-7:30pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. Every Sunday. SAA is a fellowship of men & women who share their experience, strength & hope with each other so they may overcome their sexual addiction & help others recover from sexual addiction or dependency. Seattle SAA helpline 237-8828, SAA International Service Organization 1-800-477-8191.

SASG 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org Crystal Meth Anonymous. 6:30pm. Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church, 1729 Harvard Ave. Also meets Mon @ 6:30pm, Thurs @ 6:30pm, Sat @ 10:30am. More info: crystalmeth.org.

Pride League Bowling. 6:30pm. West Seattle Bowl, 4505 39th Ave SW. Every Sunday (except during the summer). Regular league bowling. Jeff, 932-3731.

Integrity/Puget Sound. 7pm-Worship & Fellowship. St. Mark’s Cathedral, Thomson Chapel, 1245 10th Ave E. Integrity is an international ministry of Gay & Lesbian Episcopalians, their friends & families, dedicated to education, support & service within the Church & the GLBT community. (425) 226-2746.

Noche Latina - Latino Night. 10pm. Neighbours, 1509 Broadway. Every Sunday.

MONDAY - February 20

DIFFA/Northwest is pleased to partner with Seattle Design Center as beneficiary of the 17th Annual Northwest Design Awards Gala the evening of, Thursday, February 23.

Celebrate the winners of 16 design categories, gathered in the company of top industry professionals and enthusiasts, as NW design steps into the LIMELIGHT. This glamorous night features a cocktail reception, gourmet seated dinner, live music, keynote presentation from Seattle’s own couture designer Luly Yang, and awards show emceed by Ken Carson, halftime host for the Seattle Seahawks.

Please join us, help support the important work of DIFFA and be seated with friends and associates at DIFFA’s table(s).

SUNDAY - February 19

For information on GLBT-friendly religious/spiritual organizations in the Greater Seattle area, call or email Rick at the SGN office: 206-324-4297; sgn2@ sgn.org.

Center for Spiritual Living. Services 8:25, 9:45, 11:30am. 5801 Sand Point Way NE. Blessings & we hope to see you soon! Info 527-8801 ext 203, www. cslseattle.org Ravenna United Methodist Church. 5751 33rd Ave NE. 8:30am “Seattle’s most dangerous Sunday school;” 9:45am worship. A reconciling congregation, fully inclusive and affirming of LGBTQ persons. 525-7988.

Seattle Unity Church. 9am & 11am-Sunday Services.

200 8th Ave N. “Come join our Gay & Lesbian-friendly, spiritual family at Seattle Unity Church. Our mission is to bring love, miracles & spiritual awakening into everyday life!” 622-8475; www.seattleunity.org.

Seattle Soto Zen. 9:15am-Zazen Instruction, 9:30amZazen. 101 Nickerson St, Lower Level. Follow the traditional forms of the Soto school of Zen in a spirit of warmth & inclusion. Anyone interested in meditation, whether new or experienced in Zen practice or other traditions, is welcome. 323-1659, www.seattlesotozen.org Gay Men’s Bowling in Lynnwood. 9:30am. Brunswick Majestics Lane, Lynnwood. 9:30am Every Sunday.

Spectators welcome. Join us for lunch afterwards!

Sponsored by the Snohomish County Gay Men’s Task Force. For info email John at johndmarsh@mac.com; www.gaysnohomish.org Tacoma First United Methodist Church. 9:30amWorship, 11am-Adult Education. 423 Martin Luther King Way, Tacoma. This reconciling congregation welcomes with warm hands, warm hearts & open minds GLBT persons seeking a spiritual home. (253) 627-0129, www. fumctacoma.org Baha’i Prayer & Fellowship Circle. 10am. Pearl Warren Bldg, 606 12th Ave S. Meets the 3rd Sunday each month. Share prayers, readings, thoughts & music. All backgrounds, all faiths welcome. 391-2188.

Central Lutheran Church. 10am-Worship. 1710 11th Ave (just north of E Pine St). An open & affirming church, which in Lutheran churches is called “Reconciled in Christ.” “We seek to share God’s love with all people regardless of race, age, gender or sexual orientation.”

All are welcome. 322-7500.

East Shore Unitarian Church. 10am-Sunday Service.

12700 SE 32nd St, Bellevue. An open & affirming congregation. (425) 747-3780.

Gethsemane Lutheran Church. 10am-Worship. 911 Stewart St. A downtown faith community centered in justice. An open & affirming congregation. 682-3620.

February 18 thru February 26

Purchase tickets today and use promo code DIFFA2017.

See you on February 23 at Seattle Design Center!

Unity Church of Kent. 10am. 218 State Ave S, Kent.

A welcoming congregation open to people of all races, religions, creeds & lifestyles. Join us any Sunday for an inspirational message, joyful fellowship & a fresh spiritual outlook. 253-854-9747.

University Congregational United Church of Christ.

All ages education 9am, Worship 10am. 4515 16th Ave NE. UCUCC is an open & affirming congregation. 5242322; www.universityucc.org.

Wallingford United Methodist Church. 10am-Worship.

2115 N 42nd St. A progressive congregation. In 1984 Wallingford UMC became the 9th reconciling Methodist church in the U.S. 547-6945 (office); 285-5077 (George).

Ethyl Forever Car Club, Pacific NW Region Lambda Car Club Monthly Tire Kick/Social. 10:30am. Randy’s Restaurant, 10016 E Marginal Way S (south of the Museum of Flight). Meets the 3rd Sunday each month.

Open to all LGBTQ persons & friends who have an interest in the automobile, not just collector or performance vehicles. ethylforever@hotmail.com All Pilgrims Christian Church. 10:30am-Worship.

500 Broadway E. Come as you are. All are welcome.

A congregation of the Disciples of Christ & the United Church of Christ. 322-0487, www.allpilgrims.org Living Water Fellowship. 10:30am-Worship. 7204 NE 175th St, Kenmore. All GLBT welcome. Pastor Susan George. 963-0807. www.livingwaterwa. com Seattle Sunday Bowling. 10:30am. West Seattle Bowl, 4505 39th Ave SW (at SW Oregon St). Open bowl every Sunday for the GLBT community & friends. You don’t have to worry about how you bowl! $6.50 + $3 shoe rental. (425) 785-4729.

Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation.

10:30am. 7141 California Ave SW. 935-0418, office@ wsuu.org, www.wsuu.org Emerald City Metropolitan Community Church Seattle. 11am-Worship. Chapel at University Temple United Methodist Church, 1415 NE 43rd St. MCC is a progressive Christ-centered faith community committed to providing a nurturing environment for individual & community growth thru Jesus Christ while celebrating unity in diversity. MCC is Seattle’s oldest Gay-friendly church. 325-2421, www.mccseattle.org.

Meditation for GBT Men. 11am-1pm. Cal Anderson House, 400 Broadway. Suitable for beginning & experienced meditators. Sponsored by Dharma Buddies.

Contact Forrest Rode, 920-6117, Mike Chin (509) 990-0007, or Doug Allison, doug.l.allison@gmail.com. www.dharmabuddies.org. (Women may wish to contact our sister meditation group at www.LotusSisters.org.)

Visit us online www.sgn.org

St Paul’s United Church of Christ. 11am-Worship.

6512 12th Ave NW. An “open & affirming” congregation.

“We celebrate our diversity in religious background, sexual orientation, race, age & abilities.” 783-6733; www. stpauluccseattle.com.

Holy Covenant International Christian Community Church. 12pm. 4525 19th Ave NE. Outreach to the LGBT community. holycovenantccc@gmail.com Just for Today. 12-1:30pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. Every Sunday. Drop-in 12-step (Narcotics Anonymous) group open to anyone in recovery. 3222437; www.sasgcc.org One Love Wedding Showcase. Noon-4pm. Fremont Foundry Events, 154 N 35th St. One Love is the premier West Coast wedding showcase that celebrates ALL couples in love. Grab a cocktail & make the rounds meeting the most elite & talented Northwest experts, venues, caterers & more. Couples can trust they will be treated with respect & professionalism during this exciting time. Tickets FREE with pre-registration or $10 at the door. www.oneloveseattle.com Paths to Recovery Al-Anon Family Group. 12-1:30pm.

Seattle University Student Center, 901 12th Ave, Room 122. Every Sunday. LGBTQ supported. The Al-Anon Family Groups are a fellowship of relatives & friends of alcoholics who share their experience, strength & hope in order to solve their common problems. We believe alcoholism is a family illness & that changed attitudes can aid recovery. Greater Seattle AIS 24-hour number 625-0000; www.seattle-al-anon.org Rain City Soccer Club - Ripple Effect. Sunday afternoon. Location varies. Ripple Effect soccer team plays an almost weekly recreational scrimmage game for LGBTQ players in Seattle. Perfect for individuals looking for more relaxed play, who are just getting back into soccer, just learning the game and/or want to supplement their competitive play with a recreational team. To sign up visit www.raincitysoccer.org Orca Swim Team Workout. Sun: Afternoon; Mon/Weds/ Fri: Evenings. Seattle University, Connolly Athletic Center, 14th Ave & E Cherry St. Every Sun, Mon, Wed & Fri. Pre-registration required. Orca Swim Team workouts are for both competitive & recreational swimmers. www. orcaswimteam.org St Aelred’s Independent Catholic Church in Olympia.

5pm. Olympia Unitarian Church, 2200 East End St NW, Olympia. Meets 1st & 3rd Sundays each month. Worship for the GLBT community & friends in the Roman Catholic, Anglican & other liturgical faiths tradition. Fr. Bob Withrow, (360) 664-5449.

February 17, 2017

SOBER - On Meds. 1-2pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. Every Monday. 12-step group open to anyone in recovery & living on a medicine regimen. 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org Strength Over Speed. 2-3:30pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. FREE drop-in support group (not a 12 step) for Gay & Bi men who desire recovery from meth. For information visit www.strengthoverspeed.org. SASG 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org Women’s HIV+ Support Group in Tacoma. 2-3:30pm.

Pierce County AIDS Foundation, 3520 S Pine St, Tacoma - 3 blocks east of Tacoma Mall. Meets 3rd Monday each month. (253) 383-2565.

Seattle Women’s Commission Meeting. 5:30-8pm.

Municipal Bldg, 600 4th Ave Rm 221. Meets 3rd Monday each month (except December). SWC is a 20-member volunteer advisory board that advises the Mayor, City Council, & all City of Seattle departments on matters concerning women & women’s rights. Meetings open to the public. 684-4537.

Crystal Meth Anonymous. 6:30pm. Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church, 1729 Harvard Ave. Also meets Thurs @ 6:30pm, Sat @ 10:30am, Sun @ 6:30pm. More info: crystalmeth.org.

Freely Speaking Toastmasters. 7pm. Seattle Unity Church, 200 8th Ave N. Every Monday (except holidays & the last Mondays in August & December). Seattle’s only LGBT speaking club. www.FreelySpeaking.or Lotus Sisters South End/Columbia City Meditation & Dharma Discussion. 7-8:30pm. Meets 3rd Monday each month. Call 206-725-3608 or 434-5521 for details and location; www.LotusSisters.org. (Not wheelchair accessible.)

Orca Swim Team Workout. Evening. Seattle University, Connolly Athletic Center, 14th Ave & E Cherry St. (See Sunday listing.)

PFLAG/Bremerton Monthly Meeting. 7pm. St Paul’s Episcopal Church, 700 Callahan Dr, Bremerton. Meets 3rd Monday each month. PFLAG/Puget Sound: 3257724.

PFLAG/Everett Monthly Meeting. 7pm. First Congregational Church of Everett, 2624 Rockefeller Ave, Everett. Meets 3rd Monday each month. PFLAG/Puget Sound: 325-7724.

Trans Youth Group. 7-8:30pm. Lambert House, 1818 15th Ave. Every Monday. A chance for youth to talk with others about their experiences & concerns related to identifying as Transgender. www.lamberthouse.org Lambert House Art Night. 7:30-9:30pm. 1818 15th Ave. Every Monday. Bring your ideas & let’s have some fun.

322-2515, www.lamberthouse.org Unity Gay Men’s AA Group in Tacoma. 7:30pm. New Heart MCC, 759 S 45th St. Tacoma. Every Monday.

(253) 474-8897.

Washington Gender Alliance Support Group Meeting in Shoreline. 7:30pm. Center for Human Services, 17018 15th Ave NE, Shoreline. Meets every Monday. For information email info@washingtongender alliance.com Queers, Crackpots & Fallen Women AA. 8-9pm.

SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. Every Monday. Open women only AA group. 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org.

TUESDAY - February 21

LGBTQ Questioning & Allied Youth Drop-in Group in Renton. 6-8pm. Renton Area Youth Services (RAYS), 1025 S 3rd St, Renton. Meets every Tuesday. Confidential. Snacks provided. Bring friends or come alone - anyone 12-18 is welcome. Questions? Call Sarah Hardin, 425-271-5600 ext 155, or email sarahh@ rays.org Strength Over Speed. 6-7:30pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. FREE drop-in support group (not a 12 step) for Gay & Bi men who desire recovery from meth. For information visit www.strengthoverspeed.org. SASG 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org

Seattle Gay News 15

Diverse Harmony. 6:30-9pm. Seattle First Baptist Church, 1111 Harvard Ave. Every Tuesday. Diverse Harmony is the nation’s first Gay/Straight Alliance Youth Chorus. Youths ages 13-22 are welcome regardless of sexual orientation. www.diverseharmony.org Queer Young Females Group - For Female-Identified Youth, Ages 22 & Under. 6:30-7:30pm. Lambert House, 1818 15th Ave. Every Tuesday. Topics range from family issues to school happenings to like/lust/love relationships. All Queer females welcome. Come discuss how smart. strong Queer women live their lives. 322-2515, www. lamberthouse.org Filmmakers Talk at Hotel Sorrento. 7-9pm. 900 Madison St. We’ll discuss Queer Oscar nominees, LGBTQ films that didn’t make the cut & assess where the Academy is on their promise of more diversity. Panel includes SGN film critic Sara Michelle Fetters.

Tuesday Night Sex Addicts Anonymous (GLBTQI).

7-8:30pm. All Pilgrims Christian Church, 500 Broadway E (enter at 509 10th Ave E; buzz in, Dickson room). Every Tuesday. SAA is a fellowship of men & women whose primary purpose is to stop addictive sexual behavior & help others recover from sexual addiction. Seattle SAA helpline 237-8828. SAA International Service Organization 1-800-477-8191.

Over 40’s Group - For Lesbian Women 40 & Older.

7-8:30pm. University Congregational Church, 4515 16th Ave NE, Pilgrim Room. Every Tuesday. Open group for Lesbian women, 40 & older, in every stage of coming out or being out. Lots of social activities in addition to Tuesday meetings. 545-3521.

Rainbow Duplicate Bridge. 7pm. Bus-accessible Central Area location. Every Tuesday. (See Saturday listing at 6pm.)

Different Drummers. 7:15-8:30pm. Every Tuesday.

Hand drumming classes for Gay men. Learn traditional African & Afro-Caribbean rhythms & basic hand drumming techniques. Drums are provided. For info & location call Dennis at 363-4500 or www.outdrum.com What About Me? 7:30-9pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. Every Tuesday. Drop-in social, support & discussion group for Gay & Bi men of all ages. 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org Here & Now Gay & Lesbian AA Meeting in Tacoma.

7:30pm. Christ Episcopal Church, 310 N “K” St, Tacoma.

Every Tuesday.

Spiritual Empowerment. 7:30-9pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. A group for all LGBT & friends of any spiritual belief to explore how spiritual practice can enrich their life. 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org Washington Gender Alliance Open Support Meeting in Bellingham. 7:30-9pm. St James Presbyterian Church, 910 14th St., Bellingham. Every Tuesday. (360) 445-2411; www.washingtongenderalliance.com. (See Wednesday listing at 7:30pm for details.)

Seattle Otters Water Polo Team. 8-9:30pm. Medgar Evers Pool, 500 23rd Ave E (at E Cherry St). Every Tuesday & Thursday. GLBT & GLBT-friendly co-ed water polo team is open to all who want to play. Beginners & experienced players welcome. Check our website for up to the minute details, or call the Otter Hotline 414-8797. www.otterpolo.com.

Seattle Poetry Slam. Doors 8pm, Show 8:30pm. Rebar, 1114 Howell St. Every Tuesday. A spoken word poetry event that features a weekly open mic, feature poet, and slam (poetry competition). Come out and express yourself. LGBTQ- & QTPOC-friendly; all genders welcome. $5. 21+. seattlepoetryslam.org

WEDNESDAY - February 22

Northwest Flower & Garden Show (2/22-2/26). Washington State Convention Center, 8th Ave & Pike St. Mature Friends Morning Exercise/Health & Fitness Get-Together. 10am. Ballard Odd Fellows Hall Bldg, 1706 NW Market St. Every Wednesday. An hour of health-related activities, followed by a walk around Greenlake & lunch at a local restaurant. MF is a social group for Gay men & women, 40 years & over. www. maturefriends.org Mature Friends Dining Out Luncheon. 12:30pm. Call for details, location & to make reservations. Meets 2nd & 4th Wednesday most months. MF is a social organization for Gay men & women, 40 years & over. www. maturefriends.org True Colors: Connecting LGBTQ Teens in Shoreline.

4-5pm. Every Wednesday. Discussing your important issues, building a supportive community. For information, location & to REGISTER call Lindsay Bagley 362-7282 x 8018 or email lbagley@chs-nw.org GLOBE (GLBTQ Loving Ourselves, Becoming Empowered): A Support Group & HIV/STD Prevention for Youth (14-20) in Everett. 6-8pm. CCA Building, 3331 Broadway - Bottom Floor, Everett. Every Wednesday.

Sponsored by PFLAG Everett chapter. David/Brenda, (425) 263-2908. globeleaders@hotmail.com LGBTQ Allyship “Next Steps” Forum. 6-8pm. Washington State Labor Council, 321 16th Ave S. How can we join forces with other marginalized communities to protect our rights, ensure our safety & strengthen our community for a more just tomorrow? We want to engage our community leaders & advocates in a conversation that will guide Allyship’s response. LGBTQAllyship.org The Rowing Team Peer Recovery Group. 6-7:30pm.

All Pilgrims Church, 500 Broadway E. Meets every Wednesday. This peer recovery group provides a safe & supportive faith community to share your recovery journey with, God answers our prayers & sends us a boat.

Sometimes rowing furiously for yourself & sometimes for others. All are welcome.

Lotus Sisters Meditation & Dharma Discussion North. 6:15-8pm. Ravenna Bryant neighborhood. Meets every Wednesday. Call 525-7295 for location. www.

LotusSisters.org.

16 Seattle Gay News

community calendar

Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation - Contemplative Service. 6:30pm. 7141 California Ave SW. 935-0418, office@wsuu.org, www.wsuu.org Boys’ Group - For Male-Identified Youth, Ages 1422. 7-8:30pm. Lambert House, 1818 15th Ave. Every Thursday. Youth take the opportunity to talk about issues that relate to their everyday lives, with the facilitation of a male volunteer. 322-2515 ext 16. www.lamberthouse.org “Get In The Way: The Journey of John Lewis.”

Doors 6pm, Film 7pm. Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center, 104 17th Ave S. Join the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle as we celebrate Black History Month with a free community screening of “Get In The Way: The Journey of John Lewis.”

PFLAG/Tacoma Monthly Meeting. 7pm. St Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 7410 S 12th (at Jackson), Tacoma.

Meets 4th Thursday each month. PFLAG/Tacoma: (253) 383-2318. PFLAG/Puget Sound: 325-7724.

Rainbow Duplicate Bridge. 7pm. Bus-accessible Central Area location. Every Thursday. (See Saturday listing at 6pm.)

Buddhism & Recovery. 7:30-9pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. Every Thursday. A meditation/recovery group. 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org Gay Fathers Association of Seattle. 7:30-9pm. Group Health, 201 16th Ave E, Central Bldg, Lower Atrium.

Every Thursday. Support meetings for Gay fathers & Gay men who are currently or previously married. www. gfas.org or our message board at http://groups.yahoo. com/groups/gayfathersseattle Gay Male Sexuality & Relationships. 7:30-9pm.

SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. Every Thursday. A discussion group that is strictly focused on sexual topics and relationship issues related to being a Gay male.

322-2437; www.sasgcc.org Crash the Glass: All Female Music Series. 8-11pm.

Columbia City Theater, 4916 Rainier Ave S. This week: Minami Hughes, Drea Marilyn & Reese Tanimura. No Cover.

Seattle Otters Water Polo Team. 8-9:30pm. Medgar Evers Pool, 500 23rd Ave E (at E Cherry St). Every Tuesday & Thursday. (See Tuesday listing at 8pm.)

FRIDAY - February 24

Center for Spiritual Living. 6:30pm-Meditation, 7pmService. 5801 Sand Point Way NE. Blessings & we hope to see you soon! Info 527-8801 ext 203, www. cslseattle.org Seattle Frontrunners Fun Run. 6:30pm. Volunteer Park (in front of Black Sun across for museum). Every Wednesday. (See Saturday at 9am.)

Hermanos Trans Latino & Foreign-Born Support Group. 7pm. Entre Hermanos, 1105 23rd Ave. Bilingual (Spanish/English) Transsexual support group meets 2nd & 4th Wednesday each month to provide information, counseling, healthcare, sisterhood & social activities for Latino & foreign-born people in their transition. Contact Abby 322-7700, www.entrehermanos.org Ingersoll All-Trans Drop-In Support Group. 7-9pm.

Seattle Counseling Services, 1216 Pine St, Suite 300.

All Transgender, Gender Variant, Gender Queer, Gender Questioning, allies, family & friends are welcome. This is a drop in group to get & give support, social interaction & information for the whole Gender community. www. ingersollcenter.org Seattle Movie Bears Movie Night. Check website for details. Every Wednesday night. Gay & Bi men enjoy a movie at a local theater with opportunity to socialize before & after movies. More info: http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/seattlemoviebears; or e-mail: seattlemoviebearssubscribe@yahoogroups.com Mature Friends Weekly Bridge Group. 7:30pm. Call for location. Every Wednesday. All levels welcome. MF is a social organization for Gay men & women, 40 years & over. www.maturefriends.org Orca Swim Team Workout. Evening. Seattle University, Connolly Athletic Center, 14th Ave & E Cherry St. (See Sunday listing.)

Washington Gender Alliance Open Support Meeting in Everett. 7:30-9pm. Everett United Church of Christ, 2624 Rockefeller Ave, Everett. Every Wednesday.

Trained peer facilitators lead a structured support meeting helping people deal with issues of gender identity & expression. All adults are welcomed, including those who are questioning, allies, or identify as FTM, MTF, Transgender, Queer, or Intersex, among others. (360) 445-2411; www.washingtongenderalliance.com.

BABES Women’s Support Group/Lunch Meeting.

12 noon-2pm. Call for location. Every Thursday. The BABES Network is a peer led agency; a sisterhood of women facing HIV together. 720-5566 or 888-292-1912; www.babesnetwork.org.

Oasis Youth Center in Tacoma - For Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender & Questioning Youth, Ages 14-25. 4-10pm. Call for location & details. Every Thursday. (253) 671-2838, www.oasisyouthcenter.org QLaw Happy Hour. 5:30-7:30pm. Aluel Cellars, 801 E Thomas St. Reconnect with friends, mentors/mentees and associates. Enjoy appetizers provided by QLaw. First 10 people to arrive get free drink tickets. All are welcome. Please RSVP to www.q-law.org Bad Blood? 6-8pm. Gay City Health Project, 517 E Pike St. Join a conversation on the FDA ban on blood donations from Gay men, featuring local activists Phil Bereano & Christopher Peguero with Dr Aubuchon of Bloodworks Northwest.

LIme Light: 17th Annual Northwest Design Awards Gala. 6-10pm. Seattle Design Center, 5701 6th Ave S. Celebrate the winners of 16 design categories, gathered in the company of top industry professionals and enthusiasts, as NW design steps in the LIMELIGHT. This glamorous night features a cocktail reception, gourmet seated dinner, live music, keynote presentation from Seattle’s own couture designer Luly Yang, and awards show emceed by Ken Carson, halftime host for the Seattle Seahawks. Attire: Cocktail chic, no jeans please; suits, party dresses & dress to impress. Tickets $150 general admission. Proceeds benefit the Northwest chapter of Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA). www.seattledesigncenter.com Shifting Gears. 6-7:30pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. Every Thursday. Drop-in support group (non 12-step) for anyone of any orientation or gender who desires recovery from drugs or alcohol. 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org B-GLAD (Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Trans & Questioning Adolescent Drop-In Group). 6:30-8pm. Call for location. Every Thursday. Sponsored by Youth Eastside Services, which offers many programs for GLBT youth.

(425) 747-4937.

Trans Worker Support Group. 6-8pm. LGBTQ Allyship, THURSDAY - February 23 1105 23rd Ave. Northwest Flower & Garden Show (2/22-2/26). Wash- Crystal Meth Anonymous. 6:30pm. Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church, 1729 Harvard Ave. Also meets Mon ington State Convention Center, 8th Ave & Pike St. Alcoholics Anonymous “Safe & Sober Group.” @ 6:30pm, Sat @ 10:30am, Sun @ 6:30pm. More info: 12noon-1pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. Open crystalmeth.org. meeting of AA. 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org.

February 17, 2017

Northwest Flower & Garden Show (2/22-2/26). Washington State Convention Center, 8th Ave & Pike St. AA Ageless in Recovery. 12noon-1pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. Meets every Friday. A drop in AA group for older & wiser people 55+. www.sasgcc.org Re-Parenting Ourselves. 12noon-1pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. Meets every Friday. A peer support group for adult children of any addiction. www. sasgcc.org SLAA Road to Recovery. 12noon-1:30pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. Meets every Friday. Ongoing 12 step group for sex & love addicts. www.sasgcc.org Oasis Youth Center in Tacoma - For Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender & Questioning Youth, Ages 14-25. 4-10pm. Call for location & details. Every Friday.

(253) 671-2838, www.oasisyouthcenter.org Strength Over Speed. 6-7:30pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. FREE drop-in support group (not a 12-step) for Gay & Bi men who desire recovery from meth. www. strengthoverspeed.org. SASG 322-2437.

Mature Friends Monthly Potluck. 6:30pm-appetizers & socializing; 7:30pm-dinner. Ballard Odd Fellows Hall Bldg, 1706 NW Market St. Meets last Friday most months. MF is a social organization for Gay men & women, 40 years & over. www.maturefriends.org Lambert House Queer Movie Night. 7-9:30pm. Lambert House, 1818 15th Ave. Every Friday. Lambert House is a nationally-recognized activities & resource center for GLBT & questioning youth, ages 14-22. 322-2515, www.lamberthouse.org Rain Country Dance Night. 7-11pm, lessons at 7:15pm.

The Cuff, 1533 13th Ave. An evening of country-western dancing for the LGBTQ community. FREE. www.raincountrydance.org.

Destiny Gay AA Group in Tacoma. 7:30pm. New Heart MCC, 759 S 45th St, Tacoma. Every Friday.

(253) 474-8897.

Orca Swim Team Workout. Evening. Seattle University, Connolly Athletic Center, 14th Ave & E Cherry St. (See Sunday listing.)

LGBT Friday Night Al-Anon Family Group. 7:45pm.

Seattle Counseling Service, Rainbow Room, 1216 Pine St at Melrose Ave. Every Friday. (See related listing Sunday at noon for details.) Greater Seattle AIS 24-hour number 625-0000; www.seattle-al-anon.org GaYme Night 4 the LGBT Community. 8pm-1am.

SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. Meets the 3rd & 4th Friday of every month. Board games, cards & fun. www.sasgcc.org

SATURDAY - February 25

(See previous Saturday for ongoing activities.)

Northwest Flower & Garden Show (2/22-2/26). Washington State Convention Center, 8th Ave & Pike St. Diverse Harmony Out in Space Concert. 7pm. Benaroya Hall, Nordstrom Recital Hall, 3rd Ave & Union St. Tickets: general admission $35, VIP $75, 22 & under FREE. www.seattlesymphony.org/concerttickets/calendar/2016-2017/benaroyahall/diverseharmony

SUNDAY - February 26

(See previous Sunday for ongoing activities.)

Northwest Flower & Garden Show (2/22-2/26). Washington State Convention Center, 8th Ave & Pike St. No Safeword Writers Group. 1pm. Meets 4th Sunday each month. NSWG exists to provide mutual support for members’ efforts. www.nosafewordwritersgroup. org (Also meets 2nd Tuesday. at 7pm)

Celebrating 41 Years!

Seattle Prime Timers Rap Group. 1:30pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. Subject: Awakening to the Present

by Dying to the Past. Metro routes 8, 10, 12, 49 & 60.

Three Dollar Bill Cinema Academy Awards Party.

Doors open 4pm. SIFF Cinema Egyptian, 805 E Pine St. Join Three Dollar Bill & Gay City with comedic hosts Eiicia Sanchez & Nick Sahoya to celebrate our community, raise money & watch the Academy Awards live. Tickets: general admission $25, VIP $125. Tickets include food, cash bar, stars on the big screen & fabulous comentary by our hosts. VIP tickets include upgraded food, reserved seating & complimentary sparkling wine.

community calendar

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Allyship - an organization of LGBTQ individuals fighting for economic and social justice. www.LGBTQ Allyship. org, allyship@yahoo.com, 279-8169.

American Veterans for Equal Rights - www.aver.us BiNet Seattle is a mixed gender, social group for Bisexuals, their partners & other Bi-friendly folks - www. binetseattle.org.

Capitol Hill Alano Club - www.chacseattle.org Central Washington University GALA Hotline: (509) 963-1994.

DIFFA/Northwest (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS). 763-8885; www.diffanorthwest.org DOMESTIC VIOLENCE & SEXUAL ASSAULT: Crisis Clinic, 461-3222 (24 hour line); King County Sexual Assault Resource Center (KCSARC) - 24-hour crisis line for information, support, & medical & legal assistance: 1-888-99-VOICE; Northwest Network - support & advocacy for Bisexual, Trans, Lesbian & Gay Survivors of Abuse & Dating Violence, 568-7777 (voice), 517-9670 (tty), www.nwnetwork.org; Pierce County Domestic Violence Helpline: Teresa, (253) 798-4166; Seattle Counseling Service for Sexual Minorities - offers on-going support groups for men: 323-1768; Seattle Police Dept Domestic Violence Unit, 684-0330; State Wide Domestic Violence Hot Line, 1-800-562-6025.

In an emergency call 911. Report domestic violence and sexual assault.

Equal Rights Washington - 324-2570; www.equal rightswashington.org Freely Speaking Toastmasters - www.freely speaking.org Gay City promotes wellness in LGBTQ communities by providing health services, connecting people to resources, fostering arts, and building community. Gay City Health Project’s Wellness Center provides anonymous & confidential HIV/STD testing. 517 E Pike St. More info or to schedule an appointment, 860-6969. www.gaycity.org Gay & Lesbian National Hotline (GLNH): 1-888-THEGLNH (1-888-843-4564). Non-profit, peer-counseling, information & local resources telephone hotline for GLBT people across the country.

GLSEN/WA - Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network - 330-2099; www.glsenwa.org Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA) - 3639188; www.thegsba.org HIV/AIDS Program, Seattle/King County Dept of Public Health, provides confidential/anonymous information about & testing for HIV/AIDS. 205-7837.

Imperial Sovereign Court of Seattle & the Olympic & Rainier Empire - www.facebook.com/ISCSORE; www. imperialcourtofseattle.com Lambert House - 322-2515; www.lamberthouse.org LGBT Library - 517 E Pike St. Open Mon-Fri 2-8pm; Sat 2-5pm.

LGBT MS Connection - 250-5002; LGBTMS Connection@gmail.com. Support group for LGBT persons with MS and their partners and their caregivers.

Lifelong AIDS Alliance - 328-8979, www.lifelongaids alliance.org MEN: Gay City: 860-6969, www.gaycity.org; Knights of Mantra: 329-0886, www.jetchapterkofm.com; Mature Friends: Gay men & women 40 & over, www.mature friends.org; Northwest Bears: www.nwbears.com; The Olympians: www.TheOlympians.net; POZSeattle: www.pozseattle.org; Q-Squared: www.qsquared.org; Rain City Jacks: www.raincityjacks.org; Seattle Gay Couples: www. seattlegaycouples.org; Seattle Men in Leather: www.seattlemeninleather. org; Seattle Prime Timers: Gay & Bi men 40 & over, www.seattle primetimers.org.

MUSIC: Diverse Harmony: www.diverseharmony.org; Rainbow City Band: 1-866-841-9139 ext 2126; rainbowcityband@onebox.com; www.rainbowcity band.com; Seattle Men’s Chorus and Seattle Women’s Chorus: 388-1408, 323-0750. www.flyinghouse. org.

Northwest Lesbian & Gay History Museum Project - gayhistnw@aol.com Northwest Rainbow Alliance for the Deaf - www. nwrad.org Out & Equal Workplace Advocates/Seattle Regional Affiliate supports the work of LGBT employees and the growing number of ERGs (Employee Resource Groups) making a difference within local companies. www.outandequal.org/affiliates/seattle PARENTHOOD: Families Like Ours provides a gateway for LGBT families interested in adoption: 441-7602, www.familieslikeours. org; Family Works offers support, information & activities for LGBT families: 694-6727, www.familyworksseattle. org; Gay Fathers’ Association of Seattle offers support groups & social activities: www.gfas. org; Proud & Loud Families - Northwest, www.meetup.com/proud-and-loud-families-northwest, plfnorthwest@aol.com; Queer Parent Networking Dinners: 568-7777, info@nwnetwork.org; Rainbow Families of Puget Sound: www.rainbowfamiliesps.org PFLAG is the national organization for parents, families, allies, and LGBTQ people united for equality with chapters in Seattle, Bellevue/Eastside, the Puget Sound

region and across Washington state. PFLAG Seattle: 206-325-7724, info@pflagseattle.org, and www.pflag seattle.org; PFLAG Bellevue/Eastside: 425-4836642, info@bellevue-pflag.org, http://community.pflag. org/PFLAGBellevue; PFLAG Pacific Northwest: www.pnwpflag.org; PFLAG Washington state: www. pflagwsc.org.

PEOPLE OF COLOR: AARTH (African American Reach & Teach Health Ministry), 850-2070, www. aarth.org; Asian/Pacific Islander Queer Network Program at API Chaya, 467-9976; Center for MultiCultural Health, 461-6910, www.multi-culturalhealth.org; Entre Hermanos, GLBT Latinos/as, 322-7700, www. entrehermanos.org; Ile LaiLai, 781-3565, iya@ilelailai. org; Men of All Colors & Cultures Together (MACCT), 923-8313, macctseattle@yahoo. com, www.macctsea.org; Nubian Pride Productions, nubianpride@ gmail.com; People of Color Against AIDS Network (POCAAN) offers rapid HIV testing, M-F, 10am-5pm, 322-7061, www.pocaan.org and on Facebook; Seattle Two Spirit, SeattleTwoSpirit@ hotmail.com; Sistah 2 Sistah, LBT women of African descent, 322-7061, 2558951; Sistah Sinema, www.sistahsinema.com, info@ sistahsinema.com; Trikone-Northwest, GLBT South Asians, (425) 985-4376, www.trikonenw.org; Two-Spirit Honor Project, 1-866-685-0164; U.T.O.P.I.A. Seattle.

Pride Foundation - 323-3318; www.pridefoundation. org Project NEON is a program of Seattle Counseling Service providing FREE information & services to Gay & Bi men to reduce health risks associated with methamphetamine use. 323-1768. www.crystalneon.org Public Health-Seattle & King County Online Comprehensive Health Information for Sexual Minorities: www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/personal/ glbt.aspx Q Law: The GLBT Bar Association of WA - 682-6711; www.q-law.org; Q Law GLBT Legal Clinic - 235-7235.

Resource & Referral Line can connect you to LGBTfriendly resources throughout Puget Sound and beyond.

Call 323-LGBT Mon-Fri 2-8pm; Sat 2-5pm. At other times leave voice mail and your call will be returned. Or visit www.gaycity.org to view list of resources online or through Facebook.

Safe Schools Coalition - www.safeschoolscoalition. org; 451-SAFE (451-7233).

SEAMEC interviews, researches & rates candidates for public office on issues of concern to the LGBT community. 905-9941, www.seamec.org

Visit us online www.sgn.org

Seattle Area Support Groups & Community Center (SASG) is a non-profit organization that builds community and cultivates powerful, healthy lives by providing emotional support and personal development services to those affected by HIV/AIDS, the Queer communities, and those who love them. Our work is done in a spirit of safety, trust, inclusiveness, and celebration of individual differences. 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org Seattle Commission for Sexual Minorities - 684-4503.

Seattle Counseling Service for Sexual Minorities is a community mental health service for GLBT persons & their families. 323-1768.

Seattle Out & Proud - 206-322-9561; www.seattlepride.org Seattle PrideFest - www.seattlepridefest.org Seattle Treatment Education Project (STEP) E-zine is an electronic resource distributed to people affected

by HIV/AIDS, case managers, front line workers & other health professionals. Now a part of Lifelong AIDS Alliance, 328-8979, www.thebody.com/step/steppage.html Servicemembers Legal Defense Network - (202) 328-3244; www.sldn.org Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, The Abbey of St. Joan - 860-3666; www.theabbey.org Snohomish Health District HIV/AIDS Program provides free confidential/anonymous HIV counseling & testing 9am-5pm Monday-Friday, until 7pm Tuesdays.

(425) 339-5298.

Social Outreach Seattle (SOSea) - www.facebook. com/socialoutreachseattle South Sound Q Calendar - LGBTQ events in Tacoma, Olympia & Sound Puget Sound area; www.South SoundQCal.com SPORTS & RECREATION: Bent Car Guys: www. bentcarguys.org; Border Riders Motorcycle Club: www.borderriders.com; Bottom Dwellers Scuba Club: www.bottomdwellers.org; Capitol Hill Cyclers: join their Facebook group or email capitolhillcycling@ groups.facebook.com or jordan.l.simonson@gmail.com; Cascade Flyers: www.cascadeflyers.org; Different Spokes Bicycling Club: www.differentspokes.org; Emerald City Mudhen Rugby: www.mudhenrugby. com; Emerald City Softball Association: www.emerald citysoftball.org, www.eteamz.com/womensecsa; Ethyl Forever Car Club: ethylforever@hotmail.com; Olympic Yacht Club: www.oycnw.org; OutVentures: outdoor education & recreation activities, www.outventures.org; Pacific Northwest Gay Rodeo Association: www.pacificnwgra.org; Puddletown Squares: www.puddletown-

February 17, 2017

squares.org; Rain City Soccer: www.raincitysoccer.org; Rain Country Dance Association: a country-western dance organization catering to the LGBTQ community but open to all, www.raincountrydance.org; Sea Dawgs: LGBT ice hockey - SkateSeaDawgs@gmail.com and on Facebook; Seattle Frontrunners: www.seattlefront runners.org; Seattle Gay Basketball Association: www. seattlegaybasketballassociation.com; Seattle Orca Swim Team: www.orcaswimteam.org; Seattle Otters Water Polo: www.otterpolo.com; Seattle Quake Rugby: www.quakerugby.com; Seattle Tennis Alliance: www. seattletennisalliance.org; Seattle Unified Bowling Association (SUBA): magee98106@aol.com, www. teamseattle.org/bowling.htm, www.theprideleague. com, Century 21 League; Seattle Volleyball Club: www.seattlevolleyballclub.com; Ski Buddies: www. skibuddies. org; Team Seattle Gay Sports Network is an umbrella organization for a wide range of local GLBT sports activities, 367-4064, www.teamseattle.org (see website for comprehensive list of sports clubs); Triangle Recreation Camp at Bender Creek: recreational camping for GLBT folks. Must be 21; ID required. trc@camptrc.org, www. camptrc.org, 1122 E Pike St #1069, Seattle 98122-3934.

Strength Over Speed - www.strengthoverspeed.org Tacoma/Pierce County - Rainbow Center, 2215 Pacific Ave, Tacoma, a resource center for the LGBTIQA community of Pierce County, (253) 383-2318, www. rainbowcntr.org TRANSGENDER: Emerald City Social Club: (425) 827-9494; Gender Alliance of the South Sound: www.

SouthSoundGender.com; Gender Diversity: www. genderdiversity.org; Gender Justice League: www. genderjusticeleague.org; Gender Odyssey: www.genderodyssey.com; Hermanos Trans Latino & ForeignBorn Support Group: 322-7700; Ingersoll Gender Center: 329-6651, www.ingersollcenter.org; The New BoyZ Club: www.olympiaftmgroup.webs.com; Olympia Trans Discussion Group: www.facebook.com/pages/ Olympia-Trans-Discussion-Group/262449878114; Washington Gender Alliance: (360) 445-2411, www. washington genderalliance.com WOMEN: Aging Lesbians in South Seattle (ALISS): Fai, 722-0729, alissquestions@gmail.com; BABES: support groups for HIV+ women. 720-5566, 1-888-2921912; Festival of the Babes: www.festivalofthebabes. com; Lesbians Over 40: 722-0729; Mature Friends: Gay men & women 40 & over, www.maturefriends.org; Older Lesbians Organizing for Change/WA State Chapter: gloria@oloc.org, mary@oloc.org, www.oloc. org; Pacific Northwest Lesbian Archives: www. pnwlesbianarchives.org; RainshadowWomen: RainshadowWomen@aol.com; Seattle Girls of Leather: www.sgol.org; Tacoma Lesbian Concern (TLC): www. tacomalesbianconcern.org; Women of West Seattle (WOWS): a fun, member-driven social group for Lesbians, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/womenofwestseattle; YWCA Women’s Health Outreach: providing low or no-cost mammograms for income eligible 40+ LBTQ individuals. Follow us at http://lbtqhealth-ywca.blogspot. com, twitter.com/ingridWHO or email lbthealth@ywcaworks.org, 461-4493.

YOUTH: B-GLAD (Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Trans & Questioning Adolescent Drop-In Group): Youth Eastside Services offers many programs for GLBT youth, including B-GLAD, (425) 747-4937; Diverse Harmony: www.diverseharmony. org; GLSEN/Washington State (Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network) & Washington State GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance) Network: GLSEN works to create safe schools for LGBT students. WA GSA Network supports youth-led GSA’s to fight harassment & homophobia in Washington state schools. 330-2099; www.glsenwa. org; www.wagsa. org. GLOBE (GLBTQ Loving Ourselves, Becoming Empowered): a support group & HIV/STD prevention program for GLBTQ youth, 14-20, in Everett, (425) 263-2908, www.globeyouth.org; It Gets Better Project: www.itgetsbetter.org; Lambert House: an activities & resource center for LGBT youth, 14-22, in Seattle, 3222515, www.lamberthouse.org; Lifelong HEYO (Health Education Youth Outreach): for LGBTQ youth, ages 16-24: 957-1665; www.llaa.org/HEYO; www.Matthews Place.com; The Mockingbird Society: 323-KIDS (5437), www.mockingbirdsociety.org; Oasis Youth Center: for GLBTQ youth, ages 14-25, in Tacoma, (253) 671-2838, www.oasisyouthcen ter.org; Parents, Family & Friends of Lesbians & Gays (PFLAG)/Puget Sound: 325-7724, www.seattle-pflag.org; Peace for the Streets by Kids from the Streets (PSKS): 7268500; www.psks.org; Pizza Klatch: weekly lunchtime support groups for LGBTQ youth in Thurston County, www.pizzaklatch.org; Prism: for LGBTQ youth, 14-21, in Puyallup - Cherise.Alexander@ multicare.org; www. facebook.com/PuyallupPrism; Proud Out Wonderful (POW!): for LGBTQ youth, 13-21, in South King County, 206-326-9112, www.facebook.com/proudoutwonderful; Q Youth Resources: in Kitsap County - 360-698-3335; www.kchaf.org; Renton Area Youth Services (RAYS): LGBTQ, questioning and allied youth drop-in group, ages 12-18 - Sarah Hardin, 425-271-5600, ext 155; sarahh@rays.org; Safe Schools Coalition: www. safeschoolscoalition.org; 451-SAFE (451-7233) (nonemergency), 1-877-SAFE-SAFE (1-877-723-3723) (crisis line); Seattle Young People’s Project (Queer Youth Resource Board): 860-9606, www.sypp.org; Street Youth Ministries (SYM): 524-7301 ext 111; www.streetyouthministries.org; Teen Link: 461-4922, 1-888-431-TEEN; The Trevor Project: 866-4-U-Trevor; www.thetrevorproject.org; True Colors - Connecting LGBTQ Teens: in Shoreline, 362-7282 x 8018, lbagley@chs-nw.org; Vista Youth Center: for LGBTQ, questioning and allied youth, ages 14-21, in Kennewick, 509-396-5198, www.vistayouthcenter.org; YouthCare/ Isis Program (Transitional Living Home for LGBTQ Young Adults, 18-22): 522-8412; YouthCare/Orion Center: 622-5555; Youth in Focus: 723-1479; www. youthinfocus.org; Youth Suicide Prevention Program (OUTLoud-GLBTQ): 297-5922, ext 116, 1-800-273TALK, www.yspp.org

Seattle Gay News 17

21 LICENSED MASSAGE - NON-SEXUAL

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I have two private studios, one on CapHill, and one just north of the UW. Call/text Matt, 206-235-7766. In/ out calls. 04/12

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18 Seattle Gay News

February 17, 2017

Celebrating 41 Years!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

February 17, 2017

Seattle Gay News 19

20 Seattle Gay News

February 17, 2017

Celebrating 41 Years!