360 May 3, 2018

Thursday, May 3, 2018 - E1

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

Standup comedian Nick Swardson comes to Mount Baker Theatre This Weekend, Page 3

Skagit Valley Herald Thursday May 3, 2018

ON STAGE PAGE 10 META presents “Into the Woods” at the Lincoln TUNING UP PAGE 11

Joe T. Cook Blues Band plays Conway Muse on Saturday

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Welcome to our 360 expansion F rom music to performance art to festivals, this northwest corner of the Pacific Northwest has a lot to offer, and our goal at Skagit Publishing is to connect people with information.

We know people travel for fun, all across this region. So we are expanding our 360 Entertainment publication, both in coverage scope and audience reach.

We are providing more information about fun and interesting things to do north of Everett, throughout the Skagit Valley, Whatcom County and up to the Canada border.

If you’re looking for something to do, we hope you’ll find it here.

Today, 10,000 homes in Whatcom County are receiving the 360 Entertain-

ment weekly edition for the first time.

And existing readers will now get more information than ever before.

Our primary focus is Skagit, Whatcom, Island and upper Snohomish counties, though we occasionally will draw your attention to events outside of the area that might interest you.

We’re only just beginning. Our northwestern corner is special, and there are so many things to do that don’t require heading south to Seattle. The air is better up here, right? So is the traffic.

If you are a resident or visitor looking for something to do, that’s what we’re all about. Let us help you.

If you are an event venue hoping to reach a growing audience, it’s simple and free. Go to goskagit.com and use

our self-serve calendar. You can add your event and photos to a news site that reaches many thousands online.

Best of all, we grab content from those calendars to include in this weekly publication, which is now delivered to homes in Whatcom County in addition to the thousands that go to Skagit Valley Herald subscribers each week. Free copies are also available for pickup at a variety of racks and other locations throughout the region, including in Bellingham, Oak Harbor and Stanwood.

Questions or ideas? Call our 360 editing desk at 360-416-2135. Communities Editor Craig Parrish is there to help.

Keep an eye out for 360. We have more coming your way.

NEW ON DVD THIS WEEK “Paterno”: Even a very familiar story can be interesting with the right casting, as is the case with this HBO original film. Al Pacino turns in one of the best performances of his career playing legendary Penn State football coach Joe Paterno. It’s his work that drives the story, which had been played out so completely in the press in 2011.

Pacino plays Paterno during the aftermath of his assistant coach Jerry Sandusky’s sexual abuse scandal.

After becoming the winningest coach in college football history, Paterno must find a way to deal with how these horrible events were taking place without his knowledge.

It is the story of a how a person can be so blinded by their professional passions that they miss the obvious.

The film was co-written and directed by Barry Levinson, who makes the production work not because it is a rehashing of the familiar elements surrounding the case, but because the tale unfolds through Paterno’s viewpoint.

It’s a powerful story of a man whose amazing professional legacy comes under fire.

“Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In: The

ALSO NEW ON DVD MAY 8

HBO VIA AP

Al Pacino portrays Joe Paterno in “Paterno.”

Complete Fourth Season”: Even for those who lived through the ’60s, many of the political jokes in this free-form comedy series will seem very dated.

But, the core strength of the show reaches any generation as the series embraces slapstick humor with a passion.

Hosted by Dan Rowan and wisecracking co-host Dick Martin, “Laugh-In” goes for laughs through a barrage of skits and jokes that are edited together at a rapid pace.

And the humor is always on the absurdist level such as having Sammy Davis Jr. and Wilt Chamberlain in a boxing match. Other sketches

include Art Carney as the Masked Lobster looking for work and Ernestine (Lily Tomlin) ringing up Aristotle Onassis and Gore Vidal, whom she queries about Myra Breckinridge.

The NBC comedy also features some of the biggest stars of the era including William F. Buckley, Truman Capote, Johnny Carson, Carol Channing, Tim Conway, Bing Crosby, Phyllis Diller, David Frost and Orson Welles.

Along with all the laughs and star power come bonus features that include interviews with Lily Tomlin and Arte Johnson.

“Saving Private Ryan”: The Tom Hanks film is being released on 4K Ultra HD/ Blu-ray to mark the 20th anniversary.

“Dear White People: Season 1”: A diverse group of students of color navigate a predominantly white Ivy League college.

“Human Flow”: A year in the life of refugees is documented by director Ai Weiwei.

“Paradox”: Hong Kong police officer Lee (Louis Koo) goes on a search in Thailand for his missing daughter Chi (Hanna Chan).

“Ackley Bridge: Series 1”: The lives of teachers, teenagers and families collide in a small Yorkshire town.

“Batman Ninja”: Batman — along with numerous allies and enemies — are thrown back in time to the feudal era of Japan.

“The House That Dripped Blood”: Scotland Yard inspector’s search for a missing film star leads him to a haunted house.

“Fifty Shades Freed”: Film series sparked by EL James’ book trilogy reaches the final chapter. Dakota Johnson stars.

– Rick Bentley, Tribune News Service

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

YOUR ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND RECREATION GUIDE TO WHAT’S GOING ON IN SKAGIT COUNTY AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS

Inside Out & About........................... 4-8 Music Reviews........................... 9 On Stage....................................10 Tuning Up.................................11 Get Involved.............................12 Travel.........................................13 Hot Tickets...............................14 At the Lincoln..........................15 Movies................................. 17-19 ON THE COVER Standup comedian Nick Swardson will perform Saturday at the Mount Baker Theatre in Bellingham.

SUBMISSIONS

Email: features@skagitpublishing.com Deadline: 5 p.m. Friday for the following Thursday edition Phone 360-416-2135 Address Skagit Publishing 1215 Anderson Road Mount Vernon, WA 98274 Online events calendar To list your event on our website, visit goskagit.com and look for the Events Calendar on the home page

HAVE A STORY IDEA?

Contact Features Editor Craig Parrish at 360-416-2135 or features@skagitpublishing.com

TO ADVERTISE 360-424-3251

Thursday, May 3, 2018 - E3

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

THIS WEEKENDin the area FIRST FRIDAY ARTWALK

A barrage of laughs

The first Friday Art Walk will feature several locations throughout downtown Anacortes from 6 to 9 p.m.

with Nick Swardson at Mount Baker Theatre

Friday, May 4. Participating galleries include Burton Jewelers, The Good Stuff Arts, Red Salon Aveda, Scott Milo Gallery, The Majestic Inn and Spa and the Depot Arts and Community Center.

BENEFIT CONCERT Folk musician and troubadour Luke Wallace will play a benefit concert at 7 p.m.

Saturday, May 5, at Kennelly Keys Music, 1904 Commercial Ave., Anacortes. $10, supports Evergreen Islands and their commitment to promote, protect and defend the ecosystems of the Salish Sea.

BLAST OPEN THE PAST Upriver Community Radio, 90.1 FM KSVU, will hold its seventh annual “Blast Open the Past” fundraiser from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 5, at Marblemount Community Hall, 60155 Highway 20, Marblemount. Dress the Maypole, enjoy a potluck supper and then dance to Undecided & Friends. A raffle and silent auction will be ongoing throughout the event. Suggested donations: $8 adults, $15 couples, free for ages 12 and younger.

360-853-8588.

By Skagit Valley Herald staff

Versatile comedian Nick Swardson, a veteran of the standup circuit who has successfully branched off into movies and television, will perform at 8 p.m.

Saturday, May 5, at the Mount Baker Theatre in Bellingham.

The show is part of Swardson’s 32-city “Too Many Smells” tour, according to a news release. He

started his career in St. Paul/ Minneapolis, then went on to New York and Los Angeles, where he first found success by writing “Malibu’s Most Wanted” for Warner Brothers and by being featured in the hit Comedy Central series “RENO 911.”

After catching the attention of Happy Madison Productions, he quickly became a fixture in the company, writing or co-writing and producing

such projects as “Grandma’s Boy” and “Benchwarmers” and co-producing “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry” with Adam Sandler and Kevin James.

Swardson has performed in movies such as “That’s My Boy,” “Blades of Glory,” “30 Minutes or Less,” and “Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star,” which he also wrote and produced. His first CD/ DVD, “Party,” on Comedy Cen-

tral Records, went platinum.

In addition to his career in film and in standup, Swardson continues to have a prolific career in television. His Comedy Central sketch show, “Pretend Time with Nick Swardson” ran from 2010-12, and he voiced the role of Troy on FXX’s animated show “Chozen.” $39.75, Mount Baker Theatre, Bellingham. mountbakertheatre. com/online/mapselect.asp.

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Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

OUT & ABOUT

ART

FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK: The First Friday Art Walk will take place in downtown Anacortes from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, May 4. Participating galleries include Burton Jewelers, The Good Stuff Arts, Red Salon Aveda, Scott Milo Gallery, The Majestic Inn and Spa and the Depot Arts and Community Center.

CHILDREN’S ART WALK: The Mount Vernon Downtown Association will present the First Saturday Art Walk and Fifth annual Children’s Art Walk from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 5, in downtown Mount Vernon.

The Children’s Art Walk involves artists ages 15 and younger displaying their art at

LAS CAFETERAS

MCINTYRE HALL PRESENTS FRIDAY, MAY 4

CELEBRATING IN SONG SKAGIT VALLEY CHORALE MAY 5 & 6

GEENA ROCERO

SKAGIT VALLEY COLLEGE FRIDAY, MAY 11

THE WEEPIES

MCINTYRE HALL PRESENTS SATURDAY, MAY 19

360.416.7727

mcintyrehall.org

downtown businesses. mountvernondowntown.org, dep.mvda@ gmail.com or 360-3363801.

SKAGIT VALLEY WEAVERS GUILD MEETING: The guild will feature Lydia Christiansen demonstrating wool tinctures from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

Monday, May 7, at Allen Methodist Church, 16775 Allen West, Bow. MEET THE ARTIST: Meet Jackson Faulkner at Bellewood Acres, 6140 Guide Meridian, Bellingham, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, May 13. bellewoodfarms.com, 360-318-7720. info@ bellewoodfarms.com.

“PROMISING FUTURES”: “Promising Futures: Whatcom County High School Art” will be on display from May 3-31 at the Jansen Art Center, 321 Front St., Lynden. An opening reception will take place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 3. jansenartcenter.org/ exhibit/promising-futures-whatcom-countyhigh-school-studentart/ CAMANO ISLAND STUDIO TOUR: Thirty-two studios and galleries will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

May 11-13 and May 1920 on the free self-guided studio tour. Enjoy paintings, ceramics, sculpture, glass, woodworking, photography, jewelry and textiles. ”THE RIVER AND THE ROAD” EXHIBIT: Opens May 19 at the Sedro-Woolley Museum, 727 Murdock St, Sedro-Woolley. The exhibit will highlight two important transportation features of Skagit County history: the

“Annie” at Sehome High School

SEHOMEDRAMA.COM

The Sehome High School Drama Department will present the classic musical “Annie” on May 2-5 and 10-12 at the school, 2700 Bill McDonald Parkway, Bellingham. The legendary musical features the songs “Tomorrow,” “Hard-Knock Life,” “Easy Street” and many more. $8-$10. 360-676-2481 or www.sehomedrama.com/spring.

Skagit River, including dugout canoes, ferries, steamboats, tugboats and fishing boats; and Highway 20 (the North Cascades Highway), including early efforts, support process, construction and the dedication. 360-855-2390 or sedro-woolleymuseum. com.

ART EXHIBIT: Paintings by Snohomish County artist Jackie Court will be on display through May 25 in the lobby of the Robert J. Drewel Building, 3000 Rockefeller Ave., Everett. snocoarts.org.

QUINTRALL’S ACRYLIC PAINTINGS: Scott Milo Gallery, 420 Commercial Ave., Anacortes, will host Mary Quintrall’s acrylic

paintings in May. Also showing: pastels by LaDonna Kruger, oils by Keith Sorenson, oils by Jane Wallis, watercolors

by Peggy Woods and ceramic pieces by Orcas Island artist Mary Jane Elgin. The gallery is open 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday or by appointment. gallery@ scottmilo.com, scottmilo.com or Facebook/ Scott Milo Gallery.

“FLOWER POWER”: The Good Stuff Arts Gallery, 604 Commercial Ave., Anacortes, will present “Flower Power” during May, celebrating the beauty of Skagit County’s daffodil and tulip Festivals, fields and artwork. View paintings,

sculpture, glass, wood, metal sculpture, quilted sculptures, ceramic sculptures, jewelry. Jim Redding will offer a demonstration on the Woodcut Black printing process at 6:30 p.m.

Friday, May 4. The gallery is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays to Fridays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays.

“SPRING HAS SPRUNG”: Matzke Fine Art Gallery and Sculpture Park, 2345 Blanche Way, Camano Island, is hosting “Spring has Sprung” through June 17. An opening party will take place from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, April 28. Artists include Liana Bennett, Deb McCunn, Mark Eaton, Dan Freeman, Ruth Hesse, Sharon Kingston, Janie Olsen, Donna Watson, Leon White and Hiroshi Yamano.

There are also new sculptures by Josh Henrie, Kentaro Kojima, Dale Reiger and Leon White.

RAGS, RUBBISH AND REFUSE: Featuring more than a dozen Whidbey Island artists, “Rags, Rubbish, and Refuse” is be on display from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through May 6 at Bayview Cash Store Hub Gallery, 5603 Bayview Road, Langley.

The event is organized

by Goosefoot, a local nonprofit organization, in conjunction with Whidbey Island’s annual Earth & Ocean Month (whidbeyearthday.org).

“VISIONS OF SOUL”: Roger Small’s “Visions of Soul” takes place through May at Forum Arts, 721 S. First St., La Conner. The gallery is open 11 a.m. to

5 p.m. Friday through and Sunday.

ART EXHIBIT: Paintings by Snohomish County artist Jackie Court are on display through May 25 in the lobby of the Robert J. Drewel Building, 3000 Rockefekker Ave., Everett. snocoarts.org.

MUSIC & DANCE

BENEFIT CONCERT: Folk musician and troubadour Luke Wallace will play a benefit concert at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 5, at Kennelly Keys Music, 1904 Commercial Ave., Anacortes, to support “Evergreen Islands and their commitment to promote, protect and defend the ecosystems of the Salish Sea,” according to a news release. $10.

DANCE IN CONCERT: Guest artist Rebecca Bryant and Western Washington University’s Nolan Dennett, Penny Hutchison and Pam Kuntz will perform “Dance in Concert” at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday through Saturday and at 2 p.m.

Sunday, May 3-6, at the WWU Performing Arts Center Mainstage, Bellingham. $16. 360650-6156 or tickets. wwu.edu.

BIRTHDAY CONCERT: William Bolcom, a composer and pianist with awards including the National Medal of Arts, Pulitzer Prize and Grammy Award, will perform at 7:30 p.m.

Friday and Saturday, May 4-5, and at 3 p.m.

Sunday, May 6, at Western Washington University’s Performing Arts Center Concert Hall, Bellingham. $10 to $15. 360-650-6146 or tickets.wwu.edu

Thursday, May 3, 2018 - E5

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

OUT & ABOUT

THEATER

“IN THE SPOTLIGHT”: Skagit Valley Academy of Dance will present the 2018 Dansations Showcase “In the Spotlight” from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 12, at Brodniak Hall at Anacortes High School, 1600 20th St., Anacortes. $10, kids under 3 free. skagitvalleyacademyofdance.com

LECTURES & TALKS

OPEN DATA: Mount Vernon City Library and Burlington Public Library are teaming up to present a four-part series about open data, presented in part by Data Equity for Main Street: Bringing Open Data Home through Local Libraries. n Part 2: Locating and Using Open Data, noon to 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 9, Mount Vernon City Library, 315 Snoqualmie St.. n Part 3: Telling the Story with Open Data, 9 to 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 16, Burlington Public Library, 820 E. Washington Ave. n Part 4: Answering Real World Questions, 9 to 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 23, Burlington Public Library, 820 E. Washington Ave. CIVIL DISCOURSE IN SKAGIT COUNTY: The first phase of a project co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the Skagit County Dispute Resolution Center will be a community meeting on civil discourse at 9 a.m.

Saturday, May 5, at the Northwest Career and Technical Academy (Skagit Valley College), 2205 W. Campus Place, Mount Vernon, with keynote speaker Amy Young, Ph.D., head of the Department of Communication and Theater at Pacific Lutheran University. Additional phases of the project will include skill-building training sessions in June, July and August, and a culminating

community discussion in October.

CLIMATE CHANGE: CARBON FEE AND DIVIDEND SOLUTION?: Steve Rothboeck of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Whidbey chapter, will speak to Fidalgo Democrats about their solution to climate change from 7 to 9 p.m.

Tuesday, May 8, at the Anacortes Public Library, 1220 10th St., Anacortes.

WHEN ARTISTS GET TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT REAL ESTATE: Artist Jane Richlovsky will tell her story of upending the myth, using it as a catalyst for a discussion about how artists and their communities might write a new story together, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 10, at Mount Vernon City Library, 315 Snoqualmie St., Mount Vernon. Free. mountvernonwa. gov/186/Events.

CENSUS STRATEGIES: Learn what information you can find about your ancestors and clues you may be missing at “Censational Census Strategies for Genealogists” at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 12, at the Burlington Senior Community Center, 1011 Greenleaf Ave., Burlington. Learn the ins and outs of these research documents from professional genealogist Mary Kircher-Roddy.

Appropriate for all levels of research experience.

EARTH’S BI-POLAR DISORDER: Dr. Robert Bindschadler, NASA emeritus scientist, will talk about dramatic changes in polar regions and how they affect weather patterns and living conditions, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 14, at the Mount Vernon City Library, 315 Snoqualmie St., Mount Vernon. mountvernonwa.gov/186/Events MAKING A MARK: The harbor porpoise is one of the most abundant species in the Salish Sea, yet little is understood about its population. Dr. Cindy Elliser has conducted marine mammal research for over 15 years and will present a talk on photo-ID surveys on porpoises from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 22, at the Mount Vernon City Library, 315 Snoqualmie St., Mount Vernon. mountvernonwa. gov/186/Events

MORE FUN

OPEN HOUSE: Studio Outback, 801 Central Ave., Sedro-Woolley, will host its seventh annual spring open house from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 5-6. Unique handcrafted quality items from multiple local artists, jewelry, cloth baskets, whimsical yard art, soap and more.

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NORTHWEST BIG BAND JAZZ CONCERT: Northwest Big Band, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the musical style of the “Big Band Era,” will present a 17-piece big band concert from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, May 11, at Warm Beach Camp Program Center Auditorium, 20800 Marine Drive, Stanwood. Free.

DUELING PIANOS: D.R. Horton will present “Dueling Pianos with Jeff and Rhiannon” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 12, at the Marysville Opera House, 1225 Third St., Marysville. $15. apm.activecommunities.com/marysvillewa/Activity_Search/3672

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Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

OUT & ABOUT BOAT PARADE IN LA CONNER: Join or watch the Opening Day Boat Parade along the Swinomish Channel from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, May 5. The opening ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. at the Swinomish Yacht Club in La Conner, with blessing of the fleet at 2 p.m. and the parade at 3 p.m. lovelaconner.org.

TOUCH A TRUCK: Touch A Truck will he held in downtown Stanwood on Saturday, May 5. The family-friendly event helps children learn about different kinds of vehicles. A quiet hour will take place from 10 to 11 a.m. for those who are sensitive to noise. Face painting, balloon twisting, a Home-Depot building workshop, a bouncy house provided by Emmaus Road Church,

FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK

May 4 6-9pm Burton Jewelers The Good Stuff Arts Red Salon Scott Milo Gallery The Majestic Inn and Spa

1743165

The Depot

www.anacortesart.com

the YMCA activity center, giant Jenga.

SPRING FLING: Hotel Bellwether, 1 Bellwether Way, Bellingham, will host its second annual Spring Fling Wine Social at the Lighthouse Grill and Water Front Terrace from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, May 5, with special VIP access from 4 to 5 p.m. The Hotel Bellwether Spring Fling is a premier wine and food event showcasing 25-plus wineries from around the world, with a spotlight on the Pacific Northwest. $55, with limited VIP tickets available for $75.

Tickets at the door on event day: $75. hotelbellwether.com.

BLAST OPEN THE PAST: Upriver Community Radio, 90.1 FM KSVU, will hold its seventh annual “Blast Open the Past” fundraiser from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 5, at Marblemount Community Hall, 60155 Highway 20, Marblemount.

Dress the Maypole, enjoy a potluck supper and then dance to live music by Undecided & Friends. A raffle and silent auction will be held throughout the event. Suggested donations: $8 adults, $15 couples, free for kids age 12 and younger. 360-8538588.

CITIZEN SCIENCE TRAINING: Become a citizen scientist and help contribute to research on local beaches for the health of the Salish Sea. All ages and experience levels welcome. Training will take place from noon to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, May 6, at Fidalgo Bay Resort, 4601 Fidalgo Bay Road, Anacortes.

WHATCOM WEDDING TOUR: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday, May 6, Hotel Bellwether, 1 Bellwether Way, Bellingham. Tour

CURRENT SWELL

SHANE DERINGER PHOTOGRAPHY

Current Swell (pictured) will perform with Ocie Elliott at 9 p.m. Friday, May 4, at the Wild Buffalo, 208 W. Holly St., Bellingham. $12. 360-746-8733 or wildbuffalo.net.

Current Swell hails from Victoria, British Columbia. The band has released six albums: “So I Say,” “Trust Us Now,” “Protect Your Own,” “Long Time Ago,” “Ulysses” and “When to Talk and When to Listen.”

Band members are Scott Stanton, Dave Lang, Louis Sadava and Chris Petersen. Current Swell has opened for bands like The Beach Boys, Xavier Rudd, Dispatch, Bedouin Soundclash and The Beautiful Girls, and has made appearances at the 2010 Winter Olympics and the Ottawa Blues Festival.

seven Whatcom County wedding venues and meet with wedding professionals. $10-35.

ORGANIC VEGETABLE SALE: Bellewood Acres is partnering with Growing Veterans to provide the community with a selection of organic vegetable plants. Proceeds help fund the Growing Veterans dirt therapy program: growingveterans.org.

The sale will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Sunday, May 6, at Bellewood Acres, 6140 Guide Meridian, Bellingham. bellewoodfarms.com.

360-318-7720. info@ bellewoodfarms.com.

JUDY RESERVOIR TOUR: In recognition of Drinking Water Week, Skagit PUD will host a free tour of Judy Reservoir and the Water Treatment Plant from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Wednesday, May 9, at Judy Reservoir, 11932 Morford Road, Sedro-Woolley. Tours last 50 minutes. Space is limited, reservations required. surveymonkey. com/r/WTP-Tour.

STAR PARTY: A Star Party will begins at dark Friday, May 11, at Prairie Overlook next to the Coupeville Cemetery.

Explore the night sky and view distant galaxies, planets and nebulas at this free public Star Party hosted by the Island County Astronomical Society (ICAS). No telescope is needed, all ages are welcome. Information: Bob Scott at ICAS_ President@outlook.com, or visit icas-wa.org.

ADOPTION EXTRAVAGANZA: The Northwest Organization for Animal Help (NOAH) Center is celebrating 15

years by offering $15 adoptions for cats and dogs over six months of age. Adopt a pet or set up a monthly donation of $15 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 12, at The NOAH Center, 3100 Brandstrom Road, Stanwood.

SMALL BOAT MESSABOUT: The Pull and Be Damned Small Boat Messabout will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, May 12, at Seafarers Park at the Port of Anacortes. All sorts of human-powered or sailing craft are welcome.

MOTHER’S DAY AT THE FARM: Enjoy brunch at Bellewood Acres, 6140 Guide Meridian, Bellingham, on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 13.

Flower baskets, Pozie by Natalie Pop Up Flower Shop, face-painting for kids ($4-$8), and kids’

open mic. Reservations recommended. Buffet adults $30, ages 3-10 $12. bellewoodfarms.com.

360-318-7720. info@ bellewoodfarms.com.

MOTHER’S DAY AT CHRISTIANSON’S NURSERY: Christianson’s Nursery will celebrate Mother’s Day with plants, a llama and goats at a free event from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 13, at Christianson’s Nursery, 15806 Best Road, Mount Vernon. christiansonsnursery.com. 360-4663821.

POETRY FESTIVAL: The 10th biennial Skagit River Poetry Festival will be held from Thursday through Sunday, May 17-20, in La Conner. The four-day event includes performances, readings, workshops and discussions. Tickets: $40-$120 at skagitriverpoetry.org.

ANACORTES BOAT AND YACHT SHOW: May 17-20, Port of Anacortes’ Cap Sante Marina. The event will feature 300 boats on display. $10 adults; $15 unlimited pass; ages 17 and under are free; half off for veterans every day of show; and Yacht Club members get in free on Thursday and Friday. anacortesboatandyachtshow.com POWDERPUFF FOOTBALL: A powderpuff flag football game fundraiser to support Mount Vernon Youth Sports will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 19, at the Mount Vernon High School football stadium, 314 N. Ninth St. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. $5 per person, $10 per family, free for ages 14 and under. Drawings and raffles, food concessions and vendors. Tickets: contact Mount Vernon Pitbull Warriors on Facebook or email debbie. mvpw@gmail.com.

Thursday, May 3, 2018 - E7

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OUT & ABOUT

Jazz singer Yvonne Hardison plays Saturday in Bellingham Olympia jazz singer Lavon Hardison will sing with her quartet at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 5, in the second concert of this year’s Sudden Valley Jazz Series at the Dance Barn, 8 Barn View Drive, Bellingham.

From Duke Ellington to the Beatles to songs from shows like “Annie,” Hardison’s repertoire is wide-ranging.

Her quartet features pianist Eric Verlinde, trombonist Jerome Smith, bassist Osama Afifi and Bellingham-born drummer Jeff Busch.

Hardison was a featured performer at the 2009 Festival of World Sacred Music in New Delhi, India. She won the Seattle-Kobe Sister City Jazz Vocalist Audition at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley in 2016, claiming the prize of a jazz-soaked journey to Japan, performing in Kobe, Osaka, and Tokyo.

She has also hosted a weekly radio show, “The Jazz Experience” on KAOS-FM. Tickets may be purchased at Village Books, the Sudden Valley Association Office or on-line at www.fswl.org.

Cost: $20. More information: 360-671-1709

CLUSTER DOG SHOW: An all-breed dog show and obedience and rally trial will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday to Monday, May 18 to 21, at Northwest Washington Fairgrounds, 1775 Front St., Lynden.

LOOKING AHEAD

EAGLE HAVEN CONCERT SERIES: The Eagle Haven Winery presents its 2018 summer concert series at the winery, 8243 Sims Road, Sedro-Woolley. Events begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 360856-6248 or eaglehavenwinery.com/events. n June 16: Prozac Mountain Boys, Queen’s Bluegrass, Rural Delivery, Birdsview Bluesgrass, 2 p.m. n June 29: Westwind n July 14: Troy Fair Band

n July 20: Austin Jenckes n Aug. 3: Jumbled Pie n Aug. 10: Margaret Wilder Band n Aug. 17: Whiskey Fever n Aug. 31: CC Adams Band n Sept. 8: Birdsview Bluegrass n Sept. 15: Jill Newman Blues Band CASABLANCA FLORAL CUT FLOWER WORKSHOP: Learn the essential skills of basic floral design with Maura Whalen in a two-hour hands-on workshop at Christianson’s Nursery, 15806 Best Road, Mount Vernon, from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 2. Prepayment of $75 required. christiansonsnursery.com or 360466-3821.

RUSTY RELICS VINTAGE MARKET: Rusty Relics Vintage Market invites the public to

CONTRIBUTED

join in shopping, food, music and homemade and vintage goods from 3 to 8 p.m Friday, June 8 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, June 9, at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds, Monroe. $10, kids under 12 enter for free. rustyrelicsmarket. com A ROSY DAY OUT: Christianson’s Nursery will host its 15th annual Rose Festival from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m Saturday, June 16, at 15806 Best Road, Mount Vernon. christiansonsnursery. com. 360-466-3821.

FAIRHAVEN OUTDOOR CINEMA: Movies return to Fairhaven’s Village Green, 1207 10th St, Bellingham, this summer. $5, free for kids under age 5. fairhavenoutdoorcinema.com or 360-733-2682. n June 23: “The Goonies” with banjo entertainment by Aaron

J. Shay n June 30: “Wonder Woman” with Kuungana marimba n July 7: “Ferdinand” with live music by The Sweet Goodbyes n July 14: “Jumanji” with cirque entertainers Wren & Della n July 21: “The Greatest Showman” with Jules the Juggler n July 28: “Coco” with cirque performer Strangely n Aug. 4: “Thor: Ragnarok” with cirque performer Clay Mazing n Aug. 11: “The Sandlot” with Improv Playworks n Aug. 18: “Black Panther” with touring musician Brian Ernst n Aug. 25: “The Princess Bride” MOVIES IN THE PARK: Burlington Parks and Recreation presents outdoor movies in the park at Skagit River

Soccer Fields, 1100 S. Skagit St., Burlington.

Bring camping chairs and blankets. Free. 360755-9649. n June 16: “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” (PG-13) on a 40-foot screen, 9:45 p.m. n July 27: “Spider-Man Homecoming” (PG-13) on a 20-foot screen, 9:30 p.m.

FIDALGO SCHOOL REUNION: A reunion to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Old Fidalgo School on March Point will be held at 10:30 a.m.

Saturday, July 28, at the new Fidalgo School, 13590 Gibralter Road, Anacortes.

BURLINGTON SUMMER NIGHTS CONCERT SERIES: 6 to 8 p.m.

Fridays in July and August at the Burlington Visitor Center Downtown Amphitheater, 520 E. Fairhaven Ave. Free.

360-755-9649. n July 6: Michelle Taylor Band n July 13: Prozac Mountain Boys n July 20: Market Street Dixie Jass Band n July 27: Gin Gypsy n Aug. 3: Marlin James Band n Aug. 10: Mama Dirty Skirt CHRISTIANSON’S 5th ANNUAL MIDSUMMER ANTIQUE FAIR & VINTAGE MARKET: Four shopping locations within Christianson’s Nursery will sell antiques and vintage treasures on Aug. 1011. Must be over 21 to attend 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 10; $10 admission. Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 11; free admission.

Located at 15806 Best Road, Mount Vernon. christiansonsnursery. com or 360-466-3821.

Thursday, May 3, 2018 - E9

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

MUSIC REVIEWS ASHLEY MONROE, “Sparrow” — The sparrow in the title of Ashley Monroe’s new album surfaces in the first line of the first song, “Orphan”: “How does a sparrow / Know more than I / When the mother is gone / It knows how to fly / With no direction / Finds wings on the wind.”

As one of the brightest young talents in country music, on her own and as part of the Pistol Annies with Miranda Lambert and Angaleena Presley, Monroe has already found her wings as an artist.

And here, as her peer Kacey Musgraves just did with her beguiling new “Golden Hour,” Monroe uses those wings to soar beyond the bounds of her previous work and even what is considered country.

You won’t find one steel guitar or honky-tonk lament here.

Rather, she and producer Dave Cobb have crafted a sound defined more by piano and cello

as well as other strings. And they use it to enhance, not sweeten, the cut-to-the-bone nature of the songs, from the seductive longing of “Hands on You” and “Wild Love” to the hard truths confronted in “Hard on a Heart,” “Mother’s Daughter,” and “I’m Trying To”: “How long do you try / Before you let it die?”

For all the scarred experience that underpins much of the set, Monroe ends on upliftting notes that don’t feel forced. On “Daddy I Told You,” she returns to the theme of flight: “Daddy I told you I was gonna fly / I’d get out of that town alive.” And on the closing “Keys to the Kingdom,” she nods to the healing power of music, a power she has so adroitly harnessed herself: “I was handed keys to the kingdom / I was given a haunted guitar / And I heard it sing / Every song it ever wrote and then some.

— Nick Cristiano, The Philadelphia Inquirer WILLIE NELSON, “Last Man Standing” — “It’s getting hard to watch my pals check out, it cuts like a worn-out knife,” Willie Nelson sings on the title cut of Last Man Standing, which is either his 67th or 73rd studio album, depending on whom you ask. “One thing I’ve leaned about running the road is ‘forever’ don’t apply to life.”

Like last year’s “God’s Problem Child,” which also included all new songs co-written by producer Buddy Cannon (often with lyrics composed via text message), “Last Man Standing” contemplates mortality from a wry perspective.

“I don’t want to be the last man standing,” sings Nelson, who turned 85 on Sunday. “On second thought, maybe I do.”

With his road band augmented on a sprightly set of honky-tonk workouts and

jazz-inflected ballads by studio ringers such as Alison Krauss (who sings and plays fiddle), Nelson remains a great sui generis singer and phrase-maker.

He’s up for adventure on the rollicking “Ready to Roar” and subtly suggests now is the time for political engagement on “Me and You”: “I had a friend I used to talk to, we used to both sit on the fence,” the sage country singer sings.

“But anymore I can’t relate to him, ’cause he ain’t got a lick of sense.”

— Dan DeLuca, The Philadelphia Inquirer OKKERVIL RIVER, “In the Rainbow Rain” — Will Sheff rebooted Okkervil River with a new band for 2016’s lush “Away,” and he uses the same players on the new “In the Rainbow Rain.” The sound is expansive, more reliant on keyboards, sax, and gospel-like female backing singers than on the

electric guitars and brooding melodies of his past. At times, its echoes of ’80s rock recalls Philly’s War on Drugs at their most leisurely (“Pulled Up the Ribbon,” “Family Song”). The style suits these open-hearted songs.

Sheff is a versatile and precise writer. In the opener, “Famous Tracheotomies,” he catalogs surgeries — his own, Gary Coleman’s, Mary Wells’, Dylan Thomas’ and Ray Davies’ — and ends with an instrumental allusion to “Waterloo Sunset.” “External Actor,” about a search for “moments of opaque-eyed, knocked-down rapture,” is full of rapid-fire tongue-twisting wordplay. At heart, “In the Rainbow Room” is about finding the confidence to believe in love and family in the face of doubt and disillusionment.

It’s a balm.

— Steve Klinge, The Philadelphia Inquirer

MODERN LIFE WITH A

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E10 - Thursday, May 3, 2018

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

ON STAGE in the Skagit Valley and surrounding area May 3-9 Thursday.3 THEATER

”Descendants”: 7 p.m., Sedro-Woolley High School, 1235 3rd St., Sedro-Woolley. $5-$10. 360-855-3510. ”Mimecycle”: 7:30 p.m., Sylvia Center for the Arts, 205 Prospect St., Bellingham. $12. 360-305-3524 or sylviacenterforthearts.org.

COMEDY

The GBU: 8 p.m., The Upfront Theatre, 1208 Bay St., Bellingham. $8. 360-7338855 or theupfront.com Upfront Stand Up: 10 p.m., The Upfront Theatre, 1208 Bay St., Bellingham. $5. 360733-8855 or theupfront.com

Friday.4 THEATER

”Into the Woods”: 7:30 p.m., Lincoln Theatre, 712 S. First St., Mount Vernon. $12$25. 360-336-8955 or lincolntheatre.org. ”Descendants”: 7 p.m., Sedro-Woolley High School, 1235 Third St., Sedro-Woolley. $5-$10. 360-855-3510. ”Mimecycle”: 7:30 p.m., Sylvia Center for the Arts, 205 Prospect St., Bellingham. $12. 360-305-3524 or sylviacenterforthearts.org.

COMEDY

Baywatch: 8 p.m., The Upfront Theatre, 1208 Bay St., Bellingham. $10. 360-7338855 or theupfront.com.

Backyard Brawl: 10 p.m., The Upfront Theatre, 1208 Bay St., Bellingham. $10.

360-733-8855 or theupfront.com.

David Sedaris: 7 p.m., Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N. Commercial St., Bellingham.

360-734-6080 or mountbakertheatre.com.

Saturday.5 THEATER

”Into the Woods”: 7:30 p.m., Lincoln Theatre, 712 S. First St., Mount Vernon. $12$25. 360-336-8955 or lincolntheatre.org. ”Descendants”: 7 p.m., Sedro-Woolley High School, 1235 Third St., Sedro-Woolley. $5-$10. 360-855-3510. ”Mimecycle”: 7:30 p.m., Sylvia Center for the Arts, 205 Prospect St., Bellingham. $12. 360-305-3524 or sylviacenterforthearts.org.

MUSIC

Lavon Hardison: 3 p.m., Sudden Valley

LINDSEY BOWEN PHOTO

FRIDAY-SUNDAY.4-6 ”INTO THE WOODS”

7:30 p.m., Lincoln Theatre, 712 S. 1st St., Mount Vernon. $12-25. 360-336-8955 or lincolntheatre.org.

Dance Barn, 8 Barn View Drive, Bellingham. $20. 360-671-1709 or fswl.org.

COMEDY

Nick Swardson: Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N. Commercial St., Bellingham. $39.75.

360-734-6080 or mountbakertheatre.com.

Baywatch: 8 p.m., The Upfront Theatre, 1208 Bay St., Bellingham. $10. 360-7338855 or theupfront.com.

Backyard Brawl: 10 p.m., The Upfront Theatre, 1208 Bay St., Bellingham. $10.

360-733-8855 or theupfront.com.

Sunday.6 THEATER

”Into the Woods”: 2 p.m., Lincoln Theatre, 712 S. First St., Mount Vernon. $12-$25.

360-336-8955 or lincolntheatre.org.

COMEDY

The Gateway Show: 8 p.m., The Upfront Theatre, 1208 Bay St., Bellingham. $14.

Ages 21 and over. 360-733-8855 or theupfront.com.

Monday.7 THEATER

Camille Saint-Saëns’ Carnival of the Animals: 10 a.m., Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N. Commercial St., Bellingham. $6 to $7.50.

360-734-6080 or mountbakertheatre.com.

Tuesday.8

COMEDY

Shakedown Punch Up: 7:30 p.m., The Shakedown, 1212 N. State St., Bellingham. Ages 21 and over. shakedownbellingham.com

Wednesday.9 THEATER

”Into the Woods”: 7:30 p.m., Lincoln Theatre, 712 S. First St., Mount Vernon. $12$25. 360-336-8955 or lincolntheatre.org.

COMEDY

Kyle Kinane: 8 p.m., The Underground, 211 E. Chestnut St., Bellingham. $25. Ages 21 and over. 360-306-3178.

Thursday.10 COMEDY

The GBU: 8 p.m., The Upfront Theatre, 1208 Bay St., Bellingham. $8 360-733-8855 or theupfront.com

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TUNING UP Playing at area venues May 3-10 Thursday.3 Swil Kanim: 7:30 p.m., Conway Muse, 18444 Spruce/Main, Conway.

360-445-3000 or conwaymuse.com.

Meece, OC45, Burn Burn Burn, Crystal Myth: 8:30 p.m., The Shakedown, 1212 State St., Bellingham. $6. 360-77-1067 or shakedownbellingham. com.

Friday.4

Current Swell, Ocie Elliott: 9 p.m., Wild Buffalo, 208 W. Holly St., Bellingham. $12. 360-746-8733 or wildbuffalo.net.

Melissa Mickelson: 9 p.m., Winner’s Lounge, The Skagit Casino Resort, 5984 Darrk Lane, Bow. 877-275-2448 or theskagit.com.

3ish: 8 p.m., Rockfish Grill & Anacortes Brewery, 320 Commercial Ave., Anacortes. Free. 360-5881720 or anacortesrockfish.com.

Tutwiler Station: 7:30 p.m., Conway Muse, 18444 Spruce/Main, Conway. $8. 360-445-3000 or conwaymuse.com.

Dead Hexers, Dirty Dirty, Mud On My Bra, Gallowmaker: 8:30 p.m., The Shakedown, 1212 State St., Bellingham. $6.

360-778-1067 or shakedownbellingham.com.

Mark Ashworth: 6 p.m., Hotel Bellwether, 1 Bellwether Way, Bellingham. 360-392-3100 or hotelbellwether.com.

Good Vibrations: 6:30 p.m., Mount Vernon Elks Lodge, 2120 Market St., Mount Vernon. Members and signed-in guests only. 360-848-8882.

CC Adams Band: 8:30 p.m., Big Lake Bar & Grill, 18247 Highway 9, Mount Vernon. 360-4226411.

SATURDAY.5 JOE T. COOK BLUES BAND

7:30 p.m., Conway Muse, 18444 Spruce/Main, Conway. $10. 360-445-3000 or conwaymuse.com.

Saturday.5

Luke Wallace: 7 p.m., Kenelly Keys, 1901 Commercial Ave., Anacortes. $10. evergreenislands.org.

Groovebot: 9 p.m., Firefly Lounge, 1015 N. State St., Bellingham. thefireflylounge.com or www.facebook.com/TheFireflyBham.

Mama Dirty Skirt: 8:30 p.m., The Old Edison, 5829 Cains Court, Bow. 360-766-6266 or theoldedison.com.

Luca Lush, traffic., Prongs: 8 p.m., Wild Buffalo, 208 W. Holly St., Bellingham. $10. 360-7468733 or wildbuffalo.net.

Troy Fair Band: 6 p.m., Eagle Haven Winery, 8243

Sims Road, Sedro-Woolley. 360-856-6248 or eaglehavenwinery.com/ events.

Melissa Mickelson: 9 p.m., Winner’s Lounge, Skagit Casino Resort, 5984 Darrk Lane, Bow. 877-275-2448 or theskagit.com.

Knut Bell & the Blue Collars: 9 p.m., Loco Billy’s Wild Moon Saloon, 27021 102nd Ave. NW, Stanwood. 425-737-5144, 360-629-6500 or locobillys.com.

Joe T. Cook Blues Band: 7:30 p.m., Conway Muse, 18444 Spruce/ Main, Conway. $10. 360445-3000 or conwaymuse. com.

The DiTrani Brothers

& The Shaky Barbers: 7:30 p.m., Conway Muse, 18444 Spruce/Main, Conway. $10. 360-445-3000 or conwaymuse.com.

Actionesse, General Mojo’s, Apology Wars: 9 p.m., The Shakedown, 1212 State St., Bellingham. $6. 360-77-1067 or shakedownbellingham. com.

Ruby Flambé: 6 p.m., Hotel Bellwether, 1 Bellwether Way, Bellingham.

360-392-3100 or hotelbellwether.com.

Alien Culture: 8:30 p.m., Big Lake Bar & Grill, 18247 Highway 9, Mount Vernon.

360-422-6411.

The Mix: 8:30 p.m., H2O, 314 Commercial Ave., Anacortes. ana-

cortesh2o.com or 360755-3956.

Sunday.6

Bow Diddlers: 5:30 p.m., The Old Edison, 5829 Cains Court, Bow. 360-766-6266 or theoldedison.com.

Janette West Trio: 4:30 p.m., Hotel Bellwether, 1 Bellwether Way, Bellingham. 360-392-3100 or hotelbellwether.com.

Monday.7

Fat Fridays: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Watershed Lounge, Angel of the Winds Casino, 3438 Stoluckquamish Lane, Arlington. angelofthewinds.com.

Wednesday.9

Stilly River Band: 6 p.m., Rockfish Grill & Anacortes Brewery, 320 Commercial Ave., Anacortes. Free. 360-5881720 or anacortesrockfish.com.

Thursday.10

Anacortes High School Jazz Band: 6 p.m., Rockfish Grill & Anacortes Brewery, 320 Commercial Ave., Anacortes. Free. 360588-1720 or anacortesrockfish.com.

The Family Crest, Goodnight, Texas: 9 p.m., The Shakedown, 1212 State St., Bellingham. $1214. 360-77-1067 or shakedownbellingham.com.

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GET INVOLVED

ART

WEAVER GUILD MEETING: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today, May 3, Pacific Rim Institute, 180 Parker Road, Coupeville. Presentation

by Susan Torntore, Ph.D, curator and education program coordinator at the Pacific Northwest Quilt and Fiber Arts Museum.

Free.

CALL FOR ARTISTS: The Friends of the Anacortes Library’s Art Committee is launching a new art exhibit program in the community room of the Anacortes Public Library. Artists from the 98221 ZIP code may submit digital photos of their two-dimensional art for consideration. Email folartcommittee@ gmail.com for details. The first exhibition will be May 10-Sept.

13.

CALL FOR MOSAIC ARTISTS: Northwest Garden Bling and Wolf Designs’ annual Mosaic Challenge is underway and will culminate with a juried presentation of artwork May 1-13. First, second, third and People’s Choice awards will be given. 360-708-3279, nwgardenbling@frontier.com or stop in at Northwest Garden Bling at 44574 Highway 20 in Grassmere Village, Concrete.

ARTS COMMISSION: The Mount Vernon Arts Commission meets at 4:30 p.m the third Tuesday of each month at Hillcrest Park Administration Office, 1717 S. 13th St., Mount Vernon. 360-336-6215.

ART CLASSES

ACRYLIC PAINTING CLASSES: For beginners to advance.

Classes: $150 for series of three classes with Logan Fox. Art supply list available. Classes at The Good Stuff Art, 604 Commercial Ave., Anacortes. the goodstuffarts.com, 360-755-3152 or kpeterson@thegoodstuff.com.

PACIFIC NORTHWEST QUILT AND FIBER ARTS MUSEUM: Varied exhibits and classes are available to the public at 703 S. Second St., La Conner. Museum hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Admission: $7, $5 students and military, free

for members and children ages 11 and under. 360-466-4288 or laconnerquilts.org. n Fiber Fridays: bring any type of fiber art project to work on while visiting with other fiber artists from 9 a.m. to noon every Friday. Free and open to all.

CLASSES: Gail Harker Center for Creative Arts offers a variety of art classes and workshops for artists of every level at 12636 Chilberg Road, Mount Vernon.

Online courses are also available.

For information and a complete schedule: 360-466-0110 or gailcreativestudies.com.

CLASSES: Choose from painting, photography, fiber and 3D art workshops taught by professional artists at the Pacific NorthWest Art School, 15 NW Birch St., Coupeville. For information and a complete schedule: 360-678-3396 or pacificnorthwestartschool.com.

CLASSES: Dakota Art Center offers a variety of art classes and workshops at 17873 Highway 536, Mount Vernon. 360-416-6556, ext. 5, or dakotaartcenter.com.

STANWOOD CAMANO ARTS GUILD: A Guilded Gallery, 8700 271st St. NW, Stanwood, offers a variety of art classes and workshops. For information or to register: 360-629-2787 or stanwoodcamanoarts.com.

BOOKS

GREAT BOOKS READING GROUP MEETING: The Great Books Reading Group examines passages from important writings in history from 6 to 8 p.m. the fourth Monday of each month at the Burlington Public Library, 820 E. Washington Ave. 360-941-1437 and shunji.asari@ gmail.com.

DANCE

FOLK DANCING: Skagit-Anacortes Folk Dancers meet Tuesdays at Bay View Civic Hall, 12615 C St., Bay View. Learn to folk dance to a variety of international music. Instruction begins at 7 p.m., followed by review and request dances until 9:30. First session free, $5 thereafter. No partners needed. Gary or Ginny, 360-766-6866.

SCOTTISH DANCING: Bellingham Scottish Country Dancers meet from 7 to 9:30 p.m.

Wednesdays at the Fairhaven Library auditorium (upstairs), 1117 12th St., Bellingham. Wear comfortable clothes and softsoled shoes without heels. $8 per class. For information, call Mary Anderson at 360-933-1779 or visit bellinghamscd.org.

JOLLY TIME CLUB: Dance to live music from 1 to 3:30 p.m.

Thursdays at Hillcrest Lodge, 1717 S. 13th St., Mount Vernon.

For information, contact Gisela at 360-424-5696.

MUSIC

UKULELE FUN & SONG CIRCLE: 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesdays, Mount Vernon Senior Center, 1401 Cleveland St. Free.

Beginners welcome and loaner ukuleles available. Song sheets provided. 206-790-4862 or yogaheartspace0@gmail.com.

BARBERSHOP HARMONY: Join the An-O-Chords, a fourpart barbershop harmony group that meets at 7 p.m. Thursdays at Bethany Covenant Church, 1318 18th St., Mount Vernon.

No experience necessary, no auditions required. Learn by rote, you don’t have to read music. All ages welcome. anochords.org.

360-466-0109.

TIME FOR FIDDLERS: The Washington Old Time Fiddlers play at 6:30 p.m. the second and fourth Fridays of each month at the Mount Vernon Senior Center, 1401 Cleveland. St. Free; donations accepted. 360-6301156.

SHELTER BAY CHORUS: Practices are held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursdays at the Shelter Bay Clubhouse, 1000 Shoshone Drive, La Conner. New members welcome. No need to be a Shelter Bay resident. 360-223-3230.

SING IN HARMONY: Join the women of Harmony Northwest Chorus from 6:30 to 9 p.m. every Monday at the Mount Vernon Senior Center, 1401 Cleveland Ave. Seeking women who like to sing a cappella music. All skill levels welcome. 360-201-5861 or harmonynorthwest.org.

ANACORTES OPEN MIC:

9:30 p.m. Thursdays, Brown Lantern Ale House, 412 Commercial Ave., Anacortes. 360293-2544.

OPEN MIC: Jam Night, 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Thursdays, Conway Pub & Eatery, 18611 Main St., Conway. 360-445-4733.

PRESENTATIONS, LECTURES, TALKS

CLIMATE CHANGE: CARBON FEE AND DIVIDEND SOLUTION?: Steve Rothboeck of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Whidbey chapter, will speak to Fidalgo Democrats about their solution to climate change from from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, May 8, at the Anacortes Public Library, 1220 10th St., Anacortes.

RECREATION

ALL-COMER TRACK MEETS: The meets will take place each Wednesday night, May 30 through June 27, for all ages and abilities at Burlington-Edison High School. The track will open at 5 p.m. for registration. Field events begin at 5:30 p.m. with running events beginning at about 6 p.m. Cost is $5 for a single day or $25 for a season pass and a free shirt. recassistant@ burlingtonwa.gov or 360-7559649.

NORTH PUGET SOUND DRAGON BOAT CLUB: The organizations is looking for new members. Two teams practice in the Oak Harbor Marina: n Team Stayin’ Alive practices from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturdays and 6 to 7 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays; its season runs from April through October.

Contact Norma Lisherness at njlish@gmail.com. n Team Tsunami practices year-round, from 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Sundays and 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Contact Cathie Harrison; cathieanne@ aol.com. First three paddles are free.

PLANT SALE: The Nitty Gritty Garden Club Plant Sale will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Friday, May 11, at Skagit Farmers Supply, 900 Riverside Drive, Mount Vernon. Unique plants

for sun and shade, perennials, annuals and more. Books, decorative containers, tools and supplies. 360-424-4207.

WOMEN’S RUN & WALK: The 36th annual Bay View Women’s Run & Walk will take place Saturday, May 19, at the Padilla Bay Interpretive Center, 10441 Bayview-Edison Road. The event supports Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services and Women’s Health. Registration begins at 8 a.m. Race starts at 10 a.m. bayviewwormensrun.com. More information: 360-757-4815.

HEALTHY HIKES: Washington State Parks invites the public to get walking in 2018 with Healthy Hikes at Rockport State Park.

Participants who hike 100 miles in Rockport State Park during 2018 will earn a hand-carved walking stick. Free. 360-8538461 or parks.state.wa.us/574/ Rockport.

NATIONAL TRAILS DAY: Burlington Parks and Recreation will lead a guided walk at 10 a.m.

Saturday, June 2, along Skagit River Dike Trail. Free. 360-7559649.

A WALK IN THE WOODS TOUR: Island Transit will provide tours of three parks on Friday, June 22. The free walk will visit Greenbank Farm, South Whidbey State Park and Whidbey Camano Land Trust.

RSVP: 360-678-9536 or travel@ islandtransit.org.

FRIENDS OF THE FOREST HIKES: Join the Friends of the Forest for scenic hikes in the forest lands around Anacortes.

Dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes. No pets. Free. 360293-3725 or friendsoftheacfl.org.

VOLUNTEER AS A BEACH NATURALIST: Learn how marine life survive the ever-changing beach environment by becoming a beach naturalist with WSU Snohomish County Extension. Volunteers will receive 20 hours of university-caliber training on a variety of topics. The training location will rotate between Everett, Mukilteo and Edmonds. Training is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. starting May 9.

425-357-6020 or beachwatchers. wsu.edu/Snohomish/training

Thursday, May 3, 2018 - E13

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TRAVEL

Legoland’s latest hotel: A castle

By LORI WEISBERG The San Diego Union-Tribune

CARLSBAD, Calif. — You might call it Lego on steroids.

From the moment young kids are greeted in the hotel lobby by a towering Lego wizard who stages a surprise light show to when they crawl into their bunk beds and gaze up to see a shooting star, they are transported to a medieval castle inhabited by more than 2,000 Lego-crafted characters.

And that’s even before a visit to Legoland next door.

Last week, the Carlsbad theme park debuted the 250-room Castle Hotel, its second onsite hotel in five years. Conceived four years ago, the latest lodging project capitalizes on the broad appeal of all things Lego — from licensed films and video games to the brand’s toy sets and its familiar swivel-armed brick characters.

Legoland’s parent company, British-based Merlin Entertainments, is also embracing a savvy business strategy honed decades ago by entertainment behemoth Disney: Build a hotel at your theme park and they will come.

Globally, Legoland has eight branded hotels, most of which opened over the last six years. By comparison, Disney boasts 37 that it owns and operates at its theme parks, with nearly half of those at Walt Disney World in Florida. In Anaheim, work is expected to start this year on a new 700-room luxury hotel, which will be the Disneyland Resort’s fourth theme park hotel.

Universal, which for years did little to expand its hotel portfolio, has been ramping up development in recent years, while the SeaWorld-branded parks have no hotels of their own.

“As a professor of the industry, I’ve always thought the hotels made sense and not just for the reason it is copying the most successful competitor in the marketplace,” said Martin Lewison, a theme park expert and business management professor at Farmingdale State College in New York. “Having a hotel makes the park feel more like a resort, which are popular because everything is taken care of you and you get all those characters in your room.

NELVIN C. CEPEDA / SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE

The front entrance to Legoland’s newest addition, the Castle Hotel, in Carlsbad, Calif.

“And it’s definitely worth noting you can charge a lot more for a room that has all the bells and whistles than the Days Inn down the street.”

Nightly rates at the Castle Hotel, which can be up to $50 more a night than those at Legoland’s original 250-room hotel, are expected to range from a low of $205 to the $400’s during the peak season.

While Legoland won’t divulge specific financial figures for the performance of its first hotel, the occupancy has averaged an impressive 80 percent, park president Peter Ronchetti has said previously. And during the summer months, the hotel generally sells out.

“Once we approached 2014 and saw the bookings, we were confident there wouldn’t be an issue adding a second hotel,” said Frank Idris, general manager of the Legoland Castle Hotel. “And bookings now are right on track with the first hotel, which is good, considering this is our second. We’re not seeing any cannibalization of the first hotel.”

The design of the Castle Hotel is a creative blend of Lego-building artistry, whimsy and a generous dash of humor.

Take, for example, a royal throne that doubles as a whoopee cushion and emits fart noises and a jester door that tells bad knock-knock jokes.

Everything about the hotel, from the Dragon’s Den restaurant to the knight-, princess- and wizard-themed rooms, is designed around a simple story line created to captivate Legoland’s key

demographic — children. The narrative is that the bad knights, many of whom are hiding in plain sight throughout the hotel, weren’t invited to the upcoming grand tournament, and they’re doing everything in their power to sneak in.

“In the knights and dragons rooms, the headboard looks like stained glass when you turn on the lights, almost like a glass mosaic piece,” explained Keith Carr, Merlin Entertainment’s project director for the Americas. “In the wizard rooms, you feel like you’re in a wizard’s office, potion bottles lit within the inside and (Lego) owls in the corner overseeing what’s going on. It’s like painting the story and making you feel like you’re living inside a medieval castle.”

It is that same sort of immersive environment that is the hallmark of Disney’s hotels, some more heavily themed than others. It’s a way of letting theme park guests stay in the “middle of the magic” even longer, says Lisa Black, director of hotel and resort strategy for Disney.

As an example, she points to the Animal Kingdom Lodge, linked to Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom theme park in Florida.

“It’s like you’re in Africa where you can actually go out onto our deck and see the animals grazing,” Black said.

“The decor of the lodge is reminiscent of Africa, you’ll hear drumming from the lobby area and our cast members (employees) are from the different countries within Africa.”

Local travel briefs TRAVEL TRENDS AND PACKING WORKSHOP: Led by Kathleen Collum, AAA travel store buyer and packing coach, at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 15, at AAA, 1600 E. College Way, Mount Vernon. Upcoming presentation: Viking River and Ocean Cruises, 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 15. RSVP: 360-848-2090.

FOR THE BIRDS: Skagit Guided Adventures offers a variety of birding tours daily around Skagit Valley and surrounding areas. Reservations required: 360-474-7479 or skagitguidedadventures.com.

WHATCOM SENIOR TOURS: Whatcom Senior Tours hosts a series of trips for seniors. Sign up by calling 360-733-4030, ext. 1015 or visiting the tour office at 315 Halleck St., Bellingham.

SHORT TRIPS: Mount Vernon Parks and Recreation offers travel opportunities for ages 8 and older (adult supervision required for ages 17 and younger). Trips depart from and return to Hillcrest Park, 1717 S. 13th St., Mount Vernon.

For information or to register: 360-336-6215.

RECREATION WITHOUT BORDERS: The organization offers recreational trips, tours and adventures throughout the Northwest and British Columbia. 360-766-7109 or recreationwithoutborders.com.

OAK HARBOR DAY TRIPS: The Oak Harbor Senior Center, 51 SE Jerome St., offers day trips for members. For details, call the travel desk at 360-279-4587.

STATE VISITOR CALL CENTER: The Washington Tourism Alliance’s ExperienceWA Call Center is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. 1-800-544-1800 or tourisminfo@watourismalliance.com.

PASSPORT APPLICATIONS: Anacortes Public Library, 1220 10th St., Anacortes, accepts new passport applications and applications for passports that have been expired for more than five years by appointment from noon to 6 p.m.

Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and from 1 to 4 p.m.

Saturdays. Passport forms and information on fees and how to apply are available at travel. state.gov, or pick up an application and passport guide at the library.

Burlington Municipal Court accepts passport applications from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 311 Cedar St., Suite A, Burlington. New and renewal forms are available. 360-755-0492.

Post offices in Mount Vernon, Sedro-Woolley and Oak Harbor accept passport applications by appointment. Contact individual offices for available days and times.

Oak Harbor Senior Center, 51 SE Jerome St., Oak Harbor, accepts passport applications Monday through Friday. Appointments are recommended. 360-279-4580.

E14 - Thursday, May 3, 2018

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

HOT TICKETS EARL KLUGH: May 3-6, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206-441-9729 or jazzalley.com.

KENDRICK LAMAR, SZA: May 5, White River Amphitheatre, Auburn.

800-745-3000 or livenation.com.

LAURA KING: May 7, McCaw Hall, Seattle. 844827-8118 or uniquelives. com.

JOEY DEFRANCESCO TRIO: May 8-9, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle.

206-441-9729 or jazzalley. com.

EUGE GROOVE: May 10-13, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206-441-9729 or jazzalley.com.

PINK: May 13, KeyArena, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or livenation.com.

JOSE JAMES CELEBRATES BILL WITHERS: May 14-16, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206441-9729 or jazzalley. com.

DAVID BLAINE LIVE: May 16, Paramount Theatre, Seattle. 360-7453000 or ticketmaster.com.

SLAYER, LAMB OF GOD, ANTHRAX, BEHEMOTH, TESTAMENT: May 16, Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, BC. 800-7453000 or livenation.com.

MADELINE PEYROUX: May 17-20, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206441-9729 or jazzalley. com.

PAUL SIMON: May 18, KeyArena, Seattle. 360745-3000 or ticketmaster. com.

CAPTAIN SCOTT KELLY: May 23, McCaw Hall, Seattle. 844-827-8118 or uniquelives.com.

BOBBY CALDWELL: May 24-27, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206441-9729 or jazzalley. com.

SASQUATCH! MUSIC FESTIVAL: with Bon Iver, David Byrne, Modest Mouse, The National and

KEVIN HART June 14, KeyArena, Seattle. 360-745-3000 or ticketmaster.com. more, May 25-27, Gorge Amphitheatre, George.

800-745-3000 or livenation.com.

MAROON 5: May 30, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma.

800-745-3000 or livenation.com.

SPYRO GYRA: May 31-June 2, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206-4419729 or jazzalley.com.

TOM JONES: June 1, Paramount Theater, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or livenation.com.

TODD RUNDGREN’S UTOPIA: June 1, Moore Theatre, Seattle. 360-7453000 or ticketmaster.com.

STEELY DAN, THE DOOBIE BROTHERS: June 5, KeyArena, Seattle.

800-745-3000 or livenation.com.

KEVIN HART: June 14, KeyArena, Seattle. 360745-3000 or ticketmaster. com.

VIOLA DAVIS: June 18, McCaw Hall, Seattle. 844827-8118 or uniquelives. com.

CHRIS BROWN: June

19, White River Amphitheatre, Auburn. 800-7453000 or livenation.com.

JIMMY BUFFETT: June 23, KeyArena, Seattle.

800-745-3000 or livenation.com.

DEAD & COMPANY: June 29, Gorge Amphitheatre, George. 800-7453000 or livenation.com.

COUNTING CROWS: June 29, White River Amphitheatre, Auburn.

800-745-3000 or livenation.com.

DUA LIPA: July 2, WaMu Theater, Seattle.

800-745-3000 or livenation.com.

HARRY STYLES: July 7, KeyArena, Seattle. 800745-3000 or livenation. com.

PENTATONIX: July 14, White River Amphitheatre, Auburn. 800-7453000 or livenation.com.

BRIT FLOYD: July 14, Paramount Theatre, Seattle. 360-745-3000 or livenation.com.

CHRIS STAPLETON: July 21, White River

Amphitheatre, Auburn.

800-745-3000 or livenation.com.

PHISH: July 22, Gorge Amphitheatre, George.

800-745-3000 or livenation.com.

FOREIGNER: July 27, White River Amphitheatre, Auburn. 800-7453000 or livenation.com.

WATERSHED WITH BRANTLEY GILBERT, BRAD PAISLEY, BLAKE SHELTON AND MORE: Aug. 3-5, Gorge Amphitheatre, George. 800-7453000 or livenation.com.

MOUNT BAKER R & B FESTIVAL: Aug. 3-5, Deming Log Show fairgrounds, Bellingham. bakerblues. com ortickettomato.com/ event/5325.

WEEZER, THE PIXIES: Aug. 4, White River Amphitheatre, Auburn.

800-745-3000 or livenation.com.

PEARL JAM: Aug. 8, 10, Safeco Field, Seattle. 800745-3000 or livenation. com.

DARYL HALL & JOHN

OATES, TRAIN: Aug. 11, KeyArena, Seattle. 800-7453000 or livenation.com.

KID ROCK: Aug. 18, White River Amphitheatre, Auburn. 800-7453000 or livenation.com ALICE COOPER: Aug. 19, Angel of The Winds Area, Everett.

866.332.8499 or angelofthewindsarena.com.

LADY ANTEBELLUM, DARIUS RUCKER, RUSSELL DICKERSON: Aug. 15, White River Amphitheatre, Auburn. 800-7453000 or livenation.com.

SLAYER, LAMB OF GOD, ANTHRAX, TESTAMENT: Aug. 23, Sunlight Supply Amphitheatre, Ridgefield. 800-745-3000 or livenation.com.

SMASHING PUMPKINS: Aug. 24, KeyArena, Seattle. 360-745-3000 or ticketmaster.com.

SLAYER, LAMB OF GOD, ANTHRAX, TESTAMENT: Aug. 24, White River Amphitheatre, Auburn. 800-745-3000 or kiswpaininthegrass.com.

ALICE IN CHAINS, THE CULT, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS, BUSH: Aug. 25, White River Amphitheatre, Auburn. 800745-3000 or kiswpaininthegrass.com.

AVENGED SEVENFOLD, PROPHETS OF RAGE, THREE DAYS GRACE: Aug. 26, White River Amphitheatre, Auburn. 800-745-3000 or kiswpaininthegrass.com.

ZAC BROWN BAND: Aug. 31, Safeco Field, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or livenation.com.

DAVE MATTHEWS BAND: Aug. 31-Sept. 2, Gorge Amphitheatre, George. 800-745-3000 or livenation.com.

FOO FIGHTERS: Sept.

1, Safeco Field, Seattle.

800-745-3000 or livenation.com.

ROD STEWART: Sept.

1, White River Amphithe-

atre, Auburn. 800-7453000 or livenation.com.

GAME OF THRONES LIVE CONCERT EXPERIENCE: Sept. 6, KeyArena, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or livenation.com.

EVANESCENCE, LINDSAY STERLING: Sept. 7, White River Amphitheatre, Auburn. 800-7453000 or livenation.com.

TOBY KEITH, NED LEDOUX: Sept. 15, Washington State Fair, Puyallup.

888-559-3247 or thefair. com.

AVETT BROTHERS, THE HEAD & THE HEART: Sept. 15, Gorge Amphitheatre, George. 800-7453000 or livenation.com.

JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS, CHEAP TRICK: Sept. 19, Washington State Fair, Puyallup. 888559-3247 or thefair.com.

BRETT ELDREDGE, RUNAWAY JUNE, DEVIN DAWSON: Sept. 20, Washington State Fair, Puyallup. 888-559-3247 or thefair.com.

GABRIEL IGLESIAS: Sept. 22, Washington State Fair, Puyallup.

888-559-3247 or thefair. com/fun/details/gabriel-fluffy-iglesias.

JOURNEY, DEF LEPPARD: Sept. 29, Gorge Amphitheatre, George. 800745-3000 or livenation.com.

CHILDISH GAMBINO: Sept. 29, KeyArena, Seattle. 360-745-3000 or ticketmaster.com.

5 SECONDS OF SUMMER: Oct. 5, Paramount Theatre, Seattle. 360-7453000 or ticketmaster.com.

LUKE BRYAN: Oct. 12, White River Amphitheatre, Auburn. 800-7453000 or livenation.com.

GOO GOO DOLLS: Nov. 13, Paramount Theatre, Seattle. 360-7453000 or ticketmaster.com.

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE: Nov. 12-13, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma. 800-7453000 or livenation.com.

Thursday, May 3, 2018 - E15

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

DINING GUIDE

AT THE LINCOLN

Coming up at The Rockfish Grill and H2O:

ly aF mi

FOOD • OYSTERS • BURGERS STEAKS • SEAFOOD • SALADS

F

Serving GOOD BREAKFAST Daily!

SPECIALS HAPPY OYSTERS ONTHE 1/2 SHELL Mondays $10 Burgers HOUR •SATURDAY & SUNDAY PULLTABS

anacortesrockfish.com / anacortesH2O.com

• Taco Tuesdays

Come to the Conway Pub & Eatery

1754882

LINDSEY BOWEN PHOTO

“Into the Woods” will be staged Friday through Sunday and Wednesday at the Lincoln.

FRI. 5/4 8PM 3-ISH WEDS. 5/9 6PM STILLY RIVER BAND WEDS. 5/16 6PM el COLONEL and MARY de la FUENTE WEDS. 5/23 6PM JANETTE WEST GROUP FRI. 5/4 10PM DJ S.A. SAT. 5/5 8:30PM THE MIX FRI. 5/11 10PM DJ S.A. SAT. 5/12 8:30PM GIN GYPSY

!

ly ir end

or Conway Boxcar 8630 271st NW, Stanwood WA 98292

***BLOODY MARY’S*** SUNDAY SPECIAL $6.00 9amto $4.50 11:30am to close $2.50 tillclose 11:30am

conway Pub & Eatery • open mon-sun 9am-2am 18611 main, conway wa 98238 • 360.445.4733

1587619 1705107

‘Into the Woods’ 7:30 P.M. FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 4-5 2 P.M. SUNDAY, MAY 6 7:30 P.M. WEDNESDAY, MAY 9

Over the past eight months, Skagit Valley teens from diverse faith backgrounds have been participating in an interfaith dialogue program sponsored by the Treacy-Levine Center in collaboration with Voices of the Children. Throughout the program, teens have shared their own faith traditions while learning of others’ through open exploration.

Join teen participants for an evening of sharing, learning and engagement centered around a common topic among all faiths: compassion. The program includes student reflection, a video slideshow and group conversation before unveiling the culminating project of this program: a mural painted in downtown Mount Vernon that focuses on living life with more compassion.

Admission by donation. votchildren.org/ our-shared-story-compassion.html.

Gender Revolution: A Journey with Katie Couric

LIVE MUsIc FRI & sAt cHEcK LIstINGs aneliaskitchenandstage.com

513 S 1st Street, La Conner • 360.399.1805

50% off

LocaL RestauRants and moRe

magnoliagrillfood.com

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& Bistro BUY 1 MENU ITEM, GET 1

FREE

Consciously-sourced Artisan Food & Beverage specializing in Seafood • Vegan • GF 614 S. 1st. • Mount Vernon, WA 360-588-6600 ShambalaBakery.com

1731681

onLy at goskagit.com/deaLs

360.873.8938

208 Ferry St., Sedro Woolley

COUPON

Equal or Lesser Than $10 Coupon Good ‘til May 30

7 P.M. THURSDAY, MAY 10

In this two-hour documentary, Katie Couric sets out to explore the rapidly evolving complexities of gender identity.

Free; presented by PFLAG, Skagit and Whatcom chapters. Donations accepted.

— The Lincoln Theatre is located at 712 S. First St., downtown Mount Vernon. lincolntheatre.org or 360-336-8955.

Read what people are saying about us on Facebook - Over 70 5-Star Reviews!

Hours: Monday - Saturday 8 am - 9 pm • Sunday 8 am - 3 pm

OPEN 11AM - LAst cALL

Closed Tuesdays

Prime Rib on Friday Nights!

Catering to fit your budget, give us a call or email!

1747839

6 P.M. SUNDAY, MAY 6

Join us for Mother’s Day Brunch 11 am - 2 pm. Featuring women guitar players on stage in honor of Mother’s Day! Make your reservation today!

OPEN FOR BREAKFAST EVERY DAY

BREAKFAST LUNCH OR DINNER BEFORE OR AFTER SEEING THE TULIPS!

360.466.4411

1596709

Our Shared Story: Compassion

Craft beer • Pnw wines House infused vodkas

1754061

META Performing Arts presents “Into the Woods,” the Tony Award-winning musical classic by Stephen Sondheim & James Lapine, reacquainting us with “Brother’s Grimm” folklore and characters. $12 to $25. All seats are half off on May 9.

A menu of Polish family recipes and Northwest fare made in-house from fresh, local ingredients.

LaConner Whitney Rd. & Hwy. 20

1585064 1474688

E16 - Thursday, May 3, 2018

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

MOVIES

NEW THIS WEEK

‘Tully’ is deep yet concise rumination on motherhood

By KATIE WALSH Tribune News Service

Screenwriter Diablo Cody won an Oscar for her debut screenplay for “Juno,” directed by Jason Reitman, and firmly established her unique voice — sarcastic, smart and referential, a singular blend of self-deprecation and superiority. With Reitman, Cody has explored the outer ranges and growth of this voice across the various stages of life, from the young, snarky pregnant teen Juno, to the single, embittered novelist returning to her hometown in “Young Adult,” and now to an exhausted, middle-aged mother in “Tully.”

Charlize Theron, who delivered the barbs of “Young Adult” with such flair, completes the artistic trifecta with Reitman and Cody once again in “Tully,” playing Marlo, the heavily pregnant mother of two just trying to get through the day intact.

Already frazzled, things are looking bleak for the arrival of her third child, with her troubled kindergartner Jonah, her passive husband, Drew (Ron Livingston), and ostentatiously wealthy brother, Craig (Mark Duplass). Marlo gets through the day with a forward-facing smile that turns into a derisive sneer behind closed doors, but that careful balance

FOCUS FEATURES VIA AP

Charlize Theron stars in “Tully.”

is about to be thrown entirely off.

Craig’s baby gift to her, presented in his home tiki bar, is the services of a night nanny, which Marlo rebuffs. She claims she doesn’t want a stranger bonding with her newborn in the middle of the night, but the cycle of feeding, pumping, diapering and homemaking (frozen pizza and microwaved broccoli) is brutally punishing.

After a particularly rough day dealing with school administration, who’d like the family to hire an aide for Jonah, she cracks and digs up the number.

Tully (Mackenzie Davis), the nanny, arrives on her doorstep at night, a bright-eyed font of girlish awe and wonder, spouting fun facts and positive vibes, sporting a taut, 20-something body, taking the baby off her hands, letting Marlo sleep, clean-

ing the house and baking cupcakes. “I’m here to take care of you,” she says. “You can’t fix the parts without treating the whole.”

Through Tully, the drowning Marlo works her way to the surface to catch a gasp of air. She’s a drowning woman, and Tully is the mermaid who rescues her from the crushing pressure she’s under. Turns out outsourcing half the maternal duties is the key to happiness and health.

The film explores the taboo of modern culture around the idea of “hired help” — Jonah’s classroom aide, Marlo’s favorite show “Gigolos.” Is there anything wrong with paying for assistance, or does it reveal a crack in the illusion of perfection?

In “Tully” there’s a true sense of flow among the collaborators, despite the dark material. Theron embodies Cody’s voice with ease and aplomb, making

clever quips sound organic to her specifically caustic personality. But Cody’s writing is restrained and efficient — it says a lot with a little, suggests but never overexplains. Reitman creates a realistically drab enough world to reflect Marlo’s dark reality, with a cluttered, out-of-date house, editing together montages of endless feedings and terrifying dream sequences and hallucinations. The film looks exactly like the inside of Marlo’s mind, just as her exterior appearance reflects her internal struggle.

“Tully” slowly reveals itself to the audience as a far more psychologically complex tale than simply “woman hires a nanny.”

Marlo is struggling with her identity as a mother, with the idea of normalcy as a gift to her children bumping up against the struggling mundanity of her suburban life. It’s an emotionally deep yet concise rumination on the nature of modern motherhood, on the inherently false premise of doing it all, of having it all and making it look good. “Tully” shatters that notion, presenting motherhood in all its gross and glorious struggle, and asserts the idea that we all need a little help sometimes, in whatever form that takes.

— 1:36. Rated R for language and some sexuality/ nudity. HHHH

Thursday, May 3, 2018 - E17

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

MOVIES MINI-REVIEWS Compiled from news services.

Ratings are 1 to 4 stars.

“Avengers: Infinity War” — This massively enjoyable and just plain massive candy-colored thrill ride adventure brings the Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy together to help hold off a villain with a richly dramatic background and actual dialogue. It’s the biggest and most ambitious Marvel movie yet, but it’s not the best. Sci-fi action, PG-13, 156 minutes.

HHH½ “Kings” — How did the makers of this terribly uneven film set during the acquittal of the cops who beat Rodney King in 1991, think it was a good idea to intersperse realistic scenes of the surrounding tension and violence with a wacky, rom-com subplot starring Halle Berry and Daniel Craig? Drama romance, R, 92 minutes. HH “Super Troopers 2” — In this sequel, 17 years after the original, the hapless lawmen patrol a piece of Quebec newly transferred to America. While there’s something kind of endearing about the disjointed chaos behind the comedy, there are simply too many dead spots and cheap jokes and flat gags to carry a fulllength feature. Comedy, R, 100 minutes . HH “I Feel Pretty” — A blow to the head deludes a cosmetics company staffer (Amy Schumer) into thinking she’s supermodel beautiful, enhancing her confidence. Schumer is clearly in her comfort zone and she eventually wins us over in this uneven, hit-andmiss, broad comedy, but here’s hoping the next time around, she tries something new. Comedy, PG-13, 107 minutes. HHH

MARVEL STUDIOS VIA AP

Benedict Cumberbatch (from left), Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo and Benedict Wong star in “Avengers: Infinity War.” “You Were Never Really Here” — Joaquin Phoenix has never been shy about going big, but his performance here as a hitman with a disturbing past ranks as one of his best because of what happens between the outbursts. He’s hired to rescue a senator’s daughter (Ekaterina Samsonov, hauntingly good) from sex traffickers in this feverish and gripping and disturbing drama. Thriller, R, 90 minutes. HHH½ “Rampage” — In this really loud, extremely dumb and consistently predictable CGI showcase, an evil corporation loses its samples of an experimental growth and aggression serum.

It’s extremely bad luck for America that these samples are discovered by a wolf, a crocodile and a silverback gorilla whose human buddy is played by Dwayne Johnson. Sci-fi action, PG-13, 107 minutes. H½ “Blockers” — On the night of the senior prom, parents of three teens try to thwart the girls’ vow to lose their virginity. Despite the best efforts of John Cena, Leslie Mann and Ike Barinholtz, “Blockers” becomes less interesting and less funny as the onscreen hijinks grow more outlandish and stupid and demeaning and crotch-oriented. Comedy, R, 102 minutes. HH

“Chappaquiddick” — Thanks to director John Curran and a powerfully effective ensemble cast, this flashback to the night in 1969 when Ted Kennedy (Jason Clarke) drove his car off a bridge, killing a young woman (Kate Mara), reminds us the real regret and outrage should be directed toward the privileged scion of an American political dynasty and everyone else who helped him minimize and excuse his unforgivable actions on that fateful night.

Historical drama, PG-13, 101 minutes. HHH½ “Paterno” — With the title role in HBO’s unsettling, riveting and scathing biopic, Al Pacino reminds us why he’s a singular talent. He captures the complexities and contradictions in a man who was considered a football god — until the questions about his actions (or lack thereof ) in reaction to the sex abuse allegations against his former assistant.

Biographical drama, not rated, 125 minutes. HHH½ “Andre the Giant” — This meticulously constructed look at one of the truly unique sports/entertainment figures of the 1970s and 1980s is a wonderful reminder of what we already knew about the legendary wrestler and creates a fuller, richer and more insightful portrayal of the man.

Documentary, not rated, 85 minutes. HHH½ “A Quiet Place” — John Krasinski is the director, co-writer and co-star (with his wife, Emily Blunt) of this neatly spun and well-crafted thriller about a family that must maintain complete silence to avoid stirring deadly monsters. That’s a pretty nifty setup to keep the tension going from moment to moment. Horror, PG-13, 90 minutes. HHH “Final Portrait” — Oscar-winner Geoffrey Rush gets to have all the fun playing the great Swiss artist Alberto Giacometti, a charismatic and infuriating genius trapped in a static, stagey, talky period piece.

Armie Hammer co-stars as a young writer sitting for a portrait in this well-made film that nonetheless feels thin and inconsequential.

Historical drama, R, 90 minutes. HH “Ready Player One” — In a dystopian future, everyone spends as much time as they can in a virtual-reality universe where events can have lasting and serious real-world consequences. Adapting Ernest Cline’s sci-fi novel, Steven Spielberg has created an eye-popping, mind-blowing, candy-colored, fantastically entertaining (albeit slightly exhausting) virtual-reality fantasy adventure.

Sci-fi adventure, PG-13, 140 minutes. HHH½ “Isle of Dogs” — In a work of stunning stop-motion animation, a boy tries to rescue his pet from an island of garbage where a Japanese mayor has quarantined all dogs. It’s smart and different and sometimes deliberately odd and really funny — rarely in a laugh-out-loud way, more in a smile-and-nod-I-get-thejoke kind of way. In other words, it’s a Wes Anderson movie. Animated adventure, PG-13, 94 minutes. HHH½

“The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling” — Director Judd Apatow honors the legacy of his friend Garry Shandling, the comedian who died in 2016, with a documentary that features interviews with famous colleagues, home movie clips and, perhaps most fascinating, excerpts from Shandling’s journals. My only complaint about the 4 1/2-hour film is that it felt too short. Documentary, not rated, 270 minutes. HHHH “Midnight Sun” — Forbidden by a genetic condition to go out in sunlight, teenage Katie (Bella Thorne) still manages to strike up a romance with her crush (Patrick Schwarzenegger).

The manipulative love story did chip away at my cynicism through the sheer force of its sincere heart.

Drama, PG-13, 109 minutes.

HH “Paul, Apostle of Christ” — This PG-13 Bible story is an impressively staged, well-acted, thoughtful and faithful telling of the last days of the Apostle Paul — and how Luke (Mount Vernon native Jim Caviezel) risked his life again and again to visit his mentor in prison and record his teachings. Drama, PG-13, 106 minutes. HHH “Pacific Rim Uprising” — In the sequel to the outrageously entertaining “Pacific Rim” (2013), humans again are piloting giant robots to defeat destructive sea monsters. Whenever there’s a chance to do something fresh or unique or original, this clunky and tedious paint-by-the-CGInumbers actioner passes up that opportunity to embrace the cliche. Fantasy-action, PG-13, 111 minutes.

HH “Unsane” — Claire Foy delivers a smashing performance as a young professional who addresses a trauma in her life by visit-

At area theaters CONCRETE THEATRE May 4-6 Isle of Dogs (PG-13): Friday: 7:30 p.m.; Saturday: 5 and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday: 5 p.m.

360-941-0403 BLUE FOX DRIVE-IN Oak Harbor May 4-6 Avengers: Infinity War (PG-13) and Black Panther (PG-13): First movie starts at approximately 8:30 p.m.

360-941-0403 ANACORTES CINEMAS 360-293-7000 STANWOOD CINEMAS 360-629-0514 CASCADE MALL THEATERS Burlington For showings: amctheatres. com/showtimes/all/201706-23/amc-loews-cascademall-14/all OAK HARBOR CINEMAS 360-279-2226

ing a mental health facility, but has trouble getting out.

Shot on an iPhone 7 Plus by director Steven Soderbergh, “Unsane” succeeds as a lurid little thriller that cherry-picks elements of other films while carving its own twisted path. Thriller, R, 98 minutes. HHH “Gringo” — A downand-dirty, cheerfully nasty, violent action comedy that doesn’t expect you to take it seriously for a second.

Charlize Theron and David Oyelowo head an A-list cast having fun with this B-movie material in roles you might not immediately associate with their onscreen personas. Action comedy, R, 111 minutes.

HHH “Tomb Raider” — Star Alicia Vikander is absolutely terrific in this strippeddown origin story of the video game heroine. But the special effects sequences aren’t all that special, and many seem designed to distract us from the hokey, dopey, paper-thin plot. Action adventure, PG-13, 118 minutes). HH

E18 - Thursday, May 3, 2018

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

MOVIES

Lucrecia Martel fuses the mystical and the historical with bold adventure in ‘Zama’

By MARK OLSEN Los Angeles Times

“Zama,” the story of a man waiting to return, has become the vehicle for the long-awaited return of Argentine filmmaker Lucrecia Martel.

The film is a bold, heady work made up of sly humor and revelatory vision.

It also marks the first new movie since 2009’s “The Headless Woman” from arguably the most celebrated female filmmaker in Latin America.

An adaptation of the acclaimed novel by Antonio di Benedetto first published in 1956, Martel’s “Zama” follows a functionary of the Spanish crown named Don Diego de Zama (played with droll exasperation by the Mexican actor Daniel Gimenez Cacho) who waits in a remote Paraguayan village for a new set of orders to arrive.

Frustrated and confused, he continues to wait, unsure of how to interact with the native people around him and increasingly adrift from his own culture and customs. An adventure story that doesn’t travel far, “Zama” is a stonefaced satire on masculine privilege and colonial arrogance.

The film’s origins are in the aftermath of Martel’s attempt to adapt the sci-fi graphic novel “The Eternal.” When that project fell apart after years of development, she took a boat trip up the Paraguay River with a lot of books, including “Zama.”

“Immediately when I read it, I knew that I needed to make something in relation to that book,” she said in Los Angeles via a translator. “I never thought that I could be interested in adapting a book, especially a novel that is considered a masterpiece of Latin American literature. I felt like it was stupid to adapt something like that into cinema.”

What Martel discovered upon reading the book, however, was an unexpected connection.

“I felt like there was a certain affinity between the character of Zama and myself,” said the 51-yearold filmmaker. “And I felt like this book told a story about the past in a way that I could connect with.

When people talk about the story, they always refer to it as a novel about waiting, and I don’t think that’s what affected me about it. It’s also about how you build yourself, and how that’s a necessity and that’s also a trap.

“The human condition of Zama is something that I related very well with.

His condition is one in which his life depends on others’ decisions. That’s a circumstance that we all experience daily. And that for some people might be hell.”

The movie had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival last fall before moving on to the Toronto International Film Festival and the New York Film Festival. In a dispatch from the Toronto festival, Times critic Justin Chang praised Martel’s “sly editorial disjunctions,

her tactile, off-center compositions and her wild, teeming sonic landscape … she brings history into an uncomfortably intimate present tense.” When “Zama” was recently released in New York, Vanity Fair’s K. Austin Collins simply declared it “the finest film of 2018 so far.”

As she explained, Martel sees the movie as both a depiction of the past and a disruption of time, creating a disorienting feeling akin to deja vu for viewers.

“What I took from the novel is the perception of time. And the invisible prison in which the character finds himself,” she said. “Film is an artifact that must at least try to disrupt the perception we have of the world. It’s a way to get close to the past in a different way.”

In her signature cat-eye glasses, Martel has an air of quiet self-possession that comes across on screen in the film’s willingness to be enigmatic, to leave odd moments as inscrutable asides.

“The problem with period movies is that they try to explain things,” she said. “In that effort to explain things, there’s a lot of mistakes made in terms of historical accuracy. The modern-day vision feels much more present because of that effort to explain things. If you respect the mystery, that’s the very way into the world.”

Principal photography on the film finished in fall 2015 and Martel was a few months into editing when she had to stop working for health reasons early in

STRAND RELEASING VIA AP

“Zama” follows a functionary of the Spanish crown named Don Diego de Zama who waits in a remote Paraguayan village for a new set of orders to arrive.

2016. When she returned to work later in 2016, it was with fresh eyes.

She had been unhappy with the initial cut of the movie and found herself restoring material she had previously taken out.

“I think the things that happen always reveal something, and I’m sure that it did help,” she said of the break from working on the project. “I don’t think it’s a good system for a director to have to go through an illness to finish a movie. I would not recommend that.”

The character’s own journey in the movie, which includes a dazzling sequence in which his party is ensnared in hunting traps left in a weedy marsh, eventually takes on a sort of resigned calm.

In its spaced-out sense of adventure, the film brings to mind movies such as Kelly Reichardt’s “Meek’s

Cutoff ” or Jim Jarmusch’s “Dead Man.” “She is so good at evoking memory while still remaining in the present,” said KJ Relth, film programmer at the UCLA Film and Television Archive, which hosted the Los Angeles premiere of “Zama” earlier this month.

“The best part of seeing these films in the theater is you have nothing else to do, except focus on these films and how they feel and how they will echo with you later. Phones off, lights down, only focusing on this experience.”

While also comparing Martel to directors such as Sally Potter and Lynne Ramsay for the way in which the formal qualities of her filmmaking become such an integral part of the works’ thematic impact, Relth added, “And that’s why it’s so radical. She is attempting to create a new

cinematic language. And I think succeeding.”

Martel next plans to finish a documentary she has been working on for some 10 years on the treatment of indigenous people in the north of Argentina, where she is from.

While grateful for the response to “Zama,” she’s reluctant to view the film as her triumphant return to filmmaking. She doesn’t see her work on a specific timeline or trajectory.

“I’m surprised by the idea that there’s a certain time that a filmmaker has between making another film.

That’s much more a condition of the market than the desire of making films,” she said. “Having an idea to film a movie every year, is that normal? I think that’s very strange. I think there are too many books, too many films and all of them are too similar in relation to how distinct the world is.”

Thursday, May 3, 2018 - E19

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

MOVIES

‘Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again’ and ‘Book Club’ cater to those usually neglected during summer

UNIVERSAL PICTURES VIA AP

Amanda Seyfried and Meryl Streep star in “Mamma Mia! Here we Go Again.”

By AMY KAUFMAN Los Angeles Times

The films on the list of wannabe blockbusters opening this summer have one thing in common: They’re aimed primarily at young men. From new installments in Marvel comic book franchises to flashy action pictures led by stars like Tom Cruise, Dwayne Johnson and Denzel Washington, every movie hopes to draw the lucrative “four quadrant” crowd — but at the very least, dudes.

And yet, in between the big-budget sci-fi and superhero sagas, two major studio releases targeting the adult female crowd will hit the multiplex this season: “Book Club” and “Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!”

The first, out May 18, features four actresses older than 60 as its leads: Jane

Fonda, Diane Keaton, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen, playing friends who are inspired to reinvigorate their lives after reading “Fifty Shades of Grey.”

The July 20 “Mamma Mia!” sequel, meanwhile, is hoping to match the success of the 2008 musical adaptation, which grossed more than $600 million worldwide when it opened. Like “Book Club,” the new “Mamma Mia!” also stars a handful of older actors, including Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Cher and Colin Firth.

Summer has long been considered a dry period for films for the over-40 set — especially older females. In 2011, “The Help” soared to nearly $170 million, largely on the strength of women who loved Kathryn Stockett’s book of the same name.

But despite the handful of modest successes that followed — from a “Hundred-Foot Journey” here to a “Hope Springs” there — in the last five years, there have been only a few summer releases made for the demographic. Many such releases with older stars, including “Florence Foster Jenkins,” “A Walk in the Woods” and “Ricki and the Flash,” weren’t even able to crack $30 million.

However, it’s likely that the “Mamma Mia!” sequel will fare far better at the box office, given the film’s built-in audience.

“Ten years ago, we played right in the middle of ‘Batman’ and all of those movies, and the film played through the summer. So the second time around, we have the same ambitions,” said Judy Craymer, who produced both “Mamma Mia!” pic-

tures. “There was definitely a sense of, ‘Crikey, how do we deal with a musical where the lead cast are all women and women over 30?’ But ‘Mamma Mia!’ surprised everyone.”

The sequel finds Sophie, played by Amanda Seyfried, pregnant — and without her mother (Streep) around, she calls on her mom’s longtime friends (Christine Baranski, Julie Waters) to help guide her through the challenging time.

“The original audience was nostalgic for ABBA, and now we have an audience nostalgic for ‘Mamma Mia!’” said Craymer, noting that the sequel began coming together in late 2016. “These movies are about women and friendship, and the fun of them is that the characters don’t view themselves as middle-aged. I think that’s the mass appeal —

everyone can see a bit of themselves there.”

Signing on for “Book Club” was an easy call for Bergen, who said she was stunned to be offered the role without “any humiliation, no audition (and) no haggling.”

“It’s rare to get an offer at all at my age,” acknowledged the actress, 71.

“And I think it’s so smart that they’re opening the film in the summer.

Women are way underserved in the market, and I feel such a buzz from women of all ages over this — of course, older women, because nobody makes movies for them.

I’m quite taken aback.”

“Book Club” producer and co-writer Erin Simms said it wasn’t easy to get studios interested in the film — it was financed independently and later acquired for distribution

by Paramount.

“We had to convince people every step of the way,” she said. “In general, people were looking at this as a very small, very niche movie. You think back to ‘The Golden Girls,’ which was a massive hit, or ‘Steel Magnolias’ and ‘Terms of Endearment’ — I don’t know what happened over time that financiers stopped being interested.

You feel like because studios keep forgetting that demographic, they don’t matter anymore, but they do — and they’re powerful and still have a lot of life to live.

“You hit a certain age and start feeling like you aren’t important anymore.

I hope this movie helps to erase that idea. We glorify youth in society, and I don’t know why everyone is trying to find the next-bestthing. I’d rather sit down with someone and hear about a life well-lived.”

E20 - Thursday, May 3, 2018

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

CALENDAR the CALENDAR FOR THINGS TO DO

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