When asked if wealthy people can truly call themselves “progressive,” former City Council candidate Alex Hudson stated her support by saying, “I would say that solidarity is not about what’s in your bank account, it’s about what’s in your heart. …We need to level up, we need to match our opponents and I think we have better ideas! I think we have more sound policies and…there’s more of us. And so we need the tools and resources to be able to build our movement, to sustain our movement beyond campaigns, and to communicate with voters. And that takes money. I think there’s a lot of people in Seattle who care about those things and share those values.”

Pronouns matter. They have become a means to explore and expand the nature of identity in today’s culture; and, as history continually teaches us, culture is always ahead of politics (and, lest we forget, the arts are the vanguard of culture). The demographic shifts in the United States are changing the culture of our democracy—making it richer, more diverse, and more equal.

The dance floor was brimming with people grooving to the beat, but making sure to give each other enough space to move around easily. As Tokita shifted smoothly between lilting, airy disco and harder, grittier techno, people in the crowd took turns coming up on stage to swing a red lamp that hung above the DJ table in what appeared to be a longstanding tradition. People’s faces were lit up in the red glow of the stage lights. A glittering disco ball swung overhead. Beyond these details, there was minimal decoration. The emphasis was on the music. 

Campbell's work blends elements of fantasy, magical realism, poetry, and speculative fiction, which evokes the styles of a host of renowned authors, including Margaret Atwood, Isabel Allende, Walter de la Mere, Octavia Butler, Jonathan Swift, Douglas Adams, Ann Carson, and Brian O'Nolan, offering readers a robust, immersive literary experience.

Tara Campbell’s book tour continues at Hugo House in Seattle, with a reading and writing workshop on September 18, 2024, from 7pm-9pm at the Salon Stage.

If you’ve never been to a burlesque show before, welcome! If you have, I guarantee you’ve never seen anything like What The Funk?! Fest. One of the wonderful aspects to this art form is that there’s always something new to behold, a new story to be told, and moves like you’ve never dreamed of. 

In an oppressive society that polices bodies, judges abilities, and is generally icky to anyone outside the cis-heteronormative mainstream, living out loud as your authentic self with bodily agency is an act of the purest resistance. 

Gage Academy of Arts closed their North Capitol Hill doors this year and moved into a new, improved, and larger space in South Lake Union. The move to South Lake Union (SLU) hopefully reduces the barrier that potential students may have from geographical isolation. The new campus provides a more central location relative to the rest of Seattle than its previous spot—new students will have easier access to art classes. While the move mostly benefits those from the North and West sides of Seattle, the Georgetown campus location has not changed and is a great option for those on the South end of the city.

If you’ve found yourself in Volunteer Park in the last few years, you may have come across a gathering of large stones with smooth surfaces and words printed on their faces. You might wonder about their purpose. Some seem short enough to be seats, but others are taller and appear to be tombstones or monoliths. They stick out from the green of Volunteer Park, the moist grass and grand, fluffy trees. Though they are natural stone, it is easy to pick out these structures as being different and purposeful, especially as you arc past a new bend in one of Volunteer Park’s many pathways and see another stone off in the distance, beckoning. These pieces fascinate and enchant, inviting us to question their meaning.

Steampunk can be treated in a really serious fashion, as any genre can be. There is very serious steampunk fiction—I really recommend reading Everfair by Nisi Shawl if you want some very beautiful serious steampunk fiction—but also there’s a certain element to steampunk that is absurd. It’s ridiculous! And we are leaning into that. And sometimes people need to be reminded as adults, especially in this hard, hard world, that you can laugh! You can just come and as the English say, take the piss out of something.

Kirsten McCory is a Seattle-area actor, playwright, voice artist, and model. Several months ago I had the pleasure of acting in a stage reading of a play she wrote called In The Garden. A few months later, I was invited to do a table read of another play she is creating: 100% Solution. I realized later that being immersed in Kirsten’s writing gave my inner artist lessons about creativity and self-expression that anyone can benefit from. Always diligently moving through some part of the creative process, she dares to dream—and all the better for the dynamic worlds and multifaceted characters she manifests into theaters near you. Kirsten McCory is currently playing the character of Amanda Wingfield in a local production of the Tennessee Williams play The Glass Menagerie.

SketchFest Seattle—the world’s original comedy festival—returns this weekend, celebrating 25 years of comedy gold. Nestled sweetly smack dab in the middle of Pike Place Market’s Gum Wall, the historic Market Theater (owned and operated by Unexpected Productions) will once again serve as the headquarters of Seattle’s sketch comedy resplendence. From Friday through Sunday, this iconic venue will host Seattle’s annual sketch comedy festival, bringing together some of the brightest comedic minds from across North America. Performers from Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Toronto, New York, and more major cities will gather alongside Seattle teams for three glorious days of comedic sketch excellence… Sketchellence? Sure, why not.

One of the things that I think makes us really unique in the steampunk space is that our events are in general designed to be us as hosts or facilitators and the guests are the stars. They get to be performers. We have what I call the Big 3 competitions that we run, which is Tea Duelling, Splendid Teapot Racing (RC cars shaped to look like teapots that you run through an obstacle course), and Madame Askew’s creation: Compliment Duelling.

We’re excited to announce our official launch on Friday, September 13, 2024! Get ready for a brand new, gorgeous fresh face: We’re getting painted and fitted as we speak. Along with it will come e-newsletters to bring featured moments right to your inbox, as well as even more content on the main site to keep you curious.

Through the magic and glory that is Capitol Hill queer life, I happened to meet a wonderfully nerdy fellow named Glenn via a mutual acquaintance. During our chat, I discovered he was half of a performing duo versed in steampunk spaces. Ever the nerd myself involved in a myriad of geeky realms, I was instantly intrigued. How does one perform Steampunk? What’s so special about the genre, and how are they bringing something new to the niche? The answers may surprise and titillate you. I present to you: Madame Askew and The Grand Arbiter.

In this parody of the movie, Titanish turns the tragic tale into a comedy for the ages. Rose and Jack, played by the charismatic Julia Kuzmich and Kooper Campbell, venture aboard the totally unsinkable RMS Titanic along with a series of comedically iconic passengers and crewmates. The show is jam-packed with perfectly delivered jokes, many that are easy to miss, somehow making them even funnier. With irony and innuendos around every corner, every moment is a treat to experience.

Lady Camden, most notably known as RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 14 Runner Up, visits Seattle to show off her new documentary, Lady Like. Directed by Luke Willis, the film highlights Lady Camden’s (aka Rex Wheeler) journey to find her chosen family, her voice, and her confidence, and prove that embracing one’s vulnerable self and artistic core is an important step towards healing. The film is narrated by fellow Drag Race alum and current All Stars contestant, Nina West.

The Seattle Center hosted Seattle’s annual tattoo expo showcasing over 200 artists across the world, some local to the Puget Sound, our Eastern Washington neighbors, and our neighbors on the other coast. Attendees viewed portfolio after portfolio within the long rows of talented tattoo studios. The varieties of styles and inspirations were put on full display from the artists. Expansive geometric patterns stretched across bodies. Shadowed creatures from the occult appear to creep out of body parts. Flowers were stuck in the most perfect moment of bloom.

Some might think that Joan of Arc is the original Queen of Queens, but they would be wrong. For us at The Evergreen Echo, Fran Lebowitz is that dyke who established what it really means to converse in “real talk.” Our dame of the dry wit returns to Benaroya Hall on Sunday September 22nd at 7:30pm in an intimate chat hosted by bestselling Seattle author Claire Dederer. Fran offers her acerbic views on current events and the media—as well as pet peeves including tourists, baggage-claim areas, after-shave lotion, adults who roller skate, children who speak French, or anyone who is unduly tan. In addition, she will share her unique take on the current state of our Union, which we are sure will be a hoot and a half.

“You want the FUNK?! We got the FUNK!” -Rebecca Mm Davis

“Representation matters and this festival continues to raise the bar for visibility of BIPOC performers across the world.” So sayeth the press release for What the Funk?!, the PNW’s first entirely BIPOC burlesque extravaganza. Every year we’re treated to a celebration of funk, beauty, brains, brawn, and Black/Brown Joy with three nights of funky entertainment.

The park itself consists of a series of paved walkways that meander among the trees and foliage, offering lovely views of the shoreline and Elliott Bay. The paths have gentle slopes that are accessible by both stairs and ramps. The aforementioned beach offers a nice place for picnics and relaxing. At the end of the walkway is your big reward, an observation tower that gives you an unobstructed view of Elliott Bay, the Seattle skyline, and the Port of Seattle. This vista point is very popular whenever there are fireworks at the Space Needle.

One of the most remarkable aspects of the festival was the sense of community. People of all ethnicities, gender identities, and ages—from kids to adults—came together in a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere. It was a true reflection of the diverse and vibrant community that calls the Duwamish River home.