Shelly’s Leg (1973-1977) was Seattle’s first openly gay bar and safe space for the LGBTQ+ community. The popular nightclub got its start in a rather unique way. Shelly Bauman, the founder of Shelly’s Leg, lost her left leg in a parade accident in the early ‘70s. She used the money from her settlement to open the nightclub in 1973. Bauman chose to create something that was groundbreaking for its time. Her decision to open the club was about more than just business; it was about creating a community.

When I discovered Halsey came out with a collection of poetry, I immediately added it to my must-read list. I get enthralled when musical artists or actors release poetry collections and break from their typical art form. Poetry has become more accepted and common among celebrities to make another mark of change on the world.

In the last century, theater has met its greatest adversary yet: film. Much can be accomplished through the eye of a camera which cannot be easily done in a live space, like  forced viewpoints, CGI, and extravagant settings to name just a few. But there is one limitation to film which it may never truly conquer: It exists predominantly behind the fourth wall.

Anyone in the Seattle area with an Instagram may have seen ads in the last few weeks for House of Spirits: Tale of Vaughan Mansion, a Haunted Cocktail Soirée. Intrigued by the images of a candlelit, creepy costume ball, my friends and I got tickets for Halloween night. In our finest macabre attire, we trudged through the rain over wet red and brown leaves plastered to cobblestones, our heels clacking through puddles, to the historic Rainier Chapter House in Capitol Hill, a recreation of George Washington’s Mount Vernon.

This November, many of us watched in despair as Donald Trump was re-elected to become our next President. The outcome leaves us with a profound sense of grief for our nation and our planet. For those who have spent years fighting for climate justice, the result feels like a gut punch, threatening to erase gains made in recent years and compounding the urgent need for action. 

On October 23, 2024, Kamala Harris said at a Town Hall that "we have to get past the era of partisan politics." I understand her strategy. The idea that these times are bigger than partisan politics is easy for disaffected liberals to accept and cast a begrudging vote for Harris at the end of the day. The argument is as simple as it is stark: Trump is far worse. With the intent of overturning Roe v. Wade, Trump appointed justices to the Supreme Court who eventually did just that, removing Americans' constitutional right to get an abortion.

Everyone experiences trauma. This is a human experience we all share. We all have different ways to deal with said trauma. So how do writers and artists process their trauma?

Poets and artists are not only bold enough to share their trauma through their art, but creative enough to spin their trauma into beauty through bravery. Trauma allows those to understand loved ones as well as the inner mechanisms of themselves through reparation.

“Tell me your name, pronouns, and anything that’s going on with your body today.” The instructor begins, tacking on a question of the day. This practice and sameness at the start of each class grounds me, bringing me into my body and preparing my mind to solely focus on sweat, bruises, and cheering on the successes of me and my classmates as we learn together.

Geek Girl Con has been a mainstay of Seattle conventions since 2011, and aims to create a safe and inclusive space to elevate voices and perspectives which are often ignored and left out, especially within traditional “geek” spaces. It is often regarded as Seattle’s biggest “small” convention with over 50,000 attendees per year. 

Brandon Vosika (BV): I used to live and work in a notoriously haunted building, and I guess it felt worth mentioning in my bio because I feel a deep nostalgic connection to old ghost stories and haunted houses from my youth. Now I have a new studio and only live in the haunted building! I used to put ghosts in my work a lot but I don’t so much anymore. They’ve become very popular which makes me want to stay away. In general, I’m not influenced by the PNW in my work aesthetically. Okay, I probably am subconsciously because I’ve lived here my whole life and love the rain and dark, but the typical PNW-themed art I find totally uninteresting.

For an extra special (and extra spooky) Halloween treat, Benaroya Hall hosted a unique double feature presentation of the classic Bride of Frankenstein and Mel Brooks’s parody of the franchise, Young Frankenstein. The hook? Orchestral accompaniment for the Bride! The Seattle Symphony performed Franz Waxman’s iconic gothic score under the guidance of conductor Nicholas Buc, who also conducted the world premieres of the live performances of several of John Williams’s movie scores, so he is no stranger to Hollywood orchestral maneuvers.

“NebTech has tracked energetic anomalies in the geographic vector that houses the Georgetown Steam Plant. It’s almost as if their spirits are stirring in the air around us. We believe, with the right number of souls present, we may be able to finally discover what happened to these intrepid mystics, and even open the portal itself. Will you be one of those souls?”

Poetry—like any art form—stands as a positive tool for change. In today’s climate, when the country is most divided, poetry aids in developing one’s rhetoric. A sharp mind is just as important as a sharp sword for battle. Regardless of political party, people tend to focus on how to outwit their opponent and prepare for what they are going to say next. While watching political debates, past and present, I have watched how politicians build and craft arguments on embarrassment while patronizing those longing to be represented. Screaming louder doesn’t win the argument. Using bigger words doesn’t win the argument. Name calling doesn’t win the argument. So what does, then?

Singer-songwriters Charli XCX and Troye Sivan played their final show right here in Seattle, WA. On October 23rd, 2024, the duo performed at the Climate Pledge Arena. The tour kicked off September 14, 2024, in Detroit, MI, making its way through the country with two stops in Canada. As a fan of both musical artists and their latest albums Brat and Something to Give Each Other, I got the fortunate opportunity to attend.

Seattle is not often the first place that enters one’s mind in thinking about the fashion industry. When it comes to getting dressed, a casual style is widely accepted. The city has contributed greatly, however, to the business side of things. It is the headquarters of several world-renowned retailers with a legacy in local manufacturing, like Filson (est. 1897), Nordstrom (est. 1901), Eddie Bauer (est. 1920), and REI (est. 1937). Despite not being a fashion capital, even with so many “heritage brands,” Seattle is recognized as a creative city.

Seattle’s premiere improv comedy theaters have creaked the mansion doors wide open this Halloween season with blood-curdling new (and returning) shows, combining horror and comedy!

There’s a sense of dread when you watch an ensemble film about a landmark birthday. The tension you assume is that the grim reaper is the last guest and the party is a way to tell everyone you love that death is imminent. Yet, Blue Lights subverts and twists this tension into something else. People who bring baggage to the party in one way, leave with new, but healthier baggage at the end.

Democrat Melissa Chaudhry has made it to the general election for Washington congressional district 9’s seat in the US House of Representatives. She’s challenging the nearly 28-year incumbent Democrat Adam Smith who has denied the genocide in Gaza. His largest donor by far is the pro-Israel AIPAC, the biggest source of Republican money influencing Democratic primaries. Chaudhry runs a grassroots campaign. Smith just voted to send $26 billion to Israel—$14.1 billion of which is for U.S-made weapons.

OUT is a beautifully sandwiched film that brings the viewer through the coming-of-age story and the uneasy, relationship-driven plot. From beginning to end, the viewer is gifted with strategic pictures, impactful dialogue, and truth from the acting. While the subjects and explicit nature of the film may not be for everyone, it holds true to the story of what growing up queer can be like today: to jump into gay culture, make new queer friends, and grow distant in former relationships.

“The public has a right to art, art is for everybody.” -Keith Haring

Art and history seamlessly coincide in the Keith Haring exhibit at the MOPOP. Haring (1958-1990) is most renowned for his colorful art and unique shapes, which he often used as a vessel to bring light to social issues that were taboo or not widely spoken of during his time.