Columbia Citizens

Live locally.

Consult your community calendar.

• The Gallery's new exhibits open (Wed),
• farmers market (Wed),
• planning for the Brighton play area (Wed),
• a mosaic project (Thu),
• DINKS and SINKS (Thu),
• C-City runners (Sat),
• Vietnamese storytime (Sat),
• the Gallery's 10th anniversary gala (Sat),
• Bicycle Sunday,
• SPPIF tea party (Sun),
• CCCC monthly meeting? (Mon),
• Rainier Valley Rotary (Tue),
• Columbia City Business Association (Tue),
• Hillman City Business Association (Wed),
• evening book group (Wed),
• and Citizens post more events all the time!

In the calendar, you can click through to each event's online information. If a local event is missing, please send a Citizen's alert.

Pixar Is Here Up, the latest in a long line of Pixar hits such as The Incredibles, Cars, and WALL-E, opens Friday, 5/29.

Also, don't miss Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. It's proving to be a very popular and fun family movie. Star Trek keeps on trekking along with the very enjoyable and thrilling Angels and Demons. Both movies will probably end June 4.

On Facebook? Join the Columbia City Cinema group. Just another great way to stay on top of all that’s happening at Seattle’s Coolest Neighborhood Cinema.

See you at the movies.

Evening Book Group Wednesday June 4 from 6:45 to 7:45pm. Join us for a book discussion at the Columbia Branch. Everyone is welcome. This month's title is "An Unexpected Light" by Jason Elliot. Pick up your copy at the Information Desk!

Homework Help Volunteers will assist students with homework on a drop in basis on Mon-Thu, 5-7:30pm.

Library programs are free and open to the public. Everyone is invited to attend.

• Thu — (theater) Seattle Glee Club Presents The Offbeats Vocal Ensemble
  (lounge) Jam night with host Stephen Smartt, 7pm
• Fri — Flying House Productions presents Captain Smartypants — Seattle Men's Chorus, 8pm
• Sat Flying House Productions presents Captain Smartypants — Seattle Men's Chorus, 8pm
• Sun — (theater) Flying House Productions presents Captain Smartypants — Seattle Men's Chorus, 2pm
  (lounge) Musicians Networking Event: Come chat with local musicians, promoters, and others who work in the music industry 3 - 6pm
  (lounge) Open MIC Night with host Martin G. 8pm - 12am
• Tue — Tuesday Night Matinee: Friday at the Lake with Audio Art, 8pm

Here's the full list of events.

The Columbia City Gallery celebrates 10 years!

Please join us this Saturday, May 30th from 5-8pm for a special 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Columbia City Gallery (4864 Rainier Ave S). Program and champagne toast at 6:30pm.

This will also be the artist's reception for the new gallery exhibits: "5,280" — featuring ten exceptional artists living within one mile of the gallery (curated by Jim McDonald) and "Urban Icons" — featuring new work by gallery members Lori Duckstein, Esperanza Gomez Grundy, William Herberholz, and Lisa Lamoreaux.

For more information, visit: http://www.ColumbiaCityGallery.com or call 760-4286

Bucket Brigade this Saturday!

This Saturday, May 30th, we will be giving out plant starts, small packets of seeds and buckets of soil in the north Safeway parking lot from 10 to noon, (unless we run out sooner than that). For more information contact Diana at vog.ytnuocgnik|hniv.anaid#vog.ytnuocgnik|hniv.anaid

Please support a new play area at Seward Park

Every dollar counts! SPPIF volunteers have been hard at work applying for grants and getting the word out about the new play area planned for Seward Park. We have $100K more to go before we get the go-ahead from the City and we need individuals like you to help achieve our goal of breaking ground next spring, opening in June before school gets out. You can make a secure donation online via our page at Seattle Parks Foundation's website.

Attend SPPIF Tea Party Fundraiser May 31. Children welcome!

• When: Tea Time on Sunday, May 31st, 3:00 - 5:00pm
• Where: At the home of Mariana & Fred Quarnstrom
  5767 S Oaklawn Pl
• What: Tea, wine, punch, and tea time treats

read more...

It's a Whatchamadoozie with a Whaddayacallit with a Thingamajigit on Top!

A brand new children's musical is coming to the Rainier Valley Cultural Center (3515 S Alaska St) from June 5th - June 21st! Performances will be on Fridays at 7pm, Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm. There will be one pay-what-you-can performance on Sunday, June 7th at 2pm.

The musical is set in Tremble Town. When a suspicious glow is spotted in the sky and an ominous musical note permeates the air, the adults are paralyzed by fear and the Mayor orders all of the children inside for the summer. It takes Lucy Margaret and her plucky pals Cecil and Gracie to save the day by transforming fear into wonder and fiction into fact!

Tickets: $6/child & $12/adult — purchase online at brownpapertickets.com. For additional information, please visit: anythingispossibletheatre.org.

new Listening Mothers group forming

If you or someone you know has a new baby (newborn to 6 months of age) and is looking for more support in the transition to parenthood, please note the next Listening Mothers group offered in Columbia City meets on Mondays, June 1-July 27, 2009 at Lotus Yoga, 4860 Rainier Ave S. There are still spaces available.

Just as mothers need care for their physical well-being, they also need care for their emotional well-being. Specially trained in both Obstetrics & Gynecology and maternal infant psychological and emotional development, I know how important support for mothers is in their transition to parenthood. That is why I offer Listening Mothers groups.

Southeast District Council

A forum for all neighborhood associations, business associations, and other organizations active in the valley.

Wed, May 27, 6:30 to 8:30pm
Rainier Community Center, 4600 38th Ave S

Rainier Valley Rotary

On June 2, Rainier Valley Rotary Club is pleased to have Pat Murakami explain the advantages of electing 5 of Seattle's 9 City Councilmembers by local district, instead of the present system - all 9 are elected city-wide.

Bring your questions about how this might work, what are the districts? Also, if you know of someone who strongly supports the present system, please invite them.

Guests can attend Rainier Valley Rotary meetings twice for free, $10 after. Doors open at 7:00 a.m. for meet-and-greet. Coffee and rolls are served.

Register today for Summer Arts Camps!

Rainier Valley Youth Theatre & Maria Glanz present Summer Arts Camps for ages 5-11 at the Rainier Valley Cultural Center:

July 6-10 (9am -12pm) Trickster Tales & Legends (ages 5-7)
July 13-17 (9am -12pm) Fishy Tales: Undersea Adventures! (ages 5-7)
July 20-24 (9am -2pm) Spooky Stories of the Pacific Northwest: for kids who think scary is fun (ages 8-10)

To register, contact Maria Glanz at 276-6471 or moc.liamg|dduj.znalg#moc.liamg|dduj.znalg

read more...

Columbia City in the news

• A disabled plane lands at Genesee Park, as covered by…
  • the P-I,
  • the Times,
  • and the PostGlobe,
  • …and you thought we were kidding.
• The South Seattle Beacon focuses on sustainability at Orca K-8.
• The County Council recently ruled on bus service adjustments — was it a win? or a loss?

Hillman City Posts

It's been a quiet wiki-week:

• KateK posted to the Sustainable South Seattle blog.