Columbia Citizens

your Wikli-fix: too cool

No room for cold feet in C-C-Coolumbia City's colorful collection of cultivated, cultured, and culinary events.

call for performing artists

SEEDArts and the Rainier Valley Cultural Center are seeking Performing Artists for Valley Vibes, a new music series focusing on jazz in 2011.

Valley Vibes is an event geared towards bringing together artists and audiences who might not otherwise cross paths. The event will feature a formal concert experience followed by a community conversation involving the performing artists and a featured speaker on a topic related thematically to the performance or performing group. The event artist(s) will perform in the auditorium and also participate in the conversation event after the performance.

celebrate women in film & 3 CD releases

We've got a week full of celebrations at Columbia City Theater. Three talented local artists will release their new CDs: singer-songwriter Kris Orlowski (Thursday), punk rockers Virgin Islands (Friday) and the jaunty vaudeville pop of Curtains for You (Saturday). But that's not all — from 7 to 9pm on Friday, we'll be joining SIFF in celebrating the many talented women film-makers in this year's film festival.

Columbia City Farmers Market

This week at the market, Wednesday, May 11 3-7pm

• Let Us Farm — bouquets of local lettuce
• Alm Hill — asparagus
• Trevani Truffles — handcrafted chocolates
• Jones Creek — gallon pots of tomato starts
• Sea Breeze Farm — humane, well educated meats and raw milk
• Music — Bonnie Birch Duo
• Kids Tent — lotus yoga

Community Arts Create moves in to Columbia City

May 19th, 2011, CAC presents the first Columbia City Art Walk, called Artisan Alley. In keeping with the notable diversity and distinct traditions and backgrounds Columbia City is known for, Artisan Alley allows for an art experience different than any other in Seattle. Beyond traditional visual arts, the Columbia City art walk will also offer participants the opportunity to enjoy and experience the sounds, feelings, scents and tastes of artistic creation as it is expressed through music, performance, spoken word, dance, and food.

Please visit our website at communityartscreate.org and see what we're all about.

community kitchen

Rainier Community Kitchen is an opportunity for neighbors to gather to cook good food together and go home with meals for their families. Our combined shopping dollars go to healthy, vegetarian ingredients and we enjoy learning new recipes as we cook together. Currently, we meet at the RCC on the second Thursday of the month, 6:30-8:30pm.

Register by 10am Wednesday, May 11 for the class on May 12. The fee is $25 and you'll enjoy two hours of camaraderie with your neighbors, a sense of accomplishment, and 4-6 servings of 4 menu items to take home.

on the menu this month:

film showing: Salt of the Earth

This award-winning 1954 film explores a fierce strike by Mexican American miners in which women played a leading role. During the McCarthy era, the film was banned because of its daring pro-labor, pro-civil rights content.

Friday, May 13, 7pm, New Freeway Hall, 5018 Rainier Ave S. Door donation $3-5. Nacho plates and desserts available for a $4 donation.

Neighbor Sally's Nursery guest growers' sale

Join us in our charming backyard nursery Saturday and Sunday, May 14-15 2011 to choose from a wide assortment of organically grown plants, natural herbal products, seeds and gifts. Enjoy Sally's famous lavender lemonade and herbal cookies while you shop. Our guest growers are experienced horticulturists who love to share their expertise and knowledge. 9:30 to 4:30

Thanks for sharing 15 years of gardening with us!

Sally Ditzler, 6924 55th Ave S, 725-1903

Orca K-8 annual plant sale

Our famous annual plant sale will feature lots of starts for the garden, all planted by the kids, as well as native plants both edible and decorative. Music, food, kid crafts, etc. Come enjoy and support your local Environmental Education Program at Orca and for the community at large. May 14, 10am to 3pm right at the school on 46th and Dawson.

We'll have preorders on native plants including berries, etc.

The Show Will Go On: John Keister & Friends

"Making you laugh one joke at a time!"

The Cinema doors might be closed, but we're not going out without a good laugh.

Wednesday, May 18, Join us for a night of uproarious comedy with the legendary comedian John Keister & Friends in a benefit performance for the Columbia City Cinema.

The show will be held at the Rainier Valley Cultural Center (3515 Alaska @ Rainier), a beautiful 250-seat venue right across the street from the Cinema. All proceeds from this event help keep our beloved Columbia City Cinema going strong.

Doors open at 7pm, show starts at 7:30pm.
Tickets are $12 in advance and $18 at the door (if available).