Columbia Citizens

your Wikli-fix: death, life

It's a transcendent week for many of us, a time to pull together to celebrate faith, rebirth, and deliverance. For some of us it's involved the shock of an early-morning police raid, a shooting, and now coming to terms with the aftermath. Life in the neighborhood proceeds apace, offering several ways to connect, to reflect, and to remember.

birding basics 101

Come learn how to be a fabulous backyard birder. Start with short lessons in field identification, common species, and binocular and scope selection. Then walk through the park with our experienced birding teachers, learning how to spot and id birds. Recommended ages: 10 and up.

First Saturdays, 8am at Seward Park Environmental Center. Children (2-15 yrs): $3, Adult (ages 16 and up): $5
Buy tickets now.

community chorus spring concert

The Columbia City Community Chorus, directed by Kathleen Tracy, presents their Spring Concert to benefit Mary's Place Day Center for homeless women and children. The multi-generational chorus will sing a spirited and moving set of songs both original and contemporary, with a few surprises thrown in. The chorus will be joined by musician extraordinaire Linda Severt. It'll be a good time, for a good cause!

Friday April 5, 2013
Columbia City Church of Hope, 3818 S Angeline
$5 - 20 suggested donation

dance camp for girls

We are excited for year 2 of dance camp. This camp is for girls entering 4th, 5th and 6th grade in the fall. The emphasis is on creating dance through story, group work and free dance exploration.

In addition to making our own dances we engage in art journals, daily walks, drawing inspiration from nature (mingled with our imagination of course) and daily yoga with Sandy McDonald of Yoga Umbrella.

Details and registration

Easter egg hunt & potluck brunch

Celebrate Easter with Columbia City Church of Hope. Sunday, March 31 2013. Service at 10:30am with joyful music, readings, reflection, and Sunday School for the kids. Easter egg hunt and potluck brunch after the service (noon).

Everyone is welcome: Old, young, gay, straight, believers, doubters, fence-sitters, activists, poets, and slackers. Come as you are!

We also invite you to join us for Holy Week services.

Easter sunrise at Seward Park

We invite everyone to this neighborhood celebration of Easter at 7am Sunday March 31 in Seward Park. An informal gathering with upbeat music, moving poetry, and a few inspiring words of wisdom lasting 30-40 minutes. Meet on the south-facing (Mount Rainier will be behind us if the weather is clear!) side of the park by the water near Pavilion #1. We'll have hot beverages and snacks available. We'll follow the celebration with a contemplative walk around the park.

family music classes in March

Music for Everyone classes offer musical activities that are playful, interactive and educational. Using songs, storybooks, puppets, games, percussion instruments and folk dances, early childhood music teacher Jana Vitols disguises music education in a costume of play. She shares her enthusiasm for music, accompanying classes on violin, banjo and guitar.

2-5 year olds and their parent/caregiver are welcome to join the upcoming music series that starts, Wednesday March 27 @ The Lakewood/Seward Park Community Club! Wed & Th 10 & 11am classes currently have a few openings.

"Made in Seattle: Homegrown Documentaries"

Indie music lovers, reformed juvenile delinquents, off-the-grid hippies and a mixed race woman searching for identity are just some of the compelling characters you'll meet during the inaugural SEEDArts Cinema Series, Made in Seattle: Homegrown Documentaries. The two-day series, April 5 & 6, is comprised of four dynamic, award-winning, locally made documentaries to be screened at the Rainier Valley Cultural Center, 3515 S Alaska St. Each film will be followed by a community conversation with the filmmakers and moderated by Rustin Thompson, The Restless Critic. Admission to the cinema series is $5 per film or $15 for a series pass at the door. Please visit our site for complete schedule information and updates.

Southeast District Council

The Southeast District Council will meet on Wednesday, March 27, 6:30 to 8pm., at the Rainier Community Center. Seattle City Councilmembers Bagshaw and Conlin will be speakers. Also, there will be a discussion of the Transit Communities comprehensive plan proposal. The agenda is here. Hope to see you there.

tents needed for family shelter

Church of Hope is teaming up once again with Mary's Place to provide emergency shelter for families April 30 - May 7. We're looking for donations of tents of any size (new or in good condition) to give the families a bit of privacy while they are staying in the basement. Please contact Darla at 722-5651 if you have a tent to donate — or if you'd like to volunteer! (Online signup at http://vols.pt/495).

The Breasts of Tiresias

Vespertine Opera Theater presents the US premier of Benjamin Britten's English adaptation of Francis Poulenc's first opera, Les Mamelles de Tiresias, a surrealist comedy presented in vaudeville/cabaret style at the Columbia City Theater.

Tuesday April 2 and Thursday April 4. Details are here.