Culture Fiend

Julie Andrews’s Book Tour Comes to Seattle

Three chances to catch the actor promoting her new children’s book.

Posted by: Seth Sommerfeld on Apr 10, 2012 at 01:35PM 2 Comments

Julie Andrews brings her latest children’s book to Seattle.

While she’ll always be best known for her star turns in The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins, Julie Andrews has quite the successful second career as an author of children’s books. She has co-authored more than 15 children’s books to date, including four New York Times best sellers. To support her latest release, The Very Fairy Princess : Here Comes the Flower Girl Andrews will come to town (hopefully via umbrella) for three Seattle area book signings at the end of April.

The Very Fairy Princess: Here Comes the Flower Girl is the third book The Very Fairy Princess book Andrews has written with coauthor Emma Walton Hamilton. The story follows a young girl named Gerry whose imagination leads her to believe she’s a real fairy princess which helps brighten the lives of those around her. The writing duo also authored the Dumpy the Dumptruck series of children’s books.

Signings will be held at University Book Store, Third Place Books, and Barnes and Noble in Lynnwood. All three signings are ticketed events. Tickets are available by purchasing the book from one of the stores starting Tuesday, April 17. The restrictions for the signings are fairly tight. No photo or video will be allowed and ticket-holders cannot bring memorabilia for Andrews to sign.

Alas, a lack of photo opportunities negates any chance of creating a sequel to the epic video posted below. That solemn reality is hard to swallow, even with a spoonful of sugar. Note: Video contains mild profanity.

Julie Andrews signing The Very Fairy Princess: Here Comes the Flower Girl
Apr 28 at 1, University Book Store. Tickets available with purchase of the book starting Apr 17. More info at bookstore.washington.edu.

Apr 29 at 1, Third Place Books. Tickets available with purchase of the book starting Apr 17. More info at thirdplacebooks.com.

Apr 29 at 4:30, Lynnwood Barnes and Noble. Tickets available with purchase of the book starting Apr 17. More info at barnesandnoble.com.

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Tags: Books & Talks, University Bookstore, Third Place Books, Family Friendly

Laura Veirs Turns Kindie Rocker

Portland’s folk phenom shows off her new children’s album at the Vera Project.

Posted by: Laura Dannen on Nov 30, 2011 at 11:30AM 0 Comments

Considering that Portland folk star Laura Veirs sang about mermaids and moonbeams before she gave birth, a children’s album seems an obvious postpartum project. She takes froggy a-courtin’ on Tumble Bee, a spirited new collection of folk covers borrowed from Woody Guthrie and Peggy Seeger, African American lullabies and Civil War–era fiddle tunes. Don’t try to resist “Prairie Lullaby” when she plays an all-ages show at the Vera Project on December 3; the gentle, swaying song (with a bit of yodeling) could rock any Scrooge to sleep.

Laura Veirs and the Tumble Bees play an all-ages show at the Vera Project, Dec 3 at 3:30 (doors open at 3). Tickets are $10, $5 for children 12 and under. Babes in arms free.

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Tags: Concert, Family Friendly, All-Ages, The Vera Project, Album Review

Dave Eggers Hosts the What to Read in the Rain Party

Our local writing center is getting national attention.

Posted by: Allison Williams on Nov 15, 2011 at 11:30AM 0 Comments

Student authors will be on hand to sign books, getting their first taste of delicious fame.

The question and answer are the same: Hmm, what to read in the rain? Make it What to Read in the Rain, an anthology produced by nonprofit 826 Seattle.

The writing and tutoring center will release its second edition of student and adult work on Sunday, with a milk toast to celebrate (in champagne flutes, natch). Dave Eggers, author of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, will be on hand; he’s the founder of the nationwide 826 chain, and he’s bringing local comic artist David Lasky to the free event.

What to Read in the Rain is placed in hotels across the city, where rain-delayed tourists can read student poetry and fiction (including tales of robotic chickens) in addition to new work by Tom Robbins and local scribes Karen Finneyfronk and Garth Stein.

The party doubles as a thank you from the center to their community for their latest achievement, the 2011 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award for stellar after-school programs. Michelle Obama handed out the prize personally in early November to 11 organizations from across the country, but only New York and Seattle had two recipients apiece (shout out to Seattle’s Young Shakespeare Workshop). It’s hard to compete with the Emerald City—especially when our nonprofits offer rocket parking on the roof.

The What to Read in the Rain publication party runs 1–3pm at 826 Seattle on Sunday, Nov 20.

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Tags: Books & Talks, Books, Books & Authors, Family Friendly

5 Seattle-Area Easter Egg Hunts

That bunny gets around. He’s hidden them in Redmond, Beacon Hill, at the zoo, on a boat…

Posted by: Allyson Marrs on Apr 21, 2011 at 09:00AM 0 Comments

Children’s Museum Egg Hunt
April 21–24, 8:30–10am
Scour the entire museum for plastic eggs—around the clay sculpting table in the Imagination Studio, under rocks in the Mountain Forest. There are prizes for the little guys and a Golden Egg scavenger hunt for the older kids. $3–$7.50, 305 Harrison St, thechildrensmuseum.org

Easter Brunch Aboard the Royal Argosy
April 24, noon–2
Enjoy a hefty brunch buffet (prawn cocktails, ham carving station) and live music while the kids explore the arts and crafts zone or take part in the on-board egg hunt. Rumor has it a special bunny will be available for photos. $20–$60. 1101 Alaskan Way, Pier 56, argosycruises.com

Eggstravaganza
April 23, 8–noon
After the free egg hunt (10am sharp), you could swing by the face-painting table or have your picture taken with that camera-hungry Easter Bunny, but we all know why we’re really there. Pancakes. Breakfast $8–$10. Redmond Senior Center, 15670 NE 85th St, 425-556-2300; redmond.gov

Jefferson Spring Egg Hunt and Pancake Breakfast
April 23, 9–noon
Gourmet Your Way caters a meal of eggs, sausage and pancakes while kids enjoy a free egg hunt. It’s BYOB (Bring Your Own Basket). $3–$5. Jefferson Community Center, 3801 Beacon Ave S, 206-684-7481; seattle.gov/parks/calendar/

Woodland Park Zoo’s Bunny Bounce
April 23, 9:30–2
It’s the 10th annual free-for-all on the zoo’s North Meadow, where kids ages 1 to 8 can scoop up plastic eggs (to exchange for treats when they leave) and enjoy bunny encounters—real bunnies this time. Keep an eye out for zoo animals enjoying their own Easter baskets. $8.50–$11.50. 601 N 59th St, 206-548-2590; zoo.org

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Tags: Holiday Events, Easter , Family Friendly