Web Exclusives

Curious things on display at Ye Old Curiosity Shop

Thu, 23 May 2013 09:00:00 -0700

Writer Neal Thompson has seen some strange stuff. Not only did he research the weird world of Robert Ripley for his new biography A Curious Man: The Strange and Brilliant Life of Robert "Believe It or Not!" Ripley, he dug around Ye Olde Curiosity Shop for Seattle Met.

Here are just some of the weird olde things he found there:

• Sylvester the Mummy Believed to be a shooting victim whose body was preserved by the Arizona desert, Sylvester has been studied by experts and was featured in a National Geographic documentary.

• Costumed fleas A woman in Mexico made miniature costumes for fleas, turning them into a tiny bride and groom, among other things.

• Oil paintings on pin heads Scenes such as Mount Rushmore and a bullfight were painted with a human hair.

• Shrunken heads The shop boasts the biggest collection of baseball-sized heads on display outside of Ecuador. “They’re the real thing,” says fourth-generation proprietor Andy James, assuring any doubters.

• Hundred-year-old mermaid The specimen was created by a Chinese taxidermist who allegedly stitched together parts of a monkey, a seal, and a fish. “It’s probably the only thing we have that isn’t real,” says James.

Slide Show: MakerHaus

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:00:00 -0700

Slide Show: The Seattle Waterfront

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:00:00 -0700

Slide Show: Killer Antique Finds

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 08:27:00 -0700

Seattle native and long-time antique collector Kassie Keith just moved back from California to open her first home decor showroom. In an industrial warehouse deep in the heart of White Center, Keith displays her eccentric collection of salvaged furniture and antique rarities from around the country. We asked her for advice on finding such treasures, and how to make them work.

Kassie Keith Curiosities and Home Decor (by appointment only), 9440 17th Ave SW, White Center, 206-432-9336

Top 10 Galas and Parties of Seattle Spring

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 09:00:00 -0800

Image: Laura Dannen

Gianni and Laura dress to impress on SIFF's opening night.

Talk of the Town
Imagine attending a dinner party with the president of Cornish College and the artistic director of Intiman Theatre catered by James Beard nominee Ethan Stowell. For its annual fundraiser, Town Hall organizes 10 such high-profile dinners at swanky homes across Seattle—and you’re invited. Mar 7, various venues, townhallseattle.org

SAM Remix
Seattle Art Museum stays open for a late-night art party with live music, dancing, cocktails, artmaking, and entry into the new Rembrandt exhibit. DJs J-Justice and Jaymz Nylon supply the soundtrack to the evening. Mar 8, Seattle Art Museum, seattleartmuseum.org

Steampunk Exhibition Ball
If there was ever a time to wear a top hat, this is it: Seattle’s steampunk community breaks out its finest Victorian duds for the annual gala, a fundraiser for the Center for Sex Positive Culture, where the absinthe flows freely and burlesque dancers compete for your attention. Mar 9, Museum of History and Industry, steampunkexhibitionball.com

Penumbra Beer Bash
The Stranger hosts a new music-and-beer festival designed to get us out of our winter funk (“penumbra” means “shroud” or “a space of partial illumination—as in an eclipse”). Lighten up with suds from nearly 30 regional breweries and live music by local bands Champagne Champagne, Pleasureboaters, Tacocat, and more. Mar 16, King’s Hall, penumbrabeerbash.com

Rappers W/ Cameras
When Blue Scholars’ Prometheus Brown (aka Geo) and fellow rapper Thig Natural of the Physics discovered a shared love of photography, the Seattle hip-hop artists started hosting parties at their studio to showcase their art across mediums. The party gets bigger and better at Town Hall, where Geo is now an artist in residence. Mar 21, Town Hall, townhallseattle.org

The Rite of Spring
Billed as a night of “avant-garde glamour,” Velocity Dance Center’s benefit party celebrates the centennial of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring and Nijinsky’s accompanying choreography, once called a “crime against grace,” with a musical performance by Mark Haim and Beau Van Kirk. Plus: Comedian Matt Smith (Almost Live!) leads the live auction and Seattle’s wildest performance artists (Saint Genet, Zoe | Juniper) serve as honorary chairs. Apr 5, 415 Westlake, velocitydancecenter.org

Live at Benaroya Hall: Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart
Days before the Wilson sisters are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, they treat their hometown to an acoustic concert and Q&A with music writer/biographer Charles Cross. We’re betting Seattle’s rock royalty turns out in support. Apr 9, Benaroya Hall, benaroyahall.org

BAMignite
Much like Seattle Art Museum’s late-night Remix, Bellevue Arts Museum hosts its own after-hours party with DJs, dancing, live performances, and admission to the chic spring exhibit of midcentury Italian design, Zoom. Italian Design and the Photography of Aldo and Marirosa Ballo. Apr 12, Bellevue Arts Museum, bellevuearts.org

Seattle International Film Festival: Opening Night
Seattle’s biggest red-carpet event welcomes all, but big money gets you access to the prescreening party, reserved seats for the opening-night film (as yet to be announced), and a ticket to the gala dance party after the show. May 16, McCaw Hall, siff.net

Summer Bonus!

Sub Pop’s Silver Jubilee
The record label that birthed Nirvana, Mudhoney, and the Postal Service celebrates 25 years of badass local music with a party in Georgetown. This event is still in the works, but a Sub Pop release reports: “We are fairly certain there will be some combination of…actual live bands, playing actual live music! Some sort of art-related something or other! Like, in a gallery space, we’re thinking! A record fair–type event! Food! Beer and wine!” Sounds good to us. July 13, Georgetown, silverjubilee.subpop.com

Where Are You Going?

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 09:00:00 -0800

Published: March 2013

Pet Star Search 2013

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 15:50:00 -0800

Video: Seafood How-Tos

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 15:30:00 -0800

How to Shuck an Oyster from Seattle Met on Vimeo.

How to Debone a Fish from Seattle Met on Vimeo.

How to Crack a Crab from Seattle Met on Vimeo.

Videos by Patrick Kehoe

More Oyster Options

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 08:00:00 -0800

Image: Kyle Johnson

Anchovies and Olives
Cocktail sauce and lemon wedges? Pshaw. Oysters on the half shell (four types a day from Penn Cove, Hama Hama, and smaller local farms) arrive on the table at Ethan Stowell’s seafood restaurant already dressed in something fancy. Housemade chili vinegar, perhaps, or an ice infused with pickled figs. The happy hour is dubbed Oyster Power Hour, which translates to $1 shucks from 5 to 6, and again from 10 to close, Sunday through Thursday. 1550 15th Ave, Capitol Hill, 206-838-8080; ethanstowellrestaurants.com

Aqua by El Gaucho
This seafood palace on Pier 70 serves five beautifully shucked varieties from Taylor Shellfish Farms. It’s almost enough to distract your attention from the panoramic view of Elliott Bay, which starts at the Space Needle and doesn’t quit until downtown. Oysters are $3.50 apiece during happy hour—same as prime time. Pier 70, 2801 Alaskan Way, Downtown, 206-956-8171; elgaucho.com

Flying Fish
Chef Chris Keff works with Marinelli’s Shellfish to broker three nightly oyster selections from little farms across Puget Sound that might not otherwise get to the Seattle market. The 50-cent shucks at the bar during high season (aka November to April) are the stuff of Seattle oyster happy hour legend and happen daily from 4 to 6. 300 Westlake Ave, South Lake Union, 206-728-8595; flyingfishrestaurant.com

Published: February 2013

Four Seattle Bands That Rock Harder Than the Rest

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 22:00:00 -0700

To claim you don’t like indie rock in Seattle is heresy, like saying you loathe Mount Rainier. But sometimes we get these cravings...for manic guitar riffs and head-banging drum solos. Sometimes we just want to rock, without the indie. Thankfully, the city that birthed Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, and Nirvana still has plenty of rising rock stars. We recently inherited Jordan Cook, aka Reignwolf , a 28-year-old Canadian transplant who looks like a young Bob Dylan and shreds mightily on his Gibson 335. But the music doesn’t stop there. Meet three more of our favorites:

Image: Seth Sommerfeld

Absolute Monarchs tear up the mainstage at Capitol Hill Block Party 2012.

Absolute Monarchs
Despite debuting at Capitol Hill Block Party in 2010, the Absolute Monarchs foursome didn’t get around to releasing its first proper record until this April. But most agree it was worth the wait for the thunderclap of 1, an LP that’s a fury of snarling vocals, driving double guitars, and frenzied drumming that gets your blood pumping. See them at Concerts at the Mural, Aug 17, Mural Amphitheatre, Seattle Center

Image: Photo courtesy Vee Sawyer

Ellensburg's Star Anna now looks the part of Seattle rocker.

Star Anna and the Laughing Dogs
The 26-year-old gets pegged as alt-country but she’s more rock and raw than that. Her aching vocals hint at time spent working hard for her money, busking on the streets of Ellensburg, and playing in a self-described “bad punk band”; there’s an honesty to the music that sways even the toughest of dudes. Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready is one of her biggest fans—can’t get a much better endorsement. See them at Bumbershoot, Sept 3, Seattle Center

Image: Facebook.com/My Goodness

My Goodness, fans of Texas and Pabst.

My Goodness
Saying this Seattle guitar-and-drum duo sounds like the Black Keys is beyond cliche at this point. Then again, it became the cliche because it’s a spot-on comparison. Owing a debt to its punk and blues predecessors, My Goodness wails (yeaaaahhhh) and thrashes with authority. No upcoming shows scheduled at this time.