NEPO 5k

360-odd days every year, NEPO House on Beacon Hill is the home of sculptor and photographer Klara Glosova and her family. For a few days in the spring and fall, their house is colonized by art. For those hours every part of NEPO House — the kitchen, the closets, the pillows, the refrigerator, the bathtub - becomes part of a huge installation that is wide open (or "nepo") to the public.

A few times in the past years, Klara and her curating team have pushed that idea even farther by turning their entire neighborhood into an open house. They pick a route from the house, out to the street, along the Beacon Hill ridge, and down to the International district - more or less 5 kilometers long - and plant temporary art along every piece of it. The list of artists who have participated is long enough to fill dozens of blog posts. But chances are that if you are fond of some Northwest artist, he or she has created a piece for a NEPO event.

Curator and home owner Klara is currently collecting proposals for site specific artwork and performances. Maybe you've got a brilliant idea? Let Klara and the NEPO team know about it at info@nepohouse.org.

Lupercalia

Today, February 14th, is the start of the ancient festivals Februa (from which this month gets its name) and Lupercalia, both dedicated to renewal and cleansing, averting evil spirits and purification.

Lupercalia, or "Wolf Festival," was partly held in honor of Lupa, the she-wolf who suckled the infant orphans, Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome. Lupercus, who's feast day is held at the same time, is the god of shepherds. During the Lupercalia celebration, young people would run up and down through ancient Rome naked, striking those they meet with shaggy thongs. Pregnant women would deliberately get in their way in the belief that being struck would be helped in delivery.

The Gurldoggie, something of a she-wolf herself, wishes you all a Happy Lupercalia.

The Wolf's Postscript to 'Little Red Riding Hood'

by Agha Shahid Ali

First, grant me my sense of history: I did it for posterity, for kindergarten teachers and a clear moral: Little girls shouldn't wander off in search of strange flowers, and they mustn't speak to strangers.

And then grant me my generous sense of plot: Couldn't I have gobbled her up right there in the jungle? Why did I ask her where her grandma lived? As if I, a forest-dweller, didn't know of the cottage under the three oak trees and the old woman lived there all alone? As if I couldn't have swallowed her years before?

And you may call me the Big Bad Wolf, now my only reputation. But I was no child-molester though you'll agree she was pretty.

And the huntsman: Was I sleeping while he snipped my thick black fur and filled me with garbage and stones? I ran with that weight and fell down, simply so children could laugh at the noise of the stones cutting through my belly, at the garbage spilling out with a perfect sense of timing, just when the tale should have come to an end.

Afrika Bambaataa in the 206

206 Zulu is the local chapter of the Universal Zulu Nation, and the Northwest hip-hop organization ne plus ultra. The Zulu Nation was the brainstorm of hip-hip pioneer Afrika Bambaataa who traveled to Africa in 1973 on a quest to find an alternative lifestyle to the gang culture that was tearing apart his Bronx neighborhood. Bambaataa returned to New York preaching the five original elements of hip-hop - DJing, MCing, break dancing, graffiti writing, and knowledge of the past.

In 2004, local MC and graffiti writer King Khazm got the go ahead from Zulu originator Bambaataa to establish a local chapter. Since then, 206 Zulu has become one of the most active and progressive Zulu chapters in the country. They've been at the forefront of using hip-hop as a vehicle for social change, staging workshops in schools, community centers, and juvenile detention facilities — pretty much anyplace that will have them. This week, 206 Zulu celebrates their 8th Anniversary with plenty of live music, DJ battles, b-boy and b-girl competitions, a graffiti art showcase, lots of educational workshops, and much more.

The week of celebration is capped with an appearance by Afrika Bambaataa himself on Saturday the 18th. Bambaataa is performing and hosting a "Zulu Jam" with multiple Seattle hip-hop luminaries. The show is for all ages, and tickets are a super affordable $10.

All events take place at Washington Hall at 153 14th Ave. in Seattle's Central District. For more info and tickets, head over here.

The End is Beer

It's widely known that the Mayan calendar marks 2012 as the last year for humanity’s existence. In honor of the end of the world, Seattle's Elysian Brewing Company has teamed up with Fantagraphics Books, and apocalyptic cartoonist Charles Burns to release “Twelve Beers of the Apocalypse” over the course of the year.

First up in January is "Niburu," named for the planet supposedly on a collision course toward Earth. February 21 introduces "Rapture," fallowed by "Fallout" in March. Each beer will be available in a limited edition bottle with labels by Burns at Fantagraphics' bookstore in Georgetown. Once the bottles are gone, these beers will never be brewed again. Of course by the end of 2012 that will be the least of our worries. More on the endeavor here.

Artoleptic

This Sunday brings the 5th Artoleptic Festival to Pioneer Square. This small but steadily growing fair highlights urban arts and music, with appearances from plenty of top tier and lesser known artists and musicians. For the first time this year, the festival invites the public to bring large box trucks, work vehicles or buses to get painted for free. If you've got such a beast, just roll your vehicle into the center of the festival at Western and Yesler and have it set upon by a team of artists that includes 179, EGO, Joey Nix, Weirdo and others. A simple clear coat over the top and it should last for years!

This Sunday only, August 21 2011, from noon to 8pm.

Frankfurt El Farofillio

Now THIS is a taco truck!

Pepita, Baby Nico & I were in San Feliu de Guixols for the "Festas Majores," the biggest party of the year during which the entire little city takes a week off of work to play on the beach and party in the streets. It´s a wonderful Spanish concept, and like all things Spanish, food takes pride of place. This incredible food truck - aka Frankfurt el Farolillo rolls up fully contained within a trailer and unfolds to reveal dozens of seats, a well stocked grill, and a bar decked out in leather and chrome that would be the envy of most fully licensed pubs in the U.S. It´s one hell of a party.

It´s been a great 4 weeks in Spain, but all things must come to an end. We head back to the U.S. tomorrow morning, a little less rich, a little more tan, and somewhat ready to get back to the real world. But first - Camarero! One more for the road!

Pinhole Fireworks

A little late perhaps, but still well worth posting.

Being an American living in Canada, and missing the July 4th fireworks, designer Sean Ohlenkamp decided to make his own with some stop motion pinhole animation.

Dykeman at Vito's

Seattle artist Warren Dykeman was commissioned to paint a large mural on the wall of the newly reopened and revamped Vito’s Restaurant and Lounge on First Hill. The now complete 35 foot-long mural features Dykeman's signature male and female silhouettes surrounded by sumptuous red, green and yellow abstract patterns scattered across a dark gray background. It's a terrific and mysterious design, beautifully executed, an electric and engaging new backdrop for the re-invented visage of one of Seattle's finest dives.

Dykeman's work on paper is also currently featured as part of a group show at the Seattle Art Museum Gallery in the Seattle Tower.

Dead Baby Downhill

Dammit, I may be out of the country, but I'd be a fool not to be back in town for the Dead Baby Downhill. This annual race/party/ choose-your-own-adventure - billed with only gentle hyberbole as "The Greatest Bike Race the World has Ever Known" - takes place on August 6th. This race itself, "organized" by the febrile minds at the Dead Baby Bike Club - heads straight downhill from the Barrel in Top Hat, WA and ends at as yet unnamed party spot in Georgetown. You have to register in order to win prizes, but you just have to show up to party with the chaotic crew that surrounds the DBBC.

Messquerade

For the 9th (non-consecutive) year, bike messenger Matt Messman is throwing down his annual "Messquerade" scavenger hunt, bike race and par-tay. It all takes place on Halloween night from 6:00 pm until early the next morning. Scavenger hunt participants converge at the registration tables at 20/20 Cycles at 6, then scavenge by bike all over the city, gathering points to compete for the always impressive array of prizes from sponsors like Counterbalance Bikes, Recycled Cycles and Chrome bags. Teams meet at the Underground Events Center at 10:00 at which point winners are announced, prizes are awarded, and the party commences. Bands include warped local metal heads Imperial Legions of Rome, Goth Rock true believers the Anunnaki, local ska heroes the Georgetown Orbits, plus DJ'S Grimus & A2Z.

Register your scavenger teams here. Doors to the Underground open at 9:00, Entrance is $3 with a costume and $5 without.

He Who Honk Fest, Honk Best

Speaking of Orkestar Zirconium, this weekend brings the second annual Honk Fest West to the streets of Ballard and Georgetown. Honk Fest is a celebration of the music of street bands from around the world. This year, some 15 bands from around the continent are coming to party in the streets of Seattle, including the above mentioned Orkestar, the renowned Leland Stanford Junior University "Scatter Band", and the much beloved March Fourth Marching Band from Portland. Honk Fest begins on Friday April 10th in Ballard, travels to Georgetown on Saturday evening, hosts an open-to-the-public brunch at Gasworks Park on Sunday afternoon, and culminates on Sunday night in an all-star line up at The Vera Project in Seattle Center. A full list of bands, line-up and venue information can be found here.

Photo of What Cheer? Brigade at Honk Fest East by The Redbird. Thanks!

Boom Box Bikes

The boom box bicycle is coming into its own as a phenomenon of urban culture. It can be tricky mounting a decent (ie. LOUD) portable sound system to a bicycle, but tinkerers from around the world are increasingly up to the challenge. From impromptu street dance parties to Critical Mass rides, boom box bikes are a growing component of the cityscape.

Oobject has got a nice photo compilation of boom box bikes, and the gear heads over at Instructables recently posted detailed instructions for pimping your own ride.

The documentary "Made in Queens" follows a group of imaginative audiophiles and bike geeks from Trinidad, now living in NYC, who rigged enormous stereo systems onto their ordinary bmx and mountain bikes. The film, celebrating America's first stereobike crew, is currently on the festival circuit and I'm crossing my fingers that it makes it to Seattle as part of SIFF. In the meantime, check out this bitchin' (though far too short) trailer. Maybe I'll see you at Critical Mass?



(This post is deciated to longtime Gurldoggie reader and boombox biker WW.)

Save the Josephine!

The Josephine is an awesome little gig palace and nightclub, hidden away at 608 NW 65th st. in Ballard behind an obscure street level facade. Two refugees from Belltown's Rendezvous opened the club this summer, and they've already played host to dozens of local and national bands. Jason and Malachi, who run the place, are a rare breed of warm and non-judgemental concert promoters who just want to keep the bands coming in, the beer flowing, and the entrance price cheap. The place itself, which was built on the ashes of the Sun City Girls' longtime studio, feels like your cousin's living room complete with lamps and second-hand sofas. It's old school Seattle to a T, and it's well worth keeping around.

Which is why it's such a bummer to hear that the Josephine has already hit a wall financially, and they're talking about shutting the doors. We can't let it happen! The good people at COG-DIS Internet Radio are throwing the first of several benefit shows on Feb. 5. Show begins at 8 pm and the impressive roster of noise-rock bands includes Penetration Camp, Diseased Visions, Herpes Hideaway and Dr. Jones.

Just $10 to get in and worth every penny.

Photo of Dolomite at the Josephine by Invisible Hour who's got LOTS more Seattle event photos.

Free Sheep Moving On

Just heard that the Belltown-based Free Sheep Foundation is being evicted. They've been given notice that they have to move on out of their home on Third and Battery by this Sunday. No real surprise - the nomadic band of artists had been temporarily occupying a slated-to-be-destroyed office building at 3rd & Battery, and the end just came a little sooner than everyone had hoped. Stranger art critic Jen Graves wrote a good story about the group last year. The artists of Free Sheep had been creating some beautiful work and killer performances over the past 12 months or so, and hopefully it won't be too long before they get their groove back in a new spot.

The press release from Den Father DK Pan gives some reason for hope:

In the coming year, we have some really exciting projects in the works... we are partnering with the SCIDpda (Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority) on a number of public art works including an alleyway mural project, video interviews with neighborhood historians which will be on permanent display and included in podcast walking tours, working with neighborhood youth groups, and curatorial projects in vacant storefronts. Currently, we are also talking with the Uwajimaya family about temporarily occupying the Publix Hotel for exhibitions...We are also preparing for the TUBS Memorial Project (50th & Roosevelt in U-District) which be staged in the early spring.

Just before they get gone, Free Sheep Foundation is hosting a final graffiti jam this Friday, at which some fine Seattle street artists will be covering the walls of the place. Among the invitees are local heroes NTG, Baldman, Merlot, Charms Won, Specs Wizard, Static Invasion, NKO and plenty more.

Messmann's Messquerade

There's still time to register for "Messmann's Messquerade," coming up on Halloween. Since 1999, local bike messenger Messman has been throwing an annual spooky Scavenger Hunt, bicycle costume pageant and hard drinking Halloween party. This year, the scavenger hunt begins on October 31st at 7pm in the sunken parking lot behind Cafe Vita on Capitol Hill and ends at the Underground Events Center in Belltown. The party is open to everyone but you must register ahead of time for the Scavenger Hunt. The $30 registration fee gets you and your 2 to 6 teammates a list of clues, commemorative hooded sweatshirts, entrance to the after party, beer all night long, and a chance to win some great prizes from an impessive list of sponsors including Counterbalance Bicycles, Recycled Cycles, Cafe Ladro, New Belgium Brewing Company, Dead Baby Bikes, Aaron's Bicycle shop, Piecora’s Pizza and lots more.

Just $3 to get into the party, with music by Portland indie punk band Sprinkles and Seattle Ska legends Georgetown Orbits plus DJ's Grimus and A2Z, among others.

More info here.