by Emerald Staff
Thurs., Feb. 13:
No Small Talk: Loving Black
“In partnership with the Association of Black Social Work Students at the University of Washington’s School of Social Work, this community dialogue series invites and highlights voices and ideas from across the Black diaspora on important topics that inform the individual and collective Black experience. These moderated conversations center the voices of performing artists, mental health professionals, spiritual and body workers, writers, authors and more from across the northwest.
“February’s topic is Loving Black – Discussing the interpersonal and intimate relationships between Black people. Examining love between Black families in a historical context and how it connects to now. An open space to talk about stigmas, challenges, and the sweet parts of loving each other.”
Time: 7–9 p.m.
Where: NAAM — 2300 S. Massachusetts St
Cost: FREE (register via the Facebook event)
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Fri., Feb. 14:
Ark Lodge Cinemas
Now playing: The Photograph, Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey, Sonic the Hedgehog
Still playing: Parasite (playing again!), 1917
Time: Showtimes vary
Where: Ark Lodge Cinemas — 4816 Rainier Ave. S.
Cost: $9–12 ($6 Wednesdays!)
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Black History Month Panel
“For Black History Month, we would like to focus our attention and consider the impact of gender-based violence in the Black community. We believe the experiences of this community are often over looked, minimized, or used as a way to justify the inequitable treatment throughout various systems and in the media. As with other social issues, Black and African Americans are disproportionately impacted by sexual and domestic violence and have the added layers of racism and oppression. Gender-based violence continues to be an invisible issue and many fail to understand its prevalence and impacts. We hope to begin a community dialogue to discuss these issues, understand what is currently being done, connect community members to resources, and discuss how we as a community can make positive change toward the goal of ending gender-based violence.
Panelist: Doris O’Neal (YWCA), Bettie Watson (MultiCommunities), POCAAN, Trenecsia Wilson (Coalition Ending Gender-Based Violence), Farhiya Mohammed (Somali Safety Task Force). Hosted by: Nikkita Oliver. Light refreshments provided.”
Time: 5–8 p.m.
Where: New Holly Gathering Hall — 7054 32nd Ave S.
Cost: FREE (register online)
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Dani Tirrell – Black Bois
“Enter a world where Black bodies tell their own stories. Where Black love and Black expression prevail. A world where Black stories heal, grow, and transform the lives they touch. Featuring live music, collaboration with a large cast of local artists/performers, and installations, this performance project celebrates Black bodies in space and an emotional engagement with movement. Black Bois is a love letter to Black bodies, minds, and spirits.
“Artist Dani Tirrell writes, ‘This dance piece, created with original music by Benjamin Hunter and written word by J Mase III, is a ceremony to our ancestors, and a thanksgiving to our past, present, and future. It is a love letter to our bodies, our spirits, and our minds. This is the story of our fathers, brothers, lovers, and friends. A healing space, a space to process, a space to love, a space to create and be. We welcome you!’” All-ages
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Moore Theatre — 1932 2nd Ave
Cost: $40–50
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The Friday Night Get Down
“Noir Grime Presents…**The Friday Night Get Down – Valentine’s Day – Episode #10**
“Join us for The Friday Night Get Down held at Cafe Red in Seattle. We will be bringing some the best local artists in the scene while Cafe Red provides delicious food and drinks to keep the night flowing.
The night will be jam packed with music from…Swift Holiday, imineG, Qreepz, Closing with a Rap Cypher Hosted by Terry Monstrosity. The event is Hosted By: Shubzilla x Bill Beats and the good people at Cafe Red. We will also be having a Vinyl Record giveaway to one lucky attendee. Grab your raffle ticket at the door. Rap Cypher: If you think you got bars, join us for the rap cypher during the show.” Kid-friendly
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Cafe Red — 7148 MLK Jr Way S.
Cost: $5 (kids free)
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Dark Violet Productions presents Apocalipstick
“Love hurts. It scorns and makes villains out of us all. Apocalipstick burst onto the Texas burlesque scene in 2015 as brainchild of Dark Violet’s Nox Falls. Times have changed but love still sucks and we couldn’t be more excited to resurrect this open dedication to the more difficult side of love outside of the mainstream!” Two shows, presented 2/14 and 2/15. 21+
Time: 9 p.m.
Where: Columbia City Theater — 4916 Rainier Ave S.
Cost: $28
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Sat., Feb. 15:
State of Africatown 2020-The African American/African Gathering
“The seventh annual State of Africatown: The African American African Diaspora Gathering will be held on Saturday February 15th, 2020 at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute and will feature presentations on the accomplishments of the previous year, the work that is being done currently, as well as the visions, opportunities, and challenges facing the African American and African Diaspora community in 2020 as we enter a new decade.”
Time: 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
Where: Langston Hughes — 104 17th Ave S.
Cost: FREE (register online)
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Documentary Night: Soul Train
“Join us this Saturday for Documentary Night at Northwest Tap Connection! An authoritative history of the groundbreaking syndicated television show that has become an icon of American pop culture: SOUL TRAIN.
“When it debuted in October 1971, seven years after the Civil Rights Act, Soul Train boldly went where no variety show had gone before, showcasing the cultural preferences of young African-Americans and the sounds that defined their lives: R&B, funk, jazz, disco, and gospel music. The brainchild of radio announcer Don Cornelius, the show’s producer and host.
“The Hippest Trip in America tells the full story of this pop culture phenomenon that appealed not only to blacks, but to a wide crossover audience as well. Cornelius himself shares memories, offering insights into the show and its time—a period of extraordinary social and political change. Colorful and pulsating, The Hippest Trip In America is a fascinating portrait of a revered cultural institution that has left an indelible mark on our national consciousness.”
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Where: Northwest Tap Connection — 8732 Rainier Ave S.
Cost: FREE (we think!)
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Spekulation + 45th St Brass
“Spekulation is a Seattle-based emcee and producer who blends samples with live instrumentation to create hiphop records that represent Seattle’s deep and diverse music culture. In the past few years he has released several EPs, been played on KUBE, KISS and KEXP, and scored a short film featuring some of the world’s top dancers which was featured in The New York Times and Washington Post. On stage, he performs with DJ AbsoluteMadman, Nate Omdal and an 8-piece band, bringing together some of the city’s most talented instrumentalists.” 21+
Time: 9:30 p.m.
Where: Clock-Out Lounge — 4864 Beacon Ave S.
Cost: $12 adv. / $15 DOS
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Illuminate: Community Cultural Celebrations
“Please join us at the Union Cultural Center for an inclusive night of cultural celebration. The intention of this fun, free, family-friendly event is to engage and educate through performance, food, and community interaction.
“Each month a different cultural art form will be explored, celebrated and shared, beginning with a brief introduction. This will be followed by an engaging performance, and conclude with an opportunity to participate. By highlighting the social and historical significance of traditional multicultural practices, ‘Illuminate: Community Cultural Celebrations’ mission is to offer and encourage the community to respectfully engage and learn from one another through cultural arts.
“All ages are welcome, and the youth are especially encouraged to attend. The importance of learning about and understanding cultures outside of one’s own, particularly at a young age, is imperative for our future generations. The first event will be February 15, 7pm to 10pm. Featuring: Afrobeat with Kine Camara, West African Dance with Manimou Camara.” Family-friendly
Time: 7 p.m.
Where: Union Cultural Center — 803 S. King St
Cost: FREE (donations welcome)
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Sun., Feb. 16:
Alchemy Poetry Series Presents Amber Flame
“Amber Flame is a writer, composer and performer, whose work has garnered artistic merit residencies with Hedgebrook, The Watering Hole, Vermont Studio Center, and Yefe Nof. Flame served as the 2017-2019 poetry Writer-in-Residence at Hugo House in Seattle. Her first collection, Ordinary Cruelty, was published in 2017 by Write Bloody Press with her second collection forthcoming from Red Hen Press.
“Alchemy is a curated performance art space that elevates voices that are often silenced. Performers in our community focus on the brilliance of storytelling by offering personal stories and reflections that are socially relevant. We are powerful artists and our space allows our audience to witness the craft at its highest form. We believe that art is a divine power to create community.” Kid-friendly
Time: 3 p.m.
Where: Alchemy — 104 12th Ave
Cost: $7–10
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A Tribe Called West-Side Mixer (Black History Month Edition)
“Your Vibe Attracts Your Tribe—Come vibe out and meet new people in and out of the Seattle area. We realize there are a lot of transplants and people who mainly stay indoors because it’s hard to find likeminded people just like it can be hard to find things to do. There is a whole world out there and not everyone is infected with the ‘Seattle Freeze’ disease. What we want to do is create a melting pot where people who are of mixed cultures, occupations, and backgrounds can gather, network, and just vibe out hoping to create friendships, business relationships, or other. Artists and business of all kind are welcome.
“This month we want to focus on artist of color to celebrate black history month! So come celebrate with us and support local POC businesses and artists. This event will be going on during Sunday Night Sessions at Rumba Notes. There will be live music and a DJ
Open mic and Jam session, Food and drinks for purchase, Vendors such as Phambili designs, Meticulously Eccentric, and Badder Body.
“Good vibes so you can find or create your tribe. We will have the rear section of Rumba notes for this event which has a private bar / seating, and the greatest view of the stage. Photos can bring taken, donations are accepted.” 21+
Time: 9 p.m.
Where: Rumba Notes Lounge Seattle — 5041 Rainier Ave S.
Cost: Free to attend (donations accepted)
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Espresso Red
“Espresso Red is a Musical Laboratory created as an open space for Musicians, Poets, Speakers, and artists of all walks of life to come jam and express every piece of their creative souls.
“This will be a 21+ event with suggested donation of $10.00. Food and Drink will be available for purchase.” 21+
Time: 8 p.m.
Where: The Station — 1600 S. Roberto Maestas Fest St
Cost: $10 (suggested donation)
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Wed., Feb. 19:
Azure Savage – You Failed Us
“Join Third Place Books in welcoming Azure Savage, author of You Failed Us: Students of Color Talk Seattle Schools.
“You Failed Us is an exploration of the experience that students of color have in the schools they attend around the Seattle area. It incorporates direct quotes from interviewed students, as well as the author’s own personal experiences from when they were in elementary school, to now, about to enter their senior year of high school.
“AZURE SAVAGE is a black trans man in his senior year of high school. He wrote You Failed Us as a response to the racial injustice within the education system. After releasing the book, Savage has started to pursue speaking opportunities, workshops, and meeting directly with people working in Seattle Public Schools. He is working towards creating more understanding of the harm caused to students of color in order to inform actions taken by the district. Aside from book-related opportunities, Savage also has a strong voice at his high school around sexual assault education. All of his interests come from personal experience which creates an endless source of fuel.”
Time: 7–8 p.m.
Where: Third Place Books Seward Park — 5041 Wilson Ave S.
Cost: Free to attend
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Open Mics!
Here’s a quick round-up of the ones we know about (listed in chronological order; list updated frequently):
Royal Esquire Club Open Mic Tuesdays (Tuesdays)
*The Original Open Mic (Tuesdays; *new open mic at the CCT Bourbon Bar!)
Seattle’s Best Open Mic (Wednesdays)
Sistas Rock The Arts Open Mic (Thursdays)
Cafe Red’s Open Mic for All (Second Thursdays; see Facebook for next date.)
Freshest Roots Presents: Expresso Open Mic (First Fridays)
Legacy Fridays Open Mic / Showcase (Second Fridays; might be on hiatus, contact event host for more info.)
Inspired Child’s Children Open Mics (Fourth Saturdays)
The Salute Sessions (Mondays; technically an open jam session vs. a typical open mic)
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And check out these comedy-specific open mics:
Joketellers Union (Wednesdays)
Comedy on Broadway’s Open Mics (Multiple days per week!)
Stand Up Comedy Open Mic at Tippe & Drague (First Saturdays)
NW Peaks Comedy Open Mic (Tuesdays)
*Here’s a monthly comedy showcase too: Cafe Red’s We Got Jokes (Second Wednesdays, intermittently; see venue calendar). And here’s a new weekly radio comedy show on RainierAveRadio.World featuring local comedians in-studio: Got Funny? (Download their new app on the Google Play store or the App Store to listen on mobile.)
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If karaoke is more your speed, check out these venues:
Bush Garden (Daily)
Clock-Out’s ggnzla Karaoke (Mondays)
Backyard’s Drag Queen Karaoke (Last Saturdays)
**They also have karaoke at Marco Polo Bar & Grill in Georgetown on the weekends.
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THIS WEEK IN SOUTH SEATTLE Glossary:
*NOTAFLOF = “No one turned away for lack of funds”
DOS = Price on the day of the show
door = Price at the door
adv. = Advance
GA = General Admission (no assigned seating)
FREE = As far as we can tell, you can show up and have fun without buying anything.
Free to attend / No cover / No fee = We don’t think there’s a cost to attend, but you may feel enticed or expected to buy something or make a donation (especially if the event is at a bar or restaurant or is not-for-profit and/or a fundraiser).
suggested = Suggested donation. (There’s technically no ticket price or cover for this event, but you are expected to make a cash donation at the door and this is the suggested donation amount. These events are often “NOTAFLOF” events.)
RSVP = French acronym for “Please respond.” The hosts’ / venue encourage or require you to let them know you’re coming. There’s probably a link somewhere. 🙂
N/A = Not applicable. In other words, it’s not a thing (e.g. “Time: N/A” means there is no specific time associated with this event.)
Family-friendly = This is an event for the whole family. “Kid-friendly” is another term often used by event hosts. We use “family-friendly” only when we know the event is geared toward adults and children specifically. “Kid-friendly” means kids can come, but the event is not for kids, per se.
All-ages = People under 18- / 21-years may attend, but young children won’t necessarily enjoy this event. Usually noted when it might not otherwise be clear.
Please follow individual event links and follow up with event venues / organizers to verify crucial event details.
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To submit an event for inclusion in “This Week in South Seattle,” email us at editor@southseattleemerald.com. Help us out and include the event title, date, time, venue/address, cost, and a link to more information. Thank you!
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