December 2008

Looking for a fun, wintry activity that the entire family can enjoy? Tired of paying extravagant prices for activities that should be free in a just world? Ready to spend your holiday fun with other friends and families in Seattle?

Then check out Winterfest 2008 at the Seattle Center! From November 28th to December 31st, you can enjoy delightful entertainment and activities. Everything is free or low-cost, and very kid friendly, so bring the entire family!

Every day there are many, many fun activities, from ice skating and winter trains, to school concerts, ballets, and other theatric performances.The Seattle Center’s website has a list of activities and entertainment for each day. Since many of the scheduled events change from day to day, so don’t forget to check their online calendar to find out what’s going on each day! Also, you can get directions to each event, and find out other useful information, such as where to park, things to see and places to eat and hang out,

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The weather outside may be frightful, but Sarah Brightman’s singing is delightful. And since you have no where else to go, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

And go see Sarah Brightman at the Everett Events Center at 7:30pm. This sparkling soprano has recently released her latest album, “A Winter Symphony,” a Christmas album from which she will be performing classics such as “Silent Night” and “Ave Maria.” Tickets are on sale for $49.50 - $250.

Sarah Brightman is one of the world’s leading sopranos. Born in Berkhamsted, a small town just outside of London, this young prodigy became a ballet star at the precocious age of four. In addition, she enrolled in performing arts at age 11, aspiring to act in every play. As a child, she began singing in a variety of genres, from pop and classical, to dance, Gregorian chants and Eastern refrains. But it was not until the age of 12 that people realized she would one day become a successful soprano. She has sung and danced in countless theater productions, from Cats to Phantom of the Opera.

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The Coats will be performing in the Nordstrom Illsey Recital Hall at Benaroya Hall, on December 11th, 13h, and 19th, with all shows starting at 7:30pm.

They are an a cappella group with a tradition of outreach performances and workshops supporting music in schools around the Pacific Northwest. Their first performances took place on the street corners outside the Pike Place Market. Their popularity enabled the group to win national vocal competitions, sing for the President of the United States, and share the stage with many other talented and well-renowned entertainers.

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Monday has become the new Friday. There are tons of concerts, bands, and singers performing tonight all around the city. Here are just a couple of the hottest shows that will be going down tonight.

Downtown’s main action will take place at the Showbox at the Market in the Green Room. They will be featuring all Seattle-born bands tonight, with performances by Past Lives, Triumph of Lethargy Skinned Alive to Death, and Chk Minus. It all starts at 8pm tonight with tickets priced at $7.

Past Lives is a native indie Seattle band, with such hits as “Strange Symmetry,” “We Meet in Sleep,” “Chrome Life,” and “Beyond Gone.” Triumph of Lethargy Skinned Alive to Death also hails from Seattle. Their music is self-described as experimental, psychadelic, and garage. Triumph of Lethargy Skinned Alive to Death has covered hits by several other bands and singers, including Neil Young, David Bowie, Huggy Bear, Bo Diddley, Muddy Waters, and Joanna Newsom.

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Spice up your holiday season at the Dan Zanes and Friends Holiday House Party. This is a big new theatrical and musical production that represents Jewish, Arabic, and Mexican traditions. Dan Zanes may be zany, but this is no ordinary Dan Zanes show. Christmas carols will be transformed into tap-dancing wonders, Hanukah songs will be remixed into a disco-styled masterpieces, and Arabic beats will ring in the Lunar New Year with a sing-a-long!

This will be a memorable show to see, especially since you’ll be able to brag to your friends that you saw the show right before it made it to Broadway. That’s right, this show is debuting in Seattle and after these four performances, it will head straight to Broadway!

To quote Dan Zanes: “Imagine if you will a December afternoon in my Brooklyn home. My band and I have made a plan to play for awhile, and a group of musical friends drop by to say hello. A sudden storm turns a quick visit into a full blown jam session. How did I, a WASP from New Hampshire, end up in this wild situation with Mexican, Jewish, Arabic, English and Korean songs not to mention Tap Dancing shaking the rafters?

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If you’re looking for a way to sing your trouble away and/or get discovered by an agent, become a regular at these karaoke bars. You can sing every night of the week (provided that you’re not tone-deaf), and get to vary your audience. These five restaurants/bars offer ongoing karaoke:

Bush Garden Restaurant
International District

Ozzie’s Restaurant & Lounge
Queen Anne

Molly Maguire’s Pub
Ballard/Broadview/Blue Ridge

Hula Hula
Queen Anne

J&M Café and Cardroom
Pioneer Square

The Owl ‘n Thistle Irish Pub offers a Jazz Improv night every Tuesday night at 9pm so you can scat till your heart's content. Located near the Pike Place Market at 808 Post Ave., the event will be free, so your really have no excuse not to go. Plus, this could be your chance to become famous in the music business singing jazz. And you won’t be the first jazz musician to be discovered singing a bar – many others like Ray Charles made his career break singing in a Seattle nightclub. So don’t pass this once-every-Tuesday opportunity up!

For more information, call the Owl ‘n Thistle Irish Pub at 206-621-7777.

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