By Janette Turner

This weekend, shopping and jazz go together as perfectly as Christmas in May. It’s Memorial weekend in Edmonds, and here are selected cultural highlights.

Edmonds Sidewalk Sale: Jazz Connection

Shoppers, listen up! This year’s sidewalk sale carries a theme — “Let the Good Times Roll” — and runs May 25, 26 and 27, in conjunction with Edmonds Jazz Connection.

More than 30 shops and restaurants will feature sales during this popular annual event. On Saturday, May 26, the Edmonds Jazz Connection showcases 22 of the area’s top jazz musicians and vocalists from local schools: Big Bands at Edmonds Masonic Center; Vocal Jazz at Edmonds Conference Center; Jazz Combos at Edmonds Theatre; Open Jam Session at Edmonds Masonic Center from 5-8 p.m.; free. Sponsored by Edmonds Daybreakers Rotary and Hazel Miller Foundation. www.jazzconnection.org

Phoenix Theatre: “Absurd Person Singular”

Despite a Christmas Eve setting, Phoenix Theatre’s season finale, “Absurd Person Singular,” is current in its farcical dissection of class and jealousy, leading to one of playwright Alan Ayckbourn’s most famous lines: “What I lack in morals I make up in ethics.” Opens Friday, May 25; directed by Dan Jacoby. www.phoenixtheatreedmonds.com

Edmonds-Woodway: “You Can’t Take It With You”

The Edmonds-Woodway Players bring the George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart comedy “You Can’t Take It With You” to life 7:00 p.m. on May 31, June 1 and 2; and also 2:00 p.m. on June 3. Tickets $7; Seniors $5.

Half of Ten Ladies Painting at the Edmonds Library

Through June 10, the Edmonds Library hosts the first half of Ten Ladies Painting: professional artists Pam Harold, Beverly Shaw-Starkovich, Cheryl Hufnagel, Marilyn Webberley and Helen Drummond.

Artworks: Metal embossing workshop

Local artist Tonnie Wolfe will conduct a metal embossing workshop at ArtWorks, Saturday, May 26, 1-4 p.m., $40 + $10 materials.

Edmonds Bookshop: “Pitchers of Beer” release

Dan Raley replays a quarter century of Seattle Rainiers baseball in his book, “Pitchers of Beer.” Meet the writer at a sign-and-greet, Saturday, May 26, noon, Edmonds Bookshop.

Local connection: “Chicken Soup for the Soul”
“Chicken Soup for the Soul: Married Life!” arrives in bookstores May 29, featuring an essay by local writer and editor, Gretchen Houser. Recently she good-naturedly joked that she prefers her original title, “Upsetting the Spice Cart of Life,” to the publisher’s choice of “Order.” Her first book, a novella, titled “Once Too Often,” will be published this fall. She is a member of the Ladies of the Writing Club of Perrinville.

Arts reporter Janette Turner is your guide to local culture. In addition to covering visual, performing and literary events for MyEdmondsNews, Janette is managing director of EPIC Literary Series and a member of the Swedish Hospital Art Committee.   (Photo by Jennifer McKinney)