By Janette Turner

You might want to practice your pick-up lines because Edmonds is now the place to mingle. For details on the first Singles Meet-n-Walk, a milestone birthday party, and more Third Thursday Art Walk events, read on.

Thursday: First Singles Meet-n-Walk

 

All guys and gals interested in joining the first Edmonds Singles Meet-n-Walk are invited to gather at Milltown Lounge during Art Walk from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Pick up a map and meet new friends with host Kelsey Foster of Intuitive Matchmaking. For details check out the Face Book page.

Third Thursday: Finger painting at Cole Gallery

Finger painter Iris Scott is the featured artist at Cole Gallery during Art Walk from 5 to 8 p.m. Scott’s impressionistic work has been in “Oprah” magazine, and will be shown in Cole Gallery in Giclee form on archival canvas with a finger-painted texture of oil highlights. Come and meet Scott, along with artist Jennifer Bowman, and enjoy Champagne and light refreshments, including finger sandwiches and lady fingers. Scott will also be at the gallery on Saturday, from noon to 3 p.m, for a demonstration.

 Thursday: Interiors of Edmonds hosts David Marty

 

Award-winning artist David Marty will be at Interiors of Edmonds on Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m.

Thursday: Gallery North features Karen Dedrickson

Sumi-e artist Karen Dedrickson will be at Gallery North during Art Walk from 5 to 8 p.m. to discuss her work and the training required to become a specialist in her medium. Dedrickson will also be featured at a gallery reception on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 1 to 4 p.m.

Thursday: Manya Vee celebrates milestone

 

Stop by Manya Vee Selects during Art Walk to celebrate owner Manya Vee’s milestone birthday. In honor of the occasion, we wanted to find out more about her passion.

My Edmonds News: How did you start your artistic career?

MV: I’ve always loved beauty. The jewelry part began in junior high, when I made name bracelets for my pals with plastic letter beads spelling out their names, and sold them for $1 each. Off and on, I continued making beaded jewelry, but I really got into it while living in Asia. Traveling with a backpack, beads were affordable and small.  I taught myself how to string them, and was influenced by Asian designs as well as American vintage jewelry.  I sold my first pieces of jewelry on the streets of Taipei.

Upon returning to the States, I wanted to pursue selling jewelry as a career.  Not having a clue how to do that, I blundered along for some years selling at farmer’s markets and art fairs. I met lots of other artists that way and loved the beautiful things they made as well. Finally, 12 years ago, I tired of lugging a tent around and being at the whim of the weather and customer moods.  Hence, my husband and I now have our permanent art fair in Edmonds.

My Edmonds News: Please tell us how you choose items for your store.

M.V.: Jeff and I choose items full of color and texture that are mostly functional. A range of styles and price points is important too, with a large collection of things under $20. Avoiding trendy, we prefer classical style and elegance, with a touch of whimsy on the side.

My Edmonds News: What items currently make you smile?

M.V.: We just got a small group of blown glass flying pigs that always make me smile. Think something is impossible? Just tell that to them!

My Edmonds News: What will you be doing to celebrate your birthday during Art Walk?

M.V.: During Art Walk, I’m looking forward to folks stopping by to wish me another 50 years!

My Edmonds News: Is there anything else you would like folks to know?

M.V.: To celebrate my birthday, Jeff created a lovely drawing of three candles, with things on them depicting three aspects of my life. He’s transforming that into tape art on our window at the gallery.  Stop by to enjoy them and try to figure out what each thing represents!

Thursday: Edmonds Bookshop hosts Scriber mentor Ingrid Ricks

Author Ingrid Ricks (photo courtesy author’s website).

Fans of the book, “We Are Absolutely Not Okay, Fourteen Stories by Teenagers Who are Picking Up the Pieces,” by Scriber Lake students will want to be at the Edmonds Bookshop on Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. to hear Scriber mentor Ingrid Ricks. Her book, “Hippie Boy: A Girl’s Story,” was the guide that inspired instructor Margie Bowker and the Scriber students who wrote their own stories. Ricks will read from her memoir and answer questions about her life growing up with a Mormon stepfather who tried to cast Satan out of her. Ricks will also discuss her upcoming book, “FOCUS,” a memoir about living with a degenerative eye disease that is stealing her sight.

 Thursday: For a complete listing of Art Walk events running 5 to 8 p.m., see here.

 

 Thursday through Saturday: Driftwood Players perform “The 39 Steps”

Running Thursday through Saturday, the Driftwood Players perform “The 39 Steps,” a play based on Alfred Hitchock’s film. While the movie featured 150 characters, the Driftwood Players will handle all parts with just four actors, including Terrence Boyd. Directed by Ted Jaquith. All seats are $14 for this short run. See here for details.

 

Friday: EdCC artist reception

Edmonds Community College features visual arts instructor Audineh Asaf at a reception Friday from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in the college art gallery, Lynnwood Hall, third floor. Asaf’s mural, “Embodied Motifs,” explores her questions about being an Iranian American woman.

Friday: ECA presents Natalie MacMaster

Top musicians including cellist Yo-Yo Ma and guitarist Carlos Santana have worked with Natalie MacMaster, and now Edmonds gets to see the master fiddler. MacMaster performs at ECA on Friday at 7:30 p.m. For tickets visit ECA.

Friday: Phoenix rises with “Sylvia”

 

The rival in Greg and Kate’s marriage is Sylvia, a lovable dog played by a human in the comedy, “Sylvia,” opening Friday, 8 p.m., at Phoenix Theatre. The humor is “howlingly funny,” according to Backstage magazine. Tickets here.

 

Saturday:  Rainbow City Band at ECA

Artistic Director Anne Kreider will take the podium Saturday at 7 p.m. to lead the Rainbow City Band and Orchestra in a presentation of music from new and old video games. You don’t have to be a “gamer” to enjoy the concert, according to a press release. Rainbow City Band (RCB) is a non-audition community band consisting of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and straight members from all around the Puget Sound area. Tickets at ECA.

Monday: Cascade Symphony opens 51st Season at ECA

Cascade Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Michael Miropolsky, opens the 2012-13 season with “The Firebird,” on Monday at 7:30 p.m. at ECA. After a successful and sold out Golden Jubilee Season, the orchestra celebrates its 51st year with Stravinsky’s “The Firebird Suite,” Rossini’s “Overture to The Barber of Seville,” and Dvorak’s “Symphony No. 8.” The featured soloist will be David Gordon, Principal Trumpet with the Seattle Symphony. He will perform the Trumpet Concerto in E flat major by Johann Nepomuk Hummel – one of the most challenging concertos in the trumpet repertoire. For tickets vist www.ec4arts.org.

Advance notice:  Horrific Zombie Film Fest at EdCC

Guys and ghouls are invited to the “Horrific Zombie Film Fest” playing in the Black Box Theatre at Edmonds Community College on Oct. 30, at 2 p.m. and again at 4 p.m. The fest features bloodcurdling shorts by Washington State filmmakers from Bleedingham, a Bellingham film festival. Films are suitable for ages 13 and up. Tickets $5 available at the door.

Advance notice: EPIC hosts NaNoWriMo activities

Brew the coffee and prepare to write your book during National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). Local writers have the Edmonds Library and EPIC Group Writers offering support with a kick-off at the library on Nov. 3 from 1 to 4 p.m. with Kim Votry, author of “Make Your Own Magic.” A drop-in writing group will meet the same day from 10 a.m to noon to prepare outlines for the month’s work. For more information about writing an entire book in a month, see EPIC Group.

Advance notice:  Seattle International Comedy Competition at ECA  

The funniest countries, including Croatia, are represented in the 33^rd Annual Seattle International Comedy Competition coming to ECA on Nov. 14. For tickets, see here.

Advance notice: CYSO at Benaroya Nov. 17

Ticket sales began this week for the Cascade Youth Symphony Orchestras (CYSO) concert on Nov. 17. For information, click on Cascade Youth Symphony Orchestras (CYSO).

Arts reporter Janette Turner is your guide to local culture. In addition to covering visual, literary and performing events for My Edmonds News, Janette teaches a free writing class Monday mornings at the Edmonds Library and is managing director of EPIC Group Writers. She is also a member of the Swedish Hospital Art Committee. (Photo by Jennifer McKinney)