Edmonds Jazz Connection
Downtown Edmonds Stages and Studios

Saturday, May 24

Cool, young, musicians playing hot, hot jazz on an Edmonds Kind of Day is what the Rotary Club of Edmonds Daybreakers has in mind for music lovers as the Rotary presents the 14th annual Edmonds Jazz Connection.

The popular music festival helping establish Edmonds as a jazz destination features performances from top-notch, award-winning high school ensembles throughout the Pacific Northwest. Sponsors point out that, “Many of these [ensembles] have performed at the prestigious Essentially Ellington Jazz Academy,” at New York’s Lincoln Center.

You’ll want to visit the Edmonds Jazz Connection Facebook page to catch the latest buzz. Your link to the roster of participating high schools, the event schedule, and venue map is here.

Large Stage at ECA

Thursday, May 22, 6 p.m. FREE Season Preview Event

Edmonds Center for the Arts
410 4th Ave. N.

Edmonds Center for the Arts Season Preview Event is a special opportunity to meet ECA Executive Director Joe McIalwain and learn about the line-up for the upcoming season, including the ECA’s new Family Series and Summer Engagements, as well as show packages.

The lobby will be open at 5:30 p.m. and the event begins promptly at 6 p.m. in the ECA theater. The program will last approximately 30-40 minutes.

There is no charge to attend the ECA’s Season Preview Event.
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Arab Idol
Sunday, May 25 ~ 8 p.m.

Events ‘R’ Us presents “Arab Idol in Concert” featuring Mohamad Assaf, acclaimed Palestinian singer and winner of the second season of Arab Idol in 2013. Mohamad Assaf’s performance is available to view on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aj-pyJF6ckU

“Arab Idol in Concert” also features Ziad Khoury, Arab Idol 2013 finalist. Arab Idol is based on the popular British show Pop Idol created by Simon Fuller.

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In My Life ~ A Musical Theater Tribute to The Beatles

Wednesday, June 4 ~ 7:30 p.m.

The award-winning, nationally touring musical biography of the Beatles as seen through the eyes of their manager Brian Epstein and featuring the live music of renowned tribute band Abbey Road.

This family friendly musical tale is widely considered by industry insiders to be the most unique Beatles show in decades.
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How to obtain tickets for these ECA events: Please call the ECA Box Office at 425-275-9595, go online at www.ec4arts.org or visit us in person at the ECA Box Office, located at 410 4th Ave. N.

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Community Events

Black Box Theater
Edmonds Community College

Kealoha, Poet Laureate of Hawaii
Today – Free Event
Thursday, May 22 ~ 12:30 and 7:30 p.m.

“From Science to Poetry & Back Again” will be presented by Kealoha in the Black Box Theater mid-day.

Then, Thursday evening “Between the Lines” is hosting a poetry slam and concluding with some poetry readings by Kealoha.

You can see playbill information here.
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Memorial Day Observance

Monday, May 26 ~ 11 a.m.
Free event!

Members of the Edmonds Cemetery and Columbarium Board cordially invite the public to attend the 32st Annual Memorial Day Observance.

In honor of Memorial Day graves of all veterans will be marked with a white cross and a miniature US flag. Visitors are invited to stroll the cemetery grounds and take a self-guided tour using one of the cemetery’s walking maps.

The Edmonds Memorial Cemetery was placed on the Washington State Register of Historic Places in 1972 and has over 400 veterans interred.

Cemetery Board Member, Patrick Kelly is Master of Ceremonies. This year the Board is paying tribute to the 70th Anniversary of D-Day. Fred Diedrich, member of the VFW Post 8870 and a WWll veteran, will share his personal story.

In addition to Fred Diedrich’s recount, other program highlights include: The Presentation of Colors, songs and music by the Edmonds-Woodway High School Vocal Volunteers and Brass Quintet, bagpipes by Mike Barber, Olivia Olson reading her award-winning VFW essay and remarks by Edmonds Mayor Dave Earling. The program ends with a rifle salute and “Taps” by the Washington National Honor Guard – Camp Murray and Edmonds Police Department.

Street parking is available along 100th Avenue West and 15th Avenue.

Refreshments, including cookies provided by the Lynnwood Emblem Club #366 and coffee provided by Walnut Street Coffee will be served after the program.

Edmonds Memorial Cemetery and Columbarium is located at 100th Ave. W and 15th St. SW, one block north of the Westgate QFC. The event will take place rain or shine and is approximately one hour long. Parking within the cemetery is limited to those with handicap-parking permits only. Limited seating is available. Guests are encouraged to bring their own folding chairs.

For questions please contact Dale Hoggins, Cemetery Board Member at 425-776-1543
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Edmonds Historical Museum
118 5th Ave N

You haven’t seen the newly renovated Edmonds Historical Museum yet? Well, you’ll want to add a visit to the museum’s exhibit “Stories, Storefronts, and Signage From the Past” this weekend.

The exciting, historically revealing exhibit was featured in My Edmonds News earlier in the month.

For information about the museum’s hours visit the website.

Edmonds Watershed Fun Fair
180 W Dayton St.

Coming Soon!
Saturday, May 31 ~ 11 a.m.
Free event!

Explore the connections between Edmonds Marsh, Willow Creek, and Puget Sound. This event, which celebrates Edmonds’ waterways, takes place at multiple locations.

Ride the free Waterfront Festival Shuttle Bus from downtown Edmonds to the marsh, the Willow Creek Fish Hatchery, and the waterfront.

Bring the family for guided walks, kids’ activities, geocaching, exhibits, and more. Learn why we way “Puget Sound Starts Here!”

More information, schedule and free parking locations at www.Discovery.Edmondswa.gov.
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Easels and Arts

Submissions Sought!

Gallery North invites plein air and studio painters to register for its fifth annual “Beauty of the Northwest Show” and “Plein Air Paint-out Events”.

Artists who register for the “Beauty of the Northwest Show” show may participate in optional Plein Air Paint-out Events led by local artists during June and July. Plein air is a French term that refers to painting outdoors.

So as you visit Edmonds this summer, you may find artists at work at their easels painting outdoors on the streets of Edmonds or other scenic locations. “There is an exciting challenge to capturing the rapidly changing light outdoors that forces me to work quickly and capture the essence of the scene,” says plein air artist, Jolyn Wells-Moran.

Studio painter Joyce Donaldson says, “I often make sketches, take notes or photographs outdoors that I use when creating in my studio.”

In addition to the Plein Air Paint-out Events and entry to the “Beauty of the Northwest Show”, registered artists who submit images of their paintings to Gallery North by June 1 will be considered to become this year’s poster artist for the “Beauty of the Northwest Show”. Another benefit, registered artists will receive an e-book on plein air painting by Gallery North member Jolyn Wells-Moran.

The “Beauty of the Northwest Show”, on display during the month of August, will be juried by well-respected local artists Alice Owen and Win Bainbridge and prizes will be awarded.

For registration and other details about these events, please visit the Gallery North website at www.gallerynorthedmonds.com.

About Gallery North: In operation for more than 50 years, Gallery North is one of the longest running artists’ cooperative galleries in the nation. It continues its mission to promote and sell local art in the heart of downtown Edmonds. Gallery North is located at 401 Main Street, Edmonds, WA. For further information please visit the Galley North website at www.gallerynorthedmonds.com H or contact Gallery North at 425-774-0946.
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Theater News

Phoenix Theatre
9673 Firdale Ave.

May 30 to June 22
Friday and Saturday performances at 8 p.m.
Sunday matinee at 2 p.m.

Kimberly Akimbo
By David Lindsey-Abaire

Set in the wilds of New Jersey, KImberly is a teenager with a rare condition that causes her to age faster than she should (she’s 16 but looks as if she’s in her 70’s). When her family flees their home town of Secaucus under dubious circumstances, Kimberly is forced to re-evaluate her life while contending with a hypochondriac mother, a rarely sober father, a homeless, scam-artist aunt, and the most terrifying of all, the possibility of first love.

Directed by local talent Eric Lewis this “wacky, touching, and totally charming dark comedy gives a whole new meaning to the coming-of-age story,” according to The New York Daily News.

The cast for this Phoenix Theatre production includes Christine Mosere (Actor Equity Association), Jay Jenkins, Carissa Smit, Woody Lotts, and Melanie Calderwood.

Tickets $18.50 Adults $15.50 Seniors/Military are available here. 

For more information, contact the box office at 206-533-2000.

Emily Hill is an author and long-time resident of Edmonds. She is retired from a career in public information and news media relations. If you would like your event listed, or venue featured, in Artfully Edmonds, Emily invites you to contact her at arts@myedmondsnews.com