As the arts writer for My Edmonds News, I came to this assignment with a classical music background, but have come to realize just how very inclusive the world of art actually is.

From coffee foam art to gallery walks and from gardens to lending libraries, Edmonds is fast becoming one of the most creative, colorful art destinations in Snohomish and King counties.

Here are just a few of the “Edmonds Kinds of Art!” mentions that I plan to include in my column in the coming months. Please check in with Artfully Edmonds each Thursday morning to see what’s being featured regarding the art scene in our sparkling jewel of a city.

Fourth of July –

Noon
The Edmonds Fourth of July Parade promises to be extravagant in design and color – quite artful, in fact! Come cheer on the artistry! (There’s also a parade for children, which starts at 11:30 a.m.)

Download the parade route map here.

10 PM
Fireworks! Get your ooooohhs! and ahhhhhhs ready as dazzling displays of fireworks light up the skies over Edmonds Civic Field in spontaneous bursts of dramatic color.
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Little Free Libraries –

Take a stroll with “Artfully Edmonds” to discover the artful, imaginative little library stands sprinkled through the neighborhoods of our city. And watch for an engaging interview from Ann and Larry Temple whose Little Free Library is often captured by Edmonds photographers.

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Edmonds in Bloom –
Reminder: The deadline for gardeners entering the “Edmonds in Bloom” competition this year is Thursday, July 3. Entry forms are available at Garden Gear, Edmonds Library, Frances Anderson Center, Bountiful Home and the Log Cabin, and may be mailed or brought to the Frances Anderson Center, 700 Main St. You can also submit online at www.edmondsinbloom.com.
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Taking the Sunday, July 20 tour of Edmonds in Bloom gardens? Tickets are available online at the Edmonds in Bloom website.
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Events and News from
Edmonds Center for the Arts (ECA)
410 4th Ave. N.

Saturday, June 28
2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Kontagious Performing Company

“The Epidemic” features an evening of dance, music and singing featuring the Kontagious Performing Company and guest performers Breed Seattle, PG Fam., Rated PG, Reblz, Reality Check and Kontagious Movement.

These performances celebrate the Company’s 10th Anniversary as a performing arts showcase.

Tickets for “The Epidemic” here.
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REMINDER: Season Tickets
Subscriber Full-Season Subscription Reservations are now being taken for the upcoming 2014-2015 season of exciting ECA events.

The 5+ Pack and 8+ Pack performance offerings will go on sale on Monday, July 7 at noon.

Season Line-up!
Attention-grabbing headliners includes more than 25 exciting, memorable, stand-up-and-cheer performances by such greats as the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band ((Nov. 6); “A Charlie Brown Christmas” with David Benoit (Dec. 1); Jesse Cook, guitarist (Feb. 6); and One Night of Queen (Apr. 9) ~ And a four-program Family Series for $32 that includes, among others: “Hobey Ford’s Migration” performed by internationally known puppeteer Hobey Ford; and the “Kamikaze Fireflies” a troupe of fire-eating contortionists.

Ticket information is available on the ECA website or by calling 425-275-9595.
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On Stage – at Edmonds Playhouses!

Driftwood Players
Wade James Theatre
950 Main St.

Sin, Sex, and the C.I.A.
By Michael Parker & Susan Parker

CLOSING SOON! Don’t miss it!!
Thursday, Friday & Saturday @ 8 p.m.
Sunday @ 2 p.m.
Plays through June 29th

It’s Flirty! It’s Fun! ~ It’s madcap and masterful!

You’ve seen the posters plastered all over town – now it’s time to slip into the darkened Wade James Theatre for “Sin, Sex, and the C.I.A.”

From the Playbill: “An inept CIA agent and an Under Secretary of State are sent to a safe house in the mountains of Virginia to begin negotiations to place the Chagos Islands under U.S. protection.”

The main character, Trevor Brandt is on his first C.I.A. assignment and things just are NOT going well – at all.

First of all, no one knows who the Islands’ representative really is! Hilarious misunderstandings, missed cues and unwanted romantic attentions make the delicate situation even worse.

Get your tickets for “Sin, Sex, and the C.I.A.” by calling (415) 774-9600 or visit the Driftwood Players website.
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Coming Next to Wade James Theatre!

Festival of Shorts
produced by Diane Jamieson

July 11-13
Friday and Saturday ~ 8 pm
Sunday ~ 2 pm

Short. Compelling. Hilarious. Poignant. Heartbreaking! How can one production manage all of this? It’s the Festival of Shorts – the fifth annual festival of promising playwrights vying to step-up into full production mode with the Driftwood Players company.

An incredible line-up of masterfully written, impeccably executed 15-minute productions competing for their space on the big stage – and YOU, the audience selects the winner!

A true preview of things to come! Grab a set of tickets from the theatre’s website.
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Phoenix Theatre
Firdale Village
9673 Firdale Ave.
New Website!: www.phoenixtheatreedmonds.org

Friday/Saturday ~ July 11/12 ~ 8 pm
Sunday, July 13 at 2 p.m.

Gilligan’s Island – The Parody!
Join the Phoenix Theatre troupe as they perform their take on this classic sitcom from the 1960s in which seven castaways stumble through comedic misadventures after washing up on a South Seas Island following a shipwreck.

Tickets for this perfect-for-summer production are available here.
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Phoenix Theatre calls for “General Auditions”
Sunday, June 29 ~ 3-6 p.m.
Monday, June 30 ~ 6:45-9 p.m.

Phoenix Theatre is auditioning for all shows as they look to their 2014/2015 Season. Details on how the auditions will be conducted can be found here.
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Out of Town Productions

Village Theatre
Everett Performing Arts Center
2710 Wetmore Avenue, Everett

Friday, July 11 ~ 8 p.m.
Saturday, July 12 ~ 8 p.m.
Sunday, July 13 ~ 2 p.m.
Wednesday, July 16 ~ 7:30 p.m.

“Funny Girl”
The RSVP deadline is looming for ticket reservations for “Funny Girl” by Jule Styne.
Tickets for the shows can be obtained through the theatre’s website.

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Gallery News

There is always gallery news to cover in Edmonds – whether it’s Art Walk Thursday, or not! This week “Artfully Edmonds” heard from the following galleries:

Cole Gallery
105 Main Street

Friday, June 27 ~ 6:30-8:30 pm

“An Evening with Jeff White”

Details of this event, framed as a “quiet evening of wine, art, and hors d’oeuvres” are here.
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Gallery North
401 Main St.

Through June 30

Gallery North invites you to visit the gallery to view “the beautiful wood carvings of Naomi Schneider. Naomi does a style of Japanese woodcarving called Kibori, incorporating the unique features of the wood into her designs.

For gallery hours and more information visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gallery-North/253944128738
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ArtSpot
408 Main St.

Monday evenings ~ 6-8:30 pm
June 30, July 7, 14 and 21

Kim Brayman Art Classes!
We heard from Kimberly Brayman who teaches at the ArtSpot Studio. Kim is inviting the art-enthusiasts who are interested in developing, rediscovering, or refining their art technique to consider her “Drawing On the Right Side of the Brain” class. You can find information about Kim’s class here.
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Pub Events!

Church Key Pub
109 4th Ave. N., Edmonds

Mondays ~ The Darts Tournament begins ~at 7 p.m. sharp!
Tuesdays ~ Pub Trivia begins at 7 p.m.

Sharp Darts! ~ Sharp Wit!

Raucous fun, lively crowd, and a few rounds of darts!
Trivia hosted by such notables as Geeks Who Drink
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Engel’s Pub ~ “Classic Rock, Rockin’ Blues”
113 5th Ave. S., Edmonds


Karaoke and Blues!

Thursday, June 26 – BIG Karaoke sing-off and contest emceed by Jeff Coulter. This regional Karaoke Contest leads up to the winner performing at the Evergreen State Fair on August 7th as opening act for the Marshall Tucker Band. So grab a spoon and start singing into the “microphone”.

Need more information? Call Engel’s at 425 778-2900 and ask for Tisha.

Friday, June 27 – The 44th Street Blues Band will perform at Engel’s beginning at 9 pm.
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A Very Taki Tiki Bar & Grill
518 Main, Edmonds

Saturdays ~ 9 p.m.

“DeeJay Manny” continues his tattles and tunes, rockin’ and rioting at “A Very Taki Tiki Bar” this Saturday, and every Saturday, according to bar and grill owner Bryan Benn.

The Taki Tiki?? It’s the type of place the phrase “Be There or Be Square” provoked as indicated by this raucous YouTube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcRbA3qaKVc
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— By Emily Hill

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