This week’s column is particularly exciting to write because of the cavalcade of headliner events taking place on Edmonds’ sidewalks, streets, and stages in the upcoming weeks.

“Fall Forward!” is such an easy task, when going into autumn offers so much.

Artfully Edmonds promised, as October crept in, that we would treat children-at-heart to an ongoing line up of what’s happening for Halloween, and this is our final roster of Halloween Hauntings for this year. I’ve never lived in a community so wickedly wild about the eve of All Saint’s Day!

So far there have been coloring pages, a free movie and pumpkin carving; a scarecrow festival; and an over-the-moon haunted city put on by Coldwell Banker Bain, Edmonds Historical Museum and the Nile Shrine, respectively.

Coming up over the next two or three days will be the Halloween Trick-or-Treat, announcements of contest winners, continuation of the Nile Shrine’s Haunted City – and lots more before the doors creak shut on this year’s line up of spirited activities.
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Friday, October 31 ~ 
5–7 p.m.

Halloween Trick-or-Treat

Downtown Edmonds brings out the cobwebs, summons the spirits, turns on the howls, and then invites families in for a safe and fun trick-or-treating experience.

The downtown streets of Edmonds will be closed to cars, as participating merchants hand out treats. Expect music, fun, scampering, laughter and goodies!

My bet is that we can expect a rash of Queen Elsas, with a good smattering of Olaf and Svens – if my informal Facebook survey of “Edmonds Moms” is any indication.

For additional information about the Halloween Extravaganza contact the Chamber of Commerce at 425-670-1496, or visit the Chamber’s event website.
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Friday, Oct. 31 through Friday, Nov. 1

Haunted Nightmare at the Nile
Nile Shrine Golf Center
6601 244th St. SW
Mountlake Terrace/Edmonds

Haunted Nightmare at the Nile at the Nile Shrine Golf Center will continue Fridays and Saturdays between 7:00 pm and 11:00 pm with Candy Treat Fess for the Little Ones on Sundays from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00p.m.

It’s fun – and Yes! It’s scary! From the gallows, to the graveyard, from the Haunted House to the Zombie Apocalypse encampment the Nile Shrine has invited an array of ghosts and ghouls to the Edmonds area.

Full details of this six-attraction haunt is covered in last week’s Artfully Edmonds column.

Tickets are available at the ticket booth as you enter the attraction. VIP tickets are $17 and advances you to the front of the line. Regular admission is $12. You can find additional information here.
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Friday, Oct. 31, 7:30 p.m.
Fright Night!
Edmonds United Methodist Church
828 Caspers St.

Maybe Friday night’s Halloween Trick-or-Treat Chamber event won’t have satiated that thirst for horror that hangs on as the night grows darker and chill winds blow.

If that is the case, just imagine the eerie, echoing chords of the live, improvised pipe organ music of Henry Lebedinsky that will accompany the screening of the classic silent film, “Phantom of the Opera,” starring Lon Chaney.

Edmonds United Methodist Church Musical Director Lebedinsky will greet specters, phantoms, and spirits at the reception that follows the screening and concert.

Suggested donation: $10 and/or canned goods, which the church will donate to the Edmonds Food Bank.

More information is available by contacting Linda Napa at lnapa@comcast.net, or visiting the event’s website: www.edmondsumc.org

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As we wriggle out of our costumes, scoop up the remaining buckets of candy to cart off to the office, and dig into November we realize that Edmonds’ main stage, the ECA has been busy lining up world class talent:

Edmonds Center for the Arts (ECA)
410 4th Ave. N.

Sunday, Nov. 2nd ~ 7:30 pm
Hey Marseilles

Hey Marseilles’ orchestral sound of chamber pop comes to ECA this week! The band that brags its Seattle Columbia-City roots has appeared at a variety of festivals including CMJ, South by Southwest, and Bumbershoot, Lollapalooza, the Newport Folk Festival, and the Firefly Music Festival, among many other engagements. Hey Marseilles even attracted the attention of Starbucks, which included one of the band’s songs on a compilation, “Sweethearts, Vol. 2,” in early 2010.

Using instruments ranging from guitar to accordion to cello, Seattle septet Hey Marseilles perform a unique combination of indie rock, folk, pop and chamber music.

According to Back Beat Seattle, “In a musical landscape where the proliferation of alt-folk bands is dangerously close to oversaturation, Hey Marseilles stand out. They add elements to their sound that are left unexplored and untouched by other bands. The best way [to] describe their sound would be ‘literate, world influenced classical alt-folk”.

You’ll definitely want to check out Hey Marseilles on YouTube if you’re unfamiliar with this phenom ensemble.

Tickets for this Sunday’s performance are available by calling ECA at 425.275.9595 or by visiting the ECA online ticket office here.

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Thursday, Nov. 6 ~ 7:30 p.m.

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

The iconic and profoundly influential Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, often cited as a catalyst for an entire movement in Country Rock and American Roots Music, adds Edmonds’ main stage to their tour schedule, thanks to the generosity of Comprehensive Wealth Management and Destination Marketing.

With multi-platinum and gold records, strings of top 10 hits such as “Fishin’ In The Dark” and “Mr. Bojangles”, multiple Grammy, IBMA, CMA Awards and nominations, the band’s accolades continue to accumulate.

Upon hearing that Jeff Hanna, Jimmie Fadden, Bob Carpenter, and John McEuen would be walking the streets of Edmonds, I did the Click! Click! on over to YouTube so that I could practice the words to my fave song from the band’s collection – here are the words to “Mr. Bojangles” in case there’s a sing-a-long.

Tickets can be obtained at ECA’s online ticket booth: Seats are available, but scarce!

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Friday/Saturday
Nov. 7-8

Infinitus, a critically-acclaimed string trio, will present a two-day residency at ECA in November.

Infinitus is a beat-boxing string trio, known for their energetic performance style. With a repertoire featuring classical standards and original jazz/hip-hop arrangements and compositions, Infinitus is quickly becoming one of North America’s premiere chamber groups. The group’s performances are recommended for all ages.

Infinitus was formed in 2008 by violist Anthony Cheung, cellist Alex Cheung, and violinist John “Adidam” Littlejohn. The musicians will perform an Education Matinee for school groups and homeschool families on Friday, November 7. On Saturday, November 8 at 2:00 pm, the group is presented as part of ECA’s new Family Series.

Tickets to the Family Series performance of Infinitus are available at www.ec4arts.org, in person at the ECA Box Office (410 4th Ave. N.), or by phone at 425-275-9595.

Family Series subscriptions are $32. For more information about Infinitus’ residency, including Education Matinee performances or student workshops, please contact Gillian Jones, Education & Outreach Manager, at gillian@ec4arts.org or 425-275-9483.
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Monday, Nov. 10 ~ 7:30 p.m.
Letters Aloud – A Veteran’s Day Celebration “From The Front”

Letters Aloud, the reading series that brought you last year’s Valentine’s Day event, “With Or Without You”, will honor our country’s veterans in this November 10th event.

Project curator, Paul Morgan Stetler describes the program, “some of Seattle’s most accomplished actors will read letters written to and from soldiers who give vivid accounts of their experiences from their first day of boot camp to their battles on the front lines, and beyond.

“Veterans Day is intended to honor and thank all of the military personnel who served the United States in all wars, particularly living veterans, and we will do our part by reading powerful, heartfelt letters that were written to and from soldiers and their loved ones from the battlefields of our past.”

Live music, photos and images of the letters themselves help evoke the life, times, and unique personalities of each letter-writer. Every episode of Letters Aloud focuses on a central theme, with letters from every era carefully chosen to explore that theme. These most private thoughts reach across time and place, making it impossible to look away. Come join us for what will surely be a powerful reminder of the high cost of war and the amazing men and women who serve our country.

For tickets visit ECA’s online box office.

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Seattle International Comedy Competition
Wednesday, Nov. 19 ~ 7:30 p.m.

The 35th annual Seattle International Comedy Competition makes a return stop to Edmonds Center for the Arts as the competition enters the semi-finals stage.

My Edmonds News heard from what probably is this year’s err. . . dare I say . . . unusual out-of-this-world act with the potential to grace Edmonds’ main stage: “Alien Warrior Comedian” from Las Vegas. So much for the adage “What happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas” because the Alien Warrior has definitely left the desert climes of Las Vegas to join the 32-stop competition. I use the word “potential” with the question in the back of my mind: Will this “being” make it all the way to the semi-finals? You won’t know unless you grab a ticket.
It’s going to be such hilarious fun! I’ve got my ticket – see you there?

America’s biggest touring comedy festival is sponsored by Elaine and Bruce Nickolson, Maggie and Rock Peterson, and Walter and Kari Thompson.

(This program may contain adult material.)

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Thursday, Nov. 20 ~ 7:30 p.m.

Jeff Bridges and The Abiders
“Live”

Best known for his 30-plus years as an actor and filmmaker, Bridges has also made a name for himself in the recording industry on his new “Live” album on which he relays his natural extension of the love of music that he has had all his life.

Featuring a roster of magnificent songwriters and musicians, and produced by Bridges’ friend of three decades, T Bone Burnett, Bridge’s ten song disc is soulful and heartfelt as it echoes the film Crazy Heart with the contribution of Stephen Bruton, John Goodwin, Greg Brown, and Ryan Bingham.

This past Monday Under The Gun Review released its interview of the talented entertainer. Want the backstage story? Here are the details.

TICKETS: As you can imagine, tickets are going like wildfire! Get yours here. h

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Playhouse News

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Phoenix Theatre News

Blithe Spirit
Only Six More Shows!
Friday/Saturdays ~ 8 p.m.
Sundays 2 p.m.

Yes, Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward is slipping away into the ethereal mist. Maybe you want to see it for a second time? I know I do!

Artfully Edmonds’ review of this nuanced séance can be found here.

Online ticket sales here.

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Phoenix Theatre Gala
Dessert & Laughter
Thursday, Nov. 13
7 p.m. ~ Socialize + Cocktails + Silent Auction
7:45 p.m. ~ Entertainment by “The First Five” + Live Auction

Support The Phoenix Theatre’s first gala!

There will be a special guest appearance by “The First Five”; plus silent and live auctions of amazing items. Socialize, chat, meet the members of The Phoenix Theatre Company while sipping wine or Perrier and nibbling on light hors d’oeurves & desserts.

The Dessert & Laughter Gala will be held at the glitzy and glamorous Edmonds Center for the Arts, 410 4th Ave. N.

Online Box Office open through Monday, Nov. 10 for this event.

Address Specific questions about the gala, or donate auction items by contacting Christine Mosere at: Christinem@phoenixtheatreedmonds.org

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Driftwood Players
Wade James Theatre

“The Players” promise to leave their stage at 950 Main Street to attend the downtown Halloween Trick-or-Treat. Watch for THE most elaborate costumes, street acts, and community fun from this troupe as they take time out from preparing for their end-of-November production, “Miracle on 34th Street.”

— By Emily Hill

Emily Hill, a long-time resident of Edmonds, is the author of two novels and one short story collection. 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.