With an arts community as rich in creativity as Edmonds, it is a guarantee that imaginative surprises are brewing for our residents this week.

From the ECA’s silver screen and those skulking around the Main Street fountain, to squealing children chasing around for merchants’ candy, Edmonds brings memorable traditions to the holiday that heralds howling winds and bright full moons – Halloween.

So scare up a costume and come downtown this Saturday, as inky dark October skies and brooding clouds spread over our town.

Notice! To all you Cyclops creeping around the fountain during Halloween’s festivities – keep an eye out for that “something evil lurking in the dark” – it just might be a ♫Thriller! But, to start the weekend, we’re off to Edmonds Center for the Arts (ECA).

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ECA
410 4th Ave. N.
Friday, Oct. 30th
9 p.m.

The flashbulbs will be popping! The paparazzi will be out in force as Edmonds enthusiasts of the cult classic “Rocky Horror Picture Show” skulk, stagger, and slink toward the monolith at the corner of 4th Avenue North and Daley Street.

When asked why he’s attending the 2015 Edmonds Premiere of “Rocky Horror Picture Show” My Edmonds News photographer Larry Vogel tells us: “These showings bring out some real over-the-top outrageous people-watching opportunities.” Plus, he admits to wanting to support his wife, Jan Carr, an ECA volunteer, who was brave enough to pick up the assignment to check tickets and show the masquerading masses to their seats.

Vogel continues on why one might find “Rocky Horror Picture Show” to be so much fun: “I’ve been to three or four showings over the years, mostly at the old Neptune Theater in the U District where it was a midnight staple for years.  Why do I stay up past my bedtime to watch a lousy movie? It’s the audience, the costumes and the antics. There is a subculture of folks who literally devote their lives to this.”

And we will see who those folks are – on Friday night!

Tickets to people-watching, cross-dressing, and what some say is a ridiculously bad cult movie (and we mean that in a good way) are available at their online box office.

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Saturday, Oct. 31
5-9 p.m

Halloween Night? You simply must visit Edmonds’ haunted downtown (as documented by Washington State Ghost Society Investigations ).

Walk the thin line between This World and Other Realms as merchants sweeten your stay in the land of chill and shrieks (of delight for candy).

Surprises! Costumes! Bumbershoots and Bluster! All these – the perfect ingredients for a cauldron of fun. You never know what is going to transpire on Halloween in Edmonds – but here’s a reminder peek at what creepy, freaky frights have taken place on Edmonds’ Hallow’s Eve of year’s past.

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Scarecrow Festival 2015

Place your vote now in the 3rd Annual Edmonds Scarecrow Festival.

Remember! You and your family members have until Friday, Nov. 6 to vote for your favorite entry in the 2015 Scarecrow Festival.

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Plus there’s so much more: Edmonds’ rich and exciting art and performance possibilities spread out on the calendar far beyond Halloween antics. To round out the month of October and nudge us toward November we have these events to look forward to:

Friday-Saturday

Oct. 30-31st ~ 8 p.m.

Matinee – Nov. 1 ~ 2 p.m.
The Phoenix Theatre
9673 Firdale Ave.

“One Slight Hitch” heralded by locals as The Phoenix Theatre’s “must see” production closes this week.

That might be why these cast favorites are crying.

Read the comments of guest reviewer Maggie Fimia who gathers up her fave friends for each opening night at The Phoenix

Tickets for Friday, Saturday, Sunday are available at the online box office, or you may call 206-533-2000.

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November 

The Edmonds Arts Commission is pleased to announce that a painting by d’Elaine Johnson will be hung on the east wall of the City Council Chamber, temporarily replacing Two Workman by Guy Anderson which is currently on loan to Cascadia Art Museum.

The Arts Commission wanted to honor Edmonds artist d’Elaine Johnson and thought it appropriate to ask her if she would be willing to loan one of her larger paintings for display in the Council Chamber. She already has one painting there, Raven, purchased in 1983, which hangs above the sign in table on the west wall.

In addition to teaching art and creating her own paintings, Johnson has been active in supporting the arts in Edmonds since the 1950s and she held gatherings for the arts community well before the Arts Commission was established in 1974.

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Drawn to mysticism, organist Lola Wolf will perform on Sunday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church on All Saints Day as mentioned in last week’s column.

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Nov. 7
1-4 p.m.
Gallery North
401 Main St.

The work of Eve Ingraham and Lauriel Sandstrom will be on stage as the two artists present the gallery’s November exhibit “Sense of Place”.

The exhibit features colorful paintings in watercolor, acrylic, and pastel; plus Eve’s uniquely designed jewelry.

The two women revealed in a recent interview that their art forms are inspired by their love of nature and travel.

“We try to evoke a sense of place that draws us back to the memory of that moment of inspiration,” explains Ingraham.

Ingraham has just returned from painting trips to Spain, France and Hawaii. She also loves to sketch and paint Northwest mountain, water, and city scenes. She works in watercolor, pastel, and mixed media.

Eve Ingraham also is an experienced jewelry artist and her unique jewelry will be on display during the show. ”Sense of Place” features her woven metal work.

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Lauriel Sandstrom came to watercolor painting after her retirement as a flight attendant. Traveling throughout the world, she has enjoyed experiencing many cultures and environments.

Sandstrom tells My Edmonds News that she attempts to absorb a place and describe it with her emotive play of color. She is inspired to paint people in motion, sunlit scenes, and flowers.

“My goal with my paintings is to share the luminescent glow that I find so captivating,” says Sandstrom.

This exhibit will be featured during the November’s Art Walk Edmonds and is open to the public through Nov. 30.

For further information, please visit www.GalleryNorthEdmonds.com or contact the gallery at 425-774-0946.

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Happening Nearby Of Local Interest
Sunday, Nov. 8
5-9 p.m.
Snohomish Blues Invasion
Featuring Mojo Cannon

Local resident, educator and musician Bruce Lavin, along with all the members of Mojo Cannon will be performing at the Snohomish Blues Invasion to benefit the International Blues Challenge. Lavin teaches music at Meadowdale Middle School and is a keyboard wizard.

The “invasion” will feature multiple bands and two Snohomish venues: The Oxford Saloon (913 1^st St.) and Stewart’s (709 1st St.)

Other Mojo Cannon band members include Bob Virkelyst and Jana Swenson on lead vocals, Mark Noftsger on lead guitar, a talented and soulful rhythm section consisting of Jim Brandt on bass, rhythm guitarist Mark Strom, and drummer Steve Thompson along with a stellar three-piece horn section (affectionately called the 13 St. Horns) that includes David Bernhardt on trumpet, John Coffey on tenor and baritone saxes, and Craig “T-Bone” Daly on trombone.

The band regularly packs the dance floor at blues lovers’ favorite venues including The Highway 99 Blues Club, Oxford Saloon, Rockfish Bar and Grill, The Conway Muse, the Jet and H2O among others . . . and has recently performed at Northwest music festivals including the Mount Baker and Rendezvous blues festivals, the Bite of Seattle, Taste of Tacoma, Taste of Edmonds and the Poverty Bay Blues Festival.

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Edmonds Center for the Arts (ECA)
410 4th Ave. N.
Monday, Nov. 9
7:30 p.m.

Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra (SRJO)

Hot jazz for November nights: In its first performance of the 2015-16 season Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra  joins forces with Earshot Jazz to salute the marvelous talents of Ellington’s right-hand man, composer and pianist Billy Strayhorn. The rich in talent and history program is titled, “Lush Life: Celebrating Billy Strayhorn’s 100th Birthday”.

The concert will include many of Strayhorn’s greatest works, including “A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing” and “Take the A Train.”

Presented as part of the 2015 Earshot Jazz Festival https://www.earshot.org, SRJO trombonist Dan Marcus is featured, playing his favorite Strayhorn ballad, “Lush Life” arranged by Michael Brockman.

Roxy Coss, New York-based tenor saxophonist, an alumnus of the Garfield High School jazz band, will join SRJO for the evening. She was listed in the 2015 and 2014 Downbeat Critics Polls as a “Rising Star” on Soprano Saxophone.

During her Seattle visit Coss will present a jazz workshop and clinic for students in the Seattle JazzED program. SRJO is proud to collaborate with JazzED so that students and Ms. Coss can take part in the three SRJO concerts.

This is your link to the ECA box office; don’t be left out of this unforgettable event.

— By Emily Hill

Emily Hill is the author of two novels and a short story collection. She also writes the “Lynnwood Lifestyle” column for Lynnwood Today. Emily is retired from a career in public information and news media relations. If you would like your event listed, or featured, in Artfully Edmonds, Emily invites you to contact her at arts@myedmondsnews.com