Date Night in Seattle: Thursday, August 14

Posted on August 14, 2014, 7:26 pm
6 mins

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It is a busy night for art in Seattle, and if the rain this week has got you itching to spend some quality time with a special someone out and about, you have plenty of options.

Capitol Hill: Art Walk and Games

It’s the second Thursday of the month, so new shows start at galleries and shops around Capitol Hill tonight. I am looking forward to seeing the intensely detailed work of Olivia Knapp at Ghost Gallery, sizable square abstracts from Sue Danielson at Blindfold Gallery, and sultry, languid watercolor and ink drawings from Amanda Manitach at Joe Bar, and finally getting to see the Documentary: 19th Annual Photography Exhibition at Photo Center NW. (Across the street, a new text-based exhibit will open at Hedreen Gallery, and I’m taking part in that one, so I am a little stoked to see that, too.)

After you have walked around, depending one where you land it may be fun to blow off some steam with some arcade or pinball games. Vermillion‘s summer Artcade is still up and running (1508 11th Ave), with plenty of coin-operated games from yesteryear and an always cool crowd lingering on the patio and in the bar area. Toward downtown, you could also hop into John John’s Game Room (1351 E Olive Way) for golden age arcade games and pinball. If video games don’t appeal, the Garage (1130 Broadway) is centrally located and offers bowling and pool, plus a pretty rad covered, outdoor bar if you want to be sheltered but al fresco.

Blind by Olivia Knapp

“Blind” 2013, Pigment Ink on Cotton Bristol by Olivia Knapp. Image courtesy of Ghost Gallery and the artist.

Capitol Hill: Deco Japan and Café Culture

It also means that admission at the Seattle Asian Art Museum is free and it is open until 9 PM, so if you have not yet seen the stunning show Deco Japan, now might be a good time to head over to Volunteer Park and enjoy a walk through the gorgeous grounds, see some art, then go have a little dinner at one of the many restaurants and bistros on 15th Avenue. Brazil is the featured region at Coastal Kitchen, whose rotating seasonal menu has been drawing and delighting crowds for years.

If you are more in the mood for a light, café setting after the museum and dinner, the airy, cerebral atmosphere of Ada’s Technical Books (425 15th Ave East) could be perfect for an inspired chat (until it closes at 10 PM). Down the street, Remedy Teas (345 15th Ave East) is another perfect spot (open until 11 PM) to share ideas over a pot of loose leaf, aromatic tea blends and maybe even a vegan confection to end the night.

Lower Queen Anne: Salad Bowl 2014 at Pottery Northwest

One of the nicest summer parties and fundraisers happens tonight at Pottery Northwest (226 1st Ave N). The Annual Salad Bowl is a casual, refreshing dinner and auction event that benefits Pottery Northwest’s programs and artist residencies. Guests mingle and pile up a hand made bowl of their choosing with fresh-made, gorgeous salads—and then take their bowl home at the end of the night. They can also bid on one-of-a-kind platters designed by local visual artists, including some of the region’s finest ceramicists. The event usually sells out, but there are a few tickets available ($85 per person), so grab them up quick if you are interested. Learn more on the Web site.

Salad Bowls from Pottery Northwest

Salad Bowls from Pottery Northwest

Lower Queen Anne: Angels in America Premieres at Intiman

This morning, I published an essay on the history and context of Tony Kushner’s classic play Angels in America. I encourage you to read it if you want to reflect on the power and unexpected humor of Angels, which despite taking place during the AIDS crisis is not in fact a complete downer. Intiman Theatre’s production of Part One of Angels in America premieres tonight at The Cornish Playhouse in Seattle Center (201 Mercer St). As one may suspect if one hasn’t already seen a production of it, Part One ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, without the triumph and resolution that Part Two brings. If you want a date charged with complex conversation and a heavy dose of history, Angels in America is not to be missed.

 

T.s. Flock is a writer and arts critic based in Seattle and co-founder of Vanguard Seattle.