VIVA Vashon Island Show ending
Catch the last weekend of Vashon Island Visual Artist’s sixth annual member show this weekend. This year, 85 Vashon artists showcase their works at Vashon Center for the Arts. The show ends Sunday, Oct. 29, and is open Wednesday through Sunday, noon through 5 p.m.
Sally Fox readings
Vashon author Sally Jean Fox will launch her new book, “Meeting the Muse After Midlife: A Journey to Meaning, Creativity and Joy,” in two upcoming evenings of readings and conversation — events she hopes will inspire others to find hope, meaning and creativity in the second half of their lives.
The readings will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, at Synergy, at 17600 Vashon Hwy SW, and at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1, at Vashon Bookshop.
In her memoir, Fox shares how in the years and decades that followed her 50th birthday, she has found joy in a range of art forms from gardening to performing, writing to clowning, singing to painting. Her journey to fill her life with more beauty, reverence and wonder is ongoing, she writes.
Night of jazz
The Kareem Kandi World Orchestra returns to Vashon for a night of jazz at Snapdragon’s Black Cat Cabaret at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27.
“If you haven’t heard these guys, you are in for a real treat,” said islander Greg McElroy. “If you have, you know they bring superior musicianship to the interpretation of jazz classics and the American songbook.”
McElroy, Jim Burke and John Stanton will provide an opening set. There is a $10 cover.
Season finale for Jam in The Atrium
Come hear this season’s last “Jam In The Atrium” at the VCA from 1 to 3 p.m. this Saturday, Oct. 28, featuring local islanders Chris O’Brien, Randal Collen, Kevin Nortness, and Wesley Peterson.
Keyboardist O’Brien can be heard in a number of different groups on island, and he’ll be exploring his jazzier elements along with stellar sax player Nortness, the ubiquitous Wesley Peterson on drums, and host/bassist Bruce Phares for the first set, and for the second set, islander jazz pianist Randal Collen brings a set of jazz classics to bear along with Nortness and Phares.
While it will be the last daytime JAM (where Phares prefers to focus the spotlight on visiting top-tier artists), Phares will be presenting his own trio in an evening concert the following Saturday, Nov. 4 in the Kay White Performance Hall with NW jazz legends Marc Seales (piano), and John Bishop (drums), all three life-time friends and collaborators.
Dia de los Muertos workshops
In anticipation of Vashon Center for the Arts’ (VCA) annual celebration of Dia de los Muertos on Nov. 5, the arts center will present a free Dia de los Muertos arts and crafts workshops from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29, at the Blue Heron Education Center.
Crafts created in the workshop will be on display in VCA’s atrium in the community ofrenda, celebrating the holiday, from Nov. 1-15. An ofrenda is an altar, built to honor lost loved ones. Traditional ofrendas are full of symbols and meaning, which have a long history with the holiday and people, and/or pets.
In the workshops, Victoria Elizondo-Hopper will guide participants in the creation of crafts including paper marionettes, three-dimensional Frida Kahlo dolls, paper flowers and lanterns and more. Find out more at vashoncenterforthearts.org.
Poetry Open Mic
Margaret Rancone, Poet Laureate of Vashon, will hold an open mic poetry reading at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2, at The Coop, which is located at 15245 115th Ave NW. Sign-up will begin at 5:45 p.m. All are welcome.
Thespians serve up “Mousetrap”
Vashon High School’s drama department will present the first show of its 2023-24 season: “The Mousetrap,” by Agatha Christie, for four performances Nov. 4-11. See the show at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 3 and 4, 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 5, and 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 10 and 11.
Brimming with intrigue, sophisticated humor and surprising twists, Agatha Christie’s iconic murder mystery — about a group of strangers trapped during a snowstorm — is the world’s most successful and longest-running play.
Tickets are available at the door for all performances.
Correction: This article originally omitted one performance date — 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3 — for Vashon High School’s production of “The Mousetrap.” We regret the error.
