Once upon a time, there was a cozy community pub on a small island, and the people who ran it decided to open their doors to the storytellers of the town every other Friday night.
Fortunately, dear reader, the time this wondrous tale takes place is now, and it’s happening right here on Vashon.
Mic Drop, a new semimonthly series featuring island residents, storytellers, comics and musicians telling 15-minute tales about life on Vashon, had its debut last Friday at Vashon Brewing Community Pub in Vashon Village.
Storytellers on tap that evening included Kelvin Goliday, Sarah Howard, Dona Bradley and the pub’s owner, Cliff Goodman.
Upcoming Mic Drop performances are also scheduled for 7 p.m. on Nov. 30, Dec. 14 and Dec. 28, and local luminaries including Tami Brockway Joyce, Chuck Roehm, Richard Franklin Moore, Leila Khatapoush and Truman O’Brien have already been invited to take part.
The series is curated by actor, director, Spanish teacher and chef Chris Boscia, who also works at the pub. The garrulous and theatrical New York City native moved to Vashon three years ago and has since immersed himself in the local arts community, most recently directing two productions at the “14/48” new plays series presented at Vashon Center for the Arts.
“I’ve always wanted to curate something like this,” Boscia said, adding that he is excited to direct and shape storytelling performances by a mix of newcomers, comedians and pros. “There are so many stories on this island.”
Boscia has joined the small family team that runs the pub, which includes Cliff Goodman’s wife, Cara Aguilera, their daughter, Kali Aguilera, and son-in-law, Baynody Mendez.
Together, the group has created a remarkably homey pub with high ceilings, wood accents, stained glass windows and comfortable seating areas both indoors and out.
Since opening in May, the pub has also had an ample calendar of events, including trivia and poker nights, Seahawks viewing nights, and monthly “NextGen” showcases for island youth performers. Another upcoming event, scheduled for Dec. 1, is billed as “Vashon’s first puppet slam.”
The pub, open to all ages, serves a menu of Goodman’s craft beer as well as other locally made beverages including wine, kombucha, cider and root beer. A menu of hearty and inexpensive pub grub, including salads, sandwiches, pretzels and brats, is also available. Happy hours take place every weekday from 4 to 6 p.m., and the pub is now open seven days a week until 9 p.m.
For Goodman, a former accountant who left his ferry commute in 2011 to become a local craft brewer, the new community-focused pub, filled with eclectic and vital programming including the Mic Drop series, represents yet another adventure in life.
“The feedback is that this is a gift to the community,” said Goodman. “It fills a need.”
For more information on the pub, visit vashonbrewing.com. Storytellers interested in participating in Mic Drop should contact Chris Boscia with any questions, or email a brief outline of a 15-20 minute story to BosciaEmail@gmail.com.
