Reviews from the first week

“Superb!” ~ 3 audience members on leaving

BRAVO! A superb and deeply thought-provoking production. Not to be missed! ~ Shapiro

It was so well played and so intriguing that I want to see it again! Daniel Mayes is fantastic! Best performance ever! We have been talking about it and processing it since Sunday. This is no ordinary play! ~ Roemers-Kleven

I~ Finholm

GREAT show on Friday night. My brother and his wife were so impressed — as were Stan and I! Thanks for the garden picnic space. ~ Mathews

I love what they bring to the island. So lucky! ~ Anderson

This is a RAVE for Helen Machin-Smith and the cast of Island Stage Left’s production of Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice” The opening night performance was in keeping with Stage Left’s deserved reputation of wonderfully acted, tightly directed and cleverly set plays. It’s a complex play and a very human one. Shakespeare’s story isn’t innately anything; he wrote a story equally ambiguous and sympathetic, leaving room for many interpretations. It’s funny when it should be and utterly devastating when it needs to be. Machin-Smith’s sensitive direction emphasizes the emotional impact of the story of revenge, betrayal and religious intolerance. Helen’s directorial decisions leave the audience with much to think and perhaps argue about – go see it, think about it, discuss it. I found it thought provoking, disquieting and much more than mere entertainment. Well done, Stage Left!

I love a play that leaves me thinking. ~ Mazzarella

Put this on your calendar for thought-provoking theatre! ~ Haskew Read More »

Lakedale Resort at Three Lakes is pleased to present their third annual jazz festival featuring jazz guitarist Brian Nova. Attendees will enjoy performances in the Meadow and on Lakedale’s lodge deck overlooking beautiful Neva Lake. Festival proceeds will benefit the San Juan Islands School Music Programs and Terry’s Kids.

The festival is open to all ages. It is produced by Lakedale Resort at Three Lakes, and food will be provided by Tina’s Tacos.

The performance lineup includes; Brian Nova Trio, Greta Matassa, Fred Radke, Stephanie Porter, Max Holmberg, Terry Miller, Primo Kim and Oliver Strasser with many more artists to be announced.

• Who:  Renowned jazz virtuoso, Brian Nova and his Trio.
• What: The third annual Lakedale Music Festival features multiple artists staring Brian Nova and his Trio throughout a two and a half day lineup. The concerts are held at multiple locations within the resort.
• When:  August 30, 2019 – Evening Jam Session TBD
  August 31, 2019 1:00 – 8:00 p.m.      
  September 1, 2019 Noon – 4:00 p.m.
• Where: Lakedale Resort at Three Lakes
  4313 Roche Harbor Road
  Friday Harbor, WA 98250

The event will take place on Lakedale’s scenic property, which features a variety of accommodations, including the Lodge, log cabins, Canvas Cabins, Canvas Cottages, campsites and a vintage Airstream trailer. Glampers can enjoy Lakedale’s newest amenity: Yurts with 425 square feet of modern luxury.

Read More »

Filmmaker László Pal – Contributed photo

Dateline: Friday Harbor, WA

Friday Harbor Film Festival is seeking entries into the 2019 competition for the László Pal Emerging Filmmaker Award. Recognizing young talent in filmmaking, it will be presented to the creator of the best student short film during the Festival to be held October 25-27. All student films will be screened by a panel of film industry judges to determine the winner.

Student filmmakers 13 – 26 years of age can submit their entries through Film Freeway at https://filmfreeway.com/pages/how-it-works. Either sign in for a new account or login, if you have an existing account.  Type in “Friday Harbor Film Festival” and click the “Submit Now” button.

In addition, all entries will be screened several times as part of the Festival. They will be considered for Audience Choice Awards, chosen by votes of attendees, in two categories: Best Student Short Film 13-17 years of age and Best Student Short Film 18-26 years of age.

Friday Harbor Film Festival is delighted to honor filmmaker László Pal, who lived on San Juan Island prior to his death and served on the Film Festival’s board for three years. As an Emmy Award winning director, cinematographer, writer, editor, and producer, László Pal created films in many places around the world, while also educating young filmmakers at the University of Washington. Read More »

Journey by Wayne Chabre

A web exhibition on My Public Art Portal, curated by San Juan Islands Museum of Art (SJIMA) board member Lynn Bahrych connects artworks in the State Art Collection with themes in SJIMA’s current exhibition DEEP DIVE. The web exhibition is entitled DEEP DIVE CONTINUED and expands the ocean conservation theme of SJIMA’s exhibition.

ArtsWA encourages citizens to use My Public Art Portal to explore Washington’s State Art Collection online. The Portal links people to the nearly 5,000 artworks that are located at K-12 schools, colleges, universities, and state agencies across Washington State. 

Lynn worked with ArtsWA staff Valerie Peterman and Heide Fernandez-Llamazares to choose artworks from the State Art Collection with ties to the SJIMA exhibition and to increase public awareness of species at risk.

Reef Net Anchor by Dan Friday (Lummi Nation)

The museum’s exhibition highlights the fragile ecology of the Salish Sea as well as its stunning beauty. Artists Chabre, Friday, Oliver, Samuelson, Fruge Brown, Eisenhour, and Fletcher are some of the artists in the current exhibition at SJIMA who also have works in the State Art Collection.

Visit Lynn’s web exhibition, Deep Dive Continued. Read More »

Erin Corra, Founder/Director of Friends of Lime Kiln Society (FOLKS) receives a check for $200 from Rotary Club President, Tom Sibert and Barb Fagan, baker extraordinaire of 200 cookies sold to benefit FOLKS during the Lime Kiln Lighthouse Centennial Celebration held on June 30th.

This month we are happy to feature Michael Karcher calling. Michael is a popular energetic young caller from Seattle who we have enjoyed several times at our dances. And this month’s band is Not For Sissies, featuring some of our favorite musicians, including fiddlers Vivian Williams and Sono Hashisaki and guitarist Jay Finkelstein. They are all expert and entertaining. Even if you don’t dance, come and enjoy the music. We are fortunate these folks are coming to put on our dance!

• What: Third Saturday Contra Dance
• Where: Grange Hall in Friday Harbor
• When: Saturday July 20, 7 till 9 PM
• Price: $10 donation at the door, $5 students

As always with contra dance, all dances are taught, no need to bring a partner, and no need for previous contra dance experience, everyone is welcome, we always have a good time together!

This dance is sponsored by San Juan Island Grange #966. Check out our Facebook page – San Juan Islands Contra Dance.

Head on over to The Village (543 Spring St) on Saturday, July 20th, 5:30-8:30 PM for some lip-smackin’, melt-in-your-mouth BBQ meat & trimmin’s and the golden opportunity to lasso some original pieces from your favorite island artists

…and more

Or snag an amazing travel package, or walk (stagger?) home under the burden of a case of vintage wines.

That and more awaits the lucky round up attendees at Hospice of San Juan’s Giddy Up fundraiser. Admission tickets ($100/person, $150/couple), available on Eventbrite or at The Village, help fund Hospice of San Juan’s programs.

With this event, hospice hopes to raise $25,000 to match a community challenge of $25,000 in a push to build its endowment fund, with the goal of insuring economic stability into the future.

Hospice of San Juan provides caregiver respite, medical equipment lending, education, grief support and Music & Memory matching at no charge. Staffed entirely by volunteers since 1984, this neighbors-helping-neighbors group depends on your support. Come join the party and help Hospice help you! For more info, check out the hospice website www.hospiceofsanjuan.org

Shoplifters
Tuesday July 16th 7:30 pm
Japanese (subtitled) 121 minutes
Drama Rated R (some sexual content and nudity)

Winner of Palme D’Or at Cannes and nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign film, Shoplifters depicts a Japanese family that survives by running petty scams, Director Hirokazu Kore-eda’s modern day Oliver Twist story portrayal of the protagonists’ rough-and-ready lifestyle demonstrate that people can find comfort even in the worst economic conditions. On the other hand he continues his ongoing examination of what constitutes a family, and whether it can still provide cohesion in Japan’s rapidly devolving society. At once charming and heart-wrenching, this exquisitely performed film will steal your heart.

It’s beautifully done, and at a leisurely pace (please note 2 hour length). The joy of the movie lies mostly in watching fine actors build their beautifully flawed and lived-in characters. There isn’t a single weak link in the cast, though the sheer, ridiculous adorability of the two kids almost seems like an unfair advantage.

But Kore-eda is working up to something else, steering the story he’s built so carefully toward an utterly unexpected detour. As much of what we think we know unravels, the film becomes not just an enjoyable, intermittently poignant portrait of imperfect people but a profound meditation on the meaning of family. Suddenly, Shoplifters is the kind of sneaky beauty that makes you glad for the patience it’s asked of you, and freshly thankful for the eye-opening gifts of international cinema Highly recommended but not suitable for children. Read More »