September 24, 2016. Credit: Victoria Holt
September 24, 2016.
September 24, 2016 at the Moore Theatre. Victoria Holt
Erin Pike and Markeith Wiley.
Erin Pike and Markeith Wiley. Victoria Holt
Jody Kuehner and a Cherdonna fan.
Jody Kuehner and a Cherdonna fan. Victoria Holt
Ahamefule J. Oluo, center, Lindy West, right.
Lindy West and her family. Victoria Holt
Noelani Pantastico, right.
Noelani Pantastico. Victoria Holt
Barbara Earl Thomas, center.
Barbara Earl Thomas and her fans. Victoria Holt
Sandy Cioffi, center.
Sandy Cioffi, center. Victoria Holt
Hardly Arts Sarah Moody.
Sarah Moody of Hardly Art. Victoria Holt
Billy ONeill and Piper ONeill.
Billy O’Neill and Piper O’Neill. Victoria Holt
Heidi Broadhead, Brittany Dennison, and Joshua Beckman of Wave Books.
Heidi Broadhead, Brittany Dennison, and Joshua Beckman of Wave Books. Victoria Holt
Irene Barber, Emily Chisholm, and HATLO.
Irene Barber, Emily Chisholm, and HATLO. Victoria Holt
Jason Baxter.
Matt Kolhede and Jason Baxter of Hardly Art. Victoria Holt
Mel Eslyn.
Mel Eslyn. Victoria Holt
Rob Rhee, right.
Rob Rhee. Victoria Holt
Silas Blak, left.
Silas Blak. Victoria Holt
Sydney Brownstone, Heidi Groover, and Mike McGinn.
Sydney Brownstone, Heidi Groover, and Mike McGinn. Victoria Holt
Tricia Romano and Charles Mudede.
Tricia Romano and Charles Mudede. Victoria Holt
Chris Weber and Sierra Nelson.
Chris Weber and Sierra Nelson. Victoria Holt
Jeffry Mitchell and Billy ONeill.
Jeffry Mitchell and Billy O’Neill. Victoria Holt
Christopher Frizzelle, left, Sarah Rudinoff, right.
Christopher Frizzelle and Sarah Rudinoff. Victoria Holt
Mary Traverse and Tracy Rector.
Mary Traverse and Tracy Rector. Victoria Holt
Alexandra Madera, left, Stef Karlin, center.
Stefanie Karlin, center, and Alexandra Madera, far left, who produced the 2016 Genius Awards. Victoria Holt
Dave Segal, left.
Dave Segal and Courtney Sheehan, Executive Director of NW Film Forum. Victoria Holt
Stranger editorial designer Mike Force and office manager Evanne Hall.
Stranger designer Mike Force and office manager Evanne Hall. Victoria Holt
Best dressed.
Best dressed. Victoria Holt
Kuttin Up performed.
Kuttin’ Up performed. Jonathan Vanderweit
Kuttin Up performed twice in the show and they killed it.
Twice. Jonathan Vanderweit
And they killed it.
And they killed it. Jonathan Vanderweit
Seattle Rock Orchestra artistic director Scott Teske.
Seattle Rock Orchestra artistic director Scott Teske. Victoria Holt
Seattle Rock Orchestra music director and conductor Kim Roy.
Seattle Rock Orchestra music director and conductor Kim Roy. Jonathan Vanderweit
Seattle Rock Orchestra.
Seattle Rock Orchestra. Victoria Holt
Seattle Rock Orchestra.
Seattle Rock Orchestra. Victoria Holt
Seattle Rock Orchestra.
Seattle Rock Orchestra. Jonathan Vanderweit
Sean Nelson covering Kurt Cobain on Neverminds birthday.
Sean Nelson covering Kurt Cobain on Nevermind‘s birthday. Jonathan Vanderweit
Seattle Rock Orchestra.
Seattle Rock Orchestra. Jonathan Vanderweit
HATLO, Erin Pike, Mel Eslyn, and Tracy Rector toast onstage.
HATLO, Erin Pike, Mel Eslyn, and Tracy Rector toast onstage. Victoria Holt
Stranger publisher Tim Keck.
Publisher Tim Keck celebrating The Stranger‘s 25th anniversary. Victoria Holt
Jenn Champion, aka S, performing a tribute to Hardly Art.
Jenn Champion, aka S, performed a tribute to Hardly Art. Jonathan Vanderweit
Silas Blak performing Cops on My Back.
Silas Blak performed “Cops on My Back.” Jonathan Vanderweit
Erik Blood and Irene Barber perform with the orchestra.
Erik Blood and Irene Barber performed with the orchestra. Jonathan Vanderweit
Erik Bloods dancers.
Erik Blood’s dancers. Jonathan Vanderweit
Thank you, STG, for hosting us in your beautiful, storied theater.
Thank you, STG, for hosting us in your 110-year-old theater. Jonathan Vanderweit
Rich Smith.
Rich Smith. Jonathan Vanderweit
Mary Ann Peters and Jen Graves.
Mary Ann Peters and Jen Graves. Jonathan Vanderweit
Steve Fisk and Sean Nelson.
Steve Fisk and Sean Nelson. Jonathan Vanderweit
Erik Blood seconds after hearing hed won.
Erik Blood seconds after he won. Victoria Holt
Hot audience-rushes-stage-and-dances-next-to-orchestra action.
Audience dancing onstage next to the orchestra. Victoria Holt
Barbara Earl Thomas.
Barbara Earl Thomas basking in it. Jonathan Vanderweit
Mario Lemafa and their fans.
Mario Lemafa. Victoria Holt
Dance party.
Dance party. Victoria Holt
Dance party.
Dance party. Victoria Holt
Dancing on the edge of the stage.
Dancing on the edge of the stage. Jonathan Vanderweit
Emily Chisholm and her trophy.
Emily Chisholm and her trophy. Victoria Holt
Lindy West and her trophy.
Lindy West and her trophy. Victoria Holt
Tracy Rector with her trophy.
Tracy Rector and her trophy. Victoria Holt
Barbara Earl Thomas and her trophy.
Barbara Earl Thomas and her trophy. Victoria Holt
Erik Blood and his trophy.
Erik Blood and his trophy. Victoria Holt

Watch all five acceptance speeches here.

Thank you to the presenting sponsors who made this year’s awards possible: Billy O’Neill, Amazon Literary Partnerships, Case Van Rij, and Clutch Cannabis.

Thanks also to Cupcake Royale, the Goodship Company, the Cloud Room, Shunpike, Georgetown Brewery, Sparkle Donkey Tequila, and Sparkman Cellars for making the party possible.

And thank you for being there. That was a packed house.

Christopher Frizzelle was The Stranger's print editor, and first joined the staff in 2003. He was the editor-in-chief from 2007 to 2016, and edited the story by Eli Sanders that won a 2012 Pulitzer...