Party Crasher

STRANGERCROMBIE WINNER! This article was bought-and-paid-for in The Stranger’s annual charity auction—which this year raised more than $50,000 for the Seattle nonprofit Treehouse, helping foster kids since 1988. Thank you, everybody!

It’s the way that Joey (a fellow former New Yorker) and I discuss
all things cockroach over chilled PBRs—pondering if they poop en
masse and live in our frosted cereal at night—that makes me feel
confident there will be no yuppies in turtlenecks at this art party. I
am part of the unruly rumble of voices, among the “juxtaposition,
interweaving, influence” art conversations, intruding like a roach on
an industrial adventure. It’s a dual-purpose affair: an art show
opening (about which more later) and the grand opening of a new space
for Plasteel Frames Gallery, a frame service and art gallery “since
1974.”

The curator of Plasteel Frames Gallery gives a note-perfect
introduction. Then she and I intensely dissect the series Mad
Men over cheap merlot: “I mean, I am a feminist and I love the
show—Don Draper is just so true to that time. It was really like
that for women.” “I know, right! Like when she was at the gynecologist
and he was like, ‘Hey, nice vagina’—such great writing,
UH-mazing writing!”

Gail Howard impresses everyone with her bright, expansive, detailed
abstracts. I know the show is really good when the sexy Englishman in
the room says it is “quite nice.” Free booze and a chatty
crowd—the night is a smash. The vision of Plasteel’s Liza Danger
is to give fringe art a fancy new home. I am a believer after loads of
drinks. Yes. Yes. From the north to the south, there is going to be a
Sodo revival.

Want The Stranger to barge into the bathroom while guests
are peeing at your house party? Send the date, place, and party
details to partycrasher@thestranger
.com.