CLASSICAL

by Bruce Reid


THURSDAY 6/22

FOUR WINDS WOODWIND QUARTET--Pianist David Paul Mesler joins the band for a series of premieres inspired by the new American art on display in SAM's latest installation. Northwest composers Tom Baker, Keith Eisenbrey, Melodie Linhart, Justin Melland, David Paul Mesler (hey, lucky he'll be on hand!), and Robert Zawalich are featured. Seattle Art Museum Auditorium, 100 University St, 654-3121 or 789-3628, 7:30 pm. $10 (price includes admission to exhibit).

SEATTLE SYMPHONY--The Seattle Pops makes due tribute to "The Sounds of New Orleans." No tunes from Streetcar!, unfortunately, but you get everything else, from "Amazing Grace" to "When the Saints Go Marching In." (All they had to do was schedule some zydeco to make the joke perfect, but no.) Corny symphonic arrangements, players not schooled in the idiom, and it's still probably going to be jazzier then Wynton Marsalis' concerts this same weekend. Benaroya Hall, Taper Auditorium, 215-4747 or seattlesymphony.org, 7:30 pm; Fri June 23, 8 pm; Sat June 24, 2 pm and 8 pm; and Sun June 25, 2 pm. $15-$47, $17-$52 for Fri and Sat evening concerts.


FRIDAY 6/23

THE ESOTERICS--Seattle's foremost chorus (for both performance and innovative repertoire) loves big thematic umbrellas over its choice of pieces. This season's concerts are each devoted to one of the elements; this second installment focuses on water. Barber's To be sung on the water was a natural, as was Górecki's Szeroka woda. Finland's Jaakko Mäntyjärvi contributes calamitatis maritimae (which sounds cheery). And from local composers come Garrett Fisher's riverrun, Kam Morrill's The Water's Wide, and part two of Donald Skirvin's series-long cycle Wheel of Dreams. Pilgrim Congregational Church, Broadway and E Republican, culturefinder.org, Fri-Sat June 23-24, 8 pm. $14 students & seniors/$17 general ($1 discount if purchased in advance).


SUNDAY 6/25

NORTHWEST GIRLCHOIR--Which sounds like a schoolyard put-down, I know, but they're an actual group. This concert is entitled Bien Viaje! Boa Viajem!, which means, um... Good Something! Something Something!, as far as I can tell. Benaroya Hall, Nordstrom Recital Hall, 985-3973, 7 pm. $7.50.


PRIDE WEEK

by Mark Pinkos


THURSDAY 6/22

PRIDE NIGHT FANTASIA--Seattle's pride week gets off to a running start courtesy of the Long Yang Club, Seattle's most active celebratory group for gay Asians and their admirers. Tonight's event is going under the "Aqua Party" rubric and features a swimwear contest (Speedos encouraged), followed by a fashion show. Timberline Tavern, 2015 Boren, 9 pm. $6 general, $3 LYC members.

WIN A CRUISE--One fortuitous lesbian and a guest will escape the cruel November skies in favor of a Thanksgiving weekend cruise to the balmy waters of the Caribbean, a trip valued at over $3,000. Proceeds benefit Aradia Women's Health Center and its upcoming forum "Out Loud: The Closet Is No Place for Lesbian Health Care." Tickets are $5, call 323-9388 for information; raffle ends July 5.

THE ORGASM PARTY--Billed as the premier Seattle Gay Pride event for the ladies, which sounds fairly realistic given the fact that the local sexperts from Toys in Babeland are hosting. Marina Dennis will be your hostess/guide through the scheduled live demonstrations, erotic contests, surprise performances, and feel-good house music from DJ Julie Herrera. This event is a benefit for local filmmaker Wendy Jo Carlton's new documentary, When She Comes, whose subject is, you guessed it, women and their orgasms. ARO.space, 923 E Pike, 9 pm. $7.


FRIDAY 6/23

PRIDE FEST 2000 WITH CATHY SORBO--File under "Must Attend." Crude, crass, and comedic chanteuse Cathy Sorbo hosts a military-themed event at Seattle's notoriously raunchy gay bar the Eagle. Normandy in 1945 was nothing compared to the barrage of combat gear-clad men you're likely to encounter tonight, and as their press release states, there will be "no holes barred." Webster's is going to have to make room for an entirely new definition of "boot camp" after this one. The Eagle, 314 E Pike St, 621-7591, doors at 7 pm, show at 8:30 pm. $5.


SATURDAY 6/24

SEATTLE DYKE MARCH 2000--The biggest dyke event of the year, and also the region's most anticipated. The usual marching festivities are all cued up and ready to go including live music, a drag king show, some spoken word, and a half-time speech by former City Council Member Tina Podlodowski. Festivities start at Broadway and Pine, 4:30 pm, march begins at 7 pm.

PRIDEFEST BBQ--As Volunteer Park becomes a queer version of Caligula-era ancient Rome for a weekend, revelers are bound to work up an appetite at some point. Thank goodness Lambert House had the foresight to plan a good old-fashioned bar-bee-cue right in the middle of it all. Here's how it works: If your last name begins with A-J, you bring dessert or chips; K-Q are in charge of salads (fruit, potato, etc.--no greens); and R-Z packs in the side dishes. Burgers, chicken, veggie-dogs, etc. will be provided. Volunteer Park (near the amphitheater), from 2-6 pm.

PRIDE WEEK QUEER ZINE SHOW--The first half of two all-ages events sponsored by Queer Panic. Queer zine publishers from the West Coast and beyond will be on hand to explain the minutiae of zine production and distribution, as well as to network and answer questions. Local sweetheart De Kwok (of the now defunct Milky World gallery), Vancouver, BC icon Kim Kinakin, and longtime queer-zine editor Larry-Bob (Holy Titclamps) share keynote duties this evening. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030, 7 pm. $5 donation to benefit Lambert House.

OUT LOUD--Aradia Women's Health Center is sponsoring this all-day forum on lesbian health care, and they've lined up some pretty formidable speakers, several of whom are on the frontiers of lesbian health research. Body and mind will receive equal attention as topics include lesbian parenting, maintaining healthy relationships, sex and STDs, and mental health issues. Includes panel discussion and audience Q&A. Broadway Performance Hall, SCCC. To pre-register call 323-9467. Registration begins at 9:15 am, the event runs from 10 am-2 pm.


SUNDAY 6/25

SEATTLE PRIDE DAY/MARCH 2000--This is the big one, Seattle's largest show of gay and lesbian pride of the entire year. The Freedom Day committee is giving the event a "family reunion" theme in recognition of the fact that Pride Day, expected to draw over 75,000 participants, is the one day that the queer community comes together as a "family" to celebrate. Speakers scheduled to attend include George Bakan (Seattle Gay News), Candace Gingrich (sister to Newt, and a national spokesperson for gay and lesbian rights), and Governor Gary Locke. Parade begins at 11 am at the corner of Broadway and Pike and proceeds to Volunteer Park, where the rally will continue until 6 pm. For more info visit www.seattlepride.org or call 324-0405.

PRIDE DAY ROCK SHOW--Being under 21 sucks for queer youth as much as it does for straight kids, so an all-ages, queer-themed rock show comes as a welcome addition to the usual pride week festivities (beer, beer, beer...). Olympia notables the Need are the headliners and will be joined by fellow capital city residents the Transfused, who will preview selections from their new rock opera, a regrettably neglected genre if there ever was one. Be sure to arrive early for Fairgrove and openers Speedball Racer. This show is a benefit for Lambert House, Seattle's premier queer youth center. Graceland, 109 Eastlake Ave E, 381-3094, 6 pm. $7 donation.


REGIONAL MUSIC

JUNIOR BROWN:

Thurs June 22, Aladdin Theatre, Portland

PINK MARTINI:

Thurs June 22, Crystal Ballroom, Portland

ROBYN HITCHCOCK, GRANT LEE PHILLIPS:

Fri June 23, Aladdin Theater, Portland

SHAWN COLVIN:

Fri June 23, Oregon Zoo Amphitheatre, Portland

UP IN SMOKE TOUR w/DR. DRE, SNOOP DOGG, EMINEM, ICE CUBE, WARREN G:

Sat June 24, Rose Garden Arena, Portland

KING BLACK ACID:

Sat June 24, Meow Meow, Portland

LOIS, IDA, HIS NAME IS ALIVE:

Sun June 25, Midnight Sun, Olympia

TAJ MAHAL:

Sun June 25, Washington Park Amphitheatre, Portland

WEEN:

Sun June 25, Crystal Ballroom, Portland

KEB' MO':

Mon June 26, Vogue Theater, Vancouver, BC

ROGER WATERS:

Tues June 27, Rose Garden Arena, Portland

YO LA TENGO, LOIS:

Wed June 28, Crystal Ballroom, Portland