Now, for those of us who are all grown up (and 21+), there’s a way to relive those frosty-sweet memories with a boozy bolstering.

Starting in the last Tuesday in May – May 28th, 2013 - Chief Mixologist Mi-Suk Ahn of downtown Seattle’s BOKA Restaurant + Bar has created a new menu of “Grown-Up Popsicles” for their Happy Hour pricing on “Boozy Tuesdays.” (NOTE: BOKA very recently finished up a renovation, complete with newly refinished floors, some added banquette seating, and updated plushy velour upholstery.)

Three different frozen treats – non-alcoholic pops served with the alcohol on the side, in a shot glass – are up for grabs at $10 a pop:

• The Sunset Sail. Consists of an orange-lemon popsicle dotted with raspberries and an alcoholic infusion of hibiscus, lime, and shiso leaf rum.
• The Big Breezy. Made up of a peach-lime frozen treat decorated with blueberries and a side of orange vodka with blueberries.
• The Patio Punch. A prickly pear-lime and mint frozen pop served with a shot glass side of cucumber vodka.

BOKA bartender Zana Geddes shows your Hedonista how the cubic popsicles pop out of their silicone rubber cube-shaped trays (left) and two ways to enjoy the popsicles (from back to front, the Sunset Sail, the Big Breezy, and the Patio Punch): either nibbling on the popsicle while sipping the shots (center) or pouring the alcohol into the glasses that hold the popsicles and mashing them up as they melt into slushy goodness. (Personally, I prefer the former method.)

Earlier this week, your Hedonista went in for a media taste and chat with BOKA bartender Zana Geddes.

I asked her how one is supposed to consume these popsicles.

“Well, it’s kind of a ‘choose your own adventure’ type of drink,” admits Zana.

The Sunset Sail tastes like an orange-laden rum punch – very tropical-beachy. The Big Breezy – my #1 choice – is very tart-yet-sweet and reminiscent of pink lemonade. The Patio Punch is very fresh and Pacific Northwest, with its fruit-forward minty fresh ways.

As a child you may have been told not to play with your food, dear hedonists. But, as an adult, I strongly encourage you to play with your cocktails.

Note: In order to comply with FTC Act 16 C.F.R. 255, Heed the Hedonist would like to disclose that it does receive media “comps” and/or media discounts – but not in exchange for favorable coverage, or for withholding unfavorable coverage, of the given venue/meal/performance/product/service.

Now that June is upon us, the weather seems to be improving. Still, there’s plenty to do inside that’s worth a look-see. Take the ballet, for example. Or local Edmonds theatre. Or SIFF’s Festival 2013, which still runs for another week or so.

(Your Hedonista recently reviewed all as media, although only select press screenings of SIFF films.)

Pacific Northwest Ballet company dancers Joshua Grant, Carla Körbes, Laura Gilbreath, and Batkhurel Bold in the world premiere of Christopher Wheeldon’s Tide Harmonic. The newest ballet by Mr. Wheeldon is presented by PNB as part of DIRECTOR’S CHOICE, May 31 – June 9, 2013. Photo by © Angela Sterling, provided by PNB, and used with permission.

First, there’s Director’s Choice, which runs from May 31st until June 9th, 2013 at the Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB). This is a modern ballet performance, which I personally greatly prefer over the classical ballet performances. There’s just something about the modern eye, heart, and soul being applied to such a traditional dance form that creates something close to real magic.

This particular performance takes place in three mini performances with two intermissions. Although all three performances were great, by far the highlight for me was the world premier of Tide Harmonic, with choreography by Christopher Wheeldon, music by Joby Talbot, conducting by Emil de Cou, costumes by Holly Hynes and lighting by Randall G. Chiarelli. This performance was utterly mesmerizing. With the dancers decked out in inky hues of indigo blue moving in both frenetic and flowing fashion, the end result was something quite exotic, aquatic, and otherworldly.

The other two performances – both choreographed by George Balanchine – were Agon (with music by Igor Stravinsky) and Diamonds (with music by Peter Iyich Tchaikovsky). Agon was athletic and deliberate, while Diamonds – the last in a bejeweled three-part series that pays homage to Imperial Russia – felt like a true royal fairy tale. (NOTE: The other two parts of the Jewels performance are Emeralds and Rubies.)

Only four performances remain of Director’s Choice - this coming Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday - which should not be missed. Tickets range in price from $28 to $173.

Frank Semerano’s very 1950′s Kaputnik runs at The Phoenix Theatre in Edmonds until June 23rd, 2013.

Next, there’s Frank Semerano’s Kaputnik at The Phoenix Theatre in Edmonds from May 31st to June 23rd, 2013. Revolving around the Russian launch of Sputnik back in 1957, this play performs in the campy style of 1950s/1960s stage and screen. Directed by Eric Lewis, Kaputnik is entertaining and funny in a cheesy way. This play ends their fifth season for 2012-2013, with a total of six plays their sixth season all set for 2013-2014: God’s Favorite, Bright Ideas, A Nice Family Gathering, Beyond Therapy, The Best Laid Plans, and Kimberly Akimbo. (Season tickets are $92 for general admission and $82 for senior (65+)/student/military.)

Tickets are available from Brown Paper Tickets (BPT) and range in price from $15.50 ($17.03 wither service fee) for seniors (65+), students, and the military to $18.50 ($20.14 with service fee) for general admission. (NOTE: There’s no additional fees for will-call or mobile delivery.)

SIFF’s 2013 Festival is almost over, so now’s the time to get out and see a flick or two while you can.

Finally, last but by no means least, there’s the final few days of SIFF’s 2013 Festival, which wraps up this Sunday, June 9th, 2013.

Films I’ve seen and enjoyed include the following:

- SOMM (June 4th at the Kirkland Performance Center),
- The Forgotten Kingdom (June 5th at the SIFF Cinema Uptown),
- Jump (June 5th at the Kirkland Performance Center),
- Fatal (June 5th at the SIFF Cinema Uptown and June 6th at the AMC Pacific Place 11),
- The Girl With Nine Wigs (June 5th at the AMC Pacific Place 11 and June 7th at the SIFF Cinema Uptown),
- Ain’t Them Bodies Saints (June 7th at the SIFF Cinema Uptown),
- The Trials of Muhammed Ali (June 7th at the SIFF Cinema Uptown and June 8th at the Egyptian Theatre),
- Crystal Fairy (June 8th at the Harvard Exit and June 9th at the SIFF Cinema Uptown).

Other films that are worth hunting down but no longer showing at this year’s festival include Short Term 12, Mutual Friends, We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks, What Maisie Knew, Mistaken for Strangers, Camion, Five Dances, Concussion, Papadopoulos & Sons, Inequality for All, Terms and Conditions May Apply, A Band Called Death, Out in the Dark, and Full Circle.

Tickets for most films are $12; discounts are also available. Get tickets online, by phone (206-324-9969) or in-person at the SIFF Box Office locations.

Note: In order to comply with FTC Act 16 C.F.R. 255, Heed the Hedonist would like to disclose that it does receive media “comps” and/or media discounts – but not in exchange for favorable coverage, or for withholding unfavorable coverage, of the given venue/meal/performance/product/service.

Although the weather outside is … er, unpredictable at this time of year in the Pacific Northwest, and in particular during this Memorial Day long weekend, one thing we do seem to be able to count on is great theatrical performances. Four such performances – two plays and two musicals – wrap up next month, with the exception of one that then moves up to Everett for a July run. Each production is “ranked” in the order of when it wraps-up its respective run, with the soonest first and the last … well, last.

(All were fabulous and worth seeing, dear hedonists. Your Hedonista got a chance to check all of these productions out as media.)

Like mother, like daughter, from left to right: “Big Edie” (Suzy Hunt) and “Little Edie” Beale (Patti Cohenour) in Grey Gardens, a collaboration between The 5th Avenue Theatre and ACT – A Contemporary Theatre. Photo by Tracy Martin, provided by 5th Avenue, and used with permission.

First, originally running March 16th to May 26th, 2013, but then almost immediately extended with additional performances due to an “unprecedented demand for tickets” (so said the press release), is Grey Gardens. The extended run takes place this Thursday, May 30th, this Friday, May 31st, this Saturday, June 1st, and this Sunday, June 2nd, 2013.

A musical brought to us by The 5th Avenue Theatre and ACT – A Contemporary Theatre, Grey Gardens takes place in ACT’s Allen Theatre. Based on a 1975 documentary film on the eccentric relatives of Jacqueline Lee “Jackie” Bouvier Kennedy Onassis – “Big Edie” and “Little Edie” Beale – who journey on a life’s path of riches-to-rags (literally) in their 28-room East Hampton mansion, dubbed (yup, you guessed it) “Grey Gardens.” What I found to be particularly amazing was that Patti Cohenour played both the mother, Edith Ewing Bouvier Beale (a.k.a. “Big Edie”), when “Little Edie” was young as well as Edith Bouvier Beale (a.k.a. “Little Edie”) as an older woman much later on in life.

Tickets to Grey Gardens can be acquired through either 5th Avenue or ACT; they range in price from $91 Premium tickets for Fridays, Saturday Matinées, Saturday Evenings, and Sunday Matinées; $85 Week Day tickets for Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays; $65.00 Off tickets  for Previews, Midweek Matinées, and Sunday Evenings; and through the extended run period of May 30th-June 2nd, tickets are only $50.00. (NOTE: Tickets are $5.00 for TeenTix Members Mondays to Saturdays with valid identification.)

Actor Mike Dooly as George in The Language Archive. Photo by Paul Bestock, provided by Seattle Public Theater, and used with permission.

Second, there’s Julia Cho’s The Language Archive, performing May 17th to June 9th, 2013 at Seattle Public Theater (SPT) at the Bathhouse on Green Lake. This play, directed by SPT Artistic Director Shana Bestock, wraps up their 2012-2013 season and is definitely worth seeing. It entwines language, love, and loss in a truly intelligent and profound (not to mention comedic) way.

I first saw The Language Archive a couple of years ago at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (their 2013 season runs through November 3rd, 2013) using a voucher I’d won at an auction at the 5th Annual 2011 Victoria Tea Festival and absolutely loved it then. Although the Bathhouse Theater is a much smaller venue the cast – Mike Dooly, (George; also played Pompey in Antony and Cleopatra by the Seattle Shakespeare Company and Jake in SPT’s The Understudy), Candace Vance (Mary; also played Lady Chiltern in Taproot’s An Ideal Husband and Mistress Ford in The Merry Wives of Windsor by the Seattle Shakespeare Company), Heather Persinger (Emma; also recently played The Art Historian in The Final Tribunal into the Mysterious Death of Mister Salvador Dalí at the Theatre Off Jackson), Julie Jamieson (Alta/Language Instructor; also played Esme Thomas in Amy’s View by ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery), and John Murray (Resten/Old Man) – did a terrific job.

Tickets are $15 for youth under 25 years, $25 for seniors (65+), and $27 for general admission.

(NOTE: SPT has released its 2013-2014 season – check it out.)

Matt Shimkus (Georg Lenck), Bill Johns (The Greatest Organist in Germany), Nathan Jeffrey (Johann Christoph Graupner) and Aaron Lamb (Georg Balthasar Schott) in Bach at Leipzig at Taproot Theatre. Photo by Erik Stuhaug, provided by Taproot, and used with permission.

Third, Itamar Moses’ Bach at Leipzig is currently at the Taproot Theatre Company May 17th to June 15th, 2013. Midway through the five plays for their 2013 season, this whimsical, fugue-focused and festive play is reminiscent of a reality TV show, only set among competing composers of the 18th century. Most of the characters are named either “Georg” or “Johann” and the rhythm of the play actually mimics a musical fugue, so be sure to pay special attention. (And not just any musical fugue, but the once-thought-to-be-impossible-six-voiced-fugue, composed by Johann Sebastian Bach and titled Ricercar a 6 - dubbed by Bach as “The Musical Offering.” Directed by Taproot’s Associate Artistic Director Karen Lund and featuring a strong, seasoned cast, this play is whimsical, farcical, and downright hilarious.

Tickets range in price from $20 to $40 depending on the performance day and time; tickets for 25 years and under are $15 each; student, senior, and group discounts are available. Tickets are $5.00 for TeenTix Members.

(NOTE: Their Summer Acting Camps 2013 is now accepting registrations.)

Some of the Chicago cast, pretty in pink. Photo by Jay Koh, provided by (and property of) Village Theatre, and used with permission.

Fourth, Village Theatre features Chicago from May 9th to June 29th, 2013 over in Issaquah at the Francis J. Gaudette Theatre and then from July 5th to the 28th, 2013 up in Everett at the Everett Performing Arts Center. Directed by Steve Tomkins with choreography by Kristin Holland, this musical is one of the longest-running American musicals on Broadway to-date.

Chicago is always a good time. Musical numbers like “All That Jazz,” “Razzle Dazzle,” and “Cell Block Tango” just never get old. Ever. The cast is super-strong (Richard Gray, who plays Amos Hart, has been somewhat of an actor darling of mine since First Date, put on by 5th Avenue and ACT, and which is headed to Broadway to open this July – 5th Avenue’s fifth new musical to open in New York. He’s also been in 5th Avenue’s ELF and The Music Man.)

Tickets for Chicago range in price from $28.00 to $63.00 in Issaquah and from $22.00 to $58.00 in Everett. Subscriptions and group sales are also available.

So there are some theatrical happenings in June to keep you occupied, dear hedonists!

Note: In order to comply with FTC Act 16 C.F.R. 255, Heed the Hedonist would like to disclose that it does receive media “comps” and/or media discounts – but not in exchange for favorable coverage, or for withholding unfavorable coverage, of the given venue/meal/performance/product/service.

Decisions can be tough to make, dear hedonists. For example, two plays end tonight that are worth seeing; of course, both shows start at 7:30 p.m., so a choice has to be made. (Your Hedonista viewed both as media.)

Matthew Gilbert (Beethoven) and Jody McCoy (Dr. Katherine Brandt and mother) in a touching moment when time is no longer linear. Photo by Michael Brunk, provided by ArtsWest, and used with permission.

First, there’s Moisés Kauffman’s play entitled 33 Variations (May 1st to the 25th, 2013) at ArtsWest. Directed by their Artistic Director Christopher Zinovitch and featuring its Northwest premiere, this play delves into the somewhat parallel emotions and lives between musical composer Ludwig Van Beethoven in 19th-century Austria and a terminally ill Ph.D musicologist academic and mother in present-day New York. Tickets are $34.50 each ($31.00 for seniors, $12 for those under 25 years, and $10 for TPS members); I’d call to see if they even have any tickets left.

If they are sold out, at least you can make their killer cocktail: the “Schindler’s Schatzi” (see below).

The drink Schindler’s Schatzi (left) and the rum the cocktail is made with (right). This drink is sweet and refreshing, with a rum butter taste.

Schindler’s Schatzi Cocktail, by Sandy Frye, ArtsWest

The cast of The Temperamentals, from left to right: Daniel Wood (Harry Hay), Greg Bee (Chuck Rowland), Justin Ison (Dale Jennings), Will Halsey (Bob Hull), and Jaryl Draper (Rudi Gernreich). Photo by Michael Brunk (NW Lens), provided by Arouet and used with permission.

Next, there’s The Temperamentals – a 2009 play by Jon Marans that is running May 10th to the 25th (i.e., tonight) at The Ballard Underground. Put on by Arouet and Alfred Zem Hill and directed by Roy Arauz, this production enthralls the audience with its suspense and intensity. Before the post-’60s drag queens, there was the Mattachine Society of the 1950s: one of the first homophile/LGBT organizations of the United States.

The acting in this play is super-strong and the history lesson it gives on the gay civil rights movement is truly fascinating.

General tickets are $16 in advance/$20 at the door, with student/senior tickets $12 in advance/$15 at the door. Visit arouet.us/ticketing to purchase through Brown Paper Tickets (BPT) or call (425) 298-3852.

Note: In order to comply with FTC Act 16 C.F.R. 255, Heed the Hedonist would like to disclose that it does receive media “comps” and/or media discounts – but not in exchange for favorable coverage, or for withholding unfavorable coverage, of the given venue/meal/performance/product/service.

There’s so much going on regarding the stage and screen scenes in Seattle, dear hedonists, that I’m trying hard to keep up. See below for what’s happened, currently happening, and about to happen – some of the shows your Hedonista has viewed as media as of late.

May 15th-18th, 2013 featured Lily Verlaine and Jasper McCann’s 4th run of Through the Looking Glass: The Burlesque Alice In Wonderland at The Triple Door. Their holiday Land of the Sweets:The Burlesque Nutcracker show is always a hit; for spring they did their saucy version of the Lewis Carroll classic, Through the Looking-Glass. This show starred local burlesque artists Lily Verlaine, Waxie Moon, Kitten LaRue, and Miss Indigo Blue – all of whom are recognized internationally for their performances. This show was an absolute delight and a nice variation on their winter holiday show. Tickets were $30-$38.

The cast of Through the Looking Glass: The Burlesque Alice In Wonderland. Photo y Scott Butner, provided by Verlaine+McCann Presents and used with permission.

Miss it, dear hedonists? Fear not, for their next gig should be s equally appealing and entertaining: Nightcap at The Triple Door on June 8th, 2013 at 11:00 p.m. This event will feature a shake-up of both world-renowned cabaret performers as well as classic cocktails created by the owner of The Zig Zag Café, Ben Dougherty. (NOTE: The Zig Zag Café was named named the #1 Cocktail Bar in America by GQ Magazine in 2010.) Hosted by Jasper McCann as “The Sophisticated Swinger,” this naughty little nightcap night will feature: Lada Redstar (2012 London World Burlesque Crown winner), Waxie Moon (gender-blending “boylesque” performer), Sarah Sparrow (trapeze artist extraordinaire), Iva Handfull (the Queen of Kansas City Burlesque), and Lily Verlaine (“The Balanchine of Burlesque.”) Tickets for this 21-and-over event are $20.

From left to right: Fabrice Luchini, Emmanuelle Seigner and Ernst Umhauer. Image provided by CMG and used with permission.

In The House at Seven Gables Theatre – In The House opened on Friday, May 17th and wraps up tomorrow on Thursday, May 23rd. This French film is by François Ozon and is in French with English subtitles. Released by the Cohen Media Group (CMG), this film rated R and is 1 hour and 45 minutes long. Inspired by Juan Mayorga’s Spanish play, The Boy in the Last Row, In The House tells the tale of a 16-year-old boy named Claude (Ernst Umhauer) whose voyeurism and curiosity about the lives of and interactions among people in their own homes triggers inspiration for his writing class – and his teacher, Monsieur Germain (Fabrice Luchini) – with disconcerting results. (No spoilers, dear hedonists!) Also stars Kristin Scott Thomas (Madame Jeanne Germain), Emmanuelle Seigner (Esther), Denis Ménochet (Rapha Senior), and Bastien Ughetto (Rapha Junior). Tickets range in price from $8.00 to $10.50 and depend on the day of the show, the time of the show, and the age of attendees.

Spiffy SIFF t-shirts for sale for this year’s Festival 2013 – year #39. The shirts are $20.

SIFF’s 2013 Festival (#SIFF2013) – runs  May 16th through June 9th, 2013. This is the 39th year for the festival, which features approximately 450 films – of that some 200 feature-length films, 175 short films, 67 documentaries, and 8 archival films – from 85 nations around the world. Of these films, 49 are world premieres, 47 are North American premieres, and 18 are U.S. premieres. The tag line for this year’s festival is “Be curious.”

The films are categorized into no less than ten moods:

- Love
- Make Me Laugh
- Provoke Me
- Thrill Me
- Show Me The World
- Open My Eyes
- Sci-Fi And Fact
- To The Extreme
- Creative Streak
- Face The Music

Note: In order to comply with FTC Act 16 C.F.R. 255, Heed the Hedonist would like to disclose that it does receive media “comps” and/or media discounts – but not in exchange for favorable coverage, or for withholding unfavorable coverage, of the given venue/meal/performance/product/service.

Life is … fleeting. So much to do, so little time to do it all in. Thus, we prioritize. Hedonism first!

There are soooo many fabulous theatre and performance venues in Seattle and its surrounds; recently, there was Book-It‘s Adventures of Huckleberrry Finn Uncensored (April 16th-May 12th, 2013); ACT‘s world premiere of Assisted Living (April 19th-May 12th, 2013); and Seattle Shakespeare Company‘s Wooden O production brought indoors, The Taming of the Shrew with a trailer trash twist. These three plays were all brilliant in their own respective rights (your Hedonista attended as media); all of them touched on the very tenets of the human condition and its noble desires for freedom, independence, and love in the face of our selfish tendencies for control, dominance, and competition.

From left to right: Bhama Roget, Richard Nguyen Sloniker, Angela DiMarco, and Cheyenne Casebier in Boeing Boeing, 2013. Photo by Andry Laurence, provided by SRT, and used with permission.

Alas, these productions have ended their run – but it’s not too late for Marc Camoletti’s Boeing Boeing – running April 19th through today, May 19th, 2013 (at 2:00 p.m.) at the Seattle Repertory Theatre (SRT), which I recently saw as media.

Marc Camoletti – born a French citizen in Geneva, Switzerland to an Italian family – wrote some 40 plays, with Boeing Boeing his best-known work. First produced in London in 1962 at the Duchess Theatre, where it ran for seven years, this play is listed in the 1991 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records as the most-performed French play in the world.

This production – directed by Allison Narver (Romeo and Juliet and Or) and translated by Beverly Cross and Francis Evans – is both sexy and hilarious. Bernard (played by Richard Nguyen Sloniker, also in Jesus Hopped The A Train) is a die-hard bachelor engaged to not one but three women. All of the women are airline stewardesses: one American (Gloria, played by Bhama Roget) one Italian (Gabriella, played by Angela DiMarco, who was also in Jesus Hopped The A Train, Amy’s View and reasons to be pretty), and one German (Gretchen, played by Cheyenne Casebier). Bernard schedules his rendez-vous based on their flight schedules, until….

(I’m certain you get the picture, dear hedonists.)

 Tickets in general range from $15-$80, with $12 tickets for those attendees under 25 years of age (with valid ID—call for details) and discounted tickets for parties of ten or more – call 206-443-2222.

Boeing Boeing closes the Seattle Rep’s 50th Anniversary season, and goes out with a bang – coffee, tea, or … sex?

Fonté’s $18-per-pound Brasil Peabody Carmo de Minas has a nice chocolate-toned bean. This coffee is a nice sip-all-day coffee that’s perfect for spring.

Speaking of coffee, Fonté Coffee has a new blend for a limited time a new coffee: the Brasil Peaberry Carmo de Minas. I recently received a media sample of this coffee to review. The bean has a chocolate hue with a dark roast, chocolate, and nut smell. Once ground, the nuttiness – both meat and shell – comes out in the grinds. Once brewed, the coffee again has notes of roasted nuts and chocolate, the coffee is light to medium in body structure with a mild, balanced plum-like acidity. A milk chocolate sweetness plays with the dark chocolate (think cocoa, here), with a slight chalky texture on the after taste.

Say the folks at Fonté about this coffee:

“We’ve known Sergio Dias of Cannan Estate Coffees for over ten years. Sergio and his family co-own and operate JC Coffee Farms out of Carmo de Minas in Brasil’s southern state of Minas Gerias. Cannan Estate is responsible for a large part of JC Farms annual production, and has been in Sergio’s family for over 70 years. When we first met Sergio he was not exporting coffee to the US. It’s been our pleasure to watch him take the plunge in the US market, and to see his coffees gain the recognition and acceptance they certainly deserve. In addition to a handful of full container lots that Sergio now brings into the US he has recently added a few microlot offerings, some as small as 5 bags. It is from one of these unique microlots that we get our Brasil Peaberry Carmo de Minas. Our Brasil Peaberry is a pulped natural coffee, sun-dried on patios with some of the fruit left on the heavy outer skin of the seed. Typical of Brasilian coffees generally it is not grown at great altitude. In the cup Brasil Peaberry excels in displaying the flavors and mouthfeel characteristically developed in softer coffees. Very complete and balanced the medium body has a pleasant oily feel. Brighter than many Brasils, the acidity carries a distinct red fruit flavor that calls to mind early harvest plum. The finish is clean and lightly dry with plenty of cocoa powder notes.”

Overall, this coffee makes a lovely all-day sipper that is perfect for springtime. It sells for $18 a pound. Only five 132-pound bags were produced this year, so quantities are very limited.

Seattle IS Boeing and coffee, at least in part, no?

Note: In order to comply with FTC Act 16 C.F.R. 255, Heed the Hedonist would like to disclose that it does receive media “comps” and/or media discounts – but not in exchange for favorable coverage, or for withholding unfavorable coverage, of the given venue/meal/performance/product/service.

Desperation – a state of feeling or being (or both) without help, without hope. Sometimes this feeling is self-inflicted, and sometimes it is inflicted by another, possibly in a brutally violent way.

There is a film, two operas and one monologue currently up for viewing (and reviewing, which your Hedonista is doing based on her media invitations and subsequent attendance).

The show image for Fucking Fucking Fucking Ayn Rand. Image provided by SRT and used with permission.

First, the extremely short-run monologue at the Seattle Repertory Theatre (Seattle Rep/SRT) by Mike Daisey: Fucking Fucking Fucking Ayn Rand. Running May 8th-11th, 2013 (NOTE: his also did a May 1st-4th run of American Utopias, which I missed) this monologue – which to me, as a media “mooch” (or so we were called at the start of the show) felt more like a lecture – was absolutely hilarious in parts and boring in others in a way that made the mind wander (well, my mind, at least).

Ayn Rand was a Russian-American philosopher and writer of novels, screenplays and theatre. Born Alisa Zinov’yevna Rosenbaum, Ayn Rand is both loved and hated. Critic of her novels The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged abound, and yet both books are still enormously popular. Although ambitious and driven, this founder of Objectivism clearly had her moments of desperation. That said, it is Mike Daisey’s desperation regarding his frustration surrounding Ayn Rand and her life’s journey that forms the core of his presentation. Tickets for all of you “non-mooches” out there run $25 regardless of attendee age, day of performance, or seating, with the exception of $12 tickets available for those under 25 years of age (valid ID required). Discounted tickets for groups of ten or more are also available; call 206-443-2222.

Snapshot of the postcard promo of Eden, running at SIFF Cinema Uptown May 3rd-15th, 2013.

Second, the film Eden – a feature-length film currently showing at SIFF Cinema Uptown from May 3rd until May 15th, 2013. Directed by Megan Griffiths, this drama shares the shockingly true story of the kidnapping and enslavement of an 18-year-old Korean-American woman from her home state in New Mexico. Based on the shocking true-life story of Chong Kim, in the film the high school protagonist’s name is Hyun Jae (played by actress Jamie Chung, winner of the SIFF 2012 Golden Space Needle Award for Best Actress).

Laden with suspense and very little in the way of graphic sex scenes, this film sheds light on the sickeningly sinister darkness of the domestic American black market human sex trafficking “industry.” Sympathy for the girls, teens, and young women abounds as the story unfolds … as does a desperate desire for courage, escape and ultimately freedom. (Again, no spoilers, here; to see a trailer of this film, click here.) Tickets run $6.00 for SIFF Members and $11.00 for General Admission, excluding any applicable service fees.

Third and finally, there are a pair of desperate ladies of the opera that need our attention: La Voix Humane and Suor Angelica. Running at Seattle Opera May 4th through May 18th, 2013, this pair of operas feature the musical compositions of Francis Poulenc and Giacomo Puccini, respectively. Of particular interest regarding these shows is the stage lighting; Lighting Designer Connie Yun plays with old and new in thee two well-matched operas: modern LED energy-efficient lighting in La Voix Humaine, and traditional, old-style lighting in Suor Angelica.

Two operatic damsels in distress, from left to right: Sicialian Soprano Nuccia Focile as Elle in La Voix Humaine and Russian Soprano Maria Gavrilova as Suor Angelica. Photos by © Elise Bakketun, provided by Seattle Opera, and used with permission.

Curious about this dichotomy, I fired off a few questions via email to Jonathan Dean, Director of Public Programs and Media at Seattle Opera.

Hedonista: Why are these two mini operas paired together and is this a typical pairing?

Jonathan: “Good question! These two operas were paired in Trieste, Italy, which is the company that created the set and the costumes for Suor Angelica. Speight Jenkins wrote, in his article Sins of the Flesh (printed in our [current] program): ‘Both these works deal with women at the end of their ropes, suffering terrible losses….these two concise works are particularly suited to each other because these two richly imagined women, pushed to the brink by circumstances beyond their control, must grapple with despair.’”

“When I asked the conductor, Gary Thor Wedow, that question, he said (in [a posting on The Seattle Opera Blog on Monday, April 29th, 2013]): ‘There’s obviously a betrayed, lonely, sad lady at the core of both operas. But for me what has been wonderful is to find in Suor Angelica Puccini at his most French. He uses many techniques of the impressionists: parallelism; planing, which is these beautiful chords all in a row; orchestration reminsicent [sp] of Debussy, etc. I find that in terms of the composition the pieces are tied together in a very interesting way. They use similar harmonic languages and similar orchestral effects. And that hadn’t occurred to me when we began talking about this double bill.’”

Hedonista: The lighting is very different for the two operas – dimly lit with a slight seedy quality in La Voix Humaine and reverent and cold in Suor Angelica. Would you care to shed some light (pun intended) on why this is the case?

Jonathan: “…. In … [the May 7th, 2013 Seattle Opera] blog, she [Connie Yun] said: ‘We thought, what if we distinguished between the two pieces, one more modern and one more traditional, by applying this new technology to La Voix Humaine? After all, it’s an intimate, one-person show which afforded us the freedom to experiment.’

Hedonista: The music is also, in a way, at polar-yet-complimentary opposites: Poulence’s music signifies raw dissonance while Puccini’s music alludes to faith and hope. Both reveal desperation and great loss. Care to comment?

Jonathan: “That’s a really interesting comment. On the one hand, the setting of Suor Angelica calls for music written in the fashion of much ecclesiastical music, which tends to involve faith and hope. But when Angelica is in despair (in the Princess scene, for instance) Puccini uses the same harsh bitonality he used at points in Turandot. Voix really isn’t so dissonant, harmonically speaking (it’s jazzy, at points)…but her abrupt mood changes would be out of place in Suor’s convent, where expression is generally tranquil and muted.”

Ticket prices start at $25; the Twitter hashtag for this operatic duet is #DialOforOpera.

Note: In order to comply with FTC Act 16 C.F.R. 255, Heed the Hedonist would like to disclose that it does receive media “comps” and/or media discounts – but not in exchange for favorable coverage, or for withholding unfavorable coverage, of the given venue/meal/performance/product/service.

What do people think of when they think of the words “Washington State” … what words do they associate with this place? Forests? Mountains? The Pacific Ocean?

How about wine? Beer? Spirits?

Seafood? Apples?

How about … cherries, dear hedonists? Apparently Washington State produces approximately 40% of the nation’s sweet cherry production.

In 1988, Chukar Cherries was born as a family business of CEO Pamela Montgomery (surprise, surprise, they acquired a cherry orchard of 8,000 cherry trees). (NOTE: A chukar is a partridge of the hills of the Inland Northwest that sport cherry red beaks and legs and love to swoop in and pick cherries straight from the cherry trees. Their logo and ongoing artwork comes from Northwest freelance illustrator and artist Jim Hays.) Their products boast “100% natural” – in other words, freedom from preservatives, sulfites, trans fat, gluten, and anything artificial. They’re Kosher (KOF-K), too. They even have a couple of organic products as well, but don’t go completely organic due to the threat of the Mediterranean fruit fly.

Basically, take cherries (and berries) and nuts (almonds, pecans, cashews, hazelnuts and pistachios), dry them, and add chocolate.

Recently, the company sent your Hedonista a few samples to try – specifically, their Raspberry Truffles (dried cranberries in white chocolate), Cherry Bings, Dark Chocolate Classic Cherries, Dark Chocolate Cabernet Cherries, Dark Chocolate Vanilla Almonds, and Milk Chocolate Honey Pecans.

All were tasty, with the tastiest by far (to me) being the Milk Chocolate Honey Pecans. Wow!

They even have an entire Recipe Section on their website that features ways to incorporate their products in various foodie ways (which I admit I have yet to try).  However, in my opinion, the best way to eat these lil’ treats is all mixed together, fruit-nut-’n'-chocolate (think gourmet, locavore Bridge Mixture  or Trail Mix here). And they’re really nice with wine, too.

And yes, they sell a Bridge Mix of their own (Vanilla almonds, Chocolate blueberries, Cherry Bings, Dark Chocolate Cabernet Cherries and Classic Milk Cherries).

“Chukar Cherries Mix” (mixed using all the samples I was sent) is the way to go, in my opinion. Think gourmet trail mix here.

Chukar Cherries has both an online store (complete with representation on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest) and three brick and mortar locations: its Flagship Store & Factory in Prosser, its Seattle location at Pike Place Market, and its relatively new (as of the summer of 2012) tore in Leavenworth.

They do boxes, tins, and gift baskets, too.

(Hint: Mother’s Day is coming up….)

Note: In order to comply with FTC Act 16 C.F.R. 255, Heed the Hedonist would like to disclose that it does receive media “comps” and/or media discounts – but not in exchange for favorable coverage, or for withholding unfavorable coverage, of the given venue/meal/performance/product/service.

All good things come to an end, dear hedonists. And this week marks the end of a few shows – both stage and screen – that some of you out there might want to catch before they’re gone.

(Your Hedonista viewed them all as media.)

First, there’s 5th Avenue Theatre‘s Jersey Boys. This musical tale of Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons tells of the rags-to-riches evolution of four blue-collar, Roman Catholic, Italian-American boys – first generation born American – who came from the rough part of New Jersey and who could have very well ended up as prisoners rather than pop stars. The Four Season sold 175 million records worldwide – all before its musicians/singers were 30 years of age.

From left to right: Jason Kappus (Bob Gaudio), Colby Foytik (Tommy DeVito), Brad Weinstock (Frankie Valli) and Brandon Andrus (Nick Massi). Photo by Joan Marcus, provided by 5th Avenue, and used with permission.

After its month-long run, this production must end May 4th. Tickets start at $37; get 2-for-1 tickets using the promotion code RAGDOLL by calling 206-625-1900, by visiting the Box Office in person, or by clicking this link here.

The program cover of The Final Tribunal into the Mysterious Death of Mister Salvador Dalí, starring (from left to right and top to bottom): Chris MacDonald (Detective Tristan), Heather Persinger (The Art Historian), Monica Finney (Detective Isolde), and Carter Rodriguez (The Investigator).

Second, there’s a play running April 11th until May 4th, 2013 that’s put on by Pony World Theatre & Theatre Off Jackson (the latter of which was also involved in a 2011 production about artist Edvard Munch in 3 Screams). This play is entitled The Final Tribunal into the Mysterious Death of Mister Salvador Dalí. It’s as bizarre as the Surrealist artist, Salvador Domingo Felipe Jacinto Dalí i Domènech, whose death this production revolves around – offers everything from eggs dropping from the ceiling to full-on nudity. Fans of Dalí take note: this play pulls its audience in and makes its members feel as if they are, in actual fact, living in a Dalí painting.

Three shows remain: May 2nd, 3rd, and 4th at 8:00 p.m. Tickets run from $10-$13, excluding service fees, online via Brown Paper Tickets and $12-$15 at the door.

Todd Berger wrote, directed, and starred in his 2012 dark comedy film It’s A Disaster. He plays the hazmat suit-wearing neighbor.

Third – and finally – there’s a 2012, 88-minute film that ends Thursday, May 2nd at the SIFF Cinema Uptown: It’s A Disaster. Eight friends meet up for their monthly couples brunch gathering at one of the couples’ homes. As the alcohol is poured, personal issues surface, making the brunch a disaster. But they ain’t seen nothing until an actual catastrophic event hits their city.

It’s one hilariously dark comedy written and directed by Todd Berger and including a cast of  David Cross, Julia Stiles, America Ferrera, Rachel Boston, Kevin M. Brennan, Jeff Grace, Erinn Hayes, and Blaise Miller. Todd Berger plays the divorced next-door-neighbor who resents his lack of a brunch invite and seems prepared for an apocalyptic event. Actor David Cross plays a crazy killer straight man … literally.

(No spoilers, dear hedonists!)

The takeaway from this film: never, ever, be that couple that shows up unfashionably late. (Those of you hedonists out there who see this film will understand.)

The film opened in theatres April 12th, 2013, and opened at SIFF Cinema Uptown on April 19th. Two showings remain, both tomorrow, May 2nd: 7:15 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. Tickets are available online for $11.00 general admission and $6.00 for SIFF members, excluding fees.

Oh, and the SIFF Festival 2013 Box Office opens at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow morning (May 2nd, 2013).

Note: In order to comply with FTC Act 16 C.F.R. 255, Heed the Hedonist would like to disclose that it does receive media “comps” and/or media discounts – but not in exchange for favorable coverage, or for withholding unfavorable coverage, of the given venue/meal/performance/product/service.

Last Friday, a new eatery opened up in downtown Seattle. An eatery with a modern vibe, a killer outdoor patio, and more space devoted to “adult arcade” activities than I’ve ever seen before (and there’s no pool table in sight).

The place? Frolik Kitchen + Cocktails (they have a Frolik Seattle Facebook page; their Twitter handle is @frolikseattle). Located in the Red Lion Inn on 5th Avenue, right across from the 5th Avenue Theatre, it’s not visible from the street. In fact, it’s located on the fifth floor.

From left to right: The 4,000 square foot deck features outdoor Ping-Pong, shuffleboard and seating, complete with firewall, fireplace and sting lights overhead; a Taylor Shellfish Farms oyster shucking station; and four indoor TVs with Xbox Kinect stations loaded on them.

Your Hedonista attended the Pre-Opening Party on April 18th, 2013. This place is retro-trendy and features breakfast, lunch, and dinner by Chef Shailu Salian, with food touted as Regional American à la the Pacific Northwest. Edible offerings include everything from light bites to full-on meals. They have an oyster shucking station with raw oysters from Taylor Shellfish Farms for $2 a piece. Frolik also offers OUT/grab-and-go items and nightly happy evenings (forget a mere couple of happy hours) from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., complete with $5 tasty share-able plates (such as Caprese skewers, smoked salmon deviled eggs, grape goat cheese pistachio bon-bons, and bourbon bacon popcorn), $5 cocktails, and beer and select wine for $4.50.

Frolik Bartender Joe Sefton puts the finishing touches on my Interlude Sour at the 24-foot cocktail bar.

The cocktails – their creation headed by Mike McSorley – are creative and fun; my current #1 pick is the Interlude Sour: Reposado Tequila, lemon juice, Crème de Violette, egg white and St-Germain ($11).

“Frolik is what Downtown Seattle has been waiting for,” said Carrie Dietz, Director of Fun aat Frolik Kitchen + Cocktails. “Inviting, open spaces paired with fresh, fun libations and inventive fare encourage our guests to leave all their troubles behind. Whether they’re on the shuffleboard court, hosting a lunch meeting or relaxing by the firewall, Frolik offers Downtown a fresh new way to mix, mingle and socialize.”

Open from 6:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. every day, this place is worth a visit en route to catching a show nearby, or when taking a break from working or shopping downtown.

The deck alone (on a rain-free day) is worth a visit, dear hedonists.

Note: In order to comply with FTC Act 16 C.F.R. 255, Heed the Hedonist would like to disclose that it does receive media “comps” and/or media discounts – but not in exchange for favorable coverage, or for withholding unfavorable coverage, of the given venue/meal/performance/product/service.