I know that I will be attending this fete conceived by La Spiga, co-owner and chef Sabrina Tinsley and co-owner Pietro Borghesi. They are a delight to have in the recently restored Piston and Ring Building. I also know I lamented regularly when they were between locations in 2006.

La Spiga will invoke a Romagnolan street scene during its inaugural Ferragosto. Typically held on Aug. 15, Ferragosto marks the height of summer, and Italian communities worldwide gather for copious amounts of food, drink and entertainment. For Roman Catholics, Ferragosto is also the day the Virgin Mary ascended to heaven and is therefore considered a major holiday.

In honor of Ferragosto, La Spiga will raise its garage-door façade and bring the street festival indoors by transforming the bar, back patio and mezzanine into stations for Italian street foods, wines and beers.

Aug. 17, 4 – 9 p.m.

$30 per person for food; tax, gratuity and drinks are excluded; cash or check only. Specialty imported Italian beers and wine will be sold at stations throughout the restaurant. Cocktails will be available at the cash bar. Space is limited. Call 206.323.8881 or email hello@laspiga.com to make a reservation.

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It's that time once again when they close off the street and charge us $18 just to walk through the neighborhood. However, I guess the 5 musical stages and 30+ bands make it all worthwhile.

Capitol Hill Block Party

The premier of this performance is on Thursday, and then it runs Thurs-Sun through June 8th. Info from the Seattle U calendar here.

I saw this performed as a work in progress a few months back. Whiting has a solid roster of dancers working on this project, which I think is the last thing she'll do with Seattle U, where she's had a residency for the last 3 years.

I'm excited for this show. I'm also excited to finally see the visual art exhibition "Bookish," which is up at Lee through June 21.

Lots of great Seattle artists, great food, good cause. 11am to 8pm Thursday, May 22nd at 1121 23rd Avenue East on Capitol Hill.

The election for the new officers for the Capitol Hill Community Council is next month on June 5th at the Capitol Hill Arts Center.

With that in mind, meet the CHCC officer candidates at Smith at 332 15th Avenue East on Capitol Hill, tonight, Wednesday, May 14th from 6:30 till 8:30pm.

Have a beersky, maybe a little poutine or some exotic meatstuffs, shake hands with your Capitol Hill Community Council Candidates, have another beersky, repeat.....

Meany Middle School will be celebrating the tremendous success of its Arts Initiative, the many talents of its students and the discovery of a treasure: the William Cumming masterpiece that once graced the halls of this central district school. Additionally, Meany will be honoring the work of James Washington and Joe Max Emminger.

The 91 year-old northwest legend will return to Meany where he put the finishing touches on his 4-by-8 foot painting as students passed through the school entry and watched the master at work. The painting, which was commissioned by the Meany PTA in the early 60s, was discovered last June in a storage room mingling with vacuum cleaners, buckets, mops and boxes.

On Thursday, May 15, from 4 to 8pm, Meany will transform itself from Seattle Public Middle School into the Jaguar Arts Festival. A full schedule of performance, art, and activities is planned for the free festival and community event including dinner by Flame Catering and these student offerings:

· Musical and theatrical performances
· Art, photography and technology, literary, science and math and special ed arts
· Interactive Art Stations for all, including Graffiti art hosted by student teachers
· DJ station – interactive
· Silent Auction
· "The Jaguar Performance Showcase"
· Unveiling of the William Cumming painting, introducing William Cumming
· Honoring the brilliant contributions of artists James Washington and Joe Max Emminger


As the topic of art as education is being hotly debated among our country's educators and leaders, Meany Middle School is a front runner among schools embracing art as an important education piece.
Meany has been implementing a nationally re-known school arts initiative model that infuses the arts into every area of its middle school curriculum through visual art, drama and music. Seattle's arts community has enthusiastically responded to Meany's "Artist-in-Residence Program" and is engaged at many levels.

Don't miss this opportunity to see some of Seattle Public School's bright young minds at work and play, and to witness the return of William Cumming and his painting to Meany!

Jaguar Arts Festival & Community Event, Free
Meany Middle School
301 – 21st Avenue East on Capitol Hill
Thursday, May 15, 4-8 pm

Pagliacci Pizza is hosting a concert benefit for one of its own. "A Night for Elise" will take place TONIGHT, May 12 at Neumo's on Capitol Hill and feature a silent auction and three Seattle bands; musicians include current and former Pagliacci crewmembers.

Elise Kinnamon was the general manger for one of Pagliacci's pizzerias before she was diagnosed in February with terminal brain cancer. After two months in the hospital, Elise is home and trying to enjoy life with her husband, Cameron, and 4-year-old son, Jasper.

Event details:
'A Night for Elise'
Monday, May 12
Neumo's
925 E. Pike Street | Capitol Hill
Doors open 8 p.m. | Music 9 p.m.

"Many people who know Elise have asked how they can help show support for her and her family as they cope with her illness," said Matt Galvin, owner of Pagliacci Pizza. "Pagliacci is a large fun-filled family, but at a time like this, we come together to help take care of one another. By hosting the 'Night for Elise,' I see it as the least we can do for her and her family."

The 'Night for Elise' will feature the bands Iceage Cobra, Thunderbird Motel, and Rad Touch. The musicians include current and former Pagliacci crewmembers. Tickets are $5.00 and the event is open to the public with all proceeds going toward Elise's medical bills and creating a trust fund for Jasper. Donations also can be made directly to Elise Kinnamon, c/o Pagliacci Pizza, 423 E. Pike Street, Seattle, WA 98122.

New bands (ones not on the poster above) were announced this morning for the Capitol Hill Block Party. They are:

DeVotchKa, Grand Ole Party, Zeke, Thee Emergency, Voyager One, Natalie Portman's Shaved Head, Feral Children, Sleepy Eyes Of Death, Truckasaurus, Black Elk, New Faces & Angelo Spencer.

More will be announced on June 2nd.

The posters for this year's CHBP don't have "Esurance" in huge letters at the top, like they did last year. I wonder if that will change when the newer posters come out... I'm pretty sure Esurance is still a major sponsor of the festival, which gets bigger every year.

Last year I got to the block party really early, like within an hour or two of when the gates first opened on the first day of the festival. I went to Neumos and the tables upstairs were covered in swag. Nice stuff too. I got a Zippo lighter a T-shirt that I still wear.

One of my favorite shows last year was in a venue located within the fences that seal up the CHBP, but wasn't listed on the official schedule. Check out the bars in there like the Comet and the Cha-Cha, they might have shows that aren't advertised.

Tickets this year are 18 bucks advanced and a portion go to Home Alive and The Vera Project.

A Seattle neighborhood art show and sale at Montlake Community Center to benefit MCC's Scholarship Fund.

This Saturday May 3rd from 10am to 4pm at Montlake Community Center at 1618 E. Calhoun Street.

Featuring the artwork of:

Esperanza G. Grundy
James W. Sutherland
Phil Rezek
Amanda Williams
Maggie O'Brien
Andy Perkins
Mary Freiburger
Daisy Schreiber
Carol Davidson
Nick Ashman
Chris Young

www.MadeInMontlake.com

The Capitol Hill Community Council is holding an election for officers on June 5th. The roles of President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer will be elected by an in-person vote of Capitol Hill citizens. Please see the CHCC bylaws for qualifications for participation in the council.

Deadline to declare candidacy - April 17 April 18
Submit candidate statement to chcc.candidate@gmail.com

Candidates Forum - April 24
Come meet the candidates!
6:30pm-8:00pm
@ the Capitol Hill Arts Center (lower level)
1621 12th Ave (at Pine St)

Election Night - June 5
LOCATIONS TO BE ANNOUNCED

Candidates:

PRESIDENT
Justin Carder
Tim Durkan

VICE PRESIDENT
Charlette Lefevre
Ryan Shandera

SECRETARY
Saunatina A. Sanchez

TREASURER
Hong Chhuor