Taste of West Seattle: You Gonna Eat Your Tots?

 
This is what can happen at food festivals. Get ready. This summer's full of 'em, and Skylark Cafe is officially in the mix.

Why not get pumped for July's Bite of Seattle--that T.rex of local foodie events--by getting a Taste of West Seattle on Thursday, May 20th? The Hall at Fauntleroy is offering nibbles and bits from close to 35 of W. Sea's beloved eateries, caterers and "beverage houses."

Now, we could rave all day about the culinary delights cooked up by Tony, Riki, Ryan and DeLeon in our lil kitchen. My West Seattle tastes like their tender tuna melts, creative daily pasta specials, warm homemade soups and at least TWO pocketfuls of tater tots! And don't forget our Yelp-tested, Yelp-approved Bloody Mary and all its variants.

Tickets to this chowdown of epic proportions are $35 if you get 'em now, and are available at Metropolitan Market, Hotwire Coffee, Husky Deli and Capers. Or call 206-932-2746.

Taste of West Seattle
6-8:30 p.m., Thursday, May 20th
THE HALL
at FAUNTLEROY
9131 California Ave SW

Confirmed May Shows Are Blowing My Mind

Upcoming Confirmed Shows

Shows are 21+ and start at 9pm unless otherwise specified. Check the website calendar often for additions and cancellations, or to hear music clips.

5/1 POST HARBOR, YOU MAY DIE IN THE DESERT, ARMED WITH LEGS
5/2 [All Ages!] GRAVES, MESTIZO, EXISTEREO, CADALACK RON

5/5 SINEM SANIYE (NYC) featured artist at open mic

5/6 Ninkasi Brewing Presents EMKAYTWO, KRISTI NELSON, TYLER FORTIER 

5/7 THUNDERBIRD MOTEL, THE BOURBONITES,
JEFF GRANT (of M.Bison)

5/8 BEND, THE VAGUE PROPHETS, ABRAHAM

5/9 [All Ages!] Mother's Day

GIRLS ROCK! benefit show 3pm-6pm

GHOST LOBBY, AMBER DARLAND

TEAM TRACY benefit show 7pm-10pm
JULIA MASSEY, ABI GRACE, ANNIE LOCKWOOD
5/13 MAN ON THE WALL, FOUNDRY FIRE, CHOKING MONA

5/14 TO THE SEA, THE FUZZ, guests
5/15 MINIREX, THE LITTLE PENGUINS, STROPPY

5/16 [All Ages!] TO PAINT THE SKY, ALABASTER, AMSTERDAM, 

REBEL STRIKE
5/18 7:30pm ALAUDA freeform bellydance

5/20 PENESIS, THE TAILENDERS cd release party, CHARLES HARGIS (of Halophile)
5/21 KEXP Hood-to-Hood Showcase with THE TRIPWIRES, THE FUCKING EAGLES, THE HOTELS, DJs Troy & Hannah
5/22 THE STEVEDORE, CASEY RUFF & THE MAYORS OF BALLARD, guests

5/23 [All Ages!] HI-FI RESET, guests

5/27 INNUENDO, SUBURBAN VERMIN, guests
5/28 THE DIGNITARIES, GLAD GIRLS, SOUTH SOUND BUREAU CHIEFS 

5/29 CADY WIRE, JONES FAMILY FORTUNE, SWEET SECRETS
5/30 [All Ages!] PETER HANKS, JACK STAFFORD FOUNDATION, guests

Tuesdays OPEN TURNTABLES 6pm
and LATE NITE HAPPY HOUR 9pm
Wednesdays TRIVIA with Britannica 7pm
OPEN MIC 9pm (signup 8pm)

It's All Good in the Hood: KEXP reps W. Sea on May 21st!

The Tripwires, courtesy their Myspace page.

Hop on your hog, rent that Zipcar, bus it on out to Skylark on Friday, May 21st, when West Seattle celebrates its victory in KEXP's Hood-to-Hood Challenge! No, it had nothing to do with switchblades down by the harbor. Our triumph represents our community's willingness to support Seattle's rockinest radio station. During pledge drives, the station pits neighborhoods against each other to see who can raise the most bread. And guess who's got the dough this time!

Since we won, KEXP is sponsoring and hosting shows all over the neighborhood, including our killer triple-bill featuring The Tripwires, the Fucking Eagles, and Hotels, and hosted by KEXP DJs Troy Nelson and Hannah Levin.

Can't sleep in the wee hours of Saturday morning? Ever come home from the bar sad and alone? You've probably tuned into Troy (below) doing his variety mix from 1-6 a.m. on Friday night.



Photo courtesy of KEXP

At the helm of Audioasis every Saturday from 6-9 p.m., Hannah (below) spins Northwest-centric tunes and hosts amazing in-studio guests. Recently, that included students from the School of Rock. She's truly on the case when it comes to what makes Seattle's music scene so special.



Check KEXP's Hood-to-Hood page for a schedule.

May 8th and 9th: What a Weekend!

Can you say "junk in the trunk"???

Skylark kicks off a happening weekend of Mother's Day festivities and TWO benefit shows by joining West Seattle Yard Sale Day!

The West Seattle Community Garage Sale is in its 6th year, and this community is not playing around. On Saturday, May 8th, there are approximately 200 yard sales for you to scavenge through, all referenced via an online map or an 8-page a 12-page .pdf (!!).

But you know you want to start your search at Skylark! (We are 53 on the map there, under the words "Harbor Island.") Not only will our parking lot be filled with items such as glassware, retro chrome sconces, scrap lumber and snowboard/boot combos, but maybe our cook Riki will even throw down her famous Kahlua french toast for the occasion. Brunch is the bomb here at Skylark...be sure to check your May email newsletter for 50% off a mimosa carafe with purchase of any yard sale item. Not on our mailing list yet? Better go sign up for next month.

Bring mom for a flower-filled brunch on Sunday, May 9th and stay for one (or both) of our exciting benefit shows.

First up! From 3-6 p.m. we're hosting an all-ages benefit for GIRLS ROCK! This radical non-profit encourages 300 girls a year to creatively express themselves through music. How I wish I'd had access to such a thing in my teens--I'd be able to play more than one song on the guitar I've had now for 15 years! (Although, it is "Livin' on a Prayer.")

Representing the rawk are the band Ghost Lobby (who slayed Skylark last month!) and sassy singer-songwriter Amber Darland (pictured below).



NEXT! At 7 p.m., "Mommies & Mammaries" is a showcase to benefit breast cancer research, with proceeds going to the Susan B. Komen 3-Day for the Cure walk (via Team Tracy) in September. M & M is "a call to celebrate feminine creativity in it's many forms," featuring musicians Annie Lockwood, Abi Grace and Julia Massey (below). There will be a raffle for an awesome gift cards package from many local women-owned businesses.

Next Thursday: Dining Out for Life!

Lifelong AIDS Alliance holds a special place in my heart. The organization, which has been supporting and advocating for those living with HIV/AIDS in the Northwest since 2001, also happens to run one of the baddest-ass thrift stores in town. The trash jewelry of countless Grandmas and drag queens has become my shiny treasure time and again!

So I'll be sure to wear my secondhand pearls while working my lunch shift next Thursday, April 29th, when Skylark takes part in Lifelong's annual Dining Out for Life event. All day long--we're participating from 11:30 a.m. til 9 p.m.--30% of the proceeds from your meal will benefit Lifelong, and "the fight against illness and hunger in our community," as they say.

PLUS! If you make a donation of at least $25 to Lifelong while dining at Skylark, you'll become a member of the 20% Off Tuesdays Club. This means that every Tuesday, ALL YEAR, that you dine with us, you'll receive 20% off your total bill! Sweet!

Learn more about this vital organization here.

Then check out our online menu to plan your visit. Will it be our comforting mac & cheese, perhaps with bacon and bleu? A hearty burger? Our famous grilled steak salad with roasted red peppers?

A portion of our beverage sales will also be included. Psst...we've got a few new cocktails on the menu, featuring the use of Aperol, rye and (the favorite of genteel ladies everywhere) Hendrick's gin.

We look forward to living it up with you!

Skylark Stars in a "MOHAI Minute"

Holla!

We've been profiled in a short video made by the Museum of History and Industry here in Seattle. It turns out that our building has quite an interesting history. The West Seattle Blog passes on the word that the video "puts the hysterical in historical." See for yourself!

Kisses, Hugs and Hammered Dulcimer!

Portland's Loaded for Bear. Photo: Jonathan January.

Come out of hibernation and enjoy the musical bounty of the great Northwest (and beyond) this month at Skylark. Birds are a-chirpin', beer is a-flowin' and musical wildflowers of every color are popping up in our meadow.

Don't miss our sweet triple bill on Friday, April 16th, featuring the Rose City's Loaded for Bear (pictured above). The foursome describe their songs as "pieces of hills and fog and trees and creeks and space and old-world carnival and a compass rose." To us, that sounds like vintage Macha, or Red Stars Theory with a five-day scruff.

Exohxo features Danny and Jasen from local pop-punk darlings Speaker Speaker, plus five partners-in-crime, playing folk-tinged songs that are wistful and raucous. The critics have been drooling on this ensembles' skilled musicianship and remarkable politesse.

Finally, our headliners are SHiPS, AKA Jacob, Laurie, Chase and Garrett, who bring the "noise," "positive attitude" and hammered dulcimer to our music hall. Their fantastic sounds will ease you into psychedelic realms without landing you in a coma.

Friday, April 16. 21+/9:00pm/no cover

Confirmed April Shows At Skylark

4/1 EIGHT LEGS TO NOWHERE, KRIS SPECIAL, THE QUICK & EASY BOYS
4/2 BLUE STAR CREEPER, GHOST LOBBY, HALF LIGHT
4/3 GUNSTREET GLORY, HELEN CHANCE, DUSTIN SCHMIDT, RUBY HILL (duo)
4/4 {all ages} SEEING BLIND (duo), TAMARA POWER-DRUTIS
4/8 TWISTING FATE, FEEDING GEORGE, PERPETUAL JET LAG
4/9 OPEN CHOIR FIRE, CROWN ARUBA, THE GLAD GIRLS
4/10 WE WROTE THE BOOK ON CONNECTORS, DEAD AMERICANS, CAROUSEL
4/11 {all ages} WAY SOUTH, THE WHOLE BOLIVIAN ARMY, ADHD
4/15 GRAVES, VERSE THE VILLAIN
4/16 SHiPS, EXOHXO, LOADED FOR BEAR
4/17 TBD
4/18 {all ages} CHELSEA SPEED PARTY, THE KLEENERS, RAZORS & RED FLAGS
4/22 WAH WAH EXIT WOUND, LETHE
4/23 NATHAN WADE & THE DARK PIONEERS, ERIC MILLER, JIBRAN
4/24 THE HOOT HOOTS, VARNISH, SHINING SKULLS
4/25 {all ages} PONYHOMIE, EVELYN BOSKER
4/29 GREEN HANDSHAKE, THE POPULAR MONSTERS, MIDDLE AGE CRISIS
4/30 KLED, THE PLAID PERSPECTIVE, JOHNSON COUNTY

Tuesdays OPEN TURNTABLES 6pm
and LATE NITE HAPPY HOUR 9pm
Wednesdays TRIVIA with Brittanica 7pm
OPEN MIC 9pm (signup 8pm)