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Seattlest is always looking for interesting events to cover, and this season, one holiday party in particular caught our eye: Latkepalooza, the only place to be on December 24th for Seattle's Jewish community. This morning, we caught up on Google Chat with the Jewish Federation's Cameron Levin, the Young Leadership Division Director who organizes and promotes the annual party with her Volunteer Chair Nick Barrat, to find out more.
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So, Latkepalooza is on Christmas Eve, the 24th. Is this a national thing?
No, not necessarily. I mean, there's a Jewish Federation in almost every major city in the United States, and a lot of the Young Leadership Divisions in the Jewish Federation (YLD) host some kind of event on Christmas Eve, but Latkepalooza is specifically a Seattle thing--it's been around for over 10 years.
And it's on the 24th because it's kind of a dead night, entertainment-wise, for people who aren't celebrating the Christian holiday with their families?
Exactly. Traditionally, Jewish people basically hang out, eat Chinese food and watch movies on Christmas Eve, and so we want to provide an opportunity for people to come together as a Jewish community. It also happens to be in the middle of Chanukah, so we have a reason to party too!
How did you get involved with the Jewish Federation yourself?
I got involved with the Jewish Federation about three years ago. Since I moved to Seattle, I donated to the Jewish Federation because I always wanted to support the Jewish community. Now I work here and I get to help other people find their connection to the Jewish community--not just in Seattle but globally.
What exactly goes on at this event? Is there a specific latke recipe or latke maker who always makes the potato pancakes every year?
Hmm, no but that's an interesting idea ;) We do provide latkes every year even if Latkepalooza doesn't fall on Chanukah. But they're all kosher (by Noshaway Caterers) and kosher jelly donuts from the Renton Krispy Kreme. There's also jelly donuts, applesauce, chocolate gelt and savory latke-flavored soda. In the past we've featured anything from karaoke, klezmer bands, and Seattle comedians to Movin 92.5, so every year it's a little different. The main stuff stays the same--people come to have a blast, and that's what happens.
More on latke-flavored soda and who comes to Latkepalooza, after the jump!
I'm seeing something about Chanukah-flavored Jones soda on the Jewish Federation website....Seriously? And what does that taste like, exactly?
[Jones Soda] has generously donated a bunch of Chanukah sodas to YLD to help make our party amazing--so the latkes, jelly donuts and soda are all free from 9 to 10 p.m. People have different feelings about all of the flavors, especially the latke soda. Whether or not you like it, the sodas help create conversation and if anything, it's just a lotta fun!
It really sounds like it! Do people have to be Jewish to come?
Latkepalooza is for anyone who identifies as a part of the Jewish community and the people who love them. Traditionally we get in about 400 people from 21 to 39 years old to come out. People kinda look forward to it--I even got a call from a girl from Western Washington, and she was so excited because she just turned 21 and said she had been looking forward to it for the past few years after watching her siblings go to Latkepalooza. Now it's her turn to take part in a little piece of the Jewish-Seattle tradition.
I love that. Ten years is a lot of time to build up a tradition.
Totally! That's what we're (Young Leadership of the Jewish Federation) trying to do--build Jewish community in Seattle. Sometimes it's through major social events, and other times it's through volunteer service projects, leadership programs and cultural events--anything that brings people together. Oh, and most of the event proceeds are going to a good cause. Part of what we do is help fund-raise for over forty different non-profits in Seattle and throughout the world. This event will help fund after-school programs for in-need youth in Seattle's Sister City-- Kiryat Malachi, Israel. We're actually in the middle of trying to raise $1 million for all of our beneficiary agencies before the new year. People can donate at jewishinseattle.org.
Thanks, Cameron!
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