Rachel Flotard is probably best known as the powerful frontwoman for one of Seattle's favorite local rock bands, Visqueen. But she's also the owner of Local 638 records, and a pretty fine solo performer--regardless of what she might tell you. She took some time out of the lead-up to a very busy weekend to tell us about how she connected with this month's Hugo House prompt, and what audience members can expect. more ›

Each year between fall and spring, the Richard Hugo House presents the Literary Series: four events that feature local writers, musicians, cartoonists, and other artists, who are commissioned to create new works of art. Each event features four artists, each asked to create on the same theme. The result is a diverse and fascinating look into various topics, by some of the Seattle area's most talented creators. This year, we'll be interviewing the participants in the week before the show. more ›

It's awful outside. Couldn't you use some beat poetry, read from the boys' room? more ›

For six full days, the public will get to cheer on 36 of their favorite Northwest authors in the Hugo House's cabaret as they each take their turn at the keyboard in this marathon writing session to complete a full-length novel. And for those who can't make it out to see their favorite writers working live on stage, you're in luck--The Novel: Live! website will include live streaming and chat capability. more ›

POETRY AND MUSIC: The Hugo House will be hosting the LiTFUSE launch party tonight with readings from local poets such as Elizabeth Austen, Susan Rich, Tara Hardy, Dan Peters and more. LiTFUSE is an annual weekend-long poets' workshop held near Yakima in the beginning of October in Teiton, WA. The night promises to have plenty of poetry, music and other miscellaneous merriment. And as an added bonus, all proceeds will go to benefit the Teiton Arts & Humanities. more ›

SINGING IN THE RAIN: Iconic American songwriter Jimmy Webb will be playing at the Triple Door tonight along with local indie rock/pop singer, Sage Redman (who's voice could easily be compared to Regina Spektor's). An odd pairing? Possibly. But we're sure these two will have some pretty good tricks up their sleeve. Webb has worked with many of the greats in American music history including Frank Sinatra, Elvis, The Supremes, Richard Harris and more. Some of his unforgettable compositions include MacArthur Park (YEP. The one and only.), Wichita Lineman, By the Time I Get to Phoenix, and Galveston. more ›

BIKE TO DINNER: Spoke & Food will be happening tonight at 14 various Seattle restaurants including Dad Watson's, Snoose Junction Pizzeria, and the Montlake Ale House. This evening of dining and bikes hopes to promote bicycling as a mode of transportation when traveling to places that are in or around your neighborhood. Each of the 14 included restaurants have also agreed to donate a percent of their revenue from the evening to the local non-profit program Lettuce Link at Solid Ground. Overall, a good chance to get out and meet fellow bikers in the 'hood, eat some great food, and help a good cause. Check the website for details on the restaurants, bike maps, and more. more ›

GIVE GRANDMA ZAPP SOME LOVE: The Hugo House will be hosting Grandma ZAPP's Rolling Thunderheart Mountain Variety Show (and Bake Sale) tonight as a fundraiser to support and sustain the House's Zine Archive and Publishing Project. The variety show and reading will feature plenty of local favorites such as comic illustrators Greg Stump and Megan Kelso, graphic novelist Jim Woodring, and more. Not to mention there will be plenty of baked good treats, artwork, books, and other great swag for sale that will go to benefit ZAPP and the featured artists. Cookies for a good cause, all in the name of local zines and literature. more ›

Oh Snap! Turns out that IS what she said... or at least what she'll be saying tonight at the Hugo House. Featuring a fantastic lineup of seven Northwest female writers and poets such as Elizabeth Austen, Midge Raymond, Janna Cawrse Esarey, and Susan Rich, She Said: Women's Lives Through Poetry and Prose hopes to provide a witty and insightful look into the less obvious aspects of womanhood--something all of us ladies can relate to more ›

The Richard Hugo House will be hosting their first ever writers' conference over the weekend of May 21-23 and boy, have they got some good stuff in store for participants. The conference will include panels and workshops, among other festivities, to the theme of Finding Your Readers in the 21st Century. more ›

Hugo House is once again hosting their popular Dead Poets Society readings in celebration of April as National Poetry Month, where local poets portray--in full costume--famous (or infamous) dead poets. This year's dead poets include Matt Gano as Richard Brautigan, Jourdan Keith as Audre Lorde, Peter Pereira as Frank O'Hara, and Nicole Hardy as Anne Sexton, with the lovely Kate Lebo hosting. more ›

Besides being April Fools' Day, today is also the beginning of National Poetry Month (NaPoMo)! And as we all know, Seattle takes poetry pretty damn seriously, so expect to hear about some great upcoming poetry events in the following weeks. more ›

RISING GLOBES: Spokane natives The Globes may be young but they’ve been playing together for nearly eight years, and their experience shows. Playing a sort of indie rock not easily identifiable (but we’ll try), The Globes are have their roots in the basic sounds of Northwest mainstays Death Cab for Cutie and Built to Spill but easily expand into territory occupied by more mercurial alternative groups like The Eels. It’s rock and roll, that’s for sure, but it’s textured and dynamic, with a magnified glum attitude accented by flares of distortion, moody and refreshingly mature even beyond the group’s years. With Little Pieces and Oh Captain My Captain. more ›

TIME TO HIT THE ROAD: Jane and Michael Stern are in town tonight to speak about their diner-filled travels and food adventures across the U.S. as a part of Seattle Arts and Lectures. The Stern's supposedly eat up to 12 meals a day while on the road (Whaaa?!), all for the sake of their much-adoring fans that we're sure would eat 12 servings of the Road Food books out of their hands on any occasion if asked. Don't go to this reading hungry--we have a feeling you'll really regret it. more ›

Hugo House will be hosting Visiting Hours this Friday at 7:30 p.m., featuring Northwest favorites such as Benjamin Parzybok, Elizabeth Austen, Matt Smith, and Molly Rose. Tickets range from $15-25. more ›

WHAT'S FOR DINNER: If you haven't heard already, Dine Around Seattle is once again happening--but only until November 30th. The deal is that you can go to any restaurant listed Sunday-Thursday for a three-course dinner for only $30. It makes our mouth water just thinking about it.... Earth & Ocean on a Tuesday night for a three-course meal at thirty bucks?! Ahhhhh, happiness. Besides Earth & Ocean, the list includes many greats--such as Spring Hill, Nell's, Campagne, and Chez Shea, along with a handful of Tom Douglas' restaurants. Too bad Lark isn't on the list, but we're sure we'll find a way to manage. Also keep in mind--many of the restaurants listed are additionally offering $15 lunch specials, so take advantage of it while you can! And as a courteous reminder--don't forget to tip! more ›

Hugo House will be officially kicking off its 2009-2010 Literary Series this Friday with well-known Seattle favorites such as Rebecca Brown, Keri Healey, Eric McHenry, and local hip-hop artist Macklemore. more ›

ONE WEEKEND ONLY biome @ Seattle Rep. Capacitor, a San Francisco-based performance group that mixes dance, multimedia, and science, is finally back in town with biome. Originally scheduled for January, the performance was canceled when flooding closed I-5. Now, Capacitor is finally back for two nights with a stunning visual exploration of the micro-habitat of the rain-forest canopy, based on a close collaboration with scientists in the International Canopy Network, including Evergreen College professor Dr. Nalini Nadkarni. (Fri. & Sat., 8 p.m. 155 Mercer St. Tix $15-$25.) more ›

STILL TRUCKIN': Sonic Youth's new album going to try the Block Party again, so this is about as good as it gets for people like us. Three Imaginary Girls co-hosts the event with Hannah Levin, Gainsbourg's co-owner. more ›

ONE WEEKEND ONLY: ) more ›

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In 1941, two of the time's most loved comedy stars, Cary Grant and Irene Dunne, were united in Penny Serenade, a three-hankie picture in which they played a couple who lose their little daughter. more ›

For those of you who didn't know, April is not only about Easter and April Fool's Day; it's also National Poetry Month! more ›

We have to start here by jumping in and saying that this is easily one of the most exciting weekends of theatre we've seen in town in months--two festivals running, genre-breaking opera, ballet crossing over into Broadway show tune territory, two shows that have had their runs extended (, you've lost your bloody mind. It doesn't get better than this! more ›

Writing a review of . more ›

INFINITE JEST: David Foster Wallace's suicide in September of last year was a major blow to the literary world. While opinions differ on his major work (this writer didn't particularly like ), Wallace was undoubtedly one of the most influential writers of the '90s and the '00s, equally capable of creating a complex multi-layered short story as he was of delivering a deeply insightful analysis of John McCain's 2000 presidential campaign. Tonight, a group of local literary somebodies are getting together to honor Wallace's life and to read from some of his work up at the Hugo House. Featuring the likes of Paul Constant, Cienna Madrid, and David Schmader. more ›

Buried under the avalanche of over-writing that is Island of Misfits (Thurs-Sun through December 21, tickets $10) is a very funny parody of the stop-motion holiday classic Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town. In this case, puppeteer Freddie Douglas Black (Geoffery Simmons, with a Poitier-esque suit and throaty rasp) has been called up for the Vietnam draft, so he heads for the snowy north (Canada) with his cynical, lovelorn photographer Snowflake Jones (Kaitie Warren) and stick-in-the-mud production supervisor Herbie Pickle (Patrick Allcorn)--they've got nothing better to do, since they've all been laid off. Stop-motion is cheaper to do in Japan. more ›

GENUINELY COOL, ARTSY FARTSY NIGHT: Go to the Filter release party at the Richard Hugo House tonight for readings, hobnob opps with writerly folks, and performances by Awesome!. The literary magazine celebrates the release of its second issue, and if you haven't seen this work of art yet, you may not know: this is a beautiful and well-crafted literary magazine, not only in content but in construction. more ›

The setting is the executive suites at a baby formula manufacturer, though that's just gilding the satirical lily--it could be any executive suite. Deranged by the entrance of the breast-feeding temp Gina (a home run performance by Maggie Brothers), Joe De Martini is the executive in question. He's played by Alex Samuels, who looks like Jeff Goldblum's cousin and creates awkward, humiliating situations as effortlessly as Ricky Gervais, with the added bonus of blurting out terrible, soul-bearing "jokes" at high volume. He deals with a breast-feeding employee as if she's a terrorist. more ›