Where do you like to write on and off the Hill?

I like being surrounded by people, objects. White noise and chaos. The smell of coffee and warmth. But I also need a view. A window. I have a few favorite spots in the city. Arabica. Cintli because it feels like I’m in the desert again. The historical Panama Tea House and Hotel in the International District. My room and desk that faces out onto Washington Hall and The Juvenile Detention Center. I love knowing that W.E.B DuBois and Billie Holiday performed there. The Detention Center reminds me of why I teach and write: ongoing injustice.

Place is extremely important to me, because I believe we reactivate spaces’ and their memories. Even objects accumulate resonance. Traffic. Wear and tear. Our affections. Like a coffee cup. Or a table. Or the graffiti marks on cafe window. A storefront’s broken door lock.We have relationships to places because they have memories. And those memories are larger parts of our imaginations. Something incredibly important to a writer. Any artist really. Maybe not everyone thinks about this consciously when they pick a space to work in or write from, but I do. My close friend Henry Quintero once told me I should learn to write uncomfortably. In the most literal sense. Write standing up. On a toilet. Anywhere. He’s probably right. Then you’d feel like you can produce writing under any condition. But, I’m not there yet.

Natalie A. Martínez will be reading with Molly Mac, Jed Murr, Kort Havens, and Brandon Herrell in “reiterations: an intertextual event” at Arabica Lounge at 7pm, March 1st.

Previously on Hillebrity

• Wishbeard — Band
• Jessica Atkinson – Freelance Producer
• Kate Lebo – Writer & Baker
• More…

What’s your ideal Valentine’s date & what song would soundtrack it?

Brighton: I spent Valentine’s Day two years ago, dancing to Whitney Houston, handing out Micheal Jordan Valentines and puking up tequila, in that order. I don’t ever think I’ll beat that one. That was the best. The hangover was the worst though…

Jude: We would take work off on Friday, drive to the ocean, ride surfboards all day and fall asleep listening to “Ladies and Gentlemen we are Floating in Space” by Spiritualized.

Bryn: I feel like I’m in an issue of Teenbeat.. Is that still a magazine? I’m not gonna lie, I am a total hopeless romantic so this is probably going to be very cheesy…or very helpful. Ideal date: 1. Cocktails at a cute bar–sets the mood for the evening. We get to relax & spend more time talking than we will the rest of the night because we’ll either be eating or doing it (not a lot of room for talking) 2. Dinner time–somewhere we never usually go, but we love and is always really special when we do. 3. Dessert– my favorite part! Go somewhere fancier because in all reality it won’t be that expensive for a couple of coffees and two superb desserts. Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” would be the soundtrack song.

Erin: Honestly, just something as simple as a dance party with my boo in our PJ’s to Duke Dumont’s “I Got U”

Wishbeard plays Vignette’s Love Party at Love City Love on Valentine’s Day. Doors at 7pm.

Previously on Hillebrity

• Jessica Atkinson – Freelance Producer
• Kate Lebo – Writer & Baker
• Amanda Manitach – Curator, Writer, Artist
• More…

What has been one of your favorite projects you have worked on?

With my role as bringing creative ideas to life, everyday is different depending on the project I am working on and who I am working with. Most of my experience is in events, and I have done some video production. I would have to say my favorite event was working with collaborative artist KeseyPollock this last June for their show at the Belltown Collective. Recently I got an amazing opportunity to work with Wexley School for Girls on a video. I believe all that I can tell you is that it involves a couple of Sasquatches. It was a treat to be able be part of their creative process. What I am up to now: Networking and finding the next opportunity, while enjoying working on photo projects, making dinner with friends, and writing a book.

Contact Jessica with projects involving producing events that focuses on integrating communities and art, experimental environment installations, or just needing to collaborate to figure out how to make your idea happen.

Previously on Hillebrity

• Kate Lebo – Writer & Baker
• Amanda Manitach – Curator, Writer, Artist
• Bobbi Rich – DJ & Variety Show Host
• More…

When writing about pie you mix in history, literature, and poetry. What will we find besides recipes in your new cookbook?

Ultimately, like everything, this is a book that’s haunted by loss. Pie School: Lessons in Fruit, Flour & Butter celebrates pie as a symbol of Americana, but it’s suspicious of that symbolism. This cookbook is more interested in how pie frames something sweet that doesn’t last long–fruit. To paraphrase the poet Li-Young Lee, fruit doesn’t just take time to grow, it IS time. It is the days, the sun, the water, the dust. You eat an apple, you eat a year. That’s where loss comes in. Seasons turn, fruit ripens, fruit rots. To me, fruit pie is fascinating because it contains time with pastry.

In fact, in the Middle Ages pies were called “coffins”! In reference to their container-shape, not to their funereal talents.

In my pie-making classes and in this cookbook I try to make pie an approachable art, something that can be mastered once you understand how simple the form is. Pie is just a container with contents, just pastry and fruit. You get that, you get everything. Baking isn’t always a science. Like Strunk & White sort of say in The Elements of Style, once you understand the rules, you can (you must!) break them.

Kate will be reading from her book A Commonplace Book of Pie at the University book store January 23rd at 7pm. You can also attend Kate’s pie school at High 5 Pie January 27th from 5-8pm.

Previously on Hillebrity

• Amanda Manitach – Curator, Writer, Artist
• Bobbi Rich – DJ & Variety Show Host
• TacocaT – Band
• More…

Tell me about one thing you’re curating, one thing you’re writing, and about any art you’re currently working on.

Right now I’m working with Joey Veltkamp, Jen Graves, Susanna Bluhm and Susie Lee to host Seattle’s Women Conference at Hedreen Gallery on January 23rd. We’re going to discuss issues of gender in the arts, especially in the aftermath of the Elles exhibit at Seattle Art Museum.

I write a weekly column for City Arts that covers the openings and events I attend, so this week I’m covering the Blitz: New Mystics had an installation at SCCC that I really liked. Cairo’s Expo 91 has some really great pieces up right now: Carlos M. Ruiz’s Hitmonchan and JD Banke’s Fruit Bowl and Hannah Patterson’s WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHERE.

My first solo show in Seattle opens this week at Bryan Ohno Gallery. I never thought of myself as a painter, but I’ve been making a lot of pretty large (for me) watercolors for it. A lot of them of characters from Georges Bataille’s Story of the Eye.

Amanda’s solo show opens this Thursday, January 16th at Bryan Ohno Gallery from 6-8pm.

Previously on Hillebrity

• Bobbi Rich – DJ & Variety Show Host
• TacocaT – Band
• Jessica, Sean, & Alisa – Retailers
• More…

What are some local bands you’d love to feature on Hangin Tuff? What are some well known bands you’d dream to make an appearance?

Oh man…. there are so many: Chastity Belt, Vince Mira, Lozen, TacocaT, Prom Queen, Your Young Body, Pony Time, Country Lips, Fox Hunt, Wounded Giant, Kairos, Katie Kate, The Wimps, and Thaddeus Turner to name more than a few.

The show is committed to featuring up and coming indie artists, so you’ll never see like a Katy Perry or something on it. BUT we do wish to have older artist who serve as inspirations, ones you may not see in the lime light as much any more. I’d love to have Grace Jones and Kate Bush on the show. I’d probably need a guest host though as I may not be able to even talk if Grace Jones was on, I would just stare at her with my jaw dropped. And Kate Bush… I would immediately challenge to a interpretive dance / lyrical jazz dance off that I know I would lose but would die trying to win.

We’d like to keep our home base in Seattle and feature local artist as well as ones that are visiting the city on tour. Shannon And The Clams for example, they’re out of SF, and are one of my favorites right now. We also have big dreams of taking our Hot Tub Boat & show on the road to other cities, and really bring you the best new up and comers from those places as well.

Watch the first episode of Hangin Tuff and donate to its indiegogo here. The first season will premier in its entirety at Central Cinema Thursday Feb 6th.

Previously on Hillebrity

• TacocaT – Band
• Jessica, Sean, & Alisa – Retailers
• Dan Paulus – Designer
• More…

What were TacocaT’s biggest moments of 2013 and resolutions for 2014?

Our best moment of 2013 was: recording a full-length album called NVM. We also played the Comet a few days before it closed and met a bodybuilder there, we learned that leggings sometimes ARE pants, and discovered that the true meaning of Christmas is Mariah Carey. Our collective New Year’s Resolution is to tour this spring in a replica of the Spice Girls tour van from the movie Spice World.

The members of TacocaT DJ the Linda’s New Years Eve party and play at The Vera Project January 10th.

Previously on Hillebrity

• Jessica, Sean, & Alisa – Retailers
• Dan Paulus – Designer
• Amelia Bonow – Instigator
• More…

What are a few last minute Christmas gifts shoppers can find at Glasswing?

1. Glasswing Candles, in our favorite fall scents: Vanilla Cedarwood, Mandarin Orange Ginger and Honey Milk Pumpkin Spice. $16 and will warm up any home!

2. Apolis Market Tote, $68. Glasswing is home to Seattle’s first market tote. Beautiful veggie tanned leather handles and fully lined! Would be great gift filled with someone’s favorite veggies or stocking stuffers!

3. Scout Seattle Handkerchiefs, $48. Made in the USA and in three beautiful designs: Nautilus, Pine Cone and Cannabis.

4. Found Terrariums, Starting at $28. Each container is crafted with love and no two are alike! Great for those maybe lacking a green thumb!

Glasswing is located at 1525 Melrose Ave. CHS wrote about the apparel and furniture retailer here — Glasswing, Pacific Northwest indie apparel and furniture, readies for Black Friday opening in Melrose Market.

For more last-minute, local shopping ideas, check out our Shop the Hill page.

Previously on Hillebrity

• Dan Paulus – Designer
• Amelia Bonow – Instigator
• Constant Lovers – Band
• More…

What are your current favorite Seattle artists? 

Darryl Ary and Glenn Billard.

Darryl Ary has been on his grind for the past twenty years, hawking his wares on the mean streets of Seattle, rain or shine. Scavenging scrap lumber for canvases, he paints and scratches brutalist images that have just enough pop culture jazz to simultaneously charm and repulse. Plus his stuff is cheeeeap!

From wardrobe to engaging strangers on the street, Glenn Billard is a prime example of life-as-art. He does a lot of fabric work (quilts, tapestries, pillows) but also crazy installation and experiential pieces (his Snail Volcano blew, and continues to blow, my mind).

Also: Shannon Perry, Brittany Kusa, Brad Dunn, Le Sang Song, Jordan O’ Jordan, Mal de Fleur, etc.

Dan Paulus is the art director at City Arts magazine. His devastatingly brutal Misfits cover band Underworld Scum plays Chop Suey Weds, December 18.

Previously on Hillebrity

• Amelia Bonow – Instigator
• Constant Lovers – Band
• Christopher Frizzelle — Editor in Chief
• More…

Do you guys actually live up to your band name?

Well in the past 5 years we have never been in an argument. We all have matching turquoise heart tattoos which is our bands emblem. It’s from an earring that Gavin’s wife owns… we were headed down to a show in LA and we needed merch so Gavin saw it hanging in their bathroom and silk screened it onto a bunch of shirts. Now, we all have them in different places but most importantly Ben has it tattooed on his butt and that really must mean love, right? It must be said that we also got our album name from the Quentin Tarantino movie “True Romance.”

Constant Lovers plays Neumos Saturday, November 30th with Sandrider and Dust Moth.

Revelry from Constant Lovers on Myspace.

Previously on Hillebrity

• Christopher Frizzelle
• Brittany Kusa – Artist
• Marz — Curator
• More…