Faithful CHS readers and followers of the Capitol Hill tech scene may have heard of Jana and Keith Harper as founders of The Mill, the design & developer focused co-working space on Broadway, or because of their online design and art portfolio startup, Well Crafted.  You may not have heard of their newest creation, TruBalance, a mobile application that helps users figure out how much money they can spend today.

All of the Harpers’ startups have all come from running into a “pain point”, as Keith calls it, and then building or founding a solution to the problem. Well Crafted grew from Keith’s need for an easy-to-update digital portfolio. The idea for The Mill came from the duo’s need to have an affordable space to work on their contracts and startup projects outside the home.  TruBalance germinated from the couple’s irritation of having to deal with Microsoft Money to keep track of their finances.

”I loved the cash flow feature of Microsoft Money,” says Jana, “My favorite part was seeing when the lowest part of my cash flow would be, so then I knew exactly how much money I could spend every day. It was a really great way to budget my money out. But Microsoft Money kinda sucks, they stopped supporting it in 2010…Then we thought, why don’t we build our own?”

TruBalance works by taking your income and expense information (which you enter into the program manually) and projecting out the money that you can spend on any given day without going below the lowest comfortable balance that the you set.  The Harpers say that TruBalance is different from other online financial applications (like Mint) because of its focus on how much of your money you can spend in days to come. “Mint does an awesome job aggregating all your information, and telling you what your historical patterns are,” Keith said. “But [Mint and programs like it are] focused on the past. That’s where our difference is, [TruBalance is] laser-focused on this one number [your lowest comfortable balance] that’s in the future.”

The Harpers created the prototype for TruBalance at Startup Weekend Women’s Edition in July. “When we saw the opportunity to have fifty-four hours laser-focused on this thing we wanted to do for a long time, along with having mentors and all those things, we decided let’s use this to do TruBalance,” Jana said. The couple’s experience creating Well Crafted also helped them develop TruBalance. “[When we started working on Well Crafted], we had this grand vision of wanting to have to a million things, and we realized it was better to keep things as simple and focused as possible,” Jana said. ”We applied the ideas of keeping it simple and focused that we learned with Well Crafted to TruBalance.”

Keith and Jana are currently building the beta of TruBalance as a mobile website in order to “really hone in on what the functions and the features should be, then we can focus on the apps,” said Jana. “We can iterate more quickly on the web.”

The Harpers also said that they wanted to start with a mobile website because that would allow every smart phone user to have access to the service, regardless of platform. Once the couple work with their beta users to find out what core features they want and use most, Jana and Keith plan on creating TruBalance apps for the iPhone and the Android.

If you want to see and hear more about The Harpers’ newest startup, Keith and Jana will be presenting TruBalance at the Tech Cocktail’s Seattle Mixer & Startup Showcase this Wednesday night at SURF Incubator. You’ll have to go off the Hill (gasp!), but it looks like it’ll be worth the walk if you’re into tech startups.

The candidates forum season around Capitol Hill kicked back into gear this week with a session Monday night  at the Horizon House senior living facility on First Hill. It was easily the most diverse mix of two-party voters you might find around these parts. And, with a socialist on the bill, the diversity took on a third dimension.

Presenting at the event were Jim McDermott and rival Ron Bemis, Frank Chopp and rival Kshama Sawant, Jamie Pedersen, and attorney general candidate Bob Ferguson. Each had a printed name card marking their spot at the table — except for Sawant who had a folded piece of paper with her name written in like the 10% vote she yielded against Chopp in the primary.

Horizon House will be holding another forum in their performance hall on October 1st focusing on referendum 74, initiative 502, and senate joint resolution 8223 (allowing certain investments with UW). They will also hold an event on October 8th focusing on initiative 1185, initiative 1240, and a senate joint resolution to “phase down the debt limit” said the forum moderator.

The Q&A segment of the forum began hard and fast with a woman asking Bemis, “How would you plan to raise the money to begin paying off that (government) debt?”

“I will be your independent representative, I will shout at both sides left and right when they recklessly spend money,” Bemis said. The woman chuckled and said, “that didn’t answer my question,” to which Bemis referred her to his website for specifics

Another woman asked about Iran and what McDermott and Bemis’s positions were on the civil disorder happening in the region. “I have been opposed to going to war over Iran… We have to act in our own interest,” McDermott said. “Nuclear proliferation in the hands of particular terrorists is the greatest threat from outside,” Bemis countered before launching in on “Obamacare” and the partisan nature of politics.

Ferguson was invited by the forum moderator to talk about the attorney general position he is currently seeking, while he would not have a direct say in implementing initiatives he explains that he will act as the people’s attorney and represent the best interest of Washington voters.  In response to a long question posed about the bank industry bail out, Ferguson replied, “I will go after powerful interests that do not play by the rules…there is a reason why my opponent (Reagen Dunn) is receiving maximum donations from Wall Street banks… they know he won’t stand up to them and I will.”

Pedersen, running unopposed, took his introduction time to voice his support for Chopp, “He has been the champion in the legislature of making sure the dollars that we have left are used to protect vulnerable people…he went to the mat to protect the disability life line and basic health plan,” Pedersen said.

Pedersen’s former opponent and new Chop challenger Sawant spoke very loudly. It was either a deft stroke given the demographics of the crowd or a tone more appropriate for Occupiers (who coincidentally were starting a week of activity marking their one year anniversary down the street). Regardless, her opening statement drew “woahs” from the crowd when she was done.

The evening ended with the candidates giving closing statements. Pedersen took the opportunity to ask the assembled voters to approve R-74 on gay marriage. He told the audience that he wants Washington “to become the first state, first place in the history of our world where the voters say we want to treat all families equally.”

Horizon House is located at 900 University.

Stop by Waid’s on October 2 to celebrate Livestrong Day at LIVESTRONGbeats, featuring “hardtribaldisco” beats by Diem and breakbeats from Haaps.

The evening will commence with happy hour featuring drink discounts ($3 wells and $2 beers) and half-price dinner delights. Later, dance to Diem and Haaps from 8 PM until midnight.

Also planned: A silent auction benefiting Livestrong and the Lance Armstrong Foundation, and representatives from cancer resources in the Seattle area.

Livestrong Day is planned as the “largest display of support for cancer survivors in history.” Livestrong has a goal to share more than 100,000 messages of support on Facebook and Twitter for cancer survivors, and every message shared means $1 towards support for survivors, because generous donors have pledged to give the Lance Armstrong Foundation $1 per message towards programs and services that directly support people fighting cancer. Supporters can post their personalized message now, and it will be posted to their social account on October 2 as part of a global chorus of support for cancer survivors.

Livestrong is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to helping people face cancer head-on via one-on-one support, cancer information and access to other resources. Their programs also raise funds for cancer research.

Where: Waid’s, 1212 E Jefferson, Seattle, WA 98122

When: October 2, 2012, from 5 PM to midnight

Cost: $5 suggestion donation at the door

It’s back to school for Preparedness 101! Come get help creating your emergency preparedness go-kit with Capitol Hill Prepares (CHiP) on September 18th from 7 to 8 pm at Miller Community Center.

We know it feels overwhelming, but we can help you get started no matter what level of preparedness you are at. We will help in creating a personal supply list, and go over how to store your items. We’ll also have our own kits on hand as examples.

This is a great time to form a plan and begin it. You will feel so good about yourself and your preparations! Plan to share! We will also spend some time explaining the Radio Communication Hubs on Capitol Hill.

Preparedness 101 will be from 7 to 8, with time for questions and discussion until 8:30. All ages are welcome! This is a great, fun way to talk about your preparedness plan with your kids.

See you there!

Miller Community Center

330 19th Avenue East, Seattle, Washington 98112

[email protected]

Is it just me or has Broadway become even more of a haven for the homeless of Seattle lately?  

— There is a guy who appears to be living in front of Broadway QFC now, and when not there he is sleeping on the grass on the south side of All Pilgrims on Broadway and Republican.  He has quite a large pile of belongings he takes with him, and he is usually surrounded with garbage, as well (there are trash cans very nearby him that he could use).  I am not impressed that he says ‘Yeah, I need the money to get high.’ — honest, to be sure, but not what I would support with my money.  Also, he’s kind of squeezed out the always-friendly-and-polite seller of Real Change who is usually right outside of QFC.

— I am asked for money a minimum of 6 times each way when walking from my home at the north end of Broadway down to the post office.  When I am alone the ‘askers’ are a little more agressive than when I am walking with my husband.  

— I have been a little afraid a few times in the evening walking down near Seattle Central and in the area near Dick’s.  One time a guy followed my husband and I for a couple of blocks late in the evening asking for our phone or the time (we think so he could snatch either or both).  We are pretty sure he intended to assault and/or rob us and would have if not for another pedestrian (male, large) happening by when he did.

I feel for the homeless and understand that ‘by the grace of God’, I am not homeless.  I give money and food to shelters, as well, so please don’t paint me as harsh, uncaring bigot, or just un-PC.  I just think we need to clean things up a bit. 

I am going to call the police and ask them to start enforcing the loitering plan they, defense attorneys and business owners agreed to that went into effect January 1, 2011.  I encourage you to do the same.

I am also going to call QFC management and ask that you do so, too.  If they know it is bothering their patrons, perhaps they will also make moves to clean up the area.  

The homeless are welcome on Capitol Hill, most definitely.  But it just as incumbent upon them as it is upon us, the more fortunate non-homeless, to be respectful of persons, property and environment.

Have a good day.  

Like some odd species of cicada, Seattle Fringe is back on Capitol Hill after a nine-year hibernation.

Starting Wednesday September 19th, and running through the following Sunday, the festival of strange and possibly sublime theater will take place in several venues, all in easy walking distance from each other on Capitol Hill: Annex Theater, Odd Duck, Century Ballroom, and NW Film Forum.

The Ukrainian Dentist’s Daughter

Tickets for individual shows are $10, available here. Festival passes are $125, and while that takes care of the festival in one fell swoop, being a passholder doesn’t guarantee entrance to a sold-out show. 20% of the seats are saved for passholders, but these are given away for people at the door fifteen minutes before the show starts. Be punctual.

Some shows are already sold out but it’s far from too late to take a look at the event schedule and plan out the long weekend of fringe theater. Whether you’d like to see shows featuring amputee fetishists, thoughts about the cosmos, a musical about knitting, or one of eighteen other shows going on during Fringe, you have many options. Shows are rated MPAA-style so parents can know what they’re getting into if kids are involved.

The return of Seattle Fringe bodes well for the theater scene in Seattle and on Capitol Hill, and will offer five days of imagination, bravery, and possibly brilliance to audiences who seek out inspiration and entertainment.

The Master Use Permit Board is up, and a new, rather unusual, small residential project is in the works down in the Summit Avenue flats. It is time to say goodbye to the old Dutch colonial frame house at 1728 – the last house on the block (although it’s been a duplex since about 1940). We don’t know exactly when the house was built. It shows up with a number of other houses on block 704 on the Sanborn map updated to 1902. From the Seattle Times we glean than the water mains were installed in this area in about 1901. And the plat was filed on December 3, 1894, called the Union Addition Supplemental Plat, or the “Union Addition” as it came to be known in the newspapers. Best guess: 1901.

In the tradition of historic preservationists, let’s call it Wagner House after the tenants who lived there longest. Theodore Henry (1860-1933) and Mary Ann (1856-1939) Wagner moved in by 1903 and stayed until 1933. They raised their daughter, Florence. there and for thirty years created music for all kinds of occasions, public, private, and maybe just for fun.

T. H. Wagner, sometimes called “Dad” Wagner, arrived in Seattle in the 1880s accompanying a traveling theatrical troupe (with cornet). He stayed and lead the 1st or 2nd Regiment National Guard Band (sources digress on the name), up until statehood and the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, then went on to form his own band and orchestra. Known for his free concerts in Pioneer Square after the Great Fire, he also played free concerts in Seattle’s parks, as many as 62 in 1912! The newspapers are full of announcements of the band’s schedule, almost on a daily basis up until the late 1920s.

Wagner was also one of the founders (with Charles E. Bray and Frank Hopkins) of the Musicians Union (Musicians Mutual Protective Union). As early as 1889, they made the first steps. Wagner served as president from 1923-1928 of the resulting American Federation of Musicians Local 76.

One does wonder whether music practice drove the nurses out. Swedish Hospital, in its very first incarnation, was housed in a small apartment house at 1733 Belmont, directly behind the Wagner house. (There’s not even an alley.) Lizzie Quarnstrom managed the hospital in 1911. Swedish was only there for a short time, until 1912, when they moved up Summit to First Hill.

The Wagners are buried in Evergreen-Washelli (Section N) if you’ve a mind to pay your respects.

After 1933, the house was sold and seems to have served as a rental. The first instance in the Polk’s Seattle Street Directories of a duplex appears to be in 1940. Certainly many folks have lived in the house since, and someone had the good sense to keep the lovely front windows even as the house has worn out. 

What’s next:
It’s called MUP Project Number 3013254 (no name as yet), and will be a 6-story building with 46 units. All studios, average size quite small (less than 300 square feet). Each unit will feature a kitchenette and a stacked washer/dryer. No parking. The idea, I gather, is for small, less expensive places for single folks who’d like a nice new clean place to live. The owner is Brett Allen of Triad Capital Partners, and the design is quite new. They’ve already had design review meetings, and are moving forward. You can see what comes next here.

This week the crow learns that Capitol Hill keeps you young. Learn anything?

Based on the fact that you just fed the parking meter, I guess you’re hanging out on the Hill tonight?
I am. I’m going to meet up with some friends, not exactly sure where we’re going or what we’re going to be doing—something fun, for sure.

Do you live on the Hill?
No, I live in West Seattle. But I like to come to this part of town to go out.

West Seattle seems to be having a boom of restaurants, bars, etc. Why schlep all the way over to this part of town?
I love West Seattle—it’s beautiful, very nice, many nice places to go. But it’s more quiet, more residential. Going out on Capitol Hill keeps me young!

It seems to be working—I would’ve guessed you much younger than 51. How long have you lived in Seattle?
Oh, 22 years? Maybe 24?

And before that?
I came from Mexico, from Guadalajara.

Okay, people must ask you this ALL the time, but do you have any recommendations for where to find good Mexican food around here?
On the Hill, I would say that blue triangle building…what do you call it? The Saint.

They have great margaritas, I think. Usually I’m wary of margaritas, because some places use that gross bottled mix…blech.
No, that’s no good. But yes, The Saint, they have good drinks, and the food, also very good.

What line of work are you in?
I work for the City of Seattle, in bridge maintenance.

So, you’re the one to blame for all the traffic? (Just kidding!) But, seriously, you must stay very busy.
Yes, very busy, there is always something to do. A lot of bridges in Seattle…

You’re from a warm, sunny climate that draws a lot of tourists, especially during the cold months. Do the winters here bother you?
No. I love the climate here. Love it. I was just back in Guadalajara a few weeks ago, and it was about 95 degrees, too hot. I prefer the cold weather to the very hot.

I mostly grew up in Florida, and have never gotten used to cold climates. Am I the only one who hates the winters here?
I don’t know, on a day like today, it’s hard to imagine the winter!

Yes! That’s it—I think we’ve all developed weather amnesia…
In Mexico, it’s like that, only the opposite—the summers are very hot and miserable. I wouldn’t change the weather here if I could.

What brings you out [to Linda’s Tavern] tonight?
I’m here for the Tri-Wizard Drinking Tournament, which is part of PAX. We’re going to a bunch of different bars around here.

Tri-Wizard—is that a Harry Potter reference?
Yes, everyone picks a Hogwarts “House”—Syltherin, Griffyndor, etc. It’s a pub crawl for charity.

Sounds like folks will need some magic Every-Flavor Hangover Cures in the morning…
Yeah, that would help!

Are you from this area?
No, I’m from Juneau, Alaska. I’m just in town for PAX.

Did you come PAX for work, or are you just really into gaming?
I’m just here for fun. I play a lot of online computer games, especially RPGs, but also board games, etc.—really games of all kinds.

I love your costume. Tell me about it.
I sewed it myself. It’s a replica of a pattern from 1868, kind of a Steampunk outfit.

What line of work are you in?
I’m an engineer on a boat, up in Alaska.

You meet a LOT of gamers in Seattle—it seems like there’s an especially high concentration on Capitol Hill, where we are now. Are there any games you’re playing at the moment that you think our readers might enjoy?
Right now, I’m playing Guild Wars 2, which just came out, and it is awesome. One of my favorite MMO RPG [Massively Multi-Player Online Role-Playing Games] ever, and I’ve been playing them for about ten years. I’m also into board games, especially Ticket to Ride—I found it a few months ago. It’s a “train game,” and a lot of fun.

Stereotypically, the Serious Gamer is male, not very social, and lives mom’s basement… You seem like the opposite of that. Is it ever hard to be a woman in the gaming world?
I’ve always felt like I wasn’t part of the normal “girl” crowd, but I think those definitions are changing. I always liked gaming, and Sci-Fi, and that sort of thing, which used to be thought of as a male-only thing. A lot of my friends were shy guys who didn’t fit in with the popular crowd. I think it’s getting less and less of an exclusive boys club, although you still hear about women and girls who have bad experiences online, etc. in gaming. But I hope women wouldn’t let a few jerks out there keep them from gaming.

Do you live on the Hill?
Yeah, right near Cal Anderson Park.

Are you a Seattle native?
No, I’m originally from Los Angeles. I moved here about twelve years ago.

What brought you to Seattle?
I left a career in Hollywood because I wanted to help people, so I decided to train to be a nurse. So I did that for a little while here in Seattle, but then I got into the Visual Anthropology master’s program at the University of London, so I moved to London for a year.

Before I ask what the hell Visual Anthropology is, I have to know — what did you do in Hollywood, and did you have to take your clothes off to do it?
I worked behind the cameras, as a focus puller, riding the dolly around and–

“Riding the dolly around”? I’m sorry, my mind is going to off-color places. What kind of movies were these?
For one, I worked on a lot of Miramax horror sequels…

Is a “focus puller” anything like a “fluffer” in adult films?
Yeah, it’s like being a fluffer for the camera.

Okay, now you can tell me what Visual Anthropology is.
Nobody knows. No, actually, Anthropology is a subset of Cultural Anthropolgy, focusing on…well, the visual representations of cultures and the people who identify as part of a given culture. To give a random example, I have an exhibit at SAM called “Faces,” which are portraits of…well, faces, of people in various countries. Among other projects, I’ve also done a series on people and their hobbies, mostly taken at conventions—there was a thing about it on Wired recently.

Are you a full-time photographer?
No, I also do stories for Public Radio—This American Life, Public Radio International, Marketplace, etc.

Have you done any stories that took place on the Hill?
Mostly I do international coverage—war zones, that sort of thing—so not a lot, but there have been a few. For instance, I did a story about ghost hunters, and one of the places they went to was Hugo House.

Did they find ghosts reading maudlin poetry at Hugo House?
No maudlin poetry, but they did hear a baby crying.

Do you think it was actually a ghost baby, or something else?
Let’s just say that, as a journalist, I try to distance my opinions from the stories… I also did some other projects with the ghost hunters. There was some interest in a TV show about it, but that didn’t pan out.

What do you think draws people to ghost hunting?
It depends. Some are just thrill-seekers, but I think some people want to find out what’s haunting them; they’re trying to answer questions about themselves. Ghosts, or at least the idea of them, can be like therapists. Only they charge less by the hour.

What do you think is the sexiest spot on Capitol Hill?
The highest natural point on the Hill, which is Doc Maynard’s grave, in the cemetery behind Volunteer Park. Bruce Lee’s grave is also there.

Other than cemeteries, do you have any favorite “haunts” on the Hill?
I like the upstairs at Café Vita. There are a lot of white guys in headphones brooding over their MacBooks, so I blend in.

More CHS Crow:

• Ben, Azul & Mike (& Alfred) — ‘People in Seattle are from all over the place’
• Charles, Noa & Qwo-Li — ‘You have to have another job to pay the bills’
• Puck, Kayla & Vanessa — ‘Styling is also about angles and forms and draping’
• More…

Marguerite Kennedy is a freelance writer, semi-professional thumb wrestler, and recovering New Yorker who currently resides on Capitol Hill. She blogs at www.marguerite-aville.com, and does that other thing @tweetmarguerite.

Seattle Symphony Music Director Ludovic Morlot (Image: Michael DiVito)

Fall has arrived. Summer vacations are coming to an end, and it’s time to head back to school and work. For classical musicians, it’s back to the concert hall for the start of a new season. Now that autumn’s here, Seattle’s classical music ensembles have been announcing their performance schedules for the upcoming year. It looks like we have a fantastic season of concerts in store!

Here are few highlights from the major local ensembles, a list of notable events, and tips on groups to watch in the coming year.

Seattle Symphony

• The usual roster of visiting luminaries returns to Benaroya Hall this year, including Joshua Bell, Itzhak Perlman, Andras Schiff, Hilary Hahn, Emanuel Ax, Garrick Ohlsson, Gil Shaham, Yefim Bronfman, and Anne-Sophie Mutter.

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• (Untitled), the Symphony’s exciting new concert series, provides a much-needed space for 20th century and contemporary classical music at Benaroya Hall.
• Sonic Evolution returns for a second year. This popular fall concert features new symphonic works inspired by icons of the Seattle pop and rock scenes. This year’s Sonic Evolution includes local alt-country favoritesStar Anna and the Laughing Dogs.
• Hear all four of Rachmaninoff’s piano concertos at Rach Fest, in early January. Four up-and-coming young pianists will perform the concertos in two concerts with the Symphony.
• The Symphony presents their premiere performance of Messiaen’s Turangalîla Symphony in January. This important 20th century work features the ondes Martenot, an electronic musical instrument similar to the theremin.

  Pianist Hélène Grimaud (Image: Mat Hennek / DG)

Seattle Opera

• Seattle Opera‘s season began last month with a gorgeous production of Turandot and continues with Beethoven’s Fidelio in October. Other upcoming productions include Rossini’s Cinderella, Puccini’s La Boheme, and a double-bill featuring Poulenc’s La Voix Humaine and Puccini’s Suor Angelica.

Pacific Northwest Ballet

• PNB has a fantastic collection of audience favorites in store this season. Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lakeis likely to draw crowds, as well as productions of two Prokofiev ballets: Romeo & Juliet andCinderella.

  UW World Series

• The President’s Piano Series brings another crop of all-star pianists to UW’s Meany Theater, including Hélène Grimaud, Christopher O’Riley (host of NPR’s From the Top radio program), and Jon Kimura Parker, who will perform his own transcription of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring.
• Prepare for an impressive line-up of chamber music concerts this season with the International Chamber Music Series. Seattle audiences will be treated to performances by the Emerson String Quartet, Juilliard String Quartet, Tafelmusik, Tokyo String Quartet, and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.
• This season’s World Dance Series includes two exciting collaborations between international dance companies and local classical music ensembles. In November, the Paul Taylor Dance Company will team up with Seattle Modern Orchestra for a piece featuring music by Arvo Pärt. Then, in January, Compagnie Marie Chouinard will be joined by the UW Symphony Orchestra for a performance of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring.

Early Music Guild & Seattle Baroque Orchestra

• The Early Music Guild’s International Series presents a prestigious list of visiting ensembles this season, including Musica Ficta, Hesperion XXI, the Baltimore Consort, the King’s Singers, and Tafelmusik. Also on the calendar is a special performance of the epic poem Beowulf by harpist and bard Benjamin Bagby.
• Bach fans will be pleased to hear that the Seattle Baroque Orchestra is planning two concerts of Johann Sebastian’s music this season. In addition, soprano Ellen Hargis returns to Seattle for a program of arias from Italian Baroque operas.

  Portland Cello Project (Image: Jason Quigley)

TownMusic

• TownMusic artistic director Joshua Roman kicked off Town Hall’s classical music series this week with a concert of piano trios. The series continues with performances from the musical comedy duo Ingudesman & Joo (of “Rachmaninoff Had Big Hands“ fame), the Talea Ensemble, JACK Quartet, and violinist Jennifer Koh.

Ensembles to Watch

• The Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra may be a new orchestra on the block, but they have an exciting fourth season in store. Their season opener features Vaughan Williams’ belovedFantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis.
• Lutenist Stephen Stubbs’ early music ensemble Pacific Musicworks is back with another season of ambitious programming, including Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610, a collaboration with the Seattle Dance Project, and a performance of Handel’s newly-discovered cantata Gloria.
• Tacoma’s Broadway Center for the Performing Arts get my vote for “venue to watch” this year. This season they’ll present the Fireworks Ensemble, experimental cellist Zoe Keating, the Portland Cello Project, and violinist Mark O’Connor.

Exciting Events

• Philip Glass shuns Seattle in favor of the Eastside for the second year in a row. The renowned composer returns to Kirkland Performance Center in late October for a performance with Foday Musa Suso, a master of the African Kora.
• Celebrate the John Cage centennial with the Seattle Modern Orchestra. Their John Cage Festival in early November features a documentary about the composer’s life as well as performances of some of his most famous works.
• Known for their orchestral arrangements of Radiohead, Queen, and the Arcade Fire, the ever-popular Seattle Rock Orchestra rings in the new year with a concert of new works for orchestra.
• Chicago-based contemporary music ensemble eighth blackbird pays a visit to Kirkland Performance Center in January. This GRAMMY-winning ensemble is a must-see for new music fans.
• Choreographer Donald Byrd and the edgy, experimental dancers of Spectrum Dance Theaterpresent their take on Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana in April.

The SunBreak is an online magazine of news & culture. A conversation about the things on Seattle’s mind.

First Baptist Church, (1910),
uploaded by eg2006.

On September 22, 1912, Seattle First Baptist Church held service in the brand new sanctuary at the corner of Harvard and Seneca on First Hill. This “Earthly Temple for Spiritual Service” celebrates 100 years of service on Sunday, September 23rd. While the building is now a century old, Seattle First Baptist church has been with us since 1869 –- a pioneer by Seattle standards. Sunday services begin at 11 A.M. if you’d care to join the congregation in celebrating.

Seattle has plenty of early 20th century church and temple buildings. Many have gothic arches, towers, organs, and stained glass windows, as does First Baptist. This church, however, has a steeple rising high above the building on a height of First Hill ridge, “In order that from every high point in Seattle, people might see its finger pointed heavenward, directing their thoughts to God” described by Rev. Dr. Harold V. Jensen years after it was built. The copper -sheathed spire tower still rises the original 168 feet. In 1912 it was hoisted up with wires; a crane was used to repair the spire after the Nisqually earthquake of 2001. It is still pretty easy to see from many vantage points in the city.

On September 16 and 30th, volunteers will lead tours of the church beginning after Sunday services at about noon. You can meet the tour guide near the communion table at the front of the sanctuary if you’d like to join the tour group.

For more on the building’s history and the 143-year history of the church, visit our sister site, First Hill Seattle.