Arts & Entertainment, Dance

Donald Byrd on the Miraculous Mandarin in All of Us

In previewing Spectrum Dance Theater’s upcoming, free-to-the-public presentations of The Miraculous Mandarin, by Béla Bartók, I discovered that the Mandarin in question was going to be danced by Donald Jones, Jr., and got in touch with Donald Byrd to find out if he meant anything by that. It’s better to ask, with Byrd, because he tends to provoke both intentionally and unintentionally, as audiences at the 5th Avenue Theatre’s Oklahoma! discovered recently. Continue reading Donald Byrd on the Miraculous Mandarin in All of Us

“5th ACT’s” New <em>First Date</em> Musical Hits Mostly Middling Notes

Arts & Entertainment, Music, Theatre

“5th ACT’s” New First Date Musical Hits Mostly Middling Notes

First Date, a 5th Avenue Theatre-ACT co-production (at ACT through May 20), never really achieves the transformation to three dimensions. It’s an infant musical, so there’s plenty of time for tweaks, but at this moment in time, it plays like one of those sketchy TV sitcoms that are based on a funnier, more interesting show on another channel. They only get good when they discover a way to be original. Continue reading “5th ACT’s” New First Date Musical Hits Mostly Middling Notes

Health, News

A Note on Having a Close Shave with Straight Razors

On the Seattle side of the lake, for straight razor shaves, you have your choice of the Weldon Barbershop downtown ($50, book online), the 5th Avenue Barbershop ($50, by appointment Tuesday through Sunday), and the WAC, if you are a member or know one who’ll walk you in ($30, appointment recommended but walk-ins welcome). In Greenwood, there’s Valentine’s ($65, 60 min., appointment only). Surprisingly, Capelli’s Gentlemen’s Barbershop does not offer straight razor shaves. Continue reading A Note on Having a Close Shave with Straight Razors