What makes Vashon unique? Over the years that question has provoked the imagination of many island writers, poets, photographers and artists. For Terry Donnelly, a professional photographer well known for capturing the ephemeral beauty of landscapes, his answer began with photographing islanders at work and ended with his newly released book, “Coffee & Community The Vashon Island Coffee Roasterie in Words & Photos,” published by Chatwin Books. Donnelly will discuss and sign the book at 6 p.m. Friday at the roasterie.
Event producer Debra Heesch and Open Space for Arts & Community will welcome Mike Love and his six-piece reggae band to the island at 8 p.m. Saturday at Open Space, with doors at opening at 7 p.m.
Vashon Island Chorale will offer registration for its winter concert of Handel’s “Messiah” from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 16, at Windermere Real Estate’s south office building behind the coffee stand, and from 10:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 27, in the Vashon Library meeting room.
Local guitar master Matt Klassen and Spanish virtuoso guitarist Juan Carlos Lorenzo will perform an evening of classical guitar at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Methodist Church.
After a successful event last year that netted more than $5,000 to fund music programs for underprivileged students at island schools, the Chautauqua Music Festival is happening again this weekend.
Café Luna will show island photographer Peter Ray’s new show, “Vashon by Night,” for the month of August. Ray’s new work is a compilation of digital photographs taken in the early hours, capturing familiar island spots in unfamiliar light. There will be an artist reception from 6 to 8 p.m.
Off Road Shakespeare Company actors will perform William Shakespeare’s beloved and popular comedy, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Saturday at the Katherine L White Hall.
The Poetry Well is a monthly column that showcases island poetry. This month includes a poem by current Vashon Poet Laureate Lonny Kaneko.
When “Spring Awakening” made its 2006 Broadway debut, the Tony Award-winning show defied expectations of what a musical could do with its raw and honest portrayal of youth. Vashon Youth Theatre (VYT) will bring the powerful coming-of-age story to the Vashon High School theater at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Lately, Jane Spakowsky has been dreaming of a little cabin in the woods. The self-taught, mixed-media artist, who now lives in Tacoma, grew up on Vashon and envisions a return to a simpler way of life.
Theater director Susan Hanson had just finished touching up the risers with black paint, laying out the glow tape on the floor boards and vacuuming under the enlarged picture frame for the set of “Chicago,” the musical she’s directing for Drama Dock, when she stopped to chat about the show that will open Thursday at Vashon Center for the Arts.
Enjoy live music performances that range from soul, to rock, country, reggae and big band when the Summer Concerts in the Park series returns to Ober Park on Thursday, July 28. The popular, free outdoor concerts — presented by the Vashon Park District and curated by Vashon Events — will run from 7 to 9 p.m. and continue through Thursday, Sept. 1.
There’s a new spot not to be missed at Strawberry Festival this year. The VARSA Youth Stage located in lower Ober Park will feature Seattle headliner and hip- hop musician Draze on Friday night, with opening acts by island youth musicians Intelligent Design & Baron 1, Max Moore, Ralph Reign and Colin Loch. The show will run from 7 to 11 p.m.