June! The thick of Gemini season! Prince's birthday! Juan Atkins is in town! Afro-Brazilian dance sessions! Prom Queen taking the stage once again! One of Wim Wenders' finest at The Beacon! There's lots going down this month — so clear your schedule, put on some sunscreen, and let all your besties know you're hitting the town as summer starts to shine down on us all. So many things are happening that we're making two other separate posts covering Juneteenth and Pride events, so keep your eyes peeled. Now, onward to events! Huzzah!
Think we missed something? Let us know at Arts@SeattleEmerald.org.
May 31—June 2
Georgetown, Columbia City, Pratt Park
Herald the end of spring and the beginning of summer with Honk Fest West, a community-focused festival that brings people out of their houses and into the streets to enjoy music and sunshine. Over the weekend, Honk Fest West will make stops in Georgetown, Columbia City, and Pratt Park, with different musicians and performers making appearances at all three locations.
June 1, 5—8 p.m.
The Good Foot Arts Collective
6951 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S., Ste 222/223
Celebrate the reopening of The Good Foot Arts Collective, an organization dedicated to youth violence prevention through art. Its new and expanded space will be packed with music, food, community, and pristine vibes.
June 1—2, 11 a.m.—7 p.m.
Armory Food & Event Hall
305 Harrison St.
The Filipino Cultural Heritage Society of Washington (FCHSW) has put together a huge two-day event, Pagdiriwang Philippine Festival, to celebrate Filipino culture, arts, heritage, and history with extensive performances, fashion shows, martial art demos, exhibits, and, of course, food. It's truly planned so many good events — head over to the Seattle Center's website to check out the full schedule.
June 6—30
ArtsWest
4711 California Ave. SW
Directed by Valerie Curtis-Newton, ArtsWest's latest play, Clyde's, follows the formerly incarcerated workers of the eponymous sandwich shop as they try to create the perfect sandwich and follow their dreams.
June 7, 9 p.m.
Clock-Out Lounge
4864 Beacon Ave. S.
Don your best purple garments and your diamonds and pearls and head over to Clock-Out Lounge to celebrate theeeeee Prince himself on what would be his 66th birthday in a fte organized by Mizz Tish Productions. DJs Riz and Vitamin D will be on deck to spin some classic Prince songs and remixes, as well as tunes from affiliated acts. It's also another Black legend's birthday (mine!) so party up!
June 7—8, 11 a.m.—6 p.m.
Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute
104 17th Ave.
The African-American Writers' Alliance in partnership with LANGSTON has organized this two-day conference and showcase on arts and sciences, centered on what they call "accessible edutainment to all, centering strategic partnerships with underserved communities." Come through for workshops, panels, performances, and continuing education opportunities!
June 8, 10 p.m.—4 a.m.
Monkey Lounge
2915 1st Ave. S.
As one of the founders of techno, the fact that Detroit legend Juan Atkins is in town is a big freakin' deal. And tickets are only $25! Throw on your coolest shades, scoop your friend, and dance the night away at Monkey Loft to tunes of an iconic selector.
June 11, 4 p.m.
The Royal Room
5000 Rainier Ave. S.
Wanna listen to our outgoing governor speak at length about the environment? Then come to The Royal Room on June 11 to hear Gov. Jay Inslee speak with Volts podcast host David Roberts about Washington's landmark Climate Commitment Act, how it works, and Inslee's hopes for our climate future.
Opens on June 13
Northwest African American Museum
2300 S. Massachusetts St.
"Emmett and Mamie Till-Mobley: Let the World See" tells the harrowing story of Emmett Till, whose violent murder at the hands of white supremacists, and his mother Mamie Till-Mobley's activism, started what would become the Civil Rights Movement in the mid-century. "As a cultural organization that looks to cultivate healing and hope, the touring exhibit will have a profound impact on the Northwest region as we continue to amplify Till's family story," NAAM interim Executive Director Brandon Bird wrote in a press release. This is the touring exhibition's first stop on the West Coast.
June 13, 7:30 p.m.
The Neptune Theatre
1303 NE 45th St.
"ELEVATE" is a showcase centering spoken-word stories by Black and Brown youth. According to the event description, the event "shares untold and unseen work centered around local and national historical events, the impact of systemic racism and individuals' personal experiences and passions."
June 14, 9 p.m.
Clock-Out Lounge
4864 Beacon Ave. S.
I've been obsessed with Seattle doom-wap band Prom Queen ever since they released their Britney Spears covers EP called Lucky in 2021. Now, they are back for one night only at the Clock-Out Lounge alongside Lushy and DJ Glitterous for a doomy, swanky evening of '60s girl group fun. Don't miss this!
June 15, 7:30 p.m.
Union Cultural Center
803 S. King St.
This Illuminate Community Cultural Celebration event will specifically highlight the rich, diverse culture of Afro-Brazilian music and dance, featuring special guest and teaching artist Deise Costa. Costa will be on deck to teach attendees the basics of Samba and Afro-Brazilian dance. Wear some comfortable shoes!
June 16, 8:30 a.m.
Benaroya Hall
200 University St.
The 10th Annual Rising Voices Showcase is a chance for Speak With Purpose scholars to share their stories and voices in a speech showcase. Top finalists get a cash prize of up to $200! There will also be music, live entertainment, and food — head over to its website to learn more.
June 16—18
The Beacon Cinema
4405 Rainier Ave. S.
Okay, I don't have too much to say about Wim Wenders' The American Friend other than it rules. I saw it for the first time on the Criterion Channel a few months ago and I was completely blown away by Robby Mller's gorgeous cinematography and Bruno Ganz and Dennis Hopper's haggard faces and performances. Loosely, the film is based on Patricia Highsmith's novel Ripley's Game. The Beacon Cinema's summary is as follows: "Wim Wenders pays loving homage to rough-and-tumble Hollywood film noir with THE AMERICAN FRIEND, a loose adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's novel Ripley's Game. Dennis Hopper oozes quirky menace as an amoral American art dealer who entangles a terminally ill German everyman, played by Bruno Ganz, in a seedy criminal underworld as revenge for a personal slight — but when the two become embroiled in an ever-deepening murder plot, they form an unlikely bond. Filmed on location in Hamburg and Paris, with some scenes shot in grimy, late-seventies New York City, Wenders's international breakout is a stripped-down crime story that mixes West German and American film flavors, and it features cameos by filmmakers Jean Eustache, Samuel Fuller, and Nicholas Ray."
Opens on June 28
Seattle Art Museum
1300 1st Ave.
Painter Jacob Lawrence is an absolute giant of 20th-century art. Though best known as a crucial contributor to the Harlem Renaissance, Lawrence spent the last three decades of his life here in Seattle as a professor at the University of Washington, influencing and mentoring Seattle art legends, like Barbara Earl Thomas and Preston Wadley. In "American Storyteller", Seattle Art Museum is presenting work from its own collection as well as other local collections in "a series of case studies that survey the essential themes — family, community, history, human rights — that inform the artist's works."
Jas Keimig is a writer and critic based in Seattle. They previously worked on staff at The Stranger, covering visual art, film, music, and stickers. Their work has also appeared in Crosscut, South Seattle Emerald, i-D, Netflix, and The Ticket. They also co-write Unstreamable for Scarecrow Video, a column and screening series highlighting films you can't find on streaming services. They won a game show once.
📸 Featured Image: Young hula-hoopers at Honoring Africatown Community Land Trust's Honoring Our Black Wall Streets on May 27, 2024. (Photo: Susan Fried)
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