the scene - february 2014

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INSIDE STORY FEBRUARY 2014 THE scene 3

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CHOP SHOPStone Dance Productions’

Eastside dance festival turns 704

‘HAWK DAY?How to throw a Super Bowl party worthy of 12th Men everywhere.05

IN GOOD CO.Your guide to black tie

fundraisers in the next four

months.06ROMANCE 101UW sociologist Pepper Shwartz’s tips for acing Valentine’s Day. 07

IN THE RED?Great Northwest

Wine’s picks for a� ordable vino.08

LAUGHSPro wrestling legend Mick Foley on reinventing himself as a standup. 09

I’ve never been much of a concertgoer. Maybe because my family was more likely to attend a free symphony or Renaissance Fair. My chaste upbringing was at di-

rect odds with the � rst concert I did attend as a teen in the ‘80s — Eddie Murphy Live. I loved every swear word right up to the moment near the end when a security guard invited me to meet Mr. Murphy backstage. As if.

Since then I have only been to one or two random events including Elton John and Billy Joel. Which is why the kids were shocked when I impulsively jumped online last summer to buy tickets to the Macklemore and Ryan Lewis concert.

My purchase was fueled by my presumably mutual at-traction to the band’s passion for thri� shops, equal rights and that bemused guilt that cloaks us when we hear chil-dren singing lyrics they couldn’t and shouldn’t understand at the top of their little lungs in the back seat.

Five months later, as the concert date loomed I began to have second thoughts: “What have I gotten myself into?” I pretended not to be nervous even as I prepared secret exit strategies for Sistafoo. I felt clever deciding to beat tra� c by parking downtown, but I sort of forgot to make a dinner plan, so we foolishly sought a last-minute restaurant recommendation.

On the bright side, our accidental white linen and candlelight meal added a new approved food to Venom Pen’s repertoire — wild boar. His picky palate likes things fancy. To keep it real we had McDonald’s ice cream cones on the Mono-rail for dessert.

I felt trepidation as we arrived at Seattle Center. � e security line was brisk and e� cient and before we knew it we were in line to

pay nearly $50 for a T-shirt. � e hipster hordes began to resemble nerdy neighbors. We climbed to our seats with a king’s ransom of loot labeled “Heist” and “Sharkface.”

Squeezing past excited 60-year-old women and families, I started to relax. Over the next few hours we danced, screamed and laughed (uncomfortably) at 10-year-old boys twerking on the Jumbotron.

I used my mom voice a few times to wrangle my sloppy seat mates. I’m certain I le� a memorable impression on

the teen girls who tried to � t four contemptuous atti-tudes into two seats. I loved it and would do it again even though I had to employ creative censoring tactics for the more vivid portions of the night.

In the days that followed, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis owned my Facebook newsfeed as the duo seemed to pop up all over town: personal friends with this person, at a surprise charity performance for that group, backstage with those kids, poking friendly fun at that team.

And then, presumably because he really wanted to meet Sistafoo, I noticed a man with a certain swagger and a sharp coat in one of my favorite stores. First we chatted with his companion as I begged Sistafoo in hissed whispers not to fanstalk this man with truly beautiful skin. We loitered as he considered and then purchased exactly the kind of thing you would expect to � nd in every stylish rap star’s home.

I won’t tell you exactly what Macklemore bought, but Sistafoo told him it was a “little creepy, but cool.” I just noticed how it has as much in common with Run D.M.C.’s Adidas as with Venom Pen’s new favorite meal.

Follow Heija on Twitter (@Heija), friend her on Facebook or silently judge her life at her blog � e Worst Mother in the World (www.Heija.com)

Up close and personal with Macklemore

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HEIJA NUNN

4 THE scene FEBRUARY 2014 COMING UP

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BY DANIEL NASH

Dance director Eva Stone’s mission to expose the Eastside to modern

dance is entering its seventh year. � is year, contemporary dance festival Chop Shop: Bodies of Work will feature the Paci� c Northwest premiere of Michigan’s Grand Rapids Ballet, led by Artistic Director Patricia Barker.

“Patricia Barker is a bit of a legend in the ballet world,” Stone said. Barker is the former principal dancer for the Paci� c Northwest Ballet and an accomplished inter-national performer many times over; when the ballet company partnered with Hyperion in 1986 to produce “Nutcracker: � e Motion Picture,” Barker was their Clara.

� e Grand Rapids Ballet’s presence is a nod to a classical art form in a dance festival devoted to the modern style. � e creation of that style is “the greatest story ever told,” Stone said.

“Ballet has been around for about 300 or 400 years and, for a long time, it was the sole way dance was performed,” she said. “� en, in the 19th century, the dancer Isa-dora Duncan broke away from all that. She took o� the shoes, took o� the corset, and said ‘this is how we’re supposed to move.’ From there, dance began to abstract itself.”

� e result was a continuing period of great innovation in dance, but also an evolution so rapid it could be hard for audi-ences to keep up. Stone wanted to create an Eastside destination where people with little understanding of dance could � nd their 101 course.

Chop Shop was established in 2008 by Stone Dance Productions. � e festival o� ers both performances and classes. Com-munity classes open to novices were held in partnership with the city of Bellevue Parks and Community Services Department in

the latter half of January. Master classes in improvisation, ballet, contemporary style and its creative development are available to intermediate and advanced dancers dur-ing the festival.

Visiting performers include Bryn Cohn and Artists of New York, Adam Barruch Dance of New York, Gerard Regot of Spain and the eponymous Ballet Arkansas. Seattle performers will include Spectrum Dance � eater, Anna Conner + CO, Pocket Inc and Price Suddarth.

“I call it a modern dance bu� et,” Stone said. “� ere’s a sampling of everything.

“I say this to my students a lot: In the greater scheme of things, dance doesn’t matter. But a lot of things in life distract us from joy. As human beings, we have to watch other human beings do something miraculous. Watching a human being in motion doesn’t have to be something tricky, it should be something that gives you a way to be connected to other humans.”

Chop Shop: Bodies of Work will be held at � e � eatre at Meydenbauer on Feb. 15 and 16. Performance times, tickets and master class reservation information are available at chopshopdance.org.

Bodies at work

People sometimes get the blues when February rolls around. Now they can take the “brews” to combat those feelings.

� e second annual Beat the Brews Festival will return to Gilman Village in Issaquah on Feb. 28.

From 5:30-8:30 p.m. people can sample a variety of local breweries, pouring a diverse assortment of beer. On hand will be Mac & Jacks, Georgetown Brewing Co., Rogue Brewery, Hale’s Ale and many more.

For those more into “wining” about the

weather there’s hope, too, with o� erings from a number of wineries, including Fivash Cellars, ICON and Echo Ridge Cellars.

� ere’s also a Scotch and Cigar lounge to help help people’s spirits.

And speaking of blues, there will be some of the musical kind on hand.

Tickets for the adults-only event are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. Souve-nir glasses will available while they last.

Tickets and information are available at battlewinterbrews.com or 425-392-0661.

Pour me another brew

FOOTBALL FEBRUARY 2014 THE scene 5

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uper Bowl Sunday is coming Feb. 2 but, follow-ing the Seahawks’ 23-17 win in the NFC Cham-

pionship, Washingtonians may well rename it “Second Christ-mas.”

Too much food. Too much beer. Great friends. An epic sporting event where emotional rivalries take over.

And every football fan worth their muster will want a great place to watch it. So if you’re thinking about throwing a Su-perbowl party, or your friends unanimously voted you as this year’s host, here are some help-ful tips and tricks:

Fun� ankfully, a Super Bowl party is prob-

ably the least stressful gathering you can host. It’s a relaxed environment where everyone has the same objective: watch the game and have fun. Remember this in your planning/hosting—whether it’s portrayed in your decorations, food or general demeanor, have a good time with it.

Food One of the best parts about the Super

Bowl is the food. But that doesn’t mean you need to get stressed out and bake all day. Buy chips, dips, meat/cheese trays, vegetable trays and frozen pizzas—these options are easy and please most everyone. However, if you can cook and have the time, barbeque wings are always a crowd

favorite. Make sure to have the proper dip-ping sauces to accompany them. Another great option is crock pot recipes—you can put them in the night before and have them ready to go at game time. Can’t cook, or just don’t want to? Put in an order at your local bar or pub and pick up some favorites before the game. � is way people have their bar food favorites but can still watch the game in a comfortable, warm and friendly environment. If you don’t want to use your personal dishes, grab some party packs in your teams colors. Seahawk party kits can be found online here: http://www.partycity.com/product/seattle+seahawks+party+supplies.do.

DrinksSuper Bowl Sunday isn’t the same with-

out refreshments. And we all know what kind of refreshments I’m talking about. In order to throw a great gathering, make sure you have a lot of options for your guests. � is includes a variety of beer, cider, wine, hard alcohol, soda and juice. If you don’t want to go all out and spend a lot of money, tell people to bring whatever they would like to drink. Chances are they would have anyway and then you won’t have to stress out about pleasing every single person’s drink desires. � at being said, make sure you have plenty of plastic cups.

ComfortOne of the most important aspects of

hosting a Super Bowl party is making sure you have enough room for everyone to sit comfortably with a good view of the TV. Whether this means bringing in extra chairs or moving furniture around, it’s key. I personally know that the most frustrating thing is being at a Super Bowl party and not being able to see the screen. If there isn’t enough space, don’t invite as many people.

ResponsibilityRemember that if you host a party

where people are drinking, you are responsible for their safety. Be aware of how many drinks certain people have had and if they’re trying to drive home. Be prepared with the number of a local taxi service or a couch where someone can sleep it o� .

All in all, remember that this day comes but only once a year and it’s been eight years since the Seattle Seahawks appeared in Super Bowl XL (and we all know how that one ended...de� nitely still some underlying bitterness). So if you end up hosting a Super Bowl party, do it the right way, have fun and don’t take the day for granted.

Party on, 12th Man

SSSBY KELLY MONTGOMERY

The party scene kicks into gear starting this month as groups and organizations raise money for worthy causes on both sides of the lake. Events vary from black tie, cocktail, business, and business casual. Be sure to mark your calendars to attend these worthwhile fundraising galas and parties.

February 8: The 17th annual Evening of Hope gala will take place at the Fair-mount Hotel in downtown Seattle with a ’20s-’30s attire theme; Black tie is optional. The evening, which benefits the Seattle Police Foundation and the Seattle Police Depart-ment’s domestic violence program, includes an elegant multi-course dinner created by the hotel’s Executive Chef Gavin Stephenson, followed by a live auction. seattlehotel association.com

March 8: The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Seattle Guild’s 25th Anniver-sary Dream Gala at the Seattle Sheraton Hotel will together more than 900 prominent members of the Seattle community for a sparkling evening of fine dining, prestigious local wines, stellar entertainment. The black-tie event includes an elegant auction that raises a large amount of money towards funding research to prevent, treat and ultimately cure type 1 diabetes. seattleguild.jdrf.org

March 13: Camp Korey’s sixth annual Prescription Laughter Luncheon at the Bellevue Hilton Hotel will raise money for its summer camp programs for children living with serious and life-altering medical conditions, at no cost to them or their families. Each camper experiences fun and laughter in a safe, friendly, medically sound environment, creating a lifetime of memories of being a kid. campkorey.org

March 20: SAMA (The Science and Management of Addictions) Knowledge is Power annual luncheon at the Seattle Sheraton Hotel shares valuable prevention and treatment information and resources about the disease of youth and adolescent sub-stance addiction. samafoundation.org

March 29: Overlake Hospital’s Bandage Ball is one of the Eastside’s premier social events, attracting more than 800 affluent and influential community leaders. This black-tie event will raise funds for a new Cancer Care Center at Overlake. After almost 40 years providing leading cancer care, Overlake is expanding and enhancing its services, creating what will be the most advanced, comprehensive Cancer Center on the Eastside. The ball will take place at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue. bandageball.org

April 25: Assistance League of the Eastside Tablescapes 2014 – Top It Off In Style is a new fundraising luncheon event that will take place at the Bellevue Westin. The event includes a celebrity speaker and displays of inspiring tablescapes. Funds from the silent auction will be used to continue to make a positive difference in the lives of children and adults touched by hardship or violence. eastside.assistanceleague.org

April 25: Successful Youth, Inc. Reach for the Stars! gala dinner and auction will raise funds to help provide children from low-income households with the tools neces-sary to graduate on time and become college ready. The black-tie event, at the Sorrento Hotel in Seattle and be hosted by Pat Cashman of the weekly local comedy sketch show, “the 206,” includes a wine reception, silent, live and dessert auctions, and a scrumptious dinner from award winning Sorrento chefs. dannakjohnston.org

May 20: The 17th annual Gilda’s Club Seattle Surviving with Style Fashion Show and Luncheon at the Seattle Westin will provide help provide funds for free support, education and resources on-site, to those who have been impacted by cancer. Eastside state Sen. Andy Hill, R-45, a cancer survivor, along with his wife, Molly, will co-chair this year’s event. All of the models are cancer survivors and their extraordinary stories will be shared by the emcees. gildasclubseattle.org

Rose Dennis writes about events in Bellevue and the Greater Seattle area. She lives in Bellevue.

6 the scene February 2014 coming up

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BY ROSE DENNISBY LINDa BaLL

Gardeners are getting excited about the Northwest Flower and Garden Show in Seattle, where green thumbs come from all over the Pacific Northwest and beyond to learn about the latest trends in gardening.

“Seattle is our go-to big (event),” said Cindy Walker an Advanced Master Gardener from Anchorage, Alaska. “We can learn about new gardening trends, the vendors are fabulous, there’s garden art and small plants for purchase that we can’t get in Alaska.”

Walker said the big gardening trend now is growing food. She said the Mas-ter Gardener program would like to see more young people get involved and the food trend could be the ticket.

The number one trending plant for 2014 is hemp seed, mainly from the fabric angle. In the past few years kale was the trending vegetable, but she said now anything you can cook with is popular.

The Show offers several seminars each day, many of them about grow-ing food such as “From Farm to Table Year Round,” and “Growing, Cooking and Sharing Edibles for the Common Good.”

The Northwest Flower and Garden Show runs from Thursday Feb. 5 until Sunday Feb. 9 at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle.

Show hours are Wednesday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

You can buy tickets at the Conven-tion Center any day of the event. An adult single day ticket purchased at the Convention Center is $22 for an adult. Save $5 by purchasing your tickets in advance online at www.gardenshow.com/tickets/purchase/.

This discount ends at 11:55 p.m. Feb. 4.

You can also order tickets by phone at 1-800-343-6973. Phone orders have a flat $2 shipping/handling fee per order.

Not-so-secret gardenThe Northwest Flower and Garden Show

COVER STORY FEBRUARY 2014 THE scene 7

Pepper Schwartz is a University of Washington sociologist, ambassador for the AARP and a national love and relationships expert — she has au-

thored or contributed to 16 books on the latter subject. She is currently working on her latest book, “Perfect Places for Passion at Any Age.” Before you jumpstart this romantic holiday, see where Schwartz weighs in. Schwartz answers our questions about navigating the commer-cialization of Valentine’s Day and getting to the romantic point of this holiday of love.

Facing the pressureValentine’s Day doesn’t have to be stressful.

Sure there’s a push to come up with a grand, romantic gesture, but just doing something is meaningful.

“I think for some couples the pressure is bothersome,” says Schwartz. “… On the other hand, it gets a lot of people off their butts that wouldn’t be doing anything at all.”

It doesn’t have to be dinner in Paris, but do-ing nothing for the sake of fighting the holiday system could send a poor message about the state of your relationship.

“As commercial as it is, it’s still kind of odd not to do something,” Schwartz says, “and it may be determined to be something more than it is.”

Hitting the reset buttonEven if you don’t think your relationship is in

a rut, Valentine’s Day can be a friendly remind-er that it’s been a while since you last stoked the romantic flames.

“I think, in fact, these things remind you maybe you’re not taking care of the relation-ship,” Schwartz says. “Yes, it can be a reset button. … The whole idea is you’re going to pay attention to each other in a way that you haven’t in a while.”

Love shouldn’t break the bankFor those flush enough to buy the jewelry

and fancy dinners, Valentine’s Day might seem easy. But more than expensive gifts, Schwartz says couples should see Valentine’s Day as a fun challenge to do something different. She recommends finding a sexy and romantic book to read together, a scavenger hunt or mak-

ing a photo album of your great times spent together.

“There’s no reason you have to spend any-thing, but there is a good impetus to let people know you thought of them and took some time to do something.”

Focus on the goodSchwartz warns Valentine’s Day is a great

time to wow your significant other with affec-tion and gifts, but it is not the time to bring up issues in the relationship that need correcting. If your loved one has a bad habit or is faltering in some way, don’t let it ruin your romantic day.

“It’s supposed to be romantic,” Schwartz says. “Do it some other time. Give it a rest. It’s like, ‘Let’s take our anniversary and discuss what’s wrong with us.’ ”

Skipping the crowdsIf you’re worried about crowded restaurants

and movie theaters killing the intimacy of your date, you can still stay home and bring all of the amenities that come with a night out on the

town inside the abode.Schwartz recommends putting out the wine,

candles, flowers and good silverware in the dining room, dressing up and dialing in a catered meal couples can enjoy without the stress of preparing it themselves.

“All of those things would say these aren’t about saving money, it’s about being romantic in a different way,” says Schwartz.

First dates and impressionsThinking of asking out someone special out

on Valentine’s Day? Tread lightly — maybe not at all. You may not want to be alone while everyone is gifting and making smoochy faces on Feb. 14, but you also don’t want to confuse a crush with an invite out on the most romantic of holidays.

“I think Valentine’s Day is not a good time for a first date,” Schwartz says. “I think it does kind of set up an expectation of some sort. … I wouldn’t go further than a drink, personally.”

—STORY BY BRANDON MACZ

The Science of Romance

A University of Washington professor’s guide to acing Valentine’s Day.

8 THE scene FEBRUARY 2014 WINE

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BY ERIC DEGERMAN AND ANDY PERDUEAs Washington grows and solidi� es its position as the country’s No. 2 wine-pro-ducing state while increasing quality, more of the value-priced red wines keep providing incredible quality.

� e only problem might be � nding those values, as growing grapes and making wine are becoming more expensive. Fortunately, we can rely on several wineries to o� er red wines in that “best buy” sweet spot of $15 and below.

Here are a few examples we have tasted in the past couple of months that will leave more money in your bank account without having to sacri� ce quality:

Vino La Monarcha 2010 Merlot, Wahluke Slope, $15: Victor Palencia returned to his college town of Walla Walla to open his new boutique winery in the incubator buildings near the airport, and this Merlot he’s pouring there comes o� the Wahluke Slope, an area he continues to source as head winemaker for Jones of Washington. It opens with youthful aromas of dusty Bing cherry, plum, blueberry, vanilla and freshly cut cedar. � at theme of purple and blue fruit carries to the palate, which features mod-est frontal tannins, pomegranate acidity and dried herbs in the � nish.

Columbia Crest 2011 H3 Les Chevaux Red Blend, Horse Heaven Hills, $15: � is Syrah-dominated red blend from one of Washington’s largest wineries opens with aro-mas of dark plum, cherry and chocolate, backed by crushed walnut and dried oregano. On the pour, it’s a big, bold and focused drink of cherries and chocolate. � e structure of moderate tannins and nice acidity should make this a tasty complement to pepper steak, lamb dishes, paté and assertive cheeses.

Chateau Ste Michelle 2011 Syrah, Columbia Valley, $14: � e Wahluke Slope has become a sweet spot in Washington for Syrah, and winemaker Bob Bertheau’s team relied heavily on this appellation for this a� ordable red. � e fruit-� lled nose features blackberry, blueberry, cola, vanilla, alder smoke and moist tobacco. It’s stunning in the mouth with dark purple fruit amid a texture so dense it’s almost syrupy. And yet there’s ripe blueberry acidity and rewarding tannins for balance.

Canoe Ridge Vineyard 2012 The Expedition Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills, $15: � is Walla Walla brand celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. � is o� ers aromas of black cherry, plums, cinnamon toast and dark chocolate. � e fruit turns darker and more dense on the palate, where the medium body shows the in� uence of Syrah, making it a delicious, drink-now o� ering.

Waterbrook Winery 2011 Syrah, Columbia Valley, $15: Here is an opulent of-fering that opens with aromas of dark chocolate, boysenberry, black cherry, black pepper and sweet herbs. Lovely richness awaits on the palate with sweet Damson plum, black cherry and chocolate. On the midpalate, pomegranate and pie cherry acidity creates pleasing balance, backed by a � nish of to� ee.

Hogue Cellars 2012 Merlot, Columbia Valley, $10: An early look at the beautiful 2012 vintage reveals aromas of blueberry jam on toast, Marionberry and black cherry, dark chocolate and black pepper. � e rich yet lively Cab-like drink carries abundant acidity, a pinch of crushed herbs for complexity and � ne-grained tannins.

Sagelands Vineyard 2011 Merlot, Columbia Valley, $13: � is lighter-structured Merlot features aromas of Rainier cherry, raspberry and cranberry jelly with notes of oregano, bell pepper and fresh cedar. It’s clean and smooth on the entry with � avors of blueberry, cherry and grape jelly, supported by mild tannin and acidity.

Washington Hills 2012 Merlot, Washington, $12: � is is a food-friendly and consumer-minded Merlot that’s easy to like. � ere’s a core of dark purple fruit aromas along with white pepper and cedar. Inside, it’s rich and dark with black cherry, plum and black currant � avors amid a full mouth feel.

Eric Degerman and Andy Perdue run Great Northwest Wine, a news and information company. Learn more about wine at www.greatnorthwestwine.com.

The hunt for affordable redsIf your resolutions for a better 2014 include saving

money and drinking more wine, then read on.

Victor Palencia with a bottle of Vino La Monarcha at his Walla Walla winery. Credit: Great Northwest Wine

LAUGHS FEBRUARY 2014 THE scene 9

RAWRAWRAWCCC

Sunday night

actus Jack. Dude Love. And, perhaps the best known character of all, Mankind. All were played by Mick Foley, one of the most compelling performers in the world of professional wrestling. His showmanship and willingness to take brutal punishment inside the ring made him a star, but his accomplishments outside it gave him staying power. He wrote the � rst WWE autobiography without the aid of a ghost writer and, in his retirement from active competition, went on to pen three more memoirs, four children’s books and two novels.

Most recently, Foley has taken the stage as a stand up comedian, recounting well-known stories from his wrestling career that transition into vignettes about his family and everyday life. Mick Foley’s World Tour will make a stop for one performance only at Parlor Live Feb. 16.

SCENE: So how did you decide to go into stand up? I think the earliest video I was able to � nd of one of your performances was about two years ago at Just For Laughs in Montreal.

MICK FOLEY: Well, that wasn’t my � rst time on stage. Just For Laughs is the biggest comedy festival in the world. So I didn’t just start out in Montreal.

SCENE: Yeah, you had to work your way up.

FOLEY: Exactly. I had been doing it for a few years at that point … and when I started I didn’t have any wrestling material. If I did comedy I wanted it to be separate. But after a while I realized I had something people wanted to hear. Now I use wrestling as a jumping off point. It’s not a curse but a [way to connect with audiences].

SCENE: Do you remember your � rst time on stage?

FOLEY: It was 2009 or 2010 and I had a chance to perform at the Improv in Los Angeles. The material I used was leftover from when I would speak at colleges. I quickly found out I was mistaken in my belief that it would be easy. It wasn’t. Now I have hundreds of hours of performances under my belt. What I love about it is it offers the same creative grati� cation wrestling did. Only now I’m creating without the injuries.

SCENE: Have you had any times on stage when you’ve bombed really badly? I mean, of course you do, everyone does.

FOLEY: Everyone does and it’s painful, but you survive. An Australian comedian I know, Brendon Burns, taught me the difference between a funny guy and a comic is a funny guy will bomb and decide he won’t go up on stage again. When a comic bombs, he puts on a different hat, gets back on stage and jokes with the audience about how bad that last comic was. Everybody’s had those experiences, and how you deal with them determines whether you’re a comic.

[One difference for me from a lot of comics is] I tend not to get hecklers. I tend to get over-exuberant wrestling fans. Fans who don’t always understand that they shouldn’t shout out the endings to my stories. Because, if they’re fans, they already know how the stories end. Those people enjoy it, but it’s frustrating they don’t let me � nish the stories. Fortunately, I’m experienced entertaining on Friday

and Saturday nights, when some people are drunker than usual. But if that happens, I just stand back and let the club handle it.

I don’t fear a heckler. I don’t take pride in shredding them apart, but I’m not afraid either. We’re supposed to be having laughs … I take honor in the act of entertaining people who laid down their money.

SCENE: How do the other comics you work with feel about performing for wrestling fans?

FOLEY: They love it. Some of them are a little worried at � rst, but I tell them, you know, they’re not a different species. Usually you hear (the audience during a performance) and the comic comes back and says, “They’re ready.”

I’ve been to 200 book signings with wrestling fans and there’s never been a problem.

SCENE: I’m glad you brought up your books because you’ve been published 10 times. So you’re a former wrestler, an author several times over, now you’re a comedian… has anyone ever called you a Renaissance man?

FOLEY: (Laughs) Yeah, but I’m uncomfortable with big words, so let’s just call me “guy who does a lot of different things.”

SCENE: So right now you’re on your World Tour…

FOLEY: It’s the “world tour,” but I’m only visiting the United States and Canada. We changed the name to Mick Foley’s World Tour (because it’s reminiscent of a wrestling event). Before it was called “Tales from Wrestling Past.”

SCENE: You’re on your tour and you’ve been doing comedy for several years now. Can fans expect a special in the near future?

FOLEY: Yeah, yeah. I believe this is the year WWE is rolling out their TV network. WWE gets this option on a special from me and, if they decide they don’t want it, then I can take it elsewhere. But fans can expect a special with an hour of my material relatively soon. And I’ll be happy about that too, because then I can stop going on the air and saying, “Trust me.”

INTERVIEW BY DANIEL NASH

10 THE scene FEBRUARY 2014 HOME

A new brand of homes being built on the Eastside may be rede� ning the

homeowner experience of green design, mixing sustainability with the high ceil-ings, glass and cement that marks indus-trial chic while achieving some enviable cost and energy savings.

Evoke Modern homes, a new o� ering from Bellevue-based Quadrant Homes, embrace the outdoorsy lifestyle of the Puget Sound, cool and rugged, but with an unmistakable urbanity, achieved through high design, using natural materials like hardwood and stone that warm up interi-ors.

Quadrant Homes, known more for pro-duction homes in master-planned subdivi-sions on the sprawling edges of suburbia, is now focused on building these high-design homes in closer-in, ‘in� ll’ locations that o� er walkability and proximity to services. “We think that this is the niche we can � ll,” says Bonnie Geers, vice president for com-munity development at Quadrant.

What’s di� erent in this o� ering, says Geers, is a revival of the Northwest contemporary style, a� er building many Northwest Cra� sman homes. � ere’s a return to the clean, sleek lines of contem-porary design, leaving out moldings and cornices — hallmarks of earlier styles like Cra� sman or prairie. All of the homes feature 10-foot ceilings, a huge departure.

While the builder has o� ered buyers

some customization (adding a window, moving a wall), the Evoke brand takes this a step further, enabling buyers to plan their home in a way that’s most conducive to their lifestyle, putting, for example, the master bedroom downstairs or upstairs, moving halls, doorways, and other design features around. People with several children might opt for a so called “Jack and Jill” bedroom design, with a bath situated in between. Older people o� en choose to have their bedrooms built downstairs.

Since kitchens are rooms people gravi-tate toward, particularly “foodie” Paci� c Northwesters, these form the centerpiece of these homes. People in this region are particularly interested in outdoor enter-taining, with new sorts of spaces for grill-ing or serving food. “A desire for people who live in the Northwest is to really be outdoors, relaxing in multi-use spaces,” says Geers.

According to Jennifer Kim, Quadrant’s house architect, “People live in more open ways, with parents sitting around read-ing, drinking co� ee and working at home, in places where they can also watch their kids, or visit with friends. A lot of action happens together around a family room, and spaces between kitchens and dining room, as well as outdoor spaces.”

Indeed, the Paci� c Northwest archi-tectural style was born out of the natural qualities of the environment. Lush forests

and long rainy seasons allow for year round evergreen gardens and landscaping spawned a style that author Anne Wall Frank, author of Northwest Style, calls “informal, organic, and above all eclectic.”

� e Evoke Modern o� ered by Quadrant adds to the design kit of tools in the North-west contemporary style, by adding some of the industrial feel pioneered by architects like Tom Kundig, featuring industrial materi-als like cement, says Kim. On these homes, the exterior siding consist of � at, � ber cement panels that are painted, as well as pre-stained, � ber cement lap siding.

Kim says that a lot of the energy e� -ciency is gained through the way windows are situated, with rooms facing courtyards, looking south or west to capture natural light. Smaller windows in bedrooms, situated high, insure privacy and keep out noise, but also save energy.

According to Geers, these homes are more e� cient than most new construc-tion by a factor of a third. � ey feature enhanced insulation products and sealants, tight window treatments, and a mini-split heat pump system for heating and cooling, she says, where comfort in climate “zones” can be controlled by remote as well. Other green features include Energy Star-rated appliances, low-� ow plumbing � xtures, dual-� ush toilets, and rain gardens.

“Sustainability, and energy e� ciency, are among those features that people, especial-ly luxury home buyers, have more come to expect than ask for it,” says Geers.

According to Geers, the Evoke models achieve impressive energy-e� ciency by Home Energy Rating System (HERS) standards. � e Luxe model achieves a

HERS rating of 63, the Grand a 64, which are thus 37 and 36 percent more energy ef-� cient than average new American home, (which is about 100), says Geers.

On one of the smaller models, the “Luxe,” there’s an accordion-fold patio door in the kitchen, giving it the feel of a Mediterranean restaurant. Upstairs, a

child’s room has a barn door sliding across the top of the room opening. And a family room features a mechani-cal shade, with hallways sporting marine lighting.

On the larger model, the “Grand,” the kitchen features a smaller island, as well as niches for home desks, workspace countertops, and overhead beams. Floor to ceiling windows or half-wall windows look out onto lush Paci� c Northwest forest.

With the new level of customization available to them, what are some of the unusual features home buyers asking for?

“People are redesigning their homes for their cats and dogs,” she says, adding that two people whom she designed for just added new closets to the house, complete with cat-friendly � ooring, kitty closets, and kitty doors specially tailored for those nocturnal creatures. Felines have been trending this “indoor-outdoor” feature for centuries.

For the moment, Evoke has a few homes of $700,000 and up under construction in several locations in Redmond and Kirk-land, since it was launched by Quadrant last summer, but none of the homes is in the � nishing stages. � e company will also, for the � rst time in its history, “build on your lot,” too.

Francesca Lyman is an independent journalist based in Kirkland.

LUXE LIFEEvoke Modern’s new home offerings combine luxury with greener design, and indoor-outdoor, open plans

COURTESY PHOTO. Evoke Modern Homes by Quadrant.

COURTESY PHOTO. Evoke Modern Homes by Quadrant.

“Sustainability, and energy ef� ciency, are among those features that people ... have

come to expect.”

-Bonnie Geers

BY FRANCESCA LYMAN

TheEastsideScene.com FEBRUARY 2014 THE scene 11

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