Supporting Seattle Arts: On The Boards

On The Boards Merrill Stage Lobby

At Northwest Polite Society, we believe Community = Good Business, and nothing is more integral to this community than art. For our newest blog segment, we will be featuring some of the many local organizations dedicated to keeping the Seattle art community growing.

If you would like to find yourself in the audience of a truly immersive performing arts experience, On the Boards is the place to be. For 40 years, local artists and artists from all over the world have come to this organization to present contemporary dance, theater, and other experimental performance that falls into the category of “uncategorizable.” We met with On the Boards’ Executive Director, Betsey Brock, in the colorful Merrill Stage lobby to talk about art, pushing boundaries, and Seattle’s coolest dinner party.  

“I think that art can be a tool for sparking conversations around civic issues, human services, politics,” says Betsey, talking about the role of performing arts in our community. “The art and artists we present here get really close to those issues and they really aren't afraid to dig deep and challenge people.” 

On the Boards puts a huge emphasis on the community aspect of an audience. “I think experiencing a powerful performance, it changes you. And when you change with a community of people you are closer together,” says Betsey, “and there's a much greater chance that you'll be able to have those hard conversations, those important conversations with each other.” 

There’s even an opportunity to hang out with your fellow audience members at an amazing dinner party before many of the shows. The Studio Supper is a sliding-scale dinner that features some of the best chefs in Seattle. “It creates a situation where people are having an experience together. They are maybe having a conversation about their expectations for the show. People really get to know each other,” Betsey explains, “It's like being at a dinner party with people who have shared interests and an adventurousness that you might not come across if you just walked into the theater and sat down next to them in the chairs.”

As for the actual show that comes after the dinner party, your expectations are likely to be challenged. “One of the things people have said for many years is that an On the Boards show is successful if one third of the audience gives it a standing ovation, a third of the audience is shaking their heads thinking ‘what just happened’ and a third has walked out,” Betsey muses, “There are things that I’ve seen here that I’ve hated and I love how much I’m still thinking about them. And there are things that totally surprise and confound me. I’ve seen a lot of performance here and I’ve been a part of this audience since 1997 and it still surprises and delights me.”

Performance by Seattle-based choreographer Pat Graney

Autumn Knight performs M___ER

Upcoming performances in this subscription season include Water Will (in Melody), a choreographic work from Ligia Lewis, M_ _ _ER, an interdisciplinary work from Autumn Knight, and Susan, a musical from stand-up comedian Ahamefule J. Oluo. 

If you’re feeling like you’ve missed out on the past four decades of On the Boards performances, you’re in luck!  You can actually stream full length films of select performances at ontheboards.tv, which Betsey describes as “a Netflix for contemporary performance.” This streaming platform can be accessed from any device and is part of the curriculum in over 125 colleges and universities nationwide. So really, the impact of On the Boards extends far beyond our Seattle community. We feel pretty lucky that we get to be the ones to call this amazing organization our neighbor. 

Polite Society Picks - Local Non-Profits

Photo courtesy of PAWS Cat City

Community has always been one of our main interests here at Polite Society. As the weather is getting better and we are all beginning to creep back outside for that much-needed sunshine, we thought we would share some of our favorite local organizations with you! (And with a big shout-out to all the ones not mentioned here; we love you too!!)

Chuck: I really love Country Doctor Community Health Clinics because of the things they do for the community. There are a lot of people that can't afford health insurance, but everyone deserves access to quality healthcare. They have been a part of the community for decades, especially the Carolyn Downs clinic. It is cool that it is the oldest continually-operated health clinic founded by the Black Panthers. 

Hans: I love the Zoo.  Yes it is true.
The animals seem happy.  Or at least not too hungry.
And there are many smart people working there.  With all kinds of fun facts they are happy to share.
Plus they have a carousel too.  I love you Woodland Park Zoo.

Desmond: One of my favorites is 206 Zulu. They are based out of Washington Hall in the Central District. They help educate and connect people through a common thread of Hip-Hop culture. They not only produce great events but have programs to help youth learn music, entrepreneurship, and life skills.

Sarah: I really love Northwest Folklife and the work they do to keep traditional forms of dance, music and art alive. Seattle is such a melting pot of different cultures, backgrounds and nationalities and we all have our own traditions we grew up with. From Korean Drum performances to Bavarian beer garden bands to Romanian dance troupes, at Folklife we can celebrate it all. Folklife reminds us that it is the presence of all these different cultures that makes our community stronger, not weaker.

Serene: Mine is PAWS! Growing up in Seattle, my family adopted our two cats from PAWS over the years and they are the absolute best! I really appreciate the care and compassion that PAWS staff put toward the animals they care for. Plus they have kitten and cat rooms you can go into when you're looking to adopt to play with all the animals - fricking adorable!

Yvonne Chan: A great local nonprofit is Northwest Immigration Rights Project. They provide legal services to immigrants and advocate for policies that provide justice and equity for everyone, no matter where they were born. What they do is more important than ever in today's political climate.

Yvonne Chien: One of my favorite Seattle nonprofits is the Japanese Cultural Community Center of Washington! It's a great organization that celebrates Japanese culture through classes and events that bring the community together. I interned there for a couple months, and it was amazing seeing the amount of historical artifacts and personal stories they have collected and preserved from multiple generations of Japanese people living in Seattle, including those who were put in camps during WWII.

Mathieu: I would have to say my favorite is Outdoors for All. I admire their mission of bringing outdoor accessibility and recreation opportunities to adults who would otherwise be unable to participate in the great outdoor activities Seattle is so lucky to have. As an older brother to someone with Down Syndrome, I just love seeing Outdoors for All providing fun and healthy lifestyle options to adults with disabilities - everyone should have access to community and fresh air!

Polite Neighbors - Outer Planet Brewing

We love our neighbors! For our newest blog segment, we will be taking a closer look at some of our favorite neighbors by chatting with them about their business.

Our first neighborhood feature is Gabriel Villenave of Outer Planet Brewing, located on 12th Avenue in between Howell and Denny. Outer Planet specializes in small-batch beers that are constantly rotating to keep fresh flavors on tap every day. “We want someone who comes in every two weeks to always have one new beer to try, every time. That’s kind of the guiding principle,” says Gabriel about their brewing philosophy.

Despite the constraints of operating a nano-brewery in a small taproom, Gabriel says he loves the culture of the small-batch brewing. “We can... do more experimental recipes, and try them out. And if it’s not popular, that’s fine because we just have a little bit of it. Bigger breweries can’t do that because if they brew a batch, it’s going to be ten barrels or more, so it’s going to be impossible to sell if the beer doesn’t turn out great”. The only downside to these small batches is not being able to go often enough to try everything!

In addition to the great rotation of beers on tap, patrons choose Outer Planet for the intimate community vibe. “We’re all from the neighborhood. I live a block and a half away and I have for a few years,” muses Gabriel. “Other neighborhoods have different things, but the set of things that we have on [Capitol] Hill is very unique to the Hill, it’s really a specific identity and that’s what I like about it… We’re happy to fit into that.”.

Outer Planet exemplifies many of our dearest values here at Polite Society, from community building and personal relationships, to quality beers about which the neighborhood can be proud. He says Capitol Hill “is great, everything is accessible from here, transportation is great. You can find everything within a half-mile radius that you can possibly want; tons of shops and restaurants and bars, and you can just walk to everything that you want. There’s a cultural thing that’s very unique to Capitol Hill. Especially around 12th avenue; you have 12th Avenue Arts... we even have a partnership with the Washington Ensemble Theatre that’s in residence there.” We love seeing a fellow community member flourishing in the tight-knit community on Capitol Hill. We are lucky to be able to call Outer Planet our neighbors and friends.

.Join us for a pint today and see how they are always aiming for the stars at Outer Planet Brewing! Don’t forget to say hi to Gabriel and the staff and thank them for their hard work and community building. See you at the bar!

P.S. We first started this project for our client The Danforth Apartments. A shortened version of this interview can be found on their socials.

Polite Society Picks - Shop Small in Seattle

Photo by Yvonne Chan at Ritual

Here at Polite Society we are big fans of supporting other small businesses, so for this installment of our blog we asked our staff to share their favorite place to shop small in Seattle.

Hans: Retrofit Home.  Not just a furniture/home furnishings store -  they always seem to find something fresh and local - Plus for 14 years they have been doing a $100 and under group art show supporting some great local artists.  Love!

Shelby: Baleen in Ballard is my go-to shop for unique, handmade jewelry & accessories for myself, as well as interesting gifts for others. The owners are fans of of good design and believe that thoughtful, beautiful objects don't always have to be expensive (bless them). It also doesn't hurt that it's a couple blocks from my house, so I can pop by in a pinch and always find something special! 

Yvonne Chien: Prism in Ballard is an amazing, carefully curated shop with beautiful clothing, accessories, and home wares. It's a great place to go when you want to beautify your home or closet, and when you have an empty wallet it's also the perfect shop to discover artists who sell uniquely designed items! 

Serene: I love to roam around Swanson's Nursery. I'm not good at keeping my plants alive yet... but I'm learning! It's fun wandering through their various plant displays as well as grabbing a bite at their cafe, watching the koi and perusing their shop for jewelry, books and general home decor. 

Chuck: When I want something special like a suit, Kuhlman on 1st Avenue. When I want to just look for something for me, Pacific Galleries Antique Mall. Great finds and some amazing midcentury and northwest art. There are a lot of small places I like, Melrose Market, Chop House, Stock & Pantry.... I could go on but will leave it here. 

Desmond: Jive Time in Fremont has an amazing selection of records and the staff is very knowledgable. The only downside is that every time I go, I end up spending way too much money on records! :)

Yvonne Chan: I love the Plant Shop on Pine St. in Capitol Hill! They have an excellent selection of low-maintenance plants and friendly staff that will help you find something you only need to water once a month! 

Sarah: I love Ritual on Capitol Hill. I wear something from there nearly every day, and it is close enough I can stop by for a Tarot reading on my lunch break or a glass of wine after work!

Dru: Is Mudbay small? (Like his beloved cat, Dru is a man of few words)