Corinne Whiting

Culture Dose: Boats Afloat

Anchors Down at Lake Union.

From September 11 though 15, a water-centric extravaganza takes over South Lake Union. Here, attendees get to dream of perhaps one day owning their own vessel—whether a majestic sailboat, an itty-bitty kayak or a palatial yacht. Boats Afloat opens Wednesday at 11 a.m. and continues into the evening with tropical-theme festivities that take place from 4 to 8 p.m.; expect entertainment by Aloha Island Treasures (Hawaiian music and dance), pupus, wine tasting and, with any kind of luck, a pastel sunset fit for paradise.

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Culture Dose: Pickathon 2013 Recap

A blissful, wooded weekend of talented musicians jamming amid the trees.

pickathon
Photos by Melissa Dismuke

After my interview with Pickathon founder Zale Schoenborn, I had the strong suspicion I had serendipitously stumbled upon something pretty darn special. But I still had very little idea what to expect as my friends and I pulled into Happy Valley’s Pendarvis Farm two Thursdays ago, dust kicking up behind us into the gray Oregon sky.

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Culture Dose: Q&A With Polecat

A Bluegrass Band From Bellingham Jams Their Way Around the State.

If you aren’t already familiar with local band Polecat, we recommend you add them to your list. Formed in Bellingham in March 2010, the talented musicians have delighted fans ever since with their onstage enthusiasm and toe-tapping sound that mixes bluegrass, country, Celtic, rock and world music. Better yet, we get the feeling they’re just really good folks with whom we’d happily sit down and share a pint. The friendly rockers gave us a taste of how they’ve arrived where they are today.

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Culture Dose: Toubab Krewe

Malian rhythms and surf-rock meet Appalachian folk sounds at the Tractor this Saturday

Toubab Krewe hails from Asheville, North Carolina, yet the group has traveled far (Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mali) to truly find its sound. The quintet counts African greats like Ali Farka Toure, Orchestra Baobab and Salif Keita among its many influences. The musicians admit they cannot easily be fit under one genre; the group’s been described

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