Wild And Windblown: Maryhill Festival of Speed Day 1

So, I don’t want to brag, but sometimes I do get the coolest assignments at the paper.

Today, YH-R photographer Sara Gettys and I headed down to Goldendale for the first day of practice for this year’s Maryhill Festival of Speed. This is only the festival’s second year and it’s already hosting the International Gravity Sports Association’s World Championships.

I was told several times today, that’s a pretty big frickin’ deal. This is the first time the world championships — which include downhill skateboarding, inline skating and street luge — have been held outside of Europe. And, IGSA President Marcus Rietema accidentally let it slip that next year’s IGSA World Championships, won’t be in Europe either. It’ll be in Australia.

But this year, Goldendale — and John Ozman, who founded the Maryhill Festival of Speed — have the privilege of hosting 200 speed freaks from more than 10 countries as they risk life and limb, and some serious road rash, to race down the historic Maryhill Loops Road.

You can check out my amateur photos and videos from today’s practice HERE.

“It’s a fantastic road,” said Switzerland’s Martin Siegrist, who’s one of the major competitors in the downhill skateboard race. (He’s got three to one odds to win it.)

“Finally we got a strong tail wind; we were waiting for that last year,” he noted. (Strong is an understatement, the wind was blowing so hard it was knocking over the hay bale barricades.)

Plus, he added, the golden grass and blue skies make for some great pictures.

“It’s just a perfect spot for a race,” said Siegrist.

Today and tomorrow the racers will practice navigating the road’s more than 20 curves. The first qualifying run is from 1 to 5 p.m. Friday.

The races (and the practices) are free to watch. A shuttle — which will take spectators to two sites with bleachers and shade — runs Saturday and Sunday only, otherwise you have to walk (watch out for the cowpies). The free shuttle leaves from the bottom of Maryhill Loops Road, which is to the left, just past the Stonehenge Memorial turn-out on Washington Scenic Route 14.

You can also catch a good view of the road from the scenic viewpoint on U.S. Route 97.

Here’s the schedule, which is subject to change:
Read more

Strange Fruit Come to Yakima

This morning, Nami Hall and Grant Moulday of the Australian performing arts company STRANGE FRUIT, swayed and swooped over the kids from St. Joseph/Marquette schools during a sneak peek at the troupe’s unique aerial ballet, which is performed on flexible fiberglass poles.

Strange Fruit will perform it’s show “Swoon!” in Yakima on Thursday as part of the SummerEnder festival.

You can see more photos HERE, and check back later to see a video of this morning’s demonstration.

*UPDATED* Get Stoked: Extreme Athletes Coming to Goldendal Aug. 27-Aug. 31

That’s right, for five days, 200 extreme sports athletes from 12 countries will zoom down the historic — not to mention steep and swervy — Maryhill Loops Road just south of Goldendale.

They’re coming for the Maryhill Festival of Speed, which is hosting the International Gravity Sports Association’s World Championships.

According to the IGSA Web site, this will be the first time the world championships — which include downhill skateboarding, inline skating and street luge — have been held outside of Europe.

And these are some serious speed freaks, just check out these VIDEOS from last year.

The races are free to watch. A shuttle — which will take spectators to two sites with bleachers and shade — runs Saturday and Sunday. The free shuttle leaves from the bottom of Maryhill Loops Road, which is about 500 yards, to the left, past the Stonehenge Memorial turn-out on Washington Scenic Route 14.

Here’s the complete schedule:

Read more

Tonight’s Episode of ‘Project Runway’ (Spoiler Alert)

I can’t wait for tonight’s episode of “Project Runway,” when the designers have to create an outfit fit for a queen — a drag queen.

Last week, the challenge was to design a day-to-night outfit for Brooke Shields’ character on “Lipstick Jungle,” and homeboylicious Blayne Walsh just barley avoided elimination with a garment that judge Michael Kors called “uninteresting.” (Which was much nicer than Hiedi Klum’s comment that Blayne’s model “looks like a woman that didn’t have a mirror.”)

How will Blayne do this week? Well if you don’t want to know, stop reading NOW.

Read more

Send In Your Favorite Family Movies For Next Year’s Outdoor Series

By chance, this year Allied Arts included one of my all-time favorite movies — “The NeverEnding Story” — as part of its Outdoor Summer Cinema Series.

And now they’re taking suggestions for family-friendly films (G and PG only) that you’d like to see included next year.

You can send your list to info@alliedartsyakima.org.

Also, here are a few stats from this year’s series:
• 1,950 people attended
• 1,220 pounds of food and $40 collected for the Northwest Harvest food bank
• 1 surprise by Gilbert Park’s sprinkler system

‘The Rocker’ Opens Tomorrow

The new comedy “THE ROCKER” opens here tomorrow.

It stars the very funny Rainn Wilson (best known as Dwight Schrute on the TV series “The Office”), who I interviewed back in May at the Sasquatch! Music Festival.

That’s when I also found out Rainn has family ties to the Yakima Valley: His cousin lives here, and for a long time his mom called Wapato home.

“So I used to come over as a teenager to scenic Wapato, Washington,” said Wilson, who was born in Seattle.
“Oh yeah, there’s definitely a Rainn Wilson-Wapato connection.”

Discounted Carnival Ride Wristbands And Fair Admission Tickets On Sale Today

Beginning today, thrifty thrill-seekers and dollar-wise dare devils can now save some cash on the carnival rides at this year’s Central Washington State Fair — which means more money to spend on corn dogs.

Discounted carnival ride wristbands are on sale for $22 and may be used any day at the fair, which runs Sept. 26-Oct. 5 at State Fair Park. (Wristbands purchased at the fair cost $25 or $30.)

Also, advance purchase of fair admission tickets is available. Tickets cost $10 for ages 13-64, $8 for seniors and $6 for ages 6-12. This is a savings of $1 per ticket. Children 5 and younger are free.

Read more

Get A Sneak Peek At This Year’s Painted Pints

“Glass lust” is already in full effect, confirms Allied Arts executive director Jessica Moskwa.

Folks have been trying to sneak a peek at the pint glasses — each adorned with hand-painted, one-of-a-kind works of art by more than 30 artists — that will be sold at the second annual Painted Pints Party, which is Sept. 3 at the G-Spot bar in Gasperetti’s Restaurant, 1013 N. First St.

Well, you don’t have to wait any longer. You can get a look at a few of the pint-sized paintings at On’s Flickr page.

Read more

Tonight’s ‘Project Runway’ (Spoiler Alert)

Once again, if you don’t want to know who is out on tonight’s episode of “Project Runway,” stop reading NOW.
Read more

Princes of Comedy Tour To Make Up Missed Yakima Show This Friday

Last week, the Princes of Comedy tour missed its gig at the Capitol Theatre — something about getting held up at the Las Vegas airport.

But instead of totally blowing Yakima off, the tour is swinging through town to make up the show.

“A lot of promoters would say, ‘Oh, well.’ But that’s not the reputation we wanted to have,” says Julian Young, who’s promoting the show that features a number of young stand-up comics hand-picked by actor/comedian D.L. Hughley.

The Princes of Comedy will be taking the Capitol Theatre stage at 8 p.m. THIS FRIDAY.

Tickets are available at a discount for $10 through TicketsWest, 800-325-7328, or the Capitol Theatre box office, 853-2787. According to Young, a portion of ticket sales will be donated to the Children’s Wishes and Dreams foundation.

But if you paid full price ($35) for the canceled show, which was Aug. 8, those tickets will also be honored — as well as grant you admission to a meet-and-greet reception with the comedians.

That kind of makes up for the price difference, right? ON says only if there are free snacks and boozes.

Call the Capitol box office for details.

Carlos Mencia Returns For Fall Show

Stand-up comic Carlos Mencia, the creator of Comedy Central’s “Mind of Mencia,” is returning to the Yakima Valley this fall. He brings his “At Close Range” tour to the Capitol Theatre on Oct. 12.

Tickets cost $42 and are available through TicketsWest, 800-325-7328, or the Capitol Theatre box office, 853-2787.

Mencia, known for his racially-charged, and widely popular, comedy routine, visited Toppenish in 2006, when he performed at the Yakama Nation Legends Casino.

I’ll Drink To That

Have you noticed that Rainier beer is once again touting its connection to the great Pacific Northwest?

Although the Seattle brewery and iconic red “R” are long gone, Rainier now proudly states on its label “Made with Yakima Valley Hops.”

It’s a well-known fact that 70-percent of the nation’s hops are grown right here in the Valley, and according to the Rainier Web site, this brew is made with Chinook, Mt. Hood and Willamette hop notes.

Personally, I like a beer with a little local pride — as you can see by the stockpile of “Vitamin R” I have in my fridge.

Holla At Your Bronze Boy

So, I just finished catching up on last night’s episode of “Project Runway,” and I have to say Blayne and his tanning addiction is hilarious. It’s like UV crack or something.

His best line:

“In tanning, I’m an Olympic athlete … It only goes to bronze metal.”

Gilbert Cellars Tasting Room Grand Opening Tomorrow

The place to sip and be seen tomorrow night (Friday) will definitely be the grand opening of GILBERT CELLARS, the newest tasting room to open in downtown Yakima at 5 N. Front St. (formerly Corday’s).

(And, OMG, if you have not tried Gilbert Cellars’ malbec, you HAVE BEEN MISSING OUT!)

The ribbon cutting is at 5 p.m., followed by barrel tastings, live music and appetizers at 6 p.m.

The tasting room is the latest venture by brothers — and seriously nice guys — Sean and Nate Gilbert, who founded their Ahtanum Valley winery west of Yakima in 2004, but wanted to have a more prominent presence than their vineyard.

They looked at several possible locations but were ultimately drawn to the charm of the cornerfront spot in the Lund Building, a 1899 structure now on the National Register of Historic Places.

The new tasting room is the latest in the Gilbert family’s history in the Yakima Valley. The family’s tree-fruit company, Gilbert Orchards, has been around since the 1800s.

Bar Noir: Also a Party For Popovic

Gallery One in Ellensburg is hosting another BAR NOIR this Saturday, which benefits the gallery and the Ellensburg Film Festival.

The evening begins at 7 p.m. with cocktails and beers from Roslyn Brewery, plus wine from Cave B Estate Winery and Sagecliffe.

The event also serves as the farewell party (well, one of the many that have happened) for man-about-the-burg Djordje Popovic, who’s cultural contributions to Ellensburg — besides his anarchist/Euro-chic look — have included the Videmus Lecture and Film Series, the Ellensburg Film Festival and the numerous events he’s helped bring to Central Washington University as the program coordinator with the college’s diversity education center.

Popovic is leaving E’burg for grad school in Minneapolis (which, he likes to brag, has a bar on ever corner).

Next Page »