'Bon Voyage, Joey Ripley'

Local actor Joey Ripley is saying goodbye to Port Townsend with a cabaret performance to showcase what he has learned and been working on during his time in town before leaving for other adventures.

The event is set for 7:30 p.m. June 13 at Key City Public Theater, 419 Washington St., Port Townsend. Community members are invited to the event whether they know Ripley or not. 

The program is conceived and performed by Ripley and features Safire E. Glamour, a professional drag queen being flown in from New York for this one-night performance.

For tickets and more information, visit keycitypublictheatre.org. 

‘Women in the Civil War’ talk June 16

Jefferson County Genealogical Society addresses the changing roles of women during the Civil War during its monthly meeting set for 9:30 to 11 a.m. June 16 at the Tri-Area Community Center, 10 W. Valley Road, Chimacum.

Jill Morelli will talk about how the war offered opportunities for some to stretch the boundaries of society’s norms. Morelli will discuss the roles of women before the war, the roles they accepted during the war and the legacy of the Civil War. 

Vineyards notes first year

Port Townsend Vineyards is celebrating one year of serving up reds, whites and bubbles with an anniversary set for 5 to 8 p.m. June 15 at its winery at 2640 W. Sims Way. The event  will include lawn games, barrel races, live music from Micaela Knight and wine. On the menu will be riesling, Discovery White, chardonnay, pinot noir, syrah, Discovery Red and the newly released Discovery Rosé.

Admission is free and open to all ages and will kick off the vineyard's summer of “Wine Down Fridays,” which is a weekly music series.

Summer Reading program kicks off with magic show

The annual Summer Reading Program kicks off June 18 and 19 at the Jefferson County and  Port Townsend Public libraries, respectively.

The county library will host a show June 18 by magician Jeff Evans. The event is set to take place at 6:30 p.m. at the Jefferson County Library, 620 Cedar Ave. in Port Hadlock. 

The kick-off event June 19 at the PT Public Library, 1220 Lawrence St., includes musical instrument making, a kazoo ensemble, African drumming and dance with Aaron Vallat and Jill Alban, and sidewalk chalk art activities. That event is 3 to 6 p.m.

At both of the kick-off events, children, teens and adults can sign up to earn prizes for the hours they read through the program.

Reading records can be issued at either the Jefferson County or the Port Townsend Public libraries, and prizes can be collected at either location. Children and teens will earn books and T-shirts, and adults can earn a T-shirt.

All summer reading program activities and events are free.

Orchestra conductor honored for podcast work, more

Port Townsend Community Orchestra conductor and artistic director Tigran Arakelyan has recently received three notable honors.

He has been named director of the 2018 Northwest Mahler Festival, a summer festival comprising professionals, students and community musicians performing large-scale works in reading sessions and a final concert July 21 in Seattle.

He has also received the bronze medal at the Global Music Awards for his work on Off The Podium Music Podcast. The podcast has close to 70 episodes. The three podcast episodes evaluated for the award were interviews with David Harrington, of Kronos Quartet; Grammy award-winning bassist Christian McBride; and Pulitzer Prize winning composer George Walker.

Arakelyan was also named a finalist for the American Prize in Orchestral Programming with the Bainbridge Island Youth Orchestra. The prize recognizes and rewards the best achievement in the field of orchestral programming, according to a press release.

Arakelyn received his doctorate in conducting from the University of Washington in 2016 and has just completed his first season with the Port Townsend Community Orchestra. For information about the orchestra's next season, visit PortTownsendOrchestra.org.

Burlesque shows June 22, 23 in Port Townsend

Those looking for a night of burlesque this summer are in luck.

Attendees are invited to “come as you are” or “come as you aren't” to the June 22 burlesque performance that is a fundraiser for the 2019 Jubilee Arts Festival being organized by singer Grace Love. The burlesque performance will be hosted by newcomer drag king Rikki Sly and includes live music, a costume contest, DJ dance party and more. The event is at 7 p.m. at the Highway 20 Roadhouse, 2152 W. Sims Way. For tickets, visit missgracelove.com/event-tickets.

A burlesque event hosted by Velvet Revolution, Twisted History, Noxious Oxalis and DJ O.B.1. will be June 23. The event will include dance, music, a séance specialist and more. “Dead Cancan Dance” takes place at 7 p.m. at the American Legion, 209 Monroe St., Port Townsend.  For more information, visit DeadCancanDance.BPT.ME.

'Help end Alzheimer's' at June 21 fundraiser

A fundraising party to benefit the Alzheimer's Association is taking place on the longest day of summer, June 21, at Victoria Place, a senior living community at 491 Discovery Rd. in Port Townsend. The event will include music, barbecue and drinks, will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. and is part of events hosted nationwide to “show your love and help end Alzheimer's disease.”

Admission is free to attend and eat; donations are welcome. Caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients are invited to come with their loved ones.

Live music will be provided by The Alternators, with Peter Evasic on fiddle and George Radebaugh on accordion. The duo is to perform upbeat Zydeko and Gypsy jazz. Learn more at alz.org/thelongestday.

Concert benefits Jumping Mouse

A team of local jazz musicians is presenting a concert June 24 to benefit a children's therapy center.

The concert, set for 7 p.m. at Port Townsend Friends Meetinghouse, 1841 Sheridan St., will fund Jumping Mouse Children's Center and will feature singer Carla Main along with Dirk Anderson on bass, Ted Brancato on keyboards, Kurt Festinger on sax and clarinet and Robert Rushing on drums.

“I jumped at the chance to work with these generous and talented musicians to support Jumping Mouse,” Main stated in a press release. “This organization changes the lives of kids who are coping with stress or trauma. In helping them find their way to healing, lives are touched throughout the community. Kids, families, schools and the whole community are stronger and more resilient. We are so lucky to have this unique service in our community.”

Admission is by a $20 donation. 

Jumping Mouse helps children who have experienced emotional stress or trauma deeply affecting them and their families. Specially trained therapists work with children aged 2 to 12 for as long as necessary, and families are served regardless of ability to pay, interim executive director Jenny Manza said. 

“We are so thrilled to have these generous musicians offer their talent on behalf of Jumping Mouse kids,” Manza said.

“Because of support from our community, we ensure that there are no financial barriers to therapy.”