The Legacy of Seattle Hip-Hop @ MOHAI - 9/19/15—5/1/16

I've never been inside the Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI)'s new home on Lake Union, but I have a feeling this exhibit will definitely be the one that brings me in.

MOHAI Presents The Legacy of Seattle Hip-Hop, September 19, 2015—May 1, 2016. Curated by Seattle natives Jazmyn Scott (The Town Entertainment) and Aaron Walker-Loud (Big World Breaks), this interactive exhibit will immerse visitors in the sights and sounds of our region’s growing Hip-Hop culture through audio recordings, photography, artwork, artifacts, and more.

The exhibit will explore many facets of the Seattle HipHop scene including graffiti, deejaying, break dancing, production, and emceeing, linking our region to the continuously evolving global Hip-Hop movement. 

"The opportunity to curate this groundbreaking exhibit is a crescendo of our personal and collaborative journeys as members of the Northwest arts community,” said Scott and Walker-Loud of the process of bringing the exhibit to life.

View iconic clothing from the closets of some of Seattle’s most well-known Hip-Hop artists such as Macklemore, Raz Simone and Massive Monkees, and vintage production equipment from legendary producers Jake 1, NastyMix Records and Tribal Productions. Highlights from the careers of Seattle’s world famous breakdancing crews along with long forgotten or never before seen mix tapes from the vaults of Seattle deejays with an international following – DJ B Mello, DJ Topspin and Kun Luv will also be on display.

This exhibit will have an interactive production studio where visitors step behind the scene to mix their own tracks using unreleased beats from Grammy Award Nominee Jake 1 and the venerable Vitamin D of the Pharmacy and a dance floor on which to bust a move and breakdance.

In addition, local artist Specs Wizard has created a custom mural as an exhibit centerpiece that will hang alongside rare graffiti pieces by DVS, Keep One and King Khazm of 206 Zulu.

Check out The Legacy of Seattle Hip-Hop at:

• Opening Family Day, Saturday, September 19 from 10 am—5 pm;
• at the Hip-Hop History Café, September 17th, 6:30 pm with Dr. Daudi Abe, a professor, writer and historian who has taught classes on culture, race, gender, communication, education, hip-hop and sports; or
• Saturday Spin Second Saturday of the month, 1 – 4 pm with local Seattle DJ’s spinning records in The Legacy of Seattle Hip-Hop exhibit starting in October through May 2016.

Visit www.mohai.org/hiphop for additional information and programming.

This exhibit is made possible in part by generous support from the Office of Arts & Culture Seattle, ArtsFund, 4Culture, and in part by a grant from the Washington State Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. MOHAI thanks exhibit partners 50 Next: Seattle Hip-Hop Worldwide, The Town Entertainment, and Big World Breaks for their support. MOHAI also thanks media sponsor KUOW Public Radio. 

See you there!

Seattle Must-See: Cirque du Soleil's KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities

Did you know?

Cirque du Soleil, the Montreal-based theatrical production company with world-famous Vegas resident shows, also makes stops in Seattle every other year! I had the privilege of attending KURIOS™ – Cabinet of Curiosities, the latest traveling show, on opening night and it was a night of steampunk magical fun.

I am not a big fan of actual circuses, nor do I normally gravitate towards plays, musicals or other theatre productions. I do, however, have a soft spot in my heart for Cirque du Soleil. I remember visiting Vegas with my family as a kid and being enchanted by the Cirque productions there. I've seen all of the Vegas shows aside from the themed (Beatles & MJ), and have made sure to see every production that comes through Seattle for the past decade or so. I am always so impressed by the athletic ability of the performers, not to mention their ability to transport us into the depths of mystery, beauty and imagination.

Kurios is no different; as soon as you get one look at the stage, it truly feels like you're inside a curio cabinet. From the props to the costumes, there's an overwhelmingly steampunk vibe that makes the show feel like a traveling circus of bygone times. I couldn't help but think how Kurios might be the most family-friendly Cirque show yet. The storylines, costumery and music of most Cirque shows instill a tiny bit of fear along with wonder and fascination - even as an adult! Kurios felt so fun and delightful for everyone, no matter what age.

If you're looking for something awesome, unique and fun to do for your next date or family night, definitely make sure to catch Kurios while it's still in town!

Kurios is now showing nightly Tuesday - Sunday in Redmond's Marymoor Park, with a matinee performance Saturday and earlier shows Sunday. Now through March 22nd!

Get your tickets and find out more information on the show here.

Thank you Cirque du Soleil for having us!

Disclosure: Tickets provided by Cirque du Soleil for this post. All opinions are mine!

Keep The Beacon Lit! Massive Monkees Give Back

It's rare to see a group of friends successfully turn a hobby into a full-fledged business, and yet the Massive Monkees have done just that. Massive is a breakdancing crew born in 1999 here in Seattle. It's been a whirlwind ride since then, with the team achieving international fame (remember America's Best Dance Crew?), world championships and numerous endorsements. While this could have easily parlayed into a launchpad for the individual careers of a few of its standout dancers, Massive instead stuck together and turned their collective efforts back into the city that raised them.

In January of this year, the team opened The Beacon, a 2000+ sf studio in the International District that was was made possible through a grant from Storefronts Seattle. Over 400 students, both young and old, have since walked through The Beacon's doors for the opportunity to dance and learn from members of the Massive Monkees as well as local dance professionals, like Amy O'Neal, Splinter Dance Company and C&C Fitness Studio.

Their grant with Storefronts Seattle is coming to an end this month, and they've started a Kickstarter to help Keep the Beacon Lit.

Photo courtesy Massive Monkees The Studio's Facebook page

I've been a fan of the Massive Monkees for almost their entire existence. They've been a part of my life through appearances at the University of Washington, Pista sa Nayon and more. I never forget the first Massive Monkees Day proclaimed to them by former Seattle mayor Greg Nickels in 2004. It was my birthday :) It feels like I've grown up with them, and for that I want to see them succeed however I can.

 As a crew, we have shared in these experiences that have changed our lives for better in so many ways. We recognize how great of a gift that was for us and recognize that we now have an opportunity to carry on the tradition and pay that forward to the next generation of dancers and young artists. Through Massive Monkees classes, workshops, school shows, community events and Massive Monkees Studio: The Beacon, hopefully we can give them the tools to take it to the next level and go on to accomplish great things as well.

They are just about halfway to their goal of $30,000 with a little over two weeks left! Head over to their Kickstarter page for more info and to donate.

Thanks to Brysen Angeles & Joe Stolte for their help in creating this post!

30Fresh Aces: Paula Aio

Each week during 30Fresh, I'll introduce you to a couple of incredible people whose soul, energy, humor, talent, intellect and dreams light up my life. I think the world of them and hope you do too!

On this last day of 30Fresh, it's my pleasure to introduce you to my best friend of 16+ years, Paula Aio!

Paula and I met in 8th grade P.E. class back in good old Kent. We figured out right away it was more fun talking to each other and dancing to songs like Bell Biv Devoe's 'Poison' while standing in line waiting to play soccer and running a mile than it was to deal with the awkwardness of junior high alone. We were talking just the other day about how the group of friends we rolled with in junior and high school were so much fun and yet somehow we stayed away from career-ending poor decisions youngsters sometimes get into. LOL!

Paula's stuck by me throughout college, our shared time working at Niketown with the coolest coworkers in the world, and this crazy career of mine. We have a lot in common, but music is by far our strongest bond. To be honest, I'm not sure why she hangs out with me because her music tastes are way more diverse and classy than mine. I mean, I can never have enough Gucci Mane. But this isn't about me. I can say with full certainty that Paula is one of the nicest people walking this fine planet, with the biggest heart to boot. In high school, she won Best Dancer senior year. That's why it's no surprise she's now a Zumba teacher whose classes are rich with salsa, merengue, cumbia, hula, hip-hop and maybe even a little bit of twerkin' too. Whenever I take one of Paula's Zumba classes, my heart swells with pride because it's clear she's in her element - and her students totally respond to her amazing energy. They are diehards for her class, dressing up in tutus and all! I feel like the world is just seeing what Paula is capable of, including Paula herself. I'm excited and a little scared for y'all now that Romy and Michele (one of our favorite movies next to The Count of Monte Cristo & Lilo & Stitch) have approached their 30s! Now that we have a better grip on ourselves, this decade's 'bout to ROCK.

WE JUST GETTIN STARTED Y'ALL!

Paula decided a video was the best way to answer her interview questions. Enjoy :)

Thank you! 30Fresh. 30 days of posts celebrating 30 years - and 5 of Fresh Jess!

20 Hrs in Portland for 366 Days of Kicks

On the first day of my detox, I thought it'd be a brilliant idea to take a road trip to Portland with my bestie to celebrate my friend Amy Jo on the completion of her blog project, 366 Days of Kicks. The party was so high-energy, with dance performances from dance troupes in Portland and beyond (the Monsters of Hip-Hop workshop was being held the same weekend just up the road in Vancouver, WA.) 

I love that Portland has this sporty, laid-back style to it. Being in Nike's backyard makes for a style that's distinctively Pacific Northwest yet very different from Seattle and Vancouver. Amy's party definitely had the streetwear stylish in attendance that night. I can't remember the last time I've been in the presence of so many incredible pairs of sneakers. I definitely felt right at home!

Nike Sky Hi Dunks in black / Zara leather jacket (similar) / Topshop cargo trousers / Feel the Piece deep v-neck striped tee / H&M chambray shirt (similar)

Lynn Quan had her Obsessionism wares on sale at the 366 Days of Kicks shindig, and I couldn't help myself in the face of this spiked beanie. Lynn crafts these beanies, snapbacks and jewelry when she's not busy designing for Nike. Thanks & great to meet you Lynn! Find her on Instagram at @Obsessionism.

We capped off our 20 some-odd hours in the City of Roses with some shopping at the Nike employee store and Pearl District. I'd say it was another successful day trip!

Saw this quote in the bathroom at Prasad's cafe. Such a great line of mantras to take with you on the rest of your day.