St. James Cathedral’s Neighborhood: A Community of Culture

Atop Seattle’s First Hill, St. James Cathedral hovers protectively over downtown and the waterfront. This dense urban corridor harbors a wide array of humanity few other local neighborhoods can rival. And it is here, aligned by the always busy Madison Street—among hospitals and churches, schools and museums, apartments and condominiums, hotels and businesses—that the arts have consistently and all too quietly flourished. St. James and its neighbors have proudly cultivated year-round musical and cultural offerings of the highest quality, and in this concentrated area known as a medical and spiritual hub, it’s time to recognize and celebrate the artistic and cultural activities that set our First Hill neighborhood apart. St. James has long been appreciated for its transcendent concerts and recitals, and stands proudly in the midst of many nearby institutions whose cultural output is as diverse as it is dynamic. Emily Baillargeon Russin, St. James Cathedral Music Office.

First Hill Venues:

St. James Cathedral
804 Ninth Ave., Seattle, WA 98104
206-382-4874
www.stjames-cathedral.org/music

Frye Art Museum
704 Terry Ave., Seattle, WA 98104
206-622-9250
www.fryemuseum.org

Town Hall
1119 Eighth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101
206-652-4255
www.townhallseattle.org

Trinity Episcopal Church
609 Eighth Ave., Seattle, WA 98104
206-624-5337
www.trinityseattle.org

Harborview Medical Center
325 Ninth Ave.,Seattle, WA 98104
206-744-3000
www.lmcseattle.org

Sorrento Hotel
900 Madison St., Seattle, WA 98104
206-622-6400
www.hotelsorrento.com

ONGOING-JANUARY 2010

“Living Legacy”—An exhibit of a selection of Charles and Emma Frye’s Founding Collection, highlighting works from late 19th- and early 20th-century Europe, particularly Germany. Through January 10, 2010. Free. FRYE ART MUSEUM

“Open Roads and Bedside Tables”: American Modernism in the Frye Collection—Early 20th-century American paintings from the Museum’s permanent collection. Runs September 26 through January 10, 2010. Free. FRYE ART MUSEUM

JANUARY 2010

First Hill Arts and Culture Events

“Living Legacy”—An exhibit of a selection of Charles and Emma Frye’s Founding Collection, highlighting works from late 19th- and early 20th-century Europe, particularly Germany. Through January 10, 2010. Free. FRYE ART MUSEUM

“Open Roads and Bedside Tables”: American Modernism in the Frye Collection—Early 20th-century American paintings from the Museum’s permanent collection. Runs September 26 through January 10, 2010. Free. FRYE ART MUSEUM

Chamber Music Concert—The Ladies Musical Club presents contemporary French recital pieces for oboe and piano, as well as a performance of Bach’s “Coffee Cantata.” www.lmcseattle.org. Saturday, January 2 at 2pm. Free. FRYE ART MUSEUM

Seattle Baroque Orchestra—Celebrate the New Year with this “Out With the Old; In with Vivaldi!” concert, featuring overtures and concertos by the celebrated Italian composer, works for solo and multiple violins, viola d’amore, and lute. Saturday, January 2 at 8pm. $38-$29, $13 seniors, $10 students. www.seattlebaroque.org. TOWN HALL

Opera Preview—A lecture previewing the upcoming Seattle Opera production of “Il Trovatore.” Sunday, January 3 at 2pm. Free. FRYE ART MUSEUM

Jazz Vespers—The monthly jazz series features the Bernie Jacobs Quartet. Led by the multi-talented Jacobs on flute, sax, and vocals, BJQ plays a wide variety of jazz including rhythm and blues, straight-ahead jazz and pop. Sunday, January 3 at 6:30pm. Freewill offering. SEATTLE FIRST BAPTIST

Organ Recital—A weekly midday recital featuring a local professional organist for a 40-minute musical interlude. Wednesday, January 6 at 12:10pm. Free. TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Blue Earth Lecture Series—Local photographer Annie Marie Musselman shows and discusses “Finding Trust: My Discoveries at a Small Wildlife Sanctuary.” Saturday, January 9 at 2pm. www.blueearth.org. Free for members, $10 adults, $5 students. FRYE ART MUSEUM

Winter Warmer Concert—A recital by sopranos Sarah Fletcher and Megan Chenovick, who will sing opera arias and duets from the Classical, Romantic and modern eras in a benefit for ROAR of WA. Sunday, January 10 at 2pm. Free-will offering. SEATTLE FIRST BAPTIST

Dr. Atul Gawande—The acclaimed surgeon and bestselling author of “The Checklist Manifesto” discusses “The Future of Health” and the ways in which health care providers can prepare and better serve their communities with improved response to emergency situations. Sunday, January 10 at 7:30pm. $5, www.brownpapertickets.com, and at the door at 6:30pm. Downstairs. TOWN HALL

Chamber Music Concert—The Ladies Musical Club presents an opera workshop, featuring scenes from French Grand Opera music by Saint Saens, Bizet, Gounod and Offenbach. Monday, January 11, 3-4pm. Free. In the cafeteria. HARBORVIEW MEDICAL CENTER

Claudia Fitch: New Drawings—Come for a glass of wine and a Fireside Chat with the artist, whose work appears as part of the Sorrento’s biannual series of art installations in honor of its 100th birthday. Also featuring Michael Darling, Jon and Mary Shirley curator of contemporary art at Seattle Art Museum and Jeffrey Mitchell at 7pm. Monday, January 11, 6:30-8:30pm. Fireside Room. Free and open to the public. Drawings on view through May. SORRENTO HOTEL

Midnight Symposium with Dr. Atul Gawande—The surgeon and author (“The Checklist Manifesto”) appears to discuss his work and his writing. The Stanford-, Oxford-, and Harvard-trained doctor served as a health policy advisor for Bill Clinton’s presidential campaign, has written for the New Yorker, and currently is on the faculty at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. $50/person, which also includes a copy of “Checklist” as well as a stew/wine supper. Monday, January 11 at 8pm. Penthouse Suite. SORRENTO HOTEL

Organ Recital—A weekly midday recital featuring a local professional organist for a 40-minute musical interlude. Wednesday, January 13 at 12:10pm. Free. TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Los Cenzontles—As part of Town Hall’s “Global Rhythms” series, the Grammy-nominated “Mockingbirds” perform their Mexican-American music, which mixes electric bass and drums with traditional instruments to create a contemporary Chicano sound. The eight-member band is from the Bay area, and makes its Seattle debut. Pre-concert talk with group founder Eugene Rodriguez at 7:15pm. Friday, January 15 at 8pm. $27-$24. TOWN HALL

Short Stories Live: The Catholic Imagination—A Contemporary Theatre (ACT) Artistic Director Kurt Beattie directs a program of excerpts from classic short stories examining faith and the world from the Catholic perspective. Featuring works by Frank O’Connor, Katherine Anne Porter, Graham Greene, and J.F. Powers. Sunday, January 17 at 4pm. $15-$10. TOWN HALL

Organ Recital—A weekly midday recital featuring a local professional organist for a 40-minute musical interlude. Wednesday, January 20 at 12:10pm. Free. TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Fay Jones Lecture—The internationally acclaimed Seattle artist delivers an Art Talk. Thursday, January 21 at 7pm. Free. FRYE ART MUSEUM

Lake Union Civic Orchestra—LUCO, as the group is known, performs works by Scandinavian composers, including Neilsen, Reineke, and Sibelius. Led by music director Christophe Chagnard. $15/$10 students and seniors. www.luco.org. Friday, January 22 at 7:30pm. TOWN HALL

Tim Rollins and K.O.S.: A History—An exhibit showing the history of art teacher Tim Rollins and his work with at-risk youth in the Bronx during the 1980s-90s. These “Kids of Survival” (K.O.S.) have taken to the canvas as a means of self-expression that made international ripples in the art world. Opens Saturday, January 23. Ends May 31. Free. FRYE ART MUSEUM

Exhibit Lecture—Ian Berry, the Malloy Curator from the Tang Museum at Skidmore College presents a lecture about the newly opened exhibit, “Tim Rollins and K.O.S.: A History.” Saturday, January 23 at 2pm. Free. FRYE ART MUSEUM

The Seattle Project: I Wish I Knew Who I Was Before I Was Me—Curated by students working with Arts Corps teaching artists, this exhibit offers insight into the Frye collection as experienced by youth. Opens Saturday, January 23. Ends May 31. Free. FRYE ART MUSEUM

The Seattle Project: Public Belongings—Initiated by the Frye in collaboration with Path with Art, an organization that works with homeless adults, this exhibit includes the work of ten adults who worked together in the Frye Art Studio over a period of 12 weeks with Path with Art artists Regan Doody and Adam Doody. Opens Saturday, January 23. Ends May 31. Free. FRYE ART MUSEUM

Early Music Guild—The medieval music ensemble Sequentia performs a semi-staged opera, “The Rheingold Curse,” taken from ancient Icelandic legends. Led by Benjamin Bagby with singers, flutes, lyres, medieval fiddle, sung in ancient Icelandic with English supertitles. Pre-concert lecture at 7pm. Saturday, January 23 at 8pm. $42-$25. www.earlymusicguild.org. TOWN HALL

Magic Lantern: Talks on Film and Art—Film critic Robert Horton lectures on “The Movie Mashup: Wild Literary Adaptations,” with film clips. Sunday, January 24 at 2pm. Free. FRYE ART MUSEUM

Organ Recital—A weekly midday recital featuring a local professional organist for a 40-minute musical interlude. Wednesday, January 27 at 12:10pm. Free. TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH

A Mozart Birthday Toast—A celebration of Mozart’s birthday, featuring keyboardist Byron Schenkman and Friends performing solo and chamber works by the late composer. $20-$13 student and seniors, price also includes a sparkling beverage, chocolates, and a chance to win prizes. Wednesday, January 27 at 7:30pm. TOWN HALL

Gallery Talk—Poet Roberto Ascalon and musician-producer Amos Miller appear in conjunction with the “Seattle Project: I Wish I Knew Who I Was Before I Was Me” exhibit, along with Arts Corps students. Saturday, January 30 at 2pm. Free. FRYE ART MUSEUM

Music for Voice and Lute—John Lenti and Linda Tsatsanis explore the variations of this musical combination. Saturday, January 30 at 7:30pm. Parish Hall. TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH