DIY Directory 2009 – email sdiycollective at gmail dot come to offer errata, contributions, or input!
Thanks for picking up Seattle’s DIY Community Directory zine! The purpose of this is to be a listing of places and projects in town that people can become a part of, and have it be a guide to the city that promotes active participation instead of passive consumption. By distributing this zine around town, we hope to get people more involved in these spaces, and help promote all the awesome things going on in this city. We want people to look at this zine and say, “holy shit, Seattle has it goin on!”
The spaces, projects, and organizations in this zine are places that you can get involved in, be it by volunteering, creating partnerships, or just by hanging out. We think that the lifeblood of a sustainable community is a supportive and invested group of neighbors and individuals, and we can support each other’s efforts by strengthening our connections with these neighbors and peers. These places support these ideas in one way or another, and they do a lot to make this city more akin to what we would like to see.
What is DIY?
DIY stands for Do It Yourself – it’s a way of re-envisioning your role in the world, of rethinking how you engage in the marketplace, in politics, in institutions, and in your personal lives. This means things like growing your own food instead of eating at fast-food restaurants, making your own music instead of buying major-label CDs, making your own clothes and fashion instead of buying it out of magazines – It means deciding for yourself how you want to engage with the world around you. Additionally, we can go further than DIY and Do It Together: supporting one another and collaborating to create the world we want to see; cooperating and sharing our respective skills and knowledge for the collective good. Doing things in this way transforms how you see yourself in society – you become a producer of culture and goods, not just a consumer.
However! DIY means different things to different people. We are not the definitive experts on the subject, and we encourage everyone to make this culture and this community work for themselves and how they want to live their lives.
About the makers of this guide:
We’re the SeattleDIY Collective. We’re a group of mostly-young people who live in different parts of Seattle, united in our shared interest in DIY culture. We meet regularly to discuss what we can do to support the community, and we publish zines, organize benefit events, run a community calendar and publish a monthly newsletter. Want to get involved? Come to a meeting! Details later in this zine.
Cover artwork, contributions and editing also came from the magnificent Team Nerd & Recession-Proof Press. The awesome pull-out event poster was done by Daniel. Content and editing for this zine came from Sarina, Benji, Emily, and others. Thanks so much!
This and Future Editions:
This was written and published in the summer of 2009. A lot of time and effort was put into making this guide, although unforunately it is difficult to include everything. If we’ve forgotten you or didn’t know about your project or community space and you’d like us to include your space in future copies of this zine, let us know! Also, we would love to publish information about your DIY project on our website, seattlediy.com. Get in touch with us at sdiycollective@gmail.com.
Within these pages you will find:
* Places & Spaces
These are DIY and community projects that are easy to become plugged into. They operate in a way that invites the public to become a part of their efforts, and thus depends on people showing up, hanging out, and contributing however they can. Some of these places are stores, and depend on people buying things in order to keep their doors open – however, none of these spaces require that people must spend anything to be there. Left Bank Books and Pilot Books, for example, are both happy to have people just sit around and read to their heart’s content.
* DIY Projects and Community Organizations
These are groups that may not have a public location where people can just show up and hang out, but spend a lot of time and energy making their communities more thriving and healthier. Some of these groups, like Home Alive, offer workshops and teach skills, while otherslike Seattle Solidarily Network use volunteers to address specific community needs through direct action and public activism.
* Weekly and Monthly Events
Ever have one of those days where you wonder what to do with yourself? Well, wonder no more. There’s a wide range of DIY events happening almost every day of the week in Seattle. The events range from Food Not Bombs, where you can volunteer to help feed people or get food for yourself, to the awesome spectacle of the Critical Mass bike ride, to regular performances and open mics at Hidmo.
* List of Event Spaces/Venues
This is the list of places that host events, be it frequently or every once in a great while. If you’re trying to have a DIY event and don’t have anywhere to host it, you may want to try one of these places, but it’s always best to see what kind of things these places host. Check their respective websites or visit seattlediy.com’s event calendar to see what’s going on.
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The Bikery
1265 S Main St. #104 (Main St and 14th)
myspace.com/bikery
thebikery.org
Open Shop Hours:
Saturdays 12pm-6pm
Sundays 2pm-8pm
Mondays 2pm-8pm (Queers Gears and Cheers)
Tuesdays 2pm-8pm
The Bikery is a non-profit bicycle collective with a space and programs that provide opportunities for people to learn about, repair, and safely enjoy their bikes. They provide the tools and knowledge—you provide your bike and your enthusiasm. They work at creating an inviting framework to engage people from all backgrounds regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, class, or other boundaries. As they say, “together, we can define and participate in the whirlwind of creativity and good times that is bicycle culture!”
During open shop hours, you pay $5/hr for the use of a bicycle-stand. All assistance from the skilled volunteers if free of charge. The Bikery has used parts and some new parts for cheap. If you’re low on cash, you can do work-trade: one hour of work equals two hours of bike-stand usage. The Bikery also has bicycles that volunteers have built, ready to buy (for cheap!) and safe & ready to ride.
On Mondays from 2-8pm, The Bikery hosts Queers! Gears! and Cheers!, where you can drop in and work on your bike in a Queer-identified space. All identities, welcome. All skill levels welcome, and tools and helpful hands provided. Q!G!C! is aimed at creating a more visible Queer presence in Seattle’s bike culture and providing a fun, safe environment for underrepresented folks to become empowered.
The Bikery also offers classes in a variety of bicycle-related subjects ranging from basic maintenance to traffic law. For information about events visit their website or myspace page.
If you’d like to get involved in The Bikery, join them at a monthly members meeting, open to everybody, first Wednesday of the month @ 7:00p.
The Bike Shack
901 NE 55th St. (Behind the Wayward Cafe)
55th & 9th Ave, in the University District
bikeshack.org
seattlebikeshack@gmail.com
Open hours: check website for volunteer times. It always depends on when volunteers are available! Want them to be open more hours? Volunteer with them!
The Bike Shack is just what it sounds like – a quaint little shack for fixing bikes, hidden behind a delicious vegan cafe. The Bike Shack is volunteer-run, accepting donations for parts and volunteer time to help them pay the bills. They have all the tools and expertise you’ll need to fix your bike, and do it in an environment that’s accessible and friendly. It’s a really cool space, and is especially nice on sunny days, and especially when Wayward Cafe is open. Nothing beats eating a nice big plate of vegan biscuits and gravy while working on your bike.
The Bike Shack is always looking for funds and volunteers to help them continue. If you can donate and support their awesome project, please do.
At the time of writing this zine, the Bike Shack’s open hours are Sundays from 1-4pm, Mondays from 3-6pm, Tuesdays from 3-6pm, and Thursdays from 4-7pm. Hours are subject to change!
For more info, their e-mail address is seattlebikeshack@gmail.com, and anyone who wants to reach them by phone can call one of their core volunteers, Jesse Card, at 206-437-4450.
Cascade People’s Center
309 Pontius Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98109
cascadepeoplescenter.org
Cascade People’s Center is a community center in the South Lake Union area that houses a number of programs, largely youth and family programming, but also yoga classes, Seattle Free School events, workshops and trainings on various topics from nutrition to languages to gardening, and also houses events put on by community members. Every event, class, or program at Cascade People’s Center is free, and using their space is free of charge also. They operate on a mission of being a family and community support center, and also stand for social and environmental justice in the community.
One of their oh-so-awesome things that they are home to is:
Food Not Bombs Cascade Free Market – Free produce and groceries from your friendly activists at Food Not Bombs, every Sunday at 1:30pm.
Gallery 1412
1412 18th Ave E
18th + Union in the Capitol Hill/Central District area
gallery1412.org
Events are $5-15 sliding scale, all ages, and begin at 8pm unless otherwise noted. info@gallery1412.org
Gallery 1412 is a performance and art space run by a collective of musicians, writers, dancers and other artists who are dedicated to the presentation of art. They’re under the umbrella of Seattle Improvised Music. Events often include film nights, dance, spoken word, poetry and numerous music performances, often within the realm of “experimental” performance and art.
Gallery1412 is a volunteer and member-run collective, and they often are on the lookout for new members. If you are interested in learning more about becoming a member please contact:
info (at) gallery1412.org. Members are given access to use the space for rehearsals, lessons, and performances. Membership rates for artists who are only interested in rehearsal and/or teaching space are $50-80 monthly. for artists who intend to use the gallery for performances, they ask $80-100. They are willing to negotiate alternative arrangements for folks with special circumstances. Just ask.
On the first Tuesday of each month, Gallery 1412 hosts Flim Night, a monthly showcase of a variety of film-based art, with special emphasis on subversive humor, activist and revolutionary topics, surrealism and whatever else resonates. Screenings begin at 7pm. There is no cover charge, but donations are collected for Seattle Food Not Bombs. For details about the upcoming Flim Night go to gallery1412.org
Hidmo
2000 S Jackson St. Seattle, 98144
20th & Jackson
206-329-1534 / hidmolove@gmail.com / hidmo.org
Open hours: Tuesday – Friday 5pm to Midnight
Hidmo is an Eritrean restaurant that hosts shows and community events, and has delicious food (including really amazing and cheap vegan food!). Hidmo’s vision is to “foster community and increase the visibility and availability of art, music, culture and cuisine through socially responsible actions.” They partner with organizations like Communities Against Rape and Abuse and KBCS community radio, to put on amazing events that support the arts and activism communities.
From their website:
“Conceived from love of culture and structured after the village model of family, Hidmo is a restaurant, lounge and meeting space committed to the empowerment of every individual to elevate our shared community. We strive to create a comforting environment for our guests in order for them to enjoy a nutritious meal and collectively contribute to art and culture. Local talent is embraced and celebrated at every opportunity, fostering pride and appreciation of the immense creativity in our surrounding area. Hidmo is committed to diversity and the collective power of the people.”
Every first Saturday Hidmo hosts “Ladies First,” a night showcasing women’s talents in music, art and activism. Sponsored by CARA (Communities Against Rape & Abuse), KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio and B-Girl Bench.
Every Sunday they host live African music, serve food and drinks, and has a “house-party” atmosphere. 8-10pm.
Check their website for more details about these events.
Hollow Earth Radio
hollowearthradio.com
Hollow Earth Radio is a freeform online radio station that provides a forum for underrepresented music, sounds and perspectives. They support the all-ages music community in the Pacific Northwest by exposing works that have yet to be unearthed or have long been dormant, often playing artists that predominantly perform at houses or warehouses. A lot of the focus is on raw and imperfect recordings, exposing the context in which music and performances are created by not removing the environment.
As a nonprofit radio station, they offer the local community access to training and knowledge on how to DJ, how to document live performances & give new volunteers opportunities for leadership & responsibility. They broadcast 24/7, have live DJs who play free-form programming including live recordings, found sound/field recordings, and interviews. To tune in, visit the website and click “Listen Now!”: http://www.hollowearthradio.com
If you would like to get involved, volunteer orientations are held the first Sunday of each month at 2pm. Please email for more information: volunteer@hollowearthradio.org
If you a musician or have audio you would like to share then email music@hollowearthardio.org or send a package to:
Hollow Earth Radio, P.O. Box 70147, Seattle, WA 98127
Call the station: 206-905-1250 to leave stories, songs, messages, dreams, paranormal experiences, community event announcements.
Left Bank Books
92 Pike Street – 1st & Pike, downtown Seattle!
Seattle WA 98101.
206-622-0195.
http://www.leftbankbooks.com
Left Bank Books is a worker-owned collective anarchist book store, right in the heart of the most touristed part of Seattle – Pike Place Market. They sell a slew of literature, zines, anarchist paraphernalia, nonfiction books on a number of important topics, CDs and DVDs, and a few other little gems. It has long been a hub of radical thought and activity within Seattle, and after 35 year has continued to contribute a lot to radicalizing Seattle.
From the horse’s mouth: “Left Bank is collectively owned and operated by its workers, and has been since its inception. As an anarchist collective, Left Bank has no bosses or managers. Decisions are made in bi-monthly collective meetings based on a consensus process. Despite all the changes over the years, Left Bank Books continues to thrive at our Pike Place Market storefront thanks to Seattle’s radical community and the many folks who visit us from out of town.“
Left Bank is also supported by volunteers, and each volunteer works a three hour shift a week. Volunteers shelve books, run the register, help customers, research books and receive orders on a regular basis. LB relies on volunteers to keep the business alive. Each volunteer brings their unique personality and experience into the collective, helping to diversify not only the people, but also the information available at the store. While Left Bank always accepts volunteer applications, opportunities are limited, based on new openings and the availability of the potential volunteers. Sometimes months can go by before you get a shift! Best practice is to stop by regularly and make yourself known within the store. Plus, hanging out at the store is always welcome. You don’t need to be a consumer to contribute.
Marginal Way Skate Park
1 S Hanford St
Seattle, WA 98134
marginalwayskatepark.org
The Marginal Way Skate Park is a DIY and community built skate park in SODO, underneath highway 99. Since 2004 they have been accepting donations from the community and shit-ton of volunteer hours, and it’s still going strong and is still a large and important part of the local skateboard community. It’s still a work in progress, and they need more people down to help. The Marginal Way Skate Park also serves to provide a response to the constant vilification of the skateboarding community by providing a space that exists without needing to be sanctioned by the city or the state. It is a successful reclaimation of public space, and a worthy place to support.
Northwest Film Forum
http://www.nwfilmforum.org
1515 12th Ave, Seattle WA 98122
Movie line: (206) 829-7863
Office phone: (206) 329-2629
Fax: (206) 329-1193
Located on Capitol Hill between Pike and Pine.
Office hours are 10am-6pm Mon-Fri
Northwest Film Forum (NWFF) is a Seattle-based non-profit filmmakers’ collective and center for the film arts. NWFF programs include film production as well as film exhibition, with two cinemas, and post-production facilities and equipment, educational workshop space, filmmaker offices, a film vault containing over 1,000 titles and a filmmaking library.
NWFF is a member-driven organization that supports a large number of filmmakers, who have become an integral part of the independent film community. They often have visiting filmmakers who lead workshops or give speeches. NWFF also provides a Start-to-Finish grant, which partners with local filmmakers to produce a feature-length film (the most recent premiered at Sundance), which is a new model in the non-profit world that is unique to NWFF.
NWFF is open every day, with an always new and exciting list of films showing. Their facility has two high-tech cinema theaters, dedicated workshop space/ filmmaker lounge with free WiFi, two film and video post-production suites, a dedicated animation studio, production gear rentals, and a vault, housing a 1,000 title film archive.
Check their website for a list of currently-showing films! Nwfilmforum.org
Pilot Books
Upstairs – Suite 28 219 Broadway E
pilotbooksseattle.com
(206) 229-7181
Open Daily 12pm-8pm
While it may seem at first that Pilot Books is yet another independent book store in one of the most literary cities in the US, it is shaping up to be much more. Pilot Books focuses exclusively on supporting small presses and local authors, in addition to selling zines and independent comics. The result is that this store’s selection of goods is unique and captivating, and the atmosphere is friendly and engaging. Pilot Books also hosts regular workshops, including weekly Readers Workshops and Writers Workshops, and some hosted by local authors and zinesters, as well as others events like book swaps and author’s readings. In the upstairs of Pilot Books is a lending library, and in the near future will be the home of the Seattle Radical Lending Library, where you can partake in an anti-authoritarian space that aims to invigorate and agitate with a wide swath of literature and information. With all of these things combined, Pilot Books is proving to be an example of how a store can be transformed into a space that builds community and supports the creative endeavors of local artists, authors, and readers. Stop in and check out what they have, drink some tea, and read a book in one of the comfy chairs in the lending library room upstairs.
Q Cafe
3223 15th Ave. West
qcafe.org
3223 15th Avenue West
just South of Ballard Bridge
Mon-Wed; Friday 8am-5pm
Q Cafe is a community-oriented cafe and venue with a capacity of 238. They have shows every Friday, and host open mics on Tuesdays, and have periodic art shows and other community events. They’re a non-profit cafe, selling direct trade espresso and tea, and give 10% of all cafe sales to “local and global non-profit causes.” They have computers for customer use, free wifi, a kids’ room, a piano, and lots of room for lounging on sofas.
Q Cafe was started with funding from their next door neighbor, Quest Church, and formed by a church member. However, they state that “the hope of the church was to start a separate non-profit/non-religious community cafe with the simple focus: ‘Be a Good Neighbor.’ No ands, buts, ifs, and other secret agendas. Q Cafe is not a religious or a Christian cafe but simply, a neighborhood cafe featuring espresso and tea, art, live music, and community events.”
Among their ambitions, they state as their goals:
“Rather than a traditional route, they would first create something to demonstrate ‘relationship’ with its neighbors by creating this non-profit community cafe. The concept was simple: rather than consumerism and capitalism being the only focus, how do we redeem those values in our Western culture? … Is it possible to create a unique venue where not only would people enjoy incredible coffee but be connected to the larger community? … Is it possible to create a space where children, parents, college students, local businesspeople, the homeless, and senior citizens can all come to enjoy a neighborhood cafe? These are our goals.”
Sidecar for Pigs Peace
5270 B University Way NE
Seattle, WA 98105
(206) 523-9060
Store Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m Tuesday through Sunday, closed Mondays
Sidecar is a non-profit vegan grocery store and boutique. They carry everything from vegan snacks, to ingredients, to frozen dinners, to deli food, to vegan beer and wine, as well as clothes, crafts, and books. Like the similar store in Portland, Food Fight!, Sidecar supports the vegan and animal rights communities and promotes animal rights activism in Seattle. Sidecar is volunteer-run, and all profits benefit Pigs Peace Sanctuary. Pigs Peace is a farm sanctuary in Stanwood, WA, that takes care of a large number of animals (predominantly pigs) with great care and love. Shopping at Sidecar or volunteering for them is a great way to contribute to the lives of discarded farm animals, as well as promoting Pigs Peace and promoting consciencious diets and consumption habits.
To volunteer at the store, email doh@sidecarforpigspeace.com.
UmojaFest P.E.A.C.E. Center
2314 E. Spring St. (24th & Spring)
Seattle, WA 98122
206.329.1591
http://umojafestpeacecenter.ning.com/
info@umojafestpeacecenter.com
The UmojaFest P.E.A.C.E. (“Positive Education Activating Constant Elevation”) Center is a multi-purpose youth-centered cultural facility in the heart of the Central District. They host events like community breakfasts, meetings, trainings, concerts and film, resource fairs, community marketplaces, and other events. Their facility includes office spaces for other community organizations, and a neighborhood organic garden (“Memorial P.E.A.C.E. Garden”).
Current plans also includes the Center for Hip-Hop Culture, Business & Technology, whose goal is to “coordinate culturally enriching entrepreneurial based activities that address social and community development using technology as a bridge to future employment. The center will feature digital recording studio, computer lab, video production studio and a library/reading room available to community youth, particularly dropouts, high risk youth and/or those under the criminal justice supervision. Through these activities we will prepare them for internships, training programs, career and entrepreneurial opportunities, as well as help them to graduate from school, get their G.E.D and/or pursue higher education.”
Workshops and classes that UmojaFest (via partnership with community members and organizations) has offered or will offer include: audio production, entrepreneurship, life skills, financial literacy, creative writing, African drumming, theatre, culinary arts, new media, music business, fashion design/merchandising, art /graphic design, journalism/publishing, civics/community development and more.
The Vera Project
On the corner of Warren Ave N
& Republican St @ Seattle Center
theveraproject.org
VERA stands for Veri Et Recti Amici – true and sincere friends. The Vera Project is an all-ages music and arts center in Seattle Center/Lower Queen Anne neighborhood. Vera has frequent volunteer-run shows (everything from hardcore to pop music to hip hop), classes, art shows and internships. Vera also host outside events and workshops, often partnering with other community organizations and collectives.
Vera’s facilities include a professional showroom, art gallery, recording studio, and silkscreen studio, and hosts silkscreening, sound, diy recording, and lighting courses. Most classes are $20, or you can schedule private group classes. You can also schedule time in the recording studio with Vera’s engineers at low rates. Once you’ve taken Silkscreen 101 you can go to scheduled drop-in studio hours ($5/session, or $30 for 8) which includes access to basic supplies.
Vera values participatory culture and is run collectively by volunteers, a small staff, a Board of Directors, and the Membership. Members volunteer at events, meet quarterly and vote on relevant issues, approve Board members, sit on committees, and guide Vera’s programming; Members also get 50% discounts on most programs. People of all ages make up Vera, with a focus on young folks 14 to 24. Volunteer orientations are generally twice a month, but internships are also a great way to get involved. Open internships (Booking and Promotions, Fundraising, Outreach and Partnership, Programming, &c.) are posted to the website.
Vera has been a long-time ally and supporter of the DIY community. Vera was founded during a time of heightened activism in Seattle, when the Teen Dance Ordinance barred “underage” folks from most live music. In the summer of 2002, the TDO and poster-ban were repealed, thanks to the many young people and allies who protested at City council meetings. Vera is a 501(c)3 non-profit, and receives public funds from the City and King County, but depends largely on contributions from foundations, individuals and of course, volunteers.
Zine Archive and Publishing Project
hugohouse.org/house/zapp
zapp@hugohouse.org
(206) 322-7030
Open hours: Weds 4–8 pm, Thurs 1–5 pm & Sat 1–5 pm
ZAPP is a program of the Richard Hugo House, a non-profit literary arts center. ZAPP has a collection of over 20,000 zines, comix, chapbooks, and other small press periodicals, including a large number of rare and unique items. During open hours you can hang out and read any of the zines in their collection, or work on your own zine using their supplies and the ZAPP photocopier.
According to them, “Through its collection, physical space and organizing and cataloging efforts, ZAPP seeks to maintain, validate and make accessible publications outside the literary mainstream. ZAPP is dedicated to fostering and sustaining a strong community of self-publishers and championing freedom of expression in Seattle and beyond.”
With the help of a lot of volunteers over the years, ZAPP has been able to organize and archive a huge collection of zines, as well as provide a workspace to promote a thriving and growing zine community and culture and ensuring that their archive is a living and ever-changing entity.
ZAPP also accepts zine donations of all kinds, from comics and mail art to chapbooks and any other small press publication. In order to donate a zine you should visit ZAPP and fill out a donation form for each zine (to help they keep their collection organized). For more information about donating items to ZAPP’s library, or for information about volunteering, contact zapp@hugohouse.org, noramukaihata@hugohouse.org or (206) 322-7030. The volunteers at ZAPP keep open hours, help maintain the collection, and help out with events and projects.
DIY Projects and community organizations
This section is a list of organizations that you can become involved in, each of whom work to create a more sustainable and just world through their efforts. Many (but not all) of these groups are founded on radical principles and work with other community organizations in working towards their respective missions, or engage in activities that promote more community-building and make Seattle a more exciting place to live. Contact these groups and find out how to get involved!
Bend-It Collective – myspace.com/bend_it
Bend-It is a collective of activists and artists working to empower, build community among, and create meaningful alternatives for queer young people and their friends. Headed by young people of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, Bend-It is committed to creating safe and accessible spaces for queer youth to exchange ideas, learn skills, and take on positions of leadership. Sensitive to the danger of placing an exclusive focus on one particular form of oppression, we seek to work together with other marginalized populations as a way to combat segregation and to defend the view that all oppressions are interrelated.
Bend-It organizes an annual festival during pride week as a meaningful, non-corporate alternative to the Seattle Pride Parade. Bend-It also organizes workshops, community arts-events, and works in coalition with other DIY/DIT (Do It Together) and community organizations.
Books to Prisoners
BTP is a Seattle-based, all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that sends books to prisoners in the United States. BTP believes that books are tools for learning and opening minds to new ideas and possibilities. By sending books to prisoners, we hope to foster a love of reading and encourage the pursuit of knowledge and self-improvement.
Founded in the early 1970s and sponsored by Left Banks Books, BTP receives 600 to 800 requests for books each month. Volunteers work two evenings a week opening letters, finding books in our collection that correspond to the request, and wrapping and mailing parcels. Because of continuing backlog of requests, prisoners sometimes wait up to six months to receive their books.
Every Mondays and Tuesday, 6-10pm
Located at University Christian Church, 4731 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA, 98105
Call 442-2013 or email
bookstoprisoners at cs dot com
Communities Against Rape and Abuse – cara-seattle.org
CARA is a radical anti-violence organization that seeks to challenge systems of oppression through collective action, critical dialogue, and community organizing. They prioritize anti-rape work as the center of their organizing, while actively seeking to support people at the intersections of oppression.
Community Alliance for Global Justice – seattleglobaljustice.org
A grassroots organization that works for a just local and global economy. They have three programs – Food Justice Project, AGRA Watch and Trade Justice, and use education, grassroots mobilization, media and legislative strategies, and build solidarity across diverse movements.
Community Coalition for Environmental Justice – ccej.org
CCEJ engages in community organizing, education, political advocacy and coalition building. They also hold numerous public education events, including an annual conference. They also work at alliance building, grassroots outreach and base building efforts in communities of color, who they identify as their primary constituents.
Food Not Bombs – scn.org/foodnotbombs
contact to get involved – fnb@scn.org
FNB chapters are all around the world, and Seattle currently has a number of different FNB projects. Each are autonomous from one another, and largely consist of different groups of volunteers. FNB believes that food is a right, not a privilege, and serves vegetarian food to those who need it, or who are just hungry. This feeding is seen at times by the state as controversial, and efforts have been taken by different cities (including Seattle) to shut down direct-action feeding programs. Support FNB by volunteering, providing resources, advocating within your communities, or just showing up and eating food! FNB always needs: volunteers, bulk foods (grains, beans, spices, coffee, tea), cooking oil, cooking equipment, vehicles and drivers for transport
For Crying Out Loud
myspace.com/forcryingoutloud206 or forcryingoutloud206.wordpress.com
A group dedicated to preventing, addressing, and talking about sexual assault and perpetrator accountability in an anti-authoritarian setting. They have meetings on survivor support, aggressor accountability, and organize workshops and events. For more information about how you can get support or get involved, visit their website.
Home Alive!
homealive.org
Home Alive! is an anti-violence organization that teaches a number of different amazing workshops and classes on how to keep yourself and your community safe. These classes include boundary-setting, basic self-defense, how to fight from the ground, and other advanced self-defense skills. Their classes are all sliding scale, from $0-$75, and nobody is turned away for lack of funds. They believe that safety is a right, and we all deserve to live in safe, accountable communities.
Icarus Project Seattle – theicarusproject.net/seattlepugetsoundicarusgroup
The Icarus Project is “a diverse group of People commonly labeled Bipolar, Borderline, Depressed, PTSD- afflicted, Anxious, Queer, Trans, Bi, Anarchist, Activist, Progressive, Radical, DIY, Intellectual, Artist etc. We are insanely passionate about mental health and are looking to create an intricate guide on discovering, and becoming the true potential that lies between brilliance and madness!! We hope to break down oppressive barriers in the mental health community. While building a powerful support system that encourages every individual to use their mad gifts!” They host a support group weekly and at times also organize a monthly activist meeting. For more information or to get involved, e-mail icarusprojectseattle@gmail.com
or check their web page with current information about meet up times and dates as well as blogs about the agenda and other events! myspace.com/icarusprojectseattle
Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) Seattle – seattleiww.net
The IWW is a labor union founded on radical and anarchist principles that organizes with workers in all settings. For more information or how to get involved, visit their website, or email them to get a time and location for attending a meeting, which occurs on the first Wednesday of every month. seattleiww@gmail.com
Justice Works – justiceworks.info
JW! Is a grassroots criminal justice reform organization, focusing on supporting people who face the problems inherent in the criminal justice system. They seek to undo institutionalized racism by working with communities and individuals in an accountable, safe space.
4206 Rainier Ave S Seattle 98118
Lifelong AIDS Alliance
An HIV/AIDS support service organization that also operates a non-profit thrift store – probably the best thrift store in town. Lifelong Thrift Store is located at 1017 E Union on Seattle’s Capitol Hill.
Hours of Operation: Mon-Sat 10:30 am –7pm, Sunday noon – 5pm
point83 – point83.com
Bike advocacy & hobby club. Organizes several weekly rides.
Punk Rock Yoga
punkrockyoga.com, seattle@punkrockyoga.com
Yoga that focuses on having a comfortable and unpretentious setting accessible to a wide range of skill levels. PRY offers an open-minded and straight-forward approach to yoga philosophy while embracing the ancient yoga tradition of Do-It-Yourself. What makes it “punk rock”? Their approach to yoga is not to place you in a peaceful and isolated bubble, but to support your mental and physical health so that you can be more active and energized in creating social change. Live music (mellow, not “punk rock”) at most classes, $10 drop in, punch cards available.
Tuesdays at 20/20 Cycle, 6:45pm. 20Th & Union in the CD.
Fridays at Arts Brewry building, noon, 3100 Airport Way S. (in the old Rainier Brewery building) In rear of building.
Reclaim the Media – reclaimthemedia.org
A small nonprofit organization dedicated to pursuing a more just society by transforming our media system and expanding the communications rights of ordinary people through grassroots organizing, education, networking and advocacy. Does radio broadcasts on KBCS (91.3) publishes news via a blog, and does community organizing and alternative media advocacy.
SCAN Community Media – scantv.org
SCAN is a private non-profit 501 © 3 organization operating TV studios and production facilities. SCAN serves the Seattle and King County through Public Access TV, by providing equipment, promoting media literacy, media justice and community dialogue as an alternative voice for individuals, the community, civic, public activities and expression. SCAN also provides classes, workshops, skilled professional support, program promotion and community resources to help individuals and organizations create and distribute their programming on air. SCAN is broadcast on Comcast 77/Broadstripe 23 and streamed live at www.scantv.org
Seattle Bike Polo – myspace.com/seattlebikepolo
Bicycle polo group. Hosts several games around the city every week, and occasional tournaments.
Seattle Free School – seattlefreeschool.org
Truly free classes and workshops for all community members. Classes range from bread-making to chicken-keeping to soap-making to language classes. Classes often fill up fast, so register ahead of time online.
Seattle Indymedia – seattle.indymedia.org
Seattle Indymedia was the first of many indymedia sites, started as a vehicle for activists to report on the anti-globalization movement in 1999 at the Seattle WTO protests. Seattle Indymedia has since been in a lull of activity, while Indymedia has flourished in other cities.
Seattle Permaculture Guild – seattlepermacultureguild.org
A group of activist seeking to create sustainable models for human living. Sometimes organize workshops and events.
Seattle Solidarity Network – seattlesolidarity.net
A network of volunteers who work on specific cases to assist people struggling with travesties and unjust behavior of landlords, employers, and others who hold power over our lives. People who need assistance, who can help out with the struggles of people, or both should contact them. SeaSol meets monthly, and if you’re interested in joining email them at info@seasol.net
Seattle Young People’s Project – sypp.org
SYPP’s Mission: The Seattle Young People’s Project is a youth-led, adult supported organization that empowers youth (ages 13-18) to express themselves and to take action on the issues that affect their lives. They have training programs for youth on combating institutionalized oppression, political education trainings, and other events.
Sew Up Seattle – sewupseattle.blogspot.com
A group that recycles and reuses sewing scraps and equipment and offer free sewing classes at Goods for the Planet (525 Dexter Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109).
Skate Like A Girl – skatelikeagirl.com
Skate Like a Girl is a group of (female identified) skateboarders who are determined to create an inclusive counter-culture to the all too often exclusive mainstream skateboarding culture. They believe that skate culture should be welcoming to all people, regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, ability, body size, class and age. They organize weekly skate jams, a week-long summer skate camp and annual events, as well as offer instructional clinics to groups of all ages. They strive to build coalitions with other community projects that are working for social justice and seek to support other grassroots girl skate organizations globally. They use skateboarding as a vehicle to create social justice. Radical.
Slow Sunday bike ride
A weekly bike ride open to all cyclists at all ages, identities, and and bicycle types. Typically roll 20-30 miles over 4-8 hours, but the pace is easy. The ride will hit up parks, farmers markets, dumpsters, coffee shops, bike shops, workshops, house parties and more. 1pm meet-up at Cal Anderson Park, 1;30pm depart
Team Victory Anarchist collective – teamvictorywillwin.org
A collective that has spawned numerous projects, from a community gardening group to a Food Not Bombs chapter to education and outreach about anarchist principles and values. For information about future meetings, visit their website and contact them.
Tiny Mercury zine distro – tinymercury.net
A zine distributor and publisher that has a wide range of rad stuff. Often tables at DIY events.
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Weekly and Monthly events in Seattle!
Bike Works Volunteer Repair Parties
Volunteer Repair Parties – Every Thursday, 6:30pm – 9:30pm (restarting Fall of 2009)
Help repair bikes so we can get them back on the road! You bring the skills, we provide shop tools, work stands, plenty of bikes, a choice selection of music, food, and good company. Drop in. The bikes we repair during these sessions are donated to Treehouse, Farestart, local non-profits, and our annual Kid’s Bike Swap. Starts in Fall of 2009 until May of 2010.
Bike Works – 3709 S. Ferdinand, 206 – 725 – 9408
bikeworks.org
The Bikery member meeting
1st wed @ 7pm
Bikery member meetings are an opportunity to get involved in The Bikery, are are open everybody.
Books to Prisoners
BTP is a Seattle-based, all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that sends books to prisoners in the United States. BTP believes that books are tools for learning and opening minds to new ideas and possibilities. By sending books to prisoners, we hope to foster a love of reading and encourage the pursuit of knowledge and self-improvement.
Founded in the early 1970s and sponsored by Left Banks Books, BTP receives 600 to 800 requests for books each month. Volunteers work two evenings a week opening letters, finding books in our collection that correspond to the request, and wrapping and mailing parcels. Because of continuing backlog of requests, prisoners sometimes wait up to six months to receive their books.
Every Mondays and Tuesday, 6-10pm, Located at University Christian Church, 4731 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA, 98105, Call 442-2013 or email bookstoprisoners at cs dot com
Comic Drawing Night (****is this still going on?)
If you like to draw, draw comics, draw zines, or whatever drawing you want to do come join us at Bauhaus Coffee. Bring whatever supplies you need to draw. Below is the address for the location. Looking forward to seeing you there.
Bauhaus Books & Coffee – 301 E Pine St, Seattle, WA 98122, Get Directions(206) 625-1600
For questions contact: karl@partybots.org
Craft Night!
Craft Night is a weekly event where people gather and work on art, craft and/or political projects, or whatever you want to bring with you. Craft night: Is every Wednesday, is BYOS(Bring Your Own Supplies). Promotes a community that supports people who appreciate people, arts, crafts, political movements, working together and having a good time. Can be a place for people working on individual projects to talk and work along with other people working on individual projects. A place where people currently involved with (or interested in becoming involved with) group projects can meet. Craft Night happens in a different location every week, usually someone’s house.
craftnightseattle@gmail.com – myspace.com/craftnightseattle for info and location.
Craft & Conspiracy
Wednesday from 7pm-9pm @ Dancylvania
http://www.myspace.com/dancylvaniahouse
110 Harvard Ave E, on capitol hill.
Weekly craft night & viewing of the X-Files. Bring your own supplies or peruse the scraps and things available. There’s also usually tea drinkin’, and sometimes vegan snacks for your enjoyment. X-Files themed snacks or crafts earn extra points. Dancylvania is also a queer-identified space, open to anyone who’s down. Email parkranger@gmail.com for more info.
Critical Mass monthly bicycle ride
Meet up at Westlake Center at 5:30 or UW Red Square at 5:00
Last Friday of every month.
seattlecriticalmass.org
Critical Mass happens in cities around the world as a congregation of bicyclists who ride in demonstration and celebration of their love of bicycles. Critical Mass has no leaders and no set agenda, and people come to ride for any number of reasons. Some of these reasons are: to assert cyclists right to the road, to promote bikes as a fun, healthy, viable alternative to cars, to build a greater sense of community, to get more folks on bikes, or simply to celebrate bike love and ride in solidarity with other like minded individuals and have some fun.
Flim Night @ Gallery 1412
1st Tuesday of every month, 7pm
Flim Night is a monthly showcase of a variety of film-based art, with special emphasis on subversive humor, activist and revolutionary topics, surrealism and whatever else resonates. Screenings begin at 7pm. There is no cover charge, but donations are collected for Seattle Food Not Bombs. Details about the upcoming Flim Night at gallery1412.org
Food Not Bombs
http://www.scn.org/foodnotbombs
contact to get involved – fnb@scn . org
FNB chapters are all around the world, and Seattle currently has a number of different FNB projects. Each are autonomous from one another, and largely consist of different groups of volunteers. FNB believes that food is a right, not a privilege, and serves vegetarian food to those who need it, or who are just hungry. This feeding is seen at times by the state as controversial, and efforts have been taken by different cities (including Seattle) to shut down direct-action feeding programs. Support FNB by volunteering, providing resources, advocating within your communities, or just showing up and eating food! FNB always needs: volunteers, bulk foods (grains, beans, spices, coffee, tea), cooking oil, cooking equipment, vehicles and drivers for transport
Food Not Bombs Saturday Free Market
Free groceries and household goods!
Saturdays at noon @ the Yesler Terrace Community Center
Food Not Bombs Saturday Dinner
Cook at 10am @ Sherwood Co-op, Serve at 2:30pm @ Westlake Park (4th & Pine)
except last Saturday of every month, where we serve @ the
Really Really Free Market
Pratt Park (Yesler & 20th)
seattlefnb.blogspot.com
Food Not Bombs Sunday hot meal
Cooked at Rainer Unitarian
Universalist Center at 3:30
Served at about 7pm at
Occidental Park @
Occidental and S. Main, in Pioneer Square
Food Not Bombs Cascade Free Market
Free produce and groceries distribution!
Sundays at 1:30pm
@ Cascade People’s Center
309 Pontius Ave N.
Gears, Queers, and Cheers
Mondays, 2pm – 8pm
Drop in at The Bikery and work on your bike in a Queer-identified space. All skill levels welcome, and tools and helpful hands provided. All identities welcome. Queers! Gears! & Cheers! is aimed at creating a more visible Queer presence in Seattle’s bike culture and providing a fun, safe environment for underrepresented folks to become empowered through the DIY ethos.
Icarus Project
Support group currently meets at Dancylvania Tuesdays from 8 to 10ish, occasionally relocates to Cal Anderson park when it’s hot. Support group might move to a different location. An activist group will start meeting separately on Sundays – contact Tessa if interested in co-facilitating that group. (twilight_known@yahoo.com).
Ladies First @ Hidmo
First Saturday, 8-10pm
Every first Saturday Hidmo hosts “Ladies First,” a night showcasing women’s talents in music, art and activism. Sponsored by CARA (Communities Against Rape & Abuse), KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio and B-Girl Bench.
Punk Rock Yoga
punkrockyoga.com, seattle@punkrockyoga.com
Unpretentious yoga, for everyone. Experienced teacher. Comfortable, setting. All levels welcome. PRY offers an open-minded and straight-forward approach to yoga philosophy while embracing the ancient yoga tradition of Do-It-Yourself.
Live music (mellow, not “punk rock”) at most classes.
$10 drop in, punch cards available.
Tuesdays at 20/20 Cycle, 6:45pm. 20Th & Union in the CD.
Fridays at Arts Brewry building, noon, 3100 Airport Way S. (in the old Rainier Brewery building) In rear of building.
Seattle Really Really Free Market
The Seattle Really Free Market is a monthly event that happens in opposition to the “Free Market” which really isn’t free. Everything at the Really Free Market is FREE. Nothing is for sale, trade or barter! It is a place for people to congregate and bring things to the community they no longer need or use. Sometimes people even give free massages or haircuts or whatever other skill or services they want to donate. The Really Free Market is nothing without your participation! Come and bring things you don’t need that can be re-used. The Seattle Really Free Market happens on the last Saturday of the month. myspace.com/seattlereallyfreemarket
Central District RRFM
Last Saturday of every month
12-4pm @ Pratt Park (20th & Yesler in the CD)
Georgetown RRRFM
2nd Saturday of every month
12-4pm @ Oxbow Park (Hat n’ Boots park) between Carleton Ave. S. and Corson Ave. S in Georgetown.
SeattleDIY Meetings
SDIY is a collective that runs an online community calendar, puts out a monthly community newsletter, publishes zines (like this one!), organizes benefit events for parts of the local DIY community, and seeks to strengthen and connect the DIY community in Seattle. Meetings at 6pm at the following spaces:
1st Sundays: Porchlight Cafe (5pm)
2nd Sundays: The Nest
3rd Sundays: Healthy Times Fun Club
Last Sundays: Dancylvania
Email sdiycollective@gmail.com for more info
Slow Sunday bike ride
A weekly bike ride open to all cyclists at all ages, identities, and and bicycle types. Typically roll 20-30 miles over 4-8 hours, but the pace is easy. The ride will hit up parks, farmers markets, dumpsters, coffee shops, bike shops, workshops, house parties and more.
1pm meet-up at Cal Anderson Park, 1;30pm depart
Thursday Night Bicycle Ride
http://point83.com
Meet at 7pm at Westlake Center Square downtown
Rain or shine. All bikes and ride-styles are welcome. Rides are casual & move at a pace that everyone can enjoy.
Tuesday Night Bike Rides
http://point83.com
7pm at Red Square on UW Campus
206 Good Life
Hidmo.org
8-10pm @ Hidmo
All ages freestyle open mic.
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This is a list of community-oriented spaces and projects that host events regularly. Some of these spaces are commercial public locations, some are non-profits, and some are private residences and houses. Over the years a lot of the DIY community has been centered around activity within peoples’ houses, and these houses can be organized in a number of different ways, be them communal houses, groups of friends, or single-occupancy. The common thread between these houses is that they create spaces where their homes are transformed into intentional community spaces, inviting the public into their personal environments. This also works in the other direction – by inviting a community into your home, you are taking the idea of creating the culture that you want to see and making it infiltrate every part of your life.
Not all of these spaces see what they do as necessarily fitting these ideas explicitly, but these ideas will resonate to some degree in each of them in one way or another.
If you’re interested in checking out any of these places, attend an event listed on their website, or go to seattlediy.com and look at the events calendar.
Arctic Circle
House – shows, community events
arcticcirclehouse.info
6633 Ellis Ave S – Georgetown
The Bikery
Collective bike shop, meetings, workshops
1265 S Main St. #104 – Internation District
myspace.com/bikery, thebikery.org
The Black Lodge
Art and performance space
myspace.com/blacklodgemountain
Cairo
art gallery & boutique – shows and performances
open sat and sun 12-6pm
507 e mercer s – capitol hill
cairocollection.blogspot.com
Dancylvania
House – shows, meetings, misc community events
110 Harvard Ave E – Capitol Hill
myspace.com/dancylvaniahouse
Exploding House
House – shows, art performances
10511 Phinney Ave N – Phinney Ridge
FBK
House – shows, movie nights
6272 Ellis Ave S – Georgetown
Full Tilt Icecream
Icecream parlor – shows & art events
myspace.com/fulltilt_icecream
9629 16th ave sw – White Center
Fusion Café
Venue, non-profit show space
909 4th Ave, Downtown Seattle YMCA
myspace.com/fusioncafe
Gallery 1412
Non-profit collective commercial space
Film, music, arts
1412 18th Ave E
18th + Union – Central District
gallery1412.org
The Greenhouse
House – shows, art performances
2515 Charles St – Central District
myspace.com/thegreenhizzy
GRN STRP house
House – shows
819 NE 70th St – Greenlake
Ground Zero Teen Center
Non-profit teen center, venue
257 100th Ave, Bellevue 98004
Myspace.com/groundzeromusic
Healthy Times Fun Club
Art and performance space
myspace.com/healthtimesfunclub
healthytimesfunclub@gmail.com
Hidmo
Restaurant – performances, meetings, misc community events
20th and Jackson – Central District
hidmo.com
The House Of Zanzibar
House – shows, community events
myspace.com/thehouseofzanzibar
Josephine
Art warehouse, venue, performance space
myspace.com/thejosephine
608 65th Nw at 6th – North Ballard
KTUB
Non profit teen center, venue
348 Kirkland Ave, Kirkland 98033
ktub.org
Left Bank Books
Radical book store – zine and book readinds
1st and Pike St – Downtown
leftbankbooks.com
Monsterssori Observatory
House – shows, community events
2317 14th Ave S, – Beacon Hill
New Crompton
House – shows, community events – U District
myspace.com/newcrompton
The Office Of Dr Glorious
House – shows, community events
2216 East Fir St – Central District
myspace.com/theofficeofdoctorglorious
The Old Fire House
Teen center, venue
16510 NE 79th St, Redmond 98052
myspace.com/ofh
Pilot Books
Book store, readings, workshops
219 Broadway E, suite 28 (upstairs)
pilotbooksseattle.com
Q Cafe
Non-profit cafe, venue, event space
3223 15th Ave. West – Interbay
qcafe.org
Scribbles
House – shows, community events
2015 E Marion – Central District
Seattle Free School
Organizes frequent events at various spaces
seattlefreeschool.googlepages.com
Register for classes online!
Squid & Ink
Vegan restaurant, frequent shows
www.myspace.com/squid_and_ink
1128 S. Albro Pl, in Georgetown
20/20 Cycle
Bike shop, show and community event space
2020 E. Union – Central District
The Vera Project
Non-profit venue, community space for meetings, workshops, art gallery, etc
On the corner of Warren Ave N
& Republican St @ Seattle Center
theveraproject.org
Wayward Café
Vegan cafe, occasional events
9th and 55th – U-District
myspace.com/waywardcafe
West Seattle Legion Hall
Venue for sporadic shows
3618 SW Alaska St – West Seattle
nwhardcore.com
