The Latest in PT
Race to Alaska
Do you have what it takes to navigate the 750 coldwater miles from the Lower 48 to Alaska?
The first-ever Race to Alaska (R2AK) starts with a celebratory send-off party hosted by the Northwest Maritime Center (NWMC) on June 3. The “Pre-Race Ruckus” will be held in the Pope Marine Park (adjacent to the NWMC) from 5-7 pm and will feature live music, a beer garden and food carts. There will be an opportunity to see the boats and meet the characters who have entered into this inaugural event.
Over 60 teams will depart Port Townsend in the wee hours on June 4 (rumor has it sometime between 4 and 5 am!), headed for the Stage 1 finish in Victoria, BC. Stage 2 will leave Victoria on June 7. The race ends 750 miles later in Ketchikan, Alaska. The winner receives $10,000 and the second place finisher gets a set of steak knives. Join the fun at the “Pre-Race Ruckus” to send them off in style the day before the race start! www.NWMaritime.org
We’re Over the Moon About All the Fun in June!
Okay, so it’s not quite June yet, but we wanted to remind you about the 4thAnnual Brass Screw Confederacy, A Steampunk Hootenanny starting today and running through Sunday, May 31st. The extravaganza takes over downtown Port Townsend aiming to rock you back on your boot heels and steam up your goggles.
It turns up the heat with the hottest Steampunk Hootenanny ever, featuring bands from across the country, burlesque, and a diverse array of entertainments. All-ages attractions include: Tactical Croquet, Airship Apprentice (our own collectible card game), Hugo award-winning Phil & Kaja Foglio’s Girl Genius, Rise of Aester’s annual assembly, the stupendous Bazaar of the Bizarre, bands, magic, and mayhem galore! www.brass-screw.org
The first-ever Race to Alaska (R2AK) starts with a celebratory send-off party hosted by the Northwest Maritime Center (NWMC) on June 3. The “Pre-Race Ruckus” will be held in the Pope Marine Park (adjacent to the NWMC) from 5-7 pm and will feature live music, a beer garden and food carts. There will be an opportunity to see the boats and meet the characters who have entered into this inaugural event.
Over 60 teams will depart Port Townsend in the wee hours on June 4 (rumor has it sometime between 4 and 5 am!), headed for the Stage 1 finish in Victoria, BC. Stage 2 will leave Victoria on June 7. The race ends 750 miles later in Ketchikan, Alaska. The winner receives $10,000 and the second place finisher gets a set of steak knives. Join the fun at the “Pre-Race Ruckus” to send them off in style the day before the race start! www.NWMaritime.org
The 32nd Annual Classic Mariners’ Regatta begins the next day on June 5, at the Northwest Maritime Center (NWMC), concluding on Sunday, June 7. This event draws classic wooden boats from across the state to race, rub elbows and celebrate the beauty of wooden boats. The races are open to classic sailboats of all sizes, kayaks, dinghies and row boats.
The weekend kicks off with a welcoming gathering on Friday night. Saturday brings two races, the first starting at noon and the second one commencing immediately after. A loosely-organized race for wooden dinghies, shells and kayaks will be held Sunday at 9 am, if there are enough participants. The final sailboat race will start at noon and the weekend concludes with an awards ceremony at 5 pm. www.NWMaritime.org
Visit our new Port Townsend Visitor Information Center recently relocated to 2409 Jefferson Street (the former home of Northwind Art Center), just off Sims Way. This will provide easy access for you as you’re coming into Port Townsend and you’ll love the fresh new look. The volunteers are looking forward to welcoming you not only to Port Townsend, but to the new Visitor Center as well.
Also on the move, the Fort Worden Visitor Center relocated from the Guardhouse, near the entrance to the park, to the Park Administration Office across from the Parade Grounds. The Visitor Center and gift shop is managed by the Friends of Fort Worden, with all proceeds from sales going toward support of the park. Stop by, learn about Fort Worden, and pick up a few gifts for friends and family. www.fwfriends.org
The 2nd Annual Fort Worden Open House is a free, family-friendly event that celebrates the diversity of Fort Worden and the Lifelong Learning Center. Rediscover the natural beauty and rich history of this 434-acre state park on Saturday, June 13.
From 2-6 pm, bring the whole family and learn about the innovative programming and extraordinary events presented by Fort Worden’s 12 campus partners. And don’t forget your dancing shoes! There will be live music and entertainment at the Fort Worden Commons all afternoon, culminating in an all-ages concert with Locust Street Taxi and special guests performing in the USO Building beginning at 7 pm.
For more information visit Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/638520192916220/
Nothing celebrates America like the 4th of July and after a two-year hiatus, the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the return of fireworks to Fort Worden State Park for the 1st Annual “Old School” 4th of July.
In collaboration with Centrum’s Festival of American Fiddle Tunes and Thunderbull Productions, locals and visitors will enjoy a memorable weekend of excellent music, delicious food and “Old School” traditions. Saturday, July 4th, carries the weekend’s momentum to a climax with a pie-eating contest, field games, piñatas, free root beer floats, a car show, live music and much, much more, all culminating in an epic display of fireworks. www.jeffcountychamber.org and www.centrum.org.
Pack the car, load up the kids and dog, and come to Port Townsend for summer fun!
2015 Brass Screw Confederacy Steampunk Festival
May 29 – 31, The Brass Screw Confederacy, Port Townsend’s Steampunk festival, aims to rock you back on your boot heels and steam up your goggles.
The Brass Screw Confederacy brings together the regions finest Steampunk artists and entertainers for a weekend of the extraordinary. Authors, panels, music, art, gritty history and whimsical flights of fantasy. Experience the mechanical contrivances of Tactical Croquet – miniature golf meets croquet, plus oddities and entertainments for all ages. An entire day of Steampunk authors speak their pieces in the Readings Room, plus a panel on the state of the art. The Bazaar of the Bizarre vendor faire brings artisans and creators from across the country. The Brass Screw Chautauqua lecture series comingles Victorian history and culture with all the fantastical whimsy that has come to embody Steampunk, culminating in the annual firing of a magnificent brass reproduction Gatling gun! Friday night you can belly up to the bar of the Steampunk Saloon to catch the return of Hot Damn Scandal.
Saturday evening, join us at historical Fort Worden for the Steampunk Hootenanny. This year’s lineup features Steampunk sensation Marquis de Vaudeville, a Texas-based, steam-themed band in their exclusive Washington state appearance. They’re joined by Jody Ellen, and Nathaniel Johnstone Band, or you step over and catch the exceptional spin of our own Steampunk DJ. Indulge your senses in a unique Coin-Op Burlesque Show, absinthe bars, and the Steampunk mysticism of Master Payne, Steampunk Sorcerer Supreme.
“What is Steampunk?” you may be asking. It’s a comingling of 19th Century aesthetics and technology with whimsical fancy and speculative fiction. You might think Jules Verne or some post-apocalyptic world where we’ve reverted to steam power to keep the gears turning. Many adherents enhance their modern lives with Victorian touches unencumbered by that era’s repressive prescriptions.
“But what is the Brass Screw?” First, the Brass Screw ain’t no Con. It breaks the tradition of historical event in a modern convention center. Instead it turns up the everyday experience of
life in Port Townsend, artistic nexus of the Northwest and one of just three Victorian seaports in the US recognized by the National LandmarkTrust. The Brass Screw Crew transforms Port Townsend into a unique vision of what a Steampunk Extravaganza should be: vintage aesthetics comingled with edgy century art, music, and tech – all strapped together with brass. We’ve got something to steam up ingénues and aficionados alike. You’ll wonder why you didn’t come sooner!
When: May 29-31, 2015
Where: Port Townsend, Washington
Who: Absolutely everyone from Steampunk devotees and adventurous souls curious to discover new arts and experiences
How: Information and tickets available at http://www.brass-screw.org
Starts Friday 5/29 1pm
Ends Sunday 5/31 2pm
Email: info@brass-screw.org
Phone: 360-301-5884
Steam Man illustration by Nyk Fury
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