Obviously, the big-ticket item this weekend is a whole bunch of pomp and circumstance.
The annual joint Bainbridge and Eagle Harbor high school graduation ceremony is set to begin at 4 p.m. Saturday, June 15 in BHS Memorial Stadium.
Traffic delays on High School Road and the immediate area are expected. Attendees are encouraged to carpool if possible and arrive early.
More than 300 seniors are set to receive diplomas this year; 282 from BHS and 31 from EHHS.
Fun side note: BHS boasts 13 valedictorians this year: Evan Bergen Epstein, Sawyer Blair, Sean Halstead, Sydney Klatt, Hannah Lee, Noelle Lipschutz, Marianne Milander, Lindsay Payne, Vivian Powell, Catherine Rolfes, Georgia Sauermann, Sofia Scott and Aidan Wagner.
From all of us here at the Review, congrats to the grads. Have fun and be safe this weekend.
However, that being said, the next 48 hours are not bereft of non-grad fun as well.
Kick off your summer celebrating at the liveliest arts party of the year at the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art.
Don’t miss a thrilling evening full of music, food and drink, socializing, surprise spectacle, the Wonder Wall, and of course, bidding on fabulous fine art and experience packages.
As their largest fundraiser of the year, the BIMA Bash is not only an event not to be missed, but provides critical support for exhibitions, cultural initiatives, and educational programming.
New to the party this year, guests can stop by the Wonder Wall for the opportunity to purchase a mystery bag filled with certificates and gifts from your favorite local restaurants, boutiques, spas, and cultural attractions.
The party begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday, June 14. The three silent auctions take place at 7:15, 7:45 and 8:20 p.m., respectively.
Tickets are $100 each.
Visit www.biart museum.org/event/bima-bash to learn more.
Jennifer Hodges will portray the iconic New England poet Emily Dickinson in Island Theatre’s staged reading of “The Belle of Amherst,” written by William Luce and directed by Steve Stolee, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 15 and Sunday, June 16 at the Bainbridge Public Library.
Admission is free and open to all.
“The Belle of Amherst” is a whimsical one-woman show based on the life of perhaps the most well-known and beloved poet in American history: Emily Dickinson. Told in two acts, the play gives a voice to the enigmatic and eccentric artist.
Drawing largely from her poetry and letters, the play is a breathing autobiography of a true nonconformist. For years, scholars have theorized that Dickinson had some form of mental illness. This play gives the titular belle the chance to answer those scholars in person. Using a stream of consciousness flow of poetry and musings, Dickinson is brought to life before the very eyes of her audience.
Come see why America has always had a love affair with Dickinson, her poetry, and the fascinating life of seclusion she had the courage to choose, to protect her gift and her passion.
The play is recommended for high school age and up. More information is at www.IslandTheatre.org.
A special art exhibition will be held to showcase the paintings of island painter Chloe Gill, arranged by her friends, in honor of her 90th birthday on Saturday, June 15.
Forty of Gill’s paintings will be displayed at Island Church (9624 Sportsman Club Road) from 1 to 4 p.m., and refreshments will be served.
Admission is free and open to all.
“She’s been taking art lessons for about 15 years from another lady on the island,” said event organizer Lisa Berg, a close friend of Gill. “She’s just a phenomenal artist and she’s happy to share it with the community. She loves being here on Bainbridge.”
Gill moved to Bainbridge 62 years ago from Queen Anne in Seattle, with her husband and two small children. Later, the family welcomed a third child, after having settled on the island.
Renowned trumpeter Yvonne McAllister will return to the Treehouse Café for a special free concert at 7 p.m. Sunday, June 16.
Admission is 21-and-older only, and donations will be accepted.
McAllister has been playing the trumpet since she was 3 years old when her mother, the first female trumpet player west of the Mississippi, put the instrument in her hands.
Originally from Ballard, she has performed professionally all her life, including at the Showbox in Seattle where she appeared with Sophie Tucker and other greats of that era. She and her sister Jobyna worked together for many years in their band, The Sirens of Swing. She held court regularly at the former Whiskey Creek in Keyport, and her engagements since then have continued to earn her many fans, and the admiration of other professional musicians.
Joining her at the Treehouse will be some of the musicians she has formed friendships with through the years, including Helene Smart, whose own singing has brought longtime joy to islanders; Tom Svornich (drums); Ted Enderly (bass); Al Harris (keyboard); Jeff Winslow (sax and flute); and Dale Brown (violin and banjo).
The Bainbridge Blab is your one-stop spot to get the 411 on all things 98110. From South Beach to Agate Passage, Battle Point to Rolling Bay, we’ve got the straight skinny on Bainbridge Island: the latest chatter, babble and burble. News, too. Have a tip or a comment for the Blab? Email us at editor@bainbridgereview.com.
