Bedtime Stories Galas Raise Funds, Celebrate Unique Northwest Stories

• September 18, 2012
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• From the Executive Director
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• By Julie Ziegler

In his recent interview with Spark magazine, critically-acclaimed Olympia author Jim Lynch wrote that he’s “always been a fan of fiction that gets a little fabulous around the edges.” He says that edge fits the types of stories he writes – and fits our region. “There are certain things about the Northwest that seem sort of bigger than life and too much to be true.”

At Humanities Washington, we love fabulous stories, too. But we also like stories that hit other notes: gritty realism, inventive futurism, dramatic gravitas. Stories that make you think. Particularly about our home state and what it means to live, learn, love and laugh here, from urban neighborhoods to the most rural expanses.

YOU CAN GO

• Bedtime Stories Spokane 2012
Where: The Skyline Ballroom of the Red Lion Hotel at the Park, 303 W. North River Drive, Spokane [Directions]
When: Friday, Sept. 28

• Bedtime Stories Seattle 2012
Where: The Spanish Ballroom at The Fairmont Olympic Hotel, 411 University St., Seattle [Directions]
When: Friday, Oct. 12

Note: A limited number of individual tickets are still available for both the Spokane and Seattle events.

For information on becoming a sponsor or purchasing a table for either event, contact Kari Dasher at (206) 682-1770 x103 or kari@humanities.org.

For the past 14 years, we’ve been honored to experience dozens of such stories at our annual Bedtime Stories fundraiser in Seattle. At this literary celebration, critically acclaimed Northwest writers have unveiled original short stories created specifically for the dinner galas. The list of past authors reads like a who’s who of the Northwest literary scene, ranging from novelists like Tom Robbins, David Guterson and Garth Stein, to poets laureate Sam Green and Kathleen Flenniken. National Book Award winner Charles Johnson, an annual participant, has called Bedtime Stories “the region’s premier literary event.”

This year we’re delighted to debut Bedtime Stories in Eastern Washington. Our inaugural Bedtime Stories Spokane takes place Sept. 28 at the Skyline Ballroom of the Red Lion Hotel, and features an amazing lineup of writers: Kim Barnes, Jim Lynch, Shann Ray, Nance Van Winckel and emcee Jess Walter.

Bedtime Stories Seattle follows on Oct. 12 at the Spanish Ballroom at The Fairmont Olympic Hotel, showcasing another wonderful group of authors: Flenniken, Johnson, Kevin O’Brien, Amy Wheeler and emcee Nancy Pearl.

These events put into practice Humanities Washington’s core mission: using stories as a powerful catalyst to bring people together, to spark conversation and critical thinking, and to nurture community. These events also provide crucial support for our work. In the face of a tough economy and constant cutbacks, our Bedtime Stories galas provide nearly half of our contributed income, ensuring audiences in communities small and large continue to have access to high-quality, low-cost humanities programming.

Table sponsorships are still available for Seattle and a limited number of individual tickets are available for both Seattle and Spokane. We hope you’ll join us for food, wine and words in support of Humanities Washington!

• Category: From the Executive Director
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• Tags: Bedtime Stories, Bedtime Stories Seattle, Bedtime Stories Spokane, King County, Seattle, Spokane, Spokane County