Category Archives: Peavine Alley

All things Peavine Alley.

2023 Welcoming Warmer Game Night

It’s that time of year again.  You must decide “do I commit to barfing in a sports bar at 23:47 or do I play games with JCo?”.  Tough decision.  We are here for you.

I’ll post more details about food and games later.  Watch for updates.

Game Pieces for Peace
Game Pieces for Peace
Mostly BS
Mostly BS

Let me know if you plan to bring any nibbles or if you have any questions.

I’m making a tomato and meat based pasta sauce and I’ll have pasta (duh).

Making weed brownies.  Come early to test potency.

Wondering about bringing something?  Crusty bread, garlic bread, green salad, clean-finger snacks (games), third bottle of bubbles?  Ask me anything.

Enter the yard from 24th but come around to the back door.  Orange porch light.

Harry Oesterreicher sends his regards for the New Year.

JamesIsIn

Furniture Girls v Pop Cycle CDM!

For the first time in Peavine history:  The official Furniture Girls v Pop Cycle Celebrity Death Match!

from 2016-09-11 Sangster Things
from 2016-09-11 Sangster Things
from 2016-09-11 Sangster Things
from 2016-09-11 Sangster Things

Early bird specials include free splatter guards!

17:00 gates
18:00 Pop Cycle revs up
↑ → tips:
↑ → buy:  https://thepopcycle.bandcamp.com/album/where-the-action-is-2
18:45 Furniture Girls arrange the alley
↑ → tips:
↑ → buy:  https://furnituregirls.bandcamp.com/album/in-shadows

Furniture Girls is invading Peavine Alley.  Pop Cycle has graciously agreed to open the show.  Gonna be epic.

People often ask me “what am I supposed to bring?”.  See the official Perpetual Peavine Alley What-to-Bring Page!

Pork brine: 16 limes, salt, brown sugar, molasses, pepper corns, bay leaves, cloves

Pork spice: salt, cinnamon, sweet paprika, pepper, cloves, cayenne, garlic, cardamom…

What do you need? I have a bbq, full kitchen, serving spoons… I’ll be out back all day.  Quickest way to contact is phone.

JamesIsIn

Ian Thomas Parks, in Memoriam

Well, Thursday last my world and the wider world of music lost a bit of its spark.

Ian 20070622
Ian 20070622

I met Ian while we were both contracting for Miliman Care Guidelines.  We became fast friends due to many common interests, including but not limited to computer shit and all things music.  (He was a developer and I was supporting an xml product.  We both played guitar.)

He once told me that when his album went platinum he would give me his acoustic guitar.

Many years later, due to my regard for his knowledge of both music and musicians, I looked to him when I wanted to start doing music shows here in my backyard.  He pointed me to John Elliott (who strangely was just releasing an album called Backyards) who came to Peavine Alley to play our first music show (bring Aly Marcus to open).

John's & Peavine's First Show 20120728
John’s & Peavine’s First Show 20120728

That was ten summers ago.  John plays here every couple of years on his tours.

John 20210731
John 20210731

John loves coming here and we love having him.

Thanks, Ian.

Ian and John 20140815
Ian and John 20140815

Actually, through Ian I have met a lot of folks.  A lot.  It’s hard not to when we are both infectiously gregarious.  Take for example the traveling Argentinians.

The Traveling Argentinians 20140818
The Traveling Argentinians 20140818

They were traveling.  They met Ian.  They were looking for a place to crash.  They crashed with me.  We visited Harry (another enormous musical force in my life).  They reached out today.  Of course they did.  We are all good people.  A force for good in the world.  Much love.

Do you have an Ian story?  So many do.  So many do.

Good-bye, old friend.

Ian 20190321
Ian 20190321

On Ian’s birthday (20230208), some of us gathered and hit a couple of the old Ballard haunts in celebration.  Here is a photo from our night out.

Pinballers in Arms
Pinballers in Arms
JamesIsIn

Lego 2 Movie Night

Movie night where we will show at least the second Lego movie. Maybe more. It’s a mystery…

2008-07-18 The Bank Dick
2008-07-18 The Bank Dick

I will make some stuffed zucchini boats and eat ahead of the movie. Come early for a relaxing dinner under the sky or come about nine and get ready for the movie(s).

19:00 come eat some dinner or bbq
~21:30 or near sunset start movie magic

I’ll post more data as I’m able.

This is the Perpetual Peavine Alley What-to-Bring Page.

It get chilly when the sun goes down. Do not be fooled!

My mint is in big-time. If you bring some nice rum and some limes we could make mojitos. But come early so we can make them before the movie chaos starts.

https://www.facebook.com/events/470519561554131

JamesIsIn

PA Big Boom Bash 2 July

The infamous and annual Day of Peavine Freedom. Come celebrate Independence Day Peavine Alley style. More details to follow.

From 20140906 Eric the Redder
From 20140906 Eric the Redder

Players and schedule:

15:00 gates open!
16:00 Fae Wiedenhoeft (aka SeaStar)
↑ → tips: http://venmo.com/fae-wiedenhoeft
↑ → buy: http://seastar1.bandcamp.com
16:45 Nicola Linde
↑ → tips: https://nicolalinde.com/virtual-tip/
↑ → buy: https://nicolalinde.com/product/sightline-ep/
17:30 Jerry Lewis (as Lion Cheetahs)
↑ → tips:
↑ → buy:
18:15 Once Around the Sun
↑ → tips: https://account.venmo.com/u/Antriksh-Kandhari
↑ → buy: https://www.oncearoundthesunband.com/
19:00 Jed Crisilogo
↑ → tips: https://account.venmo.com/u/Jed-Crisologo
→ buy: https://sunkillersband.com

Schedule forthcoming. And more details. Patience…

Excited? I know I am.

Load-in (for musicians or possibly food) is most easily done before the show via Peavine Alley. Load-in and then go park the car on one of the adjacent streets. Ask me your questions.

Pork brine: 16 lime juices, cinnamon, cloves, bay leaves, brown sugar, salt/soy, and peppercorns.

Pork spices: salt, mustard, cayenne, black pepper, smoked paprika, cloves, allspice, and cardamom.

Did we have a good time or what? Very diverse musical line-up this time around. Good people and good food! Thanks to everyone. These really are the best days of the year.

JamesIsIn

2022 birthday bbq

Jimmy got old. Probably died. But maybe he’ll be propped up (Bernie style) at the grill.

Bring bbq stuff. Hopefully the weather won’t be crap. Never can tell with Spring in Seattle.  Dress in layers.

How to BBQ
How to BBQ

I plan to make ribs, potato salad, and something I can’t remember at the moment. Maybe it was cheesy rice? It’ll come to me.

Ah, it was salmon goat cheese dip. That’s the third thing. Have to save cheesy rice for another time.

Ask me all your questions.

I have one of those fancy whipping cream dispensers.  It requires a CO2 cartridge though.  Bring a cartridge if you want to dispense.

Turnout was amazing! Thanks everyone! So much fun and nibbles.

JamesIsIn

16 July Friday Movie Night

Been a while since we saw a movie together.

19:00 BBQ
21:00 the sun goes down

Not without My Handbag  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Not_Without_My_Handbag
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9_(2009_animated_film)
Spy  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spy_(2015_film)

A couple of animated films and an action comedy film.

Racer X
Racer X

Come grill something beforehand if you’d like.  Certainly arrive before sunset to get a spot on the grass for the movies.

What to bring?
Seating:  Camping chair, blanket, or similar.  I have many to share.
Food:  There is a grill available.  I’ll make popcorn.  If you have any special kitchen needs, send Jimmy a message or ask here.
Bevs:  If you can sip it, it’s good.  Share if you’d like.
Friends:  Cool friends are great.
Pets:  My cat has total dominion over the yard and is restricted by a 28 foot retractable leash.  Fucking with the cat is a no-no.  That is the most important pet rule.
Money:  The show is free but you will likely want to donate to the Me (and I’m ok as I’m employed).  We did have a new bulb fundraiser once.
Love:  Bring it!  Bring it all!

Remember, there is a 20f difference between day temps and night temps.  Wear long pants, bring a jacket, do the layers.  I do have several blankets but plan accordingly.

Definitely dress for chilly weather for when that sun goes down tomorrow evening.

If you plan to come for the pre-bq, let me know so I can plan accordingly.  If you want to roast weenies, maybe ask here for someone to bring buns.  “We’re all in this together, kid.”  Ask me all the questions.

Things I hope to cook:  a few sausages, a few ribs, a few chicken thighs, country scones, and a rice dish.  And popcorn.  Lots of popcorn.

Busy day… Scones, pie, sausages, chicken.  Dishes.

Country Scones
Country Scones
Filet Mignon and Sausages with Sage
Filet Mignon and Sausages with Sage
Chicken Thighs with Rosemary and Lemon
Chicken Thighs with Rosemary and Lemon
Boysenberry Pie
Boysenberry Pie

Strange things happen in my kitchen, to be sure, but this is the first spontaneous cake.

Cake
Cake

Thanks to everyone for coming.  Excellent movie conditions.  We ended up skipping 9 (due to some technical difficulties after delays related to new equipment) and jumped from Not without My Handbag into Spy.  Very much fun.  Good friends, good food, good films.  See you all at the next one!

https://www.facebook.com/events/235805208388157/

JamesIsIn

2021 Big Boom Bash 3 July

Another Peavine day of freedom!

An all new lineup of returning musicians for this Welcome Back! show.  The usual good times available for all.

Schedule listed below (times are estimates).

As usual it’s your basic picnic bbq potluck grassy gnoll sort of rock and roll show.  All donations go to the musicians.  We recommend $20 per person.  Probably they will have stuff you can buy as well.  I’ll post some links here and there below.

I will be making my usual (unusual) pork loin.  Please do make comments here about what you are bringing so not everyone brings kale and quinoa salad.  I mean, many of you COULD bring salad.  But someone should probably bring something to go with it.  What’s your preferred potluck portable comestible?

Questions?  Ask them below or message one of the moderators!I’ll put together a schedule soon, but let’s name-drop for now:  Jeffrey Martin Sheryl Wiser Jared Mitchell Earl Brooks

Welcome back, Earl Brooks!  Tell us how many punk rock songs per unit of time.
Welcome back, Earl Brooks!  Tell us how many punk rock songs per unit of time.
Welcome back, Sheryl Wiser!  We will listen with our eyes open.
Welcome back, Sheryl Wiser!  We will listen with our eyes open.
Welcome back, Jared Mitchell!  Where them wingtips?
Welcome back, Jared Mitchell!  Where them wingtips?
Welcome back, pork loin!  You wonderful magical one.
Welcome back, pork loin!  You wonderful magical one.
Welcome back, Harry Oesterreicher!  And all the hardworking helper monkees.
Welcome back, Harry Oesterreicher!  And all the hardworking helper monkees.
Welcome back, Box of Discarded Sunglasses!  How you came is a mystery.
Welcome back, Box of Discarded Sunglasses!  How you came is a mystery.
Welcome back, climate control!  We missed you most of all!
Welcome back, climate control!  We missed you most of all!
Welcome back, all of you.  You make this all happen.
Welcome back, all of you.  You make this all happen.

What to bring?

Seating:  Camping chair, blanket, or similar.  I have some to share.

Potluck:  Can you make that thing you always love to make?  That would be great for sharing!  There is a grill available.  If you have any special kitchen needs, send Jimmy a message or ask here.

Bevs:  If you can sip it, it’s good.  Share if you’d like.  I always make iced-tea.

Friends:  Cool friends are great.  You want to invite a posse?  Talk to Jimmy.

Pets:  My cat has total dominion over the yard and is restricted by a 28 foot retractable leash.  Fucking with the cat is a no-no.  That is the most important pet rule.

Money:  The show is free but you will likely want to donate to the musicians (usually $20 per person and maybe buy some merchandise).

Love:  Bring it!  Bring it all!

Shirts and shoes required?  They’re not even recommended!

Schedule Roughly Approximate
15:00 Peavine Gates Open (bring your goodies to the table and get a spot on the grass).
16:00 Earl Brooks will dazzle us
16:45 Jeffrey Martin will amaze us
17:30 Sheryl Wiser will sparkle our eyes
18:15 Jared Mitchell will wing us into the evening
19:00 whatever we want to do time
(We can do a movie after dusk if there is enough interest.)

Pork loin brine: lime juice and salt.
Ribs: sous vide 24 hours at 137f.
Ribs: salt, white pepper, cayenne, paprika, cloves, cinnamon.
Loin: salt, white pepper, cayenne, sumac, cardamom, mustard, cumin, nutmeg.

Loin Brined and Spiced
Loin Brined and Spiced
Sous Vide Ribs with Spices
Sous Vide Ribs with Spices
Loin of love.
Loin of love.
Loin of love.
Loin of love.
Loin of love.
Loin of love.
What a crowd!
What a crowd!

All event day donations go to the musicians!  https://www.gofundme.com/f/peavine-alley

Thank you thank you thank you!  Thanks to everyone who participates in these events.  This was our best Independence Day celebration yet.  At least fifty-five humans in attendance.  Excellent food.  Supreme music.  Perfect weather.  Who could ask for a better holiday?

JamesIsIn

Pandemic Big Boom Bash 4 July

We have five acts lined up for this year.  We are also asking for volunteers to rotationally man the potluck (we have gloves, please bring a mask) and to serve food.  Let’s look at the line-up.

Tobias the Owl: https://www.paypal.me/tobiastheowl
Dearly Departed: http://paypal.me/mmaswa

We have a lot of space so physical distancing should be possible for all.  If you are in a high-risk group, we have a special seating area; please advise an administrator.

3:00 PM Peavine Gates open!
4:00 PM Robbie Christmas [cancelled]
4:45 PM Goodbye Shane [cancelled]
5:30 PM Tobias the Owl
6:15 PM Cape Disappointment (Seattle’s Jeffrey Martin) [cancelled]
7:00 PM Dearly Departed

What's he gonna do this time?
What’s he gonna do this time?

Are you trying to kill me?

Trying times what with the current zombie apocalypse aiming at us all.  Let’s explore what Peavine Alley is doing for you in the midst of this crisis.

Though the current Washington State guidelines do not apply to a private venue such as the Alley, let us begin our exploration there as they are both reasonable and clear.  Citizens are requested to wear masks (or similar coverings) when they are in public spaces (both indoors and out) and where physical distancing is not possible.

Two strangers playing chess across a table should be wearing something to cover or shield their airways.  One person off alone in a park needn’t concern.

Peavine Alley is not requiring any individual to wear a mask in order to gain entrance to this event.  But we must make it clear we are not sponsoring a conspiracy theory laden free-for-all spittle-fest in a grassy Petri dish.  You will use your best judgement.  Let’s go over some reasonable scenarios.

You and your besty who either live together or spend all of your maskless lives together may thus cluster together without masks sharing your spittle with only yourselves.

One of you gets up and walks to the buffet line, they ought to mask-up as they encounter strangers and converse over what they might like to plate.

The phrases “let’s mask-up” and “please, mask-up” are legitimate phrases for this gathering, but given the above they will likely never be spoken across a distance.  Also, what one does to mask-up may be quite diverse, up to and including using their shirt to cover their nose and mouth long enough to pass a stranger in a narrow passage.

It is important to note that the musicians will not be able to mask-up full-time, nor will your esteemed host (obviously I mean low self-esteem, calm down!).  We are all in this together and if you are reasonable, polite, and helpful we will all come out the other end better for the experience.

As mentioned previously, if you are in a higher-risk category (especially immunocompromised in any way), please reach out so that we can seek to make any appropriate accommodations we might be able to make so that your experience can be as good as mine hopes to be.

As always, send your questions to me.

I am happy to announce we have secured a special seating area for high-risk guests.

We are set to cast this event.  More details to follow.  Bill Landon!

https://www.gofundme.com/f/peavine-alley

Loin brine: lime juice, honey, salt, bay leaves, pepper corns, cloves.
Rib prep: brown sugar, salt, cloves, pepper.
Loin spice: salt, cayenne, cinnamon, white pepper, cardamom.
Rib spice: white pepper, cumin cayenne.

Test ribs…
Test ribs…

I have arranged things so that I and perhaps one volunteer (at a time) can serve any contributed food items (including my loin and ribs).  As such the pergola itself will have restricted access.  If possible, bring your dish with a clear lid.  If not we’ll sort something out with plastic wrap I have here.  Thanks!

I know I cannot make people unafraid.  There are good reasons to be afraid.  But we have taken all the steps we are able to ensure safety, and we know from experience how respectful our gatherers will be.

I have already said that everyone has to make their own risk assessment, and of course this must be true (really at all times and under all circumstances).

Again, please reach out to me if you have any concerns or would like to discuss the science behind the current mayhem.

We hope to have a streaming link available soon.  Keep checking.

Sweet and smooth sound check by Tobias the Owl
It’s a beautiful afternoon at Peavine Alley

Brenna’s:

Dearly Departed
Dearly Departed
Harry O
Harry O
James Cook
James Cook
Soundcheck
Soundcheck
Tobias the Owl
Tobias the Owl
JamesIsIn