This past Tuesday night in downtown Renton was what I call a 2fer . . . a date with my amazing husband Paul and a fabulous writing assignment: The SIFF-Renton Preview FilmWalk where locals had the opportunity to preview a selection of films the Seattle International Film Festival is screening in Renton May 18-24.
I was in like Flynn.
Whenever it’s just us, Paul and I always gravitate to the bar, like amnesiacs drawn to a place that is familiar: a gastro pub to enjoy merriment . . . without kids.
As we saddle up to the bar at Whistle Stop, it seems like ages since we moved from lower Queen Anne where going to arty movies and sitting behind bars and enjoying each other’s company alongside finger foods were part of our weekly repertoire.
We relocated to Renton 10 years ago — thus beginning the wonderful and hectic Ossorio odyssey of a rowdy household with four kids.
“To us!,” we cheer, clinking our pints of Mac & Jack, feeling the camaraderie and excitement at the intersection of arts and culture in a pleasantly packed house at the Whistle Stop, our first stop on our SIFF tour.
Cameras clicked as Suzanne Dale Estey, Renton’s economic development director, emceed.
“This opportunity to host SIFF, the largest film festival in the country, is like bringing the world to Renton,” Suzanne rallied.
My chest puffed up a bit and though I had nothing to do with SIFF in Renton other than my 2fer that night, sitting at the bar I felt a sense of civic pride. SIFF in Renton — how special is that!
The lights dimmed and chatter dissipated as our eyes feasted on the big screen. A larger-than-life SIFF introduction that bedazzled our eyes with an outrageous, visually stunning introduction with vibrant music ushered swirling silver and blue sequined dancers that set the stage for what was to come — a compendium of movie trailers that were unique, thought- provoking, exciting and, of course, entertaining.
The previews featured new faces, peppered with a few recognizable actors meant to whet our appetites for the smorgasbord of films available in Renton May 18-24 and Seattle May 17—June 10.
Paging through the SIFF Festival Guide, I noticed that SIFF has done a really wonderful job of streamlining the process of picking films. They’re introducing something called Pathways. It’s a guide that breaks up the oft-overwhelming amount of movie choices into 10 easy categories like “Make Me Laugh,” “Show me the World,” or “I didn’t know that!”
That’s a real service for any movie goer who has ever felt duped into a movie you thought was a comedy, only to find out two hours later that it was a tear-jerking melodrama.
From the Whistle Stop the SIFF party caravanned to Renton History Museum for more SIFF tantalizing tidbits.
Arm-in-arm Paul and I sashayed over to the third and final previewing locale at The Berliner Pub.
By 7:45 the afternoon sunshine had dwindled into chilly overcast, so the stainless steel fire in the center of the Berliner Pub was a welcome sight.
Among the Berliner guests we appeared to be the first “SIFFers” to arrive. So we nabbed a choice seat next to the big screen and ordered up some tasty German beers.
“Are you guys here for a date night?” Mary Clymer from Happy Delusions sidled up next to me, wearing one of the licorice-colored necklaces with the pale blue, red and white SIFF colors.
Throughout the evening I kept seeing photographers, ushers and many others sporting a necklace badge.
Which prompted me to ask Dustin Kaspar, SIFF Education Programs Manager what the “necklaces” signified.
“SIFF employees. But most are local SIFF volunteers. Throughout the film festival we work with over 900 volunteers.”
Mary volunteers on the arts committee.
Between conversation, reveling in the excitement and previewing never-before-seen movies, I was in hog heaven.
A few of the preview stand outs:
• “Fat Kid Rules the World” by actor turned director Matthew Lillard. A coming-of-age story that will be screened here in Renton on the SIFF opening night.
• “The Chef” featuring Jean Reno
• “We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivist”
• “The Woman in the Septic Tank”
And for kids . . .
• “Brave,” Pixar’s latest animated charmer about a defiant Scottish princess
• “Castles in the Sky” by Miyazaki, Takahata and the Masters of Studio Ghibli
We finished our delicious Berliner Pub minstrels: grown-up corn dog brats with homemade beer batter that lightly blanketed mini brats served with a basket of fries straddled on either side with Dijon mustard and ketchup. A shared Caesar salad and well-seasoned hot wings.
The clock struck 9 on Paul’s phone . . . reminding us that we had roughly 15 minutes to get home before our carriage turned into a pumpkin.
I love suggestions! If you know of people or places in Renton that surprise, delight and inspire the community, drop me a line at carolyn@pippimamma.com. Also follow Carolyn on her blog, www.pippimamma.com.
