Every year in early February, an odd cultural happening takes place in a rural outpost in Pennsylvania. Over the years, it has turned into a big media event. News cameras and people far and wide gather to see whether a groundhog named Phil will see his shadow or not. If Phil sees his shadow, the US can supposedly count on six more weeks of winter. If Phil does not cast a shadow, an early spring is all but assured. It's become an annual tradition, and whether Phil is an accurate prognosticator is beyond me to say. But it's fun and sweet to observe the show the people of Punxsutawney, PA, put on.
This year Phil saw his shadow on February 2. Sure enough, an Arctic blast hit the East Coast soon after. And Seattle has been enduring cooler and wetter weather than typical. Not to mention the ice storm and snow that hit our region at the end of the year before Phil even emerged from his hole!
So, what can we all do in Seattle to survive and stay positive until March 20, the first day of Spring? Here are some ideas from my bag of tricks.
Do you remember what it was like to be a kid and go roller skating? Well, every Wednesday evening at Southgate Roller Rink in White Center is Pride Skate night (for those 21+). It starts at 8:30 p.m. and runs until 11 p.m. I went once or twice during the pandemic and had a ball skating round and round the rink, managing to get my groove to the music, from KC & the Sunshine Band to Beyoncé. I only fell twice this last time! Last month the rink was more crowded, and the guys and gals decked out in costumey outfits reminded me of extras in the otherworldly flick Xanadu. Take a catnap and venture out some Wednesday.
If you aren't hep about dancing on roller skates, how about just plain dancing on your feet? Capitol Hill's Century Ballroom hosts LGBTQ+ OutDancing every third Friday of the month from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. (the next one is February 17!). You can boogie to the disco faves of your youth on elegant wood floors in a room overlooking the city lights. Dress up and make a night of it.
Or try the Tea Dance every Sunday afternoon at the recently arrived LGBTQ+ club The Comeback in the SoDo neighborhood. I've not been but am chomping on the bit to escape my Capitol Hill digs and venture down there. It's a 15-minute walk from either the Stadium or SoDo light rail stations, not convenient if you are without a car, so gather some homies and identify a designated driver if you plan to knock down a few and boogie.
If you'd like to avoid the crowd and enjoy the great outdoors, why not hit the mountains and try a cross-country ski outing? I got my first pair of Nordic skis soon after I turned 16. Growing up in the pancake-flat Midwest, I didn't learn how to downhill until I was 21. But I much prefer the cheaper and more solitary form of skiing that allows me to set my own pace on groomed trails. Plus there's a greater likelihood you'll catch some sun in the mountains, compared with the perennial gray of the Seattle lowlands. Try out Hyak Lake or Cabin Creek for easy-to-access trails, only a 45-50-minute drive on I-90 from downtown Seattle. You'll need to purchase a seasonal snow park permit or day pass to use the groomed trails. Get an early-morning start for better parking.
If you aren't the active type and want a more sedentary escape while preserving your sanity during the dreary Seattle winter, why not treat yourself to some new music or a film that will take you somewhere unexpected and different? The famed composer and songwriter Burt Bacharach, who died this month, has collaborated for more than 25 years with Elvis Costello, another music legend. On March 3, a boxed set called The Songs of Bacharach and Costello, a compilation of their remastered work, will be released. I'm a jazz fan and from an early age fell in love with Bacharach's classic hits. Romantic, sophisticated, and conveying emotional depth, his music is like a balm on a cloudy day. Paired with Costello, he expanded his reach into the next generation of music afficionados.
And in theaters this week comes a new Belgian film, Close, about the intense friendship between two 13-year-old boys. Lush and fervent, it was the winner of the Grand Prix at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival and is nominated for Best International Feature Film at the 95th Annual Academy Awards. At press time, it was scheduled to play at SIFF Cinema Uptown through at least February 16.
And speaking of the Academy Awards, I cannot think of a better excuse to gather with a gaggle of Gay friends, with a few straight ones thrown in for good measure, to plop down in front of the tube. Like the Superbowl, whether you love the teams or the films, it's just plain fun to be part of the superficial procession of stars and awards. As far back as grad school, I'd invite my chums over for a theme party amid the winter gloom, since the Oscars always presage springtime. Mark your calendar for March 12 and celebrate a great excuse to stargaze!
Jack Hilovsky is an author, actor, dancer, and blogger who has made his home in Seattle since 1986. His first book, RJ, Farrah and Me: A Young Man's Gay Odyssey from the Inside Out was published in June 2022. It can be found at Madison Books, Nook & Cranny, University Bookstore, and Third Place Books (Seward Park), among other local booksellers.