Rainier: A Beer Odyssey

A buzzy new documentary film, “Rainier: A Beer Odyssey,” tells the epic story of the beer brand and its world-famous 1970s advertising campaign — designed by a small, up-and-coming agency with everything to prove — that put the Seattle-based brewing company on the map.

The film will be shown at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 17, at Vashon Theatre, with director Isaac Olsen and producer Rob Peterson in attendance. The filmmakers will take part in a Q&A after the screening that evening. T-shirts, stickers and posters will also be available.

The film won the 2024 prize for Best Pacific Northwest Film from the Seattle Film Critics Society, and was an official selection in the both the 2024 Tacoma Film Festival and the Seattle International Film Festival.

Find out more and get tickets at vashontheatre.com.

Kareem Kandi World Orchestra

The Kareem Kandi World Orchestra will play at 6 p.m. Friday, April 18, at Snapdragon, with an opening set by Jim Burke and Greg McElroy.

A native of the Pacific Northwest, Kandi is a saxophonist, composer and educator in high demand for his talents.

With strong roots in the traditions of jazz, blues, classical and funk, he has performed throughout the U.S. and abroad for years, gaining attention from critics and enthusiastic audiences alike. He also composes original music as well as new arrangements of timeless songs from the great American songbook.

He has performed, toured and recorded with acclaimed musicians including Patti Labelle, Ali Jackson, D’vonne Lewis, Bill Watrous, Seattle Symphony, The Paperboys, Northwest Repertory Singers, Thomas Marriott, Symphony Tacoma, Alex Duncan, Frazey Ford, DJ Hapa, Polyrhythmics, Bill Ramsay, The Staxx Brothers, Greta Matassa, The Temptations, Hadley Caliman, Four Tops, Harry James and his Orchestra, and many others.

The show has a $10 cover charge.

Amanda Knox book launch

Just days before islander and author Amanda Knox stages a book reading event in Seattle, she will make an on-island appearance to read passages from and answer questions about her much-anticipated new book, “Free: My Search for Meaning.”

At the Vashon event, she’ll sit in conversation with Voice of Vashon’s Jeff Hoyt at 5 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at Puget Sound Zen Center, at 18005 Vashon Highway. In addition to the reading and Q&A, Knox will sign copies of the book that will be for sale at the event. Tickets are $15 and go toward the $30 book purchase price. (Couples will get one free book for two ticket admissions.)

Reserve seats for this event, presented by Knox-Robinson Productions and Debra Heesch, at brownpapertickets.com.

Rocky Horror 50th anniversary

Ready for a time warp? Tighten your corsets and pull up your fishnets, because the Vashon Theatre Foundation is sponsoring a 50th Anniversary showing of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” with a live cast at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at Vashon Theatre.

Come see the greatest cult film in history as it was meant to be seen — with dancing, singing, costumes, shouting lines and throwing props — accompanied by a fully-costumed live performance by the Bremerton theater group, Riff Raff’s Street Rats.

There will be a costume contest along with games, and Rocky Horror first-time attendees should be sure to mark their outfits with a red V.

Get advance tickets ($14) and find out more at vashontheatre.com. Tickets will also be for sale at box office.

Duende Libre

Duende Libre, an award-winning jazz trio whose original music combines jazz virtuosity with roots rhythms from Cuba, Brazil, and West Africa, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 18, at Vashon Center for the Arts. Each member of the acclaimed trio has apprenticed with direct descendants and master musicians of these traditions; they consider themselves disciples of their teachers. The result: A euphoric new jazz that honors its historical roots opening the boundaries of genre to invoke a powerful sonic freedom.

Find out more and get tickets at vashoncenterforthearts.org.

Bachelors of Broadway

Bachelors of Broadway, a trio of dashing gentlemen who bring soaring harmonies from Broadway and the silver screen to new heights in concert, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at Vashon Center for the Arts.

Their catalog includes songs from “Wicked,” “Phantom of the Opera,” “Jersey Boys,” “Dear Evan Hanson,” “Les Miz” and many more beloved musicals.

Find out more and get tickets at vashoncenterforthearts.org.

Nathan & Jessie

Island presenter Debra Heesch will bring Nathan & Jessie — a jazzy country duo on resonator guitar and accordion that blends male and female voices in English, Spanish and French — to Snapdragon’s stage for two shows on Saturday, April 19.

The first show that night runs from 6-7 p.m.; the second from 8-9 p.m.

Nathan Rivera and Jessie Andra Smith hail from Temecula, California. Their performances include all-original music, stories of their travels and interactions with the audience that make for an warm experience. Love of sharing their music has taken Nathan & Jessie all over the world, frequenting places throughout the Pacific Northwest and other locales including Mexico, Canada, France and New Orleans.

“Wild Cucumber” launch

Vashon’s Inaugural Poet Laureate Ann Spiers will launch her new book “Wild Cucumber/New and Selected Poems” at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 27, in the Land Trust Building’s back garden, located at 10014 SW Bank Rd.

Publishers John Pierce and Holly J. Hughes will be celebrating and selling books.

Shoot to Show

Island photographer Ray Pfortner will once again offer his beloved and long-running annual photography workshop, Shoot to Show.

The workshop is open to ages 15 and older, and for all skill levels, using any camera — phone to mirrorless. This year’s theme is the “Science and Art of Tramp Harbor.”

The workshop will give participants the chance to explore Vashon’s Tramp Harbor and in doing so, support the Vashon Parks Foundation’s and Friends of Tramp Harbor Dock’s fundraising efforts for a new pier.

Learn about wildlife above and below the water with Maria Metler, of Vashon Nature Center, and take that knowledge on location in a group photo shoot with Pfortner. Then, continue to shoot individually around Tramp Harbor for one month, sharing your results for feedback on flickr.com and in person.

Class sessions are on Saturdays, April 26 and May 3, from 9-11:30 a.m. and Thursday, May 29, from 7-9 p.m. The workshop will culminate in a big screen presentation of the juried results on June 17 at Vashon Theatre.

Scholarships are available for the $150 workshop. Find out more and sign up at tinyurl.com/yrswp74a.

She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry

Women Hold the Key will hold a special screening of “She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry” as a fundraiser at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 29, at Vashon Theatre.

The powerful documentary brings to life the untold history of the bold and brilliant women who launched the modern women’s movement from 1966 to 1971. Tickets for the event are available by donation, ranging from $15 to $100.

The film, said Women Hold the Key director Tina Shattuck, is a call to action, highlighting the struggles and triumphs of the past while illuminating the ongoing fight for reproductive rights, justice and equality. The screening aims to inspire all genders to engage in the movement for feminism and human rights.

Don’t miss this opportunity to witness history, spark conversation, and support a cause that uplifts women everywhere. There will be time for a community discussion after.

To reserve a ticket, visit womenholdthekey.com.

Calls for artists

All island artists are invited to enter the 2025 Vashon Island Visual Artists members’ show, “Our Island, Our Home,” at Vashon Center for the Arts, May 2–25.

The show is open to all current VIVA members — join or renew now to participate. The deadline to enter is April 11. Visit vivartists.com for more details and to enter.

Vashon Center for the Arts also has two calls out for artists. The first, with a deadline of May 4, is for “The Secret Garden,” an exhibit of work suitable for display in gardens and patios. The exhibit, in VCA’s gallery, will run June 4-29 — a month that includes VCA’s annual Garden Tour.

VCA’s second call is for art to be displayed in its annual Summer Arts Fest — a extravaganza of rotating art exhibits opening on July 3 and running through Aug. 31.

Find out more at gallery.vashoncenterforthearts.org.

The Kareem Kandi World Orchestra will play on April 18, at Snapdragon. (Courtesy photo)

A special screening “Rainier: A Beer Odyssey” will take place on April 17 at Vashon Theatre. (Courtesy photo)

Bremerton’s Riff Raff’s Street Rats will take the stage at a 50th anniversary screening of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”on April 19 at Vashon Theatre. (Courtesy photo)

Ray Pfortner will lead students to Tramp Harbor for this year’s iteration of his long-running “Shoot to Show” workshop, beginning on April 26. (Ray Pfortner photo)