It’s hard to deny that small businesses in Oak Harbor are starting to dip their toes into the social media sphere, such as Twitter and Facebook. Some companies update these micro-blog sites every day or week-to-week. Owners are finding it’s a way to communicate directly with customers, and consumers are finding useful information they might otherwise miss.

Did you ever have a friend who was  in the know about special deals that began an hour ago? They’re probably Twitter-savvy. Local businesses such as The BBQ Joint often broadcast their daily lunch specials, or when popular items appear on the menu. A message from Jan. 7 read “Jambalaya is ready!” You can also find local coffee shops announce their double stamp days or drink specials at restaurants and clubs.

(To read more click on the post)

photo courtesy of Darnell Allen

The devil is in the details, as they say, and Seven West, Oak Harbor’s newest night club, is all about the details. For months, 27-year-old Darnell Allen has meticulously remade his spacious lot on Bayshore Drive, which neighbors Element night club and Indulge Spa and Salon.

The fresh look (which I heard was a former Bubble Tea cafe) features elegant chandeliers, funky paint colors, zebra prints and a posh, pink-lit bar.  This weekend, stop in and give a hello to Allen during “Flash Friday” at 10 p.m., for flashy drink specials, in the $4 range. Or, you can attend Saturday’s Socialite Party (see poster above).

The only caveat is the dress code, which asks that patrons be stylish. There are no sweats, sports attire and beach wear allowed.

Seven West is located at 780 SE Bayshore Drive in Oak Harbor. Click here to visit their Myspace page.

This isn’t necessarily a local story, but a man from Everett is designing jeans called “Winkers.” They “wink” from behind as you walk. On their Web site, they describe it as: Your wink is the crease between your buttock and the top of your leg.

That crease is a money maker for Winkers owner William Jones, who boasts a ton of online orders, according to the Seattle PI.

They paint up to five designs on pants, mostly jeans. And it’s pretty calculated: Jeans work the best for Winkers. Baggy jeans do not wink at all. Other types of pants might work well, but if the leg is too loose and hangs from the widest part of the buttocks, the pants will not wink.

Here’s a video from their Web site:

Fashion critics describe Jones’ work as “disturbingly awesome.” What do you think?

Would you purchase a pair of Winkers?(opinion)

Kind of…

It’s actually a murder mystery party, which if you’ve ever played the board game “Clue,” you know that it’s essentially a role-playing version involving murder, lies and appetizers. You’ll likely see me there.

The Whidbey Island Theater for Youth (WITY) is hosting this adults-only party on Sept. 28 from 6 to 9 p.m. It’s dubbed “Murder at the Deadwood Saloon” and the audience must solve a crime in which their party mates are the suspects.

Although WITY is relatively new to the community, the folks who run the business have extensive acting backgrounds and after visiting their Halloween makeup workshop last October, I assume the murder will look pretty realistic.

The party will be hosted at the BBQ Joint on Midway Boulevard, which serves up some of the best barbecue in town (crime could be the case of the 20 pounds of missing brisket?) Tickets are $40 for singles and $70 for couples which includes dinner but not alcohol. For more information call 675-1084 or email witytickets@gmail.com. People are encouraged to wear costumes.

This party reminded me of the murder mystery party on the now defunct Comedy Central Show Reno 911. Their version was terrible, but I expect good things from Oak Harbor’s. Here’s a clip:

Reno 911! Preview – Who Done It? – Watch the best video clips here

With October a few months away, the Whidbey Playhouse announced they’d be airing the cult favorite “Rocky Horror Picture Show” on Halloween night.

The playhouse acquired a pull-down movie screen and projector earlier this year, and staff have been hosting sing-a-long monthly movie nights. They’re first airing of “Mama Mia” proved so popular that 60 people had to be turned away.

The decision to screen “Rocky Horror” is an interesting one; and in my mind, a welcome one. The horror-musical spoof has drawn a nearly decade-old troupe of die-hard fans and I expect we’ll see quite a few turn out for this show.

But how far the playhouse let’s them go is up for debate. Some “Rocky Horror” cultists shout out commentary after certain lines that aren’t exactly PG-13. Plus the standard Rocky props including squirt guns, playing cards, toilet paper, rice and toast could be a clean up nightmare for the small staff.

But regardless of the limits the Whidbey Playhouse takes this screening, we can expect to see some unique costume tributes to Dr. Frank-N-Furter and the rest of the Rocky cast. Walmart should stock up on fishnets.

For the younger crowds, the playhouse will show a screening of “Twilight,” the story of a teenage girl who falls in love with a vampire. As October nears, check www.whidbeyplayhouse.com for more information. I have a feeling you’ll want to pick up your tickets early.

I’m looking forward to the Oak Harbor invasion of “Zombies from the Beyond,” the latest production from the Whidbey Playhouse by director Mary Lou Chandler. Posters are going up this week.

‘Zombies’ takes it cue from pulp movies from the 1950’s. I visited a rehearsal the other day and it’s shaping up to be a funny, sexy, cool satire  based in Milwaukee. If you’re like me, you might have thought the story was about the walking dead based on the title but it’s actually a sci-fi, alien spoof. The leading men become “zombified” by the beautiful Zombina.

The cast is made up of quite a few talented 20-somethings and early highlights include the operatic voice of Amanda McCartney (Zombina) and Meiko Parton’s one-handed side flip in the dance number “Big Wig.”

Here’s a little synopsis from the playhouse:

“Zombies from the Beyond” is a zippy, trippy, 50’s musical play by James Valcq about American ideals set in the Eisenhower era; as the Cold War and space-race paranoia begin to threaten the good folks at the fictional Milwaukee Space Center in 1955. A time when flying saucers or UFO’s were landing everywhere; and bomb shelters were being built in the backyards of Ozzie and Harriet houses all over the United States.The basic plot involves the invasion of Earth by a flying saucer piloted by a buxom alien, Zombina and her Zombettes. Their aim is to conquer and enslave all Earth’s men in order to repopulate their totally female planet by using Zombina’s secret weapon, her hypnotic singing voice. Throw in a brave scientist, an Army general and his lovely daughter, a Russian spy, and a tap-dancing delivery boy and you’ve got a really funny show.

Will Zombina and her Zombettes succeed in capturing Earth’s men for their planet?  Will this be the end of Earth as we know it?  If you’re up for a whacky spoof of a musical, “Zombies from the Beyond” should have you laughing heartily and shaking your head in disbelief at the same time.

Tickets are on sale now at the Whidbey Playhouse. The show runs Sept. 11 to Oct. 3 Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m. All seats are $16. Contact the Whidbey Playhouse at 679-2237 for more info.

(photo courtesy of Kyla Applegate)

This is Rocky, the 36-year-old karaoke guru who commutes to Oak Harbor from Bellingham several times a week in a “Karaoke Cruiser.” His strobe-lit van can be seen parked outside of area clubs on Pioneer Way and Highway 20.

Rocky has quickly become one of the most requested karaoke technicians in the city. He’s known for his easy way with the crowd and ability to break up the song assassins with ear-pleasing renditions of “New Sensation,” among others.

Although Rocky takes up gigs everywhere, he’s a fixture at a few Oak Harbor clubs and restaurants. You can find him at Bayside/Element every Tuesday at 9:30 p.m., Wedensday’s at Red Sky Martini Bar at 9 p.m. and the Two O’ Clock Gathering Spot on Pioneer Way Saturday’s at 10 p.m. Wednesday nights, you can sing to win a free prime rib dinner.

Singing with Rocky is a great way to break up the weekly grind and even for those who can’t carry a tune (like myself) it’s fun to watch. I’ve learned anyone can sing who only dares to. After all, it’s hard for crowds to get enough of  “Just a small town girl, livin’ in a lonely world! She took the midnight train go-in’ an-eee-where!”

Check out some karaoke clips below of Oak Harbor locals Melissa McAlerney and Wes Ralston.

Hello everyone, my name is Liz Burlingame.
I work as the features/schools reporter for the Whidbey News-Times. Thanks for tuning in to my blog which, as you might have guessed, is about music, arts and theater. Oh, and shindiggery. But I kind of made that up.

Anyways, just about every place I’ve ever lived has had a shockingly good arts scene and Oak Harbor is no exception. I spend a lot of time targeting theater shows, concerts, art shows and nightly drink specials (most of which are part my regular job for the paper).

But with events cropping up day-to-day and new artists and musicians streaming on and off the island, it’s hard to be in the know.
So I will attempt to do it for you.

My goals for this blog are (in no particular order), profiles on local weekly radio shows, drink specials, things you MUST attend, ticket giveaways, book of the week from local book clubs, concert listings, artist interviews and content you probably won’t find on the weekly activities calendar.

If I slack or if you have any ideas, feel free to send me an email at eburlingame@whidbeynewstimes.com. Thanks for letting me into your blogosphere.