by Kirby Lindsay, posted 30 January 2012
Come celebrate art at the Fremont First Friday (FFF) Art Walk, on February 3rd from 6p – 9p. Venues all over the district will display works by talented artists such as Michael Angelo Caci (at Frame Up,) Claire Jauregui of Orange Twist (at Portage Bay Goods,) Chris Adams (at High Dive,) Starheadboy with music by Rachel Wong (at Brown Paper Tickets Treehouse offices,) Soren O’Malley (at Hub And Bespoke,) Sally Schuh (at Johnston Architects,) and Nate Watters (at Theo Chocolate.)
Strolling among venues on First Fridays often gives the sensation of a wandering party, as guests meet, chat and meander off to explore other venues. For February, however, the party will have a heart – as several celebrations converge on one venue: Pel’meni Dumpling Tzar.
Thanks To Melanie (and Mollie)
Start the evening, at 6p, at a Thank You Party for Melanie Masson, the former FFF organizer. Masson’s chosen successor, Mollie Bryan, organized the party, and specifically declared it will end at 7:30p to allow everyone time to visit other venues. Jesse Parry, co-owner of Pel’meni, has promised cake, and 509 Wines will provide some wine. Also, for those who can’t resist the call of the dumplings, use the phrase ‘Make Art, Not War,’ and get a $1 discount.
The party will really be about saying thanks to Masson for her hard work, over the last two years, improving and growing the Art Walk. Bryan felt the need to do something to let Masson know how we all feel. “I’ve worked at places,” that never expressed gratitude for extraordinary effort, Bryan explained, “I think it is really important.”
While Pel’meni opened only one year ago, Parry still knows the work Masson did – and the business has benefited. “Fremont has such a great Art Walk,” she observed, “people come out for it, and they spend money.”
Celebration of Pel’meni
Jesse Parry, and her husband Zach, opened the restaurant in time last year to take part in the February 2011 Art Walk. Yet, they’ve chosen to hold the official first anniversary celebration in advance, on Wednesday, February 1st, from 6p – 9p. The party will have live music, samples of new side salads being added to the menu and, of course, cake.
This party will also acknowledge hard work. Jesse and Zach started off small – serving pre-made, frozen dumplings to late night crowds. The business started with Jesse, who worked for the company that makes the dumplings in Alaska. When they looked to expand into Seattle, Zach and Jesse Parry wanted to be in Fremont – and talked Alley Cat catering into sharing the kitchen.
“We boil them in front of the customers,” Jesse Parry explained. The frozen dumplings work well as a late night snack since they can make them to order – and don’t run out, although, as she admitted, “that would be a nice problem to have.” The dumplings have proven so popular though that when Alley Cat moved to larger digs, Pel’meni expanded into lunch service.
Doing catering jobs as well, the Parrys never expected to be so busy – in January. “We expect to be more busy,” Jesse Parry admitted, as they still have festival season to look forward to, including including the University Street Fair, Folklife, and Sasquatch Music Festival. In addition, Jesse has expanded the menu – and Zach has been doing a few renovations to the restaurant.
See The Art
He’s taken on doing renovations on top of catering, being a dad, and – as everyone will see at the Art Walk in February – being an artist. Zach Parry may have earned the title of Frem-aissance Man, as he shows his art as featured artist at Pel’meni.
“We’re really excited,” Jesse Parry said of the show. Zach Parry has shown his works – in ceramics, painting, and photography – at gallery shows before. Since the beginning of the restaurant, Jesse admitted, they’ve planned to hold a solo show for him, but it kept being put off in favor of other artists – and because he was too busy running the restaurant. Finally they realized, “we wanted to do something big for our one-year anniversary,” Jesse said.
This will showcase Parry’s photography, particularly images taken during the couple’s travels. According to Jesse, the photos show people on the go and landscape scenes from across South America and Europe. According to the artist’s statement, on the FFF website, Zach Parry draws inspiration from, “his love of travel and dirt.”
The show will give Parry a chance to show off some of his works, but “probably not the paintings,” Jesse explained, “because they don’t go with the series.” On the night of Art Walk, though, visitors may see some of his ceramics. Zach Parry did show some in a collective Holiday Bazaar show they held during the December Art Walk. In time, Jesse explained, Zach wants to build secure display cases for showing ceramics safely, but for now they can only be on-display – in the open, public dining area – at specific times.
So come out to the Art Walk and join the party in motion – after a stop at Pel’meni. Find out the latest on the venues – and the artists – participating on the FFF website. Or stop by Pel’meni this month and check in on just what all the fun is about!
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©2012 Kirby Lindsay. This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. copyright laws. Reproduction, adaptation or distribution without permission is prohibited.