If you weren't in this taco line, you probably weren't nominated for a Stranger Genius Award this year.
It was raining last Wednesday, but the rooftop of Mezcaleria Oaxaca has shelter and heaters, and the Sparkle Donkey tequila and Hilliard's tallboys were flowing. The 15 nominees for a Stranger Genius Award were all told a few weeks ago that they'd been nominated by Stranger critics for $5,000 prizes, but none of them knew who else was nominated. Until this party.
Genius Award nominees are notified via cake. By tradition, it's a shitty QFC sheet cake that says "You're a fucking genius!" This year, we gave the nominees their cakes over tacos. In the rain. That's a first. Good thing those rooftop heaters work.
Cake and tacos, two great tastes that had never been tasted together. This is Maria Semple's cake. She immediately opened the bakery box and shared it around. Kelly O
The arts staff at The Stranger is busily photographing and writing about each of these artists for our summer issue of Seattle Art and Performance, but that doesn't come out until June 10. I got permission to spill the beans sooner than that.
You heard it here first: Here are all the nominees for 2015 Stranger Genius Awards!!
OC Notes, a nominee in music.
The rock band Chastity Belt, also nominated in music.
Steve Fisk, center, nominated in music, with 2012 Stranger Genius Award winner Lori Goldston, right.
Klara Glosova, nominee in art.
Mary Ann Peters, nominee in art.
Cherdonna, aka dancer Jody Kuehner, a nominee in performance.
Charles Leggett, an actor nominated in performance.
Matthew Smucker, a scenic designer nominated in performance.
Maria Semple, nominated in literature, standing with Ann Pancake, also nominated in literature.
Yussef El Guindi, a playwright nominated in literature (who was in LA during the party).
Scarecrow Video/Scarecrow Project, a film nominee.
Mel Eslyn, the first film producer ever nominated for a Stranger Genius Award.
Past Genius Award winners just chilling. That's artist C. Davida Ingram on the left and scenic designer Jen Zeyl on the right.
Thank you to rooftop party sponsors Mezcaleria Oaxaca, Sparkle Donkey, and Hilliard's. Thanks also to sponsors Clutch Cannabis, Frye Art Museum, and the Cloud Room.
Hey look, it's Cherdonna at a taco party squeezing a Tacocat!