PERMANENT LIPSTICK by Ginger Knoxx
Keep a close watch on the space next to the The Grand Cinema. Area artists are raising the bar a bit further this winter with the opening of Kulture Lab, a new gallery and event space in the former Catapult realty office. Those behind the scenes at Kulture Lab promise rotating displays of edgy art and will continue with mixed and multi-media showings and installations similar to the late August event. Deliriously good edible art will again be featured.

THURSDAY, Sept. 14
The Italian's birthday! Yeah, yeah, yeah!
We finally made it over to Duke's to try the food there instead of going to Chochan Korean Barbecue and then to Elliot Bay Sauna and Hot Tubs. I thought the hot tubs would be cool. You know, go relax after din din in a private Jacuzzi room with music. Until The Italian pointed out that every creepy businessman probably takes his "date" there. I wanted to vomit. They rent by the hour, and it's likely cheaper than the Skeeze On In Motel in Sea-Tac.

So, we had dinner at Duke's instead, and no one got crabs with swimming ability. Great chowder sampler. Our favs: lobster Pernod and whiskey chowder (everything I love seems to have booze in it). The Model Squad was out mini-golfing for more Virgo birthdays. We caught up with them at Moctezuma's on 56th. I am sure they hated seeing all 15 of us walk in at 20 minutes to closing. Margaritas all around, tequila shots tossed back, smoke break, Mexi-desserts aplenty. More margaritas? Yes, please. Here's my Visa, swipe, shoot tequila, and it's time for Magoo's. Woo-hoo! Ebony bore an "It's my birthday" smile all night. Bluecifer, Chesty, The Italian and I crafted crazy plans for a mini-golf limo tour around town complete with our own announcer. Rad.

Over in a booze free part of town, cute as hell Malachi Perez opened for Falling Up at the Tooth & Nail Records CD release party at Club Impact. It was also Falling Up's only show in the state, so if you missed it, you really missed out. Reminds me of the time we got pulled over in a horrid case of mistaken identity coming back from a show in Everett. Cops yanked us all out at gunpoint, cuffed us and put us in separate cars. Some fools on Capitol Hill had broken into a house two blocks from Dick's Drive In where we were calmly standing at the counter ordering yummy burgers. The robbers hit Interstate 5 South the same time we did in a car that looked similar to the one we were in. Wonder what it feels like to be on "COPS"? Ask nicely and I'll share.

SATURDAY, Sept. 16
How do some women do it? They roll out of bed and look amazing. I saw urbanXchange's Julie Bennett unloading funky fashions for the clothing store's vendor booth at the Stadium High School 100th Year Celebration at about 9 a.m., and she looked radiant! The celebration generated a great turn out. Someone joked, "Yeah, they had to find a band as old as the school for the celebration." Blood, Sweat and Tears are not that old. Close, but not quite, and don't you just love the disco boogie? The students are so stoked to be going back this year and not be shipped halfway around the world and totally out of their element for classes. Jess and Katie B. left me this crazy long message on my cell about how totally magical the fireworks show was - "Tinkerbell twinkly awesome" is, I believe, how my beautiful darlings put it as they watched the glittering lights explode over the castle. Come on, Stadium High totally looks like a castle. You know it does.

Fetch!
Go catch the ferry to Whidbey Island Saturday afternoon for FETCH! Wine Walkabout. And be sure to take your dog since FETCH! is an annual pooch friendly fund-raising event that's all about legally creating places and times where pets can go leash-free and play with their owners. Five Penfolds Australian wines will be featured at tasting tables strategically placed throughout three acres of Buchanan Vineyard. Fruit, breads, chocolates, gourmet cheese and nuts will be paired with each wine. Drink it down and eat it up to live bluegrass performances by The Dog Gones, Steve Showell and Joanna Rouse. Saturday, Sept. 23, 1-4 p.m., $25 per person,(360) 321-4049.

Give me a wink and a kiss at here. Knoxx knows.