OLD Whidbey Life Magazine

Author: Leslie Irish Evans

All the World’s a Stage for Olena Hodges

By Leslie Irish Evans
Whidbey Life Magazine Contributor
June 29, 2016

Whidbey’s Island Shakespeare Festival’s seventh season kicks off on Friday, July 8 with Shakespeare’s comedy “As You Like It.” The following evening will feature the opening of “Jane Eyre” and “Julius Caesar,” completing the season’s rotation, will open Thursday, July 14. Whidbey actor Olena Hodges, who made her 2010 debut with the festival in the role of Rosalind, returns to that same role this season. In fact, she’s appearing in all three productions.

Hodges, a founding member of ISF’s acting company, was recently named the Associate Artistic Director for Island Shakespeare Festival (ISF).

2016 ISF company members Paul Dederick as Caesar in “Julius Caesar,” Olena Hodges (center) as Rosalind in “As You Like It” and Maya Sugarman (right) as Jane in “Jane Eyre” (photo by Michael Stadler)

Acting has been Hodges’ passion for virtually her entire life. She remembers playing drama games in preschool. “We would turn our chairs upside down, pretend they were spaceships, and then create a story.” Her face lights up at the memory. “It was so much fun!”

Workshops with Seattle Children’s Theater followed. “I played Hades. My mother altered a vintage black dress for my costume. I had this line: ‘I am Hades, goddess of the Underworld and of all the Dead.’ I remember being onstage for this moment and thinking This is so good.”

In 1996 her family moved from Seattle to Whidbey Island. “Lucky for me, there was an amazing children’s theater here, just waiting.” Whidbey Children’s Theater proved a fertile creative home for the young thespian.

Hodges performing with Whidbey Children’s Theater in 2001 (photo courtesy of WCT)

In 2008, Hodges moved to New York City and completed Circle in the Square Theater School’s two-year professional acting conservatory. “The mantra of Circle in the Square is ‘It’s a journey towards you,’” she said. “I think that’s really true.”

“As a young actor, there’s so much fear of being good—being a good actor,” she continued. “It’s not about being good. That doesn’t really matter. What’s going to make a performance worth watching is the human condition being portrayed truthfully.”

In addition to currently acting in three plays at once and serving as associate artistic director for ISF, Hodges blogs for a retail website, writes for Whidbey Life Magazine, and serves as associate producer for Theatrical Mustang, Seattle’s premier theatrical podcast. “It’s been amazing for me, talking to other artists,” said Hodges, who usually conducts the program’s classical theater interviews. “And it’s been a really great way to get word of ISF out there.”

She’s also a newlywed. Hodges married audio engineer and sound designer Erick Johnson (he’s designing all three ISF shows this summer) in July, 2015.

Hodges (upper right, green leggings) leading an ISF Classic Conservatory for Young Adults workshop (photo by Ahna Dunn-Wilder)

Hodges’ hard work does not go unappreciated.

“Olena is talented but also incredibly hard-working and trained,” said longtime friend and fellow ISF actor Bristol Branson. “I absolutely love to see how far she and ISF have come. I count myself extremely lucky to have worked with her as a fellow actor and to call her one of my dearest friends.”

“Olena’s passion for ISF, for Shakespeare, for theater and for life is astounding,” said Susanna Rose Woods, ISF’s founder and artistic director. “She seems to have limitless energy and creativity and dives into everything that needs doing with indomitable spirit.”

Woods founded ISF in 2010 with the goal of “demystifying” Shakespeare’s work and bringing it to the widest possible audience with a “pay what you will” business model. Understandably anxious about attendance for their new endeavor, Woods gathered the company before curtain on opening night and told them “If we have as many people in the audience as we do onstage, we’re good.” Approximately 800 people attended the play over the first two weekends. Attendance has consistently risen in the years since.

“This type of theater,” Hodges said, “is something our community is hungry for and really embraces.”

After a few location changes, ISF settled in 2015 at their current location in the field behind the South Whidbey Academy in Langley. A recent Kickstarter campaign enabled the purchase of four large shipping containers that have been modified to create storage and dressing rooms as well as to delineate a theater space.

“We’re creating an amphitheater,” Hodges said. “Plus, being outside allows for more creative license. For example, [the production] ‘Jane Eyre’ needs to be two stories high.”

But what about the circus tent that’s been an iconic landmark for the group? Returning patrons needn’t worry. The tent will now serve as the festival’s “lobby.”

Hodges as Rosalind in “As You Like It”: Photo at left—Hodges (right) in 2010 with Bristol Branson (photo courtesy of ISF). Photo at right—Hodges this year (photo by Michael Stadler)

“This is a huge year of growth for us,” Hodges said. “I’m excited that so much of this season’s company is from Seattle. We have some really established artists with a following, and that will increase ISF’s relationship with the Seattle community.”

“I’m also excited to work with new directors,” she said, referencing award-winning Seattle directors Corey McDaniel, who is directing “Julius Caesar” and Julie Beckman, directing her own adaptation of “Jane Eyre.”

A particularly significant aspect of ISF’s 2016 season for Hodges is their production of “As You Like It” (directed by Woods

“I’m really stoked for ‘As You Like It’,” Hodges said. “I’m so excited to come back to Rosalind and her Forest of Arden when I’m so much further along in my craft. It’s definitely part of that journey to self [that she learned in conservatory].”

When asked what her favorite part of being an actor is, Hodges grows thoughtful: “I’m grateful for the empathy I’m reminded of every day in my work. To be an actor you have to really be able to understand and embody a different perspective. As a human that’s what I’m most grateful for.”

Her least favorite?

“Closing night!” she howls. “It’s the worst! So depressing.”

Catch Olena Hodges and the rest of the Island Shakespeare Festival in “As You Like It,” “Jane Eyre” and “Julius Caesar” from July 8 through Sept. 11in Langley. For details, please visit http://www.islandshakespearefest.org/.

Image at top: Olena Hodges (photo by Michael Stadler)

Leslie Irish Evans is a podcast host, Huffington Post blogger, and the author of “Peeling Mom Off the Ceiling: Reclaiming Your Life From Your Kids.” She lives in Langley. Learn more about her at http://www.leslieirishevans.com.

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June 29, 2016
Craig Kosak’s ‘Bold Departure’ on View at Brackenwood Gallery, Langley, in June

BY LESLIE IRISH EVANS
Whidbey Life Magazine Contributor
June 1, 2016

Whidbey painter Craig Kosak’s new show, “The Secret Life of Ravens” will be featured at Brackenwood Gallery for the month of June. It’s the first solo exhibition of his big brush abstracts with the series of bold paintings representing a departure from Kosak’s usual representational style.

Being the first gallery to show this new style was a leap of faith for Brackenwood owner Jason Waskey. Last year, after successful showings of Kosak’s work, Waskey booked a solo exhibition for the artist. Then, a curveball: “Sometime around Christmas, Craig said ‘you know, I’m thinking about tearing it all down and starting from scratch. Really reinventing what I do. Are you still in?’ and I said ‘Yeah, let’s do it.’”

Whidbey Painter Craig Kosak (photo by David Welton)

Kosak has been a painter all his life. “I sold my first painting as a senior in high school,” he said. “But I never thought I could make a living at it, so I went into graphic design.” After completing that graphic design career and raising a daughter, he decided to give painting a shot. “I gave myself five years to be successful,” said Kosak. “If it didn’t happen by then, it wasn’t going to happen.”

He did it in two.

Inspired by his travels through national parks, Kosak’s paintings were shown in galleries throughout the American West. Featuring the landscape and the animals of the area (bison, horses, wolves, and Kosak’s personal totem, the raven) the paintings sold very well. But after eight years of success, Kosak felt pulled in a new direction.

“I started to feel like I was doing the same old thing,” said Kosak. “So much of my work has been ‘tight.’ I wanted to cut loose a little bit, to be more expressive. I’ve always wanted my paintings to evoke an emotional response, but trying to do it through subject matter is tricky. Sometimes you hit it, sometimes you don’t. It’s hard.”

Kosak asked himself: “Can I find a more pure way of talking about emotional situations and events?”

“Lifeline 2” painting by Craig Kosak (photo by Craig Kosak)

A purchase he made in 2010 set things in motion. “I bought a brush from Japan.” Kosak said, then produced an extremely large paintbrush. “It’s the most beautiful thing I own.” The brush is over three feet long and weighs five pounds. With a gleaming lacquered handle and an enormous plume of smooth, pale horsehair, it looks like a gorgeous exclamation point. Deemed “too beautiful to use” by Kosak, it will soon be hung in his home as a piece of decorative art. The brush and its potential set his creativity in motion. “This is what inspired this whole thing.”

Kosak also cites painters Fabienne Verdier, Robert Motherwell, Charley Brown and Gerhard Richter as inspirations and influences. Researching their work set his artistic gears turning. Then the muse struck.

“She kept me up all night!” said Kosak. “For a month I was resistant and didn’t get any sleep. Finally I said ‘OK, I give up. I’ll do it!’”

“Evolution” painting by Craig Kosak (Photo by Craig Kosak)

The challenges of big brush painting are myriad, and the logistics of making it happen were a challenge for Kosak. He created his own brushes, the largest one being over five feet long and weighing approximately nine pounds. With a brush that large that’s able to hold up to half a gallon of paint at once, Kosak needed to find a brand of paint that was both economical and performed as needed. Months of paint testing and research were required.

The weight of the brushes was also something to be managed, as painting freehand with such large, heavy tools was untenable. Kosak designed and built an overhead support system with beams and pulleys that supports the large brush and allows it to move, slowly yet freely.

Kosak demonstrated his technique with the large brush: “It doesn’t happen fast,” he said. “I have to let the paint run down the brush. Seeing the texture of the stroke is super important to me.” He planted his feet and slowly leaned out, guiding the brush with his hands. It looks meditative, as though he’s doing tai chi.

“The brush does a lot of the work for me,” said Kosak. “I just have to let it go. I’m allowing imperfections to occur. [These paintings] are supposed to feel like life, and life is not a perfect, polished thing. It’s gutsy. I’m trying to make gutsy paintings.”

Kosak at work with his large brush (photo by David Welton)

This extraordinary setup is housed in Kosak’s studio next to his home in Langley. Having finished his travels around the American West, Kosak decided to turn inward and fulfill a dream of creating his own home and studio. He searched for available land around the greater Puget Sound area. At his first visit to his south Whidbey Island location a raven flew overhead and offered a greeting. This omen seemed auspicious and Kosak purchased the land, naming the property “Ravendell.”

Kosak and his team of builders cleared less than two of the five rural acres of forest to build his “compound.” It includes a 924 square-foot studio and a 1250 square-foot home, where Kosak lives happily with his dog, Tucker.

“When I see the preparation that goes into the work Craig does, it’s satisfying from a craftsmanship standpoint,” said Brackenwood owner Waskey. “He meticulously plans out what the paintings are going to be, knowing that as he paints it becomes something different. I think the work is really special and sort of magical. It’s really brave.”

“Sea Change” painting by Craig Kosak (photo by Craig Kosak)

Kosak acknowledges the fear involved in this process. “One thing I think all creatives go through is fear. It’s scary as hell! Especially if you’re doing the work for a living. I think creativity loves fear.”

“A lot of my work is about courage,” he continued. “You have to be afraid in order to have courage.”

Craig Kosak’s “The Secret Life of Ravens” runs Thursday, June 2 through Wednesday, June 29 at Brackenwood Gallery in Langley, with an artist’s reception from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 4. See more details of Kosak’s work and work process at www.craigkosak.com.

Watch Kosak at work in this video: [vimeo]https://vimeo.com/161139805[/vimeo]

Leslie Irish Evans is a podcast host, Huffington Post blogger, and the author of “Peeling Mom Off the Ceiling: Reclaiming Your Life From Your Kids.” She lives in Langley, WA. Learn more about her at http://www.leslieirishevans.com.

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CLICK HERE to read more WLM stories and blogs. Have a great story idea? Let us know at info@whidbeylifemagazine.org.

WLM stories and blogs are copyrighted and all rights are reserved. Linking is permitted. To request permission to use or reprint content from this site, email info@whidbeylifemagazine.org.

June 1, 2016
Behind the Lens: Whidbey Life Magazine Photographer David Welton

BY LESLIE IRISH EVANS
Whidbey Life Magazine Contributor
May 11, 2016

When David Welton was growing up in California’s San Gabriel Valley, his grandmother gave him a camera for his eighth birthday. The young man took to photography right away, even going so far as to save up for his own darkroom set. “It could have been a career path,” Welton said. But fate (and his family – who encouraged academics and more “professional” endeavors) had other plans, and he became a cardiologist.

Now, having retired from his medical practice and moved to Whidbey Island, Welton is able to fully embrace his calling as an artist. His photography has been seen in and around many Whidbey Island locations, including right here on the pages of Whidbey Life Magazine.

“When we first started, it was David who gave Whidbey Life Magazine a visual voice with his beautiful photography,” said publisher Sue Taves. “Whatever is happening on the island, you’ll see David there with his ball cap and camera, and it’s a joy to see the many community moments he captures. His passion for photography shines through and his exuberance is contagious. David is a great example of someone who has tapped into a well of creative passion that keeps expanding, and we’re lucky to have him in our community.”

David Welton poses next to one of his photos on the SeaTac Airport Shuttle. (Photo by Marsha Morgan)

Welton’s work has been featured in private collections, news publications (including The South Whidbey Record) and in numerous art shows and galleries. It now rolls up and down Seattle’s I-405 corridor: the SeaTac Airport Shuttle, which carries islanders directly to and from SeaTac International Airport, is currently wrapped in a colorful display featuring photographs of the town of Langley. Three of the shuttle photos were taken by Welton. (The other artists are Whidbey residents Michael Stadler and Debra Campbell.)

His current project takes him back to his California past. In the early 1980s, after taking a class with one of his photography heroes (noted street photographer Joel Meyerowitz), Welton headed to the Santa Barbara beach and began snapping “street” photos of his own. “Santa Barbara and the California Coastline” had a public showing and a newspaper write-up and then was mothballed by Welton, who had a very busy medical practice at the time.

Spectator” from David Welton’s Santa Barbara and the Central California Coast series. (Photo by David Welton)

Welton’s retirement, however, has allowed him to revisit the photos, organizing and scanning the negatives and converting them to digital format. Now some 30 years old, the series is a time-capsule of a bygone era featuring carnivals, laughing children, beach bodies, and more. Welton has plans to donate the images to the Santa Barbara Historical Society.

“Creepy Ride” from David Welton’s “Santa Barbara and the Central California Coast” series. (Photo by David Welton)

Of all of the different possible styles, Welton says he enjoys documentary photography best. “Fine art and abstract stuff has never really interested me,” he said. “I like photographing people.” Whidbey Island has provided plenty of interesting subjects. “The community is very tolerant of eccentricities, which makes for some great photo-ops,” he continues. “I just really get a thrill about capturing a moment or an emotion and getting it all distilled onto one page where people can look at it.”

“When people tell me photography isn’t art, I don’t argue with them,” said Welton. “But they’re wrong. My camera is my paintbrush. I paint with light. To be a good photographer, you need to learn how to use your tool. In the days of darkroom photography, you had to pick your film. You had to expose it. You had to develop it. Digital photography is no different. It’s just using digits instead of chemicals.”

“Inner Child” – A young girl at the fair. (Photo by David Welton)

When speaking of his Whidbey photography goals, Welton aims high: “I’m going to have the same documentation of this community that I have from Santa Barbara. After I die, 100 years from now, my photographs are going to be very important.”

Deanno the Clown in a Whidbey ferry cafeteria. (Photo by David Welton)

Welton credits an interesting source for his talent as a photographer: “I have one son. When he was growing up I gave him a Polaroid camera. After grad school he took to photography and is now recognized as one of the best destination wedding photographers in the world. His name is Nathan Welton. He’s way better than I am. So, I like to say I get [my talent] from him.”

Looking back on the route he took to where he is now and the choice to pursue medicine, Welton is sanguine: “I do not regret my career path; it was a good choice. I am, however, very happy to have a second chance at another option after 44 years and retirement at age 66. Life is good. It’s perfect.”

To see more of Welton’s work, go to DavidWeltonPhoto.com (and continue reading Whidbey Life Magazine).

Photo at the top: Whidbey Life Magazine Photographer David Welton. (Photo by Kim Tinuviel)

Leslie Irish Evans is a podcast host, Huffington Post blogger, and the author of Peeling Mom Off the Ceiling: Reclaiming Your Life From Your Kids. She lives in Langley, Wash. Learn more about her at http://www.leslieirishevans.com.

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CLICK HERE to read more WLM stories and blogs. Have a great story idea? Let us know at info@whidbeylifemagazine.org.

WLM stories and blogs are copyrighted and all rights are reserved. Linking is permitted. To request permission to use or reprint content from this site, email info@whidbeylifemagazine.org.

May 11, 2016
Orange Madness Descends Upon Oak Harbor

BY LESLIE IRISH EVANS
Whidbey Life Magazine Contributor
April 27, 2016

Dust off your klompen (wooden clogs) and don your hul (bonnet)! It’s time for Oak Harbor’s Holland Happening. This annual event, organized by the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce, features a carnival, parades, entertainment, a street fair and more. The theme for 2016’s Holland Happening is Gemeenschap, which is the Dutch word for “community.” The activities take place April 28 through May 1 at locations throughout the historic city’s downtown area.

This is the 47^th year of the event, which celebrates the city’s Dutch heritage. In the 1890s, Oak Harbor saw an influx of Dutch immigrants who helped the town to grow and to thrive. The celebration itself is based on the Dutch holiday of Koningsdag or King’s Day, which celebrates the birthday of The Netherlands’ currently reigning monarch. The holiday was originally called Koninginnedag or Queen’s Day, until 2013 when The Netherlands welcomed Willem-Alexander, their first king since the national holiday began. Traditional activities include street markets, a parade and wearing orange, the national color of The Netherlands.

The theme of this year’s Holland Happening is Gemeenschap, the Dutch word for “community.” (graphic provided by The Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce)

Over 8,000 people, both local and visitors, are expected to attend the Holland Happening. “It’s our biggest and most popular event of the season,” said Sooz Konopik, Events Coordinator for the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce. “Oak Harbor has a very strong Dutch community that’s very proud of its heritage.” Konopik stresses the inclusiveness of the event. “We celebrate not only Dutch heritage but all of the community members. It’s a really great get together.”

One of the event’s traditional highlights is the Grand Parade. “People dress in costumes,” said Konopik. “And we have street sweepers and town criers that start the parade. That’s a tradition in The Netherlands.” Parade entries are asked to display the Gemeenschap theme and a minimum of twelve tulips. This year, three trophies will be awarded for parade entries: Best in Theme, Best in Show and Best Kinderen’s (children’s). The parade is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 30 along Bayshore Drive.

The Oak Harbor Holland Happening celebrates the city’s Dutch heritage. (Graphic provided by The Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce)

Other featured events for the Holland Happening include a traditional Dutch dinner, children’s arts & crafts and Dutch-themed photoboards for fun photo opportunities. “We also have our own main entertainment stage with a diverse group of musicians,” said Konopik. “From Gypsy jazz to bluegrass and everything in between.” Attendees needing advice on what to do next can look for Oak Harbor Chamber members, who will be wearing Dutch-blue t-shirts and will be available as resources during the event.

Mark your calendar for Oak Harbor’s 47^th annual Holland Happening, April 28 through May 1. For scheduled events and details visit the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce website at http://www.oakharborchamber.com.

Leslie Irish Evans is a podcast host, Huffington Post blogger, and the author of Peeling Mom Off the Ceiling: Reclaiming Your Life From Your Kids. She lives in Langley, WA. Learn more about her at http://www.leslieirishevans.com.

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WLM stories and blogs are copyrighted and all rights are reserved. Linking is permitted. To request permission to use or reprint content from this site, email info@whidbeylifemagazine.org.

April 27, 2016
Everything Broadway: Seattle Men’s Chorus Concert to Benefit Whidbey’s CADA

BY LESLIE IRISH EVANS
Whidbey Life Magazine Contributor
April 20, 2016

Razzle-dazzle and stardust will be the order of the night when Seattle Men’s Chorus brings “The Great White Way” to Whidbey Island. The group will be performing its show “Everything Broadway” as an outreach performance to benefit CADA (Citizens Against Domestic and Sexual Abuse). The performance will happen 7 p.m. Saturday night, April 23, at the South Whidbey High School Performing Arts Center in Langley.

Seattle Men’s Chorus in Action (Photo by John Pai for Seattle Men’s Chorus)

CADA, based in Oak Harbor, is Island County’s domestic violence and sexual assault agency. Founded in 1979, the organization provides free and confidential assistance for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, rape, child sexual abuse and sexual harassment.

This concert is CADA’s annual fundraising event. While the organization receives funding from other sources, such as government agencies and groups like United Way, those funds often come with specific stipulations on how the money can be spent. “The money that is raised from this event is very unique,” said CADA Executive Director Cynde Robinson. “Often our clients don’t have first month’s rent, or somebody would really like to get someplace else in the USA where they’re safer. How are they going to get there? What’s their transportation going to be? We can put them on a plane or a bus with this money. It can make a huge difference for the clients we serve.”

Seattle Men’s Chorus will perform “Everything Broadway” to benefit CADA. (Graphic provided by Seattle Men’s Chorus)

Seattle Men’s Chorus (SMC) was also founded in 1979. According to the Web page, it and its sister organization Seattle Women’s Chorus “comprise the largest community chorus organization in North America, and stand out as the largest LGBT-identified men’s and women’s choruses in the world.” “Everything Broadway” marks the penultimate appearance by SMC’s artistic director Dennis Coleman, who is retiring after 35 years with the organization.

Seattle Men’s Chorus calls the show “the definitive guide to show tunes” and promises “Broadway’s biggest hits and hidden gems.” Songs scheduled for the performance include “Hello Dolly,” “Luck Be a Lady,” “If I Were a Rich Man,” “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life,” “Not My Father’s Son” and many more.

A pre-event VIP reception is happening that same evening at a private waterfront home in Langley-by-the-Sea. Food and wine will be sponsored by Windermere Realty, and guests will receive a private performance by Seattle Men’s Chorus’ small ensemble group, “Captain Smartypants.”

Seattle Men’s Chorus in a number from “Everything Broadway” (Photo by John Pai for Seattle Men’s Chorus)

Langley residents Colin and Debra Campbell are delighted to host the pre-event VIP reception once again. “I have a personal respect for CADA,” said Debra Campbell. “If we’d had something like this when I was a child, my mother would have had a safe haven to go to during a tough period in her life.”

In acknowledging the tremendous effort an event such as this requires, CADA’s Robinson is deeply grateful: “From the organizers, to Seattle Men’s Chorus, to Joe Mosolino (owner of Windermere Realty), to the Campbells — all of these people come together – it shows a tremendous amount of support for the work we do here, and we greatly appreciate it. We know people could do other things, and we appreciate that they choose to support CADA.”

Tickets for both the concert and the pre-concert VIP reception can be purchased online at http://cadaconcert.brownpapertickets.com. Those preferring to pay by check or cash can go to the CADA office in Oak Harbor, Bayleaf in Coupeville, or Moonraker Books in Langley.

Citizens Against Domestic and Sexual Abuse has served Island County since 1979 (Graphic provided by CADA).

Leslie Irish Evans is a podcast host, Huffington Post blogger, and the author of Peeling Mom Off the Ceiling: Reclaiming Your Life From Your Kids. She lives in Langley, WA. Learn more about her at http://www.leslieirishevans.com.

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April 20, 2016
Benevolent Bikers Buzz Whidbey Island: Tulip Ride 2016

BY LESLIE IRISH EVANS
Whidbey Life Magazine Contributor
March 9, 2016

You’ve probably seen them. And if you haven’t seen them, you’ve heard them: A caravan of motorcycles roaring down State Route 525. While a large band of bikers might seem intimidating, there’s nothing to worry about here. You’re witnessing part of the Tulip Ride, and these folks aren’t here for trouble. More like flowers and puppies.

Every year hundreds of riders, most of them from Puget Sound but some from as far away as Florida and New Zealand, participate in this annual charity motorcycle ride that benefits the Seattle Humane Society. This year, on Saturday, April 16, riders will gather in the parking lot of Blazing Bagels in Redmond and ride to the RoozenGaarde Tulip Farm where they will enjoy a BBQ lunch and admission to the Tulip Fields.

Tulip Ride founder Jeff Henshaw poses with actresses Katee Sackhoff (left) and Tricia Helfer (right). (photo by Christopher Evans)

The riders will be joined by celebrities Tricia Helfer and Katee Sackhoff (best known for their work as “Caprica 6” and “Starbuck” on television’s Battlestar Galactica). The actresses will be available for photographs before and during the ride. Participants who donate at the VIP “Road Captain” level will also enjoy a guided return ride down Whidbey Island and a catered dinner with the celebrity guests that evening.

Tulip Ride founder Jeff Henshaw in the midst of the Tulip Festival (photo by Christopher Evans)

The Tulip Ride began 16 ago as a way for several Microsoft employees to escape the rigors of launching the original Xbox. On a whim, about a dozen of them rode to the Skagit Valley Tulip festival, which occurs every April in Mount Vernon. It was such a great event that it became an annual tradition that grew into the enormous charity event it is today. “Motorcyclists are some of the most generous people in the world, so it’s natural that the Tulip Ride benefits a worthwhile cause like the Seattle Humane Society,” according to founder Jeff Henshaw.

Generous, indeed. Last year over 350 bikers and their passengers raised $50,000 for the Seattle Humane Society, for which the organization is extremely grateful. “With $50,000 raised last year, Tulip Ride is the biggest grassroots fundraiser for Seattle Humane,” said Aileen O’Connell, Special Events and Corporate Relations Director at Seattle Humane. “We’ve been partnering with the Tulip Ride organizers and riders for many years to raise critical funds for animals in our care. They’ve also introduced Seattle Humane to the local motorcycle community, which has a tremendous love for animals,” O’Connell added. “It’s been really fun for us.”

How experienced a rider does one need to be for this event? Henshaw said the event is open to “absolutely anybody, on any type of bike, from any skill level. All we ask is that your bike be a freeway-capable motorcycle or scooter.”

“I know [sometimes] people are intimidated,” Henshaw continued. “But the Tulip Ride ends up being one of the best rides for a new rider. They’re surrounded by friendly faces and people who are willing to help them get up to the tulip fields safely. It’s an easy route. It’s not a fast ride. We mostly take back roads and we take them very leisurely.”

Tulip Riders’ motorcycles lined up in the ferry on the way home. Motorcycles are allowed to proceed to the beginning of the line of cars waiting for the ferry and they enter the ship before other vehicles. (photo by Jeff Henshaw)

When asked about the Whidbey Island add-on feature of the event, the enthusiastic and energetic Henshaw became even more so: “Whidbey is an amazing motorcycle route because it features slow, winding roads through rural scenes. We enjoy island farms, stretches along the Puget Sound waterfront and a ride aboard the Washington State ferries before returning to the mainland. It’s hard to imagine motorcycling getting much better than this.”

And what about the future? With 15 trips already under its belt, where does he see the Tulip Ride in another five years? “Every year the ride has grown in ways that surprise us,” Henshaw said. “I would be thrilled to see us continue our growth, both in numbers of people who participate and in the funds that we raise. If those are both on a positive vector, I couldn’t be happier. To me, the most important thing we can do is get more people riding and giving back to their community.”

Founder Jeff Henshaw with Tulip Ride support team members Janet and David Belanger. (photo by Aileen O’Connell, Seattle Humane Society)

Tulip Ride registration is $75 per rider and $50 per passenger. VIP Road Captain registration is $1,000. There are only 25 Road Captain registrations available.

For more information about the Tulip Ride or to register, visit http://tulipride.org/.

Leslie Irish Evans is a podcast host, Huffington Post blogger, and the author of “Peeling Mom Off the Ceiling: Reclaiming Your Life From Your Kids.” She lives in Langley. Learn more about her at http://www.leslieirishevans.com.

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March 9, 2016