Anna Lidzbarski-Dierda

Des Moines Activity Center presents a WWII survival story by Anna Lidzbarski-Dierda. Ms. Lidzbarski's parents survived execution and massacres during ethnic cleansing of Poles in Volhynia in 1943, then the infamous German concentration camp in Dachau and a labor camp in Rosenheim. Anna was born in the Rosenheim camp Nazi medical experiment ward in May, 1944; her elder sister Halinka died there. The camp was liberated by the American Army in May 1945.

Where: at the Des Moines Activity Center in Des Moines, WA; admission free

More: article about Anna or please contact Anna Lidzbarski-Dierda

The book for the meeting is Jak pokochać centra handlowe by Natalia Fiedorczuk-Cieślak, published by Wyd. Wielka Litera in 2016. Ms. Fiedorczuk-Cieślak, 33, is a singer, instrumentalist, songwriter, and photographer with a published album Wynajęcie. The book discusses frankly issues of motherhood and postnatal depression and won the Polityka Passport Award in 2016. This is an open meeting, drop by even if you have not read the book.

Where: at the Green Lake Library in Seattle; admission free, in Polish

More: about the book (PL), about author, Polish Book Club

The Polish Film Club Kino OKO presents the movie I am / Jestem directed by Dorota Kędzierzawska . Set in contemporary Poland, the film tells a story of an eleven years old boy who escaped from an orphanage in search of a better life to live on an abandoned riverboat. The movie won the audience, the best cinematography and music awards at the 2005 Gdynia Festival and was featured at the 2006 SIFF.

Evening schedule: 7:30 pm socializing & film intro, 8:00 pm screening 

Where: at the Polish Cultural Center Dom Polski; admission free, in Polish w/ English subtitles

More: the movie, the Club site

The Polish Parish in Tacoma celebrates its 125th anniversary this year. The first priest at the Saints Peter and Paul Church was Fr. Michal Farfara in 1892. The celebration includes a special Mass at 11 am and a banquet following the Mass. Congratulations!

Where: at the Parish Hall of SS Peter & Paul in Tacoma; the banquet is sold out.

More: Please contact Ewa Anucinski

The Polish Cultural Center invites everybody to an early summer party. Music by DJ Filip. You will get a free drink if you come in a tropical floral outfit! Bar will be open from 7 pm and there will be appetizers available at the party.

Where: at the Polish Cultural Center Dom Polski; tickets at the door $20 regular / $15 PHA members

More: Please contact Anna Horodetska

The University of Washington Certificate Program presents an exhibition of photographs by the program students graduating in 2017; the exhibit includes three works by Marta Anthony.

Where: Stretch and Staple in Seattle from June 6 to July 3, 2017; admission free. Opening reception June 6, 6:30 to 9 pm.

More: Event poster or contact Marta Anthony

Polish Cultural Center invites all families for an afternoon of fun to celebrate the Children's Day. Board games, hands on science experiments for all ages by Mariola Kulawiec the Wittly Scientist (bilingual) and movie Shrek in Polish w/ English subtitles. The program has been prepared by Jola Paliswiat. The restaurant at the Polish Home is open as usual from 12 pm to 4 pm.

Where: at the Polish Cultural Center Dom Polski; admission free;

More: Please contact Jola Paliswiat

Polish Festival Seattle is looking for young artists to perform at the festival's Talent Show! The festival is as usual at the Seattle Center on July 8, 2017. Please visit the Talent Show 2017 page on the festival website for more info about requirements and registration for the auditions.

Where: at the Polish Cultural Center Dom Polski at the Library upstairs; admission free;

More: Please contact Jola Paliswiat

Stanisław Michałkiewicz

The Polish Parish in Tacoma presents a meeting in Polish with Stanisław Michałkiewicz Polska na tle międzynarodowym. Mr. Michałkiewicz is a popular right-wing author of several books and a columnist affiliated with the Radio Maryja and weekly Polska Niepodległa; he is also a lecturer at the College of Social and Media Culture in Torun and the Academy of International Relations in Warsaw.

Where: at the Parish Hall of SS Peter & Paul in Tacoma; admission free, in Polish

More: Michalkiewicz site (in Polish)

Cpt. Herbst in 2015

The Polish community is bidding its last farewell to Cpt. Witold "Alex" Herbst, the fighter pilot of the Polish RAF squadrons 308 and 303 and a WWII hero, who died on May 25, 2017. Polish Consul General Mariusz Brymora from Los Angeles, the Defense, Military, Naval and Air Attaché at the Embassy of Poland Gen. Cezary Wiśniewski as well as Ms Teresa Indelak Davis, the Honorary Consul in Seattle, will attend the funeral ceremonies in Seattle. The schedule on June 3 is as follows:

Funeral Mass:    1 pm at the Polish Parish in Seattle

Funeral:             At a private ceremony for the family and close friends only, directly after the Mass

Remembrance:  4 pm at the Polish Cultural Center Dom Polski

Please read more about the funeral and remembrance arrangements and Mr. Herbst's biography here.

Update: pictures from the Mass and Remembrance

Where: St. Margaret Catholic Church in Seattle and Polish Cultural Center in Seattle; admission free

More: Please contact Krystof Poraj-Kuczewski or call 206 295 3533

Jan Lisiecki

The young Polish-Canadian star returns to the Benaroya Hall; his debut in Seattle was in 2012 at the Meany Hall just before he turned 17, he played at the Benaroya in 2015. The program includes Jeux d'enfants, op.22 by George Bizet, Piano Concerto no 9, Jeunehomme by Mozart and L'enfant et les sortileges by Maurice Ravel. You can use JAN17 discount code to get 20% discount on the tickets.

Update: pictures from meet the artist

Where: Seattle Symphony at the Benaroya Hall in Seattle; enter the discount code before choosing seats; on June 1 at 7:30 pm and on June 3 at 8 pm.

More: the concert & ticket info, Lisiecki's website

Jan Lisiecki

The young Polish-Canadian star returns to the Benaroya Hall; his debut in Seattle was in 2012 at the Meany Hall just before he turned 17, he played at the Benaroya in 2015. The program includes Felix Mendelssohn's Octet and Mozart's Piano Concerto no.9, Jeunehomme. You can use JAN17 discount code to get 20% discount on the tickets.

Meet Jan Lisiecki: immediately after the concert on June 2 there will be a short "meet and greet" with the artist in the Green Room backstage, open to all ticket holders.

Where: Seattle Symphony at the Benaroya Hall in Seattle; enter the discount code before choosing seats

More: the concert & ticket info, Lisiecki's website

The Seattle International Film Festival presents The Last Family / Ostatnia rodzina directed by Jan Tomaszewski. The film starring Andrzej Severyn and Dawid Ogrodnik depicts life of dystopian surrealist artist Zdzisław Beksiński and his relationship with his troubled son, Tomasz. Winner of four Polish Academy Awards.

Where: at the Seattle International Film Festival in Seattle; on May 22 at Lincoln Square at 9 pm, May 25 at SIFF Cinema Uptown at 9 pm and on June 1 in Shoreline Community College also at 9 pm.

More: about movie at SIFF, Beksiński