Forging a common bond: pirates

Ann Garretson of Kirkland and Jerry Leupold of Kenmore recently shared swashbuckling tales over her kitchen counter. Leupold was laying new laminate for Garretson when they discovered a common interest: pirates. He will be swaggering and taking no prisoners at Seafair today and Sunday. Leupold is a member of the famed Seafair pirate crew.

Garretson has been hanging around a different kind of pirate — the Hollywood version.

She's the webmaster for Terry Rossio, the co-screenwriter for the wildly popular "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies.

Jet fuel

When Eastsiders Anne and Steve Queyrouze met the Blue Angels pilots and crew at a reception Wednesday, they invited them "home" for dinner. The couple own Ruth's Chris Steak House in Bellevue and Seattle.

The squad accepted and dined at the Seattle restaurant Thursday night.

The dinner included appetizers of Dungeness crab, shrimp, ahi tuna, salads, desserts and, of course, the restaurant's signature steaks.

Keoki Wilcox, the maitre d', said the most noticeable things were the "Yes, ma'am" and "Yes, sir" responses.

Winning ways

John Chadwick of Bellevue was honored last week at a Mariners game for more than 30 years of devotion to youth baseball. He received a glass plaque from the Mariners and Fidelity Investments for his volunteer work. He began as a Little League coach in 1968 and has never quit.

Chadwick, 72, has been the district administrator of Washington District 9 for the past 31 years, overseeing Little League and softball.

Chadwick said he sticks with it because he wants to make sure kids have fun while learning sportsmanship and teamwork. The fun, he said, is the most important part.

With the award came tickets to the game against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Mariners won.

"They always win when I go," Chadwick said. "I keep telling the Mariners they should give me tickets to more games to ensure wins."

However, the biggest reward for his volunteer work isn't the glass plaque. He coached a granddaughter's softball team in Fall City for three years.

"She plays volleyball now but that granddaughter says 'Hi, coach grandpa,' when she gives me a hug," Chadwick said. "That's the best thing about my volunteering."

Old-age benefits

When they were kids, the students at Kirkland's Studio East were restricted on the kind of material they could use in productions. Because the theater arts center focuses on training children, Studio East executives Lani Brockman and Susan Bardsley insist that the music be squeaky clean.

Now several alumni and staff members have put together a cabaret called "Songs We Can Sing from Shows We Can't Do." The show is rated PG-13 because of language and subject matter. It starts at 7:30 tonight and Sunday.

Sierra Kagen is the show producer and Heath Saunders is the musical director.

Studio East is located at 402 6th St. S. Tickets are $10.

Sherry Grindeland: 206-515-5633 or sgrindeland@seattletimes.com