ranger-sciacca

5 Things to Enjoy on the Rock: Ranger Sciacca

Currents is asking local artists each month to highlight five things they plan to enjoy on Bainbridge Island. Looking for suggestions of what to do in November? We turned to musician Ranger Sciacca to get…

Currents is asking local artists each month to highlight five things they plan to enjoy on Bainbridge Island.

Looking for suggestions of what to do in November? We turned to musician Ranger Sciacca to get his top five recommendations. 

While many of us tend to think first of turkey and football when November approaches, there’s a lot more happening on Bainbridge Island. Here is what Ranger says he plans to do.

November 3

This one is a double bill! Check out the First Sundays Concert at Waterfront Park Community Center at 4 p.m. featuring a cello quartet. As a violinist, I’m not supposed to say this, but cello has my favorite tone of any instrument – so rich! Next, head over to the Treehouse Cafe at 6:30 p.m. to hear 95-year-old Yvonne McAllister and friends. Yvonne’s classic trumpet playing will inspire you and keep you young. 

November 10

Redshift is a tremendous jazz quartet! See them at Treehouse Cafe at 7 p.m.

November Anytime

I’m always enjoying local walks around the island. This time of year I want something sunny, a little sheltered and with nice fall colors. I’ll be heading to the old Port Madison neighborhood and walking a loop of Euclid Avenue and Washington Avenue.

November 29 

My group, Ranger and the “Re-Arrangers,” has a monthly concert series at BIMA — each show features our band plus a different special guest. Our guest this time is Gabe Hall-Rodrigues on accordion. Accordion is a great fit with Gypsy Jazz, and Gabe is an incredible player–in 2010, he won the American Accordionists’ Virtuoso Solo Competition! The BIMA auditorium is my favorite performance space on the island – great sound, comfortable, intimate. Admission is by donation. Email info@RangerSwings.com and we’ll reserve a seat for you.  

November 30

I lead hikes through the Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District’s outdoor program, and our last one of the year is right after Thanksgiving at Lena Lake. The hike is approximately 6.5 miles with a 1,300-foot elevation gain. This popular trail is in wonderful condition, gently switchbacking through hemlock forests with an understory of vine maple en route to a beautiful lake tucked into the forest. At the lake, we’ll have lunch at an overlook and explore the shoreline. If the water level is low, we’ll be able to see the top of a ghost forest submerged when the lake was created by a landslide about 1,350 years ago. It’s a remarkable way to wrap up the month of November. Enroll and learn more at biparks.org.