The Smartypants Guide to November's Civic Cocktail with SPD Chief Kathleen O'Toole and film director Lynn Shelton

Join us for drinks, snacks and smart talk about police issues and indie film-making.
Crosscut archive image.

Lynn Shelton

Join us for drinks, snacks and smart talk about police issues and indie film-making.

How goes police reform in Seattle? New Chief Kathleen O'Toole will address that question and many more when she joins us at the next Civic Cocktail on Wednesday, Nov. 5. Chief O'Toole will be joined on the program by another high-profile Seattleite: film director Lynn Shelton, whose latest movie, "Laggies," just opened here and in other major cities. 

Host Joni Balter will be interviewing both local luminaries at the November edition of Civic Cocktail. And she'll have help from audience members, as well as a panel of fellow journalists, including Crosscut's police reporter Bill Lucia and film critic Rustin Thompson, KIRO Radio's Brandi Kruse, KUOW's Marcie Sillman and City Arts Magazine's Leah Baltus. 

It all takes place at Tom Douglas' Palace Ballroom (2100 Fifth Avenue in Downtown Seattle). Doors open at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 5. The program begins at 6. Admission is $12, but Crosscut and City Club members pay only $10. (Become a Crosscut member and save $2!) The ticket price covers tasty Tom Douglas appetizers; a no-host bar is also available. (We don't call it Civic Cocktail for nothing.)

You can register for Civic Cocktail here. The program is sponsored by Crosscut, Seattle CityClub and Seattle Channel.

Filmmaker Lynn Shelton grew up in Seattle and received a master of arts degree from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. She's credited her emergence as a film director to a 2003 Northwest Film Forum lecture that convinced her to take the plunge. "Laggies", her fourth feature film, stars Keira Knightley, Chloë Grace Moretz and Sam Rockwell. 

Kathleen O'Toole came to Seattle (from Boston) in June, and she's been all over town since then — joining her officers at crime scenes, attending community meetings in neighborhoods around the city and talking with people wherever she goes. 

If you can't make the Nov. 5 Civic Cocktail there will be plenty of other opportunities. Our civic conversation happens on the first Wednesday of most months (summer excluded), and each program is also broadcast later on Seattle Channel.

Whether you catch the O'Toole and Shelton show live or on TV, here's some reading that will turn you into a smartypants on police departments, indie films and our two special guests.

O'Toole and police

Police department spent budget-busting $22 million on overtime last year, Crosscut.

Seattle Police Chief O'Toole meets the neighborhood, Crosscut.

New Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O'Toole faces a big to-do list, Crosscut.

Life and violence in the Rainier Valley, Crosscut.

Shelton and film

Lynn Shelton's Sundance hat trick, Crosscut. 

"Laggies" sneak preview Q&A: Lynn Shelton changes her approach, IndieWire. 

Can we stop Seattle's film industry talent exodus? Crosscut.

"Touchy Feely": Don't touch, don't feel, don't bother, Crosscut.

  

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