PORT TOWNSEND — As the nights grow cold, stories are set to warm the soul.
First Friday Story Night is back and taking place in a new venue tonight: the Quaker Friends Meetinghouse at 1841 Sheridan St.
From 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., the Baltuck/Garrard Family Storytellers will entertain attendees. A suggested donation of $10 covers the hall rental, guest teller and continuance of the monthly storytelling program.
The Baltuck/Garrard Family Storytellers will present “Flights of Fancy,” a variety of folk tales, personal stories and tandem telling.
Naomi Baltuck has been telling stories for more than 30 years. The first words out of her children’s mouths were “Once upon a time …,” according to a press release.
Now her son and daughter share the stage.
When Naomi, Elijah and Beatrice aren’t working on their novels, they travel the world collecting stories and experiences to fill up their story banks. The trio performed Oct. 22 in Port Angeles as an opening act at the Forest Story Festival.
Following the guest teller trio, the celebration of the oral tradition continues with an open mic session in which attendees can sign up to share stories, songs and words of poetry.
First Friday Story Night was initiated in 2009 by Brian Rohr and continued since 2013 by Aimee Ringle with support from other local storytellers.
It is a monthly event that explores the art and ritual of the oral tradition; sharing old myths, folk tales and fairy tales, along with first-person and modern stories. After eight years at Better Living Through Coffee, the event has taken residence in the Friends’ Meetinghouse.
For more information, call 360-316-9600, email FirstFridayStoryNight@gmail.com or visit www.facebook.com/firstfriday storynight.
