Year: 2026

UPDATE: consular visit in Seattle 19-20 May

Passport Appointments Now Open

If you need to renew your passport or apply for a new one, now is the time to reserve your appointment. All details are listed below.

❤️ Support Our Volunteer‑Run Newsletter

Seattle Polish News is created entirely by volunteers, but we still have ongoing costs — website hosting, domain registration, and essential maintenance.

If you find our updates useful, a GiveBIG donation of even $1 helps us keep the site running and accessible to the whole community.

Zośka Papużanka “Solo”

Jesteśmy stworzone do radzenia sobie, ale czasem płaczemy w poduszkę. Chcemy mieć kogoś bliskiego, a jesteśmy same. Same – po prostu. Wyobraź sobie matkę czwórki dzieci zdradzaną przez męża, dziewczynę po raz kolejny zawiedzioną mężczyznami na portalach randkowych, managerkę międzynarodowej firmy wracającą do pustego mieszkania albo kobietę, która właśnie się rozwiodła i nie wie, co dalej. Znasz każdą z nich. To możesz być Ty albo twoja przyjaciółka, koleżanka z pracy, sąsiadka czy kobieta, którą spotykasz

Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person’s Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists, and Flock-Fleecing Frauds

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * In the spirit of George Carlin and Christopher Hitchens, the son of a former Catholic nun and a Franciscan brother delivers a deeply irreverent and biblically correct takedown of far-right Christian hatred—a book for believers, atheists, agnostics, and anyone who’ll ever have to deal with a Christian nationalist. For more than two centuries, the United States Constitution has given us the right to a society where church and state exist

Walkkie

When you have guests from Poland visiting Seattle, instead of taking them only to the obvious tourist attractions, use Walkkie to show them the city’s hidden gems, local culture, and lesser-known spots that make Seattle feel more personal and authentic than a typical sightseeing tour. Walkkie is a location-based discovery app that helps you explore Seattle in a more meaningful and fun way. Walkkie guides you through Seattle Center, as well as neighborhoods like Fremont

Marzena Lilian Szlaga

Marzena Lilian Szlaga, born and educated in Poland, holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in piano performance and pedagogy from the School of Music at Uniwersytet Wrocławski. She continued her studies in the United States, earning a Master of Music degree from the Chicago Musical College at Roosevelt University in 1995. Among her distinguished teachers were renowned pianists Włodzimierz Obidowicz, Halina Czerny-Stefańska, Barbara Hesse-Bukowska, Victor Mierzhanov, Paweł Chęciński, and Lidia Grychtołówna—who remains an active and

Michal Pietrzyk

Michal Pietrzyk was born in Poland and emigrated to the United States at age two after his father was imprisoned as a member of the anti-communist movement Solidarity. His upbringing as an immigrant navigating two different cultures has strongly shaped his worldview and filmmaking voice. He has produced over 130 hours of documentary television for networks like Nat Geo and Netflix and continues working as a producer in his day job. His award-winning short documentary All on

Wendy Konofalski

Wendy Rader-Konofalski is an artist based in Kirkland, Washington. She regularly shows her work at venues in Seattle and the Eastside. She has twice shown her work at the Polish Home Association Art wall. Her medium is acrylic on canvas often using collage and mixed media materials.  She paints abstract works and landscapes as well as mixed media works with inks and collage on paper. Recently she has begun to experiment with water colors on

Get Stronger in the New Year — Try Pilates!

Celeste Caliri — a member of our Polish community and longtime volunteer with the Seattle Polish Film Festival — would love to introduce Pilates, a great fitness routine and way to rehab injuries, to our Seattle Polish community. With over 20 years of experience, Celeste specializes in rehabbing and quivery muscle work, without it feeling like daunting physical therapy drills. Celeste works a muscle in a very unassuming way, taking a practice that can be

Easter

Seattle Polish News sends warm wishes for a wonderful Easter.

As in previous years, the 2026 GiveBIG fundraiser is happening this May. The Seattle Polish Foundation invites you to support its Cultural Fund. Your donation not only helps preserve our traditions but also keeps them accessible to all.

The Seattle Polish Film Festival is asking for donations to cover venue rental costs. Like last year, all screenings are free, making your support more important than ever.

At Seattle Polish News, we’re hoping our subscribers can help us cover the costs of running this service.

2026 GiveBIG Fundraiser

2026 GiveBIG is quickly approaching! On May 5th, 2026, we are proud to once again participate in this global day of generosity that celebrates the vital work nonprofits bring to our communities.

This year, SPF invites you to support the Seattle Polish Foundation’s Cultural Fund. Your contribution does more than preserve our traditions—it ensures they remain accessible to everyone.
Thanks to your generosity, our programs offer free and open access to those who need it most, making Polish culture available to all members of our community, regardless of their circumstances.

Opening Reception of Wendy Rader-Konofalski, May artist of the month exhibit at Victor’s Coffee Shop in Redmond

Come and meet the artist as she kicks off her month-long exhibit showcasing brand new landscapes and colorful abstract paintings. Grab a latte, a delicious pastry, and enjoy the art! An added bonus: At the same time, the Centro Cultural Mexicano, right next door to Victor’s, is celebrating Cinco de Mayo with free food and entertainment open to all. Just be aware that you may have to get creative with parking in case the parking

Polish Constitution Day Celebration

The Polish Home Association invites you to a special Polish Constitution Day Celebration featuring the Marcin Pączkowski Orchestra with a guest performance by the Vivat Musica Choir. Join PHA for an elegant afternoon of live orchestral music honoring one of the most important holidays in Polish history. This community event brings together tradition, culture, and music in a warm and welcoming atmosphere at Dom Polski.

“Jeszcze w zielone gramy” – wyjątkowy wieczór z Teatrem Hybrydy

Niektóre wydarzenia się ogląda. Inne się przeżywa. „Jeszcze w zielone gramy” to właśnie ten drugi typ. Na scenie pojawi się Teatr Hybrydy Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego, który zabierze Cię w podróż pełną emocji – od wzruszeń, przez śmiech, aż po momenty refleksji. To wyjątkowe połączenie muzyki, poezji i form kabaretowych tworzy wieczór, który angażuje i zostaje z widzem na długo. To wydarzenie dla tych, którzy: szukają czegoś więcej niż standardowej rozrywki cenią kulturę na wysokim poziomie chcą

Zelensky – the story of an unlikely leader

You are invited to attend the screening of “Zelensky” – the story of an unlikely leader, someone who moved from comedic actor to politics and ultimately became the face of a country at war and iconic symbol of Ukraine despite having no traditional political background. This film combines interviews and archival material to show us the Zelensky we don’t know. Sponsored by: Seattle Polish Film Festival, Seattle Gdynia Sister City Association, Ukrainian Association of Washington

Lure of the Deep – Fantasy Ball

Step into a world of elegance and imagination at the Enchanted Fantasy Ball, presented by Syrena Seattle, on April 18th at 6:00 PM. Join us for a captivating evening where fantasy comes to life through music, dance, and unforgettable experiences. Your ticket includes a delicious full dinner by Sebi’s Kitchen, along with complimentary swing and bachata dance classes—perfect for both beginners and seasoned dancers. A selection of beverages will be available for purchase throughout the

Paweł Sołtys “Monolok”

Stary fryzjer z Grochowa wspomina ludzi, których strzygł, kobietę, którą kochał, i miasto blednące pod coraz grubszymi warstwami nowoczesności. Mówi, jakby golił czas: powoli, z wprawą, czasem pod włos. Urodził się w roku czterdziestym w Warszawie, „ani dobry rok, ani dobre miejsce”. Potem sierociniec, szkoła fryzjerska, miłość, praca, ludzie, miasto. Każde wspomnienie ciągnie za sobą następne, a jego własne życie plącze się w opowieściach tych, którzy siadali w jego fotelu, demokratycznie: doliniarz i profesor, ślusarz i literat. I płyną historie: o gołębiarzach, kociarach, siostrach tarocistkach, o zakopanych dzwonach,

Polish Home Association – 2026 elections results

Congratulations to the new board of directors and trustees, and a big thank you to the team that led the association last year—fantastic work! Even great things can improve, so feel free to reach out to the new PHA administration with your feedback and ideas. Keep reading →

Triumph of the Heart

Triumph of the Heart is a powerful true story about the life, faith, and heroic sacrifice of Maximilian Kolbe, a Polish Franciscan priest imprisoned in Auschwitz during World War II. Guided by unwavering faith and love for others, Kolbe made the ultimate sacrifice by offering his life in place of another prisoner. The film, presented by PHA Kino Oko, is a moving reflection on courage, compassion, and the triumph of the human spirit in the

Zyta Rudzka “Tylko durnie żyją do końca”

Lida, nauczycielka wychowania fizycznego, porzuca duże miasto i wybiera życie na uboczu z dwoma mężczyznami. Jest outsiderką, która szuka przyjemności i je znajduje. Lida ma w sobie wyniosłość wobec tego, co złego ją od losu spotyka. I nie przygląda się światu, tylko się z nim zderza.