New Kirkland Wine/Art Shop Hosts Hospice Benefit

Most Kirkland residents have probably noticed the new Gallery Wine & Art shop in the historic Masonic Building on Market Street, and Thursday night presents a good reason to check it out: a benefit tasting for Providence Hospice of Seattle’s pediatric program.

Marcke Lhyle, owner of the shop, a combination art gallery and wine store, explains that his significant other, Laura Hackley, is a member of the hospice board.

“Laura and Nathan, her son, have been real active with Providence Hospice and believe in it and want to help provide that service,” he says. “It’s something we’re proud to be helping with.”

The tasting is from 6 to 8 p.m., and participants get five wines to taste for $10, with all proceeds going to the hospice program. In addition, 20 percent of the proceeds from all wine sales during the event will go to the program.

As well, it turns out that Nathan, 9, and Lyle’s 10-year-old son, Ryan, are quite creative, with several pieces hanging on the shop’s “Emerging Artist” wall. Each work sells for $25, and proceeds from those sales also go to the hospice program.

The shop opened in February and displays and sells works from a variety of Western Washington artists, including the late Edna Crews. And, of course, it sells many different wines.

For years the location at 702 Market, right across the street from the Kirkland Arts Center, was occupied by an upholstery shop. More recently it was a consignment shop, then it stood vacant for more than a year. The building itself was built in 1890 and 1891, one of the four original brick structures built at the intersection of 7^th and Market during the Peter Kirk boom years, three of which remain.

Its current incarnation is curious, and comfortable. It also features a wine-tasting bar, and Lhyle says when its liquor license is approved, a complete wine bar will be added.

“We opened this with the intent of having a wine shop. That’s my background,” he explains. “Laura’s is art. I wanted to put the focus back on wine as art. It is art.”