Ballard News-Tribune | Recent Articles

At Large in Ballard: The secret sauce of marriage

bryanz — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:52:35 +0000

By Jennifer D. Munro

“We couldn’t find any place to eat,” my dad lamented, “so--”

“--we kept going to the QFC deli,” my mom interrupted him. “We went twice in one day. Those Boar’s Head sandwiches are terrific, and--”

“--then your son clued us in to Ann’s Teriyaki,” my dad interrupted her.

How could my parents not find anything to eat in Ballard, where there are approximately 7,468 new restaurants? Only a handful have lasted in Ballard as long as my marriage.

Where have my parents been living all this time? On a rock?

Yes, they have. They travelled from their home in Hawaii, cashing in miles to fly first class to Ballard so they could drink heavily in-flight to mentally prepare for babysitting the Little Monster, age 10, while the Man I Married and I took a two-night vacation to commemorate 25 years of wedded bliss-ters: a quarter century that began right here in Ballard.

I had pestered MIM with ideas for celebrating a mind-boggling number of years spent tolerating each other. But despite my printing out his passport renewal form two years ago, MIM still has not made the long and arduous trek to Bartell’s for his passport photo. Granted, the silvery bush on his face (a.k.a. beard) and his extravagant head of hair, which hasn’t diminished over the years, might not fit in a small passport photo; his mugshot would require a sandwich board.

I, however, renewed my passport (both my chins fit in the photo), which led me to consider taking separate Silver Anniversary vacations. But, since separate trips would be twice as expensive, we decided to go domestic together and bond, a rare opportunity since the Little Monster entered our lives almost five years ago.

Yes, the Little Monster’s 10, but MIM and I like to cut corners, so we leapfrogged over the fuss and muss of pregnancy (which would have required actual sex), childbirth, lactation, and potty-training. We picked up a first-grader at a Leif Erikson Lodge auction, a fundraiser for the How to Tell the Difference Between Sushi and Lutefisk campaign, which has helped prevent many youngsters from experimenting with recreational fish. I’d raised my paddle to smack the Man I Married when he tried to drink my beer, and the auctioneer cried, “Sold!” That was that, we were parents. I’m sure parenthood has caught some of you just as much by surprise.

Since then, MIM and I have managed only a few overnight getaways by ourselves. So going away for two whole nights while my folks navigated QFC’s underground parking ramp meant pulling out all the stops. We considered getting hitched again in Vegas, but we still weren’t sure we’d made the right decision to tie the knot back in ’88, and repeating our vows would require making up our minds about matrimony once and for all. So we shelved that idea and drove to Camano Island. If we could put up with each other’s driving, we figured, the marriage might last another few decades.

And guess what? Ballard followed us. There we were, stuck trying to figure out what the hell to do with each other, when we ran into our neighbor, who was there with a squad of families from Loyal Heights Elementary.

The same darn thing happened 25 years ago when we moved to Ballard with the ink still wet on our marriage certificate. We were so hip that we paved the way for the hipsters. We saw the first run of “Dances with Wolves” at the old Majestic Bay Theatre, and we still have not recovered from the three hours in those seats. The Man I Married got tattooed by Sarge at the very first Ballard Artwalk, when Anchor Tattoo, still on Ballard Avenue, set out jugs of vodka and orange juice. Back then we could not find a margarita at 11 p.m. on a Saturday night—now the same thing can be said of a parking space.

Being a trendsetter is a heavy burden to bear. We didn’t want to drive up real estate prices on Camano when news of our presence leaked, so we returned to Ballard, where some long-time establishments contributed to our marriage’s longevity. As newlyweds, we arrived here the same year that Robertino’s Caffe opened. It was one of the first espresso cafes and was also the only place that sold Nutella, the Italian hazelnut chocolate spread. Alfonso, the Italian owner of Robertino’s, pulled aside the young Man I Married and instructed him on what Italian men do with Nutella to keep their wives happy; I cannot divulge the secret in a family paper. I won’t tell you whether or not MIM followed the advice, but perhaps it’s no coincidence that Robertino’s is still in business, and so are we.

Guest At Large columnist Jennifer D. Munro blogs about long-term marriage and unconventional motherhood at www.StraightNoChaserMom.com.

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Copper Gate bar sold, closing on June 30

bryanz — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:20:29 +0000

We just received word that owners of Ballard's Copper Gate have sold their business and that it will close on July 1. Its last operating day will be Sunday, June 30. The new owners are locally-based and will have a new concept and a different name for the venue.

"We enjoyed serving people for seven years. It's been a good run," says the owners of Copper Gate. "We would like to thank our loyal customers, our staff, the musicians who performed at our space, and Ballard for having us. We had a great time having the place and we wish the new owners the best."

A celebration will be held every day starting at 5 p.m. until Copper Gate closes its doors after the day's business is complete on Sunday, June 30. Copper Gate invites everyone (21 and over) to come and hang out. Events will be posted on its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/thecoppergate.

Here's hoping that the new owners are just as dedicated to aquavit.

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Ballardite finds solace out on sea

bryanz — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:38:48 +0000

It might be fair to say that paddling has saved Rob Casey’s life.
Shortly after 9/11 happened, Casey suffered one of the first -- but not yet the worst -- recessions in his business as a photographer. It was around that time he took up sea kayaking and paddled around the Puget Sound.

Then, around 2009, after the last economic recession hit, his photography business was all but gone. Where before, Casey and other photographers were able to make a decent living -- even at times “make a crazy amount of money” -- now business isn’t so good.

“It was like the carpet was pulled from beneath us. Now you’re lucky to get a few hundred a month.”

But instead of despairing, he got on a board, stood up, and paddled.
When he first tried, back in 2007, it wasn’t so easy. While in Kona, Hawaii, he rented a stand up paddleboard (SUP) that was too small and unstable. He fell, of course. And he fell again. And again.

But, for whatever reason, he wouldn’t quit trying. He felt there was something to SUP.

Back in the Puget Sound area, Casey tried again. This time, a friend of his guided him and informed him that he needed to try a bigger board. This time, he stood up and he didn’t fall.

By 2009, when the recession hit and his business collapsed, Casey had two years of SUP under his belt. “I had some free time and tried to figure out what to do. … realized there was no book on stand up paddleboarding, pitched it to Mountaineers, they bid and it became the first book ever on stand up paddleboarding.”

That book became “Stand Up Paddling: Flatwater to Surf and Rivers.” (In 2012, he published a second book about sea kayaking, “Kayaking Puget Sound & the San Juan Islands.) Casey didn’t realize what the influence of having a definitive book on SUP would be.

“Nationally, the book has had more impact than I ever thought it would,” Casey said. “... I’ve talked to people just out of the blue in Charlotte, Buffalo, Florida who say ‘Thank you so much, there’s nothing going on here,’” he said.

In addition, he has started his own business, “Salmon Bay Paddle,” where he offers SUP lessons and tours.

When Casey first did SUP in Shilshole Bay and other areas in the Puget Sound in the late 2000s, there were at best one or two people on the water, if any. Now, the niche sport had exploded. More and more people take it on as a recreational sport, SUP races are held almost every day of the week by various organizations, SUP expeditions spanning the Puget Sound and beyond are becoming more popular and, at least during the sunny months, teaching lessons becomes a viable business.

That’s not to say though that all is well and good. When the winter months come, business all but disappears. Casey said it’s because people grew up in Seattle and the rest of Washington with the myth that watersports are strictly for the summer and can’t be enjoyed during the winter.

“As soon as the sun goes away -- boom! -- it’s like they associate it with Hawaii, wearing shorts,” Casey said. He said business didn’t pick back up this year until May, like “people flicked a switch” in their heads that it was suddenly time to do watersports again.
Casey said it’s not a big deal to SUP or do other watersports in the fall, winter or spring. He just puts on a wetsuit and lets the exercise warm him up. But, he lamented, others have not been so easy to convince. “It’s a losing battle,” he said.

More problematic, however, are businesses who don’t offer any kind of safety guidance for people before they try SUP. While the sport looks easy -- and while he says it is easy with the right training -- often he sees people go out woefully unprepared. Women will brave the shivering waters of Shilshole Bay clad in nothing more than a bikini, or men in shorts.

It’s why Casey and his wife are rolling out a certification program, to brain businesses or individuals how to train customers in standup paddleboarding, water safety, leadership and rescue techniques.
“It’s going to be pretty expensive and rigorous, making sure people don’t die out there, which they do.”

Despite successfully making a transition into SUP, Casey doesn’t forget his roots as a photographer, or the friends he made in that field. He recounted tales of colleagues slumping into depression and, in one case, a person taking his own life. Having been there, he knows how it is, he said.

“Whenever I see guys in the hole, I always offer them lessons. Paddling is what got me out of the hole, at least psychologically.”

Want to try standup paddleboarding? Rob Casey offers lessons and tours in the Puget Sound region and beyond through his business Salmon Bay Paddle. He also hosts Monday night races in Shilshole Bay out of the beach by the Ballard Elks lodge. Learn more at http://www.salmonbaypaddle.com/

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Parking woes be gone! Hotel Ballard offers cheap spots in garage

bryanz — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:48:30 +0000

Press release from Hotel Ballard

Driving around the block looking for a parking space is now a thing of the past in Ballard with the opening of a new underground parking lot located beneath the Hotel, with more than 50 available spaces for the public, 24 hours a day. The entrance to the lot is behind the Hotel, on 20th Avenue, between Ballard Avenue and Leary Way, just around the corner from the Olympic Athletic Club.

“We were thrilled to be able to open the garage to the neighborhood. With all of the new restaurants and other businesses in the area, it can be challenging to find a parking space at times,” said Olympic Athletic Club, Hotel Ballard and Ballard Inn owner James Riggle. “We know that this lot offers people a chance to make their visit to Ballard that much more time-efficient and pleasant.”

An elevator takes you to the lobby of the hotel, with easy access to access to Ballard Avenue. Payment methods accepted include Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express and guests must pre-pay upon entering the lot.

Parking rates for Hotel Ballard’s lot are $1 for up to 1 hour, $2 for 1 to 2 hours, $3 for 2 to 3 hours, $4 for 3 to 4 hours and $10 for 4-10 hours. Olympic Athletic Club members receive a discount of $2 and all drivers must pay in advance.

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Another new brewery in Ballard: Bad Jimmy's

bryanz — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 17:49:00 +0000

Update, June 18

So, where is the new Bad Jimmy's brewery you ask? Well, it's taking longer than expected, and they need some help purchasing the final parts for the full build-out.

That's why they have started a Kickstarter campaign to try and raise $13,000 by July 10. As per Kickstarter rules, they won't get any money if they don't make that amount of money. Currently, they have raised about $5,500.

Money raised will go toward:

Bar stools, tables, glassware
Kegs, water boiler, high quality ingredients, glycol system
New paint job for exterior of our building, additional lighting, exterior signage

Some items you can win for donating are: hats, stickers, t-shirts, pint glasses, homebrew classes, private parties, naming rights to seasonal beers, naming rights to fermentation tanks and more.

Haven't heard of Bad Jimmy's? Oh, no worries, you can read about them in our original post below.

Original, March 7

If you can believe it, Ballard is squeezing in yet another brewery: Bad Jimmy's.

Located across from Hale's Ale at 4358B Leary Way NW, the people behind Bad Jimmy's have ties to Ballard -- between the five of them, they have worked at the Matador, the Sunset Tavern and Market Arms. They say they're all industry kids with over ten years of experience in restaurants and bars.

"I also worked (at Pyramid Ale House) years ago during college, which is where I first fell in love with delicious beer and realized the ones I had been swiping from the fridge at my parents during High School were not actually so delicious," Jill Kramer wrote in an email. Currently working at Pyramid again now, she's one of the people behind Bad Jimmy's.

For the past two years, two of the business partners, Billy Burdick and John Stinson have been brewing the beer they plan to sell at Bad Jimmy's. Kramer testifies that it's delicious.

Bad Jimmy's will have a small tasting room, outdoor seating and Kramer says several places have already committed to carrying their brew.

Kramer said people have asked her why they are opening in an area chocked full of small breweries and an obvious competition in Hale's Ale.

"Craft beer drinkers aren't out to necessarily squash the competition," she wrote. "It's a friendly and helpful climate. We all love good beer. Period. The more the merrier; bring it on."

In any case, Kramer's enthusiasm is undeniable. After working for other people for so long, the folks at Bad Jimmy's appear excited to strike out on their own and make a name for themselves.

"Cheers to the birth, home, and union of a new business, a new brewery, a new family, and lifelong love affair with beer," she wrote.

Bad Jimmy's will also have a Kickstarter page soon. We'll keep you updated on when that goes up.

On Feb. 19, Bad Jimmy's officially applied for a new application with the Liquor Control Board for a microbrewery.

We will have a fuller profile when the brewery gets closer to opening.

Zachariah Bryan can be reached at zachb@robinsonnews.com

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Planting A Life: How Keeping A Garden is Good for the Soul (June)

bryanz — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:20:10 +0000

Rev. Judith Laxer

The solar peak of the year arrives at the approqching Summer Solstice. When the days are this long, gardeners gladly give more time to the green and growing. It’s a watchful time, a hopeful and beautiful time when the lushness of Summer is here at last. We’d be wise to keep this awareness ever present because Summer will seem to be over just as suddenly as June seemed to have arrived. How is it possible that half the year has already hastily departed?

Seeds that have sprouted are growing their second sets of leaves, sending out tendrils to cling to trellises, flowering so they can fruit. Green denizens are establishing themselves, holding earth, taking up space. They are hungry for light and thirsty for rain. They want to fulfill their purpose and promise. I do too.

The past few months I have been preoccupied with putting things into the soil; compost, fertilizer, seeds, vegetable starts. It seems all I do now is the opposite. At this time of intense tending, my most important job is to remove anything that might get in the way of the growth I am cultivating. Such as all those prolific weeds, which appear to grow back in mere minutes. I like weeding actually. It feels therapeutic, providing instant gratification, a great sense of accomplishment, and the sweet illusion that I am in control of something. I don’t bother removing all the chickweed. I just continually chop some into my salad to keep it from taking over. It’s way past dandelion removal time. They are just too stubborn now. Until I lift them for their potent roots this Autumn, I’ll just keep pulling away the flowers in a rather futile attempt to keep them from spreading. I don’t know the names of many of the other weeds I grab with both hands, listening to the satisfying sound of roots coming free, but I do know that if I don’t keep them at bay they will steal the nutrients I want my crops to receive.

While pulling weeds is easy, for me the most difficult part of tending is the thinning! Those fat rows of sweet-smelling, feathery-looking carrot tops? There are just too many of them. If they are not thinned they will crowd one another out and all of them will die competing for sustenance. Intellectually I understand this concept. Too many, like too much, is not healthy. We witness this truth over and over all over the world. I remind myself that there are so many seedlings because it’s a numbers game; not everyone is meant to make it to fruition. If I want to harvest a delicious bunch of carrots, I must now decide who stays and who goes. I don’t like this responsibility. It makes me cringe. I apologize to the little sprouts as I gently tug them from the earth and thank them as I toss them on the compost pile. Immediately the remaining ones look happier to me, more robust, relieved. I can sense their silent sighs of pleasure as they spread their miniscule roots into the space where once their comrades grew.

It causes me to ponder. What is crowding me and steals my nourishment? What needs to go that is holding me back from growing well? Why do I delay tugging them from the soil of my life when I know that ultimately it’s for my highest good? I learned long ago that quality is better than quantity. Why do I hold on to too much? Why do I resist what will make me happier, more robust and relieved? What hungry weed of a thought keeps me from devoting as much time to bravely establishing myself on the earth as I do the plants in my garden?

If I could fill the metaphoric yard waste bin of my life with thought forms as useless as the bio-mass I fill the garden yard waste bin during the month of June, I would ensure better odds for my own fruition. I would provide sweet reprieve for my soul. Before the sun begins to wane in its yearly cycle after the Solstice, I’d better make use of the lingering twilight and keep weeding out my power poacher thoughts. After all, the year is growing late and tempus fugit.

Rev. Judith Laxer is a modern day mystic who believes that humor, beauty and the wonders of nature make life worth living. She is the founding Priestess of Gaia’s Temple, an inclusive, Earth-based Ministry with over a decade of service. www.gaiastemple.org, www.judithlaxer.com

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Reminder: Ballard Classic Home Tour this Sunday, June 23

bryanz — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:46:10 +0000

From Ballard Historical Society

Come see seven vintage Ballard residences of unique character and modern livability on Sunday, June 23, anytime between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. This Ballard Historical Society-produced tour occurs only every three years and we're following up on 2010's great successes. Our docents and homeowners are preparing to share their homes with you. Which home will be your favorite? To find out, buy a ticket and plan to attend! (We also need volunteers; in exchange for a three-hour shift the day of the tour, you get a free ticket to view all the homes. See contact info below.)

Two ways to buy tickets:

1. Online at http://ballardclassichometour.bpt.me

2. Stop in to these local businesses to purchase tickets for $20 (cash or check only): REStore, Secret Garden Bookshop, Johnson & Johnson Antiques and Sunset Hill Green Market. Please note all ticket holders must exchange tickets for the tour booklet on June 23 beginning at 9:30 a.m. at our Tour Headquarters at Sunset Hill Community Clubhouse, 3003 N.W. 66th Street. See you soon!

Tour basics:

Ballard Classic Home Tour, by Ballard Historical Society

Date: Sunday June 23, 2013 from 10:00 to 4:00

Location: Exchange your tickets for the tour brochure containing home locations beginning at 9:30 at Sunset Hill Community Clubhouse, 3003 NW 66th Street in Ballard.

Rules summary: Please check online for the complete list. http://ballardhistory.wordpress.com

To preserve homeowner privacy, we keep home locations private until day of tour.

Self-guided tour with no transportation. Not wheelchair accessible: homes have stairs and guests might need to park at some distance. No children under the age of 12 (babes in arms are allowed). No cameras or video equipment.

Questions? Contact Tour Coordinator Lesli Billings, retroreno@comcast.net

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From farm to bottle in 12 hours, new distillery brings unique fruit-infused liqueurs

bryanz — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:35:45 +0000

Ballard has more breweries than you can shake a stick at (no matter how good you are at stick-shaking), but what it doesn't have is a distillery with a focus on special bounce liqueurs which is open for public tastings.

On Thursday, June 20, 4 p.m., that's about to change when Old Ballard Liquor Co. (4421 Shilshole Ave NW, on the East side of Ballard Bridge) opens up shop. Well, sort of.

The company has been pushing through a seemingly insurmountable amount of legal papers this past year, and though it's nearing the end, it still has to get formulas for the different liquors approved. So Thursday, which will just be a soft opening, will mostly be a chance for the curious person to drop in and chat with the talkative owner, Lexi aka (she jokes) "The Lexicon," for how many words she spews out of her mouth. Also, you can buy a cool t-shirt for $12.

Lexi said that she will probably not start selling for at least three weeks and at most six weeks out while she makes the final hurdles.

"The doors are open but we're still waiting for the last couple of papers until we sell some alcohol," she said.

In the meantime, however, people can get an idea of what to expect. While many new distilleries have a focus on whiskey ("Everyone wants to make whiskey," Lexi lamented), Old Ballard Liquor Co. will be focusing on the bounce liqueur, and will also eventually offer vodka and aquavit.

Bounce is a fruit-infused product that is a higher proof and is sweet, but not overbearingly so like many other liqueurs are, Lexi said. Each flavor has to be aged for at least six months.

Stepping into the Old Ballard Liquor Co. space, one can see that Lexi is some sort of mad scientist always trying out different fruits to create new flavors. Sitting on a rack are many wonderfully colored jars with different fruits floating in them: cherries, blueberries, nectarines, Italian plums, watermelon, rhubarb and more. Some turn out well, she said, and others, not so much. But, she confides, "If it tastes like ass, I'm not going to sell it."

Her flagship product is the Cherry Bounce, for which she gets the cherries from her farm in Eastern Washington. Once a year, she said, she goes to a farm in Eastern Washington to gather up 1,600 lbs. of cherries, brings them back to the distillery where she has a team of people, and bottles up the batch for the whole year. "I like to say it goes from farm to bottle in 12 hours, though it's more complicated than that."

When creating a new flavor, Lexi said she is looking for a couple of things. For one, she wants it to taste good and clean, but also she wants the flavor to be distinct, to taste like the specific fruit, and not so much as a boring nondescript sweet flavor.

Lexi also brings with her an Old Ballard-type attitude. She's pragmatic, speaks Swedish, she mourns the fast-fading heritage of the neighborhood and she's strongly passionate about serving the neighborhood and won't go too far out of bounds if it's possible to be sustainable that way. She said she has a business plan to grow only so much, so she can continue to serve the local community without giving up quality of service or product; she's not so interested in becoming a big corporate national distributor, she said.

"It's Old Ballard (Liquor Co.), right? So it's Scandinavian, it's pragmatic ... and very unpretentious. At least, I want it to be unpretentious, I don't know what will happen when the hipsters invade," she said. (She also noted that she's not a hipster-hater and that they are definitely welcome.)

She added, "We've really lost our sense of identity, and I miss it ... this is one of the small ways that I can honor that, tip my hat to it."

Also, perhaps appealing for fellow Old Ballard types, she plans to make no-B.S. vodka and aquavit.

For the vodka, she plans to make a straight-shooting, high quality craft well, with none of the fancy gimmicks of the new flavor-forward products that have become popular on the market as of late. "In my opinion, vodka's not meant for sipping. You shoot vodka or mix with vodka," Lexi said.

For aquavit, she wants to stay true to the original flavors, flavored with caraway. Having been to Scandinavia, she said, she knows how it should taste. "I want to make it good enough that people from that area will understand it."

For Lexi, the Ballard Liquor Co. is a culmination of who she is.

"I worked software for a long time and I didn't like it. I'm really burnt out," she said. "This (Old Ballard Liquor Co.) was really an amalgamation of culinary, science and small business ownership (instead of working for someone else) that actually pays the bills."

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How does Ballard stack up in residential burglaries?

bryanz — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:36:38 +0000

Every week we pull police reports from the Seattle Police Department, and without fail, there are always multiple instances of burglaries in the Ballard area. It has some neighbors crying out that the neighborhood has, excuse the language, gone to hell in a handbasket. But how does Ballard really stack up in burglary ratios compared to the rest of the city?

The Seattle P-I put together a nifty slideshow detailing the top 52 neighborhoods in burglaries. While Ballard isn't No. 1 on the list -- that honor goes to the Laurelhurst/View Ridge area in the L3 beat with 722 residential burglaries in the past five years -- it might be fair to say that we get an honorable mention.

Here's the breakdown of the Ballard neighborhoods that made the list. You can correlate the them with the precinct map above.

35. N2: This Greenwood-neighborhood beat saw 225 residential burglaries reported in the past five years.
33. N3: This Northgate-neighborhood beat saw 252 residential burglaries reported in the past five years.
31. J2: This Ballard beat (Ballard Ave, industrial Ballard, Frelard) saw 268 residential burglaries reported in the past five years.
30 B2: This Ballard beat (Sunset Hill, Central Ballard) saw 274 residential burglaries reported in the past five years.
21. B3: This Ballard beat (East Ballard) saw 346 residential burglaries reported in the past five years.
5. B1: This Northwest Seattle beat (Crown Hill, Loyal Heights, Blue ridge and beyond) saw 551 residential burglaries reported in the past five years.

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Greenwood Sip and Ship moving to new location

bryanz — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:54:27 +0000

After successfully completing a five year lease at 8560 Greenwood Avenue North, Sip and Ship's second location (Ballard Sip and Ship is nearly 11 years old), Greenwood Sip and Ship has found a new home at 7511 Greenwood Avenue North.

"It is a much smaller space and cozier, and easier for customers to access," says Sip and Ship Owner Stephen Naramore. "Our primary focus was to find a location that would allow us to remain in the Greenwood neighborhood and service the growing corridor toward Phinney Ridge, we feel this location does just that. We can't express how excited we all are about this new move and look forward to reintroducing Greenwood Sip and Ship by opening its doors around July 15, 2013."

Until then, both 8560 and 7511 locations will be under construction. Beginning this Monday, June 17th, 8560 will be mindfully deconstructed over the next month. First, the mailboxes will be moved and then the shipping counters, and finally, the cafe will begin its shift to 7511. All Sip and Ship services will be available, albeit on a smaller scale.

Naramore emphasized, "We will continue running all our services until the final point when we will need to unplug 8560 and plug into 7511. The aim is to make this transition go as smoothly as possible for our customers, and we plan to keep them informed along the way via Sip and Ship Facebook, website, blog, Twitter, and of course in person."

Finally, when all the dust settles, Greenwood Sip and Ship will continue to proudly serve the Greenwood/Phinney neighborhood -- a strong community that has supported and helped to grow this small family-owned business over the last five years - looking forward to many more years together.

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Remembering Gene, local barbershop owner, prankster

bryanz — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:26:34 +0000

By Elizabeth Wang

If you’ve ever walked down Northwest 65th Street and tried (but failed) to pick up a Super Glued quarter from the sidewalk, you’ve been prey to one of Gene’s practical jokes.

Owner of the Sunset Hill Barbershop, Marion Eugene “Gene” George passed away on April 30. He was 74.

After opening his shop in Ballard in 1981, Gene quickly became known for passing out Pup-Peronis to dogs, handing out gumballs to children and, most notably, dealing out pranks to anyone who would fall for them.

“Everyone had a story about Gene. … Always a prankster, always joking around,” said Billy Higgins, one of Gene’s long-time customers. “He always had a story to tell.”

Higgins, now 22, had gotten his hair cut by Gene since he was only four years old. As a college student, he was never charged once.

When Higgins was off in Spokane attending Gonzaga University, he would sometimes lose touch with his hometown. But the minute he returned to the barbershop, Gene would fill him in on what he had missed.

“When you went to him to get a haircut, you weren’t just getting a haircut,” Higgins said. “You were getting the pleasure of his company for however long it took. He always made it totally worth it.”

Gene had looked forward to celebrating Halloween every year, and his barbershop always drew the biggest trick-or-treating crowd. Gene’s secret was handing out full-size candy bars to the children, while offering a variety of multi-flavored Jell-O shots to the adults.

“My dad loved life. He loved children and he loved dogs,” said Connie Smith, Gene’s only daughter.

Gene married his late wife, Gail Rogers in 1958. They had Connie in 1962, who Gene adored and who was said to be the pride and joy of his life. That is, until Connie’s son, Chase, came into the picture.

“Everyone in the community knew,” Higgins said. “(Gene) always had something to say about what his grandson was doing.”

Gene attended countless of Chase’s wrestling tournaments. It was said that every time he looked at Chase, he would get that all-too-well-known ear-to-ear grin.

Donna Williams had worked by Gene’s side for 20 years. She had met him in the early ‘90s when she managed the 7-Eleven by the Ballard Locks. Gene would come in every morning and buy Lottery tickets and, eventually, they became good friends.

When Williams was considering a career change, Gene convinced her to attend barber training. In 1994, she joined Gene at the barbershop.

“He loved people,” Williams said. “He would never have wanted to be anything else but a barber.”

Though she is the current owner of Sunset Hill Barbershop, Williams said she doesn’t feel blessed to take in such good fortune. Rather, she sees it as a sign to continue on Gene’s legacy for the community and others around her.

“Sometimes in life, things happen and maybe not for you,” she said. “This barbershop means a lot to a lot of people. He’s kind of an end of an era. To me, I feel like it’s still Gene’s shop. It will never feel like it’s mine, but I feel honored that I am able to try and stand in his shoes.”

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Neighbors can apply for funds to help celebrate Night Out

bryanz — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 18:42:52 +0000

From Seattle Police Department

On August 6, 2013 Seattle neighborhoods will celebrate the annual Night Out event. If your neighborhood plans to participate, Seattle Department of Neighborhoods has a fund available to support your Night Out event and activities.

The Small Sparks Fund provides matching dollars for neighborhood-initiated projects that promote community engagement. Community groups can request up to $1,000.00 to help fund Night Out planning and activities such as outreach efforts, educational fairs, youth concerts, bike parades, neighborhood cleanups, and entertainment, to name a few.

The deadline for applications is July 8th, but you must register to apply by July 1.

For information and the application process, visit www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/nmf/smallsparks.htm or call 206-733- 9916.
The Small Sparks Fund is open for applications year-round.

Night Out is a national crime prevention event designed to heighten crime prevention awareness, increase neighborhood support in anti-crime efforts, and unite communities.

To learn more about Night Out, visit www.seattle.gov/police/Nightout/default.htm.

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Ballard Crime Watch: Victim jumped at Golden Gardens; home ransacked for electronics; man robbed at bus stop

bryanz — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 20:20:33 +0000

Victim gets jumped by three strangers at Golden Gardens

June 7, 11 p.m. Golden Gardens Park -- A person's trip to the bathroom on a night out at Golden Gardens with friends turned ugly fast when he was jumped.

Around 11 p.m., the victim was confronted by three unknown males on the way to the restroom, asking him what they had for them as if they intended to steal from him, the victim said. However, the victim said he didn't even have a chance to respond when he was suddenly smacked over the head with what he thought was a skateboard. The suspects then jumped on the victim after he fell, punching him in the head.

The victim nor any of his friends recognized the suspects, but the victim was able to remember some details. One was a 17-20-year-old, short, long-haired white male. Another was similar in age, but taller (6-foot), black, with longish hair. The victim said they were not students.

After the assault, the victim's friends drove him home and the father took him to the hospital for medical treatment. The victim received several staples in the rear of his head to close lacerations. He suffered bruises to his face, a possible concussion and a possible small fracture to his cheek.

Police officers, who caught up with the victim after the hospital visit, issued the victim and his father business cards and case numbers and instructed them to contact SPD again should either of them come across further suspect information.

At the time the report was written, the identity and whereabouts of the
three suspects were unknown.

Burglar's messy break-in results in stealing spree in victim's home

June 7, 9:28 p.m., 8th Block of NW 116 St -- A victim came home to a shocking scene: someone had broken into their house by kicking open the back patio, causing severe damage to the partially glass door and the wooden door frame, as well as doing additional damage to the basement outside the access door.

The burglar was thorough. He stole two laptops, multiple iPods, cash, jewelry and an expensive Nikon digital camera. The victim was able to provide serial numbers to a Macbook Air laptop as well as an iPod touch. She may also mail to records additional serial numbers to other stolen items.

The victim said a beer bottle looked out of place in the kitchen, as well as a toothbrush holder in the bathroom, both places which had obviously been ransacked by the burglar. The officer took both items and submitted them for fingerprinting at the North Precinct.

The officer gave a followup form and a business card with a case number. There are no suspects at this time.

there I was standing at the bus stop, when ...

June 8, 3:23 p.m. -- A police officer responded to the scene of a robbery to discover the victim had an abrasion with dried blood on his forehead and right temple. The victim declined medical attention and gave his tale of what happened.

He was simply standing at a bus stop in the area of N 45th and Greenwood Ave N when a black BMW pulled up and four suspects got out. The victim said two of the suspects got behind him and pushed him to the ground, causing the head injury. The two remaining suspects then removed items from his person and all four fled in the BMW.

The victim was intoxicated at the time of the robbery but said he believes he could identify the suspects if he saw them again. He had his iPhone stolen and suggested he access a computer and track the phone through GPS.

Burglar makes like dog, steals electronics and pearls

June 10, 3:30 p.m., 77th Block of 20th Ave NW -- A burglar -- perhaps inspired by the infamous burglars of Home Alone -- made his way into the victim's house through the doggy door near the kitchen. According to the victim, the suspect took two Macbook computers, a Kindle, an iPad and pearls.

Nothing else suspicious had been seen or heard and the officer could not locate any latent prints. A total of $6,850-worth of items had been lost.

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Fred is dead

bryanz — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 23:57:36 +0000

A car shooting up into flames is generally not a good thing for anyone.

For the owners of the car that burned up last night on 65th Ave NW across from the Ballard High School, however, it's like twisting the knife after being stabbed.

The owners happen to be the former owners of Nellie's Coffee and Toast, Jeannette Meade and Todd McCallister, who are still in limbo after a questionable end of their lease with the Ballard Lockspot. While they have a lead on a new lease, they find themselves running out of money. One of their only hopes, an arrangement with their friend Ben at Benito's delivering pizzas, is dashed now that their car "Fred" is, well, dead.

Around 1 a.m. last night, McCallister moved his car to his parking spot on the street (which had been taken up by a car he didn't recognize) and went back into his home. It wasn't 10 or 15 minutes before he heard something like a door slam and he went outside to see his car in flames.

His first thought, he said, was "Water!" And then, disbelief. He tried to put it out with his water hose, but it wasn't until firefighters responded that the flames were effectively doused. While the Fire Department determined it to be an electrical problem that sparked the fire, McCallister wonders if it was premeditated. "Maybe I honked my horn at the wrong person," he joked.

The car itself was something to be in awe of. Not just any station wagon, Fred was a 1965 Volvo 122S, a triumphant visage of sleekness.

But today, the car today looked toast when the Ballard News-Tribune went out to the scene. Aluminum was melted, the outside charred, the seats nothing but springs and frames, glass from the windows drooping like the clocks from Salvador Dali's painting "The Persistence of Memory."

McCallister pointed at a few unrecognizable melted items: Little Hot Wheels cars that had been glued to his dashboard, Buffalo pennies that had been turned into buttons, a screwdriver and more.

If you know or saw anything, you can email Todd and Jeannette at nelliescoffee@gmail.com or call 911.

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You Are What You Eat: Unexpected ways with bay

bryanz — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:51:39 +0000

By Katy Wilkens, MS, RD

One of the least-used fresh herbs is bay. Several years ago I planted a bay tree in my garden, and I have been rewarded with more fresh bay leaves than anyone could use.

Every December I prune the tree back. (Bay trees can get really big; I keep mine trimmed topiary-style at about 10 feet.) I make holiday wreaths from the cuttings for family and friends. I tie in some dried garlic, dried red chili peppers and several boughs of rosemary (another herb that can grow to dramatic proportions if left on its own). I pass wreaths out to everyone who stops by, along with a page of recipes on ways to use fresh bay leaves in cooking.

Bay is probably most well-known as an ingredient in soups and stews. Tie the leaves into a small cloth bag or use a metal tea ball to add them to dishes that will simmer a long time. Count how many leaves you put in, and be sure you remove them all. The wide, flat leaves can be swallowed accidentally and cause choking.

Bay is a great addition to tomato sauce, and it pairs well with oregano and rosemary. For a great salad dressing, use bay to season olive oil and apple cider vinegar. Add bay instead of mint to lamb dishes, the way cooks do in the Mediterranean.

Fresh leaves off my tree have a very intense flavor. If you buy them in the grocery store, the flavor will have mellowed a bit. Crinkle leaves in your hand before you add them to foods.

Since I have access to evergreen bay leaves year-round, I use bay in unlikely places.

Bay is a soothing herb. If you plant a bay tree, you will have enough leaves to use in your bath water or to soak in hand lotion. You can make a hair rinse to fight dandruff by soaking bay leaves in water.

Bay makes a pungent herb-flavored sorbet that can start or end a spring meal. Serve it with a nice cheese, a fresh pear and a handful of hazelnuts.

Hand-stirred bay sorbet

1 cup of bay leaves

4 cups water

1 cup pureed pears

1-2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 tablespoon grated lemon or orange peel

1 cup sugar

Drop of green food coloring if needed

Crush bay leaves and add to water. Let infuse several hours, up to one day. Remove leaves. Puree pears in food processor with lemon juice and peel. Add sugar and bay-infused water. Stir in a drop of green food coloring if desired. Put in freezer ice tray covered with foil. While still slushy, stir or beat from front to back to reduce the size of ice crystals. Beat every half hour for one to two hours; remove about 20 minutes before serving.

Nutritional information:
Calories: 204, Protein: 1 gram, Carbohydrates: 52 grams, Sodium: 8 milligrams

The recipes in this column are meant for people who want to keep their kidneys healthy and blood pressure down by following a low-sodium diet. In most cases, except for dialysis patients, a diet high in potassium is thought to help lower high blood pressure. These recipes are not intended for people on dialysis without the supervision of a registered dietitian.

Katy G. Wilkens is a registered dietitian and department head at Northwest Kidney Centers. She has a Master of Science degree in nutritional sciences from the University of Washington. See more of her recipes at www.nwkidney.org.

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SLIDESHOW: Phinney Farmers Market is back on, every Friday

bryanz — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 18:59:33 +0000

If you're looking for a change of pace from the Ballard or Fremont Farmers Market (well, how could you get sick of them?), the Phinney Farmers Market is now back on as of last Friday.

The Phinney Market is open every Friday through October 4 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. It is located at the lower parking lot at the Phinney Neighborhood Center, at 67th and Phinney Ave N. Free parking is available in the lot next to the farmers market.

According to their web page, it "features a beautiful mix of produce from both Puget Sound and Eastern Washington, all seasonally ripe: berries, tree fruits, heirloom tomatoes, all kinds of greens and lettuces, summer squashes, root vegetables, pole beans, purple cauliflower and dozens of other veggies, as well as a good selection of farmstead cheeses, locally produced meats and seafood, honey, preserves, and fresh cut flower bouquets. Ready-to-eat foods also featured."

Steve Shay strolled over to take some photos of the scene last Friday. You can see his photos either by clicking the main picture above or the thumbnails below. Good weather should be on its way tomorrow, so why not check it out?

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At Large in Ballard: Miniature ships, grand stories

bryanz — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 20:36:00 +0000

By Jennifer D. Munro

I know not much about Scandihoovia, although my great-grandmother was a full-blooded Norwegian. It’s no coincidence that this makes me at least 12.5 percent Norweirdish, since I also consider 12.5 percent to be an acceptable alcohol percentage in many beverages.

I also know not much about boats, although Great-Grandma Neilson sailed from Norway to the Sandwich Islands in the early 1880s to work the cane fields with her parents and six siblings; I doubt she was given much choice in the matter. She married the carpenter on a Kauai sugar plantation but apparently never cottoned to the work or climate because she dumped her hubbie and four kids to sail away with the captain of the four-masted Falls of Clyde.

Perhaps, then, it was my DNA that led me to attend two recent Nordic Heritage Museum lectures on ScandiNavy ships: the Vasa, which sank 15 minutes into its maiden voyage in 1628, and the thousand-year-old Viking craft Oseberg, whose 1960 full-sized replica sank in 12 minutes. The Man I Married also owned a crappy old wooden boat that looked like it would sink to the bottom of Ballard Mill Marina in seconds (there were moments when I wish it had).

Or perhaps my interest had something to do with my discovery that the museum provides wine and yummy Scandihoovish cookies during their free lectures (a small donation is requested for entry and libations). My interest in my Scandi-naughty heritage had certainly never manifested before, other than my year-round penchant for holiday glogg. When I summarized for the Man I Married yet another NHM lecture that he had peevishly declined to attend with me -— this one about the impacted migration of reindeer-herders when Norway, Sweden, and Finland defined their borders -— the Man I Married couldn’t locate the countries on a map, much less picture how they conjoined. So I held down three fingers to illustrate the three countries and how they connected at my knuckles. This threw MIM for a loop, since normally when I use hand gestures on him, it’s just the one finger pointed up.

Whatever the case, I found myself sipping wine and scarfing down Nordic treats I couldn’t name, listening to fascinating stories about ancient ships by two men who are working to preserve or re-create the relics. Master woodcarver Jay Haavik spoke about the intricate carvings on the Oseberg. Nautical archaeologist Nathaniel Howe spoke about his work on Vasa’s tackle and pulleys (rumor on Market Street is that Hollywood hopes to consult with him on the specialized “playroom” equipment for the upcoming Fifty Shades of Grey adaptation starring Wallace Shawn as Christian Grey and Kathy Bates as Anastasia).

Howe also helped to build the Nordic Spirit, the dragon-prowed boat in the museum’s parking lot, against which lounged two Dragon Tattoo-like girls prior to the lecture, looking like they were cooking up ways to disembowel guest columnists who bogart the pastries. Perched on its wheeled trailer, the Nordic Spirit gets around more than my great-grandma did. For a while it was parked in the Viking Bank lot before Viking changed names to an insipidly patriotic name nearly identical to other banks in Ballard, so that I find myself putting the wrong ATM card into the wrong cash machine. This banking homogenization is yet another insidious step in outsider efforts to Blandardize Ballard.

Both the Nordic Spirit and the Oseberg, I learned, utilize clinker-construction. I didn’t need a lecture to know a thing or two about clinker building techniques; the Man I Married uses them all the time on clunker projects around the house.

If these historic ships interest you, there’s no need to battle the over a million visitors per year to see the Vasa in Stockholm or freeze your tush off to see the Oseberg (and its new, full-size replica) in Oslo. You can visit them right here in Ballard, where an exhibition of model ships from the Nordic Heritage Museum’s permanent collection is on display through June. Since the replica ships could fit in your bathtub, they might be easy to overlook, but don’t make that mistake. Imagine being able to tell the patrons at the Copper Gate that you’ve seen the Oseberg, which the bar’s prow at Copper Gate is modeled after. To the unfortunate soul perched on the stool next to you slugging aqvavit, you can go on to describe the Oseberg in minute detail, since, after all, minute detail is all you’ve seen.

Parking at the Nordic Heritage Museum, 3014 NW 67th, is free and plentiful (you can’t say that about many places in Ballard these days). The museum hosts musical performances, films, and lectures, listed at www.nordicmuseum.org. If you get bored during an event, let your attention wander to the woodcarving over the stage and ponder how birds can be the same size as whales and ships.

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School’s out, summer’s in, so watch out for underage drinking

bryanz — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 15:00:57 +0000

As school gets out, the weather gets drier and warmer and summer rolls in, its time for parents to think about their children and what they do at night. With nothing better to do, underage drinking can run rampant.

Recently, the Ballard News-Tribune acted as a passenger in a police car. Sgt. Todd Kibbee, who has worked in the North Precinct for over 20 years and knows it like the back of his hand, showed the Tribune all of the common places that officers find underage and illegal drinking. Soundview Playfield, Sunset Hill Park, Golden Gardens and private beaches are all places that kids will congregate to drink and, in their perspective, have a good time.

At Golden Gardens especially, people seem to either ignore or are unaware that no alcohol is allowed, be it wine, beer or liquor, Kibbee said.

“That's the biggest rule in Golden Gardens that gets violated by people. Hopefully by this point everyone knows ‘No Alcohol,’” he said.

Still, someone who is over 21 and drinking modestly is not as big of a concern as kids who don’t know better and who can get themselves in a precarious situation.

“Any kid from say 14 to 18 has the potential to be expected to drink alcohol, either at a friend's house or a party. Parents should be proactive about knowing where their kids are,” Kibbee said.

Kibbee described one incident where police officers found three children not yet in their teens standing by themselves as their friend was drinking with a group of children. They had been dropped off by the friend’s mom at his request.

For Kibbee, sometimes its just common sense.

“If you're a parent and a kid asks you to drop him off at a park in the dark -- why would you do that?” he said.

It’s especially important for parents to play a role because the North Precinct can't spend all of its manpower looking for rambunctious kids. The area is too big, the patrol team to little and there are often higher priorities on the list. While riding in the car, new cases popped up at a furious rate and its up to officers to perform triage on giving attention to the most important ones.

Still, officers do what they can, though, routinely checking in on the common spots to drink and responding to calls. Fortunately, Kibbee said peoples’ habits don’t tend to change. Throughout his time, he finds that kids are drinking where their parents drank.

“Sometimes it feels like a whack-a-mole, you go to the parks and just try to tamp it,” Kibbee said, adding that there is no “rhyme or reason” to it -- kids might decide to drink on a Monday night or a Friday night. When it’s the summer time and they have no obligation or responsibility, typical drinking times don’t register for them.

He said that when they do catch any groups of underage drinkers, officers are not likely to make many arrests. "They're like rats off a sinking ship," he said, referring to how they scatter and scram as fast as possible.

While having a few drinks might seem innocent enough to some people, even if underage, Kibbee said that it could result in dangerous situations. Most crimes such as robberies and assaults are alcohol-fueled. Worse yet, a person driving under the influence can get into a bad crash.

"No parent wants that knock on the door and I don't want to be the one knocking."

Thankfully, Kibbee said they haven't had a case of a fatal underage DUI in a few years. "Knock on wood it stays like that for quite a few years," he said.

For underage drinkers, blowing a .02 on the breathalyzer is considered a DUI. Given the general inexperience and lighter bodies of youth, it is important to take drinking and driving seriously.

Moreover, Kibbee said that for every DUI they assess, two or three more cases of DUI happen unmitigated, making the roads more dangerous.

While Kibbee and his patrol officers continue doing their job, stopping and preventing cases of underage drinking when they can, he asks that parents also step up and do their part. Be aware and be assertive.

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Ballard District Council on June 12: Funding for traffic/ped improvements, Interbay zoning recommendations and more

bryanz — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 19:04:37 +0000

Ballard District Council takes place tonight (Wednesday, June 12) at the Ballard Branch Public Library, from 7 p.m. to 8:40 p.m. Depending on how our reporter feels (he's had a bit of a head cold) he might make an appearance.

Agenda

7:00 -- Introductions & Short Announcements - please hold announcements to not more than one min.

7:15 -- Briefing – Plan to develop approximately 1.5 acres of property by St Luke’s Episcopal Church located in downtown Ballard at 5700 22nd Ave NW, RC Laird (Vicar) & Darel Grouthaus – Project Manager

7:25 -- Update – Ballard to Downtown Transit Enhancement Project, Karen Waterman – Sound Transit & Michael James – Seattle DOT

7:45 -- 2013 NPSF (Neighborhood Park Street Fund)

Annually, the City of Seattle provides $1.25M citywide to fund small scale improvements to Seattle streets and parks. Each of Seattle’s 13 districts is provided approx $90K from this program to fund projects in their district. Proposals come from community groups and individuals. The 2013 funding cycle attracted five proposals in the Ballard district. At its meeting in March, the Ballard DC recommended three proposals which it forwarded to SDOT for further analysis. These three plus one other previously analyzed will be aligned in order of funding priority at this meeting via written ballot. Project evaluations have been shared with proponents as well as Ballard DC representatives.

Kirke Park Rain Garden – Estimated $71K
Pedestrian crossing improvement on 36 NW at NW 62 – Estimated $90K
Pedestrian crossing improvement NW Market at 11 NW – Estimated $52K
Pedestrian safety improvement Holman Rd at 13 NW – Estimated $90K

8:05 -- Neighborhood Streets Fund, Bridging the Gap Levy

The 2006 Bridging the Gap Levy provided nearly $300M to construct a host of transportation improvements in Seattle. One component of the levy is the NSF (Neighborhood Streets Fund). During the nine year life of the levy, three opportunities for citizens and community groups were provided through the NSF to suggest needed transportation improvements in their neighborhood. The last of these three $4.5M funding cycles occurs this year. SDOT received nine proposals from the Ballard district by the December 17, 2012 deadline.

At its meeting in January, Ballard DC selected three proposals to be evaluated by SDOT for further consideration. BDC will determine funding priority for these three proposals via written balloting among BDC member representatives.

Sidewalks 13 NW from Holman to NW 100 – Estimated $2.2M
Ped/traffic safety improvements – intersection of 3 NW at NW 56 – Estimated $300K
Sunset Hill Gateway – Estimated $120K

8:20 -- Staff Report, Rob Mattson
1. 2013 Neighborhood Matching Fund Large Project Fund
2. Parks Green Space Levy Opportunity Fund recommendations
3. Waste Management grants

8:25 -- Executive Committee Report, Catherine Weatbrook

1. Draft letter - Tolling the SR99 tunnel (draft letter will be distributed separately to BDC member representatives) Discussion and Vote
2. Draft letter - Preliminary recommendations - Interbay Zoning (draft letter will be distributed separately to BDC member representatives) Discussion and Vote
3. Update – Ballard CSO Control Project – Community Advisory Committee
4. City Hall candidate forum
5. Next meeting – July 10

8:40 -- Adjourn

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School Board Elections: Dean McColgan running for District 4

bryanz — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 19:35:41 +0000

Dean McColgan has entered the race for Seattle School Board representing District IV. He'll be running against Suzanne Dale Estey, an economic development consultant and Sue Peters, a writer and education activist.

District IV includes schools located in the Queen Anne, Magnolia and Ballard neighborhoods. “I’m running because I believe we owe our children the best educational opportunities possible and I would bring experience, passion and commitment to the role of School Board Director”, McColgan said

Dean served as Federal Way’s Mayor and City Council Member for eight years and feels the experience as an elected representative would benefit the parents and students who attend schools in District IV. Dean is currently the Director of Development for the Museum of Flight. He lives with his wife Linda who has worked for Boeing for the last 33 years and has two sons David and Christopher. David is a high school teacher in Federal Way and Christopher is an account executive with Living Social. Dean is a strong advocate for volunteerism and has spent the last 25 years as a youth baseball and soccer coach.

If elected, Dean said he "will work to encourage teachers to be innovative in the classroom and be part of solving some of our classroom challenges. I will focus on building a more rigorous STEM curriculum and work to build a higher standard of accountability into our district’s operations."

You can learn more about Dean at www.deanforseattleschools.org

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Catchy melodies worth headbanging to, Mikal Cronin defies description at The Tractor

bryanz — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 19:11:56 +0000

By Dusty Henry

Guitar shredding and manners aren’t necessarily synonymous. Neither are catchy pop melodies and head banging. Mikal Cronin is hard pressed to be stereotyped. Between every hard rocking song he played at the Tractor Tavern last Friday night, he’d either say “Thank you” or “Sorry” for some sort of technical mistake.

Cronin is not one to be pigeonholed or to fulfill a stereotype. He has garnered a following over the years associating himself with other California lo-fi garage rock acts like Ty Segall (for whom he plays bass) and Thee Oh Sees. But there’s almost nothing lo-fi about Cronin’s music, except for maybe his “just hanging out like the rest of you” attire. His latest record MCII is polished, hard-hitting, radio-ready rock music with big guitar hooks and infectious vocal melodies.

It was a stark contrast to see Cronin step on the stage after Shannon and the Clams –- a rockabilly group with flowing silk shirts, rainbow suspenders, and short skirts. Cronin and his band looked like they could have been anyone else there, as evidenced by most of the band hanging out on the floor during the opening acts. He seemed mild mannered, brushing his long hair from his face as he addressed the crowd. But within the first few minutes of the first song, Cronin was on his knees throwing his long locks in every direction while thrashing at his 12-string electric guitar.

Much of the set centered on his older material from his 2011 self-titled release. That album veered more toward the lo-fi garage sound of his contemporaries but fared much better in the live setting. The energy was much more palpable live. Songs like “Is It Alright” and “Apathy” were rambunctious and worthy of much fist-pounding in the air.

Save for a couple breakdowns, the band only played Cronin’s upbeat material (disregarding ballads like “Piano Mantra” and “Don’t Let Me Go”). Though they did play a fair amount of the new album. “Shout It Out” and “Weight” from MCII got the crowd into a frenzy. Even though a group of denim-clad men kept throwing themselves into everyone around them (obnoxious and inescapable) while spouting a YOLO-esque mantra, fans were still eager to stick it out.

The keys and strings that are present throughout the new record were missing in the live performance. Though likely absent for logistical purposes, the two instruments would have added another layer of texture to the vibrant performance. Nonetheless, the band proved themselves to be a powerhouse. As a pop band cleverly disguised as a garage act, they were able to effortlessly harness a groove and turn it into a blistering guitar assault.

Opening band Dude York also captured the same catchy-but-electric tone as Cronin’s band. Playing menacing sounding tracks with sweet, accessible melodies, the group got the crowd warmed up. Vocalist and guitarist Peter Richard’s crooning was reminiscent of The Exploding Hearts while drummer Andrew Hall’s shirt harkened back to George Michael Bluth of Arrested Development.

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Greenway Update: Construction progresses along NW 58th St

bryanz — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 17:23:07 +0000

Construction is progressing for the Ballard Greenways, which will make residential roads along NW 58th St safer for bicyclists and pedestrians. The Seattle Department of Transportation sent along the following note giving an update on the various projects taking place:

Speed Humps

Weather permitting construction starts mid-week to install 18 speed humps along the corridor. This work will have significant short-term on-street parking impacts. On-street parking must be restricted in the work zone during construction. Speed hump construction requires parking restrictions for a minimum of two days and may include additional time for prep. Construction notices will be delivered to impacted properties prior to work starting, as well as ‘no park’ signs placed.

We understand that on-street parking is in high demand and appreciate your patience while we make this safety improvement. Once complete, speed humps will not interfere with on-street parking, because it is okay to park over them.

Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacons

The flashing beacons are on order and scheduled for installation at 24th Avenue NW this July.

Signs and Pavement Markings

Within the next couple of weeks you’ll start to notice crosswalk and crossbike stripping at 20th and 32th Avenue NW; painting, reflectors and signs around the partial diverter at 15th Avenue NW; and new 20 mph signs. The final piece of the project is to install wayfinding signs, stop signs, greenway signs and bicycle pavement markings. This work is currently scheduled to for late July.

Hopefully you have noticed the new ADA curb ramps, wider sidewalk at Seaview Avenue NW and new partial diverter at 15th Avenue NW in front of St Alphonsus School. Precision Cutting is also been busy making temporary sidewalk repairs. Project details can be found at www.seattle.gov/transportation/ballardgreenway.htm.

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Who's that mysterious bartender? The Anchor spotted at Hattie's Hat

bryanz — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 17:13:02 +0000

The Anchor, Ballard’s first superhero, was spotted at local watering hole and restaurant Hattie’s Hat last Sunday. A powerful hero needs a powerful breakfast. The Anchor was downing three plates of food: rice and beans and eggs, chicken fried chicken and a country breakfast. (He attests that all three were delicious.) After he built up some energy, he spent some time behind the bar, making drinks and telling folks all the wonderful things about SeafoodFest.

The 39th Annual Ballard SeafoodFest takes place on July 13 and 14 in the downtown core of Ballard along Market St and Ballard Ave. To learn more, visit www.seafoodfest.org

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SLIDESHOW: A peek inside the new Ballard Li'l Woody's

bryanz — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 22:34:51 +0000

Tempting passersby since Zak's Burgers mysteriously closed, the new Li'l Woody's (2040 NW Market St) is finally just about ready to let loose on Ballard, with an opening date set for next Monday, June 17.

Marcus Lalario, owner of Li'l Woody's and who has had a location in Capitol Hill for about 5 years, said he had been eyeing Ballard for a little while now. Curious about what Zak's was doing -- which had gone into noticeable decline after it was bought by the folks of neighboring Yozen -- Lalario asked them what was going on. They said it was about time for them to move on, they worked out a deal, and now the rest is (almost) history.

According to Lalario, Li'l Woody's delivers hamburgers in the style of a backyard barbeque -- only, well, probably fresher than your typical Costco frozen patty and with more ingredients.

"We make everything in house ... everything's fresh, natural, nothing's frozen. We try to keep everything (ingredients) from the Northwest," Lolario said.

Burger selections, made with Painted Hills Beef, include the classic signature Li'l Woody and Big Woody as well as build your own burger list and a Ballard-specific salmon burger, all made with Painted Hills Beef. In addition, they'll be offering Dr. Kombucha on tap and Molly Moon's Icecream, both offerings which are new to the Ballard location.

As for the Molly Moon's, Lalario said that he and Moon have been friends for years and that it just made sense. Until next week, Molly Moon's has not had a location in Ballard.

Li'l Woody's will also have a selection of beers, including Manny's, Pyramid Hefeweizen and Lucille's India Pale Ale. Hilliard's, Tecate and Rainier will also be available. For the teetotaler, Li'l Woody's will have Vita Coffee and rootbeer.

While the basic structure of Zak's was kept, the interior was redone to make it look like a Li'l Woody's, including whimsical graphics, red seats and lots of reclaimed wood.

We took some photos for you to gander at. To view them, click on the main picture above or the thumbnails below.

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SLIDESHOW: Salmon Bay students take on the Oregon Trail

bryanz — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 16:24:06 +0000

Last Friday, 110 students from Salmon Bay Elementary recreated the Oregon Trail experience, trudging and toiling their way eight miles from Ballard to Magnuson Park. The kids went all out for the biannual event, dressing up like miniature modern day Lewises and Clarks. Wherever they went, peoples' heads turned at the unexpected surprise of the small army of pioneers.

When the Ballard News-Tribune caught up with the crew, around U-Village, the once energetic kids had begun to slow. Teacher Brian Williams said they were just beginning to understand what the pioneers on the Oregon Trail had experience. Of course, while the kids walked on a paved trail and did not have to repeat the experience again the next morning, pioneers would travel for up to six months at a time on rugged, pathless terrain.

Still, Williams said it was a good learning experience for the children, most of whom probably haven't walked such a long distance in their life. The children slogged along the Burke-Gilman Trail for about six hours. "There's triumph in overcoming adversity," he said.

To view the slideshow, click on the main picture above or the thumbnails below.

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