Citizen Rain

Renton sister act on 'America's Got Talent'

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:01:08 -0800

Three young sisters from Renton are showing off their singing talents to the entire country - they're contestants on NBC's "America's Got Talent." Haben, Salina and Lianda Abraham perform as The Eriam Sisters (Eriam stands for Eritrean-American) and sang The Jackson 5 classic "I Want You Back" on the show. The show's three judges loved their performance and sent them onto the next level of competition. The 11, 14 and 15-year-old sisters have been singing since they were toddlers will perform this Friday at Renton's Ikea Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m.

Fake money circulating in Kitsap County

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:32:48 -0800

Kitsap residents, check your wallets. Counterfeit money has struck numerous business and locales around the county, sheriff's officials say. The faux bills have popped up in restaurants, espresso stands, retail stores, a dentist's office, a casino, a garage sale and even in a sale listed on Craiglist. The phony bills started appearing the past several years in certain denominations for brief periods of time; the latest batch showed up around mid-May. Deputies have found $5 bills that have been "washed," then reprinted to appear as larger bills, typically a $50 bill. Some counterfeiters even re-printed the money as $10, $20 and $100. Deputies say the pen test used to spot the fake bills isn't good enough anymore, since it only detects if the paper is authentic or not. Click on the extended link on how to spot the counterfeit bills.

Scandal at Thai Ginger

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:33:04 -0800

The Associated Press is reporting that the owner of the Seattle restaurant chain Thai Ginger has been indicted. She's accused of paying her workers to enter "sham marriages" with relatives, which allowed them to stay in the United States. Varee Bradford is scheduled to appear in court today.

What's on your summer reading list?

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:20:18 -0800

The Seattle Times' new Bellevue blog this week links to required summer reading assignments for high school and middle school students on the Eastside. Bellevue 9th graders will be reading Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men," 10th graders must read "The House on Mango Street," and juniors are assigned "The Great Gatsby." Senior AP students will be working their way through Huxley's "Brave New World" and "Jane Eyre."

If you're looking for something that's a little more off the beaten track, a local woman has penned a book called "Gothic Charm School," which is billed as an "essential guide for goths and those who love them." You can learn about it here.

Super cute new Seattle residents arrive

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:43:13 -0800

The Woodland Park Zoo has announced the birth of two snow leopard cubs - a girl and boy born on Memorial Day. Zoo officials say it's a milestone for the zoo, since the cubs will help "bolster the genetic diversity of the endangered species." The cubs and their mom are off public exhibit to allow for bonding time.

Veterinarians today performed a neonatal exam on the cubs. "We're pleased to announce that both cubs appear to be progressing normally. They're healthy and vigorous, and maternal care appears to be very good," said zoo Associate Veterinarian Dr. Kelly Helmick.

Seattle's Wall of Gum one of 'germiest' attractions

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 10:48:11 -0800

The travel group Trip Advisor has ranked the "Wall of Gum" in Seattle's Post Alley as one of the world's top germ-filled travel destinations. The wall started in the 1990s, when people waiting in line didn't have a place to discard their gum, so they tacked it on the wall. The idea stuck, and now the wall has accumulated almost 20 years worth of chewed gum. Trip Advisor says there's only one germier spot on earth: the Blarney Stone in Ireland. The stone at Blarney Castle gets kissed by up to 400,000 mouths every year. Here's what made Trip Advisor's top 5 germiest attractions list:
1. The Blarney Stone in Ireland. About 400,000 visitors a year give the stone a smooch in hopes of being rewarded with eloquent speech.
2. The Wall of Gum in Seattle's Post Alley.
3. Oscar Wilde's Tomb in Paris. You'll find hundreds of kiss marks on the grave.
4. St. Mark's Square in Venice, Italy. Thousands of pigeons gather, feed and poop there.
5. The Forecourt of Grauman's Chinese Theater, Los Angeles. Millions of fans have placed their fingers in the molds of their favorite stars.

$20 front row tickets to 'Rent' in Seattle

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 10:08:29 -0800

Broadway musical "Rent" plays at the Paramount this week. Click here to find out how to get front row tickets on the cheap.

Ride a camel at Point Defiance Zoo

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:19:25 -0800

If you ever wanted to ride a camel, here's your chance. Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma will soon be the first zoo in the Northwest to offer them. Beginning this Saturday, the zoo will offer rides on their three camels - Mojave, Duma and Ruby - daily between 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through September. The rides will cost $5. And bring a friend - up to three people can ride at a time. Click here for more info.

Amanda Knox pens love letters from jail?

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 10:51:37 -0800

According to media reports, she has been sending letters to Raffaelle Sollecito. In one, she writes: "We could have really had something special, it's true."

Seattle fashionistas make it work

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 10:07:04 -0800

This week marks the Seattle Central Community College portfolio shows, where the public can view work by more than 100 grads in apparel design, graphic design, photography and publishing arts. This year's fashion students have a lot to brag about. Becky Sullivan nabbed two honors, winning both the Seattle Fashion Week Comcast Student Design Competition and the "Best Everyday Collection" at Seamless in Seattle. Maria Canada got a second place award at Project Red Dress and Lennura-Zhataganova's work was recognized at the InspirAsian Fashion Show and Competition. Mona Locke wore Lennura's yellow jacket, shown here.

Hit the ice in Western Washington

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 09:54:03 -0800

KING5.com's hockey editor, Su Ring, has a write-up today about the benefits of playing youth hockey, including developing great puck-handling skills, and more importantly - learning about determination, concentration and dedication. Click here to learn more about hockey programs around Puget Sound.

Beatles cover band celebrates 'Abbey Road'

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 09:35:18 -0800

Crème Tangerine, the Seattle Beatles cover band that held a rooftop performance in Pike Place Market in January, has a new project in the works. On June 27 they'll mark the 40th anniversary of "Abbey Road" with a performance aboard Holland America's MS Amsterdam. The event benefits Junior Achievement of Washington, an organization that promotes financial literacy. The band will perform live and in its entirety every song from "Abbey Road," the Beatles' last album, and release their new album, called "The Abbey Road Project." More details are available on their Web site.

Funky plants growing in Madrona

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:22:36 -0800

A Madrona resident sent in this photo of a plant that bloomed in his yard this spring. Shawn Lawlor says his roommate did some research, and discovered it may be a Corpse Plant, which is rare and known for its stinky smell. One garnered media attention when it bloomed in Volunteer Park last year. More pictures are posted after the jump.

Jimmy Fallon as Bill Gates in KING promo

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:20:10 -0800

Oh that clever Jimmy Fallon. On "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" Thursday, he channeled Bill Gates to do a 'promo' for KING 5 News. He did one for eight different markets during the skit. Watch the video.

Kirkland bank robber in a rut

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:57:53 -0800

A serial bank robber is apparently stuck in the same routine - police say he's robbed the same Kirkland bank four times since January. The suspect has robbed Chase Bank in the Kingsgate neighborhood on Jan. 12, March 3 and May 3rd; his most recent robbery was today shortly after 10 a.m. He walked into the bank (as usual), passed a note to the teller demanding money (as usual), was given the money and walked out of the bank (as usual). You'd think security would have caught onto his modus operandi by now, but apparently not. The robber is described as a white male in his mid-20s, about 5'10" and sporting a buzz cut. Anyone who recognizes the robber is asked to call the King County Sheriff's Office at (206) 296-3311 or 911. (Via KING5.com)