The segment aired Saturday morning and viewers had one day to vote.   Click here to view this morning’s live announcement of the winner. 

The other finalists included Garden State (Portland, OR), Street Sweets (New York) and Local 647 (Delaplane, VA).  Marination can be found in Fremont at Soundspeed Scooters (132 N. Canal) every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

(Thanks to Emily for the photo!)

GMA Weekend anchor Ron Claiborne (above) taped a segment at Marination Mobile during the truck’s weekly stop in Fremont (132 N. Canal St) on Wednesday.  Their kalua pork taco is the dish chosen to represent.

The segment will air tomorrow morning on Good Morning America Weekend on KOMO starting at 7 a.m.   A guest chef will recreate the signature dishes from all four finalists (the other three are reportedly from Portland, New York and Virginia).  A judging panel and online votes will then determine the winner.  Voting is on Saturday ONLY from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  This is where you’ll need to go to vote online tomorrow.  The winner will be announced on GMA Weekend on Sunday morning. 

Thanks to Emily for the photo and Jeremiah for the tip and help!

After undergoing extensive renovations completed in 2008, courtesy of a grant from the City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, the “community-driven, volunteer-powered” art center has taken off as a place where art of all form come together.  This calendar shows all the classes, workshops and events that are going on right now. 

If you’ve never been to the Fremont Abbey, tomorrow’s party should be a great introduction.  Doors open at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday.  Dinner will be casual and potluck-style, so guests should bring a side dish or drinks plus $5 to help cover the main course.  Throughout the feast, four short acts of a “play” will take place every thirty minutes depicting life at the Fremont Abbey.  All in all, the party should have plenty of music, dancing, poetry and art for neighbors and first-time visitors! 

• Girls Rock! Seattle is hosting a benefit show on Friday at High Dive (513 N. 36th St) to raise money for the Girls Rock Camp Alliance.  Bands performing in this 50 Shows in 50 States concert are Goodness, The Redwood Plan, Eighteen Individual Eyes and Alicia Dara.  Show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are $10.  This is a 21+ event.
• This isn’t in the neighborhood but we thought it was important enough for a mention.  Get a free prostate screening on Friday courtesy of Seattle Prostate Institute on the Swedish/First Hill campus (1101 Madison Medical Tower, Suite 1101 - corner of Boren and Madison).  Appointments are needed and available from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.  Call (206) 215-2480 or email suee@seattleprostate.com to arrange a time.
• Woodland Park Zoo is having its annual food drive and Turkey Toss on Saturday starting at 9:30 a.m.  They’ll be collecting non-perishable food donations outside the Zoo’s south entrance at N. 50th St. and Fremont Ave.  Food collected will benefit the Phinney Neighborhood Association soup kitchen program.  Admission to the zoo is not required to donate.  However, if you do go in, watch some of the carnivorous residents get treated to an early raw turkey dinner at the Turkey Toss from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• Friends of Fremont Peak Park is having one last work party on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (rain or shine) to plant and mulch before the winter.  They’ll also introduce the new Adopt-a-Spot program so people can maintain different sections of the park on their own time.  Coffee and snacks will be provided.  Snack donations very welcome.  Bring your own shovel and buckets if you have any.  RSVP to info@fremontpeakpark.org so they have enough of everything.
• The Fremont Abbey Arts Center (4272 Fremont Ave N) is celebrating its 4th birthday on Saturday and everyone is invited to come to their party!  There will be a Community Feast starting at 6:00 p.m. with music and entertainment throughout the evening.  Main course provided for a $5 donation.  Feel free to bring a side dish or drinks. More info here.
• Following the birthday party on Saturday, check out the last show of the 2009 Elephant Engine Revival Tour at the Fremont Abbey from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.  The show features slam poets Buddy Wakefield, Derrick Brown and Anis Mojgani.  Tickets are $10-$20 and can be bought here.
• Also on Saturday is the 4th annual 20something - the new vintage wine tasting event at Fremont Studios (155 N. 35th St) from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.  More than 75 Washington wineries pour their $30 and under new releases and favorites.  Cost is $50 single, $90 pair, and includes nibbles from several trendy local restaurants.  KEXP DJ Derek Mazzone will be spinning the music.  More info and tickets can be found here.

As usual for live music, check the calendars at High Dive, ToST and Nectar.

If you have any events to add to our events calendar, email us at tips@fremontuniverse.com.

Earlier: On the western edge of Fremont, a large police response along with a SWAT team are serving a warrant, closing traffic in the area.

It all began earlier this evening at 8th and Leary, and the standoff is stretching into the night. My Ballard is posting updates on the story here.

There is a proposal to rezone two specific areas of industrial zoning within what is known as the Fremont Hub Urban Village.  This is a boundaried area within the neighborhood that was designated by the City of Seattle’s 1994 Comprehensive Plan for higher density residential and commercial use.  Currently, there are two subareas in the Fremont Hub Urban Village with different rezone recommendations.   

Neighbors are encouraged to come to today’s meeting to learn more about these plans.  You can also contact Andrea Petzel at andrea.petzel@seattle.gov or Laura Kim at laura.kim@seattle.gov with any questions. 

Windermere Real Estate’s Lakeview office was given the rather large recognition for generously donating time and service to the Fremont community.  Fremocentrist reports that associates each donate one full work day to community service, much of it going to support B.F. Day Elementary School.  They also provide grants for 4th and 5th graders to attend science and summer camp programs.  Congratulations, Windermere!  (Thanks to Kirby for the tip!)

The Seattle Rock Orchestra is the brainchild of bassist Scott Teske, who formed the group in 2008 out of frustration after his former group broke up.  A classically-trained musician, orchestrator and teacher, Teske says, “I wanted to do something really fun and low-key.”  From there he started gathering musicians who play shows based on availability.  He keeps rehearsals minimal, sometimes only one or two just to get everyone in the same room.  Then he personalizes the score according to his available players. 

All of the musicians who perform with SRO do so voluntarily.  Teske emphasizes, “In being volunteer, it keeps things fun.”  That mantra seems to work.  If you go to their website, you’ll see the long and growing list of classical and pop musicians who make up the orchestra.  The first show they played last December with Black Swedes, they had 13 people.  For tonight’s Arcade Fire tribute show, they have an orchestra of nearly 60, including a winds and brass section for the first time.  He adds, “What began as an army of freelancers is starting to become a regular group.”   

Unfortunately, tonight’s show is sold out but Teske is already working on a concept for the next show that will revolve around early David Bowie.  If you think you have what it takes to be part of the band, or just want to know more, click here for additional info.

Word is that Birth and Beyond Baby will be gone by December 19 but that date could easily change.  In the meantime, all merchandise is currently 60% off.  That includes some items from the Madison store, as well as clothing from Spoiled By Nana.  Shelving, racks and fixtures will also be sold. 

Hours are Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  You can also call 206-547-1993 for more information.