SeattleMeg July 4th, 2008
Here’s a quick peek at some upcoming things to check out. July is a busy month here in the ‘hood…
Check out Market Street Traders on the July 12th Artwalk at 2016 NW Market Street. They’ve got beaded baskets of all sizes from people in Bali. The elders teach the children the craft and the whole economy benefits. Grab on of these shimmering treasures, anywhere from 3 inches to two feet in size!
Drop in to enjoy a pot of your favorite tea at Floating Leaves, Ballard’s first authentic Taiwanese tea house. Chinese antiques, music for the soul, and welcoming employees are sure to give you a bit of respite in your hectic day. Owner Shiuwen draws on her memories of Taiwan to create just the right atmosphere in which to find peace.
Street Cars? In Ballard? It certainly would provide yet another alternative to your car, not to mention giving our town a real flair. July 8, 4 - 6 p.m, there will be a public forum to learn about and discuss the proposed Seattle Street Car Network. Sponsored by Jan Drago and the Seattle Streetcar Alliance. For more info, please contact Drago’s office at 684-8801.
The July 12th Artwalk also will offer the opportunity to make your own unique paperweight at Art by Fire (5465 Leary Ave NW). Come make a red, white and …
SeattleMeg July 2nd, 2008
Forget joining the insane crowds at the Needle or Gasworks Park, stumbling over drunks, and a 2-hour snarl of traffic once it’s over. Stay here and plan your holiday weekend!
Start your day by joing other summer beach naturalists at Carkeek Park to learn about the beach, what lives and grows there, and what washes up. Enjoy nature and learn a little about your local beach. Make sure to wear good sunscreen for the glint off the waters! (I personally love wading in my Crocs; the waves go right through the holes.)
Enjoy a free concert at the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks after lunch. The Seattle Civic Band entertains you on the 4th from 2-3pm with patriotic and marching music. Come early to grab a seat or bring your own lawn/folding chair.
At 6pm, you can while away the hours until right before sundown at the Ballard Jam House, 1707 NW Market Street. Playing on the 4th will be the Welch/Stickney Ensemble (Modern original jazz). The best thing about this set is that it’s also a relief fundraiser for a cyclone in Myanmar/Burma! No cover charge, but donations are highly encouraged and all proceeds go to the International Burmese Monks organization for those affected.
Head home just before sunset and watch fireworks from the best seat in the house - your own TV with your friends. Share nibbles and drink responsibly as you get the best view of both the …
Annika July 1st, 2008
ahh…Dining in Ballard. Ballard has become a popular hot spot for a wide variety of restaurants and other eating establishments. 9 times out of 10 my friends want to “meet at my place and walk over to said restaurant.” Lucky for me, I do not have to get in my car, fight traffic and hunt down a parking spot. After living in Ballard for 2 years, I have discovered my favorite hot spots for food at all times of the day.
For breakfast, check out Vera’s (map). It’s a 50s diner/greasy spoon. Looks may be deceiving but the food is yummy! Plus, the service is friendly and efficient. Two perks for early morning eats.
While waiting for the oh-so-popular Ballard Ave stores to open up, why not travel a bit east for your mid-morning coffee. You would never know that Sip n Ship has some of the best coffee beverages. I tend to get their soy chai but I’ve had their other beverages and they were great! They even have a cute store with cards, stationery, and gift wrap. I find myself buying the majority of my cards at this shop! Plus you can address, purchase a stamp, and send out your cards at the mail center. They have plenty of postage deals and a nice, helpful staff.
For your picnic lunch to take to the Locks, I recommend the Great Harvest Bread Company. Their bread is made fresh two times daily, ingredients are fresh, and their …
Cameron June 30th, 2008
Ska, soul and rock and roll are brewing in the streets of both Ballard and Georgetown. Get Down Moses (already awesome for naming itself after the Joe Strummer & Mescaleros song on the Streetcore album), is no stranger to Ballard. After playing just two and a half weeks ago at the Tractor Tavern, GDM will revisit our humble home, July 5th at the Bit Saloon. Cough up just $5 and spend your hangover with GDM. You can preview their music at www.myspace.com/getdownmoses. I recommend “Sodo”, a Sublime/Operation Ivy beckoning anthem (with extra heavy organ jams) to Seattle’s gritty industrial district, Georgetown, “where the trains and the beggars meet.”
Following the 5th of July, the Georgetown Orbits, a more traditional, straight up Reggae influenced band, will open for the legendary Skatalites on the 9th at Nectar Lounge (not Ballard, sorry). Here’s your chance to witness one of Jamaica’s earliest reggae pioneers and one of Seattle’s own torch carriers. You’re welcome.
Kendra June 30th, 2008
There is a lot of power in names. Think about kids who pick on another kid by calling the other one a mean name. Think about actors who change their name to suit the image they want to project. Offices even give their meeting rooms names such as the “Evergreen” room, as if somehow that will ward off the boredom of the discussions that take place inside.
One of the things I have loved about Seattle is the distinctive personalities of various neighborhoods. We all have a fixed image of certain neighborhoods such as Wallingford, Fremont, Georgetown and of course Ballard. Although the address on the letter lists the technical address as Seattle, no one from those areas would describe themselves as living in Seattle when speaking to another local. They would identify themselves by the name of their neighborhood.
I have been thinking about the power of names when it comes to Ballard. Tell someone you are from Ballard and that used to conjure up images of fishing, old folks and Scandinavians. Now those images may be mixed with or replaced by the image of the new library, the skate park, condos and major growth.
However, Ballard is the collective identity. When one Ballardite is speaking to another, they define themselves by their …
BallardGuy June 30th, 2008
The Ballard Safeway (Market and 15th) wants to let you know about a Gas Giveaway that will be taking place tomorrow, July 1st, between 8am and 12pm. People in attendance will be eligible to win one of five $75 gas cards given away once an hour during that time.
Also, at 8:30 am, at the Ballard location, Safeway will be presenting the non-profit organization ‘Meals on Wheels’ with a $10,000 donation to help volunteers fuel their cars so they can continue to feed those who are unable to leave their homes.
Kendra June 29th, 2008
There are a lot of things about the way my tax money is spent that I don’t agree with, but the Seattle Public Library system isn’t one of them. I am probably one of the few people that smile and thank the librarians in the Ballard Public library when I pay my fine. The amount is so little for what I get in return.
It’s heartening that most times I visit the library it’s pretty crowded. Every workstation with Internet is full, the reading tables usually have at least one occupant and there is usually a line of people waiting to check out their materials. My feelings are surprising based on the fact that crowds and lines are usually among my greatest pet peeves. So why am I so happy to deal with both?
First there’s the architecture – something for which Ballard residents should be proud. Yes downtown has the Rem Koolhaus cool factor, but Ballard is nothing to sneeze at. First, there is the green roof that is amazing and accessible by free tours given on Saturdays. The green roof is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of innovative environmental features; there are also the rooftop devices measuring sunlight, wind and rain, the …
Cameron June 28th, 2008
With the destruction of “old Ballard” increasingly apparent these days I’ve been a bit sentimental, absorbing and relishing all that remains of the neighborhood’s architectural facades, mom and pop businesses and random Rockabilly eccentricities. So that’s probably the reason why I pulled a life-threatening U-turn off 15th and 59th Avenue into Java Jazz after catching a glimpse of two random life-size, 1950’s Rosie-the-Riveter styled figures atop of the coffee joint’s roof.
I’ve seen the landmarks before, and always admired their vintage appeal. Two plaster-made betty-boop resembling sculptures are on roller skates holding plates full of treats, beckoning the spirit of a more simple time—how could you not be charmed?
The new owners of Java Jazz (soon to be Energy Cafe) are also fond of the skate girl statues. When I interviewed the new proprieters of the cafe, I was hoping to uncover the origin of the girls; where did they come from, what was their story and are they here to stay? Apparently I was not the first concerned resident to wander into the business with these questions. Despite that they were closing for the day, and that I didn’t want to buy any coffee, Jeff and Nora eagerly insisted that the company was their pleasure. They were so adorably enthusiastic– about coffee, Ballard and the skater girls– that they spoke at the same time and over each other to the point where I could barely keep up.
I learned that the coffee shop …
SeattleMeg June 28th, 2008
Hot Town, Summer in the City
Looking to beat the heat in your favorite neighborhood? Here’s a few ideas that’ll get you out of your living room and still enjoy a hot day. Make sure to stop by a grocery or drug store and pick up the appropriate sunblock for your health, and stay hydrated!
Kadampa Buddhist Temple: 6556 24th Ave. N.W. Sure, you can beat the heat, but why not make the world a better place at the same time? Join them Sunday mornings at 10am for public meditation and prayer on compassion and world peace. Kids have their own space downstairs. $10, but no one turned away for lack of funds. A beautiful and community-making way to start your day, regardless of faith.
Seattle Public Library, Ballard Branch: 5614 22nd Ave. N.W. If you absolutely *must* check your email on such a lovely day, pop into this “green” building to use one of their 37 computers or free (albeit unsecured) wi-fi for your access. At the very least, you can cool your heels and get a drink from the water fountain before heading out again. You could also spend an hour or two expanding your mind with their great collection…
Scooter’s Burgers: 5802 24th Ave N.W. Head back over to 24th for lunch to Scooters. Be aware that parking is temporarily limited to their small lot due to the construction right next door, but it’s worth it. You can also leave your car near …
Cameron June 25th, 2008
Ballard has opulent resources and programs for the creative arts, even for little brats. That’s right, brats. B.R.A.T., Ballard Resource For Artistic Talent, is a local program specifically geared for art-curious kids, 8-18 years old. BRAT creator, Jason Arne Lien, MFA and long-time educator in the Seattle art community, provides coaching for kids for both drop in studio sessions and week long camps (9-4pm) this summer. Lien considers the best way to foster a young person’s blossoming creative mind is to challenge them by “letting them do their own thing but also working closely with each artist to help them decide what is really important.”
Drop-in sessions are moderately priced but the summer camps are the best bargain. So if you have a brat whose interested in advancing their artistic skill set or preparing a portfolio for college– or if you’re just interested in keeping them out of JUV Hall– BRAT is a positive and productive environment in which to creatively develop.
Unfortunately, BRAT is leaving Market Street in September in search of a bigger space, but you can still catch the camps all this summer. Check out www.BratPrograms.com.
(photo from BratPrograms.com)
Check out Market Street Traders on the July 12th Artwalk at 2016 NW Market Street. They’ve got beaded baskets of all sizes from people in Bali. The elders teach the children the craft and the whole economy benefits. Grab on of these shimmering treasures, anywhere from 3 inches to two feet in size!
