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I’ve recently had the pleasure of discovering that a branch on my genealogical tree sprouted in Sweden. Given that this is some provable ancestry, I set out to educate myself on this part of my heritage. One thing’s for sure, cultures are identifiable by their food.

Many people my age and older may remember the Swedish Chef from the Muppet Show. While his stereotypical accent and grammar was laughable (after all, it WAS 30 years ago…), very little of his supposed recipes were actually Swedish. I remember his shooting the holes out of bagels, fighting off crazed unboiled lobsters, and watching coffee “per-ku-late”. Imagine my delight in finding a place in Ballard that sold ingredients I’d never heard of, for foods I never imagined while watching the Swedish Chef.

Olsen’s Scandinavian Store is right on Market Street and has been around since 1960. It was wonderful to look at every little thing in there and feel as if I uncovered treasure I never before understood. Bottles of Saft concentrate to be mixed with water for a refreshing fruit drink, sheets of lovely lefse in their triangles just crying out to be rolled up with cream cheese and smoked salmon, chunks of imported rich and smoky goat’s milk cheese…

I was torn. Do I flip through the little spiral-bound recipe books, try to lift a heavy wooden rolling pin, or graze my fingertips over cool gilded china cups with Viking ships on them? Do I justify buying Freya Milk Chocolate with hazelnut pieces, rolls of marzipan paste, or small bags of REAL black licorice that my mom loves (but shouldn’t have)? I have tried the Swedish meatball mix with my own gravy and felt full for hours. I’ve nibbled crispbread wafers with lingonberry jam, krumkake cookies that put waffle cones to shame, and puzzled over the instructions on the back of a bag mix for blueberry soup. (I’ll have to put that through Google’s translator.) The last lovely warm day I was there, I splurged a whole $2 and got a Norwegian hot dog. We’re talking a home-made juicy flavorful long hot dog wrapped up in a lefse triangle with tasty crunchy fried onions. Sure, you could put the offered ketchup on it. I’d rather have a unique tasty meal!

Olsen’s is not a large store, but they pack so much into the space that you always feel like you’re discovering something new. I’ve bought Norwegian Flag shirts as gifts, refrained from amassing a collection of wooden Dala horses, and convinced myself I will NEVER have the courage to try lutefisk, even at Christmas. But I do find it terribly easy to hop off the bus and walk half a block after work every now and then. And I just keep finding more things where I can say, ‘Yes, I’m part Swedish and I’ve tried that. Have you ever tasted this?”

Go on, give it a try. At the very least, you can buy a cute candle holder and wall plaque to convince your friends you’re a world traveller in your own back yard.

by Ben Guerechit

The controversial corner of Market and 15th has just been dealt it’s final blow. Yesterday, the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board voted 10-0 to dissolve any restrictions on what can be done with the site by the land owners; Benaroya Companies and developers Rhapsody Partners.

Development partners are now free to demolish the building originally built as the Manning’s Cafeteria in 1964 and later leased to Denny’s Resturaunt. The decision came down after Benaroya filed an appeal earlier in 2008 to have the landmark status removed. The Preservation Board headed by city preservation officer, Karen Gordon firmly agreed that the $12.5 million paid by Benaroya in 2006 was a debt that could not be afforded if the building was to remain.

The building was declared a landmark in a 6-3 vote, back in February with the help of preservation and neighborhood support to keep the building rather than see one more multi-use condominium tower over the shrinking character of Ballard. Landmark status was issued by the board on the basis that the building was of architectural significance, due to it’s 1960′s California futurist design; also known as Googie.

Development plans that included leaving the Googie-inspired building intact and integrate new condominium construction on the remaining unused land was also deemed inefficient and too expensive to regain any profit from the deal in 2006.

As residents of this neighborhood we have only to wait and see what will happen next at the “Gates of Ballard.” What can one more crane hurt?

For More Information see other articles in the Crosscut Seattle and Seattle Times. Picture found on flickr.

Want to have a say in how your tax dollars are spent?  This year is shaping up to make a large dent in most wallets at a time when prices for everything from gas to groceries is rising.  As more Americans must exercise fiscal prudence, by creating and sticking to a budget, shouldn’t our local government do the same? Attend the Seattle City Council Budget Community meeting Tuesday night from 5:30-7:30pm at the Ballard Northwest Senior Center Activity Center located at 5429 32nd Avenue NW.  This meeting will provide the opportunity to talk directly with your elected Council members on how your money is spent in the 2009-2010 city budget.  How many of us even know the process of how the budget is created?   The meeting will include a glimpse into something that is a mystery to most – the budgeting process.  

Grab a pencil and spend some time prioritizing where your  tax money should be spent….what do you feel strongly is a necessity and what is something that little money should be allocated toward? 

Social Services

Parks and Green Space

Housing for Low Income or Homeless

Police and Emergency Services

Increased bike lanes

These are only a few of the typical items that are listed as part of the city budget.   Share your comments on the best and worst uses of your city tax dollars.

Ah, Syttende Mai. Norwegian Constitution Day, the 17th of May, and a reason to celebrate the Scandinavian heritage of our lovely neighborhood. So many fun things to do!
Flags to the left of the Museum Entrance…

 
I started over at the Nordic Heritage Museum at 3014 NW 67th Street to see some visiting Norwegian Fjord ponies. They were a little sleepy in the record heat, but very sweet and
friendly.

After a few photos of the adorable ponies (and petting their very soft noses), we went into the Museum and enjoyed both the cool air and the free admission for the day. It was fascinating to wander around and see both the exhibits about Syttende Mai and the regular cultural/historical exhibits. I particularly like the walk-through experiences about how life was like for the early settlers from Scandinavia.

Then we headed downtown and had lunch while waiting for the parade to start. After a slow beginning, it was full of smoky dragon boats, trolls, kids on unicycles, old cars, and all the men and women in their beautiful regional bunad (costumes, specific to certain regions in Norway). Even the Swedish Cultural Center sent their Swedish Pancake Drill Team. All in all, a hot but wonderful day. Feel free to enjoy the parade yourself below with the video I captured!

Parade part 1
Parade part 2
Parade part 3
Parade part 4

With the great weather Syttende Mai was a great success.  Photos and more detail coming.

-Keith

PS I went over the Ballard bridge at about 11:30 and then at 1:30 and I saw no closed lanes, no repairs … nothing.  Much ado about nothing.