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Kendra August 29th, 2008

Before I actually moved to Seattle, I spent 5 weeks renting a house here between leaving one job and starting another.  I had been to Seattle only once before on a business trip in February and had fallen in love with this part of the U.S. but I wanted to see if living here was the same as coming for a business trip or vacation.  This was during a period when Seattle had for several years made those “Best Places to Live” lists in various magazines and was getting a lot of press due to grunge, the Starbucks phenomena, etc.   I have never been one to believe the hype so I took the opportunity to rent as my control in my little experiment on what it would be like to live here.  I didn’t have a car while here, so I used the bus to get around from the place I was renting in Greenwood.  It was easy to get downtown to the more touristy sites such as Pike Place Market,   etc.     However, when it came to scouting at neighborhoods, I guess the bus may have created a natural inclination towards neighborhoods such as Greenlake, Wallingford, Fremont and Ballard. 
I was charmed by Ballard.  At that time, the Scandinavian flavor of the neighborhood was more pronounced.  There were a number of Scandinavian …

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Cameron August 27th, 2008

More fashion is coming to Ballard. Move over, make room. It’s a big deal. Monster Art and Clothing is moving into the old Cors and Wegener Building on Ballard Avenue and 20th, to officially open for business this Friday, August 29th. But this isn’t another polished Dolce Vita or previous commercial tenant, Merge. All of you Ballard-purists with your skeptical eyes and crossed arms can appreciate what local artist, Holly Gummelt (http://www.etsy.com)  and her art posse are trying to do with Monster Art and Clothing– eco and econ friendly art and fashion.

With the exit of Merge and most recently Olivine (both have moved onto yuppified Fremont), a new movement is setting forth: clothing made by artists, to look like art, at an artist’s budget. Holly Gummelt, a Pike Market craft booth veteran, is picking up her tent, and setting up shop in Ballard to bring art to the common man. She coins her movement, “casual art”, for unpretentious, anti-boutique people– so basically, for Ballardians. “We don’t have a lot of money ’cause we’re artists, so we’re really trying to bring something to others who love handmade art, that’s sustainable and affordable. We’re not ‘hoity-toity’; we want to be accessible.”

And we want to access you, Monster Art and Clothing! With hoodie wraps made from 100% up-cycled wool (see photo with proprietor, Gummelt, modeling hat/scarve), screen-printed T-shirts, and quirky accessories created out of recycled scratch, Ballard welcomes you with open …

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Kendra August 24th, 2008

So what’s the connection between Coldplay and eighty year olds?  Read on to find out…
Seattle is a fairly youthful city full of single hipsters.  When I first visited Ballard, even before I moved to Washington state, the joke was that the drivers were so bad as it was a neighborhood of old people who could barely see over their steering wheels.  Their cars would inevitably have bumper stickers such as “Honk if you’re Norwegian.”  These old folks would populate the Eagles Club on 24th Street or the Leif Erickson Hall by the old QFC.  These were people who had grown up in the area and purchased their cottages and craftsman houses for prices that make present day buyers cry.  Ten years ago Ballard was far from hip.  However, there was something about it that charmed me, I kind of liked the fact that the streets were full of the elderly, to me it was like having a whole neighborhood of grandparents.  However, I didn’t always feel so drawn to the elderly.
When I was a little girl my grandmother, though she was old herself, used to take me along during her volunteer visits to nursing homes.  I fully admit to being terrified, as I was too young to understand what I was seeing.  The old people some of …

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SeattleMeg August 24th, 2008

Do you like your latte served up with a full order of deliciousness?  It doesn’t matter what kind of milk or flavoring you put in your cuppa Joe if the underlying base of the drink isn’t worth the price.  And at Firehouse Coffee, it’s definitely worth every penny.  Surprisingly, this shot of caffeine-laced goodness isn’t expensive at all!

The cozy atmostphere means limited seating, but the tables and chairs are extremely comfy, and there’s a nice little patio for those iced cappuccinos on hot days.  They even have a bowl of water out for your four-legged coffee buddy.  I was quite pleased to get a 20 oz. latte (Hazelnut soy, no foam, my standard) and a wonderful breakfast sandwich and spend only about $7.  The sandwich was a delightful multi-grain bread with lots of flavor, encompassing an egg, swiss cheese, and bacon on the perfect side of crisp.  Warmed up and cut in half made it the perfect way to spend half an hour on the free wi-fi with my laptop.  The wi-fi had a good connection, albeit an unsecured network and you have to re-login every 20 minutes or so. I personally didn’t get that pop-up for almost an hour.  They do have a single computer in the back corner in case you just HAVE to check your email and don’t have anything with you.

Good coffee, good food, nice atmosphere, free wi-fi…  Not only two thumbs up, but I’ll …

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Cameron August 21st, 2008

Since 1907, the citizens of Ballard have joined forces in attempt to “free Ballard” from Seattle hegemony. One store, Archie McPhee, helps us Ballardians in this everyday struggle.

A cross between a cracked-out tiki bar and the magic shop in Pee Wee Herman’s Great Adventure, Archie McPhee’s features thousands of random and quirky toys, candy, party supplies, costumes and miniatures—think yodeling pickle figurines, giant underpants, etc. Among the random shit-fest, is a “Free-Ballard” retail industry, featuring an array of wearable propaganda such as hats, T-shirts, bumper stickers, and even games and toys. McPhee’s started the modern-day “Free Ballard” movement about eight years ago, and has been promoting the liberation of Ballard with pride and a sense of humor ever since. Download your own “Free Ballard” poster, courtesy of Archie McPhees here. And if you don’t jive with the “Free Ballard” campaign, there are thousands of other reasons to go there. Temporary tattoos, counterfeit Australian coins and bills, or maybe you’ll run into Blayne from Project Runway.

www.archiemcpheeseattle.com

2428 NW Market Street

Monday-Saturday 10am-7pm, Sundays 11am-6pm

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SeattleMeg August 19th, 2008

Finally, our heat wave broke!  Now we can enjoy the cooler weather and get up and around.  There’s certainly plenty to do out in the soft cool air…

Thursday, August 21st, come meet new friends at our neighborly Greenwood Senior Center for an Intentional Community Potluck.  6:30 – 8:30pm, please label your dish.

The Loyal Heights Community Center is having an End of Summer BBQ, and you’re invited!  August 22nd, 6-7:30pm, with hotdogs and games.  Best of all?  It’s free, so bring the whole family!  2102 NW 77th St, (206)684-4052

On Saturday, Aug. 23 from 2 – 6 p.m. the Ballard/Alki Odd Fellows will be hosting the First Annual Oddfest. Donations are $5 at the door and benefit the SOS Children’s Village in Cambodia for AIDS affected youth. For more information, e-mail Greg Powers at Kitkadevi@aol.com.  Oddfellows Hall at 1701 NW Market St.

St. Paul’s at 6512 12th Ave NW is also hosting a neighborhood event.  Join them for a pancake breakfast (suggested donation, $5) on Saturday, August 23rd, from 9-11am.  Tons of opportunities this week to make new friends and really get to know your fellow Ballardites!  Maybe we should vie for a “Most Community-minded Neighborhood” award…

And lastly, enjoy a jazz concert at Golden Gardens this Friday!  August 22, 7-10pm, listen to Ambience with Leah Natale, a four-piece band from Seattle.  They play vintage and Latin jazz, and will present a concert at the Golden Gardens Bath …

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Kendra August 16th, 2008

I had been hearing a lot about the trend of comfort food at gourmet levels.   Then I saw this trend come to Ballard via the opening of Lunchbox Laboratory on 15th Ave. NW.   It’s located in the former Ballard Brothers Burgers space next to a nail salon.  From the outside it reminded me of the little clam shacks you see in New England.  A small painted structure with some picnic tables outside for dining.   But this is not a seafood place, but a burger place, though that doesn’t fully describe choices such as the ‘Dork’, a duck and pork burger, nor fries that have rosemary salt on them. 
Before I ventured over to check it out for myself, I checked out the reviews on a Ballard website and Yelp.   The results were surprising.  On the Ballard website the reviews were decidedly not in favor of the Lab citing service, cost, inability to order a certain temperature and amount of grease.   However, Yelpers as a whole were strongly positive about the place and the ironic thing was that most of the reasons they felt positively were the same reasons people on the other site felt negatively.   On the issue of not being able to order a burger well done, the gourmands on Yelp pointed out that meat …

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Cameron August 14th, 2008

Perched beneath the shadows of the Ballard Bridge like an anchored looming pirate ship, is the Jolly Rogers Taproom, adorned with skull and cross bone flags and a fortified iron-gate patio for the summer patrons. When we spotted a lively bunch of Ballardians enjoying the summer evening out on the terrace, we knew we would fit in well here. 

Home of the Jolly Rogers Winter Ale, loaded with 9% alcohol and guaranteed to make your eyes drift in opposite directions and snarl at strangers, the Taproom hosts 14 freshly brewed uniquely Northwest Maritime ales and lagers. Also fresh is all the produce in the menu; the onions and pickles are chopped in the Taproom’s kitchen before they’re drowned in deep-fried deliciousness. We recommend the onion rings; they’re so huge and thick you could plop one on your head and it’d pass for a yarmulke.  

Even though we were the obnoxious drunk girls talking too loud on our cell phones, no one punched us out, and to us, that is good service and good people.

Jolly Rogers Taproom

1514 NW Leary Way

Ballard WA 98127

www.maritimebrewery.ypguides.net

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SeattleMeg August 11th, 2008

You’ve probably driven by this unassuming little fruit stand on 15th, right across from Ballard High School.  You’ve maybe even giggled at the name, Top Banana.  But have you stopped to check out the selection of earthly delights?  Not only are their hanging flower baskets lush and full with tons of blossoms, the few pre-packaged items inside include handmade tortillas and jars of local honey.  There a small cooler in one corner in case you forgot that you need milk or sour cream or want that natural yogurt for your fruit salad.

The peaches are in right now, going for a very reasonable less than $2 a pound.  Fresh green beans and snap peas, rows of vine-ripe tomatoes, canteloupes for less than a dollar a pound…  I’m in heaven while I make my choices for the week.  This is my favorite Sunday ritual!  Yesterday morning, I grabbed the following:

1 LARGE red bell pepper for mum
1 huge head of cauliflower (delicious steamed and mashed with butter and pepper)
little over a pound of tiny cukes to make fridge pickles
bag of peeled baby carrots
bunch of organic bananas
about a pound of small red potatoes, to be skewered and grilled tonight
3 huge plums
4 huge peaches
a large english cucumber
a bunch of green onions

Total? $20.26.  I can deal with that.  They do take credit cards, unlike most farmer’s market booths.  There’s a decent sized gravel parking lot and they’re more than happy to help you get items to your …

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Erin August 11th, 2008

I’m really bad with accents. Call it ignorance, call it American, call me hard of hearing – it’s something I struggle with. Especially at Thai restaurants, when I typically resort to pointing at menu items instead of insulting a beautiful language with my ugly attempts at pronunciations.

One such case where this is not necessary is Mae Ploy on 15th Ave and 65th. This little rinky-dink Thai assemble just passed its annual and seems to be holding down the fort as far as Thai goes in Ballard, despite their handful of tables that are rarely full even during peak rush hours. 

Inexpensive, fast, flavorful and above all friendly to non-Thai speakers, Mae Ploy offers family-style eats in not only the portion sizes of their entrees but in the way that the family owned restaurant is ran every minute their doors are open by every member of the family. Not once have I been there – be it Saturday night or Wednesday for lunch – when at least three members of the family also have not been there. I hope they love their jobs. 

The Fam also allows you choose “Thai spice,” something us sensitive-palated people have never done nor plan to but for those of you who load up your Saracha, going with the under-the-table double spices is advised. 

As far as the food goes, three words – Tom Kah Soup. The coconut based delicacy goes down like water. Toss some brown rice in there (available with no additional cost, surprisingly) and you’ve got …

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