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Our summer continues with a great lineup this coming week of fun treats.  Let’s check out what’s happening around our hopping little town!

Mmmm, Salmon.  Dinner and music AND the chance to experience another culture.  The Leif Erikson Lodge of the Sons of Norway at 2245 N.W. 57th St. presents a wild salmon dinner followed by the Norwegian folkdancing group, Symra, on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 6 p.m. Proceeds benefit the educational programs of Norsk Folkedans Stemne. Afterwards there is dancing for everyone. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children until Aug. 9. For more information or to purchase tickets call Karlyn Tomta, 772-4545.

Love to sing? The Northwest Chamber Chorus is holding auditions for their upcoming season. Aug. 13, 6 – 9 p.m. and Aug. 17, 1:30 – 5:30 p.m. Experienced singers (all voices), by appointment. To schedule contact Betsy Brockman at nwcc@verizon.net or call 523-1196.  The auditions will be at Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church at 7500 Greenwood Ave. N.

This Thursday is the last one for the Summer Reading program at the Nordic Heritage Museum.  Bring the kids to listen to an authentic Nordic tale, which will be followed by an easy take-home craft.  It’s totally free, no reservations required.  August 14th, 2-3pm.  Don’t miss it!

The Blanket Bee for Kids gives you an opportunity to make a difference in the life of an ill or traumatized child.  Everyone needs a security blanket when the worst happens.  Saturday, Aug. 16, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m, help make homemade blankets they can treasure and keep close. Bring your sewing machine, quilting supplies, fabric, batting, yarns – whatever you can provide. They also need people to rotary cut fabric, people to iron and people who can tie a knot. Light refreshments will be served. For more information call Kristi at 784-1554 or Jean at 365-5669.

Just want to get down and get happy?  The lineup for the Sunset Tavern at 5433 Ballard Ave. N.W. for this week includes on August 11, The Globes, The Monday Mornings, Huff This (Brooklyn), and Slay The Demon Inside.  Aug. 12 brings us the Blood Red Dancers and guests.  Aug. 13, Brittain Ashford takes the stage. Aug. 14. entertains us with The Apple War, The Kindness Kind, and Beestings.  The week closes with Aug. 15th’s Cancer Rising, Champagne Champagne, and the Caves (Portland).  All shows except Aug. 15 are at 9pm and are $6.  August 15, the show starts at 10pm and costs $8.  Come on down and take a load off!

If you’re walking down Market Street, and you pass a non-descript door with only the marking, “Live Girls!” posted to a sandwich board and a staircase leading to a dark basement, your better judgment might guide you to keep on walking. In most cases that’s usually a smart bet, but not this time.

Market Street (between Ballard Avenue and Leary Way) has been the home of the Live Girls! Theater since 2005, and has been dedicated to promoting local women playwrights, directors and artists ever since. Their goal is to “empower women artists to be leaders and provide the public with opportunities to see plays by women”, and that’s hot, because let’s face it, like in many other industries, women are severely underrepresented in theater. While there are many talented women playwrights out there, most produced plays are not by women. Live Girls! Theater helps bring the female perspective to the forefront.

As a small, fringe theater group, their company members commit to a year of supporting the Live Girls! mission by partaking in various aspects of administration and production. It’s entirely volunteer-operated, so let’s support our local Girls!– go to the next production or pony up some cash and be a sponsor.

Here’s what’s coming up next at the Live Girls! Theater:

World Premiere!

June Carter Cash Project

Sept 12 – Oct 4

Fri 8pm Sat 4pm and 8pm

“In 2008 Live Girls! will commission three one-act plays from local writers.  Each writer will choose a song recorded by the iconic songstress June Carter Cash and create play inspired by that song.  These three new plays will be produced together in one evening as a tribute to this legendary singer, writer and humanitarian.”

Other show listings can be found on the Live Girls! web site: http://www.livegirlstheater.org/. Ticket and donation information are also available.

Well, this weekend is looking to be a scorcher!  Whatever would there be to do that won’t sap your strength while you make sure to stay hydrated?  I can think of a few things I may wish to attend…

Stand in the shade at the Ballard Locks (3015 N.W. 54th St.) on Saturday and enjoy cake!  The Army Reserve’s citizen-soldiers are celebrating a century of service this year, and the regional headquarters in Seattle invites the public to help celebrate with festivities at the Hiram Chittenden Locks in Ballard this Saturday.  The 70th Army Band and the 104th Division Band will provide a century’s worth of music from noon to 5pm, and Maj. Gen. Chris Ingram, commanding general of the Pacific Northwest’s 70th Regional Readiness Command headquartered nearby at Fort Lawton in Magnolia, will start serving cake at 3pm.  He’ll also be reenlisting a few soldiers and distributing some awards.  Plenty of fun for the whole family and a chance to appreciate those who serve!  (And hey, free cake.)

The Greenwood Senior Center at 525 N. 85th St welcomes its Ballard neighbors to a yummy pancake breakfast on Saturday, August 9th!  From 9 – 11 a.m., the men’s club is volunteering their cooking skills for this tasty morning of pancakes with all sorts of toppings, coffee, juice, and more. Open to all in the community. $5 member/$7 non-members.

The Loyal Heights Community Center wants to know:  Have you given thought to a place in your heart and home for a cat?  IF so, come to the Fabulous Felines Cat Adoption Event.  On Saturday starting at noon, you’ll be able to meet and connect with the cat or kitten of your dreams.  Maybe you’ll click when you look into the eyes of that fuzzy new friend.  Save a life and make yours better at the same time.

Beat the heat and raise your spirit at 2pm on Saturday in the coolness of “Godspell” at United Evangelical Free Church.  This classic rock musical is being done by the UPAC Theater Group, and does run through the following Saturday as well with evening performances.  But you just can’t beat a classic story with toe-tapping music that you’ll be humming after you leave for only $12-15.

From now through the 17th, come bid farewell to a beloved Ballard boutique.  Olivine, at 5344 Ballard Ave. N.W., is closing.  You can save 50-70% on items and say goodbye to owner Julie Merriman.  Olivine had a fresh Parisian feel with personal service.  That rarity will be missed.  From the delightful clothes and bath items to the on-site designer who could whip up a pair of custom pants and the signature cosmetics line, Olivine’s closing is a blow to those of us who love the way retail ought to be run.  By real people, with real service, in a real nearby location.  Wish Julie the best!

It’s unfortunate that Ballard doesn’t have nearly the same amount of dessert places as it does pizza and pasta places and neighborhood bars. But the places to get dessert are great nonetheless.

For ice cream, try The Scoop at Walter’s ( 6408 32nd Ave NW). Their ice cream is probably some of the best ice cream I have tasted. My favorite is Lavendar Honey, but they have other chocolate and fruit flavors. The Scoop also has donuts and coffee. Beware, they do close up shop early at 7pm.

For cupcakes, try Cupcake Royale (2052 NW Market Street). They have everything from chocolate to peppermint to orange to red velvet. Cupcake Royale also has mini cupcakes for the kiddies, or if you just want a small treat. You can eat in or take out, and they have good coffee, too.

For frozen yogurt, try Mooberry ( 2019 NW Market St). Mooberry just opened up this spring and it is quite good. They have a variety of different flavors and add-ins.

For ice cream, try Little Coney (8003 Seaview Ave NW). Its a great little place to stop on your way to Golden Gardens to grab some ice cream or burgers.