Ballardblog.com

I had to debate about writing this post, figuring that the foodies would already be aware of the Ballard branch of the infamous Paseo eatery started in Fremont, now with a second location in Ballard….and that anyone who didn’t know already would then swarm to the place making the lines comparable to the Fremont location.    But my conscience won out and it’s just morally wrong not to give others a chance to eat this delectable food.

A brief background for those who have not heard of the Paseo phenomena…..the original Paseo is a little Cuban joint over in Fremont.  I am careful to use phrases like ‘eatery’ and ‘joint’ because this casual food mecca is tiny inside with just a handful of tables, but that doesn’t stop the crowds from lining up out the door for a taste of juicy Cuban pork sandwiches with caramelized onions.  Yes, they have other meats and non meat dishes for those not into pork, but really the point of the place is pork.

When I found out that Paseo had opened a second location in Ballard at 6226 Seaview Ave NW, past Golden Gardens down by Shilshoe, I was over the moon.  The pinkish building of this location doesn’t look like much and it doesn’t have any inside seating at all, but these are small matters for the convenience of the new location to hungry Ballardites.  Either pick up food and take it to eat elsewhere, or if the weather is good, eat at the outside counter or picnic tables while admiring the view.

Although Paseo’s sandwiches are more expensive than other places, the quality, taste and portion size account for the difference.  They don’t take credit cards, so be forewarned to bring cash. Also, the sandwiches are juicy, so it might be a good idea to stash a container of baby wipes in your car or bag to scrub at the juices dribbling down your arms and face.

Whenever I go, I tell myself to break free from the pattern of ordering one of the pork sandwiches to try their scallops or something completely different, but so far I have always slid back into the warm comfort of the Midnight Cubano.  Maybe some readers who have dared to go past the pork can comment on the other dishes….

You might be jobless, or scrimping to pay bills, but don’t let that stop you from enjoying all the wonderful things our area has to offer.

Free:

Free fun can be had at Seattle’s parks.

Seattle Public libraries have more than just books. At the library, you can connect to the Internet for free, and listen to lectures and other events. For kids, there are storytimes and other events. In addition, there is a whole digital media section on the library web site. You can download music, video, audio books and more.

Cheap:

Here are special offers on art events from Take Part in Art.

Find bargain shops, restaurants, bars and attractions at Citysearch or check out yard sales.

Seattle Fashion Show
Friday, April 17th  •  8 pm – 10
Fashion Show starts at 8 PM
@ New York Fashion Academy • All ages welcome
5201 Ballard Ave. 
Cost: 10.00
Beer and wine garden available with identification

The Haute Trash Fashion Show Deets:

The Haute Trash Fashion show is brought to you by a group of progressive fashion designers, bringing their 25-years experience to the 8th Annual Recycled Art and Fashion Show.  The group’s designs have been featured at the Seattle Art Museum, Burning Man, county fairs, and dozens of other community festivals throughout the Western U.S. Designs and accessories are made from a wide variety of unconventional materials like inner tubes, food packaging, soda pop tops and other salvaged materials.

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It can be a real drag when you visit a park during the cool winter months and find the restroom locked up for the season.

Last month I contacted Seattle Parks and Recreation to find out when the restrooms will be open for the warmer months, and here is the reply I got from Laurie Dunlap at the Superintendent’s Office:

“Word from our Plumbing Shop is that they will try to have all our plumbing turned on and restrooms opened by April, with the most heavily used sites open as early as mid-March.”

I know that Carkeek Park’s restrooms are open (and have been). Does anyone know the restroom status of any of the other local parks, like Salmon Bay Park, Soundview Playfield or Golden Gardens?

Were you angry when you read that Mayor Nickels and the governor ignored voters and decided to proceed with the Bored Tunnel option? As a Ballard resident were you concerned when you read that there would not be a Ballard exit along the tunnel?

The Ballard District Council, Queen Anne District Council, and BINMIC Action Committee are co-sponsoring a community forum to consider how the Deep Bored Tunnel option to replace our viaduct can best serve Seattle neighborhoods. Take the opportunity to sort through the facts and make your ideas and opinions known on how to best serve the interest of our community in the face of a project we didn’t want. Panelists members include: reps from WSDOT, City of Seattle, King County, and noted experts in the field of tunnel construction, economics, and traffic engineering. Points to be covered in the forum are:

• How will we access south end destinations as well as downtown Seattle?
• What kind of access will we have to the northern entrance of the tunnel?
• Will trucks be able to use the tunnel or will they use surface streets?
• How will travel times through the corridor be affected?
• Why is an economic impact study so important to decisions affecting the Alaskan Way Viaduct?

Monday, March 23rd

7 – 9 PM

Ballard High School Auditorium

For more information on this forum contact Rob Mattson at 684-4051 or rob.mattson@seattle.gov

To brush up on information about the project to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct before the meeting visit:

http://www.alaskanwayviaduct.org/

I’ve walked by Moshi Moshi Sushi on Ballard Ave. many times while visiting the Sunday market, and wished they were open for lunch. Finally I broke down and visited this lovely new sushi restaurant for dinner, and I’m glad I did. Everything I tasted was divine.

Their cocktail menu is full of intriguing drinks, including ingredients like banana chip infused rum, absinthe and egg white. I eventually settled on a Swedish Punch (made with rum, cognac, batavia arrack, lemon, and orange), which was fruity and invigorating.

I spoke with Erik Carlson, who created Moshi Moshi’s bar program from scratch. After spending eleven years in San Francisco managing and tending bars, Carlson returned to his hometown Seattle.

“I was really excited to bring home all my ideas and create my dream cocktail menu,” said Carlson. “We currently have 25 drinks on the menu. We use all premium spirits and fresh squeeze all the citrus daily.”

The food arrived quickly. I sampled the California Roll, Ume Shiso Roll, Chicken Kara Age (fried chicken) and Saba Shio (grilled salted mackerel). The Saba was delicious and buttery, and the Chicken Kara Age was tasty with a bit of squeezed lemon. The sushi rice was just the right temperature and consistency, and the flavor of the rolls I tried was excellent.

According to Carlson, the sushi at Moshi Moshi is more traditional than you might find at some other area sushi restaurants, many of which take a “fusion” approach.

My nearly four-year old daughter came along to the restaurant and although this is not a typical kid-friendly restaurant (i.e. no kids’ menu, crayons or play zone), they did have booster seats and high chairs on offer. She enjoyed her Kappa Roll and ate nearly all of it, including the seaweed. (Though I have to admit my daughter has been eating kappa rolls in restaurants since before she could walk).

It was my husband’s birthday so for dessert we had a surprise green tea crème brûlée with a birthday candle in it, courtesy of the kitchen. Crispy on top, sweet and creamy underneath, it was a perfect finisher.

If you’re trying to save money (and who isn’t in this economy), you might consider visiting Moshi Moshi during one of its two daily happy hours, which feature food and drink specials. Happy hours are Monday through Thursday 4:30-6pm & 10-11:30pm, and Friday & Saturday 4:30-6pm & 11pm-1am.

Carlson points out, “Happy hours are allowing people to eat at their favorite restaurants several times a week.“

Moshi Moshi Sushi - 5324 Ballard Avenue, 
Seattle, WA 98107
 (206) 971-7424

March is a month that usually finds us focusing on Irish ancestry with the perennially popular St Patrick’s Day holiday.  However, since Ballard is more associated with Scandinavian heritage, it’s nice to have an event this month that celebrates it.  The Leif Erikson Lodge plays host to anyone interested in all things Norwegian on March 28th starting at 10am.

Food will play an important role at the event with popular favorites such as lefse and krumkake on hand, also pickled herring is also available to the more adventurous.  Popular Nordic crafts such as rosemaling will be on display.  Music lovers will be entertained by the Norwegian Male Chorus and Norwegian Ladies Chorus of Seattle.  There will also be musicians playing traditional music throughout the day.

For those in touch with their Norwegian heritage it’s an excuse to break out your bunad in solidarity with the bunad wearing folk who will parade at 3pm. Not sure you have any Norwegian blood?  Genealogical researchers will be on hand to help you discover any Norwegian ancestors you may have.

Admission is FREE

10am – 4pm

Tastes of Norway/Norwegian Cultural and Heritage Day

Leif Erikson Lodge

2245 NW 57th St
Seattle, WA 98107
(206) 783-1274

http://www.leiferiksonlodge.com/Events/Events_PDFLinks.aspx

I had a little trouble finding the new Ballard Trader Joe’s at first. I was driving from the north and wasn’t expecting the Trader Joe’s logo sign to be on the south side of the building, so I didn’t see it. A block from the canal, I turned around and then saw their red logo sign on the gray Ballard Blocks building.

The parking garage entrance is also on the south side of the building. Having jockeyed for spaces at the Roosevelt location many times, I was happy to see lots of available spaces. But once I got out of my car, I was uncertain where to go to actually get into the store itself.  There was no signage pointing out the store itself and all the signs saying “Trader Joe’s Parking” pointed in a direction that was opposite of where the store turned out to be.

I asked a guard walking by where to find the store.

“Over there,” she said, pointing, “by the red shopping carts.” Oh, of course. I should have thought of that.

I spoke to the lady at the Trader Joe’s demo station about some of the differences between this store and the Roosevelt one, and also observed the differences for myself. It’s a bigger store with wider aisles, a larger selection of wine and produce, bathrooms are more accessible to the public and there’s a much bigger demo station.

There’s quite a lot that’s the same though: good food at good prices, and that lovely free coffee at the demo station. Now that I know where it is, I’m happy this is my new home-base Trader Joe’s!

Trader Joe’s, 4609 14th Avenue NW, Seattle, WA, 206-783-0498

From March 11 to April 5, 2009, the Moisture Festival keeps the Vaudeville tradition alive with a stunning array of performances in the genres of comedy, varieté, and burlesque. See dancing, music, comedy, rope acts, clowns, acrobats and all sorts of wacky wonders.

Shows will take place at several different venues:

• Hale’s Palladium, in the Hale’s Brewery warehouse located between Fremont and Ballard at 4301 Leary Way NW
• ACT- A Contemporary Theatre, 7th and Union, Seattle
• SIFF Cinema, 321 Mercer Street, McCaw Hall, Seattle Center. (There will be a live performance prior to the screening of certain SIFF films.)

Tickets range from $7.50 to $25.