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Although this event does not take place in Ballard, I decided it was unusual enough that I would blog about it.  Very few people get the opportunity to see the famous Lipizzaner Stallions perform.  Although I lived in Austria for a while, I didn’t see them perform there, just saw them being exercised.  So when I read that they were on tour and coming to Everett I convinced my friends to buy tickets.

I didn’t know that the moves and traditions of these unearthly beautiful white horses date back to Roman times as they became world famous only in the 1700′s.   Another fact that not many people might know is that these snowy beauties are born dark brown and slowly turn white over several years.  They also live longer than other horse breeds, as they don’t really become full fledged performers until they are in their 20′s.

All these facts and more are part of the show at Comcast arena in Everett where the horses appear to be floating and dancing with their graceful disciplined moves.  This is a good event for all ages and unlike other shows like Cirque de Soleil, etc. that tour every couple of years, you may not get this opportunity again.

There are still plenty of tickets left for the Sunday show at 2pm.  For more information:  http://ev12.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetEventInfo?ticketCode=GS%3AEVERETT%3ACAE09%3ALS3%3A&linkID=global-everett&shopperContext=&caller=appList&appCode=

Many Ballardites mourned the loss the Sunset Bowl as one of the places in Ballard that people of all ages and background could go for fun and to run into neighbors.  Although this was another battle lost to developers, there are still places in Ballard where people of varied interests and ages can get together, such as the Loyal Heights Community Center.

I walk by often and there is always a buzz of activity, whether it’s sports games being played on the lower playing fields or a group of toddlers playing “Red Light, Green Light” in front of the building.

There are movie and taco nights for families and a series of summer barbecues.  Inside a wide variety of classes ranging from music to aerobics takes place.  The new summer catalog of classes and events is now available at the center of online at http://www.seattle.gov/PARKS/centers/Ballard/Summer09.pdf

When the monorail debacle was going on, neighbors gathered in the meeting rooms to discuss the issues.  The community center has several meeting rooms which can be rented.  For young couples looking for an inexpensive wedding reception venue, the rooms are available with a liquor license included in the rental.  The biggest event held at the center was a fundraiser for Whitman Elementary with hundreds in attendance.

Although Ballard has changed a lot, I am glad there are still gems like the center that support the true meaning of community.

Note:  The Loyal Heights Community Center will be closed from June 6- June 21st.  Every 4-5 years the center refinishes the floors in the gym and classrooms.

Community Center Information: (206)684-4052
Address: 2101 NW 77th St., 98117

Although this is not in Ballard, we wanted to remind our readers that the 2^nd Annual Seattle Brain Cancer Walk will be held on May 30 at Mercer Island High School, http://www.braincancerwalk.org/, is an important event dedicated to providing hope and creating community for the 1,500 patients in the Pacific Northwest who face mankind’s deadliest form of cancer – brain cancer.

Who:  Center for Advanced Brain Tumor Treatment at Swedish’s Neuroscience Institute

What:  2^nd Annual Seattle Brain Cancer Walk

When: May 30, 2009

Where:  Mercer Island High school Track

How:  www.braincancerwalk.org

On May 16, 2009, the Puppeteers of Puget Sound will be hosting a Day of Puppetry for Puppeteers in Ballard. The event will be held at Sunset Hill Community Club, 3003 NW 66th Street, Seattle, WA 

Schedule of Events:
11:30-12:15      Momotaro Elly Leaverton
12:15-12:45     Momotaro Q and A
1:00-1:45         lunch break or Optional viewing of The Goblin and the Poet
2:00-2:30         Mary Shaver Marionettes
2:30-2:45         Mary Shaver Q and A
3:00-3:45         The Goblin and the Poet - Thistle Theatre        
3:55-4:10         The Goblin and the Poet Q and A
4:15-5:30         Show and tell (bring your puppets) Social hour – drinks and potluck
5:30-6:00         Giraffe and Staff - Sharon Allbright and Steve Sweeney
6:00-6:15         Giraffe and Staff  Q and A
6:30-7:20         PPS meeting
7:30-7:50         My Dear Lewis - Kyle Loven
7:50-8:10         My Dear Lewis Q and A
8:15-8:45         wrap up and clean-up

Please RSVP by sending an email to the Puppeteers of Puget Sound webmaster. This event is free to Puppeteers of Puget Sound, their invited guests, and prospective members.

From the The Seattle Weekly:

Join Seattle Weekly’s managing editor, Mike Seely, for a book signing and happy hour at Ballard’s Sunset Tavern this Friday celebrating his awesome new book, Seattle’s Best Dive Bars: Drinking & Diving in the
Emerald City (Ig Publishing, $12.95).

Every section of prose seems to capture a little bit of its subject’s soul, sometimes in anecdote and sometimes in a glorious description of liquids, grime and characters.

Seely’s broham Tim Seely (armyoftim.com) will host and promises to sing Rihanna’s “Take a Bow” in special tribute to his sibling. Mike promises to “get on the Lionel (Richie) train.” I hear he’s into duets.

SEATTLE, WA, MAY 12th, 2009: A time capsule possibly containing mementos and unknown treasures from decades ago will be opened at 3pm on June 7th, 2009, at the Leif Erikson Lodge 2-001, Sons of Norway, Leif Erikson Hall in Ballard.
 
Last month, Russ Oberg, President of Leif Erikson Lodge 2-001, Sons of Norway, and Tom Stang, Retired Consul of the Royal Norwegian Consulate and a Past President of the Lodge were called in when demolition crews discovered the capsule at the site of the Mountaineers Club, formerly the Norway Center building, which was then better know as “The Norselander”, located at 300 3rd Ave West in Seattle. They were given both the time capsule and the actual cornerstone from the building.
 
On January 24, 1915, the combined efforts of Leif Erikson Lodge 2-001, Sons of Norway, and Valkyrien Lodge No. 1, Daughters of Norway, resulted in the laying of the cornerstone for Norway Hall at 2015 Boren Ave in Seattle, then the heart of the Norwegian community of Seattle. It was sold to build Norway Center. On May 2, 1979, the building was designated a Seattle Landmark by the Landmarks Preservation Board and is now owned by Cornish College of the Arts. 
 
On June 7, 1949, the property for the new center of the local Norwegian world was purchased and soon construction began on the Norway Center, at the corner of Third Avenue West and West Thomas Street at the foot of Queen Anne Hill. The cornerstone dedication took place on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 1950. Local legend indicates the time capsule was relocated from Norway Hall, which was built in 1915, transferred, added to, and resealed for this new cornerstone dedication.
 
By 1983 the bills and operating losses mounted and it was decided to sell the building to the Mountaineers. Norway Center/Mountaineers building is now almost completely demolished. The Leif Erikson Lodge held meetings at the Nordic Heritage Museum in Ballard until our current home was completed and on November 1, 1986, we celebrated our grand opening.
 
Now 60 years later, we’re going to unseal and open the time capsule at our current home, the Leif Erikson Hall, 2245 NW 57th Street in Seattle. Members of the Sons of Norway; the Valkyrien Lodge No. 1, Daughters of Norway; and the Norwegian Male Chorus will be in attendance. The press is invited to examine the cornerstone and time capsule prior to it’s opening, beginning at 2:30. After a brief ceremony, the capsule will be opened and its contents displayed for all to see.
 
NOTE: June 7th is a particularly important day in Norwegian history, as it’s the day Norway dissolved it’s union with Sweden in 1905 (the birth of Norway as a separate nation) It’s also the date that the King left Norway in 1940 because of World War II, and the same date he returned in 1945!

Yes, it’s that time of year again in Ballard, Syttende Mai.  You don’t have to be Norwegian to enjoy this event, all you need is to like parades, costumes and an international spirit.  While many of the Norwegian businesses in Ballard have closed over the last decade, this tradition remains strong.

I happened to stop in the ‘Uff Da’ store in Stanwood on Sunday and the owner I had a conversation about the weakening of the Norwegian character in Ballard, with the Sytttende Mai parade being a last stronghold.  If you live in Seattle and have never participated in this event, the 17th of May celebrates the day the Norwegian Constitution was signed.   This event has been celebrated in the Seattle area for over 100 years and is the largest celebration for this event outside of Norway.

The Ballard event includes a parade where participants where colorful bunader, part of the Norwegian folk costumes representing different regions of the country.  The Grand Marshall of this year’s event is the Norwegian ambassador to the United States.  In addition to the parade are children’s games, performances by the Hellvik Mannskor (A Norwegian male choir) a lunch and a dance.

For more details, please visit:

http://syttendemaiseattle.com/index.shtml

Are you curious how the city budget cuts will affect you and the community? Attend the next Ballard District Council meeting to hear Pamela Banks, Outreach Director for the Mayor’s Office describe what those budget cuts are and the impact they will have.

Chairperson:  Steve Cohn

AGENDA

Short Announcements by Member Organization Representatives

Briefing – Mid-Year Cuts from the 2009 City Budget, Pamela Banks,
Outreach Director – Office of Mayor Greg Nickels

Proposed Redevelopment of West Woodland School Playground, West
Woodland PTA
West Woodland Elementary School is located in Ballard at 5601 4th Ave
NW.  The PTA has applied for a grant from the City’s Neighborhood
Matching Fund program in the amount of $85,000.

Report – Matching Fund District Level Review Committee, Shannon
Dunn and Jack Ellison
Each of the 13 district councils is asked to review and recommend
scores for Large Matching Fund projects applications from their
district.  The Ballard DC Review Committee will present its comments and
recommended score for the application from the West Woodland PTA for
their playground improvement project.
Discussion and vote

Report – Executive Committee
●    City Neighborhood Council, Robert Drucker
●    Neighborhood Plan Update Committee, Catherine Weatbrook

Seattle School Board President Michael DeBell
●    Proposed change in Seattle Public Schools Student Assignment
Policy; and how the Ballard families might be affected
●    Current financial challenges faced by the Seattle School
District
●    Action taken in the last session of the Washington State
Legislature related to public schools
BALLARD DISTRICT COUNCIL
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Ballard Library – 5614 22nd NW
(Free parking below building – accessed from NW 56th)
7:00 – 8:30 PM