Ballardblog.com

The second annual Pig and Pipes fundraiser will be held on Saturday, August 22 at the Old Pequliar Public House. The event begins at noon and lasts until 6:00pm. It is a benefit for the Seattle Fire Department’s Seattle’s Bravest Charity and will include a performance by the Seattle Firefighters Pipes and Drums Corps, dressed in kilts and playing bagpipes. Other entertainment will include The Raybone Experience, a Seattle-based Celtic rock group.

Food consists of the roasting of two 120-pound pigs and various sides provided by Tom Douglas Restaurants, with beer and alcoholic drinks available for purchase. Advance tickets are $15.00 and can be purchased at the Old Pequliar, or $20.00 the day of the event. Ticket price includes entry, food, and entertainment.

Seattle’s Bravest Charity is a nonprofit created in 1995 after the death of four firefighters in the Pang Warehouse fire. The organization has created various programs to aid the groups within community, including fire victims, the elderly, underprivileged children, and the families of fire fighters.

The Old Pequliar is a pub in Ballard that serves traditional Irish pub fare and beers on tap. Hours are 12pm-2am Monday-Friday and 10am-2am Saturday-Sunday, with a happy between 4-6pm and 10pm-midnight. The O.P. hosts a popular trivia night every Tuesday at 8pm.

Contact information:
Seattle’s Bravest Charity
http://www.seattlesbravest.com/
Dave Churchill, dchurchill@seattlesbravest.com
(206) 285-1271

Old Pequliar
1722 NW Market St
Seattle, WA 98107
(206) 782-8886

All you packrats and bargain hunters: beware.  The Ballard Goodwill is a treasure trove of wonderful and useful things.  Granted, you won’t be the first to discover it but there are enough gems waiting to be found that you can share them with the crowds of other bargain shoppers.

Shopping at a Goodwill for good deals or hard-to-find objects makes sound economic sense but it also supports a worthy cause.  Goodwill Industries International, Inc. is a nonprofit which provides education and vocational training to people with disadvantages or disabilities across North America, as well as numerous employment opportunities.  Perhaps more importantly, the Ballard store offers an above-average quality selection of new and used merchandise.

The store is huge but very well organized.  Each section is clearly labeled, in addition to the various subsections (i.e. women’s tank tops, athletic wear), providing a pleasant shopping atmosphere.  The aisles are kept clear and neat.  There is always a huge selection of furniture spilling out into the parking lot, with many different options from which to choose.  The electronics, kitchen, home, clothing, and media sections are also well stocked and new items are put out constantly, ensuring a changing and varied assortment.  Attendants are friendly and helpful.

My personal favorite is the excellent book selection, with paperbacks a bargain at $0.69.  This price can’t be beat, and while the collection includes the typical romance novel series and John Grisham medleys, there are many classics and more obscure titles.  There is a huge variety of cookbooks and other nonfiction items for every literary taste.

Some may balk at the idea of buying used items but I highly recommend checking out the options at the Ballard Goodwill.  The entire store is very clean and well-lit, with a large selection to suit every interest, which turns shopping sustainably and affordably into a wonderful experience.  Once again, beware.  It could become an addiction.

Hours are Monday through Saturday 9am to 9pm and Sunday 10am to 7pm.  The Goodwill is on the corner of 8th and 6th Ave NW.  Contact information for the store:
6400 8th Ave NW
Seattle, WA 98107
(206) 957-5544