Ballardblog.com

Hey Ladies! Are you in to getting dressed up and drinking beet-infused drinks that end in tini?
Hey Fellas!  Do you like bars where you can drink pricey microbrews and grind up on sorority girls?
If you said ‘yes’ to any of the above two questions… never go to the Golden City Lounge.   Stop reading… stop reading now.

I love the Golden City Lounge (affectionately called ‘The No-Name” by several who frequent there – due to the fact that it appears to be separate from the restaurant and there is nothing noting its presence other than a red door) .  The drinks are ridiculously strong and inexpensive.  The bartenders are sassy and won’t take anyone’s crap.  The patrons are generally diverse and fun-loving, and the atmosphere feels both divey and inviting at the same time.  The jukebox has an interesting selection, and you can get Chinese food until 1 (!) AM.  Add in their recent expansion which features a pool table, a driving video game, and video darts, and you have a great place to enjoy your weekend on the cheap.

It always seems that something both memorable and awesome  happens when I go to Golden City.  In fact, one time I went there and [note:  content deleted for being too awesome and shocking for delicate sensibilities]

Next time you feel like having some real fun and getting away from the Ballard Ave crowds come to The No-Name.  If you say that you read about the place on BallardBlog.com they will give you a free drink.*

 * This probably won’t happen.  However, it might. (?)

It is no great news that the City of Seattle is low on funds .  Due to the severe dough lackage, they have decided to cut fire station upgrades, trash cans for parks, and, of course, close the library for a week.  In the recently published 2009-2010 fiscal forecast for the City of Seattle, the Seattle City Council Budget committee blames these problems on everything to the deregulation of the 1980s, personal risk taking of the 1990s, and other typical things legislators point at when they don’t want to take the blame for inadequate budgetary responsibility (to be fair, the economic downturn has obviously reduced revenue, but I digress).

In recent times, the city of Seattle has wasted money hand over fist, employing adviser after adviser and the city’s attorneys desire to waste time and money crusading against bars is well documented.  So what did all this get us?  A week of a shut down library, along with other numerous cuts.

Now I know what many of you out there are saying.  So what?  It is just one week, man.  Relax.  Well, there is one thing I am sure of, and that is the people of Seattle (and specifically of Ballard) love their library.  Every time I go in there the computers are full, and people from all walks of life are browsing the net, looking for books, and benefiting from the idea that information and quality literature should be available to the public free of charge, all the time.

The public library is an essential American institution that allows for those of low incomes and limited resources to be provided opportunity to seek meaningful information for the betterment of both themselves and the general public.  As employment in the state hovers at 9%, underemployed members of the community will be cut off for one week from one of the most essential components of finding and obtaining a job in 21st Century America – the internet.

While my fierce opposition to the closing of libraries might seem like an overreaction to some, I issue a warning to those who do not see the slippery slope that the city walks toward.  If you can justify closing a library for a week – why not a month?  Why not charge an annual membership fee?  Why even have a library system at all?  Why not hire some more well-paid policy advisers that will show us how to spend our money better?

So, there may be some of you on the web that are thinking about finding a health club to join.  Maybe you are in between gyms, tired of your old one, or thinking about joining one for the first time.  Well, let me give you my endorsement,  Ballard Health Club.

The ‘BHC’ is located in the basement floor of the Ballard Building on the corner of 22nd and Market.  Neither a corporate, expensive, or full of grunting, spandex-laden gym gods, this gym is for the ordinary guy or gal looking to stay in shape.  The attendees range from young to old and come in all body types, and you don’t get that intimidated/pseudo-scared feeling you get in the weight areas of some gyms.  In addition, there is a wide range of cardio equipment, and a full list of classes for all ability levels that are included  in the ultra-affordable membership fees. They actually post the fees on their site, unlike some of the other Ballard area gyms (no ‘selling’ of the gym membership at different prices by salespeople).  Add in an ultra-friendly staff that is helpful (and again, not held to sales quotas, etc.) and provides free consultations and the Ballard Health Club is looking like a bargain.

So what are you waiting for ?

There are many beautiful sights in Ballard.  However, I have noticed that their seems to be an unfortunately large amount of grafitti damage to apartments, businesses, and abandoned buildings alike – and it seems to be increasing in prevalence.  It is rather disheartening when I think about the cost of removing these scratches and taggings imposed on the community and small business and property owners. 

In addition, it is just ugly to look at, and doesn’t instill a sense of community pride.  Recently, I had someone tag my apartment under my window while i was sleeping.  The question remains who are these individuals doing these taggings.  What can we do to reduce this?  The day after the tagging, our local handyman was scrubbing away at the mark.  “I wish I could find the kids that did this,” he sighed, “and make them clean it up.”  The problem seems to be that we can never catch them doing it – but we all must live with the result.

It is no secret to Ballard residents that Cupcake Royale’s cupcakes are utterly ridicu-licious (ridiculous + delicious?).   However, there are additional reasons you should support this local business in addition to its tasty treats.  Jody Hall contributes 25 cents of every cake to employee healthcare, and Hall is a crusader for health care for all Americans.

A member of the Washington Can!, she has been an advocate for affordable health care for 2 years.  She has gone to the White House and championed her cause to politicians and the media alike (give health care costs measured in cupcakes on NPRs Morning Edition a listen).  All the while, she has been able to expand her business (opening up a 4th location on Capitol Hill July 22nd)  and make delicious food at an affordable price.  All this blogging is making me hungry…for cupcakes.

As Seattle records record temperatures, it is important that all of us stay cool. While it is important for us to know what to do to stay cool in hot weather, it is equally important for many of us to keep our pets cool as well. Here are a few tips to help your pets beat the heat:

 1. It is obvious, but make sure your pet gets plenty of water. Put ice water in your pets bowl to help them cool down.

2. Just like you, your dog like tasty cold treats on a hot day. Give your dog Frosty Paws (they sell them at both Safeway and Ballard Market) or make popsicles out of low sodium chicken broth.

3. If your house is carpeted, keep your bathroom door open so your pet can lie on the cold tile/linoleum

4. Put a fan in your animal’s favorite room, preferably in an area where they can lie directly in front of it.

5. Keep your pet cool with cold water. If you have a dog, spray them with a hose, put them in a kiddie pool, or put them under the faucet or shower nozzle. If you have a cat, wet a cloth or paper towel and gently stroke the top of their head and back.

6. Keep your animal calm. The more they move around, the hotter they get. If you can help it, take your dog for its longer walks when the sun goes down.

7. Panting is how your dog cools itself down. However, if your cat begins to pant – you need to cool it down immediately. If it continues to pant, you may want to consult a veterinarian .

8. When it is hot, never, ever leave your animal in a parked car.

9. Bottom line: If it is too hot for you, it is too hot for your pet.