Ballardblog.com

For those of you who are looking to take advantage of the last days of summer (and who can’t afford Bumbershoot or can’t handle the crowds), look no further than the Summer Concerts at the Locks series. This is the last weekend for this free concert series, which takes place at the Ballard Hiram M. Chittenden Locks. Cascadia Jazz Band plays at 2pm today. The Dissonance, a jazz group, at 2pm on Sunday. The last concert will be Michael Clune and Sleep till Noon Band, 2pm on Monday. This group is self-described as “Funky, groovin’, soulful rock.”

Bring the family, pack a picnic, blanket and lawn chairs (and umbrella just in case), watch the boats passing through, watch the salmon navigate the fish ladder, and enjoy a free outdoor concert on the lawn in the Carl S. English, Jr. Botanical Gardens at the Locks. Located at 3015 NW 54th Street.

Homelessness to housing, parks and transit improvements are all on the agenda  for the Ballard District Council meeting next week.

AGENDA

Proposed Ballard Mixed Use Development by Seattle Compass Center, Greg
Elkerton – Common Ground and M.J. Kiser – Program Director, Compass
Center
Compass Center plans to construct an 80-unit residential facility at
1753 NW 56 Street which will provide affordable housing for persons
transiting from homelessness.

Update on 2008 Seattle Parks Green Space Levy & Opportunity to Develop
a New Park in Ballard, Lise Ward – Seattle Parks Dept Property
Management

Market/45th Street Transit Corridor Improvements, Bill Bryant, Seattle
DOT
This recently initiated effort will address east west transit
efficiency between Ballard and U District.

2009/2010 Ballard DC Election of Officers, Mary Hurley – Chair,
Nominating Committee
A slate of four candidates will be presented. The election of officers
will occur at the October 14 council meeting. DC member organization
reps are eligible to serve in one of the four officer positions.

Executive Committee
1. Application for Ballard DC membership by Ballard Rotary Club,
Catherine Weatbrook
2. Volunteers are needed to serve on a district level committee to
review work related to the Deep Bored Tunnel/SR 99 project, Steve Cohn
3. October 5th Candidates Forum, Andy MacDonald
BALLARD DISTRICT COUNCIL
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Ballard Library – 5614 22nd NW
(Free parking below building – accessed from NW 56th)
7:00 – 8:30 PM

If you live in Ballard (or have ever sat at the bar and enjoyed a conversation with an old-timer at the Sloop, the Lockspot, or any of the other great taverns in the area) you are aware of Ballard’s rich Nordic history.  But have you ever been to the Nordic Heritage Museum?  Located in the old Daniel Webster Elementary School building at the corner of 30th and 67th NW, it is a must see for any Ballardite.  Their current exhibition, “Nordics and Seattle’s First World’s Fair: Celebrating the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition” runs through Sunday, September 6th.

My daughter and I stopped into Me ‘N Moms this morning to look around and I saw a sign for Tuesdays in Ballard.  Throughout the summer I have noticed the posters in shop windows and restaurants but strangely the signs tell little of what the event is about.  After doing a bit of asking around I found that it is a promotion, sponsored by the In Ballard Merchants Association, that is intended to drive business into the neighborhood on an otherwise slow day.  Many shops and restaurants participate by offering discounts or other perks.  Me ‘N Moms was discounting summer merchandise by 20% for today only.  Today is the second to last Tuesday of the event.  If you’re looking for something to do on a drizzly afternoon in Ballard, check out the website and see if anything strikes your fancy.

The Tractor Tavern will be celebrating its 15th anniversary with three consecutive nights of shows by the Maldives, who are celebrating the release of their newest album, “Listen to the Thunder” (Mt. Fuji, 2009). The shows are on Thursday the 27th, Friday the 28th, Saturday the 29th. Each show is at 9pm, and tickets are $10, available at Sonic Boom Records or online.

The Maldives, a Seattle-based country rock group deep in the roots music scene, is composed of nine members playing a variety of instruments, including fiddle, lap steel guitar, banjo, accordion, acoustic and electric guitar, bass, and drums. Each night, they will be performing with other local bands, including North Twin, 17th Chapter, The Moondoggies, Zoe Muth & the Lost High-Rollers, Shim, Thee Emergency, and Pickwick.

The Maldives will also be at Sonic Boom Records for a free, all-ages event on Saturday the 29th at 4pm.

Tractor Tavern
5213 Ballard Ave NW
Seattle, WA 98107
206.789.3599

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

This Saturday is Ballard artwalk, an always anticipated event, but this particular Second Saturday will also be the 4^th birthday party for Venue – a wonderful boutique full of art from over 40 local artists. I love this place with its modern, contemporary look and the fact that it carries everything from greeting cards to $3,000 paintings. We visit every month to chat with the ever amiable owner/handbag designer Diane Macrae, meet some of the artists, and see some really great art.

We hear that this month the new gourmet ice cream truck, Parfait will be right nearby and if you buy $40 or more at Venue, you’ll get a free single scoop! Sweet. Especially since Venue already has the most swinging artwalk with cool music, interesting people, great art and the best complimentary snacks. And don’t forget Seattle’s only Art-o-Mat machine – a refurbished cigarette machine that dispenses art from all over the world in handy little packages for $5.

We love wandering Ballard on artwalk evenings, seeing the streets full of people. There’s just such a great vibe. You can go can a drink at the new Bastille restaurant which has such a great ambience in its big open space, not to mention the more hidden back bar and beautiful outdoor patio. Then pop in and out of stops on the artwalk map. We love Market Street Shoes (what’s better than shoes AND art?!), linger by the windows at Annie’s Art and Frame, and then head down into old Ballard, I hear they have art and a guest aerialist at Monster Art & Clothing. And when you finally make your way home filled with art and culture, don’t forget to stop by Ballard’s new Bodega, Snacks for that quart of milk you’ll need for breakfast.

Seattle’s rising stars of rock and roll, Neon Nights and the Valkyries, are hosting a CD release/ kick-off party for their Red, White and Brew tour at the Bit Saloon on Saturday night.

Neon Nights (all dudes) and the Valkyries (all chicks) are both bands that embrace classic punk themes: loud, fast and gritty, and 80′s metal motifs– each fronted by vocalists that couldn’t have been created better by the gods of rock themselves. Stevie Barile, left, of the Valkyries, is everything that makes for a legend… a voice like a chainsaw, destructive stage behavior and party animal tendencies.

 $7 buys you a glimpse of Seattle’s baddest punk music and a punch in the face. They’re live performances are guaranteed to leave you with bruises and war wounds of rock.

Bit Saloon, $7, 9pm
4818 17th Ave NW
Seattle, WA 98107
(206) 782-1680

Neon Nights

The Valkyries

Rat City Ruckus

Church of Sinners

Mike Frottage

This came in from Dawn:

Hi all,

Plans for East Ballard August Night Out Block Parties on August 4 are in full swing. If you haven’t signed up your block with the Seattle Police Dept yet, July 31st is the deadline. We’ve put together some tips on how to put on a successful block party, plus provided some tools you can download to help you get started.
Check out my latest blog post for all the details.

Additional Upcoming Events:

Neighborhood Plan Status Report Meeting
Thursday July 23rd 6-9pm at the Phinney Ridge Neighborhood Center
What’s a neighborhood plan, you ask, and why should you care? Well, check my blog post to find out why you should be there.

Greenwood Seafair Parade
Thursday July 23rd 6pm
Greenwood Avenue from N. 95th St. to N. 85th St., turns right (west) at 85th and continues to 6th Avenue NW
Check out their website for more details.

Stay up to date on what’s happening in East Ballard at  http://www.eastballard.wordpress.com/ and/or join us on Facebook

Regards,
Dawn Hemminger
East Ballard Community Association
206-953-3940