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Cameron August 8th, 2008

If you’re walking down Market Street, and you pass a non-descript door with only the marking, “Live Girls!” posted to a sandwich board and a staircase leading to a dark basement, your better judgment might guide you to keep on walking. In most cases that’s usually a smart bet, but not this time.
 
Market Street (between Ballard Avenue and Leary Way) has been the home of the Live Girls! Theater since 2005, and has been dedicated to promoting local women playwrights, directors and artists ever since. Their goal is to “empower women artists to be leaders and provide the public with opportunities to see plays by women”, and that’s hot, because let’s face it, like in many other industries, women are severely underrepresented in theater. While there are many talented women playwrights out there, most produced plays are not by women. Live Girls! Theater helps bring the female perspective to the forefront.
 
As a small, fringe theater group, their company members commit to a year of supporting the Live Girls! mission by partaking in various aspects of administration and production. It’s entirely volunteer-operated, so let’s support our local Girls!– go to the next production or pony up some cash and be a sponsor.
 
Here’s what’s coming up next at the Live Girls! Theater:
 …

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SeattleMeg August 6th, 2008

Well, this weekend is looking to be a scorcher!  Whatever would there be to do that won’t sap your strength while you make sure to stay hydrated?  I can think of a few things I may wish to attend…

Stand in the shade at the Ballard Locks (3015 N.W. 54th St.) on Saturday and enjoy cake!  The Army Reserve’s citizen-soldiers are celebrating a century of service this year, and the regional headquarters in Seattle invites the public to help celebrate with festivities at the Hiram Chittenden Locks in Ballard this Saturday.  The 70th Army Band and the 104th Division Band will provide a century’s worth of music from noon to 5pm, and Maj. Gen. Chris Ingram, commanding general of the Pacific Northwest’s 70th Regional Readiness Command headquartered nearby at Fort Lawton in Magnolia, will start serving cake at 3pm.  He’ll also be reenlisting a few soldiers and distributing some awards.  Plenty of fun for the whole family and a chance to appreciate those who serve!  (And hey, free cake.)

The Greenwood Senior Center at 525 N. 85th St welcomes its Ballard neighbors to a yummy pancake breakfast on Saturday, August 9th!  From 9 - 11 a.m., the men’s club is volunteering their cooking skills for this tasty morning of pancakes with all sorts of toppings, coffee, juice, and more. Open to all in the community. $5 member/$7 non-members.

The Loyal Heights Community Center wants to …

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Annika August 3rd, 2008

It’s unfortunate that Ballard doesn’t have nearly the same amount of dessert places as it does pizza and pasta places and neighborhood bars. But the places to get dessert are great nonetheless.
 
For ice cream, try The Scoop at Walter’s ( 6408 32nd Ave NW). Their ice cream is probably some of the best ice cream I have tasted. My favorite is Lavendar Honey, but they have other chocolate and fruit flavors. The Scoop also has donuts and coffee. Beware, they do close up shop early at 7pm.

For cupcakes, try Cupcake Royale (2052 NW Market Street). They have everything from chocolate to peppermint to orange to red velvet. Cupcake Royale also has mini cupcakes for the kiddies, or if you just want a small treat. You can eat in or take out, and they have good coffee, too.

For frozen yogurt, try Mooberry ( 2019 NW Market St). Mooberry just opened up this spring and it is quite good. They have a variety of different flavors and add-ins.

For ice cream, try Little Coney (8003 Seaview Ave NW). Its a great little place to stop on your way to Golden Gardens to grab some ice cream or burgers.

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Cameron July 31st, 2008

Sitting unmarked on Ballard Avenue for the past nine years was at one point the largest distributor of handmade, original greeting cards in the United States. Souvenir, owned and curated by Curtis Steiner  (www.curtissteiner.com) with a friendly sales associate named Liberte, is less of a boutique and more of a decorative art gallery, full of quirky and eccentric surprises from the all original handmade cards (only $6.50 each!) made from vintage photos, match boxes and gold leaf to early 20th century botanical lithographs. Steiner is a real artist and craftsman– his stuff, 1,000 Blocks, is a permanent feature in the Seattle Art Museum–as anyone could probably decipher from the glassine baby doll dresses dangling in the storefront of his shop. This store is more than just retail, it’s a museum of treasures, but here, you’re encourage to touch– and even wear the exhibits. 

5325 Ballard Ave NW
Seattle, WA 98107
View on Google Maps

Tel 206-297-7116

Hours: Tue-Sat 11-5.30, Sunday 12-4

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SeattleMeg July 31st, 2008

The upcoming weeks are busy ones as we move into the latter half of summer.  August promises to bring us plenty of fun things to do in our own little area!

The “Deadliest Catch” boat is open for tours! Come see the now-famous Sea Star, from the pilot episode and first season.  There’s a gift shop, and you might have a chance to talk to former crew members on board!  206-550-2623, Dock 9 at Fisherman’s Terminal, 9am-6pm. $10 adults, $7.50 Seniors/kids, kids under 5 free.

Emerald City Contra Dance

Phinney Neighborhood Center, 6532 Phinney Ave. N.  206-440-9839 emeraldcitycontra@pobox.com
Dance from 7:30 to 10 p.m., beginner’s workshop at 7 p.m. $7 General Admission; $6 Seniors, PNA members, SFS members; $4 students. All dances taught, no partner necessary. Light, comfortable clothing recommended. Please do not wear cologne, perfume, oils, powders or other scented products.

August 1. Dale Russ (fiddle) and Mike Saunders (guitar). A master Irish fiddler noted for his power and grace teams up with an equally masterful guitar player.

August 8. Flootie and the Bowfish consists of Matti Mero on guitar and mandolin, Craig Shaw on flute, Steve Sutlief on bass, and Melissa Coffey on whistle, flute, and fiddle. Hal Mueller calls.

Ever wanted to make something from handblown glass?  Here’s your chance - Join Art By Fire during ArtWalk to create either an ornament to hang or a footed float …

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Erin July 29th, 2008

I think I love the organic crowd because it is so gratifyingly predictable. The organic, granola driven intellectuals of Seattle never cease to impress me with their plush biodynamic fashion-sense pumping through their veins with Patagonia and Pellegrino trademarks surrounding them and their chic, rectangular glasses frames.
It’s so stereotypically rainy Seattle too that these young hipsters steer clear from the unorthodox sun that is peering through the windows at them as they type away on their MacBooks within the air-conditioned brick walls of Leary Way’s Caffé Fiore, all natural coffee guru of the Northwest.
 Welcome bean snobs, this is your java haven.
 The coffee at Caffe Fiore speaks for itself – best coffee I’ve had in a long while. After so many bitter mainstream coffee company experiences, I soon found Caffe Fiore, in all of its organic glory and flawlessly at home in Ballard (also has locations on Queen Anne and Sunset Hill).
 I went to Caffe Fiore everyday for over a week to be certain the coffee was as immaculate as my first experience played it out to be. I haven’t been proven wrong yet. The java juice’s claim to fame is its title as an organic café, using only the finest of organic products with self-roasted beans and rich, full-bodied and earthy coffee flavors. The pastry case is fully stocked with (shock!) organic donuts, danishes and croissants from …

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SeattleMeg July 25th, 2008

Ahh, the last full weekend in July.  It must be time for the Ballard SeafoodFest!

This Saturday (11am-8pm) and Sunday (11am-7pm), be sure and join us at 22nd and Market Street.  Several blocks will be closed to traffic (so watch those bus re-routes over to 24th!) to let you enjoy music, entertainment, and all the seafood you can imagine.

This year promises to be perfect weather, with a forecast of mostly sunny but not too hot.  Just like the rest of the week, that will let you stay out long enough to hear several bands, eat, and browse the Market Street Sidewalk Sale.  Check out all the Arts & Crafts booths as well, it’s a great time of year to start getting some presents for the holidays out of the way!

The food…  Oh, the delicious food.  The main reason people come to Seafood Fest is to try all kinds of yummy new tastes.  From the Alder-smoked salmon barbecue to Hi-Life (snapper wrapped in a mini-tortilla with pineapple salsa), India Bistro (fish tandoori), New Orleans Cookery (jambalaya and crab cakes), Ballard Brothers (Cajun blackened salmon fillet), Smokin’ Pete’s BBQ (seafood gumbo) and Port Chatham Smoked Seafoods (salmon and mahi-mahi burgers, as well as “smoked salmon-sicles.”)  I may pass on that last item and hit Cupcake Royale to grab a babycake.  They promise not to have a Lutefisk flavor.  The salmon is owed in part to Trident Seafoods, who has donated about …

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Cameron July 24th, 2008

When we approached the super chic, super crowded bar, Ocho, 24th and Market, our Ballardian defenses immediately set in. We were a little intimidated and skeptical of the latest bar and restaurant to open in the historic neighborhood of Ballard. But with usual Ballard congeniality and sincerity, we were greeted with friendly smiles from the staff and a complex, savory and smokey aroma from the tapas roasting in the back. We came for the margaritas, and stayed for the margaritas… and the sangria, shrimp, chorizo and grilled peppers. This Spanish-styled restaurant serves authentic tapas without the Euro price. The average dish (from 4pm-2am) is $4.00.
 But they don’t mess around with the booze. The cocktails are quirky and artistic. The Picador, a vodka or gin based cocktail with cucumber and maraschino liquor, is garnished with a stick of rosemary with a skewered beet. Their margaritas are $10 and it’s even named “The $10 Margarita” in the menu. The popular pint-sized drink is not Patron based, as one might suspect with the price, rather El Tesoro—a liquor that’s considered a work of art among Tequila epicureans. And the sangria, $8, is based more with a generous serving of Brandy rather than cheap wine. Which explains why we were loaded after only one round—even with our livers of steel.

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Annika July 12th, 2008

Looking for something fun to do in Ballard but don’t feel like fighting for parking spots along Market St?  Then head a bit north of Ballard to the Ballard P-Patch Garden (8527 25th Ave NW) for their 8th annual “Art in the Garden” on Saturday July 19th from 9am-6pm.  Stroll through the garden admiring the strawberries, sunflowers, and tomatoes all while listening to local artists, and enjoying refreshments.  Ample parking is available in the lot just south of the garden, near Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church.  Please check their website for more information and directions.

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Cameron July 10th, 2008

Seattle Weekly’s annual issue, featuring the coveted ”Best of Seattle” Reader Poll is in the making. But first, they need people to vote, and we’d like your  vote as “Best New Blog”. Go to http://polls.seattleweekly.com/polls/bestof08/ to represent and be counted. Voting deadline is July 25th. Make Ballard proud.

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