March 2009

What exactly is a fashionisto? Well, it’s a guy who follows trends or creates trends of fashion. Yes, that’s right; guys can be fashionable as well. Ladies: we’re not the only ones who care about what we wear - guys do too, just in their own way.

So what are the latest celebrity guy’s fashion? The tailored, long-sleeve, button-down shirt with a suit and tie is a top pick. It’s stylish and classy, great for a special night out. Hugh Jackman was noticed at the Grammy’s for this outfit.

The celebs on a regular out-and-about day keep it fashionable, but casual. A nice T-shirt and jeans are always fashionable. Zac Efron is a good example of this style. Although he is irritating to most, Efron dresses casual but keeps it fashionable. One of his outfits are plaid, button- down shirts with the sleeves to the elbow, faded jeans, and converse.

A regular T-shirt with a nice fitted blazer and jeans have been seen on him as well. Both of these outfits are trendy and can be found at lots of stores.

For the colder days, wearing a nice fitted sweater, blazer, or trench coat will work.

A Highland Park man was happy to let his intoxicated friend “crash” at his place--that is, until the friend had an “accident” on the kitchen floor and then punched him in the mouth when he was asked to leave. The friend has a new crash pad at the King County Jail.

An officer spotted a truck with stolen license plates and pulled the vehicle over near Murray Avenue Southwest and Lincoln Park Way. The driver wouldn't talk to officers, but the passenger claimed her boyfriend had bought the truck but hadn't re-registered it. This doesn't, however, explain why the steering column was damaged or why a butter knife was used in lieu of a key. The passenger was wanted on a $3,000 car-prowl warrant. Both women are Westwood-area residents and were booked into King County Jail for investigation of auto theft.

An Alki-area resident was visited by the Secret Service after he wrote a letter to President Obama. He was then taken to Harborview for a mental evaluation after his family expressed concerns that he wasn't taking his mental health meds and that he was also using illegal drugs.

On Saturday, March 28 at approximately 1:39 a.m., officers responded to reports of a vehicle driven into a house.

Upon arrival, officers discovered a Toyota that had crashed into the rockery at the residence. Preliminary investigation indicates that a 1994 Toyota was traveling eastbound on Northwest Market Street at a high rate of speed. For reasons yet to be determined, the Toyota left the roadway in the 800 block of Northwest Market Street, drove over a curb and collided into the rockery of the home.

After the collision, the driver of the vehicle attempted to pull the injured passenger out of the car but was unable to do so. The driver/suspect fled the scene on foot and remains at large. Seattle Fire Department Medics arrived on scene and transported the unconscious passenger to Harborview Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.

Traffic Collision Investigation Squad Detectives responded to the scene and continue to actively investigate.

A Fremont woman reports that one of her renters has been drinking her bottles of collector wine and alcohol, to the tune of $10,600. Though he admitted this theft, the tenant denied that he had stolen $1,000 worth of belts that are missing. He suggested that perhaps the “whores” he'd had over recently might be responsible for the missing items. The landlord says the man packed his belongings and left the other day. She has no forwarding address.

In the 6500 block of Parker Court Northwest, someone—probably a couple of someones—managed to steal a 150-lb ship's telegraph from a front porch. (A ship's telegraph is one of the dual-handled devices that emits a loud ring when a change to a ship's speed is requested.) A neighbor heard a loud, small pickup truck leave the area around 4:15 a.m. Thursday, heading east on Northwest 65th.

Dear Editor,

A meeting regarding the proposed tunnel alternative to the Alaskan Way Viaduct was held on Monday, March 23 and was very ably monitored by Mr. Phillips. The subject was pretty well covered by the panel and many questions were answered, but the final one was mine and they could not satisfactorily answer this one important thing:

More than one million cubic yards of dirt will be removed from this 54 foot bore, and it will be hauled away by trucks, probably 10-yard capacity.

WHERE are they going to haul it? WHAT are they going to do with it, and how many trucks per hour will transiting Seattle streets for how long?

We are talking about 100,000 truckloads added into our traffic. It's a bit different than hauling dirt to the Third Runway Project. Then, after that, there will be untold number of trucks hauling away the concrete remnants of the demolished viaduct.

I hope they won't just barge it into the bay, for we need all they bay for maritime commerce, freighters, cruise liners, barges and pleasure boats.

The Washington State Growth Management Act gives Seattleites the opportunity to amend the city's Comprehensive Plan once a year and anyone can suggest an amendment, including neighbors, business owners, council members and city staff.

Proposed amendments may include changes to policies, the future land use map, appendices, or other components of the Comprehensive Plan. To be eligible for consideration, applications for proposed amendments must be submitted by 5 p.m. on May 15 each year. A review calendar then plays out through March 31 of the following year.

The city’s Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan), titled “Toward a Sustainable Seattle,” is a document created in 1994 that sets out the goals, values and policies guiding us as we accommodate growth over time. It's a blueprint for growing responsibly.

Following the submission deadline, the process involves two separate reviews by the Seattle City Council.

The Ballard High School boys soccer team was blanked for the third time in a row March 27 against Bothell. But, this time they didn't allow their opponents to get on the board either.

The Beavers ended the game tied with Bothell at zero apiece and are now sitting at 0-2-1 in the conference and 1-3-1 overall.

Ballard faces Bishop Blanchet High School at 2 p.m., April 4 at Blanchet.

The Ballard High School girls tennis team's first match on March 24 was rained out halfway through. The team finished the match against Issaquah March 27, though Beaver fans might wish they hadn't.

Ballard was no match for Issaquah and lost 8-1. The only point for the Beavers came on a forfeit by the opponent of Ballard's Sophie Hingten.

Ballard (0-2) plays again at 3:45 p.m., March 31 at Newport High School.

The Ballard High School girls golf team was beaten handily by Inglemoor March 26.

Coach Casey McMullin said a number of girls were ineligible due to grades for the March 24 game, and the team was again shorthanded against Inglemoor.

Ballard (0-2) has a few weeks to practice before they square off against Lake Washington at 3 p.m., April 15 at the West Seattle Golf Course.

The Tractor Tavern has a reputation – bands, beer and the boots. The Ballard gem is hailed as one of Seattle’s favored music venues.

Although open every night as a bar, owner Dan Cowan says the primary purpose of the Tractor is music, and that beer is secondary.

“Music gets you out of your head," said Cowan. "At a bar you see the same people every day. We will survive because people need entertainment and music during times like these.”

Wise words from the man who’s been in the bar business for more than 27 years, 15 of which he’s owned the Tractor and resided in Ballard.

Story goes that the Tractor was originally a Scandinavian music hall. When Cowan first purchased the business it was Old Town Music Hall with music of the post-Nirvana era, primarily folk, world, bluegrass and Irish music.

Now the venue invites music of all genres, everything except for metal, even a little bit of hip hop and classical chamber music.

Cowan used to do all the music booking, but his growing business called for the aid of music booker Greg Garcia.

“He has a better sense of the younger scene,” said Cowan.