August 2010

Moving forward on reshaping Seattle’s waterfront, the City of Seattle today announced the shortlist of finalists for the role of lead designer. The four shortlisted teams are led by the following firms:
- Gustafson Guthrie Nichol
- james corner field operations
- Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates
- Wallace Roberts & Todd

The shortlist was established through careful consideration of Statements of Qualifications submitted by 30 teams for the project. The team ultimately selected by the City will lead a design process for more than nine acres of new waterfront public space and a new surface street on Alaskan Way.

The next step in the selection process will be public presentations on September 15 at Benaroya Hall’s S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium (200 University Street, Seattle) from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (please note the time change). This will be an opportunity for Seattleites to hear shortlisted designers explain their skills, experience and approach to the project, as well as ask questions. The lead designer will be selected in part based on the quality of their presentation and ability to engage the public.

Come see Burien's new community garden, a very successful joint effort between Sustainable Burien and Burien Parks & Recreation at a kitchen garden party on Sunday, Aug. 29. The garden is located at 437 S.W. 144th St., behind the old Burien Community Center

Bring a dish to share for the potluck at 1 p.m. From 2-4 p.m. there will be demonstrations on topics such as overwintering crops, putting a garden to rest for winter, self irrigating planters, canning and storing, composting, building mason bee and lady bug houses, seed saving, and backyard chicken keeping.

Here's a link to Bee Patch Blog, which has further description of the event: http://beepatch.blogspot.com/. And here's Sustainable Burien's website: www.sustainableburien.org.

Burien has some new neighbors to welcome.

Orphan Relief and Rescue, a nonprofit that serves orphans in West Africa, moved its office from Texas to Burien earlier this summer and now calls office space inside Lake Burien Presbyterian Church its new home.

"We felt [the move] was the right thing to do because most of our donors live up here," said Davy Desmond, the nonprofit's administrator.

The organization will hold an open house event on Wednesday, Sept. 1, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the church, located at 1416 S.W. 151st St.

Orphan Relief and Rescue was started three and a half years ago by founders Rebecca and Tim Pratt, who were traveling through the country of Benin, West Africa when they came across an orphanage with 109 starving children.
"Becca said, 'This has to be stopped,'" Desmond said.

From there, the Pratts spent the next several weeks contacting different nonprofit organizations in the United States to raise money for the orphanage.

After 2 and a half years and $50 million Chief Sealth International High School is in the final days of preparation for opening. Construction workers are adding all the last minute elements and completing punch lists as teachers are coming in to prepare their classrooms and themselves for the arrival of students.

CLICK THE PHOTO ABOVE TO SEE MORE IMAGES

On Sept. 1 you have the opportunity to see the remarkable changes in the school for yourself and help the Sealth arts programs. Ross Parker of Bassetti Architects will be on hand to provide information and insights for the tour which costs $50 per person. The monies go to fund education, art and athletic programs at Sealth. The full story including an invitation can be found here.

Seattle Public School officials on hand said the school, "Will be ready. There may be a few electronics bugs or other minor issues but aside from those, everything will be done."

The Heartland Cafe at 4210 SW Admiral Way, Suite A has just opened a new area of the restaurant, adding new windows to the north wall, building in a bar and adding two pool table and three dart boards and co-owner Jeff Loren said, "We're hoping to have a pinball machine and pull tabs possibly by January."

This is no tiny area. It's 1800 square feet. Loren estimates that 50 to 55 people can be seated in the space.

In keeping with the Wisconsin theme of the restaurant the walls have murals of midwestern farm scenes.

The room is open to the public but can be rented for private events. It's the Green Bay Packers sports bar addition to the Heartland so naturally they will show Green Bay Packer football games on two flat screens, "We're going to work our way to the third," said Loren.
The floor has been sanded and clearcoated instead of being replaced giving the floor a funky but clean and retro look.

The bar will have five taps for various beers and full food service.

"We're going to open small and grow as we go, just like we've done with all the rest because you know we're funded by ourselves," Loren added.

The Walrus and the Carpenter
4743 Ballard Ave. N.W.
(206) 395-9227

The Walrus and the Carpenter, by Renee Erickson of Boat Street Cafe fame, rides into Ballard upon a mighty steed; a most welcome and energizing addition to the ever-burgeoning restaurant list in the GreBal (Greater Ballard) region.

It’s a stunner all right, from the food to the space. We’ve been in a few times already, and we’ve got an inkling that we’ll be back plenty more.

With the seafood shtick that has long adorned Ballard’s reputation, it’s surprising that there’ve not been more oyster bar entrees into the GreBal Food Sweepstakes. But even if there were, it’s highly unlikely that anyone would beat The Walrus and the Carpenter.

So what’s so great about the place? The oysters, for one. Served fresh and aptly chilled, with a wide variety of selections to choose from, oysters are the centerpiece here.

3 suspects were involved in a home invasion at 7941 4th Av SW near Highland Park at around 3:30 am involving a woman in her 60's, and a younger couple. The victims were tied up. The suspects stole guns. Police are seeking two vehicles used to get away that belonged to the victims. The woman later complained of chest pains and an ambulance was called.

2005 Gray Toyota Camry
license plate
92240dp

1995 White Ford Windstar Van
license plate
65327dp

The dp designation means these are disabled plates.

If you see either of these vehicles you are urged to call 911

From the SPD Blotter:

On August 26th, shortly after 3:30 AM, Seattle Police officers responded to a 911 call of a “home invasion” type robbery in the 7900 Block of 4 Avenue Southwest. Officers arrived at the location and determined the following:

From the Seattle Fire Department:

Just after 6:00 a.m. this morning, firefighters responded to a garage fire in the 5400 block of 23rd Avenue SW. When firefighters arrived, there was heavy smoke and flames coming from a large detached garage. Firefighters attacked the fire and worked to prevent it from spreading to other structures. The fire did not extend to the house. Residents were home at the time of the fire and they got out of the house safely. There were no injuries. Several vehicles inside the garage suffered extensive damage and there was minor damage to a car parked in the alley behind the garage.

Fire Investigators are on the scene and will work to determine a cause and damage estimate for the fire.

For those of you out there that love baseball and want to see the nearest thing to the pros come out and see the Puget Sound Senior Baseball League in action at Steve Cox Field in White Center.

CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE TO SEE MORE PHOTOS

The players range in age from the mid twenty's to almost sixty, but don't think this is T-Ball for old guys.

These players at one time or another played college baseball and (or) played in the minor leagues. Defensively they are all in great shape. They may not lay out for that diving catch as much as they used to to but their savvy and knowledge of the batters keeps them in good position to make plays. Pitchers in this league routinely throw fastballs in the low to mid 80's and have the usual array of professional hocus pokus, and offensive stars hit home runs that could leave any park in the major leagues.

Because the hitters are so powerful, at Steve Cox Field, the teams have decided to hit with wooden bats. This reduces bat speed and make it difficult to launch a baseball over 300 feet.....

But not impossible.

When Crown Hill resident Kevin Morgan watches the Sounder trains whoosh past Golden Gardens and the Shilshole Bay Marina on their way between Edmonds and downtown Seattle, he sees missed opportunity.

"If you really want to get people out of their cars, you have to get serious about it," Morgan said.

Morgan is pushing for Sound Transit to construct a Sounder Commuter Rail stop in the Golden Gardens area to accommodate Ballard riders. In the past weeks, he has gathered 80 to 100 signatures of support on posters he put up around the neighborhood.

The Sounder trains already go by there, the track is already laid and there is already parking, Morgan said. He said all that is needed is a light to make the trains stop, a bus stop-sized shelter and a ticket puncher.

Installing the stop would be economical and have a minimal environmental impact, Morgan said. It would also be a boost to nearby businesses, he said.