August 2011

It's been a hectic eight months for Locöl Barley and Vine but Wednesday night, Aug. 31 they unveiled a puzzle of an historic West Seattle scene, the result of the support of 85 people who helped them get on their feet when they first launched their business. Owners Kyle Duce and Shane Whitall were both on hand to present a check for $300 to Tara Byrne, Executive Director of West Seattle Helpline as a percentage of the proceeds from their launch effort.

Mounted on the wall of the bar is the large image, made into a jigsaw puzzle, along with a story about their opening from the West Seattle Herald and a list of the contributors. "That will be there for ever and ever and ever," said Duce.

The idea evolved organically with their focus on local history and an image of boaters off the Duwamish Head, taken in 1910 was used as the basis for the puzzle whose pieces were sold to supporters. Then 10% of the proceeds (plus a little more) was given to the Helpline.

Club Motor, a relatively new, but iconic rockabilly venue in an enormous loft space at 1950 1st Ave S. in SODO, closed its doors tonight because West Seattle owners couldn't quite turn a profit, they said.

Check out the West Seattle story about the club last February here:

Father and son owners Joe Mailloux (Joe Motor as he is better known) and Brian, 37, live in West Seattle. may be his "real" name, but he is known by many in the local music scene as "Joe Motor".

The club has over 6,000 square feet, 9,000 if you include the office and extra spaces, and has a 50-foot bar.

They began renting the location four years ago, and opened for business one and a half years later after a quagmire of permits were thrown at them.

The venue was unique because the bar is separated from the all-ages area by a chicken wire fence.

"We just never could quite push it into the black," said Joe Motor. "We've just got to bail. We've got to get out of here.

Press release:
Laugh, cry, think, and be amazed during 24 hours of nonstop live entertainment by performers from all over greater Seattle at Burien Little Theatre 's 9-10-11.

From 9 a.m. on Saturday. Sept. 10 to 9 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 11, audiences can see everything at Burien Little Theatre from breakdancing to theater to live rock-and-roll to stand-up comedy--and much, much more.

9-10-11 will dish up fabulous entertainment without a break, even in the middle of the night, plus espresso for those who need recharging and mimosas in the morning. And, yes, the action doesn't stop for 24 hours until 9 a.m. Sunday.
Acts range from family friendly, typically during the day, to definitely for adults in the later night hours. For specifics, find the performance schedule online at www.burienlittletheatre.org.

Press release:

With the fall football season approaching like a speeding linebacker, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is reminding fans of its half-price parking offer including all weekend Mariner, Seahawk, Sounder and Husky game days to connect with Link Light Rail. The 50 percent discount applies to parking in Terminal Direct on Friday, Saturday and Sunday games at CenturyLink and Safeco Fields, plus Husky Stadium.

Terminal Direct parking at Sea-Tac Airport offers the most convenient access to the airport terminal and quick connection to Link Light Rail. You'll park on the fourth floor of the airport garage, an easy walk to the pedestrian bridge leading to the SeaTac/Airport Station.

Press release:

Burien Arts-a-Glow, a lantern festival and procession, that has been held in Burien for the last five years, will be held Sept. 10 at a new location.

The festival from 5- 10 p.m. will begin at Dottie Harper Park, 421 S.W. 146th St., and move through a residential neighborhood for about 30 minutes.

The event has grown to attract over 1,000 community members who come to create beautiful lanterns and enjoy the magic of the community coming together for an evening stroll

From 5-8 p.m., participants will make lanterns, get face painting, sample tea and treats, check out artist- created lantern installations, and listen to music by harpist Jini O'Flynn and Musical Strings.

Then at 8 p.m. festival-goers will gather at the little blue house in the park and take a stroll with surprises along the way.

At the end of the procession, the participants will return to the park for "Lullaby to Dottie Harper Park," featuring over 50 performers.
Burien Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services is bringing the event to the community along with artist Denise Henrikson.

For more information, please go www.burienwa.gov/Glow or call 206-988-3700.

The 2011 Poverty Bay Arts Festival will highlight the talents of local visual and performance artists particularly from Des Moines, Highline Community College and surrounding Southwest King County at multiple Des Moines locations on Sept. 10. The Des Moines Arts Commission, the Associated Students of Highline Community College, and 4 Culture sponsor the event.

The exhibition runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. throughout the downtown Des Moines Marina District. Artists display their works at various local businesses so festival-goers have the opportunity to enjoy great art while checking out the offerings of local businesses.

With warm hot weather finally arriving in the Pacific Northwest, South King Fire & Rescue wants to ask residents to do their part this summer in keeping our communities free from fire. South King serves Des Moines and Federal Way.

Most summer fires have been small in nature, originating in beauty bark, grass or other natural vegetation and can be easily prevented with a little caution.

Generally, landscape bark fires are started by discarded cigarettes. Cigarettes continue to smolder, sometimes for hours, after being thrown away. If they are left in dry bark, they can easily start a smoldering fire.

Use extra caution this summer and keep the following in mind, according to South King firefighters:

Call 9-1-1 immediately If the fire won't go out, there are flames, it has spread to a fence or building, or if you don't feel safe.

Put burned cigarettes in an ashtray where they can cool down without starting a fire. If there is not one where you normally smoke, see if you can get one placed there.

Webster's defines a prank as "a mildly mischievous act". The opposite of a "sudden act of kindness." Sort of the Devil and the Angel on my shoulders. Goodness was my forte as a youngster in Portland, Oregon in the 20's so I never mildly mischieved anyone! Well... let me clarify. A little mischief became my calling card.

I was the goodest kid on Russet Street (according to my dear mom). My brother wasn't. I lost my bike seat. Russ "found" a bright red one and gave it to me to put on my bike. He even helped me tighten it down. Delighted, I rode off to Peninsula Park pool. We didn't have bike locks in those days. If they had 'em they were for rich kids. I parked my bike next to the rack as all the spaces were filled with other bikes.

After swimming in a cold pool on a hot summer day, I discovered a dad and his kid hovering over my bike later that afternoon was a shock. "That's my seat," the kid exclaimed. How could I argue? I knew it wasn't MY seat. I figured Russ had simply come by it honestly.

CLICK ON PHOTO FOR SLIDESHOW

Story by Patrick Robinson and Steve Shay

BENEFIT

UPDATE: Vera Johnson and supporters celebrated at her fundraiser at Big Al Brewing in White Center Wednesday night. The benefit was scheduled well in advance to help her with her Village Green Nursery business which risked foreclosure. However, she and supporters learned of her loan approval by Bank of America just a few hours prior to the start of the event.

"They called me at like 2:15 and sent a press release 10 minutes later," Johnson told a little cluster of supporters who took turns hugging her at the fundraiser. "They gave me a 40-year mortgage. This was so f***ing stressful! Oh my God. I can breath now."

"It's a lot better than her being stressed out," said Johanna, 14, Vera's daughter.

"I sometimes like to garden," said Johanna's brother and Vera's son Rowan, who turns 10 in five days. "I like carrots, lettuce, potatoes, tomatoes, and a lot more vegetables."

Citywide crime statistics through the month of July have been tallied and posted, showing that major crimes are down citywide by nine percent when compared with the first seven months of 2010. This continues the downward crime trend that occurred citywide in 2010. 

Through July of 2011, violent crime is down by one percent compared with the same time period in 2010, with rapes and robberies trending down but homicides and aggravated assaults are showing an increase. 

Property Crimes are down ten percent across the city in the first seven months of 2011 and vehicle thefts and larceny/thefts are trending down as well.

Burglaries however are up slightly.

Read the detailed report, here.