August 2011

Outwest, the new LGBTQ bar at 5401 California Ave. s.w. that opened last week will hold its Grand Opening on Friday from 4 pm to 2 am, owners Bob Lunke and Chad Gabelein announced today.

Lunke said, "We DO have a music system set up, don't know if our TV will be set up by then, but the curtains will be up. Sign's up now. We will have dollar-off well drinks all Friday evening and food discounts also."

The West Seattle Herald previously covered the bar's origins here, and their opening here and here.

Press release:
3 reasons to donate blood at the blood drive below.
1. Feel self-satisfaction in knowing you have helped save the lives of 3 people with one single donation.
2. After giving away one pint of blood, your body will make pure, new, fresh blood.
3. Our professionally trained phlebotomists ensure a safe and comfortable experience.

Friday August 19th 2011
Wesley Homes – The Gardens at Stanton Hall
816 S. 216th Street, Des Moines 98198

11:00 am to 5:00 pm
(No registrations from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm)

WALK-IN DONORS WELCOME

If you’ve ever wondered if you’d be a hero in a life or death situation – here’s your chance to be that hero.

On Friday, The Counter Custom Built Burgers in Ballard will be offering free fries to guests as a follow up on their promise to host a Free Fries Day if Congress would agree to a debt ceiling solution before the August 2nd deadline.

At the end of July, The Counter staff let its patrons and fans know they had a solution to the Debt Ceiling issue. Announcing that The Counter would offer free french fries if Congress would get things figured out before the deadline, The Counter encouraged its customers and fans to call, email, skype, tweet or facebook their Congressional representatives and demand an agreement.

Congress did reach in agreement before the deadline and now, The Counter is making good on their offer and will host Free Fries “Fry-day” this coming Friday, August 19.

All guests receive a complimentary single order of regular fries or sweet potato fries on August 19th. Just ask your server for Free Fry-Day. Limit one single fries order per guest with any purchase. Dine-in only. Only available on August 19, 2011.

The Counter Seattle is located at 4609 14th Street, NW

The Nature Consortium's 13th annual Arts in Nature Festival is this weekend, August 20th and 21st at Camp Long, 5200 35th Ave. s.w. This eclectic performance-based festival will bring a weekend of live music, dance troupes, aerial & fire performances, a Museum of Sound, interactive arts activities, and outdoor art installations.

There will also be performances by these artists:

Side Saddle - Lelavision – The Cabiri – Christian Swenson – Hexaphonic 3 – Ama Trio – NorthWest Dance Syndrome – Ranger & The Re-Arrangers – Sixth Day Dance -The Beaver Deceivers – Dixie King Brass Band – The Early Music Guild – The Rabbit Stew String Band – Caspar Babypants – Giant Puppets Save the World – Billy & The Bouncers – Minor Dissonance - The Lonely Coast

For the schedule of performances, go to http://www.naturec.org/festschedule2011/

If you’re interested in volunteering and available on Saturday, August 20, or Sunday, August 21, please call 206-923-0853 or email nancy@naturec.org.

press release:

A generous donation by West Seattle framer Kay Rood has made possible the framing of a large Clark Schurman painting of Mt. Rainier for display at Camp Long.

In 2006, Clark Schurman’s granddaughter, Laura Reason, donated the painting for Camp Long’s 65th Anniversary. Finally it will be on display in the main lodge of this city-owned park just in time for the Arts-in-Nature Festival (http://www.naturec.org/arts-in-nature-festival/). Seven other paintings capturing Schurman's beloved mountains will be on display Saturday and Sunday in the alcove adjoining the main room.

"He was a natural-born artist and he loved mountains," said Dee Molenaar, a painter and mapmaker who met Schurman in 1939.

Schurman, known as "The Chief," was the chief guide from 1938 to 1941 at Paradise, a popular high point on Mount Rainier. As a climber, he sketched and painted his journeys into a book published by The Mountaineers in 1939.

“Working for Clark Schurman, I gained empathy for The Mountain, said Molenaar, “and today I usually conclude my slide shows covering my years on Mount Rainier with Schurman's favorite poem (1939):

Last campfires never die,

Mia Fidler got her dog Captain, (a mixed breed Pit Pointer she believes) through her aunt who is a veterinarian. "When I was sixteen, someone brought him in and he was suffering with Parvo Virus and he said, 'I don't have any money but this dog's been exposed to Parvo,' so my aunt had him sign the dog over to her and she took him home and took care of him."

But the best part of her story came next. "On Christmas morning, she opened her basement door and Captain just ran up the stairs and ran straight to me. He was only 15 lbs." That was nine years ago.

Captain is precocious, according to Fidler, because he went to obedience school, "but he already knew everything." she said. "He spent time with my aunt's dog and he just learned everything."

"He was totally trained when I got him. He knew his name and he knew to come and lay down and sit and shake hands. I taught him to roll over in ten minutes. He does some good tricks."

For fun Captain loves to chase flashlights and squirrels but his real fun is with his "Jolly Ball" which "were originally intended for horses, and my aunt has horses, so she gave him one and he's really into that."

Mayor McGinn will make some of his first public comments about the overwhelming Referendum 1 victory at the 36th District Democrats' meeting tonight.

The Mayor will address the membership and engage in a question and answer session.

Last night, Mayor McGinn reacted on his Facebook page stating, "I worked to give the public a direct vote on the tunnel. The public said move ahead with the tunnel, and that's what we're going to do."

To hear more of his comments attend the meeting tonight starting at 7:00 p.m. at the eastern building of the Phinney Neighborhood Association at 6532 Phinney Avenue North.

Mayor McGinn will be speaking from roughly 8:00 p.m. until 8:40 p.m.

In a brief statement just issued at 10:20 p.m tonight Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn, said this:

"I worked to give the public a direct vote on the tunnel. The public said move ahead with the tunnel, and that's what we're going to do."

Alki Kayak Tours was the prime mover behind a movie night on Alki held an Alki Crab and Fish, 1660 Harbor Avenue for the northwest premier of a film titled Explore: Catalina, an SUP Adventure Film. The film tells the story of a group of three friends who chose to stand up paddle around Catalina Island in California. Along the way they encountered rough seas, wildlife and in the process had a once in a lifetime adventure.

Prior to the film an SUP race from Alki Kayak out around the Duwamish Head channel marker and back was won by Blake Hanley with a time of 15:44. "Some of the best guys in the northwest came out to check out this short sprint race," said Alki Kayak owner Greg Whittaker.

Sponsors for the event included Hansen's Soda, Mountain to Sound Outfitters, Tahoe SUP, Alki Crab and Fish, Thule, and Boardworks.

Primary election results as of 8:09 p.m. August 16:

Council Position No. 1

Michael Taylor-Judd 13.59%
Maurice Classen 16.41%
Jean Godden 45.59%
Bobby Forch 23.76%
Write-in 0.65%

Council Position No. 9

Fathi Karshie 5.17%
Sally J. Clark 71.40%
Dian Ferguson 22.39%
Write-in 1.04%

Referendum 1

APPROVED 59.66%
REJECTED 40.34%

Proposition No. 1
Veterans and Human Services Levy

APPROVED 66.25%
REJECTED 33.75%

Seattle School District

Director District No. 1

John Cummings 11.58%
Peter Maier 50.97%
Sharon Peaslee 36.66%
Write-in 0.79%

Director District No. 2

Jack Whelan 17.97%
Terrence J. Menage 6.07%
Mark T. Weber 5.91%
Sherry Carr 40.15%
Kate Martin 29.07%
Write-in 0.84%

Director District No. 3

John Dunn 26.79%
David Blomstrom 3.09%
Harium Martin-Morris 41.34%
Michelle Buetow 28.11%
Write-in 0.66%

Director District No. 6

Nick Esparza 4.88%
Marty McLaren 30.27%
Steve Sundquist 42.85%
Joy Anderson 21.24%
Write-in 0.75%