September 2012

I was somewhere near Montesano, when the ticking of my engine started. Feeling liberated with my recently purchased Subaru, I took my weekend to explore the Olympic Peninsula in search of summer Gold Chanterelle.

I had learned from Foraged and Found Edibles –- a staple vendor at the Ballard Market -– that button gold chanterelle could be found west of Olympia. Of course, being a former employee of the small company helped in scoring the general area of the mushroom patch. As typical foragers do, they were careful not to be too specific about the area which they were talking about.

By Isabella Fuentes

The 2012 Democratic National Convention (DNC) kicked off in high spirits yesterday, September 3, in Charlotte, NC. Well, almost kicked off anyway.

First, let me introduce myself. My name is Isabella Fuentes, and I am a politically minded high school student and Ballardite attending the DNC with the Junior State of America (JSA), a nonprofit organation aimed at fighting political apathy among youths. I'll be in Charlotte until Thursday, taking in the convention and all its activities (and blogging about them, of course), which will culminate with the acceptance of the Democratic nomination by President Barack Obama on Thursday night.

Back to the almost-kicked-off DNC. In all its infinite wisdom, the Democratic Committee scheduled its general election kick-off party/convention for Labor Day weekend and the week of. By the time the deluge of calls started coming in, reminding them that this was a colossally bad idea and begging them to reconsider, it was too late. So, the Labor Day activities faced the chopping block and, like the RNC, this convention will be just three days long, instead of the traditional four.

The Young Evils based in West Seattle appeared Sunday Sept. 2 at Bumbershoot and performed songs from their new EP Foreign Spells and their first album Enchanted Chapel.

The band members are Troy Nelson - Vocals & Guitar, Mackenzie Mercer - Vocals, Cody Hurd - Guitar, Michael Lee - Bass, Eric Wennberg - Drums.

You can LIKE them on Facebook here.

SLIDESHOW: Click on photo for more

Sunday night rocked as an enthusiastic crowd witnessed an eclectic line-up of musicians including the West Seattle band, Bend, with Ben Jenkins, Jay Cates, and Patrick Smail. There was a surprise visit by guitar player Peter DiStefano of the critically-acclaimed alternative band Porno for Pyros. The band hit it big in the mid-'90's with famed vocalist/songwriter Perry Farrell and percussionist/songwriter Stephen Perkins of Jane's Addiction.

DiStefano was in town from California to see Farrell perform at Bumbershoot.

"I had a meeting with Perry," DiStefano told the West Seattle Herald. "We're going to do Porno for Pyros in 2013. I have a band, Lance Herbstrong. It's two DJ's and me on guitar. We do mashups of songs and I play over it all with, like, Jimi Hendrix and Jerry Garcia. It's a lot of fun."

He explained how the name Porno for Pyros came to be.

ZZ Top icon Billy Gibbons said two years ago his hot sauce was in the works and would be headed from Texas to the Mission Restaurant and Lounge on North Admiral. It just arrived. In August, 2010, the West Seattle Herald had a sit down with Billy Gibbons and Mission co-owner Eric Cozens at the Mission to enjoy Cozens' hot offerings and talk tabasco sauce. Cozens now reports the Mission is in the sauce.

According to RTT News online, Gibbons stepped in as a guest bartender at Austin's famed Lambert's restaurant.

"Gibbons passed out Bloody Marys made with his BFG #44 Piquant sauce, which he described as a 'blend of the finest peppers for a truly unique fire-inducing flavor,'" it reported.

We assume that because his middle initial is "F" that "BFG" stands for Billy F. Gibbons. Here is a link:

Update 1:45pm Tuesday
If you'd like to get together and watch the proceedings from the Democratic Convention, the event has found a new venue.

The West Seattle Convention Watch Party, will be held at The Heartland Cafe (4210 SW Admiral Way, Suite A. Seattle, WA 98116 ) from 6-8.

Original Post
With the Democratic Party convening this week in Charlotte, North Carolina, the Skylark Cafe at 3803 Delridge Way s.w. WAS going to have a major Convention Watch party on Thursday, but those plans (similar in some ways to political promises) have gone astray.

Skylark Proprietess Jessie Summa-Kusiak writes:

"I'm really sorry to say our projector seems to have contracted a poltergeist yesterday, we had it on for brunch (we show cartoons on the weekends) and unfortunately our employees reported that it kept turning itself off. We are going to need some time to troubleshoot this issue (and possibly get a new projector), so we aren't comfortable proceeding with this Thursday's event."

Community Center’s Fall Open Houses
There are 103 new programs and over 60 free programs available. Come sample some of the class offerings at your nearest Community Center. Light snack and beverages will be available.
Hiawatha - Sept. 6, 6:30-8 p.m.
South Park - Sept. 8, 11:30-1:30 p.m.
Alki - Sept. 13, 5:30-7 p.m.
High Point - Sept. 15, 11:30-1.30 p.m.
Delridge - Sept. 20, 6:30-8 p.m.

American Sewing Guild Monthly Meeting
The Kenney
7125 Fauntleroy Way S.W.
Saturday, Sept. 8, 10-noon. Martha Aitken will present a program on Sweater Collages and different aspects of Felting. Bring your Sew & Tell along with your questions. For more info: Claudia, 937-5774.

Discovery Shop
4535 California Ave. S.W.
206-937-7169