Until last week I was unaware that January 23, 2011 is National Pie Day. Even sadder, I didn’t realize the event is celebrated with extra fervor in Ballard and has been for last four years at Salmon Bay Eagles. Local realtor, volunteer extraordinaire and Eagles member Mary Schile and her pie team are mounting their annual Pie Buffet as a benefit for the Marsha Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research. Free with “pie in hand,” otherwise $10, this event sounds like a must for pie lovers (and those who love pie puns).

Whittier Heights resident Mary Schile has always loved pie; although “no one makes a better crust than my mom." The American Pie Council’s declared pie day happens to fall near her own birthday. To celebrate Schile would invite her friends to, “come over, and bring a pie.” This evolved into a Pie Buffet that got so big she had to move it to upstairs at Salmon Bay Eagles on 20th N.W. With the move Schile added live bands, a silent auction and a raffle, and more funds earmarked for ovarian cancer research. Over the last four years she has amassed a 25+ member pie team whose duties range from pie check-in, pie plate washing, t-shirt design and raffle ticket sales.

An apparently tireless pie promoter and all around civic volunteer Ms. Schile (pronounced Shee-Lee) will be the subject of next week’s At Large in Ballard column. Schile hopes this Sunday night’s pie buffet will be similar in spirit to a 1940’s era country fair. Poet (and pie-maker) Kate Lebo will be reading from her book The Commonplace of Pie. A variety of local musicians, including Jake London, John Ramburg, Fredd Luongo, Kim Virant, Johnny Sangster, Steph Turner and more will perform.

Everyone is encouraged to bring a pie: sweet, savory or experimental, although the experimental pies are not always made to be eaten. Last year the performer known as Paula the Swedish Housewife baked a Humble Pie, with nickels and dimes in the crust. Schile wanted to make a pie that would allow you to blow bubbles after eating. She created the Bubblegum Chiffon Pie – and it worked.

Although Schile claims to have downscaled this year (two team members have been ill quite recently), the only result seems to be a raffle instead of a silent auction and the fact that she may have to serve as emcee. She reluctantly ruled out the Rat City Rollergirls (due to very old Eagles building) but will have A La Mode Girls moving through the crowd with ice cream and/or whipped cream. Both the A la Mode Girls and the Six High Princesses of Pie Court will be outfitted in either Goodwill Glitter finery or fruit-themed dresses. In addition little girls in crinoline, known as the Cutie Pies, will be selling the raffle tickets that Schile hopes will add to the donation pot for the Rivkin Center.

The Eagles Pie Buffet runs from 6-9 p.m., 5216 20th Avenue NW. Children welcome and pie finery encouraged. Schile wouldn’t reveal plans for her own outfit but is planning to use the last of the Maker’s Mark Peach Pie Filling that she canned with her mother last July. Schile claims the impetus for the Pie Party was that she’d rather have people ask, “How much money did your raise instead of how old are you?”
Then she turned the tables on me. “What kind of pie are you making?”

www.piecouncil.org
www.salmonbayeagles.com