Ballard is buzzing.

With new boutiques, bars and restaurants, and a blossoming art and music scene complimented by a rich history, the natural beauty of a sound-side neighborhood, and a slough of icons no other community can claim, there's more to do and see here than ever before. And now you'll have a column to help unveil all these activities happening right in your backyard: Introducing "101 Things to Do in Ballard."

From trail running at Golden Gardens, scaling the wall at Stone Gardens, and watching fish climb the ladder at the Locks to shopping for vintage cowboy boots, toe tappin' to live tunes at the Tractor, and sipping a cup of rooibos botanicals while perusing an art show at Miro Tea, this column will feature outdoor and indoor activities, arts and entertainment, food and fashion destinations, festive events and "undiscovered" points of interest in Ballard. Much like a trusty travel guide, "101 Things to do in Ballard" provides a proactive approach to discovering our surroundings whether you're new to the neighborhood or a true veteran born and bred in Ballard.

The column's friendly, approachable style will introduce you to fun, rewarding activities and give you interesting background information (not to mention a bit of education). And to follow up on the story, the detailed, easy-access information box will provide you with phone numbers, websites, pricing, and the details you need to know about each "thing to do," so all you have to do is get up and go do it.

Ballardites are proud of their neighborhood and this column will instill community pride and involvement encouraging people to explore all the amazing things in their own backyard.

About the Authors

Who:

Lori Hinton is a freelance writer and producer who values her Seattle roots, authoring Seattle's first neighborhood guidebook, West Seattle 101, and writing columns for both the West Seattle Herald and the Ballard Tribune. Her career has taken her all over the world to work on TV shows and documentaries for Discovery Channel, The Learning Channel, National Geographic, and more.

Esther Shin is a self-proclaimed gourmand, dilettante and fashionista. When she's not eating out, talking about food, thinking about food and getting others to appreciate food, she does fashion and product styling, and lifestyle writing for sources such as dailycandy.com. She enjoys writing poetry, and has a degree in creative writing from the University of Washington. A classically trained musician, Esther also plays chamber music for weddings and events, is a cellist of Puget Sound Symphony Orchestra, and plays in a local indie rock band, Grand Hallway. And if you ever need a Korean to English translator, she is bilingual too!

What: "Our vision for this new column is to give readers a fresh, fun perspective on Ballard-living - highlighting the classic spots but also covering new places to eat, shop, and hang out. We want people to explore Ballard, but more importantly feel a sense of pride that Ballardites have for being a part of the community," smiles Esther.

When: 101 Things to Do in Ballard will appear most every week barring any unforeseen Lottery winnings.

For: This column is for every reader looking for fun, inspiring, and entertaining activities in and around Ballard-singles, couples, families and active local folk will enjoy getting the inside scoop with 101 Things to Do in Ballard.

Lori and Esther may be contacted via bnteditor@robinsonnews.com.

October 21, 2008
Photo credit: Photo by Amy Kiel

AUTHORS OF NEW COLUMN. Lori Hinton, left, and Esther Shin are the writers of the new Ballart News-Tribune column 101 Things To Do in Ballard.