June 18th, 2013 by Danielle Anthony-Goodwin
We have been contacted by a couple of readers in the last few days about lost pets in our neighborhood.
Reader Keni Erstad posted on our Facebook page about her lost cat Emma (pictured). She was last seen Thursday night in the Loyal Heights area and her family are desperate to get her back. If you have seen Emma contact Keni via Facebook here or email us at tips@myballard.com and we will pass on the information.
Reader Terra Olsen also reported seeing an older golden retriever wandering in Ballard in her backyard (NW 64th St and 32nd Ave NW) at approximately 9:50 a.m. Monday morning. “It had a collar, but it ran away when I tried to see if there was a tag on it,” writes Olsen.
If you know anything about the above mentioned pets contact us at tips@myballard.com and we will pass on the information.
June 18th, 2013 by Meghan Walker
You’re going to have to add another stop to your Ballard brewery map: Bad Jimmy’s Brewing Co. is setting up shop at 4358 Leary Way. The five masterminds behind the brewery are a collection of restaurant industry veterans and beer-obsessed entrepreneurs. They’ve created a Kickstarter campaign to raise money for essential brewing equipment, tasting room glasses and furniture, and to put the finishing touches on the exterior.
Left to right: Seth, John, Jill, Billy, and Greg. Photo courtesy Bad Jimmy’s.
Bad Jimmy’s is made up of Billy Burdick, Seth Mashni, Jill Kramer, and Greg Gramenz. With their combined craft-beer-making and industry experience, the Bad Jimmy’s Five boldly commits to “reinvent intensity as it exists in the craft beer world.”
Their first beers on tap include an IPA, Black IPA, Pale, Habanero Amber, Strawberry Mango Hefeweizen, an Irish Strong and a Red. Once everything is up and running, they’ll be distributing to local bars and restaurants; this link will have an updated list of where and when you can find each variety.
Bad Jimmy’s hopes to raise $13,000 through their Kickstarter campaign by July 10. They’ll be buying bar stools, tables, glassware, kegs, a new water boiler, high-quality ingredients, exterior signage, additional lighting and a new paint job with the donated cash. Assuming all goes as planned, they’ll be open in 6-8 weeks and their hours will be Sunday to Thursday from noon to midnight, and Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 2 a.m. Check out their Facebook page for updates on their opening process and for more photos of the brewery.
June 18th, 2013 by Danielle Anthony-Goodwin
Local Chef Jerry Brahm is on the local culinary map once again, after opening french bistro Le Marché (5410 17th Ave NW) in May. The quaint and charming bistro is the third local venture for Brahm after opening Bistro on 24th on Crown Hill and Carnegie’s in the Old Carnegie Library on Market St.
Brahm’s vision for Le Marché is a relaxed style French bistro where patrons can have an authentic French meal, at an authentic price. The menu boasts shared plates such as Sautéed Calamari in Extra Virgin Olive Oil with Lime, Onion, and Green Ginger, and Gerard and Domique’s Smoked Salmon with chive potato pancake, sour cream and capers. In terms of dinner Brahm echoes the French dining style all complete with appetizers, soup and salad and entrees which include New Zealand Rack of Lamb with herb and parmesan crust, Dijon flavor demi glace and medallions of Beef Tenderloin with sautéed mushrooms, Roquefort cheese, and demi glace. Many of the offerings are also available to go. To check out the full menu click here.
Brahm’s culinary background is extensive. He graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York and did an apprenticeship with Gerard Ravesade of Gerard’s of Maui, Hawaii. After this training Brahm settled in Seattle working as a Chef at the Brooklyn Cafe downtown and the rest is history.
As can be seen in the above photos, Le Marché was charmingly decorated by Brahm and his wife Susan, giving patrons a true feeling of an authentic French bistro experience.
The restaurant is open for lunch Tuesday – Friday from 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. and for dinner Tuesday – Friday from 5 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Take out orders can be placed over the phone at (206) 789-6643.
June 18th, 2013 by Meghan Walker
Later this week, there will be two opportunities to give blood in the area. On Friday, June 21, the Puget Sound Blood Center (PSBC) will set up at the Phinney Neighborhood Center (6532 Phinney Ave N) in classroom 5 from 1-7 p.m. On Saturday, they’ll be in the Ballard Boodmobile at Jo-Ann Fabrics (2217 NW 57th St) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The PSBC tells us that one in 10 people entering a hospital needs blood, and every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs a blood transfusion. A single donation takes one hour and can save up to three lives. “The need for donated blood is constant and it couldn’t be easier or quicker to save lives. Patients in our local hospitals count on new and veteran blood donors alike to give blood – a previous resource no lab can manufacture – to ensure there is a sustainable supply on hand for emergencies, traumas, planned surgeries, chemotherapy treatments, and more,” they write.
To make an appointment to donate, call 1-800-398-7888 or email schedule@psbc.org and request an appointment at the Ballard Community Blood Drive.
June 18th, 2013 by Meghan Walker
On Saturday, June 22, there will be a celebrity basketball game at BHS with the theme of “Bring our Sonics Back.” The event will feature several local athletes, actors, musicians and TV and radio personalities.
“Seattle has many hopes of bringing our SONICS back to Seattle. That hope and inspiration has ignited a spark within our communities, a need to reach out to our youth in order to help them aspire to be the best that they can be,” writes organizer E-Dawg. He tells us the event is to, “take young adults off the streets and place them in front of dynamic role models and mentors in order to give them insight of what life can offer them through hard work, commitment, dedication and passion.” The following celebs will be at the game:
• Former UW Basketball player – Donald Watts
• Former Seattle Sonic – Slick Watts
• “Love That Girl“TV Actor- Trae Ireland
• KUBE 93 DJ and On-air Personality- Supa Sam
• Platinum Grammy Award Winner- Sir Mix A Lot
• “Jamie Fox Show” &” Don’t Be A Menace” Actor- Suli McCullough
• Former UW and retired NFL, AFL Football Player- Mario Bailey
• Rapper- Xola AKA Kid Sensation
• Rapper- Spac3 Man
• Rapper- Neema
• Retired NFL Player- Joey Thomas
• KUBE 93 On-air Personality – Producer L
• Brian Robinson of SONICSRISING.COM
The game is at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday at Ballard High School (1418 NW 65th St. 98117). The cost is $5 for kids and $10 for adults, and a portion of the proceeds will go to the Joey Thomas Foundation run by BHS Head Football Coach Joey Thomas. The foundation hosts youth football camps with Seattle Parks and Recreation and also holds events to benefit at-risk agencies in the Seattle area.
There will be free buses from surrounding Boys & Girls Clubs to get people to the event.
June 17th, 2013 by Danielle Anthony-Goodwin
Ballardites may have noticed that construction has started on the NW 58th St Ballard Greenway. So far, SDOT has installed curb ramps at arterials, widened the sidewalk and installed a ramp at Seaview Ave that connects to the Burke-Gilman Trail and is this week in the process of adding speed humps.
Check out more details from SDOT’s Ballard Greenway email update written last week:
Speed Humps
Weather permitting construction starts mid-week to install 18 speed humps along the corridor. This work will have significant short-term on-street parking impacts. On-street parking must be restricted in the work zone during construction. Speed hump construction requires parking restrictions for a minimum of two days and may include additional time for prep. Construction notices will be delivered to impacted properties prior to work starting, as well as ‘no park’ signs placed.
We understand that on-street parking is in high demand and appreciate your patience while we make this safety improvement. Once complete, speed humps will not interfere with on-street parking, because it is okay to park over them.
Speed hump under construction between 24th Ave NW and 26th Ave NW.
Speed hump under construction between 30th Ave NW and 32nd Ave NW.
Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacons
The flashing beacons are on order and scheduled for installation at 24th Avenue NW this July.
Signs and Pavement Markings
Within the next couple of weeks you’ll start to notice crosswalk and crossbike stripping at 20th and 32th Avenue NW; painting, reflectors and signs around the partial diverter at 15th Avenue NW; and new 20 mph signs. The final piece of the project is to install wayfinding signs, stop signs, greenway signs and bicycle pavement markings. This work is currently scheduled to for late July.
Hopefully you have noticed the new ADA curb ramps, wider sidewalk at Seaview Avenue NW and new partial diverter at 15th Avenue NW in front of St Alphonsus School. Precision Cutting is also been busy making temporary sidewalk repairs.
Jennifer Litowski from Ballard Greenways emailed to let us know about the construction update and to let locals know that the draft of Seattle’s Bicycle Master Plan update is now available online here until July 26th. “Remember, it’s just as important for SDOT to hear from people that don’t ride bikes currently as it is to hear from those that do,” says Litowski.
The Ballard Greenways monthly meeting will be held this Thursday, June 20, at Ballard Coffeeworks (2060 NW Market St) from 7:30 p.m. All are welcome.
To find out more about Ballard Greenways check out the SDOT information page here. Check out the photos above of construction that is already underway on . For more photos and updates click here to see the Ballard Greenway’s Facebook page.
Photos courtesy of Ballard Greenways.
June 17th, 2013 by Danielle Anthony-Goodwin
According to Seattle Met’s Publicola blog, the chairmen of the city council’s budget and transportation committees have denied Mayor McGinn’s request for funding to study a new bridge across the Ship Canal. McGinn proposed the study to assess the viability of building a new bridge for light rail linking downtown and Ballard.
Mayor McGinn had requested $500,000 to fund the study, which was to come out of the savings on the Spokane Street Viaduct. Publicola writes that City Council members Tim Burgess and Tim Rasmussen denied the funding “because, according to today’s announcement, Sound Transit and the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) are already studying high-capacity transit for the downtown to Ballard corridor.”
“We must fix what we have, finish what we’ve started and plan wisely for the future for all transportation modes,” says budget chair Tim Burgess. “Our proposal will help balance these needs, which are crucial to keeping people safe and our economy moving in the right direction,” he continues.
According to Publicola, Mayor McGinn issued the following statement in response to today’s denial. ”While I am disappointed that Council chose not to leverage our partnership with Sound Transit now to expedite the planning work for a new multi-modal Ship Canal crossing, I will continue to work with council members to include funding for this important project in our 2014-15 budget so that we do not miss out on possible capital funding sources like Sound Transit III.”
June 17th, 2013 by Danielle Anthony-Goodwin
Well known artisan ice cream food truck Parfait, will open its first brick and mortar store in the new Greenfire Campus (2034 NW 56th Street) this summer. Chef Adria Shimada, who founded the business in 2009, is excited to bring her small batch, organic and artisan ice cream to Ballard.
Shimada is a graduate of Cornell University who ignited her passion for the culinary arts in France during an immersion year that she spent attending the University of Paris. During her time in France she was inspired by the importance of food in French culture and had the opportunity to assist in the kitchen of an authentic farmstead near Toulouse. Upon her return to the States, Shimada built upon her culinary knowledge attending California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, working at Greens Restaurant in San Francisco, and La Farine Boulangerie and Patisserie in Berkley. Shimada then put her extensive knowledge to work opening the first Parfait food truck in 2009, with the aim of producing ice cream with the same integrity as a french bakery. Since then Parfait has made a name for itself all over Seattle for well made, organic ice cream.
In terms of the menu at the new store, customers will not only find the organic ice cream that Parfait is famous for but will also discover an array of new ice cream inspired delicacies. Profiteroles filled with ice cream, mini ice cream sandwiches, confections, and ice cream cakes and pies will be some of the delicious items on offer beside delicious baked goods including canneles, madeleines, clafoutis, tarte tatin, brownies, and, according to Shimada, the world’s finest rugelah. Shimada’s signature toppings; sauces, Chantilly cream, and seasonal fresh fruit from Ballard Farmer’s Market will also be available to put the finishing touches to any ice cream cone. In terms of beverages, to-order sodas with house made organic syrups, French press coffee from Caffe Fiore, Parisian hot chocolate and an assortment of teas will be available.
The new 1,000-square-foot space has been designed to keep families at the heart of the Parfait experience. From Shimada’s own experiences as a mother of a young child she plans to cater to families in a unique way. Kid-sized ice cream scoops, bars and push-up pops will be on offer to cater for the little ones. Parfait will also feature a dedicated children’s area stocked with Ballard’s Clover toy store toys to keep the kids entertained while the adults relax into the Parfait experience. “I’m very excited to be able to provide a fun destination where my own son and other children can experience the joy of eating honest ice cream, and parents can be assured that the food doesn’t contain preservatives or stabilizers,” says Shimada.
Parfait is shooting for an August opening and tentative hours will be 12 noon – 11 p.m. everyday. Until then click here to find out more about this exciting new eatery.
We will be sure to keep readers informed of the opening date when it is known!
Photos courtesy of Parfait.
June 17th, 2013 by Meghan Walker
On Wednesday, June 19, there will be a work party to help clean up around several trees in central Ballard. The volunteer event is from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., and they’ll be meeting at Ballard Corners Park (17th Ave NW and NW 62nd St) to remove grass and mulch around 200 trees in the blocks between 20th Ave NW and 15th Ave NW.
Photo courtesy Andrea Mojzak
From organizer Andrea Mojzak:
“As we head into summer everyone is getting their lawn mowers out, and that can be a scary sound, especially for young trees. Even the most careful mowers can nick the trunk of the trees, which leads to cuts, that invite disease and infection of trees. By spreading mulch around the base of the tree, we can create a safety buffer around the tree to ensure that this damage doesn’t happen. The mulch will also help retain moisture for the young tree during the hot, dry summer months. Come spend an evening with your neighbors, and take care of some Ballard’s young trees.”
They’ll offer tools and refreshments, and suggest that volunteers wear clothes that can get dirty and closed-toe shoes. Register here for the work party.
June 17th, 2013 by Meghan Walker
What would make Ballard complete? A superhero, according to the organizers of the annual Ballard SeafoodFest. They’re unveiling “Anchor,” Ballard’s very own crime-fighting, anchor-wielding superhero.
Anchor is Eddie Erickson, a dockworker by trade, who throws off his raincoat at the first sign of danger to fight off the evils of Ballard. The SeafoodFest folks have set up a Kickstarter campaign to raise money to create a comic book about Anchor, the funds from which will also go to support the costs of SeafoodFest. The Anchor was created by Jordan Giarratano, a Ballard cartoonist and the owner of Fighting Chance Seattle (a kickboxing and self-defense school in Ballard).
Click here to watch the campaign video
The idea for the comic book came from a SeafoodFest meeting in January when the organizers were thinking of creative ways to fundraise for the annual event. One organizer, Sam, wanted to take a new approach:
“I’ve been wondering how we could kinda marry the old with the new. I’ve been conjuring how we might could bring the whole community together and share in the celebration of all things Ballard DOES have, like the fishing and maritime history, like the Nordic heritage stuff, like that gorgeous beach down at Shilshole.”
And thus, Anchor was born. He’ll be the “Spirit of Ballard,” they say; a symbol of our unique neighborhood.
“We know you love Ballard. We know you love superheroes. You love the concept of wrestling a giant squid or even a chair in the quest for truth. We know that you, like most Ballard denizens, have a giant sense of fun and a twinkle in your eye. Please support your very own community and give what you can to support this new comic book project and the Live Anchor project, too. It’s one that we hope to build throughout the years. With your help, we will.”
The donations will go to help with the comic book printing, which will in turn support the SeafoodFest, which happens July 13 and 14. Learn more about SeafoodFest here. To see more of the artist’s work, click here.
June 17th, 2013 by Meghan Walker
Update:
The My Ballard team headed down to Li’l Woody’s during their first day of business on Monday to sample the fare and check out the crowds! Lines were long and tables were full with Ballardites enjoying their burgers and shakes. Check out our Facebook photo album here.
Original Post:
Today Li’l Woody’s opens its doors in Ballard. The independently owned burger spot taking over the old Zak’s location (2040 NW Market St) also features Molly Moon’s ice creams, Cafe Vita coffee, and kombucha from Townshend’s Tea Company.
They keep the menu pretty simple with all burgers under $10. There are the classic Li’l and Big Woody’s, and for the more adventurous, there’s the Fig and the Pig (Boat Street pickled figs, Hills Bacon, mayo, crumbled gorgonzola cheese), Smoked Out (Smoked sharp cheddar, sliced raw onion, mayo, tomato and chipotle sauce), or the New Mexican (burger topped with Hatch Green Chilies, mayo and queso sauce).mAlso on the menu are Crack Fries, which are their signature handcut fries with a Molly Moon’s milkshake for dipping. And, for your sweet tooth, there are 14 flavors of Molly Moon’s ice cream.
Li’l Woody’s will be open from 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Sundays.
June 14th, 2013 by Geeky Swedes
Updated, 9:15 p.m.: All 156 passengers on board a Victoria Clipper whale watching boat are now safe after an engine fire diverted the boat to Shilshole Marina this evening just after 7 p.m. Kyle Moore from Seattle Fire says the fire started in an engine compartment, after which crews quickly sealed the compartment and used a chemical suppressant to extinguish flames.
The passengers were on their way back from their whale watching trip when they were told to go upstairs to help with “weight distribution,” according to passenger Lauren Robuck from Alabama. She didn’t know what was happening until she saw crew members carrying fire extinguishers. She says they were on the top deck of the boat for almost two hours as the boat made its way into Shilshole, where they docked and unloaded.
Three tour buses pulled up to collect the passengers after they disembarked the ship to take them downtown. “Thankfully everyone is safe!” Robuck said. “But we didn’t see any whales,” she added, with a hint of disappointment.
Earlier: The Victoria Clipper reported an engine fire, triggering a massive fire response while the ship diverted to Shilshole.
There’s no visible smoke from the vessel, which has now docked.
Passengers are beginning to disembark, and two city buses have arrived to pick them up.
(Photo by Rays Boathouse, @raysboathouse)
“I came all the way from New Mexico to get on the news!” woman jokes as she loads into a bus.
The Clipper was coming back from a whale watching trip when the engine caught fire. Passenger Lauren from Alabama told us they saw no whales, just reporters.
There are no reports of injuries. This is the largest fire response we’ve seen in our history with My Ballard: 10 engines and 4 ladder trucks, drawing from downtown units.
The initial call was for a fire in the engine compartment. It appears to be out.
We are on scene and updating here and on @myballard on Twitter.
More coming…
News from the Seattle Times
