My Ballard

Tigertail was closed Monday after thieves broke into the restaurant.

The break-in happened overnight Sunday. The thieves smashed a small window in the roll-up door and squeezed inside. They made off with the safe, according to a business next door that was told about the break-in.

If you have any information regarding the crime, please contact the folks at Tigertail. (Thanks Gooner for the tip).

Update: Could it be the same burglar responsible for hitting 45 stores in the North Seattle area in the last few weeks?

Up until now, Starbucks was silently testing the Clover in three Seattle stores. Now, the Ballard-made specialty coffee machine is available in ten local Starbucks stores — but not in Ballard, Fremont, Phinney Ridge or Greenwood. (The closest are in Green Lake and Queen Anne.) If you want Clover coffee in Ballard, Aster on 24th near Market St. remains your only choice.

PhinneyWood reports a case of raccoons attacking a neighbor’s cat. As most Ballard residents know, raccoons are a common sight around here. In fact, one walked right into our kitchen a couple weeks ago and gave us a good scare. (There was quite a discussion recently in the My Ballard forum about raccoon sightings around the area — even a couple hanging out in the old Denny’s parking lot.) The tipster who emailed PhinneyWood wants to make sure that cat owners are careful — especially if you have an unsecured cat door.

PhinneyWood is reporting that Phinney Market will go out of business on Friday. The store has been struggling with financial problems. There will be a farewell BBQ from 4-7 p.m. this Friday.

Earlier: The Wicker Basket market closing its doors

As of 2:30 a.m.the results of the “top two” primary are: John Burbank, 42.21%, Reuven Carlyle, 41.53% and Leslie Bloss, 16.26%. As expected, Burbank and Carlyle are neck-and-neck, and the two Democrats will proceed to the general election where they’ll face off for the 36th district legislative seat. Get ready for a lot more signs around the neighborhood.

Groundswell NW is holding an event this Sunday afternoon at Ballard’s newest park on 9th Ave. near 70th St. Called “Sundaes on Sunday,” neighbors in the area can enjoy an ice cream treat ($3 suggested donation) and hear about future plans for the park. The event runs from 2-4 p.m. with the update at 3 p.m.

A man driving his Geo Prizm around a traffic circle at 67th St. and 1st Ave. was carjacked and robbed, reports PhinneyWood. Yikes. Also, neighbors there report a sudden increase in smash-and-grabs in the area.

Environmentally friendly Snoose Junction Pizza of Ballard, will soon open a second store on the far north end of Greenwood. If you’re not already familiar with them, Snoose Junction has gotten rave reviews for their finely crafted pizza, as well as their use of recycled building materials in their first restaurant and their delivery of food by bicycle.

(Photo of the Ballard restaurant). The new 45-seat restaurant near the southwest corner of Holman and Greenwood Avenue will open in September, according to General Manager Mark Ball. It will also include a full-service bar upstairs with seating for 40. They’re also opening a dispatch center, so both stores will use the same phone number, 789-2305.

Ball assures us they used recycled materials in this build as well, including bowling lanes from Sunset Bowl, flooring from Garfield High School, bleachers from Lincoln High School, and found doors and kitchen rails.

- Friday night on Phinney Ridge, it’s the Outdoor Mystery Movie in the parking lot of the Phinney Neighborhood Association. Show starts at 8:30 p.m.
- The Army Reserve will celebrate 100 years of service with music, festivities and free cake at the Ballard Locks on Saturday. The event will run from noon to 5 p.m., with the cake cutting ceremony at 3 p.m.
- The Seattle Animal Shelter hosts a cat adoptathon on Saturday at Loyal Heights Community Center on 77th St. near 21st Ave. Noon to 3 p.m.
- Help Ballard’s Class of 2009 raise money for the prom with a car wash Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Bernie’s Automotive at 4420 Leary. There’s a suggested $10 donation.
- This Saturday evening is the monthly Ballard ArtWalk, beginning at 6 p.m.
- For live music, check out the concert calendars for the Tractor Tavern, Sunset Tavern, The Bit Saloon, High Dive, Conor Byrne and Nectar.

As always, check out our events calendar. And if you have an event to add, just email us at tips@myballard.com and we’ll post it in the calendar.

Some news from our neighbors to the east, Phinney Ridge and Greenwood…

• Couth Buzzard bookstore to throw a big sale on its final weekend
• The Pig ‘N Whistle reopened for business on Friday
• Taggers carpet 48th St. in graffiti, including parked cars

Hundreds of colorfully dressed riders on often misshapen and mutant bicycles kicked off the 13th annual Dead Baby Downhill Race at El Chupacabra on Phinney Ridge Friday evening.

Friday’s race, which finished in Ballard, is part of a weekend of events celebrating mutant bicycle culture.

There was tall bike jousting, bands, bike dance perfromances and other activities at “the greatest party known to mankind,” which was held last night at the Bit Saloon and The Station along Leary.

Not to be confused with the Critical Mass, of course.

A few stories from our neighbors to the east, Phinney Ridge and Greenwood…

• Tully’s Coffee on Greenwood and 85th has closed
• Endangered (and cute) turtles get head start at zoo
• Fire Station 21 plans to expand to two stories