The old Norway Center on lower Queen Anne, most recently called the Mountaineers Building is almost completely demolished, but a piece of Seattle Norwegian history has been saved. Last month, demolition crews found a time capsule at the property and gave it to the president of the Leif Erikson Lodge. Although no one knows when …
The Ballard High School football team needs new football uniforms. According to Coach John Bowers the current uniforms don’t match and the Freshman jerseys are worn out. Parents and boosters are working to raise $10,000 so the team will have new uniforms for the 2009 season. On Saturday, June 13th is a “parents night out” …
This weekend is the 2009 Sperry Top-Sider National Offshore One Design (NOOD) Regatta sponsored by the Seattle Yacht Club and the Corinthian Yacht Club at Shilshole. This is a shot of the Whistling Swan from our buddy KJ of last week’s spring race. The weather for the NOOD Regatta is supposed to be sunnier and …
Ballard’s Syttende Mai parade has always been about history. Syttende Mai – or the 17th of May – celebrates the day in 1814 when Norway’s constitution was signed in the town of Eidsvoll, Norway.
Ballard, with its strong Scandinavian heritage, holds one of the largest – if not THE largest – Syttende Mai parade outside of Norway. And this year’s celebration on Sunday is historic for a number of reasons: it’s the 120th anniversary of the Seattle Syttende Mai Committee; the 100th anniversary of the UW’s Department of Scandinavian Studies; and a restored replica of a Viking ship will sail down Market Street, at the head of the parade.
“Seattle’s May 17th Committee has been in existence as long as Washington has been a state,” spokeswoman Laila Sharpe explains.
She says Oslo, Norway, has the world’s biggest Syttende Mai parade, with Bergen, Norway, in second place. She believes that Ballard’s 100+ parade entries – with 2,000 people total marching and another 10,000 watching – makes it the third largest in the world….
As the Seattle School Board faces some tough issues, Michael DeBell, the President of the Board and District 4 representative which covers Ballard, Queen Anne and Magnolia wants to hear from you. He has recently started a blog to hear from his constituents. “The topics will be both district wide and specific to my district,” …
Todd Boettger continues to improve after the brutal beating in Greenwood last month. His brother Forrest tells us that Todd “had the feeding tube removed yesterday (Sunday) and is now eating pureed food which he thinks is disgusting.” Todd went outside for the first time this week and is now aware of where he is. …
A few recent stories of interest from our nearby neighborhoods… – Officials, volunteers break ground at big new P-patch in Fremont – Queen Anne Council opposes Aurora Bridge suicide fence design – Messy house in Magnolia gets a major clean up – Organic hair salon bringing sugar to Phinney Ridge
Darren emailed us about an oil or gas sheen that he saw under the north end of the Ballard Bridge today. “It is pretty substantial and even more disgusting and depressing than the weather,” he writes. We spoke with Petty Officer Molle at the Coast Guard who says that they haven’t heard anything about the …
After 16 years in Ballard, Best Regards at 2242 NW Market is closing. We spoke with shop owner Mary Hurley who says that her building is under new ownership and she expects a rent increase when her lease is expires in the near future. She’s keeping a positive attitude and says this is a great …
Brown paper covers the windows and doors of the Matador and the sign on the door says they’re closed through Friday at 4 p.m. When we spoke to an employee a couple of weeks ago we were told that they would be making some interior changes. She didn’t have details but told us that this …
The owner of Fremont’s George & Dragon Pub has his eyes on Ballard. We spoke with owner John Bayliss this morning who says that he is moving toward opening a pub in the old Mandrakes location at the corner of 24th & Market. It “won’t be a high end bar,” he says, “just a casual …
Friday is the annual “Bike to Work Day” and it’s the first-ever “kidical mass” event, which also coincides with the Ballard Summer Streets event. Families with bike riders of all ages and experience levels will meet at Bergen Place Park at 5:30 p.m. and take off down Ballard Ave at 6 p.m. to the Burke-Gilman …