New NE Seattle Tool Library open house on Saturday

November 29, 2012 by 5 Comments

Back in July, CleanScapes announced the 2011 winners of their now annual Neighborhood Waste Reduction Rewards competition. The big winner was a project started by members of Sustainable NE Seattle to gather and house a library of tools for members of the city to use. A location was found, renovations are underway, and the first public glimpse of a lot of hard work and long hours is upon us.

The brand new NE Seattle Tool Library (2415 NE 80th St) is holding an open house this Saturday, December 1. Community members interested in learning more about this new neighborhood resource and meeting the people who put it together would do well to attend.

From the Sustainable NE Seattle event page:

We want to have an open house and celebrate before we start moving in tools and shelves, so come by December 1 between 7:00 pm and 10:00 pm, bring a snack or drink to share, tools you’d like to donate, and see the space!  There will be music and room to dance, so bring your dancing shoes!


View NE Seattle Tool Library location in a larger map

Just like the already established West Seattle Tool Library (a project of Sustainable West Seattle), the NE Seattle Tool Library is free to use. From the NE Seattle Tool Library website:

Anyone over 18 is welcome to use The NE Seattle Tool Library, whether you live in NE Seattle or anywhere else in the region.  Members are just required to fill out a membership application and a liability waiver as well as present two forms of ID to Tool Library staff.

But while the North Seattle Friends Church who owns the building is allowing its use rent-free, utility costs still need to be covered by the tool library. As users are guided through the online membership form, there is an opportunity to give a donation to the organization (recommended amounts are “General Public: $40, Student/Senior: $30, Low-Income: $20”). There is also a way to donate (via PayPal) on the homepage.

Filed Under: Civic Envolvement, Events, Food, Fundraiser

Banh mi oh my: Kirkland’s Plume opening second shop in NE Seattle

November 28, 2012 by 37 Comments

I was sad to see Forza Coffee leave its space on 25th Ave NE (there is still a location in Green Lake, should you miss it, too), but I will admit that I got a little excited when I learned what would be talking its place: A Vietnamese sandwich shop* called Plume (5101 25th Ave NE Suite 4).

It all started about two years ago, when Ton Nguyen visited Vietnam on vacation. There, he fell in love with banh mi: baguettes most commonly stuffed with pickled carrots and daikon radishes, fresh cucumber, a protein (such as pork, tofu or egg), held together with mayo and topped with cilantro. He’d have one for breakfast (with fried egg), then have another for lunch, and have yet another for dinner.

When Nguyen came back home to NE Seattle, he wanted more, and he wanted to share. In more than one location. Plume Kirkland opened in late May 2012, with a menu consisting of six different sandwiches (now eight), six different spring rolls, a noodle salad and various beverages, including ca phe sua da, the coffee (dark roast, finely-ground Vietnamese beans) brewed directly over a glass containing sweet condensed milk. But where to put Plume Number 2? When the Forza space became available, the building’s owners (who happen to be the owners of Plume Number 1’s building in Kirkland) told Nguyen about the space: Similar in size and layout to the current store, with restaurant fixtures already installed. And not too far from his house. Perfect.

On my visit to the Kirkland location today, I ordered Plume’s most popular sandwich (grilled pork), one of the new ones (meatball), and a coffee. I also tried the tofu spring rolls.

I found the bread to be pleasantly soft, yet sturdy enough to hold onto the sandwiches’ ingredients; crucial details for this most beloved of street foods. The pickled carrots and daikon radishes leaned more toward the sweet end, with a gentle tang from the vinegar. The grilled pork had been sliced into fat matchstick strips. And the meatballs (made of both ground chicken and pork, steamed to keep them light, and then slow cooked in a light cream tomato sauce), were just the right size to stay in the sandwich yet not crowd out the bahn mi’s signature toppings.

The tofu spring rolls come as an order of two, cut in half. They were large enough that I would see someone ordering these as a “salad for the hands” and calling it a light lunch on its own.

Wall decal at the Kirkland location.

The bahn mi menu board. Each sandwich is available in both sizes, 8- and 12-inches long. Sliced jalapenos are available as a topping, should you be heat-inclined.

To-go bags, ready to go. Nguyen sees potential for Husky fans walking down 25th stopping in for game day banh mi at the new Plume location.

Above, Plume owner Ton Nguyen wraps up my leftovers to go. He plans to open the new location in December. Interested diners can sign up for opening week specials on the Plume Seattle website.

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*A thousand thanks to Scott, my neighborhood banh mi informant.

Filed Under: Food, Photos, Ravenna, Restaurants, University District

Roosevelt QFC demolition has begun (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

November 27, 2012 by 3 Comments

“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.”

The Roosevelt QFC (6618 Roosevelt Way NE) — the first QFC in the chain — is meeting its end as we speak, as the grocery store gives way to Sound Transit light rail station construction.

We went by with our camera this afternoon, and recorded some of the destruction.

Video of some of the demolition

From 12th Avenue NE (east side)

 

 

 From Roosevelt Way NE (west side)

From NE 66th Street (south side)


From the Roosevelt High School track (above 12th Ave NE)

Filed Under: Construction, Light Rail, Photos, Roosevelt, Sound Transit, Video

BlogsGiving V is here!

November 18, 2012 by 1 Comment

Once again, the Ravenna Blog is a co-sponsor a little partay and fundraiser for Northwest Harvest called BLOGSGIVING V.

20121118-103447.jpg

Via BlogsGiving come-up-wither, Michael van Baker of The SunBreak:

This year, we’re gathering at Vermillion, Capitol Hill’s art gallery and wine bar, on Sunday, November 18, from 6 to 9 p.m.For a suggested donation of $10, drop in to mingle, browse art, toast with a festive Champagne-and-cranberry drink, and nosh on a variety of cured meats and delicious cheeses. There will also be hand-turkeys, as that’s become a bit of a tradition.

Yours truly will be there from 6 to 7ish, as we have an early bedtime. We’ll be sporting our RAVENNA t-shirt as we are wont to do whenever we’re outside of the neighborhood.

Filed Under: Events, Fundraiser, metablog

Parks and Recreation NE Winter Brochure now available

November 16, 2012 by Leave a Comment

The Seattle Parks and Recreation Winter 2013 Brochure is out! You can find hard copies in your local community center, or click the image below to download a copy of the NE Seattle edition (2.1 MB PDF).

Click the image to download the Seattle Parks and Recreation Winter Brochure for NE Seattle (2.1 MB PDF).

Some highlights/items of note:

  • The course brochures hereafter will be published only twice a year: One issue for Spring/Summer, and another for Fall/Winter. This is a cost saving decision.
  • Summer is a looooong ways away, but the information about Summer Camps for 2013 is included in this Winter Brochure (open registration begins on February 5, 2013).
  • Two new classes of note at our Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center are Introduction to Improv (to be taught by a “seasoned member of the Jet City Improv cast,” and Adult Salsa Classes.
  • One special event to note is a SOUP SWAP* happening on January 26 (National Soup Swap Day, of course). You bring six quarts of frozen soup, and you go home with six different quarts of soup! Ravenna Blog itself (myself? herself?) is hosting this one, and we’ll have more information on this event as the date approaches. The event is free, minus the cost of whatever homemade soup you’re swapping.

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*The first official Ravenna Kale Festival** event!

**More on this later as well.

Filed Under: Events, Families, Food, Northeast Seattle, Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center

Accidental shooting at University Village salon (UPDATES)

November 12, 2012 by 8 Comments

At 12:21 PM on Monday, November 12, the Seattle Fire and Police Departments responded to a 911 call saying that a woman in Headlines Salon at University Village (2623 NE University Village St, Ste 60) had accidentally shot herself.

View Headlines Salon location in a larger map

For those familiar with the upscale shopping area, Headlines Salon is located across from Something Silver and Ben Bridge, and next to Bryn Walker and restrooms. Witnesses we talked to who were sitting outside at the nearby Starbucks heard no shot and saw nothing amiss, until fire and police vehicles began arriving. We are waiting for a more detailed report to appear on the SPD Blotter. Meanwhile, Seattle P-I reporter Casey McNerthney shared the following:

We will update this post with more information when we have it.

UPDATE (3:52 PM): KING5’s Environmental Specialist Gary Chittim was in the area after the shooting, and took a picture of the salon’s exterior:

And the Seattle Police Department’s twitter feed for the Union 2 Beat now shows the call (tweets by beat are all delayed an hour or so):

UPDATE (7:54 PM): Via the SPD Blotter:

Officers responded to a 911 call at a Hair Salon of a accidental shooting. Today, just shortly after 12:00 noon officers responded to the University Village Mall on a report that a woman had shot herself. Officers arrived on scene and found a 60- year- old female in an office inside the salon. The woman had a self inflicted gunshot wound to the chest.

The Blotter post goes on to say that the woman was in her office, with the door closed. A gunshot-like sound was heard, and witnesses opened the office door to find the woman slumped over in her chair, bleeding. Seattle Fire responded and transported the victim to Harborview Medical Center where she was undergoing surgery at the time Detective Renee Witt wrote the Blotter post — which, according to this SPD tweet was prior to 7 PM.

According to Seattle Police, it is still unknown at this time whether the self-inflicted gunshot was accidental or intentional.

UPDATE (Wednesday, November 14): We have learned from the medical examiner’s office that the woman died on the day of her injury. (“Cause of death: Contact handgun wound perforating chest. The manner of death is suicide.”)

If and when there is an obituary available, we will list her name and link to the obit here.

We do not know anything else about the circumstances leading to this death. But we offer this information from our local news partners at the West Seattle Blog:

[I]f you or someone you know is considering suicide, or in another life-crisis situation, call this 24-hour hotline to reach the Crisis Clinic: 206.461.3222.

UPDATE (Sunday, November 18): The obituary for Dorothy Anne Bledsoe is in today’s issue of the Seattle Times, and online here. According to the obituary, Anne and her husband Michael owned Headlines Salon together for over 32 years, and lived in Laurelhurst.

Peace be to her memory.

Filed Under: 911, Northeast Seattle, Seattle Fire Department, Seattle Police Department, University Village, Updates

RECC hosting Seattle Animal Shelter cat adoption event this Saturday

November 10, 2012 by 1 Comment

You know what’s nice on cold days like this? A kitty.

And U CAN HAZ one today, at the Seattle Animal Shelter cat adoption event on Saturday, November 10, from 12-3 PM, at the Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center (6535 Ravenna Ave NE).

Click the image to view at 100%.

Cats available for adoption at this event have been living with foster families, who will be on hand to answer questions about the personalities of their charges.

Both cats AND KITTENS will be available at this event.

KITTENS.

You can learn more about a few of the available cats on Petfinder, like…

Patrick here, and…

Pepper (on the left), and…

Abby. RAWR, girl.

The event is put on by the Seattle Animal Shelter’s foster care program and their event partners, Alley Cat Project.

 

Filed Under: City Services, Events, Government, Ravenna, Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center

Roosevelt High School tackles online journalism and football playoffs

November 2, 2012 by 2 Comments

A couple of local high school items for you this morning.

The Roosevelt News

The Roosevelt News is the Roosevelt High School student newspaper. It is a class open to junior and seniors who have taken journalism and have been chosen by the class advisor to take part.

We’ve placed a link to The Roosevelt News homepage in our Community Ads section of the Ravenna Blog (to the right and down) for your convenience.

There’s also a Roosevelt News twitter feed (@Roosevelt_News) and Facebook page. And a hard copy paper edition that is distributed in the school to students.

 

Roosevelt High School Football

Rough Rider Football made it into the state playoffs for the first time since 1996, and the team takes on the Central Kitsap Cougars this Saturday, November 3, at Central Kitsap.

And while Kitsap County is lovely this time of year, it’s understandable that RHS Football fans may not make the trek out there for a 7 PM start time.

No worries: The Kitsap Sun will be live streaming the game.

On Saturday night, simply click the image above (or go to prepzone.kitsapsun.com/football) to watch the game.

Thank you to Kitsap Sun Editor David Nelson for the link.

Filed Under: Live Coverage, Northeast Seattle, Roosevelt High School, Sports

Happy Halloween, Ravenna!

October 31, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Here’s part of our costume (old school newspaper carrier, complete with time warp hard copies of the Ravenna Blog):

Yes, that is a kale plant in the masthead.

Filed Under: metablog

Ravenna Blog Rewind: October Edition

October 28, 2012 by Leave a Comment

It’s the last Sunday of another month, so it’s time for another Ravenna Blog Rewind.

Here are some stories of note from Octobers past:

October 2011

5: Steve Jobs remembered at University Village Apple Store – It just so happened that at the time of Jobs’ passing, the University Village Apple Store was undergoing a “refresh,” and the outside of the windows was covered with a layer of thin black plastic, perfect for leaving condolences and rememberences on. We went down on three different occasions to record the growing memorial.

16: Say hello to new Ravenna Blog staff! – We had a baby. And we are happy to report that he is still pretty cute and very smiley.

19: University Village Microsoft Store opens this Thursday – And a giant stage filled the north U-Village parking lot. It was all quite something.

26: S. Germany comes to Ravenna – Heidelberg Haus menu revealed! – No post pleases us more to write than news of a new restaurant coming to the neighborhood.  We’ve been to HH a couple times now, and the excellent-yet-simple food has won us over. See also: Very tall German beers.

28: Ravenna and neighboring ‘hoods win $50,000 from CleanScapes – Most of the money has been awarded to Sustainable NE Seattle’s Tool Library, which will be housed in a building near the corner of NE 80th St and 25th Ave NE.

October 2010

6: NE Library Firefighter Story Time: When you gotta go, you gotta go –  Firefighters read a story, show off their gear, and then get called away before showing off their engine. Lots of pictures, and video of their exit.

8: Lost White Ferret APB – More info (sort of) –  Hyperlocal news at its best!

21: Obama-cade: The video! – No matter your political preference, it is still quite a site to see the leader of your country drive his motorcade through your neighborhood.  The video has now been viewed on YouTube 357,274 times, which is also quite something.

31: HAPPY HALLOWEEN! – We’re still very proud of our creative use of zucchinis-gone-wild.

October 2008

15: Neighborhood 911 – First post on the RB involving a fire in the neighborhood. The SEO-less title is kind of cringe worthy, but we like looking back at these early stories to see how far we’ve come in our neighborhood news reporting abilities.

Filed Under: Ravenna Blog Rewind
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