Restaurant Inspection Round-Up REDO

May 31, 2010 by 3 Comments

Sometimes, I will admit, I wonder if there’s anyone out there reading these posts.

And then, I screw something up. And find out that, yes, you are out there. And the teachable moments ensue.

Chris and Lisa over at We [Heart] Food blog about food. Specifically, their dinners. A typical post is a gorgeous picture full of tastiness, a witty conversation between them about the meal, and then *drumroll* the RECIPE. They also live around here.

Well, Chris left a comment on the Restaurant Inspections (RI) MEGA POST of the other day that made me bang my head on the desk and say, “DUH, of COURSE I’m wrong!”

Here’s the wrong-ness: For the first time on a RI post I decided to rank the restaurants, using the number of violations. I should have done it by using King County’s violation point system (emphasis mine):

Inspections are based on regulations to eliminate risk factors for food borne disease. Every violation of these regulations is color coded and has a numerical value based on the amount of risk they create.

Red critical violations: These are violations with the highest risk of causing food borne disease. One red critical violation equals an unsatisfactory inspection. Environmental Health Specialists work with operators to make sure that red critical violations are corrected before they leave the establishment.

Blue violations: These are violations related to the maintenance of the establishment and cleanliness.

  • 35 or more red critical violation points require a re-inspection within 14 days.
  • 90 or more red critical violation points require the establishment be closed.
  • 120 or more total (red & blue) points also requires the establishment be closed.

HOW THE MISTAKE HAPPENED: The online tool I was using to read the inspection reports (EveryBlock) does not differentiate between Blue (maintenance and cleanliness) and Red (highest risk for food borne illness). Argh!

Here’s how to do it RIGHT: Here is the list of restaurants again (most violation points to least) using the King County inspection results correctly:

The links in all the restaurant names now take you to their respective King County inspection histories, where you can see the evidence for yourselves.

In conclusion: Thanks for your help, Chris. And happy (and safe) eating, everyone.

Filed Under: Food, Updates

Twitter Feed Round-Up for May 30

May 30, 2010 by Leave a Comment

ARRRRRRRNo, you’re not seeing double. The first post since last week’s inaugural Twitter Feed Round-Up is…another Twitter Feed Round-Up.

However, if you’re looking for new content, look over the Ravenna Blog Google Calendar (on the right –>). It’s now loaded with all the free and/or cheap activities of note at the Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center this summer. [Hopefully the city budget process will not erase all my hard work and your potential fun.]

Also, for fans of the new Ravenna Community Garden, the website has sprouted! Yours truly is the webmistress, which means, for those of you who are not all that interested in the garden, you will be hearing about it less here. [There’s also a Ravenna Community Garden twitter feed.]

Anyway, your Round-Up awaits:

  • Yoga? Outside? At Ravenna TPB? Every morning at 7 for 45 minutes? June through August? Weather permitting? I’ll get more info.
  • [RCG] Help plant tomatoes this Sunday at the community garden, from 1 to 3. Bring hand tools and a warm hat.
  • @NFMASeattle I hate to break it to you, but, you haven’t seen Cliff Mass’ updated forecast, have you? http://bit.ly/cd1FPC
  • Hey, look at this: www.ravennacommunitygarden.org.
    Full disclosure: I’m building it, and I need more questions for the FAQ. Got any?
  • Cafe O’Play on Blakely is closing. Multi-seller rummage sale this Sat-Sun, clothing show by MiMi Bug on Sunday. http://tinyurl.com/2wbwomt
  • Looks like the Forza Coffee going in The Croydon on 25th Ave NE is going to have beer and wine. Personally, I’d rather they had Frangelico.
  • Tweet @mollymoon about where you’d like to see their ice cream truck stop in Seattle this summer. Schedule up on their blog on June 4th.
  • North Link Light Rail Community Meeting, June 16, 5:30-8:30, Roosevelt HS Commons. tinyurl.com/3537muz Thanks, @PinehurstSea.
  • Heh. NE 45th St viaduct to close day after commencement, reopen day before first home football game. I C WUT U DID THER.
  • Spotted today in the neighborhood, TWICE: The Roosevelt High Marching Band. Did I hear James Brown?! Yes, I think I did.
  • Hey, Roosevelt neighbors — Roosie web edition, out now: http://rooseveltseattle.org/Documents/Roosie%202010-05.pdf
Filed Under: twitter round-up

Twitter Feed Round-Up

May 22, 2010 by 2 Comments

ARRRRRRRI realize that many of you who partake of the Ravenna Blog may not partake of the Ravenna Blog twitter feed (or twitter in general). I promise to not hold it against you. But you are missing some good tidbits of neighborhood news that just don’t get made into a full-blown blog post.

So, how about, once a week, I catch you up on what you may have missed?

Some items of interest on the Ravenna Blog twitter feed from the past week:

  • Summer 2010 Seattle Parks and Rec Catalog is out!  Lots of good stuff in there – I hope it all happens. :/
    PDF: http://tinyurl.com/22ozutv
  • I counted 36 at PJ Story Time last night (19 kids, 17 adults). My favorite part, once again, was the crazy dance contest. It makes me LOL.
  • We have until June 14 to drive on the NE 45th viaduct. What will we do btwn then and September 10? I get congested just thinking about it.
  • All children’s events at the NE branch through August 26 now on the Ravenna Blog events Google calendar.  http://tinyurl.com/2g7uhbl
  • Humorous review of some North Seattle playgrounds, at the P-I’s ‘in North Seattle’ blog: http://tinyurl.com/2fmxm56
  • Seattle Weekly reviews the Ravenna Alehouse (specifically, their $4 PBR & PB&J deal on Wednesdays): http://tinyurl.com/269mdlv
  • Wanted a Ravenna neighborhoodie. They’re a little pricey! Playing around with cafepress instead. To be continued.
  • Boom Noodle at the U Village scheduled to open on July 1st. Happy Canada Day, everyone!
  • @themapleleafer The Maple Leaf Park artist apprenticed under Andy Goldsworthy?! That park is in GOOD hands.
  • Speaking of produce, Meadowbrook Farmers Market starts up again this June 6th. http://www.meadowbrookfm.org/
Filed Under: twitter round-up

NE Seattle Edible Garden Tour THIS SUNDAY

May 21, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Want to see how your neighbors in Northeast Seattle are living a more local and sustainable lifestyle?  Want to wander through their yards to do it?

This is a self-guided tour – start anywhere you like, visit any gardens you like in any order you wish.  Here’s how:

  1. Head to this Google map, which contains nearly all the sites on the tour.  Choose a garden near you and head on over (starting at 11am; addresses on the tour will have signage).
  2. Each location has handouts including addresses and descriptions of every garden on the list, AND a map showing you the locations of all 15 gardens.
  3. Donate a few bucks (if you like) for the handout, read it over, and go check out some edible gardens! You have until 5pm!

Do bring the kids! There are children’s activities throughout the tour — noted on the handout — including projects and prizes.

This edible garden tour is a reoccurring event and is hosted by members of the Sustainable Northeast Seattle Urban Farmers group.  The next edible garden tour is planned for August 8.

For more information on Sustainable NE Seattle, visit sustainableneseattle.ning.com.

Filed Under: Events, Kids

Ravenna Community Garden: More Work Party Dates!

May 21, 2010 by 3 Comments

You’ve got FOUR work parties between now and next Tuesday, if you want a chance to get your hands dirty in your new community garden (or just “happen” to be walking by and want to ask questions).

Here they all are, including who’s the lead on the event and what you might be doing:

  • Saturday, May 22, 10am-1pm: Debra leads you in spreading wood chips and planting; wheelbarrows, pitchforks, shovels, rakes, gloves, seeds and plants would be useful.
  • Saturday, May 22, 3-5pm: Debra is back for more of the same!
  • Sunday, May 23, 9am-1pm: Liz is on hand to guide volunteers in chip spreading, planting, and any other work that may need doing.
  • Tuesday, May 25, 5-7pm: Susan (the garden designer) will be on hand to oversee garden work and answer your questions.

If you are interested in volunteering or learning more about the Ravenna Community Garden, email the group at ravennacommunitygarden [at] gmail.com.

There is a Ravenna Community Garden Google Group as well.  AND Ravenna Community Garden is also on facebook.

Let's put this pile in its place, shall we?

Filed Under: Seattle Parks and Recreation

Ravenna Community Garden: Planting Pictures

May 21, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Some pictures of what people have planted in the community garden so far:

Of the seven "pinwheel" beds, three have been planted.

Pole beans, cauliflower, onions and lettuces

Peas (I think), corn and potatoes

Broccoli, broccoli and more broccoli!

Filed Under: Everything counts in large amounts

Signs of Life at Osaka

May 21, 2010 by 5 Comments

No, I STILL don’t know what’s going in, but here’s a few pictures of what has gone (physically) ON the outside of Osaka:

Two lamps and a painted door!

Close-up of one of the lamps.

Filed Under: Restaurants

Story Time Love Post

May 18, 2010 by 2 Comments

This week marks the end of story time at the Northeast Branch until mid-June. A month doesn’t seem like that long of a break, but it IS for two reasons:

1.  My toddler has no sense of time (a day and a half is, like, FOREVER).

2. Erica Delavan, the Children’s Services Librarian, is GREAT.

My tot and I regularly frequent the 11:15 a.m. Toddler Story Time on Thursdays. And we end up regularly sharing the meeting room with upwards of 70 other people (mix of adults and other tots).

That’s 70+ kids and adults (140+ total, if you include the 10:15 a.m. shift) all moving and talking and crying and cooing, while Erica guides us all through a familiar itinerary (including two stories and a new song with a shared theme, the early literacy skill and letter of the day, a story on the felt board, old and familiar songs to open and close the story time, and a stamp on the hand at the end), and does it WELL.

So it was a special treat to attend last month’s very first Pajama Story Time (start time of 7 p.m.) with only 35 other people.

Only 35 of us! We could hear the stories! Clearly! There was room to sprawl and dance! And, it turns out, Erica can really sing!

We sang the Bears in the Bed song (…so they all rolled over and one fell out…there were four in the bed and the little one said, “I’m crowded…roll over…”) and that’s when I realized, this woman can sing!  I’d never really heard her voice before, over all the moving and talking and crying and cooing. She even had this bluesy take on the song that really added something.

And, lucky for you, dear reader, there’s one of these PJ story times left: This Wednesday, May 19, at 7 p.m. The dress code? Comfy PJs. Feet optional.

Just don’t bring too many of your friends, okay?

Northeast Branch – Seattle Public Library, 6801 35th Ave. N.E.

Filed Under: Events, Kids, Seattle Public Library

Edible Garden Preview

May 13, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Mmm...lunch.

Since I’m on the tour myself this year, I’ve had a sneak peak at the garden descriptions list.

Here are some of the things you can see if you take the tour (on Sunday, May 23, from 11am-5pm):

  • raised vegetable beds
  • bees (honey and mason)
  • worm bins
  • CHICKENS
  • wear-round gardening
  • “squish” gardening
  • DUCKS
  • composting
  • a 20,000 square foot garden (no foolin’!)
  • vertical gardening
  • a Hugelkulture mound
  • GOATS
  • a cob oven
  • Forest Gardening
  • fruit trees
  • the Lawn Gone house (see the YouTube videos [part one and part two] of the process)

Children’s activities include: Potting up seeds, feeding ducks, soil in a microscope, making plantable pots crafts, and urban farm BINGO!

There's no place like gnome.

Filed Under: Everything counts in large amounts

Restaurant Inspection MEGA POST

May 10, 2010 by 5 Comments

Remy!

UPDATE: I’m rewriting the violations section of this post and will re-publish it SOON. Until then, I’ve taken out the bits I’m rewriting.

Yes, I realize that I may be the only one who likes looking at restaurant inspection reports, but I CAN’T HELP MYSELF.

I can think of a handful of reasons for my obsession:  My previous jobs in the food service industry, my never-ending quest for good food AND good service (at the SAME TIME), my other previous profession of high school science teacher, and a genetic predisposition toward chasing fire trucks and watching disaster movies, to name a few.

I usually sit on these inspection reports until five or more pile up, but our boys down at County have been BUSY lately. And I couldn’t be happier.

And the GOLDEN STIR SPOON AWARDS for ZERO violations go to:

I’ll add that if you’re interested in being subversive and changing the culture at Bagel Oasis, they’re hiring:

You know you want to.

Also, remember: IT’S NOT CALLED “PEOPLE OASIS,” you Yelp-pers.

Filed Under: Food
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