After a try for an encore, The Shoe Zoo bids farewell again

We received the following email from “The Zoo Keeper,” owner Bruce Stern, this afternoon, saying that The Shoe Zoo (2920 NE Blakeley St # B) is closing:

Well, I certainly hoped I wouldn’t have to write this letter, but I must. I was optimistic when we gave it one more try last year. I thought maybe we could survive with everyone knowing how tough of a time we were having. I am afraid to say it was a mistake. I just prolonged the inevitable. I couldn’t have imagined it getting so much worse, but it did.

I want to thank you for your support, not only during this last year, but for the past 24 years as well. It’s been very special watching your kids grow up over the years, from fitting your children with their first pair of shoes, then, in a blink of an eye, outgrowing our store. I felt a little bit more special than just your average retail store owner, maybe because you treated me that way. And for that, a heartfelt thank you.

Now, I don’t want to get into too much detail, but after the going-out-of-business sale last year, I had to re-stock the entire store. Let’s just say, The Zoo Keeper really needs your help. I have to try and pay for all of these shoes. So please come in and take advantage of some great savings on your shoe and boot purchases.

Starting today, everything in the store will be 20% off. Everything must go, so if you see something that isn’t marked, please make an offer. I will be selling stockroom shelves, which are perfect for your garage, classic children’s movies, stuffed animals, pictures, equipment, tools, benches, and much more. Over the next few months, I will be sending out email notifications with updates and such. I really hope to see you, it would mean so much to me.

Thank You,
The Zoo Keeper

Here are links to our previous coverage of The Shoe Zoo’s rebirth (May 21, 2011), and the first closure sale (January 30, 2011).

Happy Thanksgiving, Ravenna

We here at the Ravenna Blog would like to remind you of the importance of proper waste disposal during this holiday season.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Got garage? Area man still looking to rent one in N. Ravenna

Kevin Colbert needs our help.

He is looking for a garage to store, and occasionally work on, a Jeep and a motorcycle. Access is important, as he uses the vehicles to commute.

Kevin used to rent from a couple of graduate students, who have since moved away.

He’s in an apartment at about 21st Avenue NE and NE 70th Street, and is hoping to find something within short walking distance.

Kevin can be reached at 718-5260 or feed-me-a-garage@hotmail.com. He’s happy to provide a reference.

Ravenna Blog Social Media Round-Up, November 13-19

Wherin we get a bridge occupied, a strip club reopened, and continue to wrestle over the name of that light rail station on Brookyn and 45th.

LaVassar Florist and Roaring Mouse Annual Holiday Open House details

Once again, northern Ravenna businesses LaVassar Florists and Roaring Mouse Creative Arts Studio (7530 20th Avenue NE) are holding their Annual Holiday Open House.

This year the event takes place on Saturday, December 3 from 10 AM-5 PM.

Thirteen artists and vendors will have their wares available for purchase (see the full list on the event flier below).

Raffle prizes include three fresh arrangements from LaVassar, and two $50 gift certificates for Roaring Mouse.

Santa himself will attend the event from noon until 2 PM — he’s a busy guy these days. Complimentary photos are available, or you can use your own camera.

Cookies and cider will be available. But if you’re still hungry, check out the bake sale — the proceeds of which benefit Hopelink Food Bank.

Are you crafty, and local? There’s a Ravenna holiday sale for that.

The Fourth Annual Ravenna Holiday Arts & Crafts Sale is looking for a few more local crafty types to sell their wares during the event on Saturday, December 10.

The deadline for artist applications has been extended to Tuesday, November 22.

The application and all the details about the sale — table sizes, advertising, artist responsibilities and more — can be found in this document (PDF).

Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center survey needs your input

CLARIFICATION: This survey was created by a community member (who attended the RECC operations meeting on November 9). While this survey is not an official Seattle Parks and Recreation creation, your answers are still much appreciated and will be shared with the staff.

____________________

On the heels of last week’s Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center operations meeting comes this survey gauging interest in new programming at the community center.

Whether you use the RECC or you don’t, please take a few minutes to answer the seven questions included in the survey. Future operating and programming hours may depend on it!

Ravenna Blog Social Media Round-Up, November 6-12

This week we live tweeted a restaurant opening, occupied University Ave., and heard about some boring vibrations on Capitol Hill.

Come celebrate BlogsGiving, meet us, and help Northwest Harvest

Hey, neighbor and/or reader! We’d love to meet you. And we’d also love to help out those in need this holiday season.

Why not do BOTH?!

BlogsGiving is a benefit for Northwest Harvest AND a multi-blog meet-up. The event was conceived by the good folks at The SunBreak, the online magazine of news and culture for Seattle.

For this fourth annual BlogsGiving, Roosiehood, My Green Lake, and yours truly badgered talked the SunBreak gang into bringing the fun and fundraising north of the Montlake Cut and into Northeast Seattle*. All in the hopes of meeting you! And helping hunger programs in Washington state, too.

HERE’S HOW IT WORKS: YOU stop by Pies and Pints (1215 NE 65th St) between 4 and 7 PM on Saturday, November 19, to meet your local neighborhood internet newsies and/or bloggers, and bring with five bucks or two cans of food for Northwest Harvest (suggested minimum donations). Here’s a list of what Northwest Harvest needs the most.

In return, WE will thank you kindly for your generosity by buying you a drink (alcohol or otherwise). There will also be art supplies for making hand turkey drawings!

Furthermore, if you yourself are a blogger, or have similar internet-type weight to throw around, we invite you to join us on the planning side of the event — which really just involves donating some money for the drinks and meeting your adoring fans. Contact SunBreak editor, Michael van Baker, for details.

If you like, you can let us know you’re attending by RSVPing on the BlogsGiving Facebook page.

Hope to see you there! *gobble, gobble*

* Wallyhood will also be joining us, from the other side of I-5.

Area holiday arts and crafts fairs coming up (continually updated list)

Here’s a list of holiday arts and crafts bazaars that are either local or have local connections.

If you know of any we’re missing, let us know — we’ll be updating this list through the holiday season.

*** = Newest

Holiday Bazaar at Ida Culver House Ravenna (2315 NE 65th Street)
Sunday, November 20, 11AM-4PM

Third Annual EtsyRAIN Handmade Holiday Show, Intiman Theatre at Seattle Center (201 Mercer Street)
Saturday and Sunday, November 26 and 27, 11AM-5PM

“Instead of the standard stocking stuffers like Christmas-themed socks, candy canes and dollar store finds (…BORING!), shoppers will be dazzled by a selection of waterproof shower art, mermaid tails, knit wizard beards, fraidy cat earrings, business monkey belt buckles, crocheted golden snitch ornaments, garden bon bons, boodle bags, peacock pendants and so much more.”

Roosevelt neighborhood resident Laura (LASdesigns) will be selling her ceramics at this show. Here’s a preview of her work:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4yyuEdt4Do&

Holiday Shopping Extravaganza, Derby Salon, 6315 Roosevelt Way NE
Thursday, December 1, 6-9 PM

“Celebrate the holidays Derby style with friends, fun, and of course HAIR+ MAKEUP! We will have local vendors at derby showcasing jewelry, pottery, kid’s toys and apparel, crafts and more. These make great gift ideas, and supports our local community. AND we will be playing with makeup- doing touch ups, and offering 15% off any appointments booked that night for future services!”

Lifetime Learning Center‘s Holiday Faire and Book Sale, John Marshall School Building (520 Northeast Ravenna Blvd)
Saturday, December 3, 10AM-2PM

“The Faire includes one of the biggest and best book sales around–an unusually large selection of good quality, interesting books at bargain prices. It also includes swags, sandwiches, readings and musical entertainment, Granny’s Attic rummage items, a Bake Sale, and an intriguing Silent Auction. It’s a great opportunity to buy stocking stuffers and holiday gifts as well as books for yourself or your friends.”

20111110-223812.jpg

Roaring Mouse Holiday Craft Fair with Lavassar Florists (7526 20th Ave NE)
Saturday, December 3, 10AM-4PM

There’s a whole separate post dedicated to the details.

Fourth Annual Ravenna Holiday Arts and Crafts Sale, Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center (6535 Ravenna Ave NE)
Saturday, December 10, 10AM-3PM

“The sale prides itself on high-quality, unique crafts made by local artisans. This year, the size of the sale has been expanded, and includes a children’s art table. A bake sale benefitting community center programming is also held.”

*** Pressworks Annual Holiday Open House, 6312 23rd Ave NE
Sunday, December 11, 1-4PM

“Lots of original prints and handmade cards, trivets, bookmarks, etc.”

From an old post on the Utrecht Art Supplies Store Blog:

Pressworks Co-op, established in 1984, is a group of printmakers who share space, equipment, and camaraderie. We are a diverse group of artists working in various forms of printmaking such as intaglio, relief, monoprint, lithography, collagraph, solarplate, and various other experimental forms of printmaking.