With plate in hand, restaurant server Karen Brown (right) takes her turn at the buffet table. Upwards of 100 people enjoyed the after-house hospitality at St. Clouds, 1131 34th Ave., which celebrated its fifth-anniversary on Aug. 21. The owners put out a spread that included pasta dishes, orzo salad, ceviche and potstickers. For dessert, the buffet featured three kinds of chocolate cake.
Nobody has been able to find that myth-induced fountain of youth yet or the cure for the common cold.But cultures have searched for ways to look and feel healthier and younger since the beginning of time. One can, as the old adage goes, eat an apple a day, or meditate, exercise or put on thousands of creams to feel youthful.Or, you can throw your clothes off, have a seat, close your eyes and let the all-encompassing sauna or steam room do it for you.
Steeplechase Productions will present a timeless play in a Wallingford venue nearly a century old.The company will stage Edmond Rostand's "Les Romanesques" at Wallingford's newly remodeled Chapel Theatre in the Good Shepherd Center starting Thursday, Sept. 15, through Oct. 9. Rostand is famous for writing "Cyrano de Bergerac." The romantic comedy - about two fathers who pretend they are mortal enemies to lure their children into a romance - is the basis for the adaptation of the popular musical "The Fantasticks." All performances of "Les Romanesques" will be in French, followed by short intermission and then the English version, "The Romantics."
Every night, I sit at my apartment window like Jimmy Stewart in "Rear Window," watching the drama unfold on the mean streets three floors down. Situated off the southwest corner of Northeast 47th Street and University Way Northeast (the Ave), I have a bird's-eye view of the swath of land spreading out - from the Chevron to the northwest to the Safeway beyond, to the Bank of America directly across from my apartment and then up the street to Earl's and, if I crane my neck, to the intersection crossing over to Tully's on the northeast corner.Every night I hear the heat closing in, see them out there pacing their connection corners, waiting for their man. They toss needles and droppers into the overflowing garbage cans in front of the bank.Junkies have infinite patience, the ugly flip side of our consumer culture. Meth, heroin, pot, pills - it's all out my window for the taking. Even if I'm pretty laissez-faire when it comes to drugs, I'm not so rosy-eyed as to think the culture of drugs is something harmless. It's not a life to romanticize, and the harsher side of it is downright vicious - a cycle of need and glut that wreaks endless damage on a neighborhood.
Many import stores operate similarly. The goods are bought from a manufacturer. Then they are piled, stacked or placed in uniformed rows beside their counterparts on a shelf. There is no depth to these products - no history, no culture.This is what separates these stores from La Tienda, which recently closed its doors after 43 years. "My most memorable trip was visiting with the Kuna natives on the [islands] off Panama," said Leslie Grace, the founder and owner of La Tienda until 1995. "They showed me a mola, a Kuna cloth that is very colorful and whimsical." The unique aspect of La Tienda, Grace explained, is that each artifact that is brought into the store is personally handpicked from the country they were made in. The artifacts are then individually labeled with information about the hands that made them and the culture they were found in.
Listening to Alfred Runte speak about his campaign for Seattle mayor against incumbent Greg Nickels, one can't help but notice the decades of academic experience and environmental activism behind his words. Leaving academia behind, Runte says he sees his call now is to be an active executive for the city. "What else has Mr. Nickels done but be a politician?" Runte asked. With that question ringing in his mind, the Wedgwood resident filed his candidacy in mid-July, deciding it was time to put his own hat in the ring instead of complaining.
It was all smiles a few years ago when Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels cut the ceremonial ribbon. The city had just poured $9 million into the Ave Project to increase economic activity and revitalize University Way Northeast (also known as the Ave), one of the city's more well-known streets.But life in the aftermath of the project, completed in summer 2003, is both better and worse, according to people who live and work in the University District."Some of what they did was fine," said Matt Fox, president of the University District Community Council. "We at the community council were longtime supporters of the project, but we always said it wouldn't solve all our problems." The problem now is crime, and it's starting to dull some of the sheen the city worked so hard to create.
In the aftermath of any national disaster, whether 9/11 or Hurricane Katrina, the local community steps up and donates their dollars. Many local arts organizations are fundraising for Hurricane Katrina victims either through posted links on their websites for the American Red Cross or collections at performances.The Northwest Film Forum (NWFF) will screen Jim Jarmusch's classic funky film "Down by Law" this weekend to help raise money for the hurricane relief fund. From Friday through Sunday, they will do two screenings nightly with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the Red Cross.
There has been much talk lately about moving Seattle's 2006 Pride Parade and Festival to the Seattle Center. Is a move beneficial to the community? Would moving downtown increase visibility, growth and opportunities for revenue? And, for the past few weeks, the response from the community, including many of our Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA) members has been a resounding "no." So, the next response is: Why?When the parade is over and the police are gone, how safe will our zany parade goers be as they make their way home from downtown Seattle?Seattle may be a progressive city that does its best to provide all residents with safety, but ask a member of the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgendered (LGBT) community, or for that matter, any marginalized community, where they feel most safe to be themselves and the answer is, in their own neighborhood. Now, some may argue that LGBT folks live and work everywhere, and that is true, but it is still Capitol Hill (or the Castro in San Francisco, the Village in New York, etc.) that is most identified by gay folks as their neighborhood where they are most comfortably themselves.
So why am I not happy with this mayor? By all accounts he's lavished more attention on our neighborhood than the past two administrations combined. My discontent is driven more by the mayor's style than the substance of his policies. While earning my master's in public administration at the University of Washington, I learned about the importance of collaboration, working cooperatively to solve thorny problems and the necessity for open, transparent communication among policy-makers and the public.My impression of this current administration is that in order to consolidate mayoral power, Nickels has done anything but practice these principles. He uses his aides to stonewall city employees, any accomplishment must have his name stamped over it and he is rarely gracious in his dealings with the city council, instead practicing an iron-fisted form of rule.
Bugs: Don Ehlen's home is filled with them. He estimates there are at least 6,000 insects in his two-bedroom apartment near Broadway.But Ehlen's apartment doesn't suffer from an insect infestation. The bugs are part of his private collection. And they're more than just a hobby. The creatures are part of Ehlen's livelihood. For the last eight years, what had begun as a serious entomological interest evolved into a profession. Through his business, Insect Safari, Ehlen gives insect presentations to schools across the Pacific Northwest.
Paul Slane first noticed the old house while walking his dog in the early months of this year. The home at 225 14th Avenue East, with is striking columns and neo-classical look, stands out in a neighborhood with far fewer of the older, classic homes than are found closer to Volunteer Park. "I had commented to a friend that this was such a great house," he said. "I thought for sure that a developer must have his eye on it."In truth, a developer did have an eye on the property. In March, when this paper ran a story about a possible development project slated for the location, neighborhood efforts were focused on saving the two large sugar maple trees that have a commanding presence on the eastern side of the property. The city had put tree protection notices on them, which prohibits their removal. While the city arborist's office has determined that one of the trees was not in optimal health, both trees remain. Slane certainly appreciated the trees. But he felt more passionate about the house itself. And he wanted to find a way to save the structure. His lengthy efforts may lead to the building being declared a Seattle landmark by the Seattle Landmark Preservation Board.
Americans are witnessing health disparities at a magnitude never before experienced in our lifetime. Hurricane Katrina has grabbed our attention and caused us to alter our agenda to respond to individuals in need. Katrina has forced us to step back and do some soul searching about what it means to be poor, homeless, jobless, sick, elderly, and separated from family. Our society uses such labels when identifying the less fortunate, the groups of people who make the streets their home, the "homeless" individuals holding their signs asking for help as we drive pass. However, Katrina's devastation challenges us to find yet another label and definition for its victims.
With our parents and our children, we saw three generations of hip-hop enjoying themselves together without drugs, alcohol, or violence at the First Annual Jackson Street Block Party. It was off tha chain! Over 200 people showed up to participate in the Aug. 27 party at Delina's on 26th and South Jackson Street. When going through the people present it reads like a "who's who" of Seattle-area media and hip-hop entertainment personalities: Charles Mudede of The Stranger, Lurn of Frequency Latte, Georgio Brown and Noni Cavaliere of Coolout TV, DJ KunLuv of Seaspot Media Group, Phreewil and Inkubiz of the Mind Movers/Project Mayhem, and John Moore of Jasiri Artist Management and co-host of KUBE 93 FM's Sound Sessions.
A child's skills and motivations play a large role in determining how well they're doing in school. With this in mind, last week I discussed several ways you can help your child become organized with their schoolwork at home. However, this is only half of the equation for a successful student: good school organization means good communication skills with educators. It is crucial to your child's success to build a relationship with their teacher. Sadly, and too often, parents only hear from their child's teacher when things are not going well. Teachers are harried, and at times overwhelmed, with a never-ending list of responsibilities.