West Seattle, Washington
05 Tuesday
Online ticket sales are closed but a few tickets remain to be bought at the door for tonight’s Taste of West Seattle, 6-8:30 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy, raising money for West Seattle Helpline, co-sponsored by local businesses including WSB – and best of all, featuring 30+ local food/beverage purveyors, including Skylark Café and Club (WSB sponsor), whose bartender Roger and proprietors Jessie and Charlie are shown above, photographed about 45 minutes ago during setup, with (at left) ToWS promoter Brooks. Skylark’s “taste” tonight is toasted ravioli, by the way. And remember that it’s not just a chance to eat and drink – there’s also a silent auction – lots of cool stuff to bid on:
We’ll be heading back down after it starts at 6, for coverage of the event as it happens. And if you want to know more about the nonprofit you’re supporting – West Seattle Helpline’s mission is explained here.
First, the beer part of Beer Fest – Cole and Tyler from Prost West Seattle are at West Seattle Nursery, where proceeds from their beer sales till 5 pm today will benefit the West Seattle Wildlife Habitat Project (as will a portion of today’s WSN proceeds). They’re selling pretzels, too, and spreading the word about their upcoming World Cup viewing sessions – if Germany or the USA is playing, you’ll see the game at Prost, starting with USA vs. England (11:30 am June 12), provided the game’s not outside legal serving hours (6 am-2 am). Back to today’s nursery event: If you don’t know every little detail about the WSWHP – Dolly and Grace are there to answer questions:
You can also join the West Seattle Wildlife Habitat Project group on Facebook to stay connected with this effort to eventually get the entire peninsula certified as wildlife habitat – just like Alki was, last spring (here’s our story about the May 2009 celebration).
(L-R, Feedback Lounge co-owner Jeff Gilbert, general manager Bradi Jones, co-owner Matt Johnson)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
If you can make it to the Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) sometime today/tonight, go ahead and break out in song: “Happy Birthday,” or better yet, “Birthday,” would be appropriate. Today’s the 1st anniversary of Opening Night for Morgan Junction’s rock ‘n’ roll bar/restaurant.
The Feedback’s proprietors have already published a wry-laughter-inducing list of the Top 20 Lessons from their first year – you can read it on the Feedback site. But there’s of course more to the story, so co-owners Jeff Gilbert and Matt Johnson agreed to clear some time for us earlier this week to sit down and look back, while also looking ahead.Read More
(Photos by Christopher Boffoli)
No, “green beer” isn’t just the coloring-added stuff served up on St. Patrick’s Day. It’s a double meaning today for the keg of Elliott Bay Brewery‘s Demolition Ale that an entourage including owner Todd Carden (photo above, left) and chief brewer Doug Hindman (right) delivered by bicycle to the Latona Pub in Green Lake (6423 Latona Ave NE, ) today. The keg got its own helmet and T-shirt:
Covering the departure for WSB, Christopher Boffoli reports, “Latona Pub has been doing events all week in recognition and celebration of Earth Week. All of the beers they have been serving are delivered by human power. And today Elliott Bay delivered theirs via pedal power. Todd Carden of EBB says that people should check out the EBB’s blog and Twitter feed today as they will be offering a special coupon for Earth Day and organic beer.” (You can show the coupon at EBB on your smartphone.)
6:18 PM ADDITION: That’s Carden’s co-owner Brent Norton joining him and Hindman just before they pedaled away. And we’ve found what looks like an arrival photo on the Latona Pub website. And there’s more backstory on the West Seattle-based Washington Beer Blog.
Story and photo by Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
If you’ve noticed activity in the storefront where Dante’s closed a year ago, between the Admiral/California Wells Fargo and Zatz A Better Bagel, here’s what’s coming: The Cask.
The Cask is described by co-owner Shon MacDughlas as an “Old World ale and wine house” which will offer local, independent-label wines and 150 imported beers. MacDughlas notes that the venue, which he co-owns with his wife Dedria Pope, a West Seattle-based Windermere real-estate agent, has applied for a “multi-faceted license” allowing them to offer beverages for retail sale as well as serving them.
The Cask will provide a “cozy” atmosphere with wood features (including the bar top, made from a fallen old-growth fir), lamplight, and music, including a lounge with space to accommodate solo musicians.
This morning we welcome a new WSB sponsor, REDLINE Music and Sports. New sponsors are offered the chance to introduce you to their business, and here’s what proprietor Scott Goerig (right) wants you to know: “REDLINE Music and Sports is more than just a ‘bar.’ I say this confidently, as everyday somebody new still comes in the door and immediately becomes a repeat customer. We are still somewhat of a hidden gem in West Seattle; a delicate mix of a welcoming staff, 70+ menu items (we love homemade and fresh!), diverse nightly events, and a non-pretentious atmosphere where you can relax next to the fire and dine on Chef Joshua’s Hand-tossed NY-Style Pizzas. When the weather’s right you can even hang out and relax on our outdoor patio, the largest of any night spot in West Seattle. Perhaps that’s why in just over 2 years we have won ‘Best New Business‘ 2007, ‘Best Food under $10‘ and ‘Best Bartender‘ 2008, and runner-up ‘Best Bar/Pub‘ and ‘Best Happy Hour‘ 2009 (Best of the Westside), as well as many other accolades. Our energy and dedication are simply unmatched, as we knew it wouldn’t be easy to change West Seattle’s perception of the former businesses that have resided at 4439 35th Ave SW [map] over the past decades. When writing this I couldn’t decide which old adage fits REDLINE best — ‘don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it’ or ‘don’t judge a book by its cover.’ Especially with all the amazingly unique businesses in West Seattle, I truly believe it is what’s inside that counts. It wasn’t easy, but shaking the negative connotation associated with our old red building was only made possible by giving customers GREAT food, AFFORDABLE prices, and a FUN atmosphere. If you haven’t visited us yet, please come say hi and learn what hundreds of other West Seattleites already have; a wonderful experience is located just off 35th near KFC and kitty-corner to the West Seattle Golf Course.” You’ll also find REDLINE online at redlinemusicsports.com.
We thank REDLINE Music and Sports for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our sponsor team, and info on joining, all here.
The state Liquor Control Board just sent out a news release to announce what Westwood Village management had revealed last week – the new liquor store on the northeast side of the center opens this Friday. But there’s also some new info – its operating hours: 11 am-7 pm Mondays-Thursdays, 10 am-8 pm Fridays and Saturdays. (No Sundays, for those who asked.) This replaces the Morgan Junction liquor store that closed a year and a half ago.
Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) proprietor Lora Lewis is pulling an all-nighter right now – not because she, oh, say, drank too much of her own product, but because she’s got a shop full of special guests:
Those are a few members of the video crew that chose Hotwire as the backdrop for what’s known as a “satellite media tour” – here’s the uplink truck parked in the Hotwire courtyard to facilitate the “satellite” part of the phrase:
So what’s the occasion? On behalf of Norton from Symantec, Los Angeles-based “Internet safety advocate” Marian Merritt will be doing three dozen live interviews with TV stations around the country – including Q13 here in Seattle – to talk about the “Top 10 Riskiest Online Cities” list the company just released. Just so happens, Seattle tops the list. So why do the interviews from Hotwire? A producer explained, “We found them online!” (Of course.) Anyway, they’ve got interviews booked starting at 3:10 am our time and continuing up till 9 am, overlapping with Hotwire operating hours (which start at 6:30 am) – so when you drop by for coffee this morning (maybe a Peeps beverage?) don’t mind the TV crew. And be kind to Lora; she’s been at the shop just after midnight, when the crew needed to start setting up – even on the patio:
(next photo added 9:40 am – the producer with the info sheet as they prepared for the Q13 interview)
P.S. As of this writing, we can’t find Symantec’s “riskiest cities” list online … but the producer gave us a printout, so read on if you’re interested (PLUS, added 11:36 am, our video interview with Lora as this all wrapped up):Read More
Thanks to Alison for spotting the liquor-license notice at 4707 42nd SW, across from the north end of Jefferson Square, between Limber Yoga/Seattle Integrated Martial Arts (WSB sponsor) and AAA Travel. We subsequently tracked down and spoke with Morgan Herzog, who plans to turn the space into The Beer Junction: “This will be a specialty beer store. We’ll be focusing on beers all around the world, with an extra focus on beers of the Northwest, local beers … we’ll also probably have a small selection of wine and cigars, but that’s not really our big focus.” Read on for more of what’s planned at The Beer Junction, and a request for your suggestions:Read More
As previewed here last Sunday, today is “soft opening” day for Bin 41, the new wine shop in The Junction (between Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy [WSB sponsor] and KeyBank). We stopped by a little while ago to photograph Bin 41 proprietors T. Frick and Jon McNamara. They’re open till 7 pm today (hours are listed on their Facebook page) but “grand opening” festivities start April 1st.
Quick update on the state liquor store opening in part of the former Famous Footwear space in Westwood Village: Passing through WV just now, we saw center manager Stuart Crandall, asked him if a date was set yet, and he replied, “March 26,” adding that the sign is scheduled to go up tomorrow. This store is meant to replace the one that closed a year and a half ago in Morgan Junction.
That sign on the door at Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) is for a new first-of-its-kind service launched by Hotwire proprietor Lora Lewis – it’s Textwire; text Hotwire your beverage order and the time you’re arriving, and the drink will be ready when you get there. You have to pre-register so they have your name and, if you want, prepayment info on file – then, there’s a special text-only number you’ll be able to use to send the info. Sign up at hotwirecoffee.com or at Hotwire, and while you’re there – with three weeks till Easter, drinkable Peeps are in the house. 
Lora sent the photo at left and explained, “Our much anticipated Peeps drinks are back along with the ‘peep hunt’ for a third year in a row. This year we added a salted caramel lavender Peep beverage. Our Peep hunt is for the kids but let’s face it, who doesn’t like a treasure hunt? so all ages welcome. Find all the pictures of the Peeps at Hotwire and win, well, a Peep.” Four flavors are available – besides the salted caramel (etc.) there’s honey-vanilla, peppermint and strawberry-white chocolate.
(Photo courtesy Ben Shaevitz)
Six weeks after we first heard from Bin 41 proprietors T. Frick and Jon McNamara, their Junction wine shop is right on track with the plan they outlined at the time. They sent an update late last night – they’re getting ready for “soft opening” at 11 am Tuesday: “This will be a casual opening to allow us to interact with our customers and to work through any hiccups that will inevitably occur. We wanted to note that we are not opening with our full anticipated portfolio. This is intentional because we want to get to know our customers to allow us to evolve based upon their input and palates.” They expect the “portfolio” to keep growing as they work toward an April 1st grand opening: “This is a special day, as it is the 15-year anniversary for West Seattle Cellars and the first day for our shop. We are planning some fun tasting events for the grand opening which is scheduled for Thursday, April 1st through Sunday, April 4th.” They promise to keep the updates coming on the Web at bin41wine.com, as well as on Facebook and Twitter. If you’ve been through The Junction lately, you’ve no doubt noticed their signage; they’re adjacent to KeyBank on California just south of Alaska.
Three items of West Seattle interest in today’s Land Use Information Bulletin from the city: First, the permit for a “sidewalk café” at Prost has been approved – we mentioned the application last month; here’s the notice that it’s been approved. Meantime, the future wine/beer bar Locöl (35th/Kenyon) has applied for permission to have an outdoor patio; we profiled Locöl and its proprietors here in January. And outside the beverage world, the land-use permit for Transitional Resources‘ new residential building on SW Avalon has been approved; that opens an appeal period, and anyone interested in how to do that can follow the links on the official notice.
By the time the Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) celebrates its 1st birthday next month, the sidewalk out front will be brand-new – the city says the work should be done by March 19; . In the meantime, the sidewalk repair/replacement work’s a little daunting to look at – this is the view out the front door (the city’s working to protect the street trees):
But Feedback proprietor Jeff Gilbert says they’re still open, regular hours, regular food and fun (as of a few months ago, they’ve been open for lunch, starting at 11 am, and their online calendar lists the weekly special features, like the now-famous Sunday Ribs) . You just need to go ’round back to get in, till the sidewalk’s done.
Last week, we reported the impending closure (after March 28) of Tully’s Coffee in Morgan Junction. Today, another impending closure has been confirmed – Revolution Coffee and Art in the Admiral District. Revolution owners Jason and Pam Douros, who took over Revolution last year, have put up two announcements on its Facebook page this morning. From the main announcement:
We regret to inform you that on March 5th 2010 Revolution will close its doors for the last time. This decision was not easy for anyone involved and it was thought through thoroughly and many options were explored. Unfortunately, due to factors beyond our control we are unable to sell the business at this time and are left with the option of closing and liquidating our assets.
And a separate note “from the barista,” from Pam:
I have been told not to feel too bad that something like between one third and fifty percent of new businesses fail in the first year. Somehow being part of this statistic only makes me feel worse. I wish I could have been more to the community than another statistic. However for what it’s worth, thank you friends and community for being a part of our journey and I am sorry that the trip didn’t last longer.
In the meantime, Revolution is open and invites customers to come in for coffee. They’re at 4217 SW Admiral Way. (Thanks to Jennifer Lynn for the original tip on this.)
This June, it’ll be two years since the Corner Inn closed its doors at Fauntleroy/California, the space now transformed into Zeeks Pizza. But the spirit of the Corner Inn has lived on here and there around West Seattle – and here’s the latest incarnation: We got a note from “Johnny Roadkill” about a new Ladies Night starting up at The Bohemian this Sunday night, with the bartender known best as “Corner Inn Lynne” mixing the drinks Sunday nights, hoping to create a new tradition. Click the image at left to see the flyer full-size; Johnny says, “There will be music, ladies’ drink specials and fun times.” But everyone’s welcome – guys too. (Lynne got mentions in the comments when we covered the Corner Inn’s shutdown in June 2008.)
Tully’s Coffee has just confirmed what we first heard from a barista yesterday – they’re closing their Morgan Junction store next month. Tully’s marketing VP Scott Earle tells WSB that the lease was up, the traffic reconfiguration in the area isn’t working so well for them (among other business factors), so they decided not to renew, and will close the store. He says it’s a store-specific situation and stresses two things: The Alki Tully’s is alive and well, a store they’re “very, very proud of” and “excited about” – and in fact, they’ve just renewed the Alki lease. Second, he says, they’re continuing to look at possible new locations in this area and elsewhere, though nothing’s locked in. The store at Fauntleroy/California is scheduled to close March 28 (that’ll be its last day); he says the company is trying to place its employees in other stores. The location, meantime, is listed as available for lease, with a multi-page flyer already describing the space as a “former coffee house.” The Tully’s store has been at California/Fauntleroy almost a decade – replacing a “Cafe Starbucks,” as briefly noted in this March 2000 Seattle Times column by now-City Councilmember Jean Godden. (Added: Earle says both stores opened in April 2000.)
You might recall, Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) was running an informal Super Bowl poll – offering two special drinks, either of which you could buy to cast a vote for one of the Super Bowl teams. We took the photo above while visiting Hotwire late this morning; proprietor Lora Lewis says the Saints kept the lead even before the game – so Hotwire customers called it! (Saints 31-Colts 17 was the final, in case you’re checking in from a football-free zone.) P.S. One other Super Bowl note if you haven’t seen this a zillion places already – you can find The Commercials in this special YouTube collection.
Lots of options for the Big Game tomorrow – we have added even more to the West Seattle Super Bowl Viewing Guide first published here Thursday night (now up to Version 1.2). As for the game of love — we’ve got a West Seattle Valentine Dining Guide in the works too; here’s version 1.0 – more to be added, let us know if you have full details on something that’s not listed.
Longtime WSB sponsor Hotwire Online Coffeehouse usually offers seasonal beverages (right now a Valentine’s group is among the offerings) – and in the short run, there are two Super Bowl drinks, accompanying a prediction contest – just in from Hotwire proprietor Lora Lewis:
Is it possible to predict the Super Bowl just by a coffee beverage? The customers of Hotwire Online Coffeehouse think so. Starting today customers will begin purchasing the coffee shop’s two Super Bowl beverages in an attempt to predict the outcome of this Sundays game between the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts. The staff will keep track of the beverages purchased and tally up the sales as each drink is sold.
Customers can also leave their name and e-mail address along with their vote. If they pick the winning team Hotwire will give them a free 12 oz Americano and a free hour of Internet surfing. Says Lora Lewis, owner of Hotwire Coffee, “We were able to predict the outcome of the Presidential election with our ‘Barackacanno’ and our ‘Average Joe Biden’ (vote was 65 to 11) why not the Super Bowl?”
The Super Bowl drinks will be available through the third quarter of the Super Bowl Sunday then will be removed for final tally. Winning Customers can pick up their free beverages starting Monday.
The Super Bowl drinks are the New Orleans Saints ‘who-dat?’ special (dark chocolate/cinnamon mocha) and Indianapolis Colts special (blueberry/white chocolate mocha). They’ll be available through the third quarter on Sunday. Hotwire’s at 4410 California, just north of the Junction post office. As for watching the game – no big screen at Hotwire but here’s our list of where you can see it on TV in West Seattle (with food and beverage specials listed as well as TV-screen sizes).
Story and photos by Mary Sheely
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Sixty percent of new restaurants fail within three years. But Mission Latin Restaurant & Lounge, 2325 California SW, is about to celebrate completion of year five.
If there’s a secret to Mission’s success, Eric Cozens, who owns the restaurant along with Peter Morse, says he doesn’t know what it is.
“We feel very blessed to have had it work out,” Cozens says. “I don’t know what the formula is. It was a lot of things coming together: the right place, timing, personalities, economics.”
It helps that Cozens and Morse complement each other in skills as well as personality.
Starting one week from today, there’s a new chance to get together and play games – the old-fashioned analog kind – with friends and neighbors. Darlene, a supervisor at Morgan Junction Starbucks (California/Fauntleroy), e-mailed today to say that as of February 7, they’re starting a weekly “game afternoon,” 3 pm Sundays. She adds, “We will have a few games to choose from, but are encouraging people to bring in their favorites to share and play.” In case you lose track – we’re adding this to the WSB West Seattle Events calendar. (Any other regular game afternoons/evenings we should have on the list? editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!)
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