“Equal time for shop dogs?” he asked – and sent this
We’ve introduced you to three West Seattle “Shop Cats” so far — Seth at West Seattle Nursery (story here) and Presta and Schrader at Aaron’s Bicycle Repair (story here). Along the way, a few people have asked if we plan to highlight “Shop Dogs” too – we’d planned to wait till the “Shop Cats” ran their course, but then Rock Steele sent us the photo above, and this caption:
This is Baron with his person Scott Goerig – owner of Redline Music and Sports on 35th Ave SW just south of Avalon. Baron can be found most days at the Redline greeting guests as they arrive, checking to make sure that everything is OK and policing the floor between naps.
Thanks, Rock, Baron, and Scott! Meantime, we’ve already got more “Shop Cats” in queue – watch this space. (And one plug for a Shop Cat with a special event coming up – West Seattle Nursery’s spring open house is this Saturday, April 11th, more info on the WSN website.)
West Seattle Chamber of Commerce presents its annual awards
That’s Todd Carden of Elliott Bay Brewery and Pub, — a mainstay in The Junction for 12 years — accepting the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s “Business of the Year” award this morning. WSCC members and guests gathered at Salty’s on Alki for the annual awards breakfast, at which County Council Chair Dow Constantine presented the awards; he was one of three political leaders in attendance, along with City Councilmembers Tom Rasmussen and Nick Licata. Introducing EBB owner Carden, Constantine listed the company’s distinctions, particularly in environmental stewardship — first King County brewery to go organic, first in Washington with two organic breweries (there’s an EBB in Burien too), a trailblazing composting program. Carden said he was happy to first hear of the award (reported here March 11) but it didn’t really sink in until he and his wife were visiting stops on the West Seattle Art Walk the next night and “people started congratulating me left and right.”
Also honored this morning — the Community Service Award recipient, Robinson Newspapers founder Jerry Robinson (who, it was revealed after his acceptance speech, turns 89 next Monday). With the trademark humor familiar to readers of his column, he quipped that others might have deserved the honor more — perhaps Rolf Neslund, the ship captain whose collision with the old West Seattle Bridge in 1978 broke a longrunning logjam over whether to build a new one. (Elliott Bay proprietor Carden later joked he might have to name a future beer after Neslund.) Jerry Robinson founded the White Center News in 1952 and bought the West Seattle Herald in 1974; at one point, not that many years ago, he tried to retire, but admitted he felt a bit “useless” in his temporary life of leisure, saying, “Nothing is as fulfilling” as being of service to others.
The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce’s regular monthly meetings are listed on its website at wschamber.com.
Another West Seattle storefront, empty no more: Arcane Comics
Over the weekend we told you about Pilates Westside coming to Morgan Junction, thanks to Mike’s tip; now we have a second tip from Michelle south of Admiral — she spotted the Cometa Playschool sign in former Prudential space on the east side of California (here’s our Friday report on that), and now tells us some of the ex-Prudential west-side space — near where small clothes is moving — has just been claimed by Arcane Comics, which is based in Ballard. Here’s a map. Since her note, we’ve been by to chat with them, and also just caught that shot of their facade wrap going up; they’re technically open but they’re still working to assemble the store, with a lot of work to be done when we dropped by. Their intent is to be “West Seattle’s comics authority,” and they’ll have some gaming supplies too. They expect to be fully up and running within a few days.
This Morgan Junction storefront won’t be empty much longer
Thanks to Mike for letting us know that storefront in the 6500 block of California SW (map), the former home of Aaron’s Bicycle Repair, has swapped its “for lease” sign for a “coming soon” sign — Pilates Westside, says the sign. The company on the business license for that name and this address trace to this local Pilates instructor; we’ll be trying to track her down to find out more. (The bike shop, you may recall, moved a few doors south to the former liquor-store space; we checked recently with the Liquor Control Board to find out if it had secured a replacement West Seattle location yet, and the answer was no.) Morgan Junction’s the hot place to be, not only with this new business moving in, but with Zeek’s Pizza (opening in about a month, reiterates its website) and Feedback Lounge getting closer to opening a few blocks north, and construction well under way on the new park just north of the always-jumping Beveridge Place Pub. (Morgan Junction-area residents and businesspeople, by the way, are reminded that the Morgan Community Association‘s next meeting is 7 pm April 15th at The Kenney.)
West Seattle-based World Baby Foods: Buy local, feed global
By Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
If you’re a parent, Drs. Susanna Block (left) and Jonathan Scheffer want to make your life easier — they want to get your children to eat all the foods you want them to eat: veggies, fruits, grains, and spices.
With World Baby Foods, this West Seattle couple has created a line of baby food for children 6 to 18 months that draws from international recipes to produce wholesome, organic and delicious foods aimed at training your little eater to appreciate a broad range of flavors. They’re now in their third year of business, and continuing to grow.
“Dr. Susanna” is a pediatrician who has practiced in Africa and Indonesia. She noticed that most countries, and even very rural areas without access to resources weren’t transitioning their babies to solid foods the way she was taught children “should” be — with a bland, high carbohydrate diet. She observed: “Many adults would pulverize their own dinners” and feed the babies from their plates.
This was eye-opening for the doctor and led her to begin researching spices and foods and their relationships to children’s diets. She notes: “Mothers who breast-feed their babies pass along the flavors of the foods they eat, and with access to multi-cultural foods and flavors, many babies are experiencing a wide range of tastes. So, WHY weren’t there multi-cultural baby foods?”
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Welcome, new sponsor: Cherry Blossom Aesthetics and Boutique
We wanted to take a moment to let you know about one of the newest WSB sponsors: 
Cherry Blossom Aesthetics and Boutique. As is customary when a new sponsor comes on board, we offer them the chance to tell you about their business, and here’s what Cherry Blossom‘s Aimee Bonomo says: I have been a licensed aesthetician for 10 years. I practiced in Las Vegas for 8 years before moving to West Seattle and opening the Cherry Blossom. I have had a variety of extended-education classes including body treatments, facial peels, HydraFacial, LED lights and MAC pro. I am always taking new classes to better serve my clients. I work with Virginia Rain, who is a wonderful permanent makeup artist and Pranic Healer. Virginia has been an aesthetician for 9 years and has lived in West Seattle for 15 years. We offer HydraFacial, which is a non-surgical facial rejuvenation. This serum-based resurfacing improves the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, congested pores, hyper-pigmentation and acne with no discomfort or down time. The Professional LED lights are amazing for hyper-pigmentation, collagen production, inflammation, and acne. Permanent makeup makes it possible to look better around the clock without spending so much time. It works great for sensitive skin, and active, outdoor lifestyles. Get $50 off your first HydraFacial and 50% off permanent makeup. Call for an appointment or come by. We look forward to hearing from you soon: (206) 933-2824.
Thanks to Cherry Blossom Aesthetics and Boutique for joining the WSB sponsor team, full list here with info on how to join!
West Seattle “Shop Cats”: Meet West Seattle Nursery’s Seth
WSB contributing reporter Keri DeTore asked us the seemingly harmless question: “What do you think about featuring some of West Seattle’s ‘shop cats’?” We almost fell all over ourselves yelling YES! Here’s Keri’s introduction, followed by the first profile:
Keeping the books warm and the mice away; drinking from fountains, greeting customers and saving other cat lives by being blood donors. West Seattle has a number of businesses featuring these furry co-workers who help with rodent control and even have their own fan clubs. We’ll be sharing the stories of these feline friends from time to time.
By Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
West Seattle Nursery’s shop cat is Seth: “Everything’s for sale but the cat.”
(photo courtesy West Seattle Nursery)
As he lounges in his nest at the West Seattle Nursery counter, you’d be forgiven for questioning the “feisty” description many of the folks who work with Seth have given him; but reach out a hand and look what happens — you might be delicately hooked by a slender claw and brought closer for inspection:
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BECU offers SWYFS a helping hand, with donated dollars
Dropped by Southwest Youth and Family Services in North Delridge this afternoon to catch the moment as Sue Mariotti (right) from the Admiral Safeway BECU presented a check for $1,000 to SWYFS, officially accepted by Donna Chapman (left). The money will support the Parent Child Home Program, a SWYFS program that will provide family support this summer to 44 “very low income” Latino, African-American, Somali, and Iraqi families with 2- and/or 3-year-old children. Cara Kroenke of SWYFS explains, “Children living in poverty often miss out on active play and exploration which could enhance their development,” so toward that end, each family will get to choose up to six “field trips,” such as libraries, beaches, or environmental-education parks such as Camp Long, also receiving “developmentally appropriate toys/books reflecting the theme of the field trip.” BECU, by the way, also is a sponsor of SWYFS’s next annual fundraising event, which is now a dinner/auction rather than the traditional breakfast – the date is set for September 18th, with other details to come. Find out more about SWYFS – which is also our area’s lead agency for the city’s Youth Violence Prevention Initiative — at its website, swyfs.org.
New WSB sponsor: Gathering of Neighbors, one week away!
We’re welcoming a new sponsor that happens to also be an event in which we’ll be participating: the Gathering of Neighbors, coming up one week from today, Saturday, April 4, at Chief Sealth High School (@ Boren). Here’s the reminder announcement from organizers:
Gathering of Neighbors takes place on April 4th!
Joining neighbors and businesses in 2009.
Come be a part of the Gathering of Neighbors: Businesses and community organizations from across the West Seattle Peninsula, all together, one day, one place, as “one community.”
More than 75 businesses, resource, and community information groups have registered to participate, so that attendees can experience, in one place and time, the tremendous wealth of services and goods available to them in their own neighborhoods right here in West Seattle.
Sponsored by the Delridge Neighborhood Development Association (DNDA) and the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, the combination of both community and businesses participants promises to have Chief Sealth High School (at Boren) bursting at the seams with booths full of information.
Entertainment and refreshments will also be part of the celebration.
This is the first Gathering of Neighbors in more than two years – a little context, if you are new to the area: It was created by Megawatt, a community-connection nonprofit; when Megawatt disbanded, it looked for organizations to take over its two signature events — DNDA stepped forward to handle Gathering of Neighbors, and we here at WSB took on West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day. In fact, as we mentioned a few days ago, we are going to open registration for this year’s Community Garage Sale Day on Gathering of Neighbors day, and we’re offering special one-day-only in-person discounts if you come to G-o-N and register your sale at our G-o-N table. Even if you’re not planning to participate in WSCGSD, or if you’re not sure yet, we hope to see you there – as do the 70-plus other businesses and organizations that are participating — that’s 11 am-3 pm next Saturday, April 4; here’s a map to the location (and a Google Street View clickable image below):
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Throughout the coming week, we’ll count down to the event with more specifics on who you’ll see when you go.
Yet another banner day, this time for West Seattle Junction parking
More of the West Seattle Junction Association‘s new banners went up today – including banners marking the 4 “free parking” lots that WSJA members pay regular fees to maintain, so customers can park free. (As shown above, these banners are replacing old, well-worn ones.) After our report the other day about other new banners going up around The Junction, some commenters wondered aloud about the new tag line “The Junction: Downtown West Seattle.” It’s been phased in since its first introduction during the promotion for Hometown Holidays before Christmas, but Susan Melrose of the Junction Association elaborates, “It’s part of a rebranding initiative, underscoring the general enlivening and sprucing up of The Junction, but the tagline also touches on the history of The Junction as the natural center of, and gathering place for, West Seattle.” Three of the parking-lot banners were scheduled to go up today. (The lots are privately owned and therefore are not part of the city-led study that is under way to determine whether restrictions, signage, or even pay stations are in order for the city parking around The Junction; for more on that parking study, check out our coverage archives.)
Welcoming a new WSB sponsor: Seattle 911 Driving School
Tonight we welcome a new WSB sponsor: Seattle 911 Driving School is about to start classes at Southwest Community Center in West Seattle. 
New WSB sponsors are always offered the chance to tell you about their business, and here’s what Seattle 911 Driving School wants you to know: Seattle 911 Driving School is the driver-training program where all instructors are police officers. We hire only the finest police officers with knowledge and expertise to prepare you for the great responsibility that comes with obtaining your driver’s license. The most important aspect of driver education is SAFETY, and the best safety feature you can add to your car is a well-trained driver. With police officers as instructors, our students get the most current real-world driving instruction. At 911 Driving School, instructors are highly trained in every aspect of controlling a vehicle and can teach the latest in defensive driving techniques and current traffic laws. Police officers see firsthand the devastation caused by poor driving. That’s why we take an active role in bringing back greater credibility to driver’s education. Our friendly team at the Seattle 911 Driving School is committed to excellence and knows that you’ll find our instruction to be fun, interactive, and comprehensive – the training cars are pretty cool, too. Classes are held on both weekday and weekend schedules to fit your needs and are available in both our main office at the corner of Northgate and Meridian and at Southwest Community Center in West Seattle, 2801 SW Thistle (map). Whether you are a first-time driver, in need of a refresher course, or a new resident to the US, we have the driver-education training you need. Enroll today – we look forward to serving you. You can call Seattle 911 Driving School at 206-366-9111 to find out more about upcoming classes; schedules and class descriptions also can be found online. Welcome to Seattle 911 Driving School; find all WSB sponsors listed on this page, along with information on how to join them!
Wednesday afternoon notes from Alki to The Junction, and beyond
ALKI NEWS: Twofold this time – the latest edition of the Alki News Beacon is available online (with a couple WSB contributions) – see it here; the every-two-months publication usually comes out just before the Alki Community Council meets, and in fact, that meeting is tomorrow night, 7 pm, Alki Community Center. Editor Cami MacNamara also sends word of a revamp at alkinews.com – see it here, including highlights of tomorrow night’s agenda.
SLEEPERS IN SEATTLE, NOT JUST FOR SEATTLE: West Seattle certainly has more than a few businesses that serve customers far beyond the peninsula or even the city limits. On the Junction parking-review walking tour that just wrapped up (story to come), we chatted with Meryl Alcabes (photo left) of Sleepers in Seattle, who mentioned that their nationwide-delivery service is continuing to grow – they’ve even got customers in New York and just expanded their online presence to serve them. (Other West Seattle businesses that sell online too include WSB sponsor Click! Design That Fits.)
EASY STREET MIDNIGHT EVENT: Also while on the Junction walking tour, we noticed the Easy Street Records marquee promoting a midnight sale event next Monday night when four special editions of Pearl Jam‘s 1991 debut “Ten” go on sale. (Easy Street also revamped its website not too long ago – lots of great stuff there if you haven’t visited lately, including an easy place to find upcoming in-store performances.)
CONGRATULATIONS! West Seattle-based Potter Construction is sharing the news that it’s been honored with a 2009 Guildmaster Award for customer service – find out more about it here. (Got big news about YOUR business – or school, or neighborhood, or group, or … ? Let us know!)
Welcoming a new WSB sponsor: Somanda Bodyworks
This morning, we welcome a new WSB sponsor: Somanda Bodyworks in the Admiral District. 
As always, we offer new sponsors the chance to share information about their businesses: Amanda Coleman, LMP, has been a SOMA practitioner for the past nine years. In 2007, she moved her practice here to West Seattle, having previously practiced at The Moving Space in Ballard and Full Circle Wellness on Vashon Island. She’s now in the Admiral District, just a block south of Metropolitan Market. Amanda holds an Advanced degree from the Soma Institute of Neuromuscular Integration®, located near Mt. Rainier. She has recently integrated into her work the osteopathic, gentle-touch techniques of Jean-Pierre Barral, learned from Rolfer Jeffrey Burch in Eugene, OR. She is a member of the International Association for Structural Integrators. SOMA is a series of deep and gentle bodywork sessions that restructure the human body (this includes your brain!). Sessions include re-learning movement and loosening restrictive mental/emotional patterns. Some of the benefits of SOMA include:
· Increased energy
· Greater enthusiasm
· Less tension
· Fewer aches & pains
· Better balance
· More physical awareness
· Emotional openness
· Improved self-reliance
· Heightened creativity
· Youthful appearance
· Enhanced athletic performance
Saturday, March 28th at 4 pm, Amanda will be hosting a live demonstration of SOMA in action at her office at 2650 42nd Ave SW (map). One lucky attendee will win a free session! The demonstration is free; please RSVP since space is limited. You can call her at 206-979-6106 or e-mail her at amandathon-soma@yahoo.com – thanks to Somanda Bodyworks for joining the WSB sponsor team, whose current roster can be found here, along with info on how to become part of it!
Welcoming a new WSB sponsor: Weitzel Construction
Today, we welcome one of our newest WSB sponsors: Weitzel Construction, and as we traditionally do when a new sponsor comes on board, we offer them the chance to share information about their business. Weitzel Construction 
owner Dave Weitzel started his company in West Seattle in 1993. He handles both reconstruction and new construction. Dave says what his customers notice the most is his attention to detail – and he says that attention extends to the people he hires as well, so that Weitzel Construction has assembled a great team as well as building great projects. Dave is active in the West Seattle community as well. He currently serves as a board member for the Admiral Neighborhood Association. And more than a decade ago, he was part of the neighborhood-planning advisory group that worked on the Admiral District’s neighborhood plan. Weitzel Construction is an award-winning company based in West Seattle; you can call 206-935-8440 or find out more about their projects at weitzelconstruction.com. Thanks to Weitzel Construction for supporting local news, information, and discussion by sponsoring WSB; the entire sponsor team is listed on this page, which is also where to find out how to be part of it!
Another West Seattle business move: smallclothes gets bigger
Thanks to longtime WSBer Diane for spotting a “Moving/April 1st” sign on the door at smallclothes (map) and letting us know; sounded like a good excuse to check in on a local business that also happens to be working in the spirit of sustainability – so here’s what WSB’s newest contributing reporter found out during a visit to the store:
By Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Good news for fashion-forward kids and their cost-savvy parents: The resale kids’-clothing and gift store smallclothes is moving across the street to a new space on April 1st. Besides being larger and having an open floor plan, what’s the best thing about the new store? Mother-daughter co-owners Ruth and Stephanie Hargrave agree: “No stairs!”
For the past four years, faithful parents have dragged strollers up a flight of stone stairs to reach the duplex that houses smallclothes, seeking gently used and new clothes for their well-dressed tykes. The owners buy clothes without wear and tear, offering cash or store credit in return. Some of the clothes and shoes are brand-new and still have store tags on them; some have only been worn a couple of times.
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Welcoming a new WSB sponsor: Brunette Mix in The Junction
Today we welcome one of our newest sponsors, Brunette Mix in The Junction. 
Brunette Mix is both a salon and a retail space featuring art — as owner BJ puts it, “creating an atmosphere of the senses.” She features lotions, scents, and clothing that’s comfortable and easy to wear. The idea comes from the first salon she worked at back East. She’s wanted to pursue the idea of a shop and salon since then, but she was only able to put both together at this West Seattle location. BJ explains that the “atmosphere of the senses” in Brunette Mix is a natural outgrowth of how she and her staff interact with their customers. They’ve learned their clients’ likes and dislikes, and that in turn gives way to gift suggestions, for example, like this past Christmas, when BJ said many of her clients’ husbands were able to come in and pick out just the right gift! BJ says that helping customers with personal gift-suggestion touch gives her as much satisfaction as receiving a gift herself. Whether you’re there to buy a gift or get your hair done, BJ says her goal is to be able to not only make you look better, but also feel better as well when you leave. Brunette Mix is also a 
stop on the monthly West Seattle Art Walk. For this month’s Art Walk – happening TONIGHT, 6-9 pm – the featured artist is Ruth Mikos (ruthmikos.com). Brunette Mix will display Ruth’s photos of old circus dolls. You can find Brunette Mix at 4306 SW Oregon (just west of California; here’s a map); phone 206-932-2401; online at brunettemix.com. Thanks to Brunette Mix for joining the WSB sponsor team, all shown here with info on how to join them!
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Congratulations to Elliott Bay Brewery: “Business of the Year”
Patti Mullen of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce tells us it’s OK to share the just-revealed news that Elliott Bay Brewery has been chosen the Chamber’s Business of the Year – so, congratulations, EBB! The award will be presented at a special breakfast event at Salty’s on Alki at 7:30 am April 8th, at which time Robinson Newspapers founder Jerry Robinson also will be honored with the Chamber’s Community Service Award. For tickets , contact the Chamber – 932-5685 (and wschamber.com) – and be sure to look out for copies of the shiny new Chamber-published West Seattle Community Resource Guide!
Looking for work? Liberty Bell Printing offers free resume copies
A freebie too hot to just keep in the WSB Forums’ Freebies, Deals, Sales section — Michael Hoffman at Liberty Bell Printing (WSB sponsor) in The Junction is offering free resume printing:
We know it’s hard out there and Liberty Bell Printing wants to help. Now through the end of March, bring in your resume ready to copy and we will give you 20 FREE copies on stationery paper. Tell us you saw it on West Seattle Blog and will will give you five more FREE for a total of 25!
That’s black/white printing, by the way. Liberty Bell is on the east side of California, a few doors north of Edmunds (map), open Mondays-Fridays, 9 am-5:30 pm.
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