Review: PetsEnergy pet store, next to Central Market

With a dog and two cats, all spoiled, it's been our habit to visit the two local Mud Bay Granary stores when we need pet supplies. We still do when in the area, but recently I noticed a new shop in the strip of businesses that border Central Market. It's called Pets Energy, and besides being a very convenient stop when we're shopping next door for groceries, it's also a pleasant place to visit.

The shop is small, and not as large or as well-stocked as some of the more well-known pet stores in the area, but any deficiencies are made up for by the cordiality of the proprietors. They often bring their happy, floppy basset hounds to sit on their own couch in the store and greet customers' dogs, and while mutual dog butt-sniffing is in progress, the owners will chat with you about your own pets' needs. They're very helpful and knowledgeable about the foods they carry, and are responsive if you have a special request. My own pup is crazy for squeaky tennis balls; I mentioned it once, and the next week, there were plenty in stock, specially ordered for us.

Pets Energy carries the better brands of food, including gluten-free, organic, and hypoallergenic varieties, as well as a small selection of toys and chewables. While the foods run a bit higher in price than Mud Bay's offerings, the natural bones (filled with some kind of doggie-beloved goop) are the cheapest I've seen.

So if you're shopping at Central and just remembered that you need some kibble, you might give Pets Energy a try. There's even a cigar shop next door, in case you need some people treats (should those be to your taste).

Do you have a favorite pet supply store? Would you rather visit a local store, drive a bit farther for your pet stuff, or order online? You can leave a comment below (no account is needed).

Link to: Mud Bay Granary

Link to: Pets Energy

New public art in Echo Lake park

Contemplating the Arc

The sculpture in Echo Lake park is basically complete. Earlier today I sent an email to the artist, Stuart Nakamura, to ask him if the piece has a title and if he had anything he'd like to say to the residents of Shoreline, via the Ronald Bog blog. Here's what he wrote back:

The only remaining work is the landscaping which will be done this Wednesday and Thursday--electrical hookup to the integrated landscape lights will most likely be done later. The title is, "Contemplating the Arc," owing to the curvature in the design. The artwork is meant to be a place to sit and relax while in the company of the water and vegetation of Echo Lake. This park, while small in size, is just the right size for this kind of activity. Its location near the trail and out of the "basin" of the park was meant to save the largest part of the grassy area for more active usage. The copper painted steel "reeds" reflect wetlands nature of the park, the granite inlay design suggests the movement of water, and the natural stone provides an interesting texture to the piece.

Click the link below to learn more about this project, including how it was funded, and information about the artist, Stuart Nakamura. You can also see photos of the installation in earlier stages of construction.

Link to: All posts about this piece of art

Link to: All posts about public art in Shoreline

Shoreline 7-11 sells winning lottery ticket

We have a winner! The 7-11 store at the corner of 185th and Stone Ave has a sign posted in their front window that says "Check your tickets!!!" If you bought a ticket at this store for the drawing last Saturday (July 26, 2008), you may have won $9,700,000. I hope the winner was a Shoreline resident. How cool would that be?

Is this where you buy lottery tickets?

If so, you might be rich!

Have you ever won the lottery? What was it like? What would you do with such a windfall?

Neighborhood Associations of Shoreline

This map is from the City's website

Shoreline is comprised of 14 individual neighborhoods and the City of Shoreline has a "Neighborhoods Program." According to the City's website, the program "promotes a mutually beneficial working relationship between the City and its neighborhoods through information and community awareness programs."

There is some good information posted to the City's website, including contact information for each neighborhood association. Also, Shoreline Police provide monthly crime maps indicating the most common property crimes in Shoreline. You can find links to that stuff and more by starting at the City's Neighborhoods Program webpage (link below).

Not every Neighborhood Association in Shoreline has a webpage, but following are links to the ones that do. If your neighborhood isn't listed here, it's because your neighborhood association doesn't have a website. In that case, check the City's webpage for contact information.

Link to: Ballinger Neighborhood Association

Link to: Briarcrest Neighborhood Association

Link to: Echo Lake Neighborhood Association

Link to: Highland Terrace Neighborhood Association

Link to: Hillwood Neighborhood Association

Link to: Innis Arden Club, Inc.

Link to: Meridian Park Neighborhood Association

Link to: Richmond Beach Community Association

Link to: Ridgecrest Neighborhood Association

Link to: City of Shoreline Neighborhoods (look here if your neighborhood is not listed above)

Link to: City of Shoreline Neighborhoods Program

If any of the above information is inaccurate, or if your neighborhood association DOES have a website that's not listed here, please let us know!

Hotwire Coffee in North City now serving beer & wine

Hotwire North: 17551 15th Avenue NE, Shoreline

Local coffeehouse, Hotwire, announced in a recent newsletter that they now serve beer and wine, as well as coffee, snacks and WiFi. They have outdoor seating for those nice days we've been having recently; perfect for people-watching on 15th. And inside, you can use their computers to surf online, or watch one of the bands that sometimes perform there. Hotwire even has their own MySpace page.

Hotwire: Now Serving Beer & Wine

Hotwire often has live music on Friday and Saturday evenings

Click here to get a coupon you can use at Hotwire to get a second beer or wine at half price. The coupon is valid through Sunday, 7/27. Tell them you got it from the Ronald Bog Blog!

So, readers, what's your favorite coffee around town? Your favorite watering hole? Do you like the idea of coffee and alcohol both available at the same location? Drop a note in the comments section below (just click where it says "Comments") and share your thoughts.

What is this website all about?

Are you wondering what, exactly, this "Ronald Bog Blog" is all about? Hopefully the following will answer some of the questions you might have...

Q: First of all, what is a blog?

A: Well, a blog is simply a website that allows people (you, for instance) to provide feedback and comments on what is posted. If you're reading a "post" (article) and you have a thought or some information to share, you can simply click just below the post where is says "COMMENTS". This opens up a little window where you type your comment. You can choose to login if you have a 'Blogger' account, or you can simply make your comment anonymously. It's really quite simple and it gives us all a way to share ideas and information. Try it sometime, even if just to say hi!

Q: So what's the purpose of this blog?

A: Broadly, the idea of the Ronald Bog blog is to help build community in Shoreline Washington. We hope that people who live, work, or go to school in Shoreline will read the blog and provide feedback. We want the site to be informative and interesting. We're posting information about city government, local businesses, Shoreline history, events, and observations of what's happening around Shoreline. We've posted everything from information about a tiny historic roadway in Shoreline to a Pez dispenser for dogs that was on sale at a drugstore in Shoreline. You'll probably see stuff here both serious and silly. If you have ideas or suggestions about what you'd like to see here, please let us know! We want this to be Shoreline's community website. So, if it's happening in Shoreline, it's fair game for this blog.

Q: Who's behind this blog?

A: The Ronald Bog blog is written and maintained by Shoreline residents. Sonya has lived in Shoreline since 1998. Bernard has lived in Shoreline since 2000. (update: as of Summer 2009, Bernard is not currently living in Shoreline and will be posting very rarely, if at all) Diane came on board in Spring of 2009. You can learn a little more about these folks by clicking on the links below.

This blog is not affiliated with, supported by, or approved by the City of Shoreline or any other entity, public or private. Any comments, corrections, suggestions or criticisms should be directed to the blog's authors.

Thanks for reading the Ronald Bog blog! Please bookmark this site so you can check back often. And please feel free to make comments on what you see posted on this website. After all, that's the whole point! :)

Link to: Learn more about Sonya

Link to: Learn more about Diane (DKH)

Link to: Learn more about Bernard

Click here to send us an email

ShoreDog meeting this Saturday; discuss off-leash areas!

Got a restless pup? Tired of driving out of the area to visit an off-leash dog park? You might be interested in the upcoming ShoreDog meeting, this Saturday at Lake Forest Park Third Place Commons meeting room, from 11:00 am to noon. Be there to discuss the potential sites for Shoreline's proposed off-leash park, and consider joining ShoreDog to support the project. See you there!

If you're a dog owner, or have some opinions on where the park should be, you can post your thoughts here by clicking "Comments" under this post.

Shoreline City Council Business Meeting, July 28th

The Shoreline City Council will be meeting on Monday, July 28th, at the Shoreline Conference Center's Highlander Room. Now, if you're like me, you may have flipped the channel past these meetings on television from time to time; maybe you stop to see what's going on. Maybe you're more involved and actually attend the meetings. Maybe not. If not, you might think about going; there are usually topics discussed that affect all of us living in Shoreline, and the public is allowed to comment.

The meeting on the 28th will address issues including a mini-grant for the Meridian Park neighborhood, construction at Richmond Beach Saltwater Park, the upcoming "National Night Out" on August 5th, and the "Celebrate Shoreline" event on August 12th.

You can download a complete agenda in PDF format here. It's pretty hefty; 128 pages, including minutes from recent meetings. Are you curious about what your neighbors and fellow Shoreline residents are saying at these meetings? The public commentary can make for quite interesting reading!

For example, I mentioned a neighborhood mini-grant earlier. I wasn't sure what that might be, exactly, but in the June 9th meeting minutes (part of that same agenda packet) I read that Patty Hale thanked the Council for grants that allowed her neighborhood to plant trees, develop a logo, and establish signage. They also funded playground equipment for Ridgecrest Elementary.

The Meridian Park requested mini-grant is $3,100, and is intended for three projects: signs and a banner to "raise neighborhood awareness of the newly rejuvenated Meridian Park Neighborhood Association," removal of blackberries and planting of native plants at Ronald Bog, and add new plants and bark at Meridian Park Elementary.

The agenda packet provides complete details on these projects, down to the $168 for locks to prevent people from stealing the signs. And there are several other projects addressed in the packet, some of which might concern your neighborhood. If you're curious, take a moment to download and read through the agenda, and if you feel like participating, you might want to go to the meeting. Decisions will be made which may directly affect your quality of life in the future!

If you've attended City Council meetings in the past, what was it like? Please leave a comment by clicking below where it says "COMMENTS"

Photos and videos from Swingin' Summer Eve

Did you make it to Shoreline's Swingin Summer Eve this year? I hope so! If not, you missed out. But you didn't miss out entirely. Luckily for you, we here at the Ronald Bog Blog were there and have these photos to share. Enjoy! If you were there, what did you think? Did you buy a hotdog from the firemen? Did you bounce in the Wizard's Castle? Did you buy a used book? Did you shake your booty? Do tell! Leave a comment at the end of this post by clicking where it says 'comments'. It's quick, easy and fun!

Afrodisiacs perform live!

The Wave of Fire

Wizard's Castle!

Emergency preparedness information from the City of Shoreline

The Shoreline Council of Neighborhoods was on hand

A map of Shoreline's neighborhoods

Some new pals we met at the Council of Neighborhoods table!
Introduce yourselves in the comment section, y'all! :)

***

And here's a couple of short videos for your entertainment:

Afrodisiacs perform "We Are Family"

Deano the clown was chasing people with this big rolling tube!

Link to: Deano the Clown

Link to: Afrodisiacs

Link to: City of Shoreline Neighborhoods Program

Gods of the Night:Aerial Dance Show July 25 & 26

The Cabiri Aerial Dance show, Gods of the Night, is happening this weekend (July 25 and 26, 2008) at the Shorecrest Performing Arts Center in Shoreline.

Here's some information sent to me by Amanda Frank, one of the Cabiri performers:

In a unique blend of European cirque and classic storytelling theater, this production invites audiences to steep themselves in tales both glorious and tragic drawn from ancient Mesopotamian mythology.

The production will be presented in three sections: Prayers to the Gods of Night, The Planets, and Descent of Inanna. Highlights of the show include nimble, powerful aerial dance depictions of celestial deities Shamash (Sun), Sin (Moon), Ishtar (Venus) and Nergal (Mars). The epic Descent of Inanna features a cast of 40 dancers and an appearance by Ereshkigal, Queen of the Sumerian Underworld. Each piece in the production will feature athletic, entrancing performances on a variety of aerial apparatus including trapeze, tissu, hoop, sling, and harness.

Sounds pretty cool!

Where: Shorecrest Performing Arts Center (15343 25th AVE NE., Shoreline)

When: July 25th at 8pm, July 26th at 2pm, July 26th at 8pm

Link to: Cabiri website

Link to: purchase tickets (at Brown Paper Tickets)

Swingin' Summer Eve at Cromwell Park, July 23, 2008

Afrodisiacs of Seattle

(photo is from their website)

The City of Shoreline's website says Swingin' Summer Eve is "a delightful summer evening full of music, games, food, face painting and a used book sale. Kids will enjoy the pre-concert games and activities in the wide open field at Cromwell Park. The whole family will enjoy the barbeque fundraiser hosted by the Shoreline Fire Department, followed by an evening of music from the group Afrodisiacs. Admission to the event is free, with a nominal fee for food, books and inflatable games."

Will disco cover band Afrodisiacs pull out Super Freak by Rick James? Or perhaps Celebration by Kool and the Gang? There's only one way to know for sure. Be there! Click here to post your requests in the comment section just in case the band checks this website before tomorrow night's gig. Hey, they might. You never know! :) You can click the Afrodisiacs link below to see the songs they play.


What: Swingin' Summer Eve
Where: Cromwell Park (18009 Corliss Avenue N., Shoreline WA)
When: Wed, July 23, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.

UPDATE: Link to: Photos and videos from this event
Link to: City of Shoreline events page
Link to: Afrodisiacs songlist

Council of Neighborhoods Used Book Sale, July 23rd

The Shoreline Council of Neighborhoods is holding a used book sale on Wednesday, July 23rd, at Cromwell park, as part of Shoreline's free "Swingin’ Summer Eve" celebration. Paperbacks will be 50 cents, hardbacks will be a dollar. Representatives of the neighborhoods will be there too, to talk about neighborhood activities.

More information about the city Council of Neighborhoods is available on the city's website. Here is the contact information for the various neighborhoods.

Council of Neighborhood meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Spartan Room of the Shoreline Conference Center, 18560 First Ave. NE and are open to the public.

Photos from Shoreline SolarFest 2008

A few photos from the 5th Annual Shoreline Solarfest, held in Shoreline Washington on July 19, 2008.

A display about solar energy, naturally

Cool solar contraptions for the kids to mess around with

Solar baking (it seems to take quite awhile to make cookies)

There was musical entertainment through the day

The Bag Monster is made of 400 plastic bags and represents 3 months worth of bags used by a typical family of four. Apparently the Bag Monster concept was created by the folks at ChicoBag. A ChicoBag is (according to their website) "The unforgettable, ultra-compact, reusable bag that fits in a pocket!" Learn more about ChicoBag by clicking here.

The Bag Monster's cute little bag pup

They Shall Walk is developing an intelligent robotic powered brace called the LIFESUIT to allow paraplegics and elderly to freely walk again.

Electric vehicles on display

The Pissed Off Patriot van

Yay for freedom of speech!!

Link to: More info about Bag Monsters

Northwest Junior Pipe Band

This ain't your grandpa's pipe band.

Todd Schiele (President of the Northwest Junior Pipe Band) sent an email to let us know:

Shoreline is home to the Northwest Junior Pipe Band. It’s a volunteer-run non-profit organization founded in 1995 to promote Scottish piping and drumming and teach youth to play. Members range in age from 7 to 18, averaging around 13.

NWJPB is the Washington State Champion Pipe Band and they're the only youth bagpipe band from the United States going to the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland this year. They’re also the first (youth) pipe band from Washington State to ever go to the World Championships.

If you would like to see them practice sometime, just contact them. According to their website, they love to have visitors at practice.

Link to: NW Junior Pipe Band

Link to: NWJPB at MySpace, for music and videos (check out "Song for the Small Pipe")



Did you know Shoreline was home to such a talented bunch? Do you know of any other Shoreline based bands we should mention here? Post to the comments section and we'll take it from there.

Don't feel like cooking tonight? Some takeout and delivery options for Shoreline

Some days it's too hot or too cold, or you've had a long day, or you just can't stand your own cooking anymore. You don't feel like going out; you just want to order some food, have it cooked for you, maybe even brought to your door, and eat off paper plates so you don't even have to do the dishes. Believe me, I know how you feel.

I have a little basket in the kitchen filled to the brim with food options for days like that. Here's a roundup of the take-out menus in that basket: a sampling of what Shoreline and surrounding areas can offer you on those lazy days. When a restaurant doesn't have a website, I've linked to other reviews.

Pizza and Pasta

Amante Pizza and Pasta, Shoreline. 206-362-6666
Free delivery between 125th and 175th, according to their map, but we live just outside that area and they still bring us food. And it's good food! We love Amante. The pizzas are tasty and come in all sorts of interesting topping combos, or you can make your own. My personal addiction is pepperoni, feta cheese, and big chunks of roasted garlic. They also have pastas, salads, decent buffalo wings, and calzones. There are low-carb options and sandwiches too. And after your first delivery, you get a set of coupons for things like a free half salad with a large or XL pizza, and they don't take the coupon away, so you can use it every time. They're open until 11 pm. A large "House Special" runs $22.00, XL is $25.20.

Pagliacci Pizza, Shoreline. 206-726-1717
A lot of folks swear by Pagliacci, and I'd rank them just under Amante. There are many, many toppings to choose from, including more interesting ones like capers, kalamata olives, and something called "Mama Lil's Peppers." They also sell gelato, according to the flyer I have, and wouldn't that be nice delivered to your doorstep on a hot day? A large "Brooklyn Bridge" costs $22.99.

Romios Pizza and Pasta, Edmonds. 425-744-0284 Another local favorite, Romios offers free delivery from 11 am to midnight on weekends (and until 11pm Sunday through Thursday). Their selection is very similar to Amante, with pizzas, pastas, calzones, sandwiches, low-carb offerings, and salads. A large "Complete Combo" will set you back $23.00.

Spiros Pizza and Pasta, Shoreline. 206-546-2900
A small, family-run place with three locations, Spiros is my personal winner in the pasta category. This is mainly due to their simple but tasty Spaghetti and Mizithra meal. Spiro's doesn't deliver, but their menu is online if you want to order something and pick it up. Pizzas range from $10.95 to $19.95, pastas from $8.95 to $10.95. The staff at Spiros is friendly and seems glad to accommodate you either for takeout or dining in.

Mexican

Taqueria Guaymas, Shoreline. 206-542-0302
I can't say enough about this place...I love it! Everything I've tried there has been delicious. You can eat in or take out; they don't deliver, but it's worth the trip to pick up some of their delicious Mexican food. You even get a bag of chips and some of their tasty salsa with your to-go. If you stay, though, you can order one of several margaritas. The tacos are my current favorite dish; for only $2.95 to $3.75 (depending on filling) per taco, you can build a happy plateful. Or for around $8.25 up to $12.95, you can choose your own combo of the various offerings, from verde enchiladas to chalupas, and all kinds of things in between.

Taqueria El Sabor, Shoreline. 206-417-3346
This bright little building on Aurora looks, inside and out, like some kind of Mexican fast food chain. I was surprised to find that the food there is actually not bad. With super-colorful photo menus, the business in the old U-Grill (R.I.P.) spot offers a selection of interesting items; the usual taco-truck offerings are represented, but also burgers, salads, and a parade of deserts. There's a to-go menu available, but the website appears to be under construction, so you might want to stop by and see the large color photos of the food you can choose from. Prices are great; tortas are$4.99, salads $5.99, and most of the other items run under $7.00.

Asian

Ichi Bento, Shoreline. 206-363-1663
A tiny building across from the Safeway on 15th, Ichi Bento offers a selection of sushi and bento meals. The sushi is all right, nothing superb, but the bentos are enough food for two people; you get soup, lots of teriyaki and rice, a ton of tempura, and a little salad. It's all pretty good, and the prices aren't bad: $8.25 to $8.95 for the bentos, and rolls from $3.99 to $7.50. They are closed on Sunday and open to 9pm the rest of the week. They don't deliver, but you'll want to grab a menu for takeout when you're in the area.

Asian Palette, Shoreline. 206-533-1927
In the relatively new strip mall that includes a Starbucks, Subway, Gold's Gym and the liquor store, this little shop seems to be having a bit of an identity crisis. When they first opened, we tried out a couple of dishes, and found them disappointingly mediocre. Not long ago, they store appeared to have changed management, some items were taken off the menu, and trying it again, we found that the quality had improved a bit. Now, in a new attempt to find itself, Asian Palette has begun offering frozen yogurt. This, we have not tried. I'm not against frozen yogurt, but the last two experiences have made me wary. But if you're in the area, you might as well give them a try; they have an edible bento offering and a small selection of rolls. The main bento box runs $10.99, and there are several teriyaki dishes in the 6 to 8 dollar range. I don't know whaat the yogurt costs. Take out or eat in, they don't deliver.

Black Pearl, Shoreline. 206-365-8989
Delivering between Northgate Way and 185th, Black Pearl is a great lazy Friday option. They offer a fairly standard selection of Chinese (American Chinese) food, with a few standout dishes. I particularly like the soft wontons in spicy garlic peanut sauce appetizer ($7.25), the Black Pearl Special Fried Rice ($8.95) and the Four Season Delight ($14.95).

Sushi Moto, Edmonds. 425-673-5477
This is, to me, the best sushi in the area. They don't deliver, but are great for take-out or eating in. Sushi Moto offers katsu and teriyaki dinners, donburi bowls, noodles, and so on, but I go there for the sushi and sashimi. There are several tempting combos, if you're feeling like some variety: a sashimi/sushi combo for $20.50 provides 9 pieces of sashimi, 6 pieces of sushi and 8 pieces of rolls. Sushi combo A ($15.50) includes 6 pieces of sushi and 8 pieces of rolls, and combo B ($9.50) gives you 4 pieces of sushi and 6 pieces of rolls. The combos all come with miso soup. There are over 20 rolls to choose from on the regular menu, and as many choices in the nigiri sushi list.

Indian

Taste of India, North Seattle. 206-528-1575
They're a bit outside of the Shoreline range, but close enough, and just plain wonderful enough, that I didn't want to leave Taste of India off the list. No delivery, just take-out and eating in the small, always crowded restaurant – but some of the best Indian food in the the area. Prices have gone up over the last few years, but they're still reasonable for the quality: most dishes run $7.95 to $13.95, depending on the main ingredient (veggies, chicken, lamb, beef, fish or prawns). Family favorites for us include the mango curry, chicken tikka masala, tandoori chicken and – trust me on this – you HAVE to get a garlic naan.

Zaika, Shoreline. 206-306-0880
This small shop on 15th only recently caught my eye, though apparently they've been there for two years or so. I can't say I regret not noticing them earlier, because we were pretty unimpressed by the meals we tried at lunchtime one day. And on top of that, the owner was burning so much incense that you could see it hanging in the air, and smell nothing else. I was told that they do deliver, but only for orders of $50 or more. Prices are decent, however; most entrees are in the $10 to $13 range.

Thai

Thai Bistro, Shoreline. 206-533-6200
Located in the same little strip mall as the abovementioned Asian Palette, Thai Bistro is the far better choice. No delivery, but it's worth going in to see the unexpectedly lovely decor. They offer a great curry selection – red, yellow, green, panang, mussaman, duck, royal curry and jungle curry. The prices for those range from $9.25 to $13.95, and all are delicious. Also tasty are the signature plates; my favorite is the Crispy Garlic Seafood ($13.95). When eating in, have a Thai iced coffee. Yum!

Kam Rai, Shoreline. 206-366-0999
Another constantly changing business, this tiny building shares a parking lot with a 7/11 and the Shoreline Community College hair salon on 160th. But don't let that fool you; the current owners are serving up very good Thai food, and will deliver for orders of $20 or more. We found it hard to rack up that much in charges, believe it or not; the prices are quite good, for large portions of tasty food. The phad thai, noodle dishes and curries all run around $8.50; prices were recently raised, but only by around a dollar per dish. The Garlic Lover's Delight, my favorite meal, is also only $8.50, and it lives up to its name. They're open every day until 9pm, and also offer catering service.

and finally...my choice for best take-out in Shoreline:

Grinders, Shoreline. 206-542-0627
Oh, Grinders. How wonderful you are. Even thinking about you causes me to gain weight. But I do so love the food there! Every single thing that has ever come out of the Grinders kitchen is, to the best of my knowledge, heavenly. The sandwiches. The salads. And the incredible bread pudding with whiskey sauce. Oh so good. Prices may seem high for a sandwich, but believe me, you get more than "just" a sandwich; two people could eat one of these for lunch with no problem. My favorite is the Ciabatta Grinder ($8.95), with tons of Italian meats, mozzarella, and some kind of yummy garlic spread. If you dine in, be prepared for a bit of a wait, because word is getting out about this place. But they do offer a very good beer selection to wash down your grinder, and the owner will help you pick just the right one for the sandwich you choose. My only peeve about Grinders is their wacky hours. They're open until 8 pm (only 8 pm!) on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and closed Tuesday and Sunday. But...but...I really want a grinder some Sundays! Still, I forgive Grinders because they are so very good. You must, must try that bread pudding some time. Trust me.


That's it; I hope this list has been helpful for you on those don't-wanna-cook days. But we'd love to hear from you about your favorite Shoreline chow! Please take a moment to leave a comment about places you like, want to try, or want to warn everyone away from. You don't need an account to comment!

Owl causes power outage

Did you wake up this morning and notice that your clocks were flashing 12:00—12:00—12:00?


According to the Seattle Times, an owl flew into some power lines around 2 a.m., causing power outage in Shoreline and Lake Forest Park neigborhoods.

Sadly, the owl was killed instantly.

It's amazing how fragile our power grid seems sometimes. The windstorms we saw this winter caused enough trouble; is it time to switch to underground cables? What do you think; would it be worth the investment?



Photo by Steve Deger, licensed under a Creative Commons attribution license.

5th Annual Shoreline SolarFest: July 19, 2008

Sustainability anyone?

This weekend the Shoreline Solar Project presents: Shoreline SolarFest

SolarFest seems to consist of two elements: a "kick off" event and a fair.

According to the Solar Project's website, the kick-off will be held this Friday, July 18th at 7pm at the Aurora Church of the Nazerene (175th & Meridian). There will be a fashion show by Haute Trash (described as a troupe of resourceful artists who produce runway fashion shows with hilariously trashy, incredibly flashy, amazingly creative costumes made of totally recycled trash). There will also be a silent auction with proceeds going to support SolarFest.

The fair is the following day: Saturday, July 19th from 10am - 8pm at Meridian Park School (also 175th & Meridian).

Guest speakers will address various sustainability issues including: green building, solar power, water harvesting, and more. There will also be dozens of exhibitors with ideas about and suggestions for living a more earth-friendly lifestyle.

The fair will also include a sale of used goods, electronics recycling (at a discount), solar cooking demonstrations, and a 'Kid Zone' where your kids can make a Solar Contraption(!) - they'll even be provided with a solar panel and a solar motor. Your kid could be a mad solar-scientist for a day!

There will even be a few bands playing music throughout the day. Get all the details by clicking on the link below.

Link to: All the details about SolarFest

Link to: Article about SolarFest in The Shoreline Journal

UPDATE - Link to: photos from SolarFest 2008

This is the 5th annual SolarFest. Are you planning on attending? Have you been to past SolarFests? Please leave your thoughts in the comment section below.

Is a historic Shoreline road hitting a dead end?

The end of the road

Heading north it connects with Aurora.

A piece of Shoreline history meets a dead end.

A couple weeks ago I posted some information about the history of Ronald Pl. N. - specifically the curvy piece of red brick road between Aurora Rents and Top Food. When I wrote that post I didn't realize that there's actually another piece of that road on the other side of 175th, running from the back of Walgreen's parking lot out to Highway 99. As you can see in the photos above, it's pretty much been rendered useless.

Someone commented on the original post with dire warnings about the future of the road, saying that it's at risk, but leaving no details. So I wrote an email to the City of Shoreline asking about it. Here's the deal (as far as I can tell): the curvy piece of Ronald Pl. N. that currently connects Highway 99 and 175th is indeed going to go away, while the piece that runs alongside the Interurban Trail (that's the piece that dead-ends at the Walgreens parking lot) may be incorporated into 'Interurban Park'.

Here's a quote from the email: "The backbone of the Interurban Park is Ronald Place. There will be a public process to aid plan development. How the red brick road is highlighted as part of the park will be determined through plan development." Click here to read the entire email.

What do you think? What would you like to see happen with Ronald Pl. N.? Do you think it's important to preserve it? Post your thoughts to the comment section below (you don't need to log in or have an account to leave a comment).

Link to: earlier post about Ronald Pl. N.

Cocoa Martini concert on Wednesday, July 16th

Jazz trio Cocoa Martini will be playing in Cromwell Park (Meridian and 182nd) this Wednesday as part of Shoreline's free concert series. The show starts at 7pm.

Fronted by jazz singer Mercedes Nicole, the group performs soulful jazz and R&B in the tradition of Sarah Vaughn and Billie Holiday. They've played at Seattle's Triple Door, and several other top local venues. It should be a great show! The weather is, however, supposed to be cooling off on Wednesday, with a little rain in the forecast, so let's hope that the gals aren't rained out.

Are you planning on going to the show? How do you like the free concert series? Please feel free to comment below (you don't need a Blogger account to leave a comment).

Mystery sign: Why the clearcut of trees?

Here's a little mystery; this sign is tacked to a pole next to Shoreline's Berean Bible Church. "Why the clearcut of trees? Ask your pastor. [sad face]".

What trees could the mystery note-writer be referring to? There doesn't appear to have been extensive tree-chopping done recently around 185th and 1st near the church. A cursory Google search doesn't link pastor Jim Shemaria with any logging operations. There aren't all that many trees on the Berean grounds, true, but the note-writer is a little tardy if that's his or her gripe, since whatever forestation was once there was probably removed when the church was built.

So what is this little note about? Any ideas? Has anyone asked the pastor, and what response was given?

If you know, please make a remark in the comments section. You don't need an account to comment, so if you're in on this controversy, you can remain anonymous.

New construction coming on the Interurban Trail

Bicyclists, joggers, dog-walkers, and everyone else who uses the Interurban Trail through Shoreline will soon be able to visit our neighbors to the north more easily.

The trail, which has seen vast improvements over the last few years thanks to $11.3 million in grants and Shoreline's capital improvement fund, currently ends at the King-Snohomish county line. But thanks to the folks in Montlake Terrace, a widened portion of the trail will be constructed along 76th Street SW, connecting the trail to the Edmonds border.

From there, trail users will be able to continue to the Montlake Terrace part of the trail, and from there to Lynnwood, and all the way to Everett.

The new construction is anticipated to begin in Fall of 2009, hopefully ending in time for long summer bike rides in 2010.

Do you use the trail? Do you feel it's a good use of the city's money? According to the city's website, no taxes were raised in order to refurbish the trail - was the city's grant money well-spent by improving the trail?

Leave your thoughts in the comments area below (you don't need to have a Blogger account to comment).

Link to: All posts about the Interurban Trail

Jazz and salmon at Central Market

As mentioned in an earlier post: On Friday nights throughout the summer Central Market in Shoreline is offering dinner and music. They call it "Friday Nights at the Market". Last night was fusion jazz and grilled salmon.

So I stopped by Central Market last night to see how the event was going. As advertised, the Scott Lindenmuth Trio was performing. And the salmon was grilling. The food looked good, but I didn't stick around to try it. I was there shortly after 6pm and there was a line of at least 50 people waiting for food!

Salmon on the grill

Servin' it up

Scott Lindenmuth Trio

Link to: Friday Nights at the Market (see the full schedule)

Link to: Scott Lindenmuth's webpage

Traffic circle sign down

Looks like someone starting turning a little too soon!

Be careful out there.

Link to: Earlier post about traffic circles

Update: The sign has now been replaced with a new one. (7-11-08)

Friday nights at Central Market: dinner & music

Central Market in Shoreline is located just west of Aurora Avenue North at North 155th Street. On Friday nights through the summer they're offering dinner and music. Here's what's happening the next few weeks. For instance, on July 11th you can enjoy fusion jazz and grilled salmon for a mere $7.00. The link below goes to the complete summer schedule.

Link to: Friday Nights at The Market

Link to: Photos and video from the July 11th event

Demolition at 175th and Midvale is making way for City Hall

Demolition is underway at 175th and Midvale (across from Walgreens and TOP). They're making way for the "Civic Center / City Hall Project."

Shoreline City Manager Bob Olander says this about the project:

"This is an exciting time for all of us with benefits for both staff and residents. The design will not only help us provide services more efficiently but will provide better access and multiple uses to the community. For example, the parking structure could be used for a farmers market on weekends and the Council chambers opening onto the courtyard could be used for concerts. We hope it will be a focal point that brings the community together."

Really? A farmers market? Concerts? Sounds good to me!

Crunch!

Bye bye now.

Buh-bye.

This "conceptual" drawing is from the City's website.

Link to: City of Shoreline webpage with much more info about the project

Link to: An online survey about the project (Shoreline wants your input)

Link to: FAQ sheet about the project (pdf)

Link to: PowerPoint presentation about the project