Demolition behind Jersey's on 175th

These photos were taken today. I'm pretty sure this area is being cleared out for the new City Hall complex, although I believe Grease Monkey and Jersey's will remain. It's all part of the City's "Town Center Subarea Plan." Anyway, I thought this partially demolished building was interesting looking and wanted to share. 

Link to: all posts about City Hall

Link to: City of Shoreline Town Center Plan

The blackberries are ripening in Shoreline

Blackberries at Ronald Bog

When I first moved to Shoreline I was very happy to discover that there were wild blackberries growing all over the place, free for the picking! I quickly learned that they are widely reviled in these parts because they're an invasive species that pretty much takes over everything. So they're bad news for native plants and a real pain to try to eradicate.

So that's a bummer.

I have to admit, though, that I still enjoy a hot blackberry cobbler made with fresh (free) blackberries.

At any rate, the breaking news is that the wild, invasive, troublesome blackberries are turning ripe in Shoreline!

What do you think about the blackberries? Post your thoughts to the comments section. Better yet, if you have a yummy blackberry recipe, post that to the comments section!

Antique radio swap meet, August 17th

The Antique Radio Swap Meet is coming on August 17th to the Shoreline Museum parking lot – it's the largest vintage radio event in the Northwest! From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. that Sunday, you can come and look at some fascinating old tech, from old tube radios and other devices like the tube tester shown above, to ham radio gear, to Art Deco designed plastic and novelty radios.

Admission is free to the public; anyone is welcome to come and buy, sell or trade. Head on down and take a look at the precursors to your FM radio and iPod!


Link to the Puget Sound Antique Radio Association.

Link to the swap meet home page.

Link to information about visiting the Shoreline Historical Museum.

A new trail at Ronald Bog park

It looks like a little meandering walking trail is being added to Ronald Bog park. Recently they put a big wooden sign thingy next to the parking lot at Ronald Bog. Now this! The trail starts at the parking lot, (right near the new sign) and wanders around in that green area between the parking lot and the on-ramp to I-5. The trail doesn't really seem to go anywhere in particular. Perhaps it is intended to just be a pleasant little stroll?

At any rate, that part of the park has never really seemed to get used much. Maybe it'll see more action in the future.

The trail starts at the parking lot

Do you know anything about this? What do you think about the idea? We'd love to know your thoughts. Click below to add your comments.

Link to: earlier post about the installation of the sign thingy

Link to: all posts about Ronald Bog park

Cruise-In Car Show, Saturday, August 16th

UPDATE: Click here to see photos from this event

As part of Celebrate Shoreline this weekend, there will be a car show at Ridgecrest Elementary, from 10 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. There will be a parade at 11 a.m. on 15th Ave between 180th and 165th, and then judging at noon, in categories ranging from Muscle Car to Street Rod to Stock Car – should be a great time if you're a fan of cool cars!

Trophies will be awarded. Call 206-542-7111 if you want to participate in this judged event. 

Link to: Info about the Cruise In Car Show at the Shoreline Historical Museum website

North City Jazz Walk: Tuesday August 12

Put your jazz shoes on! It's time for the North City Jazz Walk

when:  Tuesday, August 12th, 7 pm-10pm
where: 15th Ave NE, Shoreline

Seven bands will play jazz at seven different venues along or within ½ block of 15th Avenue in North City.  The ensembles will range from Gypsy jazz to big band contemporary swing.

The way it works is you purchase a bracelet that gets you into the venues all evening. The bracelets are $10 in advance and $15 the day of the event, and are being sold at:

• The North City Bistro & Wine Shop (1520 NE 177th)
• The Peking House (175th & 15th Ave. NE)
• The Hotwire Café (17605 15th Ave. NE)
• The Arts Council office in the Shoreline Center (18560 1st Ave. NE)

New this year:
• The Arts Council’s Showmobile, a portable stage that will be used for the outstanding student and faculty ensembles from the Shoreline Jazz Camp sponsored by the Arts Council. This venue will be FREE to the public.
• Cotton’s Club: an outdoor beer garden and BBQ grill which opens at 6 PM.

Several places will offer food at reduced portions and prices.
• The Peking House
• The North City Bistro & Wine Shop
• The Hotwire Café
• The Vineyard Community Church
• USA Karate

Link to: More info about the Jazz Walk from North City Bistro

Link to: More info about the Jazz Walk from the Enterprise Newspaper

Chamber of Commerce Picnic, August 13. Need to RSVP by August 11th.

Its time for the Annual Chamber of Commerce Picnic 

when: August 13th at 5 PM

where: Paramount Park (corner of NE 155th Street and 8th Ave. NE by the skateboard park)

cost: $10/person or $20/family

They will have a BBQ of salmon along with side dishes and desserts. 

If you'd like to make a donation to the picnic of food or beverages or volunteer to help with set-up and/or clean-up, contact the Chamber. 

RSVP is required by Monday, August 11, so they know how much food to buy. 

To reserve your spot email the office at info@shorelinechamber.com or call 206-361-2260. 

Dos Equis billboard on 175th in Shoreline

Stay thirsty, my friends

A couple of days ago I posted some information about an unusual flavor of Budweiser that I saw on sale in Shoreline's Ridgecrest neighborhood. It's called Budweiser Chelado and, according to Busweiser's press release, its a flavor favored by Latinos. Especially Mexicans. I wondered if perhaps there are lots of Latino folks living in the Ridgecrest neighborhood. I still don't know the answer to that question, but I started wondering anew when I saw this billboard for Dos Equis beer. It's also in the Ridgecrest neighborhood, and Dos Equis is a Mexican beer.

But what's the deal with the slogan on this billboard? Is this a sly move by the McCain campaign to court Shoreline's Latino vote through beer!?

After all, McCain is extremely unpopular among Latino voters AND he always says "my friends", right? Hmmm... it can't be coincidence!

Clever, but will it work?

Link to: Recent Pew study on Hispanic voter attitudes

Link to: Earlier post about Budweiser Chelada

There's another Shoreline blog!

Got a note from Andrea Weiss. She recently started a Shoreline blog at the Seattle P-I's website. Looks like a good complimentary source of info about Shoreline. After all, we can never have too many folks interested in our community, can we?

Welcome to the blogosphere, Andrea! :)

Link to: See Level blog at the Seattle P-I

Beer + clam juice + tomato juice?

Budweiser Chelada

The 7-11 in Shoreline's Ridgecrest neighborhood (the 7-11 across the street from the Crest Theater) is selling what is possibly the most unusual flavor of beer I've ever heard of: Budweiser Chelada. It's Bud (or Bud Light) mixed with Clamato (which is clam juice mixed with tomato juice). I haven't tried it, so I can't say just how good it is. But I thought I should let everybody know where you can get it if you want it!

According to a press release on Budweiser's website: " Latinos, specifically those of Mexican descent, have been mixing beer with Clamato for decades" and "Due to their tremendous test market success, adults across the country are clamoring to enjoy this convenient, great-tasting drink." Clamoring? Really? The press release also includes this gem: "One look at the can and you know that this beer is the real thing – Budweiser and Bud Light mixed with authentic Clamato. This is a savory beer that will appeal to adult beer drinkers, particularly those who enjoy beer mixed with Clamato."

I have to say, it's a really entertaining press release. There's a link to the entire thing below.

Perhaps there's a large Latino population in the Ridgecrest neighborhood? It's not unusual to stop by this 7-11 and find that the store is blasting Latin music from its outside speakers.

Oh, one other thing. I noticed at the checkout counter that this store also sells grape flavored cigars. I wonder if those would go well with Budweiser Chelada?

Link to: ¡La Combinación Perfecta! Budweiser press release

There is now a Shoreline Parents Yahoo! Group

Description from the Shoreline Parents Group at Yahoo!

This group is for parents in the Shoreline area, north of Seattle, WA. Our primary goal is to get to know each other and provide support as parents and neighbors.

This group is new, so this description may change with time. Initial examples of ways to use this group could include coordinating playgroups, announcing neighborhood activities, providing recommendations regarding schools, classes, and household projects and problems, tips on local shops and services, and in general sharing any other information that may seem relevant to our community!

Link to: Shoreline Parents Yahoo! Group

Mixed-use development at the old Cascades Bingo site?

Notice of Proposed Land Use Action

Looks like a mixed-use development is on the way

The view of the site from across the street

The old Cascade Bingo site (across the street from The Crest Theater) has been sitting dormant for awhile now. Looks like there's a mixed-use development on the way. The "Notice of Design Review Application" says it'll be a "new mixed-use development consisting of commercial space, residential units, community space and underground parking."

The public is free to comment, but know that the public comment period ends on August 14th at 5:00pm. Got a comment? Contact Steven Szafran at sszafran@ci.shoreline.wa.us

And, if you DO have a comment or thought about this, please share it with us as well by clicking below where it says COMMENTS.

Two Shoreline teachers are in Jordan and blogging about their experiences

Photo from Andy Berkbigler's Blog

Two teachers from Shoreline are in Jordan this month on a Fellowship and they're blogging about the experience. You can keep up with their adventures by clicking the links below.

Here's more information from the Shoreline Schools webpage:

Andy Berkbigler, English teacher at Shorecrest High School, and Becky Edy, third grade teacher at Highland Terrace Elementary, are among five UW College of Education alumni selected for the Jordan Education Trust Fellowship. Five distinguished K-12 teachers from Jordan will join them.


Berkbigler and Edy participated in a series of professional development activities at the University of Washington and in the Seattle area during July, and will spend Aug. 1-24 in Jordan. Both have set up blog sites to share their travel experiences in Jordan.


Link to: Andy Berkbigler's Blog

Link to: Becky Edy's Blog

Do you know of any Shoreline parents groups?

Got an email from Carrie, who will be moving to Shoreline soon. She's wondering if there are any local online parents groups for Shoreline parents. Although several Seattle neighborhoods have parenting groups on Yahoo Groups, there doesn't seem to be one specifically for parents in Shoreline.

Carrie writes that the Yahoo Mom's group she's been part of in her current neighborhood has been "very useful in terms of recommendations and just getting to know your neighbors." She goes on to say that she'd love to find something similar for Shoreline parents as she's not very familiar with the area (yet).

So, do any of you parents out there have any ideas? If a Shoreline parents group was started through something like Yahoo Groups, would you consider joining?

UPDATE: Carrie set up a Yahoo Group. Check it out.

Link to: Shoreline Parents Yahoo Group

Please respond in the comment section.

Thanks to Carrie for suggesting this topic - and welcome to Shoreline! :)

National Night Out Against Crime: Tonight! Aug 5, 2008

This neighborhood event information is from the City of Shoreline's website:

Hillwood Neighborhood Association
Ice cream social
Hillwood Park, 19001 3rd Ave NW
6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

Richmond Beach Community Association
Hot dog barbeque and community gathering
Richmond Beach Community Park, 2201 NW 197th St
6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Westminster Triangle Network
Community barbeque, games and potluck
Linden Avenue N between N 148th & N 149th
5:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Ballinger Neighborhood Association
Community gathering and dessert
Bruggers Bog Park, 19553 25th Ave NE
6:30 - 8:00 p.m

If you know of a Night Out event in Shoreline that's not listed here, please let us know. And if you have anything to say about the National Night Out event, feel free to sound off in the comments section.

Update 3: Will they ever finish putting up this building?

I took this photo today. The building looks almost exactly the same as it did over a month ago. I first reported on this construction project on April 27, 2008. That's over 3 months ago. Even then it seemed like they'd been working on it for a really long time. I wonder what the holdup is? 

Midvale and 185th

Link to: all posts related to this building project

City of Shoreline Planning Commission Meeting, August 7th

What will the future of Shoreline look like?

At 7 p.m. on August 7th, the City will hold its regular Planning Commission meeting, and it is open to the public. There will be designated times for public comment, as well as a study session regarding permit regulations for the Regional Business zoning district. You can take a look at the agenda, and find a link to download a memo about the permit regulations, by clicking here.

Frankly, I find the wording of these documents to be like old pumpernickel; dense and dry. But that's because I am no expert on city planning. Still, I've found that perusing documents like the planning commission agenda (PDF) do reveal some interesting facts (surely those more expert than me will find even more buried treasures).

For example, density is measured in "dwelling units per acre" or DU. A proposed revision to the codes would allow a base density of 48 DU (this is also abbreviated as R-48). All residential dwellings (by which they mean, I believe, houses, apartments, condos, and the like) that have more than 10 dwellings would be required to have recycling space, plug-ins for electric cars, and bike racks.

If a developer would like to build residences that house more people than this R-48 density, they'd also have to provide other amenities, like, for example, underground parking. If you are a neighbor to a proposed building like this, you'd be glad to have the new residents not parking up and down your street, I'd think, which makes underground parking a good thing.

If the City's future is important to you, you might consider keeping up with what the Planning Commission is up to. After all, these meetings will ultimately determine the future of the city, and possibly even the street you live on.

Link to: Planning Comnission Agenda.
Link to: downloadable PDF memo on business zone regulations.
Link to: City of Shoreline Planning Commission home page.

Link to: send comments by email to the Planning Commission

Colorful painted panels at City Hall construction site

I was checking out the construction site for Shoreline's new City Hall this morning when I discovered all these painted panels alongside the north side of the construction zone. They form part of a "fence" of sorts between the City Hall Annex and the work site. I didn't see any information about who painted them, but I'm guessing a youth group. I sent a note to the City's Customer Response Team for more info. When I get a response, I'll post that info here.

This is where they're preparing to build Shoreline's new City Hall. See that wooden fence in the background? The other side of it is covered with paintings.

This is what it looks like as you enter the walkway leading to City Hall Annex.

Here's a view from the other direction.

Detail: The Lorax and Boyz 2 Men

Detail: This is pretty but I don't know what it means. Do you?

Detail: Warhol inspired soup can. Sounds like a yummy flavor!

Detail: 3 panels

They even posted some poetry :)

Link to: All posts about public art in Shoreline

Link to: All posts about City Hall construction project

Shoreline Public Schools now training school bus drivers

If you've ever wanted to learn to drive a school bus you'll be interested to know that Shoreline Public Schools is now training school bus drivers. For more info call 206-361-4270 or 206-361-4275. I wonder why there's two different numbers? Do they expect to be flooded with calls?

Picture yourself behind the wheel of one of these babies!

This banner is at 165th & 15th

Link to: Shoreline Schools Human Resources page

Are you now or have you ever been a school bus driver? If so, tell us about it in the comment section.

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