Back in November, we mentioned that Next Door Media, the Ballard-based company that controls a host of “hyperlocal” blogs such as My Ballard, Phinneywood, Fremont Universe, Queen Anne Review and Magnolia Voice, was recruiting someone to write a Wallingford blog for them. At the time, we invited you all to come join us on these pages, and the many writers you’ve seen here on Wallyhood since then took us up on the offer. Truly a blessing.

Meanwhile, we saw today that Next Door Media has launched their site, titled My Wallingford. Like the rest of the NDM sites, much of their content is shared across their network, appearing simultaneously in Ballard, Phinneywood, etc. That said, they’ve already got some Wallingford-specific content, too, such as their story on the Senior Center being saved and the “Big Hands Guy” shoplifter making the rounds, so it’s off to the races!

My Wallingford’s writer / editor is Marina Gordon. She’s got a BA in journalism from NYU and time at Disney and Real Networks under her belt, so we’re sure she’ll be bringing an exciting new perspective and voice to the neighborhood.

Welcome to the neighborhood, My Wallingford! We baked you pie.

Robert Delaware has been snapping photos of street art around the city and posting them to Brightkite, a service that allows you to “tag” messages and photos with the location they were sent from. Here are a few  of the shots he’s taken from around Wallingford:

Now, regular readers will know that we’re huge fans of street art (newer readers, check out some of our older posts on the topic, including Wallingford Art, More Outdoor Art, Mystery Painting, Easy Chair, More Yard Art and New Yard Yart), so this got us to thinking: wouldn’t it be great if there a map of all the yard and street art around Wallingford? Maybe you could print it and make a self-guided walking tour of our own public gallery? Or maybe someone could whip up some sort of snazzy iPhone app?

Such a map seems like an essential resource for the neighborhood, no less important than a list of kid-friendly restaurants, so we’re willing to help put it together.

If you know of street art or yard art around the neighborhood, please leave the address in the description below. If you’ve got a photo you can link to, even better. We’ll work on pulling together a map we can share with the neighborhood. What say?

John writes:

The old Tweedy & Popp store has decloaked. There are now big color posters in the windows with pictures of oriental rugs. One of them reads, “Heirloom Rugs.” I dunno if that’s the actual name of the new business. I wonder if it’ll be one of those oriental rug shops that have perpetual “Going Out Of Business Liquidation Sale!” signs but never actually close down?

Sweet. I can see it now: “Grand Opening Sale! Going Out of Business!”

If you’re interested in helping to choose some new playground structures for the McDonald School lot on 54^th and Latona, then you’ll want to make note of a few upcoming dates:  The Friends of McDonald School is hosting a workshop on Tuesday, March 23, from 7-9 p.m., at Green Lake Elementary School.  Everyone is welcome.

Funding for the new playground equipment will come from two grants by the Department of Neighborhoods’ Matching Fund and the King County Youth Sports Facilities Grants Program, as well as the generosity from community members and employer donations.  Seattle Schools will also provide support.

Friends of McDonald School will host another workshop, also at Green Lake Elementary, on April 27, from 7-9 p.m., where a design from one of several playground equipment vendors will be chosen.  They’ll also be seeking volunteers later this spring to help install the equipment on June 26-27.

For more information, see the Friends of McDonald School website, or send mail to McDonaldSchool@gmail.com

DOUG. writes:

If you’ve ever taken the 26 bus from northern Wallingford toward downtown, you’ve probably been jolted awake by the mammoth pothole on the 4200 block of Thackeray. Now you can rest easily. The Pothole Rangers were notified by a concerned neighbor on Friday afternoon and were out in force early Monday morning filling the gaping wound. It took mere minutes.

So if you see a pothole that needs to be filled, call 206.684.ROAD. It really works!

As long as we’re talking about fabric, we thought we’d let you know that Fabric Crush, “a fresh, modern fabric boutique specializing in cotton fabrics, patterns and books from a variety of designers”, is opening in Wallingford Center. It sounds like they’ve burst the seams of their old home in Magnolia and have decided to weave themselves into Wallingford, instead. Opening day is Monday, March 15th:

This move will allow us to have more classes and much more room for inventory in a more easily accessible neighborhood location. The close proximity to I-5 will make it nice for our out of town customers and the big free parking lot will make it convenient too. Add in the other great merchants at Wallingford Center (yarn and cupcakes, hooray!!) and you could spend a fine afternoon in Wallingford.

(Thanks to Rachel for the tip!)

There’s something about the phrase “nationally renowned basketmaker” that just tickles our fancy. We imagine velvet ropes pulled back, excited murmurs of recognition, and stadium crowds roaring for this expert weaver. Ah, would that we lived in such a world.

Perhaps if the artists of Fiberati have their way, some day we may. This Saturday, March 13th from 10 am – 5 pm at the Good Shepherd Center #202, the 12-person collective will be holding a group show and sale. The show includes “nationally renowned basketmaker Dorothy McGuinness, a weaving series by the prolific Linnea Donnen; and a mixed media collage by Barb Renfrow-Baker.”

Many items will be for sale, in all price ranges. Also on exhibition will be a “suited chair” by artist Susan Morton and Joy Prescott will exhibit her “amazing free-form crocheted work”.

Barbara tells us that

The dozen-plus artists in Fiberati met through the University of Washington Certificate Program in Fiber Arts several years ago. Through that experience, the artists built a great support network with each other. They meet regularly to share current projects as well as new techniques, classes, books, and websites. The artists in Fiberati have passions for weaving, quilting, basketry, needle arts, print arts, dyeing, wood working, collage, mixed media, painting, photography, music, dance, and all pursuits creative!

Get your fiber on!

Irwin’s was a life saver when my wife and I first moved to Wallingford last summer. It’s not too far from our house –and anyone that’s moved knows that a good cup of coffee and something (like a delicious baked good) to get the muscles moving are important ingredients in getting settled in a new house and neighborhood.

On top of that – I work from home – and I NEEDED internet access right away. I was the shabbily dressed guy huddled outside Irwin’s at all hours, using the free wireless access to keep busy at work!

Irwin’s has history dripping from its pores:  It began as a family grocery back in 1927 (stay tuned to read more about the relationship between Irwin’s and the Durn Good Grocery!)

Irwin’s became a bakery and soon became a neighbor fixture and for 15 years served up coffee and baked goods and, well, neighborliness.

When I met with Linda Fecher to chat about Irwin’s, that neighborliness was in full force. People coming and going greeted Linda, other patrons, joked with the barista’s and cooks, and the room hummed with conversations, clinks, and the good, good smells of baked goods and coffee drinks.

One of the patron’s caught Linda and I talking and told me “write this down – Irwin’s is the hub of Wallyhood!”

Linda took over 3 years ago, and kept the original recipes, and augmented with some of her own. She had worked at Irwin’s, and while she didn’t have previous experience RUNNING a restaurant, her work ethic and business smarts have paid off.  How’s this for some economic stimulus for Wallingford:

• Opened a 2nd store – Irwin’s Cafe Hydro House!
• Sells baked good wholesale to famous restaurants around town
• Hired drivers, bakers, and more – growing from 7 employees to 22 in just three years!
• Established a catering business

On top of THAT – Irwin’s is also a community partner. You can see local art on display, with new art rotating through  every month.  And every third Tuesday – 20% of proceeds  are donated to a charity selected by the employees.

Linda attributes the success of Irwin’s to hard work, great mentors, knowing when (and whom) to ask for help, but most of all to the terrific community support.

We’ve got a little bit of red carpet here in Wallingford, in form of Ed Hartman, owner of Wallingford’s Drum Exchange. Since no Oscar star is complete without an official press release, we hand the mic over to Ed’s:

Olympic Marimba Records is proud to announce that the Academy Award winning film, “The Blind Side” starring Sandra Bullock (best actress) features a piece of music by Ed Hartman, Seattle musician and composer. Ed writes music for film and television, and is a well-known percussionist and teacher in the Pacific Northwest.  [...]

Ed’s piece, “Football Funk” is used in a key dramatic football game sequence in the film.  The music is in a Southern funky marching band style.  Ed creates his music using both electronic and acoustic instruments in his studio in Wallingford, in Seattle, Washington.   As a composer he writes full orchestral compositions along with jazz, Latin pop, and world music.  Ed specializes in percussive music, especially featuring marimba and vibes.  Ed loves to fuse styles together, such as his piece Beethoven’s Samba, featuring “Ode to Joy” played in a Brazilian samba style.  That piece was used in “Mini’s First Time”, a black comedy starring Alec Baldwin.

This has been a good year for Ed Hartman.  He also won a recent national video competition through vistaprint.com. He directed, starred, narrated, and scored the production (view it here: youtube.com/vistaprint).  The video is a funny spoof of the “In a world…” film trailers.

Ed Hartman is on the board of directors of the Seattle Composers Alliance (seattlecomposers.org), which supports activities of local composers working in the Pacific Northwest.  The SCA is working on future events that bring together composers and the film community.

You can read more about Ed on his web site, Edhartmanmusic.com. Congratulations, Ed. Say hi to Sandra for us.

Wallyhood is proudly unveiling its newest neighborhood resource, this one for parents and those wishing they were. We now have an Early Childhood Education round-up of the preschool programs of Wallingford.

Our neighborhood is blessed with some very talented and passionate educators. It was my pleasure to tour these facilities and see first hand the top quality education opportunities that are right in our back yard.

This project, covering seven preschools and two day care centers with preschool programs, highlights the different personalities and strengths of each program. The logistical difference between a ‘preschool’ and a ‘day care center’ is that children are only allowed to be on the premises of a preschool for 4 hours a day whereas a center can provide full day care for you child. Fortunately several of the preschools understand the need for full day care and have arrangements in place to compensate.

You will also see we have referred to Child Care Resources of King County which is a fantastic free service that will provide parents with a customized list of child care options based on your individual budget, location, and schedule.

We are glad to continue our resource expansion (see Restaurants, Bars, and Coffee Shops) and you can look forward to more in the future.