The 2013 Wallingford Farmers Market season kicks-off this Wednesday (May 29) at Meridian Park, from 3:30PM to 7:00PM. (with chef hours from 3-3:30PM).

A bustling Wallingford Farmers Market on a warm, sunny August afternoon. Photo copyright 2012 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Seems to me, despite some initial skepticism, that the Meridian Park location has been a good fit for the market, as the park provides more space for more vendors, and serves as a destination for shoppers, picnickers, and families alike. In fact, the new location was one of the reasons why  Washington State Farmers Market Association named Wallingford the 2012 Farmers Market of the Year. More from the Wallingford Farmers Market blog:

Wallingford Farmers Market exemplifies a farmers market that is both of the farmers and the community, and its recent move to a new park location proved it.  Since its inception in 2006, this market has always enjoyed strong support from its neighborhood, but it was not until it was forced to move from its location in the heart of Wallingford’s commercial district, at the end of the 2010 market season, that the depth of the connection between this market, its vendors and its community truly shown through.

A few new vendors are coming to the market this year, including Twin Oaks Creamery, Rosecrest Farms (mmmm, Swiss Cheese!) and Soda Jerk Soda Company (featuring growlers of fresh soda made with local ingredients). Also Seattle Tilth Youth Garden Works will be selling produce at the market. The program provides job training for homeless and underserved youth to grow, harvest and sell produce at local markets.

The schedule for this year’s Chef Demonstrations follows. All cooking demonstrations are scheduled for 4-5 p.m., during the market on Wednesdays. Check back with the Wallingford Farmers Market blog for updates.

2013 Season Cooking Demonstration Schedule
(schedule subject to change)

May 29
Chef Jason Brzozowy
Tilth

June 5
TBA

June 12
Chef Colin Patterson
Sutra

June 19
No Demonstration

June 26
Chef Immoor
Phinney Market

July 3
TBA

July 10
No Demonstration

July 17
TBA

July 24
Chef TBA
Joule/Revel

July 31
TBA

August 7
TBA

August 14
TBA

August 21
Chef Devra Gartenstein
Patty Pan Grill

August 28
TBA

September 4
TBA

September 11
Chef Brian Gojdics
Tutta Bella

September 18
TBA

September 25
Chef Rachel Yang
Joule/Revel

Cheese Wizards have announced that they won’t be serving up at Wine World & Spirits any longer. The mobile purveyors of gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches had been doing business outside of Wine World since October, but the lack of visibility from pedestrians and cars on 45th, along with the Wednesday “Happy Hour” and Saturday midday time slots made the location impractical for them.

Tom Saxbe, co-owner of Cheese Wizards tells us, “We’ve started a couple new lunch services in Ballard at Trupanion Pet Insurance, and our success there has reiterated the fact that we can be more successful during weekday lunch hours as opposed to the times we had been coming to Wine World.”

If you’re enjoying the long weekend in the neighborhood, you might want to swing by CMA Gallery (4501 Interlake Ave. N #2) on Saturday (May 25) from 2:00pm to 4:00PM. CMA will be hosting a reception for resident artist and oil painter Kathi J. Erikson, whose works of art include landscapes and still life. From CMA:

Kathi is a Seattle native and spent many childhood hours coloring in coloring books and playing music. She took herfirst drawing class over ten years ago and developed a passion for art.  She loves painting still lifes in bright vivid colorsand big forms, and has recently discovered an interest in landscapes, especially mountains and open fields.  

“There’s joy in putting space in perspective. After taking a few Art History classes, I’m deeply interested in the Renaissance Artists Michelangelo and El Greco and the Impressionists Claude Monet, Edouard Manet and Paul Cezanne.”

Join us this Saturday to meet the artist and view her hand-crafted oil-paintings.  Refreshments will be available.

You can also view her hand-crafted oil paintings online at www.kathijeriksonartist.com

Mt. Rainier Sunrise by Kathi J. Erikson 16×20 in. oil on canvas

 

For information on the CMA Gallery and to book your artist reception, please visit www.cmagallery.com

Last weekend, Hamilton International Middle School’s Senior Jazz Band grabbed First Place in the Middle School Division at the 2013 Bellevue High School Jazz Festival. The school’s 25-member Senior Jazz Band, under the direction of Dan Rowe, beat out 16 other middle school jazz bands and trombonist Michael D. received an outstanding soloist award.

Festival adjudicators also named Hamilton the “Best of the Best” among the 50 bands that competed (32 of which were actually high school bands). This is the second time in 31 years that a middle school was chosen for top honor.

Listen to their winning final performance at this link or click below. I don’t know about any of you, but my middle school band sounded NOTHING like this. I’m completely blown away:

HIMS-Bellevue HS 2013 Jazz Competition Winning Song from dominicleong on Vimeo.

(If you’re having trouble viewing the embedded video, try refreshing your page. If all else fails, click on the link I’ve indicated above.)

Silver Tray (2101 N 45th St) has delivered on their promise of outdoor dining in Wallingford. Lucky writes:

The patio have done and open for a week since Mother’s day. Now, Silver Tray has outdoor seating.

Hooray, just in time for the summertime. Lucky adorably adds “Special thank you for all customers who help me to correct spelling on dinner menu.  Thank you for all of you who say, ‘Do not be discouraged with misspellings on the menu. You guy so awesome.’ I have already correct them.”

I swear, if I were to simply split an infinitive, the grammar police would swarm my inbox with invectives. Lucky does it, and she’s awesome.

Whatever.

Has your child ever experienced the summer slide – wherein all previously learned subject matter slides right out of their head once summer begins? Firefly Tutoring has designed a summer math review course to help students entering 4th through 7th grades avoid that slippery slope of forgetfulness. Summer math reviewers  will meet twice a week from June 24-August 22, covering a year of math curriculum in one summer course. According to their website:

At each class, we will cover one topic from the Common Core and then provide ample time for students to work at their own pace on material targeted specifically to the individual student.  Highly qualified teachers will provide support.  Short daily homework is available optionally to help students make optimal progress.

Firefly Tutoring is owned by Wallingford parents Paul Schurr and Mona Reed, and offers tutoring in reading, writing, math, study skills and SAT prep in addition to their summer fare.

Soleil writes:

Wallingford resident and my dear friend Felipe Canete passed away tragically yesterday from an apparent heart attack/failure. You may have seen him around the neighborhood with his son Rio Malai and wife Katy Canete.  He was far too young, at 35 years of age. He performed with bands Luc and the Lovingtons and Sing with Señor.

Soleil, Felipe’s business partner and band-mate, notes that they had a performance scheduled at Alphabet Soup for June 8th, which has obviously been canceled, and said there may be a small musical event to “pay tribute to his legacy of positivity, love and smiles.”

Our heart goes out to his wife and son and all those who loved him.