Debbie Wirfs loves her the vintage. A Seattle native, she’s lived in Italy, California, and most recently Miami, where she started buying vintage clothing and selling them online. But she says she missed talking to people, seeing them try on the clothes, so decided to expand into the material world.

Drawn back to Seattle, she set herself up in the Fremont Sunday Market and Atlas Clothing, but wanted something a bit more permanent, a store to call her on.

Thus, several weeks ago, she opened Indie Frock in the little nook by the front stairs of Wallingford Center.

She stocks her shop wherever she can find it: ebay, thrift stores, and the occasional trips the the “rag shops” of LA. Mostly vintage, she also carries a few contemporary brands, and tries to include some men’s clothing as well as women’s.

Stop in and say hi.

(Thanks for the tip, Joan Chen!)

John writes:

Northwest Chorale is a group of civic minded Individuals who enjoy gathering to rehearse and perform great works of music. Come see them perform Handel’s Messiah December 14th 6:30 – 9:00 pm at the  University Christian Church, 4731 15th Ave NE. There is no admission charge, but 100% of your donation dollars goes to Northwest Harvest.

More info on the Northwest Chorale on their web site.

This Thursday, Dec 12 from 5:30 – 8 pm, you’re invited to a community holiday party, Celebrate One Wallingford, hosted at the Wallingford Community Senior Center (in the Good Shepherd Center, 4649 Sunnyside Ave N):

Gather with neighbors and friends at this friendly, easy event for all ages. All are welcome to come and enjoy:

• Sweet and savory finger foods
• Cookie decorating
• Music making
• Crafts for kids
• And more!

Kathleen Cromp, WSCS adds:

This party, now in its third year, is our a way to say thank you to all, and to ‘build community across generations’. We’d like to encourage folks to come with instruments and voices to make music together……all-ages and levels of musical acumen welcome! We have a piano.

Which reminds me: does anyone go caroling anymore? Wandering around the neighborhood singing seems like such a fine idea!

Bette writes:

I drove past the Cosmopolitan / Wine world building around 4 pm on Saturday afternoon (Dec.7) and witnessed many fire and emergency vehicles and water POURING down the facade from the top floor. One window on that floor had water spraying against it on the inside (sprinklers I guess).  Any word in this eye-catching event?

Jessica Gonser from the UW News Lab has the answer:

On Dec. 7, a water pipe burst in the Cosmopolitan Apartments and flooded the parking area. The fire department and police were alerted, and promptly blocked off the surrounding area. The building is located on the corner of Fourth Avenue Northeast and Northeast 45^th Street.
Residents of both the two- and four- legged variety were forced to evacuate due to the extensive flooding. Most businesses in the area were unaffected, but Hointer was directly below the leak and employees were forced to close up shop. Austin Brown, tech lead at the men’s clothing store, said that closing early wasn’t too much trouble – but the water damage broke their heating system, and that is a problem in the Seattle winter.

Next door to Hointer, Wine World experienced minor leaks, but invited all of the displaced residents indoors to enjoy hot cocoa and wait out the cold. “We will keep making cocoa and letting people inside until everyone has a place to go,” a representative said.  Firefighters and apartment residents alike took them up on the offer.

Sarah Mathers, a resident of Cosmopolitan, shook her head. “I don’t know what I am supposed to do, and I don’t know how bad it is.”

After the waterline was turned off, the parking lot was salted in hopes the extensive pooling of water in the street and parking lot would not turn into a potentially hazardous area.

Jordan Taylor writes:

We at Calvary Wallingford Church would like to introduce ourselves to you. We are a church of 50+ people who desire active interaction within the Wallingford community on both a practical and spiritual level. [...]

This holiday season our church is putting on a Christmas Concert at the Good Shepherd Center. We invite the neighborhood to join us for a night of festive singing and reflection of the Christmas Holiday.  Join us for a joyful celebration of peace on earth which will be fun for the whole family.

Admission is free and concert would be enjoyable for children ages 5-up. 7 pm Wednesday, December 11th at the Good Shepherd Performance Chapel.

Don’t forget, today is the last day of Scarecrow’s 25th Anniversary Sale, which includes a free rental for all customers and 50% off their used titles.

Perhaps the largest independent video store in the country, they’re feeling the effects of Netflix, iTunes and Amazon and could use your support. Stop by and say hi!

(Scarecrow is a long-time Wallyhood sponsor.)

Another month, another $2,000 for non-profits in the neighborhood, thanks to the Waste Management Think Green Recycling Challenge. You and your neighbors took part in eight outreach activities in November which earned the Friday North route* the cash award for completing the most outreach activities in November.

You may have heard about the Recycling Challenge at the Wallingford Community Council meeting, at the Meaningful Movies, or at a recycled crafts party at Mosaic. Perhaps you were one of the 200+ folks to have recycling information attached to your garbage can. Or maybe you were one of the deep green neighbors who donated newspaper bags for the cause. You all helped us meet the Challenge.

Friday North not only won the $2,000 this month, but continues to be in first place in reducing pounds of garbage per household. Take a look here for the current neighborhood standings in the Recycling Challenge.

Wallingford Community Council, sponsor of the Challenge in our neighborhood, will award the money to selected non-profits based on proposals received after the contest ends in April 2014.

So, to keep our prize-winning momentum, check out the Waste Management waste reduction tips for December. And if you recently found holiday light strings that no longer light up your life, don’t throw them in the garbage! Support the Recycling Challenge and take them here for recycling:

Maple Leaf Ace Hardware:  9000 Roosevelt Way NE  206-522-3324

Girl Scouts of Western WA:  601 Valley Street, just west of Aurora