Most neighbors living in the vicinity of 40th St. have known about the changes coming to a large stretch of that thoroughfare for some time now. We wrote about those changes back in March and Eric touched on it in his article about the Green Lake Area Paving and Safety Project (of which the 40th St. work is a part). In addition to the repaving of 40th, this project includes: addition of curb ramps and painted crosswalks in select locations; improved pedestrian lighting and bus stops; sidewalk repair; and, as we all know by now, bike lanes at the expense …

[Author’s note: Today, Monday, October 15, is the grand opening of Little Big Burger in the Smith and Burns building on 45th Street. To mark the occasion, LBB is offering free burgers all day long. I dropped in on a “soft opening,” where I compiled the following story.]

I could have taken a hint from the guy from Portland who stepped up to the counter and enthusiastically ordered two burgers. Or I could have paid more attention to the name: Little Big Burger. And then there was the price of the cheeseburger I ordered: just $5. But it only came …

While many are the stores that carry Purina and Friskies, the sole source in our neighborhood for food for the more discriminating dog or cat has long been Wallypets near Wallingford Center. In the next few months however, Wallypets will be getting some competition for the business of catering to the fine-dining needs of our pets.

Coming sometime this fall, All The Best Pet Care will be moving into the space formerly occupied by Fusion Beads at 3830 Stone Way. Fusion Beads closed its doors about a year ago.

All the Best is a small, local chain with about a …

Well, if you’re a sequoia tree, being one year old ain’t much, but if you’re a small business, one is something to celebrate. Last year, we wrote about the opening of Pacific Northwest Shop’s first Seattle store. (They already had one in Tacoma.) Today, they celebrate their first year here in Wallingford.

From their facebook announcement:

We’re excited to celebrate our first year in Seattle and in Wallingford! Come and join us anytime from 10 to 6 on Saturday the 29th for tasty nibbles and drinks, door prizes, and other giveaways. We look forward to seeing you!…

Are you looking to grab a quick lunch or dinner, but wanting something healthier than a fast-food burger or a slice of pizza? Sure, we’ve got a lot of restaurants in our neighborhood where you can easily get a salad to go, but why not go to the specialists? This past Sunday, Lula Salads opened at 4501 Interlake Ave.

This space, not far from the post office, is the former location of the Drum Exchange which closed about a year ago as we wrote here. (I dropped in to the Drum Exchange a couple of years ago and met a …

And after today … GONE.

Today is the last day this year for the Wallingford Farmers Market. The market sets up, as it has all summer, at Meridian Park at 50^th St. and Meridian Ave. Hours are 3pm to 7pm. So stop by and pick up your fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables and any essential, hand-crafted, artisan whatchamacallits – or suffer the consequences. These may include shopping at QFC, PCC or even the Ballard Farmers Market (which is open year-round).

Some important notes about parking, should you drive to the market:

From time to time, we get queries from readers wondering what is going on down at Gas Works Park on this or that particular evening. I live not far from Gas Works, and I often wonder this myself when I hear music or see official-looking people directing cars out of the parking lot. To satisfy my own and other’s curiosity, I’ve assembled a list (which is probably partial at best) of what’s been happening down there at the bottom of the hill.

First off, let me just say that I’m not blowing the whistle and calling the summer over yet. …