We've been keeping bees in our Wallingford backyard for close to a decade now. About 18 months ago, we became parents to a very curious little boy. As it turns out, bees and very curious little boys make for a tricky mix. Our solution: install a giant rack system to lift the bee hives off the ground and out of harm's way (or, more accurately, out of Baby Z's way). Well, there we were staring at that big space under the…
The Urban Assault Ride (bikes, that is) will wend its way through Wallingford on Sunday, May 16th. If you're not familiar, UAR is fast-growing event that started in Austin, Texas. This year's Seattle ride benefits Bikeworks Seattle, a non-profit whose mission is to build sustainability by promoting bicycling & by educating young people. The ride works like this: teams of two set out to hit various checkpoints throughout the city, in any order you wish. At each checkpoint riders dismount, complete…
If you've ever been to Home Depot or Lowe's, you've seen them: crowds of men, mostly Latin American, standing around the lot entrance waving down cars, looking for work. If you're like us (and, if you live in Wallingford, you probably aren't that different), you have enough money to own or rent a place to live, put food on the table and still have some left over for what the economists like to call "discretionary activities". Further, you probably don't have…
One year ago today, Sevim and Yalcin Ataman opened Fainting Goat Gelato here in Wallingford. But make no mistake—while the store is fairly new, the Atamans are veteran gelato makers. Prior to coming over to the United States in 1997, they owned a gelato shop for 20 years in their native city, Izmir, located on the west side of Turkey. When they moved to the U.S., the Atamans wanted to take some time to perfect their English and learn more about setting…
(Click to watch video) Last week we provided coverage of annual Free Comic Book Day at Comics Dungeon (45th, Thackeray). Local filmmaker Scott Fisher caught wind of the action, snapped a few photos and created a spectacular video of Stormtroopers and other Star Wars characters invading the shop. Do yourself the favor of viewing it along with some other local skate videos at www.beachfoam.com.
There's a new bit of poetry in the little stage set outside of 4059 Latona Ave, and it struck our fancy. #13 A bee thumps against the dusy window, falls to the sill,climbs back up, buzzing;falls again;and does this over and over.If only he would climb higher!the top half of the window isopen. Bunch Grass by Robert Sund Despite the fact that it reads very much like prose with extra line breaks, we appreciate the simple scene, simply painted. Stop by…
Wallingford gets a new indie retail shop on May 21st: Sock Monster! Not sock monkey. Sock MONSTER. Bwah ha ha! Sock Monster opens May 21st with what promises to be a fine party DJed by recent East Coast transplant, Miss Shelrawka. Come, get your groove on, sample some of the snacks, and check out the rad socks. You may recognize owner Holly Gummelt's Fairy Tale Fibers hats from the Portland, Pike Place & Fremont markets - she's been a regular for…