Wallingford, Seattle

Playfield repairs and a new dog park? There’s a grant for that.

Back in December, we posted about the Wallingford playfield closure, a post which spurred a lot of comments from concerned neighbors. In true Wallyhood fashion, most comments were civil, though the off-leash-dogs-at-the-park issue clearly does push our collective buttons. Reader and community leader Greg, who was the driving force behind the playfield and who still keeps a watchful eye over it, filled readers in on some the history of the park and the challenges posed by rain, cleats and paws: During…

Continue ReadingPlayfield repairs and a new dog park? There’s a grant for that.

Spring Cleaning

Did you make a New Year's resolution to clean out the basement of all that junk? But now you've got that liberal guilt of not wanting to fill landfill with all that mercury in the electronics and waste perfectly good metal and what have. But then, you're too lazy to actually do anything about it. So what's to do? Fret not, because there's a solution that aligns with your environmental concerns and your inclination for convenience. Consider hiring a professional cleaning…

Continue ReadingSpring Cleaning

Burn Ban

Cold enough for you? Ha ha ha. Yeah, I never really got that joke, either. Well, it is cold (by Seattle standards) and promises to stay that way for the next little while. Shelly Rae Clifton tweeted at us "Hummingbird feeder is frozen but 2 hummers buzz busily around & stop to drink. Seattle clean & refill your hummer feeders!" and the PSCAA let us know there's a burn ban in effect: The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is issuing a Stage…

Continue ReadingBurn Ban

Fremont Changes

Yes, yes, occasionally even we neighborhood bloggers wander outside our neighborhood, and a recent ramble through Fremont had some surprising changes. Just a few that we know of: Maria Hines (of Wallingford's Tilth and Ballard's Golden Beetle has opened a new restaurant in the spot where 35th Street Bistro stood (and, more dear to our hearts, where Still Life in Fremont used to be). According to their press release, Agrodolce will rely on local products that are sustainable and organic. Maria will import a…

Continue ReadingFremont Changes

Meet Your Maker

There's no denying that liquor prices have gone up since Washington State voters decided to privatize the selling of booze in the 2011 elections. While there's some reason to believe that will eventually change (the law stipulates that distributors pay the state 10% of their sales for the first two years, but only 5% thereafter), I wouldn't hold my breath. On the other hand, while liquor stores don't seem to be competing heavily on price, we have noticed a bit of…

Continue ReadingMeet Your Maker

Come Wassail Away

Used to be, when I thought of wassailing, I’d picture Christmas carolers in full Victorian-era costume, going door-to-door to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. But in reality, as I’ve come to learn, wassailing is a centuries-old English tradition, with one form that’s deeply-rooted in apple trees. Apple Wassailing dates back to the 16th century, though some may believe the tradition began as a Pagan ritual. This type of wassailing is to pay homage to apple trees and scare off the…

Continue ReadingCome Wassail Away

Traffic signal top priority for Lake Union District Council

Thanks to Greenways Guru, Cathy Tuttle, for providing us with an update to the N. 40th traffic signal project:  The Lake Union District Council AND the Wallingford Community Council chose the N 40th St signal as their number one first choice for City funding – making the street more compatible for people who walk and bike including transit users, kids walking to school, and dog walkers.   Thank you to the eight of you who wrote letters in support of traffic signal on 40th in…

Continue ReadingTraffic signal top priority for Lake Union District Council