Wallingford, Seattle

Abacus West

Next week, a new after-school math enrichment program will open in the Good Shepherd Center for kids ages five through 12. Abacus West puts a new twist on mathematics using an ancient calculating tool, the Japanese abacus (soroban). Once students get comfortable using the beaded calculating tool, they're taught to develop a "mental abacus" (anzan), and in doing so, the kids enhance their mental calculating skills. According Abacus West founder Vinaya Kulkarni, "Along the way students develop their focus, concentration, confidence,…

Continue ReadingAbacus West

Sound Air solicitation

Patrick sent us the following note and photo this evening: "Just had my house tagged with the attached notice and watched a man proceed to tag every house on the street. Probably not illegal but certainly a scam." One quick look on the internets showed us there wasn't a website for Sound Air Solutions, but they received exactly one Yelp review which starts out with: "I really wish we could do zero star reviews.  If we could, I would definitely do…

Continue ReadingSound Air solicitation

Diplomatic plates

Congratulations goes to Maria Hines, owner of Tilth here in Wallingford and the Golden Beetle over in Ballard. Maria was one of over 80 chefs appointed by the U.S. State Department to the newly-created American Chef Corps under the Diplomatic Culinary Partnership with the James Beard Foundation. This means Hines and her peers will create meals for foreign dignitaries or, when necessary, will travel abroad to engage in public diplomacy programs. The announcement was made at the U.S. State Department last Friday,…

Continue ReadingDiplomatic plates

Public Meeting about I-5 Noise Reduction

On Thursday, September 13, at 7 p.m. there will be a public meeting on reducing noise from I-5, co-sponsored by the Eastlake Community Council, Wallingford Community Council, and Portage Bay/Roanoke Park Community Council. The meeting will take place at Pocock Rowing Center (3320 Fuhrman Ave E.).  Rep. Frank Chopp, Rep. Pedersen, Rep. Clibborn, a staff person for Senator Murray, and WSDOT representatives will be in attendance.  This is an opportunity for the community to ask about plans for completing I-5 noise…

Continue ReadingPublic Meeting about I-5 Noise Reduction
Read more about the article Late Summer and Fall Blooms
Oxydendrum arboreum, sourwood tree; photo from Seattle Times

Late Summer and Fall Blooms

Landscapes are looking very “late summer” right now - parched, actually. Our summer-dry climate is known as “Mediterranean”, for the lack of rain (more or less) June – September.* For this reason, after the spring flush of bloom, it may be hard to keep the garden looking interesting. Native plants are programmed to take advantage of early moisture and set fruit early, so they can endure the dry season. Therefore, we often turn to non-natives to keep things interesting, and fortunately…

Continue ReadingLate Summer and Fall Blooms

Hunting an Anniversary

If you see a group of people sprinting up the street, a map in hand, you may say to yourself: "what is a map?" Ah yes, gather the young ones around and we shall tell tale of the way things once were, in a time before GPS, when people found their route with a paper-based contraption known as a "map". Need to zoom in on an area? Just double-tap and say "here, I'm talking about here". The reader only need lean…

Continue ReadingHunting an Anniversary

After Rain, Miyabi

Rain Sushi on 45th has closed, but last we heard, there were two bidders still vying to take it over. Yesterday, we discovered who was the winner: Hi, my name is Mutsuko Soma. We got Rain spot. Our Restaurant name will be Miyabi on 45th. This is second restaurant of Miyabi at Tukwila*. Also collaboration with Kamonegi. We will be open Nov 4th 2012. It will be North west Japanese. Not much sushi, but good hand made buckwheat noodle (aka soba). 相馬 睦子…

Continue ReadingAfter Rain, Miyabi