July 2021

Native Americans gather on Alki Promenade to honor children who died

By Patrick Robinson

Over the past month 1,148 unmarked graves of children from indigenous people have been found at the sites of three former residential schools in Canada. Some of remains are believed to be of children as young as three.

Across that nation and on Thursday July 1, Native Americans and others gathered on the Alki Promenade to remember, mourn, call attention to, and honor all those lost. 

Led by Roxanne White & Ixtli’s Whitehawk and their Ceremony family, speakers took the microphone to sing, lead other voices in song, offer stories, poems and testimony about their own feelings and experiences throughout the event.

Category

Joy on 84 legs; A dog parade and party celebrated a beloved friend

By Patrick Robinson

As we exit the days of the pandemic, it seems like everyone is searching for reasons for joy. 

Heather McConnell hit on just such an idea for her friend Rachel Fram. Rachel loves Golden Retrievers. She does not own one. But for her, they are a source of wonder and happiness. Hence Heather's idea to stage a Golden Retriever Parade and Party as a surprise for her friend.

She put out the word on Facebook, asking anyone with the right dog, enough time and love in their heart to come down and surprise her friend. 22 dogs with their owners organized across from the business area near 63rd SW and then formed a short parade over to Rachel's house. 

Category

Pat's View: Life out of balance

By Patrick Robinson

Philosophers have from the very beginning spoken about moderation and balance. 

Aristotle said, “Moderation in all things” which meant then, and now that going to extremes in any way, especially with regard to food, drink, work, or even beliefs is not only unhealthy, but unsustainable.

In 1975 through 1982 an experimental film was made called Koyaanisqatsi which is a Hopi word for Life out of Balance. In the Hopi language, the word Koyaanisqatsi means 'crazy life, life in turmoil, life out of balance, life disintegrating, a state of life that calls for another way of living', and the film implies that modern humanity is living in such a way. It has no dialog or storyline. It just conveys a feeling of imbalance as a way to suggest we need to rethink how we are proceeding. It feels that way to me now.

Category

Updated name and seeking new tenants Distinguished Foods Kitchen is rising again

There's hot and then there's cool.

Claiborne Bell is definitely the latter. His company USI Commercial Kitchen at 4611 36th SW, that was featured in Westside Seattle a year ago, saw seven of his tenants, most of those catering based, have to shut down due to the pandemic. Then just as the pandemic was about to end his main freezer, where he stored the product of his own company Seattle Sorbets, failed during the highest temperatures in Seattle's history. Sadder still is that he was out of town and could do nothing about it. "We ended up with nothing but soup," he said. 

But that has not stopped him. He didn't panic. He's getting a brand new freezer and if anything he'll be even more chill, so to speak.

Category