101 Things to do in Ballard

101 Things To Do In Ballard: Get your plant on

michaelh — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 20:45:40 +0000

michaelh Mon, 09/13/2010 - 1:45pm

Tank the cat ready to give Ballardites a tour at Emerald City Gardens. CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE PHOTOS.

Jill Irwin

Ballard-area residents love their gardens, whether it’s a luscious edible landscape or containers on the condo balcony, and we’re fortunate to have several interesting and unique independent nurseries in and around the neighborhood.

How about going on a fall plant expedition to check them all out? Late-summer and fall is a great time to take stock of your garden and snag some great deals at local nurseries with fall sales.

Starting up north in Blue Ridge, Swanson’s Nursery is the extravagant queen of Seattle nurseries.

Besides a large selection of beautifully tended annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees and more, Swanson’s offers weekend gardening seminars on a wide range of topics. Some upcoming seminar topics include Japanese Maple Selection and Care and Creative Fall Container Designs.

Afterward, grab lunch there at Alexa’s Café and nibble to the sound of a trickling fountain surrounded by tropical flora.

Then you could spend another few hours browsing their extensive range of plants and gardening gifts and accoutrements. The sales staff is helpful and knowledgeable, too, in case you want advice.

On Holman Road, just down the hill from Greenwood Avenue at Third Avenue Northwest, Piper’s Creek Nursery is open from March through early November each year.

Proprietor Alan Hensley specializes in drought-resistant and native plants, such as kinnikinnik for ground cover, vine maples, native grasses and sword ferns.

“Pacific Northwest native plants are the best anywhere," said Hensley, whose two grandmas were "legendary gardeners." "That’s what drew me here from Florida."

He’s selling off the ornamentals and only restocking native plants. This year, Hensley will be selling plants through Nov. 7.

Want to capture a bit of the tropics? After your visit to Piper’s Creek Nursery, head south on Third Avenue to Beauty and the Bamboo on 84th Avenue Northwest just west of Third Avenue (you need call to make an appointment first though).

Owner Stan Andreasen has converted his yard into a beautiful bamboo nursery with more than 35 varieties that grow well here in western Washington.

After you wander the pathways through bamboo groves interspersed with whimsical garden art, stop inside for a cup of fine Chinese tea and to discuss bamboo with Andreasen, who is passionate about the plant. He’s also happy to show you his collection of crystal rocks.

For you condo and apartment dwellers (and really anyone who likes succulents and container gardens), The Palm Room on Ballard Avenue is a little treasure box of unusual plants that will do well indoors.

Like Beauty and the Bamboo, they offer consulting and design services for your yard, balcony, patio or window boxes. Check out the hanging baskets of succulents that at first look like ferns. Then take a second look.

Walt's Organic Fertilizer is tucked into a cozy little shed on Leary Way just west of the Ballard Bridge, but their array of organic fertilizers and native plants spreads out back beyond the shop.

Originally a wholesaler of organic fertilizers developed by Walt Benecki, they expanded into native plants and now sell veggie starts and organic feed for chickens.

"Chicken stuff has seen a real increase in sales," said Benecki's wife Shirley Jane, who partners with Benecki in running the business.

Benecki's ethic is all about organic and green gardening. Set in a formerly industrial and now urban setting, their shop feels like stepping into a small rural store. Go there to taste a slice of country life in the city.

Walt's is open six days a week through October, then scale back to Saturdays or by appointment November through February.

Wind up your expedition down south on Leary Way in Frelard at Emerald City Gardens, another small independent nursery “trying to do a bit of everything," according to co-owner Jay Williams, self-described plant geek.

Emerald City Gardens, where they do have a yellow brick path but lack the flying monkeys, is open year-round and offers organic veggie starts and herbs during the winter that they grow in their onsite greenhouse.

Despite the close proximity to behemoth Fred Meyer's seasonal garden center, Williams said Fred Meyer’s is a good neighbor to them and occasionally refers customers since they do things a little bit different.

Emerald City Gardens prides itself on having possibly the largest variety of coleus plants in Seattle, which they propagate themselves.

Besides these nurseries, I’ve seen and heard word-of-mouth about avid Ballard-area gardeners who occasionally sell plants out of their home. Know any you’d like to tell us about? Leave a comment below, and happy gardening!

Seattle native and Crown Hill resident Jill Irwin is not the best gardener, and many of her plants survive in spite of her not-so-green thumb. She writes about things to do around the region at her blog Pacific Northwest Seasons.

101 Things to do in Ballard

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101 Things To Do In Ballard: Pay homage to the grape

michaelh — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 18:32:40 +0000

michaelh Fri, 07/02/2010 - 11:32am

Jens Strecker at Portalis on Ballard Avenue pours a glass of wine. Portalis is only one of many Ballard avenues to great wine-tasting events.

Jill Irwin

"Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance."
– Benjamin Franklin

Who can’t do with easier living, less tension and more tolerance?

For wine lovers, there’s hardly a need to leave Ballard anymore to sate your taste for fine wine.

From our two local wineries (Animale and Domanico Cellars) to international labels, “Everything you need is in Ballard,” says winemaker Jason Domanico of Domanico Cellars.

After you’ve had your wine-tasting party at home, go check out tastings with the pros.

Now, many Ballard shops and restaurants have regular wine tastings, where you can learn about wines and what you like (or don’t like). Depending on the number of wines being tasted and whether food is offered with the wines, there is usually a fee for tastings, which varies depending on the number and type of wines and food offered (or not).

Here are some ideas to get you started.

You don’t have to drive all the way out to Woodinville anymore to visit a winery tasting room. Domanico Cellars retrofitted a former industrial building on 49th Avenue Northwest into a charming space for tasting their blended, award-winning wines from Washington grapes.

“We were encouraged to open in Ballard rather than Woodinville because there was a void in the neighborhood for wineries,” Domanico said.

Stop by Domanico Cellars Friday nights and Saturday afternoons.

This summer, Portalis Wine Shop & Wine Bar on Ballard Avenue is featuring a free Comparative Wine Tasting series every Tuesday and Thursday in a nod to the World Cup.

I stopped by last week for France versus South Africa in a battle of the Chenin blancs. (I think France won, but friendly Portalis owner and wine director Jens Strecker called it a draw.)

Longtime Market Street fixture Lombardi’s offers wine tastings with food about once a month on Wednesdays (check their website for specific dates).

Just a half a block west down Market Street, relatively new kid on the block Savour has wine tastings every Saturday afternoon and, this summer, on Tuesdays to tie into the Tuesdays In Ballard events.

Occasionally Savour will sneak in tastings on other days. Just ask next time you drop by for some of their tasty cheese or cured meats.

Although on a hiatus from wine tastings this summer, Aster Coffee Lounge will be adding them back come September. Besides wine tastings on the second Saturday afternoon of each month, manager Beth Scribner says they’ll be adding Friday night date-night wine tastings for parents with small children.

“Parents can bring their kids but still enjoy a ‘date’ tasting wine," Scribner said. "We’ll be partnering with Annie’s Nannies to provide childcare.”

Parents with toddlers, mark your calendar for Sept. 17 for the first date night at Aster.

Ray’s Boathouse, of course, can be counted on for great wine (along with seafood and more) anytime. On July 29, they’re featuring a wine-tasting event with Ballard’s Animale winery and more than 20 other family winemakers from Washington.

On Sunday mornings at the Ballard Farmers Market, stop by the Small Lot booth to talk about wines and learn about Washington wine with Zena , Darin or Jordan. Small Lot is a cooperative of 13 small family Washington wineries, including Animale, that don’t produce quantity but focus on quality.

“These small wineries are very passionate about what they do,” said Zena Leonard.

A Caprice Kitchen on 70th Avenue Northwest has put on winemaker’s dinners that feature several courses of locally sourced food paired with different wine from a single winemaker.

Chef and owner Anne Catherine said her winemaker’s dinners will likely resume in autumn. (Check with them in a few months.) In the meantime, her wine menu includes Ballard-produced Domanico Cellars and Animale wines. (Across the street, Delancey also serves Animale wine.)

So grab a friend or neighbor and enjoy some good wine here in Ballard.

Cheers!

"Pour deep the rosy wine and drink a toast with me;
Here’s to three: Thee, wine and camaraderie!"
– Unknown

Seattle-born Jill Irwin lives in Crown Hill and enjoys an occasional glass of good wine. She writes about things to do around the region at her blog Pacific Northwest Seasons.

101 Things to do in Ballard

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101 Things To Do In Ballard: Pick a pocket park

michaelh — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 17:05:47 +0000

michaelh Wed, 04/28/2010 - 10:05am

Ballard Corners Park is just one of many pocket parks the Ballard area offers. Can you explore them all?

Jill Irwin

Have you ever traveled down a residential street in Ballard and discovered a small park you didn’t know existed?

Several “pocket parks” are tucked away like little surprises in neighborhoods around the Ballard area. Finding them reminds me of going on a treasure hunt and discovering hidden gems.

After stumbling upon some by accident and talking to a few longtime Ballard residents and Seattle Parks and Recreation staff, I think I’ve discovered them all.

Here is a brief description of each. Try bicycling to them all some sunny day. Maybe pack snacks or a multi-course lunch to enjoy at each stop, like a traveling supper party.

I’ve omitted a few that are unofficial and not designated as parks by the city, but that’s another, more controversial story. If I’ve missed any you know about, chime in with a comment below.

Ballard Corners

Located at the corner of 17th Avenue Northwest and Northwest 62nd Street a few blocks north of the Ballard Post Office, this park invites you to come on in and have a seat in the living room. Literally.

The realistic-looking concrete sofa, easy chair and end table, complete with a lamp in a corner, remind me of Grandma’s house (without the excessive knick knacks).

Along the sidewalk on 17th Avenue runs a natural-looking, stone-lined drainage rain garden to collect rain and storm water and mimic a temporary urban stream when it rains hard.

Crown Hill Glen/Natural Area

You’re not likely to find this park by chance unless you’re visiting friends who live nearby. This lovely little nature park full of native plants and trees lies in north Crown Hill at a dead-end between 19th Avenue Northwest and 20th Avenue Northwest a few blocks north of Northwest 85th Street.

At more than 4,000 square feet, Crown Hill Glen is large for a pocket park, but it qualifies for my list because it’s a quiet, unassuming neighborhood spot. Bring your binoculars to watch birds that stop by, and meander along the pathway loop through the trees.

Thyme Patch Park

Of all the parks I mention, Thyme Patch Park is truly a “cute little park.” This wee park is sandwiched between a couple homes on Northwest 58th Street just east of 30th Avenue Northwest. I missed it on my first drive by because I blinked.

Walk up a few steps to a round patch of grass fringed by healthy shrubs and a bench. At the front of the park is a small but tidy Master Gardener demonstration garden in raised beds and P-Patches are in the back. Admire but don’t harvest.

Sixth Avenue Northwest Pocket Park

Set on the fringe of Greenwood on Northwest 76th Street, this is one of the newest pocket parks in our corner of Seattle.

As with many of these petite parks, it features innovative and lovely landscaping, native plants, open space and an interactive play area for kids. If you feel like a game of chess or checkers, check out the stone checkerboard at the entrance.

Webster Park

This too is a little large for a pocket park, but the landscaped portion and play area doesn’t span a whole block. At the corner of Northwest 68th Street and 30th Avenue Northwest, Webster Park is bordered on the south by a paved sports playfield with hoops and on the east by the Nordic Heritage Museum parking lot.

There’s a large, sand-covered play area with lots of equipment for kids to climb and crawl all over. Sculptured murals on some of the low-lying walls reflect the Nordic theme of the museum next door.

Baker Park

This park immediately east of the Crown Hill Safeway and behind some single-story offices on Northwest 85th Street is easy to miss if you’re not paying attention. Watch out for the totem pole just off Mary Avenue Northwest, which was carved from a monkey puzzle tree.

Baker Park sits between Mary Avenue and 14th Avenue Northwest, with a play area, benches and tables, and a pathway through the park.

Look down toward your feet as you walk near the play area — whimsical, colorful tiles are embedded in the creatively designed concrete and paving stones along the pathway.

Baker Park is a designated pesticide-free park.

A couple more Ballard pocket parks are in the planning and design stages now: the Ninth Avenue Northwest park and the Sunset Hill substation park.

Click here for a virtual tour of Ballard's pocket parks.

Seattle-born Jill Irwin lives in Crown Hill. She writes about things to do around the region at her blog Pacific Northwest Seasons.

101 Things to do in Ballard

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101 Things To Do In Ballard: Tour de tea

michaelh — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:51:10 +0000

michaelh Mon, 03/15/2010 - 9:51am

A tour of Ballard's tea shops begins at Miro Tea on Ballard Avenue. CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE PHOTOS.

Jill Irwin

With so many changes in Ballard these days, you’re more likely to find an Asian-style teahouse here than Scandinavian lutefisk or lefsa.

Interest in tea is surging, and we're fortunate to have several exceptional spots to relax and enjoy fine Chinese tea.

From Miro on Ballard Avenue to Floating Leaves Tea on Market Street to Zen Dog Studio Teahouse atop Crown Hill, sip and take home exquisite teas grown and processed on small estates in mainland China and Taiwan.

If you really want to dive in, try visiting them all some afternoon on a tour de tea.

Miro Tea

My first stop on this Ballard tea tour is Miro, which at first glance is the most similar to our ubiquitous Seattle coffee shops. But, the ambience is noticeably more relaxed.

People park here with their laptops and work, talk, sip tea and eat tasty handmade crepes and other good eats.

“I thought Seattle needed a different type of tea shop,” says owner Jeannie Liu. “I wanted a place for tea that was more approachable than the stereotype of quiet places with uncomfortable chairs. Coffee shops were better at promoting a social scene. I set out to have a place that has the comfort of coffeehouses, is welcoming and social, where you get to know your baristas.”

She has succeeded brilliantly. The baristas are friendly and knowledgeable, the vibe is easygoing and the extensive menu offers a wide variety of teas and seasonal specials.

With high ceilings and well-worn wood floors, Miro is spacious and comfortable.

On the back counter, a rotating selection of teas are always available for tasting. Today, there’s jasmine pearl green tea; a botanical blend of lavender, peppermint, and ginger; Tie Luo Han Chinese oolong; and Jing Mei Tang (Red Crane), a ripe pu-erh.

“At first, people would come in and almost say, ‘How dare you not have coffee!’ But, very quickly people got it and have become more accepting and knowledgeable and confident in selecting teas,” says Jeannie.

Besides premium Chinese and Taiwanese teas, Miro’s extensive tea menu offers herbal blends, such as Immunity Support and Detox.

And in case you venture out of Ballard, you can now buy Miro tea at Whole Foods.

Floating Leaves Tea

A few blocks east on Market Street is my next stop – Floating Leaves Tea.

Stepping inside is like entering a little jewel box. Tall shelves stuffed with silver canisters, gold vacuum-sealed bags of tea and colorful cups and pots line the walls in this cozy space.

The formal wooden tea-tasting station is where owner Shiuwen Tai brews up and offers tastes of her mostly Taiwanese teas.

Shiuwen grew up in Taiwan drinking tea as a part of everyday life.

“Tea is everywhere, and people drink it all the time,” she says.

When I ask if this is how she got into the tea business, she laughs.

“When I was with my American partner years ago who had lived in Taiwan, I discovered I couldn’t brew tea as well as him. It hurt my ego!”

She started to pay more attention to tea, got a job at a tea shop in Chinatown, read many books about tea, all the while steadily increasing her knowledge and passion for fine tea.

Today, Shiuwen enjoys educating people about good tea in her shop. She’ll brew up any of her teas in a gaiwan (a lidded tea cup) and talk about aroma, tastes and sensations to notice on your tongue, how the flavor evolves with each subsequent brew and more.

“I like to share with people what I know of tea quality and culture,” says Shiuwen.

Although she offers a variety of teas, Shiuwen specializes in high-quality oolong teas from Taiwan.

She also wants to connect people with the farmers who put so much care and effort into growing and crafting fine oolongs. She’s leading a tour of small tea estates in Taiwan this spring. The tour is sold out, but she hopes to go every year.

“I believe a good cup of tea makes people happy.”

Zen Dog Studio Teahouse

Have you ever driven by the house on Northwest 85th Street in Crown Hill decorated with big red lanterns swinging in the trees and wondered what it was like inside?

For my last stop on the tour de tea, I head up there to taste Chinese tea with Zen Dog Studio Teahouse owner Larry Murphy.

Don’t let the red metal gate scare you off. Walk on up the stairs, through the bamboo wood portal, push open the gate and ring the doorbell.

Pretty soon, Larry will welcome you with a smile and show you up the narrow back stairs to the studio, which glows warm with wood paneling and carefully placed track lighting.

Today when I arrive, Larry is serving tea to a couple people. I join them in the cozy alcove where he brews at his “alter to the tea leaf.”

We’re tasting Wen Shan Bao Chong, a green tea.

“This tea has a lot to offer. We’ll get at least five pours from it,” says Larry.

The tea is crisp and satisfying, and by the second pour I taste a hint of green grapes.

Zen Dog was initially an art gallery and frame shop, and although Larry still shows artists (including his own lovely nature photographs) and frames pictures, he’s often busy brewing and selling premium tea from southern China and Taiwan.

”Tea is very life affirming,” says Larry. “It goes beyond a beverage, it’s spiritual to me, which is why I use the best water I can from an artesian well to brew my tea. It’s also a sign of respect for the love and care that the farmers give it. Tea is just an awesome plant!”

Check out the next lunar arts events at Zen Dog on March 30, where musicians, artists, poets and writers will come together to perform and mingle.

Seattle-born Jill Irwin lives in Crown Hill, where she brews up a pot of tea almost every day. She writes about things to do around the region at her blog Pacific Northwest Seasons.

101 Things to do in Ballard

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101 Things To Do In Ballard: Avian action at Golden Gardens

michaelh — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 01:03:19 +0000

michaelh Fri, 02/12/2010 - 5:03pm

Countless points of avian interest await bird-watchers at Golden Gardens. CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE PHOTOS.

Jill Irwin

Ed. Note: This week marks the return of 101 Things To Do In Ballard as a regular feature on www.BallardNewsTribune.com. Crown Hill resident Jill Irwin is taking the column over from Esther Shin.

So maybe you thought birdwatching was sorta boring? Think again.

We’re fortunate here in Ballard to have a prime spot to watch the birds and waterfowl at the north end of Golden Gardens Park. It’s a nonstop avian party down there from fall through spring when the migratory birds and ducks swing by.

To get to the prime birdwatching area, walk as far as you can north in the park until you come to a bridge between two restored wetland ponds just before the north beach.

The waterfowl and birds generally linger in and around the ponds, but be sure to go out to the northern beach, and you’ll likely see some waterfowl out fishing or lounging in the Sound.

Today I’m tagging along with Carolyn Bell, a Ballard resident who goes to the park pretty much every morning to check out the birds and ducks (after coffee and pastry at Café Besalu).

Besides looking for various species, Carolyn learns a lot by observing the different behaviors of the ducks, geese, raptors and other bird life that stop by Golden Gardens.

“Recently, there was quite a romance going on between the Barrow’s goldeneyes (Bucephala islandica—a small duck), which don’t mingle much with the common goldeneyes," Carolyn says. "The female kept jerking her head back like a teenaged girl flipping her hair.”

It’s a gray, chilly morning with a biting wind. I’m glad I brought a hat and gloves to wrap around my binoculars.

Mornings, and especially week days when it’s less crowded, are the best time to see the birds and ducks.

As I head toward the north meadow to meet Carolyn, a big flock of wigeons (Anas Americana—another small duck) are nibbling in the grass just south of the wetlands.

“Widgeons are very communal,” says Carolyn. “Most of them feed together in a big pack. If something disturbs them, they all fly together back to the pond.”

This happens as I’m on the bridge watching. Once back in the pond, after rustling their feathers, stretching wings and such, the wigeons start “talking” to each other in little coos—not quacks.

“When they’re calm and content, wigeons make a happy rumbling noise, sort of like an elephant purring.” (I didn’t know elephants purred either, but I know exactly what Carolyn means when I hear the wigeons rumble.)

Besides the wigeons, I see several mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) couples swimming around the ponds.

“The mallards stay all year and will only go out to the Sound if it’s as calm as a bathtub. They’re the couch potatoes of the ducks,” observes Carolyn.

A pair of small black and white bufflehead ducks (Bucephala albeola) also swim by.

“Right now that pair of buffleheads are living out in the pond. They keep to themselves,” she says.

Up in the bare native trees above the wetlands, I see and hear what Carolyn tells me is the first red-winged blackbird of the season (a sign of a premature spring, thanks to El Nino).

“The pussy willows have been out for a few weeks already. And there are not as many waterfowl as usual for this time of year; they seem to be confused by the El Nino," she says.

After enjoying the various ducks, we walk out to the north beach. Carolyn points to some branches broken off from the small, protective native trees growing around the wetlands.

“People get drunk here and try to pull off branches for their beach fires, which of course don’t burn well because they are small and too green,” she sighs. “Sometimes after nighttime parties, the beach is strewn with beer cans and broken bottles.”

I see a few beer bottles on the beach this morning—a reminder that we humans are maybe not as evolved as we like to think we are. Or at least as considerate.

Several dark, slender-necked cormorants are popping in and out of the Sound about 30 yards offshore. We also spy some little mergansers (another small duck) that dive quickly without spending too much time on the water surface.

“Mergansers are down from the Arctic right now. They’re very efficient swimmers and fish in little groups in the channel as it curves towards the north end of park,” Carolyn says. “Sometimes it’s a feeding frenzy with lots of fish passing by. The mergansers get so excited they run across the top of the water.”

After about 30 minutes, I need to get back to my work day. As we walk back south down the beach together, Carolyn tells me she’s seen osprey off the north end of the park recently.

I want to come back soon and see what other species show up. Will the buffleheads and wigeons still be there? Will mallards get off their bums and hop out to the Sound? Will the Barrow’s goldeneyes consummate their romance? Enquiring minds want to know.

If you go, please be respectful of the birds and ducks and native plants. Dress for the weather. Binoculars and a bird book or chart are helpful but not necessary.

Seattleite Jill Irwin has lived in Crown Hill since 1997. She writes about travel and things to do around the region for Pacific Northwest Seasons.

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101 Things to do in Ballard: Find New York fashion in Ballard

Guest — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 16:16:11 +0000

Guest (not verified) Sat, 09/05/2009 - 9:16am

Angela Allen (left) and Leigh Ann Gilmer (right) carefully listen to instructor Terry Horlamus (center) for a flat-sketching class at the New York Fashion Academy on Ballard Avenue.

Esther Shin

Top Model. Project Runway. By now we’ve admittedly (or secretively) become fans of fashion-based reality television shows.

Chanel, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, and Prada are household names. We might not own it, but we know it’s fashionable, movie stars wear it, and it’s beaucoup bucks.

The frenzy of fashion and our obsession with celebrity trends leads most of us to have some kind of interest in style. We have an interest in knowing about fashion, if not a keen interest in looking like we know fashion.

Some people actually aspire to produce their own creations. Most of us just want to know how to alter cool vintage finds, mend torn objects, or how to recreate some of the trends we see but cannot afford.

Look no further! Our own neighborhood offers just the right place.

Director Terry Horlamus founded Seattle’s New York Fashion Academy in 1979. She leads the school along with Provost Dr. Robert Whaley. For the past 4.5 years the academy has been on Old Ballard Avenue.

Licensed by the state as a private post-secondary vocational training school, the academy offers a full-time only program. The difference between this vocational program and one at a community college, such as Seattle Central’s apparel design degree, is that students are exempt from having to take general education courses and can focus on their fashion studies.

The program is designed in such a way where students are able to have a full-time job, have family life and still attend school. The program is 18 months long, but most take 22 to 24 months because at the end of the program there’s an open thesis.

“We’re recognized as the premier vocational [fashion] training school in this area," Whaley said. "Students enroll for one of two reasons, to get a job at an existing fashion business like Nordstrom Product Group, Eddie Bauer, or REI as an assistant designer. But over half of the students want to enter into design entrepreneurship.”

About 40 students are enrolled in the program, and others take single courses for personal pleasure and self-development. Of the vast 87 courses offered at New York Fashion Academy, you can choose basic, introductory courses, such as sewing, pattern making, draping, fashion illustration, and even the history of haute couture (high fashion).

The academy is the most awarded design school in the Pacific Northwest. Acclaimed prizes include five out of five first place wins in Seattle Magazine’s 2008 Seamless In Seattle design competition, two first place emerging designer awards in the 2009 Seamless In Seattle Competition (as seen in the September issue), and first place in the Museum of History and Industry’s Theater de la Mode student design competition.

The school is not only for the serious and competitive design student. In fact, even of the aspiring designers Horlamus said, “This is a place where designers find their niche. They encourage each other in their different areas of specialty. No one is competitive or catty.”

This is quite contrary to the catfights and drama seen on television – the need to sabotage each other to win at all cost.

“It’s also important for us to be a part of the community,” said Whaley. “We participate in the Art Walk, Ballard Jazz Festival, it’s a venue for Seattle REVERBfest and an annual holiday auction and bazaar. We also host a sold-out student fashion show every April.”

Every other Sunday during the hours of the Ballard Farmer’s Market you’ll also find a fabric sale.

As far as the meaning behind the name of the school, Whaley said, “We teach New York style as well as New York real world skills.”

Director Horlamus was also an honors graduate of a prestigious fashion design program in New York City. New York Fashion Academy advocates a high fashion platform in terms of design and construction.

“We want our students to leave the program and be able to build a couture-level ball gown,” said devoted instructor Horlamus. “We teach the necessary skills, and people can take and do what they want with it.”

Whether you’re the next contestant on Project Runway, experimenting with personal designs, or trying to create a designer knock-off, you might not have the opportunity to attend New York Fashion Week or purchase fabric in the Seventh Avenue garment district, but you have access to New York fashion right here in Ballard.

What:
New York Fashion Academy

Where:
5201 Ballard Ave. N.W.
206-352-2636
www.newyorkfashionacademy.com

When:
All weekday classes 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Saturday classes from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

101 Things to do in Ballard

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101 Things to do in Ballard: Boat watch at the Locks

Guest — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:06:39 +0000

Guest (not verified) Fri, 08/28/2009 - 10:06am

BOAT GOES UP, BOAT GOES DOWN: Even on a weekday morning, crowds can be found gathering to watch boats move through the Ballard Locks.

Michael Harthorne

Just the thought of boats has drummed up countless daydreams since the dawn of time.

The explorers in their tall ships bound to discover new lands. Lewis and Clark battling the mighty Columbia before it had dams. Sailors setting out to circumnavigate the globe. Fisherman fighting Mother Nature’s most vicious elements for the deadliest catch. And that idyllic still moment, watching the sun set as the silhouette of a sailboat disappears into the horizon.

We are fascinated by water craft and their fearless captains. And Ballard knows this more than any ‘hood in town. Here, it’s just as fun to get up close and personal with boats as it is to watch and daydream about them from a distance.

And what better way to get a glimpse of real boat life, than to visit the Ballard Locks—as boats go in and out, up and down. This marvel of engineering is a mesmerizing activity for all ages.

Named after U.S. Army Major Hiram Martin Chittenden (the Seattle District Engineer for the Corps of Engineers from April 1906 to September 1908), the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks (also known as the Ballard Locks, or simply The Locks), are a complex of locks located in Seattle’s Lake Washington Ship Canal.

Operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the locks were built in 1911 so that coal and timber could be transported by boat. The Locks formally opened on July 4, 1917, and they were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Technically speaking, the Locks not only maintain the fresh water level of Lake Washington and Lake Union (located at 20 to 22 feet above sea level), they also prevent the sea water of Puget Sound from mixing with the fresh water lakes, and of course, move boats back and forth between the two places.

Boats as big as 760 feet in length and as small as a kayak can make a pass, and visitors can catch all the action. The Locks are one of Seattle’s most popular tourist attractions, but locals love to wander down and appreciate the mechanical art in their own backyard too.

Doesn’t everyone love a good parade of tugs, barges, sailboats, and yachts?

What’s more, a visit to The Locks also comes with a gorgeous botanical park as well as a window into the inner workings of our local wildlife at the accompanying fish ladder (all free).

Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden is a prime spot to relax and boat watch. Or, pick up a copy of the garden pamphlet at the visitor center and spend the day discovering and identifying its rare and exotic plants.

And if you’re more into fauna than flora, the fish ladder is a destination all its own. Physically integrated into The Locks for the migration of fish, the ladder is a critical link for salmon and steelhead heading upstream to spawn.

The ladder features 21 “steps” for spawning fish to climb to get to the freshwater side, and smolt return to the Sound by venturing down. The best time to see spawning King salmon is now and Cohos are seen in late September.

To keep the fish theme going, head across the parking lot to the Lockspot for Halibut and Chips and perhaps even a glimpse at your favorite star from "Deadliest Catch" (rumor has it the Cap’n Sig hangs here and the T-shirts on the wall read “Lockspot, Ballard, USA: The Deadliest Bar,” as four episodes were filmed there).

Of course, if it’s a sunny day, you can just grab your fish to go and picnic at The Locks.

Whether you go to see wildlife, watch ships or sprawl out on the lawn to eat fresh caught fish and chips, like a daydream of ocean’s past, the boats of the Ballard Locks are calling you to witness the captivating life of a seafarer first-hand. Yarrr!

What:
Hiram M. Chittenden Locks

Where:
3015 54th St. N.W.
Seattle, WA 98107
(206) 783-7059
http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/tour/locks.htm

When:
Grounds: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. year-round
Fish ladder: 7 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. year-round

Visitor center schedules:
Summer hours are daily, May 1 through Sept. 30, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Winter hours are Oct. 1 through April 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays
Free guided tours offered March 1 through Nov. 30

Ballard Locks

101 Things to do in Ballard

Ballard

101 Things to do in Ballard

Robinson Papers

101 Things to do in Ballard: Find Rejuvenation

Guest — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 18:30:45 +0000

Guest (not verified) Thu, 08/20/2009 - 11:30am

From left, Rejuvenation owners Kelli Riddle, Mara McCune and Darian Weaver.

Esther Shin

Recession, long days at work, screaming kids, and inept drivers leave us tired, sore and stressed.

When life hands you tense, aching bodies where do you go? Rejuvenation, of course.

Meet three Ballard residents, Mara McCune, Kelli Riddle and Darian Weaver. These three business partners come together with a vision and passion for wholeness and healing, and a sense that a unified, symbiotic massage practice is beneficial for them and the community.

The Ballard triumvirate opened the business in April of 2006.

“We wanted to do something beyond massage," said McCune. "We wanted to work with our community."

The three partners have a combined experience of nearly 25 years, in addition to a few other therapists who practice at Rejuvenation. A broad range of massage services is provided, from orthopedic rehabilitation, sacred hot stone, craniosacral therapy, essential oils aromatherapy, to pre-natal massage.

“We all do different things and have different styles so we decided to come together,” said Weaver. “We want to give people options. People’s bodies need different things and we all have different specialties.”

Echoing his sentiment, McCune explained, “A client can come in for half an hour and see Kelli for hip work, Darian for shoulder work. You get the best of both worlds and you don’t have to leave Ballard.”

There is a cozy feel to Rejuvenation. It lacks the sterile, clinical feel of most practices.

Enter and wait with a cup of tea. The whole point is to feel relaxed from the moment you enter. Then you leave feeling, indeed, rejuvenated.

When asked what she likes most about serving the Ballard community, Riddle said, “The people I’ve met [in Ballard] draw me here and I want to stay here.”

“I don’t ever have to leave. Everything I need is in Ballard,” chimed in Weaver.

These three Ballard loyalists also network within Ballard and promote other Ballard businesses and doctor’s offices, such as Ballard Neighborhood Doctors. This makes sense for a business running primarily on a Ballard clientele-base with most referrals coming through word of mouth.

Coupons and promotions for Rejuvenation can be found online and at other local shops and cafés, such as Fiore. Speaking of promotions, all summer long Rejuvenation is offering $15 off all hour-long services.

Take a moment to relax, find healing and renewal and provide wellness for your body. Rejuvenation is a one-stop shop for a wide range of massage practices.

Make an appointment to take a much-needed break from the stress and chaos of life.

What:
Rejuvenation Massage

Where:
4775 Ballard Ave. N.W.
206-778-0063

When:
Mon-Fri 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sat 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

101 Things to do in Ballard

Rejuvenation

Ballard

101 Things to do in Ballard

Robinson Papers

101 Things to do in Ballard: Make King’s Hardware summer entertainment destination

Guest — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:41:53 +0000

Guest (not verified) Mon, 07/13/2009 - 11:41am

King's Hardware is located at 5225 Ballard Ave. N.W.

Michael Harthorne

Even non-Ballardites might agree that King’s Hardware is one of the coolest bars in Seattle. Step inside to an ambiance reminiscent of a remote ski-town bar.

Antiquated paintings of mountains, antler horns, deer heads and other taxidermy cover the walls. A shelf mounted on the wall proudly displays a beer can collection, like a coveted library.

On the ceiling, sailboat steering wheels and old wagon wheels serve as light fixtures. For a moment, one forgets the hustle and bustle of an over-crowding neighborhood. You feel at ease. Order a drink, sit back and relax.

The location was actually a hardware store open for more than 50 years. Three years ago, partners in crime Linda Derschang, and Ballard residents Jeff Ofelt and Wade Weigel took up the space and remodeled it into a bar – hence the name, King’s Hardware.

The décor preserves the classic, old Ballard feel – exposed brick walls, wooden booths, mementos from the old hardware store, even some parts of the wood flooring is from an old Ballard bowling alley, as well as antique finds from local businesses Restore and Earthwise.

“Ballard is a wonderful neighborhood with a small town feeling," Derschang said. "From cupcakes to clothing stores, vintage stores to restaurant, there are so many great businesses. It’s great to hang out in a neighborhood where everything is close by.”

Well, one reason people love hanging out at King’s Hardware is for its outdoor patio, which is open year-round and, of course, a main attraction in the summer. Seated outside on the patio on a sunny afternoon, you can even hear the trains go by.

Inside the bar the jukebox plays. The arcade game Big Buck Hunter Pro is nestled in between two skee-ball machines, so fun and addictive. But this isn’t just your average bar with booze and bar games.

Rumor has it that King’s Hardware has the best burgers in town. Their motto is, “Cant beat our meat!”

During happy hour you get three sliders (mini burgers) for $5.50. The food is delicious, so you don’t need to drink and ditch to satisfy your hunger. It’s a one-stop-shop of good drinks and good food in a great environment.

And if you need one more reason to visit your beloved Ballard bar with the best burgers (alliteration is fun), throughout July and August they’ll have outdoor movies every Sunday.

“Outdoor Summer Movies” presented by King’s Hardware started July 5 with “The Big Lebowski."

At dusk out on the patio your favorite Cohen Brothers and Wes Anderson films will be projected onto a screen. Here’s the awesome lineup that even movie buffs will want to repeat: "Raining Arizona," "Blood Simple," "O Brother Where Art Thou," "Fargo," "Bottle Rocket," "Darjeeling Limited," "Royal Tenenbaums," "Life Aquatic" and "Rushmore." It doesn’t get any better than that.

Wait, it does. Sunday’s are half-priced Bloody Mary’s, just $3 for your favorite hangover drink and $15 pitchers of mimosas.

General manager Mike Leifur said, “I have amazing staff, tons of people from the neighborhood and of course all the regulars.”

Friendly Ballard folk, great food and drinks, fun games, great ambiance, outdoor movies, and drink specials? Do you need more coaxing?

What:
King’s Hardware

Where:
5225 Ballard Ave. N.W.
www.kingsballard.com
206-782-0027

When:
Mon-Fri 4 p.m.-2 a.m., Sat-Sun 12 p.m.-2 a.m.

101 Things to do in Ballard

King's Hardware

Ballard

Bars/Restaurants

101 Things to do in Ballard

Robinson Papers

101 Things to do in Ballard: Bike, Ballard, bike!

Guest — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 23:23:10 +0000

Guest (not verified) Fri, 06/12/2009 - 4:23pm

A biker rolls up Northwest Market Street Friday afternoon, June 12.

Michael Harthorne

Summer entices both the novice and the serious biker to abandon usual modes of transportation. Instead of driving, walking, busing, we welcome any excuse to put on our helmets (for the brave ones their spandex) to merrily pedal our way around the neighborhood.

Children gladly trail behind their parents on training wheels. Happy couples ride in sync on their tandems. Hip Ballardites sport baskets for carrying Farmer’s Market groceries. Formerly bulky bike commuters, in lieu of layers and reflective raingear, are wearing shorts and a big smile.

And with the upcoming STP (Seattle to Portland) bicycle ride on July 11 and 12, determined bikers do serious miles training for the 200-mile, two-day (some do it in one) event.

Even if you’re a beginner, summer is a great time to get into biking – it’s free (for the most part), it’s exercise, and the best part is that you get to enjoy coveted summer days.

It’s a great way to run errands around the neighborhood. Bike to nearby parks like Golden Gardens, Carkeek, or Gas Works. Cruise along the Burke-Gilman Trail to nearby neighborhood destinations like Fremont or the University District.

You can even make a fun weekend trip out of it.

Plan a day trip with friends and family for a bike ride to Woodinville. Destination: Chateau Ste. Michelle winery or Redhook brewery. The ride is all on trail via Burke-Gilman/Sammamish River Trail and roughly less than 20 miles one-way from Seattle.

You bike and then reward yourself with a little libation. Then liquid courage serves you well for the ride back home. A shorter distance away on the same trail is Marymoor Park in Redmond. The park has a great lineup for its outdoor summer music concerts.

Visit our friendly Fremont neighbors at Free Range Cycles.

“When the sun comes out people get excited about biking," said bike mechanic and Ballard resident Andrew Jorgensen. "People drag out their old bikes that have collected dust for years and all of a sudden they want to ride.”

From basic services like fixing flats to full-service tune-ups, local bike shops get busy in the summer.

Jorgensen practices what he preaches. He goes everywhere on bike.

“I don’t have a car and I don’t like taking the bus," he said. "It’s my last resort. Ferries are okay, though."

Whether your objective is to revive your dust-covered bike, get a bike tune-up, or perhaps you’re in the market for a snazzy new bike, go check out one of our local bike shops.

Take advantage of these gorgeous summer days and join your fellow Ballard velophiles.

Hurry up and get out before it’s too late. You want to be cruisin’ on the streets before summer cruises on by.

What:
Bike Sport

Where:
5601 24th Ave. N.W.
www.ilovemybike.com
206-706-4700

When:
Mon-Fri 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

What:
Dutch Bike Company

Where:
4421 Shilshole Ave. N.W.
www.dutchbikeseattle.com
206-789-1678

When:
Tue-Sun 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

What:
Free Range Cycles

Where:
3501 Phinney Ave. N.
www.freerangecycles.com
206-547-8407

When:
Sun noon to 5 p.m., Tue-Thu 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Fri-Sat 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

What:
Second Ascent