Weekend Holiday Happenings: Dec 4-6

Here at Northeast Seattle Life, we are big fans of Christmas and the winter holidays in general. With Hannukah already in full swing and neighborhood craft fairs galore, here are a few events happening in our area:

Laurelhurst Holiday Art Sale and Winter Festival
It's day two of this festival which includes art by local artists and plenty of holiday craft-making for kids. Santa plans to make a visit from 11a.m.-noon.
Laurelhurst Community Center
4554 NE 41st Street
Saturday, 12/4: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM; FREE

Ravenna Holiday Arts & Crafts Sale
Now in its third year, the Ravenna Eckstein Community Center sale has an array of local crafts from jewelry and candles to to hand-woven goods, as well as a bake sale benefitting the center's teen program. For more information, read the Ravenna Blog post about the event.
Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center
6535 Ravenna Ave. N.E.
Saturday, 12/4: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM; FREE

Lifetime Learning Center Holiday Faire
Located in John Marshall High School, this holiday celebration includes a book and bake sale, musical performances and silent auctions; all in support of this nonprofit education institution for older adults.
John Marshall High School
520 N.E. Ravenna Blvd.
Saturday, 12/4: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM; FREE

Waldorf School Winter Faire
More local gift shopping and holiday craft-making for kids at the Waldorf School in Meadowbrook. If it's anything like their summer farmers market, there is sure to be some great treats.
Waldorf Grade School Campus
Second Floor, Huckleberry Hall
2728 NE 100th Street 
Sunday, 12/45: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM; FREE

Children’s Home Society of Washington's Red Stocking Run & Walk
For those looking for an athletic way to celebrate the holidays, there is a 5K run/walk and 1K Kids Dash at Magnuson Park on Sunday. The cost of the run is $35 on the day of race with proceeds benefiting the Children’s Home Society of Washington. Festive attire and red socks strongly encouraged. The event also includes the very unique Fruitcake Toss and Hot Chocolate Garden. For more details go to: www.redstocking.org.
Warren G. Magnuson Park
7400 Sand Point Way NE
Sunday, 12/5: 9:00 – 11:00 AM; race registration starts at 8:00 AM

Menorah Lighting Ceremony
The annual menorah lighting at the University Village takes place this Monday at 6pm. Celebrate the festival of lights with klezmer music, dancing, and dreidels and gelt for children. Ceremony takes place near Mrs. Cooks.
University Village
2623 NE University Village Street
Monday, 12/6: 6:00 PM

Sample Restaurant Week before it ends Thursday

Some of you may remember my excitement about the inaugural Restaurant Week earlier this year, despite the fact that only one Northeast Seattle restaurant was participating.

Well, with it's second go round Restaurant Week is bigger than ever and offering many more restaurants in our neck of the woods. If you haven't had a chance to check out the 3-course dinner for $25 deal, better hurry! The promotion finishes on Thursday night (10/28).

Try one of the five Northeast restaurants participating:

• Frank's Oyster House and Champagne Parlor (Ravenna)
• Pair (Ravenna)
• Sand Point Grill (Sandpoint)
• Mamma Melina (University Village)
• Piatti (University Village)

I haven't been to all of these fine establishments but if I had to choose my vote definitely goes for Pair. A small, unassuming little bistro tucked next to the Queen Mary on 30th; Pair serves up small plates with simple but delicious flavor. It's an invitingly cozy spot perfect for a rainy night.

Sand Point Man Accidentally Shoots Neighbor

Seattlecrime.com reported a man arrested today in the 4000 block of NE 50th for reckless endangerment after accidentally shooting his neighbor:

According to sources we've spoken with, the incident occurred when the suspect—a man in his 30s—was attempting to put a sling on an AK-47-style rifle in his apartment, and accidentally fired the weapon. The round went through the floor and into a lower unit, grazing another tenant in the forehead.

Thankfully the other tenant was not seriously hurt.  For more details, check out Seattle Crime's coverage here.

Seattle Tilth Early Edible Plant Sale Today at Magnuson

There couldn't be a more perfect way to celebrate spring then by wandering through the Seattle Tilth plant sale on this amazingly sunny day. Even better, it's happening right in our backyard - Hangar 30 at Magnuson Park!

I went to the Tilth sale last year and left with as many plants as I could carry.  The tiny little organic starts were probably half the size of their conventional counterparts but, boy, did that change! I ended up with a wonderful herb garden and more tomatoes then I knew what to do with.  My success last year fueled my excitement for the annual event and I was thrilled to read that the Seattle Tilth would be holding the sale even earlier this year.

As I've mentioned previously, 2010 is the Year of Urban Agriculture in Seattle and the Tilth is helping to kick it off with this spring version of their popular plant sale:

Choose from an amazing selection of edible plant varieties proven to perform well in the Pacific NW during the cool season, starring rare and heirloom organic vegetables.  We will also be selling perennial edibles such as favorite cane fruits, unusual fruiting shrubs and trees from One Green World in Oregon, culinary herbs and edible flowers.

The sale will be going from 9:00am - 2:00pm; today only. Before you head down to Magnuson, here are a few tips from the Tilth:

• Bring carriers (boxes, plant flats, etc.) to get your plants home all in one piece.
• Get a bracelet: because the event is so popular, the Tilth will be handing out wristbands for timed entry into the sale.
• Chow down: Patty Pan Grill and Mighty O Donuts will be on site in case you get hungry.

For more information, check out the Seattle Tilth website: http://seattletilth.org/ .  Directions to the plant sale can be found here.

Have fun and let us know what you buy! I'll be posting some pictures of the event on the NE Seattle Life Flickr group; add yours as well!

Happy Friday!

Lake Washington Glass, originally uploaded by papahazama.

It's the end of one of the busiest months of the year for me so I'm excited and READY FOR THE WEEKEND.

In celebration, I thought I'd post this great picture from the Northeast Seattle Life flickr pool. I love how it shows the Magnuson Dog Park's view of Lake Washington and one obviously happy pup romping around in it.

Do you amazing photos NE Seattle photos like this one? Post them on flickr and add them to the group pool!

Neighborhood Appreciation Day and Other Family Friendly Events

Are you one of the quiet minority silently loathing all the hoopla around Superbowl Sunday?  Good news! This weekend there are a plethora of non-football events going on in Seattle.

For those looking for some family-friendly fun, there are many activities happening at the Magnuson Community Center.  Tonight's Lunar New Year celebration, from 5-9pm, will be filled with live music, dance and games.  There will also be food from 5-7pm and the evening will finish up with an authentic Chinese Lion dance.

New Years Happenings in the NE

For the last night of the year - and the end of the gluttonous holidays - here are some events happening in the NE 'hoods.  If your more interested in kicking off the new year by starting on those resolutions, I've included a few New Years Day activities as well.  Check it out and let me know if I've missed anything!


New Year's Eve Shenanigans
New Year's Eve Pre Funk Show!
Goorin Brothers hat shop is throwing the best pre-party for New Year's by having four of the hottest Seattle hip hop acts perform: Macklemore, The Physics, Geo (of Blue Scholars) and Grynch.  I hope it's a big store - I know I'll be there!
Goorin Brothers
4336 University Way
3:00 - 7:00 PM; FREE

Jet City Improv's New Years Eve 2009 Spectacular
An evening of live Jet City Improv comedy, food and drinks, satellite feeds from different time zones, party favors and prizes, champagne toast and fireworks projected on the big screen at midnight, and DJ and dancing into the night!  Catering by Casa Del Mojito (King 5s Best Latin Food in Western Washington) and dessert by The Confectional (King 5s Best Dessert in Western Washington).  This event is all ages.
Historic University Theater
5510 University Way N.E.
9:00 PM-2:00 AM; $50-80

Buckaroo Blues Band
Playing at the Little Red Hen in Greenlake for only $10.  The cover includes party favors and midnight champagne toast.
Little Red Hen
7115 Woodlawn Ave. N.E.
9:00 PM-2:00 AM; 21 and Over

Christmas Ships at Magnuson Park Tonight

The Christmas Ships are motoring over to Magnuson Park tonight.  Performing live and amplified for all to hear, whether you like it or not, will be the Choir of the Sound on the Argosy boat.  The Magnuson Community Center will be generously providing refreshments and music, as well as the traditional Christmas ship bonfire to keep you warm while watching.  I don't know what they are like now, but when I was kid the fires were HUGE.

The ships will be at the beach from 8:50 - 9:10pm, but the celebration lasts all the way until 9:50pm!

Weekend Holiday Happenings: Dec. 18-20

It's the last weekend before Christmas so I know everyone is going to be doing one thing - shopping.  Okay, maybe that's just me.  (Mental note: start Christmas shopping a few weeks earlier.)  For those a little more organized, there are some great holiday events going on in NE Seattle:

Christmas Ships
There is nothing more unique to Seattle during the holidays than the Christmas ships. Watch the parade of decorated boats while listening to the Northwest Girls Choir singing from the Argosy Ship. Get there on time because they are almost always on schedule!
Matthews Beach
Saturday 12/19; 9:45-10:05 PM

University Farmer's Market
This weekend is the climactic finish of the Christmas party season.  Lots of people, including yours truly, will be celebrating with friends and family and what better place to get amazing local produce/veggies and other yummy food than the largest farmer's market in Seattle.  Go buy a pie and save your baking time for drinking hot buttered rums.
University Heights Center
University Way NE & NE 50th Street
Saturday, 12/19: 9:00 AM-2:00 PM; FREE