It’s almost turkey time, and there are plenty of holiday and non-holiday-related events around the neighborhood this weekend. Here are some highlights, but check our events calendar for complete listings.
Taste some wine at the Phinney Market, 5918 Phinney Ave. N., from 5:30-8 p.m. Friday.
“Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol” opens at Taproot Theatre, 204 N. 85th St., Friday. It runs through Dec. 30.
The Woodland Park Zoo’s annual Turkey Toss is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, with various zoo animals getting their own holiday-themed treats.
Photo by Ryan Hawk, Woodland Park Zoo.
Nearly 2,000 people are expected at the Green Lake Gobble and Mashed Potato Munch Off on Sunday. The fun starts with a 5K run/walk at 9:30 a.m. Canned food donations will be collected for the Union Gospel Mission.
The Tarantellas play live Italian music at the Olive and Grape, 8516 Greenwood Ave. N., from 7-10 p.m. Saturday.
The Park Pub, 6114 Phinney Ave. N., is hosting a party at 8 p.m. Saturday to benefit the Aurora Commons, a non-profit that plans to open in January at 8914 Aurora Ave. The $2 minimum cover gets you live music, giveaways, menu specials, exclusive beers on tap, and a photography exhibit of Aurora Avenue by Joshua Longbrake.
Seattle Storytellers Guild holds its monthly Story Swap at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Couth Buzzard Books Espresso Buono, 8310 Greenwood Ave. N. And Couth Buzzard’s monthly cabaret is from 7:30-10 p.m. Saturday, featuring local performers on stringed instruments.
Neptune Coffee hosts “Back to the Future” trivia at 8 p.m., 8415 Greenwood Ave. N.
Artist Anna McKee will talk about her trip to Antarctica and climate scientists will discuss recent discoveries in the science of climate change from 2-3 p.m. Saturday at the Greenwood Library, 8016 Greenwood Ave. N. McKee will then lead an informal tour of her artwork at Francine Seders Gallery, 6701 Greenwood Ave. N.
The Seattle7Writers Group and Santoros Books hold an author reading, signing and “boutique bookstore” from 3-6 p.m. Saturday at the Phinney Neighborhood Center, 6532 Phinney Ave. N.
The Seattle Folklore Society presents Jeff Warner in concert from 7:30-10 p.m. Saturday at the Phinney Neighborhood Center, 6532 Phinney Ave. N.
Wayward Coffeehouse, 8570 Greenwood Ave. N., presents the Nordic folk music of Mad Fiddlu from 8-10 p.m. Saturday.
Santoro’s Books is creating a “boutique bookstore” inside the Phinney Neighborhood Center on Saturday, featuring 20 Northwest authors in person ready to talk to you about their books and sign your purchased copies.
The Seattle7Writers Holiday Book Signing event is from 3-6 p.m. Saturday in the blue building at the PNA, 6532 Phinney Ave. N., with cookies and author readings.
The Seattle7Writers is a group of 30 authors who encourage and promote Northwest literacy and literature with the rallying cry of “Read Local.” At Seattle7Writers events, readers can discover new favorites or keep abreast of what their favorite authors are currently doing, while supporting local literacy programs such as Writers In The Schools and pocket libraries in unconventional places. With camaraderie and enthusiasm, Seattle7Writers encourages you to support your local writer, writing programs and independent bookstores.
The folks at the Phinney Neighborhood Association just beamed down the results from this past weekend’s sold out Star Trek-themed “Beer Trek” beer taste and here they are:
Taproot Theatre just released a rendering of the building it proposes to build in the place of the Eleanor Roosevelt Building, which was destroyed last year by an arsonist.
Rendering by the Miller Hull Partnership.
The new building along North 85th Street would have a cafe, a second performance and rehearsal space, new scene shop and offices.
Honoring the neighborhood’s distinct historic style, the proposed design complements the building’s surroundings while incorporating some modern touches. The 12,000 square foot building will be engineered and constructed by Pacific Modular, using LEED certification guidelines and state-of-the-art techniques. The proposed design goes to the Northwest Design Review Board on December 13 at 6:30 p.m. If all goes according to schedule, the new building could be built and open for business in less than one year.
Taproot Theatre Company purchased the ERB in 2000 with plans to expand. The initial expansion plans hovered in the range of $20 million, so the theatre maintained a long-term vision for the future while leasing the building to several small businesses. However, the arson on October 23, 2009, changed everything. In the months that followed, Taproot conceived a $3.2 million project that would both advance the theatre’s future and accommodate the abbreviated timeline, providing a timely restoration to the neighborhood.
Mike Veitenhans tells us that Bob, the man who sells the “Real Change” newspaper in front of the Phinney Ridge Starbucks Wednesdays through Saturdays, had surgery on blocked arteries on Monday but is now recovering well.
Tests revealed a 90% blockage in one of his carotid arteries. Doctors operated to remove the blockages on Monday and he was home from the hospital Tuesday afternoon. He plans to visit his friends at Starbucks tomorrow morning (Thursday) and, if his recovery proceeds as expected, he’ll be back hawking Real Change in front of Starbucks next week.
Neighbors working together to bring sidewalks to Evanston Avenue North between North 90th and North 92nd streets will have their second Greenwood Streetscapes workshop on Sunday. The meeting is from 4:30-6 p.m. Sunday at Liz Sullivan & Helene Bourget’s house, 9053 Evanston Ave. N.
We had our first workshop on this block on October 21st…In case you missed that last one, another introductory Greenwood Streetscapes workshop is coming up on Nov 21st. Your opinion is essential to this effort. Please mark your calendar and join us to learn about your street right of way and give your input to this Block Study.
Together we can look at a block map, discuss a typical street configuration and receive your comments so that the Block Plan (to be developed in January) responds to all neighbors’ interests and concerns about pedestrian safety, parking, drainage and more.
If you have any questions, please contact your neighbor:
Crystal Perry, 9042 Evanston Ave N, c_perry@msn.com, 781-9727
The family of ReeAnne Halonen granted her final wish by having a New Orleans-style memorial procession from her Ballard/Phinney home to a nearby park on Sunday afternoon. Halonen passed away Oct. 19.
Her only wish for her memorial was to have a New Orleans style funeral jazz band to play through the neighborhood. Thanks to family friends Joshua Kohl from the Degenerate Art Ensemble and Luis Benito from the Seattle Sounders band, the “73rd and Chaos Street Brass Band” was assembled, so called after ReeAnne’s name for her Ballard home where all were welcome and loved.
About 30 friends and family gathered to march with the band as they played a dirge to the 6th Ave NW Pocket Park for a brief performance and then burst into upbeat hymns upon the return to ReeAnne’s home before performing at her memorial, held at the Central Area Senior Center.
Jessica wrote to tell us about a disturbing incident that happened to her while pushing her child in a stroller on Greenwood Avenue in front of Greenwood Hardware.
A middle aged man started verbally accosting me for “strollering” my one year old. He approached and asked me a question as if in earnest by saying “Do you know who invented the stroller?”, thinking he was going to say something interesting or funny I stopped and said “No, who?” and he proceeded to tell me that uncaring, unnurturing mothers who didn’t want to carry their babies invented them. As I started walking away the man continued to yell things like “you disgust me” and other offenses. I actually started to get nervous as this man was getting angry so I crossed the street and ducked into the Color in Space shop.
I want people to be aware of this man especially as there are a lot of stroller moms who traffic this main street. He seemed unstable and there is no telling what he could do. I saw him down the street while I was in the Color in Space shop stopping to talk to another parent and child walking a dog but don’t know what was said and he seemed to move on quickly (probably because the child could walk!). Just an FYI. I think next time I will have my guard up a little more.
Alex is a handsome, 4-year old gentleman with a quiet and peaceful disposition. This sweet boy may be hesitant at first, but he quickly warms up to a soft voice and gentle affection. Alex is long and lean with the most dramatic grey and black tabby markings – two tone colored whiskers – and soft, green eyes. Give Alex a little time and you will quickly get to know (and love) the sweet, curious, and affectionate cat within his shy exterior.
Alex is waiting for a chin rub at PAWS Cat City (8503 Greenwood in Seattle). He is neutered, microchipped, litter box trained, and up-to-date on his vaccines. During our Home for the Holidays promotion, his adoption fee is $72. Cat City is open Tue, Wed & Fri noon – 6 pm, Thu noon – 7 pm and Sat – Sun 11 am – 5 pm.
The upcoming holiday season might be a perfect time for your family to welcome a new furry friend. Through January 3, there is a 20 percent discount on adoption fees for cats and dogs six months and older. If you’re ready, come on in and we’ll help you find your perfect match!
Sophia Mitri Schloss of Phinney Ridge will perform in Book-It Repertory Theatre’s production of “Red Ranger Came Calling: A Guaranteed True Christmas Story,” at Seattle Children’s Theatre.
“Red Ranger” is based on the 1994 children’s book by Berkeley Breathed, the creator of the comic strips “Bloom County” and “Outland,” which featured popular characters Opus and Bill the Cat.
Sophia plays three roles: toy, rabbit and elf.
Breathed tells the true story of his own father who, at age nine, insisted on being addressed as the Red Ranger of Mars. Every Christmas, the Red Ranger is sent to Vashon Island to spend the holiday with his Aunt Vy. This Christmas of 1939, the rambunctious and disbelieving red-headed boy encounters an ancient man named Saunder Clös, rumored to be the retired Santa Claus. Inspired to overcome Red’s skepticism, Saunder Clös gives a gift which leaves his own indelible mark on the landscape, and which still remains on Vashon Island today! Red Ranger tells a timely tale where even the hardest heart can be softened through the act of believing in that which is difficult to believe.
“Red Ranger” runs from Nov. 23 through Dec. 23 at the Seattle Children’s Theatre at the Seattle Center. Tickets range from $25-$42 and can be purchased online or by calling 206-216-0833.
A PhinneyWood reader tells us that someone stole her wallet right out of her backpack at Fresh Flours Monday morning while she went to the bathroom.
If the stealer is reading this: PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE return my wallet. i know you found no cash in there. that wallet is really important to me, i’ve had it since i was fifteen! the wallet is a big, classic louis vuitton print wallet. if someone finds it, please call 206 465 1936. i’ll give you a reward.
KING 5 is reporting that a large scaffolding fell down at 4902 Phinney Ave. N. around 4:30 this afternoon. The scaffolding was covered with a tarp next to the three-story brick Park Apartments. Reporter Jim Forman reports that the scaffolding fell on cable and phone lines, but not power lines, and that no one was hurt.
And here’s a close-up shot of the twisted metal from Robert B.
The scaffolding was all cleaned up before 7 p.m. tonight.
Mike Veitenhans tells us that Bob, the man who sells the “Real Change” newspaper in front of the Phinney Ridge Starbucks Wednesdays through Saturdays, had surgery on blocked arteries on Monday but is now recovering well.
Sophia Mitri Schloss of Phinney Ridge will perform in 
