Local henna artist Antoinette is hosting a “Henna for Haiti” event at Makeda Coffee, 153 N. 78th St., from 6-9 p.m. Saturday.

25% of all transactions will be donated to Partners in Health and makeda coffee will be matching that 25%

You’ve no doubt seen all the work happening at 6510 Phinney Ave. N. That space is turning into In the Red Wine Bar & Cafe, owned by Chad W. Campbell and Brian Folino. They hope to open sometime in March.

(Photo by artman1951.)

Campbell was laid off from a telecommunications industry job last summer and took that as a sign to switch careers. Even though his family lived in Queen Anne, they spent quite a bit of time in Phinney, particularly at El Chupacabra. He looked around at various potential sites in the neighborhood before settling on the building that also houses Davern Safe & Lock.

But Campbell and Folino didn’t want an upscale, slick wine bar. They wanted something that was reasonably priced, around $5 a glass, and, since Campbell has an almost 3-year-old, it needed to be family-friendly.

“We wanted something that was more affordable,” Campbell explained. “We didn’t want people to break the bank with double-digit glasses of wine.”

And they wanted them to have yummy, but not overproduced, food to go along with it.

“The food will be kind of simple,” he said. “We won’t have a hood so we can’t do open flame or deep frying. We’ll do some soups and bruschetta and small plate salads. Little bites if you will. And we’ll probably have a few vegan things on the menu as well.”

In the Red will also serve coffee in the mornings (Folino trained at Capitol Hill’s famed Espresso Vivace). Campbell said they’ll probably open at 6 or 6:30 a.m. Coffee and pastries will be available for sit down or take-out. Eventually they may serve simple breakfasts as well, and they’ll have free WiFi.

Furniture and dishes will be mismatched eclectic, with comfy couches and chairs, and hopefully a little fireplace. “We don’t want to come across as being too slick,” Campbell said.

They’re still working out the hours, but they will probably close at 11 p.m. weeknights and midnight on Friday and Saturday.

“Phinney is a fantastic neighborhood, plus there isn’t a wine bar per se in the neighborhood. We feel like it’s a good little neighborhood and a good little corner,” Campbell said. “I think that we’ve got a lot of factors that will make us successful. The neighborhood in itself is supportive of these kinds of places.”

The new Couth Buzzzard Books Espresso Buono Cafe at 8310 Greenwood Ave. N. is starting Open Mic Nights at 7 p.m. every every Wednesday. The evening is hosted by musician/philosopher Katie Weller. Sign-up starts at 6:30 p.m.

Come and share your music, poetry, stories, whatever. Drinks and food available. You can learn more at our Facebook page: Couth Buzzard Espress Buono or website: www.buonobuzzard.com. And don’t forget our Family Game night every Thursday at 6, and the Writer’s Group on Mondays at 7 p.m.

Who else in the neighborhood sponsors open mic nights? Let us know in comments.

The new Couth Buzzard Books Espresso Buono Cafe at 8310 Greenwood Ave. N. is adding meetings and entertainment in its new space.

Starting Monday, Feb. 1, they’ll be hosting a new writing group at 6 p.m.

Leader, Marilyn Stauter calls her approach “Guided Spontaneity.” For more information contact Marilyn Stauter at stauter5687@msn.com, or 206-633-5687.

And every Thursday from 6-9 p.m. is now Family Game Evening, with cards and board games.

Chess, Go, Bridge, Scrabble, Dominos and more. The Cafe will also be open for drinks and food. 206-436-2960.

The new Couth Buzzard Books Espresso Buono Cafe at 8310 Greenwood Ave. N. celebrated its grand opening today with crowds of book and coffee lovers, plus some great music.

When we stopped by this afternoon, two members of the Parisian-themed group Rouge were performing. Singer Janet Rayor was singing in French about what happens during a chance encounter in a crowded place.

Later on, two students from Rosewood Guitar performed mostly holiday classics.

Speaking of Rosewood Guitar, the students’ teacher, Robert Vierschilling, told me the guitar studio hopes to reopen on Feb. 1. Rosewood was seriously damaged in a Nov. 5 arson. Vierschilling says there was more damage than originally thought, plus they decided to do some upgrades, so it’s taken longer than they planned.

Couth Buzzard Espresso Buono’s grand opening party continues until late tonight, with a cabaret-style music performance from 7-10 p.m.

Couth Buzzard Books Espresso Buono Café opened in December at 8310 Greenwood Ave. N. and is now getting ready for its Grand Opening party on Saturday.

It’s an all-day event from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., with music throughout the day, free food and beverage samples, and cabaret-style entertainment from 7-10 p.m.

The store recently changed its website and email addresses. The new website is www.buonobuzzard.com. Penny Wight, owner of Espresso Buono Garden Cafe in Lynnwood and now the café portion of the Greenwood store, can be reached at penny@buonobuzzard.com.

Book aficionados Theo Dzielak and Gerry Lovchik can be reached at theo@buonobuzzard.com and gerry@buonobuzzard.com. And their new phone number is 206-436-2960. Hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekends.

The store is available in the evenings for meetings and events. The Chess and Go Club is already scheduled to meet there every Thursday at 6 p.m.

The store is always looking for books to fill their shelves:

We are especially looking for good fiction, science, philosophy, and books on Agnosticism and Atheism (we have tons of various books on religions).

And they’d love to have your arts and crafts to display on the walls. (Penny in the café asked the PhinneyWood Kid, now 4, to create a masterpiece using glitter glue, so they’re not being snobby about the kind of art!)

Don’t forget that State Rep. Reuven Carlyle is inviting constituents to join him for a cup of coffee at one of four locations this Saturday, including our neighborhood. Let him know your concerns and priorities for the state.

Crown Hill - Café Fiore, 3125 W. 85th St. - 8:30-9:30 a.m.

Phinney Ridge/Greenwood - Herkimer, 7320 Greenwood Ave. N. - 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Magnolia - Serendipity, 3222 W. McGraw St. - 1-2 p.m.

Queen Anne - Café Fiore, 224 W. Galer St. - 2:30-3:30 p.m.

The 2010 legislative session is a short one, beginning Jan. 11 and running for 60 days.

State Rep. Reuven Carlyle is inviting constituents to join him for a cup of coffee at one of four locations this Saturday, including our neighborhood.

“The Legislature convenes on January 11 and we’re again facing a massive deficit of nearly $3 billion,” Carlyle said in a press release. “It’s critical that I hear from our community directly about your views, issues, concerns and thoughts on the budget, taxes, education and other important issues. I’m asking people to reach out and share your views so I can better represent you in Olympia during these difficult times.”

Here’s the caffeinated schedule for Saturday, Jan. 9:

Crown Hill - Café Fiore, 3125 W. 85th St. - 8:30-9:30 a.m.

Phinney Ridge/Greenwood - Herkimer, 7320 Greenwood Ave. N. - 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Magnolia - Serendipity, 3222 W. McGraw St. - 1-2 p.m.

Queen Anne - Café Fiore, 224 W. Galer St. - 2:30-3:30 p.m.

The 2010 legislative session is a short one, beginning Jan. 11 and running for 60 days.

Rep. Carlyle is also the guest speaker at this Friday’s Greenwood-Phinney Chamber of Commerce meeting at the Phinney Neighborhood Association, 6532 Phinney Ave. N. The meeting starts at 7:30 a.m. with coffee and muffins; the main meeting gets underway at 8 a.m. It’s free for Chamber members; $5 for non-members.

The new Couth Buzzard Books Espresso Buono Cafe at 8310 Greenwood Ave. N. had hoped to have its grand opening party on Jan. 9, but they just changed it to Saturday, Jan. 16. The celebration lasts all day, with food and entertainment.

Come on by and check out our new and beautiful bookstore. Try items from our great new menu of coffee, Italian sodas, Panini sandwiches, soups and much more. If you are interested in performing, reading poetry, playing music, helping out, then please let Theo know. You can call me at the store at 206 436-2960, my cell 206 418-9522, or email me.

Couth Buzzard/Espresso Buono had their soft opening on Dec. 16.

Couth Buzzard Books Espresso Buono Cafe had its soft opening at 8310 Greenwood Ave. N. last week, but now plans its grand opening celebration for Jan. 9.

Well, the New Couth Buzzard Books Espresso Buono Cafe had a week exceeding our expectations! A special thanks to all our old and new friends who came by.

And, our Grand Opening Party is Saturday, January 9th all day. Food, Fun Entertainment. Come on by and check out our new digs. Let me know if you can help, or if you want to do a little performing.

Theo, Penny and Gerry

The Ballard News Tribune reports that the new incarnation of the Couth Buzzard bookstore, with Espresso Buono Cafe, hopes to open in their new location at 8310 Greenwood Ave. N. on Dec. 16. But they need help stocking the shelves in order to hit that target date.

Read the full story here.

Hundreds of people packed into the Greenwood Sip & Ship this morning for the reopening of the Green Bean Coffee House. The original Green Bean was destroyed in the Oct. 23 arson, but Sip & Ship, at 8560 Greenwood Ave. N., is allowing the Bean to temporarily take over its coffee operations.

“It’s crazy, it’s absolutely crazy,” Green Bean Manager Summer Mohrlang said of the turnout, as five people worked frantically behind the counter, filling coffee mugs and making breakfast sandwiches. Customers were generously packing the tip jar.

Green Bean even hung their old sign - virtually undamaged from the fire - outside.

There was a continuous long line of customers for the two hours we were there. Most everyone brought their own mug for their morning coffee, then left it for the Green Bean to restock their mug collection.

KIRO, KING and KOMO news crews were on hand as the administrators of the Greenwood Fire Relief Fund presented checks of $1,000 each to two of the four businesses destroyed in the Oct. 23 fire (the other two businesses couldn’t make it and will receive their checks later).

Below is Phung Hoang, one of the owners of Szechuan Bistro, on the right, next to Summer Mohrlang, manager of the Green Bean. Presenting the checks are Greenwood-Phinney Chamber of Commerce President Steve Giliberto, and Cindy Potter of GAIN (Greenwood Aurora Involved Neighbors).

Neighbors and business have donated more than $5,000 to the Greenwood Fire Relief Fund, and the fund is still accepting donations. The Fund’s administrators plan to make another disbursement to the affected businesses in mid-December and another in late January.

“It’s just really good to see the tenants know that they were cared about,” Taproot Theatre’s Producing Artistic Director Scott Nolte told me after the check presentation. “The fact that the community is giving back - not enough to rebuild - but enough to say ‘We care about you. You are vital members of the community.’ Between this and hopefully the capture of the right guy yesterday, hopefully this is the end of a sad process.”

Taproot owned the Eleanor Roosevelt Building where the four destroyed businesses were located, and Taproot sustained major smoke and water damage. Nolte said the Eleanor Roosevelt Building will be demolished early next week. A wooden safety wall will be painted by local muralists before being erected in front of the site.

Hoang said her family owned Szechuan Bistro since late 2002. They did not have insurance, so while the $1,000 check they received today will help, they have a long way to go before being able to open in a new location, hopefully in Greenwood.

“Thanks for the Greenwood neighborhood,” Hoang said. “For right now it helps a lot because I have a lot of final bills.”