Kirkland Weblog

Set of Kahunas needed: please respond to City Hall

The word is out that last week our City Council voted in favor of an appeal of the Bank of America/Merrill Gardens project on Lake Street.  Why does it seem like we're always chasing our tails on these downtown projects? I'm about to throw up a whole bunch of info and let you pick the chunks out.   

Here's how I see it- the developers are always going to ask for the world.  Whether it's B of A, ParkPlace, McLeod, whatever.  That's their job- they want to build big things and have them be successful/well liked and of course, profitable.   If they know they can have 2 stories, they'll ask for 5 realizing they might just get 3.  They gear up with drawings, research, plans, motivation, some gusto and typically a willingness to hold hands with the city so that a workable middle ground can be discovered.    Then, entering stage left, marches in the ever-present quickly assembled group of activists that want to save our great city from being thrown into the perils of the modern ages of re-development.   

My opinion doesn't matter here- but since you asked and it's my blog, I'll give it b/c it's simple. I think the B of A site needs to be re-developed, it's a crusty old eye sore (but nothing tops that antique shop, for the record).  I DON't think that the bank and some elderly housing is the best fit for prime-time downtown real estate.  I also don't think that something needs to be just two levels - I've got to imagine that makes it difficult for the numbers to jive for the developers.  Kirkland doesn't need to be the next Bellevue, but we want to at least be interesting and sustainable while maintaining our little lake town allure.  We need to give people a reason to come to our downtown and spend some money so there aren't tumbleweeds rolling past our businesses. Kirkland will evolve- newsflash- we're not the old lumber town we used to be.  But we can't seem to stop spinning our wheels despite ourselves.

Did you see the Kirkland Reporter this week?  After city council supported the appeal, three members of the Design Review Board resigned.  I can't blame them- they volunteer hours of their time and make a recommendation, only to have city council rebuff their decision.  It begs one to ask why were they there in the first place?    Kirkland needs to get a set of kahunas!  Maybe we could hire another expensive consultant to help us find some?  Or we could call Chief Olsen and have him throw on the blue lights/sirens and speed us over to the kahuna store.  We're so worried about pissing people off or doing the wrong thing-but-we're going to make some mistakes along the way, and there will never be a time when everybody will agree.  Please, SOMEBODY draw a line in the sand and let's pick a direction.  Argh.  Ok. Will go calm down now.  Comment away!   ~j    PS- special thanks to Steve for posing for this photo :-)

Another One Bites the Dust...

Say goodbye to "O & Company."  It looks like they have cleared out.

Speaking of clearing out, due to the upcoming McLeod project, Manhattan Boutique will have to leave it's location on Lake Street.  So go take advantage of their blowout farewell sale (40% plus) between now their departure in June.  Even the furniture and fixtures are for sale.  I can't believe I'm telling you about this before I've done my shopping....... j 

Kirkland Weds Market 2008: It's time! It's time!

Sunny skies can't be far off if it's time for the Wednesday Market!  May 7th is the kickoff and they've changed the time up a bit:  it's 2-7pm for the 2008 season which runs thru October 15th.  I recently sat down with Jodi Bardinelli, the new Director for the market, and she's got lots of great vendors and cool new ideas in store for us. 

There will be 60 booths in total (12 artists and the rest farmers) where you can pick up oysters, jams, honey, cheeses, vegetables, flowers (<---attn: Steve, these are only $5-10 and on your way home from work), croissants from the French Bakery, La Pasta's fresh-made pasta, Wooly Pigs bacon, or Willie Green's organic greens just to name a few.   

The first Wednesday of every month will have a family/kid focus with a Sprout Story-time at the new demo booth.  For Opening Day, our mayor Jim Lauinger, will be reading "My Pet Goat" at 3pm.  The Lake WA High School choir will be singing the Star Spangled banner and the kids can participate in a 'plant a seed' activity. 

Stay tuned for chef demos on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month and future events such as 'Touch a Tractor', 'Adopt a Greyhound' and the Seattle Humane Society's 'Max Mobile.'  Sur La Table will be showing us how it's done at the demo booth on the 3rd Weds of each month.  We can look forward to a beer garden and grill-off for Father's Day where dad's grill up steaks to be judged by local chefs.  And in September, there will be a Grape Stomp where teams of 3 will each get 20 pounds of grapes to stomp- the team with the most juice wins!

This year you can also sign up to get "The Fresh Sheet" which is a weekly email to let you know what items to expect at the Kirkland Wednesday Market each week.  You can sign up for that by sending an email to info@kirklandwednesdaymarket.org. 

Local Businesses Teetering on the Edge

My inbox filled up the other day with forwarded notes from local business owners that are sending out an S.O.S.  I give these folks credit for having the guts to ask the community for help, but I also have to believe that there are plenty of others out there in the same boat.   Especially with all of the impending re-development, it seems the future of some of our favorite spots may be uncertain.

ParkPlace Books is looking for donations so that they can afford to pay a large bill that is coming due on 4/28.   Their heartfelt note explains that it has been difficult competing with the internet and huge box stores, not to mention the downturn in the economy and the slowing of foot traffic at Kirkland ParkPlace due to retail businesses departing in anticipation of Touchstone's project.  This plea also addresses the fact that they are doing some long range planning so they can stay ahead of the curve in the future, and stresses the importance of this great bookstore to the community of Kirkland.  It is a great independent shop where you can find knowledgable staff and a comfortable space to relax, read, and discuss.  If you're a fan of this bookstore too, Mary and Rebecca would love to see you stop in, buy a book and/or donate.  Too busy? You can mail your support to: ParkPlace Books, 348 Parkplace Center, Kirkland, WA 98033.

Cruising down Lake Street you'll see the big banner for Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day on 4/29.   Then underneath that banner is a sign asking for donations.  I found this to be quite confusing, but I think instead of donating to a non-profit organization they have started their own "Ben & Jerry's Fund" to help save themselves from disaster since they will be vacating their current location during their busiest season (summertime) for remodeling.  It's important to know they support the project, however, it sounds like they will struggle to land on their feet.  Can't the Ben & Jerry's "mother ship" step in to help too?  Regardless, Kirkland ice cream lovers (seriously, does anybody NOT like ice cream?) should head in for their free cones on the 29th and just 'pay' for them anyway.   You can check out their site at www.saveourshop.com . 

If you love these Kirkland spots, now is the time to help keep them off our obituaries list! ~j

Is our Hibernation (finally) Over?

When the sun beams down on Kirkland in April, we all stop what we are doing immediately and head for the outdoors.   How friggin' AWESOME was this Saturday??!!  Here's a little of what I observed-the car washes lined up, dogs proudly marched with their sunglass-ed owners, musicians strummed happy tunes in the parks, and children's hair whipped in the wind as parents cruised with all the windows down.  I saw an abundance of un-pedicured feet that were obviously caught off guard by the sandal-appropriate weather.  One set may have even been mine as I got in my first water-ski run of the season ;-).  Every cyclist and motorcycle took to the streets, the roads jammed up, classic cars came out, outdoor dining spots overflowed and you had wait in line 20 minutes for an ice cream.   Shorts and tank tops were prevalent and even the flowers perked up and stood tall to welcome the rays.   As I walked through town I just wanted to do cartwheels down Lake Street and belt out a happy song to welcome this weather and beg it and all the fun that it brings to stay. 

Please please please don't let it be another springtime teaser.   The false alarms are hard to take, but I guess I would settle for just one day now than none at all.  It was fun seeing you all out and about enjoying Kirkland today.  Enjoy the pics.  ~j

Finding a Cab in Kirkland Just Got Easier

Attention Kirkland party crowd!  Or maybe those that occasionally have one too many.  Have you ever tried calling for a cab in this town?  They aren't just floating around when you need them and you'd better have a Red Bull in your hand if you are planning on calling for one and waiting. 

But one smarty pants group of taxi drivers have noticed the need for service on the eastside and started a flat rate service called Eastside for Hire.  They've been around since October and have 40 cars in operation serving mostly the eastside (but of course they will take you anywhere!).  Wait times are typically 10-15 mins. The cool thing is it's a flat rate- no surcharges for waiting or for extra passengers.  So, if you've tied one on down at Tiki Joe's, you can call 425-453-9000 and stuff yourself and 3 of your friends in the car for $7 to all crash at your 98033 address.  There is a handy rate calculator on their website- it's $35 to go from 98033 to the airport, for example.

So stay safe and smart, Kirkland.  I don't want to see your swervin' ass on the road (and neither do the plentiful DUI taskforce officers) and now you have no reason not to make the right choice.  It's that easy.  Please leave your feedback here if you have the chance to use this service.  The old has-been partiers like myself are curious :-)    ~j

You can Save the Day!

CERT Class #10 just graduated (left) and there's a new one starting up soon.   My mom got certified, so if she can do it, you definitely can!  CERT= Community Emergency Response Team which is a national program that helps prepare you to help yourself, your neighbors and your community in the event of a disaster. 

That's right sister, we've got to get ready for the big one.  That wind storm last year was just a little taste of what it could be like if things went sideways here.   You will learn how to do search/rescue, prepare your home/work with emergency supplies, understand fire behavior and apply basic medical and psychological techniques.  There's a test at the end where there are similated scenarios, so be prepared to do some heavy lifting.  Our own fire dept instructs the weekly classes for the low low price of- FREE! (for citizens who live, work or attend school in Kirkland).

The next session starts on April 9th and runs for 8 Wednesdays 6-9pm.  There's an application here or you can also contact the coordinator, Robin Pastor, if you have questions: 425-587-3659 or rpaster@ci.kirkland.wa.us.  There she is, photo left, with our Fire Chief Jeff Blake. You should encourage your neighbors to go too.   When I checked how many CERT's there were in our neighborhood of over 800 homes, there are only 2.  Good news is that I know where they live, bad news is there would be quite a line at their door.  The net of the story is we need to get more people CERT-ified.  So go ahead and take advantage of this program so you can help save the day when it comes.  ~j

My Secret Sunshine

When Steve and I moved here from Atlanta, it was the winter of 1998.  Do you remember it?  The one where we seemingly broke a record because it rained ninety days in a row.  This was not the warmest of welcomes for us, so we vowed to head back to sunnier skies the minute Steve's 4 year contract was up.  That was ten years ago and clearly the Northwest has grown on us since then.

Here's where we get to my secret.  After enduring all the long winters of rain and gray skies, I have discovered the warmth, light and solitude of a tanning bed.  Gasp! Boo! Say it isn't so- I know!  I'm prepared for a few comments that will rip me a new one but I figured it's time to fess up.  Some people take anti-depressants or zip off to Hawaii for the 5 month rainy spell.  Tanning has become my coping mechanism.  It's NOT about being tan (they have lotions for that), but I have to admit that it's a helpful by-product that keeps me from looking like a slice of havarti.  It IS about  20 minutes of bright light and pure warmth that heats me to my bones.   It's a quiet toasty hum that sends me to a sleepy state of suspended consciousness.  At first my head races with my to-do list, then my solemn mind realizes my children couldn't possibly find me here and there's a relaxed surrender.  POP!  Darkness.  Twenty minutes flies by way too fast but I feel the same type of euphoria that I do on a sunny day in my car with the music on and sunroof open.

I know it's bad for my skin (I'm not getting any younger) and probably all of my organs that I am slow roasting every 2 weeks.  But I seem to rationalize this behavior by saying that it's still far less UV than I'd be getting if we lived in California.  I'm also notably surprised to see the people coming in and out of the tanning salon.  It's not all orange-skinned teenagers with bleachy white teeth as you might suspect.  It's quite a diverse crowd, actually, many of which are do not appear tan at all and are secretly reading this post nodding their heads but are outwardly denying their addiction.  I know who you are ;-).

If summer would just hurry up and get here I could go cold turkey and live off the REAL sun.  Seems we'll do anything to encourage summer's arrival in Kirkland.  I was at my hair appt yesterday- it's 40 degrees outside- and the salon owner was prancing around in a sleeveless dress and sandals on her beautifully french pedicured feet.  Come to think of it- I was dying my hair blond.  And I've seen a few convertible tops down too.  Maybe if we all join together and just pretend summer is here.......it will be???  ~j

2008: Seven Hills of Kirkland

It's here again!  So get yourself geared up for KITH's Seven Hills of Kirkland on Monday May 26th-Memorial Day.  You begin riding from 7-9am at Kirkland's Marina Park and can pick one of three routes dependent on your skills, or in my case, lack thereof.  There's "40 miles" which is 7 hills, "Metric Century" is 11 Hills and "Century" is 13 Hills.  My legs burn just thinking about it.  That's a lot of hills and it's for a good cause- you can check out more about KITH here.  Your registration fee ranges from $30-$60 based on which route you choose and how quickly you register.  They are projecting 1200 participants and you can register online or there are flyers at businesses all around town. ~j 

St. Patrick's Day Sunday Brunch (and benefit)

Come support the Kirkland Downtown Association (KDA) while celebrating St. Patrick's Day brunch at the Wilde Rover this Sunday (March 16th).   The event is being held from 10am to 2pm and tickets are only $20 per person.    $15 of every ticket benefits the KDA and includes your choice from five menu combos--including traditional Irish breakfast as one of the choices!  Coffee and tea included.  Sorry, but you will have to pay for the Guinness separately.   

It should be fun.  The tables will be  pushed together and you are guaranteed to meet some new people as you enjoy games, raffles, music, and great food.  Oh, and don't forget the Guinness.   

You  can get your tickets in advance at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/29548 or you can bring cash the day of the event.  Don't forget, it's the KDA that does all the flower pots, the Weds Market, Classic Car Show and holiday decorations downtown, so let's get out there and support them! Steve 

MuShoe 'Shoes' Up on Park Lane

You can never have too many shoes.  My husband doesn't seem to understand why on earth you could need 12 pairs of black shoes, and I just nod my head in disbelief that I have to explain the reasoning again.  You ladies know what I'm talking about-each pair has its own distinct role in our lives.  We need some edgy ones for going out and some flats to go with our footless tights and boots to sass up our jeans and........you get my drift.  Have I mentioned I love shoes?

There are some fun finds at MuShoe which just opened on Park Lane last week, in addition to their Edmonds location.  It's got a small boutique feel with zest- bold red walls, bamboo floors and some swanky furniture.  There are lots of top name brands like Donald Pliner, Paul Green, LaCoste, and check out these fun Sinela turquoise patent wedge sandals for spring ($204, photo right).   There are definitely some cool European finds here too.  Prices range from $40-$300 a pair, but  most seem to be around between around $125.

Don't forget there are also some great handbags and accessories.  To the left there's a Maxx lime green patent bag ($145) with a Sandra McManus turquoise rope necklace ($245).  And guys, in case you haven't lost interest already and gone back to scratching your belly, this store is only for the ladies.  Unless, of course, you're buying ;-)    

~j

What the ....??

Yes, it's open and it really is a little market on Central Way called The Island Market.  I can't imagine many people park just to stop there, so I made a point to.  It's basically 7-11's teeny kid brother that is glad to supply a soda or candy bar or some Oodles of Noodles.  No slurpees though- darn! There were also some Hawaiian food items-most of which I hadn't seen or heard of- something that looked like frozen peeled potatoes in a bag, for example. The lady working there is the owner who is from Hawaii and tried to tell me what it was but I simply had never heard of it.  She has another store in Seattle where she said things are 'very different'  from Kirkland (she is a resident here).  She was so darn sweet I didn't have the heart to question her business plan.  I felt so guilty I even bought a pack of batteries.  If you're thirsty and walking down Central, please go buy 14 diet cokes from her.  Or a few cases of beer, whose ads are proudly displayed in every window, on your way home from 'Time Out'.  If we each do this, it might cover her rent.  ~Janis

uBRDO: Check out the new uber cool bike shop

Scott Richardson recently opened uBRDO Cycle and Mountain Supply (pronounced ooo-bird-oh, and is Croatian for 'in the hills/mtns') at 122 Central Way in downtown Kirkland. I couldn't help but notice a bike hanging in the window as I daydreamed at the red light at the intersection of Central/Lake St, so I decided to check it out. 

The vision is to be a 'lifestyle shop.' I quickly informed Scott I don't really bike and have no idea what that means, so stick with me while I explain (or skip this part if you've already got the smarts).   Scott (left) was previously a manager at another local bike shop, so it's obvious he's pretty dialed in to what the cycling community is up to.  His store isn't there to simply sell you a bike, many of his customers are the types that will go for a trail run in the morning and then a bike ride in the afternoon, so he's gearing his products and atmosphere towards this athletic cross-over outdoorsy crowd (which there must be plenty of-it sounds like a familiar poster child for the Seattle area).  So, you might buy a Gregory backpack or Lole active/casual clothes or maybe a bottle holder for your bike and some Hammer energy gel packs to get you through the weekend. 

Right now he has three brands of bikes: Intense, Gunnar and Swobo which range in price from $450-$5K.  More inventory is on its way every day and he is personally selecting his products for quality, design and utility.  If you've got the time, you can even kick back and watch some extreme cycling maneuvers on the lime green couch while snacking on some Red Vines.  This was my son's favorite part (photo right) aside from that little ticky noise the bicycle wheels make.

Scott has a real interest in learning about his customers and creating community too- keep an eye out for a future espresso table in the shop, a breakfast event to watch the Tour de France, and staying open til midnight on Fridays and Saturdays this summer!  Oh, and it's also a full service shop- if you can hustle your bike on in for a tune up by 3/7 it's only $40 (it's usually $85).  Happy Trails! ~j

"Temporarily Closed"

Is this the new lingo if you're not really sure if you've gone out of business?  Sushiya has been papered up since July.  First there was a sign saying "Closed for Remodeling" but I never saw a truck or a worker near the place.  Thought they seemed to be doing a pretty good business but apparently not-I've emailed the owners- no response.

The Pub at Juanita Bay just pulled a copycat maneuver and has a handwritten sign on its door saying "temporarily closed."  Phone is disconnected. OK. What the heck does that mean?  No volleyball this summer perhaps. Can anyone help fill in the blanks on these two?  ~j

Kirkland Blog Coffee Week-3rd Up: Urban COFFEE Lounge

Get ready to be in the know: Urban COFFEE Lounge is scheduled to open to the public on Feb 26th.  Alicia Miner (photo left) has been in the coffee biz for 13 years and really knows her stuff.  She started at a stand her parents used to own on Juanita Drive and has since worked for many coffee houses.  She currently owns her own stand The Coffee Miner in Issaquah and is 'brewing over' with excitement (<-- OMG I'm a dork!) about pursuing the vision of opening the Urban COFFEE Lounge . 

The Urban COFFEE Lounge will allow you to experience Alicia's years of experience and extracting all of the best practices and her favorite things-such as Stumptown Coffee- coupled with her husband's architecture and design eye that will make it a place you want to stay and relax and enjoy your perfect cup of coffee.  You'll surly find Alicia hands-on behind the concrete coffee bar because it's simply what she loves.  And her enthusiasm is contagious, so you won't have to look far to find her.

And- YES- they really are nestled in Juanita Village and are setting up shop right across the street from Starbucks.  But that doesn't worry her one bit, because she is aiming for a completely different experience.  "I want people to come in, sit down in a club chair, meet people, slow down,and hang out and relax."  No problem! I can't ever find a seat in that Starbucks anyway :-).

Expect to find some yummies there too.  Breakfast sandwiches, Blazing Bagels, Mighty-O Donuts, pastries and desserts.  Right now the plan is to be open M-F 6am-9pm and Sat/Sun 6:30am-10pm.  The place looks really cool in a u-shape facing the windows with richly painted walls, an open fireplace and funky contemporary lighting (left).  Definitely check this place out if you love a good coffee and some down time. ~J

Kirkland Blog Coffee Week-2nd Up: Caffe Ladro

Caffe Ladro already has a big following from many of its other locations around the Seattle area. It's earthy feel and fair trade, organic shade grown coffee is a favorite amongst locals.  Here is what coffee and Seattle are all about.  The Kirkland spot is right along Central way next to Santorini ( a personal fave!) and has some of the old familiar Taco Del Mar seats along with a seating bar and some fun Adirondack chairs out front that will be PERFECT once the weather warms up (maybe this weekend I hear??). 

Steve was there this morning and said they poured him a great coffee.  No problem finding parking, good service, great coffee. I was there, in all fairness, on the second day they were open and had what was a decent tasty latte, but I have a teensy riff.  My usual Grande decaf (to keep my from bouncing off the walls) nonfat vanilla latte was $4.10 (breaking the $4 mark makes me notice) but I was ready for a fabulous brew.  Then when I picked up the cup it was WAY too light-my hand quickly flew into the air at shoulder height with my cup in it. You know what I'm talking about- half foam and not enough joe.  I'm sure this was an early opening thing, as the cute young kid behind the counter made puppy eyes and shrugged so I just smiled in agreement to not hurt his feelings for what was probably his first day on the job.   Again, Steve and everyone else I have spoke to have LOVED their cup of coffee there so I think my example is a rarity.

This first experience won't deter me from going in again.  They also have free wi-fi and are a must-do Seattle coffee house.  It's kind of minimalist/back to the basics which is refreshing.   Not too much seating inside, but love those chairs outside.  Go there.  I'll be on an Adirondack as soon as the temp hits 60. ~Janis

Kirkland Blog Coffee Week-1st Up: St. James Espresso!

This new coffee shop on Kirkland Avenue is bright and buzzing with its sleek lines and urban flare.  Jeanette Van Belle (pictured left) always wanted to open a coffee house, so when the timing felt right she decided to go for it!  She and her mom, who also co-own a dog kennel, shipped off to 'coffee school' in OR and learned the biz.  Mom decided to stick with the dogs, but Jeanette found a great spot right across from the Kirkland Performance Center to open up the St. James Espresso (fondly named after her Scottish terrier, Jimmy).  You'll notice paw-print cutouts in the chairbacks and doggie treats for sale on the shelves in his honor. 

The St. James has a welcoming floorplan with flat panel TV's and plenty of seating.  The crowd seems mostly armed with laptops- there's free wi-fi and a power strip lining the counters which is oh-so-convenient.  Or pick a leather seat near the fireplace and grab something from neatly organized magazine collection on the wall.  There are also books and plenty of games- lots of the classics like "Connect 4", "Battleship", "Risk" and "Sorry" which I will gladly kick your butt in, upon request. 

We stopped in after dinner, so haven't had a chance to sample the food yet, but it all looked very tempting.  They have paninis and soups (which often get marked down 50% in the evening!), not to mention grilled cheese for the kiddos and of course fabulous desserts that made me drool on their pretty glass case.  The Caffe D'arte coffee was delicious, and how could you not smile at that pretty heart-shaped swirl in the foam?  Every detail of this coffee shop has been well thought out and it shows.  Stay tuned--they are working on getting their license to serve beer/wine--which is brilliant with the KPP across the street! 

Stop in before March 15th and mention the Kirkland Blog to get 10% off. WooHoo!    ~Janis

The French Bakery--just 3 weeks away!

There's a lot of buzz about this place so I've been trying to chase down some scoop for you guys.  Frederic Courteau is the owner of The French Bakery, which will be opening right across from The Heathman (next to Terra Bite) on State St and Kirkland Ave.  He was kind enough to email me with his vision, which I enjoyed reading so much that I thought I'd just share the note with you!  You can't help but appreciate his love for his work and Kirkland too.  He had me at "chocolate" .........

My wife and I (and our 2 little boys) are anxious and hopeful that this retail store will become one of Kirkland's little gems.  We have a wholesale bakery in Bellevue that has been in business for over 10 years, serving a good chunk of Seattle's best independent cafés.  The word "independent" is very important to us.  The design of our place will reflect a bit my origin, growing up in Grasse (French Riviera), where the culture, architecture, cuisine, and attitudes are very similar to what is found in Northern Italy, just an hour away.   We will blend traditional French pastries with an exclusive Northern Italian coffee & chocolate line, flown in weekly from Bologna.  Our store will also offer a wide array of retail items, almost exclusive to us.  (i.e. coffees, chocolates, teas). 

We live 4 miles away from the store and are committed to this area, in spite of many people advising us to open our shop in Seattle "where the action is".  Our ambitions are modest, except when it comes to quality where we won't stand for second best.  This means we will strive to improve over time and stay at the top of the niche market we serve.

Our phone number will be (425) 898-4510

They are opening just as I've finally lost those holiday pounds.  But don't worry- I am so there. Stay tuned for 'coffee week' next week- there's a lot of new joe in town to talk about....   ~Janis

What happens in Kirkland, Stays in .....

Forget Vegas, baby, Kirkland is THE place to get married. Brides and grooms are lining up at the Chapel of Love Heritage Hall to take part in the big wedding event that is planned for Feb 14th.  Kirklandweddings.com is putting on the "Tie the Knot on Valentine's Day" in Kirkland where for $350 you get the whole pre-packaged deal: flowers, decorations, music, photographer.  Man, my dad is going to be pissed they weren't doing this back in '99.  No stress, just sit back and let the planners work with the participating local businesses to make your day a breeze.  Deadline was Feb 1st, so you last minute lovebirds are out of luck, but at least you can get a good laugh when you see my favorite wedding dance (WHY didn't I think of this??!!)  ~Janis

Monster Sale at The Grape Choice

This Saturday Feb 2nd is the annual one-day sale at The Grape Choice in downtown Kirkland (7 Lakeshore Plaza).  So, all thirsty wine-drinking Kirklanders should head on over between 10am and 9pm to take advantage of the screaming deals.  EVERYTHING is 20% off---wine, accessories, and glassware (yes, even the Riedel!).  This is a great time to re-stock the wine cellar.

I hear this is quite the event, so you may want to grab a latte and get on line early.  In the past, they have had up to 500 people come through and sold $70K at this sale.  That's a lot of vino!  Here's a funny one-sometimes people come in ahead of time and hide their favorite wines in the shop so nobody else beats them to it at the sale.  Very clever, but save your time- they're onto you and they all get put back in their place.

In case you didn't know, the shop is owned by our former mayor and current state representative, Larry Springer and his wife Penny Sweet who plans Kirkland's 4th of July Celebration and just  missed a city council seat during our last election.   I'm sure you'll meet them there to answer all of your vintage inquiries.  To reach The Grape Choice, you can email vino@thegrapechoice.com or call 425-827-7551.   

Happy Anniversary Kirkland Weblog

We are two years old now and thought you might enjoy a quick update on how it's going.   Janis and I started the blog because we live in Kirkland and felt there was a need we could fill by writing about our experiences here.  The plan was simple--just blog as we went about our lives--and see if anyone read the posts.   

What started out slowly has grown month over month, year over year.   What we found is that there is no shortage of good topics to write about and we get emails everyday from folks living in Kirkland who give us additional ideas.   We wish we had more time in our busy lives to write more than we do.   

Between our subscribers and daily visitors we sometimes reach over 400 readers a day.  We've written close to 200 stories--although I must admit Janis has done most the heavy lifting.

You may have noticed we are offering advertising now to a limited (six) set of businesses in Kirkland.  We hope this helps to connect local businesses with our readers.  Please visit our sponsors by clicking on those pretty boxes to the right.   

We love writing the blog and hope you continue to enjoy reading it.  We welcome all the comments--both good and bad.   After all, it's just our opinion and we know we aren't always going to be right (and often there isn't a 'right'). 

A lot of people don't realize you can subscribe to the blog just by putting your email in the top left corner.   When we publish a new post you will get an email with the the full text of the story.  You won't receive any other emails from us and we don't use your email for any other purpose (in case you were wondering).

If you want to email us directly you can reach us at kirklandweblog@gmail.com  We love to hear what you think and are always looking for good scoop too.

Thanks for reading!  ~Steve

Don't Forget your Sweetie

Yep, it's time for my annual reminder: Make your Valentine reservations NOW (before it's too late )!! ~j

The McLeod Project: An Opportunity for Downtown Kirkland

Everyone is buzzing about the proposed McLeod Project on Lake Street that could bring some much needed changes to our struggling downtown.  Stuart McLeod owns the property that is to be redeveloped which includes Hector's south to Mixtura (Tully's to Ben & Jerry's would remain) and the parking and businesses behind there (Calabria, Sasi's Cafe).  The plan is for a 4 story mixed use building to include: retail/restaurants, office space, and an underground 500 car parking deck (that the city doesn't have to pay for!).  There are some really nice visuals of what it might look like here ( I vote for pg 10).

So, before you have a knee-jerk reaction to a sizable redevelopment in our, no-doubt, charming downtown core, let's stop and think for a second.  This site WILL be re-developed and WHATEVER goes there is allowed to be 4 stories anyway.  So, if we could have something brand new in the center of downtown, what would you want it to be?  I think we're already set on spas and galleries and condos.  How about some more parking underground where we can't see it?  Brilliant.  Well, doesn't downtown need more foot traffic to help keep the retailers in business?  Yes!  Offices will bring that vibrance of people to eat and shop.  Let's keep the tumbleweeds out of downtown and help it grow up a bit- we don't have to turn into a Bellevue metropolis, but we can evolve and still keep our waterfront small town appeal. 

I realize a handful of people are going to be upset at getting their views dinged a bit.  But development is inevitably going to happen and isn't that a risk you take when you buy a place with a view?  There is a heartfelt note that I have seen ciruculating around recently on this subject from Gunnar Nordstrom.  He says, in part, "I have lasted 17 years here at great sacrifice and should have been gone long ago, but I love Kirkland and made those sacrifices to stay without regard to good business decision making.  How can retail survive with this tremendous inequity? (high rent, low retail traffic)  What can be done? The only way that I see is for the proper type of development.  Not condo development, but office development.  This property will be developed, there is no question that will happen, so let's make it the right project and not another wrong one. "

If you'd like to share your ideas, there is a Design Review Board Meeting THIS Thursday the 17th @ 7pm at City Hall Council Chambers which is open to the public.  The last one was a full house. There are 2-4 more weeks of this process before the DRB makes a decision- and they do take public feedback into account.  McLeod is expected to concurrently submit his building permit this Friday.

If you can't make the meeting, Jon Regala is the City Planner on the McLeod project.  You can email him at jregala@ci.kirkland.wa.us with your input.  Poor guy already has about 100 emails on this so he shouldn't mind a few more.  I'm not very good at masking my opinions so now that you know how I feel, I'm curious to hear your thoughts.......j

Kirkland on NPR yesterday

There was a piece on NPR about Kirkland's growth- you can check it out here:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17984510

Heads up for an upcoming post on the McLeod project on Lake St (which is also mentioned). ~j

Pick Up, Clean Up .........

All of you moms out there know the "Pick up Clean up" song I'm talking about  (sorry, it's going to be stuck in your head).  Now it's your turn!  Volunteers are needed to help take down all of the wreaths and garlands from the lightpoles in the downtown core, and what better way to do it than to make it an event?  I should have thought of this brilliant approach at my house as we were dragging our crispy tree out on the 26th. 

This Saturday, January 12th from 10am til noon bring your clippers and ladder (if you have one) and lend a hand with some of your Kirkland neighbors.  Rain or Shine. If you need more motivation than that, you should know that there's coffee/pastries in the morning and Zeek's Pizza in the afternoon for all the hungry workers.  Not sure about child labor laws, especially when it involves ladders and clippers, but I do know my kids will work for pizza.  If you're interested in helping, give Julie at the Kirkland Downtown Association a shout at: julie@kirklanddowntown.org . ~j

It's a Re-Election Year for Kirkland

Congratulations to Jim Lauinger, pictured left, for being voted in by our city council to serve his second  2 year term as Kirkland's mayor.   Joan McBride will again be serving as Deputy Mayor.  We're keeping on the cruise control this year actually- the people have also re-elected  Bob Sternoff  (un-opposed) and Dave Asher (un-opposed) and Jessica Greenway (beat out Penny Sweet by a hair) to our city council.   Thanks to all of you for your time and dedication to the city of Kirkland! ~j

Happy New Year Kirkland!

  Here are a few pics from the Polar Plunge at Marina Park today. We lucked out again with no wind or rain. Perfect conditions for jumping into the 47 degree lake, and there was a big crowd there that seemed to agree with me.  Some went for a quick dip and others lingered around playing frisbee in waist-high water.  Today's proud polar bears earned a patch to show off to all their friends.  ~j

Kirkland, take "the Plunge" with Me!

Get yourself ready for the Kirkland 2008 Polar Plunge on Jan 1st at 1pm at Marina Park. This chilly Lake Washington event is strangely addicting.  I tried it for the first time last year (photo left, I look huge in white) and already find myself excitedly recruiting a group to join me this year.  The funny thing is that people are surprisingly easy to convince.  I can only explain it as some kind of adolescent peer pressure type of phenomenon where you can do something kinda CRAZY but it's not really BAD.  So, why not?

Kirkland does it right- there's a big bonfire, lifeguards on duty (right), hot chocolate, and this year you'll earn a "2008 Polar Bear" patch.   Wilde Rover even gives you free soup if you join them afterwards and Kirkland Food Bank donations are gladly accepted. 

First-time plungers have been asking me how this event actually goes down.  There are some tips on the park's website. I've only done it once, so I'm no pro, but here's my experience: Everyone hangs around huddling for warmth by the fire and laughing about how crazy they are and who double-dog dared them to be attempting this in the first place.  When the countdown is approaching, you peel down to your bathing suit and wait for the 'go' signal.  I saw some people jumping off the docks, but I joined the masses that  ran in at the water's edge at Marina Park.  My strategy was to run out fast so that by the time the message got from my body parts to my brain that I was f-f-f-freeeezing, I was already there.  I basically submerged and b-lined back for the towel that my 4 year old was holding for me (Steve was busy holding his coffee).  When my head went under the water, I heard a strange ringing in my ears and the cold kinda felt like a giant spark that just electrified through my body outward to my extremities.  Probably some sort of internal emergency alarm system they forgot to mention in biology class. 

So, c'mon--doesn't that sound like fun?  You know you want to do it!! You'll get hooked.  I've never heard of anyone saying they regretted it.  Grab a few friends and put them to the test.  See you there! ~j

Kirkland Dog Lovers Unite for Offleash Parks

Ok, so we've been a little busy wrapping and ringing in some holiday cheer lately.  What a great time for some guest blog posts!!  Here's one from Nathan Brandal of Kirkland regarding the ever-so-passionate topic of creating an off-leash dog park in Kirkland.  I think it's a great idea.  Otherwise we'd have couch potato dogs all over town (photo left, I can't stop laughing at this pic!)

The way I see it-if all the dog folks went to one place and the people with kids went to another, then my kids wouldn't get pummelled by your dogs (or step in their dookie) and your dogs wouldn't get their eyes poked out by my kids.  So I''ll keep my penaut butter out of your chocolate and you keep your chocolate out of my peanut butter! ~j

Read on--

Dear Kirkland,WA Residents,

Thank's to Jean,a resident and proud dog owner, Kirkland once again entered into the search to open up an Off Leash Dog Park for Kirkland.  Our town has roughly 45,000 residents with about 40% owning at least one dog. Our advantage is not only Kirkland's ever growing love for man's best friend, but an abundance of beautiful parks.  But there's not one single designated off leash area to be found, so many of us turn our local parks into unofficial off -leash areas.

We need a special place for dog lovers and dogs to socialize without the constraints of a leash!!

Here is the progress so far. A meetup group has been started and right now we have 69 members! But only so many are active. Please join us!!

KDOG (Kirkland Dog Off-Leash Group)has started an online petition to show the City Council we have strong support from Kirkland citizens. Please sign the petition!!

We have local business support from:

Dooley's Dog House

Planet Poochie

If you are a local business KDOG would love to have your support!!

We had our last meeting on December 10th at Dooleys Dog House. About 20 residents showed up and are eager to help out. We also learned a lot from Judy Trockel, the founder of the Marymoor Dog Park.

Please come join us-Kirkland,WA needs your support!!

Sincerely,

Nathan B.

The 12k's Christmas Holiday Run

Looking for a way to jumpstart that New Years Resolution to lose the holiday weight? Well, this weekend is the annual 12k's of Christmas Holiday Run put together by the Kirkland Downtown Association.  The event is this Sunday kicking off at Kirkland's Marina Park. Events include a 12k Run/Walk ($35 entry), a 5K Run/Walk ($25 entry) and a Free Kids dash. Registration is at 8:00am and they also ask for a $5 donation to participate. All proceeds go to events such as the Tree Lighting Ceremony, the downtown flower pots, and the Kirkland Wednesday Market to name a few. After the races are over, stick around for free food, music and a holiday costume contest. So be sure to join the Kirkland Downtown Association and your neighbors in a fun, outdoor holiday celebration at Kirkland's Marian Park on Sunday, December 16th with check-in beginning at 8:00am. Today is the last day for online registrations or you can also do it on Sunday.  For more information check out the official event website: www.12ksofchristmas.com.      ~Jessi Thompson

Matt McConaughey in Kirkland

That's right, folks, he's right here in our own Heathman Hotel.  Some friends spotted him in the gym and then at the bar at Trellis last night.  Is he filming a movie in town?  I don't know, but I've got to work on the assumption that he has finally come to find me.  I promptly called Steve at work to let him know that a star on my Friends "Top 5" list was in town and that we were invoking the free hall pass scenario asap. 

Aren't we cute together?  A bit chilly for the sundress but we don't care- our love is all the warmth we need.  Might be a good night for cocktails at Trellis.  Viewing only ladies, he's all mine.  Welcome to Kirkland, Mattie!  ~j

Santa has Arrived, and we have a gift for you!