Yesteryear/Today - Downtown Renton

These were shot yesterday just on Wells Street in a little parking lot just off South Third. I swear, those tow cars look as if they have been parked in those same spots for years - and just maybe, they have.

Freaky, fierce Saturday winds

There was some crazy rain and wind storm action in the downtown Renton area come Saturday afternoon. The petals and branches from trees swirled, dipped and dived under the force of the malevolent wind. It broke off some large branches of a couple of the trees on our main South Third Street drag with apparent ease.

Kaboom! And down it went, without anyone or thing being hurt. But other Rentonites in different zip codes apparently were not hit in the same way at all. More's the luck for them!

Good thing Toto sized dogs were safely out of harms way. They surely would have been lifted and carried off to the wilds of Kansas if not for the foresight of their loving humans.

Get your free comics right here!

The Comic Den on Wells Street, right in our DTR between South Second and Third Streets, is giving away comics - for free - this Saturday - no obligations to buy, just stop by. The owner, told me to tell all of you, so it must be true.

This establishment has been serving up a healthy dose of graphic novels, a very large collection of comics and other such collectible paraphernalia since it opened in 1991. Every Wednesday, all the cool guys I know get ready to go check out the new goods, 'cuz that is delivery day and there is a pile of boxes usually outside to prove it. The store is small but from what I have heard, has a great staff and the right goods which is why they have that such a loyal clientele. I even saw a new graphic novel with our new prez on the cover in the window. Maybe he really is a super hero after all.

Okay - I know I already posted this photo earlier in the week as the coolest pic, but I don't care! I have a thing for the Wolverine, and I am not afraid to share that - again.

The Comic Den 234 Wells Ave. South (425) 235 - 1663
Noon till they close at 6 pm - they will have enough comics for everyone!

Ummm - free pancakes

http://www.flickr.com/photos/exlibris/2286985826/
This is the big weekend where you get to fuel up on a free pancake breakfast, compliments of McLendon's Hardware Renton Store and then hit the sales that are waiting there in store for you. The best deals are on the lovely Fuchsias - just in time for our newly burgeoning garden plans and the near advent of Mother's Day. Shopping local was never so good!

McLendon's Hardware 440 Rainier Ave.S. Breakfast served 7:30 am - 10 am
PS - Puget Sound Energy will also be there and having a drawing - so check it out

Renton Show for Women, About Women

by thinkjose

Today, at the Piazza there are plenty of "play" options open - Spring Festival, Poker Run and the Renton Women's Show.
50 Vendors, Demos and Calendar Firefighters, Fashion Show by Via Lago, Speakers, Raffles, Pampering (ohh!)
All proceeds will go to a Women's Scholarship Fund to deserving Renton women / $10 suggested donation
Piazza at Burnett Ave. S./ Spirit of Washington Event Center. Today, Saturday 12 noon til 5 pm.

This event is hosted by the Renton Business and Professional Women's Organization (www.rentonbpw.org), in honor of equity for women in the workplace and equal pay. BPW is one of the oldest and largest national women's organizations . Founded in 1919, the BPW was one of the first to endorse the Equal Rights Amendment (1923). Even today, can you believe this!, the Equal Rights Amendment is still trying to be ratified and become our 28th Amendment. We've come so far and yet, we have still further we must go.

Here's some beer, what's your hurry?

Here's some beer for you - fresh from the ever growing selection at The Redhouse - the beer of the moment - Northern Lights Crystal Bitter Ale. At $4.50 for a nice 22 oz. bottle, that is some lovely beer for a great price. This is out of a brewery in Spokane and the style is an English Bitter - crisp, malty and hoppy.

Redhouse Current Beer on Tap:
Leavenworth Dunkelweisse
Elysian Immortal IPA
Hales Tripel
Chimay Tripel
Hale's Pale Ale
Redhouse Red (Irish Red brewed by Big Als Brewery and named for the Redhouse)

Beer Pairing Dinner with Big Al's Brewery
5 courses, 4 Draft beers and one cask, $40 per person
April 19th, 5 pm, call now for reservations
(425) 226 - 2666 410 Burnett Ave. S. http://www.redhousebeerandwine.com

It rains here in Renton, but then we get Rainbows

It must be something written down, agreed upon and signed, but honestly, against the collective Renton will, that it should always happen to rain on Easter. Egg hunts be damned, and cute little dresses with matching Easter bonnets to be drenched. But what we do get are some pretty spectacular Rainbows - like this baby, that came out for a few minutes last night. That, my firends, was our collective Easter gift.

La Hacienda and the happy belly

Beans and Rice - together they form the perfect protein. Mexican cuisine is smart like that. It is comfort food to me - so satisfying, so tasty and just a little bit picante - the spice that makes eating interesting! LaHacienda has become one of my all time favorite haunts. Food is great - fresh and fast and the whole place just vibes with an easy, down home friendliness that makes you feel welcome to stay. Javier and Pily Babadilla, owners, are always there to greet you and after 13 years, are still going strong and are a committed part of our downtown area and the greater community at large.

Everyday, the sandwich board outside declares the lunch (11 am - 3 pm) and dinner specials. Sundays, there is a buffet meal - a Mexican version of brunch. There is a full bar, with some beer taps, and the requisite amount of TV screens hosting at least 2 different sports at a time.Banquet facilities are also available, and be assured, the same friendly, prompt service comes with that too. Hours are 7 days a week - 11 am to 10 pm

La Hacienda 811 S. Third Street (425) 228 - 0882

Wanna buy our post office?

When you move into a new neighborhood - a common selling point is being close to the public conveniences - park, school, library, post office. As Renton vies to be ahead of the curve, we may be endangering our original downtown area. I would say that the loss of our downtown post office constitutes as a step in that direction.

This recent scuttlebutt comes to me from a reliable source. The Downtown and Cascade branches of the post office are up for sale, with plans to create a center postal hub in the Highlands. Keep in mind that the brick building you see above, while not originally built as a post office, has been paid off for many years now and been serving the public for at least the last 50. Moving all the carriers up the hill will add an additional 45 minutes onto their work commute - that's extra mileage, so extra fuel costs, extra time for the carriers, so overtime - and a longer commute to just begin the day for many carriers. Oh fun. Now, how is this going to cut costs?

Our downtown post office is always in use - hard to find it when there isn't a line ( they in fact don't have enough staff to man the place), and provides P.O. boxes for many in the area, besides all of the basics services that we rely upon. In a day and age when "snail mail" is not used as often as it was in yesteryear, we still all have a need to send packages, buy stamps and pick up our mail.

I personally walk every week to the post office - I know of many others who do as well. God forbid if you don't have a car or the means to hike it up to the Highlands. I am not sure how that is going to work out for so many people that I know. Elderly people, people who don't drive, people who believe that a "downtown" means having a post office. In some towns in the Midwest, having a post office made you a town.

Apparently, we don't have much say in this matter. Sort of a done deal. Hear tell they went through something similar down Tacoma way and the citizens petitioned and had their say to keep the post office where it was - right in the heart of a community that still needs its services and wants to keep the beat of the unique community we still have (for now) strong.

Hair today, gone tomorrow

It doesn't matter what is happening with your income, a girl needs to have her hair needs attended to on the regular. It is that necessary expenditure - our boost in self confidence that helps us weather the uncertainties of life with a little more savoir faire. You don't have to go very far to find some of the nicest gals with the moderate priced services right here in downtown. Sharon Martin has had Shear Delight for 15 years now and has a very steady clientele. Stephanie Hilfer is my go-to gal when it comes to my tresses, and I have a lot! Cut/color/facials/waxing/perms . Appointments preferred, but walk-ins welcome.

Sharon's Shear Delight 334 wells Ave. S. Suite A (425) 227 - 8057
Tues - Fri. 10 am - 8 pm