New Shop needs a miracle

Thrift store meets swap meet and a place to feed the homeless out of the back - that was Dawn Finn's dream when she opened her store at 210B Wells Ave.S. not too long ago. Dawn and an old friend were partners in the store, but at the last hour, literally, it became a one woman show. Dawn has been struggling to realize her dream ever since.

To say it's been hard is an understatement. A third party that was savvy to the ways of Swap Meets also quit on Dawn and her husband lost his job this month. Someone came on to help at the store, but wrote scriptures on the store walls and then went off to join the carnival (really, I didn't just make that up). Dawn just was not getting any breaks.

The good news is that Renton, being the great town that it is, reached out to help. Charles of St. Charles Place Antiques and Restoration just down the street has given Dawn several display cabinets to use and sell at her store. Deb of Girlfriend's Antiques, Gifts and Floral on S. Third has lent a hand. Everyone I know was trying to drop by unneeded items to donate to the cause. But it might in the end just not be enough.

Dawn needs a miracle by this Sunday to help her pull through - a new partner. The owner of the building is not making this any easier on her and she just needs some assistance to help get over the hump.

Everyday the shop is looking better, shaping up and filling out. If you can help - give Dawn a call today. She's waiting and keeping the hope alive.

Dawn Finn
Finn Thrift & Swap 210B Wells Ave. S.
425.829.6526

PEEPing around Renton

Downtown Renton has gone to the PEEPS - and I am lovin' it. Our first Peep was found at the GHY Bike Shop trying to graduate from peepwheels to a more serious ride. Here's hoping he makes it past the treacherous turf - oh boy.

Peep 'n Bitch has taken over the Happy Delusions usual Sunday Stitch and Bitch, and Mary Clymer likes her new puff dude just fine.

Still life with Peep - Mike Moskowitz of Liberty Cafe contemplates the proverbial navel with the help of some yellow processed sugar.

Peeptail anyone? Makalina of the DC's Bar and Grill has just your Easter flavored concoction when you didn't find just everything you wanted in your basket this weekend.

Peep Quality Control over at Common Ground Coffee and Cupcakes - is this Peep sweet enough? Ummm, the Cupcake Queens will just take a bite or two and see...


Great Peepin' Tattoos! Peeps know they have a short life on this earth, why not have the best ink in town before the last Easter Basket falls with Tor at Ancient Arts on South Third.

A Tale of Two Peeps - or who is peeping who? Dacia of The Old Renton Book Exchange on Wells Ave. S. is about to find out.


Trolling for Peeps in North Renton - and I found one at the garden of Steve Near as he prepares and plants during the tempestuous weather we call Spring.

To all of my Peeps -

Happy Easter

Ohh, the books, the books

Owner Dacia Hanson, with her current read " Your Vigor for Life Appalls Me - Robert Crumb Letters" by R.Crumb

The return of the independent bookstore to Renton is finally here - and the wait was well worth it. 11 year veteran of McDonald's Book Exchange in Redmond, Dacia Hanson opened her doors this week in the Louisa Building on Wells Ave. S. in a lovely space and shelves that are filling rapidly.

With an emphasis on reasonable prices and customers bringing in books for exchange and credit in the store, now is a great time to spring clean at home. A cool bonus is that your credit will be honored at the sister store in Redmond, owned by Dacia's friend and previous employer, Ann St.Germaine. Though two separate businesses, the idea for this Renton store began when Ann and Dacia noted that McDonald's Book Exchange had enough books coming through the door to fill another shop. Customers from as far away as Olympia and Chehalis were coming to exchange their books on the store's generous terms, so obviously there was a large market that was still yet to be tapped.

All genres are represented at the shop, though a steady overturn in the Romance section is to be expected. Already boasting a good selection of Philip Roth books, a couple of vintage editions of Black Beauty and volume one and two of Art Speigelman's Maus, Dacia is pleased with the growth her new shop has already seen.

If you don't see her as often as you would like this week - it's because she had a car accident recently and is working on getting a new set of wheels. I can already tell that it will not be long before both Dacia and her shop feel like old friends in the DTR.

Old Renton Book Exchange
227 Wells Ave. South
425.430.BOOK / 425.430.2665

Across the street from the bookstore, Dawn Finn has opened the doors of her thrift and swap shop and is now accepting donations and has stall space up for rent for interested parties. This street in Renton has got so many new moves, it is hard to fathom.

Remember the metal detector store? Seems like the empty store front has finally been rented and that a beauty salon will open soon. Yep, right there on Wells Ave.S.

What did I tell ya - this block is the current bomb of activity.

Keeping a watch on Wells Street

top photo from here

Wells Street is the place to keep watching. Within a very short time, there will be two or three new businesses opening and the Savings and Loan building is moments away from completion.

First off,workers are diligently transforming what used to be a portion of the previous Antique Mall on Wells Street into an Asian Fusion Restaurant. I have no other clues about menu, owner or other foodie information, but I am excited to see what cozy little nook of a place is going to be opening. Just when you wanted to sigh in despair for our local restaurant scene's recent attrition, you get good news like this. Yeah for our team!

Renton has sorely been in need of an independent bookshop, and the Old Renton Book Exchange at 227 Wells will be opening in March to fill the void. "Offering used books from current to collectibles at the best price and the fairest exchange rate" is what is being advertised in a flyer that is seen about town and last I looked, the carpenter was in the house building bookshelves. What a great addition this will be to our fair DTR.

As luck would have it, I ran into Dawn Finn who is looking to create a Thrift Store in the other remaining half of the old Antique Mall digs on Wells Street in the very near future. After the closure of Value Village, Dawn seeks to give thrifters another reasonable priced outlet for secondhand shopping. This is great news for me - I live for the thrill of the thrift hunt.

So, keep your eyes peeled. Wells Street is just starting to heat up.

I "heart" Windows

Cupid is on his way - and the Eagle's Club windows on Wells Ave. S. are heralding his cheeky arrival. He looks like he has already been at the candy bowl and is working off his sugar high with a vengeance.

Sometimes a red heart full of throbbing love for Renton is all you need to remind you of how good it is to live here. I am sending out a parcel full of luv to you, community at large.

Cupcakes and cuteness seem to run hand in hand. The windows at Common Ground Coffee and Cupcakes are always fun to check in on come holiday time. Oh, who am I kidding! We never just look at this outside of this local yummy haunt.

Silly? Valentine? I think not.

Bathtub full of bubbles and mischief at Happy Delusions. Heart shaped pillows to rest your lover's head upon and crowns to king your favorite sweetie.


Romantic lighting is essential.


Happy Delusions is the original purveyor of the "I heart Renton" T-shirts and buttons, so you know just where to go to show your love of our town.

Common Ground Coffee and Cupcakes
900 South 3rd Street
Renton, WA 98057-2710
(425) 235-1717

Happy Delusions
924 South 3rd Street
Renton, WA 98057-2734
(425) 255-6078

Eagle's Club
Wells Ave. S. between S. Second and South Third Street

Looking pretty

Every once in awhile, a girl has to put her finances to the tresses. Times may be tough, but when you look good, you feel good and everything seems to go just a tad easier after that. I wanted to check in with the girls at Shear Delight Hair Salon in Downtown Renton and remind you that it is not too late to treat yourself to the gift that keeps on giving - a new hairdo.

Stephanie Hilfer is my go-to gal when it comes to my hair. She has a good sense of color and cut, and has a way of keeping the salon chair talk fun and interesting. Before you know it, you are looking good and have regained a bit of your former feminine self that you were certain had died in the interim. Ahhh, thanks Stephanie for knowing how to make us all pretty again.

Sharon Martin is the gracious owner of the salon and always seems to have a chair full of regulars who come in for the latest cut and blow out. This is the type of place where no one feels as if they are left out of the conversation or in anyway unwelcome when they step through the door. The ambiance is just right.

The stock of haircare products is varied and is going through revamping, so stop by soon to see what new lines they will be carrying. My all time favorite is the ubermoisturizing product called "It's a 10". It is a spray that goes on light but works incredible wonders for my hair. I could own stock in this company.

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 - Wed - Thur 10am - 8pm
Friday 10am - 6pm
We book other days for special occassions

What I saw on Wells Street

The guy that has no fear of heights or where he puts his ladder up was back again this morning, stretching and a drilling on the second floor of the Louisa Building, currently under major remodel that will take the building's look back a few decades. So far, lovely work - though I am missing the 1950's mint tile facade and the all over "cool" color scheme that came with it. Sigh.

The Harries Building is now laid low and the deconstruction moves to the basement floor today as the work crew, who initially thought this would go down quickly, put in yet another day of dismantling a piece of downtown Renton's history.

The First Savings and Loan Building, on the other hand, is going up quite fast and every day brings a new layer of readiness. Needless to say foot traffic on this stretch of block sucks. You can't walk on either side and safely make your way to South Third. Sometimes you encounter dirty looks as you try bravely to navigate your way through the pavement obstacle course.

That is why it is best to travel in crowds and hold hands - the traffic will notice you far quicker and give way with alacrity (one hopes, anyways). Besides, when was the last time you had a walking buddy to share the sights and sounds of your stroll with?

Funny thing I saw on Wells Street

This is the "funny" that I ran into the other day at the construction site of the new Savings and Loan building for First Savings Bank on Wells Ave. S. yesterday. When on my way to the a.m. coffee spot, I saw bright and frilly umbrellas and thought "photo op!". By the time I returned to the spot with camera in hand, the sign had been added. The foreman on the site was laughing and taking a shot with his camera as well when I returned, explaining that the guy was getting ragged so much that he made and hung the sign to deflect being the butt of some of the jokes coming his way.

Renton's night night light

In front of the Eagle's Club Friday night.

First Savings Bank on Wells Ave. building the new Savings and Loan.

Paula returns from the wilds of South Cali and hangs out with Mary on S. Third.

Whizzing car in front of the First Savings Bank's construction.

The steel girders were being put in the other day by men wearing shirts that said something like "Steel Erection Company". I was dying. I so wanted a photo of the buff and dirty guys in those shirts. I whimped out. Damn.

Oh, pleasant progress

The lovely Louisa Building on Wells Ave. S., once the home of our city hall, is just a gorgeous building to behold. Her lovely mint green tiles and unusual shape have often made me want become a building owner. She is a grand dame of structures that deserves a little face lift. Ahhh, so nice that she is getting one.

A couple of months ago the building was purchased by David Smith, and at present, he is having the bricks repointed and new windows put in. That is why you see the great lady without her lovey green makeup on these days. But have no fear, she will be made up to look pretty for us very soon.

This is the type of progress that I love to report here in our beautiful historic downtown Renton.

Someone took a tumble

Someone took a tumble, sadly, down the stairs on Wells Ave. S. that lead to the walking and bike path that skirts the Cedar River this early afternoon. The firemen and paramedics that were on hand were not a liberty to reveal any details, but a Rentonite on the side of the road told me that is was a woman and that she may have broken something in her fall.

While I was there, gleaning no news from the otherwise very friendly uniformed men on the bridge, we watched in amazement as a Hawk flew down and plucked a fish from the river and flew off with it clenched within its talons. Incredible - we all smiled at one another in acknowledgment that we had shared a special moment with nature and one another.

Life is still good, tumbles and all, on the Cedar.