DTR Anniversaries - Liberty Cafe and Common Ground Coffee and Cupcakes

Today was the day to be in the DTR corridor my friends. Both Liberty Cafe and Common Ground Coffee and Cupcakes were having anniversary celebrations and fun was to be had all around. Liberty Cafe celebrates a year in our fine, historic downtown Renton area and Common Ground Coffee and Cupcakes has been serving us for three years now. How quickly time passes when you are drinking caffeine and eating frosting yum yums.

One Year of great coffee and community

Celebrating a year of coffee and community tomorrow at Liberty Cafe. Mike Moskowitz's shop at the top of South Third Street has brought a sense of home to the Downtown Renton corridor. Open from 7am til 9pm, this has become the local hang. Art shows each month, First Friday Block Parties, Magic Night on Mondays and now Open Mike on Wednesdays, Liberty Cafe is a place to be.

The coffee is always good and flowing, a relaxing vibe surrounds and conversations abound - just what anyone needs to help them make it through the day.

Details? Tomorrow, Saturday March 13th, all day tomorrow, will be a day of celebrating, so get your coffee mojo on and I am certain there will be fun shenanigans to partake in while you are there. Johnny Uysal, the other important half of this cafe endeavor, will be around helping make it the place to be.

Mike, may I say this for all of us who know and love you - thanks for what you bring to the table, man.

Liberty Cafe
926 S. Third Street
(425) 235 - 1400

Common Ground has party plans

It's been a quick three years since Common Ground Coffee and Cupcakes joined our downtown community, and they have become a beloved member of the local family. Many have welcomed their presence in Renton's downtown corridor, and owner Hang and Lenge have felt the community's appreciation in a couple of larger than life moments.


Crystal and Brandie

Months after the opening of the shop in 2007, a car ran through the window of the store in the middle of the night, and neighbors helped stand guard over the premises and board up the windows with plywood without batting an eye. It was the first time Lenge, husband of the couple team that owns and helps operate the coffee shop, felt such kinship in a place they lived and worked in.

Then there was the five alarm fire that struck the building adjacent to their shop's in the summer of last year. The smoke and water damage had them closed for days, but an order of wedding cupcakes got made and decorated with the assistance of local shop owners.

However, Common Ground has given back a lot to Renton and I am so happy that misfortune did not discourage them from continuing to be a member of our downtown crew. The cupcake shop is a spot where all ages can gather to eat, drink and make merry.

Pot O' Gold Cupcake and artwork by Melanie Hall

To celebrate the three year anniversary this Saturday, March 13th, there will be

*free mini cupcakes with coffee drink purchase
*face painting from 11- 2pm
*music by Paco Jones
*local art show/balloons
*raffle featuring local businesses
*double stamp coffee cards

The Cupcake Fairy Artist, Melanie Hall, will also be on hand along with her artwork, to meet with all of you. That is her work above with the special Pot O' Gold Cupcake, a new creation for this month of March, which is a chocolate Guinness cake with Irish Cream buttercream frosting made with Jameson Irish whiskey - oh my!

Hang, owner and lovely lady
Downtown Renton this weekend is the place to be! I have more to report on that score tomorrow, but set your compass for the DTR and come hang out with all of us local Rentonites.

Common Ground Cupcakes and Coffee
900 South Third St.(425) 235 - 1717
www.commongroundcupcakes.com