Last look at October

Halloween began with a great brewing of Halloween Tales over at the Renton History Museum. Dorota Rahn (pictured above)  helped conjure up a crowd to come see the free speaker program that I am so fond of over at the museum. Why weren't you there?

Bea and her well known talent of a mother, Naomi Baltuk, regaled a rapt crowd with tales of Halloween at the museum. Storytelling is a craft and form of entertainment that is good for the soul. Get away from that TV and video game when the opportunity presents itself. What a great duo! 

While out on the streets of Renton, some dressed for the holiday - and others, just dressed in the tie dyes that comprise the greater part of their wardrobe. Phyl Carroll is a grandma who dressed as a granny and Richard Stout is a man who loves color, especially the swirly kind.

Halloween can be a great time to experiment with possible new looks and hair colors - like Bill Provin here, who I must say, has a flare for purple. So does Brandy.

 How could I get away without one last fond look at jack o 'lanterns? They should somehow be an acceptable use of a pumpkin all the way up to Thanksgiving.

North Renton as a neighborhood completely rocked - with the Schelgel's Home on Williams Street hosting a Haunted House in their backyard - which was awesome.

Across the street, Halloween craftsmen, Evan and Dave created their own ghoulish destination for the more intrepid trick or treaters.

 

It was a great Halloween season - sigh.

Wanna know why I started to blog again today? I read my horoscope over at Rob Brezsny's Free Will Astrology and it said - blog. I kid you not. I was gonna try to be lazy a little longer, but I was shamed back into it. Really.

The North Renton Picnic rocked - again

Sorry for the lame "pet" ad - just click on the "X" right away, and that pesty little thing with vamoose!

Join the Renton Picnic today

Feel like a little picnicking and  meetin' the neighbors and that sort of thing? Join the North Renton Neighborhood Association and my wee self this evening between the hours of 5:30 - 7:30 pm at Jones Park on Wells Street for some free hot dogs and convivial surroundings. We won't frown at a little potluck activity from your kitchen, if so inclined. Norma is said to be collecting recipes of any dish that you happen to bring. So come along and share - whether it be just you, or you and a dish or two. All comers welcome.

My favorite part of the evening is seeing people from all walks of the City of Renton's many departments out cooking up dinner at the grill.Check us out last year.

While you are at it, check out the newly formated North Renton Neighborhood Association website, thanks to a local figure known to many as Renton Ben.

North Renton Picnic
Tonite! Jones Park on Wells Street
5:30 - 7:30 pm   FREE!

Hey! It's a Parade

Renton River Days Parade - an event I look forward to each year. Fry Bread purchased each year in front of the Eagles Club and a chair to bask on the sidelines while the kids (and adults!) hope to score a candy or two thrown their way. This is a slice of Americana and it is heavenly.

Light on text? Yep - off to play with my niece at the last day of the Renton River Days at Liberty Park. Hope to see ya'll there.

Here a duck, there a quack

As of today, all of the Renton rubber ducks, whose locations have been being mysteriously hinted at in the Renton Reporter since the end of June, have come to roost at Liberty Park. Man, my Mom had a great time tracking down every last one of those cleverly outfitted ducks in the hope of being the winner this weekend at Renton River Days.

Since I have been such a dilatory blogger as of late, here is a look back at some of these cute little yellow duckies in their recent environments. Pongi Bonsi at The Landing featured here.

Tricked out by Tor, tattoo artiste of Downtown Renton, this guy was seen at Happy Delusions.

Cute little reporter duckie found at Common Ground Coffee and Cupcakes- he had, by far, the yummiest hang out.

Okay - so this one needs no explanations from me. Dude is hella cute, right?

Got some of your Duck Hunt bingo sheet filled out? Head over to Liberty Park and put your sheet with your name attached in for a drawing. Maybe this is your ducky, I mean, Lucky Day!

Renton River Days - Celebrating 25 Years of Rubber Duckies!

Art studio

Tucked around the corner from Armondo's there is a window framing an artist at work. Lisa Lamoreaux recently became part of the unique blend of Renton Downtown.

Never content to work on one piece at at time, a view into the artist's studio will find Lisa at various stages of completion on six or seven canvases. The mixed media of sculpting gel, torn pieces of wallpaper or other paper pretties seen hanging from racks, become the layers of labor that go into Lisa's work before seeing her final paint brush touches. The studio had a open house and party two weekends ago, and many of Lisa's favorite clients came out to purchase from her walls full of art.

The past ten years have seen Lisa slowly leaving the corporate world to pursue her art full time. This year will see her in Oregon and Washington fine arts shows, keeping her occasionally on the road with her fine beauties.

There are whimsical colors and themes to be found in Lisa's work. The Chinese lanterns have become something she is well known for and the demand for them still keeps her expanding her vision this theme.


One earlier aspect of the artist's work were these lovely decor lights, made with a collage of colors and prints and trims.

Though Lisa is in her studio to work, do feel free to stroll on by and catch the artist in her element. Maybe peek your head in, if time allows, and see her latest work. Personally, I find it very exciting to have an artist studio in town. Kudos to Armondo for giving the DTR this cool, cultural dimension.

Lisa Lamoreaux Fine Art
www.lisalamoreaux.com
910 Houser Way South
206-660-6759

The red, white and blue of it

I might not be blogging as much lately, but I am keeping up on my cupcake lore. Renton River Days and the fourth are soon to be upon us, and Crystal Roberts over at Common Ground Coffee and Cupcakes has already got a patriotic and sweet delicacy on hand.

These beauts are fresh blueberry cupcakes with a vanilla bean buttercream topped with a red cherry or a blueberry with red sprinkles. Ahhhh, makes me love being American. Land of the free, home of the cupcakes.

As usual, get them while you can. I will try to be back in the blogging chair more often again. Sometimes life just creeps up on you, and a breather here and there never did a person harm.

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

Renton is so crafty and colorful

Color and dance - these handmade bouquets come from the crafty hands of Deb at Girlfriend's Antiques, Gifts and Floral on South Third Street. The Spotlight Dance Company had a Willie Wonka dance performance, and these were the handsome posies given out to the lead performers - all seventeen of them. Underneath the festive bow tied at the base was a big chocolate Willie Wonka bar. Now if only I could have found my own copy of Johnny Depp amidst the fleurs, I would be one happy camper.

Remember to give my gal Deb a call with any floral arrangement concerns. She works wonders.

Crafty hands have been yarn bombing a bike at Mary Clymer's store, Happy Delusions, on Sunday afternoons when folks gather for the Stitch and Bitch. Rachel, above, along with Esperanza, were putting in impressive efforts of the fiber kind this past weekend. When this baby is done, watch out Renton - you never know what might come next.

Girlfriend's Antiques, Gifts and Floral 920 South Third Street
(425)687-2778/(206)261-2802

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

Bacon Cupcakes - Come to Papa!

Big Papa needs a little bacon on his cupcakes after bringing it all home. For Father's Day, this should definitely be on your shopping radar. I mean - desert meets your favorite breakfast meat, what is not to like?

It's no mystery that the undisputed local Queen of Cupcakes, Crystal Roberts, has been cooking up this meat mischief at Common Ground Coffee and Cupcakes. The bacon is laced with butterscotch and given some bling, then put on top of a vanilla or chocolate cupcake frosted with butterscotch butter cream. I am a confirmed bacon lover, and this confection just goes to show how versatile this pork product can be.

There will only be so many available from now until June 20th, the third Sunday in June (Father's Day). Crystal has a stock of little scotched bacon bits, but my thought is - these babies are gonna go fast. Like hotcakes, only more cuppy.

Tonight also launches Common Ground's return to the First Friday Block Party arena with music by Devin Moore (singing, ukulele) and photography by Jayne Rose. Jayne's photo cards have some incredible images and are very affordable. I like photos and make photo cards myself - her's are good.

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