Renton - where the Shams do Rock

First thing to get proper Green in the town of Renton, you stop off for a bit of the real blarney - a cup of Mike's coffee at Liberty Cafe and a bit of a chin wag. That will set you right in the mood, as it were. Always someone around who wants to have a chat.

926 South 3rd Street  Renton, WA 98057  (425) 235-1400

Then, thinking you're up for the stronger stuff, you head off to see Jenna and Paddy at A Terrible Beauty Irish Pub for a pint and a giggle, You may even stop by their new Irish Market. It has all the tastes and wonders of the green isle herself for you to take home. I have my eye on some tea and a cool shirt me wee self, and it's open all the same hours of the pub. Now that's making it easy.

201 Williams Ave Renton, WA 98057-2106 - (425) 227-3396
Open Weekdays 11am-2am; Weekends 9am-2am

Then, you begin to cry into your cups, thinking of your Irish heritage and all. You think of  your dear ole Mum, whom you haven't called in ages, and head over to Cuigini's Florist Shop to buy her a bit of the green to help celebrate the day.

413 South Third Street  Renton, WA 98057  (425) 255-3900

By now, your head is aching something fierce from all that thinkin' and drinking, and you need a little TLC and a bit of primping. You've heard that a girl can get a great bit of pampering, maybe even a new "do" over at Bianco& Co Salon and Spa
231 Wells Ave South, Renton -(425) 282-5046

 

Maybe feelin' a tad maudlin and in need of reviving, a Pot O'Gold  Guinness chocolate cupcake with Irish cream butter frosting could cheer one up completely. Available right here in our little burg at Common Ground Coffee and Cupcakes

900 South 3rd St # A  Renton, WA 98057-2710  (425) 235-1717

With a belly full of cupcake wonder, my brain begins to tingle from neglect. Old Renton Book Exchange is just the ticket to restoring some brain cell activity and honoring my Irish roots with a book or two on the homeland. 

227 Wells Ave. South  Renton, WA 98057  (425) 430-2665

One must ask - do I really have enough of the green for the day? For a little creative pick-me-up and a whole lot of fun in general, always head off to Happy Delusions, where Indie crafters are well represented.

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

And finally, a shout out to our resident a winner of a $1,000 math and science Carson scholarship for her college fund, Ms. Samantha Goetz-Granquist. Local Rentonite nominated by her school, with a high grade point average, an interest in geology and an active participant in her community, this lovely young woman is loved by all.

ALSO Look at the next best thing to sliced soda bread - AllRenton.Com - check it out!!

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

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

Lady Liberty Cupcakes

What could be more patriotic than a vanilla cupcake with red, white and blue butter cream frosting? These special Memorial Day treats will be available through Monday, certain to bring a smile and smacking of lips to anyone lucky enough to score one.

Cupcake Queen, Crystal Roberts, is at it again. Never one to let a holiday go by without some new cupcake delight, The Picaroon is always ready and available for photo taking and general customer quality control. You wouldn't have it any other way, now would you? Cuz I am certain I wouldn't.

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

Cupcakes any Mom will LUV

People who love their Moms don't make Moms cook on Mother's Day. Chocolate Lavender Cupcakes with lavender infused buttercream frosting sounds like a great way to make the lady who brought you into this world happy this weekend. These tasty morsels are on sale until they sell out - for this weekend only. Special flavor just for the holiday, presented to us by Crystal Roberts, the undisputed Cupcake Queen of Renton (for anyone at The Landing who wants to know...)

Common Ground always has such a good window painter on call for all the holidays - brings a smile to my face everytime a new one goes up. Thanks for keeping up the holiday spirit for us.

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

Open Mother's Day

Frosting and Petals

Springs blue skies and bright pink petals are popping up on the Renton radar - even in the cupcake realm. Crystal Roberts, Cupcake Queen at our local haunt, Common Ground Coffee and Cupcakes, has put her latest creation together and christened it Raspberry Antoinette. This raspberry swirl cake with vanilla buttercream frosting is a concoction that deserves a party. Frilly dresses and a few demitasse cups of bitter brew to counter balance the lovely sweetness of the cake.

The local rhodies are also fully decked out this week with our on again, off again warm weather hastening them into bloom. Amazing how similar the color palette is between these two Renton lovelies.

Crystal holding on of her charming creations.

Life and art have so much in common.

I couldn't help but put these two sets of photos together, they are strikingly complimentary.




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

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.

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

Cupcakes and the Art or War

Local Cupcake Queen and frosting artisite, Crystal Roberts helps dream up the lovely delicacies that go along with a cup of coffee and a smile at Common Ground Coffee and Cupcakes in our lovely Downtown Renton.

When she puts on the apron - you know she means business!



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

The Cupcake Sweetheart Box

Sweeties for the sweetheart - an entire box of them. This week at Common Ground Coffee and Cupcakes get the Sweetheart Box of cupcakes for your special Valentine. Or maybe just treat yourself, in case you just want to make sure that you get your cupcake fix for the week.

Four luscious cupcakes, four different flavors. All enclosed in that nice white pastry box that makes you perk up and say "treats"!

Fortune Cake (green tea cake with green tea buttercream), Have a Heart (raspberry frosting, brownie heart and chocolate cake), Red Queen (cinnamon cake with cinnamon buttercream) and Strawberry Fondue (strawberry cake with white chocolate frosting)

The "Have a Heart" Cupcake.

The "Fortune Cake" Cupcake.

Valentine's Day and Chinese New Years fall on the same day this year - Sunday, February 14th. For me, that is rather a let down, as I like to celebrate both holidays independently. Based upon the lunar calendar, Chinese New Years falls on the second New Moon after the Winter Solstice. I guess I will console myself with a cupcake. Oops, looks like I already did!

PS - It's the year of the Tiger. " Those born in tiger years are natural leaders and excel as actors, pilots, writers, and managers. They are authoritative, courageous, emotional, and intense."

I say that 2010 sure could use some "tiger" in it's tank.

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

Open on Valentine's Day, folks!

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