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!

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.

When friends get creative

We all have needs. For some of us it comes in the form of a coffee bean. Good friends know just what we need and that it might come in a cup with some milk foam peeking out from the top.

Ruth made this for her friend, Krista the other day who was seen proudly wearing it at Jet City Espresso while the two were sharing stories over cups of good caffeine.

Creativity, coffee and friendship - it is what makes the world go round. At least in my book it does.

Jet City Espresso
Corner of 2nd and Main

Grass Roots efforts to keep our Library Local

The ballots have been sent out, and the time has come to cast your vote. There is a strong grass roots effort to keep our library local (as it has been for the last 100 years) and inform you, the voter, of the price that you will have to pay to get that shiny, new KCLS that is being promoted as the library's second coming. More taxes, a bond, and the loss of a local treasure.

With 4 million books in their stacks and over 40 locations, the undisputed need to update our local library through the hands of KCLS seems to many the pretty penny choice - until you look further. Newcastle(joined in 2005) and Federal Way joined KCLS, and where are their new digs? (Thanks RentonBen for the links). Ever try to get a book in a timely fashion when you are the 200th person on the list? At the holidays, I looked for a book by author Garrison Keillor and when the librarian assisting me noticed it wasn't in the stacks, she ordered it for the library and within a week I was reading it. Now that my friends, is service. I personally think our book selection nothing to be sniffed at and don't feel like becoming a lost cog in the KCLS wheel.

The effort to remind citizens of the benefits to stay local is provided by the hard work and efforts of concerned library goers. The signs are paid for by those that hang them. The signposts in streets and in front of homes are made from recycled council election signs. The artwork by local denizens who care (thanks Catherine Mille).

My mother's home received a very pretty and shiny mailer endorsing KCLS and asking for a "Yes" vote on Prop 1 the other day (targeted audience - my home never got one!). It was at least an $8,000 investment a practiced eye told us, and listed so many of the council members who refused to take a stand on the KCLS issue in the January 8th issue of the Renton Reporter and at the council meeting held a little over a week ago Monday. But they were willing to endorse and add their names to the pretty, expensive flyer that goes along with the expensive, singular "special election"voting ballot for this issue. Now why again could we not wait for a later date when there surely would be other issues that the citizenry had to vote upon? So much for our precious taxpayer dollars. A big shout of praise and thanks to council member Marci Palmer who has publicly been a supporter of keeping the library local since day one - never keeping us in suspense as to her thoughts or affiliations.

Look for yourselves before you vote - these links have a lot more to say about this issue than The Picaroon could ever begin to address.

Vote No 'til you Know

Save Renton Libary

Beth Asher handing out pamphlets asking voters to keep our library in our own hands and out of KCLS's domain. Hard work and hoping to win the good ole fashioned way - one vote at a time.

Local businesses are not afraid to let you know where they stand. Yeah Liberty Cafe and Happy Delusions, you rock!


Super artistic effort for the cause by Catherine Mille (but not a super picture here on the blog. See it in person - this doesn't do it justice)

VOTE NO on PROP 1

DK Market

If you like to mix it up in the kitchen and come out with a load full of groceries for a very pleasingly low price, than DK Market may become your new grocery food haunt. This is not the place for everyone. Some have likened it to a kind of "Winco" of an Asian, Russian, Indian, Filipino persuasion. I love it and especially like the fact that I can come and find new taste treats that differ from the previous visit's, but are just as welcome.

It is in a huge warehouse space, with pallets as display cases and a definite chill to the air (dress warmly for an extended stay). There is tea, jams, juices, spices, canned goods and dried legumes.

The bread selection is always improving. There are fresh selections from Russian and Asian bakeries, as well as pita bread and nan bread sitting side by side for sale. The Vietnamese Bakery's croissants and the Russian Rye bread are not to be missed. There is also something for the sweet tooth. Try the Chinese "Cocktail Buns" with the coconut inside. Personal favorite.

The produce selection is good and cheap. I bought a bunch of fresh mint for 79 cents, where it goes for more than three times that at Safeway. Russet potatoes were the same price as Red and Yellows. Cauliflower was a little over a dollar a head. I made out like a bandit.


This is a good place to come if you are on a budget, like to cook and want to experiment in your cooking routine.

Did you get enough chocolate for Christmas?

More and more, the parking lot seems to be crowded, so the word must be getting around. Inside the store, there are two structures housing a Russian Deli and a Vietnamese Herbalist. Weekends tend to be busy, so be forewarned. It is a treasure in the rough, probably why the prices are still so good.

DK Market

720 Lind Ave SW
Renton, WA 98057

(425) 228-2635

Dog Park News - Tree Planting and more

RUFF - the Renton Offleash Dog Park was going to plant these lovely trees (see above) with volunteer help this Saturday. Frozen ground and freezing temperatures have put a delay on this venture until the following weekend, December 19th at 9:00 am (weather permitting). So, if you already signed up for tomorrow, please contact RUFF and let them know if you can help next weekend instead. For those of you hale in body and spirit, a handful of folk will be installing the kiosk roof and stabilizing the log benches and putting up a large canopy. Please email rentonoffleash@gmail.com if you would like to join in.

Thanks to McLendon's for all of their support for the Renton Offleash Dog Park - the fence is just great. My furry nephew is a Boston Terrier, so I love the sign.

During this Holiday Season you can further support the Cedar River Dog Park by visiting our local store, Happy Delusions, where you will find an entire selection of goodies on sale. All proceeds go directly to the park, and there is something for both dog and cat lovers.

Pint glasses are $7, pet charms (both cat and dog friendly) are $8 and all of the T-Shirts, regardless of size, are $20. Great stocking stuffers or gifts for colleagues and friends who are partial to their pets.



RUFF - Cedar River Dog Park (Renton's Offleash Dog Park)
Directions click here


Happy Delusions
924 S. Third Street Renton WA 98057
425-255-6078

Bark it up at the Dog Park - Volunteer

This is just a "bark" excursion for you tomorrow to the Renton Off -leash Dog Park. A big load of bark mulch has arrived and needs to be spread around from 9:30 am until about noon. Email rentonoffleash@gmail.com to sign up. You just bring your gloves, sunscreen and water and the necessary tools for spreading the bark will be provided. A perfect way to begin a Saturday that has an Art Walk, Car Show and the opening of our first independent music shop, Tyrannosaurus Records, to complete the rest of the day.

As you might remember, this dog park has been open since June 29th and has seen a great many happy additions and changes since then. Long rustic benches have been added for a weary dog handler to take a rest. A kiosk has been built and another one will be added at the other end ( more wheelchair accessible) very soon. You still need to bring in water, but the city contractor is finishing hooking up the water line by next week. Shade trees will also be planted so that the 10 x10 ft. canopy will not be the only place to escape the sun.

The Grand Opening Ceremony will be held Saturday, September 19th from 10 am till 12 noon and there will be an official "leash" cutting with city dignitaries and everything, so put it on your calendars now.

Renton Off-leash Dog Park
Driving Directions, click here