Meet you at the Market!

Thai Eggplant from Westover Farm in Maple Valley
here's a recipe for you

Today is Market Day -
with the Chef Demo at 4;30 pm by the restaurant Blossom and the music at 5:30 by The Hayburners.

Renton Farmers Market
The Piazza/ South Third and Burnett
Today 3pm til 7pm

Roving Renton Returns!

Tonight at 5pm, starting with Armondos, Roving Renton Returns! The fee is $25 per person, that includes gratuity, and you get some wine and an appetizer at four lovely downtown tasty spots. Blossom, Redhouse and the Melrose are the next on your list, in any order really - as seating is limited, so make it there early!


Thanks to reader Lao Gong for giving me the heads up!

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.

Comics still burning on

This afternoon, the old Harries Building that was the site of Renton's 5 Alarm fire saw a little more action. Three firemen, completely suited up and a pair of fire engines, pumping water, paid a visit to the basement of the building that once housed The Comic Den and the A-1 Vacuum & Locks. Seems that there is a stack of smouldering comic books about 5 feet high that bursts into flames about every week, this told to me by one of the firemen, Captain Mike Proulx of the Renton Fire Department, after exiting the building on Wells Ave. S.

As you can see, the building received a little more water and attention. This view is taken from the back of the building where there is a parking area.

I had no idea that comic books could be that tenacious. There is word on the street that Bob Delancey, owner of the now burned out building, is negotiating with a buyer. It would be great to have that space rebuilt and renovated. Let's hope both parties can come to an agreement soon. I will keep you posted.

Just how hot is it!?

Just how hot is it? you may very well ask ... look at what the sign over on Main Street was saying to me a little over an hour ago - geez - it might even be hotter now!

Pool Time! Deb, over on S. Third at Girlfriend's, is my favorite pick-me-up - she's a comedienne at heart - just look at this pool! (and her feet were in it just minutes later!)

How bright the sun? Very bright it seems - you can see the sun just beating down
( Renton Historical Museum)

Meet me at the Market

Farmers Market season begins tomorrow

Don't you just love to stroll through stalls full of fresh fruit and veggies, with your $5/6 dollar bouquet of flowers already in hand, waiting for a free sampling of a local restaurant or cooking school's fare and humming to the sound of some live music in the background? This is exactly the experience you get when you make shopping at the Renton Farmer's Market on Tuesdays a part of your summer routine.

The Farmer's Market is held on South Third Street at The Piazza from 3pm to 7pm. This Tuesday, June 2nd, The Renton Technical College's Culinary Arts Program will be handing out free samples of their cooking efforts ( I believe at about 5 pm) and The Harmony Kings will be providing music for our listening pleasure.

I love the Farmers Market. Even if you don't plan on cooking anything this week, come and buy some lovely eats and treats. Personal favorites are the roasted ears of corn and the locally made chocolate truffles. Never can get enough of either.

When being good unto others makes a difference

Best Neighbor Award goes to Mary Clymer, of Happy Delusions this week. Deb, her neighbor at Girlfriend's Antiques, Gifts and Floral made the beautiful floral arrangement and christened this new award. I personally love the idea - and you will be seeing more of that in The Picaroon!

A really good sounding garage sale

This is the type of sale every woman who has a crafty bone in her body wants/needs to go to this weekend - the Evergreen Ballet's Costume Department Rummage Sale. Ballet and theater costumes, shoes, hats, jewelry, leotards, tights, fabric, sewing notions, lace, beads and craft supplies all at Rummage Sale Prices!!

Saturday, May 9th from 9 am to 4 pm
Evergreen Ballet
Corner of 2nd Street and Burnett / 701 2nd Street

How blue the sky

I just felt that we needed to have pictures of the incredibly blue,blue sky that we were treated to on Friday. Such a wonderful day, it deserved to be remembered and recorded. So there it is, just some sky framed by the lovely leaves of the trees, ever reaching for the warmth and energy the sun casts down upon us, sparingly, we of the poor rained upon Rentonites.

Coolest window in town

Caught at the Comic Den, 234 Wells Avenue - this image of Wolverine is tops on my list as the Coolest Window in town - whew! I love the Wolverine....

Celebrate Spring with a Festival and a winning Poker Hand

Tomorrow, Saturday April 18th Arts and Crafts Vendors Kids Entertainment Music Hot Dogs Corn on the Cob Piazza Attic Rummage Sale Henna Purses Sandals Soy Candles Psychic Readings FUN

Free Entrance Piazza at S. Third Street and Burnett Ave. S. 12 noon - 5 pm
Poker Run Sign Up at Booth at the Piazza Noon to 4 pm Suggested Donation $1 or food for Salvation Army 33 Downtown Businesses to visit to try to get the best Poker Hand No Experience required $1000 worth of prizes See the city through your winning hand!

When newspapers and mail mattered

These photos were inspired by our latest talk of blogging, the possible loss of our downtown Post Office and the sad devolvement of the printed word via newspapers. This old home whose back door looks out onto Burnett Ave., still boasts a mail box that has a crook to rest a paper in and an old orange plastic box for a publication out of circulation. Will we ever return this way again, I wonder? It all feels just a tad sad - a time soon to be forgotten. Ink stained fingertips, papers that were iron pressed and hung on wooden racks at the local hotel or men's club, the rustle of the paper at the breakfast table and the fight over the funnies. Are we really ready to say this goodbye?

Yummy Yoggi - the new Renton desert

As of yesterday, Downtown Renton just became yummier. Yoggi Frozen Yogurt is open and serving some mighty fine nonfat, healthy (full of live and active cultures/ probiotics for the body) yogurt and smoothies. Fresh fruit toppings laid right out where you can drool over them, as well as a few of those "not on my diet, but oh well" goodies like Captain Crunch and dark chocolate chips.

It does not even need to be summer for you to walk in and enjoy this sister establishment of Pho Hoa on S. Third Street. John, the owner pictured above, has been wanting to get some yummy yogurt in our city for awhile - and believe you me, he has the goods. Free samples are flowing while they try to get the word out - so stop on by. Pho Hoa is connected through a doorway, so you can even eat your noodles first, planning to leave room for your "afters." WiFi is also available, so you can settle in for a minute and relax.

Pho Hoa has been a part of our downtown scene for 5 years already. How sweet it is to see them grow!

Yoggi Frozen Yogurt 801 S. Third Street (425) 204-9991 Don't forget to get your yogurt punch card started right away!

Harder times call for thrifty measures

Today is .99 cent Monday at our local Value Village (commonly referred to as "V V's" or using a cool french accent and saying the name of the store). Let me be clear if you are a newbie to this; only a certain color of tag, like orange today, is on sale, and this tag system is in constant rotation. Next week it might be green or purple. If you go thrifting there often enough you can kind of predict which color has been around long enough to go on sale. It starts with the tag of choice going to 50% off from Thursday through Sunday, with Monday hitting the less than a buck status.
Thrifting is a great way to go green, to save some money, save the environment, be eclectic and unique in your fashion statement and treasure hunt for unexpected cool stuff. Problem is - you could get too much stuff. Solution is - you go home and fill the same size bag of stuff you just brought in and donate it back.

Value Village 1222 Bronson Way N. #200 (425) 255 - 5637