Renton River Days 2011

Renton River Days takes over our downtown, brings smiles to many and entertains anyone open to the word "fun". The sights, sounds and additional pounds brought on by nibbling through Liberty Park are well worth my time each and every year.

 Speaking of food, the Queen of all that is natural and biodegradable was on site to remind the public to use your compost bins. Wearing an incredible gown trimmed in plastic wrappers and such, the gracious refuse royalty floated by and gave us all polite admonishments if we weren't already recycling.

Jr Cadillac played a stellar set on Saturday, just as they have been for the last 10 years. Hardly seen in these climes nowadays, Renton holds a special spot in the band's heart, and schedule, and for this we are blessed. This year, singer Nancy Claire rejoined the band for a coupla songs, after having sang back in the 50's and 60's with the band. Nancy's my neighbor's Mom and one cool gal - shout out to Nancy!

Another great 10 year veteran of the Renton River Days music scene is saxophonist Darren Motamedy - and man, can this cat wail! Darren plays with all his heart and soul, and connects with his audience making a free concert in the park feel like front row seats in Vegas, where he moved to be closer to all his gigs. Onetime Rentonite, having bought his first home in our dear town, Darren keeps coming back to show Renton some love. Thanks Darren!

Pam Chicoine is a face you see around town and usually with a drop spindle in her hand. The Rubber Ducky adorning her hat was made by Pam with a cookie cutter and some roving - it's a wool felted duck pin. Kudos for the most original yellow duck I had the pleasure of meeting this year.

Doing the festival up right, makes for hungry work. The Nibble of Renton is always a big success, even if you feel like you are about to starve waiting in those huge lines of hungry folk. This little kiddlin was not giving too many bites away. She ate the whole hot dog herself.

 

Miss Brandywine Divine, a frequent friendly face on The Picaroon.
Michael, her father, is in the hospital but loves to catch up with his daughter on my blog - Michael, this one's for you!! Feel better soon!

Even Pirates have to eat - and what a lovely set of swashbucklin' maidens are these! I love how many smiling faces I see as I wander about the event, soaking up another year's worth of downhome fun.

It's a PARADE!

I love a local parade - and I love the community of Renton that spills into the streets, coffee in hand, to participate in the Renton River Days Parade. These photos, snapped this morning, speak for themselves.

Special thanks to local talent (and resident!!), Meeghan Black., for being this year's Renton River Days Parade Grand Marshal.

First Friday Block Party rocks again

First Friday Block Party tomorrow y'all - and the artwork is rockin'. Featuring the paintings of artist Dan Kevil, who will be at the party for a little meeting and greeting, this is when coming to hang out in the DTR really gets to be fun.

Firecrackers - Bork

Caroline Jones

Set your clocks for 7pm - when either DJ Phil Anthony or Floyd will be spinning some tunes to set the mood. Mike Moskowitz, our favorite conveyor of dark, caffeinated drinks, will be at the helm and neighbors and friends will certainly be inbound for this fun, Downtown Renton event.

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

Plant a Pancake

84 years later, and McLendon's is still a family owned and run local hardware store serving an annual free pancake breakfast to kick off another year of business and the beginning of planting season. Up and adam early and you'll get a tummy full of carbs and protein to help fuel your day out in the garden.

The lines are long, but the pancake grill is fast and before you know it, you are feasting on a couple of flapjacks, 2 links of sausage, oj and hot coffee. Did I happen to mention that it was free?

Just in case you get the hungries before you make it to the head of the line, there is a cookie stop where you can seek sugar nourishment.

The smell that wafts over from the huge serving dishes full of breakfast goodies is wonderful. Everything is just hot off the grill and fresh, fresh, fresh.
That is a full head of steam rising from what was to become my plate. It was good, in case you were wondering.


This little guy just camped out in the cart, scarfing down as many sausage as were available.

This is probably the biggest store day for McLendon's the whole year, except for Mother's Day weekend when those fuschia hanging baskets just fly out the doors.

The Picaroon had a cart full of flowers and plants to plant, and all save one made it into the ground or pot this afternoon.

Happy 84th McLendon's!

McLendon's Hardware
440 Rainier Ave S
Renton, WA 98057-2401
(425) 235-3555

Free comics for everyone

May 1st has lots of connotations and celebrations - but I bet you never counted on Free Comic Book Day being part of the spring day fun. Saturday at noon, the newly renamed business on South Third Street, The Comic Hut (formerly known to us as The Comic Den) will host a grand opening and participate in the national giving away of comics, along with door prizes and a special sale of backstock.


This is a sneak preview of some of those free comics we will be looking forward to picking up this weekend. Limit of two per person - bring a friend, get different issues and then swap. That's the plan here at The Picaroon.

This year's commemorative Free Comic Day shirt. Here's hoping that is one of those sweet door prizes.



Howard Wheatley, owner, has created a great new home for his comics after a 5 alarm fire nearly a year ago shook his shop in a smoking death grip. By this weekend, there will be a new wood sign hanging outside the establishment and fresh window designs up front. The Comic Den rises from the ashes to become The Comic Hut and our town keeps one more independent store that sets our downtown so far apart from the norm.

Saturday, May 1st noon-6pm National Free Comic Book Day
free comics, door prizes, fun

The Comic Hut
Comics and Collectibles
822 S. Third Street Renton ,WA 98057
425-235-1663

Stitch and Bitch Sunday

Mary Clymer, owner of Happy Delusions and her new poster

Just went you thought the weekends were for housecleaning - along comes a monthly Sunday event that will get you out of the house for a couple of hours and into the company of crafty, creative gals. Enter Stitich and Bitch to be held from 1- 5 pm this Sunday at Happy Delusions in the DTR.

If you knit, crochet, just wanna get around some cool crafters or need a bitchin' outlet - this is your soon to be home away from home. Come on down and meet some like minded ladies (or gents, as everyone is welcome), unravel your skeins and let down your proverbial hair. This is the very first meet-up, so come on down and add your bit of sass.

Deb of Girlfriend's, the cool antique and gift shop next door to Mary Clymer's Happy Delusions, has a colorful array of stray balls of yarn that need homes, so if you don't have any fiber to play with, you can just run next door and grab a handful.

If you don't do any of the above crafty activities, but need a reason to have a cool, handknit hat to keep the chill March winds at bay, purchase a cool Cupcake Hat by madlycreative, for sale at Happy Delusions. Support your local artisans and look supersweet while doing it.

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