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!!

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

Music and Craft Magic in the DTR tonite!

Mary Clymer in front of Harambe on South Third Street

UnDisCovEred - the Music and Craft Show in Downtown Renton begins today at 2 pm TODAY in the most excellent of all spaces - Harambe. The brain child of Nich Sullivan of Tyrannosaurus Records and Mary Clymer of Happy Delusions, and Spotlight Dance, this is a great way to spend this Saturday.

Matt Topping, who works at Harambe with those great after school programs, is helping the wonderfulness get on it's way today.

Crafters, like Kim Mazier with her funky and fun earrings, will be one of many stalls full of handmade goodies that you can shop. It's FREE to get in until 5pm today folks, so stop on by!! Once the music begins, you will be asked to get a ticket if you are not already holding one - but with the line-up, you'll want to keep hanging out.

Nich Sullivan of Tyrannosaurus Records and Bob Anderson
Featuring: Cock and Swan
Sweet Secrets
See Me River (with local rocker, Kerry Zettel)
Spotlight Dance Company will perform throughout the music program, and local Caffeine King, Mike Moskowitz, will be bringing the espresso to keep us all going.

This is a benefit for Childhood Cancer Sucks, so turn out and help rock the house til 11pm
tonite.

Harambe
316 S. Third Street
in the heart of Renton
2 pm til 11 pm/ $12 tickets for music after 5

PS Only our cool Renton folk could find such a great organization to give the monies from the event to - local, created a year ago, the Childhood Cancer Sucks foundation is run on volunteerism and dollars earned at events just like this.

Warped Toys

Welcome the World of Warped Toys as envisioned by local Renton artist, Kristi Hand. Happy Delusions, the indie craft store on South Third in Renton, had it's windows taken over by an amazing set of paintings, watercolors and toy creations this morn. And the world will never look quite the same again - thank god!

The reception is tonight, Friday, beginning at 7pm and is in cahoots with the First Friday Block Party and art showing that is happening next door at Liberty Cafe with Mary Clymer's Fun Felt Forest.

Irreverent? Wickedly humorous? Absolutely! Kristi has talent and spunk all rolled into one.

You may remember these small Pez dispensers that Kristi has taken over and made into the smallest of canvases for her detailed artwork. I love them.

There is a window full of Kristi's deft hand at painting that is not to be missed as well. I couldn't help myself - the toys were so captivating and demanded to be shot.

Greet and Meet the artists tonight - but if you miss the evening's fun, the work will be up for the entire month of May.

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

Felt Forest Friends

First Friday Block Party season will be kicked off with Mary Clymer as the month's resident artist at Liberty Cafe starting this Friday. Channeling her favorite theme of trees and mushrooms, Mary's playful felt art wonders feature woodland friends and snippets of color enhanced nature. The show is entitled Fun Felt Forest.

Mary works from her interior inspiration. No patterns are drawn and the work is sewn without pins, so there is a very organic nature to her process. Mary loves how forgiving and cheap felt is to work with and has been amazed at what she has been able to create when allowing the felt to take over her living room for the last three weeks.

Not too long ago, Mary entered a contest for Pabst Blue Ribbon where she created a latch hook hanging that was selected to hang in the halls of the PBR headquarters back east. This spout of recognition created a little fire in Mary's creative belly, and she has been moving forward with her crafty self ever since.

Happy Delusions, the indie craft store that Mary owns and operates on South Third Street in what she has helped coin the "DTR" (aka Downtown Renton, y'all), kept Mary from some of her personal creative outlets for awhile. Now she is feeling really happy and at home with her chosen medium and having the show and deadline looming has helped bring her work into being.


Trucker hats with cute felt bling as well as headbands will also be available at the show. Some of the pieces that are to be hung are part of personal collections that are on loan for the show, but their are some recently created pictures that could go home with any of you.

The artist in her element

NellieLynn's Cheesecakes will be there with slices of cheesecake and wine, DJ Phil Anthony will be spinning some tunes - it is the place to be this Friday evening.

First Friday Block Party starts this Friday, May 7th at about 7pm

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

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

First Friday - the DTR has a party going on

The First Friday Block Party at the top of South Third continues. Notably with Liberty Cafe, Happy Delusions and DC's Bar & Grill leading the fun. This is where you go for good people, great music and some snacks and libations.

DJ Phil Anthony will be spinning at Liberty Cafe and he is always good to tune into.

Gather with the local DTR crowd to celebrate the days getting longer, the warmth of Spring budding in the air and the party that continues to rock the downtown of Renton.

Downtown Renton/South Third Street

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

Let's lift a PBR to the Birthday Girl

Happy Birthday to Miss Mary Clymer - proprietress of the super cool indie craft store in Downtown Renton, Happy Delusions, coiner of the hip new moniker for Downtown Renton -"DTR", and creator of original latch hook art.

This enticing tidbit, ripped from the pages of The Stranger newspaper is what got her going. A call out for PBR ART. Money prize and a lifetime of PBR's. Between you and I - she was in it for the money.

Mary was going to give the work another trim before heading out to the judges on Saturday. How did you do, Mary? How was the birthday bash at our local favorite hang? We await the news with baited breath.