Dog Day Afternoon

The Dining Dog Cafe & Bakery in Edmonds offers canine lovers yet another way to party with their best friends - doggy style. This restaurant is completely for the dogs, offering a full course meal served on gold charger plates and special plush, low dog couches with a few regular chairs thrown in for the human species as well. It is a place to have a meeting or gathering for like minded animal lovers, or just a place to take your furry side kick for a taste treat.

Located in Firdale Village, this little cafe has been featured on the animal channel and I hear, soon to be a focus on a food network show. A meeting of small dog owners brought me and my friend, Sue Rider, with her furry crew to this little known destination. Having read about it a couple of times in the local rag, I was curious to see how the other half would be treated ala dining dog.

With a full scale repast comprised of starters (sliced hot dogs with cheese and another course of pate topped biscuits), a cocktail of yogurt and pumpkin, an entree of freshly cooked chicken breast with vegetables and a desert that resembled my other favorite food, cupcakes, I was left wishing that I was dining alongside my companions as well.

Dorothy Moore, owner, loves to cater to her clientele and the whole atmosphere is loving and comfortable. Every patron gets a pet and a bit of lavishing from Dorothy upon arrival.

These taste treats signal the end of the meal and are made on the premises. If you, as the human, want to eat as well, feel free to bring along your own snacks. You will wish that you did - the whole experience makes see how dogs so easily come to begging at the side of the table.

The Dining Dog
Cafe & Bakery
9635 Firdale Ave. Edmonds
425.314.4612
www.diningdog.com

Coffee in Georgetown

Love a good cup of coffee - and I seek out the coolest locales and the best cup of joe in whatever neighborhood that takes my fancy. This recently opened espresso spot in Georgetown has the best decor, and why shouldn't they? Owner Brigh Wright has a great eye and also owns 24 Karat Vintage Interiors on South Bailey. It is such a treat to plop down and take in an eyeful.

Ground Control Espresso serves Lighthouse Coffee (beans hand roasted right in Fremont) and claims they have the best Americanos in Georgetown. They offer pastries. sandwiches and the renowned Top Pot Doughnuts besides the "jet fuel" we all need and want.

The little tables, the decor that is all for sale, just hit the right cord with me. Loved it. Will go back. They had coupons worth a free 12 oz. French Press Drip with purchase of pastry or breakfast item and have Wi-Fi and punch cards for the frequent refueler. Georgetown is a great way to get beyond your neighborhood for a bit of something new, without spending all day getting there. Try it.

Ground Control Espresso
Airport Way and 13th Ave.S.
Georgetown
Open Daily 8-4

The Christmas Tree

The Picaroon loves to get into the spirit of things early - so off to The Christmas Tree Lot we went today in search of the prettiest tree within our measly budget. 10 minutes from Downtown Renton will put you in the neighboring city of Newcastle and at a lovely place to purchase this year's tree, Newcastle Fruit & Produce Company.

There is a tree for every budget - from the Douglas Firs for a mere 20 bucks (nothing Charlie Brown like about them) to the Frazier and Noble Firs that are about 50. They even have the type of trees that a high cathedral ceiling calls for - and those babies started at $130 on up.

Mistletoe anyone?

This tree lot is large, with ample parking and signs to guide you to your special greenery of choice.

Three women, three Christmas trees, a handful of dogs and kids - the staff took it all in stride with great service and a smile. That's all of our trees strapped to the roof of the car right there. It's so nice to go where your trade is so welcome.

Last year The Picaroon happily shopped at McLendon's for the tree, but missed this years one day sale yesterday 'cuz her lazy butt just couldn't crawl out of bed early enough to beat the crowds. The word is, that McLendon's sold through 800 Christmas trees yesterday and was down to just a few today. As I still have some extreme male Christmas shopping to do for the holiday, I will be making some trips there soon.


One final view of the hood of the Suburban, roof full of tree, before heading on home. Ah, the season is looking good this year!

Newcastle Fruit & Produce Company
13013 Newcastle Way
Newcastle, WA 98059
425-227-8400

Jet City Pizza Co.

Jim Wright tossing the buttermilk pizza crust

Tree shopping can be hard work - and who doesn't like a sloppy, warm slice of pizza after slaving away at the Christmas Tree Lot. Jet City Pizza Co. has an amazing product. The crust was the best I had chewed in awhile, and the toppings were gourmet in selection, fresh and chunky.

The Buttermilk Hand-Tossed crust is the standard, but Roasted Garlic Herb and Micro Beer Batter Pan Pizza are other options. Note that this is a To-Go place, so the seating out front is usually for those waiting to pick up their pizza. They do have delivery, but how far they range in service, you would have to ask.

PS - gotta love the name, Rentonites!

Jet City Pizza Co.
Newcastle
6920 Coal Creek Pkwy., Ste 6
425-747-7474
Store Hours: 11am-11pm Daily

Outside the zipcode - breakfast,beach,Burien

Just minutes away is a beach front park with your name on it - Seahurst Park. It is just a gem of a waterfront park. And many Rentonites have been known to visit. Last weekend there was an extremely low tide and Renton friends (shout out to the Goetz-Granquists family!) went to explore and were treated to onsite tide pool officials helping identify the wonders revealed and keep everyone out of harms way.

If the beach becomes, I don't know, too blue - there are trails up on the hillside buried deep in the cover of towering trees and greenery. A great walk awaits you.

While in the very same neighborhood, why not stop by and have a wee bit of breakfast (all day) at the beloved Huckleberry Square Restaurant? The parking lot is always full, the place bustles with people and friendly service. The food is just basic, good ole American cuisine. It's been in operation for 30 years and it's cute and it's independently owned. Kinda like our Tommy's - except it is in Burien.

Huckleberry Square
14423 Ambaum Blvd SW
Burien, WA 98166
(206) 246-7006
Get directions

Seahurst Park
2400 SW 140th St
Burien, WA 98166
(206) 988-3700
Get directions

Happy Earth Day!

Okay, it's Earth Day and my computer is completely down and I really am appreciating the fact that I should be celebrating a return to my roots here. So, I can't treat you to all of the lovely photos I have of found - but I can tell you of a place that embraces the ideals of Earth Day every day - Earthwise.

Talking outside of the zip code, Earthwise is located in nearby Georgetown and offers a cornucopia of building materials and such that are scavenged and brought in. Some vintage and others not, when I was here the other day I found some incredibly cool finds. You don't have to be redoing the house to wander in, for there are things for any one's nesting needs inside and out.

The tagline is "Good for you, Great for the Earth". Many materials that would have been destined for the junkyard or a landfill now come to rest here, in hopes that the budding designer within all of us will see the diamond in the rough that abound here. The staff will also offer bids on a remodel or salvage project if you have want to start anew and don't know what to do with your original materials. This is such a cool place that you have to go check it out when in the neighborhood and for certain consider it when looking for unique materials when finishing a project around the house. Then go to SmartyPants and have a beer - and have one for me, too.

Earthwise Architectural Salvage Buy*Sell*Trade

3447 - 4th Ave. S. Suite E Seattle WA 98134

206-624-4510

http://www.earthwise-salvage.com/

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Outside the Zipcode - Tulip Festival Parade

Today is the annual Tulip Parade for the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. It is slated to begin at 2pm with John Curley of the King 5 Evening Magazine as the Honorary parade "PooBah" (my word, not theirs). This parade has been going on for 20 years and our family has been heading up that way to look at the fields for at least that long, if not longer.

Right now, the Tulip Fields are just beginning to show their lovely colors, though there are many bright and brilliant Daffodils to keep your eyes entertained. RoozenGaarde (15867 Beaver Marsh Rd.) and Tulip Town (15002 Bradshaw Rd.) have lovely gardens to walk in and have tulips that are "just" opening. Due to the weather, this year things are starting a little later.

These photos are ones I took another year - but should inspire you to go take a look. There are fields that are in color right now that you can view just by driving by on your way to the lovely town of La Conner. The brewery there has the best pizza in town from their wood burning oven, excellent salads, and of course, some really good beer of their own on tap. This is a great day outing for the family.

Check http://tulipfestival.org for any of the latest news. The next couple of weeks it will be just gorgeous up there!!