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

Hey there birthday boy

The best kind of community is the one that celebrates together - all ages, all occasions, everyone welcome. Greetings from the lovely community of Downtown Renton - where a birthday becomes a celebration of friends and cake, with excellent coffee to top off the taste buds.

Ron Hughes, with family and friends at Liberty Cafe this very morning.
Happy Birthday, Ron

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

First Friday Block Party - go kick it

Charcoal drawings, the buzz from caffeine, booty shakin' tunes and an artist to meet. That is what First Friday Block Parties at Liberty Cafe are all about. Don't miss the one tonight.

Antonio U. Lovett will be on hand to lead you through his mostly monochromatic world of charcoal pastels on paper. Born to a painter, Antonio has been living the life of an artist since his earliest days. This show, which I have seen him call the Shadow Life and The Pale Moonlight Show is always changing. New works rotate in frequently. Never the a dull moment with Antonio at the helm and worth a new look with each visit to the cafe.

Originals and prints are for sale, so there is something for all size of pocketbook. Just ask.

Antonio U. Lovett

DJ Phil Anthony will be rockin' the house with his well played tunes, there will be beverages and nibbles. Head over about 6:30ish and let the fun begin.

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

Cinnamon spice and everything nice

There are some of you that count on me to tell you the latest flavor of cupcake to be found around town. I do hate to let you down - so let's get right to the facts. It's cinnamon flavored and it's rockin'.

Salted cinnamon frosting? Yes, and worth every caloric bite! This may in fact be my favorite frosting that they have conspired to create.

Go in and have a smile from Brandie and a cupcake that will light your spirits up. You need it - did you see all that water falling down from the sky lately?

Common Ground Cupcakes and Coffee
900 South Third St.(425) 235 - 1717
www.commongroundcupcakes.com

Election Night Party and other DTR stuff

Did you post your ballots today, my friends? I don't know about you, but the whole idea of going to the poll booth and casting the vote in person was always an activity that I looked forward to this time of year. The little old ladies helping out, putting a flag sticker on my lapel that said to all and sundry, "I Voted Today" and just the feel of the day, getting up and reviewing the issues at hand and making your choies. Will this really completely go by the wayside now?

Tonight, Liberty Cafe in the DTR will be hosting an Election Party with pizza and cupcakes and hopefully, YOU. Come on down and join in some good ole fashioned community fun.

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

New sign, still the best lunch deal in town - $5, including tax, for a lunch at DC's Bar & Grill in the DTR. Always a special of the day plus a full contingent of yummy lunch menu items to choose from. Terrence - the new sign is rockin', my friend.

DC's Bar and Grill 907 S. Third St. Renton WA 98055 (425 255-2511

A mere dollar a zombie - these finger puppets will bring a child or childlike adult some gruesome fun. Not Halloween? There is no season limit on Zombie love. Happy Delusions has it for you.

Fun and Flair for 10 bucks - these decoupage belt buckles are way too cute and affordable not to be on your shopping list. Pick one up when you are stocking up on your Zombies.

Happy Delusions 924 S. 3rd St. (425)255-6078

Flea Market - oh, shopping heaven!

You remember what fun it was to shop at The Feathered Nest down on South Third Street, don't you? Well, Melanie and Sue, the previous owners of that cutely appointed store and St. Charles Place Antiques around the corner on Wells are joining forces and hosting a Flea Market. Those folks have a good eye for lovelies and it will be a welcome weekend outing addition to see what they have found for us to oggle and ooohhh over. I don't know about you, but I sorely miss The Feathered Nest and Sweet Grass. I bought the best smelling candles and many wonderful gifts for my home decor and for friends from those two establishments. This Flea Market will be a great time to catch up on some much needed shopping.

Downtown Renton Flea Market
Hosted by St. Charles Place Antiques and Feathered Nest
October 16, 17 and 18th 10 am - 5 pm
228 Main Ave. S. (next to Uptown Glassworks)
Furniture, tools,books,glassware and much more. Plenty of parking in the City owned lot that is just north of the store, Venus Moon.

Come and get your pumpkin cupcakes - Common Ground Coffee and Cupcakes

Sometimes you can have your cake and eat it too. If you are nice, believe in the power of the pumpkin patch and share bites (occasionally, when forced ) of your cupcakes, then you just might come out ahead. The Picaroon certainly did yesterday, when taste testing the newest flavor at the Common Ground Coffee & Cupcakes - Pumpkin. Pumpkin flavored icing on top of a moist pumpkin spice cake. Heavenly harvest, come to mama!



The sweet side of blogging about Renton is getting to know the lighter fare of our little burg's life. Other bloggers have gone where The Picaroon has tread - and with far more serious and investigative baking intents. One food blog that I love to peek in on, Cakespy, visited our dear downtown to have cupcakes on a handful of occasions and then wrote a review. On the very day Cakespy wrote about our tasty little frosted treats, an even bigger blog began featuring her on her blog's front page, the wonderful Bakerella. So now, people across the globe were wishing they were in Renton and eating our deserts. So I am sincerely hoping that you are not taking Common Ground Coffee and Cupcakes for granted and that you will soon be heading in for some fall festiveness. Little iced pumpkin cakes, cup sized and crazily scrumptious.

Common Ground Cupcakes and Coffee
900 South Third St.(425) 235 - 1717
www.commongroundcupcakes.com

What I saw today in Renton

Halloween ala mexicano style - the window painting at the Tienda Mi Familia on Wells Street is colorful and slightly gritty, and a great place to shop for your meal provisions right in the DTR.

The Cedar Chest Antiques store has a doorman sporting some holiday flair today. If you get lost, this is the guy to help find you and probably a nifty vintage bargain or two.

Baby Benjamin is wearing some nice fall colors and looking quite the cutie in the arms of his loving auntie, Ms. Brandywine Divine.

Rod at the Antique Country Station on South Third was one of the first to get his scarecrow up this season - getting us all into the spirit right from the start.

What I saw on Wells Street

The guy that has no fear of heights or where he puts his ladder up was back again this morning, stretching and a drilling on the second floor of the Louisa Building, currently under major remodel that will take the building's look back a few decades. So far, lovely work - though I am missing the 1950's mint tile facade and the all over "cool" color scheme that came with it. Sigh.

The Harries Building is now laid low and the deconstruction moves to the basement floor today as the work crew, who initially thought this would go down quickly, put in yet another day of dismantling a piece of downtown Renton's history.

The First Savings and Loan Building, on the other hand, is going up quite fast and every day brings a new layer of readiness. Needless to say foot traffic on this stretch of block sucks. You can't walk on either side and safely make your way to South Third. Sometimes you encounter dirty looks as you try bravely to navigate your way through the pavement obstacle course.

That is why it is best to travel in crowds and hold hands - the traffic will notice you far quicker and give way with alacrity (one hopes, anyways). Besides, when was the last time you had a walking buddy to share the sights and sounds of your stroll with?

Museum Day - go see for free

Do you have plans today?, Well, include this - Admission is free today at the Renton History Museum as they participate in the Smithsonian's Magazine's Museum Day.

Renton History Museum
235 Mill Ave S
Renton, WA 98057-2133
(425) 255-2330

hanging out on third

Dave just chilling and putting his feet up after getting a work out at the Skate Park in Liberty Park. Did you know that Renton's Skate Park is incredibly cool, and though sometimes getting a bad rap, is truly unique hang in the area.

Mary Clymer, owner of Happy Delusions store on South Third, out with her niece, Gabriella.

Brandie, one of every one's favorite baristas, drinking some go go juice and relaxing.

Oktoberfest continues in the DTR

Flickr/Many Cats 4 Me

Men in Leiderhosen? Well. ladies and gents, it Oktoberfest time and this traditional garb from Germany can sometimes be seen on some avid beer goers of the season, or just those with a good sense of humor and (hopefully) a great pair of legs.

Today, at The Met you can experience your own little Oktoberfest - replete with Brats and Beer for a mere $10. It promises beer tasting and men in those leather leiderhosen shorts - here's hoping the weather still holds out nice for the guys this evening from 5 pm till 8 pm. Wouldn't want them getting too cold or knock kneed now.

Regular Glen and owner of the Met, Mike.

One exciting part of the evening's line-up will be local brewer, Big Al's Oktoberfest Beer on tap at The Met. As you can see, besides your espresso and wine needs, The Met also has 4 rotating taps of lovely beer. Big Al Brewery takes off today for the Great American Beer Festival in Colorado for their first time. Big Al (whose business is in White Center but lives in Renton) will be entering 9 of his beers and is just thrilled to be attending. Good Luck AL - and in the meantime, come in and try some of his seasonal beer.

The Met Coffee and Wine Bar
232 Burnett Ave S # 232
Renton, WA 98057-2107
(425) 687-7989