Ballard
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make this my neighborhood and we'll show you this page every time you visit.Tuesday, June 18, 2013 -- 12:59 pm
Bad Jimmy's Brewing Co. launches Kickstarter campaign to help fund brewery opening
MyBallard - You're going to have to add another stop to your Ballard brewery map: Bad Jimmy's Brewing Co. is setting up shop at 4358 Leary Way. The five masterminds behind the brewery are a collection of restaurant industry veterans and beer-obsessed entrepreneurs. They've created a Kickstarter campaign to raise money for essential brewing equipment, tasting room [...] Read more...
Bad Jimmy's Brewing Co. launches Kickstarter campaign to help fund brewery opening
MyBallard - You're going to have to add another stop to your Ballard brewery map: Bad Jimmy's Brewing Co. is setting up shop at 4358 Leary Way. The five masterminds behind the brewery are a collection of restaurant industry veterans and beer-obsessed entrepreneurs. They've created a Kickstarter campaign to raise money for essential brewing equipment, tasting room [...] Read more...
Tuesday, June 18, 2013 -- 12:35 pm
Le Marché French bistro is open in Ballard
MyBallard - Local Chef Jerry Brahm is on the local culinary map once again, after opening french bistro Le Marché (5410 17th Ave NW) in May. The quaint and charming bistro is the third local venture for Brahm after opening Bistro on 24th on Crown Hill and Carnegie's in the Old Carnegie Library on Market St. Brahm's vision [...] Read more...
Le Marché French bistro is open in Ballard
MyBallard - Local Chef Jerry Brahm is on the local culinary map once again, after opening french bistro Le Marché (5410 17th Ave NW) in May. The quaint and charming bistro is the third local venture for Brahm after opening Bistro on 24th on Crown Hill and Carnegie's in the Old Carnegie Library on Market St. Brahm's vision [...] Read more...
Tuesday, June 18, 2013 -- 9:48 am
Give at local blood drives this week
MyBallard - Later this week, there will be two opportunities to give blood in the area. On Friday, June 21, the Puget Sound Blood Center (PSBC) will set up at the Phinney Neighborhood Center (6532 Phinney Ave N) in classroom 5 from 1-7 p.m. On Saturday, they'll be in the Ballard Boodmobile at Jo-Ann Fabrics (2217 NW [...] Read more...
Give at local blood drives this week
MyBallard - Later this week, there will be two opportunities to give blood in the area. On Friday, June 21, the Puget Sound Blood Center (PSBC) will set up at the Phinney Neighborhood Center (6532 Phinney Ave N) in classroom 5 from 1-7 p.m. On Saturday, they'll be in the Ballard Boodmobile at Jo-Ann Fabrics (2217 NW [...] Read more...
Tuesday, June 18, 2013 -- 9:35 am
From farm to bottle in 12 hours, new distillery brings unique fruit-infused liqueurs
Ballard News Tribune - Ballard has more breweries than you can shake a stick at (no matter how good you are at stick-shaking), but what it doesn't have is a distillery with a focus on special bounce liqueurs which is open for public tastings. On Thursday, June 20, that's about to change when Old Ballard Liquor Co. (4421 Shilshole Ave NW, on the East side of Ballard Bridge) opens up shop. Well, sort of. The company has been pushing through a seemingly insurmountable amount of legal papers this past year, and though it's nearing the end, it still has to get formulas for the different liquors approved. So Thursday, which will just be a soft opening, will mostly be a chance for the curious person to drop in and chat with the talkative owner, Lexi aka (she jokes) "The Lexicon," for how many words she spews out of her mouth. Also, you can buy a cool t-shirt for $12. GA_googleAddSlot("ca-pub-4956332358238235", "ballard_story_text_region_slot_1");GA_googleFillSlot("ballard_story_text_region_slot_1"); Lexi said that she will probably not start selling for at least six weeks while she makes the final hurdles. "The doors are open but we're still waiting for the last couple of papers until we sell some alcohol," she said. In the meantime, however, people can get an idea of what to expect. While many new distilleries have a focus on whiskey ("Everyone wants to make whiskey," Lexi lamented), Old Ballard Liquor Co. will be focusing on the bounce liqueur, and will also eventually offer vodka and aquavit. Bounce is a fruit-infused product that is a higher proof and is sweet, but not overbearingly so like many other liqueurs are, Lexi said. Each flavor has to be aged for at least a year or two, so the products she has now she has been working on for a year. Stepping into the Old Ballard Liquor Co. space, one can see that Lexi is some sort of mad scientist always trying out different fruits to create new flavors. Sitting on a rack are many wonderfully colored jars with different fruits floating in them: cherries, blueberries, nectarines, Italian plums, watermelon, rhubarb and more. Some turn out well, she said, and others, not so much. But, she confides, "If it tastes like ass, I'm not going to sell it." Her flagship product is the cherry liqueur, for which she gets the cherries from her farm in Eastern Washington. Once a year, she said, she goes in the middle of the night to her farm to gather up 1,600 lbs. of cherries, brings them back to the distillery where she has a team of people, and bottles up the batch for the whole year. "I like to say it goes from farm to bottle in 12 hours, though it's more complicated than that." When creating a new flavor, Lexi said she is looking for a couple of things. For one, she wants it to taste good and clean, but also she wants the flavor to be distinct, to taste like the specific fruit, and not so much as a boring nondescript sweet flavor. Lexi also brings with her an Old Ballard-type attitude. She's pragmatic, Swedish (and can even speak the lan Read more...
From farm to bottle in 12 hours, new distillery brings unique fruit-infused liqueurs
Ballard News Tribune - Ballard has more breweries than you can shake a stick at (no matter how good you are at stick-shaking), but what it doesn't have is a distillery with a focus on special bounce liqueurs which is open for public tastings. On Thursday, June 20, that's about to change when Old Ballard Liquor Co. (4421 Shilshole Ave NW, on the East side of Ballard Bridge) opens up shop. Well, sort of. The company has been pushing through a seemingly insurmountable amount of legal papers this past year, and though it's nearing the end, it still has to get formulas for the different liquors approved. So Thursday, which will just be a soft opening, will mostly be a chance for the curious person to drop in and chat with the talkative owner, Lexi aka (she jokes) "The Lexicon," for how many words she spews out of her mouth. Also, you can buy a cool t-shirt for $12. GA_googleAddSlot("ca-pub-4956332358238235", "ballard_story_text_region_slot_1");GA_googleFillSlot("ballard_story_text_region_slot_1"); Lexi said that she will probably not start selling for at least six weeks while she makes the final hurdles. "The doors are open but we're still waiting for the last couple of papers until we sell some alcohol," she said. In the meantime, however, people can get an idea of what to expect. While many new distilleries have a focus on whiskey ("Everyone wants to make whiskey," Lexi lamented), Old Ballard Liquor Co. will be focusing on the bounce liqueur, and will also eventually offer vodka and aquavit. Bounce is a fruit-infused product that is a higher proof and is sweet, but not overbearingly so like many other liqueurs are, Lexi said. Each flavor has to be aged for at least a year or two, so the products she has now she has been working on for a year. Stepping into the Old Ballard Liquor Co. space, one can see that Lexi is some sort of mad scientist always trying out different fruits to create new flavors. Sitting on a rack are many wonderfully colored jars with different fruits floating in them: cherries, blueberries, nectarines, Italian plums, watermelon, rhubarb and more. Some turn out well, she said, and others, not so much. But, she confides, "If it tastes like ass, I'm not going to sell it." Her flagship product is the cherry liqueur, for which she gets the cherries from her farm in Eastern Washington. Once a year, she said, she goes in the middle of the night to her farm to gather up 1,600 lbs. of cherries, brings them back to the distillery where she has a team of people, and bottles up the batch for the whole year. "I like to say it goes from farm to bottle in 12 hours, though it's more complicated than that." When creating a new flavor, Lexi said she is looking for a couple of things. For one, she wants it to taste good and clean, but also she wants the flavor to be distinct, to taste like the specific fruit, and not so much as a boring nondescript sweet flavor. Lexi also brings with her an Old Ballard-type attitude. She's pragmatic, Swedish (and can even speak the lan Read more...
Tuesday, June 18, 2013 -- 9:29 am
'Bring our Sonics Back' celebrity basketball game at BHS this weekend
MyBallard - On Saturday, June 22, there will be a celebrity basketball game at BHS with the theme of 'Bring our Sonics Back.' The event will feature several local athletes, actors, musicians and TV and radio personalities. 'Seattle has many hopes of bringing our SONICS back to Seattle. That hope and inspiration has ignited a spark within [...] Read more...
'Bring our Sonics Back' celebrity basketball game at BHS this weekend
MyBallard - On Saturday, June 22, there will be a celebrity basketball game at BHS with the theme of 'Bring our Sonics Back.' The event will feature several local athletes, actors, musicians and TV and radio personalities. 'Seattle has many hopes of bringing our SONICS back to Seattle. That hope and inspiration has ignited a spark within [...] Read more...
Tuesday, June 18, 2013 -- 8:17 am
WA: Seattle Council Leaders Spurn Mayor on Ship Canal Light Rail
Mass Transit - ... he was disappointed but that he would continue to work with Sound Transit to advance planning for the rail line to Ballard. He also pledged to include a study of the Ship Canal crossing in his 2014-15 budget. Funding for a new rail line could be ... Read more...
WA: Seattle Council Leaders Spurn Mayor on Ship Canal Light Rail
Mass Transit - ... he was disappointed but that he would continue to work with Sound Transit to advance planning for the rail line to Ballard. He also pledged to include a study of the Ship Canal crossing in his 2014-15 budget. Funding for a new rail line could be ... Read more...
Monday, June 17, 2013 -- 8:36 pm
Seattle council leaders spurn mayor on Ship Canal light rail
Seattle Times - ... he was disappointed but that he would continue to work with Sound Transit to advance planning for the rail line to Ballard. He also pledged to include a study of the Ship Canal crossing in his 2014-15 budget. Funding for a new rail line could be ... Read more...
Seattle council leaders spurn mayor on Ship Canal light rail
Seattle Times - ... he was disappointed but that he would continue to work with Sound Transit to advance planning for the rail line to Ballard. He also pledged to include a study of the Ship Canal crossing in his 2014-15 budget. Funding for a new rail line could be ... Read more...
Monday, June 17, 2013 -- 4:00 pm
Speed hump construction on the NW 58th St Ballard Greenway set for this week
MyBallard - Ballardites may have noticed that construction has started on the NW 58th St Ballard Greenway. So far, SDOT has installed curb ramps at arterials, widened the sidewalk and installed a ramp at Seaview Ave that connects to the Burke-Gilman Trail and is this week in the process of adding speed humps. Check out more details from [...] Read more...
Speed hump construction on the NW 58th St Ballard Greenway set for this week
MyBallard - Ballardites may have noticed that construction has started on the NW 58th St Ballard Greenway. So far, SDOT has installed curb ramps at arterials, widened the sidewalk and installed a ramp at Seaview Ave that connects to the Burke-Gilman Trail and is this week in the process of adding speed humps. Check out more details from [...] Read more...
Monday, June 17, 2013 -- 2:54 pm
Greenwood Sip and Ship moving to new location
Ballard News Tribune - After successfully completing a five year lease at 8560 Greenwood Avenue North, Sip and Ship's second location (Ballard Sip and Ship is nearly 11 years old), Greenwood Sip and Ship has found a new home at 7511 Greenwood Avenue North. "It is a much smaller space and cozier, and easier for customers to access," says Sip and Ship Owner Stephen Naramore. "Our primary focus was to find a location that would allow us to remain in the Greenwood neighborhood and service the growing corridor toward Phinney Ridge, we feel this location does just that. We can't express how excited we all are about this new move and look forward to reintroducing Greenwood Sip and Ship by opening its doors around July 15, 2013." Until then, both 8560 and 7511 locations will be under construction. Beginning this Monday, June 17th, 8560 will be mindfully deconstructed over the next month. First, the mailboxes will be moved and then the shipping counters, and finally, the cafe will begin its shift to 7511. All Sip and Ship services will be available, albeit on a smaller scale. GA_googleAddSlot("ca-pub-4956332358238235", "ballard_story_text_region_slot_1");GA_googleFillSlot("ballard_story_text_region_slot_1"); Naramore emphasized, "We will continue running all our services until the final point when we will need to unplug 8560 and plug into 7511. The aim is to make this transition go as smoothly as possible for our customers, and we plan to keep them informed along the way via Sip and Ship Facebook, website, blog, Twitter, and of course in person." Finally, when all the dust settles, Greenwood Sip and Ship will continue to proudly serve the Greenwood/Phinney neighborhood -- a strong community that has supported and helped to grow this small family-owned business over the last five years - looking forward to many more years together. Follow Ballard News-Tribune on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ballardnewstrib And Twitter at http://twitter.com/ballardnewstrib GA_googleAddSlot("ca-pub-4956332358238235", "ballard_story_text_region_slot_2");GA_googleFillSlot("ballard_story_text_region_slot_2"); Read more...
Greenwood Sip and Ship moving to new location
Ballard News Tribune - After successfully completing a five year lease at 8560 Greenwood Avenue North, Sip and Ship's second location (Ballard Sip and Ship is nearly 11 years old), Greenwood Sip and Ship has found a new home at 7511 Greenwood Avenue North. "It is a much smaller space and cozier, and easier for customers to access," says Sip and Ship Owner Stephen Naramore. "Our primary focus was to find a location that would allow us to remain in the Greenwood neighborhood and service the growing corridor toward Phinney Ridge, we feel this location does just that. We can't express how excited we all are about this new move and look forward to reintroducing Greenwood Sip and Ship by opening its doors around July 15, 2013." Until then, both 8560 and 7511 locations will be under construction. Beginning this Monday, June 17th, 8560 will be mindfully deconstructed over the next month. First, the mailboxes will be moved and then the shipping counters, and finally, the cafe will begin its shift to 7511. All Sip and Ship services will be available, albeit on a smaller scale. GA_googleAddSlot("ca-pub-4956332358238235", "ballard_story_text_region_slot_1");GA_googleFillSlot("ballard_story_text_region_slot_1"); Naramore emphasized, "We will continue running all our services until the final point when we will need to unplug 8560 and plug into 7511. The aim is to make this transition go as smoothly as possible for our customers, and we plan to keep them informed along the way via Sip and Ship Facebook, website, blog, Twitter, and of course in person." Finally, when all the dust settles, Greenwood Sip and Ship will continue to proudly serve the Greenwood/Phinney neighborhood -- a strong community that has supported and helped to grow this small family-owned business over the last five years - looking forward to many more years together. Follow Ballard News-Tribune on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ballardnewstrib And Twitter at http://twitter.com/ballardnewstrib GA_googleAddSlot("ca-pub-4956332358238235", "ballard_story_text_region_slot_2");GA_googleFillSlot("ballard_story_text_region_slot_2"); Read more...
Monday, June 17, 2013 -- 2:35 pm
City Council leaders reject McGinn's light rail studies
Seattle Times - ... McGinn had sought half a million dollars to study a Ship Canal crossing for a light rail line from downtown to Ballard and another $300,000 to speed up a study of another light rail route up Eastlake to the University District. The Today File is a ... Read more...
City Council leaders reject McGinn's light rail studies
Seattle Times - ... McGinn had sought half a million dollars to study a Ship Canal crossing for a light rail line from downtown to Ballard and another $300,000 to speed up a study of another light rail route up Eastlake to the University District. The Today File is a ... Read more...
Monday, June 17, 2013 -- 2:01 pm
City council denies funding for McGinn's proposed Ship Canal bridge study
MyBallard - According to Seattle Met's Publicola blog, the chairmen of the city council's budget and transportation committees have denied Mayor McGinn's request for funding to study a new bridge across the Ship Canal. McGinn proposed the study to assess the viability of building a new bridge for light rail linking downtown and Ballard. Mayor McGinn had requested $500,000 to [...] Read more...
City council denies funding for McGinn's proposed Ship Canal bridge study
MyBallard - According to Seattle Met's Publicola blog, the chairmen of the city council's budget and transportation committees have denied Mayor McGinn's request for funding to study a new bridge across the Ship Canal. McGinn proposed the study to assess the viability of building a new bridge for light rail linking downtown and Ballard. Mayor McGinn had requested $500,000 to [...] Read more...
Monday, June 17, 2013 -- 12:48 pm
Parfait Ice Cream set to open first store in Ballard this summer
MyBallard - Well known artisan ice cream food truck Parfait, will open its first brick and mortar store in the new Greenfire Campus (2034 NW 56th Street) this summer. Chef Adria Shimada, who founded the business in 2009, is excited to bring her small batch, organic and artisan ice cream to Ballard. Shimada is a graduate of [...] Read more...
Parfait Ice Cream set to open first store in Ballard this summer
MyBallard - Well known artisan ice cream food truck Parfait, will open its first brick and mortar store in the new Greenfire Campus (2034 NW 56th Street) this summer. Chef Adria Shimada, who founded the business in 2009, is excited to bring her small batch, organic and artisan ice cream to Ballard. Shimada is a graduate of [...] Read more...
Monday, June 17, 2013 -- 12:36 pm
How does Ballard stack up in residential burglaries?
Ballard News Tribune - Every week we pull police reports from the Seattle Police Department, and without fail, there are always multiple instances of burglaries in the Ballard area. It has some neighbors crying out that the neighborhood has, excuse the language, gone to hell in a handbasket. But how does Ballard really stack up in burglary ratios compared to the rest of the city? The Seattle P-I put together a nifty slideshow detailing the top 52 neighborhoods in burglaries. While Ballard isn't No. 1 on the list -- that honor goes to the Laurelhurst/View Ridge area in the L3 beat with 722 residential burglaries in the past five years -- it might be fair to say that we get an honorable mention. Here's the breakdown of the Ballard neighborhoods that made the list. You can correlate the them with the precinct map above. GA_googleAddSlot("ca-pub-4956332358238235", "ballard_story_text_region_slot_1");GA_googleFillSlot("ballard_story_text_region_slot_1"); 35. N2: This Greenwood-neighborhood beat saw 225 residential burglaries reported in the past five years. 33. N3: This Northgate-neighborhood beat saw 252 residential burglaries reported in the past five years. 31. J2: This Ballard beat (Ballard Ave, industrial Ballard, Frelard) saw 268 residential burglaries reported in the past five years. 30 B2: This Ballard beat (Sunset Hill, Central Ballard) saw 274 residential burglaries reported in the past five years. 21. B3: This Ballard beat (East Ballard) saw 346 residential burglaries reported in the past five years. 5. B1: This Northwest Seattle beat (Crown Hill, Loyal Heights, Blue ridge and beyond) saw 551 residential burglaries reported in the past five years. Follow Ballard News-Tribune on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ballardnewstrib And Twitter at http://twitter.com/ballardnewstrib GA_googleAddSlot("ca-pub-4956332358238235", "ballard_story_text_region_slot_2");GA_googleFillSlot("ballard_story_text_region_slot_2"); Read more...
How does Ballard stack up in residential burglaries?
Ballard News Tribune - Every week we pull police reports from the Seattle Police Department, and without fail, there are always multiple instances of burglaries in the Ballard area. It has some neighbors crying out that the neighborhood has, excuse the language, gone to hell in a handbasket. But how does Ballard really stack up in burglary ratios compared to the rest of the city? The Seattle P-I put together a nifty slideshow detailing the top 52 neighborhoods in burglaries. While Ballard isn't No. 1 on the list -- that honor goes to the Laurelhurst/View Ridge area in the L3 beat with 722 residential burglaries in the past five years -- it might be fair to say that we get an honorable mention. Here's the breakdown of the Ballard neighborhoods that made the list. You can correlate the them with the precinct map above. GA_googleAddSlot("ca-pub-4956332358238235", "ballard_story_text_region_slot_1");GA_googleFillSlot("ballard_story_text_region_slot_1"); 35. N2: This Greenwood-neighborhood beat saw 225 residential burglaries reported in the past five years. 33. N3: This Northgate-neighborhood beat saw 252 residential burglaries reported in the past five years. 31. J2: This Ballard beat (Ballard Ave, industrial Ballard, Frelard) saw 268 residential burglaries reported in the past five years. 30 B2: This Ballard beat (Sunset Hill, Central Ballard) saw 274 residential burglaries reported in the past five years. 21. B3: This Ballard beat (East Ballard) saw 346 residential burglaries reported in the past five years. 5. B1: This Northwest Seattle beat (Crown Hill, Loyal Heights, Blue ridge and beyond) saw 551 residential burglaries reported in the past five years. Follow Ballard News-Tribune on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ballardnewstrib And Twitter at http://twitter.com/ballardnewstrib GA_googleAddSlot("ca-pub-4956332358238235", "ballard_story_text_region_slot_2");GA_googleFillSlot("ballard_story_text_region_slot_2"); Read more...
Monday, June 17, 2013 -- 12:30 pm
Help take care of Ballard's trees on Wednesday
MyBallard - On Wednesday, June 19, there will be a work party to help clean up around several trees in central Ballard. The volunteer event is from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., and they'll be meeting at Ballard Corners Park (17th Ave NW and NW 62nd St) to remove grass and mulch around 200 trees in the blocks [...] Read more...
Help take care of Ballard's trees on Wednesday
MyBallard - On Wednesday, June 19, there will be a work party to help clean up around several trees in central Ballard. The volunteer event is from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., and they'll be meeting at Ballard Corners Park (17th Ave NW and NW 62nd St) to remove grass and mulch around 200 trees in the blocks [...] Read more...
Monday, June 17, 2013 -- 11:56 am
Lake Washington sockeye returns still decent with 11,997 counted in first five days
Seattle Times - The Lake Washington sockeye single-day counts at the Ballard Lock fish ladder remain robust, and still well ahead of the figures since 2005. Read more...
Lake Washington sockeye returns still decent with 11,997 counted in first five days
Seattle Times - The Lake Washington sockeye single-day counts at the Ballard Lock fish ladder remain robust, and still well ahead of the figures since 2005. Read more...
Monday, June 17, 2013 -- 11:26 am
Remembering Gene, local barbershop owner, prankster
Ballard News Tribune - By Elizabeth Wang If you've ever walked down Northwest 65th Street and tried (but failed) to pick up a Super Glued quarter from the sidewalk, you've been prey to one of Gene's practical jokes. Owner of the Sunset Hill Barbershop, Marion Eugene "Gene" George passed away on April 30. He was 74. After opening his shop in Ballard in 1981, Gene quickly became known for passing out Pup-Peronis to dogs, handing out gumballs to children and, most notably, dealing out pranks to anyone who would fall for them. GA_googleAddSlot("ca-pub-4956332358238235", "ballard_story_text_region_slot_1");GA_googleFillSlot("ballard_story_text_region_slot_1"); "Everyone had a story about Gene. ... Always a prankster, always joking around," said Billy Higgins, one of Gene's long-time customers. "He always had a story to tell." Higgins, now 22, had gotten his hair cut by Gene since he was only four years old. As a college student, he was never charged once. When Higgins was off in Spokane attending Gonzaga University, he would sometimes lose touch with his hometown. But the minute he returned to the barbershop, Gene would fill him in on what he had missed. "When you went to him to get a haircut, you weren't just getting a haircut," Higgins said. "You were getting the pleasure of his company for however long it took. He always made it totally worth it." Gene had looked forward to celebrating Halloween every year, and his barbershop always drew the biggest trick-or-treating crowd. Gene's secret was handing out full-size candy bars to the children, while offering a variety of multi-flavored Jell-O shots to the adults. "My dad loved life. He loved children and he loved dogs," said Connie Smith, Gene's only daughter. Gene married his late wife, Gail Rogers in 1958. They had Connie in 1962, who Gene adored and who was said to be the pride and joy of his life. That is, until Connie's son, Chase, came into the picture. "Everyone in the community knew," Higgins said. "(Gene) always had something to say about what his grandson was doing." Gene attended countless of Chase's wrestling tournaments. It was said that every time he looked at Chase, he would get that all-too-well-known ear-to-ear grin. Donna Williams had worked by Gene's side for 20 years. She had met him in the early '90s when she managed the 7-Eleven by the Ballard Locks. Gene would come in every morning and buy Lottery tickets and, eventually, they became good friends. When Williams was considering a career change, Gene convinced her to attend barber training. In 1994, she joined Gene at the barbershop. "He loved people," Williams said. "He would never have wanted to be anything else but a barber." Though she is the current owner of Sunset Hill Barbershop, Williams said she doesn't feel blessed to take in such good fortune. Rather, she sees it as a sign to continue on Gene's legacy for the community and others around her. "Sometimes in life, things happen and maybe not for you," she said. "This barbershop means a lot to a Read more...
Remembering Gene, local barbershop owner, prankster
Ballard News Tribune - By Elizabeth Wang If you've ever walked down Northwest 65th Street and tried (but failed) to pick up a Super Glued quarter from the sidewalk, you've been prey to one of Gene's practical jokes. Owner of the Sunset Hill Barbershop, Marion Eugene "Gene" George passed away on April 30. He was 74. After opening his shop in Ballard in 1981, Gene quickly became known for passing out Pup-Peronis to dogs, handing out gumballs to children and, most notably, dealing out pranks to anyone who would fall for them. GA_googleAddSlot("ca-pub-4956332358238235", "ballard_story_text_region_slot_1");GA_googleFillSlot("ballard_story_text_region_slot_1"); "Everyone had a story about Gene. ... Always a prankster, always joking around," said Billy Higgins, one of Gene's long-time customers. "He always had a story to tell." Higgins, now 22, had gotten his hair cut by Gene since he was only four years old. As a college student, he was never charged once. When Higgins was off in Spokane attending Gonzaga University, he would sometimes lose touch with his hometown. But the minute he returned to the barbershop, Gene would fill him in on what he had missed. "When you went to him to get a haircut, you weren't just getting a haircut," Higgins said. "You were getting the pleasure of his company for however long it took. He always made it totally worth it." Gene had looked forward to celebrating Halloween every year, and his barbershop always drew the biggest trick-or-treating crowd. Gene's secret was handing out full-size candy bars to the children, while offering a variety of multi-flavored Jell-O shots to the adults. "My dad loved life. He loved children and he loved dogs," said Connie Smith, Gene's only daughter. Gene married his late wife, Gail Rogers in 1958. They had Connie in 1962, who Gene adored and who was said to be the pride and joy of his life. That is, until Connie's son, Chase, came into the picture. "Everyone in the community knew," Higgins said. "(Gene) always had something to say about what his grandson was doing." Gene attended countless of Chase's wrestling tournaments. It was said that every time he looked at Chase, he would get that all-too-well-known ear-to-ear grin. Donna Williams had worked by Gene's side for 20 years. She had met him in the early '90s when she managed the 7-Eleven by the Ballard Locks. Gene would come in every morning and buy Lottery tickets and, eventually, they became good friends. When Williams was considering a career change, Gene convinced her to attend barber training. In 1994, she joined Gene at the barbershop. "He loved people," Williams said. "He would never have wanted to be anything else but a barber." Though she is the current owner of Sunset Hill Barbershop, Williams said she doesn't feel blessed to take in such good fortune. Rather, she sees it as a sign to continue on Gene's legacy for the community and others around her. "Sometimes in life, things happen and maybe not for you," she said. "This barbershop means a lot to a Read more...
Monday, June 17, 2013 -- 10:41 am
SeafoodFest kickstarts online campaign to create Ballard comic book
MyBallard - What would make Ballard complete? A superhero, according to the organizers of the annual Ballard SeafoodFest. They're unveiling 'Anchor,' Ballard's very own crime-fighting, anchor-wielding superhero. Anchor is Eddie Erickson, a dockworker by trade, who throws off his raincoat at the first sign of danger to fight off the evils of Ballard. The SeafoodFest folks have [...] Read more...
SeafoodFest kickstarts online campaign to create Ballard comic book
MyBallard - What would make Ballard complete? A superhero, according to the organizers of the annual Ballard SeafoodFest. They're unveiling 'Anchor,' Ballard's very own crime-fighting, anchor-wielding superhero. Anchor is Eddie Erickson, a dockworker by trade, who throws off his raincoat at the first sign of danger to fight off the evils of Ballard. The SeafoodFest folks have [...] Read more...
Monday, June 17, 2013 -- 9:38 am
Li'l Woody's now open in Ballard
MyBallard - Today Li'l Woody's opens its doors in Ballard. The independently owned burger spot taking over the old Zak's location (2040 NW Market St) also features Molly Moon's ice creams, Cafe Vita coffee, and kombucha from Townshend's Tea Company. They keep the menu pretty simple with all burgers under $10. There are the classic Li'l and Big [...] Read more...
Li'l Woody's now open in Ballard
MyBallard - Today Li'l Woody's opens its doors in Ballard. The independently owned burger spot taking over the old Zak's location (2040 NW Market St) also features Molly Moon's ice creams, Cafe Vita coffee, and kombucha from Townshend's Tea Company. They keep the menu pretty simple with all burgers under $10. There are the classic Li'l and Big [...] Read more...
Monday, June 17, 2013 -- 7:02 am
Police: Tiny burglar accesses Ballard home through doggie door
KOMO News - A doggie door gave a burglar easy access to a home in Ballard. Seattle police say the thief squeezed through the tiny door - then scooped up electronics and jewelry. Read more...
Police: Tiny burglar accesses Ballard home through doggie door
KOMO News - A doggie door gave a burglar easy access to a home in Ballard. Seattle police say the thief squeezed through the tiny door - then scooped up electronics and jewelry. Read more...
Monday, June 17, 2013 -- 6:01 am
Superman, solstice, sandwiches: 10 things to do this week
Seattle Times - ... Time" isn't afraid to offend anyone - and usually does - with his irreverent commentaries and impatient "new rules." Ballard Food Bank is the beneficiary of the Noise for the Needy's annual festival this year, and the Seattle nonprofit will ... Read more...
Superman, solstice, sandwiches: 10 things to do this week
Seattle Times - ... Time" isn't afraid to offend anyone - and usually does - with his irreverent commentaries and impatient "new rules." Ballard Food Bank is the beneficiary of the Noise for the Needy's annual festival this year, and the Seattle nonprofit will ... Read more...
upcoming events
| Greenwood Car Show Greenwood Car Show |
| Power Yoga Teacher Training (CorePower Yoga Ballard) CorePower Yoga Ballard |
| 27th Annual Seafair Indian Days Pow Wow Discovery Park Environmental Learning Center |
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