Fast Transit from Everett to the King/Snohomish line

My friend Jedi Master Steve sent me a link to this press release about the rapid transit bus that will run on HWY 99 from the king/sno border through everett with limited stops.

(Here is the Press Release)
New Bus Rapid Transit Route Called "Swift"

Swift - Our Vision of Bus Rapid Transit
"Swift" line gets $5 million approval from PSRC

Snohomish County, Wash. – Community Transit today unveiled the name, logo and design for its proposed Bus Rapid Transit line on Highway 99 in Snohomish County. "Swift" describes the fast ride that passengers will experience down the busy corridor, and a depiction of a Swift bird lends a colorful and sleek appearance to the system’s buses.

"Like a Swift bird, our BRT bus will not dwell at stations for long; it will fly down Highway 99 and possibly future corridors," said Community Transit CEO Joyce Olson. "Our goal is to offer quality service that is sleek, modern and attractive; something that looks fast, even when it’s standing still."

Community Transit is developing a Bus Rapid Transit line that will run on Highway 99 between Everett Station and the Aurora Village Transit Center at the Snohomish–King County line. Swift buses will run every 10 minutes and make fewer stops than local bus service between those locations. Using Business–Access–Transit (BAT) lanes, transit signal priority technology and fewer stops, the Swift service will offer a quicker ride along the corridor.

Today, the Puget Sound Regional Council Executive Board approved two grants for the project totaling $5 million. That funding will go toward bus purchases and technology development. The agency envisions real–time bus arrival information at stations, which will utilize GPS technology.

In addition to the funding announced today, Community Transit has committed $12.5 million toward the Swift project, and is reserving service capacity this year and next so it will have operating funds available when the system goes on line in late 2008. The agency also learned last week that Senator Patty Murray secured a $1 million line item for the project in the 2007 Senate Appropriations Bill. That complements another $2.5 million earmarked for the project in the 2006 federal SAFETEA–LU legislation.

Community Transit is working with Snohomish County and the cities of Edmonds, Everett, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace and Shoreline to plan where the train–like stations on the route will be located.

"When the project is fully operating in 2008, Everett and South Snohomish County will have a public transit service with customer amenities equal to or better than any transportation project in the region," said Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson.

Discussions are under way with Everett Transit and King County Metro Transit to possibly extend this Bus Rapid Transit line north in Everett and south to Seattle in the future.

Celebrating 30 years of service, Community Transit operates 32 local bus routes, 31 commuter routes and DART paratransit service throughout Snohomish County. It also offers carpool matching, one of the nation’s largest vanpool programs and travel training to disabled and senior citizens. Call Community Transit at (425) 353–RIDE or (800) 562–1375 for bus information, or (888) 814–1300 for carpool or vanpool information, or go to www.communitytransit.org.

Club Lagoon Web Commercial

John Keister on the Monorail and Viaduct

I saw this on KCTS about 3 weeks ago and finally found it online. It's an awesome commentary that makes you think about various regional projects ment to help improve the way we get around now and in the future.

Watch Video (real video)

Burke Museum Presents Free Archaeology Program at Discovery Park

What do tsunamis, sewage, and salmon have to do with each other? And what do they have to do with archaeology? Find out at a Burke Museum program at on Sat., Oct. 14, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the West Point Lighthouse in Discovery Park. Check in at Discovery Park Visitor Center, 3801 W. Government Way, at the park entrance.

Specialists from the Burke Museum's Archaeology Department and Seattle Parks and Recreation will describe the site before the West Point Lighthouse was ever built. Find out about the 4,200-year-old Native American village, take an interpretive hike to learn about the cultural and natural history of West Point, try your hand at archaeology activities for all ages, and follow an archaeologist on a unique walking tour through the sewage treatment plant - and learn about the old archaeological site that lies below.

This event is free and is co-sponsored by the Burke Museum and the Seattle Parks and Recreation. Come prepared for rain.

The Burke Museum presents public programs on natural history and culture. For more information call 206-543-5590 or visit www.burkemuseum.org. For information about Discovery Park, please call 206-386-4236 or visit www.seattle.gov/parks.

Mayor Launches Effort to Cut Seattle’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions

SEATTLE—Mayor Greg Nickels today announced his Seattle Climate Action Plan, the cornerstone of the effort to reduce the city’s greenhouse gas emissions by 680,000 metric tons and meet the 2012 international goals of the Kyoto Protocol right here at home.

The plan is the most comprehensive climate-protection package in the city’s history. It calls for major new investments and expanded programs to support individuals, government and businesses in curbing the threat of climate disruption by reducing harmful emissions across the entire city.

“Climate change is the biggest environmental threat facing our planet,” Nickels said. “With the release of the Seattle Climate Action Plan, we start down a hopeful – but challenging – road toward a solution.”

The comprehensive program, to be monitored and updated every two years, is the city’s response to last spring’s recommendations by the mayor’s Green Ribbon Commission on Climate Protection. It details a series of specific steps that residents, business and the city will take to reach the Kyoto target of 7 percent reduction from 1990 levels by 2012. The bulk of the effort relies on reducing emissions from motor-fuel, natural gas and other sources at home, on the road, at work and in the community.

“When it comes to climate change, we are all part of the problem – and part of the solution,” Nickels said “Together, we can make Seattle the most climate-friendly city in the country.”

The plan builds on a strong environmental foundation in Seattle. City government has already cut its emissions by 60 percent from 1990 levels and operates the only electric utility in the nation, Seattle City Light, to achieve zero net greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, this marks the second year in a row Seattle City Light has achieved zero net greenhouse gas emissions.

To date, 307 mayors from 46 states and the District of Columbia have signed on to the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement initiated by Mayor Nickels, meaning cities where 51 million Americans live stand with Seattle in the commitment to meet the Kyoto target.

The mayor’s 2007-2008 proposed budget calls for a $37 million investment over the next two years to reduce emissions. Thirty-four million dollars of this is part of the Bridging the Gap proposal, which includes a levy lid lift that will be decided by voters in November.

Bridging the Gap contains funding for:

• Substantial bicycle and pedestrian improvements, including new and extended bikeways, sidewalks and trails, and safety upgrades to crosswalks citywide.
• Increased public transportation service, including funding that leverages a two-for-one match from King County Metro’s Transit Now package.
• Investments in freight mobility that will reduce emissions by easing congestion for trucks.
• Renovation of King Street Station as a multi-modal transportation hub.

The mayor’s General Fund budget contains funding for:

• A broad awareness and education campaign, to be waged with partner agencies, to educate the community on the link between fossil-fuel consumption and climate change and to inspire action.
• A new Neighborhood Climate Protection Matching Fund to spur community-based climate protection projects, such as local biodiesel cooperatives and car- and tool-sharing programs.
• Covering two outdoor public swimming pools to conserve natural gas used for heating.

Nickels also announced the launch of the Seattle Climate Partnership, a group of influential businesses and organizations that have agreed to work together to assess their climate impacts and cut emissions in their operations, through employees, with customers and suppliers. Among the 21 early-stage members are Starbucks Coffee Co., Lafarge North America, Port of Seattle, University of Washington, REI Inc., Group Health Cooperative, HomeStreet Bank, King County, Seattle University and the City of Seattle.

Joining Mayor Nickels at Wednesday’s announcement were William Ruckelshaus, former EPA chief and strategic director of the Madrona Venture Group; Sally Jewell, chief executive of REI; Denis Hayes, founder of Earth Day and president of the Bullitt Foundation; and Mayor Dan Coody of Fayetteville, Ark. Ruckelshaus was a member of the Green Ribbon Commission. Hayes was the commission’s co-chair.

For more information, visit the mayor’s web site at www.seattle.gov/mayor. Get the mayor’s inside view on initiatives to promote transportation, public safety, economic opportunity and healthy communities by signing up for The Nickels Newsletter at www.seattle.gov/mayor/newsletter_signup.htm.

Something to do this Friday

I got this email from Club Lagoon check it out!



This Friday at Club Lagoon
If you RSVP you get a wristband that gets you 20 percent off drinks.
First 50 people to RSVP get VIP access.

You can RSVP by emailing rsvp@clublagoon.com

Club Lagoon
210 E. Broadway, Seattle, WA 98108
http://www.myspace.com/clublagoon

Free Gas on Queen Anne & Bus Routes with Google

Free Gas on Queen Anne
Today from 4pm to 7pm
The Shell Gas Station at Denny Way and Queen Anne Avenue will be giving away 25 dollars of free gas.

Public-Transportation Trip-Planning with Google
http://www.google.com/transit

COSTLY TUNNEL NOT THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE FOR ALL

'Working Families Deserve Better'

SEATTLE - Council President Nick Licata and Councilmember David J. Della issue the following statements in response to today's decision by a majority of councilmembers to recommend to the state that the tunnel is Seattle's preferred alternative for replacement of the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

Councilmember Della, an advocate for rebuilding the Viaduct as an elevated structure with available funds and a supporter of an advisory vote on the issue, stated, "I don't think that we can comfortably say that the most expensive and unaffordable option is the preference of the people of Seattle. We had an opportunity to gauge the public's opinion by floating an advisory measure and should have done so. I think tunnel advocates were just too afraid to discover that a majority does not support pricing working families out of our city all in the name of better views. Working families deserve a choice and they deserve an alternative that is affordable."

Council President Licata, who sponsored legislation that would have put an advisory measure with cost estimates on this November's ballot, added, "Tunnel vision is taking our city deeper into a black hole of insufficient revenues and unknown costs. The tunnel is the most expensive option and will be the most expensive project in the history of our city. The fact that a tunnel will dry up so much of our revenue should have been the driver of our discussion-not aesthetics."

COUNCIL: THE TUNNEL IS THE BEST ALTERNATIVE

The Council reaffirms that a cut-and-cover tunnel is the City's preferred alternative for replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

SEATTLE- Seven members of the Council today reaffirmed their decision of January 2005 that the best alternative for replacement of the dangerously damaged Alaskan Way Viaduct is a cut-and-cover tunnel. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to realize a 21st Century waterfront. The tunnel is a means to that end," said Councilmember Jan Drago, Chair of the Transportation Committee. The City's recommendation will now directly go to Governor Christine Gregoire as she considers her decision on what to do about the crumbling elevated structure.

Councilmember Richard Conlin said, "We want to create a waterfront that works for all our people, that is ecologically sustainable, and that is consistent with the values that our city embodies of open access and environmental stewardship. A cut-and-cover tunnel along the waterfront is the best way forward at this time." Councilmember Jean Godden said, "The Viaduct is an unsafe, substandard, noxious polluting structure that has blighted the city for two generations-fifty years. Too often in the past, we have been foolishly cheap and shortsighted. We must restore the City's portal to Puget Sound with a cut-and-cover tunnel."

Councilmember Tom Rasmussen said, "The Viaduct was planned and built when freeways were seen as the solution to our transportation needs. Like many other cities, we will not repeat the mistakes of the past. This Council has its eyes fixed on the future."

Councilmember Peter Steinbrueck said, "The state gave Seattle only two options, an even larger elevated freeway or a tunnel, so I am supporting 'a tunnel option.' My heart is more with a sustainable future, such as a surface option as a back-up plan, with more funds for rapid transit."

Earlier this week, the Governor's Expert Review Panel affirmed that the tunnel's finances were sound and reasonable despite rising costs. Councilmember Richard McIver said, "I am pleased that a review panel made up of national experts on public finance and construction has expressed confidence in the identified funding for this project. I love the tunnel."

The Washington State Legislature asked the Council to express its preference for a Viaduct replacement either through Council action or an advisory ballot for Seattle's voters. Councilmember Drago said Council action was the only reasonable course. "The Council has been elected to make the difficult, complicated decisions as the representatives of Seattle's voters. Since the Viaduct planning is still in very early stages, it doesn't make sense to ask the public to vote on a project where construction figures are not secure," said Councilmember Drago. Added Councilmember Conlin, "There is a time to go to the voters: when you are asking them to raise money for a project that is solid. That time will come, but it hasn't yet."

Councilmember Sally Clark reminded everyone that today's decision is not the last one on the Viaduct replacement. "This is not the end. It is just one point along a very long journey. We are smarter today then we were 50 years ago. We can do better than an elevated freeway along the waterfront. I support the tunnel."

Carkeek Park Environmental Learning Center Offers "Living Green" Programs

Carkeek Park Environmental Learning Center Offers "Living Green" Programs
Free workshops provide practical info for homeowners

Seattle Parks and Recreation's Carkeek Park Environmental Learning Center, 950 NW Carkeek Park Road, is offering a unique series of workshops for people interested in making "green," or environmentally sustainable, improvements to their homes and properties.

Introduction to Green Living
Considering a remodel? Help is here! Learn to incorporate health, efficiency, and environmental performance into your home improvements. In this two-hour workshop you'll learn what makes a remodel "green," how the green remodeling approach is distinct from conventional remodeling, and review case studies of real Seattle remodels. You can see samples of green materials and recommended books, and there will be plenty of time for project-specific questions. Thor Peterson is
the Residential Green Building Specialist with Seattle Department of Planning and Development, and has more than seven years' experience working with conservation and green building programs. He is a graduate of the Sustainable Building Advisor Certificate program, and author of Seattle's Green Home Remodel guides.
Please register by October 5 by calling 206-684-0877.
Workshop date: Thursday, October 12, 7 to 9 p.m.
Cost: Free

Natural Water Management for the Home
In this workshop, you'll learn the importance of, and techniques for, taking steps toward restoring the hydrology in the built environment to its pre-development state. Mike Broili, director of the Well Home Program at Phinney Neighborhood Association, has extensive experience in the construction trades as a contractor and designer, and uses a low impact and sustainable approach to environmentally sensitive ventures. Join Mike in an in-depth discussion about passive and active rainwater harvesting and management strategies. Mike will reveal the mysteries of rainwater harvesting systems for flushing toilets, how to design rain gardens, vegetated roofs, waterwalls, best soil management practices, and many other strategies for managing rainwater on site.
Please register by October 6 by calling 206-684-0877.
Workshop date: Saturday, October 14, 2 to 4 p.m.
Cost: Free

Green Products for Home Interiors
Learn about a wide selection of applications for your living and bedrooms, kitchen and bathroom. Learn what makes "green" projects green, and how they really perform. You will touch and see a wide variety of products including flooring options, paint qualities, tiles, carpet, and countertops. Alicia Silva, founder of Greener Lifestyles, is an interior design professional who works with developers specializing in green building and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Please register by November 2 by calling 206-684-0877.
Instructor: Alicia Silva, LEED Accredited Professional and Sustainable Building Advisor
Workshop date: Thursday, November 9, 7 to 9 p.m.
Cost: Free

Residential Solar Power: Photovoltaic Assembly for Real People
Solar Power in the Pacific Northwest? It is not a fantasy. Come get the nuts and bolts facts about solar power. This hands-on, expert-led workshop will guide you step by step through preliminary design and assembly of a residential scale
photovoltaic system. See the Carkeek solar array in action and tour two other local projects with Mike Nelson, co-founder of the Northwest Solar Center. Bring a sack lunch.
Please register by November 10 by calling 206-684-0877.
Workshop date: Saturday, November 18, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cost: Free

Election Results

http://www.metrokc.gov/elections/200609/results.htm

Articles on the local races

The Olympian
Alexander leads hotly contested Supreme Court race over Groen

The News Tribune
Chief justice leads challenger Groen; Chambers wins
Favorites advance in Senate battle

The Stranger Blog
VIDEO COVERAGE - Seattle Primary Election Sept 19, 2006

Komo News
Cantwell, McGavick Set For Senate Finale
Chambers Re-Elected, Owens Advances, Alexander Leads

Seattle PI
Cantwell snubs McGavick on debates

Seattle's Linnea Noreen and the Daily Report

I thought this was funny. Local Independant Politician Linnea Noreen is running for Congress and has launched an interesting grassroots new media campaign using websites like YouTube.com. Her campaign is promoting the Daily Report, Seattle's answer to Comedy Central's Daily Show where no politician is safe from made up crap by people pissed off at the status quo. Check out her interview with Adam Sewall

The Daily Report: Intro and Headlines with Adam Sewall


The Daily Report: Field Report with Michael-Ellyn


The Daily Report: Where the Hell Is Mc'D with Bill McQuaid


The Daily Report: Linnea interview with Adam Sewall 1


The Daily Report: Linnea interview with Adam Sewall 2


More on Linnea Noreen at http://www.votelinnea.com/index.php

TACOMA FILM FESTIVAL

What: 55 films from around the world

When: Oct. 6-12

Tickets: At the Grand Cinema box office, 606 S. Fawcett Ave., beginning Thursday. Tickets are $7 for the general public and $5 for Grand Cinema members. Festival passes cost $75.

Tickets will also be available at other venues on the day films screen at those venues.

information: www.grandcinema.com

Don't forget to vote tomorrow

Polls open at 7 AM
Information on voting including the voters guide can be found here http://metrokc.gov/elections/

Support Jamie Pedersen Legislative District No. 43

Club Lagoon Grand Opening Saturday

The official Grand Opening is this Saturday with the Retros
This will be the normal weekly schedule for the club

• SUN: Sunday Brunch, "Tea Dance" Sundays - Live DJ and dancing.


• MON: CLOSED


• TUE: Special Events Tuesdays - schedule coming soon!


• WED: PINK! (Ladies Nite - no cover/drink specials for the ladies!)


• THU: "OUT" Thursdays - Live DJ and dancing.


• FRI: Dancing with DJ Brett Michaels from C89-FM! (Open til 4am!)


• SAT: Dancing with DJ Brett Michaels from C89-FM! (Open til 4am!)

Anyone been to the club yet.
Website says they plan to have everything from live bands, drag shows to burlesque shows in the near future.

Here is the flyer I got about the grand opening

Seattle Condos under $250,000 Capitol Hill & Queen Anne

If you would like to see any of these in person please feel free to email me

LP: 160,000 606 E Thomas St Unit # S  Seattle  See Map

Listing#  26146676
See Additional Pictures	Beds 1 Appx. SQFT 0 Baths 1.00 Year Built 1906 Floor # 1 Parking None New Con. Community Capitol Hill Project San Remo

LP: 205,500 308 E Republican St Unit # 101  Seattle  See Map

Listing#  26136273
See Additional Pictures	Beds 1 Appx. SQFT 780 Baths 1.00 Year Built 1961 Floor # 1 Parking Common Garage, Uncovered New Con. Community Capitol Hill Project Melrose Terrace

LP: 218,950 506 E Howell St Unit # E207  Seattle  See Map

Listing#  26110565
See Additional Pictures	Beds 1 Appx. SQFT 521 Baths 1.00 Year Built 1992 Floor # 2 Parking 1 Common Garage New Con. Community Capitol Hill Project Ambassador II

LP: 219,950 1614 Summit Ave Unit # 207  Seattle  See Map

Listing#  26133965
	Beds 1 Appx. SQFT 594 Baths 1.00 Year Built 1990 Floor # 2 Parking 1 Common Garage New Con. Community Capitol Hill Project The Parc On Summit

LP: 242,500 308 Summit Ave E Unit # 505  Seattle  See Map

Listing#  26153603
See Additional Pictures	Beds 1 Appx. SQFT 616 Baths 1.00 Year Built 1967 Floor # 5 Parking 1 Carport New Con. Community Capitol Hill Project Alpine Villa

LP: 239,950 524 6th Ave W Unit # 401  Seattle  See Map

Listing#  26121179
See Additional Pictures	Beds 1 Appx. SQFT 518 Baths 1.00 Year Built 1997 Floor # 4 Parking 1 Common Garage New Con. Community Queen Anne Project Elliott Bay Condominiums

Alex Garcia
Keller Williams Realty

Changes coming to South Park Seattle

Mayor announces plans to increase
city investment in South Park neighborhood
Investments range from youth programs to transportation

SEATTLE -Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels today announced plans to help strengthen the South Park community by investing more than $1.75 million in neighborhood-backed programs focused on youth, transportation, and the environment.

The mayor will include the additional investment in his proposed 2007-2008 budget, which he will deliver later this month. The proposal marks the first step in a wider South Park Action Agenda, currently being developed by community members to improve economic development, quality of life, and youth opportunities in the neighborhood.

“South Park is one of the city’s most vibrant and diverse neighborhoods, but it has faced challenges in recent years,” Nickels said. “This proposal will support the work of people in the neighborhood who have bridged language and cultural differences to tackle critical issues such as crime prevention, transportation and the environment.”

Nickels’ proposed budget, which the mayor will present to the City Council on Sept. 25, calls for:

• $500,000 for the 14th Avenue South Street Improvement to leverage a $1.2 million grant to design and construct transportation and drainage improvements in South Park’s retail district
• $616,726 over two years to continue providing successful, culturally appropriate programs to address a broad range of needs for at-risk Latino youth and families in the community
• $50,000 to design an open space and community park at 12th and Trenton.
• $442,244 over two years to extend operating hours at the South Park Community Center, add a Late Night teen program, add a new staff position, and increase funds for a youth job readiness program.
• $145,665 over two years to improve a Community Center computer lab and support the Spanish-language information center.

All of these proposals meet needs identified in the South Park Action Agenda, which is in the final stages of development. The South Park community will deliver its South Park Action Agenda to the mayor in October.

Based on the similar and successful Southeast Seattle Action Agenda, the South Park agenda is a community-driven effort, with city staffing, to identify current and emerging issues that can benefit from city involvement. The action agenda will identify community priorities and deliverables, both for the immediate and long term future.

The city and partners at King County and Washington State have recently taken a number of other steps to help the South Park community.

• Seattle Public Libraries opened a new, bilingual library earlier this month.
• Last year, Seattle Police and the King County Sheriff’s Office signed a mutual aid agreement to coordinate their services to reduce crime in an unincorporated area in South Park.
• The state adjusted the boundaries for the White Center DSHS office to include South Park, which is closer than the Rainier office and offers Spanish language services.
• The mayor’s 2006 budget included $294,000 in additional funding, which provided increased literacy services; gang intervention and prevention services; support for a boxing program for at-risk youth; and other programs for teens and parents. The mayor’s 2007-2008 budget includes continued funding for these programs for the next two years.

Al Gore is coming to Seattle

Oct 23rd
Al Gore will show the movie "An Inconvenient Truth" in the KeyArena

Tickets will go from $25 to $45 On sale Monday at 10 a.m. at Ticketmaster.

Missing my hispanic culture

I miss my Hispanic culture

I know this is kind of random and usually my blog posts are all about Seattle. But I think from time to time I will actually blog about my thoughts and feelings.

Lately I have really missed my Hispanic culture.
I miss speaking Spanish. It used to come so easily to me. I used to even dream in Spanish. Now I feel so shy about speaking Spanish.

I miss the Mexican dances I used to go to with my Dad. Weird and random but alot of fun. From middle school till about my sophmore year in highschool my Dad who was really involved with the Hispanic community in Olympia and would help this local promoter of Mexican dances. I used to tag along mostly because the older women (18 to 30) would hit on me and I guess I just liked the attention.

I miss the food. I miss the days when my grandma who has now passed away would make flower tortillas. Nothing like a freshly cooked tortilla with some butter and salt. And I miss Menudo and Mole.

This led me to go out and find a Mexican bakery
Driving around exploring South Seattle with Matt we ran across a little shopping center called Guadalupe Market (1111 SW 128th St, Burien, WA). To my surprise they carry all kinds of Mexican products and they have a really good bakery. I bought a bunch of cookies and pan dulce from the bakery






I also found and bought a bunch of my favorite Mexican candy - Pelon Pelo Rico



Finally...I been watching alot more Univision and MTV Tres. I feel that it has helped alot with my vocabulary to hear the language spoken more and I find the Spanish soap operas so entertaining. They put Desperate Housewives to shame.

Anyways here are two music videos I discovered on MTV Tres. One is like the Mexican fall out boy and the other is more of a pop electronic artist

Allison Fragil


Belanova - Por Ti

Huge Plant Sale

Huge Plant Sale

The Friends of the Conservatory in Volunteer Park are having their Annual Fall Plant Sale

THIS SATURDAY!

September 16th from 10 am – 3 pm

On the lawn across from the Conservatory.

Popular favorites such as orchids from Hawaii bromeliads, cactus , succulents and many exotic tropical plants will be featured. (Like the plants grown in the Conservatory!)

It's going to be a great sale! Don't miss it.

Afterwards, take a moment to visit the Conservatory Gift Shop - (10 am- 3:30 pm) - a chance to find unique gardening gifts!

1400 E. Galer Street

North Capitol Hill in Volunteer Park, near the Seattle Asian Art Museum.

Plan ahead and don’t miss our fabulous Fall Plant Sale!

September 16, 2006

Plenty of free parking is available on-site!

Seattle Book Sale

Seattle Book Sale
Off the SPLFRIENDS.ORG site

The Friends of The Seattle Public Library holds two major book sales each year. At each sale, over 200,000 books and other items are offered to the general public, including:

• Art prints and posters
• Audiocassettes
• Books
• Compact discs
• Computer software
• Records
• Sheet music
• Videocassettes and DVDs

Most books cost $1.00, but the sale also features "better books" including recent releases, and rare and collectible books, which are available at affordable prices even though they are higher priced than the majority of books. The price of other items varies, but all are "good deals."

Volunteer to help at our next sale!  Click here.

The Friends Book Sales are held each April and September. The next Book Sale is scheduled for September 16-17, 2006.  Book Sale hours are Saturday, September 16, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, September 17, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The members preview sale is Friday, September 15, 6:30-9:30 p.m., with memberships sold at the door.  Please bring your own boxes or bags.

Congrats to DJ Kyler for winning the c89.5 DJ Contest

DJ Kyler is now part of the c89.5 Team Drive @ 5
You can hear him every Monday at 5

Worried about the loss of Affordable Housing

More and more apartments are getting converted to Condos. That leaves alot of people with out any options for rentals. If your worried about the lack of afforadable housing and rentals then make your self heard:

Forum and discussion on the loss of affordable housing in Seattle: Wed., Sept. 13, 5 to 7 p.m. in the Bertha Knight Landes Room at City Hall (600 4th Ave., between James and Cherry).

Come join in or listen to a discussion on these issues. Guests include John Fox of the Seattle Displacement Coalition, Sharon Lee of the Low Income Housing Institute, Yolanda Sinde of the Community Coalition for Environmental Justice, and Nicole Macri of the Seattle King County Coalition for the Homeless.

Subscribe To My Blog

Great places to go for Breakfast in Seattle

This last weekend I discovered 2 great places for breakfast.





My friend Blake took Matt and I to Etta's after a failed attempt to eat at the Wasabi Bistro that apparently is not open till late on Saturday. Etta's is down by Pikes Place Market 2020 Western Ave.
It's more of a seafood place but they offer brunch Saturday and Sunday till 3pm

Sunday Morning we went to the Madison Park Cafe, which is another place that came highly recommended by my friend Blake.






It normally has a good 20 to 40 min wait to be seated so you have to get there early to get on the list. Located at 1807 42nd Avenue East and serving Brunch Sat and Sun 8:00am-2:00pm.

Here is a picture of the amazing French Toast I had Sunday Morning



Anyone have some good suggestions for other great places to go for breakfast?

649,000 More Trees in Seattle

Mayor Nickels recently proposed a plan to plant 649,000 trees in Seattle. Restoring the Urban Forest that has been lost to all the new construction, disease, ivy, etc.

"Seattle's urban trees add value to our community in many ways; they beautify our surroundings, absorb stormwater and climate-disrupting gases, clean the air, reduce erosion and increase property values. Recognizing these vital contributions, Mayor Nickels has made restoring the urban forest a priority for the city, and a key component of the Environmental Action Agenda."

This is a long overdue idea and I am excited to see more trees in every Seattle street and neighborhood

To kick off this program they are even giving away trees for you to plant. You can read all about the project here http://www.seattle.gov/environment/trees/

More Viaduct News

I saw this posted on the SeattlePI. I encourage anyone passionate about the Viaduct to attend these hearings and give your input.

A movie replicating the experience of driving through the proposed cut-and-cover tunnel and elevated structure replacements for the Alaskan Way Viaduct will be shown starting Thursday.

Several hearings on the project's environmental impact statement this month will feature the film.

Hearings are:

4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday and Sept. 14, both at Plymouth Congregational Church, 1217 6th Ave.

5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Sept. 12 at Madison Middle School, 3429 45th Ave. SW

and

5 to 8 p.m. Sept. 13 at Ballard Community Center, 6020 28th Avenue NW.

The comment period will be open until Sept. 22.

The draft statement, called the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement is available online. Hard copies can be reviewed at Seattle Neighborhood Service Centers, and at the Ballard, Capitol Hill, Central, Delridge, and North East Seattle library branches.

This Saturday support the 20th Anniversary AIDS Walk

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9

VOLUNTEER PARK
14th & PROSPECT
CAPITOL HILL

8:00 A.M.
REGISTRATION BEGINS
AIDS MEMORIAL QUILT VIEWING

9:00 A.M.
OPENING CEREMONY
HOSTED BY
KING-TV'S JEAN ENERSEN

10:00 A.M.
LET'S WALK!

11:00 A.M.
RETURN TO VOLUNTEER PARK
SEATTLE MENS CHORUS PERFORMS

My friend is walking this Saturday so if you would like to help donate to LifeLong AIDS Alliance you can donate here http://aidswalk.matthewbrowning.net

Couch for Sale on Capitol Hill

My client is moving and selling her couch. It's a leather couch in great condition with two recliners
$150 or best offer
The couch is heavy and buyer has to come and get it.
If your interested send me a message

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/fur/203518826.html

Parks Kicks Off Othello Park Concerts this Sunday, Sept. 10

Seattle Press Release
Seattle Parks and Recreation, in partnership with a number of Southeast Seattle community organizations, is pleased to present the first of four concerts in Othello Park, 4351 S Othello St. (at 45th Ave. S) this Sunday, Sept. 10, from 1 to 6:30 p.m.

The lineup includes Mambo Cadillac, an Afro-Cuban vocal and instrumental group that improvises with world fusion percussionist/composer Tor Dietrichson; Grupo Bayano with guest artist Roman "Ito" Carillo, a Seattle-based African Caribbean dance and music group featuring Puerto Rican Bomba music; Global Heat, a hip-hop and jazzy dance group reminiscent of the Black-Eyed Peas and Soul Live; and Amber Tide, which myspace.com describes as "jazzy, bluesy, folksy, high-energy roots entertainment."

The concert series responds to Mayor Nickels' Southeast Seattle Action Agenda, a call to speed the revitalization of this vibrant, diverse community as it undergoes change and investment. The concerts provide active programming in parks that have experienced illegal activities in recent years, and they help increase arts and cultural opportunities and programs, promote Southeast Seattle artists, and increase connections between neighbors.

Co-sponsors of the concert series, which continues on Sundays Sept. 17 and 24 and Oct. 1, are HomeSight, the Community Safety Initiative, Mt. Baker Housing Association, Kismet Salon & Day Spa, Southeast Effective Development (SEED), Seattle Weed & Seed, and David B. Silver, D.D.S.

The concerts are free, open to the public, and appropriate for all ages. Bring chairs or a blanket, bring a picnic, and stay all afternoon-the concerts will go on, rain or shine!

DJ Fuel House Party this Saturday

Click for larger image



1406 Summit Ave
Seattle, WA 98122

Starts at 9pm

Review of my new Sansa e260

I love my new mp3 player. It's a sansa e260.
About the same size as an ipod mini
4 Gigs
Plays Video
Mp3s
FM Tuner
Voice Recorder
Replaceable and rechargeable battery
Expansion slot for additional memory
I bought it for $139
Works with napster, rhapsody, yahoo music and most mp3 subscription services

It's my first attempt at moving away from the ipod. It doesn't play mp3s from the itunes store but it works with my rhapsody subscription. It's an interesting system. With my rhapsody subscription I dont actually buy the mp3s I just pay a monthly fee and it allows me to listen to pretty much anything even new releases. It also lets me put these mp3s on my sansa e260 as long as im a subscriber to rhapsody.

I definetly have issues with DRM, I personally feel mp3s should be pure mp3s and playable on any mp3 player regardless of where you buy them. But at the same time I kind of like my subscription service because I get to check out every album the day it comes out and in a way it saves me so much money that I would have normally spent on an album with one good song. I guess its like Netflix. You dont own it but you can watch or listen to it when ever you want.

Short video of the Sansa e260 in my hand and playing a Final Fantasy Trailer


Anyone else have a good experience with a non iPod mp3 player?

New Seattle Club on Capitol Hill Opens Tonight!

210 E. Broadway, Seattle, WA 98108

Club Lagoon Opens Tonight
Club Lagoon is a 1980's/South Beach/Retro nightclub.
Tonight there will be a 10 Dollar cover - Live music and dancing starring Seattle's own - The Retro's!

Saturday an 80's DJ will be spinning.

If your a fan of the Retro's stop by tonight. If your a fan of 80's be sure to stop by on Saturday.

Interview with Seattle's DJ Kyler

Interview with Seattle's DJ Kyler




Are you a Seattle Native and if not what brought you to Seattle?
I was born in Seattle and have lived in this area for my entire life. I graduated from Edmonds-Woodway High School and Seattle University.

Do you plan on staying in Seattle?
Definitely. I love this city and have a great group of friends here.

How did you get started in the DJ'ing business?
My two favorite things in the world are music and technology. When I realized that being a DJ is a melding of both of my favorite things, I invested in a couple of turntables, a mixer and a few records. After a few years of playing to myself in my bedroom and the occasional house party, I had an opportunity to play in the newly opened Neighbours Underground.The rest is history.

Is this something you want to do full time professionally for the rest of your life or something you do as a hobby?
Unfortunately, there's not much $$ out there for local DJs. If I could make a good living with it – I would definitely. In the mean time I'm happy doing it part-time.

Where can we find DJ Kyler Mon thru Friday 8am to 5pm?
During the week, I'm a transportation design engineer for an engineering firm called David Evans and Associates. I design roads, drainage systems, sidewalks, do all the necessary engineering calculations, and help draw up the plans…stuff like that. Long story short…I'm a geek. J

Where can we find DJ Kyler Friday and Saturday nights?
I'm a resident DJ at Neighbours Underground on Friday nights and am there from 10pm-2am every week. On Saturdays I'm a resident DJ at Club Sugar and play there every third Saturday from 10pm-4am. Confused yet?
On my free Saturdays I'm often out supporting my fellow DJs at both Neighbours and Sugar or staying home to get some rest!

What's the best gig you have ever done and why?
For the 2006 Seattle Pride I played a show called "One" with DJ Brian Gorr (a local DJ that I really look up to) at Neumos. The show was amazing – a huge, energetic crowd, great music and just a great atmosphere.

Best local club in your opinion?
Of course the ones that I work at! I don't really like to rate clubs, because they different depending on what night of the week it is, etc.
My favorite club night in Seattle is Rebar on Sundays. This place has ass-shaking house music all night long. If you have never been, I highly recommend it. Especially when there is a holiday on Monday; this place is packed and the crowd is great. I'll be there this Sunday.

Single? Looking?
Single. Looking. Yup.

What do you do for fun when you're not spinning?
Mostly I'm listening to new music, buying new records, trying to stay on top of everything. Being a DJ is a full-time job…there's not enough hours in the day to listen to everything that I want to. When I take a break from that stuff, I'm usually out with friends or just lounging around the apartment.

What's an embarrassing moment from your life?
Wow…so many thoughts. Umm…this one time at a Christmas party, I had a couple of strong cosmos and boy did my mouth start flying. I'm usually a very quiet person, so it was quite the funny sight. Oh yeah, and I know all of this because it was caught on video. LoL. Maybe you had to be there.

Capitol Hill or Belltown?
Capitol Hill. That's where I live and plan on staying.

The Stranger or the Seattle Weekly?
Definitely The Stranger. I couldn't live without I, Anonymous or Savage Love.

Boys or Girls?
Boys!

Sweet or Sour?
Either, but never together.

Democrat or Republican?
Card-carrying Democrat.

5 most played songs on your ipod?
I'm terribly against iPods and iTunes. Apple has a monopoly with its iTunes service in that it won't allow songs downloaded from iTunes to be played on other media devices not manufactured by Apple. IMHO, this is far worse than the so-called monopoly that Microsoft had. Not only is this stifling innovation of new portable media players (notice how iPods are ubiquitous?), but it making a great amount of music unavailable to some people. Bad Apple!

Whew…sorry about that tirade. The 5 currently most played songs on my iRiver (I'm guessing).

1. Madonna vs. Ferry Corsten – Ray of Light vs. Rock your Body Rock
2. Afromedusa -Pasilda
3. Paris Hilton – Turn it up
4. Gnarles Barkley – Crazy
5. Ben Watt – Stronger Man


DJ Kyler beat out 8 other DJs in the C89.5 "I want to be your next DJ" contest, and has made it to the finals. Vote for him this weekend Saturday to Monday. Here are the details off the C89.5 Website.

Labor day weekend Saturday at Noon, Sunday at 2pm, and again Monday at Noon, DJ Kyler and DJ Pulse each tear it up with a one hour mix! Voting closes Monday at 3pm sharp so be sure to listen up! You choose the next member of Team Drive @ 5 on C-89.5! Vote at http://www.c895worldwide.com

Meow! Meow!

MEOW Cat Rescue and Adoption Center would like to remind you that there are tons of cats and kittens available for adoption.

MEOW is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the health and welfare of cats and kittens in the greater Seattle area.

For more information visit http://www.meowcatrescue.org/