This was the Space Needle early this morning when over 12,000 runners and walkers gathered for the start of the 2008 Seattle Marathon.  I was a volunteer for the first time this year and couldn’t believe how many people were out this morning.

There are so many incredible reasons why someone would get up early on a cold and dark Sunday morning to participate in either a full (26.2 miles) or half (13.1 miles) marathon.  King 5 TV has captured quite a few of them on their website.  But, you didn’t need a “life changing” reason to get out and have some fun.

It was great to be greeted by the sound of the cow bell or the spectators, young and old.  

Were any of our QueenAnneView .com readers in the Marathon?  And did you have fun?

A tip from a reader let us know that the do-it-yourself pottery store, Color Me Mine, has closed.  According to their website, 

The Seattle Color Me Mine has closed. We would like to thank all of our customers for their continued support and friendships. We will miss you! If you have finished items to pick up, please email christy@colormemine.com with your name and item information, to set up a pick up. (Items that were left more than three months have been donated to a local charity)

We’ve been afraid that this might become a trend….

The Queen Anne Helpline and the Boy Scouts of America Troop 72 Christmas Tree Lot is an annual community event offering for sale the finest quality trees, wreaths, and garlands. The tree lot is staffed by volunteers of all ages from the neighborhood and Scouts and families of Boy Scouts of America Troop 72.

Not only are you getting the best trees but also helping to support two very worthy causes. 

ALL proceeds are for the benefit of the Queen Anne Helpline and the neighborhood Boy Scouts of America Troop 72.

Volunteers and Scouts of all ages, Dads, Moms, Grandparents, and those feeling the holiday spirit, help customers select the Noble, Tannenbaum, Fraser, Douglas, or Norway Spruce of their choice.  If you wish to volunteer, please contact the Queen Anne Helpline at (206) 282-1540.

As quickly as Tully’s disappeared from Boston and Queen Anne Avenue (aka Caffeine Corner), the Teacup has opened.  As reported earlier, the Teacup outgrew its old location (just one store south of the corner) and jumped at the opportunity to acquire the lease on Tulley’s.

The new store is spacious, well-lighted, and has a wonderful airy feeling.  The canisters of tea line the walls.

 And the tea service looks devine.  Step in this weekend and celebrate the grand opening of the Teacup!

Urban Craft Uprising, a community of crafters, dedicated to growing the crafting community and showcasing the best indie crafts out there. The annual show (now in its fourth year) is renowned for drawing the most creative, unique, and cream-of-the-crop crafters from around the region-and even some vendors from as far away as Boston and Toronto!

 Urban Craft Uprising’s third annual revolutionary craft fair, held in December of 2007, brought in over 120 vendors from all over the Northwest and over 6,000 fans excited to see fun, fresh, and funky urban crafts. UCU’s phenomenal success has captured the eye of local and national organizations alike.

The QueenAnneView has brought you several announcements regarding the unique Blue Highway Games.  The Seattle Times has also given this store a shout out.  You’ll have to scroll through the article  and look for “MoonJar Games” or just click through to a review of the Blue Highway Games.

Times are tough, and people are thinking differently this holiday season.  Remember also that there’s a lot of waste during this time of the year with wrapping paper, ribbon and boxes, bags, holiday parties, and more.  So what can we do differently?

King County is launching its 13th annual Waste Free Holidays program that will run from November 15 through December 31. During this time,  over 150 local participating businesses and organizations will offer discounts between 15-50% on museums, restaurant meals, massages, and a lot more! This gives you an opportunity to offer loved ones experiences that will create lasting memories, instead of toys or gadgets they’ll toss in a year or so.

In Queen Anne, Julia’s Restaurant, located at 1825 Queen Anne Ave. N offers 20% off gift certificates.  Give experience instead of stuff!  

We will bring you more ideas over the next two weeks on how to keep your holidays green!  Does anyone have a good idea about this?

Our good friends at Eat Local offer a weekend Holiday Sale beginning Friday Nov. 28th and ending Sunday, Nov. 30.  Promotions include: 20% OFF ALL PAPER GOODS; 

30% OFF ALL POTTERY;  

Free Insulated Bag 
with all purchases over $50

; and $1 Stumptown 12oz Lattes 
(through the end of December).

Also, drop by Friday from 12 noon – 3:00 pm for live music by Aaron Samuels, the unveiling of the Eat Local homemade Gingerbread House and the Totes 2 Go Trunk Show.  Canapes and hot cider are part of the event!  Read more about Eat Local.

Getting ready for the big day?  If you need help with your turkey, you can always turn to the turkey experts at Butterball for advice.  For 28 years, they have manned a Turkey Hotline (1-800-Butterball) to help you out with those last minute “how to” questions.  They even give you suggestions on how to rescue your overcooked or undercooked turkey if you need the help.  (Remember the Chevy Chase “Vacation” movies with the exploding turkey?)  Also, check out the Butterball website for tips and tricks for Thanksgiving.  Have a wonderful holiday!

The “Old Hay” school building on Boston Ave. may close under new recommendations from Seattle Public Schools. Under the plan, the Secondary Bilingual Orientation Center (SBOC) would move from the Hay building to Meany Middle School. Longtime Queen Anne residents will remember when John Hay Elementary moved out the building in 1989, and the SBOC moved in. And three years ago, a group banded together to refurbish the facility. If the school board approves the recommendations, the building will close, and perhaps like other Seattle school buildings of late, be put up for sale.

Update: Here’s a summary of the recommendations (PDF)

Neighborhood Master Plans abound!  Here is your chance to share your opinion about the future of the Interbay Golf Course. Seattle Parks and Recreation wants input from the community to update the Golf Course Master Plan and Economic Analysis for all four municipal golf courses.

If you are interested in golf at Interbay, they want to hear from you to help develop the future of the nine hole course, including funding, perimeter trails, club house renovations, driving range expansions and maintenance facility renovations

There is a public meeting at 6:30 on Tuesday, December 2 at Interbay Golf Course. For more information visit the website.

If you think about staying local with your holiday shopping, no better way than to visit the holiday arts and crafts fairs.  A couple that we know are close by:

Saturday, Dec. 6
The Queen Anne Merchants pull out all the stops for Holiday Magic. Strolling musicians, treats and holiday cheer abound!  All day in Queen Anne.

Saturday, Dec. 6-Sunday, Dec. 7, 11:00 am to 5 pm
Urban Craft Uprising at Seattle Center Exhibition Center
Over 120 vendors are expected. Look for local Queen Anne vendors such as Estrella.

Wednesday, Dec. 10, 5:00 – 9:00 pm
Crave Party at McCaw Hall
A CRAVE Party is an exclusive, festive,  glam-gal gathering of fun, entertainment, personal pampering, specialty shopping, sippin’ and noshin’, and just hanging with the girls.

A real benefit of shopping at our local stores is being greeted by the owners.  They are always enthusiastic about their work and their products, and it makes you feel really good to know that you are supporting a neighbor in the community.  Meet Greg Conner, the owner of Eat Local, located at 2400 Queen Anne Ave.  Eat Local has been on Queen Anne serving up delicious organic dinners that definitely make your mouth water!

Why not spend time with your family and friends instead of slaving in the kitchen this Thanksgiving?

The Seattle Times reports that Eat Local, is a great newcomer to the take-home dinner options this year. Their freezers are stocked with several different ready-to-heat turkey options: boneless roulade with cornbread stuffing; turkey breast with cranberry chutney; braised turkey with seasonal veggies; and turkey breast with sweet parsnip puree. Dish sizes range from single servings up to six, $10-$40, and they’ve got all the sides imaginable. You can feel good about your meal here, too — they’re made with seasonal, organic ingredients bought directly from local farms. Call 206-EAT-FOOD.

This gourmet specialty store uses organic ingredients scored from local farms whenever possible. It boasts dishes such as an apricot lentil soup, orchard pork roast and chocolate decadence. Additional offerings include fresh bread from Tall Grass Bakery, an assortment of jams, chocolates and dried fruit from Woodrings.  There is also a great selection of organic wines that have been created just for Eat Local.

A sign has popped up in the door of the building located across from Ken’s Market on McGraw.  The sign says that Bustle will be coming soon.  Does anyone know anything about this shop?  Send us info at tips@queenanneview.com.

Congratulations to Queen Anne resident Jean Sundborg, founder of the Uptown Alliance for her nomination for a 2008 Denny Awards for volunteer service. This award is given by Seattle Parks & Recreation for exemplary volunteer service.  Jean was nominated for her work on Counterbalance Park, an Urban Oasis.

The Uptown Alliance attained the siting and acquisition of land at the corner of Queen Anne Ave. N and Roy St. for the development of a new urban park in the heart of Uptown. This park was great collaborative effort between the city and private donors.  Seen here at night, the park, with its colorfully-lit walls, is enjoyed by all.

According to the Queen Anne News, Jean Sundborg has been a long-time activist who was inspired by her mother to do the work.

“My earliest models were my mom and dad,” said Sundborg, who explained that her parents were inveterate volunteers in PTAs and churches they attended as she grew up. “I was pre-programmed.”

18 members of the Seattle Mountaineers and their friends left the Magnolia Public Library on their 11.8-mile journey to seven libraries in one day. Call it an urban hike. The hikers walked at about 3 miles per hour and visited the libraries in Queen Anne, Fremont, Wallingford, Green Lake, Greenwood and Ballard.

At the Magnolia branch, the hikers got a special tour of the renovated library and had their Library Passports stamped. The goal is to get their passports stamped at each city library. Today’s hikers range in age from 24 up into their 70s (an 80-year-old has been on previous library hikes).

Did anyone get a photo when the hikers were at the QA Library?

The Queen Anne Helpline has lined up Giving Trees at various locations around Queen Anne.  The Trees will be set up the week before Thanksgiving at HomeStreet Bank, 5 Corners Hardware, Wells Fargo Bank and the First Free Methodist Church. 

There will be tags with children’s names and needs on each tree.  Wrapped gifts with the tags attached should be returned to the same giving tree by December 16th.  Gift Certificates are also great gifts.  The Children’s Christmas parry will be held on Saturday, December 20th at the Queen Anne Masonic Temple from 2:00 – 4:00  pm with Santa distributing the gifts.
Try to be generous in spite of the economic downturn!

The Giving Tree at 5 Corners Hardware had not yet been set up, but the tags are there!

Please show your support for McClure Middle School through purchases at Queen Anne Books during the Book Fair on November 23rd from 3:00 – 5:30 pm.  McClure’s spectacular librarian will fill a table with the school’s “Wish List.” If you buy a book from that table for the school, we will give you a 20% discount off the purchase price.

Anything you buy for yourselves during the book fair will be full price, but Queen Anne Books will donate 20% of your purchase price to McClure so the school can buy more books for its library. Everyone wins!

A couple weeks ago, the PhinneyWood newsblog had a post about a man who jumped from the Aurora Bridge and died. Now there’s word that the police officers’ actions would be subject to an inquest, in part because they tried to handcuff him to keep him from falling.

There’s a photo here of police talking to Derek Loso, 48, as he clung to the side of the bridge. Loso, who worked at KIRO TV, was married and had a young son. 

On a more positive note, another Seattle Police officer on his way home from work was recognized (but not named, oddly enough) for his role in saving a suicidal woman on the same bridge just three days after Loso’s death.