Seattle Magazine’s 2009 Best Neighborhoods list just came out, and Queen Anne appropriately tops the list for hoods in the city.  Overall, 110 neighborhoods were ranked — city and suburbs separately — on criteria including home prices, return on investment, percentage of 4th graders who can pass the WASL, acres of parks, crime rates and commute times.  However, Seattle Magazine Editor Rachel Hart says that once you combine the two lists, the burbs win.  In fact, QA gets bumped down to #35, mostly because of affordability and lack of parks.  You can see the full list here or pick up the August issue on newsstands now.  Your thoughts?

The Queen Anne Farmers Market tomorrow (Thursday) is going to the dogs. You’re encouraged to bring your pooch for “Dog Day,” which will include music from Red Dog, an appearance by the Seattle Humane Society’s Max Mobile, dog photography and more. Check out the full schedule and this week’s fresh list from Julie Whitehorn on the Farmer’s Market website here.

Queen Anne residents can get free trees for their neighborhood, plus get a bonus fruit tree for their own yard, as part of the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods Tree Fund.  Under the Neighborhood Matching Fund program, the Tree Fund provides street trees to organized groups of neighbors who plant the free trees together to beautify their neighborhood.

The free “personal” apple or cherry tree is new this year as a way to increase the tree canopy and provide food for families.  For more information on the Tree Fund and to download an application, visit the city neighborhood website.  The deadline for applications is August 21.

A year after the completion of Counterbalance Park at the corner of Roy Street and Queen Anne Avenue, the Uptown Alliance organized its first Uptown Neighborhood Night Out.  Organizers said Tuesday night’s event was a perfect reason for building the park, as a place for people to congregate. 

“This is our front yard”, said Uptown Alliance President Jean Sundborg.

Passers-by took a gander at the free clothing exchange for adults and children.

A few Uptown restaurants took turns giving away free food.  A line formed for freshly made pad thai from Tup Tim Thai (above).  Athina Grill, Yummy Teriyaki and 10 Mercer also gave away grub.

The hand-churned ice cream also seemed to be a hit.

The crowd was entertained by a swashbuckling performance of “Ye Tragick Tale — Pyrates” from the Umbrella Theatre company.

Here are a couple more pictures from different Night Out gatherings around Queen Anne.


Do you have photos from your “Night Out” party?  Share them with us at tips@queenanneview.com.

Jim Nicholson, the teller at Key Bank on Lower Queen Anne who was fired for capturing a bank robber, appeared on NBC this morning. The interview (below) includes security video of Nicholson chasing the man out of the bank.

“If something goes wrong around me, I have to try to do what I can to make it right,” he told Ann Curry, adding that he would do it all over again.

Inspired by the success of the neighborhood forum in Ballard, we’ve just launched a neighborhood forum dedicated to Queen Anne. The goal is to create a constructive gathering place for Queen Anne residents to publicize events, find lost pets, promote garage sales, find volunteers or just talk about an neighborhood issue that’s important to you. You’ll need to register first (the temporary password will be emailed to you) and then you’re off and running. If you have any questions, please email us at tips@queenanneview.com.

Prices have been slashed at the luxurious 200 West Highland condo development, which has a spectacular view right across from Kerry Park. 

Only two units have sold since they went on the market in March, leaving 23 homes still up for grabs.  Prices have been cut — one unit has been reduced nearly a million dollars. Prices start at $950,000 and spike to just over $3 million.  During an open house on Sunday, we got a peek from inside.

This is the million dollar view from the penthouse level.  Actually, make that a $3.15 million view of Elliott Bay. Other units face downtown.

This is the view you can buy from one of the “cheaper” units. 

Two and three bedroom homes have floor plans that range from 1,500 to 2,800 square feet, and they feature large, open spaces with custom hardwood floors and stone slab countertops.  And have I mentioned the view?

Laredos Grill opens today in the space formerly occupied by Veil on the corner of Aloha and Taylor.

Owner Jose Betancourt created the menu with business partner Dave Brownell (who also owns The Ballroom in Fremont and Talarico’s in West Seattle).  Jose describes their Northern Mexican food as “cowboy-like” – very rustic and mesquite-grilled – not Tex-Mex.  He claims Carne Asada as their specialty.  Glancing at the menu, prices seem very affordable.  Platos Grandes entrees start at $8.50 and go up to $12.95.

For now, they’re only open for dinner starting at 4pm.  Beginning the third week of August they’ll offer brunch on Saturdays and Sundays.  Happy Hour is from 4-6pm Monday through Friday where food will be half off (no drink deals).  If you give Laredos a try, let us know what you think in the comments below… 

The Seattle Department of Transportation is closing two northbound lanes on the Aurora Bridge from 12:30-2 p.m. today (Monday).  The left and center lanes will be closed for emergency, temporary expansion joint repairs.  The right lane will stay open for traffic.

A good crowd gathered in the hot sun at Kerry Park this afternoon to watch the Blue Angels swoop through the air on Seafair Sunday.

The Angels kept their distance from Queen Anne for nearly the entire show.

But they flew by the Needle a couple times, and once, a single jet buzzed the neighborhood to “ooohs” and “aaahs” from the crowd.

For cool close-up photos, check out these and these on Flickr

If you made it over to Magnolia for Summerfest this weekend, Magnolia Voice has a ton of photos of all the fun, including the popular baby races.

And the big annual parade, of course.

When a man robbed the Key Bank on Queen Anne Ave. in Lower Queen Anne on Tuesday, he was in for a surprise. Instead of handing over the cash, the teller lunged at him, chased him for several blocks and captured him.

But two days later, the bank fired him. “My instincts kicked in,” Jim Nicholson told the Seattle Times, admitting he knew he violated the bank’s policy of complying with the bank robber’s demands to minimize the risk of violence. In this case, the robber was an unarmed transient with a lengthy criminal history.