Halloween is almost here, and there are numerous ways to celebrate the spookiest of holidays on the hill tomorrow!

The Upper Queen Anne Merchants Association is putting on the annual trick-or-treat event. From 3-5 p.m. merchants along Queen Anne Ave N between Galer and McGraw will be handing out candy to kids in costume.

The Queen Anne Farmers Market is also back for a special “Pork & Gourds” Halloween market from 3 to 7 p.m. at Queen Anne Ave N and Crocket. The lineup includes a pumpkin pie contest at 4 p.m., a creative costume contest at 5:30, and a variety of vendors and mobile food options including Maximus Minimus, Skillet, Kaosamai Thai, Dante’s Inferno Dogs, Marination and Parfait Ice Cream. Enjoy tunes by The Blair Street Mugwumps from 3-5 p.m. and RedDog from 5-7 p.m., and many more surprises, including brand new “piekus” and seasonal spontaneous poetry by Evan Peterson.

Neighborhood coffee shop El Diablo, and Queen Anne Books will be handing out dum dums and Fireballs all day.

If you’re going to be down at the bottom of the hill tomorrow, and possibly forgot to get your Halloween candy in advance, you can swing by Whole Foods for free snacks, treats, and a contest to guess the weight of a giant pumpkin.

And if you’re going to be seeking your candy house-to-house, be sure to check out the spookiest homes on the hill. Queen Anne has been voted the #2 neighborhood in the city to trick-or-treating, after all! And if you don’t fill up on candy, be sure to stop by and say farewell to Opal Bistro, which will be closed as of Sunday, November 1.

Thanks to Thatgirlkelly for pointing out the superhero massacre on 11 Ave W and Dravus. This is definitely worth a look!

Happy Halloween! And remember, stay safe.

And if you’re not going to be in the neighborhood this weekend, check out some of the events going on in Ballard, Magnolia and Fremont, where they’re having “Trolloween” for the Fremont Troll’s 20th birthday!

On Sunday it will be time to “fall back” again, so don’t forget to set your clock back an hour when you go to bed on Saturday night after celebrating Halloween on the hill.

The Seattle Fire Department also suggests you replace the batteries in your smoke alarms when you change your clocks. Here’s why:

Most fire deaths happen in homes without working smoke alarms. The most commonly cited cause of nonworking smoke alarms: dead or missing batteries. In a home fire, a working smoke alarm can cut the risk of death by half.

The Seattle Fire Department can install smoke alarms and batteries free of charge in homes where the homeowner is either a senior citizen, living on a low income, or has a disability. If you live outside the city of Seattle, please contact your local Fire Department to request assistance.

Smoke alarm maintenance is one of the simplest methods of protecting your home and family from fires. For more information or to request assistance changing smoke alarms and batteries contact the Seattle Fire Department at (206) 386-1337.

Many Queen Anne residents and lucky passersby who wandered to the Upper Queen Anne Key Bank opening this afternoon were bought lunch on the bank.

For their grand opening celebration, the bank set up events outside their store and across the street in the Safeway parking lot, where they gave out $10 lunch vouchers to Hawaiian-Korean street vendor Marination Mobile, who was there exclusively for the event.

In front of the bank, at 2105 Queen Anne Ave. N., KUBE 93.3 and KJR 95.7 set up booths and were giving away bumper stickers and promotional prizes.

Inside the bank long lines of people enjoyed the Mariners Moose, while waiting to meet former Mariner Jay Buhner, who signed autographs to fans from 12 to 1 p.m.

The bank did all this as a promotion for their new branch on the top of the hill – a way of introducing themselves to the neighborhood.

“We’ve had a great turnout,” said Senior Relationship Manager and new Queen Anne resident Heather Cortez. “I’m down to my last bunch of tickets!”

Yesterday we posted information a reader provided about recent and frequent car prowls in the parking lot of the apartment complex where he lives. Over the last month there have been several reports of break-ins and robberies on the hill. Today we received an email from another reader reporting suspicious activity. Brian, who lives on the east side of the hill, witnessed two men in a parked car seemingly casing the neighborhood near Taylor Ave N and and Lee St. He writes,

I came home Thursday ~4:30 to find two unfamiliar men parked in my neighbor’s spot. They
backed out slowly and then crept down the alley, stopping frequently on the way out. My neighbor observed the same car, same behavior later that evening. I went for a walk shortly thereafter and found them parked on the next block, lighting up in their car. Needless to say, quite a pattern of suspicious behavior from people/car I don’t recognize from the neighborhood.

Brian called in the information, but has not yet heard back from the police. If you see anything suspicious going on, talk to your neighbors about it, find out if there’s a Block Watch program nearby, and if need be, contact Seattle Police Department Crime Prevention Officer Terrie Johnston at (206) 684-4741 or terrie.johnston@seattle.gov. Thanks to Brian for the tip!

Remember that new Key Bank that opened up on the top of the hill? Well, if you’re wandering Queen Anne Ave today then you’re in luck. The bank is throwing their official grand opening right now, until 2 p.m., “or until we run out of tickets,” an employee said.

The branch located at 2105 Queen Anne Ave. N. will be giving away free lunch tickets good for $10 at Marination Mobile, the famed Hawaiian-Korean fusion street food vendor. According to a branch employee, former Seattle Mariner Jay Buhner and the Mariner Moose will also be outside the bank signing autographs from 12 to 1 p.m.

The Seattle Police Department has put together a list of safety tips for parents whose children will be trick-or-treating tomorrow evening. Even though Queen Anne was voted the #2 neighborhood to collect Halloween loot in the city, you never can be too cautious. Here’s what they say:

• Don’t allow children go “Trick or treating” alone. An adult should accompany young children and make sure that all children carry a glow stick or flashlight and wear reflective clothing.

• Accompany young children to the door of every house they approach. Stay within sight of the door when opened.  Children should be cautioned to never enter a home without prior permission from their parents.

• Stay in familiar neighborhoods and only visit well-lighted homes that have their outdoor lights on.  Parents should be familiar with every house and with all people from which the children receive treats.

• Children should be cautioned never to approach any vehicle, occupied or not, unless they know the owner and are accompanied by a parent.

• All costumes and masks should be clearly marked as flame resistant. When using facemasks, make sure the child can see and breathe properly and easily.

• Don’t cut through yards, parks or alleys. Walk, don’t run, and stay on the sidewalks, cross only at intersections and crosswalks, not between cars.  Don’t forget to look both ways before crossing the street.

• Be sure to carry a flashlight with fresh batteries and make sure your child knows your phone number and address.   For children under 12, attach a tag with their name, address and phone number (including area code) to their clothes in case they get separated.  Older children who might be going out with friends should have a cell phone, mapped route and set a time to come home.

• Children should be cautioned to remember any suspicious incidents and report them to their parents, a trusted adult or the police.

• Children should be cautioned to run away immediately from people who try to lure them with special treats.  Children should be instructed to scream and make a scene if anyone tries to grab them or force them, in any way, to go with them.

• Don’t approach unknown animals or pets; they could be frightened by the costumes or strange noises.

• Parents should inspect all treats and dispose of anything that has been opened or has never been wrapped. The police should be notified if something has been tampered with.

Happy Halloween Queen Anne! Be safe.

With Halloween just two days away, I thought it time to pay tribute to some of the more decked-out homes on the hill. Here are some pics I snapped while driving around the neighborhood this afternoon:

This house has been in the Halloween holiday spirit since I was a kid!

My favorite part was always the crash scene.

Some houses transformed their front yards to graveyards for the occasion.

And others just couldn’t decide between a headstone garden and a giant spooky spider.

Thanks for getting into the Halloween spirit. I really must say, it almost makes me wish I was still young enough to trick-or-treat!

Update: Fire department spokeswoman Helen Fitzpatrick said the fire was caused by a bed that was pushed too close to a heater, causing damage estimated at $70,000 to $90,000 to the complex structure, and $20,000 to the unit. Thanks to PI police blogger Casey McNerthney.

There was a fire in an apartment complex at 2101 7th Ave W this afternoon. Six calls were made from 1:52 to 2:17 p.m., and at least six engines and several police vehicles responded to the scene.

According to firefighters on the scene, the fire originated in a single unit and was primarily contained to one room. The occupant of that unit, who was out at the time, returned after the fire department had arrived to find her bedroom had taken most of the damage. The occupant reported that she had not left the stove on, candles lit, or any other potentially hazardous materials unattended.

Although firefighters have not yet determined what caused the fire, they did verify that no one was hurt in the incident and that the scene is under control.

Yesterday, Wednesday, October 28, volunteers walked business-to-business in Uptown, giving out treats and asking owners and managers of local shops to support their “clean energy trick-or-treat” by taking two actions – displaying a sign, and signing a letter in support of clean energy legislation currently under consideration in the U.S. Senate.

Above volunteer Bonnie Frye Hemphill, right, and an Uptown business owner sign the letter to the Senators in front of the clean energy jobs sign displayed in Caffe Ladro’s front window. (Photo courtesy of Kristin Anderson at Climate Solutions).

The window signs read “We Support Clean Energy Jobs” and were placed in 30 stores throughout the neighborhood during the campaign yesterday. Of these businesses, 14 owners and managers also added their signatures to a letter urging passage of the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act to Washington State U.S. Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell.

This act would reduce global warming pollution 20 percent by the year 2020, while also investing in new renewable energy installations, setting a national renewable energy standard, strengthening energy efficiency laws and promoting research in new energy technologies. The U.S. Senate began hearings on the legislation this week, meanwhile the coalition letter has been passed around and signed by hundreds of businesses nationwide.

“It’s just so important that our Senators know that businesses right here in Washington want clean energy,” campaign volunteer Emily Dreisbach said in a press release. “It’s not just the big wind and solar companies. We all know this is urgent – for the economy and for the environment.”

Upper Queen Anne’s own Chocolopolis will be getting together with the folks at Chateau Ste. Michelle this Sunday to pair some of the finest chocolates and wines the city has to offer.

From 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, November 1, patrons will get to try five different chocolates, paired with five of the Chateau’s award-winning wines. Chocolopolis will be featuring chocolates from Claudio Corallo, Rogue Chocolatier, and Francois Pralus, alongside their own Fruit, Nut & Sea Salt bars and Madagascar truffles.

The cost is $25 for VRC members and $30 for non-members. For more information download the event information (.pdf), or visit the event page.

One of our readers, John, wrote in to report three recent car prowls in the seemingly secure parking lot of his east Queen Anne apartment building. He wrote,

I am a resident in the Domaine apartments that here on Queen Anne. I am writing you an email today to tip you off on some recent car prowls and thefts we have had in our “secure” garage.

In the past 10 days we have had 3 car break ins and one car stolen out of the garage. These people have been very professional as the cars were slim jimmed or lock picked to steal out items. There were no smashed windows.

My car was hit on early Monday morning and they stole all 4 rims and tires and put my suv on blocks.

Thought I would let you know. If you have heard more about this in the area, people should be aware to be on the look out and to keep any valuables with them.

How To Be A Good Barbie
By Madeleine Quinn

Kick off your plastic high heels.
Dump Ken.
Lay in bed with eyes open.
Stay away from the dog!
Take care of the baby.
Be a doctor for one day.
Be a fashion model the next.
Move to Sunny-Ville
a.k.a. the basement.
Don’t be mad at Sally for not being a good hair stylist.
Have a sleepover with Theresa.
Tell Ken to stop singing lame songs in front of the Barbie dream house.
Change the world of the Barbies.

When I first read Maddy Quinn’s poem, I had to remind myself that these were the words of an incredibly insightful and creative 11-year-old girl. Maddy, like most young girls her age, lives a normal life. She’s in 6th grade, and lives with her parents and younger sister – Chloe, 7, who loves to sing – in Lower Queen Anne, where they moved four years ago from New York. She speaks conversational French with her mother, who is from Paris. Her favorite subjects are history and reading, specifically about wars throughout history, the Great Depression and “troubled times,” which she says inspires her work when she writes. And though she does love writing, Maddy doesn’t do it often. She’s more interested in learning – soaking in the world around her.

Yet her poem caught the attention of her mother and writing instructor, Margot Case, who teaches youth creative writing workshops at the Hugo House in Capitol Hill. Last spring when Maddy was in 5th grade her mother, Nancy, signed her up for a writing class as an extracurricular activity. “It’s interesting that you can tell what children are inclined to be good at at such an early age,” Nancy said. “That’s why I originally enrolled her – and I didn’t think she wanted to go – but it worked out.” Maddy had never taken creative writing before.

“The theme of it [the class] was to save the world – what we can do to make it greater.” Maddy said. Margot would give the kids everything from one theme or image – clippings of her favorite comic was one exercise Maddy remembered enjoying particularly well – to prompt the kids’ projects. When Margot gave them an example from a poet who’d written about how to be a good writer, the idea popped into Maddy’s head.

“I was really thinking about it the night before when I was playing with my sister. We were playing Barbies,” she said. “I was kind of in the mood for urban, ’50s Barbies – I love vintage. I thought that was a great topic.” “To bring to life,” her mother added.

And even though this was her first stab at it, Maddy says she loved the experience and has since been finding ways to be creative with her work. “I loved the class. I think I’m going to do it again…I got really inspired. I just felt like I could do anything…being part of the artsy world,” she said. “In school I write little stories and be creative with my writing.”

Hugo House, a Seattle-based writing center/non-profit, is just one of many organizations that offer writing workshops for kids of all ages throughout the year. 826 Seattle, part of the national 826 Valencia writing center network, is another great non-profit that specialized in classes for kids.

And though there are many classes Maddy could take throughout the year, she prefers one season for creativity above all others. “I really like the spring workshop because it’s right when all the flowers are blooming. I love that time. It’s a new beginning, the spring,” she said.

Four times a year Whole Foods has a special event called 5% day, when each location donates 5 percent of their net sales to a 501c3 non-profit. Today the five Whole Foods in the Seattle Metropolitan area, including the new Interbay store, will be donating to Operation Frontline, a nutrition education program that teaches families how to create healthy and satisfying meals on a budget.

Operation Frontline is run by Solid Ground, an organization committed to helping provide equal opportunities within the Seattle community. Today, much of their work focuses on combating poverty, homelessness and hunger. Solid Ground is based out of the Wallingford neighborhood, and provides assistance to around 38,000 households in King County every year.

There have been numerous mayoral and city council candidate forums, debates and town meetings over the past few weeks in preparation for the upcoming election. And for those who can’t make it to these events SCAN, the Seattle Community Access Network, has put together and aired several interviews with city council and mayoral candidates that cover hot topics like the Viaduct replacement, education and the city’s budget, as well as neighborhood issues.

“All the major candidates were invited,” said SCAN’s Director of Development & Marketing Jamie Flaxman, who noted that not all were able to participate. According to Flaxman, SCAN is currently working with mayoral candidate Joe Mallahan’s campaign manager to find a time to interview him. “We are still trying to get Mr. Mallahan interviewed, but we haven’t yet gotten that scheduled,” she said.

At 10 p.m. tonight SCAN will air an interview with David Bloom, city council candidate for position 4, on channel 77. They will show an interview with Sally Bagshaw, also a candidate for position 4, at 10 p.m. on Thursday, October 29. SCAN has already aired interviews with city council candidates Jessie Israel (position 6), Mike O’Brien (position 8), Robert Rosencrantz (position 8), and mayoral candidate Mike McGinn. You can view all of these interviews on-demand on their website 24 hours after their original air time.

A month ago Chow Foods restaurants, including 5 Spot in Queen Anne, set out with a goal of raising $15,000 for Seattle’s Arts Corps. How? By challenging their customers to guess what the Dow will close at on Thursday, October 29, the 70th anniversary of Black Thursday. For a $1 suggested donation customers can give it a try, and the person who guesses closest to, but not above, the bell ringing number will win that amount in Chow Foods gift cards – amounting to, unless the market takes a turn for the worst, nearly $10,000! For example, if the Dow closes at 9952.42, then the winner will receive $9,952.42 in gift cards.

On Wednesday, October 28 night from 5 to 11 p.m. all menu items at 5 Spot (and the three other Chow Foods locales) will be priced at or below that day’s close, which means dishes will most likely be hovering right around $10. House wine, microbrews and well drinks will be priced at Nasdaq’s closing price. (All the rules here).

There are two public meetings tonight open to Queen Anne community members. The first is a Health Reform Town Hall with public officials from the 36th legislative delegation Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, Reps. Mary Lou Dickerson and Reuven Carlyle. The meeting will address current issues surrounding the health care debate with the chair of the Senate Health & Long-Term Care Committee, Sen. Karen Keiser, and the chair of the House Health Care & Wellness Committee, Rep. Eileen Cody, who will discuss the potential impact of federal health reform efforts on Washington residents. The meeting will be held at the Ballard Swedish Medical Center (5300 Tallman Ave.), Room A on the 1st Floor from 7-9 p.m. tonight.

The second meeting tonight is a Winter Weather Open House put on by the city and the Seattle Department of Transportation to discuss the new winter snow plan. The meeting will be held at the Queen Anne Community Center at 7 p.m. tonight, and is one of several open houses being held throughout the city. For details on tonight’s meeting click here. For a list of all the Winter Weather Open Houses in the area and further information on the new snow plan, click here. Download the Winter Weather snow map here (pdf).

Later this week there will be a meeting to discuss new plans for Queen Anne’s Old Hay, which will be reopening as part of the city’s new school attendance area boundary maps. Successful Schools in Action is hosting the meeting to discuss program options for Old Hay’s new K-5 programs (a Montessori “option school”), and a new name for the school on Thursday, October 29 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Catharine Blaine Elementary Library, located at 2550 34th Ave. W.

The United Indians of All Tribes will host a benefit concert at the Daybreak Star Cultural Center in Discovery Park this Friday, October 30 to raise awareness and funds for the upcoming 40th anniversary of United Indians in March 2010, the historic takeover of Ft. Lawton, and the creation of the cultural center.

Details on our sister site, Magnolia Voice.

There’s only five more hours to sign the petition the Friends of The Seattle Public Library has been working on to stop the city from cutting back funding and hours that would in affect close down 21 neighborhood branches around the city on Fridays and Sundays.

The group needs 318 more signatures by the end of tonight so that they can have the issue put on the City Council budget for the first meeting in November. Sign the petition on their Facebook page. You also can get involved by writing an email. Advocacy Chair Sarel Rowe wrote,

For neighbors who don’t have Facebook we’re still running another challenge that will be active through the first week of November. We need 500 emails to council in their budget@seattle.gov box. Right now we have 107. If you could support that goal we’d appreciate it. The email can be short: subject line-restore branch library hours. text-My name is ____. I use the ____ library. Please restore branch library hours.

Read more about the issue here.