Tini Bigs.

Chocolopolis on the Ave is selling truffles for cheap. You can get 20 percent off of 30 or more truffles through 12/31/2011, as a sort of New Year’s party idea of putting one at each place setting or arranging them on a platter for your friends to enjoy with champagne. Click here for more.

The Children’s Museum in Seattle Center is inviting families to join us on New Year’s Eve Day as we count down to the New Year – every hour! The Museum will celebrate the arrival of the New Year starting in New Delhi, India at 11 a.m., and working our way around the globe! Count down each hour as the New Year makes its way to Seattle!

Festivals of Light is an interactive exhibit designed to explore a variety of winter celebrations through the lens of a typical family celebration.  Each week, the exhibit allows children to walk into the dwelling of a family celebrating a festival, including their kitchen and living room, a family craft table and a reading space. Click here for more.

Paragon at 2125 Queen Anne Ave. N., is hosting a New Year’s Eve celebration with jazz and DJs. www.paragonseattle.com.

Wimmer Solutions presents New Year’s at the Needle SkyCity’s evening soirée starts at 8 p.m. with a five-course dinner followed by a champagne toast at midnight and dancing on the Observation Deck with music by STAR 101.5’s Curt Kruse until 2 a.m.
SkyCity Soirée: $250 per person (includes tax, gratuity & parking). The New Year’s Eve celebration on the Observation Deck kicks off at 9 p.m. and includes desserts and dancing on the Observation Deck, a champagne toast and fireworks display to welcome the New Year! 
Observation Deck Party: $100 (includes tax & gratuity)
(Parking at Fisher Plaza Parking garage can be reserved for an additional cost of $25) reservations: (206) 905-2100 / reservations@spaceneedle.com.

Tini Bigs and Hula Hula New Year’s Bash featuring the two bars and one cover, close to the Space Needle. Guests can watch the midnight fireworks display from just outside. Tini Bigs DJs will spin music. Hula Hula next door has classic tiki drinks, and karaoke with KJ Mikey. The first 200 advanced tickets are only $10 and allow ticket holders line privileges on New Year’s Eve. Tickets are available by calling Tini Bigs at (206) 284-5003 or stopping by after 4 p.m. through Dec. 30. Tickets will also be available on New Year’s Eve. Reserved seating is available for $300, which includes a table and four tickets. Food will be available at both venues. Tini Bigs at 106 First Ave. N., opens at 4 p.m., DJ starts at 9 p.m.; Hula Hula opens at 7:30 p.m., karaoke starts at 8 p.m.

Szmania’s in the Village: New Year’s Eve features steakhouse menu and holiday specials. Also, Bubble & Fondue package for 2-$60 www.szmanias.com.

Magnolia Village Pub, in the Village will have is multitude of TVs going and plenty of beer pouring through the evening.

Curbed, an online site for real estate goings-on, has put Queen Anne in the final four of its Curb Cup, a competition to see which neighborhood will be the neighborhood of the year. Queen Anne is facing off with Capitol Hill. Curbed has ranked Queen Anne as the underdog claiming a Queen Anne victory would be a “Cinderella story.” Click here to vote.

While the closure of Ototo Sushi has been rumored this past week, owner Takashi Ogawa, who has operated the popular sushi restaurant on the hill for 10 years, confirmed today that the restaurant is closing and its last day will be Saturday, Dec. 31. And landlord Sue Wanwig has confirmed that fellow tenant Enza, newly named Polpetta, will also shut down at the end of the year.

In an already  turbulent industry, Ogawa’s restaurant was further hit by the recession and, despite a loyal following of neighborhood customers, could no longer stay operational. Ogawa was paying $5,000 a month in rent and had been in lease negotations with Wandig to temporarily decrease the rent. The idea was considered but nothing came of it. Ogawa said by Dec. 1, he was a month late on rent and received a letter from Wanwig saying as much. The letter further requested he vacate by the end of December.

Ogawa has 10 employees. One, named Hutch, an experienced sushi maker, will pursue options elsewhere as Ogawa will not reopen in a new location.

The popular brick building at the southeast corner of West Boston Street and Queen Anne Avenue North has been in Wanwig’s family for decades. Wanwig has space for six tenants. Ground floor tenants included Ototo Sushi, The Teacup, Museum Quality Framing and Polpetta. The framing shop which is a chain in this region will stay, Wanwig said. Polpetta though, has been given notice to vacate by Saturday, too. The Teacup owner Elisabeth Knottingham had been negotiating her lease with Wanwig but to no avail. She too has employed as many as 10 and the tea shop will vacate by Dec. 31. Knottingham said she will sell tea online and might do some writing.

The timing of three stores closing their doors on the same day is coincidental and likely the result of the bad economy, Wanwig said. “We tried to keep them in as long as possible,” she said. “I’m not sure why everyone reached their breaking point at the same time.”

Wanwig has not listed the space and has no tenants set. But as the building is on a grade, there can be no consolidation of space. She said there are no plans for a large, single tenant to move in. She said she is willing to consider any tenant so long as the business isn’t a detraction to the neighborhood.

The tip jar at Le Reve Bakery, which was full of money a barista was counting on for Christmas money, was stolen Friday.
Just before closing time at the Bakery at 1805 Queen Anne Ave. N., a man in a knitted snow hat and dark-blue jacket with a Pabst Blue Ribbon logo on the back, snatched the tip jar. Unbeknownst to the man, the act was caught on video. Le Reve owner Andrea Nakata sent the video to Seattle Police.
Nakata reported that Emerald City Smoothie just up the street also had its tip jar stolen. Anyone with any information on the thefts should contact Ricardo Martinez of the Seattle police department. The non-emergency line is (206) 625-5011.

In a potential double dose of bad news following Friday’s report that The Teacup is closing, next-door neighbor Ototo Sushi, at 7 W. Boston St., may be shuttering its doors as well.
A reader, and regular customer at Ototo was speaking with the owner on Saturday and learned that the business may close because an agreement on a lease cannot be reached. The reader reports that the owner may relocate the restaurant.
The View will find out the facts as soon as possible.
And yes, as reported on Friday, The Teacup, owned by Elisabeth Knottingham, is closing at the end of the year. Knottingham. She too could not agree on lease terms with the landlord. Knottingham will keep the website operational and use it to continue selling tea online as she has for the 10 years she has owned the business.

The Teacup, a popular purveyor of tea on the hill, is closing Dec. 31.

For a couple of days now, readers and tea bloggers have been posting stories and sharing emails alluding to the sudden closure of the Teacup, the popular tea purveyor at Queen Anne’s caffein corner of West Boston Street and Queen Anne Avenue North. Elisabeth Knottingham took over the business about 10 years ago when it was located next door to Scott Cooper and Brian Benninck’s Blue Highway Games. Two years ago she moved into the corner location upon the departure of Tullys.

The View has since confirmed that the Teacup is closing. Its last day is Dec. 31. Staff learned of the decision a week ago. Knottingham plans to continue selling tea online, which has always been an integral part of her business.
“It’s both heartbreaking and heart-wrenching,” Knottingham said of the business’s closing. Her chief concern was with the welfare of her employees. She said some have already received job offers.
Knottingham had been negotiating lease terms with the landlord, but an agreement could not be met. Knottingham isn’t sure of her next move but with a background in physics and in nonfiction writing, she may venture in that direction again.

The following is a post from Mayor Mike McGinn’s blog:

The people of Seattle deserve a police force that fights crime in a way that is fair and equitable. We deserve a police force that is well trained and accountable for its actions. We deserve a police force that is respectful and professional in all areas, and worthy of the community’s trust. Meeting these demands requires a police department that is continually learning and improving, willing and able to implement reforms.

That means we must listen to criticism from everyone with a stake in the success of the Seattle Police Department. We have heard from the public and now the federal government that more must be done. We agree. Let us be very clear: we are committed to reform.

[Read more →]

Individual teaching artists, artist teams, arts and cultural organizations, and youth-service agencies with nonprofit status or fiscal sponsorship are now eligible to apply for up to $10,000 in city funding.

Seattle Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs is accepting project applications for its Youth Arts program, which supports after-school arts training in a variety of artistic disciplines, including visual and literary arts, theater, music, dance and film.

Youth Arts prioritizes youth or communities with limited or no access to the arts. Funding awards may range up to $10,000 for projects that will take place between September 2012 and September 2013.

The application deadline is 11 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012. For information, contact Irene Gómez at (206) 684-7310 or irene.gomez@seattle.gov. You can find the application by clicking here.

And if you don’t know much about he program, informational workshops are scheduled:

Program and Application Overview 
is 1:30-3:30 p.m., Monday, Jan. 9, at the Beacon Hill Branch, The Seattle Public Library, 2821 Beacon Ave. S

Schedule a 15-minute appointment with a project manager to receive feedback on your draft application. Advance registration is required. Contact Irene Gomez at irene.gomez@seattle.gov or (206) 684-7310. Space is limited.

Application Draft Review Session 1
is from 3-5 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 18, at Coyote Central, 2300 E. Cherry St.

Application Draft Review Session 2
is from 2-4 p.m., Monday, Jan. 30, at the Montlake branch of The Seattle Public Library, 2401 24th Ave. E.

Though the holiday season is upon us, now is when Little Leaguers should register for the 2012 Queen Anne little League season.

Players or parents need to go to www.qall.org and “Click to Register” to sign up for Baseball, Fast Pitch Softball or T-Ball. Any questions or requests for more information can be directed to qall@qall.org. Play ball!

Seattle Country Day School plans to expand and improve its gymnasium.

The independent school located at 2619 Fourth Ave. N., has submitted a proposal to renovate its gym and enlarge it by 870 square feet. The school wants to bump out a portion of the gym’s east wall to better accommodate tiered seating. There will also be added interior floor space on an expanded mezzanine.

The renovation includes a new lobby, toilet rooms and storage. There will also be new finishes, construction of a mezzanine with athletic offices, exercise room and mechanical room, and new mechanical units for heat and ventilation. The comment period on this project has ended. Any appeal must  be received by the city hearing examiner no later than Jan. 3.

Next week, between the two holiday weekends, Dec. 27 through 30, a Seattle Department of Transportation crew will make repairs to the two-lane N. Queen Anne Bridge.  During the work, which will take place between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day, the westbound lane will be closed to traffic. Flaggers will manage the flow of traffic on the one lane that will be open across the bridge.  Motorists may experience a slight delay through the work zone.

Meanwhile, the Seahawks play the red hot 49ers at 1 p.m.  this Saturday. Saturday is also the last full day of Christmas shopping and the combination of roadwork, the game and frantic shoppers may slow traffic.

A Queen Anne resident and View reader reported a possible scam in the neighborhood.

I just had my doorbell rung by a young girl (say 10?) asking for donations for some Catholic school. Foolishly I didn’t think the entire process through and gave her a few dollars. The girl was accompanied by an adult (whom I took to be here mother).  I didn’t catch the name of the school or the girl for that matter. Needless to say, it took about three minutes after they left to realize something wasn’t right – the child’s demeanor, the lack of information about what I was donating to “we don’t have a website yet…” and the receipt not containing any information (including a tax id#). A quick search revealed this: http://www.komonews.com/news/local/112977459.html - this description fits their MO to a tee. After reading that, I contacted the police and gave them a full description. The “sign up sheet” the child was carrying probably had about 20 names from QA addresses. I certainly hope I’m wrong about this.

–– John

If you recently experienced such as scam don’t hesitate to call the Seattle police.

Photo: Janet Wilson

Odds are you know somebody from the neighborhood who has taken the plunge. There are a handful of swimmers at the Aquatic Center who just might do it again at the 10th Annual Polar Bear Plunge at high noon, Jan. 1. at Matthews Beach, 9300 51st Ave. N.E.

If you want to participate, you have to get there by 11 a.m. to register and get a wrist band. There will be refreshments and a 2012 Official Patch of Courage for all those who immerse themselves neck-deep in the lake, which at last year’s plunge measured at an 41 degrees Fahrenheit. You can see some of last year’s action at

www.theofficialunofficialpolarbearplunge.blogspot.com

Photo: Northwest Boys Choir

Kids from all over Seattle’s neighborhoods, including Fletcher Anderson, 11, and Drew Medak, 18, of Queen Anne, are participating in this year’s Northwest Boychoir’s A Festival of Lessons & Carols.
Performances by the 90-member group take place at locations all over Seattle including a Sunday, Dec. 18 performance in Ballard and a final show Wednesday, Dec. 21 at Benaroya Hall.
Each performance, guided the choir’s music director Joseph Crnko, also a Queen Anne resident, consists of nine holiday readings, each followed by a traditional carol performed by the choir, and another carol sung by the choir and audience.
The Ballard performance is at 7 p.m., Sunday Dec. 18, at St. Alphonsus Church at 5816 15th Ave. N.W. Tickets are $24 adult, $19 senior, $14 student. The closing show is at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 21, at Benaroya Hall at 200 University St. You can reserve tickets by calling 206-215-4747 or by visiting www.seattlesymphony.org.

Queen Anne resident Jim Fielder died in a house fire on Friday.

Updated:

A faulty extension cord is blamed for a fire that destroyed a home at 18 W. Dravus St., and took one life, according a source close to the matter, and which was confirmed by the Seattle Fire Department.

The home was owned by Jim Fielder, a retired teacher, former screenwriter and novelist who had lived in Queen Anne most of his life. Fielder, according to his ex-wife, was asleep on his side in the bedroom on the second floor when the faulty extension cord ignited. He was 68.

Fielder’s cousin, Mar Hyde, who also lives in Queen Anne, is overseeing the interment process. She said Fielder will be cremated and his ashes will be distributed in an undisclosed location.

One of Fielder’s favorite places was The Mecca Cafe in lower Queen Anne. Hyde said she is planning a wake/memorial for Fielder some time in February. Donations for the memorial and for the cost of an obituary in The Seattle Times, would be appreciated. Anyone who would like to donate or volunteer at the event should contact Hyde at 206-282-8082 or write her at:

Mar Hyde
126 W. Florentia St.
Seattle, Wa. 98119.

OK, we’re nowhere near Easter, but this is Grace and she’s ready for adoption at the Seattle Animal Shelter. She has a sweet attitude, is good with her litter box and loves her veggies. She will need a litter box, some toys, hay, fresh vegetables and some pellet food – oh and a bowl of water.
The Seattle Animal Shelter is at 2061 15th Ave. W. and is open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. Come by or call 206-386-PETS if you’re interested.

Veteran actor Gary Oldman (right) was in lower Queen Anne last night promoting his film "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy," which debuted at SIFF at the Uptown, the former Uptown Theater.

A spry and gracious Gary Oldman, 53, jogged down the main aisle at the Uptown Theater last night and warmly thanked the packed house where his latest film, the John Le Carré spy thriller “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy,” debuted.
Before Oldman came out, the crowd was treated to a montage of his film work, which included 1986’s “Sid and Nancy,” which made him famous. More recently Oldman has played the part of Commissioner Gordon in Christopher Nolan’s Batman series. The third installment of which is in post-production and will be released next summer.
After the montage, SIFF staff announced his name and he came down the aisle wearing a black velvet suit, lavender shirt with dark tie and semi-transparent glasses. He was met with a standing ovation. He thanked moviegoers in general, then more specifically the volunteers, supporters and philanthropists for supporting film and theaters such as the Uptown – which up until five months ago had shut down. This summer SIFF came along and reopened it.
“Without you,” Oldman said, “We wouldn’t have movie theaters or film.”
Then he was presented with a glass sculpture created by Seattle’s own Dale Chihuly, who was in the audience. Oldman looked at the sculpture and said, “This is just stunning.”
Oldman is known for his sometimes eccentric take on roles, such as the nihilistic Sid Vicious in “Sid and Nancy,” the floating title character in “Dracula” and the cloudy-eyed Drexl Spivey in “True Romance.” But in “Tinker,” Oldman is subdued and refined as an upper-echelon veteran in the British Secret Intelligence Service. Asked if playing such a quiet-minded character was harder than a role with more physical and emotional extremes, Oldman replied, “Each role you play sets up its own hurdles.”
Oldman took more questions from the audience before heading to Ballard’s Volterra restaurant where he was to dine with moviegoers who paid for the privilege as part of the SIFF program.