Looking for something fun to do in the neighborhood this weekend? Check out Queen Anne’s weekend happenings:

• Join in one of the historic Olmsted walks on Saturday with an all-day 12-13 mile walk from Ballard (leaving from Aster Coffee at 5615 24th Ave. NW at 8:30 a.m.) to Queen Anne by way of Discovery Park, Magnolia Blvd, Kinnear Park, and Queen Anne Blvd. Details here.
• Pick your own lavender on Saturday and Sunday at the Interbay P-Patch’s U-Pick Lavender Sale. Swing by the garden, at 2451 15th Ave W, between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. either day. Cost is $3 for a small bunch and $5 for a large.
• Listen to some fun and quirky tunes by musical due “Team Andrew,” who will be swinging by El Diablo at 4 p.m. on Sunday to share their music, and meet with fans during the Seattle stop of their International Tour. Check out their “surreal hip hop” in this music video.

If you venture out of Queen Anne this weekend, keep in mind that traffic is going to be tight both coming and going due to the SDOT’s Mercer Street I-5 on and off ramp closure all weekend long. There are also quite a few special events taking place around town this weekend, including the Capitol Hill Block Party, Chinatown and West Seattle Parades, the Roosevelt Bull Moose Festival, the Swedish SummeRun, various Seafair related events, and quite a few more. Many of these events will mean lane closures, and all will cause higher traffic congestion, so watch out. Download SDOT’s full weekend traffic advisory here (.pdf).

Have you seen this Italian greyhound Andre?

His owners dropped off this sign at El Diablo on Queen Anne Avenue N this morning, according to the baristas. If you have seen Andre, please call 206-271-3604.

Poets on the Hill is having another famed open mic night tonight, at El Diable Coffee (1811 Queen Anne Ave N, Suite 101). Arrive at 6:15 to sign up for a turn in front the mic. Readings will begin at 6:30 p.m. Too much fun!

Maybe if you’re lucky, you’ll even get a little devil in your drink!

Do you speak in rhymes? Think in rhythm? Do you have a way with prose? Write lyrics? Keep it all tucked away in a journal never to be read aloud or shared? Feel like taking a plunge? Professional, amateur and self-proclaimed poets alike can share their work tonight, Tuesday, February 23 at El Diablo‘s open mic poetry night with Poets on the Hill. Readings will start at 6:30 p.m. Sign-ups begin at 6:15.

Outside of having the most sinful latte art around, El Diablo Coffee has another special treat for the New Year – live music. They just released their show schedule for the month, so I thought I’d pass it along. All performances start at 8 p.m. and end by 10 p.m.

Friday, January 8 – Brad Benefield

Saturday, January 9 – Jesse Turyski

Friday, January 15 – Jesse Turyski

Saturday, January 16 – Levi Said

Friday, January 22 – Joseph Olive

Friday, January 29 – Thomas Starks

This isn’t news, but it’s just so quintessential Queen Anne. And it’s Friday, so I thought I’d share a little fun. If there’s anything we can’t get enough of on the hill – or citywide, for that matter – it’s coffee shops. And although this is really a Seattle thing, I like to think we on Queen Ann have the best selection. And I don’t play favorites; I love all our Queen Anne coffee shops with the same fervor. I usually have to rotate just to keep it fair.

This morning, while at El Diablo, I was handed a soy mocha with a little devil on top (sticking his tongue out at me, I believe), and I thought to myself, now that’s worth saving.

But, alas, I drank him. Still, kudos to Queen Anne’s amazing baristas (or baristos, in this case?). Happy Friday!