Daily news blog for Seattle's Queen Anne neighborhood

 

At the Queen Anne & Interbay farmers markets

August 25th, 2011 by Thea

The late summer heat has arrived just in time for Queen Anne Farmers Market and Interbay Farmers Market today. Get out there in that 80 degree sunshine and enjoy the fresh eats that both markets have to offer, because they’ll be plenty of cooler market days in store before the season concludes, but our sunny days are most certainly numbered.

At the Queen Anne Farmers Market today:

  • 4 p.m. – Cooking Demo with Artemio Diaz, the head chef La Luna, who will be cooking up some of the restaurant’s Mexican favorites
  • 5 to 7 p.m. – Live Music by Hank Bradley and Cathie Whitesides, two of Seattle’s finest folk musicians, specializing in Greek music, old-time fiddle, contra dance music, Irish fiddle and more
  • Check out what’s fresh at the market this week here
* FreshBoard art by Maggie Cuevas

At the Interbay Farmers Market today:

  • 4 to 5 p.m. – Cooking Demonstration with Chef Ethan Stowell
  • Check out what’s fresh at the Interbay market this week here

As always the Queen Anne Farmers Market will take place from 3 to 7:30 p.m. at W Crockett Street and Queen Anne Ave N. The Interbay Farmers Market will take place from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Interbay Urban Center, located at 1819 15th Ave. W.

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At the Queen Anne and Interbay farmers markets

August 18th, 2011 by Thea

At the Queen Anne Farmers Market this week:

  • 3:30 to 4:40 p.m. – Young Yogi Kids’ class on the grass: In a playful manner, the session will blend yoga games, exploration of poses, stories, music, animated breathing exercises and magical meditation into an inspiring and replenishing thematic experience, so your children can investigate the sensations of body, mind, and spirit. The class will be taught by popular Haute Yoga instructor Silvia Mordini, Kids’ Yoga Instructor Angie Wilkins, and Jacob Young. Children of all ages are welcome at this complementary yoga class.
  • 4 p.m. – Chef Demo with Ethan Stowell, of How to Cook A Wolf, Tavolata, Anchovies & Olives, and Staple & Fancy.
  • 5 p.m. – Live music with Cort Armstrong and his sweet banjo tunes
  • 5:30 p.m. – Kids Cooking Demo with nutritional therapist Stephanie Vuolo and Chef Rachel
  • Check out what’s fresh at QAFM this week here

At the Interbay Farmers Market this week:

  • There are no cooking demos scheduled for the Interbay Farmers Market this week, but you can check out what will be fresh at the market here

As always the Queen Anne Farmers Market will take place from 3 to 7:30 p.m. at W Crockett Street and Queen Anne Ave N. The Interbay Farmers Market will take place from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Interbay Urban Center, located at 1819 15th Ave. W.

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At the Queen Anne & Interbay farmers markets

August 11th, 2011 by Thea

Check out the happenings at the Queen Anne Farmers Market and Interbay Farmers Market today.

At the Queen Anne Farmers Market:

  • 4 p.m. – Chef Demo with Metropolitan Market Chef Amy Pinkis, who will be teaching market goers how to make fresh mozzarella (and later, homemade ricotta), and how to concoct delicious dishes that highlight the fresh-made cheese
  • 4 p.m. – Kid’s Mozzarella Pull
  • 5 p.m. – Live Music with returning market favorite The Canote Brothers (be sure to bring your dancing shoes!)
  • 5:30 p.m. – Chef Demo part two with Met Market’s Amy Pinkis, this time teaching market goers how to make their own homemade ricotta cheese and integrate it into interesting recipes
  • 5:30 p.m. – Book Signing with Keren Brown, of Frantic Foodie, and the author of “The Food Lovers Guide to Seattle” (sponsored by Queen Anne Books)
  • Check out what’s fresh at the market this week here

At the Interbay Farmers Market:

As always the Queen Anne Farmers Market will take place from 3 to 7:30 p.m. at W Crockett Street and Queen Anne Ave N. The Interbay Farmers Market will take place from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Interbay Urban Center, located at 1819 15th Ave. W.

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At the Queen Anne & Interbay farmers markets

August 4th, 2011 by Thea

Check out the lineup at the Queen Anne Farmers Market and Interbay Farmers Market today.

Queen Anne Farmers Market:

  • 4 p.m. – Chef Demo with Rebecca Cameron from POP Kitchen + Bar, a new restaurant that just opened at the EMP. Chef Cameron will bring shades of her American-food menu to the market, as well as the restaurant’s focus on local ingredients.
  • 5 p.m. – Kids Cooking Demo with Greg Johnson from Chef and Father. Greg is known for teaching families how to cook fresh, organic, real food without spending all day in the kitchen. He visited us last summer and is back by popular demand.
  • 5:30 p.m. – Live Music at the world premier of local supergroup Squid Monks, featuring members of the Buckets.
  • Check out what’s fresh at the QA Farmers Market this week here.

Interbay Farmers Market:

  • 4 p.m. – Cooking Demonstration with Chef Peter Levin of the Waterfront Seafood Grill
  • Check out what’s fresh at the Interbay Farmers Market this week here.

As always the Queen Anne Farmers Market will take place from 3 to 7:30 p.m. at W Crockett Street and Queen Anne Ave N. The Interbay Farmers Market will take place from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Interbay Urban Center, located at 1819 15th Ave. W.

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At the Queen Anne & Interbay farmers markets

July 28th, 2011 by Thea

Vendors, musicians and food lovers will be out in full force at both the Queen Anne Farmers Market and Interbay Farmers Market this afternoon. Check out what’s on the schedule for both neighborhood markets today.

At the Queen Anne Farmers Market:

  • 4 p.m. – In the Chef Tent: Chef Jess Dowdell, of Whidbey Island’s ca’buni cafe, a treasure tucked in the woods outside Langley, Wa.
  • 5 to 7 p.m. – In the Music Tent: Jam out with the Canote Brothers. Brothers Greg and Jere play American Roots music with a little quirk! Fiddle and guitar, and a pair of great voices!
  • 6 p.m. – End of Crockett Street: Market SURPRISE!
  • Check out what’s fresh at the market this week here.

At the Interbay Farmers Market:

  • There is no cooking demonstration at the Interbay market today, but they’ll be plenty going on and lots of fresh eats!
  • Check out what’s fresh at the market this week here.

As always the Queen Anne Farmers Market will take place from 3 to 7:30 p.m. at W Crockett Street and Queen Anne Ave N. The Interbay Farmers Market will take place from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Interbay Urban Center, located at 1819 15th Ave. W.

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At the Queen Anne & Interbay farmers markets

July 21st, 2011 by Thea

Check out what’s in store at the Queen Anne Farmers Market and Interbay Farmers Market this week.

At the Queen Anne Farmers Market:

  • 4 p.m. – At the Chef Tent: Chef demo with Matt Fortner, chef de cuisine at How To Cook A Wolf (Read Leslie Kelly’s 3-part interview with Matt at Grillaxin)
  • 5 to 7 p.m. – At the Music Tent: Live music by Squirrel Butter, an old-time variety duet by Charlie Beck and Charmaine “Lady Li-Lei” Slaven (Appalachian, early country, jugband and blues with banjo, fiddle, guitar, and Lady Li-Lei’s amazing dancing feet!)
  • 5 to 7 p.m. – At the Talent Show Stage: Queen Anne Performing Arts hosts “Queen Anne’s Got Talent!”, a show featuring young and old from right here on the hill
  • 5:30 p.m. – At the Chef Tent: Kids Cooking event with Executive Chef Anthony and Head Chef Natalie of 5 Spot
  • Check out what’s fresh at the Queen Anne market this week

At the Interbay Farmers Market:

As always the Queen Anne Farmers Market will take place from 3 to 7:30 p.m. at W Crockett Street and Queen Anne Ave N. The Interbay Farmers Market will take place from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Interbay Urban Center, located at 1819 15th Ave. W.

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At the Queen Anne & Interbay farmers markets

July 14th, 2011 by Thea

The Queen Anne and Interbay farmers markets will be full of festive food-related activities this afternoon at their respective locations. Let’s just hope it doesn’t rain! Check out the schedules for both market below.

At the Queen Anne Farmers Market:

At the Interbay Farmers Market:

As always the Queen Anne Farmers Market will take place from 3 to 7:30 p.m. at W Crockett Street and Queen Anne Ave N. The Interbay Farmers Market will take place from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Interbay Urban Center, located at 1819 15th Ave. W.

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At the Queen Anne & Interbay farmers markets

July 7th, 2011 by Thea

Check out what’s happening at our two neighborhood farmers markets this week.

At the Queen Anne Farmers Market:

  • 4 p.m. – Cooking demonstration with Seif Chirchi from Joule and Revel
  • 5:15 p.m. – Local knife sharpener Donna Gerhart shares tips on knives and knife care
  • 5:30 p.m. – Knife skills demonstration with Noah from Wild Salmon Seafood Market who will demonstrate how to fillet a whole salmon, then provide cooking tips and show how to grill fish
  • 5 to 7 p.m. – Musical performance by award-winning virtuoso guitarist Andre Feriante, with his bold but fluid musical fusion, featuring music from Bach to Leonard Cohen, flamenco improvisation to jazz standards, and even poetry by Federico Garcia Lorca, Rumi and Feriante himself
  • Check what’s fresh at the market this week here

At the Interbay Farmers Market:

  • 4 to 5 p.m. – Cooking demonstration with Chef Tara Ayers of Ocho
  • Check what’s fresh at the market this week here

As always the Queen Anne Farmers Market is happening from 3 to 7:30 p.m. at W Crockett Street and Queen Anne Ave N. The Interbay Farmers Market is taking place from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Interbay Urban Center, located at 1819 15th Ave. W.

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QAFM, living mural & coloring contest winners

July 1st, 2011 by Thea

At the Queen Anne View booth at the Queen Anne Farmers Market yesterday tons of neighbors joined in the fun and shared what they love most about our community–creating a living mural of Queen Anne.

Some of the more popular favorite things included the friendly, close community, the local parks, and Menchie’s (which appeared on the mural not once or twice, but three times).

We also conducted a Queen Anne Farmers Market themed coloring contest, and over 50 kids participated–many from the community, but some visiting from as far away as China! While all of the drawings were absolutely beautiful, after careful consideration we’ve selected four stellar winners. The prize: having their original artwork published right here for the whole community to enjoy.

So without further ado we would like to commend our four winners, in order of youngest to oldest (but equal in awesomeness).

Logan, age 5, whose family lives in Green Lake but loves visiting Queen Anne and the farmers market!

Maya, age 6 (and a half), and her younger sister Stella, both Queen Anne-ers.

Celia, age 7, also from Queen Anne.

And last but certainly not least, Hannah, also age 7.

Congratulations to our winners and thanks to everyone who came by to say hello at the market on Thursday. Hope you all enjoy the sunshine here on the hill this weekend!

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At the Queen Anne and Interbay farmers markets

June 30th, 2011 by Thea

The weather report calls for rain, but let’s hope it stays off long enough for the festivities at the Queen Anne Farmers Market and Interbay Farmers Market today. Check out the schedules for both neighborhood markets below.

At the Queen Anne Farmers Market:

  • 3 to 7:30 p.m. – At the Info Tent: Join the kids market treasure hunt, and sign up for the QAFM email list and enoy free veggie seeds!
  • 4 p.m. – Chef Kaspar Donier from Kaspar’s Special Events & Catering will dazzle the market with his mixed greens, market vegetables and savory granola tossed with assorted dressings and topped with Mt Townsend Truffle Fromage Blanc and Pound Cake with macerated berries!
  • 4:30 p.m. – The Queen Anne Performing Arts Market Singers return, this time under the big tree, to sing more favorites! 5 p.m. – The Peterka Family Band will entertain all with Old Time, Folk, Blues and much more!
  • 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. – I will be at the market representing Queen Anne View. Swing by to say hello, find out more about the site, add your favorite thing about Queen Anne to a living mural of and by the community, or enter the kids coloring contest.
  1. Say cheese! Everyone is invited to take an instant picture and help build a living mural of the Queen Anne community.
  2. Get ready, get set, grab your crayons and color! Kids can also enter a coloring contest by drawing what they love about the farmers market. They’ll be candy, crayons, and the winning drawings (chosen by market staffers) will be published on Queen Anne View! Judging begins at 7 p.m., so swing by from 3 to 6:45 p.m. to enter.

At the Interbay Farmers Market:

  • As of 1 p.m. today the Interbay Farmers Market has not yet posted its schedule for today – check back on the website or Facebook page for details closer to the market start time.

As always the Queen Anne Farmers Market is held from 3 to 7:30 p.m. at Queen Anne Ave N and W Crockett. The Interbay Farmers market is held from 3 to 7 p.m. in the Interbay Whole Foods parking lot on 15th.

*Disclosure: Queen Anne View is a sponsor of the Queen Anne Farmers Market.

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At the Queen Anne & Interbay farmers markets

June 23rd, 2011 by Thea

It’s that time of the week again – both the Queen Anne Farmers Market and brand new Interbay Farmers Market have a bunch of food-centric events planned for their respective markets today. Check out the highlights below.

At the Queen Anne Farmers Market today:

  • 4 p.m. – Chef Demo with Jon Rowley (in the Chef Tent)
  • 4 p.m. – Live music by Cort Armstrong (in the Music Tent)
  • 4 to 7:30 p.m. – Kids market treasure hunt (at the Info Tent)
  • Check out recipes from chef demos in prior weeks here.

At the Interbay Farmers Market today:

As always the Queen Anne Farmers Market will be happening from 3 to 7:30 p.m. at W Crockett Street and Queen Anne Ave N. The Interbay Farmers Market will be happening from 3 to 7 p.m. in the Interbay Whole Foods parking lot on 15th Ave.

* Queen Anne Farmers Market FreshBoard image by Maggie Cuevas

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At the Queen Anne & Interbay farmers markets

June 16th, 2011 by Thea

Both the Queen Anne Farmers Market and the Interbay Farmers Market have a full docket of foodie events happening this afternoon. Check out the lineup for each below.

At the Queen Anne Farmers Market today:

  • 4 p.m. – Chef Demo with Siri Erickson-Brown & Jason Salvo of Local Roots Farm
  • 4 to 4:30 p.m. – Local kids from the Queen Anne Performing Arts Market Singers will perform summertime favorites
  • 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. – Returning to the market, Vince Martinez & The Great Blue Yonder
  • 5:30 p.m. – Kid’s Cooking Class: It’s sushi making with Patrick Rico of Rico’s Sushi Party!
  • 5:45 to 7 p.m. – Blvd Park Americana and Folk
* FreshBoard art by Maggie Cuevas
At the Interbay Farmers Market today:
  • 4 p.m. – Cooking demonstration with Chef Dan Osser, from Interbay Whole Foods Market’s Meat Department
  • Also at the market this week: doggies, edible flowers, kimchi and much more.

The Queen Anne Farmers Market will be happening from 3 to 7:30 p.m. at W Crockett Street and Queen Anne Ave N. The Interbay Farmers Market will be happening from 3 to 7 p.m. in the Interbay Whole Foods parking lot on 15th Ave.

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At the Queen Anne Farmers Market today

June 9th, 2011 by Thea

After a great season opening last week, the Queen Anne Farmers Market will be back in action at W Crockett Street from 3 to 7:30 p.m. today, Thursday, June 9.

Photo by Laura Levy, courtesy of the Queen Anne Farmers Market.

In addition the the long list fresh items and vendors available at the market each week, there will be a chef demo with Vuong Loc of Queen Anne’s Portage Restaurant and Madrona’s June at 4 p.m. in the chef tent. From the QAFM website:

Chef Loc moved to Seattle in 2006 after working all over the country from New York to Hawaii. With an approach to cooking that centers on simple preparations with refined craftsmanship and a commitment to sourcing only outstanding product, we can’t wait to see what he prepares after a shopping trip at the market.

At 5 p.m. there will be live music courtesy of vocalist and guitarist Beth Whitney.

As if the live music, chef demos, and all around food-centric festivities at the market weren’t enough, Charley+May owner Lauren Formicola will be holding an After Market Wine Tasting from 6 to 9 p.m. every Thursday at her shop, located at 2225 Queen Anne Ave N, until the end of the Queen Anne Farmers Market season.

Check out more photos from opening day at the Queen Anne Farmers Market Facebook page. For more information on the market and its week-to-week events, check out the new QAFM website.

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Interbay Farmers Market opens today

June 9th, 2011 by Thea

The new Interbay Farmers Market will be opening today, Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m. (during our own Queen Anne Farmers Market from 3 to 7:30 p.m.) in the Whole Foods parking lot on 15th Ave West.  Although the market is new to Interbay, which we first reported on last month, the market itself is in its second season – organizers decided to move it from its first home at the Olympic Sculpture Park where it was located last summer to Interbay for following seasons. It will be held at the same time and place every Thursday through October.

Expect lots of vendors and fresh fruits and vegetables at the market opening today, which will feature a cooking demonstration by Chef Brandon Kirksey of Tavolata.

You can get all the latest news about what’s available at the Interbay Farmer’s Market at its website.

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Queen Anne Farmers Market season opens today

June 2nd, 2011 by Thea

Blue skies arrived just in time for the opening of the Queen Anne Farmers Market, which kicks off its 5th season from 3 to 7:30 p.m. today, Thursday, June 2 at W Crockett Street and Queen Anne Ave N. (Watch out for drizzle though – despite the fact that it’s June, rain is still in the forecast for today).

Rain or shine the market will be bustling with over 40 farmers and food vendors, adult and kids cooking demonstrations, and live music.

Check out what’s on the schedule for Opening Day:

  • 3 p.m. – Live Music: Mariachi Monarcas of Seattle, sponsored by Umpqua Bank;
  • Welcome – George Counts, M.D., Market Founder & Secretary, QANRG;
  • John Hay Elementary Chorus;
  • Remarks by: Richard Conlin, Seattle City Council President, Senator Jeanne Kohl Welles, and Representative Reuven Carlyle
  • 4 p.m. – Market musician: Vincent Mtz & the Great Blue Yonder
  • 4 p.m. – Chef Demo: Seth Caswell, Emmer & Rye
  • 5:30 p.m. – Kids Cooking Class

In addition to the market’s popular returning vendors, a number of ready-made food trucks will also be swinging by, including the ever popular Parfait artisan ice cream, Anita’s Crepes, Maximum/Minimus, and a few new ones including Seattle Salads (fresh salads and wraps) and Where Ya At Matt? (Creole soul food). Check out the full list of vendors this year here.

Looking to stock with fresh eats at the market today? Here’s what’s fresh at the market this week: asparagus, spinach, spring greens, peonies, red rhubarb, organic herbs, and more.

Season sponsors include Metropolitan Market; Umpqua
Bank; Rene Stern, Windermere Real Estate; and HomeStreet Bank.

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Queen Anne Farmers Market 2011 season prepares to kick off next week, under new management

May 26th, 2011 by Thea

Even with the sparse rain drops falling sporadically around town today, it seems spring has finally arrived, and with that comes, at long last, the opening of the Queen Anne Farmers Market season, which will kick off just one week from today, on Thursday June 2 until Thursday, October 6.

The market, which has always been under the wing of Queen Anne Neighbors for Responsible Growth (QANRG), is under new management this year after a disagreement arose between the QANRG and the market’s former director Julie Whitehorn, who has managed the market for the past two years. After many months of uncertainty, Whitehorn and the QANRG were unable to resolve the dispute and opted instead to go their separate ways rather than see the market suffer. Read Whitehorn’s resignation letter here (.pdf), and the QANRG’s press release introducing the market’s new staff team here (.pdf).

Still despite the changing of the guard, QANRG says the market will maintain many of the same staff members, volunteers and vendors from prior seasons, keeping consistent with the community that has grown around the market over the last four years.

“This year’s market builds on a successful 2010 season that saw customer attendance increase by 94 percent and the growth of a dynamic vendor roster of 64 farmers and prepared food vendors. In its fifth year as the fiscal sponsor, QANRG remains steadfastly committed to creating a sustainable market that can continue to serve the community for years to come,” QANRG President Scott Smith said in a statement released last month.

The market’s new manager, Jamie Collado, brings with her more than nine years of experience working in the local food scene managing restaurant operations, and has a particular interest in health and nutrition. While completing her preceptorship with Seattle Nutrition Action Consortium, Seattle and King County Public Health, she taught healthy eating classes for local teens, putting her undergraduate and graduate education in nutrition and exercise to work.

In addition to adding some new faces, this year’s market will also report to the QAFM Steering Committee, a group made up of former market staff, volunteers, and community members who will be charged with the task of overseeing market operations, community outreach and planning for the market’s long-term sustainability. (Read more about the steering committee in the QANRG press release linked above).

The new market also has a brand new website to match, but ther than that, very little will be changing at the market itself. Held at its usual spot on West Crockett Street between Queen Anne Ave N and 1st Ave W, the market will be extending its hours by a half-hour, going from 3 to 7:30 p.m. instead of 7 p.m. every Thursday through October 6. And each week the market will still be packed with great local vendors, live music, cooking demos, book signings, and more fun events. Check out the list of vendors scheduled to appear at the market this year here.

Want to get involved in the QAFM? Information on how to become a market sponsor by making a tex-deductible donation can be found here.

The QAFM is also still looking for volunteers for the upcoming season for everything from staffing the information table, to donating professional services such as web design or photography. If you’ve got a skill you’d like to share with the market, or would simply like to donate your time, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Kelly Decker at 206-854-0143 or YouMakeQAFMGreat@qafma.net.

We’ll give you the sneak peek at what’s on the agenda for the market’s grand opening next week, but in the meantime don’t forget to ‘like’ the market on its new Facebook page, and follow it on its new Twitter account.

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New weekday farmers market coming to Interbay

May 18th, 2011 by Geeky Swedes

A new, weekday farmers market is getting ready to open for the summer in the parking lot of Whole Foods (2001 15th Ave W).

The Seattle Farmers Market Association, which includes the popular Ballard Sunday Farmers Market has teamed up with Whole Foods to make this happen. “SFMA believes that this type of business partnership will allow the farmers market to become more sustainable while providing a rich experience for the entire community,” according to the press release.

The hope is to start with 30 vendors and expand to 40 or more during peak harvest season. The market will run from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursdays starting June 9th, timed for commuters heading home from work. This is the same time slot as the Queen Anne Farmers Market, which will be running from 3 to 7:30 p.m. every Thursday from June 2 to October 6 at the corner of W Crockett Street and Queen Anne Ave N.

“This new farmers market will provide the best of both worlds for convenient midweek shopping, fresh picked seasonal produce from local farms and food producers, and the in-depth selection of the Whole Foods Market experience,” the press release states.

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QACC meeting welcomes SDOT; Queen Anne Farmers Market leadership discussed

April 8th, 2011 by Jesus Chavez

The April Queen Anne Community Council meeting was well engaged in transportation matters Wednesday night with two presentations by representatives of SDOT and WSDOT.

SDOT Project Manager Eric Tweit gave an overview of the West Mercer Place alternatives that arose in response to problems some Uptown residents have with the Mercer West Project. He mentioned that this had become an issue because of the concerns of the community regarding increased traffic and the lack of pedestrian and bike crossings. The illustrations of alternative No. 1 and No. 2 can be seen here, No. 3 and No. 4 can be seen here, and Elliot Avenue West left-turn lane extension with the alternatives summary can be seen here.

Tweit said that since SDOT’s West Mercer Place open house they’ve been presenting the alternatives to different community groups and will continue to do so through the end of this month. In May, they will make a recommendation to the mayor who will ultimately decide what improvements, if any, will be included in the Mercer West Project.

He cautioned that the $100 million budget for the Mercer West Project doesn’t include the alternatives that are being considered, and the money for any improvement would add to the budget. This new budget would then be subject to a budget submittal process next fall for the Seattle City Council to approve.

During the question portion, residents of West Mercer Place commented on the lack of crosswalks and the effects the increased traffic has had and will have on West Mercer Place.

“I think that one neighborhood is being impacted and taking the hit on this Mercer Street Corridor,” said Freeburg. “The whole area is being devastated by this plan.”

The effects of the Nickerson Street road diet on traffic through West Mercer Place were also discussed at length. Councilmember Marty Kaplan asked Tweit if it was possible to end the road diet for the sake of alleviating some of the traffic through Lower Queen Anne.

“As far as I know, and from what I’ve heard from my director as well, it’s just paint on Nickerson, and the cost to changing it is a lot less than rebuilding the street,” replied Tweit. “That is and always will be an option … West Mercer Place conditions could play into that.”

Mike Rigsby, a consultant working for the Washington Department of Transportation, was also there to discuss the latest developments of the Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement Program. The information presented can be seen via their website.

An update on the Queen Anne Farmers Market was given by Julie Whitehorn after the SDOT presentation, which was concluded with a tense exchange between Whitehorn and councilmember Michael Lapin.

The position of manager for the Queen Anne Farmers Market, held by Whitehorn since 2009, has been uncertain as Whitehorn and Queen Anne Neighbors for Responsible Growth, the parent organization of the market, of which Lapin is a board member, quarrel over financial matters. The dispute between the two sides – QANRG and the Queen Anne Farmers Market Association – was being mediated by the Seattle Office of Economic Development, but negotiations broke down and QANRG is currently looking at another person to manage the market, said Lapin.

“I’m surprised that you came given the fact of all the disarray between OED, Queen Anne Neighbors, and you,” said Lapin, followed by a restrained argument between the two.

Afterwards, Lapin said that he never publicly or privately disparaged anything Whitehorn had done for the market and that she did a great job bringing the farmers market to its current success.

Whitehorn’s Queen Anne Farmers Market update included:

  • The farmers market ran for 22 weeks last year and grossed $475,000, up 72 percent over the previous year.
  • In 2010, there were 64 total vendors, up 36 percent.
  • The market had 30,000 visitors last summer, up 94 percent over the previous year.
  • They have more farms signed up for this year’s market.
  • It’s running from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. this summer, rather than closing at 7 p.m., and it’s being held from June 2 to Oct. 6.

Chair Ellen Monrad asked for a volunteer from the board to serve on the Office of Economic Development’s advisory panel regarding the dispute between Whitehorn and the QANRG.

At the end of the meeting, Monrad announced that Queen Anne won the Molly Moon’s contest to be the new locale for the local ice cream shop. The tentative location for the new Molly Moons will be on West Galer Street next to Top Pot donuts, said Monrad.

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QuallyQue names QA “Neighborhood Gems”

January 20th, 2011 by Thea

QuallyQue.com, a website that works to helps connect businesses and neighbors within communities around Seattle, has asked Queen Anne residents to vote on our neighborhood’s business, organization and service gems—stores with staff that always have smiles on their faces, non-profits that consistently do great work to help the community, and restaurants with dishes so delicious you’d gladly break a diet for a bite.

The results are in in several categories, and every day QuallyQue is announcing a few more of the winners. Take a look at which businesses in Queen Anne have made the list so far:

Want to put in your two cents about your favorite gems in Queen Anne? There’s still time to vote here.

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