Billed as “an evening of dining and bikes”, the event will take place in 13+ different Seattle area neighborhoods. The event asks people to bicycle to (and from) one of the “host” restaurants on the night of the event. This community event was launched last year as a way to influence the culture of Seattle, to show how easy and fun bicycling to and from dinner is and to raise money for a well-deserving Seattle area non-profit. A new non-profit beneficiary is selected each year. This year’s event will benefit the Children’s Garden Education program at Seattle Tilth where as last year’s event benefited the Lettuce Link program at Solid Ground.

The funds raised for the non-profit are donated directly to the non-profit by each of the “host” restaurants who have agreed to give 20% of all the diner bills collected between 5:00pm and 10:00pm on Tuesday, June 28th. In return of their gracious support, the Spoke & Food event will have only one host restaurant in each of the neighborhoods that are involved.

Here in Queen Anne you can participate in Spoke & Food at Via Tribunali. Here is the list of others participating restaurants around town:

Ballard – Snoose Junction Pizzeria
Capitol Hill – The Lookout
Madrona – The Madrona Alehouse
Maple Leaf – Snappy Dragon
Phinney Ridge – Stumbling Goat Bistro
Phinney Ridge – The Barking Dog Alehouse
Ravenna – Casa D’Italia
Roosevelt – The Scarlet Tree
University District – Chaco Canyon Organic Café
Wallingford – Julia’s
White Center – Proletariat Pizza
West Seattle – Chaco Canyon Organic Café

Four Queen Anne restaurants were involved in the first week, including Betty, Canlis, Crow, emmer&rye, How to Cook a Wolf, Ponti Seafood Grill, Portage, Ten Mercer, Paragon, and Via Tribunali. This time around, organizers are turning to Seattle residents to find out what restaurants they’d like to see on the list. Offer up suggestions via Twitter (@SeattleRW) or look for them on Facebook. Each restaurant submitted will be contacted to join in the 10-day foodie celebration.

The second Seattle Restaurant Week, from October 17 to 28, will offer the same deals as the first–a $25 three-course dinner menu and optional $15 three-course lunch menu, Sunday through Thursday.

The “5@5″ campaign was put together by Via Tribunali, Caffe Vita, Peroni Beer, The Stranger and the City of Seattle’s Bicycle Program to raise funds of the Seattle biking community. Each week proceeds from the event (i.e. $3 Peroni Beer sales) will go toward a different community bicycling organization. Today it’s the Cascade Bicycle Club‘s Trips for Kids program.

Can’t make it to tonight’s event. There are still two more chances to bike your way to free pizza glory:

• Wednesday, June 2, 5-7 p.m.
  Belltown, Bicycle Alliance of Washington
• Wednesday, June 9, 5-7 p.m.
  Fremont 5, The Bikery

Via Tribunali, in association with Caffe Vita, Peroni Beer, The Stranger and The City of Seattle’s Bicycle Program, present “5@5,” a campaign focused on raising funds for the Seattle biking community.

The restaurant will be giving away free margherita pizzas and selling $3 Peroni Beer to anyone who rides their bike to the Tribunali participating in the program from 5 to 7 p.m. on the given Wednesday. The $3 from beer sales will be donated to the selected biking community partner that week.

Queen Anne’s Via Tribunali outpost, located at 317 W Galer, will be participating on Wednesday, May 26. Luckily, for all you cycling enthusiasts who don’t feel like waiting that long for free pizza, Queen Anne is centrally located and has access to many citywide pedaling paths!

Each week “5@5” will take place at a different Via Tribunali location (the biking community partner for each week is also listed below):

• Wednesday, May 12, 5-7 p.m.
  Georgetown, Bike Works
• Wednesday, May 19, 5-7 p.m.
  Capitol Hill, The Garage Cycling Team
• Wednesday, May 26, 5-7 p.m.
  Queen Anne, Trips for Kids Seattle–a Cascade Bicycle Club Program
• Wednesday, June 2, 5-7 p.m.
  Belltown, Bicycle Alliance of Washington
• Wednesday, June 9, 5-7 p.m.
  Fremont 5, The Bikery

Not surprising, nine Queen Anne restaurants are on that list:

1. Betty Restaurant & Bar
2. Canlis
3. Crow Restaurant & Bar
4. emmer&rye
5. How to Cook a Wolf
6. Portage
7. Ten Mercer
8. Paragon
9. Via Tribunali

“Queen Anne is making a huge showing for Seattle Restaurant Week, drawing people from other neighborhoods and definitely keeping their own neighbors happy,” wrote SRW PR representative Heather Jensvold.

Take a look at the full list of participating restaurants, some of which will be offering $15 3-course lunch specials as well, here (.doc).

Seattle Restaurant Week is a project of the Seattle Restaurant Cooperative, a group of Seattle restaurateurs, and is being sponsored by our news partner, The Seattle Times, alongside many others. More information here.

QueenAnneView obtained the police report and charging documents detailing the strange series of events that night, first reported by SeattleCrime. According to the SPD report, a car driven by McConnell rear-ended another vehicle at the intersection of Broadway and James Street near Seattle University, while the victim was waiting at a red light at around 6 p.m. on the 31st. According to the report, McConnell refused to exchange information with the victim, who reported smelling alcohol on his breath. The police report also states that McConnell’s lawyer, who arrived at the scene moments later in a separate vehicle, allegedly attempted to cut a deal with the victim, offering him $1,500 for the damages to his car if he agreed not to call the police. McConnell reportedly refused to pay and then walked off, returning a few moments later when he allegedly punched the victim in the chest with both fists. According to the report, McConnell then left on foot, leaving his car behind.

Police caught up with McConnell later that evening at one of his restaurants, arrested him and took him to the East Precinct, where he reportedly refused to take a breathalyzer test. SeattleCrime reports that McConnell has pleaded not guilty on all charges.

Both Caffe Vita and Via Tribunali serve beer and alcohol at several locations. Back in December Caffe Vita applied for a liquor license at its Queen Anne location, at 813 5th Ave N. And last month the Washington State Liquor Control Board approved licenses for both the Queen Anne and Capitol Hill coffee outposts.

However, WSLCB spokeswoman Anne Radford told SeattleCrime that the board may seek cancellation of these licenses should the McConnell receive criminal convictions. McConnell is scheduled to appear in court on Monday, May 3.

(Photo taken from McConnell’s Facebook page).

Today Via Tribunali announced their new happy hour times, from 10 p.m. to closing (11 p.m.) daily. The menu includes $5 pizzas, $3 Italian beer and $8 half liters of wine. emmer&rye will be running their happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. daily. No word yet on what their discounted food and drink menu looks like.

Check out more neighborhood happy hour news here and here.