Ride Green Build Green (RGBG)

Ride Green Build Green (RGBG) is planning a summer bicycle trip. From July 25th to August 25th, 20 bicyclists will make the 1,000+ mile journey from Seattle to San Francisco to raise funds and awareness for affordable green housing.

Prior to the ride, each participant is raising a minimum of $2000 each to support LEED certification for a home built by Habitat for Humanity of East King County. Fundraising will include benefit concerts, T-shirt sales, and donation solicitations. All donations will be tax deductible through Habitat for Humanity. Riders also plan every aspect of the trip, including the route, nightly stop locations, work days at affordable housing sites, community forums, and bicycle and gear procurement.

Along the way, riders will also have opportunities to visit sites and organizations devoted to affordable and green housing and thus gain a greater understanding of the different methods, techniques, and plans for making both affordable and sustainable buildings and housing. Stops might include housing for the homeless, green affordable-housing projects, self-built green homes, and meetings with advocacy organizations to learn about their work.

Among scheduled stops: Olympia Habitat for Humanity (7/26), Cowlitz County Habitat for Humanity (7/28), and Olson Woods Community Partners for Affordable Housing (7/30).

RGBG believes that some of the biggest impacts we have on the environment lie within the structures we build to accommodate our lives. Buildings in the US account for:

• 40% of total annual US energy
• 25% of water use
• 20-30% of municipal solid waste stream
• 30-40% of wood and materials use
• 25% of greenhouse gas emissions

It is vital for low income families to be able to afford sustainable housing: According to Global Green USA, low income families spend more income on utilities than on education and health care.

RGBG is seeking financial and volunteer assistance and additional riders. You may visit their website or call Elise Cope for more information at (508) 317-0647.

Open Weave, a collage art by C. Albert’s

You only have one hour for your lunch break. You would like to view some inspiring art, get a hair cut and a facial in a relaxing setting and do something to help the environment.

Solution: go to Mode Organics Hair Salon. All of the products used are naturally based. The art is selected from local artists and changes every couple month.

View C. Albert’s collage art (made with recycled magazines and non-toxic glues) through June 30. “Open Weave” is one of the stunning collages in the show. In the artist’s words:

“This collage looks like a weaving but it’s all actually just glued, composed with magazine text I cut in tiny strips. The text is mostly illegible, but there are bits of readable text. Framed raised above an off-white mat, there is a lovely shadow effect.”

Mode Downtown is located on the 4th floor of the 4th& Pike Building at 1424 4th Avenue directly above Ben Bridge Jewelers.

Call (206) 623-0195 to schedule.

Boom Noodle restaurant

Boom Noodle restaurant on Capitol Hill

Red Bean and Ice Cream topped waffle

In Japan, when you are currently obsessed with something, be it food or cell phone accessories, they use the term “my boom.” Boom Noodle, Capitol Hill’s new trendy restaurant, states that the restaurant’s “my boom” is Japanese cuisine. With the plethora of Vietnamese Pho places opening up everywhere, Boom Noodle is a great change for those seeking another taste of authentic noodle dishes.

Boom Noodle is not solely a noodle restaurant as one would expect, but offers a diverse set of choices that range from tapas styled plates to wok prepared specialty dishes. My favorite small plate was the Sizzling Toban Beef, a sake marinated steak with mushrooms and onions that comes out on a hot plate. The Pork Gyoza is another small plate that is not to be missed. For the main course, I decided to try their Tokyo Ramen, with braised pork, egg and a soy seasoned chicken-pork broth.

It was the mouth-watering broth that won me over and had me slurping those noodles as if I didn’t have ramen everyday in college (apparently, slurping is encouraged as it shows signs of appreciation). For dessert, I had the Red Bean and Ice Cream topped waffle, which had me proclaiming, “My Boom!!!”

While most people migrate to the International District for “authentic” Asian cuisine, now you can visit Capitol Hill to taste that great authentic Japanese cuisine. Just try not to eat too much as I did, because then your stomach may go Boom!

Boom Noodle
1121 East Pike Street
Seattle, Washington 98122
p 206.701.9130

Hours:
sunday—thursday 12—10pm
friday—saturday 12—2am

Happy hour:
everyday 4—6pm
friday—saturday 10pm—2am

Boom Noodle Events
“Join Boom Noodle every Friday night from 11pm to close when they roll out the ping pong table in the bar. In the near future they will be holding tournaments and hope to build boom rankings.”

Julep Nail Parlor in Downtown Seattle

With Sex in the City being the number one movie this past weekend, it is timely to mention that Julep Nail Parlor’s new downtown location is finally open. Jane Park, owner and CEO, writes that opening her second location feels similar to having a second child. “Having our first child made us parents, having our second child made us a family. It was the tipping point where the whole became a stronger separate entity that I felt a stronger, separate responsibility to define, grow and nurture (aside from the parental obligations of nurturing each individual child),” Jane wrote on Julep’s blog. Unlike many other nail parlors in Seattle, Julep stands out by having their very own bar, a Manicure Bar. A good idea for ladies that want to get manicures during their lunch hours or while shopping with their friends and still getting that urban vibe. Also, if you go before June 13th, you will be entered to win a pair of Manolos and tickets to the new Sex in the City movie.

Downtown Parlor
1427 5th Ave (at Pike)
Seattle WA 98101.
T: 206.985.0088

“Girls Night Thursdays” (5pm to 9pm)
Kick off the weekend right and pretty up with the girls. Catch classic Sex and the City episodes our widescreen TV and relax with the girls on Thursdays at Julep.

Invite a friend
Our relaxed social seating for treatments allows groups of any size to sit together for maximum quality time.

2008 Pike Place Market Street Festival

If your weekend isn’t already packed with activities, maybe you should consider attending the Pike Place Market Street Festival this weekend. It begins on Saturday, May 31st at and ends on Sunday, June 1st. Other than trying to jump over slow walking tourists with baby carriages, here are some of the activities you can partake in:

• Campfire Classic cook-off, 10-11 a.m. May 31
• Wine Tasting Lodge, 10a.m.-7 p.m. both days
• Kids Zone music, activities, bounce house, 11a.m.-3 p.m. both days
• Food vendors, chef demos, arts and crafts, live music, beer garden, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. both days
• Strut Your Mutt dog contest and parade, 10 a.m. June 1, Steinbrueck Park

University District residents told to stay away

Signs are posted on the walkways near the water.

University District residents were advised to stay out of the water this Memorial Day weekend, due to a mistake made by King county crew members when they mistakenly diverted 8 million gallons of raw sewage from its proper drain (Laurelhurst Trunk sewage line) and into a Seattle storm drain.

The problem was discovered on Friday, May 23rd, but not before 800,000 gallons of raw sewage a day, for 10 days had drained into Ravenna Creek, Lake Washington, Lake Union and possibly even Puget Sound which are all connected via The Montlake Cut and The Chittenden Locks.

The area most affected by this spill is a one mile stretch known as Ravenna Creek and is very popular for local kayakers and rowers.

Signs are posted on the walkways near the water and boaters are discouraged from coming into contact with the polluted water.

Joule Restaurant, Urban BBQ Series

Summer is approaching fast and what better way to enjoy the nice weather than an Urban BBQ, indoors?

Every Sunday starting June 1st, Joule Restaurant is breaking the Sunday brunch tradition and bringing you diverse food, summer cocktails and live music to their popular restaurant located in Wallingford.

It begins with an Operation Clam Bake and ends with Patties and Dogs, throw some Korean and Food on Stick in there and you have an eclectic choice of BBQs. After talking with Joule owner and chef, Seif Chirchi, he explained that while most restaurants around him were focusing on brunch, he wanted to bring something different to the neighborhood where you can stop by, have some drinks, meet some neighbors and have an all around good time.

Personally, I am waiting for June 8th of the series entitled “Lets Talk About Goat” because he plans on roasting a whole goat (greek style) in his kitchen. That will definitely get people talking.

2008 Northwest Folklife Festival

Weather was great for the Folklife Festival. Large crowds along with fabulous solo artists and musicians made for three great days. One thousand acts were estimated to entertain up to 250,000 spectators in this Seattle tradition.

Music at the Folklife Festival

Where else will you find a poodle sporting a pink hairdo?

Sunny days at Golden Gardens Park

Starting the Memorial Day weekend with a high of 77, clear skies, and a gentle breeze was enough to entice beachgoers to gather at Golden Gardens Park today.

Boren Avenue / Madison Street Paving Project

The Boren Avenue / Madison Street Paving Project which started in late April, 2008, will continue until mid October, 2008.

The paving project is part of Seattle’s Bridging the Gap transportation initiative to keep Seattle moving by reducing its transportation maintenance backlog.

The project is scheduled to be completed in four phases:

1. Madison Street from 10th Avenue to 18th Avenue East (late April – mid June)
2. Madison from Terry Avenue to 10th Avenue (late May – mid July)
3. Boren Avenue from Broadway to Seneca Street (late June – late August)
4. Boren Avenue from Seneca Street to Denny Way

The city wants the public to be aware that there will be lane closures, traffic delays, pedestrian detours, parking restrictions, moderate noise, and dust.

Throughout the construction area there are signs indicating that businesses are open so, shoppers should not be discouraged by the construction.

Buses are continuing to pick up riders from their usual stops and this may cause more traffic delays within the construction areas. Alternate routes are recommended, if possible.