Photo from the Here and There website.

Another brand new mobile food vendor is stopping in the Maple Leaf area today, the Here and There grill, which introduces itself as a “gourmet lunch spot on wheels”:

A new place for lunch is always a welcome addition to any neighborhood and did I mention our great food? The menu includes yummy hand held food with little packaging. Standards like reuben sandwiches (we make a mean one) and mac and cheese as well as fabulous street food from around the world …. Spanish empanadas, Cuban pork sandwiches, Thai beef salad ,and Greek lamb burger. Even from our own east coast a tasty seafood sandwich styled after their famous lobster roll. We plan to be at a different location each day of the week.

The Here and There truck will be parked from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at the Washington Dental Building at 9706 Fourth Ave. N.E., just south of Thornton Place.

Check out the menu for this week: (more…)

If you’re reading this blog, a new class now offered at A-1 Best Computer that teaches Computer Fundamentals may be a little too basic for you.

A-1 Best Computer owner Eric Nordling in the new four-person classroom.

But then again, maybe not, considering that this blogger learned quite a bit in just a quick overview of the course, which owner and General Manager Eric Nordling designed and teaches.

Nordling, who bought the store located at 8051 Lake City Way N.E. last year and celebrated his one-year anniversary in April, added a four-person computer classroom a couple of months ago because he had received so many requests from customers. From a blog post on the store’s website:

We get so many questions about how computers work, we figured we’d start offering a class on that very subject. This is more than a class for computer beginners (although a very excellent place to be if you are just starting out). These classes actually give you insight into what is going on inside and why it your computer might be slower than you’d hoped.

The class, which lasts about three hours, covers the basics such as how to use a mouse, but also gets into plenty of details, including descriptions of how computers work, how the Internet works, what e-mail is and how to use it, how to download and what not to download, and much more.

“The last part of the class is how to buy a computer,” Nordling added. “There are a lot of first-timers in here who don’t know what to buy.”

In fact, Nordling says he often recommends that people who are considering buying a computer take the class first not only to learn more about what to look for, but also because they may find that they don’t want a computer at all. (more…)

Cooper’s Alehouse, 8065 Lake City Way N.E., was gushing yesterday on Twitter that it finally got a new bike rack after “months (and months and months) of waiting.”

It looks like the city has cycling on the brain. Not only is it installing bike racks around the city, but also bike corrals, such as the one recently installed in front of R+E Cycles at 5627 University Way N.E., according to our news partner U District Daily.

I’m not sure how much room Maple Leaf has for the more-elaborate bike racks, though, especially if the Seattle Department of Transportation follows through with its plans to remove 10 blocks of parking on Roosevelt Way Northeast. U District Daily explains:

As part of the Bicycle Master Plan adopted by Seattle in 2007, the city will continue to install on-street bike parking.  These corrals usually eliminate one space for vehicle parking.  SDOT hopes to have six of these corrals up around the city by the end of this year.  

Can you think of a practical space for a bike corral in Maple Leaf? Where else would you like to see new bike racks in the neighborhood?

Parfait Organic Artisan Ice Cream is extending its August visits to Blue Saucer into September, with plans to park its truck from 5:30-8:30 tonight at the Maple Leaf cafe, located at 9127 Roosevelt Way N.

Blue Saucer will stay open later, too, and Parfait is making it worth your while to visit both tonight, stating on its Twitter feed:

Hi Maple Leaf! Blue Saucer is staying open late tonight. Buy a treat at the coffee shop and get $1 off your order at Parfait. 5:30-8:30PM.

Although Revolution Cycles moved out of its location at 9634 Roosevelt Way N.E. yesterday, another empty unit just down the road at 9220 Roosevelt Way N.E., most recently occupied by Elle Bella Studio, is now under construction and is set to be occupied by a new tenant soon.

We don’t have any details yet on what the business will be, but we expect to have more information in about a month. What kind of business are you hoping will move into the neighborhood?

The pickings are slim on the last day that Revolution Cycles has its doors open at 9634 Roosevelt Way N.E., but the prices still might make it worthwhile for you to stop by before the end of the day.

If all you really need is a tune-up for your bike, though, Revolution Cycles will continue to have you covered. Owner Trask Fredrickson says he has plans for a valet service for the greater Maple Leaf neighborhood, in which he will pick up and drop off bikes that are in need of service, and provide a mobile service that will do the work at your house if all your bike needs is a quick fix.

Fredrickson also plans to offer corporate bicycle repair citywide for businesses that have about 10 bicycles in need of service. He’ll show up at the office and provide the needed maintenance at the expense of the bike owners, but the business gets a tax credit for organizing the event.

“I’m trying to think of newer, greener, 21st century ideas,” said Fredrickson, who also lives in Maple Leaf.

His website, RevolutionSeattle.com, will have maps that show his service area and that detail his services soon, he added.

For those of you who may be interested in leasing the space Revolution Cycles is vacating, here are some of the details: (more…)

The Roosevelt Ale House is calling all its Facebook fans to vote for it for “Best Neighborhood Bar” for KING/5’s “Evening Magazine.” And as of Tuesday morning, the Maple Leaf watering hole located at 8824 Roosevelt Way N.E. is in the lead.

Maple Leaf’s Cooper’s Alehouse, 8065 Lake City Way N.E., also is in the running. Who will you vote for? Cast your vote for the Roosevelt Ale House here or for Cooper’s Alehouse here.

Photos by Theo Henderson, a junior at Roosevelt High School

Say farewell to the blackberry bushes that have taken over parts of Seattle City Light’s North Substation, located in Maple Leaf at 814 N.E. 75th St.

All week long, up to 280 goats have been “hired” from Healing Hooves to eat the blackberry bushes as well as their now plump blackberries and the ivy that have grown on the steep, rocky hillside since the herd’s last trip.

“Goats have been a creative, affordable solution for removing this vegetation,” said Betsey Searing, landscape supervisor for City Light. “It’s environmentally friendly. No chemicals and no dump fees.”

The goat herder, Craig Madsen, says neighbors stop by to watch the goats graze and talk to him about the goats, so expect a few visitors through Friday.

City Light adds that there’s no reason to fear the goats: They’re kept in a fenced enclosure that prevents them from escaping to either the street or to where the substation’s electrical equipment is located.

If you missed your chance to observe the painting of a street mural in Wallingford that was designed my Maple Leaf artist Rachel Marcotte, our news partners MyWallingford give an avid description of the weekend-long event along with the following photo of the colorful design, as well as many more.

Dozens of volunteers from the neighborhood spent the weekend cleaning then painting the intersection at Interlake Avenue North and North 41st Street after Marcotte drew the outline.

Marcotte told MyWallingford:

“The most amazing thing about this was the people. They embraced it and took ownership. It’s beautiful not to be mine anymore and to hand it over to the neighborhood,” she said. “It’s the most gratifying thing as an artist, to be able to give this to people.”

Cooper’s Alehouse, 8065 Lake City Way N.E., just announced on Twitter that it was broken into overnight, but all the thief made out with was an empty cash register, said bartender Sue Bauman.

“They were in the building for less than 10 seconds,” she said.

The alarm went off at 4 a.m., and the whole incident was recorded on the Maple Leaf bar’s video-surveillance system. But Bauman says the footage likely isn’t clear enough to identify the suspect.

“There’s a police report, but I don’t think they’re going to be able to follow up,” she said.

The burglar left the flat-screen TVs and all of the alcohol, though, so it’s still business as usual.

It’s shoppers’ galore all day today for parents and parents-to-be, as well as their friends and family at the most unlikeliest of places: Roosevelt Ale House, 8824 Roosevelt Way N.E. Until 4:30 p.m., the Bumps & Babies Fair is taking place in the pub’s parking lot, featuring both new and gently used items.

And there are plenty of wee ones around checking out the toys and other fun items.

While mothers and others browse the gently used clothes.

As well as some of the more creative new designs, such as from Tiptoeing Tutus.

The fair was organized by Michelle Simpson, who owns the Roosevelt Ale House with her husband, Scott, but now runs another business called The Chic Bambino.

“I don’ t know how to sew,” she said,” but I just decided I wanted to do this huge sewing project.”

So she enlisted the help of a freelance seamstress, Jen Hurlbert, who since has become her business partner.

Simpson said she thought of the project after her daughter, who is now 13 months old, was born.

“Being in the world of baby stuff,” she said, “there’s a lack of stylish options.”

But since January, she and Hurlbert are changing that.

Don’t worry if you can’t make it to the Bumps & Babies Fair today, though. You also can purchase their goods through Etsy.

A round-up of late August crime in the area, as reported by Seattle Police:

* There are few details yet, but an armed robbery with a gun occurred on the street Friday shortly before 1 p.m. in the 12500 block of 15th Avenue Northeast. That’s just north of Maple Leaf.

* Burglars broke into a home in the 100 block of Northeast 92nd Street about 9 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 26.

* A car was broken into shortly after 11 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 25, in the 1000 block of Northeast 88th Street.

* On Sunday, Aug. 22, a woman in the 2200 block of Northeast 88th Street reported she believed she had been burglarized sometime during the week and was missing a few pieces of jewelry and about 10 CDs.

* Another home was burglarized on Tuesday, Aug. 24, this time in the 2400 block of Northgate Way.

* An interesting report of “unlawful use of a weapon” occurred shortly after midnight on Saturday, Aug. 21, in the 300 block of Northeast 103rd Street, but no further details were available from the police online report site.

* A car was broken into in the 500 block of Northeast 100th Street on Tuesday, Aug. 17;  two were looted the next day, Aug. 18, in the 9100 block of Second Avenue Northeast and in the 8800 block of Eighth Avenue Northeast; and a truck was stolen on Thursday, Aug. 19, in the 9800 block of Fifth Avenue Northeast.

WSDOT’s work on the Aurora Bridge continues and drivers who plan on crossing it this Sunday could face closures, this time going both ways. It’s a major closure, so we’re posting it here.

This Sunday crews will continue work to remove and replace more than 1000 rivets and bolts for the construction of a safety fence to deter suicides. Drivers can expect additional closures for rivet removal in September. Crews are working Sundays because rivet busting is too noisy to do at night. Nearby residents can expect to hear construction noise from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

* From 6 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 29, crews working for WSDOT will close two of three northbound lanes to remove and replace rivets on the east side of the bridge.
* From 1:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. all six lanes on the bridge and the southbound Fremont Way on-ramp will be closed while crews move construction equipment to the west side of the bridge. WSDOT scheduled this brief full closure at 1:30 p.m. to help southbound traffic heading to Sunday’s Mariners’ game.
* At 1:45 p.m. crews will reopen all northbound lanes and one southbound lane.
* Two southbound lanes and the southbound Fremont Way on-ramp will remain closed until midnight while crews work on the west side of the bridge.

If that’s not confusing enough, WSDOT has these suggestions on what to do to avoid closures and delays: (more…)

This is the zeppelin Eureka – a  football-shaped airship filled with helium.

It’s owned by a Silicon Valley software mogul and is in town for a few days, offering sightseeing rides for $300 and up. Our new partners The Seattle Times wrote:

A zeppelin is not a blimp. Zeppelins have a rigid structure of carbon fiber and would not collapse absent the helium. Blimps are more akin to balloons. The Hindenburg, which famously burst into flames, killing three dozen people in 1937, was a zeppelin. It was filled with flammable hydrogen, though; hydrogen isn’t used nowadays. Helium, which is inert, is the gas of choice.

Read the full Seattle Times store here.

The store Revolution Cycles is closing its doors on Tuesday, but the business itself as well as the “personal attention to bikes” its patrons have come to expect aren’t going anywhere.

“Having a store like this is really important to the neighborhood,” said owner Trask Fredrickson, “but I just don’t have deep enough pockets.”

He explained that even though he’s no longer able to keep the store open, Revolution Cycles will continue to service bicycles and cyclists throughout the Maple Leaf and greater North Seattle area with a “personal bike mechanic” service, which he compared to a personal trainer.

Now, instead of driving to the store at at 9634 Roosevelt Way N.E., Revolution Cycles will come to you, pick up your bike (or your skis and snowboards in the winter), then bring it back to you after it’s been fixed or assessed.

Or, if your bike just needs a quick fix, Revolution Cycles also will have a mobile shop to work on your bike at your house.

“We still have access to the same stuff,” he said. “We just won’t have a brick-and-mortar facade.”

Fredrickson, who lives in the neighborhood, said he’s also hoping he can establish a partnership with a Maple Leaf business that lets him set up shop once a week in a parking lot to offer his mobile services, as well as a drop-off service for tune-ups and other more complex services. Just come back the next week, and he’ll bring your bike back. And in the winter, he says he hopes to offer the same services for snowboards and skis, and possibly even rent out snowboards.

“The standard model of a business isn’t necessarily the best anymore,” Fredrickson said.

In the meantime, you’ve got until Tuesday to check out what remains at the store, which still has a couple of dozen bikes and plenty of accessories. And just remember, if you want to make an offer, you’d best heed the sign on the window above that says “Cash talks.”

Even though the storefront is going away, the website and phone number are staying the same. Check out RevolutionSeattle.com or give Fredrickson a call at 206-525-3068.

This turtle designed by Maple Leaf resident Rachel Marcotte is about to make its much-bigger-than-life debut as it slowly appears at the Wallingford intersection of Interlake Avenue North and North 41st Street over the weekend.

The artist and decades-long resident of Maple Leaf has been working with neighbors surrounding the intersection to create both the city’s and Wallingford’s second painted intersection, closing it to traffic from Saturday morning through Sunday evening.

Our news partners MyWallingford wrote about the other painted intersection, a ladybug at North 50th Street and Burke Avenue North dubbed the “Wallybug,” when it got its annual coat of paint in July, which brought to our attention Marcotte’s participation in the new project.

Although she designed the turtle and will be drawing its outline on the street with the help of a few artist frients, at least 50 volunteers of all ages will be helping with the painting, filling in the design following a “paint-by-numbers” idea.

Stop by and check it out if you get a chance, and think about where you’d like to see a painted intersection in Maple Leaf.

The annual Northgate Festival features a new location this year, closing a portion of 103rd Avenue Northeast between Northgate Mall and the new Thornton Place for a street fair.

The fair, which will continue up into the plaza at Thornton Place, is set for 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11, after all the summer festivals have finished, but while the weather is still great (maybe), says the Northgate Chamber of Commerce.

Visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy live main stage entertainment (we actually encourage some impromptu dancing on the plaza). Jazz, rock ‘n’roll, country and more will be featured throughout the day.

The fair also boasts artists, commercial and non-profit booths, a classic Ford Mustang car show,  a children’s plaza with bouncy toys and cotton candy and a  family entertainment stage featuring  local dance schools, karate demonstrations and children’s acts.

Another special feature this year will be the Northwest Hospital and Medical Center Health Fair. The center is celebrating 50 years in the community.

Not only do we get to keep our landmark water tower and tank, the city’s going to preserve the art as well.

Next year, when Seattle Public Utilities re-coats the outside of the tank, they will try not to disturb the leaves. “They’re not trained as artists, so they’ll do their best,” said Andy Ryan, media relations coordinator for the utility.

“If needed, after they’re done, we may have to hire a local artist to do a little minor touch-up at the edges of the leafs. So the short answer is ‘yes, we will keep the maple leaves.’”

The tower and tank have been Maple Leaf’s symbol for 50 years. They were taken out of service last year by the utility, and won’t be used again to supply water, so there was fear they might be torn down.

Maple Leaf’s Math ‘n’ Stuff’s clearance sale of at least 25 percent off of its fun educational items continues through Sunday, Aug. 29. It includes games, puzzles, building toys, books and science kits.

It’s a good thing to go do on a rainy day.

The sale isn’t taking place at the store’s location at 8926 Roosevelt Way N.E., but rather at its annex, the former Napa Sherry Auto Supply store at 9212 Roosevelt Way N.E. More details here.

Photo from Buns on Wheels’s Facebook page.

On Friday, there will once again be not one, but two mobile food vendors helping us celebrate the remains of summer right outside the Washington Dental Building, which is located south of Thornton Place at 9706 Fourth Ave. N.E.

From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 27, the new Buns on Wheels truck is selling its gourmet natural burgers. Then finish lunch with some sugar from Street Treats, featuring homemade baked daily cookies, brownies, bars, cookie sandwiches and ice cream. Street Treats will be on hand from noon to 3 p.m.

Tent City 3 may be coming to the border between Maple Leaf and Meadowbrook later this year — and that is spurring quite the debate, including dueling Web sites.

On the pro-Tent City 3 side is Maple Leaf Lutheran Church, at 10005 32nd Ave. N.E., which will vote next month on whether to host the tent city, which would house 100 homeless people for three months.

The church recently added a whole new section to its Web site, including background, news updates and frequently asked questions.

On the anti-Tent City 3 side is a well-organized neighborhood group called Meadowbrook Neighbors. Their next meeting is tonight (Thursday, Aug. 26) at 7 p.m. at a home at 3218 N.E. 100th St. (you are asked to bring a chair).

Both sites offer conflicting reports and studies about whether tent cities have increased crime in other areas they have come to.

What’s your opinion — should Maple Leaf Lutheran Church host Tent City 3? Our sister site, WedgwoodView, has several comments posted already.

The Seattle City Council has approved a bill that could soon have a lot more chicken coops and urban farms popping up in Ballard and across the city. The ordinance updates the land use code on urban agriculture uses, including allowing “urban farms” and “community gardens” in all zones. Residents will now be able to sell food grown on their property. The legislation also changes the number of chickens allowed per lot from 3 to 8. You can read more about raising chickens in the city here.

The scene last year in Ballard on Free Car Wash Day.

Today is Free Car Wash Day at many of the Brown Bear locations around Puget Sound, an event the family owned business hosts to show appreciation for its customers on its 53rd anniversary.

Unfortunately, the closest Brown Bear to Maple Leaf, just to the north at 12506 15th Ave. N.E., isn’t included. It’s a self-service facility, and the free washes are at Brown Bear’s “tunnel” car washes.

The closest ones are in Shoreline at 16032 Aurora Ave. N., and Ballard at 5111 15th Ave. N.W. The event is on from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For more participating locations click here.

The North Helpline food bank’s “Round Up Hunger” campaign earlier this month, is over, and a big success.

Thirty-eight organizations, businesses, and community groups had signed up to participate by decorating a barrel and filling it with food for the food bank, which has seen demand grow by 37 percent this year.

Businesses or organizations with barrels in Maple Leaf include Cloud City Coffee, Café Javasti, La Casa del Mojito, Northgate Community Center Teen Program and Blue Saucer Coffee.

The food bank serves northeast Seattle.

Here’s something quite unexpected – at least, unexpected in a tavern parking lot.

Dozens of baby accessories like the hooded towels above will be for sale from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the parking lot of the Roosevelt Ale House, 8824 Roosevelt Way N.E. The sale is this Sunday, Aug. 29.

It’s part of a new event, the Bumps & Babies Fair. Here’s an explanation from the founder:

I’m Michelle Simpson, co-owner (aka wife ) of the Roosevelt Ale House, though I haven’t been working there much because I’ve been home with our daughter, Lila, for the last year.  Having some extra time on my hands, in January I started an at-home business making baby accessories (bibs, burp cloths, quilts, belt, etc).

The idea gained momentum. Now featured at the sale is baby gear from boutique sellers including:
* The Chic Bambino, which is Michelle’s company
* J. Shelton Photography
* Ice Ice Binky
* Tiny Toppers
* Tiptoeing Tutus
* Critters by Chris (creater of the towels at top)

In addition there will be new and gently used consignment items from more than 20 families. Learn more at the Bumps & Babies Facebook page.

Oh, and leave your credit cards at home; the sale is cash only.

Now if somebody would tell us why it’s Bumps & Babies….