Speaking of getting places, the Bicycling and Walking in the United States 2010 Benchmarking Report shows Seattle in the top 10 in both mode share and safety for bike/pedestrian. Want to bike more? Seattle Way to Go has some great incentives, including free stuff from REI and a quarterly drawing for an iPhone.

Hat tips to the Metro notice and Queen Anne View.

thanks City Investors (i.e. Vulcan) for a huge donation of new kitchen cabinets, stove, microwave and more!! http://bit.ly/aw4saZ

There are a few things that prompted the temporary construction trailers at that location. The original plan was to have the construction team move site offices to 201 Boren Ave N from the current offices at the Terry Avenue building. Unfortunately, due to repeated vandalism and theft (stripping out copper wires), our construction team deemed it unsafe and now operates out of the temporary trailers. And, due to the theft and vandalism that site has experienced, we wanted to ensure a more active presence on the...

The Sierra Club is holding a forum/information session tonight at REI about their priorities for the remainder of this year’s legislative session in Olympia.

The panel includes Kerri Cehovic (Outreach Director of the Washington Environmental Council), Carrie Dolwick (Policy Associate of the Northwest Energy Coalition), Doug Howell (Senior Regional Representative of the Sierra Club Beyond Coal Campaign), and Bill LaBorde (Policy Director of the Transportation Choice Coalition).

Tonight at 7 pm to 8:30 pm, at REI Seattle (222 Yale Avenue North).

Thanks for your message about the sand running low and the play-area mats at Cascade Playground.

The grounds maintenance crew chief reports that they will bring in sand next week to replenish the play area.

The play equipment specialist reports that we have already contracted for a poured-in-place surface to replace the mats at Cascade. Because of the materials used, the work will need to wait till the weather warms up, around mid-March.

Again, thanks for contacting us!

Sincerely, Laurie Dunlap Superintendent's Office, Seattle Parks and Recreation

• Bad Monkey Bistro at 400 Boren Ave N (the Whale Building), opening in late March or April
• Mystery restaurant permitted at 401 Westlake Ave N (former Napa Auto Parts), under renovation now
• And... the top rumor of 2010 is true, Tom Douglas will open a restaurant in the Terry Ave Building in 2011

The Cascade Neighborhood Council (CNC) and EcoCascade invite you to the general meeting on February 17, 2010,  6PM located at the Cascade Peoples Center. The main topic will be the conceptual Green Street design of Thomas St. Extending the only official green streets in SLU from the Cascade neighborhhod to Seattle Center will enhance the residential and pedestrian experience in the neighborhood.

Lloyd Douglas, President, CNC

Oh, and there's also a front page Seattle Times SLU story today. If you look really close at the bottom of their picture of downtown you can make out South Lake Union. You'd think the Times could take a decent picture of the neighborhood they're located in.

The Census Bureau is committed to hiring people to work in their own communities because they are usually the most familiar with the people and places within their community.

South Lake Union has changed dramatically in the past decade, perhaps more so than any time since the 1960s when the Seattle Times tore down acres of homes for parking lots and I-5 cut Cascade off from Capitol Hill.

I received a sad tip in my inbox today. I'll miss seeing all those little red vests running around.

It has escaped general notice but a longtime neighborhood business is shutting its doors at the end of January. Cascade Children's Corner, a local daycare and preschool, is closing after 25 years. For a decade it was based in a red brick building on Minor Avenue, half a block from Cascade Park. Locals may remember seeing its students playing at the park's playground during the day, dressed in distinctive red vests.

Cascade fell victim to the economy and the financial difficulties of its longtime landlord, The Seattle Times. It lost its lease last summer when the Times put the building up for sale; the property was purchased by another daycare operator. Potential deals for a permanent new home, including possible moves to the Mirabella senior housing project at Fairview and Denny, and a downtown office building, fell through. The daycare has been operating since last fall in space rented from the Unity Church...

Join us for an evening of dinner, dancing, and celebration at our 2nd Annual Mardi Gras Ball: Vegas Nights! Hunka Hunka Burnin' Love the night before Valentine's Day as we raise funds to benefit The Pink Daisy Project (formerly Breast Cancer Sisterhood) in their noble mission to support young women and their families as they undergo treatment for breast cancer.

Les Faeries Vertes is Seattle's Mardi Gras krewe formed in 2008 to raise funds for a charity selected by our members each year. We will be hosting our second annual Mardi Gras event with an evening of Mardi Gras entertainment by Miss Kitty Baby, tableau parade, cocktail hour, a catered dinner, dessert dash, raffle, and night dancing at the Knights of Columbus Hall at 722 East Union Street on Saturday February 13th, 2010.

The suggested ticket donation ticket price of $80/person includes the full catered dinner, drinks, and dancing the night away to benefit The Pink Daisy Project. Tickets available at www.lesfaeriesvertes.org. Advance tickets only...

The LUOA EIS alternative is slightly different, with no towers on the lakefront except for the existing AGC building. Note that tower height incentives provide funding for public amenities and affordable housing.

Of course, the rendering represents a full buildout which is extremely unlikely even over 30 years. It also can't show what I think it the most important part of the Urban Design Framework, which are the 6 principles that set a clear vision for South Lake Union’s future development: • Integrate South Lake Union with adjacent neighborhoods • Create a network of great streets • Develop a diverse system of open spaces and community services • Reform zoning and design guidelines...

Evergreen Bank was based in the PEMCO building on Eastlake, and also had a branch in the SBRI building on Westlake and sponsored a SLU Streetcar stop. The bank had over $53m in nonperforming loans, according to the Seattle Times article "Evergreen Bank failure may signal more consolidation."

If you missed last years This American Life episode 377: Scenes From a Recession you may want to listed to it now, substituting "Evergreen" for "Bank of Clark County" in the FDIC takeover story. It's also available on NPR.org as "Anatomy Of A Bank Takeover". The same Oregon-based bank in the story,...

Inner Chapters is kicking off a monthly Open Mic Night starting Thursday, January 21st from 6:00 - 9:00 pm.

Whether you simply want to hang out and listen or have something to share (just about anything goes), help us get this party started!

Featuring: Local talent, food & drink specials, plus the opportunity to mingle with your neighbors!

Stay in the loop by joining the SLU Open Mic Night group on Facebook.

One of the nice parts of this is being able to ask a question to one of the departments that you always wanted to ask but couldn't figure out who to ask! Click here for the flyer.

This should be as good as last years series. Click here for the flyer.

You're invited to a public meeting to discuss the South Lake Union Urban Design Framework.

The Urban Design Framework was developed from past planning efforts and consideration of new opportunities, and with the guidance of community stakeholders. The Urban Design Framework identifies specific projects, actions, and design opportunities that will ensure that new development strengthens South Lake Union’s livability and sense of place. The framework advances the goals and strategies set out in the South Lake Union neighborhood plan.

Join us at the workshop to learn about the draft framework and offer your comment. DPD staff will also present revised height and density environmental impact study alternatives and answer questions about the study and rezone process.

Meeting Details

Tuesday, Jan. 26

5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Seattle Unity Church, Fellowship Hall

200 Eighth Ave. N.

http://www.seattleunity.org/directions.html

This location is accessible, enter on the main level.

For more information, visit our website, , or...

Chef Howie plans a week long first birthday celebration, where he “gifts” back to the supportive Seattle community, with a give-away and specials (offered in Seattle only) based on the restaurant’s January 27, 2009 opening date.  From January 21st through the 27th, the weekly and nightly “gifts”, each of which are spins on 1/27/09, will be:

All week long:  Beginning Jan. 21st, guests can drop their business cards in the fish bowl to win dinner for 8 people on their (the winner’s) birthday.  The winning entry will be picked on January 27th.

Thursday 1/21: $1.27 Sushi all night long, featuring Chef Howie’s Washington Roll (Smoked Salmon, Dungeness Crab and Granny Smith Apples), all Washington specialties, Shiro Maguro Ngiri, Ebi Ngiri, Vegetarian Futomaki roll, Kappa Maki, Washington Roll and Maguro roll.

Friday 1/22:  Every couple that comes in and orders two entrees at lunch or dinner will receive a $27.09 dinner gift certificate, to be used...

Whenever I walk around South Lake Union, I see too many empty retail spaces, especially along Westlake, and I wonder how long it will take until they start til fill in.  Well, in May there will be one less vacancy as Belltown's finest seafood restaurant Flying Fish is moving into Vulcan's building on Westlake and Thomas according to Nancy Lesson of Seattle Times "All You Can Eat" food blog.  The 15 year old restaurant is owned and run by James Beard winner Chef Chris Keff.  The 110 seat restaurant will have one floor, private dining rooms, a 30 seat patio, and even a retail space called On the Fly which will feature lunch, dinners to go, wine and groceries.

The article by Lesson cites an influx of potential new customers moving into their area, such as Amazon's army that is building and certainly on the way and PATH in the new 2201 Westlake Ave building.  Comments on the article mention the many other businesses that are already working in SLU: Group Health, Microsoft, UW Medical...

• National Portfolio Day Seattle 2010 at Cornish last Saturday
• Spruce Street School Open House, also last Saturday
• And, as well-covered at the PI: Seattle City Council approves UW SLU Phase III text amendment (with amendments including Sally Bagshaw's "activated energy area" along 8th Ave N, but no podium and height of 120 ft). As usual, you can watch today's council proceedings on Seattle Channel. I have to say I would have preferred adoption of Rasmussen’s amendment, but I guess UW was scared about being able to get bonds if phases 3.2 and 3.3 weren't allowed.

The new Seattle Hard Rock Cafe will be located near Pike Place Market which wouldn't be a bad commute. The press release says "Interested candidates ages 19 and older must bring valid government issued ID and any other documentation pertaining to their applied position. Applicants please come prepared for final interview on day of job fair." They'll be hiring about 140 people total.

The Art Stable is a seven-story loft building in South Lake Union's Cascade neighborhood. Designed by celebrated architect Tom Kundig, the steel and concrete structure features a unique geothermal heating and cooling system. The building contains five contemporary lofts designed to accommodate buyer's creativity and use. Each unit includes two secure, above-grade parking stalls. Construction of the Art Stable is underway with completion scheduled for September 2010

Hey everybody!

I am throwing an art show at Southlake Grill next Saturday, January 9th. Show starts at 7pm and I will be holding a rock, paper, scissors contest at 8pm for a great prize bag.

I will be featuring 20 of my best pieces. I will be selling prints for around $10! There will be a private bartender and Southlake Grill is providing some great snacks.

I specialize in dramatic portraits and epic landscapes. To view my portfolio, check out www.mikefolden.com.

I hope to see you there!

Mike