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Criminal Justice Training Commission Job Fair Is May 30th
The Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission, which has a training center in Burien, is holding a “Criminal Justice Job Fair” from 10am to 3pm on Saturday, May 30th.
Here are the details…
Where To Get Your Cinco de Mayo On Tuesday
Tuesday, May 5th is Cinco de Mayo, the Mexican holiday that gives everyone an excuse to take a shot of tequila on a weekday.
Oh, and it’s also the celebration of the Mexican army’s defeat of French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. However, it is not Mexican Independence Day, nor is it a national holiday in Mexico, but rather a day that can be observed voluntarily.
And no, we’re not going to mention swine flu in this story just to increase our Google pagerank.
Oops…we just did. Dang.
Here’s what’s going on…
Farmer’s Market Blossoms Thursday, And We’ll Be There
Burien’s annual Farmer’s Market blossoms on 10th Ave SW in Olde Burien (see map below) starting this Thursday, May 7th, then moves to the new Town Square July 2nd.
Sponsored by Prudential Northwest Realty, the market will take place every Thursday through October 15th, from 11am to 6pm, and The B-Town Blog will be there with our own booth, doing live blogging…
UPDATE: Midway & Woodmont Schools To Re-Open Tuesday
UPDATE: Both the Highline and Federal Way school districts decided late Monday to re-open both Midway and Woodmont Elementary Schools in Des Moines Tuesday morning, May 5th, after King County’s Public... [Read more]
Skipper’s Flounders, Might Be Sleeping With Da Fishes
Skipper’s Seafood & Chowder, located at 901 SW 148th Street in Burien at Ambaum (map below), appears to have floundered and may be sleeping with da fishes, with this eviction notice posted on its locked doors:
The notice was originally posted by King County Sheriff’s officers on April 3rd, but we only learned about it from a BTB Reader last week. Currently, the building sits empty, the doors locked and the inside still full of typical restaurant equipment…
Next Sustainable Burien Meeting Is Sunday May 10th
Sustainable Burien is having its next meeting from 2pm to 4pm on Sunday, May 10th, but this time at a temporary new location – the Normandy Park Congregational Church, located at 19247 First Avenue South.
The location is different this week because of the Burien library’s moving into its new building.
Here are the details…
Normandy Park’s Manhattan Drug Store Closing
After 51 years in their Normandy Park location, Manhattan Drug Store, the neighborhood drug store with “Big city selection and small town service” will soon be writing its last prescription, closing shop and taking their business in a different direction.
“We are very proud to have been entrusted with not only the filling of your prescriptions, but also with giving you advice and counseling in all matters pertaining to your pharmaceutical care. You have made us feel like family,†says a letter from the Herbert family…
PHOTOS: A Sunday Night Rainbow Off Three Tree Point
Sunday night (May 3rd) around 7:30pm, BTB Sales Diva Janet Grella happened to capture these images of a vivid rainbow over the water off Three Tree Point:
Janet says:
“Diva,” our Olympic swimmer wanna-be, dived into the sound and swam two miles to the end of the rainbow in Normandy Park Cove only to find a leprechaun being choked by a neighbor.
She tried mouth to mouth on the little guy only to find the swine flu of her rainbow.
ADVISORY: Strong, Windy System Blowing In Monday Night
The National Weather Service issued a “Special Weather Statement” Sunday afternoon about a strong, windy weather system that’s predicted to hit the area Monday night.
We’re no Cliff Mass, but one thing that struck us was the mention of the pressure in this storm, rated at 980 millibars. As comparison, Hurricane Katrina was rated at 920 mb (lower is stronger), and the Inauguration Day storm of 1993 was rated between 972-980 mb (for a great read on northwest storm systems, with info on pressures, click here).
While it’s a powerful system, since the storm will weaken as it pushes inland, wind speeds are predicted to be between 20-35 mph, with gusts up to 45. There could be downed trees and power outages though, so you may want to batten down all those flowers you worked on Sunday.
Here’s the statement:
Statement as of 3:51 PM PDT on May 03, 2009
… Very windy conditions are expected to develop in the western Washington lowlands Monday night and continue through Tuesday morning…
A developing storm system in the central Pacific is expected to deepen to around 980 mb as it moves through the Washington offshore waters toward northern Vancouver Island Monday and Monday night. A strong frontal system associated with this low will move through western Washington Monday night.
A storm and frontal system of this magnitude is more typical of late fall or winter than of early may.
At this point it appears that south winds of 20 to 35 mph with gusts to 45 mph will develop Monday night as the front moves through and continue through the early morning hours on Tuesday. Many deciduous trees are now leafing. So winds of this magnitude may break some large branches and possibly topple a few trees.
Local power outages are possible.
Spring Art, Plants & “Cards For A Cause” Coming May 8-9
Three big Burien events coming up – the annual Spring Art Walk, Plant Sale and “Cards for a Cause” on Friday, May 8th and Saturday, May 9th.
Here are the details…
B-Town Undercover: Pumpkinhead’s Body Discovered
by Shawn Underwood As my readers can see from the headline above—PUMPKIN HEAD, also known as Jack, was indeed rescued from a nearby ravine. As I’m sure you all recall, Jack mysteriously disappeared... [Read more]
Appreciate Native Plants With A Unique Yard Tour Sunday
BTB Contributor Jim Branson alerts us that Native Plant Appreciation Week starts Sunday, May 3rd, and Earnie Thompson of Normandy Park will be showing his innovative yard to the public from 10am to 3pm.
Earnie lives at at 625 SW 189th Street, on the north edge of Nature Trails Park, at the corner of 8th Ave SW and SW 189th Street (map below)…
Meet Us At The Highline Vintage Jazz Festival Today!
The staff of The B-Town Blog will have a table in the lobby of the Highline Performing Arts Center today during Burien Arts‘ first-ever Highline Vintage Jazz Festival today (Sat. May 2nd), and we’d love to meet you!
Come on over to PAC at 401 South 152nd Street (next to Highline High School) for this great all-day music fest, which gets underway at 2pm for the matinee three-hour performance, with the second starting at 7pm.
Some of the region’s most well-known jazz musicians will be playing Dixieland, swing, solo stride piano, gypsy jazz and more!
Tickets to the event are just $20 per show or $35 for a full day pass, and are available at the door…
PHOTOS: Scenes From Friday’s Red Cross Ribbon Cutting
Friday morning, the Seattle Red Cross dedicated a new Disaster Relief Supply Center in Burien with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and here are some photos taken by Photographer Michael Brunk:
The event included representatives of the Red Cross, Southwest Suburban Sewer District and the City of Burien.
The timing of this opening seems rather serendipitous considering the recent swine flu news, so all residents should have more confidence that now there’s a local shelter with emergency supplies which can be used for future disasters, with cots, blankets, hygiene kits, and more; as well as provide short term emergency shelter for up to 750 people.
The Disaster Relief Supply Center is located at 510 SW 158th Street, and was created with a generous grant from The Tiffany Circle, a Red Cross Society of Women Leaders.
Midway Latest Area School To Close Due To Swine Flu
by Scott Schaefer Friday afternoon (5/1), King County Public Health identified a new probable case of swine flu in Des Moines, and subsequently closed Midway Elementary School there until Monday, May 11th.... [Read more]
From Our E-Newsletter: This Weekend’s B-Town Haps…
If you haven’t yet subscribed to our Free Weekly Event Newsletter, sign up today, and you’ll receive a regular spam-free event listing every week via email that goes something like this:
FRIDAY, MAY 1st:
BILL & PEGGY HUNT PLAYWRIGHT FESTIVAL, BLT
8pm:Burien Little Theatre’s Bill & Peggy Hunt’s Playwright’s Festival premieres tonight! They’re also holding a food drive fundraiser for local food banks, so be sure to bring some non-perishable food with you!
Here are a few of the upcoming performances:
May 1 at 8:00 p.m. Friday – MAY DAY!
May 2 at 8:00 p.m. Saturday – Free play readings at 2 p.m. – “Penny Loves Butchie Hartog” and “Sinking Bass Turds”
May 3 at 2:00 p.m. Sunday Matinee
May 8 at 8:00 p.m. Friday
May 9 at 8:00 p.m. Saturday – Plus free play readings at 2 p.m. – “Penny Loves Butchie Hartog” and “Sinking Bass Turds”
May 10 at 2:00 p.m. Sunday Matinee
More info, including the full schedule, as well as listings of plays and readings, here.
DJ QUINN, BISON CREEK PIZZA & PUB, 630 SW 153rd Street
10pm-2am: DJ Quinn returns to the recently-remodeled Bison Creek Pizza & Pub. Tonight there’s NO COVER. More info here.
ELMER’S PUB, 15027 Ambaum Blvd SW, 439-1007
9:30pm+: Live Music! NO COVER! ROCK! BEER! FOOD! DANCING! DARTS! POOL! FUN!
MICK KELLY’S IRISH PUB, 435 SW 152nd, Burien, 246-2473
10pm+: Live DJ, 80s night, dancing, NO COVER! Irish accents + Guinness on tap! More info here: http://mickkellysirishpub.com/
SATURDAY, MAY 2nd:
PARKSIDE GARDEN CLUB PLANT SALE, ALBERTSON’S
9am-4pm: The Parkside Garden Club will be holding its annual plant sale to benefit local charities as well as scholarships at both the UW and WSU at the Albertson’s parking lot at First Avenue South and South 160th Street. More info here.
WEST SEATTLE MONTESSORI SCHOOL RUMMAGE SALE
9am-3pm: BTB Advertiser West Seattle Montessori School is having a Rummage Sale at the American Legion Hall in West Seattle, which is located at 3618 SW Alaska Street in West Seattle. More info here.
MOSHIER ART CENTER’S SPRING POTTERY SALE, MOSHIER ARTS CENTER
10am-3pm: Burien’s Moshier Community Art Center is holding its annual Spring Pottery Sale, and it’s a great opportunity to get some original pottery for Mother’s Day. More info here.
HIGHLINE BOTANICAL GARDENS ANNUAL PLANT SALE
10am-3pm: The Highline SeaTac Botanical Gardens will be holding their annual plant sale at their gardens, which are located at 3735 24th Ave South. More info here.
“HATS OFF FOR HIGHLINE” FUNDRAISER, EMERALD DOWNS
11:30am: BTB Advertiser Highline Medical Foundation is sponsoring Hats on for Highline to raise money for cancer care and other patient care programs at 11:30am at Emerald Downs in Auburn. More info here.
3 WISHES’ CLOTHING FUNDRAISER, 3 WISHES BOUTIQUE
10am-6pm: 3 Wishes Boutique, located at 929 SW 152nd in Olde Burien, is holding a fundraiser for the YWCA’s “Dress for Success” program, and is asking residents to bring in clothing they no longer wear to donate to disadvantaged women. Bring in & donate clothing you no longer wear and receive a certificate for 15% OFF your next purchase of regular price merchandise! More info here.
HIGHLINE VINTAGE JAZZ FESTIVAL, PERFORMING ARTS CTR.
2pm-5pm + 7pm-10pm: Burien Arts is holding its first annual Highline Vintage Jazz Festival at the Highline Performing Arts Center. Tickets are just $20 per show or $35 for a full-day (ie: 2-show) pass for this all-day music fest, which will feature two 3-hour performances with some of the region’s most well-known jazz musicians playing Dixieland, swing, solo stride piano, gypsy jazz and more!
NOTE: The B-Town Blog is proud to be a sponsor, and we’ll have a table in the lobby, so come on by and say “Hey Daddio” between sets and win a groovy prize!
More info here, including videos of some of the artists as well as ticket info.
BILL & PEGGY HUNT PLAYWRIGHT FESTIVAL, BLT
2pm: Burien Little Theatre’s Bill & Peggy Hunt’s Playwright’s Festival continues with free play readings at 2 p.m. of “Penny Loves Butchie Hartog” and “Sinking Bass Turds.” More info, including the full schedule, as well as listings of plays and readings, here.
HOLY FAMILY SCHOOL’S ANNUAL FIESTA AUCTION/DINNER
5pm: White Center’s Holy Family Elementary is holding its 21st annual R.E.A.C.H. (Reinforcing Education And Catholic Heritage) Fiesta Auction and Dinner. Silent Auction starts at 5pm; Dinner at 7:30pm and Live Auction at 7:45pm. More info here.
HIGHLINE VINTAGE JAZZ FESTIVAL, PERFORMING ARTS CTR.
7pm-10pm: 2nd, evening performance of the Highline Vintage Jazz Festival at the Highline Performing Arts Center. See listing above, or click here for more full details. More info here.
LIVE MUSIC, BISON CREEK PIZZA & PUB,
10pm-2am: Kimball Conant and the Fugitives (a great NW Blues/Jazz band), No Cover, 21+ please.
“COLORAMA” BOWLING, HI-LINE LANES, BURIEN
7-10pm: “Colorama” bowling, a fun, active and funky thang to do, and it beats Wii Bowling anyday! (206) 244-2272
LIVE MUSIC, 909 COFFEE & WINE, OLDE BURIEN
8pm: Live Music, NO COVER CHARGE! 909 is located at 909 SW 152nd Street in Olde Burien; Call for details: (206) 243-7909
MICK KELLY’S IRISH PUB, 435 SW 152nd, Burien, 246-2473
9pm+: Irish accents + Guinness on tap! More info here: http://mickkellysirishpub.com/
BARREL TAVERN, 11501 First Ave South, Burien, 244-7390
9pm+: Live Band! NO COVER! Read our review here.
ELMER’S PUB, 15027 Ambaum Blvd SW, 439-1007
9:30pm+: Live Music! NO COVER! ROCK! BEER! FOOD! DANCING! DARTS! POOL! FUN!
SUNDAY, MAY 3rd:
BILL & PEGGY HUNT PLAYWRIGHT FESTIVAL, BLT
2pm: Burien Little Theatre’s Bill & Peggy Hunt’s Playwright’s Festival continues with a matinee performance. They’re also holding a food drive fundraiser for local food banks, so be sure to bring some non-perishable food with you! More info, including the full schedule of plays and readings, here.
3 WISHES’ CLOTHING FUNDRAISER, 3 WISHES BOUTIQUE
Noon-5pm: 3 Wishes Boutique, located at 929 SW 152nd in Olde Burien, continues their clothing fundraiser for the YWCA’s “Dress for Success” program, and is asking residents to bring in clothing they no longer wear to donate to disadvantaged women. Bring in & donate clothing you no longer wear and receive a certificate for 15% OFF your next purchase of regular price merchandise! More info here.
COMING SOON:
WEDNESDAY, MAY 6th:
ROBERT DUGONI BOOK READING/SIGNING, THE TIN ROOM
6pm+: NY Times Best-selling author Robert Dugoni will be celebrating his creative ties to Burien with a reading and book-signing party at The Tin Room. More info here, including excerpts of Burien scenes from his latest novel “Wrongful Death” and a feature story with video here.
THURSDAY, MAY 7th:
7pm-9pm: Three FREE Natural Yard Design Workshops start Thurs. night May 7th, sponsored by the City of Burien and King County. More info here.
SATURDAY, MAY 9th:
ALL DAY: Tukwila’s annual Backyard Wildlife Festival is a free all-day event at the Tukwila Community Center, meant to educate and inspire people to welcome wildlife – such as birds, butterflies, and other wildlife – into their backyards, gardens and communities. More info here.
SATURDAY, MAY 9th:
DES MOINES YACHT CLUB SOUTH SOUND OPENING
2pm: The Des Moines Yacht Club is holding its annual “South Sound Opening” day of boating season on Saturday, May 9th with a flag ceremony, speeches, drinks, dinner and live music with “The Tropics.” More info here.
DES MOINES SPORTS NIGHT DINNER & AUCTION
5:30pm-9:30pm: Des Moines 7th annual Sports Night Dinner & Auction fundraiser will be at the historic Des Moines Field House. Host will be Bruce King, former KOMO Sportscaster, with a keynote by former UW quarterback Brock Huard. More info here.
FRIDAY, MAY 15th:
BIG PICTURE HIGH SCHOOL AUCTION
7pm+: Come support BTB Intern Josh Hart’s high school at this auction for Big Picture High School, which is located at 2450 South 142nd Street in SeaTac. More info here.
SATURDAY, MAY 16th:
8:30am-2pm: White Center’s 6th Annual Spring Clean Up is coming Saturday, May 16th, and volunteers are needed to help clean up. This annual clean-up event is intended to make White Center a better place to live, work, and play by promoting community building and neighborhood revitalization. More info, including how you can help, here.
BUY A LISTING ON THE BLOG & NEWSLETTER FOR JUST $25!
The B-Town Blog continues to grow in popularity, with April being our best month ever with over 18,000 Unique Visitors and 33,000 Page Views!
In other words, if you’re having an Event in the area and you want people to show up, you’d better get listed both on the Blog and in our Weekly Event Newsletter.
Email us for more information on getting your Event listed – free for fundraisers, non-profits or current Advertisers, and only $25 per week for others – a unique and very affordable way to get your event noticed by affluent, interested broadband-using local residents!
Welcome Our Latest Advertiser: Burien Auto Repair!
The B-Town Blog would like to welcome its latest Advertiser: Burien Auto Repair!
When I called Richard Doane, owner of Burien Auto Repair, to sell him an Ad on The B-Town Blog, he responded with “Who’s your mechanic?”
I was taken aback as I never considered myself as having my very own mechanic. Taking my dirty red Volkswagon Jetta in for an occassional oil change (always late) is the most I’ve ever thought of about car-stuff.
Well hey, I wanted to sell Burien Auto Repair an Ad, so I said “You are!”
As they say in the movies, “this looks like the start of a beautiful relationship.”
Turns out that Richard and his band of merry mechanics are ASE-Certified, an AAA-Approved Facility and have state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment in their shop. Plus they know their stuff! Besides Richard there’s Keith Titus, Service Advisor/Parts Guy and Nelson Luna, technician extradanoire and their local Spanish speaker (“Se habla Espanol”). He’s from El Salvador and now lives blocks from the shop. His young daughter helped translate their new website into Spanish.
While we talked, I had my oil changed and car washed. No car leaves their garage unwashed. I also found out that my Serpentine belt was cracked. Many of our readers probably know that this could have been real trouble down the road. Only my new full time mechanic could have told me that!
Richard states “it’s nice to be able to talk to the person who works on your car. In big shops you never talk to the mechanic. Here you do.”
When we caught up with Richard earlier this week he had his head stuck in another VW fitting a new coil into its engine. I’m sure that must be serious. 
Richard is Burien born and raised. A 1982 grad of Highline High School, who “left Burien long enough to come back” while he attended and graduated from San Diego State with a degree in Economics, he returned in 1988 because he decided he couldn’t wear a suit and tie to work, and turned his love of fixing cars into a business. Somewhere on the property he still has his 1964 Ford Falcon hat he drove to high school.
Burien Auto Repair is now in its’ 21st year. He recalled spending $168 on his first sign (still on the building) back in ’88 and his mother being present when he repaired his first customer’s car – “a very bad bug for $400″ – and exclaiming “Oh Richard, you fixed your very first car!” Since that day he estimates they’ve washed (and fixed) between 800-1,200 cars a year. They’ve washed mine three times and he’s only been ‘my mechanic’ for three weeks!
Richard’s kids Erika, 15 and Braden, 17 attended St. Francis and now he’s very proud to say they attend Aviation High School. He still gives to St. Francis’ auction. Burien Auto Repair’s “Clean Car for a Year” sold twice this year and raised $4,000 for the school!
When this car guy is not fixing cars from 8:30-5:30 weekdays, he prefers to water ski in his off time. “I’ve become addicted to ’3 Event Waterskiing – Slalom, Jump, and Trick.’ We practice all year round, even when it’s winter. We do most of our ‘tournament waterskiing’ on the handful of private lakes throughout the region,” explained Richard.
Richard Doane, a hometown boy, and the official mechanic of my family. Stop by and see him, and tell him BTB sent ya – here’s their contact info and hours:
Burien Auto Repair Complete Mechanical Service & Repair
617 SW 154th Street
Burien, WA 98166
TEL: (206) 242-9558
E-MAIL: richard@burienautorepair.com
WEBSITE: www.burienautorepair.com
HOURS:
- MONDAY – FRIDAY: 8:30 – 5:30
- SATURDAY: By appointment
As always with Burien Auto Repair: Your 100% Satisfaction is Guaranteed!
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