Non-perishable foods (in cans or boxes) and cash donations will be accepted.

There will be drive-through and drop-off locations for donations in front of B-Town Burgers, or any of the following participating businesses:

• Goodie Gumdrops
• Burien Books
• Poggi Bonsi Gifts
• Howard & Marge
• The MARK Restaurant
• The Tin Room Bar (BTB Advertiser)
• 909 Coffee & Wine
• Statements Home Decor (BTB Advertiser)
• Skinperfect
• Karuna Arts Yoga

Bartell Drugs is holding a “Bear Hugs” campaign for the Annual Warm 106.9 FM Teddy Bear Patrol, where people are asked to purchase Teddy Bears to be donated to children in stressful or emergency situations.

Teddy Bears are $7 each, and with each purchase Bartells will donate a second bear to the campaign. Donors can also give their own new or gently-used bears as long as they are under 12-inches.

The drive continues through March 31st, and the Burien Bartells is located at 14901 4th Ave SW. There are also two in Des Moines (21615 Pacific Highway South and 27055 Pacific Highway South), and another in Tukwila (14277 Pacific Highway South).

“Designed to help bridge the communication gap between a frightened child and an adult stranger, the program puts a teddy bear in the hands of community police departments, hospitals and emergency response teams so they may give the bear to a child involved in a stressful situation,” reads a press release.

A number of donation options are available at all 59 Bartell stores in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties, including:

• Purchase the Bartell Teddy Bear for $7.00 and Bartell Drugs will donate a second bear to the campaign.
• Make a monetary donation towards the purchase of a bear.
• Donate a new or gently used bear, under 12″.

For more information on Bartell Drugs locations, visit www.bartelldrugs.com.

Our friends at the 3rd annual Cove to Clover 5k Fundraiser Event (coming this weekend; we’re Sponsors) want us to remind our Readers about the annual Pub Crawl is happening this Friday night, March 11th.

Festivities begin at 6pm at Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub (435 SW 152nd Street), and will end beginning at 10:30pm at the BIG TOP Beer Garden at Burien Town Square.

There are 12 participating bars and restaurants, and the object of the night is to get a minimum of four stamps on your Pub Crawl Passport. You do NOT have to drink at each stop, or at all – you can just go in and ask to get stamped – then return to the BIG TOP beer garden at 10:30pm to enter for a chance to win a grand prize!

Also, there will be a “Best Leprechaun Costume,” which will be judged from 11:30pm – 11:45 pm.

All Cove to Clover proceeds will directly benefit the Highline Area Foodbank and Burien’s Hospitality House (women’s shelter).

Here are the details:

WHAT: The 3rd annual Cove to Clover Pub Crawl!

WHEN: Friday, March 11th beginning at 6pm; return to the BIG TOP beer garden at 10:30pm. NOTE FOR EARLY BIRDS: You can get your Pub Crawl Passport at Mick Kelly’s as early as 5pm!

WHERE: START: Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub, located at 435 SW 152nd Street (206.246.2473); END: 10:30pm at BIG TOP beer garden, Burien Town Square.

INFO: Cost is $15 per crawler, and all proceeds go to the Highline Area Foodbank and Burien’s Hospitality House (women’s shelter).

*NEW* Official Pub Crawl registrants will receive one complementary “Clover Coin”, which can be used to purchase a beer of drink in the Big Top Beer Garden all weekend. On Sunday, “Clover Coins” can be used to purchase food items (a $5 value).

Here’s more info from the official website:

Cove to Clover Opening Ceremony at Burien Town Square will be in the BIG TOP Beer Garden from 10:30 pm-Midnight.  Join the Celtic jam session with Haggis Bros. while enjoying one of Georgetown Brewery’s fine brews or “c2c snakebite” drink (recipes will contain Stoli and Tullamore Dew).

• Or purchase/pickup your official bib/passport/Clover Coin beginning at 5 pm Mick’s Kelly’s Irish Pub in Burien
• Visit the stops, collecting stamps or stickers (qualifies for the GRAND door prize)
• Return to Burien Town Square at 10:30 pm for live Celtic music and door prizes
• Prize awarded for Best Leprechaun Costume (judged 11:30-11:45 pm)

‘Coyle,’ the 30-foot, handmade giant snake mascot of the 3rd annual Cove to Clover Fundraiser (we’re Sponsors), ‘crashed’ the Normandy Park City Council meeting Tuesday night (March 8), passing out hats and “Angel Bands” to sponsors on the council.

“The Normandy Park council really stepped up to the plate too, sponsoring 20 students via the Angel Program,” said race organizer John Nelson.

The Athlete Angel program allows free and reduced lunch Highline district students to participate in the race via angel sponsorships. In 2010, the Tin Room Bar connected 50 such students with willing sponsors who paid their registration fees. The program was so successful that organizers decided to make it generally available.

“If you know someone that wants to run but might not be able to afford the fee, please have them contact their school counselor ASAP,” John added.  “Counselors need only email angels@covetoclover.com requesting an Angel sponsorship for an anonymous student.”

Here’s more from an email we received from John:

We received a warm reception from the NP council as we passed out hats and the “Angel bands” which Angel sponsors will receive on race day signifying their support to the program. They had to reach into the mouth to receive their hat/band.  We thanked them for sponsoring 20 students via the Angel Program.

Current Status of the Angel Program:

• Total Sponsored Registrations: 128
• Total Students Signed-Up: 115

That means there are still 13 sponsorships available for free and reduced-lunch Highline schools students.  If you know someone that wants to run but might not be able to afford the fee, please have them contact their school counselor ASAP. Counselors need only email angels@covetoclover.com requesting an Angel sponsorship for an anonymous student.

Special Thanks to the Angel Shoemaker Sponsor
Larry and Kathleen Shoemaker graciously donated $500 to purchase running shoes for Angel runners in the greatest need.  To date, 13 pair of youth running shoes have been purchased for young runners.  They are truly shoemakers.

Pub Crawl – $15 (now includes a “clover coin” good for a snake drink or beer at the Big Top Beer Garden – $5 value)

Also, there’s a new promotion for the pub crawl – each registrant will receive one “Clover Coin” which is good for a beer or drink in the Big Top Charity Beer Garden all weekend.  (Clover Coins will sell for  $5 each or 5 for $20)  RACE DAY ONLY: “Clover Coins” can used to order a food item from Mick Kelly’s, Burien Press or the Australian Pie Company.  Free food delivery service provided by the Boy Scouts from the tables on the perimeter of the garden tent.

Thanks,
John

Here are some photos taken at the council meeting courtesy Jensen Nelson:

‘Coyle,’ who also ‘crashed’ the Burien City Council meeting on March 1st (see our coverage and photos here), was designed by noted local Artist Sarah Lovett, whose most prior Burien appearance was at last fall’s “Arts-A-Glow” festival when she premiered an oversized canine puppet named “Doggedy.”

Something very unusual happened at Monday night’s Burien City Council meeting.

No, it wasn’t that a local lawmaker suddenly acted nice, friendly and happy. Not at all.

Or that everyone finally agreed on at least one item on the docket.

It was the appearance of a snake. A very large snake. In fact, it was a 30-foot long snake named ‘Coyle,’ who is serving as the official mascot for the 3rd annual Cove to Clover fundraiser 5k Race (we’re Sponsors), which is coming up the weekend of March 11-13th.

‘Coyle,’ who crashed the council meeting around 7:20pm, was designed by noted local Artist Sarah Lovett, whose most recent Burien appearance was at last fall’s “Arts-A=Glow” festival when she premiered an oversized canine puppet named “Doggedy.”

BTB Publisher/Editor Scott Schaefer was on hand to witness the spectacle at the council meeting, and he shares the following photos, along with this little anecdote:

“If ‘Coyle’ was put on a ballot last night, he would’ve lost by a 4-2 margin.

Only two councilmembers (Lucy Krakowiak and Jack Block, Jr.) actually responded to pleas from race organizer John Nelson to fill out an Athlete Angel sponsorship form and put it into the snake’s mouth.

All I can say about this serious lack of participation from the council for this 100% local, all-volunteer fundraiser is to make a rather nasty hisssssssing sound…”

The team behind (or rather, under) 'Coyle' gets ready in the parking garage.

Cove to Clover Organizer John Nelson checks the inside of Coyle's mouth. We're not sure if he's looking for cavities or gum disease.

Perhaps Nelson was looking for this? Coyle's head and mouth was operated by Camille Ogden.

Newest councilmember Gerald Robison isn't quite sure how to react to the giant snake.

After crashing the city council meeting, Coyle then ventured into the library.

Having found no live rodents for food, nor any books about them, Coyle left the library.

The team behind (or under) Coyle posed in the hallway as the city council meeting continued behind them.

Here’s more info on the Cove to Clover events:

• Fees for the Friday, March 11th Cove to Clover Pub Crawl will increase by $5 on Fri, March 4th, so register online now here. This pub crawl culminates with the official Cove to Clover Opening Ceremonies in Burien Town Square from 10:30pm – Midnight. It will be under a “Big Top Beer Garden” with live Celtic music, prizes and a leprechaun costume contest. Gifts for the first 100 registrants can be redeemed with your bib #. You can also register in person at Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub, the Highline Athletic Club, the Tin Room, 909 and Burien Press.
• On Saturday, March 12th, there will be a “Party before the Pain” Irish Gala from 7pm – 11pm at The Cove. Tickets are just $20 per person, and this includes a traditional Irish dinner, live music from The Haggis Bros., dancing, Guiness and Georgetown’s Mannys, Rogers on tap, a special appearance by a 30-foot Snake(!) and much more. There will also be a “Celtic Costumed Couple Contest” with the winner receiving dinner for two at Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub.
• The cool new Cove to Clover hats are now on sale at Mick Kelly’s.
• The Cove to Clover 5k Fundraiser Run (full details here) will be Sunday, March 13th (giving you a day to recover from the Pub Crawl on Friday, March 11th), and here are some new, exclusive insider details:

• C2C’s will have a new, Big Top Beer Garden in Town Square.
• Clover Coins will be the official tender of said Big Top Beer Garden.
• $5 each or 5 for $20 (spendable in the Big Top Beer Garden, only!).
• A Clover Coin will buy a Manny’s, Roger’s, an official C2C drink or a food item from one of the local businesses.
• Volunteer food runners will take your coins from stations on the perimeter of the Beer Garden and return with your food.
• All proceeds will go to charities.

To register for the race, click here.

• Cost per runner is $35.
• There will also be a Family Race.

“This is one of the hardest 5ks in the northwest,” said Race Organizer John Nelson. “So hard in fact that it is fast becoming a test piece for NW runners. For starters, ‘Snake Hill’ rises nearly 1,000-feet in the first mile of the course. Around mile two you’ll encounter ‘The Uprising,’ a runner obstacle that has been constructed in the middle of a live Celtic battlefield. For your suffering, you will be rewarded with on-course Celtic pipers and a finish line festival that delivers the goods (2 beer gardens, 2 stages with live entertainment, free root beer garden and free hot dogs for children). The Snake awakes!”

Cove to Clover is a 501(c)(3) umbrella charity which distributes all proceeds to local charities, including the Highline Area Food Bank, Hospitality House and Highline District Schools. The organization is very lean, and is run by passionate, local volunteers, and last year raised over $36,000 for local charities.

“Be assured, your participation will be making a positive impact on your community,” added Nelson.

For more info, including all the other related events, check out www.covetoclover.com.

This is your opportunity to support Para Los Niños’ programs, while at the same time enjoying some delicious homemade Mexican tamales!

But you’d better act fast – the deadline to place orders is this Friday, March 4th.

Tamales will be ready to pick up on Monday, March 7th, from 10am-8:00pm at their office, which is located at at 425 SW 144th Street in Burien.

Two options are available:

• Chicken tamales with green sauce
• Vegetarian tamales with poblano peppers,vegetables and cheese

They are asking for a minimum $25 donation for a dozen tamales.

You can make your payment on their website using the PayPal button, or make checks payable to Para Los Niños or bring cash when you pick them up.

Please email your orders to info@plnwa.org, or if you have any questions call (206) 241-7900.

About Para Los Niños
Para Los Niños is a non-profit community-based organization with the mission to increase the academic success of Latino students through parent and community engagement.

For additional information about Para Los Niños please visit their webiste: www.plnwa.org.

Fees to register to run in the 3rd annual Cove to Clover 5K increase by $5 on Monday, Feb. 28th at 9:01pm, so now would be a good time to throw your feet into the ring for this great local fundraiser event, which takes place on Sunday, March 13th.

Just click here to register quickly and securely online.

Also, to guarantee a collectible t-shirt on race day, you need to register by the Monday deadline as well (later registrants can get their shirt from Mick Kelly’s 2-3 weeks after the race).

Other pertinent reasons to register before Monday:

• School registration contest closes March 1st at 11:59 pm.
• Fees for the Friday, March 11th Cove to Clover Pub Crawl will increase by $5 on Fri, March 4th, so register online now here.  This pub crawl culminates with the official Cove to Clover Opening Ceremonies in Burien Town Square from 10:30pm – Midnight. It will be under a “Big Top Beer Garden” with live Celtic music, prizes and a leprechaun costume contest. Gifts for the first 100 registrants can be redeemed with your bib #.  You can also register in person at Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub, the Highline Athletic Club, the Tin Room, 909 and Burien Press.
• Also, we have inside information that the new C2C hats will go on sale at Mick Kelly’s early next week.
• CITY COUNCIL BEWARE: Rumor has it that the C2C 30-foot snake named “Coyle” (Gaelic for “searches for battle”) is poised to make its debut appearance at Monday’s City Council meeting.

Here’s more info from the Cove to Clover website (we’re a Sponsors):

This race is unlike any other 5K. For one thing, it is hard. So hard in fact that it is fast becoming a test piece for NW runners. For starters, “Snake Hill” rises nearly 1000′ in the first mile of the course. Around mile 2 you’ll encounter “The Uprising”, a runner obstacle that has been constructed in the middle of a live Celtic battlefield. For your suffering, you will be rewarded with on-course Celtic pipers and a finish line festival that delivers the goods (2 beer gardens, 2 stages with live entertainment, free root beer garden and free hot dogs for children).

5K (Run or Walk) — Beat the Snake Sunday, March 13th Starts at 1 pm
(“The Cove” to Burien Town Square)
This is like no other 5K you have run. It is hard and suffering begins right out of the starting gate as you climb nearly 1000 ft up ominously named “Snake Hill”. Indeed, it is brutal but at the top of the hill runners are rewarded with the ethereal music of a Highland piper and beautiful views of Puget Sound.

Wee (Family) Race – (Run or Walk)Sunday March 13th at 1:40 pm
(St. Francis to Burien Town Square)
Other than overcoming “The Uprising”, this is a great flat course for younger or rookie runners.

The UPRISING — New for 2011
To keep things interesting, we’ve added a runner obstacle to the 5K and Family race courses. Yes, you can go around but runners are encouraged to participate. If you do decide to go around, it will be about 0.05 mile longer. Lead runners will have a decision to make. For certain, the bragging rights go with tackling “The Uprising” while maintaining your lead. You’ll have to join us on race day to fully appreciate all the elements that make up ”The Uprising”.

Cove to Clover Charity
The Cove to Clover is a 501(c)(3) umbrella charity which distributes all proceeds to local charities including the Highline Area Food Bank, the Hospitality House and Highline District Schools. The organization is very lean, run by passionate volunteers. Be assured, your participation will be making a positive impact on your community.

By now, you have probably seen the wine-colored posters displayed in the windows of literally every business in Des Moines and have read multiple articles on The Waterland Blog about the upcoming 7th Annual Poverty Bay Wine Festival on March 4-6 at the Landmark Event Center in Des Moines.

And by now you and your friends have purchased tickets (you have, right? If not, click here now) and are eagerly awaiting the chance to sample over 20 different wineries such as Page Cellars, eat Northwest cuisine from restaurants like Salty’s at Redondo, and groove to the sultry music of Michael Powers and Mambo Cadillac.

But what you may not be aware of is that not only will you be having a great time, you will also be helping the community – 100% of the net proceeds from this all-volunteer event sponsored by the Rotary Club of Des Moines supports local and international projects.

Each year, the Poverty Bay Wine Festival raises between $40,000 to $50,000, and the club is proud to say that this event alone has raised over $200,000 in the last six years!

Some of the local projects that the Rotary Club of Des Moines has supported are:

• Highline Community College Scholarships: $12,500
• Dictionaries for 3rd Graders in Des Moines: $22,000
• Des Moines Field House Playground: $10,000
• Des Moines Food Bank: $15,500
• Des Moines Farmers Market: $5,000
• Des Moines Parks and Rec. Scholarships: $20,000
• Mini Grants to Local Schools: $15,000

?So now you can go and enjoy your time at the Poverty Bay Wine Festival knowing that as you are sipping your wine and swaying to the music, you are making a difference in your community. Talk about “guilt free” fun!

Plus, the peeps from our sister site The Waterland Blog will be there all weekend, “blogging live” and hanging out – so come find ‘em and say hi! Hint: we’re looking for good local stories, so if you have any ideas please tell us there.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• Tickets are just $25.00 in advance, which includes 10 tasting tokens (tastings range from 1 – 3 tokens).
• Additional tasting tokens available for $1.00.
• Discounted Advance Ticket Sales end at Noon on Friday, March 4, 2011.
• Tickets purchased at the event will cost $30.00.
• Groups of 20 or more contact Ric Jacobson at 206-824-9462 for discount pricing.
• Wine Festival tickets are good for a one-day admission on either Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
• 21 and over ID Required at Door.
• No Pets Please.
• This is an indoor event with free parking and free shuttle service from the Des Moines Marina (limited parking available at site for $10.00 per day)

For more information about the Poverty Bay Wine Festival or to purchase tickets, please visit http://www.dmrotary.org/.

Our friends at Cove to Clover (okay, we’re ‘Kilt Level’ Sponsors thankyouverymuch…) want us to alert our Readers that they’re holding a “Party before the Pain” Irish Gala on Saturday, March 12th from 7pm – 11pm at The Cove.

Tickets are just $20 per person, and this includes a traditional Irish dinner, live music from The Haggis Bros., dancing, Guiness and Georgetown’s Mannys, Rogers on tap, a special appearance by a 30-foot Snake(!) and much more.

There will also be a “Celtic Costumed Couple Contest” with the winner receiving dinner for two at Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub.

Here are the details:

WHAT: “The Party Before The Pain” Cove to Clover Irish Gala.

WHEN: Saturday, March 12th, from 7pm – 11pm.

WHERE: Normandy Park Community Club (a.k.a. “The Cove”), located at 1500 SW Shorebrook Drive in Normandy Park.

ATTIRE: Full Celtic Warrior, Kilt or at least something green (Note: please check all broad swords at the door)

INFO: Tickets can be purchased at the Normandy Park Community Club. No online registration for this event is planned  (NPCC Office hours are M,W,F 9-1:00 and Sat 8-10:00). You must be 21 and over to attend.

More details:

• Celtic Costumed Couple Contest: Dinner for 2 at Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub
• $20 admission includes (fee increases to $25 on March 1)
• Dinner – Traditional Irish fare (7-8 pm)
• Dancing – Live Irish band – The Haggis Bros (8-11 pm)
• Guiness and Georgetown’s Mannys, Rogers on Tap
• Special Appearance by the 30-foot Snake!
• Tickets are now available for purchase at the Normandy Park Community Club. No online registration for this event is planned  (NPCC Office hours are M,W,F 9-1:00 and Sat 8-10:00).
• Join Mr. Snake himself as you dance a jig old-country style. You can B.Y.O.B. in case you’re not a beer drinker.
• Email: gala@covetoclover.com for more information.
• Note: This event will likely sell out, so please purchase your tickets early.

More info available at the Cove to Clover website.

Thursday night (Feb. 10th), a group of brave area residents put their lives (and livers) on the line as they participated in the first-ever Cove to Clover Drink Lab at Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub.

After much sampling, arguing, more sampling, more arguing and laughing, five libations were finally decided on. These will be the official drinks at the 2011 Official Cove to Clover Pub Crawl, coming Friday, March 11th:

• Venom – Tullamore Dew and Irish Mist
• Fang Banger – Midori, Stoli Rasberry and Cranberry
• Asp Kicker – Stoli Peach, Cranberry and Orange
• Crème Cobra – Tullamore Dew, Midori and Carolyns
• Sssssssshots – Shots of Tullamore Dew or Stoli

More details on the pub crawl:

• Start at Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub at 6pm.
• 21 and over only!
• Get your official bib/passport.
• Drink and food specials at official stops.
• Register online here now!

More information here: http://www.covetoclover.com/crawl.aspx

And don’t forget – the Cove to Clover 5k Fundraiser Run (full details here) will be Sunday, March 13th (giving you a day to recover from the crawl), and here are some new, exclusive insider details of C2C’s new Big Top Beer Garden:

• Clover Coins: C2C’s official tender of the Big Top Beer Garden
• $5 each or 5 for $20 (spendable in the Big Top Beer Garden, only!)
• A Clover Coin will buy a Manny’s, Roger’s, an official C2C drink or a food item from one of the local businesses.
• Volunteer food runners will take your coins from stations on the perimeter of the Beer Garden and return with your food.
• All proceeds will go to charities.

To register for the race, click here.

• Cost per runner is $30 before Feb. 28th, and $35 afterward.
• There will also be a Family Race, which has a $25 early registration fee.

“This is one of the hardest 5ks in the northwest,” said Race (and Drink Lab) Organizer John Nelson. “So hard in fact that it is fast becoming a test piece for NW runners. For starters, ‘Snake Hill’ rises nearly 1,000-feet in the first mile of the course. Around mile two you’ll encounter ‘The Uprising,’ a runner obstacle that has been constructed in the middle of a live Celtic battlefield. For your suffering, you will be rewarded with on-course Celtic pipers and a finish line festival that delivers the goods (2 beer gardens, 2 stages with live entertainment, free root beer garden and free hot dogs for children). The Snake awakes!”

Cove to Clover is a 501(c)(3) umbrella charity which distributes all proceeds to local charities, including the Highline Area Food Bank, Hospitality House and Highline District Schools. The organization is very lean, and is run by passionate, local volunteers, and last year raised over $36,000 for local charities.

“Be assured, your participation will be making a positive impact on your community,” added Nelson.