Some updates on recent Burien business news:

We had a chance the other day – Opening Day, as a matter of fact – to visit new Burien neighbors Donatelli’s Market.

The Donatelli family has created Burien’s newest enterprise, where you’ll find a wide variety of terrific fresh fruits, vegetables and other food items.

They are located on the west side of Ambaum Boulevard SW at SW 135th Street, in the building formerly occupied by Ike’s Burgers & Teriyaki.

B-Town Blog staffer Mark Neuman was on his way to another event with camera in hand. By chance timing, Mark became Donatelli’s first customer ever, snaring two bananas plus two perfectly ripe avocados, leaving behind Donatelli Market’s “first dollar we ever earned” (see photo at right).

They’re open seven days a week from 10:30am to 7pm. Open hours will lengthen as summer approaches.

And soon, Donatelli’s will be offering catering … Italian style!

Don’t forget to check out the north side of the nicely renovated building – it’s drive-through Espresso starting at 6:30am every morning.

Also, we’ve seen evidence of construction work on the Red Fish Grill, to be located where the former Keg Restaurant was at 180 SW 148th, across from the Transit Center in the Safeway mall:

Burien’s Farmers Market, which runs every Thursday from 11am to 6pm, is moving today (Thurs. 7/2) to its brand new digs nestled between the new city hall and Town Square buildings on 5th Ave SW, just a stone’s throw from everyone’s favorite naked female statue “Paradigm Shift.”

Of course, if there’s fresh vegetables and the potential of nudity involved, you can count on The B-Town Blog to be there, so come on down to the new location today on 5th Ave SW at SW 152nd (see map below), right smack between the city hall/library building and the new condos.

Burien Farmers’ Market runs through mid-October, and has developed into a very successful market with 40 to 50 vendors each week, including our own booth where we do “live blogging” and demonstrate our website.

Vendors include a food booth, handmade goods, farm fresh products, flowers, fresh baked products and much more.

Here’s a slideshow by Photographer Michael Brunk to get you in the market mood:

Click to View Michael Brunk’s Slideshow

And here’s a map showing where the new location is in relation to the old one:
View New Farmers Market location in a larger map

The Des Moines Farmers Market kicks off its 2009 season today at the south end of the Des Moines Marina, starting at 10am and continuing until 2pm, and we encourage everyone to come on down, find some fresh foods, sample some stuff, have fun with the kids and say hi to the staff of our sister site The Waterland Blog!

Also, here’s a list of the vendors you’ll see:

Full Season Farm Vendors:

• Acma Orchards
• Alvarez Organic
• Blue Rose Dairy
• Cha New Life Garden
• Children’s Garden
• Collins Family Farms
• Happy Mountain Cattle Farm
• Hmong Highland Gardens
• Moua Gardens
• Sidhu Farms
• Sweet Success

Prepared Food, Value added and Ready to Eat Vendors:

• Cafe Valle Espresso
• Forest Fairy Bakery
• Kauzlarich Smoked Products
• Miro’s Secret of Europe
• My Newt Mini Donut
• Panda Catering

Craft Vendors:

• A Thoughtful Place (6/6, 6/20, 7/20, 8/22, 9/19, 10/17)
• Auntie M’s Mercantiles (6/13, 6/27, 7/4, 7/18, 8/1, 8/15, 8/29, 9/5, 9/19)
• Basket Works N.W. by Reggie (6/6, 6/20, 7/4, 7/18, 9/12, 9/26,10/10, 10/24)
• Caryn Grow (6/6, 6/20, 7/18, 7/25, 8/8, 8/15, 9/5, 9/19, 10/3, 10/17)
• Fox Enterprises (6/6, 6/13, 6/20, 6/27, 7/11, 7/18, 7/25, 8/1, 8/8, 8/22, 8/29, 9/5, 9/12, 9/19, 9/26, 10,3, 10/10, 10/17, 10/24, 10/31)
• Diane Henderson Eye-Spy Fun (6/6, 6/20, 7/18, 8/1, 8/15, 8/29, 9/19, 10/3, 10/17, 10/31)
• Herb Align (6/13, 6/27, 7/4, 7/11, 8/1, 8/8, 8/22, 9/12, 9/26, 10/3, 10/10, 10/24)
• M & R Creations (6/27, 7/11, 8/22, 9/26, 10/10)
• Nancy Webb Copper Art (6/6, 6/13, 6/20, 6/27, 7/25, 8/15, 9/26)
• Tails and No Tails (6/6, 6/20, 7/18, 8/1, 8/15, 8/29, 9/19, 10/3, 10/17, 10/31)
• Teresa Eastwood Cards & Dog Biscuits (6/6, 6/13, 7/4, 7/18, 7/25, 8/1, 8/15, 8/29, 9/5, 9/12)

Musicians at the Market:

• Saltwater Saints 6/6, 6/27, 7/25, 8/15, 9/19
• Charlie Spring Music 7/4, 8,1, 8/22, 9/26, 10/17
  
• JD Hobson 6/13, 7/11, 8/8, 9/12, 10/10
  

For more information, go to the Des Moines Farmers Market website here.

Love to shop till you drop?

Looking for items you’d never find anywhere else?

Do ya love to eat good food during an outdoor festival?

Burien’s upcoming Strawberry & Arts Festival (Sat./Sun. June 20-21st) will have at least 25 new first-time handmade/commercial craft booths along with eight new restaurant vendors.

Scroll down to see a list of vendors, which is pretty extensive.

New Growth Events, who run the Bite of Seattle & Taste of Tacoma, are running the vendors this year, so expect to see (and eat) some great stuff!

And don’t forget – your very own B-Town Blog will have a booth there, so please make a note to be there.

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions about this year’s fest:

1.	What are the dates and times of the festival?

Glass Art Jewelry	Necklace & Earrings
Anne Anderson Designs	www.anderson.com www.Pearbox.com
Art Heritage	Hand painted designs and pictures on ceramic tiles.
Babylon Glass	Glass plates, bowl’s, candle holders and more.
Betty & Impressions	www.geocityies.com/bettysimpressions/home.html
Classy Sassy Jewelry	www.ClassySassyJewelry.com
Criss Creations	Driftwood Hangings, Suncatchers, Plant stakes made out of copper and much more.
DJ’s Jewelry & Accessories	Gemstone & Pearl jewelry, Hats and Scarves and much more.
DC Baby Creations	Child & Crib size Quilts, Fleece Blankets, Bibs and much more.
Fire on Ice	Hermit crab glass, Paper weights, Bowls, Rocks, Clocks and much more.
Henna by Angel	Henna Body Art
Last Best Candles	www.lastbestcandles.com
First Name Origins & Meanings	www.namesbylaurdes.com
Life Force Naturals	Palouse Red Bell Pepper Sauce
Photographs Around the World	Photographs & Greeting Cards
Noble Makings	Clay Beads, Beaded Jewelry, Pewter Beads & Charms and Sterling Sliver Chains.
Rolling Silver Jewelry	Silver, Copper and Stone Jewelry
Runecraft Creation	Ce;toc/Norse Theme Jewelry, Hand-carved walking sticks, Hand-painted “luck” stones and much more.
Sew Happy	Girls Cotton Sun Dress and Jumpers.
Snuggler’s Cove	www.snugglerscove.com
Studio Raven’s Nest	www.studioravensnest.com
T & D Crafty Creations	Corian Cutting Boards of different sizes and designs.
Val Persoon Gallery	Original Watercolors and Reproductions.

Speciality Food Vendors

Bistro & Chocolate Blends	Barreled aged Balsamic Vinegar Blends, Oil Blends and Liqueur Chocolate Sauce.
Dave’s Killer Bread	www.daveskillerbread.com
Lifeforces Naturals	Palouse Red Ball Pepper Sauce & Gift packs.
The Golden Bean Coffee Co	Roasted gourmet coffee sold by the pound.

Commerical Vendors

A & S Gifts	Sunglasses & Cellphone accessories
Arbonne	www.vegancertified.myarbonne.com
Bamboo Originals	www.bamboooriginals.com
Crabbers Loft	www.crabbersloft.com
Ganesh Imports	Singing bowls, chimes, handmade wooden masks, t-shirts and bags.
Pacari	Cotten dresses, Native T-shirts, Wool bags and much more.
Scentsy Wickless Candles	www.scentsy.com/lori
Thai Lam	Handmade Tibetan rugs, silk shirts, jackets and pants. Wool hats, socks, scarves and jewelry.
Tibetan Handcraft Emporium	Hand made Tibetan Rugs and clothes
Zambalha	Wall Hangings, Cotton Bags, Clothing and much more.

Farmer Market Vendors

I’s Farms	Fresh Flowers sold in arrangments
Overland Enterprises	Plants, Bulbs and Rock Gardens

Non-Profit & Information Vendors

Burien American Legion Post #134
Big Brothers Big Sisters	www.bbbs.org
Burien Athletic Accocation/DBA Burien Bearcats	www.eteamz.com/burienbearcats
Burien Citizen’s Patrol
Burien Little Theatre	www.burienlittletheatre.com
11th & 34th  District Democrates	www.34dems.org
Des moines Creek Academy	www.dmcacademy.org
Environmental Science Center	www.envsciencecenter.org
Girl Scouts of Western Washington	www.girlscoutsww.org
Highline YMCA	www.seattleymca.org
Leadership Academy
Neighbors of Seahurst Park	www.seahurstfriends.org
North Highline Unincorporated Area Council	www.northhighlineuac.org
Olive Crest / Fostering Together
Seattle City Light	www.seattle.gov/light/conserve
South End neigbors for Peace & Justice
Three Tree Montessori School	www.threetree.org

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!

New this year, free samples of local eateries’ dishes will join farm-fresh produce and unique handcrafted goods at this weekly outdoor event.

The plan has long been for the farmers market, produced by the Discover Burien Association, to be located in the new Town Square. Originally, the market was located near Burien City Hall. With the move, the market will be close to the new City Hall in Town Square, according to Debra George of Marketing Innovations, the market manager on behalf of the Discover Burien Association.

“Town Square is a great centralized location for market customers,” George said. “And the new library and City Hall will increase foot traffic, which will benefit the vendors.”

The market’s fresh-off-the-vine fruits and vegetables are grown by Washington State farmers, most of them local plus a few from Eastern Washington. George notes that prices are affordable, even for organically-grown produce, and the quality is high since this just-picked bounty comes directly from the farmers with no middlemen or delays.

This year, look for new items like Turkish handmade bread or a Hawaiian Shave Ice and, between 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. taste offerings from area restaurants.

Add a shave ice or a piece of fruit from a market vendor to tasty eats from the market’s hotdog cart for a great lunch deal. Enjoy it all at the market’s patio tables while taking the edge off the workday with live music, performed most days. Stop and chat with the B-Town Blog, the market’s official blogger, which will blog live from the market.

Customers who developed relationships with farmers or craftspeople last year will want to know that many of this season’s vendors are returnees, said George.

The market’s Olde Burien site is on 10th Avenue SW between SW 151st Street and SW 152nd Street (map below). In Town Square the market will be situated on 5th Avenue SW off SW 152nd Street.

Discover Burien is a nonprofit organization that works on the economic development and promotion of Burien.

For more information, call 206-433-2882 or go online to www.discoverburien.com.

View Larger Map

We at the B-Town Blog give a hearty “seafood, deli and caterer” welcome to our newest advertiser, Alefaio’s Seafood Market & Polynesian Deli.

They are just a door or two down from the southeast corner of the intersection of SW 136th Street and Ambaum Blvd SW, a few blocks east of Seahurst Park, in north Burien.

Alefaio’s can be  considered the lead ship on the bountiful waters of Burien’s top seafood markets.

David and Fina Alefaio have been in business for over three decades, and are soon to celebrate their second year in their current location.

Keep Alefaio’s in mind for their expert catering services – from family reunions, to corporate conferences to wedding receptions, they provide an authentic one-of-a-kind “Luau-style” catering experience.

Check the reader board inside for their carryout lunch and dinner menus and specials.

“We sell just about everything here,” says David.

No kidding. In addition to imported canned goods and a wide assortment of vegetables, here is a short list of what you can find:

• Indian Mackerel
• Spiny Gobyfish
• Farm raised Riverbank Fish from Viet Nam
• Calamari
• Cassava from Fiji
• Taro from several Pacific Ocean treasure troves

And don’t forget the octopus. You can buy it in frozen form at Alefaio’s.

“Our octopus comes from the waters between here and Hawaii,” David Alefaio says. “They come with all eight tentacles.”

He will be happy to coach you in the preparation of octopus and, for that matter, anything and everything his market offers.

“With octopus, boil it a little first,” he says. “Then sauté it with ginger, garlic, olive oil and green onions.”

Alefaio’s Seafood Market & Polynesian Deli (and catering) is open seven days a week, 9am to 8pm, and is located at (map below):

13612 Ambaum Blvd SW in Burien
(206) 938-8551

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The Burien Farmers Market is now open (and will be so until 6pm), the clouds are burning off, and there’s an entire block full of vendors selling all sorts of great, fresh and beautiful handmade stuff, including:

• NEW: “Springer’s Journey” illustrated children’s book Author Naomi Black & Illustrator Virginia Heaven (their booth is practically next to ours). They’re selling their gorgeous, self-published book based on a “True Seattle Story” about an orphan orca that hung out around Vashon Island; price is just $18.45
• Freshly baked breads & pastries (including “Fogaza,” a pizza-like loaf from Forest Fairy Bakery)
• Fresh cherries from Yakima Valley Produce
• Fresh produce from various farmers (duh…)
• Excellent artwork (paintings, copper art and more) from Ed & Carol Thompson
• Handmade 3-tiered hanging wooden planters
• Handmade chainmail jewelry
• Gorgeous handmade Glass Garden tiles, balls, birdbaths and more (right next to the B-Town Blog booth)
• Unusual handmade wooden “Bat Houses” (yes, houses for bats!) by Jack & Son; FYI…bats are excellent natural insect repellents – learn more here
• Handmade wooden things like squirrel feeders, picnic tables and more
• Knife and Garden Tool sharpening
• Live music around lunchtime
• Live Blogging from the B-Town Blog (with monitor so you can watch us in action!)
• Much much more!

In case you don’t know where to go, here’s a map:

View Larger Map

The Burien Farmers Market is open until 6pm, the skies are clearing, and there’s an entire block full of vendors selling all sorts of great, fresh and beautiful handmade stuff:

• Freshly baked breads & pastries (including “Fogaza,” a pizza-like loaf from Forest Fairy Bakery)
• Fresh cherries from Yakima Valley Produce
• Fresh produce from various farmers (duh…)
• Excellent artwork (paintings, copper art and more) from Ed & Carol Thompson
• Handmade 3-tiered hanging planters
• Handmade chainmail jewelry
• Gorgeous handmade Glass Garden tiles, balls, birdbaths and more (right next to the B-Town Blog booth)
• Unusual handmade wooden “Bat Houses” (yes, houses for bats!) by Jack & Son
• Handmade wooden things like squirrel feeders, picnic tables and more
• Knife sharpening
• Live Blogging from the B-Town Blog (with monitor so you can watch us in action!)
• Much much more!

Some pics to get you in a “market mood”:

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Farmers Markets have the lowest prices for organic produce, according to a recent study.

This is another obvious reason to come to the Burien Farmer’s Market, which goes from 11am to 6pm every Thursday.

The other reason of course is to come visit the B-Town Blog booth, to see us blogging “live” on the spot (and perhaps suggest a story idea right there).

Some people assume that dealing directing with farmers might be more expensive, but this study shows that it can actually cost you less.

“This is direct marketing, so the farmer doesn’t have to go through the middle man at the grocery store, and so it really helps the local farmers,” said Alan Worthington, of Appel Farms.

A Seattle University study shows when buying organic produce, it’s cheaper at a farmers market than a grocery store by up to 30 percent.

Organic produce averages $4.46 per pound at the Broadway QFC, $3.19 a pound at the Madison Co-op and $2.95 at the Broadway Farmers Market.

“There are misconceptions. There are people I talk to who think they’re doing farmers a favor by shopping at the farmers market or think they would have to pay extra for the farmers market,” said Stacey Jones, Seattle University professor.

For those who eat organic, buying directly from farmer may be the best bet.

As always, the Burien Farmers Market opens at 11am and goes until 6pm on 10th Ave SW between SW 152nd and 151std in Olde Burien:

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SOURCE:

• KING-TV

The rain will not dampen nor stop today’s Farmer’s Market.

Repeat: no matter what size raindrops are falling, the Farmer’s Market will open today at 11am on 10th Ave SW between SW 152nd and SW 151st.

It’s open until 6pm (but if you want the really good, fresh stuff, come on down *now* as most vendors are selling now).

Here are some of the things you can find at today’s Market:

√ Fresh – vegetables, seasonal fruits and berries
√ Fresh flowers – bouquets
√ Fresh, hungry worms perfect for composting
√ Plants – perennials, baskets, vegetable baskets
√ Breads – organic grains – baked fresh daily
√ Pies – fresh fruit pies (Mmmm…pie…)
√ Handcrafted – colorful pottery, yard art, jewelry, pictures, woodwork
√ Blogging – live, real blogging done from within the B-Town Blog booth
√ Hearty Northwesterners who don’t let a little rain stop them from moving onward with their lives

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Random notes and thoughts from today’s Burien Farmer’s Market, which is open for biz ’til 6pm:

• Blue sky has been spotted, and the temps seem to be rising!
• Local bars and restaurants are open and serving drinks and food!
• “Two Scoops” is still playing his bluesy boogie woogie, and an hour or so ago there was an entire family dancing!
• The man selling candles across from the B-Town Blog booth (Quentin of Iris and Quentin’s Home Candle Manufactory) has some humorous signage posted amidst all his handmade and homemade candles:
  • “Fight Darkness! Light A Candle”
  • “It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness”

The Burien Farmer’s Market is now open, and this week, the B-Town Blog booth is sandwiched smack dab between Edge Tech Knife Sharpening and Optimal Health Chiropractic.

So if we throw our backs out while playing mumbleypeg (which we do often), we’re in the perfect spot.

But seriously, if you plan on coming down to the Farmer’s Market today, and have some knives (or garden tools!) that need sharpening, toss ‘em in your pocket and bring ‘em down (okay, maybe not your pocket but you get the picture). The good folks at Edge Tech have their special machinery all set up and can sharpen just about anything right on the spot.

Or if your back is bugging you and you want a FREE 5-minute massage (we’re getting one for sure), the good peeps at Optimal Health would be happy to oblige. In fact, if you come visit them today you can get a special coupon worth $300 of services for just $25. This includes a consultation, examination, x-rays, computer analysis of posture and nerve stress, a full report AND a half-hour massage.

Some other things here this week include:

• Lots of fresh veggies and fruits
• Potted plants and fresh flower bouquets
• Live music around lunchtime
• Handcrafted arts and crafts
  
• Original jewelry
• Fresh blogging at the B-Town Blog booth

Hope to see you down here soon!

The Burien Farmer’s Market opens for biz today at 11am at its new location on 10th Ave SW between SW 152nd and SW 151st.

As usual, it goes to 6pm (but if you really want the good, fresh stuff, come on down *now* as vendors are almost done setting up and from what we gather, most are open to selling now!).

Today is the second week in a row that the B-Town Blog will have a table – so come on out and say hi. Or better yet, come by and share a story or something interesting – we may just post it on the Blog right then and there!

Here are some of the things you can find at the Market:

• Fresh – vegetables, seasonal fruits and berries
• Fresh flowers – bouquets
• Plants – perennials, baskets, vegetable baskets
• Breads – organic grains – baked fresh daily
• Pies – fresh fruit pies (Mmmm…pie…)
• Handcrafted – colorful pottery, yard art, jewelry, pictures
• Blogging – live, real blogging done from within the B-Town Blog booth

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Next to the B-Town Blog booth at the Burien Farmer’s Market (open ‘ti 6pm) is the “Worm Mama,” and she’s got plenty o’fresh worms still available:

Fresh worms. Not for eatin’.

Worms for eatin’ courtesy “Worm Mama.”

The band is playing, the clouds are breaking, it’s lunchtime and the Burien Farmer’s Market is open until 6pm.

Spotted so far today:

“This place is for da boids.”

The B-Town Blog booth will be here until 3pm-ish. Come say hi!

In the parlance of film directors, oftentimes Take #3 is the first “best take,” because Take #1 usually is kind of a rehearsal and Take #2 is an experiment.

But Take #3, well…that’s usually when the rehearsal slams into the experiment and good things start to happen.

Today is Take #3 of the Burien Farmer’s Market at its new location on 10th Ave SW between SW 152nd and SW 151st. As usual, it opens at 11am and goes to 6pm (but if you really want the good, fresh stuff, come on down now as vendors are almost done setting up and from what we gather, most are open to selling now!).

It should be a great Take too (um, we mean #3…), as rehearsals and experiments are over and now things are jiving.

And, today is the day that the B-Town Blog will have a table as well – so pop on over and say hi (even just to spite the gray weather gods).

Some pics from last week to get you in the mood, courtesy B-Town Photog Heather Crockett:

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The Burien Farmer’s Market opened at 11am under some gray clouds, but with lots of smiles, bright flowers, crafts and fresh food, as evidenced by these photos, taken just minutes ago:

Most of the stores on SW 152nd are open today as well and are running special promotions, like The Tin Room, which will be serving a full lunch menu, with outdoor seating for those true Northwesterners:

 

So get out of your office and get on down here – the best pickin’s are still out!

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The vendors are setting up, the street is blocked off and the skies are (hopefully?) clearing, which can only mean one thing:

The Burien Farmer’s Market starts today!

At 11am to be precise, through 6pm, on 10th Ave SW between SW 152nd and 151st, smack dab in front of the B-Town Blog offices, which are upstairs in the Color Printing Systems building.

So far we’ve seen:

• Lots of flowers
• Plants
• Bread
• Farm-fresh vegetables (lots of organics we believe)
• Unique stuff

And we hear word that a blues quartet will be playing around lunchtime.

We’ll be posting updates throughout the day, so come on down and check it out. Who knows – you may even make it onto the B-Town Blog!

Some pics to get you in a “market mood”:

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The Burien Farmer’s Market starts next Thursday (May 8th) and continues until Oct. 9th, operating every Thursday from 11am – 6pm rain or shine, practically smack dab in front of the B-Town Blog’s new offices on 10th Ave SW and SW 152nd in Olde Burien.

This is a new location for the weekly event, and it appears that this year they’ll be taking over the entire block, which of course will make it easy for us to attend since it’ll be just outside our door!

The Burien Farmer’s Market is for farmers, growers or producers from Western Washington who sell their own produce in person, direct to the public. All products sold are grown, reared, caught, brewed, pickled, baked, smoked or processed by the vendor. Choices will range from the freshest locally-grown organic produce to foods cooked right on the premises, arts and crafts, music and much more (potentially including B-Town Blog-related stuff…stay tuned for details…).

We’ll see you there!

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