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Royal Room Opens Tonight in Columbia City

December 16, 2011

in Arts/Living,Business,Eat

COLUMBIA CITY – The south-end’s new restaurant, bar and music club opens tonight with a grand opening celebration featuring 21 acts over four days.

The Royal Room – a 99-seat venue run by Steve Freeborn, Tia Matthies and popular local jazz keyboardist Wayne Horvitz – will feature live music seven nights a week, a full bar, and kitchen with dinner, late-night and weekend brunch menus.

“It’s been a thrill to work with Steve and Tia on this project, and something I have dreamed of for a long time now,” said Horvitz. “We hope to create something that really supports local music, for a variety of reasons – artistically, culturally, politically and socially. Seattle has a great scene, and great venues, and the Royal Room aspires to compliment that scene while putting something a little different in the mix.”

Thursday through Monday nights the venue’s programming will feature creative music in a variety of styles with an emphasis on local musicians and artists. Musicians, composers and artists will be booked for extended weekly residencies of six to 10 weeks with an emphasis on special projects unique to the venue. Tuesdays and Wednesday’s will feature national and touring acts in ticketed shows.

Go here for the opening weekend line up.

The Royal Room is located in the Royal Esquire Club at 5000 Rainier Avenue South in Columbia City. Photo/Daniel Sheehan

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Chelsea Deli Closes After Just One Year

December 13, 2011

in Business,Eat

COLUMBIA CITY – The New-York style deli that was all the rage just one year ago has closed.

Chelsea Deli (former RVP sponsor) opened to much fan-fare in December 2011, with owner Dave Harris - former head of Ballard’s Other Coast Deli – serving up fresh soups and sandwiches in the store named after his daughter.

Former manager Pon Sakounthong told Seattle Met that Harris parted ways with the deli about two months ago and attributed the deli’s closure to “landlord issues”, but according to Weed Building owner Christi Muoneke, Harris hadn’t paid the rent for months.

“The issue with the landlord is that the tenant has paid rent twice in the course of a year and a half,” she said.

She added that there are several interested parties looking at the space located in the heart of ‘Restaurant Row’ at 4908 Rainier Avenue South.

Photo/Rainier Valley Post

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New Fast-Food Mediterranean Restaurant Opens in Rainier Vista

November 29, 2011

in Business,Eat

RAINIER VISTA – A new, 100% Halal fast-food Mediterranean restaurant has opened just steps away from Columbia City Station.

Bananas Grill – located at 4556 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way S. in Southeast Seattle – celebrated its grand opening earlier this month.

“I went there for the grand opening on 11-11-11,” said Executive Director of the Rainier Chamber of Commerce Susan Davis. “My first meal was the chicken shawarma sandwich and it was delicious; satisfying all expectations. I can’t wait to go back to try other menu dishes.”

The restaurant serves a variety of Mediterranean sandwiches and snacks, including gyros, burgers, steak sandwiches and more, and is open Monday through Sunday from 10 am to 9 pm. They also offer free WI-FI.

Photos/Bananas Grill

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Old Verve Space Available for Lease

October 26, 2011

in Business,Eat

COLUMBIA CITY – The location that was – until recently – home to Verve Bistro & Wine Bar is available for lease.

The 1,775-square foot space sits at 3820 S. Ferdinand St. near Rainier Ave. S. From the flyer:

This highly efficient space includes a kitchen area with all necessary plumbing and electrical in place, bar seating, large curved banquette, bamboo floors, two wheelchair accessible bathrooms and air conditioning. Lease includes approximately 225 sf of outdoor patio area. Entire building has fully monitored fire sprinkler system for lower insurance rates. Water use is reduced as the rainwater coming off the roof is recycled to flush the toilets. Within a few blocks of all the shopping and services that Columbia City has to offer. Including the parking lot directly across the street ($1.00 for two hours!) there are 99 parking stalls on the same block. Location is one-half block to frequent bus service and six blocks to light rail.

No word yet on whether or not Verve owner Kate Bond will reopen elsewhere. Meanwhile, look for Rookies, the new family-friendly sports bar to open next door in the coming weeks.

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Columbia City Bakery Celebrates 6th Birthday With Charitable Donations

October 13, 2011

in Business,Eat

COLUMBIA CITY – Columbia City Bakery is celebrating its sixth birthday this week, and on Fri., Oct. 14, owner Evan Andres plans to donate every dollar spent in the bakery to three local charities, including one that calls southeast Seattle home.

“That’s every dollar spent, not just the profits,” said General Manager Andrew Cleary. “Our staff selected charities that reflect the diversity of Columbia City and the Seattle spirit.”

Benefiting organizations include Homeward Pet Adoption Center, Equal Rights Washington and the Seward Park Audubon Center.

Columbia City Bakery – located at 4865 Rainier Ave. S. – is open weekdays from 7 am to 7 pm and weekends 7 am to 5 pm. Photo/Rainier Valley Post

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Free Community Breakfast for Neighbors in Need

September 21, 2011

in Eat,Public Service Announcement

Did you know that many people in our community are forced to choose between paying for their rent and paying for food?

On Sat., Sept. 24, at 7:30 am, Food Lifeline and the American Egg Board will host a free community breakfast for as many as 800 neighbors in need at the Filipino Community Center (5740 MLK, Jr. Way) in southeast Seattle.

The event is designed to provide a hot, nutritious meal to those members of the community who may have limited resources or have been hit hard by the recession. No one will be turned away.

In addition to breakfast, the event will include live entertainment, cooking demonstrations by a celebrity chef from the Cooking Channel and giveaways for all attendees.

The Filipino Community Center is served by King County Metro Route MT 8.

Photo/American Egg Board

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Bad Weather Delays Crops; Farmers Market Still Has Loads of Fresh Produce

September 20, 2011

in Arts/Living,Eat

Weather is serious business for farmers, and this year’s unseasonably cold, wet spring and dwindling “summer” has pushed back the harvest season for some crops, sometimes up to several weeks.

According to Seattle’s Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance (NFMA), “Support of local farms is even more crucial in tough years!”

The NFMA – the organization that runs the Columbia City Farmers Market (CCFM) – encourages shoppers to be patient and get creative with their eating habits.

“Each season has its unique flavors,” says its web site. “Eating seasonally helps us connect to the landscape we live in [and] helps our bodies adjust to seasonal changes.”

That said, here’s just some of what to expect on the CCFM tables this week:

  • Apples – Pink Pearl, Holstein, Macintosh, Gala, Honeycrisp, Shamrock, Akane, Ginger Golds, Shamrock, Tydeman, Sunrise, Zestar, Breaky, Gravenstein, Early Gold
  • Pears – Purple Goddess, Red Clapp, Bartlett, Ubleen Summer Pear
  • Asian Pears – Ichiban, Asian Pearl, Shinseiki, Kosui
  • Apricots – Tilton, Royal
  • Berries – Mulberries, Blackberries, Wild Elderberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, Golden Raspberries, Strawberries, Currants
  • Cherries – Black Republicans, Lambert
  • Melons – Bittermelon, Crenshaw, Charantais, Santa Clause, Honeydew (whites, yellow, and orange flesh), Watermelon (red flesh, yellow flesh, yellow/orange swirl flesh), Cantaloupe – Galia, Fast Break, French Breakfast
  • Grapes – Green Table Grapes
  • Nectarines – Western Sweet, Independent, Red Gold, Snow Queen (white fleshed), Arctic Star
  • Peaches – Sun crest, Blushing Star, Golden princess, Red Globe, August Blaze, Garnet Babcock, Dixie Red, Raritan Rose, Rosa Hale, Elberta, JH Hale, Donut, Spring Crest, Spring Snow
  • Plums – Duarte, Friar, El Presidente, Sun, Satsuma
  • Beans – Haricot Verts, Cranberry, Purple, Scarlett Runner, Romano, Green, Concesa, Yellow Wax, Dragon’s Tongue. Fresh Garbanzo beans on the vine
  • Dried Shell Beans – Cranberry, Black, Cannellini, Fava
  • Beets – Golden, Chioggia, Red
  • Carrots – Yellow, orange and maroon – sweet and tender
  • Cabbage – Napa, Red, Savoy, Green and Purple heads
  • Cauliflower – Purple, White, Golden, Green
  • Celery – gorgeous green stalks, celeriac (celery root)
  • Chard – Green and Rainbow
  • Corn – yellow and bi-color
  • Cucumbers – Lemon, Armenian, Japanese, Slicing, Pickling
  • Eggplant – White, Lilac, Purple; Globe and Japanese
  • Greens – Escarole, Treviso Radicchio, Amaranth (Chinese Spinach), Frisé, Arugula, Bok Choy, Beet, Chickweed, Collards, Chrysanthemum, Claytonia, Dandelion, Endive, Lovage, Mizuna, Mustard, Purslane, Rapini, Spinach, Tatsoi
  • Herbs – Spearmint, Summer Savory, Epazote, Baby Dill, Basil (lemon and regular), Sage, Sorrel, Thyme, Catnip, Mint, Tarragon, Rosemary, Chives, Cilantro, Parsley

For more information on what to expect on the market tables this week, visit the Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance website.

The Columbia City Farmers Market is open every Wednesday through October 19, 3-7 pm, on Edmunds Street just off of Rainer Avenue South. WIC and EBT are accepted – please inquire at the market information booth with questions. Photo/KOMO (RVP news partner)

Popular Columbia City Wine Bar to Close This Month; Owners Looking for New Home (UPDATE)

September 8, 2011

in Business,Eat

Verve Bistro & Wine Bar – home of Southeast Seattle’s favorite chef Garrett Brown – has announced that they will be closing their current location in Columbia City later this month.

From owner Kate Bond:

After surviving the Great Recession and clawing our way out of debt in order to negotiate a new lease with our landlords, we received an email from them this weekend that they have decided not to renew our lease and want us to leave the premises by September 20th.

She added that they are actively looking for a new location, preferably one with ventilation and street-front visibility.

Verve’s last official dinner service will be Fri., Sept. 24.

In the meantime, all retail wines are 10% off, and all retail glassware, bottle openers, wine bags and stoppers  are 20% off.

UPDATE (9/14):

From Kate:

We have a little reprieve on our closing date.It turns out that you can’t give a twenty day vacate order over email.Apparently there are lawyerly formalities around this type of thing. You have to give it on the proper form with a signature and date.Who would have guessed that?!

Our new closing date will be Sat., Sept. 24.

We’ll be hosting a farewell party with a buffet and a suggested donation of $30 on Sun., Sept. 25, from 6-10 pm. Feel free to wear a hat.We love hats!

Verve Bistro and Wine Bar – currently located at 3820 S. Ferdinand St. in Columbia City – plans to close later this month. Photo/Rainier Valley Post

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SATURDAY: Guided Walking Tour Highlights Where to Eat, Shop, Play on MLK in Rainier Valley

July 26, 2011

in Arts/Living,Business,Eat

The community is invited to join the MLK Business Association for a free business district tour along the Martin Luther King, Jr. corridor at Graham Street this Sat., June 30, from 10:30 am to 12 pm.

Guests will visit several independently-owned shops and listen to intriguing stories from entrepreneurs who recently arrived in the US.

“It will be like vacationing abroad without the hassle of having to update your passport,” said organizer Sarah Valenta.

Upcoming MLK Business District Tours:

  • Sat., July 30 @ Graham 10:30 am – 12 pm
  • Sat., Aug. 13 @ Othello 10:30 am – 12 pm
  • Sat., Sept. 17 @ Graham 10:30 am – 12 pm

RSVP for one or more tours by contacting Sarah Valenta (206-760-4213 / sarah@homesightwa.org).

Photo/David Mullarkey Images

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Get Your Fresh Produce! New Holly Farm Stand Opens Friday

July 20, 2011

in Arts/Living,Eat,News

The New Holly Farm Stand at Holly Park Drive South and South Rockery Drive will open for the season this Fri., July 22, from 4 to 7 pm.

Produce for the stand is grown on one of two community supported agriculture (CSA) gardens sponsored by Seattle P-Patch Market Gardens – a collaboration between the non-profit P-Patch Trust and the City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods’ P-Patch Community Gardening Program. The Department of Neighborhoods provides staff to work with low-income communities to develop and manage the gardens.

Last year, the market gardens provided produce for approximately 53 households over 20 weeks. For more information, or to subscribe, go here.

The New Holly Farm Stand will be open for business every Friday, from July 22 – Sept. 30, 4-7 pm. Photos/David Mullarkey Images

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RVP Exclusive: Rainier Valley Post Happy Hour Guide 2011

July 18, 2011

in Arts/Living,Eat

Welcome to the Rainier Valley Post’s second annual Happy Hour Guide. With even more listings than last year, this is the place to find the happiest hours in Southeast Seattle. ENJOY!

Columbia City Ale House – This English-style pub serves a wide array of top-notch beers and yummy food. (723-5123, 4914 Rainier Ave. S.) Columbia City

  • Mon-Fri, 3-6 pm
  • $4 Imperial 20 oz. pints, any draft beer; $5 house red or white wine; $5 plates

Empire Espresso – Named for the old Empire Way, this is not just Southeast Seattle’s Best Coffee Shop, but also a great place to have a beer and watch sports. (659-0588, 3823 S. Edmunds St.) Columbia City

  • Daily, 4-7 pm
  • $1 off all beer and wine

Geraldine’s Counter – Serving the best in American comfort food, including an all-day breakfast that was voted Southeast Seattle’s favorite. (723-2080, 4872 Rainier Ave. S.) Columbia City

  • Tues-Fri, 4-7 pm
  • $1 off all beer

Island Soul Caribbean Restaurant - The South End’s only destination for authentic Caribbean food, featuring live music on Friday and Saturday nights. (329-1202, 4869 Rainier Ave. S.) Columbia City

  • Mondays all day; weekdays, 4-6:30 pm; Sat 12-4 pm
  • Well drinks w/out juice $3 (with food purchase), select signature cocktails $5, all beer $1 off, small plates $5

Kawali Grill - Voted Best Filipino Food in Southeast Seattle, Gerold Castro’s Asian American restaurant serves a wide variety of dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  (723-6179, 5300 Rainier Ave. S.) Hillman City

  • Tues-Fri, 3-6 pm
  • $1 off beer & appetizers

La Medusa – Southeast Seattle’s favorite date-night restaurant serves Sicilian soul food with style, including fresh, local, organic ingredients and the finest quality imports from Sicily. (723-2192, 4857 Rainier Ave. S.) Columbia City

  • Fri-Sat, 4-5:30 pm
  • TBA

Lottie’s Lounge - Voted Best Happy Hour in Southeast Seattle, Lottie’s is the Rainier Valley’s classic neighborhood watering hole.  (725-0519, 4900 Rainier Ave S.) Columbia City

  • Daily, 2-6 pm
  • $4 well drinks, $2.50 domestic bottled beers, $1 off wine by the glass, $4 draft beer, $1 off food items, $1 off signature cocktails

Maya’s Mexican Restaurant – Serving some of the best Mexican cuisine found this side of I-90, Maya’s is the place to go when you need to get your margarita on. (725-5510, 9447 Rainier Ave. S.) Rainier Beach

  • Mon-Fri, 4-7 pm
  • Margaritas $3.75

Orcas Landing – (402-4034, 5609 Rainier Ave. S.) Hillman City

  • Daily, 2-6 pm
  • Premium beers $2.50, well drinks $3.50, cocktails $1 off; all food 1$ off

Royal Esquire Club – Everyone is welcome at the Pacific Northwest’s premiere private black social club, where guests enjoy mingling, entertainment, great food and more. (723-2811, 5016 Rainier Ave. S.) Columbia City

  • Mon-Sat, 4-7 pm
  • $1 off drinks; beers $2.50, well drinks $3

Spice Room - Voted Best Thai Food in Southeast Seattle, Spice Room has been described as a “giddy romp through Thailand, with stops in China and Southeast Asia.” (725-7090, 4909 Rainier Ave. S.) Columbia City

  • Daily, 3-6 pm
  • $5 small plates with $5 minimum drink purchase, includes Crispy Garlic Chicken, Garlic Prawns, Thai Crab Wontons, Panang Curry & more

The Bourbon at Columbia City Theater - A taste of Southern sophistication with a fine selection of whiskey and an extensive menu of specialty drinks and tasty food. (722-3009, 4916 Rainier Ave. S.) Columbia City

  • Sun-Sat, 4-7 pm; Sun-Wed, 10 pm-12 am; Thur-Sat, 11 pm-1 am
  • $3 wells, $1 off drafts, $2 High Life drafts, $8 High Life pitchers

The Station – Locals flock to this cozy coffee shop for everything from their famous Mexican mochas to the hitching post for dogs out front to their great happy hour specials.  (453-4892, 2533 16th Ave. S.) Beacon Hill

  • Daily, 3-6 pm
  • All wine $4, beer $3, mimosas $3 (orange, pomegranate, pineapple, cranberry)

Tutta Bella - The Northwest’s first authentic Neapolitan pizzeria uses imported ingredients and century-old artisan traditions to bring you the definitive Neapolitan pizza experience. (721-3501, 4918 Rainier Ave. S.) Columbia City

  • Daily, 3-6 pm
  • $2 off all draft beers & wines by the glass, $5 small plates, $6 pizzette

Verve Bistro & Wine Cellar - Featuring wine and beer from around the world plus delicious bistro fare from Garrett Brown, voted Best Chef Southeast Seattle. (760-0977, 3820 S. Ferdinand St.) Columbia City

  • Daily, 5-7 pm
  • $3 beers, $1 off 1/2 glass of wine, $2 off full glass of wine, $3 off a flight

Wabi Sabi Sushi Bar & Restaurant - Wabi Sabi offers an intimate and contemporary dining experience with a full sushi menu, bento boxes, ramen noodle soup, and Korean grill dishes. (721-0212, 4909 Rainier Ave. S.) Columbia City

  • Daily, 4:30-6 pm
  • TBA

Information subject to change. Please contact individual restaurants to confirm details. Photo/David Mullarkey Images

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WEDNESDAY: Tips for Pairing Cheese, Fruit & Wine at Columbia City Farmers Market

July 18, 2011

in Arts/Living,Eat

This Wed., July 20, picnic in the park with Catherine Reynolds from Queso y Vino who will share tips and information about cheese, fruit and wine pairings with market shoppers:

Savor our local summer’s sweet bounty of strawberries, raspberries, cherries, peaches, nectarines and more from farms in Eastern and Western Washington. Market tables start to pile high with these sweet harvests from our local farms in June, July and August.

Catherine Reynolds is a passionate foodie, poet, traveler, & professional wine maven, as well as owner of Queso y Vino, a mobile wine shop with a roving supper club and newsletter describing how to select wines that inspire the imagination and enhance the pleasures of life.

Also, FREE ½ pints of local strawberries to the first 200 shoppers at the market! Go here to see what’s fresh on the market tables this week.

The Columbia City Farmers Market is open every Wednesday through October 19, 3-7 pm, on Edmunds Street just off of Rainer Avenue South. WIC and EBT are accepted – please inquire at the market information booth if you have any questions. Photo/Catherine Reynolds from Queso y Vino

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WEDNESDAY: Ratatouille Cooking Demo at Columbia City Farmers Market

07.12.2011 Arts/Living

This Wed., July 13, Cooking Matters – a national program implemented locally by Solid Ground – will offer a special cooking demo at the Columbia City Farmers Market from 4 to 5 pm. The demo will focus on how to cook a healthy meal on a budget using fresh ingredients available at the market. For [...]

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This Summer, Kids & Teens Eat Free at 25 Locations Throughout Southeast Seattle

07.05.2011 Eat

The City’s Summer Food Service Program, which offers free meals and snacks for kids throughout Seattle, kicked off recently at New Holly Gathering Hall in Southeast Seattle. The program provides thousands of Seattle children ages 1 through 18 with free breakfasts and lunches at qualifying sites (see list below) this summer. “When it comes to [...]

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Save the Dates: Guided Walking Tours Highlight Where to Eat, Shop, Play on MLK in the Rainier Valley

06.03.2011 Arts/Living

The community is invited to join the MLK Business Association for free business district tours along the Martin Luther King, Jr. corridor, where guests will visit several independently-owned shops and listen to intriguing stories from entrepreneurs who recently arrived in the US. “It will be like vacationing abroad without the hassle of having to update [...]

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Save the Date: Dine Out for Art at Mioposto in Mt. Baker

05.13.2011 Arts/Living

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Welcome New Sponsor: Add Flavor to Your Next Date Night at Spice Room in Columbia City

05.05.2011 Advertisement

Your RVP is thrilled to welcome our newest sponsor – the Spice Room (4909 Rainier Ave. S.) in historic Columbia City – voted best Thai restaurant in Southeast Seattle. Please support them; they help power your RVP! From the Seattle Times (RVP news partner): Date night in Columbia City might include… a bite at any [...]

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WEDNESDAY: Opening Day of Columbia City Farmers Market

04.25.2011 Arts/Living

The Columbia City Farmers Market – what CNN calls one of the best in the country – kicks off this Wed., April 27, at 3 pm, with a parade through the market by the Franklin High School Marching band, followed by live music from Squirrel Butter. What’s fresh this week: Asparagus Rhubarb Bamboo Shoots Watercress [...]

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Celebrate the End of Winter With Opening Day of Columbia City Farmers Market

04.12.2011 Arts/Living

This month, the Columbia City Farmers Market – what CNN calls one of the best in the country – starts up again with more than 30 farmers and food vendors selling a vibrant assortment of early spring greens, organic poultry and meats, fabulous cheeses, fresh eggs, wild salmon and seasonal cut flowers. In addition to [...]

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DISH: Plate of Nations Starts Today Along Light Rail Corridor in Rainier Valley

03.27.2011 Eat

The first-ever Plate of Nations – a new signature event of the MLK Business Association – starts today and runs through Sat., April 9. This is a great time to taste the rich flavors offered by a dozen restaurants along the light rail corridor in one of America’s most diverse zip codes, including: Original Phillys [...]

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DISH: Try a Little Bit of Everything at Plate of Nations Along MLK, Jr. Way in the Rainier Valley

03.19.2011 Arts/Living

Did you know that the Rainier Valley’s own MLK Jr. Way corridor is home to some of Seattle’s best, independently owned ethnic eateries? Whether it’s Chinese dim sum, a Vietnamese fish sandwich, Somali goat shawarma, Cajun style crawfish, or Mexican huaraches and a margarita you’re looking for, MLK, Jr. Way has it all, and from [...]

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