Kirkland Weblog

Turkey Trot: Nov 18th

Get your gobblers moving, it's Turkey Trot time!  Sunday Nov 18th at Marina Park is Hopelink's 12th Annual 5K Run (11am) and Family Walk (11:05am).  Registration fees range from 30-40/per person and you can do make that happen here.  Strollers and pets trot for free. Registrants receive a tech shirt, race bib, and an entry into the drawing for prizes.  See you out there.  I'll be the one getting dusted by my nine year olds.

Trick-Or-Treat in Downtown Kirkland 2012

Get ready for some spookalicious trick-or-treating in downtown Kirkland and Kirkland Park Place on Halloween!  Bring your little ghosts and goblins out for this local tradition...and you get to check out what's in all the stores too.  Look for the pumpkin with the witch's hat in the window to know who is participating.  

Weds 10/31:

Kirkland Downtown Businesses: 12-5pm

Kirkland Park Place Stores: 12-4pm

Local Retirements and Anniversaries

 

  Farewell Woody!
After countless hours of faithful service and tail wags, Woody, the Woodmark Hotel, Yacht Club & Spa’s resident Labradoodle and director of guest satisfaction, is retiring. To celebrate Woody’s retirement, the Woodmark Hotel, located on the shores of Lake Washington on Carillon Point and the only Seattle-area lakefront lodging, has partnered with CityDog Magazine to host the inaugural Howl-at-the-Moon Muttmixer on Tuesday, October 30. 

The Halloween-themed Muttmixer, the first to take place on Seattle’s Eastside, will be held at the Woodmark’s Olympic Terrace from 6 to 8 p.m. and will feature tricks for treats for all four-legged attendees, a costume contest and food and drink specials available for purchase. The contest categories include Best Pack (group), Best Dog and Owner Pair, Funniest Costume, Most Original Costume and Scariest Costume.

Following his retirement, Woody, recently named number one onCondé Nast Traveler’s Hotel’s Cutest Hosts list, is being adopted by a loving family from Renton, Wash. The Woodmark is holding interviews for its Director of Barketing position and hopes to welcome a new wet nose and wagging tail in the lobby by the end of the year.

The Howl-at-the-Moon Muttmixer is free to attend. To RSVP, emailrsvp@citydogmagazine.com with the number of people and canines attending. For more information about the Muttmixer, visitwww.citydogmagazine.com. For more information about the Woodmark Hotel, Yacht Club & Spa, visit www.thewoodmark.comor call (425) 822-3700.

Kirkland Arts Center turns 50! Happy Anniversary!

The Kirkland Arts Center is celebrating this big milestone with a REDUX auction, celebrating the glamorous style of art deco, on Sat Oct 27th from 5:30-9:30. Lots of great art to bid on as well as other items.  Get more info and buy your tickets here.

Ladies Night Out at KPP Nov 12th

Grab a girlfriend and make a plan to enjoy a cocktail reception and private movie showing on Monday 11/12.  You don't go out on Monday nights?  Well of course you do.....who doesn't?   Especially if the proceeds help the Kirkland Heritage Society restore the historic ferry clock in downtown Kirkland.  Cocktail hour starts at 5:30 at ParkPlace Books with wine donated by The Grape Choice, drinks from Sants & Sue Contreras, and appetizers from local Kirkland businesses.  Then head next door for a private showing of "Bridesmaids," (thanks Jeff Cole) at 6:45 where you are sure to laugh your butt off. 

There are only 100 tickets and they're $40/each.  Soooo- how do you and your lovely ladies get your hands on these tickets? Easy- drop by The Grape Choice or ParkPlace Books.  Or don't even leave your desk- just email: scon1965@hotmail.com .  ~j

Thumbs Up for Volterra

<------ love the chandelier at the entry

I've had some friends go to Volterra, which recently opened at 121 Kirkland Ave, and say they enjoyed it.  We just haven't rushed out there since we usually try to avoid pasta/grains and are never sure what kind of options we might find at an Italian restaurant.  Let me tell you- Volterra is worth the stop. O-M-G (as my nine year olds would say).  What a great addition to Kirkland! When you walk in, you kind of get that cozy, hip, contemporary feel like you are in Seattle and then to our surprise and delight the food and service delivered as well. 

It was a Thursday, about half full and we ordered some martinis, wine and caesar salads to start.  Our waitress was kind and gracious and we enjoyed sitting near the open kitchen.  She told us that the bread was from an original start in Italy that they had kept going, so of course we had to try it with this olive oil and special blend of seasonings to dip it in. Steve ordered the wild boar tenderloin with gorgonzola sauce ($26,photo) and I the seafood stew ($28, photo) which were both A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. But so many other options too like Wild Shrimp and Porcini with Black Pepper Fettucine ($20) or Dungeness Crab Ravioli ($21) or Braised Lamb Shank ($29)

You can catch happy hour from 3-6 Mon-Fri or lunch/dinner any day starting at 11:30 am. The dinner menu has so many tempting options it's hard to choose.  And it's obvious that critics far superior to the Rabuchins have checked out Volterra (in Ballard) and put it on their favorites list, but at least we are all in agreement.  Reservations at 425-202-7201 or info@volterrarestaurant.com .  We will definitely be back.  Trust us and go.  Then comment here..

Celebrity Chef Tour at The Heathman

Get ready for a charitable culinary event featuring some of America’s hottest chefs.  The James Beard Foundation has taken to the road for its Celebrity Chef Tour, and will land at The Heathman Hotel in Kirkland on October 20.  

What: James Beard Celebrity Chef Tour at Trellis Restaurant  

Where: The Heathman Hotel’s Trellis Restaurant

                220 Kirkland Ave

                Kirkland, WA 98033

When: Saturday October 20, 2012, 6:30 PM

Tickets: Tickets are $165 per person inclusive.  More information and tickets can be found at: http://www.celebritycheftour.com/events/Trellis-Restaurant.html or by calling (425) 284-5900.

Details: Trellis Chef Brian Scheehser will host celebrity chefs Ethan Stowell, Holly Smith, Justin Aprahamian and Naomi Pomeroy at his restaurant, where each chef will prepare a course paired with local Northwest wines.  The Celebrity Chef Tour began in 2004 as a way to bring the unique experience of dining at New York City’s historic James Beard House to cities around the country. Like at the James Beard House, guests have the rare opportunity to interact with the participating chefs while enjoying the luxurious atmosphere of our nation’s finest restaurants. Proceeds from each Celebrity Chef Tour dinner benefit The James Beard Foundation.

 

Natural Yard Design Classes (and they're free!)

 
Fall is the perfect time to plant and prepare your yard for winter, so it's opportune that the City of Kirkland is offering free natural yard design workshops.  They are  conducted by expert yard care professionals, and will help you create a beautiful healthy yard.  With all the sunshine we've been having, it's all I can do to remember to water my grass!  Seriously, though, it looks like they have a lot of professionals ready to share all their secrets with you, so take advantage if you can.

Here's the lineup: 

Dates and
Topics:   

 October 4, Garden Design and Growing Healthy Soil

October 11, Designing with Plants and Natural Pest Control

October 18, Edible Gardening and Smart Watering

October 25, Natural Lawn Care

Time:                           
7:00-9:00 p.m. each Thursday

Location:                    
Our Redeemer Lutheran church, 11611 N.E. 140^th Street, Kirkland

 To Reserve
a Seat:   Call Betsy Adams at 425-587-3858 or email badams@kirklandwa.gov.

 

 

Kirkland Hometown Values Goes Mobile

We all love a deal. And now Kirkland Hometown Values...yes, that's the coupon magazine you get in the mail every quarter along with 30,000 other Kirkland residents, has expanded their reach to the digital world.  Now you can check out their  cool mobile website  and their iPhone and Android App that allow consumers to access this money saving tool while roaming the earth. For the free phone app, just search "Hometown Values" in the Android Market or iPhone App Store. You can discover deals from local vendors like Zeek's, Rock Star Tan Bar, EyeCandy, Sky Mania, Mezcal Grill, Sylvan, Northwest Aerials, and Party for Less just to name a few.  And don't be like me where you go someplace b/c you have a coupon and then totally forget to use it when you are paying anyway.  Blonde.  Definitely blonde.

 

New coffee drive-thru........maybe.....

Were you getting a little bit excited when you saw the old abandoned 2CH building (98th/116th) getting it's lot re-paved last week?  You weren't the only one... that poor crusty old thing is shouting out for some love.  When I did a little checking it turns out there is a 'cease and desist' order from the city because there are no permits submitted for the proposed drive-thru coffee shop.  Someone has to do the math on what kind of traffic jam that could create for thirsty un-caffeinated Kirklanders.  So stay tuned...

All Porsche Grand Display at Carillon Point

For a small suggested donation of $10 to benefit Evergreen Hospital's Uncompensated care, you can have a whole day of everything Porsche.  Aaaahhh, a girl can dream....

The Porsche Club of America, Pacific Northwest Region, proudly presents the inaugural All Porsche Grand Display at Carillon Point on September 23, 2012 from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM. This display of all things Porsche—sports cars, Panamera Sedans, Cayenne SUV’s, tractors, clothing, sporting equipment, drivers collection, memorabilia, and other items—will be displayed in the premier South Parking lot location just above the marina at Carillon Point.  The display will include some unusual, unique and historic road and track cars. There will also be several vendor booths, including Barrier Porsche, Griot’s Garage, Park Place Motors, Road Scholars and others.

The display will open at 9:00 AM with jazz and food. Then judging will be for best in classes and People’s Choice and awards will be given out at 3:00 PM. Two classes will be  given, including "Preparing your car for Concours and Detail Tips" at 10:30 AM and "Tips on Purchasing a Porsche" at 1:30 PM. Go enjoy a great day at Carillon with great cars and Porsche people.