I am in desperate need of a hot (or even warm!) yoga studio in the southside! After recently moving from the eastside, I've been surprised by the lack of yoga studios in this area. Does anyone know of a jem out there that I may have missed? While I have tried Lotus, I am really looking for something more vigorous (vinyasa) that leaves me feeling energized as well as focused and relaxed in the aftermath. Suggestions very much appreciated! I've also tried Seven Hot Yoga in Renton, but they are a bit out of the way, and the studio's heating system leaves something to be desired. I love HYI, but they are difficult to get to from Columbia City.

Thank you in advance and namaste!

I love seeing posts regarding new businesses opening up, with someone taking the time to get inside and get photos of what's happening. Something that offers up to the rest of the city what's happening down here. I want to see more of that and I want others to see it too.

This of course would take a number of folks out there watching and reporting on our awesome and often overlooked part of the city.

Are there any other people out there feeling the same way? Thoughts?

Even if we don't do the litter pick-up together I'd like to coordinate efforts and learn more about my new neighborhood - it's great.

Thanks,
Scott

Here's my plan. Community wide yard sales on the weekend of June 4-5. I'm
having one regardless, so I'm in for sure. I'd like to see if there are other
households in our area that also want to have yard sales that weekend.

If so, let's coordinate and promote. I would be willing to collate all the data
from each participant and make a simple flyer with a google map of all the sale
locations on one side and a list of the addresses, what you have to sell, hours
of the sale, etc. on the other. I bet we could find a few businesses on Rainier
in our district to display the maps on the weekend of the sale for erstwhile
shoppers to pick up. The Rainier Valley Post would likely help promote it, as
well as the Columbia City wiki, and the bulletin board thingies on Rainier,
maybe even some of our local businesses (if you are one, please chime in!),
Craigslist and whatever else we can think of.

If you are interested reply to me and we'll go from there. If you have more
ideas on how to make it a success I'd love to hear them.

Cheers!

Michael

Augie is almost 30 pounds and has a bit more than 10 to go. We are still training him but he is generally a very good pup who loves people and other dogs. His best friend in his foster home was a large cat, so he should probably be OK with kitties, too. You may have already met him if you walk around Seward Park or in the neighborhood - in our unbiased opinion, he is devastatingly cute with his black-and-tan coloring, long floppy ears and a fuzzy little black beard. :)

Interested? Respond here and let's find a way to get in touch.

I'm thinking once we have a venue, to have a flea market once a week for the Summer months - perhaps a Saturday or a Sunday.

I called the Rainier Valley Chamber of Commerce and they weren't exactly a lot of help - the recommended the Othello Market, which isn't exactly the right type of market for what I'd like to sell. Anyone else interested in starting this up and finding the right venue with me? Email me at moc.nsm|119teyob#moc.nsm|119teyob if you are. I'd really like to see this happen. I think Columbia City is the right area to have this type of thing.

Manny

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), is a relationship of mutual support and commitment between local farmers and community members who pay the farmer an annual membership fee to help cover the production costs of the farm. In turn, members receive a weekly share of the harvest during the local growing season. This arrangement gives the farmer a direct connection and a relationship with the people. Members receive a wide variety of local in-season foods harvested at their peak of ripeness, flavor and vitamin and mineral content.

Shares include over 70 different varieties of fresh vegetables grown without herbicides, pesticides or chemicals. Full shares should provide enough veggies for a family of 3-4. Keep in mind this will only feed 1-2 strict vegetarians. Small shares are available and contain about 1/3 less product.
Deliveries will begin the week of June 20th and end on October 22nd.
Drop location will be somewhere in the Columbia City area. Please email us in interested at newaukumvalleyfarm(at)gmail.com.

Thanks!
Danielle

The classes are spaced three weeks apart on alternating Saturdays and Sundays. The duration of each class varies depending on the topic and amount of questions, or on how much fun we’re having. Most workshops will run approximately 3-4 hours.

Space is limited to 8 participants. You can save money by registering one week prior to a workshop, or by registering for all 6 classes.

workshop descriptions, articles, and registration at www.faverogreenforest.com/fermentation.html

The Krauts (Basic Lacto-Fermentation)
Feb. 12, 2011
Saturday 1PM

Miso Paste
March 6, 2011
Sunday 1PM

Beverages (Non-alcoholic)
March 26 , 2011
Saturday 1PM

Vinegar
April 17 , 2011
Sunday 1PM

Tempeh
May 7, 2011
Saturday 1PM

Condiments
May 29, 2011
Sunday 1PM

Picture this: a crowd of out-of-school neighborhood kids and their adults converge on our town green, which just happens to have gained a fresh coat of white.

I can't imagine what might happen.

3pm today, Monday November 22nd, at Columbia Park (behind the library). Warm gloves highly recommended. Bring your skis if you're really optimistic. Afterwards we can pick up hot cocoa around the corner.

Tuesday, Aug 3, from 6pm until we're done.

Neighbors are already pulling several parties together — there's a list and a map here.

View larger map.

Find one near you, or start your own. You'll need a few key things. Grills, tables… stuff like that. Invite neighbors to fill in the blanks with what they'd like to do.

Do you like to talk about plants or show off your latest sustainable garden creations?
The Rainier Valley Garden Tour wants you!

Your garden/yard doesn't need to look like Butchart Gardens…this is what we call the "real" peoples garden tour. If you have some interesting plants, a neat way to compost or re-use rain water, or even if you have urban chickens, you can be a part of the tour.

The 2010 Rainier Valley Garden Tour (formerly the Columbia City Garden Tour) will be held July 17 this year. As with last year, we are again shifting slightly the areas encompassed by the tour to continue to focus on diverse gardens throughout the Rainier Valley. The collective will again focus on sustainable gardening practices to include: Green Gardening, Water Catchment & Conservation, City Chickens, Organic Veggies & Flowers, Community Gardening, and Art in the Garden.
The 2010 Rainier Valley Garden Tour is looking for great gardens in three areas:

Genesee Pod
North to S. Genesee St, West to Rainier Ave S
South to S. Alaska St, West to MLK Jr. Way S

Columbia Flats
North to South Alaska St, West to MLK Jr Way S
South to S. Brandon, East to Rainier Ave S

Othello
North to S. Graham, West to MLK Jr. Way S
South to S. Kenyon St, East to Rainier Ave S

If you’d like to get involved in your community and share your garden, please e-mail gro.ruotnedragyellavreiniar|snoissimbus#gro.ruotnedragyellavreiniar|snoissimbus

We are also looking for volunteers. If you interested in helping the day of the tour (Saturday, July 17th) please e-mail gro.ruotnedragyellavreiniar|reetnulov#gro.ruotnedragyellavreiniar|reetnulov.

Visit rainiervalleygardentour.org for more info!

Now the city is looking for new areas to develop a P Patch program and I would love to see this dump site (with full sun!) become a neighborhood P Patch. You can suggest new P Patches to the city here

If you are kind enough to suggest this area, the address is 5620 MLK and the owner of the property is BP WEST COAST PRODUCTS LLC 6 CENTERPOINTE DR LA PALMA CA 90623

Seattle Department of Neighborhoods announces changes to Neighborhood Matching Fund
Improvements make process simpler and easier to receive funding for community projects
First deadline coming up in January

SEATTLE – In its continuing efforts to make the Neighborhood Matching Fund (NMF) more accessible and simpler for residents, Seattle Department of Neighborhoods has made key improvements to this nationally recognized program. The Neighborhood Matching Fund Program provides cash awards to community organizations for neighborhood-based projects, and these changes not only make the structure and process easier, but reflect the changing economy. The changes take effect now for applications requesting 2010 funds.

Highlights of the changes include new electronic application forms, clearer guidelines, increased award amounts, and technical assistance workshops. The NMF website has also been revamped to make it easier to navigate and apply for the four funding categories: Large Projects Fund, Small and Simple Fund, Small Sparks Fund and Tree Fund.

Here is a more complete overview of the changes:

NMF Guidelines:
• NMF guidelines are now clearer and easier to navigate. In fact, all four funds are covered under the same document.
• The value of volunteer time has increased to $20 per hour keeping up with Independent Sector research on average volunteer time value.

Fund Changes:
• The Outreach Fund is now combined with the Small Sparks Fund, which will continue to provide support for community building projects with small funding needs, along with new flexible guidelines.

Award Amount:
• To reflect rising costs, fund request limits have increased to up to $1000 for the Small Sparks Fund and up to $20,000 for the Small and Simple Fund.

Application Forms:
• The forms are designed to be easier to use, along with simplified questions, fill-in electronic formatting, and simpler work plan and budget forms.
• Signatures documenting community match pledges are no longer required for the application.

Technical Assistance and Website:
• To increase outreach and assistance, NMF staff will hold one to two technical assistance workshops every month around the city. There are two workshops in December and three occurring in January.
• The website has been revamped to ease navigation and provide clearer information with the inclusion of a “Frequently Asked Questions” section. It also has enhanced features and links to other funding opportunities.

The deadline for Small and Simple Projects Fund is January 11, 2010 (next deadline in July) and the Large Projects Fund Letter of Intent is due February 8, 2010. For more information, visit www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/nmf/.

The Seattle Department of Neighborhoods works to bring government closer to our residents through civic engagement, community empowerment and involvement by all residents for the betterment of their community.

Sunday, October 11th
4 - 5pm
DESC Conference Room
5270 Rainier Ave. S

Sound transit still owns a whole bunch of strangely shaped properties on MLK.

Eventually those properties will be developed: if recent history is any guide, probably to the cheapest use for the parcels, like drive-thru Starbucks and strip malls. These add nothing to the neighborhood, and only serve to increase drive-by traffic. The other usual option is "green spaces" that no one will use and that add no actual beauty to the community.

I think there's a huge unrealized opportunity to use those properties in some new, different, visionary way, one that actually makes the neighborhood better.

What would MLK look like if a new path was taken, and those properties were developed in ways that actually improved the neighborhood?

What if we invited some architecture and planning students to come up with a new vision for those parcels and the future of MLK? Something based on the best of what's there now (including the cultural diversity and entrepreneurial spirit), and MLKs future as a transit-oriented street, combined with the best new possibilities for small lot development?

What could Sound Transit help MLK become instead of a strip of parking lots and dying shrubs?

Thoughts?