Columbia Citizens

Live locally.

Consult your community calendar.

• library storytimes (Wed, Fri, Sat),

first farmers market of the year (Wed),

• a mosaic project (Thu),
• Columbia City SINKs & DINKs (Thu),
• a bilingual play group (Fri),
• first BeatWalk of the year (Fri),
• C-City runners (Sat),
• Historical Society annual meeting (Sat),
• Cheasty greenspace work party (Sat),
• a workshop at Orca (Sat),
• a neighborhood brunch (Sun),
• first bicycle Sunday,
• Columbia City Community Council (Mon),
• a meeting about the Parks levy (Mon),
• Columbia City Business Association (Tue),
• a library book group (Wed),
• and Citizens post more events all the time!

In the calendar, you can click through to each event's online information. If a local event is missing, please send a Citizen's alert.

It's gonna be a doozie!

Don't miss the first BeatWalk of 2009: this Friday, May 1st, from 7-10pm. Only $5, and kids are always free.

Bands include Correo Aereo, Eduardo Mendonca Quartet, the Zydeco Locals (with dance instruction provided by nwdance.net!), Annette Taborn & Clyde Curley, the Canote brothers, Blue Urban Oasis, Lizkelly McGinn Quartet, and Michael Powers.

Complete info is online: ColumbiaCityBeatWalk.org. See you there!

Seattle's Coolest Neighborhood Theater

May at last and out of the cinema vaults come the blockbusters, one after another until maybe August, a meadow full of movies. Beginning this Friday, May 1, we're on a roll with X-Men Origins: Wolverine, then on May 8, the new Star Trek and on May 22, Angels and Demons for starters. Is this a place to see the latest movies and eat the best popcorn or what?

The Soloist and Sunshine Cleaning continue for another week through May 7.

Be sure to check our website for the most up-to-date movie information! Or, better yet, sign up for our weekly newsletter and get movie times delivered straight to your inbox.

See you at the movies.

Columbia City Farmers Market opens Wednesday, April 29 at 3pm.

Fresh produce, farmstead cheeses, fresh eggs and more highlight this vibrant seasonal weekly event. Live music and special kids activities will also be a part of the opening day celebrations.

Come down and welcome our Washington state farmers back for another great summer season.

• Wed — Tranquility, Starstruck, Candysound Menace
• Thu — Fundraiser for Healing Harmonies
• Fri — (Lounge) Beatwalk
  (Theater) Comedy Shop presents — live standup
• Sat — Stories Under Sin, Peratus, Urban Evergreen, Untold Theory, Corson Swift
• Sun — open mic night with Martin G. aka Conga Madman!!
• Tue — Jam Night with host Stephen Smartt

more details here

RVHS presents women's history program

Please join the Rainier Valley Historical Society for our 118th Annual Meeting!

Saturday, May 2nd, 10 am – noon
Charles Lamb Memorial Hall – 3712 S. Ferdinand St.

Women's Votes, Women's Voices: The Campaign for Women's Suffrage in Washington State

This year we are fortunate to have Shanna Stevenson of the Washington Women's History Consortium with us to present "Women's Votes, Women's Voices." This informative and entertaining presentation covers more than fifty years of political struggle by a fascinating array of women — Progressives, Populists, Prohibitionists, and others — to win the right to vote in Washington State. As Ms. Stevenson says, "Women in Washington were not given the right to vote. They earned it." The women's suffrage movement is also the subject of an exhibit at the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma — up through September 27th.

read more...

Two Exhibits at the Columbia City Gallery

Come by the Columbia City Gallery and check out 'BIOTA: (n) the flora and fauna of a region' - new works by gallery artists Rick Duque & Drew Forsell, Cathy Fields, Lin Holley, Jim Madara, and Denise Takahashi.

In the Guest Gallery, we present 'Survey: Youth Art' - art by Seattle youth in three programs: Art with Heart, the East African Art & Cultural Association Youth Group, and Youth in Focus. Exhibits run until May 24.

Location: 4864 Rainier Ave S, 760-9843
Hours: Wed-Sat 12 to 8pm, Sun 10am to 6pm

St Gobain site — land use applications are in

The City's Department of Planning and Development published application notices on Thursday, April 23.

This is a large project that would occupy most of the block between Hudson, 37th, Dawson, and Rainier — although almost none of the project actually fronts on Rainier.

The public comment period is officially two weeks, unless someone asks them to extend it for two additional weeks. Regardless, the assigned land use planner continues to accept comment until he's about to write the decision. And we get at least one more public meeting with the Southeast Design Review Board — maybe more.

read more...

Columbia City DINKS & SINKS

This month we are going to mix it up a bit :)

• Thursday April 30, 6pm
  at Verve Wine Bar

It would be very helpful if you could RSVP to me because we have to let the bar know how many to expect. They said that if the weather is nice we can take over the patio.

I hope to see those of you who have come to past events and encourage new people to come! We just sit and chat, no program, no fuss, just meeting some great local people!

Columbia City Cuts

We're here for you! — May Day special

Hey everyone yes that means you! Come check out your neighborhood family hair salon.

Located in the heart of Columbia City in the rear of Retroactive Kids, this hidden treasure is for everyone. Reasonably priced, quality work, and a place for hair care needs for every member of the family. What more could you ask for?

Mention the Wikli and get a half-priced haircut on May first, May Day. We will be open 10am-10pm, come celebrate May Day and the first Beatwalk of the year. All ages welcome.

To schedule an appt. call today 327.9591 or stop by at 4859 Rainier Ave S.

Music for Everyone

Summertime music classes for 2-5 year olds!

Parents and caregivers, You're invited to attend Music for Everyone's summer session! Come play with the sounds of the banjo, violin, guitar, ukulele and banjo-uke, meanwhile expanding your repertoire of songs and musical games. The class is only $66 for this summer's 6 week series…June 17-July 22.

Music for Everyone's parent/caregiver and child music classes offer musical activities that are playful, interactive and educational. The group meets at The Lakewood/Seward Park Community Club.

To register or find out more or to schedule a free trial class, contact Jana at moc.liamg|1yreverofcisum#moc.liamg|1yreverofcisum

volunteers needed for food drive

Rainier Valley Food Bank has a new and different food drive coming up this weekend and I'm hoping a few of you may be available to help out. As some of you may already know, Leschi Market has been a tremendous supporter of Rainier Valley Food Bank over the last six months or so. They do a great deal to provide RVFB with fresh meat and diary products each month.

This weekend, we are going to hold a special food drive at Leschi Market. We are going to pass out flyers that ask customers to help us buy chickens and eggs for our clients. Steve at Leschi Market has set up a special RVFB code at the register so that people can donate $2.50, $5 or $10 at the register. At the end of the drive, the money will be pooled into a large fund and be used to make a bulk buy (or two - if we are lucky) of fresh chickens and eggs for our clients.

read more...

Introduction to Shamanic Dreaming

Tuesday, May 19, 7-9:30pm in Columbia City with June BlueSpruce

The messages you receive in your dreams can transform your life.

After this session you can join an ongoing dream circle.

read more...

Find community at the Franklin Arts Festival

Join us Saturday, May 9th from 11-3 at Franklin High School.

We've got it all!

• Displays of student drawings, ceramics, painting, woodcrafts and amazing murals
• Live performances including the FHS Lion Dancers, bands and creative acts
• Community and student vendors selling creative crafts and food!
• Games and face-painting for the kids!

For more information, call 383-0827.

Some nods to the neighborhood in the news:

• Real Change profiles a Columbia Citizen.
• NW Asian Weekly: Students recognized for making diversity a priority.
• The Times: Dan Webb says it's tough being a public artist.

Strolling Saturday along the Columbia City light-rail station, Webb stopped at a vividly colorful artwork that enlivens two blocks of Martin Luther King Way.

Called "the Sound of Light" and created by the late Ellensburg artist Richard Elliott, the patterns of tiny squares and circles are composed from myriad plastic reflectors — like those found on the rear of a car.

"Public art is great," Webb said. "The art part is tough. Making something really beautiful is tough, too."

Hillman City Posts

new members

• Welcome CBO and CC Neighbor.

• Site members can update their own posted comments, send private messages, upload small files, and have broader write-access across the wiki. It's easy to join.

site updates

• MissJenn has posted a volunteer opportunity:

Volunteer with Seward Park Reforestation.

Description: Seattle Parks has been given the opportunity to restore the crown jewel of our emerald city’s forested parklands, the old growth forest of Seward Park. The gracious donation of $1,000,000 by a single donor will stem the tide of invasive plants already in the park and help plant the next generation of trees and shrubs.

Each month, there are specific volunteer projects. Check http://www.sewardreforestation.org/ for details. To participate, call 206-423-1608 or email vog.elttaes|noitatserofer#vog.elttaes|noitatserofer .

• Diana Vinh updated Expanding Gardening Opportunities with this:

Help is needed with mapping all of those blooming fruit trees in your neighborhood for the community fruit harvest program. If you need help caring for your trees, using the fruit or getting linked to a harvest program to donate your fruit to the community please contact Diana at vog.ytnuocgnik|hniv.anaid#vog.ytnuocgnik|hniv.anaid.

Monthly meetings:
When : the fourth Tuesday of the month, 6:00-7:30 pm — we are not meeting the month of April as we built beds instead
Where : Rainier Community Center, 4600 38th Ave S

Saturday, May 2nd, work will continue on the Rainier Valley Day of Service Community Center beds

• Byron Au Yong linked to his really cool website in neighbors.