Columbia Citizens

Live locally.

Consult your community calendar.

• farmers market (Wed),
• play & learn at the library (Thu),
• community kitchen (Thu),
• library storytime (Fri),
• Sounds of Vietnam (Fri),
• C-City runners (Sat),
• Danskin triathlon (Sun),
• bicycle Sunday,
• Rainier Valley Rotary (Tue),
• Healthy & Active Rainier Vally Coalition (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.

Showing this week, we have Julie & Julia, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Away We Go, and those Aliens in the Attic.

Look for Inglourious Basterds, Quentin Tarantino's ingeniously bizarre new flick, at the end of August and hopefully, the surprisingly good South African sci-fi thriller, District 9.

On Facebook? Join the Columbia City Cinema group. Just another great way to stay on top of all that’s happening at Seattle's Coolest Neighborhood Cinema.

See you at the movies.

This week you will find fresh picked, sweet and juicy peaches, apricots, and cherries, as well as field ripened melons, eggplants, tomatoes, sweet and hot peppers.

Special news: Mayor Nickels will be strolling through the Market from 4-5pm, giving shoppers the chance to meet and speak with him. Please take a moment to thank him for his support of farmers markets. See you at the Market!

Preschool storytime Friday August 14th from 10:30 to 11am. Bring your preschoolers to enjoy stories, rhymes, songs and fun with our children's librarian.

Sounds of Vietnam Friday August 14th from 1 to 2 pm. Canadian duo Khac Chi combines the traditional folk music of Vietnam with lively new arrangements, light-hearted humor and creative stage antics for a show that is sure to delight young and old alike! For ages 4-adult.

Game On! Tuesday August 18th from 3 to 5 pm. Come by for open play on the Wii (including MarioKart!), sing to stardom on American Idol, rock out with Rock Band and practice your dance skills with Dance Dance Revolution. Free food and prizes just for coming! Ages 10 and up.

Summer Reading Come to the library to sign up, find out about summer events, and win prizes!

Library programs are free and open to the public. Everyone is invited to attend.

• Wed — Battle of the Bands Auditions
• Thu — Artist Showcase, local musicians and artists share their original material
• Fri — SIC performance with DJ LaRico
• Sat — Columbia City Cabaret hosted by Tamara the Trapeze Lady
• Sun — (theater) Cancer Benefit Fundraiser
  (lounge) Open Mic night with Mart G.

Here's the full list of events.

Artists' Reception - Columbia City Gallery

The Columbia City Gallery presents Masked, featuring gallery artists Mark Ditzler, Elizabeth Halfacre, Elinor Maroney, and Sultan Mohamed.

In the guest gallery, Out of the Fire: works by the Washington State Enamellists Society, highlights the work of 18 artists who create sculptures, two-dimensional wall art and jewelry in enamel. The exhibit includes various techniques of enamel work, including: cloisonné, basse taile, and plique-à-jour.

The Artists' Reception for both exhibits is on Saturday, August 22, 5 - 8pm. This event is free and we encourage the public to attend.

Give up smoking this summer

The Community Acupuncture Project of Columbia City is offering treatments as an aid to giving up smoking this summer. Throughout August we will be offering unlimited acupuncture treatments (every day, Mon-Fri if you like!) on a sliding scale between $30-$50 per week*. You pay what you can, come in as often as you can and get valuable support as you withdraw from that yucky nicotine.

Contact us at 760-6064 or visit our website at www.acupunctureforall.org. to make an appointment… it's simple and effective. If this is your time to quit, give us a call!

* one time only initial paperwork fee not included

SEEDArts announces Arts Gumbo 2009 series

Save the dates for this year's exciting series:

• Sept 27 — Louisiana Creole Culture with Zydeco music, creole gumbo, parade, dancing & more!
• Oct 24 — Get in the Halloween mood with Asian Tales of Shadow and Light dramatized by Eth-Noh-Tec Theatre
• Nov 6, 7, & 8 — The Odunde Festival with performances (Uganda Children's Choir), dance and drum workshops, African Marketplace and more
• Dec 12 — Kwanza Celebration with the New School's African Dancers and Drummers and traditional Kwanza food samples

See our calendar of events.

Rainier Valley Sustainable Garden Tour

The tour is coming on August 22 —
more info.

Othello Park International Festival

The Othello Station area neighborhood invites you to attend for the Othello Park International Festival on Sunday, August 23 from noon - 6pm at S Othello St at 45th Ave S! There will be food, dance, games, prizes, entertainment, booths and more.

Live music on stage throughout the day wll include: Mariachi Colima, Supersteppers, Captain Leroy and the Zydeco Locals, Vovinam Lion Dancers, Adefua, Girls Steel Pans, Kreative Khaos, Audio Couture, and more.

Lunch plates served by Plaza Garcia for $2.50. Health screenings, container garden giveaways and goats grazing on the hillside!

For more information, contact Othello Park Alliance at 992-7034 or moc.oohay|81189apo#moc.oohay|81189apo

Seward Park Kickboxing Studio

Fall's 50 hour fitness program is now open for enrollment. Meets 4 times a week and no more than 4 persons per class — more information here.

Fall's 10 week nutrition and movement program is now open for enrollment. Meets once a week — more information here.

Reserve your spot now!

Columbia City in the news

• Real Change profiles Citizen Lester Pittle.
• Neighbors take some heat for their farmers market (Times).
• A bevy of local and federal officials break ground at Rainier Vista II (P-I, also on KPLU)

Hillman City Posts

• Several neighbors put on Night Out block parties. Already looking forward to next year's.

• Sustainable South Seattle has posted a few updates to their blog.