There are many things we love about Autumn though. If we can set aside the rain, the dreariness and the lack of fresh berries, we all move to embrace squash soups, drinking tea in fogged up tea shops, and some of our favorite indoor hobbies. Which brings me to what time it really is here in Seattle: Homebrew season. more ›

Last night, one of the rowdiest annual events in the region (some would say the nation) took place: The Dead Baby Downhill Race XV commenced in West Seattle, took to the streets and nearly 3,000 cyclists made their rambunctious way to Georgetown... more ›

It's about that time of year when people start day-dreaming about hitting the road and going far, far away for summer vacation. But with the gorgeous weather we've been having (not to mention gas prices) it's hard to want to leave the city. May we suggest some highly social arts events around the City fringes that will get you out of your regular stomping grounds. When the living is easy, it's time for adventure. And nothing says adventure like West Seattle. more ›

Maruta Shoten is really a Japanese American market, and for that reason it feels like home to many of us who grew up going to a store like this one. It is small enough to explore it on your own and (if you grew up without Japanese school) is full of foods with unfamiliar letters on the packaging. The foods themselves are familiar enough: square tubs of roasted nori, 25-pound bags of Calrose rice by the door, super-kawaii containers of Hello Kitty and Botan rice candies. By comparison, other stores like Uwajimaya fall in the pan-Asian category and are more focused on a variety of Asian countries like the Philippines, Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam. Maruta is small, and the aisles are a bit narrow, but never, in our experience, oppressively crowded. Like many small ethnic food markets, Maruta is manageable, and delivers small bites of Japanese American-ness, both culinary and culture-wise. more ›

Georgetown maintains its hipster art street cred and is one of the more genuine destination neighborhoods in Seattle. For ample proof, check out the Georgetown Carnival on Saturday, featuring Power Tool Races, bike jousting, visual and performance art and a musical line-up that culminates with a reunion of Seattle proto-grunge band Feast. more ›

There is really only one event you need to know about tonight. But whatever are you going to do with the rest of your weekend? more ›

This is the latest in a series of posts examining the naming origins of our Seattle neighborhoods. Last week we went up to Queen Anne, but today it's south to Georgetown, once an independent city, now a neighborhood whose fates and fortunes have long been shaped by beer. more ›

Re:Take is local history buff Rob Ketcherside's weekly look at the Emerald City now and in days of yore through photos dug out of the city archives. This week, south Seattle booms with bubbly 1920s auto expansion. more ›

Right off 4th Avenue South on the Georgetown/SoDo border, you will find the area’s most authentic Hawaiian restaurant, the Kauai Family Restaurant. An unlikely location for such a popular restaurant, until you consider that much of its clientele comes in from the densely Hawaiian concentrations in Bremerton, SeaTac, and Tacoma. If you can find it (most GPS have trouble doing so), and if you can find parking, come in for a traditional meal that will transport you back to the islands. more ›

You know you're at a fashion show in Seattle when a dog makes an appearance on the runway and the theme is all about recycled and refurbished fashion and organic fabrics. more ›

Sounding more like a grocery store and less like a bottleshop F.T.B. boasts 600+ craft beers, 300+ wines, and more ciders than there are apples in a barrel. The 'shop avoids the pedestrian sticker among the hop'o'philes by providing weekly tastings, ‘repeat customer’ rewards punch cards and their Elephant ride situated against one wall. more ›

Two middle-aged men had been drinking and having good time until an argument broke out between the drinking buddies shortly after 2 a.m. this morning at Carlton Avenue South near South Bailey Street. The SPD Blotter reports the disagreement heightened when the 54-year-old suspect accused the 49-year-old victim of stealing something. Shortly thereafter, a witness hearing all the commotion stepped outside only to see the suspect stabbing the other man in the back multiple times. She immediately called 911, and the victim was transported to Harborview with life-threatening injuries. The suspect was detained by police and taken to King County Jail for investigation of assault. UPDATE: SPD Twitter says the victim died of his wounds. more ›

"360 From Below" by Shawn McClung (Slightlynorth), from our Flickr pool more ›

"Union Pacific 669" by Kurt Clark (kdavidclark) , from our Flickr pool more ›

In advance of MOHAI's sold-out Georgetown walking tour this weekend, we went for a Georgetown promenade our own selves. We assembled this entirely prize-free trivia contest out of our iPhone snapshots. Fill in the answers in the comments section...if you can! more ›

"These Boots Were Made For Walking" by Russell, from our Flickr pool more ›

"Untitled" by shirtnpants , from our Flickr pool more ›

WEENIE BLESSING: Eat a free weenie with pride! The BottleNeck Lounge kicks off Gay Pride with a weekend of free hot dogs (and no cover!) on Friday, June 26th at 10:00 p.m., with the fabulous Gina Bling of Team Gina, who will give The Third Annual Hot Dog Blessing. On Saturday and Sunday, the bar will be providing freshly grilled dogs (both veggie and non) to hungry gays and non-gays alike. Fri-Sun. // BottleNeck Lounge, 2328 E. Madison St. // No Cover (21+) more ›

• Belltown People wonders exactly how much the artsy Free Sheep Foundation was involved with Capitol Hill's recent Gamblergate sting operation. What's the vig, capisce?
• Meanwhile, over at MyBallard, the news is that kids are skipping out of Salmon Bay School with the swine flu hot on their heels. We wish could get another animal in this item.

untitled photo by Aaron Morris, plucked from our Flickr pool more ›

MvB is off to Annex Theatre tonight for Love's Tangled Web; Saturday night is Bosco's jazz gig/CD party at The Mix in Georgetown. Sunday he hopes to be kissed--with tongue--by the spring sun's rays. more ›

• The Central District's Police scanner solidifies Seattle's recent ranking as 26th in the list of cities with the highest car theft rates. Watch out if you own a 1992 Honda Accord.
• Georgetown is hoping for cleaner air and quieter truck traffic, as the Port of Seattle considers giving $7 million in rent breaks to companies that hop on the green truck bandwagon.
• Publicola shares the final four names thrown into the nominee hat for Interim King County Executive.

• Schmudget analyzes the 2009-2011 House budget and compares it to the Senate's, released yesterday.
• MyBallard is concerned about tents on Shilshole and stolen trees.
• The Troll got tagged! Fremont Universe reports, and they have photos.

"Sugar" by Simbolism, from the Seattlest Flickr pool more ›

In a Capra-esque series of developments, 71-year-old mechanic Phil Weigel, who worked and lived in his Georgetown shop Motorcycle Services Inc., fell and shattered his hip and lost his lease with landlords who couldn't wait for him to get out of the VA hospital. But as Blogging Georgetown reports, his scooter friends know how to rally. Vic Voris, from Big People Scooters, has cooked up a plan. With ten days before Phil is released from the VA hospital, there are things to be done: "get Phil's house [in Burien] livable, move his shop out, set up a benefit to pay for this." A Phil Weigel website is being set up, and helping hands are welcome. more ›

We are dedicated to finding the perfect hot lunch in Georgetown. Top contenders thus far have been Smarty Pants' Troublemaker sandwich, a drippy cheesy mess stuffed with ungodly amounts of spicy chicken and bacon; the gouda fennel polenta at Georgetown Liquor Company, fried crisp and topped with a scrumptiously zingy and sweet apple balsamic reduction; and the perfectly crunchy, well-seasoned chicken salad sandwich at Georgetown Truck Stop, until that hut of heaven closed in fall of 2008. There's a new guy in town, though. The sourdough bacon burger at recently-opened Burger Madness, on 4th Avenue South (just north of Costco), just edged its way into our all-time favorite four hot lunches in SoDo/Georgetown. more ›

JUST LIKE CLOCKWORK: This is your best bet for smooth grooving local hiphop this weekend. Clockwork probably make you very happy, but Macklemore is guaranteed to do so; his live show is unstoppably entertaining and his songs are both thoughtful and hilarious. This is his first show in town since July, people. Plus, XPerience might sing and Candidt might do "VooDoo." All of those prospects in combination are absolutely worth the rainy drive to Nectar. more ›

A little while ago we were scanning the Best of Craigslist with a feeling of alarm that there might be some kind of Humor Gap growing between Seattle and other, funnier cities. So we demanded that you, Seattle, step up your game. We're delighted to see evidence of that with a recent Best of Craigslist entry that combines Seattle's indie bands, Georgetown, and bicycles to produce a truly Seattle-flavored oddity. It's a great honor to present: "Self-Proclaimed Yoko's Seek Band For Special Project." Sample quote: "Look, I'm not a fortune teller, but I do have a haunted vagina, notches on my bedpost that total over 100, and I can help you break up your band if you don't have the balls to do it yourself." more ›

Some graffiti and Citizen Cope for your Tuesday afternoon, courtesy of Matt O'Brien. more ›

• We just have a few more weeks of our favorite regular mouth-watering local blog post--the "what's new at the Columbia City's Farmers Market this week" post at the Rainier Valley Post. There are only a few more markets until it closes down for winter, and this week we think we'll have to pick up some yummy winter squashes and roasted hot peppers.
• Grab a bite to eat out in Phinney Ridge tomorrow and support Phinney Neighborhood Association soup kitchens. Few things in the world taste better than eating out for a good cause.
• Blogging Georgetown has updates on proposed parking restrictions for 12th Avenue.