A New Day

Things are looking up for "papi" (a nickname from one of my bartenders, Austin, whom I love to pieces). I spent the, will go o close of the bar, with Jake, the manager, and can actually say I think I can do this! While he was counting out his till, I spent the time going over the food shopping and liquor shopping lists. The one thing I am truly good at is shopping.... anyhow, I figured the liquor out myself, Devin, our head cook, made out the food shopping list for me. Anyway, I know what I need, and tomorrow morning go and get the items needed at the "Cash and Carry", and get those things off my list! That and I had a really good time with Jake bullshitting about the bar business, restaurants and other non-related stuff. I actually for a second felt happy and secure with myself, something I haven't felt in a long time. that and I got a text from mone of the bartenders, Nell, my goddess in blue jeans,saying how much she appreciated me and our "dysfunctional family" and everything I am doing running the bar... small potatoes maybe, but hearing it from a seasoned veteran like Nell means so much! Anyway I feel the best I have felt for the last couple of months so for that I am grateful!

Mental Fitness

ne thing I am slowly learning is no one cares how I am feeling. Not the employees certainly not my customers, and pretty much everyone else. Oh they say things like "Oh you need to get your rest" or "remember to take care of yourself". But mostly it is indifference to me and anything I really need. All I know is I have to take care of myself because no one really cares. I have my two dogs and they love me. And for now that is enough. If I have a really bad day, some of my so called friends like to see how far they can push me until I break, then get all defensive on me when it happens. That is total bull shit. Recently I made decisions in business, like cancelling our weekend brunch, because, A- it doesn't generate enough income to override labor costs, and B.- I don't need the stress. And that  is all good and fine until one of my employees, decides... No more Eggs Benny? That's right mother fucker. My mental health is more important than if you get your favorite egg dish on Saturday or Sunday. Sorry if that seems selfish or I am ranting, but fuck it. I need to take care of me right now.

So this guy walks into a bar....

Well let me update you on what's new in Rob's World. Here I was, 50 something, happy, retired and so what do I do? I buy half a bar in Burien. The Black Zia Cantina is a "New Mexican" cuisine restaurant and bar.
WHAT IS IT LIKE OWNING A BAR, ROB?
Nothing like it I have ever known. I am now responsible for other people's livelihoods. And that means I get to be Daddy, Mommy, Aunt, Uncle and Boss. And so much other legal responsibilities. But hopefully, I am ready for it. And after dealing with employees, customers, fellow business owners, I must apologize to my Junior High school Vice Principle. (That is what I equate this to). I now know what the hell we put you through. I am so sorry, Mr Lopresti!
But  seriously, it is a lot of work. I have gone from 8 hours a week as a retired craft artisan to a bar owner/manager/bartender 50+ hours a week. And that doesn't include being a dishwasher, somewhat cook, delivery person et. al.
SO YOU CHANGING IT INTO A GAY BAR, ROB?
No. This would be cool. But I like to think of Black Zia as an Everybody Body. We have a sign in the window the states "If you are Racist, Sexist, Homophobic or an A**hole, don't come in. And I am good with that... since taking over, We have put on Drag Shows, hosted a Gay Pride After Party (Burien had it's first Gay Pride celebration! I will post more about that later!) and done a few things that put the bar out of the norm. Something Black Zia has always been known for, as well as being the center for Punk, Hard Rock and metal music in the city. That and our famous Summer-Ween and Halloween Parties! (Everybody likes to get dressed up!)
So now Rob's World is pretty much about the struggles and Victories of owning a little bar in Burien, my fair city!

So what's happening with the Dog Park?

Photo: B-Town Blog

New news... The Burien off-leash dog park recently became the receiver of some great monetary gifts... First up was Burien Toyota/Burien Chevrolet who ponied up $10,000 , than Purina Beneful dog food surprised us with $20,000. You may remember, Kellie Bassen, head of the B-Town Dog Owners Group, was a finalist in the 2013 Beneful Dream Dog Park contest, and Beneful did not forget the video that Kellie sent in and they wanted to help. Next up, we need to have the council "speed up" the process so ground can be broken, new fences put up. The B-Town DOG group is planning on going to the city council, meeting July 20th at 7PM to ask this. Hopefully if you are local or in Seattle you can come and Join us. More on Beneful and Burien Toyota/Chevrolet's amazing gifts HERE

The Video:

Burien Farmer's market opens!

One of my favorite things is our local Farmer's Market. This year, especially, because my Business partner, Kellie, (an accomplished seamstress) and I are going to hopefully, have a booth there. Our business is called Hammer and Stitch, (I'm Hammer, she's stitch). Anyway our plan is to be at the third week of every month selling crafted items. So hopefully see some of locals out there this year. But Back to the Market... Opening day is cool because, for me at least, it marks the beginning of spring, the onset of Summer. I picked up some duck eggs, fresh asparagus, some OMG! Balsamic vinegars and some beautiful white radishes. It turned into this dinner for me: Duck Egg omelette, with roasted Asparagus and a green salad with Raspberry Balsamic vinegar. Quite tasty, quite good. And farm fresh!

Artsy Kids!!!

We did the B-Town Beat, our local art walk, and Yon Flora, of ReTreasure and I partnered up so the kids in our fair city, could have a go at the Spin Art Spinner I made. Here is what the amazing kids came up with:

I think the kids all had fun making little works of art. I know I did!

Alien Invasion

Crazy Alien drivers!

The Men and Women in Black- my town of Burien was invaded by Aliens!!! Burien holds an annual UFO Festival every year, since B-Town Blog and Emmy winner Scott Schaefer, released a movie, The Maury Island Incident ,  chronicling a UFO incident right here in Burien! Every year Aliens and Spacecraft invade area 152 ( SW 152nd Street, Burien's Main Drag) for an evening of alien merry making, all the time watching out for the MIB. It featured a costume contest, A tribute to Spock (complete with a dance mob) a 5minute Film short festival (locals made 5 minute movies). It is always a great time.


A certain Cephlapodian visitor enjoys his time at the festival!(Picture by Crystal D. German)
 

A star fleet officer driving thorugh town!

 

A traditional Vulcan  dance mob (photo by Kellie Andersen Bassen)

 

RIP Mr. Spock... Live Long and prosper! (Photo by Kellie Andersen Bassen) 

Cove To Clover

It's just about time for the Annual Clove to Clover. Around these parts, this 5K Race plus a 1 mile "Wee" race for the little people is a sure sign of spring. And a sure sign that Burien folk are ready to get out and support many charities. Held on the 16th,the C2C was originally sponsored by a local Irish pub, organizer John Nelson had made it one of the go to and do events in our little city. And he is also very generous, offering the B-Town DOG group a Canopy at the finish line, to deliver information about our up and coming Dog Park here in the city. My only complaint, is that They use to offer "Angel" Sponsorships, which allowed me to be involved without having to run my fat ass all through town. But the old way was a hassle, and they still get sponsorships to the school district, allowing many kids to race for free! So a big thumbs up there. \
And if liquid sports are more your thing There is also Ye Ole Snake Crawl, A pub crawl were you can win prizes, on Friday the 14th, from 5pm (Registration)
So if you are not doing anything on Sunday, March 16, and feel a little energetic, Put on your running shoes and come on out to the Cove to Clover. There is a beer garden at the end! A great way to support local Charities!

Cove to Clover Classic
March 16th, 2014
Ye Ole Snake Crawl Pub Crawl
March 14th
Burien WA

Empty Bowls 2014

Burien

2014 EMPTY BOWLS

Join us for a meal and help fight hunger in our community!

Friday, January 31^st

Lunch:   11am-2pm

Dinner: 4-8pm

Burien Community Center, 14700 6^th Ave SW

$15 minimum donation, $10 for children

Empty Bowls events can be found around the country raising money to combat hunger in our communities.  Moshier Art Center Potters have donated bowls to be filled with soup at this fun event...all are invited! Your donation will get you the opportunity to pick out a beautiful handmade bowl, as well as a simple but wonderful meal of soup, bread, dessert and drink; all donated by local businesses.

Proceeds go to Highline and White Center Food Banks. 

Event brought to you by Burien Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services and Discover Burien.

 

www.BurienParks.net

parksinfo@burienwa.gov

206-988-3700

Guerrilla Gardening is back!

I don't know if you would actually call it "Guerrilla Gardening" or not. But I did gift a flat of Impatiens and planted them in the front flower box at Burien Press, in honor of their third anniversary. Just because they are nice people and great for the community. They always are donating coffee for public events, charity auxtions, etc., and their coffee shop has become a central location for people to meet, talk and take a rest. Add to that they are very important to the local art scene with shows and such right in their place of business.

Nice thing is the owner said he will water them over the summer. And I don't have to worry about the city removing them!

Farmers' Market Opens Today!!!

You know, what's the big deal about farmers' markets... I go there and can never find any Farmers to buy.

O.K., I know that is not what Farmers' Market means. But I always wanted to use that line in a post. Cheap attempt at humor. So sue me.

Anyway a sure sign of spring, the Burien Farmers' Market opens today!!! Just in time , I am down to my last bar of handmade soap! And boy I need pasta! (I hope the pasta ladies are back... their chocolate pasta makes the best dessert with a little raspberry or blackberry jam mixed in) And it will be great to see all my favorite vendors for another season of local bargains galore! Romeo will have new places to mooch, get to see his buddies, and I will be overindulging on Czech pastries and corn on the cob!

Cash Mob!!!

All photos courtesy the "B-Town Blog"

Even my man, Da Bieber is all for the Cash Mob!

Saturday, I participated in a mob event. Cash mob. Cause that's how I roll.

The Cash Mob met up at a local pizzeria, and everyone agreed to spend $20 at a local store. There were about 40 of us, The store picked was "Goodie Gumdrops" a local toystore I must admit to never having frequented before. And boy was I surprised at what I could find there-  They had those cool little science kits I love that require a piece of garbage to recycle/re-use, wrapping and art supplies. I picked up a Weather station science kit and a Fridge Rover ( a wind up car the travels up the frigidaire!) It was so cool to see members of the community to get together and help out one of our local businesses. And now I am wondering... who's next to get hit by the mob?
More on this at the B-Town Blog

Agave Chocolate!!!

I have found it. And it is Good. My Eat Local store now stocks Woodring Agave Chocolate sauce. Chocolate a diabetic can use!!! Better than bitter sugar free Hershey's syrup, I made some fake crepes and used it in place of Nutella. Sniff, at last. You need to warm it first for ice cream, but it is so good. Rich and Fudge-like, great stuff. The gal at Eat Local told me they use it as chocolate syrup for espresso at their Queen Anne store! The Nelson family has been making great preserves, marmalades, chutneys and pickles for 40 years and just recently added their Agave sweet line of Chocolate Sauce , Apple Butter , Marionberry Fruit Spread , Pumpkin Butter And Red Raspberry Fruit Spread All sweetened with agave nectar! They also sell regular sweetened products as well. Read more about Agave Nectar here.

Endorsement Disclaimer- Woodring Northwest did not pay me for this endorsement, and while I would welcome samples I bought my own. I use this product and believe in it.

NEW or rather Used Bookstore

I always like discovering new 2nd use type stores. I was strolling through Burien during the Oktoberfest and found a new used Bookstore- Bumbershoot Books. Really nice little store, LOL I bought 2 cookbooks- one on the George Foreman grills I own, and one on Norwegian Cooking, called Eat the Norway.

Getting ready for a festival

Let's see...

Splash Park on and operational... Check

New Bike Racks for parking bikes... Check

Rob has the extra portable futon bike rack ready and tables and canopy for Sustainable Burien Booth... Check! Looks like everything is ready for the Annual Burien Wild Strawberry Festival, today and Sunday at town square park in Burien, My fair city. Looks like a good time with a Bike Festival on Saturday and a classic car show on Sunday. And lots of vendors and giant inflatable climbing things for the kiddies.

Bienvinidos Mercado!

This Sunday, in beautiful downtown Burien, was the opening of El Tianguis mercado Latino in Burien.
Sort of a mini- farmers market but in the tradition of Latino culture, El Tianguis mercado Latino in Burien is an open-air market that will be held on Sundays from 10am-4pm along 5th Place beside the Burien Town Square Park between SW 152nd and SW 151st Streets. Same place as the Burien Farmers' Market.
The Mercado features Latino food and beverages, arts and crafts, home and garden, clothing, electronics, and many other items that are traditionally available in markets in Latino countries.
They will be operating every sunday from 10-4PM, except June 20 which is Burien's Annual Wild Strawberry Festival.
All I know is one vendor had corn on a stick. and I loves me some corn on a stick!

Getting Dirt-y

I go to Burien Bark Supply to supplement my meager compost when building new beds. They can be very good. You can get Bark, compost, soil and mixed soil and gravel there. In a bag, if you don't want to mess up your car, loose if you have a truck or trailer, or delivered if you want a mountain of dirt in your driveway. This time I bought plastic bags of garden mix soil. Bags? Yes- It is easier for me to haul/lug the bags to the garden beds, then I save the bags for reuse. Most times, however, I would normally get 1/2 yard loaded into the pick up. When I order the gravel for the front yard, I will choose delivery. It's more economical to have them deliver 3 yards of gravel than me picking up 1/2 yard, making 6a trips, and easier too, They just back up the dump truck and dump their load, leaving me the wheelbarrow and shovel part of the job. Anyway- it has been fun over my life to watch this family run business grow. When I was little, they ran out of a small trailer with the huge piles of bark all around. Today they run out of the basement of a strip mall they built and manage. And the cool thing about them they always are ready to donate to community gardens, helping others grow too.

BURIEN PRESS- A real community coffee shop

There's alot of talk about Starbucks opening Stealth Starbuck coffee shops in and around Seattle- Nice little community places hiding the Starbucks logo and pretending they are local owned community coffee shops. Well, Starbucks has nothing on Burien press. And maybe one or two things to learn from them!

Just thought you folks would like to see the coffee shop I am always talking about. Burien Press opened in downtown Burien, across from the town square, at 423 SW 152nd Street, in Burien.
Originally, the building housed a tatoo parlor! They are an old school espresso/coffee shop featuring Hand made espresso drinks. No Computer Driven machines here, folks. They also feature local made pastries and sandwiches. The atmosphere is real, all hand done by the owner, featuring a cool deck on the back of the building. The furnishings are unique as well, especially the table made of plumbing fittings. Friendly staff, and great magazines, a welcome respite in the heart of my fair city.

The backporch - hours of meditation and quiet in Rob's world!

Nice furnishings, nice location

The table base is made out of Plumbing Fittings!

Community gardening on the B/ias

Get a group of people together on a Sunday afternoon, add some dirt, some raised beds and what do you get? A COMMUNITY GARDEN! People working as teams on one of four gardens. Folks from sustainable Burien aka SuBu are trying to create something great.

Romeo in front of "my" garden

Here is mine. I call my plot My garden as I am the one who adopted it. If someone else can come up with a better name that promotes community, gardening, and ending hunger feel free to comment. And BTW- I am looking for team members to give me a hand- so if you are local (Burien-South Seattle Area- email me at robj98168@yahoo.com and lets garden play in the dirt!) All produce grown from the gardens will be donated to area food bank. The "Rob" Bed has fennel, tomatoes, radishes, chard, cucumbers, basil, peppers, hot peppers (kung pao), lettuce, and peas. The idea I hope to promote is you can grow a lot of food with a small plot of land. And have some fun.
As for the B/ias (Burien Interim Art Space) It is a temporary home to a bunch of art, not without controversy:
This gal and her child will be watching over the community garden

Artwork from kids, made from old pop bottles and such adorn the community garden space.
This is a neat addition that just seemed to pop up!

The naked lady statue that is stirring so much controversy. IMHO She is a great statue, and is most definitely art, and is quite beautiful. I think the naysayers saying she doesn't belong where folks can see should go home, turn on the 700 club, and take their bottom lips pull it over their heads and swallow. The Interim art space started by Kathy Justin and Dane Johnson ( no relation) is a temporary home to the fantastic pieces of art, awaiting the construction of phase two of the condos and retail space to be built.
Finally a look at all four beds. One bed will have all native plantings, one bed will feature edibles like flowers and such, And I forget what the other beds will have. Thanks to Kathy and Dane for letting us set this up!

A sure sign that spring is here

The Farmer's market in Burien will be opening next Thursday- A true sign that spring is here. Along with worms and fresh baked bread and fresh fruits and veggies. I can't wait.

I am hoping that "The worm mama" makes her return as I froze my little buddies(My Bad)- they are now total compost. And I have since moved the worm bin to the tool shed awaiting new tenants.

And I can't wait for tasty leeks to make leek and potato soup. And berries to make tasty jam. And this year I am going to buy a doggy blanket or jacket from the doggy blanket lady for Romeo, And a cat blanket for Sammy. And some more plants from the Alpine plant man. Yup, a good thing that farmers market!

What's the one thing that is a must buy for you at your local farmer's market?