I was pulling up my carrots in the backyard (to make way for overwintering broccoli), when I found an oregano plant growing in between the rows. Huh!

I already have an oregano plant elsewhere in the backyard (probably the mama of this new one), so I’m looking to find a home for the little guy.

I can haz a home?

CONTEST TIME!

The FIRST Ravenna/Bryant neighbor to email me the answer to the following question (in the comments below) will have Oregano Jr. here delivered to his/her doorstep!

• What was the name of the first postmaster at the Ravenna Post Office?

Good luck!

You could clean your garage this weekend, like you’ve been meaning to do for MONTHS. But here are some other options for your weekend that you might enjoy a little more than that:

SATURDAY

• Make an oven powered by the sun.
  • Solar Cooker class, University Heights Center, 5031 University Way NE; 10am-2pm; $10, register by calling 527-4278
• Go to a winery open house in Roosevelt.
  • Eight Bells Winery open house, 6213B Roosevelt Way NE; 11am-5pm; please RVSP to rsvp [at] 8bellswindery.com
• And/Or stay in Ravenna and taste wine.
  • McCarthy & Schiering free tasting of Mark Ryan Winery selections; 11am-5pm, with Mark McNeilly at the shop from 11:30am-2pm
• Go play, eat, run, dance, paddle, bounce and more, all at the same place.
  • Seattle Parks and Recreation’s Big Day of Play, Magnuson Park, 7400 Sand Point Way NE; 9:30am-5pm

SUNDAY

• See some art by local artists.
  • Art opening at University Unitarian Church, 6556 35th Ave NE; 4-6pm
• Buy some stuff for your “inside or outside baby.”
  • Bumps and Babies Fair, Roosevelt Ale House parking lot, 8824 Roosevelt Way NE; 9:30am-4:30pm, boutique and consignment sellers

• Go to story time, no matter how old you are.
  • Adult Storytime, Ravenna Third Place Books, 6504 20th Ave. NE; bring a short work from your favorite author or poet to read aloud

BOTH

• Pick up your holds and anything else from the library, before they’re all closed for a week.
  • Northeast Branch of the Seattle Public Library, 6801 35th Ave NE; Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 1pm-5pm

Anything else to add? Let me know in the comments, and I’ll edit the post!

I usually don’t post such time-sensitive information on the blog (usually save it for the twitter feed), but a deal on local frozen custard is a beautiful thing!

TODAY ONLY at daily deal maker Groupon, $5 will get you a $10 to spend at Peaks Frozen Custard (1026 NE 65th Street).

The link to the Groupon site for this deal is here.

If you haven’t been in to Peaks yet, and aren’t sure what flavors they have, here’s a link to their Flavor Forecast so you can see what you’ve been missing.

____________________

THANKS to Laura (LASdesigns ceramics on Etsy) and Deb for the tasty tips!

Things have been pretty quiet on the restaurant inspections front lately.  And then these four came across the wire just the other day:

• THE DUCHESS TAVERN 2827 NE 55TH ST (July 29) = 10 points (1 Red, 1 Blue)
• GAUDI BRASERIA 3410 NE 55TH ST (July 29) = 15 points (1 Red, 2 Blue)
• PIZZA HUT #12895 1505 NE 65TH ST (August 18) = 5 points (1 Blue)
• RISTORANTE LA PIAZZA 3426 NE 55TH ST (July 29) = 55 points (4 Red)

Because of its high inspection score, Ristorante La Piazza will be revisited by inspectors in two weeks for a reevaluation. In fact, it’s probably already happened: Inspection reports are available online two weeks after the fact.

All establishments with Red violations (the violations that are most likely to cause food borne illness) get them dealt with on the spot, no matter the inspection score total.  “Environmental Health Specialists work with operators to make sure that red critical violations are corrected before they leave the establishment,” sayeth the King County Public Health site (my emphasis).

For a more in-depth description of  restaurant inspection scores, read our old post, “Restaurant Inspection Round-Up Redo.”

Furthermore, I’ll offer up a new tag line to these restaurant inspection posts:

Ravenna Blog wants you to know: We’d eat at any of these restaurants, at any time…especially if you’re buying.

Time to say GOODBYE to summer; not just because Cliff Mass says so, but because it’s Ravenna tradition!

Ravenna-Eckstein Playground on dedication day, September 5, 2008

The Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center (6535 Ravenna Ave NE) is hosting its annual Final Fling party TOMORROW, Wednesday, August 25th, from 6-8pm. It does cost a whole dollar to partake, but there’s a barbecue dinner and CAKE in it for you. Balloon Buffoon will also be on hand to create his impressive balloon creations.

The balloon line on dedication day.

This event has also become the Ravenna-Eckstein Playground’s annual birthday party. Technically, the current version of the playground was dedicated on September 5, 2008 (read our post “You may now commence the fun” for a look back at the ceremony), but why take a chance on September weather?

Sometimes, I will admit, I wonder if there’s anyone out there reading these posts.

And then, I screw something up. And find out that, yes, you are out there. And the teachable moments ensue.

Chris and Lisa over at We [Heart] Food blog about food. Specifically, their dinners. A typical post is a gorgeous picture full of tastiness, a witty conversation between them about the meal, and then *drumroll* the RECIPE. They also live around here.

Well, Chris left a comment on the Restaurant Inspections (RI) MEGA POST of the other day that made me bang my head on the desk and say, “DUH, of COURSE I’m wrong!”

Here’s the wrong-ness: For the first time on a RI post I decided to rank the restaurants, using the number of violations. I should have done it by using King County’s violation point system (emphasis mine):

Inspections are based on regulations to eliminate risk factors for food borne disease. Every violation of these regulations is color coded and has a numerical value based on the amount of risk they create.

Red critical violations: These are violations with the highest risk of causing food borne disease. One red critical violation equals an unsatisfactory inspection. Environmental Health Specialists work with operators to make sure that red critical violations are corrected before they leave the establishment.

Blue violations: These are violations related to the maintenance of the establishment and cleanliness.

• 35 or more red critical violation points require a re-inspection within 14 days.
• 90 or more red critical violation points require the establishment be closed.
• 120 or more total (red & blue) points also requires the establishment be closed.

HOW THE MISTAKE HAPPENED: The online tool I was using to read the inspection reports (EveryBlock) does not differentiate between Blue (maintenance and cleanliness) and Red (highest risk for food borne illness). Argh!

Here’s how to do it RIGHT: Here is the list of restaurants again (most violation points to least) using the King County inspection results correctly:

• CASA D’ ITALIA 2615 NE 65th St (April 15) = 25 points (1 Red)
• HUDSON PUBLIC HOUSE 8014 15th Ave NE (April 29) = 25 (1 Red)
• PIED PIPER ALEHOUSE 2404 NE 65th St (April 19) = 23 (1 Red, 2 Blue)
• BAGEL OASIS 2112 NE 65th St (May 4) = 18 (4 Blue)
• COWEN PARK GROCERY 1217 NE Ravenna Blvd (May 4) = 10 (1 Red)
• CREPE CAFE & WINE BAR, THE 2118 NE 65th St (May 4) = 10 (2 Blue)
• RAVENNA’S VARSITY RESTAURANT, INC 2300 NE 65th St (May 4) = 10 (1 Blue)
• ZEEKS PIZZA INC 2108 NE 65th St (May 4) = 10 (2 Blue)
• VIO CAFE @ THIRD PLACE 6504 20th Ave NE (May 4) = 8 (2 Blue)
• RISING SUN FARMS & PRODUCE 6505 15th Ave NE (April 30) = 7 (2 Blue)
• CAFE DA PINO 2207 NE 65th St (May 4) = 5 (1 Blue)
  

The links in all the restaurant names now take you to their respective King County inspection histories, where you can see the evidence for yourselves.

In conclusion: Thanks for your help, Chris. And happy (and safe) eating, everyone.

UPDATE: I’m rewriting the violations section of this post and will re-publish it SOON. Until then, I’ve taken out the bits I’m rewriting.

Yes, I realize that I may be the only one who likes looking at restaurant inspection reports, but I CAN’T HELP MYSELF.

I can think of a handful of reasons for my obsession:  My previous jobs in the food service industry, my never-ending quest for good food AND good service (at the SAME TIME), my other previous profession of high school science teacher, and a genetic predisposition toward chasing fire trucks and watching disaster movies, to name a few.

I usually sit on these inspection reports until five or more pile up, but our boys down at County have been BUSY lately. And I couldn’t be happier.

And the GOLDEN STIR SPOON AWARDS for ZERO violations go to:

• ESPRESSO EXPRESS 6500 15th Av Ne (April 30) = 0
• HIMALAYAN KITCHEN 2255 NE 65th St (May 4) = 0
• MORNING STAR BAKERY 2114 NE 65th St (May 4) = 0
• MUDDY WATERS COFFEE COMPANY 2258 NE 65th St = 0
• PIZZA HUT #12895 1505 NE 65th St (April 30) = 0
• RAVENNA ALEHOUSE 2258 NE 65th St (May 4) = 0
• WEDGEWOOD CHEVRON 7300 35th Ave NE (April 30) = 0

I’ll add that if you’re interested in being subversive and changing the culture at Bagel Oasis, they’re hiring:

You know you want to.

Also, remember: IT’S NOT CALLED “PEOPLE OASIS,” you Yelp-pers.

I mentally noted the missing “For Lease” sign about a week ago.

And just this evening, walking by on the way to Zeeks Pizza, I saw plastic bags covering the windows AND about six people standing around inside.

I’ll hit up my source for these matters sometime this week, see if he knows anything.

I am excited about another cuisine addition to Downtown Ravenna, but, I have to say, I miss Osaka.  It was the first restaurant we took the newborn kid to (had to walk out twice and walk around a bit before he went to sleep).  And I loved the “Dragon Lady,” so dubbed by reviewers on Yelp who are meanies and have too much time on their hands.  She had PERSONALITY, which I found refreshing and, frankly, required of a small, neighborhood eating establishment.

And she would bring the small fry tofu, which he loves to this day.

My Ravenna Nation doppelganger, theNortheaster, just put up a story on said blog about the self-guided food garden tour that the Sustainable NE Seattle Urban Farmers are doing this Saturday.

Check it out.

Nana’s Soup House has left its longtime home on 55th and 35th and will soon reopen in Fremont, across from the Taco Guaymas.

The move was first reported by the My Ballard Blog Group back in mid-August.  Reader Chris D. reminded me of the loss, hence the post.

We’ll let you know when the new location has opened.  And then it’s all aboard Route 30!  Next stop: Delicious.