I’ll be there with bells on!

Photo credit: Seattle Jingle Bell Run website

Usually a figure of speech but literally, this Sunday, December 12, I will be there with bells on. Bells on my tennis shoes that is! At the Seattle Jingle Bell Run/Walk 2010.

Starting at Westlake Center and winding through downtown, this 5K run benefits the Arthritis Foundation makes it’s 26th annual appearance to get runners, walkers, adults, kids and elves in the holiday spirit and raise money for one of the nation’s leading causes of disability. Indiviual and team enteries were encouraged to drum up donations and sponsors for the event. So far $502,803 (as of this morning)  has been raised toward a goal of $750,000! Every single runner counts, in this case.

And it’s not too late to register. While online registration is now closed, you can register on Saturday, December 11 between 10am – 4pm at North Seattle Community College in the College Center building at the Baxter Events Center, or on Sunday starting at 6:45am inside Westlake Center on the third floor.  Registration fee for adults is $30 on Saturday and increases to $40 on Sunday.

The morning is chalk full of fun pre-race events for kids and adults including a photo booth and costume contest. And, of course, for the adults the event concludes at the Widmer Brothers Holiday Cheer (beer) Garden!

Here’s the full schedule:

• 6:45 a.m. – Last Minute Registration & Will Call open
• 7:00 a.m. – On the Edge Images Photo Booth opens
• 8–8:30am – Warm 106.9 Costume Contest judging (Warm 106.9 booth)
• 8:20 a.m. – Children’s 1k Run with the Elves
• 8:30 a.m. – Meet the 2010 Honorees (stage)
• 8:45 a.m. – Last Minute Registration & Will Call close
• 8:50 a.m. – Rudolph Runners race wave (red bibs)
• 9:00 a.m. – Dasher Dashers race wave (green bibs)
• 9:10 a.m. – Santa Striders race wave (white bibs)
• 9:15 a.m. – Widmer Brothers Holiday Cheer Garden opens

For more answers to your questions see the event FAQ here.

Next Wednesday, October 6, Georgetown Brewery (makers of Manny’s) will be releasing its newest beer, the Lucille IPA. The release party is hosted at the Red Door in Fremont and all proceeds from Lucille sales benefit Seattle Children’s Hospital uncompensated care fund! I mean, how rad is that? I really love when two great local companies put their heads together to come up with a way to make a solid difference.

In the interest of full disclosure, I volunteer for the “guild” that this will specifically benefit. For those of you who don’t understand the guild system, any groups that want to raise money for the Hospital form “guilds” to do so. There are currently more than 500 guilds working to raise money for this awesome facility. I volunteer for the “Symphony Guild” which collaborates with Grammy award-winning composer, Mateo Messina (ever heard of the Juno soundtrack?), to produce an unique, annual concert featuring celebrity guest performers (this year is Blake Lewis and Barcelona, but I’ll save those details for next week). If you are interested in volunteering, definitely let me know!

Here are the details of tonight’s party:

• What: Lucille IPA Release Party – “Lucille for the Cause“
• When: TONIGHT! Wednesday, October 6, 2010 at 7:00-10:00pm
• Where: Red Door (3401 Evanston Ave N)
• Why: Cause we all love beer and doing good.
• How Much: First tasting is FREE and so is entrance to the party.

For those of you who may be interested, there is also a “Meet the Brewers” pre-func that starts at 6pm. To get in, you must have already purchased your tickets for our upcoming symphony, that I discuss above. The concert is titled ”Primal Symphony” will be performed on November 5 at Benaroya Hall. Don’t be scared off by the “symphony” title. This show is anything but your ordinary symphony. How many symphonies have you been to whose special guests have included Heart, Alice in Chains and DJ Cut Chemist? To buy tickets and gain admission to the pre-func, visit the website at http://thesymphonyguild.org.

I hope to see you all there!

I know we just got started with fall, but there’s no time like the present to get a jump on winter. And I know many of you are desperately waiting to get up to the mountain for that first winter ski or, if you’re like me, you’re just waiting on pins and needles to bust out your winter coats and hats! While you’re dreaming of those days not too far off, quench your thirst at the Redhook Winterhook Winter Ale Release Party!

If you know your beer you might be interested in this special brew made just for the holidays. Here’s the scoop…

The 2010/2011 Winterhook Winter Ale is a rich, full-bodied beer with a red chestnut color. It combines imported and local Caramel, Vienna, Pils, Chocolate and NW 2-Row malts for a complex profile balanced by four hop varieties added in the brewing to emphasize the end hop character (flavor and aroma). Beautifully balanced, the flavors meld to create an overall complex profile with no single ingredient out of harmony. …like I said, if you know your beer

The red carpet is going to roll out next Wednesday, October 6 at 6pm at the Forecaster’s Pub out in Woodinville at the Redhook Ale Brewery. While Redhook will offer draft and bottle specials all day in honor this seasonal release, more festivities go through the night with raffle prices and music in the Weatherman’s Room until 9pm.

The raffle includes chances to win a Redhook snowboard, t-shirts and gift certificates. Beer specials include: $3 Winterhook pints all day, $18 Winterhook cases all day.

I’m not suggesting you skip right over the spicy aromas and colors of fall, but I do suggest throwing on your ski pants for a festive night out at the brewery.

My fellow Belle, Shannon, hit on Fremont’s Oktoberfest Brew Ha Ha 5K Run and Walk yesterday, but in addition to that rowdy and entertaining event going on in Fremont this weekend related to Oktoberfest, I’d like to shed a little light on DOGTOBERFEST!

Photo courtesy of bitchnewyork.com (designer dog clothes)!

That’s right Sunday, September 26 in and around Fremont, bring your dog and celebrate with him or her the festivities of Oktoberfest and lead in to Fall.

Dog friendly happenings are…

Natural Pet Food Samples from PETCO:

The PETCO booth will be sampling some of their natural, organic and holistic dog food options at their tent.

Dog Friendly Brew HA-HA 5K or Street Scramble:

Take part in the Sunday morning run through Fremont and along the Ship Canal

• Brew HA-HA 5K starts Sunday at 10:00 am
• Brew HA-HA Street Scramble starts Sunday at 10:30 am (awesome scavenger hunt through the Center of the Universe. Does your pooch have what it takes to sniff out the competition?)

CityDog Magazine Cover Dog Model Contest:

Strike a pose. CityDog Magazine hosts its 5th annual Cover Dog Model Contest. With a runway and all, put your pup in the running to be a Cover Dog Model for CityDog Magazine. The contest starts at 3:00 pm on Sunday, September 26th.

Want to take part? Give your dog a bath and a good brushing and register here.

MOViN 92.5 Dog Lounge

MOViN 92.5 Lounge will host a doggie water tasting. Mmm yum! You’re not the only one that likes to drink too, you know?

‘Hair of the Dog’ Day:

Sunday is the only day your dog is able to join you in The Stranger Microbrew Garden. Bring man’s best friend on down and recover from your weekend.

Oktoberfest is all around – sneaking up on us with crisp cool nights, a hint of harvest color and of course, grocery shelves stocked with enticing and delicious fall ales. The season is not all about dark brews and neighborhood festivals, we can’t leave out the food. And what goes better with a festive Oktoberfest celebration… than sausage?

Redhook Ale Brewery in Woodinville is inviting you to celebrate with them this weekend, Saturday, October 18 at Sausagefest. Leave it to Redhook to pull through with one of the best pairings of food and beverage in the world. The festivities also include live music and FOOTBALL (UW vs. Nebraska) on the jumbo screen.

For $5 pre sale (which includes a festival mug), toast to another summer come and gone in the Northwest on the lovely grounds of Redhook as it is transformed into a vibrant festival that’s all about meat, beer and music. Tickets can be purchased through BrownPaperTickets.com and at Redhook’s Forecaster’s Pub. $10 tickets at the gate day of the event. Tokens will be sold on-site for $1 per token (no pre sale tokens). Food samples and beer will be purchased by attendees with tokens at each vendor booth. Off-site parking with shuttle service available to and from the festival.

But more about the meat, local food vendors serving meat-centric dishes include, Rain Shadow Meats, Dante’s Inferno Dogs, Salumi, Smokin’ Pete’s BBQ and Skillet Street Food just to name a few. Salumi will be serving a salami sampler, Uli’s Famous Sausage with a sausage sampler, Fletcher’s ESB brats will be served at the Forecaster’s Booth, and Dante’s inferno Dogs will have a bacon wrapped brat and jalapeno and cheese sausage.

Redhook is donating one dollar from every Sausagefest ticket sold and 10 percent of all vendor merchandise to the Market Foundation which raises funds to support the four human service agencies located in the Pike Place Market: the Pike Market Medical Clinic, Senior Center, Child Care and Preschool, and the Downtown Food Bank.

I’m feeling festive already… and hungry! Enjoy, and let the Belles know if you head out.

As you know, I’ve made it my unofficial duty to report an anything noteworthy taking up space or making news in the Fremont neighborhood. A couple of weeks ago we got wind of and epic closure to take place later in September. The Buckaroo Tavern on Fremont Ave and 42nd will be closing it’s doors after 72 years of faithful service to the neighborhood, beer drinkers, friends and bikers alike. It’s lease was not renewed. A closure like this for some is equivalent to the closure of Nordstrom for me so I can certainly understand the uproar over a puny lease agreement.

While my most recent visits to the Buck were speared with the odor of stale dried up beer, old leather stools and walls aged with the stench of cigarette smoke, I find the establishment to be overflowing with old town, meets hard-core-biker, meets hipster quirks charm. Yes charm, you can still find carvings in the back booths that date back to the 1950′s. The Buck always came with the expectation of cheap beer (cash only), conversation-starting memorabilia, free popcorn, and most importantly, reliability. The Buck was one of very few establishments that was open 365 days a year.

Fun Fact: Several scenes were shot for movies inside the walls of the Buckaroo including Georgia, Prefontaine and 10 Things I Hate About You.

With just five weeks until the lights in the iconic neon sign go dark, Buckaroo owner Donna Morey and grandson are hoping to re-locate though no plans have been finalized as of yet. But what about its faithful patrons? Many people in the neighborhood agree that the last thing we need is another bistro or coffee shop, the Buckaroo was one of the last ultimate dive bars in the area. A cup of joe, or miniature pizza on seasoned flat bread is not going to take the place of a cold beer and good friends. Simple as that.

The Buck is planning it’s final hoorah and celebrating throughout it’s last week of operation, September 12-17, 2010. I imagine it won’t be long until we see the lights of the bronco-riding cowboy lit up again soon.

Fremont: It’s the place to be…again! I don’t know why everyone doesn’t just move to Fremont. I’m blown that there is always something to do  around these parts. Not only are we approaching the annual Summer Solstice Parade and Fremont Fair, but there are so many ways to celebrate leading up to next weekend.

If you haven’t visited the Fremont Brewing Company already, (3409 Woodland Park Avenue North, Seattle, 98103) it’s a must. It brings me back to the days of hanging out with my dad and the other neighbors in the garage. Cement floors, a large garage door and beers on tap (not to mention being brewed) fill the open space with the smell of brewed beer and sound of great conversation. And pretzels! The pretzels flow like water…uh I mean beer.

Help Fremont Brewing Company, a sustainable and organic microbrewery, celebrate their first anniversary on June 11. Your headache might regret it later but after tasting their delicious brews, you won’t!

And of course, here’s another running adventure.

The Fremont 5K and Briefcase relay on Friday June 10 right after work. Don’t even worry about changing your clothes and feel free to carry you briefcase or a 1980′s-inspired boom box. If you do change, costumes are welcome. Last year, while running I saw several super heroes, an Elvis impersonator (clad in a full gold lemay suit… which was way too tight if you ask me) and a variety of wigs and face paint.

The 3.1 mile run takes you along the north end of Lake Union to the underside of the I-5 bridge on the Burke Gilman trail and back to the Adobe Plaza (34th Street and Fremont Avenue) in the heart of Fremont.

Dressing up, and the painful Friday afternoon workout, is all worth it once you hit the beer garden at the end!

There’s a reason it’s called the Center of the Universe. Check it out for yourself and, as always, enjoy!

Are you looking for a way to recapture your youth?

No, I’m not talking about any kind of surgical or medical alteration, I’m talking about the spirit of sports from the good ol’ days. How many people do you know played on a football, volleyball or softball team growing up? I know, although I wasn’t one of them (being a busy gymnast), almost all of my friends participated in a league (or two) between elementary and middle-school.

Here in Seattle, the aforementioned sports (save gymnastics) are all fairly well represented by varoius intramural and co-recreational leagues. But, what about the “recess” sports? Underdog Sports Leagues has a couple of answers to that question.

Played kickball after the age of 12? I hadn’t either, until a couple of years ago when my company registered a gang of misfits to represent. Sadly, we weren’t the greatest, but it was more about fun and nostalgia than actual talent. A few teams were pretty hardcore, but we won as much as we lost. The experience brought so many childhood memories to the fore – like the one time my less-than-sports-savvy friend managed to kick a grand slam, giving our class a much-needed win against the other 5th-graders. Or, the few times it rained and we moved into the gym for a rousing session of dodgeball.

Underdog has you covered there, too. The next dodgeball season starts on June 30th, and takes place every Wednesday at the Boys & Girls Club in Wallingford. Hurry to register – there is only one more team spot open. The great news about Underdog dodgeball is that unlike the instruments of severe torture I hurled at children as I grew up, the league uses only no-sting foam-coated dodgeballs.

Looking for something a little more mature? Underdog also offers “Drinks on the Links,” rousing rounds of mini-golf that include (of course) alcohol. Every player has to be over the age of 21 to participate (duh), but there is plenty of room for sign-ups and a variety of locations and times to choose from. Different days follow different themes (70s Night, Plaid Night, etc.), and certain holes offer hole-in-one prizes as well.

Whether you’re assembling a rag-tag group of close friends, signing up to play alone, or your office puts a team together, Underdog has something for everyone.

On a side note – HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY! I don’t know where I’d be without my own Ma, so let’s give it up for the ladies.

Everybody has their favorite things that really signify that Spring has arrived in the northwest. For me it’s the smell of a freshly mowed lawn (if you know me and my family this makes sense, thanks Dad), for others it’s not having to wear mittens just to take out the trash, or the glow of a single ray of sunshine that unexpectedly disrupts your slumber at 5:30am making you question if it’s actually a weekday or not.

For others in the northwest, it’s bike riding. How do I know this? Well the wait at Recycled Cycles and REI to get your bike tuned is nearly three weeks. Everyone and their mother has the same idea, “It’s time to pay another $90 for someone to pump up my tires and tell me I’ve been riding with a poorly aligned frame for the last six months.” If you’re like me and you’re geared up for that first bike ride, you better make it Redhook Ale Brewery’s 15th annual Haul Ash – Tour De Brew, on Sunday, May 16th.

A 41-mile round trip bike ride from Woodinville to Fremont and back is supported with beer gardens, BBQ and a concert to conclude the festivities. The bike ride begins at 9AM in the brewery parking lot and journeys along the scenic Burke-Gilman trail to the midway point on Nickerson St. in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood. Redhook recommends using your new bell on the trail and the verbal warning “Haulin’ Ash on your left!” when passing. Remember, safety first.

This year’s Haul Ash after-party will feature live music from Seattle’s favorite Beatles group, Cream Tangerine! They’ll be playing all of the classic Beatles hits from 12:30PM-3PM. Register now for $27 and ensure you get to take part in the concert, two drink tickets, a free t-shirt and the Redhook bike bell. That’s all! Oh wait, if this if your first ride of the season, go ahead and throw in a case of bike butt too!

Hope to pass some of you on the Burke!

I don’t know if it’s something in the air, or hops, as it were, but there are three festivals in the next two weeks that celebrate the similarities and differences in that brew known as beer.

Next Saturday, head down to Leavenworth for “an-ale-of-a-party” at 2010′s Ale Fest. Thrown yearly to benefit the Leavenworth Nutcracker Musuem, Ale-Fest will feature beer tastings from 20 different micro breweries, “delicious foods and popular Northwest bands.” Tickets are already on sale here, and are $20 in advance, but $25 at the door. The festivities begin at noon and you must be 21 to attend.

One week from Friday marks the beginning of the two-day Hop Scotch Festival. While this event isn’t strictly about the hops, it does feature more than 80 different beers, wines and spirits. Proceeds from Hop Scotch go to support the Seattle International Film Festival (not surprisingly, an event that is near and dear to my heart). I’ll be volunteering, so stop by Fremont Studios on Saturday the 24th and say hi.

I’d recommend getting tickets in advance – especially if you want to attend any of the scotch seminars. One day entrance with a souvenir glass is $20 in advance, and the price goes up to $25 on the day of the event. Grand admission is $25 in advance, and $30 day-off and that gets you five extra tasting tokens. Hop Scotch starts at 5pm on Friday and goes until midnight, then starts at 1pm on Saturday. You might want to get in there early – once a beer runs out, you miss out.

Last, but certainly not least, the 8th Annual Hops and Props will take over the Museum of Flight from 7-10pm on the 24th. Unfortunately, member and general admission tickets are sold out, but there are a limited number of VIP tickets available. Tickets are $100, but aside from admission, VIPs are treated to an exclusive food and beer pairing event, the VIP Hops and Props Gourmet Soiree. If you do make it to the festival, you can look forward to catering by McCormick and Schmick’s, live music from the Dudley Manlove Quartet, a commemorative glass, an informational tasting guide and access to the Museum’s galleries.

Whatever your preference, spring certainly seems to be off to a hopping good start.