Holiday Closures…

Just a quick one here to remind everyone that the Renton Public Libraries, Renton City Hall and the Renton Community Centers will be closed tomorrow and Saturday for the 4th of July Holiday. Henry Moses Aquatic Center will hold regular sessions.

 

It’s the 1st Again…

I can not believe that it is already July 1st, man time is flying by. Anyways, wanted to let all of you know that I posted the calendar of all the events that I know of going on around Renton this month. Please let me know if I am missing anything by using the form below.

Just wanted to give you a quick heads-up on a few things that are actually happening today, July 1st. VMC will be having it’s monthly $8 helmet and fitting clinic today. I see so  many kids out on the trail without their helmets on, parents and caregivers take advantage of these $8 helmets they are worth it.

Also, today is the first Play Day in the Park at Kiwanis Park. Kids ages 2-12 are invited to partake in crafts, games and inflatables. Just an F.Y.I kids must be accompanied by an adult.

Thanks for reading and please feel free to contact me with any events I am missing.

Name (required)

Email (required)

Website

Text only. No markup allowed.

 

Uwajimaya Opens Tomorrow

Uwajimaya Renton!!!

The wait is over, Renton’s very own Uwajimaya is opening tomorrow Wednesday, July 1st at 9am. I have yet to experience the being that is Uwajimaya Asian Food and Gift Market  so I am really excited to go and take a look around.

When I drove by yesterday to snap a quick pic the door was open and the place was completely stocked and meticulously faced. Tomorrow should be fun.

According to the website there will be an official grand opening on Wednesday, July 15th.

 

When it’s this good, tell a friend

One of the hardest parts about moving is having to find new of everything. You know grocery stores, places to eat, pediatricians, eye doctor and dentist are just a few. Sometimes you get lucky enough to find a good recommendation from a friend but other times you are on your own. If you are a Yelper you can take your chances there and sometimes you get really lucky, like I did with Dr. Ty Galvin, our dentist.

Dr. Galvin and all of his staff are amazing. I felt welcome and comfortable from the first time that I walked through the door and I know for people that have issues with the dentist this feeling is important. Caroline, who does billing, is always very helpful and she always gets back to me when I have questions about our insurance benefits.

Dr. Galvin giving Sammy an exam

By now all of us in the family have seen Dr. Galvin, in fact Dr. Galvin gave Sammy his first exam. When Steve had a dental emergency the ladies at the front desk were able to squeeze him in the same day and Dr. Galvin could not have taken better care of Steve. All of the hygienists are gentle, non-intrusive and know what they are doing. They are great with kids, very entertaining tickling teeth and tongues so that the little ones don’t get too antsy.

I feel so lucky to have stumbled upon Dr. Galvin and wanted to let everyone know what a great dentist we had here in Renton. The office is located at 130 S 3rd Place and the office is open Tuesday-Friday. The phone number is 425-255-1661 and you can see what people had to say about the office on Yelp here.

 

Vandalism SUCKS!!!

Broken Glass Everywhere

There is no other way to say it, well I could say it with more words but I try hard not to use profanity here. The vandalism that was done at the Renton Public Library on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning was terrible.

Hey Vandals, get a hobby and make it one that does not destroy public property. Destroying public property is something that I can not wrap my head around, it infuriates me.

As a parent, vandalism is something that you have to teach your kids about and teach them that it is not right. I will tell you this it is really hard to

Absolutely Senseless

explain to a 4-year old why someone would bust all the windows out of a car and break into the library but you try to make a lesson out of it and move on.

These pictures were taken a few weeks ago on the Cedar River Trail and I am in no way saying the same people did this but I am seeing a pattern with the whole broken glass thing.

When all is said and done it is the City of Renton that ultimately pays for all of the damages. I can not even imagine the total cost of the damage and add that to the time and effort it will take to find these people and charge them.

Anyways, I have ranted long enough and I think Ms. Jessica said it best yesterday when she said these people must not like books.

 

Now That School Is Out

Now that school is out, you might be wondering what to do with the kids. Well, the City of Renton has thought about this problem and they have come up with a solution, Summer Day Camps for kids ages 3 (potty-trained) to 15.  The Summer Day Camp season started yesterday but the program runs till August.

Resgistration for these camps started back in April but there are still some spaces available for select camps. For a complete list of camps, descriptions, costs and availability check out the CyberSignUp webpage and click on the activities tab at the top of the page.

Camps such as Kidz Kaleidoscope and Renton Teen Camp last all day and they include weekly field-trips, visits to the Henry Moses Aquatic Center and t-shirts for participants. Camps for younger kids happen at the North Highlands Neighborhood Center in the morning and afternoon and they have a different theme every week.

I think that Sammy is going to be participating in one of the Itty Bitty Camps later in the summer, he is really excited and so am I.

Sorry for the late notice about the camps but there is still a chance to take advantage of this great program that the City of Renton offers but I would not wait any longer to register. I just checked the CyberSignUp page and there are more camps then the City of Renton webpage has listed. There is a music camp offered through the Renton Youth Symphony Orchestra in August, a Cartoonversity Camp in July and a Dance Camp in July. All of the information for these camps can be found here.

Thanks for reading and if you know of any other great activities for kids to do this summer do not hesitate to let me know.

 

Storytime Resumes and Summer Reading Starts

Starting Monday, June 22nd, storytime is returning to the Renton Public Libraries. Sammy and I have been missing our regular Wednesday morning outing to the library and then the park so we are very excited this week. When I was writing this blog the library’s website was not updated with the upcoming themes but I am sure it will be updated by the end of the week.

Ms. Jessica, the librarian, is so great about getting the kids excited about books and along with Ms. Nancy they put together some great craft projects for the kids to take home.

Storytime happens at the Renton Public Library on Monday nights at 7pm and Wednesday mornings at10am. The Highlands Branch hosts storytime at 10am on Tuesday mornings.

I am also really excited for the Summer Reading Program that is starting this week as well. The program encourages kids of all ages to read and find a love of books. Not only is there are reading chart that can be completed for a prize there are various activities throughout the summer at each library starting on Tuesday, June 23rd at the Highlands Branch. There are two Summer Reading Programs, “Be Creative”is for kids birth to age 11 and “Express Yourself”which is for tweens(?) and teens age 12-17. Summer Reading Programs can be picked up starting Monday, June 22nd at either Renton Public Library.

New this summer is a reading program geared towards adults. The Renton Public Library is challenging adults to “Master the Art of Reading” by submitting pictures of them reading and talking about what books they are reading. Those who participate will be entered into a drawing for a gift basket. Having a reading program for adults is a great way for the whole family to participate and show kids how to have an appreciation for books and reading.

You can get all of the details for Summer Reading Program by checking out the Renton Public Library webpage or by stopping by the library and asking.

Thanks for reading…

 

You May Have Missed Out…

Brandie helping Mike and entertaining me

If you weren’t in DTR last night you missed out on a great time. Happy Delusion’s Meet the Artist event and Liberty Cafe’s official Grand Opening were a blast.

Doors to both Happy Delusions and Liberty Cafe were open with a stream of people going back and forth between each. Neighbors and friends catching up and enjoying great food, cupcakes, wine, beer, coffee, live music and dancing. The music was supplied by self-proclaimed “ruggedly handsome” Phil Anthony, but some of Renton’s finest stepped up to provide some beats.

Johnny doing his thing

Naomi and her partner showing us how to do it

Outside of Liberty Cafe Jake, Naomi, Patricia and some others were taking advantage of the music and filling the sidewalk with some great dancing.

Mike really delivered on his promise of good times, I think he should consider politics.

No but seriously,  event was awesome and with these warm, long

Lot's of people lining up for coffee and Sammy eating of course

summer nights I hope we can have a few more before the season ends. Our family feels so lucky to have found such an amazing place to live. The sense of community and friendship that we have felt here has truly made Renton our home.

 

It’s Classic Comic Book…

The life of the Comic Den during the last week has resembled that of many comic book hereos, Captain America is just one that comes to mind. The store was brought to an untimely demise by a 5-alarm fire that was big enough to catch the attention of the Seattle Times  (as terrible as that coverage was) and yet miraculously the store has resurrected itself and is already open for business in it’s new location.

The “new” Comic Den has been open since Wednesday, because you know how those comic bookers get come Wednesday at 822 South 3rd Street, just around the corner from the old location. Sammy and I stopped by to say “hi”

new comic book day is always Wednesday

and check out the new digs. The space is great and I can’t wait to see what it looks like once all the books are out and the wall goes up.

The Den will have a new phone number, 425-253-1663 but it is not scheduled to work until Monday, January 22nd. In the meantime you can email the Comic Den at comicden@hotmail.com.

I am really glad to see the Comic Den open again. Steve really enjoys his comic books and it is nice to just head downtown and pick-up the week’s newest releases, just another reason why Renton totally rocks. New comic book day for Steve is on Saturday so we will be stopping in again then.

The Comic Den is onpen Monday-Saturday 12-6pm and Sunday from 12-5pm.

 

whatcha doing this friday?

Well, what’s going on in DTR is this,  Mary at happy delusions is having a “meet the artist event” on Friday, June 19th from 5-9pm. Mary will of course be having wine and a drawing for an awesome prize. 

I stopped by the store today and Mary told me about all of the artists that are going to be at the event. I have to say a few of my favorites will be in attendance so I am really  looking forward to going.

Emi will be there and hopefully she will bring more of here cute little hand-

how can you not love the Pringlepuss?

made creatures. Susanna Tam of Su Studio Jewelry will be at the event and I am really excited to meet here, I have bought her jewelry a couple of times for gifts and people, my Mom, has really loved them. Alexandria Sandlin will be on hand with her signature-style paintings and I don’t know about you but I think Alex should get together with the girl from cycle 12 of ANTM, Allison Harvard and do a series of paintings. 

Another one of my favorite artists from Mary’s store will also be at the event, Linda Vidmar. I love Linda’s pieces her ceramic talent is amazing and I can’t

Linda Vidmar's beautiful ceramics

wait to talk to her. These are not even all of the artists that will be at the event.

It might be just a coincidence but Liberty Cafe, right next door to happy delusions (dah?), is going to be having their Official Grand Opening from 6-10pm. Mike and Johnny are boasting food, music and good times and I am going to hold them to it. Heck, after a few cups of Mike’s coffee an insurance

Mike working.

seminar could be a good time.

Anyways, I am sure that the who’s who of Renton will be in attendance so I expect to see all of you there…

thanks for reading