What surprised me this week, in a walking tour of businesses, was a distinct mention of a lack of business. When I went back in the evening, on this summer day, there was a lot of foot traffic.

There is a new map of Wallingford that you can get at the shop Not a Number at 1905 North 45th, it’s quirky, more political, a little more grown up than Archy McPhees. Come to think of it Archy McPhees would be a great topic for another time.

One of the purposes of this blog is to point out places of interest, and Wallingford is one of those places where you can spend the day, an evening out, or use as a mall alternative. There are thirty places of business within a three block strip. I’m just going to mention one bar that is a place you have seen a million times, and probably never been in, which is Babalu’s. Wednesday is Salsa night, and if you want the experience of true Miami, this is the place. They have live music on the week ends, and it’s a bar’s bar. It’s right across the street from the newly remodeled QFC.

There is every kind of food, the movie theater, taverns, tea shops, coffee, and that travel book. It’s worth the trip, because it’s so central.

There are a couple of things about it that make it interesting to explore, and spend time with. First is some of the poster art work. Seattle is big on poster art for advertising an event. We are the coffee shop capital of the world, and when you walk into one you are blasted with poster art, each wants your attention.  The second thing is the diversity of events Seattle has to offer.

There are a wide variety of event calenders, but you can only go to so many. The Seattle Twist site is a chronicle of a hip, happening couple, and their quest to make the Elvis Mobile a house of worship. By following the events of the site you will have a chance of encountering an experience that adds to the landscape of Seattle. It’s an uplifting site worth it’s own link on the side panel.

Jet City Real Estate was to be a one stop shopping experience for those people who owned property, and needed help. Buying, and Selling are just a couple of things in a process of home ownership. Maintaining the property is also a challenge. Our web site at www.FixerFixer.com is a resource,of sorts, in how to buy, and improve, your property.

Jet City Home Improvement is one of a set of sub domains that relate to home ownership. We offer painting, landscaping, rockeries, decks, custom cabinets, rot work, and home repair. Every part of the business is controlled by our network of contractors. My part is done with people who have asked for my help to start businesses, and to do marketing for them.

These web sites are a part of the marketing. We give you options. You can always contact me for advice which is free. Our hope is that you will find a value in our services, and contract with us for the best results.

Beacon Hill is South of Capitol Hill and over looks Boeing Field which is a small airport for private plans and commercial plane repair. There is a ware house district South of down town to Boeing Field and a bridge that connects to West Seattle. 

So Seattle is surrounded by hills then those are bordered by Lake Washington on the East and Puget Sound on the West. All together this was the city of Seattle and where prominent families lived.

Now North of Queen Anne is a canal that links Lake Union with Puget Sound. If we follow the canal around Capitol Hill we end up in Lake Washington. North of these canals is flat expanse of land the elevates to the North. There is a Ridge in the center called Phinney Ridge, but actually extends North into Northgate. On the West of the ridge is Ballard, Loyal Heights, Golden Gardens, Olympic Manor, Blue Ridge, Broadview and the Highlands. On the East of the ridge is Laurelhurst, View Ridge, Wedgewood, and Meadowbrook. Directly along the ridge is the University, Wallingford, Green Lake, Greenwood, and Northgate.  

Some of the areas left to be mentioned are pockets like Madison Park South through Washington Park, to Seward Park, along Lake Washington East of down town. The International District is the gate way to the Rainier Valley that runs South from down town into Columbia City.

In another post we’ll talk about neighborhoods and explore them more fully.

Anyway, while I was turning around to park in front of the bakery I saw Rhinestone Rosie’s. It’s at 606 West Crockett Street. You’ll need the address to look it up, otherwise it’s hard to find.

There is a companion piece that I’m writing on our Peru Hope blog about women owned businesses, and you will find four in a row on Crockett Street along side Rhinestone Rosie’s. There is also a two tailors, a kimono jacket shop, and a house design store across the street. It’s an interesting outing and probably a great walking tour of a neighborhood.

Jewelry is near and dear to my heart and has been since I was a kid. Our neighbor collected, and sold costume jewelry. I’ve written about Alana’s Jewelry in the Northgate Mall as a fine place to get estate and unusual pieces. Here at Rosie’s it’s all fun. There is nothing better to accent your day than with some thing bright and sparkley.

Dressing is kind of a lost art with the Gap, and Banana Republic. It’s kind of drab, fashion has gotten kind of routine. Today when you see a woman dressed in big necklaces, or star encrusted broaches you divert your eyes rather than stare. The ordinary is a fashion statement.

OK, so you are just going to Rosie’s to look. It’s worth a trip, the same trip people make from all over the country. Costume jewelery is a lost art. It’s like museum stuff that is fun to look at. It would take a certain confidence to actually wear it. It’s from an era of small pleasures, days when you wanted to stand out, have people admire you, because you are an extraordinary person.

So if you should decide to buy something, you will be surprised how reasonably priced a bold statement of style can be.