Uncategorized • July 17, 2017

Windermere Foundation Report – Q2 2017

by Maggie Mallett

Dear Friends of the Windermere Foundation,Thanks to all of you, the Windermere Foundation collected over $903,500 in donations through the second quarter of 2017. This is an increase of 10 percent compared to this time last year! Individual contributions and fundraisers accounted for 62 percent of the donations, while 38 percent came from donations through Windermere agent commissions. So far, we have raised a total of $34,009,527 in donations since 1989.Each Windermere office has its own Windermere Foundation fund account that they use to make donations to organizations in their communities. Year to date, a total of $979,486 has been disbursed to non-profit organizations dedicated to providing services to low-income and homeless families throughout the Western U.S.

One organization that has been the recipient of Windermere Foundation funds is the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) National Scholarship Fund. LULAC has considered education its number one priority since it was established in 1929. The scholarship fund was established in 1975 to provide scholarships to help Hispanic youth in underserved communities make the dream of college enrollment a reality. Former recipients of LNSF scholarships are now leaders in fields of business, science, government, and education. A rigorous selection process assures the expectation that future recipients will demonstrate the same level of excellence.

Last year, the Windermere office in Salinas, CA supported LULAC’s scholarship fund with a $1,000 donation, and will be making this donation annually. Christopher Barrera, Realtor and President of LULAC Salinas Council #2055, says “I am proud to be associated with such a great organization like Windermere Valley Properties in Salinas, and it’ll be an honor to present a check to LULAC on behalf of Windermere and the Windermere Foundation.” Each year, the LULAC Salinas Council holds a Black & White Ball to raise money for the scholarship fund. Monies raised are matched by LULAC national. There were 14 scholarships awarded in 2016. Thanks to the $15,000 raised through their event, matching funds from LULAC national, and a donation from the Windermere Foundation, they will be awarding 39 scholarships at a presentation ceremony on July 29 in Old Town Salinas.

Generous donations to the Windermere Foundation over the years have enabled Windermere offices to continue to support local non-profits like LULAC. If you’d like to help support programs for low-income and homeless families in your community, please click on the Donate button.

Uncategorized • July 11, 2017

A Day-by-Day Guide to Seattle Farmers Markets

by Maggie Mallett

A Day-by-Day Guide to Seattle Farmers Markets

Where to get locally sourced food (almost) every day of the week.

Agatha Pacheco, Seattle Weekly, 6/7/17

Tuesday

City Hall PlazaGrabbing some produce after work won’t be that difficult here, at one of five markets run by Pike Place Market Express. Open now. 10 a.m.–2 p.m. 600 Fourth Ave.

Denny Regrade Market Located outside Amazon’s Doppler building, this formerly underdeveloped section of the city is booming thanks to tech—and hopefully its neighborhood farmers market. Open now. 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Seventh and Lenora.

Wednesday

Columbia City Located in the historical district next to a shady patch of grass, this market is ideal for those who enjoy mom-and-pop stores and local restaurant bites. Ends Oct. 11. 3–7 p.m. 37th Ave. S. & S. Edmunds St.

Pike Place Evening Market Though accessible year round, this classic market by the water has special summer evening hours. Enjoy a beautiful sunset and fresh local produce, even if only for one day a week. Open now. 3–7 p.m. Pike Place and Pine St.

Wallingford Get an assortment of fresh fish, produce, ready-to-eat meals, and gifts at Meridian Park. Ends late Sept. 3:30–7 p.m. Meridian Ave. N. and N. 50th St.

Thursday

Lake City Hosting nearly 40 different artisan, and food vendors, this northeast Seattle market is a hit with the locals. June 8–Oct. 5, 3–7 p.m. N.E. 125th St. & 28th Ave. N.E.

South Lake Union Another Pike Place Market Express operation, this market features produce, flowers, artisan vendors, and more. Open now. 10 a.m.–2 p.m. 410 Terry Ave. N.

Queen Anne Unlike the others listed here, the Queen Anne farmers market is independently volunteer-run, and spans two whole blocks. Ends Oct. 12. 3–7:30 p.m. W. Crockett St. & Queen Anne Ave. N.

Friday

First Hill Like all farmers markets within Seattle, the First Hill one matches a $1 donation for every $10 spent with EBT through the Fresh Bucks program. Open now. 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Ninth Ave. and University St.

Madrona This market hosts more than 200 local vendors. Ends Sept. 29. 3–7 p.m. Martin Luther King Jr. Way & E. Union St.

Phinney Enjoy choosing from an array of local vendors, then take a short walk down to Greenlake for a quick swim. Ends Oct. 6. 3:30–7:30 p.m. N. 67th St. & Phinney Ave. N.

Saturday

Magnolia With a gorgeous view of Puget Sound, Magnolia’s market is a gem. Ends Oct. 14. 10 a.m.–2 p.m. (except July 29). 33rd Ave. W. & W. McGraw St.

U District Only a short walk from the UW campus and with plenty of shops around, there is a lot to do after you grab your goods.Year-round. 9 a.m.–2 p.m. University Way N.E. between N.E. 50th & N.E. 52nd Sts.

Sunday

Ballard Located on a cobblestone stretch, the Ballard market hosts over 200 different vendors. Year-round. 10 a.m.–3 p.m. 22nd Ave. N.W. and N.W. Market St.

Capitol Hill This market boasts artisanal foods, cheeses, vegetables, wines, beers, and ciders. Year-round. 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Broadway Ave. E. and E. Pine St.

Fremont This market has been going for 27 years, and it’s accrued a reputation for its European style. Year-round. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. 3410 Evanston Ave. N.

West SeattleLocated in West Seattle Junction, this market promises fresh produce from local Washington vendors. Year-round. 10 a.m.–2 p.m. California Ave. S.W. & S.W. Alaska St.

Uncategorized • July 6, 2017

Seattle Outdoor Cinema

by Maggie Mallett

Seattle Out

Uncategorized • June 30, 2017

Seattle & Eastside 4th of July Events

by Maggie Mallett

Uncategorized • June 22, 2017

Seattle Outdoor Dining

by Maggie Mallett

Uncategorized • June 5, 2017

Do Good While Dining Out in June!

by Maggie Mallett

This month Windermere Real Estate Co. has teamed up with neighboring restaurants to Dine Well – Do Good. Each Monday night in the month of June, Windermere Real Estate Co. is matching tips made to servers – up to $3,000 per night – and 100% of these funds will be donated to Food Lifeline, via the Windermere Foundation.

Food Lifeline is the food bank to food banks. They rescue millions of pounds of surplus food from farmers, manufacturers, grocery stores, and restaurants; then deliver this healthy and nutritious food to 275 food banks, shelters, and meal programs across Western Washington. Through their own ingenuity and clever practices, a single $1 donation can provide the equivalent of four complete meals.

Please join us in supporting local restaurant businesses while also supporting Food Lifeline and the crucial work they do. Browse through the list of participating restaurants and set your Monday night menu for the month of June!

The Beach House
1927 43^rd AVE E, Seattle, WA 98112

Ballard Loft
5105 Ballard AVE NW, Seattle, WA 98107

Bramling Cross
5205 Ballard AVE NE, Seattle, WA 98107

Bryant Corner Café
3118 NE 65th Street, Seattle WA 98115

Cactus
4220 East Madison Seattle, WA 98112

Fiddler’s Inn
9219 35^th AVE NE, Seattle, WA 98115

Kabul Afghan Cuisine
2301 N. 45th Street, Seattle, WA 98103

Kizuki
319 NE Thornton Place, Seattle, WA. 98125

Mioposto
3426 NE 55^th Street, Seattle, WA 98105

Rock Creek
4300 Fremont Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103

Sand Point Grill
5214 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105

Serafina
2043 Eastlake AVE E, Seattle WA 98102

Sushi Kappo Tamura
2968 Eastlake AVE E, Seattle, WA 98102

Varlamos Pizzeria
3617 NE 45th St, Seattle, WA 98105

The Watershed Pub & Kitchen
10104 3^rd AVE NE, Seattle, WA 98125

Uncategorized • May 30, 2017

Seattle once again nation’s fastest-growing big city; population exceeds 700,000

by Maggie Mallett

For the first time, Seattle is adding more people on average each year than during the post-Gold-Rush boom years. We’ve never grown this fast, and we’ve never been this populous.

by Gene Balk, The Seattle Times, 5/25/17

Seattle is back on top.

For the second time this decade, we’re the fastest-growing big city in the country, according to my analysis of population data released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.

If you’re among the thousands of folks who moved here this past year, give yourself a pat on the back — you’re part of the team effort that got us there.

From July 1, 2015, to July 1, 2016, Seattle had a net gain of nearly 21,000 people — 57 a day, on average. That pencils out to a 3.1 percent population increase for the one-year period. Among the 50 most populous cities in the nation, that’s easily the fastest rate of growth. Previously, Seattle had ranked fourth among big cities.

Last year is also a personal best.

Back in 2013, when Seattle first topped the ranks of major cities, we added 18,000 people for a growth rate of 2.8 percent. At the time, that seemed mind-boggling. Now, those numbers sound almost quaint in comparison. Seattle is a city on steroids.

Let’s put last year’s growth spurt in context: It marks just the second time since the start of this decade that one of the 50 largest cities exceeded a 3 percent growth rate. Austin, Texas, hit the mark in 2012.

Austin is also the only other city to rank No. 1 for growth twice since 2010. But the Texas capital has slowed in the past couple of years, falling out of the top five. So has the previous No. 1 city, Denver, which fell back to eighth place.

Seattle, on the other hand, seems to be picking up steam. How long we can keep going at this dizzying pace is anybody’s guess.

What you might think would be a logical deterrent to such rapid growth — the high cost of housing — sure isn’t keeping folks away. Not when the city is adding thousands of high-paying jobs.

With the big bump in population, Seattle also hit a milestone this past year, passing the 700,000 mark for the first time. And remarkably, it didn’t even take us 10 years from the previous milestone of 600,000 — that happened in 2009.

Seattle’s population, to be exact, hit 704,352 in 2016, according to the Census Bureau’s estimate. We remain the 18th largest city in the country, and also the 10th most densely populated, now with 8,391 people per square mile.

In terms of raw numbers, Phoenix was the top city for growth in 2016, adding more than 32,000 people. But Seattle’s gain of 21,000 residents still ranks an impressive fifth, just slightly behind New York.

But wait, there’s more.

With last year’s influx, we’ve added on average 15,658 people a year since the start of the decade. That eclipses, for the first time, the annual average growth from the city’s post-Gold-Rush boom years.

Among Washington cities with at least 50,000 people, only one grew faster than Seattle: Redmond, with a 3.2 percent growth rate. Bellevue grew less than half as fast. And only one lost population, though it was just by a 10th of a percent: Shoreline.

Seattle, of course, remains Washington’s largest city, ahead of Spokane, Tacoma, Vancouver and Bellevue, in that order.

Its smallest?

Krupp, in Grant County, which has only added one person since 2010.

Total population: 49.

Uncategorized • May 24, 2017

Windermere Greenwood Beer Garden for Charity

by Maggie Mallett

Uncategorized • May 18, 2017

Unique Furniture Stores of Seattle

by Maggie Mallett

Buy local and find those one-of-a-kind pieces you’ll never see anywhere else.

Looking to add some pomp and flare to your dwelling? Yearning for a unique piece to tie the room together? Look no further. Each of the stores on this list are small, independently curated boutiques, perfect for finding one-of-a-kind furnishings, vintage pieces, and home goods with a distinctly Seattle flair.

Adorn

This is a store with a super-stylish perspective. Adorn is a great place to find something unique for your home. The staff is well known for its friendly attitude and the always charming Rocco, the shop dog.

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Unique Find: Temporary wallpaper in uber-stylish prints

Ballard Consignment

This is a store with a super-stylish perspective. You’ll find an impeccably curated inventory of eclectic vintage furnishings and art.

warthog1

Unique Find: Warthog Taxidermy Mounted Head

Camelion Design

In addition to an amazing array of furniture styles and a seemingly endless selection of fabrics, it’s also a boutique housewares store full of goodies. You’ll discover gifts for everyone in their offerings of serving ware, candles, furniture, art, accessories, and gifts for baby.

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Unique Find: Modern furniture that doesn’t compromise comfort for style

Capers

Let your Seattle pride shine at this West Seattle home and lifestyle shop. Featuring the work of local, independent, and eco-friendly artists and craftspeople, Capers is a great spot to pick up a beautiful new cookbook that also serves as a coffee table book.

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Unique Find: Coated outdoor linens that are chic and functional with really stylish textile patterns

Digs

This Market Street staple has an exuberant mix of art, furniture, and craft; boosting a healthy mix of mid-century and contemporary pieces with a generous dose of whimsy.

sculpture

Unique Find: Life size cow sculptures

Fremont Vintage Mall

A basement full of furniture, art, and accessories could be considered the mother of all vintage stores. Spending a couple of hours browsing here is like shopping an entire antique district. Each visit will reveal new things. From the roaring ’20s to midcentury, this gallery isn’t stuck in a particular decade.

Fremont Antique Mall

Unique Find: 1950’s metal carnival clown baseball toss game

Phase Two Interiors

Gigi Buchanan opened Phase Two as an art, décor and furniture shop for gently used home furnishings that are worthy of a second life span, in a new home. The showroom has a large and varied selection spanning many different design styles.

Phase 2

Unique Find: Scooter the shop dog apparently has great taste and is happy to help you find the perfect throw pillow

Second Use

The ultimate store for a hardcore scavenger; going to Second Use feels like being at a 100 yard sales under one roof. From old lumber, vintage cabinet pulls, and fun retro lighting options to modern appliances, unused doors and large stock piles of unused wood flooring options; they literally have it all.

2nd use

Unique Find: Antique Pine Winnowing Table used to separate the wheat from the chaff – great for a side table

Uncategorized • May 10, 2017

2017 Pacific NW Summer Music Festivals & Concerts

by Maggie Mallett