Seattle Sun Newspaper - Vol. 7, Issue 4, April 2003

Copyright 2003 Seattle Sun. Please feel free to use the article and photos below in your research. Be sure to quote the Seattle Sun as your source.

Soroptimist Dinner & Raffle

The Seattle chapter of Soroptimist International, a professional women's group, will hold a dinner and raffle on Wednesday, April 2, at Nowogroski Rupp Insurance, 11027 Meridian Ave. N. The group, which is dedicated to helping women succeed in business, is part networking society and part philanthropic organization. Raffle tickets are available; $5 buys you a chance at one week in Spain plus $1,000 airfare.

For more information, call Mary Sierchio at 364-4321.

Northgate Toastmasters

Toastmasters International, the world's largest non-profit organization dedicated to teaching people to be better public speakers, has opened a new branch in the Northgate area.

Those interested in Toastmaster's goal of "effective oral communication for the betterment of mankind," or for those who want to be able to speak in front of a crowd, are invited to attend the weekly Thursday meetings at the Olympic View Community Church.

For details, call John Sutherland at 360-568-3372, or see www.toastmasters.org.

Eatery adds double-decker bus

When Carrie Field and Conrad Topacio say their restaurant, the Acorn Eatery and Bar in the Crown Hill neighborhood, offers "movable feasts," they mean it. Literally.

The restaurateurs recently became proud owners of a double-decker bus originally used in London in the 1950s and later transported across the Atlantic Ocean to Vancouver Island, British Columbia, where, for several decades, it was used to accommodate tourists on sight-seeing treks in the Victoria area.

Field and Topacio plan to use the bus as part of their Nutty Events catering business. Field is a professional party planner who formerly worked as catering manager at the prestigious Columbia Tower Club in downtown Seattle before opening the Acorn with partner/chef Topacio in the spring of 2001.

"We look forward to catering private functions on the Nutty Time bus and also visiting area festivals where we'll sell refreshments and our restaurant's cuisine," says Field, who also serves as the restaurant's manager.

When the bus is not being used, it can be seen parked next to the restaurant at the corner of Holman at Mary and NW 90th streets.

The Acorn Eatery specializes in "Italian-inspired" cuisine.

For more information, call the restaurant at 297-0700.

Bungalow closes doors

Bungalow Wine Bar, located at 2412 N. 45th, recently closed its doors, according to the March newsletter of the Wallingford Chamber of Commerce. Owner Jeff Treistman has begun classes at Antioch to become certified as a teacher. Building owners John Marshall and Christine Deavel told the chamber newsletter that they are still considering options for the use of the building.

Car wash coming to Wallingford

The former Rite Aid pharmacy property at 2207 N. 45th was recently purchased by Car Wash Enterprises, which is planning to open a car wash there, according to the March newsletter of the Wallingford Chamber of Commerce. Car Wash Enterprises is owned by Vic Odermat.

Embellishments comes to Greenwood

Embellishments, a Wallingford shop that opened last May, recently opened a second location at 7318 Greenwood Ave. N., according to the March newsletter of the Greenwood-Phinney Chamber of Commerce. Embellishments sells home furnishings, accessories, gifts and jewelry. The owners are Jeffrey Hill, James Graf and Marilyn Hill.

Greenwood-Phinney Chamber annual awards announced

The Greenwood-Phinney Chamber of Commerce held its Annual Meeting and Recognition Reception at the Greenwood Masonic Lodge on Jan. 25.

This year's chamber award winners included the following:

Fresh Face Awards: Cathy's Lounge and Steven Cole Salon;

Building Restoration Award: Michael Strong;

Tenacity Award: Florist on the Ridge;

Hidden Treasure Award: Chelsea Station on the Park;

Goodfellows Award: Greenwood Masonic Lodge;

Community Service Award-Individual: Gary Masters of Greenwood Optical;

Community Service Award-Business: Music Center of the Northwest;

Longevity Award: Leilani Lanes;

Customer Service Award: Hansen's Lamps and Shades;

Good Neighbor Award: Bartell Drugs;

Ongoing Attractions Award: Taproot Theatre;

Happy Trails Awards: Kay Hurd of Hurd's Antiques & Appraisals and Fredd Christ of Fredd of Switzerland;

Anchoring the Neighborhood in Monkey Business Awards: Gorilla Coffee House and Woodland Park Zoo;

Just A Little Off Center Awards: OK Corral BBQ, Valentine's Barbershop, Espresso Dental, Seattle's Nicest Coin Laundry, Gotrocks, and Johnson & Johnson Antiques.

Familiar face joins Pacific NW Paint

Christine Weston, the former long-time owner of Lake City Paint, has taken a job at Pacific Northwest Paint and Tile in Lake City after an extended break from the paint business.

Weston sold her store a few years ago to take care of her father, Woody Weston, who passed away in 2001.

Woody Weston opened Lake City Paint in 1946, and for 50 years it was a Lake City institution, first at NE 125th and 30th Ave NE, and then a bit further north, at NE 130th.

Christine Weston bought the store from her father in 1980, and the two ran it together until Woody suffered a stroke in 1994.

Weston, 56, said she was happy to take the new job at Pacific Northwest Paint, which is owned by Roosevelt residents Jim and Bev Ivey.

"It was time to get back into the paint business," Weston said

There was a surprise in store for Weston when she showed up for her first day of work at Pacific Northwest Paint. Easing behind the counter, she realized it was the same counter she had worked behind for decades at her father's store. "It was like I was supposed to be here," she said.

Pacific Northwest Paint is located at 12505 Lake City Way NE.

Nominate your favorite business

The Mayor's Small Business Task Force is soliciting nominations for this year's small business awards. Every year, the City selects 10 winners based on excellence in management, business planning, marketing and community involvement. A registration form and information about the awards are available at www.cityofseattle.net/smallbiz/index.html. For details, call 523-6018.

Carpet business opens

A carpet broker business called Westlake Group recently opened its doors in the Wedgwood neighborhood, along 35th Avenue NE at NE 85th Street, according to the March newsletter of the Wedgwood Community Council. The business is run by John Augustavo and his son, John Augustavo Jr. They are longtime Wedgwood residents, according to the newsletter.