White Center Now: The blog about White Center

Story and photos by Deanie Schwarz
Reporting for White Center Now

Jessica Haury offhandedly mentioned to a family gathering last Thanksgiving that she might like to have a bakery “someday,” she had no idea that “someday” would arrive soon, well before the family’s next Thanksgiving holiday.

She and her family have been diligently converting favorite recipes for commercial applications for months as they prepared for 3.14 Bakery & Coffee’s debut on Saturday morning, Grand Opening Day for her shop at 9602 16th SW in the core business district of White Center.

Opening right on schedule at 9:00 AM Saturday morning with son Aden at foot, Jessica had her first customers five minutes later, perusing the fruit breads, bagels, pound cakes and, yes, the pies. The number in the name of the bakery is a mathematical constant, a symbol of a “never-ending number” which is spelled “pi” and pronounced “pie”. So, the play on words announces just one of the specialties of the house she has been developing for her menu, the two-crusted pies. Today’s pie choices were apple and peach, each sparkling with a dusting of sugar on top.

Three types of cinnamon rolls appeared, of which Jessica says the strawberry is the most decadent. Fruit loaves (raspberry or banana), cookies (chocolate chip and peanut butter), and buttons (her version of muffin tops with seasonal fruits) arrived in the display case with the help of her sole full-time employee, an experienced culinary worker. “We call them buttons because muffin tops have a different meaning these days. Buttons are cuter.”

Employed full-time as a fifth and sixth-grade teacher at Fairwood Elementary in the Kent School District. Jessica now thinks that opening this bakery and coffee shop (serving Caffé Umbria coffee) with her husband/partner David, a Safeway employee, is largely because of her mom and dad. She learned how to bake in childhood, at her mother’s side. Buying this business from the retiring previous owner, Sokha, and re-opening the coffee shop in the very neighborhood she has lived in since she was four years old, now seems to her to have been a little inevitable.

“I had talked to other people, in particular a cake decorator I know who has always wanted to do something like this,” she said. “But her parents would tell her things like ‘Why would you give up a good job to do all that? ‘ And my parents [said] ‘go for it’. So, I feel really blessed and lucky that I have parents that were supportive, emotionally and financially and in all ways, really.”

Both her mother and father have been operating businesses in White Center for the better part of Jessica’s life, and are her entrepreneurial role models. Her mother, Jeri Finch has worked as a real-estate broker for S&L Realty as well as owner/operator of an early education school, “Learning Way School and Day Care” while her father, Brian Finch, operates his own contractor/handyman business called Good & Handy.

She’s made some changes to the large, airy ex-Sokha space. Tables are set to honor her connection to her family. The field of cheery, mismatched vintage tablecloths belonged to her grandmother; Jessica is glad to be able to display them and put them to good use. Her sister replaced artificial flowers in each of the green glass vases with live, long-stemmed ivory roses in honor of the opening day. The south wall of the high-ceiling space is covered with full wall mirrors reflecting daylight — they were installed in the ’80s, when the space was a kickboxing studio.

Her father, the handyman, says he’s the “slave labor” and lovingly built office space into the back of the store. The office wall is adjacent to an area set aside for kids, with scores of toys, art supplies and educational materials gleaned with the well-informed eye of an experienced educator. A huge round table is set up to accommodate the future Picassos and Kahlos, who are as welcome at 3.14 as their coffee-drinking adult chaperones.

“In college, I started to figure out how I really enjoyed ‘my baking therapy’,” she says. “Then I was dating my now-husband, David. When we would go to potlucks and dinner parties, I would always bring desserts. One time I was invited to bring dessert before my husband was invited to the party.” So that experience gave her a vote of confidence to pursue her therapeutic passion.

Jessica recalls saying something else offhandedly to friends at some point in the not-too-distant past, while mulling other careers after a lousy day of teaching. She thought maybe being a barista might be a decent career alternative if she ever needed it. Fast-forward to the present, with her perspective as new baker and barista on opening day, and Jessica says, “Maybe, be careful what you put out into the universe, because here I am.”

Story and photos by Deanie Schwarz
Reporting for White Center Now

Noelle and Alejandro (“Al”) Brown of Renton arrived in White Center in August of 2008 with such a crystal-clear vision of what they wanted to do, how they wanted to do it and over what period of time it was to be done, that it is little wonder that on this second anniversary of their Big Al Brewing (9832 14th SW), the entrepreneurs have not only met their own expectations but exceeded those of the most discerning regional connoisseurs of adeptly crafted microbrews.

As if successfully executing their business plan were not reason enough for celebratory events this past weekend, they also learned this past week that Seattle Weekly named Big Al Brewing as the Staff Pick for Best Microbrewery in Seattle 2010 and Staff Pick for Best Guide to Home Brewing in Seattle 2010.

So, the raising of glasses and some special events were scheduled this weekend to honor the customer and the crafter both. Home-brewing devotees, the brewery’s team of employees, loyal and newly converted customers, and a few collaborating close-by White Center businesses arrived for some fun in a steady stream all weekend.

Saturday features included Dante’s Hot Dog Stand (one of his six carts serving the famous cream cheese injected hot dog) and Full Tilt Ice Cream was scheduled to pay a visit.

A Rat City Brass performance in the rentable upstairs “living room” was a highlight of Saturday’s evening events, as the unseasonal rain kept some of the crowd indoors but with little complaint. A beer tour van shuttled in aficionados visiting from regions unknown to sample some of the ten items on Al and Noelle’s current lineup.

Sunday continued the weekend-long celebration with a very family-friendly day delivered as promised, with the hugely popular Caspar Babypants (aka West Seattleite Chris Ballew from Presidents of the United States of America) mesmerizing dozens of enthralled kids on the floor.

Neighboring family-friendly eatery Proletariat Pizza served up pizza-by-the-slice.

The absence of food service in this production brewery allows for a unique opportunity for folks to bring their food to Al’s to throw on the grills provided on their patio. Customers also bring local take-out to Al’s from other eateries in White Center as well as from Zippy’s Giant Burgers in Highland Park.

It wouldn’t make much sense to celebrate Big Al’s two years of achievements without mentioning an additional landmark accolade received in 2009. A national nod at the North American Beer Awards conferred the Bronze medal on Al’s Smoky Porter. Big Al’s didn’t enter this well-regarded and important national competition this year. But the recognition of one of their most popular year-round beers has been an important stepping stone on their path, as Al and Noelle continue to pursue their business plan, which includes visions of filling a gap in a niche national market.

They came to White Center with strong business backgrounds and passion for a craft and have, in part, successfully positioned themselves because of the even application of each of their unique strengths and talents. Al provides a wellspring of creative and technical crafting of beer, while Noelle navigates the business side. For six years prior to opening the brewery, Al was a fiendishly enthusiastic home brewer who had already developed a solid knowledge base and authoritative brewing skills prior to ever turning on a tap for the public at large. Noelle’s business degree and marketing background informs the execution of their original goals they set out as well as their evolution as they find themselves at the forefront of the competitive Seattle microbrewery culture. They have accumulated 100+ commercial accounts already.

The economic downturn and any risk of fluctuations in materials cost such as hops seems to have done little to hinder the Browns’ original goal of producing 3,000 barrels of beer in three years. In 2009, 1,200 barrels were produced, and the estimate for 2010 is between 1,800-2,000 barrels.

In the closely aligned home brewing market, which is estimated to include several hundred brewers in Seattle, the brewery is something of a magnet of inspiration and experimentation. As well as being congenial, most of the employees are somehow affiliated with home brewing. Collaborating with the Local Hero program, a competition is held four times a year for home brewing customers. The winner is given the chance to produce their beer using Big Al’s production tanks. The opportunity to show off their recipes to a wider audience is a once in a lifetime opportunity for some and is highly sought after.

In honor of the celebration, Al tapped just one keg of a young Kriek and will allow the rest to age. Two of their flagship beers, the Abbey Wheat and the Irish Red, were available to honor their beginnings, but there are also seasonal offerings currently up on the menu including Tripel, Summer Lager and Brougham Bitter. The Regular Lineup includes the Irish, Smoked Porter, Papa Charlie’s Pale Ale, India Pale Ale and Tutta Bella Amber Ale . The listing of some of the one-ups Big Al’s has offered is fascinating and, according to Noelle, the true craft of brewing goes well beyond the classic IPAs, pales and ambers.

Watermelon sour and jalapeno spice beer are just a couple the brewery has put up. But for this weekend, the shining stars were the flagships and the Kriek – a cherry sour. Down the road, they say, if and when the day for expansion comes, they would like to develop a line of sours for national distribution. This wouldn’t happen until a second brewery location is established to house the stainless tanks they currently use. The vision is that the 3,800 sq. ft., golden-green White Center warehouse would be used strictly for production of sour beers, a niche market in beer brewing, which would be stored in wood casks there. This line of beer would be the only type they want to take nationally. Though they have not yet even begun to look or pursue second properties, they are keeping in mind the dream’s evolution.

The ripples of Big Al’s success are felt throughout the White Center business district, since the first day they opened up shop and became what is now recognized as one of the anchors in the new wave of entrepreneurial energy that’s been sweeping the area.

ORIGINAL 6:35 PM REPORT, POSTED AS-IT-HAPPENED: About 20 people are at the White Center DSHS offices for tonight’s White Center/South Delridge Community Safety Coalition meeting. Early in the meeting, Liquor Control Board Lt. Woodrow Perkins (photo below, background left) has mentioned a special operation coming up in White Center and Burien next month – with up to eight agents working the area checking on compliance.

And now Triangle Pub owner Geoffrey “Mac” McElroy is bringing up the problem that led to a big law-enforcement response early Saturday – he’s concerned about this happening just a few weeks after the deadly shooting in the same 16th/Roxbury area. Coalition co-chair Sean Healy is talking about previous guest appearances at this meeting by the owner of the club now known as Evo (formerly Evolucion), which was said to be the source of last weekend’s event. “It’s affecting the reputation of the community,” McElroy said.

6:41 PM: Vary Jackson from the King County Sheriff’s Office says she read the report today, and the response totaled more than 30 police/KCSO cars, “from Seattle to Tukwila, and even Metro.” There was no evidence of shots, but apparently a pepper-spray canister went off and sounded like gunshots, she said, plus there were numerous “fights.” As for possible liquor violations – Perkins from the LCB says Evo has no license. They’re also talking about the “do not occupy” violations recently posted at Evo – Pat Price says that she’s been told they’ve been allowed to operate because the sprinkler system “is being worked on.” The discussion now has turned to how to address the problem – there are major groups inside White Center that aren’t represented at this meeting, for example, like the CDA and Chamber, it’s been pointed out. Meantime, KCSO’s Jackson says a multi-agency meeting is happening soon to discuss Club Evo and whether it’s in violation.

7:02 PM: Liz Giba talks about problems in the past and says “there is nothing new about this” – recalling other community efforts, such as walking the business district on a weekend night and even going into the club – but also says it’s clear that “this is an organization that doesn’t care about the community.” Healy says that it’s time to picket. Jackson says Evo’s owner owns 2 years in back taxes.

7:07 PM: Jackson has just confirmed that Deputy Jeff Hancock is no longer her partner as White Center storefront deputy. She doesn’t have any additional information beyond that. (We have had a request out to KCSO since yesterday for official information on what’s happening with Deputy Hancock and will renew our request in the wake of this news.)

7:23 PM: Coalition members are agreeing to do more research on what’s been going on with Evo – including seeking what’s available via public records – and also talking about a protest and petition. Another issue that’s come up at the meeting – Gill Loring says this building itself, the White Center DSHS HQ, has a terrible trash problem outside (we’re headed out to have a look – it’s now 7:36 pm and the meeting has adjourned).

We brought you the story Wednesday of the Hang Around Bar and Grill‘s owner Joe saying he’s getting the boot after just a few months. He’s going to court to challenge it, and is requesting support:

My lawyer asked me to ask our friends and public to appear in court for us Tomorrow [Friday] at 3 pm to tell the judge and her lawyer that what you feel about us there. The court proceeding is to STOP the eviction process and have the Attorney, landlord and the Judge [know] that we are NOT bad people and the public opinion is very important.

EXPARTE / King County Court WEST COURT ROOM 3rd Floor at 3 pm tomorrow (FRIDAY) please attend.
THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH!!!

One week from this Saturday …

The announcement accompanying the flyer:

Dubsea Coffee
March 20 2010
7-9 pm
9910 8th Ave. SW

www.dubseacoffee.com
www.myspace.com/asaroaxaca
www.asar-oaxaca.blogspot.com

ASARO ” The Assembly of Revolutionary Artists of Oaxaca ” is a collective of about 20 members who specialize in a variety of artistic communications, including stenciling, grabados ,murals , engraving , theater and fine arts.The collective was formed in 2006 in response to a call fromAPPO ” Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca “,[ a group formed as a teachers union, but whose makeup also includes general citizens and representatives from surrounding communities ] during their occupation of Oaxaca City . APPO made a call to artists of Oaxaca to discuss the possible responses to the violence and oppressive actions from the police and military during their public demonstrations. Ever since ASARO has been partaking in one of the most prolific visual Resistance projects in the state of Oaxaca. ASARO believes that public art in all it’s diverse disciplines is a form of communication that allows a dialogue with all sectors of society and which makes possible the visualization of the real conditions of existence.ASARO states” We summon all the artists who authentically look for the social transformation to be united to ASARO, to extend our creative front of resistance and to approach the art in all the sectors of society. The creative capacity is a strategy that historically the city of Oaxaca has used, to survive and to revitalize themselves… We propose to initiate an artistic movement, where the aim is the direct bonding with people in the streets and in public spaces.

That’s one of our personal favorite “Monty Python” TV clips. You got one? Or more? Mosey to Big Al Brewing noon-8 pm Sunday, where they’re promising to play as many classic “Monty Python and the Flying Circus” episodes as possible – and accepting donations for White Center for the Arts.

Dubsea’s Joerael Elliott shares the poster:

Greenbridge’s new Dubsea Coffee has announced its second art show, with a reception for artist Kelda Martensen coming up January 16th.

(Luminarias outside the Highland Park Improvement Club on New Year’s Eve)
Cafe Rozella is open noon-6:30 pm for New Year’s Day coffee; Dubsea Coffee is open 10 am-7 pm.

Two places we know for sure you’ll be able to get your latte on, this Thanksgiving morning — Cafe Rozella plans to be open 8 am-2:30 pm on Thursday (and they’ve got free live music the day after Thanksgiving – details on the CR site); brand-new Dubsea Coffee plans to be open 6 am-2 pm for the holiday.

We stopped by on Saturday morning and this java joint was jumpin’. Beautiful space, as you can see from our photo showing just part of its interior. Today’s the second day of Grand Opening weekend – Dubsea Coffee is on 8th SW in Greenbridge, about a block south of Roxbury. ADDED SUNDAY NIGHT: Someone sent this cell-phone photo of amazing latte art from Dubsea today – wow!

You’ve probably noticed the signs in the window in recent months – now it’s time to open the doors. It’s grand opening weekend this Saturday and Sunday for Dubsea Coffee in Greenbridge. We had the pleasure of meeting its proprietor Sibelle earlier this year; she plans for her coffee shop to be not just a place to get espresso, but also a place to enjoy local art — with a local artist serving as Dubsea’s curator — and a place for youth to gather in a safe space. Dubsea is just a few doors down from the Greenbridge Y/Library complex, at 9910 8th SW. According to the Dubsea website and invitations that have been sent out, the shop will be open 7 am to 7 pm as it swings open its doors on Saturday. ADDED THURSDAY NIGHT: Commenters wondered, and Dubsea responded – Stumptown is the coffee they’ll be using. See you there!

First we spotted the listing online here. Since it said “West Seattle” but its description left us stumped, we took it to the forums on our partner site West Seattle Blog, and asked whether anyone recognized the pool tables in the listing photo. Consensus – it’s The Wall, and now that we think about it, we’ve seen The Wall publicize live music shows as “West Seattle” rather than “White Center.”

The Seattle weekly has a photo series of an afternoon in White Center.

http://www.seattleweekly.com/slideshow/view/14941289

Hung Long

Of all the great Asian markets in White Center, Hung Long Sieu Th! is almost certainly my favorite.  It is distinguished by being directly across from the White Center State Liquor Store.  Some would see this as a convenience and others as a liability.  That aside, this is almost certainly the most well-stocked Vietnamese market.  This is a market in the truest sense of the word: stocking within its tightly knit quarters, all manner of fish and meat as well as a very nice selection of fruits and vegetables, some familiar, some not.  The aisles are packed with sauces, spices and all the accoutrements for fine Asian (or in my case, Mexican) meal.  Indeed, many of the patrons shopping at Hung Long are Latin American, although the overwhelming majority are Asian, attesting to the market’s authenticity.  Most times, I am the only non-Asian at the check-out line, as Vietnamese is thrown around as the lingua franca.

Fresh Fish

My advice for any gringos wishing to venture to Hung Long is to explore and if confused, just ask, the staff are very friendly and more than willing to assist.  Did I mention that the prices are incredibly modest.  You could pack a bag of fruit for under $10.00.  And the fruit would certainly be much nicer than the industrial brand you find at Safeway and other corporate stores.

Fresh meats and vegggies in a typically clean aisle

The seafood is invariably fresh.  No need to trek to Pike Place Market to pick up some fresh crab or halibut.  And you can get some nice black bean sauce to dress the dinner meal.

Fresh Crab

If you feel like noshing while shopping, Hung Long has a small Hong Kong style deli where you can pick up ribs, roast duck, hum bows or other tasty stews and barbeques.

Roast Duck

Fried Fish

My favorite quality of Hung Long is its authenticity.  When I step into Hung Long, I am immediately transported to the wonderful markets of Chinatown in New York City or Hong Kong.  This is the real deal, venture forth gastronomes and lovers of food.   An awesome market, Hung Long.

Asian Drinks

Hong Kong Style Deli

From King County Public Health:

Asian Bubble Tea located at 9835 16th Ave SW … was closed by a Public Health food inspector on Friday, April 24, 2009 at 11:30 am for operating without a valid food business permit.

Seattle Weekly‘s managing editor Mike Seely, who lives in West Seattle, is getting a lot of buzz right now for his new book about the area’s “dive bars.” We asked him about local establishments included in the book, and he listed White Center/Top Hat spots: Marv’s Broiler, the Locker Room, Magic Lanes, The Barrel, and the White Center Eagles Club. In West Seattle, the nods go to Poggie, Tug, Corner Pocket, Admiral Pub, Redline, Ebb Tide Room, Alki Tavern, Rocksport, as well as the Admiral Benbow Inn on the “Ghosts of Dive Bars” list. Seely will be discussing his book during upcoming on-air and in-person appearances, all listed here.

Ok, so I have been a bit deliquent on my lunch reviews as of late. To be honest, I have not been eatin lunch out much. I get a bahn mi from next door, or eat the pizza, that we are now serving.  This past Monday I got out of the shop though. I went down to Han’s in Burien. Yeah, not White Center, but it isn’t that far, and for you folks in West Seattle, really, Burien is not that far, and if you have never been to Han’s it is worth the trip.

Han’s is a deli, the way delis are supposed to be. The have a big case, full of cured meats, wursts, potato salads, and krauts. One wall is devoted to breads, the other to beer. Right in the middle is the dry goods. Spices and canned foods. Candies and chocolates. Even newspapers from the mother land. When you go here though, your focus should first be on that meat case. Most everything is made in house. I asked the woman how long they had been there, and she told me in a thick German accent, “We are new. Only about 35 years.” Yeah, 35 years, and you have never heard of this place.

I have now been in there a few times, and I have to say their sandwhiches, though small, are perfect. Try the Lachsschinken, a smoked ham that seems to be fat free, and full of wonderful smokeyness, or one of the many braunsweiger, or liver wurst. I am not a fan of liver, or pates of any kind but I am a sucker for braunsweiger. My Irish grandfather used to eat the stuff for lunch every day, and he would share chunks of it with his hounds. At Han’s, 4.50 gets you a sandwich with thick slices of braunsweiger, mayo, mustard, German pickles, and Havarti cheese. Try a few things in the case. Make sure you get a side of the German potato salad, and a little bit of the kraut. Skip the mustard/ American version of the potato salad. You can get that at Safeway. The ladies working here are friendly, patient and helpful. They might make fun of you, but only in the most loving way.

After you pick out your sandwich and cured meats, make a left and head over to the beer wall. If you are truly going to have a German lunch, you have to have a beer with that. I counted 43 different beers the last time I was there. Most are German, but there are a few from the newly opened Eastern Bloc. After you have picked out your beer, turn around and pick up a jar of pickles. The have quite a variety. Salt pickles, dills, German style, garlic. It will take me a year to work through the pickle aisle. Now head back to the register to pay and pick up your deli items. This is the time to pick out some chocolate. The have a huge variety of European chocolate, but even though I prefer a dark chocolate, I always end up getting the Kinder Egg. If you have never experienced one of these, think of a Cadbury egg, but instead of sugar goo, the are stuffed with a small choking hazard toy of some sort.

I keep forgetting my camera, but here is the address.:

Han’s German Sausage and Deli

17 SW 148th St # B, Burien, WA‎ –

(206) 244-4978

We always find the cooking works much better when we’re caffeinated: Ricardo says Cafe Rozella will be open in the morning. And Salvadorean Bakery has a sign up saying they’ll be open 8 am-5 pm.

Tall Latte at Half-Price – Rush Hour Special 6:00 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.\

Weary commuters, we know what a grind it is to get in your car and join the mad rush to that beloved job. So Cafe Rozella wants to make your commute a little easier. Pull up to Cafe Rozella, jump out of your car and get a tall latte for half the usual price! Just come in before 7:30 am and say, “I want my commuter special!” While supplies last.
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Keep up on current affairs and latest White Center developments at the WC blog: whitecenternow.com

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Freebie 2.0 download of the day. If you are like me, as you work at your computer, either on the web or while writing, you run into stuff that you want to save for later or merely want to have around for later use (like a software key, an address or a phone number). If you use gmail, you could email it to yourself but that has its limits. Well there is a tremendous freeware download called Evernote that allows you to record, save, copy and generally memorialize anything on your PC and best of all it syncs with all your computers so if you save something on your laptop while surfing at Cafe Rozella it will be in your Evernote clipboard in your home desktop. The download can be found at: Evernote download.

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