White Center Now: The blog about White Center

We’ve mentioned it here a couple times before — it’s one of the coolest events this weekend – so you don’t want to miss it. Be at 17th/Roxbury at 10:30 Saturday morning to join Ron Richardson and others from the Southwest Seattle Historical Society for a walking tour of White Center history. $5 members, $7 nonmembers.

Damien and his brother Drake have a new band Hoquiam, and they are playing at 8pm at Full Tilt.

Correo Aereo, (Air Mail), are Austin Music Award winners now based in the NW. The Latin American/World music trio performs traditional and original music from Venezuela, Argentina, Mexico and beyond, combining a stunning array of string and percussive instruments with silken vocal harmonies described as “…locked in carnal embrace.” by the Austin Chronicle. Hailed for exciting musical virtuosity and profoundly moving performances through unknown landscapes of Latin America, their music is both viscerally ancient and vibrantly contemporary. Abel Rocha plays Venezuelan and Mexican harp, guitar, cuatro, quinta huapanguera and vocals. Madeleine Sosin offers violins, maracas, bombo, jarana, quijada and vocals. They are joined by ‘young lion’ Evan Flory Barnes, on hot stand-up bass.

Their music is richly polyrhythmic and soulfully melodic – soaring, fiery, haunting and joyful…this is the universal language; world music at it’s finest. Perfect for all audiences and ages!

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Perusing Cliff Mass weather blog and he points out this is the driest stretch that Washington state has experienced for this period in time.  But the kicker is that it’s going to get hotter – maybe into the mid-nineties by Monday and Tuesday of next week.

Not exactly White Center, but folks might be interested in attending this wonderful event.

Seattle Weekly Review of Queen

One of our many eateries that does not receive the attention of other, higher profile restaurants, just got a glowing review in the Seattle Weekly.  Queen’s Deli is located at the corner of 14th Ave SW and 98th Ave. SW.  The deli’s clientele are heavily Cambodian and the lingua franca of the place is most definitely not English.  Speak slowly and be prepared to get something other than what you ordered.  But, hey, that’s half the fun.

El Paisano

GOOD NEWS! El Paisano Rosticeria Restaurant has re-opened.  We, who had loved the wonderful roast chickens and other wonderful foods from El Paisano, were aghast when it suddently closed up.  Rumours abounded that the business was not doing well, that internecine family battles had led to closure, that the place was being remodelled, that the mafia was asking for it’s investment back (ok that is not true).  But my colleague, Justin of Full Tilt Ice Cream and I were heartbroken.  We love this place.  We loved it so much we offered free coffees and ice creams to encourage people to patronize El Paisano.  To say, that we are happy, thrilled and completely elated that our favorite Rosticeria is mild understatement.  Chicken tacos, barbacoa and carne asada burritos for everyone.  And yes, we’ll take the Negra Modelos as well. Herein is a part of Full Tilt’s review of El Paisano:

El Paisano at 15th Ave. SW and Roxbury SW

The area I grew up in LA was predominantly Mexican, and poor. MY parents, and I swear this is true, would open up a paper when it was time for a new apartment, and just pick the cheapest place. We lived in Compton, Silver lake, Echo Park (before it was trendy), Santa Ana, even when we moved to Huntington Beach it was in the Hispanic area that was known as Slater Slums. In all those neighborhoods I became familiar with Rosticerias, even if it was an EL Pollo Loco. See, my parents are from the midwest, and if is anything they know well, it is their way around a yard bird and pork. We ate at all of the local chicken joints. Cesars on Atlantic and 65, Pablo’s on Alameda, Pollo Macho on  Wilshire, even Rosco’s ( which is not Mexican, but makes a mean fried chicken and waffle platter). When I first moved to Seattle, one of the things I missed most was Mexican food. I craved El Pollo Loco,  the bottom of the barrel in LA. Mama’s in Belltown, and Bimbo’s on the hill is crap food. Not just not authentic, just crap food. I was amazed when I found White Center. So much good food, in one little area, and the rest of Seattle had no idea it even existed. Rosticeria y Cocina El Paisano is the best in chicken. It is owned by the butcher shop two doors down. Sure, the carnitas is better at Del Rio. I can get an equal burrito at the bus for less. As far as chicken goes, Paisano is king.

Marinated in an adobe chili mix, and then flame roasted. Crsipy skin, and a juicy bird. The sides are simple, and plentiful. Rice, beans and a simple salad. Shining right next to that crispy bird is the house made salsas. Most Mexican places in Seattle seem to have a can opener as their main tool is salsa prep. Not these guys. I have become leery of Salsa Verde since moving to Seattle, but Paisano’s have nailed it. Flamed roasted tomatillos and just the right amount of chili heat from the peppers to compliment the food. They are now serving Breakfast as well as lunch and dinner, so the next time you venture out to eat, stop by this place.

LOCATION:  El Paisano is located at 9615 -15th Ave. SW, Seattle 98106  They are just off the intersection of 15th Ave. SW and Roxbury (across the street from Bartell Drugs).

Phone:  (206) 763-0368

Don’t take our opinion for it (although we are best qualified to judge R from West Texas and J from Southern Cali)

http://www.seattleweekly.com/locations/rosticeria-y-cocina-el-paisano-358083/

http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/1/1421316/restaurant/West-Seattle/Rosticeria-y-Cocina-El-Paisano-Seattle

http://srs.mediawebconnect.com/Rosticeria%20y%20Cocina%20El%20Paisano/10453

Show them some love and you will happier for it.

El Paisano Rosticeria

This story is not unique but it is entirely true.  A friend of mine recommended his barber and offered to pay for my haircut if I would get a buzzcut.  I took him up on his offer.  The barber found out that I had a legal background and started querying me about some financial difficulties he was having.

The barber had a small business that had always provided him with a decent living.  He had a large number of customers and therefore had few expenses beyond the rent, the lights and such incidentals.  He ran a lean operation. He owns a home, a  modest car and an otherwise unremarkable life.  He pays his bills on time and has excellent credit.  He appears to be in good health, not overweight, eats right and works hard.  To all appearances, he is an upstanding member of our community.

After finishing a haircut about a year ago, he felt a crushing pain in his chest.  He fell to the floor and a concerned customer immediately called 911. Mr. Barber was having an acute myocardial infarction, commonly referred to as a heart attack.  After being rushed to Harborview Medical Center, doctors performed a quadruple bypass surgery and nursed him back to health.

This episode of medical need cost the Barber over $50,000.00; money which he did not have and which his business could not generate.   Being uninsured, as are most business people in his position, the barber was liable for the full cost of this care.   Adding to his stress level, was the fact that the hospital kept calling him, demanding payment.  They implored him to put the payment on credit cards, as they well knew that he had credit.  What they failed to tell him, and of which I informed him, was that credit card debt was virtually nondischargeable in a bankruptcy filing.   The medical costs, all $50,000, however could easily be discharged in bankruptcy.  As with so many elements of our health care system this meant that the cost of his care would be socialized, that is , passed on to consumers, taxpayers and others in higher medical costs.

Now the barber could go on making incremental payments for the better part of his life.  This had the same effect as a bankruptcy filing or a mere refusal to pay, the costs of his care would be socialized.  In fact, outside of winning the lottery there is no conceivable way that a man in his position and age, given the skill-sets that he possessed, would be able to pay off the cost of his care following the heart attack.

There is absolutely nothing unique about this situation.  It is the story of millions of such small businesses.  Nearly one-third of the uninsured – 13 million people – are employees of firms with less than 100 workers.  That is to say, no health insurance of any kind.  Of those insured, the coverage is often reserved for catastrophic events with cavernous gaps in coverage.  And this is the plight of the small business person.  Never mind the unemployed, underemployed or just plain down on your luck types, such as the half-million who are being laid off every month and losing their employer-provided insurance.

The current delivery of health care in this country is nothing short of scandalous.  Take a look at some eye-popping statistics in this piece.   Health care reform is imperative.  As articulated by Dr. Howard Dean:

Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean said Thursday that without a public health insurance option – a federally-run program that would be offered in addition to private plans — the health care reform effort now being debated in Washington would not be worth supporting.

“There is no point in doing health care reform unless you have a public option people can choose from,” Dean said. “I think it is a waste of time and money to do it.”

The desired reduction in the cost of health care will not happen without such an option, he added.

“Cost containment is not going to be successful without a public option” he said.

Without a strong public option, all the tweaks to our health care system will be for naught.  We have operated under a system that divides health care costs between employers and those with government coverage such as Medicare.   The rest of us are screwed.  So, if you care about real health care reform contact your legislator in Congress and urge them to pass real health care reform, a bill with strong public option component.  Contact for Washington’s two Senators is as follows:

At Cafe Rozella we have the opportunity to book some great acts.  Correo Aereo is, without hesitation, one of our favorite musical groups.  They will be peforming at Cafe Rozella this Friday, July 24th at 7 p.m. Admission is always free but we encourage you to bring a donation for the White Center Food Bank.

Correo Aereo Peforming

Correo Aereo, (Air Mail), are Austin Music Award winners now based in the NW. The Latin American/World music trio performs traditional and original music from Venezuela, Argentina, Mexico and beyond, combining a stunning array of string and percussive instruments with silken vocal harmonies described as “…locked in carnal embrace.” by the Austin Chronicle. Hailed for exciting musical virtuosity and profoundly moving performances through unknown landscapes of Latin America, their music is both viscerally ancient and vibrantly contemporary. Abel Rocha plays Venezuelan and Mexican harp, guitar, cuatro, quinta huapanguera and vocals. Madeleine Sosin offers violins, maracas, bombo, jarana, quijada and vocals. They are joined by ‘young lion’ Evan Flory Barnes, on hot stand-up bass.

Their music is richly polyrhythmic and soulfully melodic – soaring, fiery, haunting and joyful…this is the universal language; world music at it’s finest. Perfect for all audiences and ages!

For those who want to learn more about the band: http://www.correoaereo.com/lofi/reviews.html

Two elderly ladies walk into Cafe Rozella gushing about the cafe.  Unprompted, one of them says, “we love White Center.  We tell people we live in West Seattle, because of White Center, not in spite of it.”  I relate this anecdote, because despite it’s ragged edges, White Center is a place of vibrancy and life.

Years ago, I used to have an office job in downtown Tacoma.  If we wanted to get something to eat, we would troop into our cars and head to Old Town or the Tacoma waterfront.  The downtown core was desolate.  As one of my colleagues used to say, “you can’t buy an Aspirin in downtown Tacoma.”  Sadly, he was right, there was nary a Bartells, Walgreeens or even a small Asian grocery store to buy anything essential.  Coffee shops were nonexistent and the hilltop area was still a war zone.  I relate this, not to knock Tacoma, after all, it has really improved, but it has improved in ways far different than White Center.

Most of Tacoma’s improvement has been the subject of heavy top-down government investment and tax incentives.  While the Greenbridge Project on the west side of White Center might be considered similarly, “top down,” it is but a small part of what makes the area a better place.  White Center has always had a community and a functioning business core.  Many White Center businesses, (Center Tool Rental, White Center Glass), have been there for decades.  Nonetheless, there was a time, not too long ago, when the walk on 16th Avenue SW, south of Roxbury, was undertaken with trepidation and certainly never after dark.   Today, White Center is a different place.

Immigrants from all parts of the world have opened businesses throughout the White Cener business core. This is organic growth, from the roots up.  Projects such as Greenbridge seek to encourage such growth.  As well, there are businesses opening from locals who want in on a dynamic area.  Cafe Rozella is but one, there is also Full Tilt Ice Cream, Proletarian Pizza and word of a couple of other new businesses.  These are businesses operated by young people who are dynamic and future-oriented.  Tolerant and educated, they are what social scientist, Richard Florida would call the creative class.  Rather than berate the lack of a McDonalds, we celebrate the Pho shops, the Salvadorean pupusas and the Guyamas Burritos amongst many other great eating establishments.

So next time you have friends visiting from out-of-town, do the Space Needle but bring them to White Center and invite them to take in the rich melting of cultures inherent in this corner of the world.  And, if by chance, one of your guest gets a headache and, if you want to buy an Aspirin there is the Super-Walgreens and the local Bartells.  But I suspect a custom ice cream cone from Full Tilt or an Americano from Cafe Rozella would work just as well.   Cheers!

Buy some diapers and take them to either Burien Chevrolet or the West Seattle Farmers’ Market by 2 pm today – Roxbury Safeway is a dropoff spot too – it’s the annual “Stuff the Bus” diaper drive for WestSide Baby, which is based in White Center and helps thousands of local families every year. The sizes that are most needed are 4-6 and 4T.

We received this bulletin for our sister site West Seattle Blog. It’s important information for White Center too and we’re publishing it in both English and Spanish, which is how Seattle Police are distributing it:

At about 0300 hours, an unknown suspect entered a residence in the 700 block of S. Rose Street. The two occupants were attacked, and one has since died from injuries sustained in the attack. The second victim is undergoing medical treatment at an area hospital for her injuries.

The suspect is described as:
• black male,
• late 20’s to early 30’s in age
• He is approximately 5’-9” to 6’-0” tall,
• with a thin muscular build.
• The suspect has a thin moustache,
• “nappy” hair.

The suspect is still at large. The Seattle Police Homicide Unit is investigating this incident, and asks that citizens call the homicide unit at (206) 684-5550 with any information, or King County Crime Stoppers at (206) 343-2020 or send a text to “crimes” (274637).

Citizens are asked to call 911 to report any suspicious activity in their neighborhoods, and to contact the Seattle Police Department Crime Prevention Unit at (206) 684-7724 for additional information on personal safety. During warm weather, citizens are reminded of the necessity to secure all doors and windows in their homes.

The public is invited to a community meeting at the South Park Community Center, 8319 8th Avenue South, on Monday, July 20, at 7:00 pm.

Interim Chief John Diaz

(in Spanish – en Espanol)

Aproximadamente a las 0300 horas, un desconocido entró en una sospecha de residencia en el bloque 700 de South Rose Street.

Los dos ocupantes fueron attacted, y uno ha fallecido a causa de las heridas sufridas en el ataque, la segunda víctima se encuentra en tratamiento médico en un hospital de la zona para sus heridas.

El sospechoso es descrito como un hombre negro, a finales de años veinte años treinta en la edad. Él es de aproximadamente cinco a nueve a seis pies de altura, con una construcción muscular. El sospechoso tiene un bigote fino, y “pañal pelo” El sospechoso sigue en libertad. La Unidad de Homicidios de Policía de Seattle está investigando el incidente, y pide que los ciudadanos llamar a la Unidad de Homicidios 206-684-5550 o King County Crimestoppers 206-343-2020 o al texto consejos a los “CRIMES” (274637) con toda la información.
Los ciudadanos se les pide que llame al 911 para reportar cualquier actividad sospechosa en sus vecindarios, y ponerse en contacto con el Departamento de Policía de Seattle, Unidad de Prevención de Delitos en 206-684-7724 para obtener información adicional sobre la seguridad personal. Durante el buen tiempo, se recuerda a los ciudadanos de la necesidad de asegurar todas las puertas y ventanas de sus casas.

El público está invitado a una reunión de la comunidad en el Centro Comunitario de South Park 8319 8th Avenue South, Seattle, el Lunes 20 de Julio a las 7:00 pm.

3 pm today, The Not-Its play Full Tilt Ice Cream on 16th SW. Here’s the – pardon the pun – scoop. (But first, of course, it’s parade time, 1 pm!)

This afternoon, the man who attacked Scatt the White Center church cat was sentenced – and seattlepi.com reports he got 9 months in jail.

That’s one of our photos from last year’s Block Party, offering free backpacks full of school supplies to White Center students, as well as food and fun. The YES Foundation has set the date for this year’s edition – 3-6 pm August 14th, between Mount View Elementary and Mount View Presbyterian.

Reminder – Thursday night is the special “got annexation questions, ask ’em now” North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting, 6 pm, St. Bernadette’s. We previewed it thoroughly here. You can also get more info at the NHUAC website.

At right, that’s Beth Grieser, honored tonight in West Seattle for her volunteer commitment to the White Center Food Bank (which also serves part of south West Seattle). The Southwest District Council’s Cindi Barker helped present awards to Grieser and six others, the first-ever West Seattle Volunteer Recognition recipients, part of a program sponsored by the SWDC, the Delridge District Council and our partner site West Seattle Blog. You can help the White Center Food Bank too – either contact them about volunteer opportunities, bring in food donations, or donate $ through their website.

You won’t be able to miss White Center for the Arts during White Center Jubilee Days this weekend – they’re planning to be everywhere, according to this update from Shelli:

White Center for the Arts (www.whitecenterforthearts.org) will be heavily represented at Jubilee Days (www.jubileedays.org) this year. For both days of the event, July 18th and 19th, White Center for the Arts will have a booth in the community area where everyone can participate in a future public art project. This will be the first of many community art projects that we will host. It will be a clay mosaic. Do what you want with your piece of clay, sign your name or initials, and we will make sure that your piece is placed in the finished mosaic. Fun for one and all. And you’ll be a famous artist!

White Center for the Arts will also have a float in the parade, which starts at the McDonalds on 16th Ave SW near 114th. The float starts at 1:00 PM. We will be handing out candy and flyers. We will float towards downtown White Center on 16th Ave SW with the rest of the crew. You’ve got to see what we are making this time!

White Center for the Arts is hosting another Art Event this coming weekend in conjunction with Jubilee Days. We will be in the parking lot of the Skate Building on 17th Ave SW. We will be active for our regular hours of 5 PM to 10 PM. Enjoy the nearby Beer Gardens, and the music flowing from the stage while you watch art in action!

That’s one of our photos from the Hicks Lake cleanup last September. A date’s set for this year, according to early word from Dick Thurnau of Friends of Hicks Lake:

We have been informed that Seattle Pacific University is proposing to send 40 students this year on Sept. 26/2009, a Saturday, to Lakewood Park to help clean up this area. The blackberry bushes, Scotch broom and invasive weeds plus litter needs to be removed. They call their project City Quest — it encourages freshmen to participate in giving to the communities.

We ask Friends of Hicks Lake and all parties that enjoy the park to give us a hand in this endeavor. Realize this is an early announcement but will keep you posted. Let’s mark your calendar to volunteer to help make this facility beautiful.

… not to mention the rest of Jubilee Days. On behalf of West Seattle Blog, we’ve been tabling at West Seattle Summer Fest this weekend, and we have a few Jubilee Days guides as well as information on WS events. We’re big parade fans so that’s the highlight for us! Coming up next Saturday afternoon — here are the details.