Kostas Opa is in a “soft opening” this week for lunch. They are offering a variety of classic Greek fare as well as American comfort food. They expect to be fully open also for dinner either by this weekend or early next week.  You may recall that Kostas Opa used to be located in Fremont across from the “Waiting for the Interurban” statue. Same folks, same good food. Show them some love and check it out.

You will find them at 1924 N 45th, next door to Murphy’s at N 45th and Meridian Ave N. Take out is available, call …

Getting a tree for your yard can be expensive. But now Seattle is offering a chance at free trees for your yard or the planting strip in front of your house. Not only do you get the tree, but you also will receive training on tree planting and care, free water bags and mulch, and follow-up care reminders.

The City of Seattle is offering the trees through a lottery, closing August 7. You may ask for up to three trees per property. To apply go to the Trees for Neighborhoods website to fill out the application and then wait to …

Green Stage’s Backyard Bard players will be presenting two delightful Shakespeare plays this coming Friday (July 14) and Saturday (July 15) at the Wallingford Playfield (N 42nd St and Wallingford Ave N) at 7 pm. The plays are free but donations will be accepted.

These Shakespeare plays have been edited down to one hour each to make it all the more fun, especially for the younger, squirmier set. Wallingford is the place for opening night for both of these plays to be presented later at nine other neighborhood parks in Seattle. So bring your champagne and wish them well for …

The Wallingford Community Senior Center will be hosting another free COVID-19 vaccine clinic on Thursday, June 22. Children over age 3 can receive an initial shot series. Anyone over age 12 who has not yet received a bivalent booster is eligible and urged to get boosted. Anyone over 65 who received a booster more than 4 months ago is eligible for a second booster now. Anyone at any age with a compromised immune system who received a booster more than 2 months ago is also eligible. The booster has been shown to significantly increase the circulating antibodies, increasing your protection …

Unfortunately, what we’ve learned over the past few years is that it is “when” not “if” you will face a new and very stressful change in your world. For Seattle the most frequent problem will be smoke from forest wildfires. Then there’s various reasons we could locally lose power or water service at out homes. And, of course, a major earthquake is overdue. We are now hearing that the shallow Seattle fault may be even more destructive here than the Cascadia Subduction fault, so that is two strikes we have against us.

It is not just protecting your own family, …

The U District Street Fair  has been with us for 50 years and keeps getting better each year. Just a short walk over I-5 to University Way NE, south of NE 50th St to NE 41st St. It is this coming Saturday and Sunday, May 20 and 21 from 11 am to 6 pm.

This year expect more than 175 artist and craft vendors stretching all along U Way, some you’ll be glad to see back again this year and some brand new. There will be entertainment at the Main Stage at NE 42nd St, starting with Taiko drummers at …