A reminder that the annual holiday party in The Village is Friday (11/22) starting at 5:45pm.  McGraw Street will be closed to traffic so there will be lots of room for visiting the local merchants and enjoying snacks and beverages.  

The tree lighting at the Magnolia Garden Center kicks off the night at 6pm and the Open House continues until 9pm.  This is one of the best nights of the year in Magnolia, lets hope that the rain holds off. 

This is the 32nd year for the Open House sponsored by the Magnolia Chamber of Commerce.

Did you know there is a Magnolia group dedicated to keeping track of our neighborhood history? The Magnolia Historical Society was founded in 2001 by 15 volunteers. They produced Magnolia’s first history book and compiled a collection of photos and documents that are accessible to the public at the UW Allen Library.

This picture shows the second of three buildings that housed Magnolia elementary students. Lawton school will celebrate 100 years with a celebration this spring. The photo, circa1930, courtesy of Seattle Public Schools and Magnolia Historical Society.

Society President Monica Wooton says written history is their specialty, and they are also involved in SummerFest, Saturday Farmer’s Market, Fall Fisherman’s Festival and events at The Museum of History and Industry. The group created and taught a Local History in Schools Program and honors outstanding residents with a Magnolia Historical Person of the Year Award.

The group is selling two Magnolia History books that make a great gift for the holidays featuring archival photos and history of Magnolia landmarks and pioneers. Visit their website for information on how to order these coffee-table books.

This is a third grade class at Magnolia School in 1935. (Photo courtesy of Hal Will/Magnolia Historical Society)

The municipal jail planning group announced today its intent to move forward with six potential sites for a new regional misdemeaner jail and the Interbay site at 1600 Armory Way is still on the list.  Three of the potential sites are located in Seattle (including Interbay), one in Bellevue, one in Shoreline and one in unincorporated King County.

This is part of the search for a site for what is now going to be a larger facility with 640 inmates beds.  It was originally announced that the jail would have 445 beds.  No decisions will be made until 2010, including decisions of which cities will ultimately be partners in a regional jail and the preferred location for the facility.

At the announcement today, the planning group said there will be four public hearings to address the new sites.  No new forums are being held for the Interbay site since a hearing was held this summer.  (Magnolia Voice coverage here)

Nancy Rogers, president of the Magnolia Community Council (MCC), said that she has not had a chance to review the details following the announcement this morning but the group is still heavily opposed to a jail in Interbay and says there is no way a jail makes sense in that location.  The MCC has taken a strong stand against the Interbay jail site.

The proposed site (marked by the X) is located right across from the Whole Foods complex on 15th Ave.

We already told you about the Fightin’ Cock Roaster, the new restaurant on Thorndyke that is serving up a tasty assortment of spicy sandwiches and chicken dinners.  Today Seattle PI food writer Leslie Kelly gives it a mention too.

This week’s award for boldest naming of a restaurant goes to (drum roll, please) the Fightin’ Cock Roaster in Magnolia (2809 Thorndyke Ave. W.), just across from one of my favorite Vietnamese restaurants in the city, Time 4 Pho. This venture has a Cuban accent, offering mostly meals to go. Can’t wait to see if this bird will fly.

We agree that the name is bold but if this past weekend is any indication, the bird will indeed fly.  People are lining up for the food and business was so good that owner Jon Davis ran out of just about everything on Saturday.  He was back up and running when we got there Sunday. 

For as long as I can remember, I have complained about what an eyesore Gorman Auto Repair on Gilman Avenue West has been.

If you have driven by, you know exactly what I mean. I made Gladys crazy complaining about it each time we went by the place.  The look of the building may not be indicative of the quality of service…but it seems they did not have enough pride in their workplace.

Now they have cleaned up their act with a shiny new paint job. Nice job!  Anybody know what gives? Let us know if you have any information about what finally prompted them to clean this place up. It does look much better. Maybe there are new owners?

There is a new location to purchase wine in The Village.  Dish it up! is now offering boutique and small batch wines from Washington and around the world.  Many of the wines are organically farmed and from family owned and operated vineyards.

Dish it up! now has a variety of wine that includes Chardonnay, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc and Pinot Gris along with Zinfindel, Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet & Carmenere.  Dish it up! is open seven days a week .  General Manager Andrea Reith says they have affordably priced, quality wines you won’t find at the grocery store.

The Magnolia Neighborhood Planning Council is hosting a fundraiser for their efforts to fight development in Discovery Park.  The silent auction, and petition signing party will feature entertainment and appetizers  at Serendipity Café.  The event is on Tuesday, December 2 from 5:30 – 8:30 pm.   Tickets on sale here. 

The group is raising funds to continue their legal fight against the City of Seattle. The lawsuit asserts that the city’s desire to sell the Fort Lawton property to developers disregards the Discovery Master Plan and the provision that allows military base land closures to be reallocated as parkland. 

The group says that 100% of all funds raised will be used to support the legal effort to annex Fort Lawton back to Discovery Park.

Here is your chance to see inside some of the most beautiful homes in the neighborhood and check out their holiday decorations.  This home owned by the Daubenspeck family is one of six that make up the Magnolia Holiday Tour of Homes on Saturday, December 6th.  This fundraiser happens every other year so don’t miss your chance to get tickets today.  This home was featured in Pacific Northwest Magazine.

Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 on the day of the tour.  You can buy tickets now at Around the Block Gifts or you can order by mail by sending a self addressed stamped envelope to ACC at 2140-34th Ave, West.  For more information call 206-808-9908. 

Requests for advance tickets must be received by November 29th.  On the day of the tour, tickets may be purchased at Our Lady of Fatima Parish Social Center.

The tour will be self-guided from 10AM-4:30 PM. No children under twelve are allowed on the tour and visitors area asked to leave behind all backpacks, umbrellas, pets and cameras since they are not allowed in the homes.

The proceeds from the Holiday Tour benefit the Association of Catholic Childhood, a volunteer organization that provides funding for children and families in need in Western Washington. 

UPDATE; Seattle City Light workers rescued the cat this morning from the utility pole where it had been stuck since last Friday.

City Light says that in most instances, animals that climb utility poles will come down on their own. This particular cat climbed even higher on the pole, getting above a 26,000 volt wire. Concerned about the safety of the cat and any good Samaritans who might try to climb the pole to get him down, a City Light crew was dispatched to rescue him.

The initial rescue plan called for cutting power to about 725 homes and businesses in order to reach the cat safely. When the crew arrived, the workers were able to use bucket trucks and extension poles to retrieve the cat without cutting power.

In typical cat fashion, he immediately took off running with his owner in tow when he finally reached the ground. The cat’s owners were very thankful to have their pet back on the ground.

A Magnolia family has tried everything to get their cat down from a light pole at 23rd and Emerson. None of the city agencies will help get the cat down and so it sits perched high in the sky. The cat has been there since Friday night, they think that maybe a coyote chased it and it ran up the pole for safety.

City Light says that if they cut the power to the pole it will affect hundreds of homes. They tell the family that when the cat is hungry, it will come down. The family has placed tuna cans at the bottom of the pole but so far no luck.

Video here from KING TV.

Mulleady’s new menu is less than a week old but its getting rave reviews. The new menu has more offerings and includes seasonal items. Many of the new items have been offered as specials recently and regulars will be happy to learn that 90% of the prices remained the same when they brought in the new menu.

Travis Stanley Jones purchased Mulleady’s two years ago and he says its a classic pub for the neighborhood with families dining early in the evening and the bar crowd moving in later. On the night we visited lots of families enjoying dinner early in the evening.

Executive Chef Andy Beaver has been at the restuarant for 15 months and he has been refining the recipes on the new menu. There are lots of small plates and snacks as well as pub fare and entrees. The same menu is available for lunch and dinner.

Beaver’s menu features classic Irish favorites and he says the Chicken and Oatmeal Dumplings are his favorite. The menu also includes a Reuben on Rye, Grilled Mahi Mahi Wrap, Wild Salmon Sandwich or burgers. Entree selections include Irish Stew, Shepherd’s Pie, Irish Knockers or Roast Chicken.

Prices are reasonable, ranging from $8 to $14 for main dishes and $4 to $8 for snacks and small plates. There are two full bars in the two story restaurant. Beaver says he designed the new menu for diners who enjoy eating well but don’t want to pay too much or get dressed up.

Guests that we talked to were enthusiastic about the new menu and one told us he has never been to Ireland but he thought Mulleady’s atmosphere and food are what he would expect to find in a real Irish pub.

We are especially fond of the cozy area in front of the fireplace.

Magnolia Voice reader Tanaya sent us these excellent photos of a harbor seal she saw today on the beach at Discovery Park:

There was a young harbor seal down at the beach at Discovery Park this afternoon. I thought you’d like to see a picture. A reminder to all visitors to the beach….please stay a safe distance away from the wildlife. This photo was taken from a distance, with a zoom. If you get too close, the animals get stressed out. This is also a good reminder of why we aren’t allowed to bring our dogs on the beach.

A group of merchants in the Magnolia Village joined together to place an advertisement in Pacific Northwest Magazine in the Sunday Seattle Times.  The ad will appear in the Times again next month and will also be in the Magnolia News.

Dish it up!, Leroux, bleu papillon, Swirl Wine Bar, PJ’s Paws and Claws, Around the Block, Serendipity, Mondello, Magnolia Garden Center and Upper Crust Bakery placed the ad to draw shoppers to The Village during the Holiday Open House on November 21 and beyond.  Anyone who brings a copy of the ad to any of the retailers listed will receive a Happy Holidays from Magnolia mug from November 21 to December 24 while supplies last.

We all know that this is expected to be a tough holiday season for retailers.  The Magnolia Voice encourages readers to shop local and patronize our local shops and restaurants this holiday season. 

Those sirens heard all over Magnolia late Saturday afternoon came from a rescue effort at Disocvery Park.  Fire crews rushed to save two men stuck on a bluff at the park.  The two had been hiking and got stuck when the tide came in and firefighters used ropes to pull them to safety.  They were not hurt.  The call for help came just after 5 p.m.

Fishermen would be able to sell an expanded line of products from their boats at Fishermen’s Terminal  without paying for the privilege under a proposal approved Friday.  The task force that included both fishermen and the owners of a terminal seafood market who were concerned about retail competition approved the plan.

The unanimous agreement by a subcommittee of the Fishermen’s Terminal Advisory Council could help resolve the long-simmering controversy over retail sales by fishermen at the terminal’s west wall according to an article in the PI.  The issue of what fishermen can sell from their boats at the terminal has been in dispute for years.   The elected Port Commission, which governs port operations will ultimately decide what to do.