By reporter Steve Smalley

“We’re going to have the first floating pie company,” reveals Seattle Pie Company owner, Alyssa Lewis in an announcement to Magnolia Voice. A banner in the window Saturday was the first sign the area’s most delicious pie store is moving to South Lake Union.     

It seems Seattle Pie is running out of room and leaving the neighborhood, but not the pie business.  Here is their idea: Alyssa and her husband Patrick will offer their wonderful fruit, cream, and savory pies, plus Appassionato Coffee, from a vessel moored at a commercial dock on South Lake Union.  ”Customers come on-board and order,” she says. “Like a food cart, but a boat cart.” There will be no cafe.

Seattle Pie Company sold retail slices and whole pies in the space next to Queen Margherita at 3111 West McGraw, and wholesale pies to major grocery stores around town including Metropolitan Markets, Town & Country, Central Markets, PCC, IGA and Whole Foods. Pies will still be available at these stores.  The Magnolia storefront closed yesterday.  If you have gift certificates, Alyssa advises to hold onto them until the new place opens in May or June this year, or take them to Dan at The Mailbox in the Village and she will deliver pies there.  Alyssa and Patrick send their love to all in the Magnolia community and thank everyone for their support. 

Look for Alyssa’s new book, “Pie-co-lo-gy” on Amazon and in local book stores this March.

For more information, you can email seattlepie@live.com.

After 8 years in the village, Magnolia’s Dish it up is closing.  Their employees and merchandise are moving to their Ballard Ave location. Employee Linda McGillvray said the building that houses Magnolia’s Dish it up is being sold, and the store “just doesn’t have the volume to keep up with expenses.” McGillvray was quick to mention that nobody will lose their job in this consolidation.  She says they will miss Magnolia and the friends they have made here, and that they hope their Magnolia customers will “cross the bridge to shop at the Ballard Ave store”.

Dish it up’s last day in the village is February 28th.  Classes will continue at the Magnolia location until mid-February.

Dish it up’s Ballard store is located at 5320 Ballard Avenue NW

Magnolia Moms hosts their annual pancake breakfast in the Our Lady of Fatima Parish hall on January 29th after the 8:30 and 10:30 masses to benefit the Easter Basket program. Magnolia Moms creates and delivers approximately 200 Easter baskets to Seattle women, moms, and children who are in transitional housing.  Baskets are filled with age-appropriate toy items, books, school-supplies, and toiletries.   The breakfast is open to the public.

Cost: $5/person and $20/family

3307 West Dravus Street

For more information check out www.magnoliamoms.org

They’re annoying, dangerous and when filled with water, deceiving. Now that the Seattle Department of Transportation is finished with the winter storm, the Pothole Rangers are out filling those pesky potholes.

Pothole on Clise Pl W and W Howe St

“Freezing weather and heavy precipitation mean that we’re seeing more potholes. We’ve added dollars to respond to pothole repair requests,” said Mayor Mike McGinn. SDOT has $9 million available to address street surface repairs, which includes potholes. About $8.5 million of that is earmarked for main arterials.

Click here to report a pothole. Keep an eye on reported potholes on the city’s pothole map

By reporter Steve Smalley

Explosions and bright flashes of light punctuated the night sky yesterday as a tree or tree limbs came crashing onto power lines causing a 6-hour outage, according to neighbors on the north end of Magnolia.

Just before 9p.m., residents near the corner of 40th Avenue West and West Cramer Street heard two loud bangs and saw blue flashes of light outside. Apparently, branches had fallen down, taking out sections of electrical cables,  plunging the area into darkness.

Power crews warned the curious to stay away from the area and some were not allowed to drive out of the neighborhood for a brief time.

Workers managed to restore power in a speedy six hours from the time power was cut off. Neighbors expressed their appreciation for the quick service.

The morning hours found large electrical lines wrapped in yellow caution tape still hanging low near the street.

Reader Dan emailed this shortly after 9pm:

Two huge transformer explosions on Magnolia overlooking the ship canal just now…explosions with bright blue light flashes and showering red sparks, fire is out. 39th and west cramer.  Power is out locally.

Thanks for the tip and photo, Dan!

Stay tuned for updates

Did you know that play can help stimulate brain development?

The  Magnolia Branch Library is offering a  brand-new  free playtime for local babies, toddlers, and pre-schoolers.  Cass Mabbott,the new Children’s Librarian, says the vibe will be welcoming- a casual and lively time for little ones and parents to meet their neighbors while soaking up early literacy skills.

• Magnolia Branch library meeting room

photo from Cass Mabbott

A suitcase left near a net shed at Fishermen’s Terminal late last night drew both Seattle Police and the Port of Seattle Police bomb squad, closing traffic near the Emerson overpass at 15th Avenue West.

A hardshell suitcase was leaning against net shed No. 11 at the terminal and Port police were dispatched. Seattle Police closed traffic at all ends of the terminal while the port’s bomb squad examined the case. The squad used x-ray equipment and found the case full of wires and tubing and batteries. But the case was no threat, said Port spokesman Peter McGraw.

“It had the earmarks of something that would indicate it as a device,” McGraw said. “But it was no threat to anybody.”

Seattle Public Schools will hold classes on Friday, Jan. 27 as a snow make-up day.
No school was scheduled for next Friday, a professional development day for staff, but instead will be used as a make-up day for one of the three snow days this week, as outlined in the 2011-12 school calendar.

Seattle Animal Shelter: Fuzzy, can you tell our readers what the best thing about you is?

Fuzzy: Well, I get told almost hourly that I am especially cute. However, I also like to cuddle, which I know many people like.

SAS: I must agree, you ARE especially adorable. What do you like to eat?

FZ: I eat pellets, which have most of the nutrients I need, and I like hay (which keeps my digestive tract nice and clear). I just love vegetables, especially carrots and Italian parsley. I can’t get enough of them! When it comes down to it, I LOVE to eat.

SAS: Fuzzy, you are a senior rabbit. Do you have any comment about that?

FZ: Ask any Baby Boomer, and they will tell you that age does not define them! Yes, I am a senior, but I have life in me yet! I have things to do, places to go, and people to see!

SAS: So you don’t just nap all the time?

FZ: I must admit that I nap more than I used to, but I still love to explore and play with my toys. I love to chew on my straw mat and toss around my measuring cups. When my foster Mom is home, she lets me hop around the house (though she always supervises me – it’s so annoying). After a hard hour of playing and exploring, though, I do need to rest.

SAS: Fuzzy, we’ve been told that you’re deaf. Does that affect your life much?

FZ: There are some advantages to being deaf. I can’t hear many things that would be irritating, such as barking dogs or hissing cats. On the other hand, I am often startled. If someone comes up behind me and pets me or picks me up, it surprises me!

SAS: Fuzzy, do you have any final words for our readers?

FZ: I would really like to find a forever home. I am adorable, love to play, and can’t get enough cuddling. Even though I’m a senior, I deserve to be adopted. If someone chooses to love me, I will love them back with all my bunny heart!

Please visit Fuzzy at the Seattle Animal Shelter,
2061-15th Ave. W.
(1 mile south of the Ballard Bridge). The shelter is open Wednesday-Sunday from noon-6 p.m., and closed on holidays.

This in from Seattle Department of Transportation:
Ice and snow continue to make roads slick. Residents are encouraged to make their way home before dark if possible. The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory calling for an ongoing mix of more sleet, freezing rain and snow until 4 a.m. Winter weather may impact the morning commute.
The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) had 33 snow response vehicles out this afternoon. The full fleet will continue to plow and treat major arterial roads with salt brine and granular salt overnight. In addition, the City contracted three grading trucks – one of the most effective tools for scraping ice from roadways. The city has 24,000 gallons of salt brine and 1,400 tons of salt in its stockpiles.