Its been a tough road for the Fighting Cock Roaster restaurant on  Thorndyke and now it is shut down again.  The restaurant got rave reviews for its chicken and sandwiches but it was listed for sale back in January for $60,ooo.  No word on whether this closure means that someone purchased the restaurant but there is a lock on the door today.

The restaurant opened  in November of 2008 but closed the following March when owner Jon Davis said he needed to restructure. He reopened with an expanded menu last September but then put the restaurant on the market. We took these pictures through the window this afternoon and the kitchen equipment has all been cleared out.

It appears that not much has been left behind.

Thanks to everyone who wrote us asking what was up. We will let you know if we get any more information about the future of that location.

UPDATE:  Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) has not found any problems with the water in the Magnolia area.  Bill Wells, Water Quality and Treatment Manager for SPU, writes in comments:  “SPU has not found anything out of the ordinary regarding chlorine levels in our regular monitoring of water quality in the Magnolia area. The amount of chlorine added to the water (a normal practice to ensure safe drinking water) has also been fairly consistent over the summer.  Any time our customers have a concern about water quality, they are welcome to call our response center at 206-386-1800. If warranted, a visit from one of our water quality inspectors will be arranged.”

We wanted to share a topic that is being discussed in the forum and see if anyone else is experiencing the same trouble.  Two readers are concerned about the smell of chlorine in their tap water:

SeattleJim writes: A few weeks ago we started to notice a very strong Chlorine taste and smell in our water. Seattle Public Utilities said we were the only complaint. It has continued on and off for the last few weeks, sometimes almost undrinkable. Has anyone else had an issue? We are near Ruffner and 33rd.

And gweaver had a similar experience:  My husband started a bath for our kids a couple of weeks back and when we went back into the bathroom (the door had been shut while the bath was filling up), we noticed an overwhelming smell of chlorine. We don’t use chlorine bleach in our house; we don’t clean with any bleach or chlorine products. The smell was in the water and it was STRONG. I meant to phone the city to ask what had changed. I will certainly call now that I know it wasn’t an isolated incident. We don’t drink unfiltered water in the house because I always smell chlorine faintly, but this was very pronounced.

Anyone else experiencing the same troubles?  Let us know in comments below.

Magnolia soccer players got a big treat when two Seattle Sounders dropped by to talk with the kids and demonstrate some of their professional moves.

The kids got to meet the players and get their autographs

David Estrada (left) and Jamel Wallace took questions from the Magnolia players.

And they showed the kids how to do it!

Here are some pics from Tuesday night when Taylor Graham came to sign autographs for the U-7 teams.

Here is Tyson Wahl showing the kids how to do it.

Thanks for the great photos Kym!

We have heard from a number of people wondering about some loud blasts that were heard in the area around 35th Ave West and Emerson streets on Sunday morning.

Trent in our forum asks “Does anyone have any idea what the 10 or so loud shots/explosions were last night at 4 a.m.?”  Somebody else thought is sounded like gunfire.  Another reader said “I was out walking the dog when I heard at least 10-20 shots near 36th and Emerson.”   And from our facebook page “Does anyone know what the 10-15 blasts in Magnolia were just before 4:00 am Sunday morning? They didn’t sound like fireworks or car backfire.”

We are checking too but wanted to open it up to our readers to see if anybody knows what this was all about?  Let us know in comments below.

This is the last week to get things done at the library before budget cuts force the entire library system to shut down until after Labor Day. The Magnolia Library (2801 34th Ave W) and all other Seattle Public Libraries will close on Monday, August 30th and reopen Tuesday, September 7th.

During the closure most library services will be unavailable:
* No materials will be due and no fines will be accrued.
* The last day to check out Library items before the closure in Magnolia is Saturday, Aug. 28.
* No book drops will be open. Do not leave books and materials outside Library locations during the closure.                                                                                                        * Limited access to the online catalog. Patrons will be able to search the catalog and check their Library record but will not be able to place holds on items. No staff will be working to process the thousands of books and materials that customers normally put on hold.
* Limited access to the website (www.spl.org). The online calendar, databases, downloadable books and media, digital special collections, podcasts, SPL Mobile app and blogs will be available, but other online information and features will not be available. No staff members will be working to maintain the site or troubleshoot problems.
* No Library computers will be available. You will not be able to reserve a computer for the week the Library system is closed.
* No access to Wi-Fi.
* No book group kits will be sent, received or returned during the one-week closure. Kits will be sent to libraries as usual on the last Wednesday of the month, Aug. 25. Kits not available then will be sent as soon as possible after Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 6.
* No programs or events in Library meeting rooms.
* No TeleCirc, the Library’s telephone circulation service.
* No Quick Information telephone service.
* No Text a Librarian, e-mail a librarian or chat with a librarian.
* No Mobile Services.
* No parking in Library garages.

This year’s free car wash from Brown Bear is set for Thursday (8/26) from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.  Brown Bear will be giving away free “Bear Essential” car washes at all of their locations in the Puget Sound area.   The Interbay location at 1800 15th Ave West is the closest spot for a free wash for Magnolia residents.  Its also Brown Bear’s original location in Seattle.  The company started washing cars in Seattle in 1957 at that location and there are now 41 Brown Bear facilities in Washington.

Over the last four years, Brown Bear has washed 78,760 vehicles during its annual free car wash day to celebrate the company’s founding 53 years ago.  For other free wash locations, click here. 

This weeks we are featuring two cats from the Seattle Animal Shelter who would like to be adopted together.   Two cats will entertain each other as well as provide companionship for you and your family. 

Gumball (pictured) and Jellybean are a pair of cute, playful bonded siblings.   They are about one year old with active, friendly personalities.  They have been waiting patiently in the shelter since mid-May for someone to choose them.  Gumball is a gregarious, athletic black male, while Jellybean (a bit camera-shy on photo day) is a mellow, gentle female tabby.  Both kitties are petite, attractive and loving.  Gumball is wild about the laser pointer and will make you laugh out loud with his antics as he tries to catch the light.  These two opposites are a perfect balance of Yin and Yang and are guaranteed to bring smiles to the faces of their new family.

Many adult cats have spent the summer at the shelter, patiently awaiting adoption. This is a difficult time of year for older shelter cats, as many adopters choose kittens instead. These adult cats are proven winners who have landed in the shelter through no fault of their own and will make a wonderful addition to your family.  Click here for more adoption information.

From the cars to the people, here are some shots from today’s Magnolia Auto Show. Thanks to Kym and Wendell for the great photos.

Officers with a K9 unit responded to a report of a break-in at the abandoned Magnolia School on 28th Ave. W. this evening.

Seattle Police said they arrested two juveniles inside shortly after they arrived. A police dog searched the premises but found no other suspects.

An officer told us they discovered a broken window, but it was unclear if the damage was related to the break-in.

Magnolia School has been closed since 1984, used a temporary facility for a few times, and is currently overgrown with brush and, in parts, covered with graffiti.
(Thanks Carilyn for the tip!)

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) says a new federal study shows that road diets calm traffic and reduce collisions.  SDOT recently put Nickerson Street on a road diet, taking it to one lane each way.  

The USDOT’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) released a report that reviewed the safety record of lane reduction projects in California, Washington and Iowa.  The report says that rechannelizations don’t adversely impact roadway capacity.  It states, “Under most annual average daily traffic  conditions tested, road diets appeared to have minimal effects on vehicle capacity because left-turning vehicles were moved into a common two-way left-turn lane.”

You can read the full document, entitled “Evaluation of Lane Reduction ‘Road Diet’ Measures on Crashes,” here.

Tell us what you think.  There has been much debate about the Nickerson road diet.  Now that its complete, we would like to hear about your experiences.  Let us know in comments below.

About 40,000 people are expected to visit Myrtle Edwards Park this Saturday and Sunday for Hempfest.  The annual event runs from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. each day and that means lots of congestion along 15th Ave West.

Bicycle traffic will be diverted to the west path through the park (normally bike traffic is on the east path). It’s impacted by vehicles and equipment, but remains open to bicycles through Friday night and re-opens Monday morning. Hempfest tear-down lasts through Wednesday, so it will be impacted through next week.

Hempfest organizers had asked to extend the festival to include Friday this year but the city of Seattle denied the request. Now Hempfest may be on its last legs.  According to the Seattle PI, organizers are making a do-or-die push to keep the 19-year-old event alive.  They say money is running out, and unless something changes, this could be the last year.  The event is free to visitors and is funded by donations.   Hempfest lost $50,000 in 2009.  

The lane closure on the Ballard Bridge, which has been impacting traffic since yesterday morning will continue tomorrow (Friday) and into next week.

Photo courtesy the Seattle Department of Transportation

Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) crews have been installing brackets for light poles on the bridge. Marybeth Turner with SDOT tells us the work will continue on Friday and Monday. The curb lane in the northbound direction has closed each morning until 2 p.m.

“Four light poles are being replaced as a temporary measure until next year when all of the lighting on the bridge will be replaced,” Turner writes in a press release. “When SDOT has completed this preparatory work, Seattle City Light crews will install the four replacement poles.”

Where Ya At Matt, a new food truck in Seattle, will be at Interbay  (in front of the old 7-11) from 11am-2pm this Friday (8/20).   The restaurant on wheels serves authentic Creole Soul Food including po-boys, muffulettas, homemade gumbo, red beans, and fresh made beignets. This is a new business started by Matt Lewis, a Magnolia resident with a cooking history beginning New Orleans.

Here is how Matt describes his food:  Every menu item carries a fond childhood memory for me. I am sharing the best, most comforting, most delicious street foods New Orleans has to offer. Every item carries with it the history and flavor of my home town. I chose each menu item then ran it by my family, even my granny. When granny approves, you know it’s got to be good!
According to the website, the truck will be at the Interbay location every Friday from now on.

A 31-foot sailboat has washed ashore at Seattle’s Discovery Park and Maritime blog Three Sheets Northwest reports it could take several weeks before it can be salvaged.

(Photo courtesy of Seattle Parks Department)

Here is the report from Three Sheets Northwest:  Officers from Seattle’s Harbor Patrol  are currently trying to track down the owner of the 1974 Jensen, who apparently missed an appointment with a salvage crew to remove the boat from the popular park.  The boat is sitting on the beach about a quarter mile north of the park’s lighthouse. City officials who inspected the craft said they found no apparent signs of leaking fuel or other dangerous substances. The boat is also in no apparent danger of breaking apart.

Harbor Patrol Lt. Marc Olson said the vessel anchored off Discovery Park Friday after experiencing trouble. The owner apparently contacted Vessel Assist that evening seeking a tow, but declined because the price was too high. He told the company that he would have a friend help move the boat on Saturday.  The boat apparently washed ashore overnight, leaving it high and dry on the sandy beach. According to police, the owner again contacted Vessel Assist and eventually made an appointment to retrieve the boat on Sunday, but failed to show up.

Now it could be two weeks before the tide is high is enough to refloat the vessel. Tidal records show that there were 12-foot high tides around the time the boat apparently drifted ashore. That won’t occur again until Sept. 7.