The inaugural “Be a PAL” Luncheon, which will serve as a fundraiser for King County’s Police Activities League (PAL) boxing facility in White Center, will be Tuesday, June 1st at The Golf Club at Newcastle from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

The featured keynote speaker will be Senator Patty Murray.

Other guests scheduled include Congressman Dave Reichert, Attorney General Rob McKenna and Tina Hendrix of The Hendrix Music Academy (yes, that Hendrix family!).

Here are the details:

WHAT: White Center Police Activities League (PAL) Fundraiser Luncheon

WHEN: Tuesday, June 1st from 11:30am – 1pm

WHERE: The Golf Club at Newcastle, located at 15500 Six Penny Lane in Newcastle.

INFO: Mimi Jung of King 5 News and King County Sheriff Sue Rahr will co-emcee the luncheon as they welcome everyone to this exciting event, including former defensive end and linebacker Joe Tafoya, other current and former Seattle Seahawks and a few surprise guests.

“PAL programs provide positive intervention in the lives of young people who are at risk,” said King County Sheriff Sue Rahr. “Police officers want to do all they can to help kids before they get in trouble and PAL assists them in this goal.”

Visit the Be a PAL Luncheon page here for more details, or for information about the event, sponsorship, underwriting and advertising opportunities, contact Laurie Perkins at (206) 922-2069 or via email at laurie@kingcountypal.com.

A very unique 9-liter bottle of Five Star Cellars 2006 Cabernet Savignon will be raffled off at the Poverty Bay Wine Festival next weekend (Saturday, March 6th & Sunday, March 7th) at the historic Landmark Event Center in Des Moines.

Now if you’ve never ventured the 11.6 miles or so south to this historic building, may we recommend that you give it a try next weekend? The Landmark Event Center (aka Landmark on the Sound – map here) is the former, historic Masonic Retirement home, and it smacks of a castle or stately mansion. Now throw in an excellent, entertaining and tasty fundraiser with outstanding wines and live music, and you’ve got a reason to head out.

Another reason of course is to win this one-of-a-kind, big, beautiful bottle, wich contains nine liters – equal to a full case of wine (!) – and is engraved with the Poverty Bay Wine Festival emblem on one side, and the Five Star label on the other.

This 2006 Cab was rated 91 points by Wine Spectator and 94 points by the Beverage Tasting Institute – that means it’s an excellent case of wine in one big bottle!

No purchase is necessary– this is a drawing for anyone who wants to enter – but you will have to show up at the festival, which is just $20 per person; for that amount, you’ll also receive a souvenir wine glass and 10 tokens, a sampling of delicious foods, and live music both days.

Also, for all you non-wine drinkers out there, Pike’s Brewing will also have a booth.

The value of the wine plus the engraving is $1,000!

The opening night Gala will be this Friday, March 5th at 7:30pm at the Landmark Event Center. The theme is A Night in the Vineyard. A lavish buffet will be provided by Anthony’s HomePort. Tickets for the gala are $75 in advance, $85 at the door. The ticket price includes food, entertainment, and wine.

Wine Fesival tickets are priced at $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Tickets for the Wine Festival and Gala are available at Corky Cellars, located at 22511 Marine View Drive in Des Moines (206-824-9462); or online at www.dmrotary.org.

Poverty Bay Wine Festival is the major annual fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Des Moines.

For full details on the festival, check out our previous coverage here.

White Center Blog Sales Guy/Host Bart Bryan needs a Date for the Rotary Club of Burien/White Center’s Rockin’ Valentines Dinner and Dance, which will be held Saturday, Feb. 13th at South Seattle Community College.

Bart’s lucky date will enjoy cocktails, dinner, a live auction, raffle prizes and dancing to two different bands – all on the house!

To add to the romance, there will also be corsages, boutinnieres, and chocolates available for Bart to buy you (just make sure Bart gets a receipt so he can be reimbursed by the WCB!).

Here’s the dinner menu:

• Greek Salad
• Grilled All Natural Chicken with Sundried Tomato Tapenad
• Mashed Red Potatoes with Garlic and Pesto
• Fresh Vegetable Medley

And if having a nice dinner out isn’t enough enticement to have a date with Bart, how’s about dancing to The West Coast Swing (crooning sounds of Frank Sinatra and fellow Rat-Packers) followed by local Jazz/Rock band Uncle Ernies?

Our single friend Bart is 50-years young, blue-eyed, still has most of his hair, with a sparkling personality and great sense of humor. He’s also pretty fit (fit enough to do a polar bear plunge – see the video below!). Bart confesses that he can also still “bust a move” on the dance floor, and is “looking for a fun date for a great romantic dinner dance for a great cause!”

If you’re interested in winning a free date night with this Bart-o-licious man at the Rotary’s Rockin’ Valentines Dinner and Dance, and you’re over 21 and not old enough to be Bart’s mother, email us with a recent picture, a short bio and why you want to be Bart’s date by 5pm Wed. Feb. 10th.

Our Readers will choose the winner via an online poll, so make sure your entry is good, and that you include an interesting photo and a fun, short bio.

In addition to a night of dining and dancing with Bart, the winner will receive another night out at at The Mark Restaurant courtesy of the Mark’s Debra George.

The entry deadline is Wed., Feb. 10th at 5pm, and the winner will be voted on and announced Friday, Feb. 12th at Noon right here on The B-Town Blog, so ladies…email your entries in ASAP!

Also, if you’re interested in attending this great, fun fundraiser event yourself (either to watch Bart’s date or have one of your own), you can still purchase tickets online by clicking here.

And now ladies, if you’ve ever fantasized about what Bart looks like with his shirt off whilst immersed in chilly 46-degree Puget Sound water, here’s a video of him doing the annual Polar Bear Plunge at Three Tree Point on Jan. 1st:

And if that wasn’t enough, here’s what Bart looks like without his pants. In public. On the Link light rail:

The Rotary Club of Burien/White Center is pleased to announce that this year’s major fundraiser will be a “Rockin Valentine’s Dinner and Dance” on Saturday, Feb. 13th at South Seattle Community College.

“Our community has not had a Valentines event in some time,” said Rotary Club spokesperson Tami Greene. “And our Rotary Club thought it would be a nice change of pace. So if you are looking for a new and fun way to celebrate this Valentine’s Day, please attend our dinner, dance, and auction. This event is not just for couples, single people will have just as much fun!”

The major Sponsors are Cox Financial and New Frontier Marketing.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Burien/White Center Rotary’s Rockin Valentine’s Dinner and Dance

WHERE: South Seattle Community College

WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 13th from 6pm – 11:30pm

INFO: This event will feature:

• Fundraising
• Live Auction
• Raffle Prizes
• Music by Uncle Ernie, playing great Rock n’ Roll music (great dancing and listening music)
• Corsages, boutonnieres, and chocolates will be available for sale.

TICKETS: $75 per person, available from any member of the Rotary Club of Burien White Center Club or online at Brown Paper Tickets here.

Local band Uncle Ernie are well known to the Highline and surrounding area and include Highline High School’s class of ’78, Tim Clark and newly elected Des Moines Councilmember, Matt Pina, Mt. Rainier class of ’78.

Other participating sponsors to date include:

• Tami Greene with Sound Mortgage
• Burien Toyota
• Burien Chevrolet
• Cox Financial
• New Frontier Marketing
• Bonney Watson
• Collins Chiropractic
• Mick Kelly’s
• The B-Town Blog

The club is still seeking Live Auction items and Raffle Prizes, so if you wish to donate a live auction or raffle prize (it’s a great way to market!), contact Bob Wray at 253-670-0466 or via email at bob@newfrontiermarketing.com, or download a PDF of the Sponsorship Package here.

Here’s more info:

The Highline School District will be offering up free meals all summer long, including both breakfast and lunch at 13 different locations, most beginning on Monday, July 6th.

The district has been offering free summer meals for at least the last ten years, and the USDA-funded program has expanded significantly to include community sites as well as schools.

“Based on the estimation from our sites, we may serve up to 1,000 breakfasts and 2,000 lunches plus offer snacks to some sites,” said Brianna Smith, RD, Nutrition Services Manager.

Who is served by the Summer Food Service Program?

• All children 18 years and younger are eligible for the Summer Food Service Program. There is no registration or fee.
• All children are welcome to eat a meal at summer school sites, even if they are not enrolled in a summer program.
• The meal must be eaten at the site and be finished within 15 minutes of the final serving time.

Who pays for it?
The Summer Food Service Program is a federally funded child nutrition program that feeds children nutritious meals during the summertime when school is out and children don’t have access to school meals. It was created to ensure that children in low-income areas could continue to receive nutritious meals during long school vacations. Funding for the Summer Food Service Program is provided with federal dollars and is sufficient to meet expenses related to sponsorship of the program.

What is the purpose of the program?
Clearly, the nutritional needs of large numbers of children who depend on school meals during the school year are not being met in the summer. Good nutrition is essential for learning.

How are site locations determined?
Service sites for the Summer Food Service Program are determined based on:

1. Eligibility criteria.
2. Interest and need at the school building level.
3. Interest and need at community centers.

Here’s where and when the FREE Summer Meals will be available:

• Bow Lake School
  Breakfast: 7:30-8:45 Jul 6-Jul 24 M-F
  Lunch: 11:30-12:45
  18237 42nd Ave S SeaTac 98188
• Evergreen School
  Breakfast: 7:15-7:45 Jul 6-Jul 24 M-F
  Lunch: 10:45-11:15
  830 SW 116th Seattle 98146
• Gregory Heights School
  Breakfast: 7:30-8:45 Jul 6-Jul 24 M-F
  Lunch: 11:30-12:45
  16201 16th Ave SW Burien 98166
• King County Parks – White Center
  Lunch: 12:00-1:00 July 7-Aug 14 M-F
  Snack: 4:00-5:00
  1321 SW 102nd St Seattle 98146
• Midway Elementary School
  Breakfast: 7:30-8:45 Jul 6-Jul 24 M-F
  Lunch: 11:30-12:45
  22447 24th Ave S Des Moines 98198
• Mt. Rainier School
  Breakfast: 7:15-8:00 Jul 6-Aug 7 M-F
  Lunch: 11:00-12:00
  22450 19th Ave S Des Moines 98198
• Mt. View School
  Breakfast: 8:30-9:00 Jul 6-Jul 30 M-Th
  Lunch: 12:00-12:30
  10811 12th Ave SW Seattle 98146
• Schoenwald Park
  Breakfast: 8:30-9:30 Jul 6-Jul 15 M-F
  Lunch: 12:00-1:00
  16030 Sylvester Road Burien 98166
• Seahurst YMCA
  Breakfast: 7:30-8:30 Jul 6-Aug 14 Mon-Fri
  Lunch: 11:30-12:30
  14603 14th Ave SW Burien 98166
• Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission
  Lunch: 12:00-12:30 Jul 7-Aug 14 T-F
  Snack: 4:00-4:30
  15003 14th Ave SW Burien 98166
• Shannon South
  Lunch: 12:00-1:00 Jul 6-Aug 14 M-F
  Snack: 3:00-4:00
  3508 S 180th SeaTac 98188
• Southwest Boys and Girls Club
  Lunch: 12:00-12:30 Jul 6-Aug 14 M-F
  Snack: 3:30-4:00
  9800 8th Ave SW Seattle 98106
• White Center
  Breakfast: 8:15-9:00 Jul 6-Aug 7 M-F
  Lunch: 12:00-1:00
  10015 6th Ave SW Seattle 98146

• Food cannot be taken off the premises.
• The child does not need to be a Highline Public School student.
• There are no forms to fill out and no names are taken.
• Program is open to age 18 and under.

More information available at the Highline School District website.

by Gina Bourdage

Long has been the debate over Phở – who has the most authentic, largest variety, what do you do with the dish of stuff on the side and not to mention how the heck do you pronounce it correctly without sounding like a tourist?

Fear not faithful blog fans, I have come to rescue you from the overwhelming list of options, narrowed it down to the top five locations between Burien and White Center and can tell you it’s NOT pronounced “fo.”

With French and Chinese influences it is the Vietnamese whom perfected this dish. Pronounced “fuh”, this popular lunch dish can be eaten at any time of day and is commonly served as breakfast in the Vietnamese culture.

Varieties of ingredients vary depending on location, however most commonly you can find the brisket, meatball, tripe, tendon and tofu for the veggie eaters out there. One thing to keep in mind if you are a vegetarian, just because you ordered tofu does not make this an animal-free dish…the broth is meat-based so be sure to verify with the server if they have a vegetable broth as an option. Each bowl, no matter what protein you choose, will come with rice noodles, broth and onions, what you choose to add from the plate on the side is up to you.

Purists each have their own way and will debate authenticity, however I say add what you like ‘cuz it’s your lunch! I suggest going for a handful of bean sprouts, squeeze of lime, torn up Thai basil, a generous squeeze of Siricha (the red sauce with a rooster on the jar) and a splash of soy.

On the table at most places you can usually find Hoisin or fish sauce, an intense looking chille paste concoction, and jalapeños if you dare. I am personally a no more than 2-3 star kind of gal so how you turn up the fire is your call. Break up the noodles, stir in your additions and don’t be a wimp… eat this dish with chop sticks and a spoon!

If you’re not craving Phở by now, you need to wake up and get into one of my top five faves and see what the fuss is all about. In a very particular order from most consistent, most authentic, and best price I give you my Phở Five:

	1. Phở: 9642 16th Ave SW, White Center 98106
	2. Phở Tai: 148 SW 148th St # B100, Burien 98166
	3. Phở Lily: 14611 1st Ave Burien, 98168
	4. 88 Restaurant: 9418 Delridge Way SW, Seattle 98126
	5. Phở Mỹ Lợi: 10439 16th Ave SW, White Center 98146

I tried each and every Phở place I could find in the area (some more than once) and these are the ones I know you will find a dish that tastes like you are visiting your long lost Vietnamese relatives not matter what culture you’re from.

Tuesday, May 5th is Cinco de Mayo, the Mexican holiday that gives everyone an excuse to take a shot of tequila on a weekday.

Oh, and it’s also the celebration of the Mexican army’s defeat of French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. However, it is not Mexican Independence Day, nor is it a national holiday in Mexico, but rather a day that can be observed voluntarily.

And no, we’re not going to mention swine flu in this story just to increase our Google pagerank.

Oops…we just did. Dang.

Here’s what’s going on:

WHITE CENTER:
McMurphy’s: 11069 16th Ave SW: Karaoke & Drink Specials

Marv’s Broiler: 9808 16th Ave SW: Appetizer & Drink Specials

Triangle Pub: 9454 Delridge Way SW: Beer & Tequila Specials

Viva Mexico: 10601 16th Ave SW: Beer & Tequila & Appetizer Specials

Cafe Rozella: 9434 Delridge Way SW: Music of Trio Lucero del Norte, specializing in Son Huasteca, 6pm

BURIEN:
Azteca: 153 SW 157th: Happy Hour All Day 32oz Beer Special

La Costa: 206 SW 152nd: BIG PARTY 9pm-2am Drink Specials & Jello Shots NO COVER

El Rinconsito: 15101 Ambaum Blvd SW: Taco Plate Special

Vino Bello: 636 SW 152nd: 2pm-9pm Beer & Sangria Specials

Tin Room: 923 SW 152nd St: All Mexican Menu & Drink Specials

Sunnydale Tavern: 14404 Des Moines Memorial Drive: Live Music, Beer & Tequila Specials. Jello Shots

Twiggs: 12803 Ambaum Blvd SW: $3 Corona’s

Breaktime Lounge: 635 SW 152nd: $1.00 Taco’s

Barrel Tavern: 11051 1st Ave South: Beer & Food Specials, Regular Jam session. No Cover

On Tuesday afternoon (Mar. 3rd), King County’s Public Health Department closed Taqueria El Rincon, located at 11066 16th Ave SW (we think this is the taco truck across from McMurphy’s, where we’ve eaten before – street view below),  for the violation of “Wastewater draining to the ground.”

According to the King County website:

Public Health – Seattle & King County helps the food establishment keep the risk of food borne illness low through education and inspections. There are 2 basic causes of food borne illness we want to protect against with safe food handling practices.

1. Contamination of food by food workers’ hands, other foods, or food preparation surfaces. This is why hand washing, no bare hand contact with ready to eat foods and the washing, rinsing and sanitizing of food preparation surfaces is vitally important.
2. Temperature control: Foods that provide a good environment for the growth of the bacteria that cause food borne illness are called potentially hazardous foods. The bacteria grow quickly in “the danger zone,” 41°F to 140°F of these foods. Therefore, these foods must be cooked to temperatures that will kill the bacteria, then kept hot (over 140°) until served, or kept cold (under 41°) until served.

There are some safe food handling practices that, if not done properly, are more likely to lead to food borne illnesses. The inspector specifically observes and documents these food handling practices during the inspection. If any of these most risky practices are not done properly, the establishment is given a red critical violation on the inspection, the risk is taken care of immediately, and the manager is taught the correct procedure or method. Based on the risk caused by the violation, a return inspection and education will be done. Finally, if a food establishment hasn’t improved its practices after additional education and direction, the establishment will be closed.

Reasons for immediate closure of a food service establishment:

• High score on the routine inspection*
• Sewage backing up in kitchen &/or bathroom
• No hot water/running water
• Electricity goes out
• Other imminent health hazards: broken refrigeration, damage caused by accidents or natural disasters, or when establishment is linked to a food borne illness outbreak
• Other: No permit to be operating (The permit assures that they have met all of the structural & equipment requirements for the menu items they are going to serve); the owner/manager interferes with the inspector’s ability to do her/his duties.

*The inspection is based on a 400 point system. The violations are added up between red and blue violations. If the total red critical violations is 90 or more, or the total of red and blue is 120 or more, then the establishment will be closed.

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[EDITOR'S NOTE: This Review originally appeared on our sister site The B-Town Blog, but we're re-publishing it here because The Barrel is so dang close to White Center.]

by Gina Bourdage

The term “dive bar” conjures up negative images of dark, smoky, smelly taverns, shady staff and questionable menus full of deep fried mystery food.

The Barrel Tavern is in no way any of these things.

In a time where trendy bars are becoming dives or using gimmicks to lure you in, while dive bars are becoming trendy bars by serving 40s or watered down versions of drinks they call “specialty beverages,” there are fewer and fewer places serving up a good old dash of reliability.

After numerous visits, purely for research of course, I found there was far more at The Barrel than meets the eye:

1. The moment you walk in you are treated like a regular.
2. There are no unidentifiable smells that overwhelm you when you walk in. Rich local history.
3. Plenty of parking. Come on it used to be a Drive In! Built in 1963 as the “Triple XXX Drive In,” owner Linda Enright has worked hard to keep the integrity of the original landmark building.
4. Bikers welcome…but you can come too.
5. Live bands that you actually want to see. And did I mention NO COVER!
6. Seattle’s longest-running open Jam Session every Tuesday.
7. Karaoke every Saturday and sometimes Fridays. Hundreds of great karaoke singers…and 3 bad ones.
8. The most dedicated owner you may ever meet. She cares about her customers and her community.
9. No drama policy. Do not test this one – trust me, the staff will win.
10. Free poker tourney every Wednesday.
11. A menu that could put most dinners to shame. Fresh, well made pub grub that will have you returning for more than just a beverage. Insiders tip: go for the fresh, not deep fried tacos, the Barrel burger (fresh never frozen) or the Barrel chicken sandwich.
12. Saturday & Sunday breakfast menu that could cure any hangover.
13. If you need more than just liquid entertainment there are darts, a pool table, pull tabs, video games, and flat screens always playing the game.
14. A jukebox that is filled with only the greatest classic rock, country and 80’s faves.

Leave your club clothes at home and forget the overdone hair, this is one spot it won’t work.

Be prepared to sit back, hang out with old friends and even make some new ones.

If you’re looking for a dependable neighborhood bar with a ton of character, in more ways than one, you need not look any further than The Barrel.

The Barrel is located at:

11051 1st Ave S
Seattle, WA 98168
(206) 244-7390

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