Roldan's Back From the World Cup. Now He's a Bobblehead

Happy Tuesday!

🌫️ Hard to miss the air quality here last week. Did you know the AQI scale technically tops out at 500? A friend in Wenatchee found out the hard way — her town was reading 1500 last Tuesday afternoon, three times over the official max. Here's the breakdown → We had it easy by comparison.

🏈 Also worth your time if you haven't caught it yet: Hard Knocks’ first episode about the Seahawks - reigning Super Bowl champs - aired last Tuesday. No spoilers, but the last couple minutes of episode one have nothing to do with football and everything to do with the Blue Angels, who flew right over practice during Seafair. Worth watching the great footage!

🎒 Also hard to believe: we're in striking distance of the next school year. Walked through Target this week and they're already fully stocked for back to school — folders, lunch boxes, the whole aisle. SPS starts Sept 2 for 1st–12th grade, Sept 8 for preschool and kindergarten.

⚽ Mark your calendar: the Sounders launch a new bobblehead series Aug 19 against Austin FC at Lumen Field, and the first one up is captain Cristian Roldan — fresh off his second straight World Cup with the USMNT this summer, the only Sounder to make the roster. Gates open 5:30pm, kickoff 6:30. Bundle & ticket info →

📬 One last thing: There will be no issue next week on Aug 18 — I will be back in your inbox Aug 25!

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After years of our girls living their best lives in our minivan — goldfish crackers, mystery goodie bag toys, and whatever else accumulates in the crevices of a family car — we finally gave ourselves a present: Seattle Mobile Detailing. They came right to our house, took their time with both the interior and exterior, and never once made it feel rushed. The result was a car that looked (and felt) brand new. They've got 700+ five-star reviews and serve the greater Seattle area — the whole point is convenience, so you don't drive anywhere, you don't wait anywhere. If your car could use the same gift, book an appointment here and use code: SEATTLE10 for 10% off!

🐾 Northeast Veterinary Hospital, 9505 35th Ave NE, is running a supply drive through Aug 17 for pets and families displaced by the Spokane wildfires. Pet-side: water, peel-top wet food, treats, bedding, leashes, collapsible bowls, first aid kits. Human-side: hygiene products, towels, socks, non-perishables, flashlights, batteries, emergency blankets. Drop off anytime during business hours — Mon–Fri 8am–7pm, Sat 8am–4pm, Sun 10am–3pm. Every bag helps. Clinic info →

🪴 Lake City Yard Share Day — Saturday, Aug 15, starting 9am, Lake City/Cedar Park. Neighbors set out free stuff in driveways and yards across the neighborhood — no map, just wander and see what turns up. Buy Nothing spirit, no purchase involved.

🌸 Blossom Dearie Vintage — vintage and antique decor, curated books, one-of-a-kind ephemera — is tabling at the PhinneyWood Art Walk this year, Fri, Aug 14, 6–9pm, and Sat, Aug 15, 12–5pm, Phinney Ridge and Greenwood. It's the walk's 30th anniversary, and a bit outside our usual footprint, but worth the drive to see what a neighbor's bringing. Follow @blossom_dearie_vintage for a preview.

🍺 Beers & Beats Summer Music Series — Saturday, Aug 15, 2–10pm, Hellbent Brewing Co. (13035 Lake City Way NE). Turntables & Trails' summer series keeps rolling with The Green Pajamas and The Purrs headlining, plus a Jimi Hendrix tribute from Message to Love. Food trucks, DJs, 21+. Details →

♻️ Beyond the Cart — Saturday, Aug 22, 9am–1pm, Maple Leaf Lutheran Church (10005 32nd Ave NE). Seattle Public Utilities' drop-off event for the stuff your curbside bin won't take: batteries, small electronics and appliances, foam blocks, fluorescent bulbs, textiles, shred paper. Free, open to all Seattle residents. Full accepted-items list →

Something happening in the neighborhood? I want to know about it! Submit your event here. I review submissions each week before sending.

🎤 Pop-Up Concerts in the Park: Lucia Flores-Wiseman — Wednesday, Aug 19, 6:30pm, Magnuson Park Amphitheater. Free outdoor show from the Mexican-American singer-songwriter who made the final four on The Voice Season 27 (Team Adam). Local kids from The Residency open. More info →

🎵 Kingfishr — Wednesday, Aug 12, 8pm, Neptune Theatre. The Irish folk trio has had a serious year — catch them now before this becomes a much harder ticket. Tickets →

🚧 Last Weekend's Chaos, Explained — If you got stuck anywhere Aug 7–10, you weren't imagining it: WSDOT called it the busiest construction weekend of the summer - and somehow I completely missed it upon my research. Northbound I-405 closed completely from Southport/Sunset Blvd to Coal Creek Pkwy SE, 11:30pm Friday to 4am Monday. Eastbound SR 520 closed overnight between I-5 and Montlake, 7pm Saturday to 11am Sunday, for expansion joint repairs on the Portage Bay Bridge. All of it landed the same weekend as the Mariners' 50 Seasons Celebration, Seahawks Football Fest, and Capitol Hill Block Party. If last weekend felt uniquely bad getting around, that's why. WSDOT's rundown →

🌁 Reminder: SR 520 Full Closure — Both directions, I-5 to the Eastside, close from 11pm Friday, Aug 23 to 5am Monday, Aug 26 (SR 520 Trail closes too). Falls inside this issue's extended window since we're skipping Aug 18. Details →

📍 11749 15th Ave NE (Pinehurst neighborhood)

A friend filled me in on Chaiyo recently, and I drove past it more times than I can count before I actually walked in. (It’s also next door to the very popular Pinehurst Pub) What finally got me through the door was my daughter, who wouldn't stop raving about it until I gave in. She was right. Family-owned and totally delicious! Pad Thai, Pad See Ew, red curry was our order and not a single complaint from our family. Portions were generous too!

In case you missed them — a few guides worth bookmarking for summer:

🥡 NE Seattle's Takeout Roundup — neighborhood by neighborhood, the order-ahead spots that keep coming up over and over in our house

🎂 Where to Host a Kids Birthday Party Near NE Seattle: 17 Venues — from our backyard to worth-the-drive

🌃 Date Night in Northeast Seattle — restaurants, bars, and spots worth staying out for

Can you guess the price of this real estate listing based on just one photo? Hint: 4 Bed, 2 bathroom, 2300 square feet

$1.295M
$1.395M
$2.150M
$2.475M

🦦 John Rogers Otters Playdate | Mondays, 4:30–6pm, John Rogers Elementary (4030 NE 109th St). Standing invite for families finding their way into the John Rogers pipeline — no signup, just show up.

🎷 ArrowSpace Music | 1060 NE 100th St, Seattle, WA 98125 (Maple Leaf)
A packed weekly lineup at this community music space — Saturdays bring "Experiments in Effortlessness" (1pm) and Jam Lessons with a live ensemble (2pm), Monday nights are an all-levels amateur jam (7:30pm), Tuesdays split between a laid-back Jazz Café with vinyl and coffee (noon) and a semi-pro ensemble session (7:30pm). Bring a blanket if you're joining the Saturday movement class. (206) 661-7807.

🎶 U Village Summer Concert Series | Wednesdays 7–8:30pm at the Village Green, running through August 19 (this week features an act called ‘Kalimba’). Free, with the beer and wine garden opening at 6pm.

Ongoing

Every Tuesday

Every Wednesday

Every Saturday

Every Sunday

🎸 Ravenna Brewing Sunday Fun Day! | Free live music on the patio, 4–6pm every Sunday all summer, plus BBQ from Outsider BBQ.

🏟️ Seattle Sports Schedules

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