“Kids on 45th” is second in a series on Seattle Kid’s Resale Shops by Edy Kizaki and Madeleine Anthony.

The highly desired Wallingford neighborhood is full of resources for a family lifestyle, and N 45th Street, the walkable shopping corridor through the heart of the neighborhood, offers a great kid’s resale shop!

For twenty four years now, this tiny store in downtown Wallingford has been jam packed with great new and used items for kids.  Although a whole lot smaller than other resale stores in Seattle, you can be sure to find good stuff at Kids on 45th.   Larger items are more limited than other resale stores and are sometimes lost under the disorganized chaos of the used clothing racks, but with such a small space it’s hard to expect much better.

One of my favorite things about this store is the dollar rack.  When clothing items do not sell in thirty days they go straight to the dollar rack no matter the quality.  In wandering the store I spoke briefly with a grandmother who lives in the Wallingford neighborhood and is a regular at Kids on 45th.  She walks everywhere in the neighborhood so stops in all the time to check the dollar rack.  On this particular trip she found several cute tops for her two granddaughters in almost new condition.  I also love the mixed up toy bin in the way back by the shoes.  Here you will find bags of miscellaneous toys for super cheap deals.  Sometimes these bags have toys that are missing parts or have some other minor defects however, they are often filled with great learning tools such as blocks or fun musical instruments that are loved by kids just the way they are.  Kids on 45th is located at the perfect location especially for pedestrians.  It is smack dab in between the two most frequented parks in Wallingford (Wallingford Playfield and Meridian Park) and less than a mile from the Woodland Park Zoo.  If you’re out walking through the neighborhood and you’ve forgotten a ball or lost a shoe, it is really easy to stop in and find something good on your way.   Although a little more chaotic than other children’s stores in Seattle, you can find great deals here with just a little patience. Visit their website for more information .

Whether you’re a local, home shopping, or just visiting, there’s a great way to see more of the city and maybe polish up your photography skills too!  There’s a Shutter Tours of Seattle that is so interesting that earlier this year it was profiled on Evening Magazine (check out the video!) and is an ongoing favorite of tourists and residents alike.  Want to see something of Seattle?  This is as interactive as it gets!  Want to bring back some special photos?  Not only will your friends and fans ooh and ahh over your sparkling creativity, but I predict your photos will never be the same again.

And what does this have to do with real estate?  As always, enjoy and get to know the city, meet some of the people and give yourself a chance to breathe it in… you are never going to want to leave.  If you get some great photos, please play along with my little game and upload them on my Where in Seattle?  page, or post a link to your web album.  Keeps us guessing…

Best Real Estate Deals in Seattle

One of the most frequently asked questions I get are “where can I find the best real estate deals in Seattle?” and “what’s the hottest area in Seattle?”   Honestly, there is value in every market and in every neighborhood.  I know that sounds like a cliché, but that is the truth.  That statement is more evident in the current real estate market and buyers are taking advantage.

I did a very general search today for homes, non-condo under 300k in Queen Anne, Magnolia, Belltown, Downtown, Ballard, Fremont, Wallingford, and Green Lake and came up with OVER 100 listings! 

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Seattle Real Estate

Last year Seattle came together in response to a fundraising shortage and “saved” the event from being cancelled with donations and getting together to make it happen. This year the fundraising goal was reached early on, and the plans are under way for the big event. Other activities at Gasworks Park that day include the Kid’s Playfield from noon to 8, with face painting, climbing walls, kite making, an inflatable play center and kickball, and for the adults, live music, a beer garden, food vendors with the traditional hot dogs, roasted corn, etc., or bring your own but no alcoholic beverages. Fireworks begin at 10 p.m,!

People come to the 20 acre park to picnic, fly kites, enjoy an invigorating walk, photograph or gaze at the Seattle skyline, figure out which way is North utilizing the giant mosaic Rose Compass and Sundial tile inlay on the top peak of the Knoll, and the spiral paths that wind around the Knoll providing changing vistas of the city, lake, and the old Gas Works factory, which was a working plant until 1955.

One of the most delightful things about Seattle is the abundance of nature surrounding us.  Although this is a large metropolitan city, I appreciate the fact that you can escape to nature at any time.  Big or large, we have parks situated in every neighborhood and convenient access to rivers, lakes, and vast ocean.  However, with the rapid development and higher cost of real estate, many Seattleites resorted to condos and townhomes that did not leave much space for those with green thumbs.  So, when I noticed community gardens or patches popping up everywhere, I wasn’t surprised at all.

Community gardens are simply a piece of land gardened by a group of people.  The neat thing about them is that not only it provides a mean for people to garden and produce fresh produce, it also promotes sense of community, healthier urban environment, and pride of ownership.  People can experience both the joy of growing and being in touch with the source of their food.

In Seattle, the city began the non-profit organization P-Patch Trust 35 years ago.  According to the City of Seattle website, the organization acquires, builds and protects community gardens in Seattle.  Most of the supplies are provided at the sites, such as water and tools.  Your responsibility as a community gardener is to care for your plot.

Interesting facts about P-Patch:

- The “P” originally stood for “Picardo”, after the family who owned Picardo Farm, part of which became the original P-Patch.

-The P-Patch program only allows organic farming techniques to be used on these plots.

-The P-Patch community gardeners give back to the city by supplying 7 to 10 tons of produce to Seattle food banks each year.

-You are not allowed to sell what you grow, only share it or donate it.

As the broadening interest in organic food source and gardening increases, you will see the demand for community gardens increase.  The city currently has 55 patches in the city but most of them do have a waiting list.  If you are interested in starting your own Community Patch or for more information, check out City of Seattle website!

Community Patch in Seattle Neighborhoods

Seattle Farmers Markets are a local tradition, and each neighborhood has one with a little bit of it’s own special character.  Here is the all-inclusive list of the markets.  You don’t have to limit yourself to one because many of them are on different days of the week.  Two of my favorites are the Fremont Sunday Market and the Ballard Sunday Market, and of course the Granddaddy of them all, Pike Place Market itself.

BALLARD: Sundays 10-3 year round, 5300 Ballard Ave NW

BELLTOWN:  Thursdays 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. July to Sept, 2901 Western Ave

BROADWAY:  Sundays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. May to December, Broadway & Pine

COLUMBIA CITY:  Wednesdays 3 p.m. to 7  p.m. April to October, 37th Ave S & S Edmunds

GEORGETOWN:  Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June to October, 6000 Airport Way S

LAKE CITY:  Thursdays 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. June to October, NE 125th & 28th Ave NE

MADRONA:  Fridays 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. May to September, 1126 MLK S

MAGNOLIA:  Saturdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June to October, 33rd Ave W & W Smith St

PHINNEY:  Fridays 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. June to October, 67th & Phinney Ave N

PIKE PLACE MARKET:  Mon-Sat 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sun 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. year round, 1st & Pike

QUEEN ANNE:  Thursdays 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. June to October, W Crockett St & Queen Anne Ave

U DISTRICT:  Saturdays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. year round, University Way & NE 50th

WALLINGFORD:  Wednesdays 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. June to Sept, 1815 N. 45th St

WEST SEATTLE:  Sundays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. year round, 44th Ave SW & SW Alaska

Below are some photos taken at the Fremont Sunday Market.  Come and shop, enjoy, taste, listen, people watch, and I guarantee you’ll be back!

Charming Craftsman in Ballard

One of my favorite styles of house is craftsman so I was excited to preview this charming craftsman in Ballard. This charming one story craftsman with basement is nestled in a quiet yet vibrant Ballard neighborhood between 65^th and 4^th Ave NW. I just knew the house would be a stunner and it didn’t disappoint with all that charm and curb appeal.

Upon entrance, I was greeted into a cozy living room with brick fireplace and hardwood floors. This Ballard craftsman featured two bedrooms and one remodeled bathroom with dazzling title work. The kitchen was bright and airy with white cabinets and dining room featured built-ins with big windows that let in ton of light. As a true testament of a craftsman, the kitchen had a built-in “breakfast” nook that faced the spacious backyard. The backyard was beautifully landscaped with matured trees and fencing that provided a lot of shade and privacy. Besides the one car detached garage, the house has over 700 sq.ft of unfinished basement that is currently used for storage. I saw a lot of potential in this underdeveloped space; perhaps an art studio or fitness room.

The house is located in a prime Ballard location closed to restaurants, coffee shops, and businesses. Close proximity to the highway, Freemont and Wallingford makes this Ballard craftsman a great buy at $359,950. For your private viewing or questions, please call or email me soon before this goes off the market!

Charming Craftsman in Ballard

***Listing provided by Windermere R.E.***

ABOUT CHRISTY KIM

SEATTLE REAL ESTATE

Blue Star Cafe and Pub serves breakfast every day from 7 a.m. on weekdays or 8 a.m. on weekends, up until 2:45, then serve lunch and dinner every day.  There’s a happy hour from 4-6.  This is a neighborhood place, but it’s a great neighborhood place.  I go there over and over again, meet people or take the family as there is truly something good for everyone.  A pub with a great selection of beers or a good family eating place, two in one.

What makes them unique is their breakfast, they have a very large selection of egg dishes, over 44 egg dishes and scrambles and made with free-range eggs.  There are also healthy selections like oatmeal, fruit, etc.  There is a line out the door on the weekends but they seat quickly and serve quickly, so even when you see a line don’t dispair.  I personally love the high wooden booths which give you the feeling of a western town in the old days, and the black and white period photos around hark back to a past when breakfast grub made or broke the day.  Fuel up here for your Seattle adventures and then come back sometime for happy hour with your friends!  Their specialties are eggs but also burgers and beer!

Classic Craftsman house in Mount Baker

Seattle is known for an early 20th-century American architecture called Craftsman.  People who visit our city notice the abundance of Craftsman houses & bungalows and note that these aren’t quite so common (or exist at all!) in their own home towns.  Considering the weather in the NW and our history in lumber and fishing industries, it’s an architectural response to Seattle’s rainy season and blue collar roots.

Bungalow in Genesee

The term “bungalow” refers to the size of many Craftsman homes we may see in parts of West Seattle, Wallingford, Fremont, or Genesee and some still have original built-in benches, ironing board closets and bookshelves.  Larger – more formal – Craftsman houses  can be found in Queen Anne, Leschi, Capitol Hill and Mount Baker with deep eaves, asymmetrical facades and wide street-facing gables.  Generally, the structural, siding and interior element is wood and the floorplans are similar, but still irregular from home to home.  In Seattle’s in-demand neighborhoods, a solid Craftsman house will range upward from $699,000 and a Craftsman bungalow upward from $450,000, with some exceptions.

Marybeth Cicirello * 206.214.6556 * marybeth.cicirello@exprealty.com * Downtown Seattle Real Estate