Kids. Don’t you just feel like abandoning them in a Walmart parking lot sometimes?

No? Really? Well…we don’t either. That would be wrong.

But, if you did feel that way, Melissa Benaroya, MSW and Robin Dowdy, M.Ed. are offering “Mommy Matters”, a series of six classes for mothers of toddlers:

New group led by local parent educators. An opportunity to share experiences and get support around what matters most to you as your child hits the “two’s” in a private and confidential setting:

• Learn behavior management strategies.
• Gain insight into toddler development.
• Nurture & strengthen relationships with self, child(ren) and partner.
• Feel confident about your parenting choices!

They’ll meet for six Wednesdays, July 8 – August 12, 10:00 – 11:30 am at Mosaic Coffee House (4401 Second Ave. NE) or 7:00 – 8:30 pm at The Hearthstone – Boardroom (6720 E Green Lake Way N.). Cost for each six-week series is $150.00. Pre-registration is required: Melissa Benaroya at (206) 226-6707 or Melissa@benaroya.net.

The Seattle Municipal Archives have uploaded another cool photo to the Wallingford Flickr Pool, this one of Gas Works, c. 1966.

The city acquired the land in 1962, but it wasn’t opened as a park until 1975.

We could have sworn there was a house right across the street from Mosaic just yesterday!

All of Wallingford seemed to be out and in good cheer last night for that once a month combo – Farmer’s Market followed by Art Walk. At the market, we picked up a pound of Olsen’s grass fed ground beef, a jar of rare star thistle honey and earful of Paul Dorpat’s deliciously quirky sense of humor.

From there, we caught up with Amy from Wallingford Center (those apartments we told you about have been rented), checked out some cool monkey art at Trophy Cupcakes, said hello to Nabil and his new hot dog stand (yes, he does serve veggie dogs) and ducked into Cutz to say hi to Phillipe and Colleen and to check out the paintings and prints.

Next stop was Bella Cosa, to see their Market Challenge (you bring something from the Farmer’s Market, they’ll cook it up as part of a 4 course meal, iron chef style) in action. When we arrived, the first takers (below, including Bella Cosa’s talented featured artist, Mia Piace Kate, second from right) were heading towards dessert. Their submission to the challenge: squash blossoms and some sort of broccoli – cauliflower hybrid. The squash blossoms were stuffed with crab and smoked salmon, fried and layered over a green goddess salad. The rest of the meal…just check out the custom menu. $20 / head (including wine?). The verdict rendered by the jury: delicious. Could be yours next week.

From there, we ambled down to Re-Leaf Massage, where we took in another beautiful art show (paintings incorporating old watchwork) and Mrs. Wallyhood enjoyed a complementary (and well deserved) massage. Now that’s art!

Folks, if you’re not going to Art Walk, you’re missing out on a quintessential Wallingford experience. And if you are going, see you in August!

One of our biggest gripes about Seattle is the lack of good street food. You visit so many other cities, and there are vendors selling delicious food on street corners wherever you go. Seattle? Nada lotta.

Thus, it’s good to see at least one spot open here in Wallingford: Saucisse Kabir is selling hot dogs in front of Babalu on the corner of 45th St and Wallingford Ave on Wednesdays (to coincide with the farmer’s market and art walk) and weekends (to coincide with nibbly shoppers during the day and hungry drunks at night).

Recognizing our duty as intrepid reporters, we “took one for the team” and sampled the wares this past Saturday: a thick, foot-long dog with sauteed onions and cream cheese. The report: delicious. The onions were especially good (Nabil tells us its his own personal recipe of spices) and the dog itself was tasty and huge (which, at $5, it better be).

While there, we were introduced to Michael, the owner of Babalu, who…how to put this…expressed his displeasure with our coverage of his establishment. It’s true that we have not been glowing in our recommendations and it’s also true that we should have called him and asked for comment before running the story. We offered to print whatever information he sent us in response, an offer we will abide by. So Michael, if you’re reading this: let us know what we got wrong, and we’ll let our readers know.

Jakey sent in this link to last night’s Colbert Report segment on the lawsuit seeking to stop Seattle’s Fourth of July fireworks display. Colbert, as usual, makes some excellent points, especially regarding the relative pros and cons on underground benzene plumes.

Last week, we mentioned that Fainting Goat was now serving organic goat’s milk gelato with mastic, a spice grown only in Turkey and Greece. We finally had a chance to stop in and try int last night, and it’s two thumbs up. It’s much less sweet than their other gelatos, with a more creamy richness. It’s difficult to describe the mastic: spicy, a hint of mint but definitely its own flavor.

Highly recommend trying it, not only because it’s delicious, but it’s something you just won’t find elsewhere.

(And no lines)

Big night in Wallingford tonight, as our once a month Art Walk (6 – 9 pm) coincides with our once a week Farmer’s Market (3 – 7 pm).

At the market, this week’s 4pm demonstration chef will be Amy McCray of Eva’s Restaurant and Wine Bar (2227 N 56th) and remember, if you bring something you bought at the market to Bella Cosa, they will take up the challenge and turn it into a dish with other ingredients on hand (see Hot Plate and a Challenge). Here’s the “What’s Fresh” report from the organizers (culled for Wallingford):

Wilson Fish continues to offer fresh Washington king salmon and halibut... And on the tree fruit front, Tiny’s Organic Produce has the first organic cherries and apriums of the season at all markets, and Martin Family Orchards has returned to all markets with cherries and soon all manner of tree fruit.

In addition to the previous news on Art Walk, we took a stroll through down 45th Street last night and saw new work up at Fuel and Bella Cosa, at least.

Next Saturday, July 11th is the 60th anniversary of the Wallingford Seafair Kiddies Parade. Starting at 11 am, L’il munchkins, along with clowns, drill teams, pirates and bands, will the marching up 45th St from Corliss towards Woodlawn Ave (route map).

Anyone can participate, no pre-registration required (although it is encouraged, if you’ve got a group). Costumes are encouraged, but not required. The theme this year is either “Boys and Girls on Parade” or “Kids of Summer”, depending on which part of their web site you’re reading. Either way, it seems like it probably wouldn’t be too hard to figure out a get-up that fits. It’s not like the theme is “Nietsche’s Early Years”, after all.

Seeing how it’s the 60th Anniversary, they’re also encouraging adults who marched in the parade as youngsters to come participate. You are not required to wear the same clothing you did then, though.

Following the parade, there is the Wallingford Street Fair, running from 10 am – 5 pm on Wallingford Ave between 43rd and 45th St. According to the web site, it will involve “Live Music, Crafts, Food Activities & Rides for Kids”.

(This update comes from our Lower Wallingford Correspondent, Chris Witwer)

We’ve been hearing rumors for a while that Lower Wallingford has its own public frisbee golf course — and now we have the low down, thanks to long-time Lower Wallingford resident and frisbee golf fan, Christopher Gronbeck.

The South Wallingford Public Disc Golf Course is a mini frisbee golf course provided by the friendly folks at the Internet Disc Shop, a small local company founded by 4 friends. (Three of whom live in Wallingford. We won’t tease the one who doesn’t — but we should!)

So why put a mini frisbee golf course on Bagley? Public use, randomness, and neighborhood fun! And the residents think it’s cool — which we totally can’t argue with.

It’s a mini course on a parking strip, so don’t expect to find 18 holes or 5-foot baskets. But we think it’s a safe bet for a good time. Check it out at 3631 Bagley Ave N.

Wallyhood readers are particularly encouraged to swing by if you’re headed down to Gasworks Park on the Fourth of July. The mini course usually gets lots of visitors on the Fourth. The more the merrier! Christopher says, “We love it when poeple come by!”