Little Free Libraries are a growing phenomenon, with nearly 6,000 worldwide. These small exchange boxes, typically built on the street corner, allow neighbors to lend and borrow books. The aim is to promote literacy and community. 

Jerry Sussman built a Little Free Library for the community near Swanson’s Alley, on 34th Avenue E. The official dedication for the library took place on the 4th of July, following a potluck salmon barbecue (see photo). He is encouraging his neighbors to stop by and take a book or leave a book.

For more information on the movement, and a photo gallery of artistic exchange boxes, see this article.

Bastille Bash was a smash!

Photography by Heather Curbow and Duell Fisher from Team Photogenic.

Have you seen those pint-sized white and blue “smart” cars around town? Car2Go is a new business in Seattle that changes the model for car sharing services: the best feature of Car2Go is that you can take it on a one-way trip. In contrast, competitor Zipcar requires users to pick up and drop off a car in its designated parking space. Car2Go’s flexibility means that you can walk or take the bus out to a concert, and grab a car for the late-night drive home. Best of all, leave the car parked in front of your house for the next C2G customer to pick up when she needs it.

You can find and reserve a car on the website or through the handy mobile app, or simply walk up to a car and hold your membership card over the reader unit on the windshield to activate the rental. Ready to go! You can also make “stopovers” along the way – handy if you’re using the car to run errands or go shopping – simply take the keys with you so another person doesn’t take the car in the middle of your trip.

There are some rules about where you can park the car at the end of your trip, but with a service area that runs down to Beacon Hill, out to West Seattle, and up to N. 130th Street, there are plenty of places to take a Car2Go. Just don’t leave the car in a bus zone or a commercial lot! On the bright side, you can park in a 2-hour metered parking space without having to feed the meter.

If you seldom need a vehicle, Car2Go is a reasonably priced alternative to owning a car or paying downtown parking fees. The service costs 38 cents per minute, up to $14 an hour. Gas, insurance, and maintenance are all included. There is a one-time fee of $35 to sign up, but they offer occasional promotions that reduce the registration fee or give you free driving minutes as a bonus.

There are already over 300 Car2Go cars in Seattle. With so many of these little smarts tooling around our neighborhood, you are sure to find one when you need it!

Fewer crimes in Madison Valley were reported to the police during June than in previous months. In May, for example, there were approximately 35 crime reports but in June there were only about 25. As in May, the number of car prowl thefts remained low (only two reported incidents in June), and reports of property damage/graffiti almost disappeared (2 incidents). Harassment reports were more frequent than any other type of type of incident, but there were only four such cases. There were three burglaries during the month, and in none were police able to find fingerprints or other evidence.

1. Sometime during the night of June 5–6 someone stole a valuable racing bicycle (Trek Madone 5) and a 19-inch flat screen television/DVD combination from an unlocked garage off of 19th Ave near Roy.

2. On June 7 around 11:30 AM an intruder entered an unlocked office on 19th Ave. near Republican and stole a valuable item not specified in the police report.

3. On June 11 sometime between 4 and 9 PM someone stole two Mary Kay cosmetic suitcases containing approximately $1400 worth of cosmetics from an unlocked garage on 24th Ave. near Mercer.

In addition, there were two reports of auto theft, one non-injury assault near Union and 23rd Ave. and an arrest for possession of methamphetamine near Madison and MLK. Let’s hope that the near absence of crimes against persons during June continues for the rest of the summer.

Lowell Hargens is a Madison Valley resident and former University of Washington professor of sociology specializing in the statistical analysis of data.

Bonjour! We can’t wait to see you at Bastille Bash tomorrow! We’re decking out East Madison with French flags, banners and all things blue, white, and red, and getting ready to enjoy la vie en rose. We’ve had so much fun planning with Madison Valley businesses to bring you the best food, shopping, chef demos, and so much more that our little village has to offer. 

While you are attending the event tomorrow use the tag #BastilleBash with your photos and posts on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram so we can follow along! 

With all the fun festivities in store, the local media has been buzzing. Here are some highlights if you missed them from our Facebook page. Click on the links to view articles, listen to radio interviews and get all the Bastille Bash scoop.

• The Stranger Suggests you hightail it to Bastille Bash to catch a glimpse of our Marie Antoinette impersonator!
• They love our Francophilia and retail offerings over at Seattle Met Magazine.
• Seattle Magazine says Bastille Bash is a MUST for this weekend.
• Daily Candy can’t wait to enjoy our Spirits Garden at Rover’s in a neighborhood reminiscent of a bucolic village in Provence.
• KIRO Radio’s “Let’s Eat” hosts had a blast chatting up Nat Stratton-Clarke, one of our event creators and planners, about the amazing chef talent for our demos and enjoying French culture in Seattle.
• Our neighborhood paper, the Madison Park Times, is excited we’re back for a second year!
• Chat With Women radio network host Holly Brown, of The Brown Lounge, chatted with Nat about all the delicious French food and wine offered at Bastille Bash, eating local, and how to cook simple French food at home. 
• The Seattle Times highlighted Bastille Bash in their Sunday NW Arts & Life section as a must attend event this week!
• The moms at Red Tricycle gave us the thumbs up for our kid-friendly activities like art classes at Thrive, and the event proceeds that benefit the Children’s Response Center.

Tickets on sale at the event! Merci!

Bastille Bash is upon us this Saturday, July 13th! Our map and program are out now and include all of your favorite French bites from local restaurants, our live entertainment schedule, chef and garden demo lineup and more!

But let’s cut to what’s really on your mind … enjoying local wine, beer and spirits in the sun this Saturday from 3–8 p.m.! Bastille Bash will have a Wine Passport that allows you to taste at locations up and down East Madison including a Spirits Garden in Rover’s courtyard and a Wine Garden outside of Cafe Flora.

Purchase your Wine Passport online in advance for $20 per person to secure your tasting glass. You can also purchase at the event starting at 3 p.m. but we will have a limited quantity on hand so please purchase in advance!

Bastille Bash is free to attend and enjoy live entertainment, shopping and our festive French décor.

Thank you to the following wineries, breweries and distilleries for being part of Bastille Bash—Vive La France!

Wineries: Balboa Winery, Beresan Winery, Facelli Winery, Forgeron Cellars, Hestia Cellars, Kiona Vineyards & Winery, OS Winery, Patterson Cellars, Pomum Cellars, Swiftwater Cellars, Walla Walla Vintners, William Church Winery

Breweries: Fremont Brewing, Mac & Jack’s Brewery, Ninkasi Brewing

Distilleries: BroVo Spirits, El Zacatecano, Fremont Mischief Distillery, Sidetrack Distillery

Madison Valley merchants are offering a variety of specials and giveaways during Bastille Bash, July 13, and the week prior. Giveaways include three nights in Paris (sign up during the Bash). Many stores will offer substantial discounts on selected merchandise. The full list is below.

The week of July 8th these shops are offering the following specials:

Honey Skin Spa

• Week of July 8 Facial Specials: Purchase a package of 3 Custom Honey Facials for $375 (regularly $450). Purchase a package of 5 Custom Honey Facials for $625 (regularly $750)
• Week of July 8 Lash & Brow Specials: A full set of lash extensions for $125 (regularly $225-$250). Expert Brow Consult & Waxing $18 (regularly $35). Lash & Brow Tint $25 (regularly $40)

Fast Frame
Fastframe will be offering 25% off all framed and unframed art for sale. The sale will start Monday, July 8 and end with the Bash!

Retail Shops Offering Discounts:

All The Best

• Bobbing for balls, “yappetizers” and pet photos

City People’s Garden Store

• 25% off French milled soap from Pre de Provence
• 25% off all lavender
• 25% off culinary herbs

France: Homestyle

• Enter to win a weekend in Paris

Jarbo
Bastille Day sale up to 50% off selected items.

Hoa Salon

• On July 13 stop by during Bastille Bash
• Bastille Bash, sign up for any service at a future date and receive 20 percent off plus a complimentary goodie bag, and enter win prizes like facials, brow shaping, and lash and brow tinting.

Koselig Design

• Offering a 20 percent discount on nearly all store items including home furnishings and jewelry during Bastille Bash only.

Fury Consignment

• For every $50 spent on Bastille Day, you are entered into a drawing for a $100 gift certicate at Fury.
• Featuring $10 and $20 sale racks.

Lavender Heart
Discounts throughout the shop.

River Song

• Hosting Market Home and Los Santos on its front steps. Market Home is a local Etsy shop of vintage goods.
• Los Santos is a local artist originally from Mexico City with Mexican folk art and decor. http://www.etsy.com/shop/riversongjewelry

Stallman Gallery

• Stallman Gallery will open early, before the Bastille Bash celebrations, starting at 1 p.m. with local wine and cheese for guests to mingle and view their local art.

Vian Hunter
Marie Antoinette-themed sale with live models in the windows.