Category: Past Councilmembers

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October 15, 2014January 6, 2023Councilmember Godden

Women in Business: Voula’s Offshore Cafe

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It’s no secret that Voula Vlaho loves her customers.  She’ll tell you so herself on days when, stepping out of semi retirement, she shows up at Voula’s Offshore Café on Northlake Way, within sight of Lake Union. voulas1

“I just love to be with people,” says Voula, a spry, compact woman with salt and pepper hair. She’ll give you a maternal hug and point to the wall papered with pictures of her many customers and their children. She believes you have to love your customers. That, she insists, is “Greek philosophy.” She invites customers to call her “mama.”

Known for Greek specialties, good food and generous portions, Voula’s café celebrated 30 years at 658 NE. Northlake Way on Sept. 11. The celebratory … Continue Reading »

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October 14, 2014January 6, 2023Councilmember Burgess

Justice for Our Youth

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The City Council voted Monday to pass a land use amendment that will allow the County more flexibility in designing a new Children and Family Justice Center on 12th Avenue in the Central District. (In 2012, King County voters approved...

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October 9, 2014January 6, 2023Councilmember Rasmussen

Encouraging More Young People to Ride Bicycles

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Several weeks ago my legislative aide and I joined students at Global Connections High School on their ride with the Cascade Bicycle Club’s Major Taylor Project.  I encourage you to check out their website to learn about this great program that encourages young people, particularly from diverse lower-income families, to embrace bicycling as a form […]

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October 3, 2014January 6, 2023Councilmember Godden

What’ll It Be, Honey? Memories of the Dog House

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I read Bethany Jean Clement’s recent article about the Hurricane Café’s impending close with a heavy heart. Old Seattle is about to lose another landmark.  Final day for the Hurricane Café at Seventh and Bell is set for Jan. 1, 2015. Acorn Development (an affiliate of Amazon) will be tearing down the nearly 100-year old building to make way for yet another slick skyscraper.dog house 2

About the only thing that won’t be lost during the demolition are customers’ memories of the Hurricane’s last two decades and — even before that – stories from the Hurricane’s predecessor, the Dog House.

Let’s first be clear about the Dog House’s place in old Seattle, pre-World’s Fair, pre- WWII, even pre-Viaduct. It was in the 1930s, … Continue Reading »

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October 3, 2014January 6, 2023Councilmember Godden

Celebrating Yesler Swamp

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On Sunday, dozens of neighbors and volunteers brought crockpots full of baked beans, bowls of potato salad, trays of summer fruits and vegetables and loaves of bread to share. Cheering along with the Cajun band Folichon, they were celebrating the completion of the first phase of the Yesler Swamp boardwalk. Yesler 8

The swamp, a wooded wetland, is a natural treasure that has suffered neglect and misuse for years. It is now being restored through the efforts of an inspired group of dedicated workers, the Friends of Yesler Swamp.

They, along with their partners, have contributed thousands of volunteer hours – more than 3,000 in 2014 alone – to remove invasive species, plant native trees and shrubs and construct … Continue Reading »

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October 2, 2014January 6, 2023Councilmember Rasmussen

Planting the Seeds for Sharing

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Seattle has many talented and would-be gardeners.  The local food movement has grown rapidly. It is not unusual to find flourishing gardens in planting strips, on the roofs of restaurants, apartments and even on garages. Nearly 7,000 people are tending a plot at one of Seattle’s 89 P-Patch gardens.  Over 1,000 more people are on […]