Photo by seadevi for CDNews

Rover’s Restaurant at 28th and Madison announced that it is closing after 25 years. Their last seatings will be in April 2013.

The Madison Valley restaurant’s chef Thierry Rautureau was on Bravo’s Top Chef Masters in 2010. He made it to the last episode before he was eliminated.

The closure does not affect Luc, which Rautureau opened next door to Rover’s in 2010.

There is another project in the works (but they’re not yet saying what it is). And no, Rover’s is not for sale.

The announcement from Rover’s: Continue reading →

A thief (or thieves) with a heart more than two sizes too small stole $6,200 worth of donated toys from a YWCA storage space near 28th and Cherry recently, according to police.

It’s not clear when the despicable act occurred, but it may have been as early as last week. More details from SPD:

A grinch made off with thousands of dollars worth of toys, set to be donated to needy children, in a Central District burglary earlier this month.

Staff at the Central District YWCA put approximately $6200 worth of radio controlled cars, basketballs, and other toys in to storage at a building on 28th and E. Cherry Street on December 3rd.

This morning, they discovered all the toys had gone missing, and called police.

It’s not clear when the toys were taken, as a staff member noticed the storage door was open on December 7th, but didn’t think anything of it at the time.

The case will be turned over to the Seattle Police Department’s East Precinct burglary unit for investigation.

Stay tuned for details on how you can help out filling the need left by this theft.

UPDATE: There is still time to donate to Mount Zion Baptist Church’s 4th “Christmas Season Day of Caring” Toy Giveaway. The giveaway is Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. Donations can be brought to the 19th and Madison church between 9 and 5 any day through Friday. See the event listing for more details on that effort.

UPDATE x2: The WYCA needs to replace 300 toys by Thursday. Here’s how to donate, from the YWCA’s Julie Kettman:

We are looking to replace 300 toys in the next three days: all interests and ages, for boys and girls, up to age 18. Gifts of new, unwrapped toys can be dropped off at the East Cherry branch of our YWCA, at 2820 E. Cherry St. Questions should be directed to Nichelle Hilton at 206.412.1605.

Police are searching for the suspect in a reported sexual assault at Horiuchi Park Friday evening. The alleged assault occurred around 7:10 p.m. at the park, located at Boren and E Spruce, according to police.

Though information is preliminary at this time, police confirmed that a woman went to the King County Juvenile Center and reported the incident within a few minutes of when it occurred.

Police responded and searched the area for a suspect described as a black male in his 30s wearing a tan coat.

Billy Chambers, one of the people found guilty of killing the Tuba Man Ed McMichael in 2008, pleaded guilty to ramming a woman’s car at 23rd and Jackson in 2011. Now, he could be headed back to prison on gun charges.

From the Seattle Times:

On Friday, Chambers graduated to a new level of trouble – and is a facing serious prison time – after being charged in U.S. District Court with being a felon in possession of a firearm, which carries a 10-year prison sentence and up to five years of supervised release when he gets out.

Chambers was targeted by a cross-designated state-federal prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Hobbs, who reviews every firearms arrest in King County and determines which case should be taken into the federal system. The difference in sentences is stark: A state conviction for a felon being caught with a gun rarely exceeds three years, according to prosecutors.

The federal charge stems from Chambers’ arrest on Oct. 3. King County sheriff’s deputies stopped a car Chambers was driving near Southwest 150th Street and First Avenue South in Burien after someone reported that he and a companion had stolen items out of a vehicle, according to a probable-cause statement outlining the police case.

Deputies discovered an assault rifle in the trunk, the statement says.

You could win this Jenga trophy Saturday. Photo from the Facebook event

Steady… Steady… Steady…

If you think you have the calmest hands in the city, you can prove it Saturday at Central Cinema (a CDNews sponsor). MAP Theatre is hosting an all-day, 32-player Jenga tournament at the 21st and Union dinner theater.

There are prizes, including a “silver” Jenga trophy. $15 to compete, $5 to watch. Buy tickets online here.

Competition gets under way at noon.

More details from the Facebook event:

32 players enter…….
Only one remains victorious!
Prepare yourselves for JENGA Thunderdome

Hosted by MAP Theatre: Brandon Ryan, Shane Regan, Sarah Bixler, and Central Cinema.

We bring you our 3rd annual JENGA TOURNAMENT!Saturday, Dec 8th
12:00pm – 5:00pm

@ Central Cinema
1411 21st Avenue in Seattle (21st & Union in the Central District) Continue reading →

Maria Goodloe-Johnson, the former superintendent of Seattle Public Schools, has passed away, the Seattle Times reports. She was 55.

A friend and colleague told the Times she was battling cancer.

Goodloe-Johnson oversaw some major changes in the district during her three and a half years in the top district job. She oversaw some controversial decisions in the Central District, including the closure of TT Minor in 2009 and the sale of the MLK Elementary School building to First AME in 2010. The MLK sale was part of a state investigation that played a part in Goodloe-Johnson’s firing in 2011 (though she was not directly implicated in the scandal).

But friends hope she is remembered not for the scandal, but her work for children and education in Seattle, Charleston and Detroit. Continue reading →

Join Madison Valley businesses for an extended happy hour and evening of holiday shopping tonight (Wednesday) from 5:30-7 p.m.

The action will mostly be on Madison between 27th and City People’s Garden Store.

In other Madison Valley news, have you seen the new Community Council/Merchants Association website?

More details on the happy hour from the Madison Valley Community Council:

To encourage us to get out, support our local businesses, and meet and greet with one another, Madison Valley merchants are sponsoring a special extended-shopping event tonight, 5:00 to 7:30 pm, with many businesses offering special sales and “festive treats” to those who partake. Among those participating is Seattle Fast Frame, which is offering shoppers “hot drinks and nibbles” during the event. River Song Jewelry, Bass Art Gallery, Veritables, Vian Hunter Fashion are all participating.

Restaurants in the Valley, meanwhile, will be extending their Happy Hours to 7:30 for the occasion. Continue reading →

Image from Garfield Singers

Three nights of music at Garfield High School starts Thursday. The Garfield Singers performances start at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday at the Quincy Jones Performance Center.

Details from the Facebook event:

Come see Garfield’s winter musical revue, the most AWESOME choir event of the year! Watch Garfield’s esteemed concert, treble, and jazz choruses as we perform a beautiful seven-part Ave Maria, an acapella version of Linus & Lucy, our signature sexy all-male piece, some slightly less-sexy Christmas dancing, and WAY MORE! Continue reading →