Gratulerer med dagen: It’s Syttende Mai

This morning in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood I can only imagine the preparations that are going on. Today is Syttende Mai, or the 17th of May, Norwegian Constitution Day, and each year thousands of people come to Ballard for the festivities.

Seattle hosted its first Syttende Mai festival in 1889, the same year the state of Washington was admitted to the union. At some point the events started taking place in Ballard, a neighborhood with a rich Scandinavian heritage. Today the parade, which is only part of the festival, is said to be one of the largest Syttende Mai parades outside of Norway.

Today’s events include children’s activities at the Nordic Heritage Museum, a luncheon at the Leif Erikson Lodge, a variety of public performances at Bergen Place, and then, of course, the parade. For a complete schedule of events, visit the official website.

The parade starts at 6 p.m. heading south from the corner of NW 62nd and 24th Avenue NW, then travels along Market Street, then 22nd, and Ballard Avenue, ending at Dock Street (click here for a parade map).

To learn more about Ballard’s Scandinavian heritage, check out this two-part coverage I put together for MyBallard.com a couple of years ago:

• The Scandinavian tastes of Ballard


• The Scandinavian sights of Ballard

If you have the chance, I hope you’ll head to Ballard at some point today to join the festivities!

Spring is well underway here in Seattle and that means it’s time to start thinking about picnics. One of the great secrets of the Pacific Northwest is our climate. While west of the mountains we have a reputation for rain and grey skies, when the sun comes out this is one of the most gorgeous places on earth. Each year I make a “summer list,” a compilation of ideas for how to spend the sunny days. Invariably picnics are on the list (though actually getting around to planning them is another story). This year I’m committing to planning a number of picnics, and I’ve already scoped out some locations. Follow along—I have several ideas for locations, plus some menu ideas for both home cooks and visitors without access to a kitchen.

Sunset Hill Park

This 2.7-acre stretch of land is better known to my family as the “View Park.” Situated above the Shilshole Bay Marina, this park in the northwest part of Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood offers a panoramic view of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. I can remember packing a picnic basket and riding to the park with my husband on our bicycles a few years ago, and I am excited to recreate that experience as soon as the weather gets a little warmer. That picnic was during a phase of French food for me, so it’s only natural that I’ll be packing a similarly French-inspired menu again this year. Find it.

Menu:

• Oeufs mayonnaise sprinkled with paprika and served with cornichons


• Baguette with sausage and soft French cheeses


• Spiced, marinated olives


• Lentil salad

Sources for out-of-town visitors:

Ballard Market – Don’t miss their salad bar with an impressive selection of cold salads and sides. Pick up a baguette and choose a couple of cheeses, and you’ll be good to go

Cafe Besalu and Honoré Artisan Bakery – Arguably two of the best bakeries in Seattle, Ballard is lucky enough to be home to both. Pick up a pastry, a slice of quiche, and a coffee to go and you’ll be in for a treat.

Paseo Caribbean Restaurant – On sunny days, people flock to this stand on Seaview Avenue near Golden Gardens for its delicious Caribbean sandwiches, among other items. It’s cash only, so be prepared, and expect to wait in line.

Kerry Park

This sliver of a park in Queen Anne offers one of the city’s most iconic views. At just 1.26 acres, Kerry Park seems mostly populated by tourists posing for photos against the Seattle skyline and bicyclists stopping for a moment to take in the view. However, there’s no reason that one couldn’t put down a blanket and stay a little while for a picnic. Since this is where my husband proposed to me seven years ago, I’m planning to treat him to a special picnic here in the coming months—perhaps with an Italian- and Spanish-inspired menu in honor of our honeymoon destinations. Find it.

• Insalata caprese


• A platter of melon, prosciutto, and figs


• Gazpacho


• Thick-crusted artisanal bread

Sources for out-of-town visitors:

Malena’s Taco Shop – Order some tacos to go from the Queen Anne location (the other is in Ballard, and is also worth visiting), and you’ll get exactly what you’re hoping for: delicious, straightforward, and authentic tacos.

Macrina Bakery – If you’re more in the mood for bakery fare, don’t miss this local staple.

Woodland Park Rose Garden

Located at the southeast corner of Woodland Park Zoo, this 2.5 acre park features 280 varieties of roses and over 5,000 plants. With its fountains, reflecting pool, gazebo, and Art Deco Bas Relief sculpture (seen in the photo above), this is a beautiful place to pick a spot and settle down for a relaxing afternoon picnic. Find it.

Menu:

• Roasted chicken, served cold with mayonnaise and mustard


• Pearl couscous with olives and roasted cherry tomatoes (recipe here)


• Blackberry pie

Sources for out-of-town visitors:

picnic: a food + wine boutique – Appropriately named, this Phinney Ridge shop is the perfect place to visit to build a meal for your picnic at the garden. You’ll find sandwiches and soups, as well as cheeses and charcuterie items.

Ken’s Market – This family-owned and operated grocery store in Greenwood stocks everything that locals in the neighborhood need for a delicious home-cooked meal, but also offers a selection of prepared sandwiches, soups, salads, and entrees.

Mr Gyros – This tiny shop has earned a huge following for its gyros, falafel, and shawarma, and its reputation for good food and service is well-deserved. The brothers who operate the Greenwood restaurant (and its newer Ballard location) make every customer, new or old, feel like a longtime friend—in a totally authentic way.

Living in Seattle, one has the ability to go from the city to nature without traveling very far. Seattle’s adjacency to the mountains and the Sound provides for options of woods and beaches, wetlands, and forest without the need to get there by car.

The Golden Gardens Loop takes me from the concrete path beside the Ballard Locks to the beach sands, past the Shilshole Marina, where goslings were spotted swimming amongst the boats. Next, onto the soft shores, past firepits, seagulls, and driftwood. The historic bathhouse building sits prominently on the beach next to a lovely stand of trees. It is low tide as I round the point and I am tempted to see just how far I can go along the seaside before dry sands turn wet. Peeking through leaves at the pond, I complete my turtle count for the day. Under and through the tunnel with the ever evolving and changing walls of graffiti, up the hill, up the stair climb and onto the trails through the woods. I drop back down onto the bike path, run past the trains, over bridges and back into the neighborhoods, where the gardens are bursting with Spring flowers.

Here are a few images from my urban/nature hike/run: