Female artist known as "Mistinguett" is currently showing her work 'Life in Feathers and Rhinestones" at The Gilt Edge Society on 4th avenue. The Seattle P-I has written a very interesting article about her story this week if you'd like to check it out.

Apparently Mistinguett has a past of costume design and choreography for Las Vegas style revue shows, was featured in the HBO special "Showgirls: Glitz and Angst" and is an 8 time "show of the year" award winner. Quite the resume if you ask me.

Her art celebrates the woman body through glittery and glamorous illustrations of Vegas showgirls. Artist Mistinguett sums up her show by saying, "It's nudity, in the sense of flirting."

"Life in Feathers and Rhinestones" will be showing at Gilt Edge until Monday July 7. Click here for more information.

A kind Belltowner is looking for the owner of a female calico cat found in a parking garage at 5th and Bell st. If you or someone you know lost a cat recently matching this description, please click here.

Looking for a night out with your buddies? Belltown's See Sound Lounge has a new Ladies Night every Wednesday. Ladies receive free entry however both guys and girls are free to enjoy their happy hour from 6-10pm offering $3 Drafts, wine and champagne. All Stolichnaya vodka cocktails are on special for $4, and they also offer a $4 appetizer menu.

I stopped in the other night with a group of girls to check things out and we were pleasantly suprised to see that the place was packed. The DJ plays a variety of old school and top 40 mash-ups. If you're looking for a mid-week party in Belltown this is definitely your destination.

Click here for more information.

On July 12 there will be a Belltown community clean-up event called "Green and Clean." The event is sponsored by Belltown Community Council, Belltown Business Association, and Mars Hill Church.

Volunteers are encouraged to show up at 10am in front of Mars Hill Church.

I love the idea, it sounds like a great way to bring Belltown together as a greener community! Click here for more information.

Earlier this morning at approximately 11am a bank robbery occurred at a Wells Fargo in West Seattle. Police chased down the suspect eventually blocking his car at 1st and Spring st. downtown. When the suspect refused to exit the car and even displayed a handgun, the Police opened fire. The man was shot in the neck and is currently in intensive care.

"I was walking down the street. I've only been here a couple of days," said a downtown tourist from England. "I thought they were shooting a movie. When I see this in the movies, I thought it was overkill. I thought it was Hollywood, but that's just America."

Wow, quite the excitement for a Tuesday morning.

The Belltown Messenger recently posted a behind the scenes look at a day in the life of a Belltown crack addict. "We're writing this article to put a human face on addiction. We're sick of the stereotypes presented in the media about crackheads. It's like whenever someone sees a black person, especially a street person, they are always derided as a crackhead." Reads the article.

I don't know guys. Yes, drug addicts are people too. No, we can't expect to not see them in Belltown alleys getting a fix once in a while when they've been here long before the condos. But, this "Yay for crackheads boo for Belltown yuppies" campaign that the Messenger seems to be on is getting old. With various comments and articles throughout the past few months that express more concern for drug addict rights over the concerns of residents I get annoyed. It becomes evident in this article how easy it is to access drugs in the neighborhood, which concerns me.

This is a question of neighbors who desire a peaceful living environment. All we want is to walk down the street without a whiff of crack smoke blown in our faces, or children's faces for that matter, or some wigged out drug addict who can't score a fix so he starts throwing things or yells at you when you won't give him a dollar. Am I right?

Click here to check out the article.

This Friday Belltown will have it's first 4th of July block party from 3-10pm. There will be food, art and food vendors, music, and a view of the Elliott Bay fireworks. There's even a section for kids if you want to bring the little ones along.

The party will be held outside of Belltown's Mars Hill Church, although the party is a non-religious event. Sounds fun!

More unfortunate violent news from over the weekend. Apparently early Saturday morning a dispute over who would be the first to exit a parking garage near O'Asian Kitchen on 5th ave. The dispute resulted in a 50 person brawl causing a woman to be beaten, another stabbed in the abdomen, and a man arrested for assault, according to police.

Apparently two separate groups, one of men and one of women, had left the restaurant and got into an argument about who would be first to exit says Seattle police spokeswoman Renee Witt.

The women, in one car, got in front. One of the men got out of another car and started an argument with the women. The man pulled one of the women out of the car and "began stomping on her." Whoa, I guess chivalry is dead.

At that point, onlookers got involved and the scene turned into a "free for all, a huge melee," Witt said. Responding officers estimated 50 people were involved.

A man stabbed one of the women in the abdomen, who was treated on the scene and taken to Harborview with non-life-threatening injuries. The suspected stabber was arrested and booked into King County Jail for investigation of assault.

Talk about road rage.

Some Belltown crime news from Sunday evening. Apparently Seattle police are on the search for a suspect who shot three men during a confrontation that occured at the corner of Blanchard and Western last night. There may be possible fourth victim based on witness reports.

All three of the men were shot in the leg, then later treated at Harborview Medical Center.
Police believe that the suspect fled the scene in a black Honda and released no further details.

Anyone hear this commotion last night?

feature about Seattle's nightclub scene. Belltown is described as a spot for "posh restaurants" pointing out some of their favorite restaurants to be Le Pichet and Cascadia. The article describes Amber bar as having "two floors of beautiful furnishings and even more beautiful people."

That's the kind of news we like to read about Belltown! Let's make a habit of making headlines more like this and avoid the butcher knife throwing ones ok?

Apparently a Belltowner named Gayle made quite the impression on someone last week at the Fremont Solstice Parade. This person is seeking to reconnect with her by means of Craigslist.

"I met her at the Fremont Parade and she was very cool...would love to be friends. all I know is that she lives in Belltown and lived in Saudi Arabia." reads the ad.

Anyone think they may know Gayle? Click here.

It's that time of year again for Seattle's Gay Pride march. The parade will take place on June 29th, starting at 11:00 am from the corner of Union St. and 4th Ave. It will be limited to about 2 hours in length this year.

Parade participants include Alaska Airlines, Catholic Parents of Lesbians and Gays, Woodland Park Zoo, and Leather and Fetish Pride Contingen amongst others.

The temperature is expected to reach the high 80's this weekend so bring your glitter infused sunblock!

This is the kind of news I hate to post. Sad indeed. Seattle detectives are investigating the death of a man who was severely beaten on the 2000 block of 3rd avenue by a group of 7 people in late May. 51 year old Vince St. Clair died June 2 at Harborview Medical Center.

One neighbor said he doesn't know why anybody would have attacked Saint Clair. "I've seen him in the area and he tended to mind his own business when I've seen him," said Leon Richardson.

This is still an open investigation.

This photo of a quirky VW van parked in Belltown was taken over the weekend. It's entitled "A little sunshine" and is part of a Belltowner's project entitled "Project 365," in which she takes a photo a day for a year.

I don't think I speak for myself when I say losing Belltown's favorite 24 hour restaurant was devastating. I kept wondering who would be taking over the old Minnies as I walked by and saw people building things and bustling around. Last week I was thrilled to see that there is a new 24 hour diner which has opened. They describe themselves as a "quirky contemporary diner." According to some reviews on Yelp, their grand opening didn't go so well. But I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they will work the kinks out over time.

You may have noticed that there were no Pho restaurants in Belltown. The perfect cheap hot steaming meal. Well, Belltowners don't have to drive all the way to the International District for some pho. Black Bottle, is now serving an elegant pho made with beef brisket that's braised to medium-rare, then roasted to order. Their Pho is packed to the top with a huge amount of meat.

Black Bottle's delicious Pho is a mere $7.

Perhaps you've been wondering what will become of the space which was previously home to Mistral restaurant on Blanchard between 1st and 2nd. Sources say a new Gastropub is on its way to take over The name of the new restaurant/bar called Spur. Spur as in cowboy spur. Hopefully it turns out to be a great new Belltown hotspot!

Did you know that 5 Point has a 5 point laundromat directly next door to it? Make cleaning fun as you drink and wash laundry.

Go here for more information.

As Belltowner reported last month, Belltown's first full service grocery store opened their doors this week. Kress IGA is equipped with baked goods, chocolate, cheese, flowers, pasta and even more from local providers.

Writes Seattlest of their visit to the store, "...we are pleased to report that the store offers lots of services and goodies...a display of asparagus at under a dollar per pound offered promise of good deals."

I'm on my way there now! Downtown has a grocery store! Yay!

Got a band that's just waiting to be discovered? Belltown's Mars Hill Church is planning a Block Party on the 4th of July. They already have three bands scheduled to play, however are seeking a headliner. This could be you!

Bands interested should send an email with a link to your music to: perry@marshillchurch.org

The Block Party is a non-religious community event. Click here for more information.