A guide to low-tech toys that can boost children’s language and learning from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

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If you're looking for some great resources for things to know when visiting Columbia City and Rainier Valley, here are two spots packed with resources!

RainierValley.org

Seattle Good

Day Moon Press provides letterpress printing and consultation services to people excited about their print and design projects. Using over 40 years of experience and our extensive collection of tools and equipment, we have the ability to produce complex and elegant work while collaborating with the project creators. From business cards to stainless steel coffee filters, our craftsmanship and knowledge about printing and project engineering is respected among letterpress printers and designers.

Location: 3320 Beacon Ave South

Since 1926, Stewart Lumber & Hardware Co. has been the premier provider of building materials, lumber and tools to residents of Seattle and the surrounding areas! Our superior selection of top quality products is available to contractors, remodelers and homeowners, and the seasoned knowledge of our staff is open to anyone we serve!

Location: 1761 Rainier Avenue South

Cajetan Mendonca has been running a small food stall ‘Saffron Spice’ at the Pike Place market for 10 years now. He has also been running the food trucks with the same focusing on delivering lunches during the weekdays. This venture is an expansion of his effort expand on the concept. 

Location: 1901 Rainier Avenue South

Serving Jamaican and Barbecue/Soul food at Lil Red Catering & Takeout in the Rainier Valley area of Seattle.

Location: 4225 Rainier Ave South

The story of Fresh Flours began with a dream and two business partners, Keiji and Etsuko.

Born and grew up in Tokyo, spent countless years of schooling in Pittsburg and Washington DC, Keiji has taken a keen interest in the world of baking over the years. 

He took his first baking job at a busy bakery in East Village, NYC.  With a passion for developing own unique recipe, Keiji decided to move out of the big city to start his baking business.  Etsuko, with a vision of evolving Japanese influenced pastries, quickly joined.  Along with their two dogs, they drove yellow Penske truck 3000 miles cross-country and landed in Seattle in September 2000.

For months, Keiji designed menu offerings from Japanese culture, and Etsuko mapped out the business plan. Their dream came true in July 2005 -- to have a place to experience all the pleasures that the finest pastries can bring – only the extraordinary pastries they love.

Location: 1624 South McClellan Street

At the heart of the African American experience in the Northwest is the story of our journey to this region, the establishment of our vibrant community, and the ways in which we have survived. To tell this ever-unfolding story, the Museum’s exhibitions and programs feature the visual arts, music, crafts, literature, and history of African Americans in the Northwest. Cognizant of the black community’s continuous evolution, NAAM focuses on African Americans whose route to the new world was through slavery as well as recent immigrants arriving from places such as Somalia, Sudan, and Ethiopia.

Location: 2300 South Massachusetts Street

Island Soul has a reputation for using only the freshest ingredients combined with the passion for creating deliciousness. We offer cuisine to fit any vision; fusion of the Caribbean Islands and the Soulful Bayou. We use high-quality ingredients local and farm to table as often as possible for the best for you.

Location: 4869 Rainier Avenue South

Restaurant Homer was created by Logan Cox and Sara Knowles and inspired by their travels to Alaska and their dog, Homer. Logan and Sara moved to Seattle in 2013 and have called Beacon Hill home ever since and are proud to own a neighborhood restaurant a few blocks away from their home.

Homer is serving Mediterranean and Middle Eastern inspired cuisine, influenced by the ingredients of the Pacific Northwest. All of the dishes are prepared over a wood fire and are served in a style that is meant for sharing. 

Location: 3013 Beacon Ave South

Milk Drunk was created as a casual spin-off to our sister restaurant down the street, Homer, where we have an itty bitty soft serve window. We wanted to bring more soft serve goodness to the neighborhood, in addition to mouth watering fried chicken and custom cocktails.

Location: 2805 Beacon Avenue South

Family owned and operated since 1971, Big John's PFI is known around Seattle as a hidden treasure trove for specialty food items. We specialize in providing our customers with both traditional and unique Mediterranean and European products. We may be best known for our 30-foot imported meat and cheese case, but we also stock a wide selection of affordable imported wines, olive oils, pastas, bulk dried goods, candies, gifts, and so much more. We hope to see you soon!
-The Croce Family

Location: 1608 S Dearborn Street

We are a community-driven restaurant in Seattle, Washington focusing on the education of Filipinx cuisine.

We are rooted in Beacon Hill, where we are proud to serve a seasonal beverage program including personal and intimate Filipinx dishes inspired by our childhood memories.

Location: 2524 Beacon Avenue South

Genesee Energy is a full-service heating and fuel delivery company serving King, Pierce, Snohomish, Kitsap and Thurston Counties that specializes in delivering Bioheat, a blend of traditional heating oil and clean, renewable biodiesel. Originally founded as Genesee Coal & Stoker in 1929, when coal was the primary source of residential heat in Seattle, Genesee Energy is a third-generation, family-run business committed to innovation. 

Location: 3616 South Genesee Street

A bouldering gym with a yoga studio, fitness studio, weight room, cafe, co-working space, and saunas. Everyone is welcome.

Location: 900 Poplar Place South

Asian mixed plate is our version of the traditional Hawaiian plate lunch. We serve a variety of Asian favorites like Phad Thai, Garlic Shrimp, Sweet and Spicy Pork, Short Ribs, Hawaiian Grilled Beef, and of course the staples like Jasmine Rice, Mac Salad and Asian Slaw.

Location: 2201 Rainier Avenue South

QEDcoffee is a small micro-roaster, with big ambitions. We source only in season coffees that have exceptional character. We pride ourselves on providing the best coffees possible, along with the tools and knowledge to brew the perfect cup.

Location: 1418 31st Avenue South

Location: 1636 South McClellan Street

We make our standard crust with European style butter and our fillings with local produce and ingredient purveyors. We also constantly change our menu to celebrate the seasons and to honor the local agriculture of Washington.

Location: 4634 East Marginal Way South

All our meats are smoked with imported Hickory from the Ozark Mountains and Post Oak from Texas. We cook with stick burner offset smokers. (only firewood, no gas, no electricity) The fire needs to be tended by our pit crew constantly throughout the day and night. Regardless of the day, we strive for consistency over quality. Quality is what we hire for... consistency is what we train.

Our meat is also chosen with the same level of "nerdery" as the wood and flavors. For example, we buy only the high quality beef from Painted Hills Natural Beef out of Fossil, OR. We know the owners, sales managers, sales reps, ranchers, where the pack, how they pack, how they feed, etc. They also know what we want and need to supply a consistent product to our customers.

Location: 2513 South Jackson Street

Location: 4816 Rainier Avenue South

The Station Coffee Shop is a coffee, sandwich, and wine bar located in the heart of Beacon Hill. Husband and wife duo Luis and Leona opened their shop in 2010, and over the next decade, made The Station into a cornerstone for the South Seattle community.

The Station is a black and Latinx owned business with POC and LGBTQ+ employees and is committed to social justice. The space is home to artists of all disciplines, youth workers and advocates, elders, and children, and up and coming and seasoned activists. The Station is more than just a place to get caffeinated; it is building community and strengthening neighborhood pride.

Location: 1600 S. Roberto Maestas Festival Street, Seattle, WA 98144