Local Seattleite Loren Klabunde left his healthcare career in search of his true passion: beer. The result of Klabunde’s quest for beer became an exhausting expedition as he found many of the local craft breweries are geographically spread out. After navigating through Seattle’s infamous traffic it dawned on him: Why not host all the best local craft brews in one central location? Thus marked the beginning of Growl64, Klabunde’s Indiegogo crowd-funding campaign for the perfect solution. https://www.indiegogo.com/project/preview/b5b43f23

“I have been a craft beer drinker since 1990 and bought my first growler from Snoqualmie Brewery back in 2002. During the last boom in the 1990’s, I could be found drimking Mac & Jacks, Portland Brewing Company and Alasking Brewing amongst others. It has been great to see this amazing resurgence in the number of breweries and all of the new beer. The thing is, I know I have missed out on a lot of new beers and it’s because I have to drive all over Puget Sound to visit many of my favorite local breweries,” recounted Klabunde. “When you have a 3-year-old daughter, brewery tours don’t always make the priority list and I end up with whatever the grocery store has available.”

With Growl64, Klabunde aims to provide Capitol Hill with the perfect and convenient solution for all the craft beer drinkers needs. Featured at the to-be location will be 64 taps full of local craft beer sourced within 100 miles. Growl64 will also be an efficient and sustainable operation with minimal waste from bottles, electricity, or other operational byproducts by focusing on reusable growlers.

“Culture change is risky but believe it’s an achievable goal due to the incredible interest in craft beer. Similar to farm-to-table, craft brewing encompasses ‘buy local’ at its core. By becoming part of their communities, breweries should experience longevity, similar to small European community breweries,” Said Klabunde.

Hosted on the popular crowd-funding site Indiegogo, Klabunde aims to raise $100, 000 to build Growl64. Fundraisers will have the option for exciting donation packages including:

$10.00: Receive a Growl64 branded brewzy, a beer cozie for a pint glass.
$50.00: Receive a Growl64 branded brewzy and 3 free growler fill certificates.
$100.00: Receive Growl64 branded growler, brewzy and 5 free growler fill certificates.
$500.00: Receive a GrowlTap, a Growl64 branded growler, Growl64 branded growler cooler, a brewzy and 10 free growler fill certificates.
$1,000.00: “A beer for a year!” Receive a growler fill every week for 52 weeks, 2 Growl64 branded growlers, a GrowlTap, Growl64 branded cooler bag and a brewzie.
$5,000.00: Have a private event for 15 people prior to grand opening. All attendees will be provided with a Growl64 branded growler, a fill to go and 5 free growler fill certificates, catered food, and hosted by owner Loren Klabunde.

Interested in learning more about Growl64? Stop by Freds Wildlife Refuge (128 Belmont Ave E Seattle, WA 98102) this Saturday, January 25 from 3-5pm for an afternoon of family-friendly fun, tasty treats, and the live debut of musical guest King Junior. RSVP here: http://www.evite.com/event/02D8UPWU7VFVYQ32MEPETDXD3H7YZ4?utm_campaign=view_invitation_button&gid=02D8VU7IZFP3XI3VUEPEUDXMDRGR5Y&utm_medium=email&utm_source=GUEST_INVITE_EVENT

Capitol Hill’s own Anne Phyfe Palmer of 8 Limbs Yoga is of the finalists nominated for King County’s Woman Small Business of The year Award. Palmer and her business is recognized for “outstanding business achievement and exemplifies the significant contributions made by woman-owned businesses in King County.”

Awarded on October 18, Palmer shares her thoughts on the prestigious award. “It was incredibly validating,” said Palmer. “To be recognized for the work that we’ve done to be more than just a yoga studio, but to be an exemplary business not just for our students but for our team members as well.”

While many factors contributed to the hard earned nomination, non-so crucial as “our commitment to providing a great experience for our employees this past decade,” shared Palmer. “By making a difference in the business as an employer by keeping our team members one of our top priorities have kept us on the forefront of outstanding business practices.”

Palmer conceptualized 8 Limbs Yoga when she first saw the location in the Greenus Building on “old Auto Row” in 1996. “This space has been key for us,” said Palmer. “The space was previously a tuxedo repair room (I think) and from the moment I saw it I knew it would make an amazing yoga studio. The building has so much old character and charm as well as an abundance of natural light. Creatively, this space made my business possible, the location felt right – not too in the city and not too far away.”

To help create the space, Hunters Capital, a multi-faceted boutique Real Estate Company remodeled the interior and preserved the historic façade and motif of the original 1916 building. “Hunter’s Capital really improved the space, remodeled the whole interior and bathrooms, all without interrupting my growing business,” said Palmer. “They could have kicked us out like other tenants when they bought the building in 2013, but they worked hard to build a space for us rather than finding a new tenant to fill the space.”

As part of their purpose of being, Hunter’s Capital aims to preserve and rejuvenate historic properties as well as the Pike Pine neighborhood through balanced growth and locally and culturally relevant tenants. “Hunter’s seems to do so well putting a mix of business and people in each building,” proclaimed Palmer. “Their use of mix spaces is good for the block, good for the neighborhood, and ultimately good for the city. There is more of a presence of diversity and we need that.”

With more mixed-use spaces in development on Capitol Hill and beyond from the likes of Hunter’s Capital, Seattleites can expect to see a huge growth in diversity and thriving locally owned businesses. In the case of 8 Limbs Yoga, mixed-use spaces are a crucial component in rejuvenating historic neighborhoods and provide a key space for commerce, community and culture.

For the first time in the forty-one year history Seattle Pride produces definitive guide to Pride festivities

 Seattle, Wash., October 14, 2014 – Today, Seattle Pride announces the production of the first official “Pride Guide,” Seattle’s definitive and trusted resource guide for all Pride festivities. This is the first publication of its kind in Seattle Pride’s longstanding forty-one year history.  As a result of a dynamic partnership with Encore Media Group, City Arts and Northwest Polite Society, Seattle Pride plans to expand the reach of the Seattle Pride message.

The Official Pride Guide will be a glossy magazine that is targeted to local and visiting individuals of the LGBT community as well as readers of City Arts Magazine. With content provided by Seattle Pride and printing, production, and advertising done by Encore Media Group, the 2015 Pride Guide is sure to inform and excite Seattle Pride fans and newcomers alike.

“One of the major focuses of the Seattle Pride Guide is to drive editorial content with contributions from nonprofits and influential individuals with stories that both engage our audience and offer insight and structure for ongoing community involvement,” said Seattle Pride President Eric Bennett.

More than just a glossy magazine, the Seattle Pride Guide’s offerings will go beyond simple event listings and will delve deeper into what unites us all in the greater LGBT community.

“Seattle Pride looks forward to working with Encore Media Group to create a guide that will reflect everyone in our diverse community,” Bennett added. “This guide is a way for us to tell the stories of our community and amplify voices that need to be heard.”

“Want to get involved with Pride but aren’t sure how? Want to know about the latest trends in Seattle and how you might be able to contribute? Want to support the businesses and organizations that support you? Pick up the Seattle Pride Guide,” said Sarah Toce, Seattle Pride Director of Communications.

You can expect the Official Seattle Pride Guide to run from June 1 to June 29.

Seattle Pride is a non-profit organization based in Seattle, WA, whose purpose is to create unity, honor diversity, and achieve equal human rights throughout our region and the world. Seattle Pride is focused on informing and educating the community on LGBT issues through community outreach and produced events, including the annual Seattle Pride Parade, Pride Idol, Pride Brunch and the Seattle Pride Picnic.

Seattle Pride website: http://www.seattlepride.org

Seattle Pride Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeattlePride

Contact at Seattle Pride: Sarah Toce, Director of Communications, [email protected]

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About Encore Media Group

Encore Media Group is a locally-based publishing services and custom publications. Our portfolio includes City Arts magazine and Encore Arts Programs, which serve over twenty-three arts groups in the Seattle and SF/Bay area including Seattle Men’s/Women’s Chorus, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Seattle Opera, and Seattle Symphony.

 Encore Media group also provides custom publishing services for clients such as the Seattle International Film Festival, Seattle Art Dealers Association, Bellevue Downtown Association, and Seattle Reign.

About City Arts

City Arts is a magazine dedicated to creative life in the Seattle area. Online and in print, we visit with artists on stage and in their studios to give our readers a birds-eye view of our region’s creative character

Unlike any other publication nationwide, City Arts combines the sophistication of a glossy magazine with the accessibility of a free alternative weekly. Through our focus on creative life, we are strengthening local culture and growing arts audiences.

About Northwest Polite Society

Northwest Polite Society is an experiential and guerilla marketing agency that specializes in creating locally relevant and credible community connections.  Founded in 2012 by Chuck Zimmerman and Tina Meadows, Northwest Polite Society offers marketing, website design, public relations, social media, graphic design, promotional services and event production. Located on Capitol Hill, Seattle, Northwest Polite Society continues the tradition of strong cultural presence in the Northwest.

For more information:

www.nwpolitesociety.com

www.facebook.com/NorthwestPoliteSociety

www.twitter.com/nwpolitesociety

www.instagram.com/nwpolitesociety

Local Seattle Marketing Agency Appoints New Principal and Public Relations Associate to Head Growing Business.

SEATTLE, Wash., September 25, 2014 – Northwest Polite Society, a Seattle based marketing agency announced today recent additions to the company’s team.  Ben London joins the agency as Principal/Director of Business Development and Colin Bishop as Public Relations Associate.  With the new team members, Northwest Polite Society has added capacity to manage their steady growth.

“I’m very excited about the addition of Ben London and Colin Bishop to the team at Northwest Polite Society.” Said Chuck Zimmerman, founding member of Northwest Polite Society. “We feel fortunate to have found them and know they will contribute greatly to the continued growth of our group with Ben leading New Business Development and Colin as PR Associate.”

London is an accomplished executive in the Seattle music/technology industry with over twenty-five years of experience in media creation and goal-driven business initiatives. London comes to Northwest Polite Society from Hewlett-Packard where he oversaw music and media business development in their Personal Systems Group. There, he built successful partnerships with top-tier music and entertainment brands

Prior to Hewlett-Packard, London was an executive with the Recording Academy (Grammys) where he managed the organizations office in the Pacific Northwest and worked closely with world-class musicians and music community leaders on a number of business, advocacy and education ventures.

London was an early hire at Experience Music Project (EMP) museum where he served as Senior Curator of Public Programs and spearheaded many successful programs and exhibits such as the long-time running Sound Off! youth band competition. A life long musician, London was the founder of the Seattle band Alcohol Funnycar, which released albums on both independent and major labels.

“After 4 years of working for a massive global technology company, I am pleased to find an opportunity that’s a better cultural fit for me.” Said London on his new position. “I’ve seen Seattle go from a tiny outpost to one of the most vibrant cities in the world. Joining NW Polite Society- I feel like I know how Dave Grohl must have felt when he joined Nirvana: there’s nothing but possibility ahead.”

Colin Bishop, the latest public relations associate, comes to Northwest Polite Society as a recent graduate from Gonzaga University. Bishop has worked with numerous Seattle based integrated public relations agencies such as GreenRubino and Curator PR. After a year in the greater Seattle area, Bishop chose to begin work with Northwest Polite Society to be closer to one of the major cultural centers of Seattle.  Apart from public relations, Bishop is also a seasoned photographer with experience in lifestyle and documentary content and has worked with numerous film and photography companies in the metro Seattle area.

“I am excited to begin with Polite Society and help develop the public relations department further. With my past experience in the consumer PR world, I am more than thankful to find myself with an agency that helps out so many local businesses and organizations reach their publics. I hope to bring our clients PR driven initiatives that deliver a positive return on investment.”

With these new hires, Northwest Polite Society intends to expand their business further with exciting opportunities on the horizon.

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About Northwest Polite Society

Northwest Polite Society a full service agency that specializes in the artful disruption of traditional marketing tropes. NWPS believes in creating locally relevant, credible connections that build long lasting relationships between brands, consumers and communities. Founded in 2012 by Chuck Zimmerman and Tina Meadows, Northwest Polite Society offers marketing, website design, public relations, social media, graphic design, promotional services and event production. Located in Capitol Hill, Seattle, Northwest Polite Society continues the tradition of strong cultural presence in the Northwest with the mantra “Everyone should have a voice in their society.”