Cafe O'Play Turns Out the Lights

To the dismay of many families in the area, Cafe O'Play, an indoor playspace for kids located on Blakely behind the UVillage, has shut down operations as a playspace. restaurant and community meeting space.

The last event will be a big, multi-seller rummage sale tomorrow and Sunday from 9:00-4pm.

Tom Zeiler, the owner, says there are still have a few spaces available for additional sellers at the sale and the fee for a space is $8 and is good for both days. If you are interested email: info@cafeoplay.net.

Cafe O'Play opened late January of this year to the excitement of many families and Tom's mission was to be "the premier family-friendly third place community gathering spot in the greater Seattle area."

It was a very busy venue, where many groups gathered, incuding among others PEPS, Seattle Stay at Home Moms Group, birthday parties and some local authors readings and signings.

And Sunday, along with the Rummage Sale, will also be its last community event with the children's clothing show by designer MiMi Bug from 10:30-3pm.

These events and others were held in the historical multi-purpose room whose walls are plastered with hundreds of author signatures and illustrations from the days of the All For Kids Bookstore who occupied the space for almost 25 years.

Tom Zeiler, sent email out to the NE Seattle Moms Yahoo Group, about the closing:

We regret to announce that Cafe O’ Play will not be able to remain at 2900 NE Blakeley beyond the end of May. Given that the response to the concept has been so very enthusiastic, we are hopeful that we will be able to find a new location, new partners (interested? send us an email or come in and chat!), and re-open elsewhere soon.


Cafe O’ Play staff would like to take this opportunity to thank the community for all the appreciation and support they have already given — it has truly been fantastic to feel so wanted!

Tom tells us that the main reason was a dwindling budget. He says: "I never imagined that the permit process could take so long. By the time the cafe opened, my small-potatoes budget was fairly well shot.

Despite the fact that our revenues were pretty remarkable for a new venture, we sustained losses in the first three months that were enough to just about bottom out the bank account. On top of that, we knew we we had a lot of 'foul-weather friends' and so would be facing a steep uphill battle what with summer on the way. I had a lease cancellation option, and, being in a bit of a panic, I exercised it.

We looked for investors, or even someone to buy the business outright. Some folks backed away immediately when they heard what the rent was - the square-foot rate we were paying was very reasonable by U-Village-area standards, but it is a big space and all those square feet add up. (It's about 3,300 square feet.)

I finally resolved that I would go to the landlord with a 'hail Mary pass' -- I would re-commit to making it fly, set aside all of the anxiety and ambivalence I was feeling, borrow money as necessary, basically pull out all the stops, but only on condition that I could negotiate a mini-lease with a temporary rent break. He nipped that discussion in the bud, however - 'not really interested'."

Tom tells us that many people have expressed interest in being part of a "Cafe O' Play 2.0" project, but by now Tom has lost the "will to spearhead any such effort, and no one seems to be stepping in to fill the leadership vacuum."

He says Cafe O' Play can "still be bought - remaining equipment, furnishings, name, website, mailing list. I might be willing to be involved in a relocation/re-envisioning -- in some sort of role other than 'owner'."

Tom also told us that he is interested in collecting "failed restaurant start-up" stories. And says "Maybe some of your readers have a tale to tell, or know someone who does?" If you do, contact him at info@cafeoplay.net.

Thanks Tom, family and staff for giving your great idea a shot, even though your bank account was suffering. It was a very well -received concept and  a very fun go to place for many families and we're sorry to see the lights out now.

Laurelhurst Mom's Children's Clothing Show On Sunday

Ming Ming Tung-Edelman is a a Laurelhurst mom who designs her own line of children's apparel called Totally Me Artful Wear by MiMi Bug.

The clothes have interchangeable ribbons and buttons for outfits and thus "kids love the endless fun ways to create unique looks with the ready-to-wear ribbons, buttons, skirts and tops," she says.

This Sunday frorm 10:30-3:00 at Cafe O'Play (its final day of being open) you can check out this very unique line of children's clothing, which is currently in utility patent pending status.

And for the first time her brand new doll clothing line will also be sold at this show.

"Children will be able to match their new and original outfits with their favorite dolls! Please bring an 18-inch doll to try out the doll clothing," the invite says.

Ming-Ming, who is also a pharmacist, got into designing clothes about two years ago, she tells us, when her daughter who was 6 years-old and at the time was very much into making pot holders by using a weaving kit." She enjoyed the process of making pot holders with intricate patterns." Unfortunatley they were either given away or left sitting in the kitchen drawer.

Since her daughter was very creative and also likes to express herself through clothing, Ming Ming though about how to  combine her daughter's love of weaving and her use of fine motor skills making clothing.

"I searched online and was not able to find what I was looking for. Then I started to design them by making button holes on a bottom clothing like shirts and skirts where she can loop through with various types of ribbons. However, I was not satisfied with just ribbons weaving through button holes. I started to experiment with objects that button holes could hold. That was when I came up with a button unit (double-sized buttons).

More interestingly, individuals can place button units any where they like in the button holes then later weaving ribbons through. This allows individuals to create endless unique and creative looks through this creative process. The idea is that the same buttons and ribbon units can by used in another article (interchangeable).

Therefore, I called my line of clothing 'Totally Me Artful Wear' by MiMi Bug (after my nickname MiMi)," Ming-Ming says.

Besides the ribbon-button ready girls shirts and skirts, she also just launched the match-with-me doll clothing line and she plans to expand to boys shirts and other accessories like bags and hats.

Ming-Ming had her first showing of her clothing at the Laurelhurst Community Center Holiday Sale in December and she said it was very well received.

The show this week-end will be her second. She says she has been selling her line of clothing mainly through home shows. 

Ming-Ming is also involved in the Laurelhurst community through being on the advisory board of the Laurelhurst Community Center and an active volunteer at Laurelhurst Elementary where her kids go to school.

She also teaches kids cooking classes, as well as Chinese cooking classes at the Community Center which we've heard are very fun. Check for these classes in the Laurelhurst Community Center catalogs. You may have also seen her on the cover of one of these catalogs about a year ago with her family.

"I have had such joy watching children along with their parents creating their unique looks by using my clothing line. It's a perfect balance between my artistic side and a precision side of me as a pharmacist."

Be sure to check out this very unique clothing line on Sunday.

The photo is a a group of kids wearing MiMi Bug outfits that they created with their matching dolls.

New Laurelhurst Children's Book Author At Cafe O'Play Tomorrow Night

Laurelhurst has a new children's book author - Katherine Burk.

And you can catch her reading her new book, Finding Mr. Ness, tomorrow from 4:30-6:30 at Cafe O'Play, just behind the University Village.

At this free event, she will also be working with kids on writing and sharing their own stories. And there will be coloring, games and puzzles as well.

Finding Mr. Ness was co-written by Katherine and her mother, Gloria Burke of the San Francisco Bay Area, and was published in January. It is their first publication together.

"In the story, Clayton and Annie are best friends whose curiosity about an old microscope, a postage stamp and an eccentric scientist named Mr. Ness leads them on a journey to a strange land called Tilania, where they are swept into a desperate attempt to save a doomed civilization.

The book is especially suited for chapter readers in the 2nd through 5th grades," Katherine tells us.

"What began as a way for mother and daughter to connect despite the miles between them has turned into a successful cooperative writing relationship, and it has only just begun," Katherine adds.

The authors are currently writing the next book in The Tilania Travelers Series, called The Scrolls of Tilania.

Finding Mr. Ness can be purchased at City People's on Sand Point Way NE or on Amazon.com.

Here is an article from The Orinda News that Katherine and her my mom, aka her writing partner, wrote about writing as a mother/daughter team (see page 15).  

Visit:their website, TheTilaniaTravelers for more information about the book and the authors.

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