Montana Bar's Parklet; Ballard's 'Taste of Ballard' Sept. 29

CAPITOL HILL— There's about to be a new tiny little park (called a parklet) in front of Montana Bar. Co-owner Rachel Marshall (of Rachel's Ginger Beer) was front and center today as camera crews asked her if she was worried about losing her parking spaces in front of her bar. "90% of my customers are pedestrians," she said. CHS reports Marshall and her business partner were the ones who approached the city about being a part of this project that will ultimately provide seating for nearby Kedai Makan and Crumble & Flake patrons. [CHS]

BALLARD— This year's Sustainable Ballard Festival will include a "Taste of Ballard" that, according to MyBallard, will essentially be a food court featuring all-Ballard food carts and some Ballard microbreweries. The 10th annual free festival, which will feature more than 75 exhibitors, happens September 29 at Ballard Commons Park. [MyBallard]

WOODINVILLE— Puget Sound Business Journal checks in with the Heavy Restaurant Group (Purple, Barrio, Lot No. 3) and finds out how their newest concept, The Commons, is doing. "We started out a lot busier than we thought we'd be," says General Manager Stephan Rohrbach. "Now we want to focus more on dinner." PSBJ says starting Sept. 22, The Commons will expand its list of dinner entrées and have daily themes such as pasta night, barbecue night and a local food and wine night. [PSBJ]

[Photo: The Commons/Facebook]