My family owns the Bassi Jones building over on Mercer Island. Recently we've been updating it with new windows, paint, bathroom fixtures, signage, and still have a ways to go with replacing some stairs, walkway and dry rot. It's come a long ways over the last couple months, since my grandparents managed it. My Dad likes good quality, as do I.

When the opportunity to join the Mercer Island Art Walk came up, we decided it would be a good way to meet our neighbors and feature my sisters and my Moms good friend Judy West's photography. My sister is an artist, who recently began expressing herself through photography. She mostly chose images of flowers and a couple scenics of walking trails.

Judy West goes hiking or cross country skiing with my Mom most Thursdays. She takes pictures on these trips, then creates some nice cards that she sells at Kattermans Pharmacy. The Bassi Jones building is two floors with two hallways. For the first art walk of the summer, we just used the upstairs, with one wall featuring my sisters pictures and the other featuring Judy's. Depending on how the foot traffic goes, we may extend to both floors.

Part of the fun, beside serving attendees wine, was walking around to the other businesses and meeting different business owners. Some of these businesses are participating in the art walk solely to get new business. I went into a beauty salon and each room had a different art piece. So you get a tour, you view a piece of art and then learn about the full body spray tan you can get. Or in the next room, I could have gotten my back hair removed (not that I have much).

Overall the Mercer Island Art Walk could use more press. There was not much foot traffic. Most of the people who came were people we knew and invited. Maybe it was because this was the first one, or maybe it was the poor weather, I don't know. Hopefully as summer gets underway, more people will come out. It's every third Thursday of month, come out and I'll serve you a free glass of wine.