Plans to demolish the current Tacos Guaymas and build a residential building on top of a new Tacos Guaymas is moving ahead. Plans call for six units to sit atop the restaurant with parking for 14 cars below-grade.

At an upcoming meeting, the developer will present its plans for the development to the Design Review Board. There will also be an opportunity at this meeting for the public to weigh in on the project. The meeting is Monday, Oct. 13th at 8 p.m. at the Ballard High School Library (1418 NW 65th St.)

Ballard’s popular toy and gadget store Archie McPhee is moving to 45th and Stone Way next year, a store spokesperson says. A liquor store currently occupies the site. “We don’t have a solid date yet, (and) it depends on when we can get occupancy and finish painting and such,” Archie McPhee’s David Wahl explains, estimating it will be around the middle of next year. You may remember Archie McPhee’s original home was on Stone Way in Fremont, so the new location will be right down the street. And yes, since McPhee’s is moving to the NE corner of 45th and Stone Way, it’s technically Wallingford, according to the city of Seattle’s official map. But barely. Since it’s right on the border, perhaps we can just say they’re back in Fremont?

Now that Horseshoe has moved to Ballard, we noticed a new boutique is gearing up to open in the same space at 720 N 35th St.

Joy St. will feature jewelry, women’s clothing and home accessories. The owner, Heather Koszyk, used to run Enexile, a Fremont boutique that closed about a year ago. Joy St. plans to open this coming Friday.

The Fremont company, Pura Vida Coffee, sells fair trade coffee at 200 colleges and universities as well as the U.S. House of Representatives. But if you want a cup, you’ll have to travel over the bridge to the Seattle Pacific University cafe. CEO Jeff Angell says he wants to open a cafe in Fremont by late next year on Stone Way N. near 35th St. “It’s really important for us to have a destination in town,” Angell told the PI. Pura Vida gives away its profits to help coffee grower communities in Latin America and Africa.

A few photos from our walk around Fremont today.

Some folks out strolling with their pet goats at the Fremont Fair.

A seven-foot tall pile of rocks along 36th Ave. near Phinney, likely created by Benny “the rock balancer,” who has created such structures for years.

Yep, they’re precariously stacked, so don’t touch!

The Fremont Abbey Arts Center is looking for volunteers tomorrow (Saturday) to help with projects around the building. Tools, snacks and coffee will be provided from 12-3 p.m., and projects include painting and patching, landscaping, cleaning, light carpentry, installing a sink and other tasks.

If you go, the Abbey is located at 4272 Fremont Ave. The tip we received directed potential volunteers to enter on 43rd, and ask for Nathan Marion, the director of the Arts Center. Visit the Fremont Abbey Arts Center website or call 206-297-6221 for more information.

The Fremont Bridge is the busiest draw bridge in the country as people who drive over it can probably tell. In today’s Getting There column in the PI, Mary Coward writes that the bridge is often up during her morning bus commute making her miss her connection. “Are there particular hours that are considered ‘off-limits’ for bridge-opening?” It turns out that the Coast Guard is in charge of draw bridges. They have designated 7 a.m. – 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. peak traffic hours for cars and won’t open the bridge for small boats weighing less than 1,000 tons. While the city has asked, the Coast Guard has not been receptive to extending those times.

The Seattle band SHIM plays at the Fremont Oktoberfest while a member of the, ahem, “Seattle Drinking Team” takes a break from the beer.

Cool photo courtesy of jaycoxfilm.

One of the highlights of Oktoberfest is the Texas Chainsaw Pumpin Carving.

Everyone crowded around the chainsaw-wielding man in the funny hat.

Chunks flew into the audience, much to everyone’s delight.

Here, he delicately (sort of) carves an eye into the pumpkin.

It’s messy work.

Spectators hide behind an umbrella as the chunks fly.

The pumpkin was modeled after this guy, who poses with the final product. (No, it’s not Turtle from HBO’s Entourage.) You can see a repeat performance on Sunday, at the western end of Oktoberfest, at the Adobe stage.

This Saturday afternoon, light rain is falling on the Fremont Oktoberfest.

Beer drinkers came wearing their Gore-Tex, slickers and even sporting a few umbrellas. Not as big a turnout as sunnier festivals, as you might expect. But sometimes there’s no better weather to drink great beer.

Here, the Full Sail folks serve up a cold one…

…to a very happy attendee. Also on tap, Georgetown Brewing, Hale’s, Mac and Jack’s, Snoqualmie, Alaskan Amber and many more.