Tom Douglas Opening New Downtown Restaurant; Willows Inn Employee in Serious Accident

DOWNTOWN — Tom Douglas is at it again. The owner of some 18 restaurants throughout Seattle is adding one more to the list this summer, and it's tentatively named after T-Doug's favorite singer, Brandi Carlile.The Carlile Room will open across the street from the Paramount Theater on or around June 1 and will serve wine, cheese, small plates, and aged rotisserie rib roast.

LUMMI ISLAND — Sad news from Lummi Island chef Blaine Wetzel of Willows Inn. The award-winning chef is reaching out after his fiancée, Raquel Ruiz Diaz, was in a serious accident in Paraguay, where she was hit by a drunk driver while running. She has suffered over 20 fractures and is still in the hospital in South America, in need of multiple surgeries over the next few months, as well as a long stint of rehab. Diaz is the restaurant's general manager. Wetzel is raising money for her medical expenses. He has set up an online fundraiser for her and will also be hosting dinners in the next few months at Willows Inn to help her on the path of recovery.

GREENWOOD — Four years in the making, Flying Bike Cooperative Brewery should finally be open this June. Since 2011, the co-op's nine-person volunteer board has been building membership, brewing beers, and making plans. The state's first cooperative brewery will open with just over one thousand members. Until they had their own brick and mortar, Flying Bike liaised with other breweries to serve their ales-but soon they'll pour from home.