I'm not sure how I feel about Peet's.

I'm not sure how I feel about Peet's coming to Capitol Hill.

When I saw the first signs of construction at their new location (directly across the street from Vivace, who is losing their location to the light rail next year) I found it somewhat opportunistic.

I'm torn though, because the building they are moving into could use a good tenant... If I'm remembering correctly, way back it was Kinkos, empty for a long while, then an African goods store and now Peet's.

It would be nice to have someone stick around for a while. And it seems like only a larger company like Peet's would be willing hold out during the demolition/construction that is going to happen across the street.

p.s. At least it's not a Starbucks.

"In just the 98102 ZIP code there is one Starbucks for every 0.27 square miles and for every 3,885 people," according to Foodio54.com.

Staying close to home for NYE...

The Stranger has pulled together a list of places to celebrate New Year's Eve around Seattle. There are lots of options for staying close to home here on the hill...

Neumos Masquerade Ball - $15
Mo Bar / VIP Room - $20
Linda's Tavern - Free
Wild Rose - Cost not listed.
Cha Cha Lounge - Free
Neighbors Underground - Cost not listed.
Havana - $20
Century Ballroom - $40
Smith - Free
Comet - $12

The Stranger article also lists all of the cab companies with contact info.

Other options not listed by the Stranger:

Capitol Hill Arts Center - $35
I Heart Shiva @ The Baltic Room - $30
Chop Suey (w/ Dudley Manlove Quartet) - $20
The War Room - $20

Tree Recycling

Just a reminder that you can put your Christmas trees out for recycling with your regular garbage until January 13th.

The trees should be cut into sections that are 6ft or smaller. (Some websites say 3ft.) Bundle the tree up wtih string or twine.

Flocking or tinsel left on the tree will cost extra.

I'm not sure if this is also the case for apartment or condo dwellers. So, alternatively you can take your tree to the Seattle Public Utilities Disposal Stations through January 13th.

North Seattle Recycling and Disposal Station

South Seattle Recycling Disposal Station

Pagliacci Seasons Greetings

These little poinsetta flowers at Pagliacci are self watering... How festive.

I'm off to Bend, Oregon for the long weekend. Have a great Christmas!

Holiday Shopping: Pepper Vodka

Store: Washington Liquor Store #42 (400 Broadway E)

Pick up some cheap vodka from the Broadway liquor store and infuse it with some hot peppers. (This is a good recipe.) Once it is done infusing, strain it and pour back into the same bottle or a fancy one you might pick up from one of the many import stores on the hill.

This takes a little prep work, but there is still time to make a few batches of these before Christmas. At the very least, it would be ready for New Years.

Alternative gifts from the liquor store:

• Baileys wtih a bag of Vivace coffee
• Peppermint schapps and hot chocolate mix
• Airplane bottles of vodka for the stockings!

Mmmm! Is it the weekend yet?

Sweet stuff in the neighborhood

Daily Candy's local edition is asking readers to choose Seattle's sweetest things. Two of the neighborhood's newbies are in the mix in the Word of Mouth division. Take a minute to cast your vote for Quinn's or Cafe Presse.

Holiday Shopping: Movie Lover

Store: Broadway Market Video (813 E Republican)

There's something nice about supporting your local video store. I like the idea of tucking one of these passes into a stocking or coupling it with a popcorn popper.

Holiday Shopping: Chocolate stocking stuffers

Store: Dilettante Chocolate (416 Broadway E)

Dilettante has a selection of Christmas themed chocolates that would be great for stocking stuffers.

What to buy:

• Assorted chocolates from the case.
• Truffles in a pre-wrapped box. (I think these were $11.50.)
• Bags of foil wrapped chocolates.
  
• Chocolate Santas from $5 to $55. Biting off the head of a chocolate Santa is bad enough when it's small. The large one was almost the size of a baby. Imaging breaking that open and eating it...

Holiday Shopping: Hostess gifts at QFC

Store: QFC

While buying cookie making supplies this weekend I noticed that QFC has some decent hostess type gifts for the holidays. These could also double as gifts for your families, friends, coworkers, or neighbors if you're in a pinch.

What to buy:

• StellaMare candles: Soy candles with nice scents around $10.
• Wine: They have a decent selection PLUS some nice accessories to make it look like you didn't just go and grab any old bottle of wine. Check out their velvet wine bags ($5) and wine tags ($2/4) in their gift wrap and/or Christmas section.
• Burts Bees: Yummy body butter, lotion and hand soap options.

Holiday Shopping: Last few days to send packages!

The UPS Store (410 Broadway E) has extended hours this week. They are open 8am to 7:30pm, adding an extra hour to their regular weekday and Saturday schedule. They are also open on Sunday.

Believe me the lines are much shorter with UPS... they also offer regular USPS options.

It's now or never to get those packages out the door!

Holiday Shopping: Loveless Building

I rarely venture to the far end of Broadway, but was tempted by the Joe Bar's crepes yesterday morning. The Loveless Building holds 5 somewhat higher end shops, and is completely decked out in holiday lights right now.

Kobo Shop & Gallery: The theme of this shop is generally Asian inspired, although there's somewhat of a mix. I enjoyed their tea cup selection, jewelry (pictured) and array of design books. I purchased some silver leaf ornaments to adorn some jar candles I'm giving to girlfriends. [website]
Massage Sanctuary: Gift certificates are available for all of their services seen here. A great stocking stuffer idea.

Magnotti Jewels: I had no idea we had a super fancy, custom jeweler on the hill. They have a picture of Jessica Simpson in their front window, holding a huge ring. [website]

Presence: Art of Living: Clothing and accessories for men and women. I really liked their selection of hats for men.

Adventure Travel: I could use a vacation right now! [website]

While you're thinking of the Loveless Building and the far end of Broadway, check out the Joe Bar's TV commercial.

Wassail Winter Ale @ The Deluxe

The Deluxe has a nice selection of Winter drinks right now... I tried the Full Sail Wassail Winter Ale that they have on tap last night. And for a dark beer, which I don't generally like, it was very good. Kind of spicy sweet.

Some other Wintery drinks that I remember are a Hot Buttered Rum and a hot chocolate concoction with peppermint schnapps and some other mixings.

I also have to say that Eric is my favorite waiter there. I totally have a crush on him.

Another Capitol Hill fire

Eyewitness reports a second Capitol Hill fire tonight -- the first was an early morning blaze at a plumbing business on 12th Ave. E. Oddly enough, tonight's second fire was at 733 Summit Ave E., listed on the always trustworthy Internet as a janitorial service of some sort. Coincidence? I have no idea how many fires there are every day on Capitol Hill. How many fires are there involving janitors and plumbers?

The 98102 blog

Quick note to welcome a new neighborhood blog to the mix -- 98102.net is part of the MyZip.net neighborhood project I'm working on.

Route 8 upgrades in works...

This is great news for anyone who takes the route 8 bus from Capitol Hill to Queen Anne.

Route 8 bus service will increase to every 15 minutes, instead of its current every 30 minutes schedule. Local businesses are footing some of the bill.

Orphan Road suggests that this might not solve all of the routes problems, as the main issue is with heavy traffic and reliability not frequency.

I often grab the 8 when heading down to the Seattle Center from Capitol Hill. But I generally take a cab home to avoid waiting on the somewhat desolate, dark and traffic ridden Denny for a bus that may or may not come in the next hour. At least with the increased frequency the wait time, even with delays, would improve. I think I could handle a 30 minute wait tops.

Holiday Shopping: A book for everyone on your list

Store: Bailey & Coy (414 Broadway Ave E)

I love Bailey & Coy's selection. You could fine everyone on your list a book that they would enjoy. They also have a small, but very good selection of kids toys. Journals. As well as Christmas cards and wrapping.

What I bought: I can't say. But below are some good options.

Bailey & Coy carries the Rat City Roller Girls 2008 calendar called "The Year of the Wenches". Proceeds go toward the league. $20. (You can also buy it directly through RCRG here.)

A selection of recipes that my mother's mother probably made.

A book for your urbanite friends...

And something educational for the kids. This is the second book in the series. It goes through lots of different kinds of art. Very approachable for someone in 2nd grade and up, I'd say.

Old Broadway QFC is coming down

The good people at the West Seattle Blog are tireless in keeping their neighborhood entertained and informed. They even have enough newsgathering energy to cover Capitol Hill. Here's a note we just received from WSB:

we were down covering the demolition of one of West Seattle's premier eyesores (a Schuck's store at a prominent intersection that has been closed since a fire several years ago and has since become a tagging magnet etc.) and the crew told us they have to be done within a couple days because next week they will be in your hood tearing down the old QFC etc.

Sounds like Broadway's premier eyesore is finally coming down. Unless there's something going on up on 15th Ave. E. we're not aware of.

Holiday Shopping: Stocking Stuffers

Store: Bliss Soaps (619 Broadway E)

Bath bombs, soaps, lotions... great stocking stuffers. Their holiday offerings include:

• Wreath shaped bath bombs
• Bath bomb / body wash combo in the shape of snowmen
  
• Mistletoe, peppermint, hot buttered rum, cranberry scents
• Glittery bath bombs
  

What I purchased: I bought a hot buttered rum bomb for myself. It's not going to be around long enough to make it into my stocking though.

(Photo from Yelp.com.)

Holiday Shopping: DIY Jewelry

Store: World Beads (621 Broadway Ave E)

Make your own jewelry (or other fun beaded stuff) for your girlfriends, sisters, moms... I love that this little bead store actually survives on Broadway. They have all of your basic supplies and a nice selection of beads.

What I purchased: Seed beads to make some wine glass charms. I'm thinking boss and other ladies at work. (Note: The beads in the photo are not the ones I bought from World Beads. :))

I wish I were this talented: Lucille Ball Bracelet

The Toothpaste Effect

It concerns me that the mayor's increase in police presence in the downtown Pike/Pine area has pushed drug activity into our neighborhood.

Anyone else notice a lot more people picking at their scabs on Broadway this weekend? Or has it been like this and I just don't get out enough?

Note: The next paragraph is really gross. I should write it up for the Strangers Hot Tipper.

I saw one person using a nail clipper to pick at a large sore on the top of his head while walking to Bimbos for dinner yesterday. That was not a pretty sight to see before eating.

Ironically, I smashed my own head today and had to have 6 staples put in... I expect to have a similar scab.

Vertigo models take second job as elves.

I couldn't help it. This site is great.

Elf Yourself

(Be prepared for loud Christmas music when you click on the link.)

Holiday Shopping: Arty Sister

Store: Aprie (310 Broadway E)

I like Aprie because it seems more affordable than your run of the mill Belltown boutiques. They have unique clothing and jewelry... great for the little sister who is in art school.

What I purchased: Nothing. Unfortunately I already purchased my little sis' Christmas gift. What I would have purchased though... A navy blue Free People henley, on sale for 25% off.

PI article on City Market's sign artist

I love the funny signs for City Market...

Cain Moorehead, the store manager and sign creator, was featured in this PI article this week.

Under the Needle: City Market signs tell tales of the high-profile

Holiday Shopping: Work Party Gift Exchange

I figured I'd post some Broadway holiday shopping ideas here over the next little while. I'm an over achiever (and an online shopping guru) and pretty much have my Christmas gift list completed. That doesn't mean I won't continue perusing the fun shops on Broadway though.

So, to start...

Store: Urban Outfitters

Lots of funky, random, fun items. Perfect for work party gift exchanges.

What I purchased: A make your own snow globe (with the intention of putting an incriminating photo of a coworker in it, but I ran out of time) and a gold mini piggy bank.

Sipping a double ephemera hot chocolate.

Sitting in the Westlake Dilettante yesterday (and the day before that actually... long story), made me think that our Dilettante on Broadway could use a face lift.

The pic above is from my camera phone. See the shiny-ness?

Broadway's has a better selection of chocolates, and a larger menu. But it'd be great to also have a cozy space to sit and sip a double ephemera hot chocolate. Yum!

I got Vertigo and threw up.

The Vertigo condo conversion seemed innocuous at first... actually, the apartment building that was being remodeled really needed a touch up. I was pleased to see the first signs of construction...

Until the first external paint job came around. Urbnlivn.com gave it the title "Ugliest Condo Building in Seattle".

They have since redone the color scheme, but have definitely earned the disdain of their neighbors. Someone in particular has taken it up with the woman featured in their marketing.

(These are the new colors. Check out urbnlivn.com for photos of the old colors.)

I finally made it to Artemis...

I've known about the Artemis Cafe & Bar since before they opened their doors, as I indirectly know both of the owners.

It took this review in the Seattle Weekly to finally get down there... It's hidden, very nicely, at the corner of "Bellevue, Bellevue, Bellevue", which is pretty much northwestern-most part of the Hill.

We arrived at about 7:30pm last night with no reservation. (I'm not sure if reservations are available, actually.) With a 40 minute wait ahead of us, we were quickly ushered to the bar where we tried their Lady Sidecar (very good) and another mixed drink concoction... I can't remember the name. Midnight something... also very good.

The wait time couldn't have been as long as predicted. Before long we were seated, very luckily, in the back section near their large window overlooking Queen Anne, the lake and the Space Needle. I was super impressed with the atmosphere... The restaurant is a converted neighborhood grocery market. Now it's flush with deep, rich hues of red and prussian blue. Warm lighting.

With three people in our party we went for two large plates and two small plates, including:

1. (Small) Fava bean hummas with pita slices
   
2. (Small) Seared tuna with an olive topping
   
3. (Large) Chicken tagine with cous cous (We had to look this up on a cell phone before ordering. I heard the table next to us asking what "tagine" meant as well.)
   
4. (Large) Paella
   

I'm not a foodie by any means, but everything was very good. My favorite was the seared tuna, by far.

I was also impressed with the chicken tagine... I don't usually like chicken, as it's typically hidden under a layer of seasoning. This dish, however, had a kind of light flavor that was slightly sweet.

I'm looking forward to going back. They had a schedule of jazz trios coming in on Saturdays throughout December. And they are having a New Year's Eve dinner with a special menu that would be very tempting if I weren't already hosting a party of my own.

Holiday cheer.

I was back on Broadway last night, after a crazy 12 hour/day work week, in search of a white elephant gift for my work holiday party today. The place was decidedly less holiday cheery than downtown right now, but we're trying to hold our own with some fun shop windows and wreaths on our street lights.

The Broadway Grill has an awesome green tinsel tree with red feather boa type decorations in their front area. And a huge, more traditional white/gold tree near the back. They always have great festivities. They're having deal on their gift certificates for the holidays right now too... buy $100 get $50 free.

I ended up hitting Urban Outfitters, as their off-the-wall gift selection is remarkable. Ended up with a make-your-own snow globe and a gold piggy bank. I'm looking forward to doing some more gift buying on Broadway this weekend. Bailey and Coys is a must. As is the soap shop down near the Deluxe.

4 random bits of Broadway-related food info

Dig in.

• Metroblogging Seattle says there's a new taco joint down Olive Way
• Quinn's is averaging 3 of 5 stars so far over in the Stranger reader reviews
• 6 restaurants open late near Broadway
• Seattle Times recalls Seattle's restaurant history, Broadway "fern bar" Boondock's, Sundecker's & Greenthumbs
  

Rerouted buses.

If you're headed down the hill for Black Friday shopping today, your best bet is going to be traveling on foot... Unless you want a nice tour of north downtown. Buses going down Pine (the 10, 11, 14, 43 and 49) are all rerouted this morning due to the parade.

You can get as far as Boren Avenue, afterwhich they are rerouted to Stewart. My bus driver wouldn't let us off until we got to 2nd Avenue.

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Happy shopping!

No, I don't want broadband with my pizza. Thank you.

I'm rarely on the hill for lunch because I work downtown, but today was an exception because of the holiday. Broadway sure is abuzz in the afternoon.

I stopped in to Pagliacci's for a few slices of their Mushroom Primo pizza. The place was packed.

I found a seat near the front of the restaurant sandwiched in between a mother with a large stroller, and a Clearwire sales person who had his sales materials strewn over a couple of tables.

I knew right when I sat down that the sales guy was going to try to talk to me. He had that look in his eye. Or maybe I was just jaded from being approached so many times by Clearwire salespeople on the street and in malls.

The sales guy had obviously made a connection with one of the employees, who stopped by a couple of times. A potential sale?

I buried my head in The Stranger to try to avoid contact, but unfortunately looked up just as the guy was leaving. I hope the look on my face when he flashed his business card my way was enough of a response to convey what I was thinking. You see, my mouth was full so I couldn't speak. I was eating lunch!

Staking claim in a busy restaurant to try to make some sales is a new low.

Living in a walkers' paradise.

You already knew this, but Capitol Hill is officially a "Walkers' Paradise" according to our Walk Score.

Walk Score is a tool that evaluates the walk-ability of neighborhoods based on nearby restaurants, grocery stores, bars, parks, schools, etc. Most addresses around Broadway get around 97 out of 100 points possible.

Capitol Hill has a lot going for it in terms of walkability, including:

1. Easy access to Broadway and the Pike/Pine corridor.
2. Close proximity to downtown work locations.
3. Roads are laid out in a grid pattern with many traffic circles and other "speed control" devices.
4. Cal Anderson and other parks just off Broadway.
5. Seattle Central. I know there are also some K-12 schools in the area as well.
6. Limited parking lots, so pedestrians can easily get in/out of shops.
   

The tool was created by the Front Seat Management project, which promotes environmental living. It's headed up by a former 'softie and fellow Seattlite, Mike Mathieu.

By the way, apparently a neighbor just to the south on Madison Ave reached a perfect walkable score of 100. So we have something to work toward... I wonder if the north Broadway condo development will help.

She's got the beat.

Hello! I'm a new poster to the Broadway Seattle blog. I'm excited to be here!

I stumbled on this blog about a week ago. Stoked to see a blog dedicated to the heart of the hill rather than the 15th area, as covered in the Capitol Hill Seattle blog, I emailed the author.

Lo and behold the person I emailed was "J", who is the author of both the Capital Hill Seattle and the Broadway Seattle blogs. He said he was looking for someone to "pick up the Broadway beat".

So here I am. Nice to meet everyone. I'll do my best to post more than twice a month. Feel free to call me Al.

Cheers,
SparklingAllison

Quinn's leaves comments

Cool to see the folks who manage Quinn's wading into the Chowhound fray. It's a challenge to do this kind of communication right but it's such a useful way to address problems head on and win the hearts and minds of eaters and readers. After writing about businesses on Capitol Hill for about two years, one of the biggest surprises has been how few stores and restaurants get involved in the conversation or contact us -- guess what businesses, we're always on the hunt for something real to write about. If you have something to say, get on the Internet.

Tree removal vs. Taco Bell removal

As a sidebar to today's Slog about development of Broadway's north-end blight, neighbor John writes:

A little off turf, but did you notice the trees along Broadway, north of Republican, are tagged for imminent removal. (We're talking many big trees. They can't all be unhealthy.)

You'll note the presence of similar trees in the project sketches included in the Slog post. Maybe somebody at the city just has their wires crossed. Seems like a waste to cut them down. Still, we're not planning a protest -- any progress that can kill off the cockroach-like Broadway Taco Bell is progress, indeed.

Broadway trick or treating pictures

Halloween on Broadway
Originally uploaded by sea turtle

The fancy pants part isn't the only area of Capitol Hill that has a good time on Halloween. Photo bug sea turtle snapped this and more on Broadway this Halloween night.

Tune into Capitol Hill TV, neighborhood cartoons

In ye olden days, creative types had to go to Kinko's, staple together photocopies and make 'zines to provide an alternative view of the way things are. Now, thank goodness, we have the Web to eliminate that grueling work. Here are two staple-free, alternative media views of Capitol Hill.

Whitney and Wyatt, a Capitol Hill-produced Web video program documents the character and characters of Pike, Pine and beyond. In this week's episode, W&W visit the Galactic Boutique, discuss the stereotypes of gay business owners, retail strategies, and somehow fail to note the coolest haircut on Capitol Hill. (hey W&W, how can we link directly to this episode so the link isn't lame after you update your site?)


Capitol Hill also has its very own webcartoon -- Z's Metro Tales. Can't say all of the art and the storylines are particularly "Capitol Hill" but you can imagine the neighborhood humming along just outside the illustrated boxes.


We're only a neighborhood podcast away from a full menu of alt media offerings. Get on it.

Canabalism on Capitol Hill

Here's a neighborhood tale involving accidental ingestion of human remains. A sample of what you're in for:

Covered in a layer of uniformly baked grey human ash, I walked home. Thankfully it was near, since the cake of ash on my body was very thick, and I was very nearly at the point of vomiting for most of the trip to the shower. One other factor saved me what small amount of dignity I allow myself - since Capitol Hill was also Seattle’s homeless punk youth and heroin/crank/crystal neighborhood, there were people at least as bizarre-looking as I walking down the street with their children and a bag of bagels, or some homeless 24-year old with a tattoo on their forehead that simply says “Drunk.” Nobody really paid me any attention. And if I had vomited, I would hardly have gained additional attention.

Hullabaloo

Oh, Broadway and John. You attract so many protesters. How could you support the war in Iraq, Broadway and John? Say it ain't so.

Walking up the street yesterday I thought Rite-Aid was trying an unusual new strategy.

But alas, no. No sale at Rite-Aid. Just some fellows mad at Broadway and John for, apparently, arresting people who use marijuana as a medical drug. For shame, John, for shame, Broadway. Whenever you two get together there always seems to be trouble.

Clean up Capitol Hill

Simulcast from the CHS blog -- Capitol Hill Street Sweep this weekend.

WHEN: Saturday, October 13, 2007 • 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
9:00 – 9:30 AM:
WHERE: Cal Anderson Park shelter house, 1635 11th Ave.

My favorite Capitol Hill grafiti right now.

New Restaurant Sighting

Looks like a cafe or a really tiny restaurant of some sort is soon to be opened on Thomas Street between Summit and Bellevue. Yours truly will be first in line. Or at least in spirit?

Naming a neighborhood?

With the addition of Portland's Stumptown coffee on 12th Avenue to the lineup of interesting new places to that street, this street seems to be jumping onto the Capitol Hill center stage. And everyone knows that you can't have a hip neighborhood without a fun name! So I'm wondering what ideas readers might have for a name for this area.

Capitol Hill farmers' market displaced by condos?

Add a move for Broadway's market to the list of crimes against humanity caused by Seattle condo development.

A proposal to close off Nagle Place alongside Cal Anderson Park on Capitol Hill is one of the possible solutions to finding a home for the Broadway Sunday market, which has relied on a Bank of America parking lot. Nagle Place is one block east of Broadway. Because the market is on Sunday, it is not expected to conflict with Sound Transit light rail construction in that area, council members were told.

Things you'll like at Cafe Presse, things you won't

Ryan is a busy young man so figure we'll help out our Broadway neighbors with a post or two every now and again. Seattle Weekly has a mildly interesting take on 19 hours in the life of 12th Ave's Cafe Presse documenting the eatery's ebb and flow from breakfast to post-midnight snacking. Based on our visit to Presse and other eyewitness accounts we've documented from friends, here's our simple guide to the menu.

Things you'll like
The olives
The falafel
Le croque madame
Le grilled sardine sandwich
The draught Stella

Things you won't
The steak tartare
The salade niçoise

We look kind of boring de-suggesting the tartare and the nicoise while recommending falafel and beer but so be it. Feel free to counter/support in comments.

View the entire Cafe Presse menu here.

Fun things in the park.

Pssst. Supergirl is showing at Cal Anderson Park tonight at 8:30. If you didn't know, now you do. Plus I think there's a music thing going on there tomorrow. I saw a flyer, and took a photo of it. It would probably help if I could find my camera. I failed blogging school.

Shinka!

Noticed this popped up on Olive Way very recently. Looks like it should be opening pretty soon. Shinka Tea already has another store in the U-District. I can't vouch for their tea, as I can't remember seeing it before. Perhaps my memory is just gone.

From the looks of the website, I'd say that it's going to occupy a different niche for tea drinkers than Remedy Teas. I'm excited.
It's a good summer for the Olive-Broadway area.

Fuck Red Balloon, Fuck Light Rail (but not as much as Red Balloon)

I made a stop at Twice Sold Tales today, and the very nicely dressed man behind the counter mentioned the problem that their lovely store is having: they are being shoved out by the government for a new light rail station, and they don't know what they are going to do about it! They were clearly hoping to move into the former Rainbow grocery but the big bad corporation obviously moved in on the turf and overbid them or something.

I wasn't really that sad about the Red Balloon, mostly because it's on 15th and I didn't go to Rainbow, but now I'm mad. Where will Twice Sold Tales go now? This question needs an answer, and soon.

Park or P-patch?

Exciting things are happening in Capitol Hill. As J of Capitol Hill Seattle mentions, there's a parking lot at 16th and Howell that's going to either be turned into a park or a p-patch, as part of the wonderful Pro-Parks Levy. The other day I saw signs mentioning that the same thing is going to be happening to a parking lot at John and Summit. I don't really know much about the 16th site, but as far as the one on Summit goes, I vote p-patch. There's already Thomas Street Park about a block away, and I don't really see that many people there, really. All that matters to me is that the parking lot go away. But I'm aggressively anti-car. What do you think? Maybe half patch and half park?



Parking lot, your days are numbered.

En Route to the Hill

So I'm walking up Pine. Then, all of a sudden, I'm attacked! By horrible public art.



I guess it's not finished yet, but I can't imagine a context in which this shit looks good.

Ugh.

Page Turning

Everyone knows the best way to look smart without actually being smart is to carry around lots of books with impressive looking titles. And the quickest way to the heart of an intellectual (or pseudo-intellectual for that matter) is through the battered paperback that you keep in your messenger bag.

But where do you pick up said paperback? Or if you're in it for the long haul, a hardcover?

Clearly the best bookstore in Seattle is Elliott Bay Book Company. There's not really a contest, in my mind. But Pioneer Square can't always be on the itinerary of the Capitol Hillian. So I thought a nice rundown of the fine booksellers in the Broadway area might be a little helpful, just in case you're in a jam and need to find a copy of, oh, I don't know, The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire, or Life of Pi.

Directly on Broadway you have Baily/Coy books. Mostly new books, but they have a few used ones too, and they intersperse them with the new ones. Separate but equal doesn't apply here. This place is pretty nice, and the staff seems to know their stuff.

Just off Broadway on John is Twice Sold Tales. The draws here are clear: cheap used books, late night sales, and cats. And they are open super late on Friday nights, and you can get a quarter off the price then too.

On the other side of the 'Way just off Olive on Belmont sits the corporate behemoth that is Half Price Books. While I normally try and stay local, sometimes the prices here sway me to cross over to the dark side. The fiction section in the basement is not often beat, in my book. (pun probably intended)

I guess those are the big players. But don't forget The Spine and Crown on Pike, and the Occult bookstore over there as well. These are super little stores with great staff.

Broadway's bibliophiles will probably agree that it's impossible to pick a favorite bookstore. But if it weren't it would SO be Twice Sold Tales.

Stage Fright Slam

I love the Richard Hugo House. And I love free entertainment. Wednesday in the Cabaret* is a free slam for writers aged 14 to 24. And it's free.

You should go. It's probably better than what's at Elliott Bay that night, and you don't even have to leave the hill.

*Why can't my house have a Cabaret?

EDIT: Forgot the time. It's at 7.

Spotted on Bellevue

I think I found where the Seafair Pirates buried their treasure. Personally I would have picked a less conspicuous spot.



Anyone up for a dig?

Hopefully not brought to you by Geiko

Say, hypothetically, that the corporate-sponsored Capitol Hill Block Party didn't completely satisfy your need to feel like being at an actual block party, to actually be a part of your neighborhood, and instead made you feel part of a herd of cattle. Well, there's a solution. I heard about it from Chumley:



A flyer on a neighboring street filled me in. Apparently it's a pot luck. And music and entertainment will be provided, though there's no telling what that might entail. Probably not Spoon though. Oh well. Seems fun. I don't think this technically is my neighborhood, because I live on the other side of Olive. But I'm seriously considering going. I haven't decided if my cooking is up to "pot luck" standards yet.

Tuesday August 7 at 5pm, on Howell Street between Bellevue and Olive.

A Start.

Unlike a lot of streets in Seattle, Broadway is bigger than the sum of its parts. It has a mythology, and it has a reputation. It feels a daunting task, stepping up to blog about this place. But I'm going to give it a go.

Just a small bit about me: I'm not from here. I have an outsider's perspective. In fact I've only been in Seattle for 10 whole months. Whether my views will be at all unique, completely slanted, or even remotely correct remains to be seen.

Who knows what will happen? All I can guarantee is that I'll try and make it interesting.