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CHS Pics | The start of Capitol Hill summer

lavid<noreply@www.capitolhillseattle.com> — Fri, 25 May 2012 16:09:24 GMT

Musical chairs gets hard (Images: Dave Lichterman for CHS)

The New City Collegian calls it the kick-off to "Capitol Hill summer" -- we'll take it. Here's the scene from Thursday's 2012 Unity Fair at Seattle Central Community College where THEESatsifaction rocked the mic and comedian Hari Kondabolu busted a few guts. If you missed it, relax. There's an entire Capitol Hill summer ahead to enjoy. For more weekend activities across the Hill, check out our latest On the List.

(Image: David Lichterman)

(Image: CHS)

New chapter for old Horizon Books house on 15th Ave E

jseattle<noreply@www.capitolhillseattle.com> — Fri, 25 May 2012 05:36:57 GMT

(Image: CHS)

Give this one a read. You'll like it. It's a mystery. CHS has learned that the old 1922-built house that has stood fenced and empty in the middle of 15th Ave E since 2009 is about to get an overhaul and a new business to call it home. It's a bit of a whodunit.

"I represent a client who's got a small business already on Capitol Hill," Matt Herron of Cannon Commercial told CHS. "They wanted to let everyone know the property has been purchased."

Herron says he can't name his clients at this point but that they were eager to let people know that the building wasn't slated for demolition.

"It's important for them to let people know it's a local business that is buying it," Herron said.

Due to the loose ends of moving an existing business and making sure everybody affected has been fully informed, the new buyers aren't revealing their identities, yet.

Herron said the former home of Horizon Books will undergo a full renovation starting this summer. The house has been empty and fenced off since Horizon moved its inventory to 10th Ave in spring 2009. The man who sold the building is what you might call a colorful character.

We tracked down Beverly Hills resident Arno Prinz in 2009 to learn more about his plans to sell the old house that somehow remained as the 15th Ave E business district grew up around it. His asking price three years ago was $1.25 million. We told Prinz that was pretty high. "It's not expensive," Prinz told us. "The lots behind it sold for almost $1 million. There has been good interest in the property. People are looking for loans and they are not easy to get."

We don't know what price Herron's clients settled on with Prinz. UPDATE: Yes we do. The property was purchased by a company registered to Herron for $908,010. We'll have to ask about that ten buck part.

As for the identity of the new business destined for 15th Ave E, your guess is as good as ours. Herron called the business a "store" and didn't offer much more than to say the clients are excited to be coming to 15th Ave and that he thinks it will be a good fit when they move in by early next year after the work on the new shop location is complete.

The street will also soon have another new set of residents a block away as The Wandering Goose and (we think it's going to be called) Fifth Quarter finish their build-outs in June. The energy from the newbies should be a boost to the efforts of the grassroots 15th Ave Merchants Association to raise the profile of the business district.

The new owners will also mean a 15th Ave E "old timer" will have the opportunity to settle in for a long stay on the street. The purchase includes the neighboring shop that is home to Casita. The previous landlords weren't interested in a multi-year lease for the tiny shop but the buyers have already begun discussions on signing Paula Moreschi's business for the long term. That all sounds like a happy ending. We're looking forward to the next in the series.

Blotter | CD shooting, E Union purse snatch, laptop+iPad+iPhone heist, E Olive Way tavern assault

jseattle<noreply@www.capitolhillseattle.com> — Fri, 25 May 2012 00:20:56 GMT

Central District shooting: Police are looking for suspects in a Central District shooting homicide tonight. Police say a man in his 40s was killed Thursday night at MLK and Cherry when he was caught in the crossfire of a street shootout.
Assault at Cal Anderson: Police and medics responded to an incident in Cal Anderson Park Thursday night involving a man who received a serious laceration to his wrist. No details on the apparent altercation yet but Seattle Fire radio dispatches indicate the injury was not considered life-threatening. One person was reportedly taken into custody. UPDATE: More details below.
Team purse snatch on E Union? Police are looking for a suspect who apparently worked with his girlfriend to snatch a purse from a woman on E Union last Saturday afternoon in front of enough witnesses that police have pictures of the suspect as he attempted to flee the scene. According to the report on the incident, the victim told police she was getting out of her car near the intersection of E Union and Belmont when she was approached by a woman claiming she had been robbed and needing a ride somewhere.

As the victim refused and walked away, she was jumped from behind by a man who tried to rip her bag from her shoulder. The victim said she grabbed her purse and struggled with the suspect who began striking her in the back of the head with his closed fist. She said she finally let go of the bag and the suspect ran from the scene. A man who saw the attack gave chase and was able to keep up with the suspect and take pictures as he fled.

Police were able to track down the woman who had claimed to be robbed but she told officers she did not see what had occurred and provided police with the suspect's name.

According to the report, the pictures show a white male in his 20s "with short hair wearing a grey and white plaid zip-up jacket, a white t-shirt underneath with saggy blue jeans and grey and black shoes with a bit of yellow." The suspect was also wearing a backpack at the time of the purse snatch.

iRobbery at Summit and Olive: A man lost his laptop, iPad and iPhone to a street robber who threatened he was carrying a gun in an early morning robbery last Friday. The victim told police he was walking on Summit Ave near E Olive St around 4a when he was confronted by two males who blocked his path. "We'll fuck you up. I have a piece. Give me the backpack," one of the suspects reportedly said. The victim handed over his backpack and the phone the suspect also demanded before walking away and leaving the victim to continue home.

The victim did not contact police until the next day when the stolen iPad was turned on and a tracking service signaled a location in the 5500 block of Renton Ave S. When police arrived at the victim's location after he called 911, the iPad had already been powered down and was no longer transmitting a location. The victim was able to remotely lock the devices so they can no longer be used but will still transmit a location if somebody tries to turn them on.

The victim described the male who did the talking and took the items as black, around 30 years old, with a goatee and shoulder-length dreadlocks.

The victim was not injured in the robbery.

E Olive Way tavern assault: This early Tuesday morning incident from just before last call at the Crescent Tavern is such a mess of redacted names that, well, we'll just let SPD tell you what led to this man being arrested for assault:

4:51PM - e union at belmont - Team purse snatch on E Union?

5:15PM - mlk at e cherry - Central District shooting

5:17PM - summit at e olive st - iRobbery st Summit and Olive:

5:17PM - 1410 e olive way - E Olive Way tavern assault:

9:14PM - UPDATE - Here are details from SPD on Thursday night's incident in Cal Anderson:

On May 24th at approximately 6:06 p.m. officers responded to 911 calls of a stabbing in Cal Anderson Park located in the 1600 block of 11th Avenue. Officers arrived on scene and faced a hostile crowd, which delayed the fire department medics from being able to enter the park and treat the 30-year-old male victim. Additional officers responded to help secure the scene and allow for the entrance of medics.

The victim was treated at the scene and transported to Harborview Medical Center by ambulance with non-life-threatening injuries.

The suspect, a female in her late 20′s, was located in the park and taken into custody.

She was subsequently booked into the King County Jail for Investigation of Assault.

Pike/Pine dives deep as Narwhal ready for debut 'neath the Unicorn

jseattle<noreply@www.capitolhillseattle.com> — Thu, 24 May 2012 16:53:53 GMT

Under construction (Image: Unicorn)

The density of Pike/Pine's core nightlife economy will reach new depths next week as sub-surface venue Narwhal is ready to debut below its upstairs twin, the Unicorn.

CHS first told you about owners Paul Blake and Adam Heimstadt's $290,000 plans to create a 5,000 square-foot second level to the kaleidoscope circus bar last spring including a second bar, a game room, a stage for live performances and a new staircase connecting the two levels.

Our pals at Seattle U's Spectator break the news this week that the Narwhal is ready:

“Narwhal is the Unicorn on drugs,” said owner Adam Heimstadt. “It’s so much more intense down there.”

The 5,000 square foot venue doubles as a pinball venue equipped for boozers to partake in activities beyond just enjoying the spread of the second bar.

The back room on the east side, painted pink and black, will house 10 pinball games and 12 1980s arcade games.

To the left side of the bar, a claw arcade game called the Uni-claw sits, waiting to be filled with the crazy prizes that Heimstadt will conjure up.

The Spectator says you should save your quarters up for a June 1 debut.

Stairs to the Narwhal (Image: Unicorn)

The opening of the Narwhal comes weeks after another subterranean venue's debut just down E Pike. Barboza, the new performance space and bar beneath Neumos, debuted earlier this month and provides the Neumos business family with a space to host smaller, more intimate -- potentially more local -- performances.

The emergence of these new, built-out underground spaces is another sign that this central portion of Pike/Pine is so chock full of activity and revenue potential that business owners are looking for ways to squeeze every last bit of action into the area. "Underground" music and dance activity has already been going on underground in the area. Now businesses are investing in the spaces. It's not just bars and clubs -- developer Liz Dunn has put her underground square footage to work as a co-working space at 12th and Pike. But there is also an element of opportunity presented by the old buildings remaining on the street. Blake told CHS part of the reason he and Heimstadt could afford to build Narwhal in the first place was the old basement space from the original 1916 building was rock solid and wouldn't require a seismic upgrade. With much of the street level space filled on E Pike between Broadway and 12th, we'll have our eye out for more activity below and above the surface.

The space as it looked last spring (Image: CHS)

Some of the finishings for the Narwhal (Image: Unicorn)

11:58AM - UPDATE - I am reminded to give credit to the grandaddy of subterranean E Pike watering holes -- all hail the Cha Cha.

SPD seeks help in identifying May Day vandalism and violence suspects

jseattle<noreply@www.capitolhillseattle.com> — Thu, 24 May 2012 17:15:16 GMT

Seattle Police have posted pictures and information about five people they say were responsible for acts of vandalism and violence during the May Day protests in downtown Seattle. Details on the suspects police are seeking to identify are below.

Four Seattleites already faced felony charges after being arrested during the May Day protests. One of those cases was dropped last week as prosecutors said they "no longer believe they could prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt" after video evidence surfaced in the case of an alleged assault against a Seattle Police officer.

Here are the images of the suspects SPD is looking for and details of the alleged crimes:

View larger images

After combing through hours of video taken during the May 1 demonstrations in downtown Seattle, detectives have identified several men and women who disrupted peaceful protests through acts of vandalism and violence.
While detectives have put faces to some of the crimes committed on May 1, they now need the public’s help in putting a name to those faces.
The first suspect pictured is wanted for smashing windows at Niketown in downtown Seattle.
The second suspect is also wanted for using his skateboard to smash windows at Niketown.
The third suspect is wanted for assault, after he threw an unidentified item at officers.
The fourth suspect threw a bottle or book at officers, striking one in the head.
The fifth suspect is wanted for a hit-and-run attack on an officer. The man rushed out of the crowd and stomped on the officer’s knee.
Police are still analyzing video and photographs taken during May Day to identify other suspects, who detectives believe caused more than $100,000 in damage during the demonstrations.
If you recognize any of the suspects, or have photos or video of crimes committed during the demonstrations, please contact SPD’s May Day tip line at (206) 233-2666 or MayDay2012@Seattle.gov.

Capitol Hill Folklife -- A look at three with Capitol Hill roots

TomM<noreply@www.capitolhillseattle.com> — Thu, 24 May 2012 13:01:35 GMT

Capitol Hill-rooted Koko and the Sweetmeats perform on the Roots Stage Sunday at Northwest Folklife

Memorial Day weekend is just a few days away. In Seattle, that means Folklife, the compound word that instantly conjures patchouli smells and visions of tie-dye. There's that in spades, to be sure, but the Northwest Folklife Festival is much broader than simply a hippie fest. Beyond djembe drum circles there will also be brass bands, The Seattle Men’s and Women’s Choruses, Blues, Rock, and of course, Folk music.

Capitol Hill will be represented well at Folklife this year. Here are a few Hill-related acts on the bill: Cumulus, Alicia Amiri, NightTrain, The Braxmatics, Wheedle’s Groove, Koko and the Sweetmeats, Shelby Earl, Bucharest Drinking Team, Smokey Brights -- there are many. Click here for the schedule.

Koko and the Sweetmeats currently offer stripped-down blues, with a little sixties pop and garage thrown it. (They’ve been compared to the White Stripes.) “The recording style is more garage-y than the actual music,” said lead singer Garret van der Crimp. Suffice it to say, they’re loud, and they rock. For KatS, things are about to change.

When Koko and the Sweetmeats perform on Sunday the 27th on the Indie Roots Stage, it will be their final show. “My wife and I are in a band together, and we’re taking a break from playing music together. I’m going to do a solo thing, and she’s going to concentrate on her career, and not mine,” said van der Crimp. The Comet was the place where they played their first show as a group and it was their penultimate show as well -- some of you might have caught them this past Sunday night. van der Crimp is confident that this isn’t the last that Seattle will see of KatS of one version or another, but for this version, the clock is ticking.

Go BDT!
Another Hill band at Folklife will be Bucharest Drinking Team. They are a Romany-influenced band that fills the stage with a large number of people playing horns, strings, and drums, all in the name of drinking and having a party. “Eastern block party is our tagline,” said Marchette Dubois, the Team’s spokesperson, and the community coordinator for the Balkan Misfits Showcase on Friday the 25th. Other NW acts on the showcase at the Fisher Green Stage will be Seattle’s Nu Klezmer Army and Orkestar Zirconium, as well as Vancouver’s Orkestar Silvovica. Go for the tubas and clarinets, stay for the dancing.

“We’re a Balkan brass and string band. Our music mostly originates in Romania, but we play music from all over the Balkans,” said Dubois. The band has people in it from eastern Europe, but many of the members are Americans who’ve taken an interest in the genre. As for Dubois, she fell in love with the music traveling in Romania. With the ensemble, she sings and she plays accordion and horn.

Shelby Earl will also be performing at Folklife. With a name like that, and some lap steel in the music one might assume that she’s a country act. That’s not the case, but there are hints of country in what she does. “I’ve always felt like a Folk artist in the sense of I’m writing about everyday things over three chord songs,” Earl said.

Shelby Earl, originally uploaded by davidjlee.

With Burn the Boats, her first album last year, Earl turned a lot of heads in the critic community here in Seattle as well as nationally, getting love from KEXP, NPR, and Amazon in equal measure.

As they say, it takes years of work to become an overnight success. “I worked in the music industry for ten years before I quit to do music,” said Earl. Her song ‘Under Evergreen’ is about her desire to get out of the life she was in, and into performing. First she was in the band the Hope, but now she always performs under her name. Sometimes she has a band backing her up; at Folklife it will be her on stage by herself. “I’m going to be playing songs off of Burn the Boats, as well as a bunch of new ones,” she said. For the many people in the city who are enamored of her songs, she’ll be recording for a new album this summer. She’ll be at Folklife on Saturday the 26th on the Indie Roots Stage at 1PM.

This is a small sampling of what the groups representing Capitol Hill this year. It looks to be a fun long weekend of diverse music. Much of it good, all of it free. Some of it Capitol Hill.

On the List | Unity Fair, SPD crime meeting, dodgeball, Memorial Day service (+26 more)

Caroline<noreply@www.capitolhillseattle.com> — Thu, 24 May 2012 12:46:57 GMT

Happy Memorial Day Weekend from CHS! I can smell the BBQ already. Although the mass exodus from Seattle is inevitable, the Hill (probably) won't be deserted. Have an event we should know about? Post it to the CHS Calendar. Crack open that ginger beer and relish in the fact that this Monday you can ignore your alarm clock. Unless you have to work. And then you can't.

Thursday 5/24

Unity Fair '12 Seattle Central's Annual Student Celebration (FREE) 10AM - 3PM at Seattle Central, South Plaza -- with THEESatisfaction and Hari Kondabolu:

Unity Fair Committee is a multicultural, student-organization that celebrates the diversity and accomplishments of the year. This years events include: Sumo Wrestling, Tug of War, Musical Chairs, Balloon Popping, Watermelon Eating Contest, Dodgeball, Capture the Flag and more...

DDE Presents: Double Dutch 5P - 7P at Sole Repair

There will be experienced double dutchers performing and great teachers to get everyone in the ropes. We will be filming all the wild action for a DDE web series, so dress for the camera and bring your party shoes! The bar will be selling delicious drinks, so let's party! The event is FREE.

No New Juvenile Hall in Seattle!!! 6P at Washington Hall
Chardonnay Day tasting at Vino Verite, 5-6p
EastPAC Meeting 6:30P at Chardin Hall, Seattle University
14.3 Hands: A Reading from Lost Horse Press Poets and Friends 7P at Hugo House
University Book Store: David Talbot: Season of The Witch 7:30P at Downstairs at Town Hall Seattle
3X3 8P at Northwest Film Forum
The Comedy Workshop 8P at Odd Duck Studio
VOCALPOINT! SEATTLE PRESENTS “Pop Quiz!” 8P - 10:30P at Broadway Performance Hall

Friday 5/25

"Two on Friday" @ EVS Wines 3P - 6P
Adam Parfray 7P at Elliott Bay Books
Question One 7P at Northwest Film Forum (click links for more showings)
Enrico Moretti: The Geography of Jobs 7:30P at Downstairs at Town Hall Seattle
AWESOME TAPES FROM AFRICA, Secret Colors & Particle Being Ensemble 8P at Cairo
Punchline Fridays :::Comedy Showcase::: 9P at Jai Thai on Broadway
Get on the bus and head to Folklife

Saturday 5/26

Children's Story Time 11AM at Elliott Bay Books
SIFF continues. Let The SunBreak be your guide
Seattle Street Dodgeball presents, "SSD: The May Pinch" 12P - 5P at Cal Anderson Park
Capitol Hill Trivia Crawl 3P Meets at the Corner of Broadway and East Republican
News of the Day and Soundies 7P at Northwest Film Forum (Part of the UCLA Festival of Preservation)

In addition to countless newspapers, William Randolph Hearst turned out , a series of newsreels keeping the public up to date on world affairs, for over 50 years! Come witness a selection of the newsreels that your grandparents might have watched, produced by the infamous creator of sensationalist yellow journalism. A few “Soundies,” antediluvian music videos released in the same era as, will follow—so if you’re a sucker for pop music of the 1940s, be sure to mark this one on your calendar.

Sunday 5/27

Broadway farmers market at Seattle Central, 11a-3p
Imran Ahmad 2P at Elliott Bay Books
Super Hero(ine) Happy Hour! 4P at St. John's (719 Pike Street)
This Is Your Life 7P at Northwest Film Forum (part of the UCLA Festival of Preservation)
Burlesque 2012 Graduation Recital 8:30P at 915 E Pine St.

Monday 5/28

Happy Memorial Day
Nisei Veterans Committee Memorial Day Service at Lake View, 10a

Blotter | One arrest after E Pike 'store invasion,' burglar nabs E Pine office safe

jseattle<noreply@www.capitolhillseattle.com> — Wed, 23 May 2012 21:00:47 GMT

Here's the latest from the streets of the East Precinct. Don't forget this Thursday night's EastPac meeting with SPD's Assistant Chief Sanford in attendance.

'Store-invasion' robbery ends in arrest: Another incident involving a group entering a Capitol Hill-area business, attempting to distract employees and, the bad part, snatching an electronic device ended with an arrest went down on E Pike last Saturday. Here's the account provided by a stylist at Emerson Salon of the group attempting the heist, their modus operandi and some details of how the stolen phone was recovered:

I was the only stylist (we have no reception staff and are all self employed) who was able to greet these individuals (all the other stylists were with clients.) The male individual asked about the price of a haircut. Another was a shorter female who asked the price to do hair at Emerson Salon and I fielded their questions as they remarked," we're just checkin' this place out." I gave the male my business card and my coworker's business card in regards to hair services. Another male individual entered and attempted to walk upstairs to our laundry and break area. I stopped him by saying," Excuse me, you can't go up there. We only allow employees up there." to which he replied," I"m just checkin it out." to which I replied," We don't even let clients go up there so we'd appreciate it if you didn't."

This individual retreated from the stairs and and by my coworkers station while I watched him closely. I saw he picked "something" up. He moved away from the station and I could tell he was trying to hide his hand as he remarked,"Oh, that's my phone."

I observed him moved towards the front area and at that time I saw the phone and the credit card swiper attachment to the phone that is unique ONLY to this coworkers iphone. I said frankly, pointing,"Thats not your phone, its my coworkjers phone."

He tried to walk away from me and I said again,"Thats not your phone, She has a different swiper! Give me the phone. " I paused and waited a second then I grabbed his arm. he snatched it away. i grabbed his hand again. I said again,"that's not your phone. give me the phone!" he moved away. He opened the front door, and my other coworker was outside talking with a client he'd just finished with and saw what was happening. He "bodychecked" this male individual and then the altercation moved to the sidewalk. I tried to grab his arm a THIRD time and apparently I was screaming,"Its not your fucking phone. Give me the fucking phone!!!"

Then the male ran towards broadway running south. I called 911. 3 coworkers went following after him. Cops called 3 min later and they had the guy and the iphone. Apparently, a good samaritan/strong gay man tackled him until the cops could arrest him after he saw one of my coworkers running to catch up with him.

The SPD report on the incident corroborates the stylist's details. In April, we reported on a similar theft at a massage studio on Broadway.

E Pine office safe burglar makes big haul: A thief broke into a third-floor business office in the 600 block E Pine sometime in the overnight of Friday May 18th and made off with a safe full of cash and coin. The SPD report on the burglary doesn't make the amount of cash stolen public but the thief made off with a safe full of coins and bills, police say. The crime is being investigated as a felony level theft meaning at least $5,000 was taken. The burglar left no signs of breaking into the building's ground floor but police found pry marks on the door to the office.
E Howell storage break-in: A burglar stole thousands of dollars worth of goods in a break-in of the storage lockers at a building in the 500 block of E Howell last week. Police found the locks had been bent or broken on several lockers in the Tuesday night burglary.
Caretaker chases off man trying to break into empty building: A man living as a caretaker in an empty Harvard Ave E apartment building called police last Saturday afternoon after somebody tried to break into the building. The man told police he has lived in the empty building "for years" and has had "several encounters with trespassers, and transients trying to enter and squat in the building" but typically can handle the situations himself.

1:43PM - 600 e pine, seattle wa - E Pine office safe burglar makes big haul:

1:44PM - 900 e pike - 'Store-invasion' robbery ends in arrest:

1:47PM - 500 e howell - E Howell storage break-in:

1:56PM - 300 harvard ave e, seattle wa - Caretaker chases off man trying to break into empty building

Following Capitol Hill pushback, City Council backs off 'corner store' zoning changes -- UPDATE

jseattle<noreply@www.capitolhillseattle.com> — Wed, 23 May 2012 17:34:25 GMT

UPDATE: Following a wave of criticism, the City Council's land use committee has unanimously voted to strip out commercial zoning changes in lowrise and midrise neighborhoods from the Regulatory Reform package.

Allow ground-floor commercial uses in Lowrise 2 and 3 (LR2 and LR3) zones that are within urban centers or station area overlays (with permitted uses and standards similar to those in Midrise and Highrise zones)

"We need to do a better job of engaging with the community and having a dialogue," Council member Mike O'Brien said.

Committee chair Richard Conlin said that he supports the amendment to remove the new zoning but that he still believes the changes in commercial zoning would be beneficial and that this part of the legislation might be taken up again. He also left the door open to punting on the idea altogether. "We may be wrong in our assessment," Conlin said of the process that led to the creation of the small retail proposals.

Conlin said the remainder of the legislation will move forward.

Original Report: Capitol Hill residents again filled the City Council chambers Wednesday morning as Richard Conlin and the Council's land use committee pushed forward on Regulatory Reform legislation that would overhaul the city's development process and open up areas of multifamily-zoned neighborhoods to small commercial uses.

"I've just been in shock that my city council would even think to work this way," one homeowner who addressed the committee said Wednesday morning.

Many called for the committee to postpone any decisions on Regulatory Reform until a more complete community process on Capitol Hill can be completed.

"Have you realized yet that you have awakened a sleeping giant?" another speaker asked. "You have united the people of Capitol Hill in a way that we've never been united before," the man said.

Many speakers said they were longtime homeowners who had just become aware of the reform legislation last week as the Capitol Hill Coalition group increased its effort to spread the word about the potential commercial changes (see their flyer below) and the Capitol Hill Community Council approved a resolution opposing the measures.

Another speaker said the Council's actions could "destroy an oasis of residential goodness forever."

While the reform package is a citywide set of updates to zoning laws and regulations, some of the elements focused on areas near transit stations and within official "urban centers" apply singularly to Capitol Hill.

CHS began reporting on the sprawling Regulatory Reform legislation in March. In the time since, the council committee has attempted to shape the "corner store" elements of the package so that commercial changes would be limited to arterials, smaller retail spaces and even by restricting certain types of businesses in specific areas like banning restaurants from the lowrise/midrise commercial zones on Capitol Hill.

The proposed set of code overhauls was set in motion by a City Council resolution last spring setting up a framework for changes to Seattle's regulatory structure to boost the economy and create more jobs in the city. City planners then worked with "a roundtable of business, environmental, and neighborhood leaders" to craft seven proposals that range from raising the number of living units a development must contain before triggering an environmental review to codifying home-based businesses.

The Seattle Times looked at that "roundtable" process and documented what it calls the power of "developer interest" in driving the eased development rules. "Records show the mayor's group worked to stay out of public view and communicate "more confidential stuff," as one put it, via private email," the Times writes.

Beyond the issues around public process and the encroachment of mixed-use development into residential areas, other elements of Regulatory Reform have been lauded for its elimination of minimum parking requirements in areas served by mass transit and helping to potentially untangle the increasingly byzantine process of developing property in Seattle.

The committee is considering seven amendments that Council members hope will shape the legislation to help alleviate the fears voiced by the community members who spoke Wednesday morning:

If commercial uses are ultimately allowed in Lowrise 2 and Lowrise 3 (LR2 and LR3) zones in Urban Centers and Station Area Overlay Districts, decrease the maximum permitted floor area of such uses from 2,500 to 2,000 square feet.

Prohibit any commercial enterprises that locate in eligible LR zones from installing electric signs (non-illuminated signs and externally illuminated signs would be permitted).

Allow businesses that locate in eligible LR zones to apply for street use permits to place merchandise displays in certain portions of the right-of-way.

Require DPD staff to provide an annual report to the City Council on the number, type, and location of new commercial uses that may be permitted to operate in LR2 and LR3 zones in Urban Centers and Station Area Overlay Districts.

Require commercial uses in multifamily zones to meet the same odor standards as apply in commercial zones.

Clarify that the nightlife disturbance provisions in the Municipal Code apply to nonresidential uses located in any zone (see Item #7 on the agenda for the May 23 PLUS Committee meeting).

Allow renewals of temporary use permits with terms of up to six months to be processed as Type 1 decisions, except for renewals of permits issued for transitional encampments and facilities for light rail transit construction, which would remain Type 2 decisions. Retain all other existing rules regarding the issuance and duration of temporary usepermits.

11:20AM - THURSDAY UPDATE -

Here's a round-up of coverage from other sources:

Seattle Times: Council rejects mayor's plan for more stores in neighborhoods

Councilmembers Mike O'Brien and Richard Conlin, who had both supported the proposal, said they were convinced by Capitol Hill residents that the neighborhood already had what the legislation was meant to encourage.

KING: Council dumps Mayor Mike McGinn's neighborhood plan

But a big and angry crowd, mostly from Capitol Hill, gathered today at the Seattle Council Chambers to oppose the plan.

"Would you like to live next to a pizza shop or a tattoo parlor?" asked Capitol Hill resident Kristina Danilchik.

Many Capitol Hill residents insist that stores and restaurants should stay on the arterial streets which are currently zoned commercial.

Crosscut: 'Seattle Times' wins fight against density; everybody (except Brett Phillips) wins key endorsement

Many of the commenters referred to two stories in today's Seattle Times —a pearl-clutching, Page Onestory by Bob Young implying that Mayor Mike McGinn and the council are in thrall to a secret cabal of developers who dictate city policy, and a fear-mongering companion piece by Lynn Thompson suggesting that new ground-level commercial uses in residential buildings could include everything from strip malls to fish-processing plants to strip clubs on quiet residential streets. (At today's meeting, one union representative also invoked the specter of Wal-Mart.)

1:15PM - UPDATE - Committee member Nick Licata points out that there is one remaining change in store for commercial zoning in the Regulatory Reform package:

In the end, the Councilmembers at today’s committee meeting voted to eliminate entirely the part of the bill that would have allowed commercial uses in Low Rise 2 and 3 zones, but the bill would still allow new ground-floor commercial uses in the remaining Midrise zones where such uses are not currently permitted. The picture in this post (the Thomas St. Bistro and local grocer in Capitol Hill) is one such example of what the bill would allow. The bill was not voted out of committee because of additional unresolved policy changes that will be tabled until the next PLUS committee meeting on June 13.

Volunteer Park's busy 100th year: Playground overhaul, Conservatory's $3 ticket and weddings plan

BCC<noreply@www.capitolhillseattle.com> — Wed, 23 May 2012 14:10:01 GMT

There is hope -- and a plan -- for keeping the landmark Volunteer Park Conservatory open well beyond the park's centennial celebration this summer. We also have details of when the ~~$800,000~~ $600,000 overhaul of the park playground will begin and what it will entail, below.

green house, originally uploaded by subsetsum.

Volunteer Park Conservatory stewards tell CHS the 100-year-old conservatory will definitely stay open -- and stay free -- through 2012. But fees necessary to keep the conservatory open are coming.

Audrey Meade of the Friends of the Conservatory says the group is feeling more hopeful about the future after the city announced last year it was preparing to cut back funding the facility. “We're getting more verbal support from the Parks Department,” says Meade.

They're also getting a plan. CHS reported on the community process to solve the Conservatory's budget woes last year. That plan was released this week. It recommends either either a $3 entrance fee solution or a $4 fee mixed with the addition of a new events tent space that could be used as a revenue driver to support the conservatory's estimated $400,000+ annual operations budget.

(Image: Seattle Parks)

Other options analyzed and rejected in the "business plan" included moving the conservatory structure to another location, turning the building into a permanent event space or mothballing the building.

The city hired an Arizona-based consultant in March to determine how to keep the conservatory open, financially solvent, and what the city's future role should be. Meade says the Friends were initially worried about the $50,000 hire, but feel confident after meeting the consultant he has the conservatory's best interest at heart.

“This guy really knows the business and we respect what he has to say. That being said, there will be some hard things to hear.”

Talk of an admission fee has circulated for some time, particularly following last year's consultant announcement. Meade says a new fee will largely depend on the consultant's final report. Either way, she says, the Friend's role in running the conservatory will likely increase substantially.

Also set to increase -- weddings. A big component of the final plan will likely include an increase in events hosted at the conservatory. The facility currently hosts around a dozen per year. The addition of a tent adjacent to the facilities could boost that number above 30. Sounds like it could be a lovely place for a wedding.

The group is still trying to raise $3.5 million for much-needed structural repairs. Meade says there has been some headway, but couldn't say how much has been raised thus far.

Parks says more than 85,000 visitors come to the conservatory each year. The report notes that if Seattle Parks chose to close the conservatory, it would be an unusual step:

The findings of this review included: (1) no other conservatory has been closed for financial reasons; (2) three have come close to closing due to financial constraints but have all remained open to the public; (3) most conservatories similar to VPC are supported largely by general revenues from their city; (4) many are trying or planning to increase earned revenues; (5) the staffing level at VPC, which accounts for most of the expenses, is reasonable by national standards; and (6) the ability of VPC to become entirely financially self-sustaining is severely limited by the size of the Conservatory and the lack of facility rental space.

The proposed fees wouldn't eliminate the need for Parks funding. Both plans would offset costs from between 40 to 75% after five years, according to the report.

The Friends group has also raised funds to place banners celebrating the centennial throughout the park (Image: CHS)

Playground overhaul update
Meanwhile, plans to upgrade Volunteer Park's play area are near complete with a project start date set for September 3.

On May 2 the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board approved the play area upgrade with no major changes. (The board had to sign off on the project after designating the entire park a city landmark last November.)

“Now we're just dotting our I's and crossing our T's,” says the city's project manager Virgina Hassinger.

The catalyst for the project was to get play equipment to meet safety standards and make the area wheelchair accessible. After the final play area schematics are in, the city's parks engineer will sign off on the plans. Then the work contract will go before the city Finance Department with RFP's going out in early June.

Due to neighborhood concerns over the play area and wading pool closing over the summer, construction on the new playground was pushed to September. The project should be complete by early November.

The wading pool, stair slide, and sculpture will definitely stay. Hassinger says the contractor has yet to provide a detailed diagram of the new play equipment. A “natural play” area will also be built along an “adventure trail” on the north edge of the park. These usually include boulders, logs, and sand pits.

Some grading work will be necessary to make the play area and bathrooms comply with ADA regulations.

The $600,000 project was originally budgeted at $800,000. Hassinger said the department lowered the budget after discovering original overgrown pathways that were less than 5 percent grade, making some grading work unnecessary. The extra $200,000 will be returned to the parks budget for future projects.

Capitol Hill Alano Club announces its 'bittersweet' dissolution

Kelton Sears<noreply@www.capitolhillseattle.com> — Wed, 23 May 2012 14:11:18 GMT

The Capitol Hill Alano Club (CHAC) has announced that it will be shutting down by the end of the year. CHAC has provided a safe space for members of the LGBTQ community to meet and engage in 12-step recovery programs for over 30 years. The decision is "bittersweet," for the volunteers at CHAC, who are proud that the organization's original mission has been fulfilled, but have a lot of sentimental attachment to the space.

As Seattle Gay News first reported, the decision to dissolve CHAC is the result of two separate issues:

The organization was forced to relocate five times throughout its history. In March of last year, its newest location on E. Madison Street was hit by a fire during a burglary. Without a home, CHAC held its recovery group meetings in various locations including Seattle University and Seattle AIDS Support Group (SASG). Facing financial issues and strapped for a viable space, CHAC "has been de facto dissolved for a year now" lacking a physical location, according to Olson. After the "Staying Alive" fundraising campaign was launched to keep the organization afloat, the "uncomfortable" question was asked about whether or not the space was needed anymore. "Because we didn't have a space, the diaspora found new homes for meetings. It was a hard question to ask, but we had to ask it," said Olson.
The organization re-evaluated its mission statement and decided "analysis showed that the mission of CHAC is being fulfilled" according to the release on its website. "Our mission statement is superfluous," Olson said. "The LGBTQ community don't require a space from CHAC anymore. Many meeting groups have found homes elsewhere. In the zeitgeist of the 80s there weren't any safe places for us—that's vastly different now. We've come so far that we don't need our little club anymore." According to the organization, the original mission statement is irrelevant now, as members of the LGBTQ community and members of the straight community are mixing and going through recovery together all across the city. Alcoholics Anonymous intergroups and organizations like SASG provide opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds to meet freely and without fear of discrimination—making CHAC less crucial than it used to be.

"We made what we realize was an unpopular decision, but realistically at this point, we are like a typewriter repair shop. People just don't need us around anymore," Olson said.

A look at Bauhaus as one of the 'big three' in Seattle's coffee history

jseattle<noreply@www.capitolhillseattle.com> — Tue, 22 May 2012 23:02:17 GMT

It has been a couple weeks since we learned the latest twist in the drama around Bauhaus Coffee, the Melrose Building and the Pinevue Apartments. The developers say they won't be tearing the buildings down. What that will mean, exactly, will shake out in coming weeks. In the meantime, here is another take on the situation from our friends at Sprudge. What does the original Bauhaus mean to Seattle's coffee culture? Parts of the answer may surprise you -- "...the coffee at Bauhaus has never been very good, and the stereotype of the snooty, aloof barista may owe a small part of its origin story to Bauhaus," Sprudge writes. The rest, however, is mostly a love poem. We've paired the offering with a piece sent in to us by videographer Aurea Astro capturing some of the ambient sights and sounds of a few moments inside Bauhaus. You'll find both, below.

Sprudge -- Seattle: From Bauhaus To Our House
Seattle cafes, like the walking tours of patriotic Boston or a visit to a National Park lodge, offer a kind of living history of place and time. They are to be cherished, but also to be enjoyed, utilized, dirtied and cleaned; historic cafes are alive in the best possible sense. When you’re talking about Seattle’s historic cafes, there are so many to choose from, but to me, the big three are Cafe Allegro (opened in 1975), Espresso Vivace (in 1987) and Bauhaus, which opened in 1993. These each played a major role in the progressive elaboration of what it means to be an American independent cafe. They each have their strengths and fans, and while I spent my formative years mainly in Vivace, where I worked as a barista, I recognize Bauhaus’ incredible historical influence, and have been disheartened to follow the news that it is being threatened, first with closure, and now with extensive “retrofitting” and modification. This is, in some ways, a proper eulogy for what Bauhaus means right now, in its current state, an epitaph this cafe assuredly deserves. more...

For more on the block of Pine at Melrose, check out these essays shared on CHS:

SPD brass in the neighborhood to discuss police reform plan and Capitol Hill crime

jseattle<noreply@www.capitolhillseattle.com> — Tue, 22 May 2012 22:07:58 GMT

CHS can say it until we're SPD blue in the face -- the city's crime rates are relatively low and Capitol Hill is relatively safe. We'll be updating the numbers again soon. We assume datapoints like these haven't changed greatly. Incidents like this can blow any rational discussion away. If you're concerned about safety on the Hill and East Precinct policing, consider checking out this Thursday's edition of the monthly EastPac meeting.

This month's gathering of the East Precinct Advisory Council is dedicated to hearing more about SPD's plans to meet Department of Justice demands for reform of the city's policing policies. But part of every meeting is dedicated to discussing community concerns and neighborhood "hot spots." If you're worried about crime in your area of the Hill, stop in and let the SPD brass in attendance know.

Asst. Chief Sanford presents the 20/20 plan at 5/24 EastPAC meeting

Thursday, May 24th
6:30 to 8:00pm
Seattle University's Chardin Hall, Room 142
1020 East Jefferson
(Enter on 11th and Jefferson, park free in front of building)

In March of 2011, the US Department of Justice began an investigation of the Seattle Police Department, focusing on whether SPD "engaged in a practice of unconstitutional policing through the use of excessive force and/or discriminatory policing". DOJ's findings conclude that these deficiencies do in fact exist, particularly within a "subset of officers who use force improperly". For the entire report, please see:

http://www.justice.gov/crt/about/spl/documents/spd_findletter_12-16-11.pdf

In response to the DOJ findings, the Mayor's Office and Police Department released it's own reform plan, "SPD 20/20 -"A VISION FOR THE FUTURE", identifying 20 changes to be implemented in 20 months.

SPD's Assistant Chief Mike Sanford will be presenting the 20/20 plan at our May 24th EastPAC meeting. Please review the plan before the meeting- http://www.seattle.gov/spd2020/ -and come prepared with questions, concerns, in support of or opposition to this plan, as well as additional suggestions for better policing.

Detectives have surveillance video of man wanted in two Capitol Hill armed robberies

jseattle<noreply@www.capitolhillseattle.com> — Tue, 22 May 2012 18:36:32 GMT

Police are looking for a robbery suspect brazen enough to pay for his dinner using a credit card stolen in an armed street hold-up on Capitol Hill.

Police believe the man highlighted in these pictures is responsible for two street robberies in which he threatened his victims with a revolver. Details on the first incident in which a man was robbed of his wallet at gunpoint on April 30th are below. CHS reported on the second incident in which two women were robbed of their purses on May 4th at Summit and E Olive.

SPD today asked for the public's assistance identifying the man and posted these images from surveillance video captured at a Seattle-area restaurant where the suspect allegedly paid for the meal -- and left an unusually large tip -- using the stolen credit card.

Seattle police are looking for help identify a man suspected in two recent armed robberies on Capitol Hill.
The suspect first robbed a man near Summit Avenue and E. Thomas Street on April 30, and then mugged two women near Summit Avenue and E. Olive Street on May 4.
During both incidents, the suspect wore a bandanna over his face, and was carrying a revolver. Detectives believe he is a Hispanic male, between 22-29 years old, 5’6 to 5’8, with dark hair, possibly in a ponytail.
The suspect was later captured by surveillance cameras at a restaurant, where he paid his bill and left a large tip using one victim’s credit card. If you recognize the suspect in the photos, please call 911 or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Funding to boost Melrose Promenade, Broadway LGBT center part of four Hill-area grants

BCC<noreply@www.capitolhillseattle.com> — Tue, 22 May 2012 13:45:23 GMT

The Melrose Promenade would help more people capture some fantastic Seattle views

Four Capitol Hill area projects have been awarded $56,750 in Seattle grants to improve life on the Hill. The city’s Department of Neighborhoods Small and Simple grant program funds, more or less, any non-profit group to take on, more or less, any project that’s free and beneficial to the community. The latest round of grants reveals some important community projects in the works including a new LGBT center on Broadway and a plan to transform one of the most underutilized streets on Capitol Hill.

A total of 34 projects were awarded $534,666 after organizations pledged to match $760,123 in the latest round of grants. Contract signings and project completion dates will be set on a case by case basis. The city will award another round of grants this fall. You can learn more about the process here.

The Small and Simple grants are funded through the city’s Neighborhood Matching Fund. Grants of up to $20,000 are awarded twice a year. Groups must pledge to match at least half of the grant in cash or volunteer hours so lend a hand if you want to get involved.

Here’s what we can look forward to around the Hill.

LGBT center on Broadway
The real-estate surrounding Central Link’s future Capitol Hill/Broadway Station is shaping up to be some of the most desirable in the city. Luckily, Sound Transit has ~~pledged~~ been asked to carve out space for community focused non-profits. The recently formed Seattle LGBT Community Development group will use its $7,000 grant ($10,000 match) to nail down specifics on a proposed LGBT community center in the space. LGBT community leaders have been searching for new center ideas since the Seattle LGBT Center at Pike and ~~Bored~~ (Ooopsy!) Boren shuttered in 2008.

“Given that Seattle has the country’s second highest LGBT population per capita, we should really have a showcase center,” said the group’s co-founder George Pieper. “We want to capture our culture.”

Pieper said the group, which officially formed in January, would use the grant to gather community input and work with a developer to draft a feasibility study this summer.

Last summer, the Seattle City City Council worked out an agreement with Sound Transit to provide a framework of specific community guidelines for the process to open up development around the station. The process for securing those contracts for developing the properties will begin soon.

Outdoor movies
Three Dollar Bill Cinema will continue their 6-year tradition of public movie screenings in Cal Anderson Park (remember last year’s “Footloose” flash dance?) thanks in-part to its $10,875 grant ($7,000 plus volunteer hours match). Outgoing executive director Rachael Brister said the grant will allow the LGBT-focused non-profit to again show four family-oriented movies this summer. According to Brister, each screening costs roughly $2,000, which includes permits, an A/V contractor, staff time, and showing rights.

CHS recently reported on Brister's exit and this summer’s movie lineup.

Melrose makeover
Supporters of the Melrose Promenade Project are convinced the scenic stretch of Melrose on the western precipice of Capitol Hill is the city’s next best street. Central Seattle Greenways was awarded $20,000 ($37,000 match) to help make it happen. The grant will fund a series of community cleanups and work parties along the street and trail. The group hopes to “increase safety, and create a more vibrant and inviting public open space.” CSG members and Capitol Hill Community Council members have been formally planning the project since at least last year.

The Melrose Promenade project would redesign the street, particularly north of Denny, so that it is more comfortable for walking and enjoying the excellent views.

CSG formed this February to represent central neighborhoods in the city’s plan to create 11 miles of walking and biking routes each year. CSG is part of the broader Seattle Neighborhood Greenways coalition.

New E Madison park
A new neighborhood park at 19th and Madison has been in the works since 2010. The Hearing, Speech, and Deafness Center was awarded $15,300 ($47,800 match) to build a public space on its property. The center plans a “fully accessible, art-filled, sustainable park for all ages and abilities.” Project plans call for a "tranquil green oasis" in an urban patch of Madison that was once envisioned as a space for a mixed-use development. At one point, a group was also trying to build a parkour park at that location. Central District News wrote about the project here.

6:43AM - broadway at denny - LGBT center on Broadway

6:44AM - Cal anderson park - Outdoor movies

6:44AM - melrose at denny - Melrose makeover

6:45AM - 19th at madison - New E Madison park

Seattle Community Colleges restrict protests, overnight camping on campuses

Kelton Sears<noreply@www.capitolhillseattle.com> — Tue, 22 May 2012 13:59:20 GMT

Photo CHS

Looks like if you want to occupy Seattle Community Colleges, it'll have to be by daylight.

In a decision over an issue inspired by Occupy Seattle's short stay on Capitol Hill's Seattle Central Community College campus and debated for months now, the community colleges board of trustees voted to revise rules regarding protest on campus to restrict overnight camping. A statement released by SCC Chancellor, Jill Wakefield outlines the new provisions made to school policy in detail.

One newly added provision states that college and non-college groups may only "use the campus for first amendment activities between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m."

The Seattle Times reports that a new group has formed that believes the rules may violate the First Amendment.

Seattle Community Colleges have been the home of many protests in the past, but the Occupy Seattle encampments at SCCC last fall prompted the school to revisit its protest policies "to protect the health and safety of our campus communities," according to the statement.

Occupy Seattle took up residence at Pine and Broadway at the end of last October and while organizers may have done their best to keep the camp functioning and maintain a "good neighbor" set of rules, introducing a settlement of dozens of tents into a constricted space meant constant challenges for the group -- and the Seattle Central campus. By November, the trustees passed an emergency rule banning Occupy's camp from Seattle Central.

The new protest rules come after public hearings that helped shape the newly decided policy. According to the trustees, voices from the community were responsible for the repeal of a proposed revision that would limit where on campuses groups could exercise First Amendment rights to specific areas. Community input will still be a factor in future First Amendment activities regarding SCC -- a task force nominated throughout the district will meet for the first time this spring and work through December to more fully address free speech issues on campuses.

Below is the full statement from Jill Wakefield:

Friday, May 18, 2012

Changes to Washington Administrative Code

Yesterday, our Board of Trustees approved a restriction on camping on our college campuses. This restriction was added to an existing section of the Washington Administrative Code (WAC 132F-136), which has been in place since 1984.

This provision addresses issues of safety and security that were raised during the Occupy Seattle encampment last fall when the Thurston County Superior Court upheld an emergency rule prohibiting camping on our campuses. The ruling required the District to act quickly to permanently change this section of the Washington Administration Code to protect the health and safety of our campus communities.

The May 17 Board action followed a long process of review and public comment. Members of our campus community spoke out at public hearings in March and April, when an earlier WAC concerning the use of facilities for First Amendment activities was first proposed. As a result, we pulled both that WAC and its related procedure (# 270), off the table and asked the Board to limit its review to camping restrictions. The Board heard public comments on the revised proposal at its last two board meetings.

We still have work to do. As announced earlier this month, I am convening a task force to address the use of campus facilities for First Amendment activities. The group will examine our procedures to ensure we are meeting our commitment to the First Amendment as well as to the values that are integral to the delivery of education. Task force members were nominated from throughout our district. Their first meeting will be held this spring, and the group will conclude its work by December 2012. Thank you to the following individuals who have agreed to serve from the college community: Don Bissonnette, Ian Elliot, Rodolfo Franco, Kelly Grayson, Cessa Heard-Johnson, Tysen Hillquist, Larry Hopt, Hillery Jorgensen, Kenneth Lawson, Kimberly McRae, Orestes Monterecy, and Greg Morphew; as well as community leaders Al Sugiyama, Joan Weiss and an additional community member to be announced early next week.

The Seattle Community Colleges stand for both safeguarding free speech and providing excellent education. I am confident that the task force will provide us with their best thinking.

CHS Pics | A small Bite on Broadway

CHS Staff<noreply@www.capitolhillseattle.com> — Mon, 21 May 2012 23:24:05 GMT

The Bite on Broadway, the first big event for a grassroots group of Broadway merchants, drew light attendance on a rainy Sunday night. Some images from the event are below. Rather than critique the event itself, let's step it up a level. As a Capitol Hill consumer, what types of promotions do you want to be part of? Are events like the Bite up your alley? Do we need to close a street like Portland?

Capitol Hill's Three Dollar Bill Cinema seeks new director as Brister joins GSBA

jseattle<noreply@www.capitolhillseattle.com> — Mon, 21 May 2012 22:58:14 GMT

That's show biz. The woman who has helped fill summer nights in Cal Anderson Park with quirky, campy and queer cinema is moving on to a new role. Three Dollar Bill Cinema has announced that executive director Rachel Brister is leaving the non-profit to join the Greater Seattle Business Association. Details on her move -- and this summer's slate of Brister-inspired flicks planned for Cal Anderson -- below.

Brister, left, is moving on (Image: Three Dollar Bill Cinema)

Brister is leaving Three Dollar, a Capitol Hill-based organizer of film festivals and events highlighting the LGBT community, after eight years to join the influential GSBA. The association, a self-described "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) and Allied business and professional chamber of commerce," touts a membership of more than 1,000 Seattle-area businesses and organizations and an annual budget of nearly $1 million.

Meanwhile, 2012 marked the 17th year for Three Dollar Bill Cinema's Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival.

As for what she'll bring to the GSBA from her years coordinating gay film and events on Capitol Hill, Brister said it has been a lesson in giving.

"I've learned how important it is to do events for your community," she said. "It's really nice to be able to just give something back."

Brister tells CHS she'll continue to be busy in the Capitol Hill community -- she currently serves on the community council among her non-cinematic activities. More from Brister on her move in a statement sent out by Three Dollar Bill, below.

For now, you can plan to celebrate Brister's new gig and outdoor cinema with this summer's Cal Anderson roster. Stay tuned for

PEE-WEE'S BIG ADVENTURE -- July 27th
VIVA LAS VEGAS' -- August 3rd
THE WIZARD OF OZ -- August 10th
THE ADVENTURES OF PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT -- August 17th

The theme? Road trip. Films start on the darker end of dusk in the southeast corner of Cal Anderson Park. You can learn more at threedollarbillcinema.org.

CHS is a longtime community partner of Three Dollar Bill Cinema.

"Deciding 8 years ago to move across the country to become the Executive Director of Three Dollar Bill Cinema is the best decision that I have ever made. I love Seattle and I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know so many wonderful parts of Seattle's LGBT and film communities. I am grateful to call myself a member of those communities. I have felt welcome since my first day on the job and I can't thank the Three Dollar Bill Cinema Board and staff enough for welcoming me then with such open arms.

It is almost impossible for me to sum up my feelings around leaving Three Dollar Bill Cinema. This decision was not at all an easy one to make. Three Dollar Bill Cinema has shaped my life in Seattle and my position has taught me so much about what it means to truly work for a community and a cause. I have worked with an amazing, dedicated, and supportive staff and Board of Directors. I have been humbled by the size and skill of Three Dollar Bill Cinema's volunteer corps. And I have been in awe of Three Dollar Bill Cinema's growing and enthusiastic audiences year after year. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to guide and grow Three Dollar Bill Cinema to where it is today. I look forward to this organizations very bright future.

I am thrilled to be joining the staff of another organization that combines a community and a cause, the Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA). The intersection of business and philanthropy is something that has always been important to me. My new position of Deputy Director will allow me the opportunity to combine business development and community leadership to expand economic opportunities for the LGBT community and those who support equality for all.

I'd like to thank the staff, Board of Directors, and volunteers of Three Dollar Bill Cinema, as well as the Greater Seattle community for the opportunity to work with an organization that I love dearly for the past 8 years. I feel so fortunate to have been given this opportunity.

My passion for Three Dollar Bill Cinema, its mission and programs will never waiver. Thank you all for the support you have given to this organization and to me over the past 8 years. I look forward to seeing all of you in the audience at the next Three Dollar Bill Cinema screening."

Capitol Hill food+drink | Re-inventing a Capitol Hill steakhouse, May anniversaries

jseattle<noreply@www.capitolhillseattle.com> — Mon, 21 May 2012 20:23:15 GMT

This is your Manhattan without Drugs (Image: Manhattan)

Want to be a CHS silent partner? Or a loud one? Send us a tip.

One of the most interesting stories of the Capitol Hill food and drink economy over the last three years has been the rise of Laura Olson and Chris Pardo as some of the most active innovators in the scene. In relatively rapid succession, the duo's Pterodactyl Group has opened Po Dog, Auto Battery, Grim's, Manhattan Drugs and, now, The Social/EVO Tapas on Capitol Hill. CHS fields rumors on a semi-regular basis of plans for more. For now, however, there will be less.

Olson and Pardo are out at 12th Ave steakhouse concept Manhattan Drugs leaving a man in control of the restaurant who, until now, had been a silent partner in the project funding the restaurant from its beginning. Though, really, remaining Manhattan partner Jin Park remains silent, at least as far as CHS is concerned. We talked to a representative for the investor turned restauranteur to ask about what happened and what's next at the restaurant -- now re-dubbed to a simplified, and focused Manhattan.

"What you're going to see are very subtle shifts," Park's rep told CHS. "We think it should represent a higher focus for fine dining."

"It's been known for drinking and fun place to be -- that was what Pterodactyl is known so well for," he said. "There needs to be a higher focus placed on fine dining. There was a bit to be desired on that front."

That last part is probably an understatement. You can give this brutal review from the Seattle Weekly a read for a taste of what was was amiss at the Drugs-incarnation of the restaurant.

To achieve the goal of producing a higher quality experience, the re-energized Manhattan plans to do more to empower the people running its kitchen to succeed. It's part of the reason Park is staying out of the spotlight -- chef Khampaeng Panyathong should have a chance to shine.

Meaty issues at play at Manhattan (Image: Manhattan)

The plan, the representative said, is to give the executive chef "complete control" of the menu to allow the chef to be "more inspired" and bring "more fun elements" to the offerings. "The old menu was more represenatitive of what other steakhouses around town had," the representative said. You can expect more surprises with the new slate.

"The main face is KP," the rep said of the new Manhattan.

Other parts of the plan are more about making a deeper investment in Manhattan as a fine dining experience. There are plans for a more up-to-date selection of wines and pairings. Manhattan also plans to invest in its staff. "We brought in some new staff with more experience in fine dining establishments," the rep said.

More experience can cost more. The rep also insists Manhattan's new ways will maintain the restaurant's current price points.

"We just want to make sure that the restaurant and its space can be as succesful as possible," the rep said. "It fills a niche but at the same time we want to be hitting price points and quality. If those things require a larger investment, so be it but I don't want to get into that."

We first reported on the plan for Manhattan Drugs last September. Just before New Year's, the new joint snuck under the 2011 wire and debuted.

The new Manhattan is very careful not to trash its old self -- the rep wouldn't comment on why these kinds of initiatives weren't part of the restaurant from the start.

But the break-up of the partnership was certainly never in the plans. "Things changed as events happened," the rep said and would not comment further.

Via email, Pardo told CHS only "our vision for the direction of the restaurant differed."

"We love the space and wish them success in all their endeavors," Pardo wrote.

Manhattan and Auto Battery are CHS advertisers.

Speaking of The Social, here are pictures from the new dance club's first Friday night.

Cure's new patio seating is ready once the rain goes away. Plus, new happy hour menu.

(Image: Cure)

Our food and drink coverage didn't become so, what would you call it... comprehensive until 2009. So our source for determining May birthdays is a little shallow. Holler if there are birthday boys and girls we're missing. In the meantime, Capitol Hill congratulations to Healeo (2009), Porchlight (2009), Highline (2010), Sitka & Spruce(moved to Hill in 2010), Elysian Capitol Hill (1996), Sun Liquor (2006?), Marjorie (2010), The Confectional (2011),Artusi (2011), and Skillet (2011).
Off Hill, celebrate 20 years of Cafe Flora.

Free burgers Memorial Day Monday at Li'l Woody's.
Stranger's Bethany Jean Clement manages to deliver another brutal review of a Capitol Hill restaurant with compassion and, dare we way it, love.
Canon nominated for something else.
3 of Seattle's top 10 waffles can be found on Capitol HIll or in the CD.
Yes, somebody held up Capitol HIll's take-and-bake Zaw Pizza.
Poppy does TV:
Nope, we don't know what happened to the "new owner" for Pike Street Beer.
The Broadway state liquor store rights are back on the auction block.
Barrio is celebrating "Heat Week" with a jalapeno eating contest on June 9th.
Plum is looking for people interested in joining a CSA to bring Hand-Farmed Organics to Capitol Hill.
Marjorie has a new chef.
Want to pretend you're Molly Moon? Here's how to make her salted caramel ice cream. Without a machine.

This week's CHS food+drink advertiser directory

Bimbos -- Web/Twitter/Facebook
Coastal Kitchen -- Web/Twitter/Facebook
Fuel Coffee -- Web/Twitter/Facebook
High 5 Pie -- Web/Twitter/Facebook
Honeyhole -- Web/Facebook
Marination Station -- Web/Twitter/Facebook
Monsoon -- Web/Twitter/Facebook
Poppy -- Web/Twitter/Facebook
Poquitos -- Web/Twitter/Facebook
Little Water Cantina -- Web/Twitter/Facebook

Auto Battery - Web/Twitter/Facebook
Poco Wine Room -- Web/Twitter/Facebook
Big Mario's -- Web/Twitter/Facebook
Lobby -- Web/Twitter/Facebook
Tommy Gun -- Web/Twitter/Facebook
Ba Bar -- Web/Twitter/Facebook
Manhattan -- Web/Twitter/Facebook
Other Coast -- Web/Twitter/Facebook
Roanoke Tavern -- Web/Twitter/Facebook
Thomas St. Creperie -- Web/Twitter/Facebook
Sugar Bakery -- Web/Twitter/Facebook

Police looking for suspect who woman says strangled her in Capitol Hill attack

jseattle<noreply@www.capitolhillseattle.com> — Mon, 21 May 2012 16:47:02 GMT

Seattle Police are looking for this man who a woman says attacked her in a frightening incident in late April on Capitol Hill. Details on the attack and the attacker's description from SPD are below. We'll follow up with more as we learn it.

Seattle police need your help identifying a man who attacked a woman on Capitol hill last month.

On April 28, 2012, the victim made plans to meet a friend at a club near Boylston Avenue E. and E. Olive Way. At approximately 10:30 p.m.,the victim parked her car near a coffee shop on E. Olive Way. The victim was using a GPS App on her phone to navigate her way from her car to the club.

The suspect approached the victim at E. Olive Wy and offered to escort her to the club. They walked eastbound on E. Olive Wy. He led her northbound on Belmont Av E. and then turned eastbound on E. Thomas St. The victim looked at her phone and realized they were going in the opposite direction of the club. The suspect led her into an alley off of E. Thomas St and said this would get them back toward the club.

The suspect had a lanyard, attached to keys, hanging out of his pants pocket. When the two walked into the alley, the suspect fell a step behind the victim. He dropped his lanyard/keys onto the ground. The suspect picked up his lanyard/keys, reached over the victim’s head, wrapped the lanyard around her neck, and began to strangle her from behind.

The victim fell backward on to the ground and the suspect straddled her, pinning her to the ground. The suspect punched the victim in the head and face. The victim fought back. She punched the suspect several times in his face and believes the keys she had in her hand may have cut his face. The suspect covered the victim’s mouth with his right hand, and she bit down on that hand. The suspect then ran off northbound through the alley toward E. Thomas Street.

The suspect is described as a white male, 23-25 years old, 5’09 tall, 170 pounds, slender build, dirty blond or strawberry blonde hair with a short buzz cut. He was wearing a white baseball cap, beige “Members Only” jacket, beige/khaki work pants (similar to Dickie’s brand), white tennis shoes (with white soles).

The suspect may have lacerations to his face and a bite wound on the inside of his right hand.

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of this suspect or information about this incident is asked to call the Seattle Police Department Sexual Assault tip line at 206-684-4882. Anonymous tips are welcome.

9:54AM - UPDATE - According to police, the woman did not report the April 28th crime immediately because she was too traumatized by the incident. She was later convinced by friends to contact police and reported the crime two weeks ago. We're checking with SPD to find out more about the delay in getting out the bulletin.

10:01AM - UPDATE - According to the report, the woman said she believes her attacker intended to sexually assault her. She told police she went to the hospital the day after the attack because of swelling, bruising and soreness but was not admitted. The victim told police her injuries were not visible when the report was taken.

2:34PM - UPDATE - We asked SPD about the timing of the release of the sketch weeks after the victim reported the crime and even further from April 28th. A SPD spokesperson tells us there was no new information in the investigation that lead to the release of the sketch and that the timing was a function of the victim's availability to provide information for the suspect sketch to be created.

Capitol Hill community groups fighting Seattle's 'corner store' reforms

BCC<noreply@www.capitolhillseattle.com> — Mon, 21 May 2012 13:05:03 GMT

Keep retail off Capitol Hill's residential streets. That was the message attendees at Thursday's Capitol Hill Community Council meeting will send to city officials in the coming days.

“The development community has a interest in controlling as much space as possible,” said Hill resident Oliver Osborne at the meeting. “It has nothing to do with the needs of the community.”

Debate over the city council's Regulatory Reform package took up the bulk of the Capitol Hill Community Council's most recent meeting Thursday night. Included in a long list of tweaks, updates and economic enhancements to Seattle's development and planning code, the 67-page zoning overhaul would also enable small commercial and retail outfits to permeate off arterial roads into areas of the Hill many consider residential.

A map of zoning changes being circulated by a Capitol Hill group opposing Regulatory Reform. Click for larger version

The major complaint voiced at the CHCC meeting was that the proposed ordinance would open the door to unwanted and unforeseen commercial uses. Concerns were raised over increased noise and traffic on residential streets due to deliveries and garbage pickups.

The 30 community members in attendance unanimously passed the following resolution in opposition to the proposal :

RESOLUTION

We are deeply concerned about the proposal to bring commercial uses into the heart of our neighborhood currently pending before the Seattle City Council’s Planning, Land Use and Sustainability (PLUS) committee.

We oppose this commercialization proposal.

We ask PLUS and the Seattle City Council:

(1) Not to adopt the proposal; and

(2) To engage the residents of affected neighborhoods in an open, serious, frank discussion of the pros and cons of various options in an effort to achieve consensus.

Adopted by unanimous vote this 17th day of May, 2012.

Seattle Gay News publisher and CHCC officer George Bakan said he would present the letter at the council's Planning, Land Use and Sustainability committee meeting, this Wednesday at 9:30a. The committee will be discussing the reforms and taking public comment.

For some, part of the problems with the Regulatory Reform package has been the way the proposed changes were created -- you can hear from one member of the roundtable of developers, planners and community members right here -- and how they've been communicated to the neighborhood's they will impact the most.

At a Seattle City Council committee meeting earlier this month, land use chair person Richard Conlin said many concerns were being overstated. "I have to say, I think it is going to make some modest changes that I think will be generally positive," he said.

A group calling itself the Capitol Hill Coalition has also formed to oppose the reform package. You may have seen these flyers posted on utility poles around the neighborhood by the group. According to the coalition's web site, its goal is to eliminate the provisions around introducing commercial zoning to certain lowrise and midrise areas around the city. The long-empty John Court development retail that we looked at here -- What's wrong with the retail space at John Court? -- last sumer is one of the group's "poster boys" for why Regulatory Reform's commercial zoning changes aren't needed on the Hill.

Regulatory Reform Smaller Images

While the Regulatory Reform package's retail changes are part of a citywide set of laws, with the focus around "urban centers" and "station area overlays," Capitol Hill holds the lion's share of the land where the new zoning laws would be applicable. There are also opportunities the amendment creates that most anybody could get behind -- more cafes on the edge of Cal Anderson Park, for example. The Regulatory Reform package also has other important amendments for Capitol Hill including a loosening of the rules around temporary uses to be more "micro-business" and pop-up friendly.

A community council working group, open to all community members, is slated to meet May 31 at 6p in the Cal Anderson shelter house to discuss further action.

In other CHCC news:

Elections: The Capitol Hill Community Council will hold officer elections during its next meeting, July 19th at 6 p.m. at the Cal Anderson Shelter House. Most current officers are not seeking reelection. Anyone who lives in Capitol Hill, as defined in the council's bylaws, is eligible to run.
Marriage equality: The group discussed passing a resolution in support of marriage equality. It was tabled until the next meeting.

The Capitol Hill Community Council is open to everyone who lives and works on Capitol Hill. Meetings are held at the Cal Anderson Shelter House on the third Thursday of every other month. For more information visit capitolhillcommunitycouncil.org.

When light rail is complete, should it be Capitol Hill Station or Broadway Station?

CHS Staff<noreply@www.capitolhillseattle.com> — Mon, 21 May 2012 13:27:09 GMT

In addition to vigorous debate over potential changes to the city's zoning laws around small commercial development in residential areas of Seattle, the most recent Capitol Hill Community Council meeting also revealed an important naming decision moving forward with Sound Transit's U-Link project that will bring light rail to Capitol Hill by 2016. As we see, it you have two choices -- and it's a pretty big deal as far as the long-term "brand" of the light rail line and the neighborhood go.

Should it be Capitol Hill Station -- or Broadway Station?

Here's what a Sound Transit community rep who couldn't make the meeting provided in email form to the council outlining the station naming proposals currently being considered by the agency:

All the tunneling for the projects is complete! ST will now focus on construction of cross-tunnel passages between the two tunnels for ventilation and emergency/safety exits. At some point this coming summer, the ST board will adopt formal station names for the University Link and North Link projects. The proposed station names are: Capitol Hill Station, University of Washington Station (Husky Stadium), U-District Station (Brooklyn), Roosevelt Station and Northgate Station. If the community has any comments about the proposed station names, please contact Wilbert Santos at wilbert.santos@soundtransit.org.

With the main tunnel boring work completed on the three-mile line connecting downtown to Montlake via Capitol HIll, effort on the project will turn to focus more on the construction of the stations at Husky Stadium and on Broadway between John and Denny. The work to shape the transit oriented development that will accompany the construction of the station will also ramp up. Last summer, the City Council was banging out an agreement with Sound Transit to provide a framework of specific community guidelines for the process to open up development around the station. With those contracts coming up for bids, expect the public process to kick back into gear.

While the potential names for the station might seem rather dull and generic, there are some important long-term implications for the area from a "brand" perspective. In Capitol Hill Station, Sound Transit delivers a resource that embodies the neighborhood as a whole and is instantly recognizable as a general location throughout the city and region. Broadway Station would be a more focused decision and, in that focus, has the potential to help continue to lift up an important Seattle thoroughfare and the idea of Broadway as an independent entity in the city. Or, yeah, maybe it's just about picking the most clear and easy to understand name for the project. Your call.

By the year 2030, Sound Transit project that the ~~Capitol Hill StationBroadway Station~~ station on Broadway on Capitol Hill will serve some 14,000 daily riders.

Capitol Hill Cooks | Salted caramel ice cream inspired by 10th/Pine (+made with fork, pan)

Em<noreply@www.capitolhillseattle.com> — Sun, 20 May 2012 13:00:38 GMT

I always thought that you needed an ice cream maker to make ice cream. Not so! I’m not saying this recipe is a completely casual undertaking, given the daredevil feat of making a dark amber caramel. But once that's done, all you need are a pan and a fork and a bit of freezer space to produce a perfectly creamy scoop of Molly Moon's salted caramel ice cream at home.

(Images: Em)

I remember a time, not so long ago, when it was more difficult to stumble across an ice cream shop on Capitol Hill. Hard to believe, maybe, now that they seem to be on every corner, but it’s true. I imagine that all of you began making your own ice cream at home in those dark days, as did I, and I see no reason to stop just because we now have so many excellent ice cream purveyors in the neighborhood. As everyone knows, there’s no such thing as too much ice cream.

Luckily, just in time for summer, the new Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream cookbook makes this salted caramel recipe, and many others, available to home cooks on Capitol Hill and beyond. The book has all the classic and quirky flavors you've come to expect of Molly Moon’s. Scout mint? Check. Baby beet sorbet? Indeed. Honey lavender? Oh, yes.

But salted caramel is the shop's iconic flavor, far and away the most popular. And after making a batch of it this week, I was reminded of why it’s such an enduring favorite. (Not YOUR favorite yet? A perk of making it at home is that you can control the darkness of the caramel and the amount of salt. I highly recommend following the recipe as written, but nobody will know if you want to dial it down a bit in the privacy of your own home.) So whether you have a fancy ice cream maker or just a fork, this recipe is for you. Salted caramel ice cream for the masses.

Salted Caramel Ice Cream
Adapted from Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream (makes 1 to 1 ½ qts.)

1/8 tsp. freshly-squeezed lemon juice
1 ½ c. sugar
1 Tb. butter
3 c. heavy cream
1 c. whole milk
1 Tb. kosher salt

Have your ingredients measured and beside the stove before you start making your caramel (except for the salt, which you add later). Put the lemon juice in a light-colored, heavy-bottomed pot and turn the heat to medium-high. Add the sugar ¼ c. at a time, stirring each addition with a wooden spoon until it dissolves completely into liquid. (Some of the sugar may crystalize on the side of your pot, just ignore it.) When all the sugar is added and dissolved, continue to cook, watching like a hawk and stirring occasionally for about 4-6 minutes. During this time, the sugar will caramelize and the color will change from a light golden to a dark amber hue (it may also begin to smoke a bit). Use your eyes, nose, and good sense to decide when you have achieved a dark-but-not-burnt caramel, and immediately lower the heat to medium-low as you trade your wooden spoon for a whisk and whisk in the butter.

When the butter has melted, begin to add the cream and milk verrrry sloooowly. Seriously, slowly. The caramel will steam and bubble and some hard little caramel lumps may form. No worries, keep whisking, be patient, let them dissolve. When the mixture is smooth, remove it from the heat. Pour it into a shallow pan and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least an hour.

Remove the cold creamy pan of deliciousness from the refrigerator and whisk in 1 Tb. (yes, 1 Tb.) kosher salt. Process in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions (I churned mine longer than a usual batch, about 35 minutes, because the salt makes this ice cream so soft). Or if you don’t have an ice cream maker (or if it’s busy churning another flavor already), leave the mixture in the pan and transfer the pan to the freezer. If you’re going the no-ice-cream maker route, stir the mixture thoroughly with a fork every half hour or so until the entire pan of ice cream is a uniform texture (at first it will freeze around the edges, then you will stir it up, then it will freeze around the edges again, etc.).

When your ice cream is ready (it will still be quite soft), transfer it to a sealed freezer container and freeze at least four hours before serving. This ice cream never freezes very hard because of the salt content, so plan to serve and eat it quickly!

Note 1: I thought that the saltiness of this ice cream was perfect. If you find the finished product too salty-tasting, however, serve it over a rich brownie or under a blanket of hot fudge. Now it’s perfect, right?

Note 2: This magic no-ice-cream-maker method works better with this recipe than with others I’ve tried it with. Just a heads up in case you plan to use this method with other recipes: it always works, but usually the texture of ice cream made with the fork-and-pan system is icier/grainer than ice cream made with an ice cream maker. With this recipe, however, the results were indistinguishable.

Capitol Hill Cooks is a home cooking recipe series featuring ingredients, ideas, and recipes from the neighborhood. Have a recipe you think we should share? Drop us a line at chs@capitolhillseattle.com. Em also writes about home cooking at emmycooks.com

Previous Capitol Hill Cooks Posts

Hill Style | Dressed for sun on Broadway

Dana<noreply@www.capitolhillseattle.com> — Sun, 20 May 2012 12:45:39 GMT

Shawn- Broadway & Denny

Shawn had just returned from a backpacking trip through Turkey and Greece when I passed him on Broadway. You might see him on your next train ride down to Portland. He serves the drinks in bar car on the Seattle-Eugene route for Amtrak.

More street style photos at www.itsmydarlin.com

1 Year Ago This Week on Capitol Hill

CHS Staff<noreply@www.capitolhillseattle.com> — Sun, 20 May 2012 12:30:39 GMT

Here are the top posts from this week in 2011: