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Several of you agreed with me that Capitol Hill, particularly the Fancy Pants, could use a yarn store.  I have definitely tried to make Stitches on Pike work for me.  But they are clearly more of a sewing shop than a knit/crochet shop, and their selection just doesn't cut it for some projects (e.g., afghans) since most of their yarns are pretty pricey...

Fun to see so many neighbors last night at our little happy hour event at El Tajin. Don't know if it was the thrill of the forbidden (peppers can kill you), the presence of so many Seattle blog-o-sphere luminaries or our own charming personalities, but a lot of you showed up. Thanks for that -- parties are a lot more fun with a crowd of neighbors.

The...

As online search more and more defines the way we learn about our world and Google more and more defines search, being the first result for a Google search defines success/fail for a web site. For a neighborhood blog, this means earning the top slot for the neighborhood's key keyword. It's an honor. And it's good for bidness.

So it hurts to announce we are giving up our top slot for capitol hill seattle. Go ahead. Search for it. We're gone. We were #1 for over a year. And now we're #30. Page 3.

So, why give up this power, this mark that we were the most useful result for human beings looking to learn about this Seattle neighborhood?

It's the price we pay for our new independence. For our first...

More details to come but I'm told that Volunteer Park will have a "no car" day in August. Volunteer Park doesn't get a lot of traffic so declaring no motor vehicles for a day isn't quite the same as it is for Golden Gate Park in SF or Central Park in NYC but should still be a good excuse to enjoy the VP roadways without fossil-fuel powered wheels. Maybe we'll plan a disco boombox skate group to celebrate -- though hillku would probably make better lead on this.

Ask them about it at tonight's happy hour:

Capitolhillseattle.com Mostly Happy Hour
Date: Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Time:...

We recently wrote about community activist Dennis Saxman mounting a new attack against Pine Street development. Got this note from Saxman that there won't be another parking lot on Pine -- at least not due to a Saxman-inspired development delay:

On Saturday, I received Judge Julie Spector's rulings on my case. The Order had been drafted by opposing counsel. It was not the least bit informative as to why she ruled as she did. Her rulings consisted of: Petitioner failed to meet his burden to establish that the Examiner violated the standards stated in RCW 36.70C.130(a)-(d); Petitioner's Petition is denied and the findings and decision...

Yesterday, C.R. Douglas penned an elegy of sorts to the Starbucks on 15th in Crosscut. I was about to correct him, because he referred to a Starbucks close by that he could walk to as an alternative. Is he aware that the Starbucks on Madison and 22nd is also closing?

When shopping around for a new apartment, we usually ask ourselves, "What's the best apartment I can get given my budget, lifestyle, transportation needs, etc." (Obviously, I've been thinking about apartments a lot recently.) During this hunt, however, we also undoubtedly come across The Worst Apartment For Me.

This would be mine. (Actually, I'm...

Update: Bumping back to top of things to remind everybody about our little get-together Tuesday night. Called El Tajin to confirm that kids are welcome (they are!) and make sure there wasn't any conflicting events with other neighborhood blogs, softball teams or mariachi bands (there aren't!). See you around 5p on Tuesday. As far as continuing the fun, we'll probably wind down at El Tajin around 7p -- at that point, a new leader will be elected to lead you further and farther into the night as I will be passed out in corner. Topic of conversation for Tuesday night: When and where for next event. Early planning means one very important thing: drink deals. Alas, no early planning this time.

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Capitolhillseattle.com contributor seadevi has her own neighborhood site -- Capitol Hill Triangle.

Her latest post notes a change of name for a local business -- Tarragona is now 12th & Olive Wine Tasting. On seadevi's site, the verdict regarding the new name for the little shop located at, um, 12th and Olive is thumbs-down. I vote yes. Give us more names that say exactly what and or where the business is.

Here are some more proposed Capitol Hill business name changes:

• Shop Rite --> 15th & Republican Mystery Junk
• Pho 900 --> Pho 216 Broadway
• War Room --> Pike's Sunny Deck by Day, Obnoxious Boyz Club by Night (long name!)
• Capitol Loans --> Trumpet Shopping at Pine & Belmont

Her shirt says: "We would never be as careless choosing an auto mechanic as we are about who grows our food." ~Michael Pollan.

Yesterday I stopped by the regular open house at No Space and Cairo (I believe they happen every three weeks). The galleries drew a crowd of well-dressed art types that spilled out onto the sidewalks. For the occasion, No Space had a barn entrance constructed. Inside the faux-barn vestibule, a few farm implements and a rabbit skin were hung on the...

Some scenes from today's event including the brilliant re-used fashion show. Congrats to Sustainable Capitol Hill for a great first festival.

UPDATES:
Coverage from the Seattle PI

Pics from the bike-in movie in Cal Anderson Park

My art is being compromised.

We admit it. Last year's award was rigged. We're ready to tell all. To the highest bidder.

In 2007, we were designated Seattle's top neighborhood blog by Seattle Weekly. Last year's award was selected by some SW editor and showed their typical level of editorial judgement.

What we're saying is there's no way we should have won over West Seattle Blog.

In 2008, we're screwed. It looks like the voting for Seattle's top neighborhood blog is being turned over to you, the people. We're not asking for a miracle. We're only asking that you keep it from becoming too amazingly humiliating.

Vote here for Capitolhillseattle.com -- skip to question #12! We'd never stoop so low as voting for ourselves (but beg...

OK, so it's not actually money, but it is a neighborhood discount card from the Seattle Times, that gives you 50% off stuff you might actually want, including (on Capitol Hill):

• Annapurna Cafe, the funky little Nepalese restaurant stuffed into a basement on Broadway
• Jalisco Mexican Restaurant on 15th: Justin may not be a fan but you have to admit it...

The cozy restaurant space across from the Harvard Exit that once housed Bacchus and Coco La Ti Da is finally being reoccupied. Olivar is opening next Tuesday, July 22nd, promising French and Spanish inspired tapas and wines. From the Olivar Web site:

Olivar, the Spanish word for “olive grove”...

Has anyone else noticed a plethora of moths lately?  I see them in my building, in my bathroom, and one crawled out of a saucepan tonight.  Just curious.

Via Hankblog, Shawn Wolfe's show Nauseously Optimistic opens tonight at Wall of Sound:

Opening Reception

Friday, July 18 2008
7PM - 9PM
Wall of Sound
315 East Pine Street...

Catch The Incredible Shrinking Woman on the big screen under the stars (trust us, they're up there) in Cal Anderson park tonight. For free. It's the first of Three Dollar Bill Cinema's Features From the Black Lagoon movie nights scheduled for this summer in the park. Flicks start around 8:30p and Three Dollar Bill sells snacks and rents lawnchairs to help raise funds.

FFtBL Summer 08 Schedule
July 18th -- The Incredible Shrinking Woman
August 1st -- Frogs
August 15th -- The Gang's All Here

My answer: another Thai restaurant to replace the Thai restaurant that obviously didn't work in that space.

Interesting mail from Volunteer Park Cafe this morning. This Sunday, they're hosting a small market. Guess this now justifies their full name -- Volunteer Park Cafe & Marketplace. The lucky neighbors of Fancy Pants who don't want to trek down to Broadway can shop a little closer to home.

Don't know if VPC is planning this as a regular thing. First thing that sparks to mind is it might be successful -- followed quickly by the thought that it might hurt the Broadway market. We'll see if there's room for both. No matter, a trip to Broadway should be in your plans this weekend -- if not for the Broadway market, there's also the Sustainable Capitol Hill festival on Sunday.

Volunteer Park Cafe Sunday...