seadevi

• La Spiga Haiti Benefit Wednesday February 10: $25 suggested donation (all proceeds go to Haiti) - call 206.323.8881 to reserve
• Chungee's soft opening today at 3 pm, Grand Opening on Saturday 2/13
• Still introduces a generous happy hour daily from 5 to 7 pm;  $4 wells, $2 Tecate, plus a buck off signature drinks
• Unicorn also introduces a daily happy hour - 5 to 6:30: $1.50 corndogs, $5.50 shots of Jameson, $2 PBR tallboys
• Cute overload from CHS Sponsor Fuel Coffee/High 5 Pies: Heart-shaped Flipsides $3.25 and Piepops $1.25

• New Belgium's Ranger IPA available at Moe Bar - will also get you free ticket for tonight's Mudhoney show (purchase not necessary for admission but will give you priority)
• Chili Basil space to be occupied by new Jup Jup Jup Thai Restaurant
• Via Uncle Vinny, we learned that Bhima's (the crepe place by the North Broadway QFC) has closed

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A few options:
Vermillion (where yours truly will likely be):
Super Bowl Party this Sunday, 2/7 2:30pm: FREE food (w/ beverage: Chicken wings, sloppy Joes, nachos, meatballs, salads) and drink specials (Firefly Sweet Tea vodka - $3.50!)

Chao Bistro: one thing we know about Chao - they have lots of televisions and they're not afraid of using them.  I recall interviewing them early on, when they insisted to me that the purpose of the monitors would be to display digital art.

Standbys on the Hill such as the Canterbury, the Elite, the Hopvine, 22 Doors, Redwood, and the Elysian.

One Capitol Hill lounge was a mite too early in hosting a Post-Super Bowl Party last week. 

Let me know if you have other suggestions in the comments.

UPDATE:

CHS Sponsor The Lookout is offering 2 hot dogs for $5

R Place's Super Bowl celebration includes a benefit for the Emerald City Softball Association and a clothing drive for Haiti:

Retrofit Home, a contemporary furnishings and craft store, currently nestled between Pacific Supply and La Spiga is moving two blocks northwest to the southeast corner of 11th & Pike (former home of Aria). Jön Milazzo, a co-owner of the store with Lori Pomeranz, told CHS that Retrofit expects to occupy the new location in late May/early June.   Jön explained that the...

"new space fits the direction that our store has evolved into, that of a neighborhood-y department store, as we sell furniture, furnishings, lighting, rugs, gifts, womens accessories and jewelry... plus it has room for office and storage, we are oh so HAPPY to have more storage."

After 5 years we are SO excited to be reinventing the store. we've noticed and paid attention to what our neighborhood seems to want(so keep telling us, we do listen!). we just got back from an 'inspiration' trip to NYC and in addition to seeing some really cool stuff, we discovered that we look pretty darn good in comparison, our whole neighborhood does!we're bringing in some fantastic new lines with some really great lower prices.and we need a fabulous tenant for our current space(it would make an awsome bar/restaurant) so feel free to find us one, ha!

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs just released an update on the humanitarian situation in Haiti.  In sum, the UN OCHA states the following:

Over 3 million people were affected by the earthquake.  Over 112,000 people are confirmed killed and another nearly 200,000 injured. The bottom line is that aid is flowing into Haiti, but it is still a challenge to reach everyone in need.   

Locally, CHS Sponsor Coastal Kitchen raised $2100(earmarked for Haiti) for Mercy Corps a few weeks ago .  As you can tell from the update above though, continuing aid will be needed to alleviate the humanitarian crisis. 

Other Capitol Hill businesses are stepping forward.  This Saturday February 6, Molly Moon's will be donating all proceeds, all day to Partners in Health.  This offer is good at both their Wallingford and Capitol Hill locations.  Molly Moon herself will be serving up scoops at the Capitol Hill location at 9 am (along with very special guest Congressman Jim McDermott).  Some more info regarding the day from Molly Moon herself:

I just wanted to let you all know that this Saturday, February 6th is International Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day. (I'm not even making it up!)  Molly Moon's has an ice cream & oatmeal breakfast every weekend morning, but this morning is special.  We are donating all sales from the entire day to Haiti relief organization Partners in Health, AND for your own health, we are serving Maple BACON Ice Cream on top of piping hot bowls of local, steel-cut oatmeal.  (You can choose another flavor if you really want.)

La Spiga will also be hosting a generous fundraiser for Haiti next week.  On Wednesday February 10, 2010, La Spiga will donate 100% of  the funds raised to Haiti.  The event will take place in La Spiga's mezzanine.  For a suggested donation of $25 per person, guests will receive a full Italian buffet dinner.  Call 206-323-8881 to reserve. 

Did you know there's a Nutella day?  Did you know it's a holiday?  According to Faire, February 5 is both World Nutella Day and a holiday.  They're celebrating with all day Nutella specials beginning at 10 am.  

The Seattle Home to all things Nutella is celebrating the most important Holiday of the year! World Nutella Day is Friday, February 5th and we are pulling out the stops. Faire will offer an array of Nutella goodies for sale; from Nutella on Toast, Nutella on Croissant, Nutella Bruschetta, Nutella Truffles and more. And our famous drinks the Nutella Mocha, Hot Cocoa or the New Nutella Martini will be making taste buds swoon!!!! Bring your friends and family to share your tasty memories in our Nutella Memory Box. Then at 9pm the party gets started with DJ DEM Dirty on the turntables!!! We end the night with the Ultimate Chocolate Dance Party, Hot Beats and sexy treats! This day only comes once a year, so don't miss it!!! See you there Nutella Lovers!!!

We have been reporting on Liz Dunn's Melrose Project (on Melrose between Pine and Pike) in a piecemeal fashion and wanted to provide a comprehensive update this new year.  The marquee tenant we learned about first was Matt Dillon's Sitka and Spruce.  Herbfarm alumnus Matt Dillon is also the mind behind the celebrated Corson Building.  Dillon closed Sitka and Spruce's Eastlake location on 12/30/09 and hopes to open on Capitol Hill in March 2010.  Eastlake need not feel bereft, as Dillon will maintain a presence there with Nettletown, which may be the sandwich shop he hinted at last year.  Dillon had also speculated on opening an oyster bar, but we have been unable to confirm whether this is still envisioned.     

What about a sandwich shop for Capitol Hill you ask?  Homegrown Sandwiches announced that they will be opening their second location at the Melrose Project (currently, they have a Fremont outpost).  Homegrown is a purveyor of sustainable sandwiches (mostly organic, mostly local ingredients), that was founded by kindergarten buddies Ben Friedman and Brad Gillis.  Asked whether the Capitol Hill location will differ from the Fremont one, here is Ben's response:

Homegrown on Capitol Hill will be pretty much the same as Fremont, except with a late night menu (for the weekends, at the very least). Also, we would love to incorporate some of the products from the other businesses in the Melrose Market - so there might be some cool meats and cheeses coming are (sic) way from Rain Shadow meats and Calf & Kid cheeses.

Homegrown hopes to open "before June."

Homegrown will join cheese shop Calf & Kid in a wall-less part of the project.  We asked Calf and Kid's owner Sheri LaVigne for an update on her cheese shop.  She now estimates an opening date in April due to delays in Health Department reviews.  Calf and Kid and Homegrown will join a butcher shop called Rain Shadow Meats, and an organic farm and flower shop called Marigold and Mint.

As for Terra Plata, Tamara Murphy of Brasa's more casual eatery, she had hoped to have the Capitol Hill eatery open by March 2010.  However, due to delays in renovation and build out, we understand that the opening date may get pushed to later in the Spring. 

Correction: According to Dunn & Hobbes, the previous historic photo was of the Booker Building (home to Machiavelli).  Above is the correct historic photo of the Melrose 

Any other take out place you've noticed still doing the same?

With Still Liquor opening last week, Seattle University's The Spectator took the opportunity to survey speakeasies on the Hill:

Tavern Law: "If you want to get tanked while studying Tort (sic), Tavern Law is the place for you. But a spot on The Bar is practically a requisite for frequent entry; their beverages don’t mix well with your typical college budget."

The HIdeout: "Though the patrons don’t conform to any trend, The Hideout is shamelessly a hip locale . . . If Moe Bar were more expensive and less flooded with inebriated hipsters, it would be The Hideout."

Knee High: "If your wallet ever feels overstuffed, Knee High Stocking Co. is worth checking out at least once. If nothing else, the doorbell shtick is priceless, and a few of their signature drinks will make even “Free Bird” sound like perfect background music for 'secret' drinking."

Chez Gaudy: "Gaudy also has amazing ambience. Everything about it suits its name: chez makes for luxury, gaudy makes for gaudiness."

A fun set of reviews for the most part though chez is to luxury as . . .

We first learned of Hill Poems last year, when the collected poets gave a reading at Hugo House.  We were reminded about this compilation of poems by a recent Reading Local Seattle post.  Reviewer Amy Schrader had this to say about Hill Poems: 

I like the physical feel of this collection. It contains black and white photos of the Capitol Hill area (Dick’s Drive-In, Broadway Rite Aid, night-lit streets slick with rain) alongside the poetry. The overall effect is to bring to mind a half-mad guerrilla poet xeroxing pages of poems to hand out on the street at 2 a.m., and this has always secretly been my (perhaps overly-romanticized) impression of Capitol Hill.

Many of the black and white photos seem to have been taken during Snowpocalypse 2008.  The small pamphlet is replete with familiar Hill images: passengers on the bus, skateboarders and cyclists, homeless people and land use permits.  One of my favorite poems in the collection was "4 columns in the flailing light" by Chris Dusterhoff, which is filled with syncopated rhythm:

and it begins like anything begins

a leaky faucet a toothache

a divorce

this feeling that I am wrong

have been doing this too long

 

4 columns and the flailing light

 

good people

I'm failing

 The editors, Steve Barker and Nicole Lowman preface the collection with the following:

The Hill is changing.  Skyscrapers are launching throughout the neighborhood.  The Light Rail is on the way, moving some small business owners and closing others down. The individuality and personality is less evident every day. Sure, these changes will create a whole new personality, but different from the one we fell in love with. We wanted to capture the Hill, as we know it now, before it's gone forever.

Other  poets featured in  Hill Poems include Erin Foran, Amanda S. Halm, Heidi Heimarck, Brian McGuigan, Michael Ricciardi, Alexandra Rossetter, Mercedes Sanchez and Monica Schley.  To get yourself a copy (per comment below), visit Pilot Books on the Hill or Open Books in Wallingford.

Capitol Hill resident and long time business owner on the Hill (not to mention a CHS sponsor) Leslie Lippi answered some questions for us on her reasons for moving B-BAM off Capitol Hill.  She also reveals some of her favorite food and drink places on Capitol Hill:

I understand that B-Bam may be moving?  If so, have you been able to find space to relocate to?  

Yes -- we are moving on up to a deluxe office in the sky (just kidding it's on the water). 

we are moving our offices and showroom to Lake Union - Westlake Ave N. We have a beautiful space with a 180 degree view right on the water and its all windows and gorgeous! We are very excited. We will only be taking RETAIL orders via our website www.b-bam.com. Corporate customers or any customers interested in placing large bulk orders can set up a meeting at our new offices. Please email us at info@b-bam.com or call us 206-329-0499.

What are the reasons for the move?

We need more space and a different type of space.  80% of our business is corporate or large orders. 20% is retail one-off orders and of that 20% only 10% walk into our retail location. We are moving to a non-retail location. It's at the end of a pier on Lake Union and has great office and showroom space as well as production but we will no longer have a retail or walk in location. All retail orders will have to be placed online and shipped out. 

Your thoughts on Capitol Hill changing (some say becoming more gentrified) . . . has it been good for business?

I have had a business and lived on capitol hill since 1991 so I have seen a lot of changes. And, in the end, change is almost always good! The businesses and the landscape has changed significantly but the people and the attitudes are still as great as ever and that is what makes capitol hill special.

Some memorable slogans people have printed on their t-shirts?

Most people print inside jokes on their t-shirts so while it's hilarious to them and their friends - you and I have no idea what they are talking about. ;)

Where you like to get a cup of coffee/tea in the neighborhood?

gosh... so many good ones oddfellows, cafe petit rosa, and vita. 

Favorite place to lunch in the neighborhood . . .

rancho bravo tacos, and honey hole

Favorite place for cocktail - your favorite cocktail

I love Makers Mark Manhattans!! and I think they love me back. There are so many great places for a cocktail on the hill.... Barrio, Quinns, Lobby Bar, Wildrose, Tin Table and more! 

How important is it to have an online presence for your business?

It is very important. And moving forward it will be even more important since that is how we will process all of our orders.

Any information you would like to share with our readers . . .

B-BAM! <3 Cap Hill and although we will no longer be working up here - we will be living and playing here until the end of our days!