Last December, our attempt at finding a quiet holiday diversion went horribly wrong. CHS Tourney 2006 was more work than we would have liked. So the question is — do it again?

One of the best things about working in downtown Seattle is the multitude of options for picking up a quick lunch before hustling back to your desk to get that project done ASAP (hi boss!). Getting something fast — and good! — in the ‘hood isn’t always an easy proposition with restaurants that focus more on the linger end of the spectrum than the grab and gulp. Here’s are two recent mentions of speedy chow options:

• Vios pops up in Seattle Times run-down of great take-out:
  Farther north on Capitol Hill at Vios Cafe & Marketplace (www.vioscafe.com), cumin-scented chickpea and octopus salad is available by the pound ($13/lb.): wonderful.
• Meanwhile, the Capitol Hill Triangle blog sends out lov-re to Madison’s Philly Fevre

When working in the neighborhood, my usual go-to is a grilled sandwich at Victrola. You?

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

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

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

Business outside the ‘hood here. Sound Transit just plopped this survey into our inbox probing the failure of Prop 1:

After the defeat of Proposition 1, the Roads & Transit package, Sound Transit is seeking suggestions on next steps and how best to approach the way the agency should (or should not) proceed on investing in mass transit. To gather this input, Sound Transit has contracted with an independent research firm (Cocker Fennessy) and prepared a brief, anonymous online survey http://www.surveymonkey.com/soundtransit

The survey systematically drills in on the various reasons the proposition was defeated and also seems to be taking our collective temperature regarding mounting similar efforts in the near term. Recommend you take the time to weigh in — took me 7 minutes to buzz through — and help ST figure out what the heck it’s going to do with the Prop 1 mess. For all of its problems, Sound Transit is making some progressive moves in communication and gathering feedback. Now let’s see if they can find a way to pay for a transportation system.

Miller Park neighbor Andrew Taylor knows how things get done in this city. He’s posted a cool map and rundown of Miller Park area street improvements that not only documents the upgrades in his neighborhood but shines the spotlight on the neighbors who did the work to make the projects happen. Lucky for us, we share a border zone with Miller Park so we get to benefit from these improvements too.

Traffic circles rock. I want several on Aloha. But remember the traffic circle driving rules, please.

Friendly neighborhood poetry slinger hillku asks:

Which street is below
the flight path into Sea-Tac?
My vote is 18th.

CHS answers:

Um, it’s 19th, actually.

CHS don’t do haiku.

At 453 feet of elevation above Elliott Bay-level, Volunteer Park ticks in at #5 on Seattle’s top elevations list a few rungs below Queen Anne’s 456. Get out there and start your snow dance, children. Doubt you’ll need the CHS Ultimate Volunteer Park Sledding Map, however.

For all of our, um, Tacoma readers out there, I’m taking part in the South Sound Technology Conference tomorrow. Per usual, I’m talking about rocket science neighborhood blogging. I’ll be hanging with Adam Smith (the congress guy not the invisible hand guy), pimping CHS and saying things like “defining place,” “building community,” and “sorry, I curse when I’m nervous.” I’ll also be talking up my new world building a nationwide network of neighborhood blogs with MyZip.net. Should be good times.

This week’s eye-pleasing extractions from our CHS flickr pool we dedicate to all you pretty people submitting photos gorgeous, strange and squirrelly. Thanks and keep them coming. If you’re not feeling too grinchy, we’d especially love some neighborhood holiday shots.

We’re tempted to call bullshit on this, but dude made a graphic logo for his blog and everything:

j/k: I need you and your readers’ help!

I’m a 15th-dweller and I’m starting a new blog called Hash Things Out wherein I explore the magical world of Seattle’s corn beefed hash dishes (and in turn, my own self, of course). I’m on the lookout for restaurants nearby that have hash on their breakfast menus. Any suggestions from you or your readers would be much appreciated.

Best,
A.W. Hilst

So, we’ll leave it to you, neighbors. Call bullshit or share your tightly guarded secrets on where you procure tasty corned beef hash?