Monthly Archives: February 2014

With continued Capitol Hill construction and mating season on their minds, mice invade Seattle U campus

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download (12)Last week, our Pikes/Pines nature writer told you how Capitol Hill’s wild kingdom copes with winter. Apparently, we’re about to find out how one squeaky little component of the kingdom is handling the waking of spring. Here’s a bulletin sent out to the Seattle U campus this week:

In the past week the Facilities Resource Center has received numerous calls regarding small mice at various locations around campus. Paratex, Seattle University’s pest control contractor, is responding to the calls and has asked that the following information and tips be shared with the campus community.  Continue reading →

Police investigate reported Capitol Hill rape

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Seattle Police sexual assault detectives are investigating a reported attack of a Capitol Hill woman early last Saturday morning.

According to SPD, police were called to an E Thomas apartment Saturday morning to investigate the reported sex assault and robbery:

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The Seattle Times is reporting an account of the attack provided by the woman’s boyfriend that details an assault by two unknown men in an alley “somewhere between Boylston and Harvard” as she walked from E Pine —

The 21-year-old woman had left Hot Mama’s Pizza, on East Pine Street, around 2 a.m. apparently in search of a restroom, said her boyfriend, who was with her along with other friends. The restrooms used by the late-night pizza shop are closed around 10 p.m. because of security concerns, according to an employee.

The employee said the restrooms, when open, are complicated to get to and require walking into the building’s parking garage.

When the woman failed to return, her boyfriend and other friends searched for her.

The boyfriend told the Times the woman arrived home around 3 AM and reported she had been raped and her phone, passport and credit cards had been stolen. According to SPD, an officer arrived soon after to document the attack and fraudulent use of the credit cards.

There is no physical description of the suspects available. The victim’s boyfriend said the woman told police the attackers were in their 20s and “the two spoke to each other in a foreign language she did not recognize.” SPD has not yet provided further details about the attack or the suspects.

First look: Mezcaleria Oaxaca and 30+ mezcales arrive on Capitol Hill

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(Images: Alex Garland for CHS)

(Images: Alex Garland for CHS)

Earlier this week, CHS was happy to report that the ambitious Capitol Hill location of a new Mezcaleria Oaxaca sister restaurant was ready to open on E Pine in a completely overhauled auto garage:

CHS wrote about the Graham Baba-designed project here in spring 2013. Arriving nearly six months later than originally planned, the enormous 3,000 square-foot restaurant also features a space for rooftop dining — and will offer more mezcales than you’ll know what to do with.

This is what it looks like inside.

CHS visited the new restaurant from the Dominguez-Perez family Thursday night and found the 3,000 square-foot space as snugly filled as the family’s original creation, La Carta de Oaxaca in Ballard. The family matriarch — and head chef — Gloria Perez celebrated La Carta’s 10th anniversary in December, by the way. Her menu for E Pine includes favorites like the tacos dorados and mole negro and prices that should also be favorited by many. Three carne asada tacos for $7? Sold. Meanwhile, we count more than 30 mezcales available behind the bar. Continue reading →

Interchange Media, Capitol Hill’s only* television production studio

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"Tattoos of roots adorn his feet..."

“Tattoos of roots adorn his feet…”

Capitol Hill’s super-green Bullitt Center isn’t producing much of a carbon footprint — but you might be surprised to learn it’s pumping out plenty of reality TV.

Michele Gomes and Jenny Ting have established what might be the only Capitol Hill-based television production studios. Interchange Media recently created its first nationally syndicated shows with The Legend of Mick Dodge, now airing on the National Geographic Channel. The reality show that documents the life of the eponymous wildman that has shunned society in favor of a life spent in the Hoh Rainforest for the last 25 years.

“I was at a solstice party on Whidbey Island, and Mick was actually living on my friend’s property at the time,” Gomes tells CHS. Continue reading →

12th Avenue Square project ready to dig in — Plus: Broadway Hill Park design plans ready

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A conceptual image of 12th Avenue Square Park presented in 2011 (Image: Seattle Parks and Recreation)

A conceptual image of 12th Avenue Square Park presented in 2011 (Image: Seattle Parks and Recreation)

Back in June 2011, CHS posted design meeting plans for a 7,322 square-foot gravel lot on E James Court. It will soon be 12th Avenue Square Park. Now, with funding and a permit in-hand the Department of Parks and Recreations is looking to begin construction by late-spring/early summer and build upon the 564 12th Ave empty lot next to Ba Bar restaurant.

“The acquisition of the space was a community-initiated project from the 2000 Pro Parks Levy Opportunity Fund Project,” said Kerri Stoops of Seattle Parks. The Department of Neighborhoods passed the property to the parks department in 2008 who have acquired a steady flow of funds to get the project rolling that will include a woonerf to run “along James Ct spanning between the 12th Ave Park to the south and the new Seattle University and Seneca group development to the north.”

Meanwhile, a movement to create a Metropolitan Parks District in the city to manage development, operations, and maintenance of Seattle’s parks is making progress as the Seattle Parks Foundation has released its recommendations for the district’s structure:

A Metropolitan Park District would generate revenue dedicated solely to maintaining, operating, and developing a quality parks and recreation system in Seattle. A new MPD is a cornerstone of the plan to sustain Seattle parks because it is the only potential funding source that would be dedicated exclusively to parks. Parks would not have to compete for those funds with other capital priorities such as libraries, fire, transportation, and housing. An MPD would also be easy to implement and could be created by a vote of the people. The funds generated could be integrated into existing budgeting and operating processes, which are governed by city laws and by the parks department’s administrative code.

The district would represent a new taxing authority and the Seattle City Council would serve as its governing board. You can read more about the plan here.

Continue reading →

Seattle throttles back on freelance drivers for car service start-ups

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In a vote that bought established taxi companies time to play catch-up and delayed bigger decisions around the new-era services, a Seattle City Council committee voted Thursday on a compromise solution to cap the number of drivers that can be active on new pro-am car services like UberX, Lyft and Sidecar.

The two-year “pilot” plan approved Thursday will cap the number of drivers on each service at 150 active cars for hire. The vote was the result of an attempt to head off an even more restrictive cap:

Rasmussen was joined by Councilmembers Sally Bagshaw, Tim Burgess, Jean Godden and Sally Clark in voting for the limit, which was a compromise aimed at heading off an effort by other Councilmembers who wanted to cap the total number of drivers across all of the companies at 400.

Councilmembers Mike O’Brien, Kshama Sawant, Nick Licata and Bruce Harrell were those favoring a total limit of 400 drivers.

Local tech news outlet Geekwire claims “nobody is happy” with the vote that follows months of debate — and marketing. On Thursday, some customers of ridesharing service Uber were annoyed by “robo-calls” imploring them to contact officials at City Hall prior to Thursday’s vote. You could press “1” to be connected to the mayor’s office. Representatives for some of the car services have said the caps will force them to pull out of the Seattle market. Others also operate more traditional-styled car networks in the city and won’t see those services affected by the cap on so-called rideshare options that employee freelance drivers.

The full City Council must now vote on the committee-approved legislation.

Hillebrity | Natalie A. Martínez

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 Natalie A. Martínez – Writer

IMG_3933Where do you like to write on and off the Hill?

I like being surrounded by people, objects. White noise and chaos. The smell of coffee and warmth. But I also need a view. A window. I have a few favorite spots in the city. Arabica. Cintli because it feels like I’m in the desert again. The historical Panama Tea House and Hotel in the International District. My room and desk that faces out onto Washington Hall and The Juvenile Detention Center. I love knowing that W.E.B DuBois and Billie Holiday performed there. The Detention Center reminds me of why I teach and write: ongoing injustice.

Place is extremely important to me, because I believe we reactivate spaces’ and their memories. Even objects accumulate resonance. Traffic. Wear and tear. Our affections. Like a coffee cup. Or a table. Or the graffiti marks on cafe window. A storefront’s broken door lock.We have relationships to places because they have memories. And those memories are larger parts of our imaginations. Something incredibly important to a writer. Any artist really. Maybe not everyone thinks about this consciously when they pick a space to work in or write from, but I do. My close friend Henry Quintero once told me I should learn to write uncomfortably. In the most literal sense. Write standing up. On a toilet. Anywhere. He’s probably right. Then you’d feel like you can produce writing under any condition. But, I’m not there yet.

Natalie A. Martínez will be reading with Molly Mac, Jed Murr, Kort Havens, and Brandon Herrell in “reiterations: an intertextual event” at Arabica Lounge at 7pm, March 1st.

Previously on Hillebrity

Hill’s ‘hard hat special’ continues with start of 7-story E Pike Mercedes project

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"I just bought the old #mercedesbenz #signage on east pike as they were demoing!! #capitolhill #seattle #history" -- @Phaltron via Twitter

“I just bought the old #mercedesbenz #signage on east pike as they were demoing!! #capitolhill #seattle #history” — @Phaltron via Twitter

The walls and glass are smashing down on yet another block of Pike/Pine as demolition — and preservation — work has begun at the site of the former Mercedes Benz dealership where a seven-story, mixed-use project will eventually stand on E Pike between Belmont and Boylston. What the project will look like, more on the staggering amount of Pike/Pine construction underway and video of giant Tonka toys in action, below.

Continue reading →

Can ‘total compensation’ help Capitol Hill indie businesses weather $15 minimum wage?

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As the debate over a $15 an hour minimum wage in Seattle moves forward, independent business owners on Capitol Hill are trying to sort out how small, local businesses can be part of a smooth transition to higher wages in the city. At Retrofit Home it could mean the loss of bonuses and commissions for seven Capitol Hill workers, according to co-owner Jon Milazzo.

“The first thing I have to do is all commissions are done,” she said. “That means people who work the hardest make the same as someone who’s just coming in.”

Entry-level workers would also be impossible to hire, said Milazzo who recently helped open the neighborhood market Cone and Steiner. In December we talked to several neighborhood business owners about a $15 an hour wage, including Poppy owner Jerry Traunfeld who said he might be forced to reduce staff or raise his prices.

Milazzo told CHS that she supports a hike to the minimum wage, but the new wage needs to allow for a total compensation — possibly including elements like healthcare, travel and training — to count towards a new minimum. Instead of “$15 now,” Milazzo’s message is “raise it right.” Continue reading →

On the List | More Hill AWP picks, Oscar parties, dance films, and Balkan Night Northwest

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We’ve already told you about the influx of writers and book nerds to the Hill as part of the AWP convention, and with them an astounding number of free events at some of the most DeniseLevertovlikely–and unlikely–spaces. You can peruse the full list of “off site” events and build your own schedule, follow our highlights culled from the City Arts list, or check out the recommendations from The Sunbreak (most of which are on Capitol Hill). The conference concludes on Saturday, but offsite events continue into Sunday, including this one at Lake View Cemetery at 1 PM:

Celebrating Levertov at her grave
Gather for a one hour celebration of the poetry and life of Denise Levertov, who is buried in Seattle’s beautiful Lake View Cemetery. The event is being organized by the Dead Poets Society of America, and people who attend will be welcome to share short stories and read one or two of her poems. 

Winter is Coming to Ltd Art Gallery on Friday.

oscarThis is the last weekend to see the well-reviewed play Black Like Us at Annex Theatre. The new play’s run concludes on Saturday, March 1.

Oscar parties! Watch the red carpet parade and hope for acceptance speech nuttiness at Gay City & 3 Dollar Bill Cinema’s 9th Annual Oscar party at Fred Wildlife Refuge, or the Pretentious and Boozy party at Poco wine + spirits, or the Academy Awards Gala at Neumos. Let us know of more Oscar parties in the comments, or add it to the CHS calendar.

Velocity Dance Center’s Speakeasy Series on Saturday is a gathering for viewing videos of collaborations between poets and dancers from the late 1970s to now, followed by an excerpt of K.J. Holmes‘ new piece with Julie Carr, plus a Q & A. The event is at 10 Degrees (1312 E Union) and begins at 5:30.

photo Tom Marks

photo Tom Marks

Balkan Night Northwest is an annual event in its third year and features a full afternoon and evening of traditional dance and music on Saturday March 1.

The third annual Balkan Night Northwest takes place one music-packed night only this year, at Saint Demetrios Hall in Montlake. This year’s event begins at 3 pm, starting with traditional Balkan mummers, Kukeri and Babouyeri, in a Balkan Mardis Gras festivity to celebrate spring and the awakening of the earth, with bagpipes, zournas and more! Balkan Night Northwest brings together an astonishing array of music and dance from Bulgaria, Macedonia, Albania, Romania, Croatia, Serbia and Greece, along with the raging sounds of Romany (Gypsy) brass.

On Sunday, Balkan Night Northwest brings a Bulgarian Dance Party with Bulgarite! to the Russian Community Center on 19th Ave.

Something to add? Let us know on the CHS Calendar — more listings below:

Continue reading →