Caitlin King

Capitol Hill’s art walk celebrates an anniversary Thursday with a new look and feel for the monthly event dedicated to boosting neighborhood artists and small businesses dedicated to creativity and performance.

Some of the change is straight up branding. With more discussion about the possibilities of a cultural district, the “Blitz Capitol Art Walk” has been simplified to the “Capitol Hill Art Walk” to keep the focus on the neighborhood.

“It’s not like Pioneer Square where it’s consolidated,” says Michelle Hippler of the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce, the organization that has backed the monthly event for the past five years. “We want people to know they can experience different things on art walk night,” she said.

Some changes go beyond marketing. The chamber plans to introduce a Capitol Hill Arts Hero Award, a a new honor that will celebrate art and artists on the Hill. Continue reading →

(Images: CHS)

UPDATE 5/2/14 9:30 AM: With a line one hundred or so deep waiting to start shopping, Goodwill Seattle officials and Seattle dignitaries including Mayor Ed Murray and City Council member Mike O’Brien cut the ribbon outside the new Belmont Ave E store Friday morning. Beforehand, staff speeches inside the fully stocked thrift store and a rousing rendition of happy birthday greeted the now 59-year-old mayor one day after his announcement of a plan to hike Seattle’s minimum wage to $15. One Capitol Hill official familiar with vintage was not on hand as 10th Ave E resident Macklemore apparently had other business to attend to. His Thrift Shop counterpart Wanz, however, was there but did not pop a single tag. Inside, Murray bought himself a birthday present in one of the first transactions at the new Capitol Hill location. What did you buy, Mayor? A Seattle coffee mug, of course. Happy shopping.

Original report

(Images: Alex Garland for CHS)

Frugal friends, take note. The highly anticipated Goodwill Capitol Hill, the 24th Goodwill Seattle location in the Puget Sound region, will officially open its doors Friday at 9 AM, celebrating in style with a ribbon cutting ceremony that Seattle Mayor Ed Murray is scheduled to attend.

“People were saying you’ve got to come to the Hill, you’ve got to come the Hill,” said Katherine Boury, Goodwill Seattle communications manager. “We’re finally here! We’ve had a lot of really great feedback from the community, and the neighborhood has made us feel very welcome.”

However small the new 15,000 square-foot store is compared to larger locations like Goodwill’s Dearborn shop — which, by the way, is the largest Goodwill in the country –Goodwill Capitol Hill makes up for in selection, allowing Capitol Hill denizens to sate their appetites with well-stocked shelves of mason jars, recycled in their own hood too.

“When a store opens,” Boury advises, “it’s common for the donations to be reflective of the neighborhood. When we were opening up the store here, we were looking for things that would fit the neighborhood.” Continue reading →