Capitol Hill Happy Holidays Card 2024

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This year’s holiday card setting will be a familiar one for the neighborhood — a scene of E Madison under construction. But the colors of the new sculpture from Seattle artist Ben Zamora shine through along the now open RapidRide G bus line that has changed the streetscape along Madison between the waterfront and Madison Valley. Like so many elements of the new transit investments, the sculpture is mostly complete but somehow still surrounded by construction equipment and barriers. Sometimes, it feels like RapidRide G will never be complete. This too shall pass.

Zamora’s work, designed to display multiple color gradients depending on where one stands to view it, can also be a symbol for the year ahead. The attacks and erosion suffered by human progress have come at multiple scales, sometimes larger, sometimes small. The sculpture will give Capitol Hill, the Central District, and the corners of 14th and Madison another marker to be proud of — and defend.

Happy holidays. May you successfully mount a defense of getting some extra rest or at least an extra cookie or two. CHS is also resting but not far away. If there is something we should know about, call or text (206) 399-5959 or say hey @jseattle here or here. You can also check in with neighbors in the CHS Facebook Group. Thanks for reading CHS.

 

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The Wildrose, a safe space, a survivor, and a good place to grab a drink, celebrates 40 years on Capitol Hill

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The Wildrose, Capitol Hill’s iconic lesbian bar, is celebrating an incredible milestone: 40 years as a cornerstone of Seattle’s LGBTQ+ community. With a claim as the longest-running lesbian bars in the nation, the Wildrose has weathered decades of change, remaining steadfast in its mission to provide a safe, inclusive space.

“The original owner was incredible,” recalls co-owner Martha Manning. “She was a civil rights attorney who created a safe space for women because there was a need for it.”

From its founding as a cooperative in 1984, the Wildrose was politically significant, establishing itself as more than a bar — it was a sanctuary.

Fast forward to today, and the Wildrose’s impact continues. Manning reflects on moments when the team felt defeated or jaded, only to be reminded of the bar’s vital role in the community on Capitol Hill — and beyond. “Sometimes you lose sight of what it means to people, but the community’s support has always shown us how much they want this space to exist.” Continue reading →

Madison, Wisconsin chief is mayor’s pick to lead Seattle Police

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(Image: Madison Police Department)

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has chosen an outsider from Madison, Wisconsin’s to lead the Seattle Police Department.

Harrell announced Friday that he has selected Shon Barnes to be the next SPD chief citing the 24-year policing veteran’s success reducing crime in Madison in his three years leading the department.

The selection comes as Chief Barnes has led the Madison Police Department’s response and investigation to the Abundant Life Christian School shooting.

“Earlier this week, under tragic circumstances, the nation received its introduction to Chief Shon Barnes,” Harrell said in the announcement of Barnes’s selection. “We all saw firsthand what our team has known since we began this recruitment process – that Chief Barnes possesses the impressive leadership capabilities, compassionate approach, and dedication to effective police work needed to continue moving our Police Department forward.” Continue reading →

GRIDE, WESH, and DOTCOM — Seattle officials announce ’34 felony criminal cases against 17 defendants’ in tagging crackdown

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From Make It Rain, a Seattle Graffiti Documentary cited in the investigation

The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is touting the filing of “34 felony criminal cases against 17 defendants” for tagging calling the crime “acts of vandalism that have causes thousands of dollars in damages across King County.”

Officials said this week the charges come after “a months-long effort” from the Seattle City Attorney’s Office, Seattle Police, the King County Sheriff’s Office and the Washington State Patrol to crack down on taggers and the MSP and BTM graffiti crews that work up and down the I-5 corridor. Police say the taggers behind marks including GRIDE, WESH, and DOTCOM are part of the investigation. Continue reading →

You can be a Capitol Hill community producer and boost BIPOC and queer filmmakers behind Reckless Spirits

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A scene from RECKLESS SPIRITS

Hua

Despite the ongoing closure of the historic Egyptian Theatre, the film community on Capitol Hill continues to flourish and create as local community figure and filmmaker Vee Hua launches short film Reckless Spirits.

This “metaphysical, multilingual POC best friend comedy,” also serves as proof-of-concept and first 12 minutes of a proposed full-length feature film. Hua and their team are in the throes of crowdfunding for the project, with hopes to raise $100,000 by December 22nd.

The film is a “hilarious, trippy ride,” said Hua, Director, Co-writer, and Producer of the project. Incorporating inspiration from media like “Broad City” and Everything Everywhere All at Once, the film follows a pair of best friends who are led into “swirl-world,” of “ancestor spirits, physics, and a cult leader”, according to the project’s kickstarter page.

The main characters are “a gender-fluid Latine performance artist and a neurotic Asian American therapist,” inspired by the co-writers, Hua and Lisa Sanaye Dring. “We wanted to see characters that we felt related to us and offer representation that we haven’t seen haven’t seen on-screen before,” said Hua.

The film has “anti-colonial, anti-capitalist undercurrents” and explores themes of spirituality, particularly the tension between belief and the capitalist messaging that comes with modern, commercialized spirituality, said Hua. Continue reading →

‘If your gut is healthy, your mind is healthy’ — Anbai is growing bento by bento from the Chophouse Row counter

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(Image: Anbai)

Another Capitol Hill counter expert has helped Anbai’s start — Rie Otsuka, right, has lended some of her experience growing Sankaku Japanese Onigiri Cafe and Bar to Mukohata (Image: Anbai)

By Emily Riehl

The mix of small spaces for shops and restaurants inside the warrens of Capitol Hill’s Chophouse Row have provided homes for some of the neighborhood’s most interesting businesses.

One of those spaces is currently host to one of those ventures you — and your tummy — should check out.

Meanwhile, another food and drink project benefitting from Chophouse is ready to strike out for a new start away from the challenging and expensive environment of Seattle.

Tummy, meet Anbai, the latest resident of perhaps the most interesting space inside this 11th Ave collection of interesting spaces — the Chophouse Row counter.

“Focusing on improving your gut health through fermented delicious healthy food” is the guiding mantra of Anbai. Run nearly single-handedly by owner Fumiyo Mukohata, the eatery is just getting started, serving up a variety of bento boxes and nutrient-packed dishes designed to boost digestion, fight inflammation, and protect your gut from toxins.

About 20 years ago, Mukohata moved from Japan with expertise in the “the inner beauty diet” emphasizing fermented foods rich in probiotics that support digestion and gut health. After her daughter developed multiple allergies, Mukohata became deeply interested in how certain foods can benefit health, eventually discovering that traditional fermented Japanese foods like miso, and shoyu koji were particularly helpful.

“The gut and the brain are connected. If your gut is healthy, your mind is healthy,” says Mukohata. Continue reading →

Blanket drive to honor Garfield High School teen lost to gun violence

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A Central District family’s holiday tradition will grow and take on new meaning this year.

The loved ones of Amarr Murphy-Paine are joining with the community for a blanket drive to honor the life of the Garfield High School teen.

Murphy-Paine’s friends and family are asking students and the community to bring blankets to the 23rd Ave school Friday for people in need. Donations can be left at the Garfield office or handed off at Friday night’s basketball games vs. Nathan Hale. The teen’s loved ones will distribute the gifts to those in need, the announcement says.

Murphy-Paine was shot and killed in June during an altercation in the Garfield parking lot. In a vigil on the school’s sports field, the young man was remembered as a dedicated athlete and friend cut gunned down as he tried to keep the peace. SPD has announced no arrests in the case.

The killing pushed school and city officials to address gun violence concerns around the school. Seattle officials led by Mayor Bruce Harrell announced a $14.5 million plan focused on intervention, mental health, and increased use of “school-based safety specialist” private security guards following the deadly lunchtime shooting.

The blanket drive also marks Murphy-Paine’s birthday. He would have turned 18.

Learn more about the drive and how to help here.

 

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Subscribe to CHS to help us hire writers and photographers to cover the neighborhood. CHS is a pay what you can community news site with no required sign-in or paywall. To stay that way, we need you.

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‘Not just political theater’ — Nelson launches reelection campaign for Seattle City Council

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(Image: Re-elect Sara Nelson)

The two most powerful voices in Seattle City Hall are off to early starts defending their offices.

Last week, Mayor Bruce Harrell announced he will seek a second term, launching his reelection campaign with themes around “common values,” “public safety solutions,” and “proven leadership to stand up for our values.”

This week, Seattle City Council president and at-large representative Sara Nelson said she, too, will seek reelection with an “it’s happening” announcement.

Calling herself the “commonsense champion,” Nelson said her re-election campaign will continue her role as the leader on “pragmatic, compassionate solutions to Seattle’s toughest challenges.” Continue reading →

The Broadway Theater and the shuttered Pike/Pine Amazon Fresh — Sorting out what is next for the two biggest holes in Capitol Hill commercial real estate

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The old theater marquee has been boarded-up with hopes of lighting up for a new tenant

Capitol Hill will head into the new year with no clear plans for its two largest empty commercial spaces leaving an entire block of E Pike and one of Broadway’s most prominent corners shuttered, darkened, and disconnected.

A CHS review of real estate listings, construction and business permits, and details from commercial real estate professionals familiar with the properties shows that both the 7,200-square-foot former Broadway Rite Aid and the boarded-up 8,000-square-foot E Pike grocery formerly home to Amazon Fresh are likely to remain empty well into 2025.

Both of the spaces are especially challenging leases as their relatively massive square footage collides with the rates typically required in the current Capitol Hill commercial real estate market. Meanwhile, there are fewer and fewer smaller suites available with recent closures mostly quickly claimed by new tenants.

201 Broadway E, where the Rite Aid was shuttered a year ago as massive drugstore chains filed for bankruptcy to settle federal and state opioid lawsuits, the property is being marketed as the “historic Broadway Theater” as its owners look for a new tenant.

That search is a major challenge. The building’s longtime local ownership was not interested in talking about it.

“I spoke with the owner, and he prefers no comments at this time,” one agent involved with the listing told CHS. “Best of luck with your work.” Continue reading →