General discussion (new threads)

I always get lost in the International District

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 21:59:53 +0000

OK, so this technically isn't about CH, but seeing as how the ID is in walking distance from here, I find myself thinking I should explore around there more. But every time I bike down, I just get overwhelmed.

Where are some good places to just visit and browse? Restaurants are an obvious recommendation, but other little knick-knack stores would be great, too! Anyone know of a place where I might be able to pick up an old Chinese coin or two?

Capitol Hill Currency

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 11:01:58 +0000

Here is how it works:
Many communities have printed their own currency in an effort to encourage consumers to spend in their neighborhood.
A dollar note that acts as a 10%discount (excluding alcohol) at participating businesses will encourage business and visitors to the area.
For a business to participate, all they have to do is post a bill in their doorway to let consumers know they honor the discount. They can honor a 10% discount or a full face value of $1.
As most businesses know, coupons actually encourage more spending.

The discount bill can be copied by anyone and reuse is encouraged. Only one use per visit is listed. The bill is hoped slowly will become self perpetuating by businesses that want to put out an attractive discount coupon.
Businesses can stamp their business name on the back for advertisement and to encourage consumers back as well as serving as an interesting way to track the life of the bill.

The coupon bill would be initially printed and distributed by the council to organizations, businesses, tourism and residents.

Lets hear your feedback.

A suggested example with former Capitol Hill resident Actress Frances Farmer.

Barack Obama's House on Capitol Hill in Seattle

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 08:05:20 +0000

Capitol Hill Times has now posted the article and photos.
Barack Obama: From Capitol Hill to Capitol Hill
http://www.capitolhilltimes.com/main.asp?SectionID=26&SubSectionID=248&ArticleID=27447

Many thanks Philip Lipson Libarian, to Leif on this forum for asking the question, Steve on the 9th floor of the Seattle Public Library, Helen and Don of Seattle Housing Authority and Midori Okazaki of Washington State Archives.

Look for more information to be posted it the future. We hope to locate the people who lived in this 10 apartment house with Ann and baby Barack. Perhaps this posting might help locate these persons.

Ricin Threat on Capitol Hill

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 06:48:39 +0000

Michael Yasutake of the Capitol Hill East Precinct and Crime Prevention Coordinator reports:
"My only input would be for all Capitol Hill citizens to increase their awareness when in public venues and to report any suspicious activity to the authorities. Also keeping normal routines is important so that anything that is out of the ordinary or suspicious would be identified or possibly observed. Again I would think that an increased awareness is the order of the day."

I believe awareness and taking security steps is the best deterrent to crime in what is hopefully a hoax. Threats should be taken seriously and I am hoping bars will increase their lighting to increase detection of suspicious activity and consider doing "friendly patdowns" at the door.

There is a call out for groups and pub crawls but caution against overcrowding at bars as these are the very conditions that make it harder to detect suspicious activity.

Snow removal on Capitol Hill

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:04:12 +0000

This Dec. winter storm effected everyone on Capitol Hill, businesses and residents for over a week. This storm shut down Denny and made Broadway as bumpy as a back country log road. The seriousness is it prevented persons from getting their medicines and fearful for seniors to even walk outside.
Obviously, the city could have reacted better but that doesn't mean Capitol Hill has to depend just on the city. The city will now be using salt in severe cases of snow but I would like to hear ideas on how the community can better meet emergency neighborhood needs.

Ideas so far are:
Hiring private plow trucks to clear main streets, business and residential streets
Increase local volunteer Firefighters
Increase Neighborhood Watch program to assist seniors and families
Organize neighborhood groups to clear priority areas

"We're trying to create a hard-packed surface" - Alex Wiggins, chief of staff for the Seattle Department of Transportation.

I would like to see immediate plans for preparing for the next snow storm which will very likely happen and hopefully the impact will not be as great. Winter has just started.

Ann Dunham's apartment

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 20:54:44 +0000

Hi, does anyone happen to know where the apartment is/was where B. Obama's mother lived on Capitol Hill? I'm really interested in Seattle history and have been striking out on the exact address. Apparently, before the C. Hill apt. she lived at a "Laurelhurst dormitory" near UW, but I don't know exactly where that is either, or if it still exists.

Empty Buildings

Sat, 23 Aug 2008 19:41:53 +0000

Hi CCCCers, I'm working on a story for SeattleIAM.com, about the vacant store fronts on Broadway, currently owned by Sound Transit. I want this piece to be more than an overview of the situation (like the King 5 story) I want to go a little more in depth into the impact that it will have on Broadway, what can be done to aleviate the problem, and whether or not Sound Transit is doing all they can to help. Does anyone have any interesting angles or ideas to help me develop this story? Any one I could interview that would have some insights into the impact that these empty buildings are having on the neighborhood? Are there some examples of vacant buildings that have been utilized, while they could have been sitting vacant? Is anything of interest happening regarding your request to use the US Bank site for meetings?

Battle in Seattle on Capitol Hill

Sat, 24 May 2008 08:31:41 +0000

Who's Streets? Our Streets!

QFC's Self Scanners?

Sat, 17 May 2008 00:18:51 +0000

This week QFC on North Broadway shut down their full service check out lane on their second floor for the majority of the day.
What that means is customers are forced to use the recently installed "U-Scan" or go to another floor. I saw it coming.
Sneaky? I think so.
Don't get me wrong, I'm a patient person who knows how to use a touch screen and computer but I always use the staffed check out lanes because I get bogged down with produce codes and I always thought customers had a choice. Apparently not. Seniors, handicapped and computer challenged customers your SOL. You get a mechanized voice telling you to put your item in the bag and if you get stuck you feel like an idiot. Then the U-Scan "babysitter" (who also proably feels like an idiot) has to step in to help you and by then you wished you had waited in a full serve line checking out the latest recipes in the mags.

QFC may save on labor costs by displacing an employee with an expensive machine but I find it dehumanizing to this community and I think it hurts in the long run. I enjoy seeing the same check out persons at the register and they are always nice and yes I do occassionally purchase something extra while waiting.

If you don't like those U-Scans you can comment by going online to QFC's corporate office or calling 1-800-201-6261.

Madison construction

Mon, 12 May 2008 18:16:30 +0000

Wow is Madison a mess. Stay off it. Haven't dug around the web to see how long the work will last. Anybody save us the search?

Hopvine Trivia update

Sat, 03 May 2008 16:31:27 +0000

Trivia at the Hopvine is now just once a month, on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 8pm. Lucien and I will trade off months, I'm hosting in May.

Cheers!

Restaurant News

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 00:42:09 +0000

Heard the long vacant building on the corner of Broadway and Roy where
the former Elite bar used to be is being renovated for a new restaurant.
Word is a Chef from "Herb Farm" will call it Poppy's after his grandmother
and will have at least one affordable fixed price plate at $30.
If anyone has any additional news on this, I would love to hear. Much excited.