(Image: The Social)

Feeling social? [email protected]. Here are the notes!

• East Olive Way is, apparently, the new center of the Capitol Hill food and drink universe. The Social, “a three level 12,000 sqft ultra lounge/restaurant and nightclub,” is being planned for the building at 1715 E Olive Way that is home to an eclectic mix of merchants. The new venture will combine forces of some of the most active Capitol Hill social media voices and entrepreneurs. The roster is detailed below. For Laura Olson, The Social will represent her fourth food and drink establishment in a near-1-mile radius. Here’s the announcement sent to CHS and an artist rendering of the changes being planned for the building purchased by the group for the project.
  

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  We are excited to announce our latest venture: The Social – a three level 12,000 sqft ultra lounge/ restaurant and nightclub. The Social is located on East Olive and will feature three distinct rooms, including four bars and a 3000 sqft restaurant. The entertainment venue is being designed by award winning Capitol Hill firm Pb Elemental (recently named one of the Decades Best by Seattle Magazine). Our focus is to provide a well designed, fun, and high quality venue for the LGBT community. The Social is a joint venture of three Capitol Hill small business owners Alex Garcia (Emerson Salon, Banyan Branch), Shanon Thorson and Laura Olson (Po Dog, Auto Battery, Grim’s) . Drawing on their specific talents we will be featuring a gourmet food menu, holding daily events and drawing from national and international DJ talent. The Social is scheduled to open this summer, watch for updates on http://www.facebook.com/TheSocialSeattle. We are excited to join the expanding scene on East Olive with Tommy Guns, CC Atties.

  Financial details of the purchase are not yet available and no construction permits have been filed with the city yet meaning the ambitious overhaul won’t likely be underway anytime soon.

  As we’ve documented repeatedly this year, E Olive Way’s nightlife scene is undergoing significant growth. Already, Tommy Gun is in place. CC’s construction seems to finally be on track. The Bleu Grotto is coming. Now, The Social joins the party. Update: Seattle Gay Scene wonders if existing venues Neighbors and R Place will feel the pinch of a young competitor joining the scene but, with all due respect to The Social, we have to wonder if the real pinch will be felt in Belltown.

  We’ve also heard from a few customers of existing businesses at 1715 E Olive Way who are concerned about the new venture pushing their favorite shops and services aside. The building is currently home to Sideshow Salon, Seattle Wargaming and the Artful Dodger tattoo shop. Alex Garcia told CHS he and his partners are working with the existing businesses and planning to incorporate the spaces in the new design. We’ll continue to follow the story.
  
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  Emerson Salon, Auto Battery and Po Dog are currently CHS advertisers.

• More bar and club news: We’re working on details of two more venues coming soon to the Hill. Busy days. Stay tuned.
• Varro is open after our preview last week. Here are their menus if you’re interested in the food end of things.
• We don’t know much about it but Saizen Sushi construction is underway in the Joule now that construction permits have come in for the $300,000 buildout.
• Check out this press release from Mod Pizza for a glimpse at the corporate muscle power behind the restaurants.
• Linda’s is holding a prom on May 2nd. CHS has no opinion on the urge for some to re-live (or make up for missed opportunity).

This week? (Image: Marination Facebook)

• Truce! No offense to former CHS intern Lucas Anderson and his new glossy media overlords at the Seattle Met but this slideshow on the coming soon Marination Station indicates we all might want to back off the “first look” photo essays until there’s something to show. Everything you need to know about the brick and mortar home for Station is here but, yes, Lucas, they will have what looks to be a refrigerator and a counter.
• The Canterbury remembered Greg La Rose with a memorial on Sunday.
• Ghost Gallery has added an “Under $21” wine section to its shop.
• This Capitol Hill “Asian Restaurant” is for sale for $150,000, name and recipes not included. Because it’s on Craigslist, the listing will soon disappear so here are the specs:o Capitol Hill Asian Restaurant. High traffic street near Starbucks. Rental: $2546/month + NNN or $18.60/yr. 11 years left. Name and recipes not included.
  o Class 1 Hood
  o High Traffic area known for restaurants near Group Health Hospital.
  o Year Built    2001
  o Sq Footage    1,643

Yes, it looks like Teapot Vegetarian.

• Rosebud now does weekday breakfast.
• CHS visited La Puerta, found tough times.
• 12th Ave’s college bar The Chieftain is still months off, still generating a little bit of controversy.
• The original Groupon, Seattle Restaurant Week is underway. Roster of participants is here. Do the lunches, we say.
• Speaking of deal promotions, we had to note that Thomas St. Bistro has now participated in nearly every daily deal concept in town save Groupon. Here’s their latest on something called Deal51. Yes, wise guy, Thomas St. even advertised with CHS at one point.
• Multiple notes of value in this bullet point. First, Tin Table’s chef Travis Chase tweets. Second, he gives you ample time to plan ahead for April 28th Dine out for Life.
• What kind of crazy shit can you think up over beers at 10th Ave E’s Roanoke Tavern? Seattle Times with the details of what two UW geography profs came up with:

The book is being published in celebration of the department’s 75th anniversary and to mark the Association of American Geographers’ national convention this week in Seattle. It aims to decode what makes Seattle seem so simple and transparent on the surface, but so complex and contradictory when viewed over time and across political and social divides.

Geography professor Michael Brown and Professor Emeritus Richard Morrill came up with the idea of doing a book during their weekly meetings over beers at the Roanoke Tavern on North Capitol Hill. They persuaded nearly all the department’s 17 professors and dozens of undergraduate and graduate students to contribute to the 209-page, full-color book.

Reminds me of some of the stuff I do when I’m drunk, you?