Author Archives: jseattle

About jseattle

Justin is publisher of CHS. You can reach him at [email protected] or call/txt (206) 399-5959. Follow @jseattle on Twitter or be best pals on Facebook.

Power out around Broadway and John after another reported underground electrical fire

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Friday night’s outage map from Seattle City Light

An underground fire and more issues with the grid around Capitol Hill Station knocked out power to at least 450 customers around Broadway and John Friday night.

“Crews are responding to an energy response underway for a vault fire in the 100 block of Harvard Ave. E. Please avoid the area,” Seattle Fire reported about its “energy response” as the incident unfolded around 6:30 PM.

Remember to treat flashing intersections as four-way stops. Continue reading →

Cafe Lolo will make seasonal start this spring on Capitol Hill

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(Image: Cafe Lolo)

Three cooks are ready to share the kitchen in a new start in Capitol Hill’s historical Loveless Building that will align with the seasons of the Pacific Northwest’s farmers and foragers.

“Having three, each person has their thing that’s theirs, and we feel support from each other” Leah Engel tells CHS about Cafe Lolo, a “seasonally dictated” day and night cafe taking shape in the longtime E Roy home of Cook Weaver which closed as 2025 drew to an end to make way for the new project.

Much as Cook Weaver’s Zac Reynolds balanced family and a food and drink career for a near-decade of service at Cook Weaver, restaurant veterans Engel and Alex Halmi found love and a life together growing Cafe Lolo at Seattle farmers markets and pop-ups.

As they honed the concept for a fixed-place version of Lolo with a residency last year at Roosevelt’s Three Sacks Full, Engel’s co-worker at the NE 64th locally-sourced restaurant Brett Bankson joined the team. Continue reading →

CHS Year in Review 2025 | The year in pictures

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OK, ok, ok… you have probably had enough of 2025. Indulge us one last look back.

Here is the year that was in pictures on CHS. Take a look through the memories and faces from the year. Thanks to the photographers (especially, you, Alex Garland) and the neighbors who captured these images for us to see what was happening and who the people are who made news on Capitol Hill. Each photo links to the story behind the image. Now, back to 2026…

Continue reading →

Rapist who recorded assaults in Capitol Hill apartment sentenced to 46 years

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More than eight years after the assaults, an activist and entrepreneur who used Seattle University as his home base for establishing himself as a media pundit and expert on Native American issues has been sentenced to 46 years in jail for the rapes of unconscious women he videotaped inside his Boylston Ave Capitol Hill apartment.

His victims say Redwolf Pope drugged them and assaulted them without their knowledge.

Videos of the attacks revealed the crimes.

In September, a jury convicted Pope of five counts of rape and four counts of voyeurism for the assaults beginning in 2016.

The long path to justice in the case included time for Pope to finish a sentence in New Mexico. In July 2018, Pope was arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a Seattle woman in a Santa Fe, New Mexico hotel room. Continue reading →

Nudibranch will bring Thai coffee to former Capitol Hill vegan doughnut shop

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(Image: Nudibranch Coffee)

An expert barista who honed her skills at the Capitol Hill Starbucks Roastery will lead the team bringing a new flavor to the neighborhood’s cafe scene: Thai coffee.

Nudibranch Coffee is set to share its version of Thai cafe culture as it opens in coming weeks at the corner of 12th and Madison.

Nudibranch, across the street from the busy Seattle Academy and Seattle University, will also be full of Thai vibes.

“Coffee shops there have a lot of small events like bracelet-making classes together,” Emily Sirisup says.

The coffee? Expect flavors from the light to medium side, fruity with a lighter taste, and concoctions that mix flavors like coconut water and citrus with espresso.

“It is almost an entirely different universe of coffee over there,” Nudibranch’s Cole Arnesen said. Continue reading →

District 3’s Hollingsworth will lead Seattle City Council’s new mix in 2026

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Council president Hollingsworth

Three years ago on a chilly January day at the MLK FAME Community Center, Joy Hollingsworth announced her run for the Seattle City Council.

Tuesday, Hollingsworth was chosen to serve as council president, the first time a Black woman has been elected to the post in the city’s 174-year history.

“Our council body will focus on the bold basics and fundamentals,” Hollingsworth said as her colleagues unanimously approved her new position.

The Central District-born Hollingsworth now adds an important new responsibility to her leadership for her home neighborhood, Capitol Hill, and the rest of District 3.

The council president serves as the presiding officer, sets meeting agenda, assigns legislation to committees, and is “the primary point of contact for external agencies.” Continue reading →

Police: Two victims in Freeway Park robbery stabbings

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At least two people were reported injured in early Wednesday morning knife attacks inside Freeway Park between First Hill and downtown Seattle.

Seattle Police and Seattle Fire were called to the chaotic scene near Hubbell and Seneca just after 6:30 AM where officers encountered two victims and began canvassing the sprawling park for more.

Police also began the search for a suspect or possible suspects but only had a limited description to work with, according to police radio updates.

UPDATE: SPD says they are investigating the incident as a robbery. Continue reading →

It’s 2026 and Capitol Hill’s Seven Hills Park is still closed — Meeting planned for February

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Seven Hills on a sunnier day (Image: City of Seattle)

A new year, a new city council, and a new mayor did not bring a new start on public safety for Capitol Hill’s Seven Hills Park.

The Seattle Parks and Recreation Department has quietly extended the closure of the fenced-off 16th Ave public space through the end of February.

A parks spokesperson tells CHS the extended closure will give the city another chance to meet with neighbors and park users. Continue reading →

For drivers, bus riders, bicyclists, and walkers around North Capitol Hill, 2026 begins with pains for long-term transportation gains with RapidRide J, I-5, Roanoke Lid and Portage Bay Bridge projects

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Drivers, bus riders, bicyclists, and walkers were steered away from Eastlake Ave at Roanoke Tuesday morning after road construction workers hit a gas line. The street closure was just part of the traffic twists and turns around Capitol Hill’s north end as 2026 begins with major construction projects on the RapidRide J line, the new 520 Roanoke Lid and Portage Bay Bridge, and the “Revive I-5” work on the Ship Canal Bridge coinciding over the coming weeks, months, and, sometimes, years.

Seattle Fire reported no injuries in the overnight Eastlake response though streets in the area remained closed into the morning commute.

Planned work around the ongoing decade of 520 replacement projects will make for the longest running impact on getting around in the area. Continue reading →

One to hospital, suspect arrested in 10th/Pike stabbing

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A man suffered serious injuries and the suspect was taken into custody in an early Tuesday morning stabbing at 10th and Pike.

Seattle Police and Seattle Fire were called to the area just after 5 AM to the reported stabbing where witnesses heard the victim shout the suspect’s name as he fled, according to East Precinct radio updates. Continue reading →