Occupy Seattle news

Some Capitol Hill residents were greeted today with letters left on their front porch concerning Occupy Seattle, from someone named “Alice, SCCC Graduate”.  

The letter was neatly typed, single spaced, had a beginning, middle and end, and clearly laid out the reasons why she and her compatriots were participating in this particular style of Civil Disobedience.

“We are asking our neighbors in Capitol Hill to show their support.  Their have been a few negative outcomes from us being at Central, but we hope that the Capitol Hill community understands the difficulty in trying to construct a self-sustaining governed society from the ground up.  The fight for economic justice will not be easy.  But occupying public education is a good beginning.”  

The note concluded with a polite request for assistance: “If you would like to contribute to our fight for social progress, we could really use your help….you can do this online at OccupySeattle.org

In other news, parents of students at Garfield High School received the following email from the principal of the school:

Garfield Families – Garfield high school wanted to make you aware of a nationwide group – Occupy Seattle that is currently residing close to the school campus. They are living in an abandoned building that is on 23rd Avenue. The building is in the 300 block just south of 313 23rd Avenue. Occupy Seattle recently tried to hand out pamphlets and recruit members on the high school campus. Security and police asked the group to leave. Garfield high school is working with the Seattle Police Department to make sure that the group is not allowed to come on campus and promote their ideas. We wanted families to be aware of the group’s presence close to the school campus. Sincerely, Ted Howard – Principal at Garfield High School

Sneak peek at Terra Plata

Some lucky folks got a sneak peak of Tamara Murphy’s new restaurant, Terra Plata, located at the Melrose Market.  It’s in the good feng-shui-corner space at the tip of the triangle building which is sure to add even more cachet and good fortune to this spot.
 
The space has a rich, organic atmosphere, resplendent with beautiful woods, steel, stone and concrete, with a rooftop deck that will be perfect in warm weather.
 
The event was to introduce some local neighbors, foodies, friends, well-wishers and serious eaters to the space, even before the restaurant opens.  It was a great way to build some excitement for the new place and a wonderful opportunity for supporters to feel a part of this new eatery.

 
I asked Tamara what was on the menu and she said simply, whatever’s fresh — terra plata, from earth to plate!  It will be exciting to see what she comes up with each day.
 
Tamara Murphy is the owner of another restaurant on Capitol Hill, the Elliot Bay Café at Elliot Bay Books, and she supports Capitol Hill in another way: On Sunday, October 9th, she is hosting a fundraiser for the Broadway Farmers Market and the Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance at Swanson’s Nursery called “The Annual Feast”.  Over 25 of Seattle’s best chefs will be paired up with market farmers who provide raw ingredients for each dish.  The event funds the Farmers Market Alliance low-access programs, free community events, local food education, and farmer advocacy, and helps support their Good Farmer Fund, which helps local farmers with disaster relief in the event of bad weather or other hardships. 

Still not sure of the exact date of the Terra Plata debut, but it will definitely be open by November  8th for Chef Murphy’s Seattle Chef’s Table Dinners

Panel on legal rights for LGBT parents at Seattle University

Want to learn more about the legal rights of LGBT parents in Washington State? 

Then get thee to the Seattle University School of Law on Tuesday, September 27th from 6:30 – 8:30 pm for a panel discussion where legal experts will explain the rapidly changing laws affecting LGBT parents in Washington and will be able to answer questions.

Topics will include:

. Starting and growing your family – including adoption, surrogacy, assisted reproduction and domestic partnerships.

. Establishing and protecting your parental rights, before and after a child is born.

. Legal options for LGBT parents after a break-up.

The event is free and open to the public. It will be held at Seattle University School of Law at 901 12th Avenue, Seattle (corner of 12th and Columbia) in Sullivan Hall, Room C6. 

This event is sponsored by the QLaw Foundation, Legal Voice, the Access to Justice Institute at Seattle University School of Law, ACLU of Washington and Equal Rights Washington, with the support of a generous Pride Foundation grant.

Seattle University has a policy of inclusion for LGBT students and makes social justice one of their main school missions. 

Haggis Brothers premiere tonight at the new Chieftain Pub on 12th Avenue

Just got the word that the incomparable Haggis Brothers are making their debut at the new Chieftain Pub on 12th Avenue, across the street from Seattle University.  They’re playing tonight from 10pm – 1pm and then again next Saturday on September 17th.

The Haggis Brothers are a rockin’, swingin’ fiddle-driven band that has played around town for years.  

From their website:

Back in March of 1997 Joe Ross put a group together as a one-off joke band, originally dubbed the Irish Posers, for St. Patrick’s Day at the Back Door Lounge never dreaming it would blossom into the full time outfit. They got together again the next year for St. Patrick’s Day, this time calling themselves Merle Haggis and the Drifting Highlanders, they all wore kilts. An annual tradition was born. Early in 2001 the band began a Monday night residency at the Lava Lounge and they evolved into the Haggis Brothers. They aquired a steady line-up of Ross, Lou Alexander, Sean Wheatly, and were soon joined by regulars Matt O’Toole on mandolin and Mike Collins on drums. Through constant gigging their playlist expanded beyond traditional Irish pub songs into American hoe-down music, honky-tonk, swing and whatever else they feel like playing. These days the band usually plays as a trio of fiddle, guitar, and bass.