Announced via Twitter (@captainblacks), "summertime drinking paradise" Captain Black's is having a soft opening tonight at 8 pm - and we the public are invited to "Come thru and try out [their] fried chicken and waffles or a po' boy sandwich."  Looks like there will at least be one birthday party out there tonight.

Open all the way

Here's a pictorial update on some business happenings on Broadway:

• New sushi restaurant I Love Wasabi (CHS Reviews) -- famous for its early signage issues -- was open for business this weekend. And by open, CHS means the entire front of the restaurant was rolled away leaving nothing between the 'Grand Opening' diners and Broadway's vibrant early-nightlife. And by vibrant, we mean interesting. And by interesting we mean all the freaks that make Broadway famous. Which means you will either love that I Love Wasabi is so open to the street or hate it. CHS loves I Love Wasabi for being open to the street but hasn't tried the sushi yet.
• Just down the way, the old Dilettante space is finally showing signs of life again. Last May, Dilettante moved from its longtime location near Broadway and Republican to its new home in the Brix building. Then we heard that B&O Espresso was moving to take Dilettante's space. Then we heard that B&O wasn't actually moving but going to start B&O II at the location but just as quickly learned that, nope, B&O wasn't going to be taking over the location after all. Which all leads us to the sign we saw last night. Coming soon to the former home of Dilettante and almost-home of B&O? A nail and spa shop.

It's grey and drizzly outside -- finally a typical start to summer in Seattle. It's a good time to keep on top of things like ice cream -- quick reminder that you can score a free cone today at Old School Custard's grand opening from 3 to 10 PM -- and outdoor seating.

Meanwhile, the rest of the city can freak out about street food. We'll concentrate on a more refined dining experience, for now.

We recently posted about yet another sidewalk cafe being planned on the Hill and the new public comment process to provide your feedback on applications. Including the first two written about earlier on CHS, we've found four sidewalk patios being planned on the Hill:

• Meza Latin Fare on 14th
• Anchovies & Olives
• This guy told us about Kingfish Cafe's planned sidewalk addition. He was correct. You might recall that several trees had to be removed from 19th Ave near the restaurant last summer because they were damaging the sidewalks. One byproduct of that work was more room in front of the Kingfish. Looks like they are going...

Lucky timing and hot weather provided an opportunity for a quick look inside The Lookout, a new neighborhood bar/pub opening later this month in the the remodeled Artemis space on Bellevue Ave E. Scheduled to open June 19th, The Lookout is looking good: warm wood floors, seating, and wainscoting, and lovely, bright mural paintings from artists NKO and NTG.

The windows of the space have been papered over for months, keeping the interior remodel and in-progress wall murals very hush hush. Today,  the front door was open and the architect/designer (Bryce?) was happy to chat for a minute about the opening schedule.

Happily, The Lookout plans to start using the building's back patio for outdoor seating; it is partially shaded and has a terrific  westerly view with all the usual suspects you would expect to see when perched over I-5. ( Lake Union, Queen Anne, the Needle, the Sound, and beyond.)

The Lookout is a new place with new concept,...

Sometimes, the best value CHS can add is tying together conversations from one neighbor to another. Neighbor Brooke asks about a new addition to the St. Mark's neighborhood:

I walked by the former Cellar Bistro space (underneath the Tidbit Bistro at the corner of 10th and Miller), and there's a new awning and purple sign out front that says "Huiyona: A North Capitol Hill Bistro". I haven't heard anything else about it, and can't find anything on the web. Do you have any information? You're always my source for capitol hill news!

We asked our closest source who would know what he could tell us about the new place. CHS sponsor Tidbit Bistro's John van Deinse let us know what's up:

Huiyona is our new neighbor! It is going to be a bistro with Asian influence.  The owner Rachel and Mark are super nice and we are very excited to have them as our neighbors. We hope that they will bring some more people to North Capitol Hill.  They are working really hard to remodel the place.  Remember all the red walls and fake grapes hanging from the ceiling?  It is all gone!  The place is all white now, there is new carpet, and it is full of light.  They are planning to hope in mid June but you know how it goes....

Here's their construction permit info and notice about their liquor license application. We've also got a contact for Huiyona's owner so we'll follow up to find out more. In the meantime, St. Mark's -- or North Capitol Hill if you prefer -- can anticipate more choice for chow soon.

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Old School Frozen Custard is having a big grand opening on Saturday complete with free cones. But it's open for business starting now just in time for the heat oh so hot i need ice cream emergency we're experiencing today. You can add your OSFC review here.

Cone cost me $3. I consumed my custard in about 33 seconds so the experience will cost you about 9 cents per second of joy.

Here's the menu, btw. They've got chili and hot dogs, also. As neighbor Mike with curls notes, latest culinary developments on the Hill are the stuff of kindergarten dreams.

 

Another image from the CHS flickr pool. Enjoy!

Chocolate frozen custard!!
Originally uploaded by ERIK98122

• The Buck's daily happy hour extends till 7:30 pm(!)
• Marination Mobile will soon be serving up "Hawaiian & Korean curb cuisine" at the Broadway Shell sometime soon (follow @curb_cuisine for updates and read SW's take on the menu)
• Compare Seattle Times' lackluster review of Queen Sheba to mine
• Get your picnic fixings at the Canterbury
• 22 Doors veggie burger makes Seattle Metropolitan's list of best burgers in town
• Brian Boshes, a comedian, performs for free at Pagliacci PIzza in Capitol Hill tonight at 8 pm
• Barrio's Michelada gets even more love

Deck
Originally uploaded by joshc

With the sunshine and the pleasant evenings, no surprise that outdoor seating at Capitol Hill restaurants is on people's minds.

• Keith tells us about a new restaurant with a planned sidewalk cafe coming to 14th Ave
• Andrew notes a permit application for a sidewalk cafe just up the street at Anchovies & Olives

Andrew also notes the new mechanism by which the permits are issued and how people who live in the area -- people like you -- can comment on the applications.

In general, we're all for the decks and seating areas. They're mostly lovely and most help connect the businesses in a positive way to the streets and sidewalks of the neighborhood. But we probably all have a peeve about one of the seating areas on the Hill. We're hoping the new process is receptive to feedback that makes the planned spaces better. No need to say "No no no!" but wouldn't mind if a few benches were moved a foot or two and a couple crowded sidewalks had some flow issues resolved to make room...

A suite down from the soon-to-be home of Porchlight Coffee, a new restaurant and bar called Meza Latin Fare is scheduled to open in June.

And why should one be excited, besides the prospect of Latin Fare, you ask?

For one, it's going to be a Sidewalk Cafe!  And even better, it appears that the tables will be beneath the glass awning, ensuring a mostly dry dining and drinking experience.

The website doesn't yet seem to be active but I sent Mr. Meza an email asking for more info.  I'll update this post when and if I hear back from him.

Old School Frozen at 1316 E. Pike Street will be serving free cones from 3-10pm on Saturday June 6.  Get there early.  I suspect that a lot of people have been anticipating the opening for a long time.  CHS has been reporting on their progress since February.

Perhaps establishing 'shocking blue' as the official shade of Capitol Hill, we find this note on Broadway Grill's new paint job:

Not the first Cap Hill establishment to shock us with their color choice. Surely not the last.

Just got this update from Cupcake Royale HQ complete with opening day target and details about the new space. We'll talk with owner Jody Hall in coming weeks but, in the meantime, thought you might like to start conserving calories now in anticipation.

Capitol Hill’s long, sleepless nights of unrequited cupcake love are over. Cupcake Royale has a full construction crew underway at its forthcoming Capitol Hill bakery, their biggest, cupcake-iest location yet. Located at 1111 E Pike Street, owner Jody Hall anticipates opening the last week of July, just in time for Capitol Hill Block Partygoers to get their sugar and caffeine fix.

“We’re so excited to open here,” Hall said. “I’ve lived on Capitol Hill for nearly 20 years, and it just feels really good to build my dream bakery, from scratch, in the neighborhood I call home.”

With a bakery nearly three times the size of Cupcake Royale’s current World Headquarters in Ballard, the company’s baking capacity...

Big week of events at Olive Way's Faire Gallery as they celebrate their third year in business on the Hill.

You can also keep track of the fun on the Faire Twitter account.

Justin Brotman

Last Friday Healeo Nutrition Bar opened its doors at 15th and Madison. CHS called owner Justin Brotman the 'Costco hippie of Capitol Hill' because of his father's ties to the retailing giant. To see what the buzz was about, I stopped in to check it out. I talked with Brotman about his new business, what makes Healeo unique and the challenge of finding organic coconuts. Have you been to Healeo yet? Add your thoughts to the CHS Reviews Healeo page.

Q: What is Healeo all about?

A: We serve food that's good for you. Organic drinks, organic teas, organic coffees, organic juices, and most importantly, superfoods.

Q: What are superfoods?

A: Foods which are extremely nutritious for you. Such as; hemp milk, coconut milk, almond milk (all of which we make fresh daily), bee pollen, kahle, flax, goji berries, acai - basically anything that is high in antioxidants. It's all about the ingredients. We want to make healthy eating easy for you to get and afford. Organic foods need to be in more demand; therefore it will be easier for you to access and live a healthier lifestyle.

Q: Is there anything different Healeo has to offer than other organic food stores or supplement stores?

A: We sell certified organic products made only for Healeo. Having our own supplemental section in our store providing you with all the nutrients you need in pill form. Lots of people question supplements, but the truth is, they are just as healthy for you as any organic food - it is just easier to put into your system. Our supplements are all organic. Also, we have a display of all of our teas so you can interact, smell and see exactly the tea you may want to drink. No other tea stores have this, which makes Healeo different. CHS note: After this interview was posted, Justin Brotman left a comment clarifying his statement about supplements: "What I said was that NOTHING can replace whole foods but it is not practical to eat 10 heads of Kale everyday so you should take supplements."

Q: What do i need to know about Healeo before I come in?

A: Healeo is all about the organics, plain and simple. We sell raw and vegan food as well, but that's not our focus. Not all people eat vegan, so we sell non-vegan items as well. Basically, we want to spread the essentials. Our #1 priority is to keep everything at Healeo organic. The only things in our store that aren't organic are bee-pollen and coconuts - they are just too hard to find completely organic. By keeping our store almost fully organic, we are providing you with food which helps your body absorb nutrients and become healthier.

One of my favorite places (that I don't stop by at enough) is CHS Sponsor Poco Wine Room.  A couple of notable developments: 1) They are now open Sundays and 2) They now have outdoor seating - in the courtyard.  I walked by this happy sight - on my way home.  More reasons to visit!

Anyone who frequents East Olive will know that something has been going on with the B&O. Recently the upper portion of their dining area was covered and all the furniture had been removed. I was worried that perhaps they weren't doing so well and maybe they were going to rent out half their space. But alas, my fears were calmed when I found out they were just moving the bar to this new, bigger location. Today I went in to take few pictures and get some more info on the move.

I spoke with Madl, a 20-year veteran of the B&O and she told me the move was prompted by a lack of space and visibility from the old bar. Madl said she suggested the move a few years ago but the owners finally got around to it this month.  You will now be able to enter the bar separately from East Olive instead of having to come through the Belmont entrance. Madl also said to look for more improvements in the coming weeks. They are working on more beer taps, new decor, and even some live evening entertainment.

New seating and entrance

If you have time I suggest you go check out the new set-up...but not tonight. A sign on the door reads, "Closed tonight only. Bartenders busy creating new drinks." Sorry. The regular cafe will be open as usual though.

The old bar is now more dining space

• The Stranger's Happiest Hour pays a visit to Broadway stalwart Charlie's (a nice option for a weekday breakfast as well)
• Neidermeyer of Spinasse going to Italy to work on "artisan projects" - new temporary chef de cuisine
• cap to the hill wanders up to remedy teas on 15th and likes it, despite earlier anti-tea position ("i think tea is a waste of time, but these days who am i to judge?")
• 3-star review from the Seattle Times for Anchovies & Olives (corrected 5/16 per the comment below)
• Dana Davenport of Dilettante talks about his Venezuela trip (the Venezuelan coffee is only served on weekends)
• 5 ways to look like a Redwood regular according to Seattle Metropolitan Magazine
• 22 Doors has a new chef (for a few weeks now) and this past Tuesday, they launched a new menu and a new brunch - and 1/2 price wine on Tuesdays

Neighbor m3k writes in with possible signs of life in the old El Tajin space:

Looks like a vietnamese/chinese restaurant is going to go in the building where El Tajin was (Broadway). There's a piece of paper on the door saying that they are looking for cook/servers.

El Tajin, you may recall, went under in October after just one year in business. Next door, Siam on Broadway closed down earlier this month setting off speculation about what's next for that strip of north Broadway.

UPDATE:
Thanks to neighbor Joe for the pic:

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Also, let's hear it for paper on the front door announcements. Still more effective than Twitter for many things.

The new Sushi restaurant on Broadway fixed their small typo and is now going with "I Love Was abi." I'm sure it won't take long to rearrange the letters.

But for now, here's the sign. 8 Block Walk captured its early-phase 'Washabi' variation.

One of my favorite CHS discussions ever stemmed from our recent posting about the debut of Wandering Wieners in Cal Anderson Park.

With Capitol Hill's still-not-fully-met desire for more affordable, down to earth food options as backdrop, neighbor Scott S asked some tough questions:

I'm not sure how I feel about food vendor(s) in the park. What is the park department's plan? Only one vendor? What was the selection criteria? What other vendors were considered and, possibly, rejected? And what will this do to the trash in the park?

I'm following up with Seattle Parks to ask more about this process but, in the meantime, looks like we've heard directly from one of WW's owners.

Here's what WW had to say:

As one of the owners of Wandering Wieners, I just want to let everyone know how excited we are to be welcomed into the Capital Hill [sic] community. We also appreciate every bit of input that we receive, good and bad, and we invite anyone to let us know how we are doing! We are all familiar with the amazing people that live and work here and that's why we were thrilled to find out that Cal Anderson was still available for the summer permit contract.

I assure you, there is a process to follow with the Parks Department each year, and they only allow one vendor to work in each of the larger parks in Seattle. We do not know if there were other vendors "rejected" in the application process, but we do know that we are honored to enjoy the park, the sun, and the people this summer.

We take pride in our business and the neighborhood, working hard to maintain a friendly, fun, yet professional atmosphere. We take walks around the park, and if we see any of "our" trash, we'll pick it up. We understand how much work has gone into making Cal Anderson one of the best parks in Seattle (we all lived here when it wasn't so great), and we will work hard to keep it that way!

We hope to see you soon! Please, come enjoy a hot dog and the beautiful park!

Scott, if you're out there, can I buy you a hot dog now? I liked your question (yeah, a few people didn't) and I like hot dogs. Let me know when you're free. In the meantime, Wandering Wieners is on Facebook (of course they are!).

For our Mother's Day brunch (without our mothers), my companion and I decided to visit Smith.  To our vegetarian surprise, the delicious veggie omelette was no longer on the menu!  Craving eggs and hashbrowns, we quickly paid for our coffees and left.  Coincidentally, this was the second Capitol Hill restaurant I abandoned this week.  On Thursday, I left Than Brothers on Thursday after waiting 25 minutes for veggie pho.  After being told "it was on its way!" at least 3 times, I finally gave up when I heard a server admit to another table that they were out of veggie broth.

I certainly don't think that I have a constitutional right to a decent vegetarian dish at every restaurant, but I admit that I'm surprised by the neo-Capitol Hill trend of meat-centric menus.  Doesn't it make business sense to offer at least one or two veggie entrees that are comparable in size and flavor to the meaty choices (e.g., Honey Hole, Annapurna, Bimbo's)?

Even with its 4-star CHS review average, Rancho Bravo is so last week. Here's the new hot (dog) kid on the block, Wandering Wieners.

Photo: Matthew Parker

Haven't seen it with my own eyes so this might just be an excellent Photoshop job but tipster Matthew reports that owner Andrea will be operating the cart every day of the week in Cal Anderson. Had a Wandering Wiener? Add your CHS Review.

(The Polish Home is at 1714 18th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98122)

Saturday May 9th, 11:30AM - 4:30PM

All You Can Eat Pierogi Fest
A Pierogi (Polish dumplings) extravaganza! Several different kinds of pierogi available for your pleasure. Eat as much as you like while talking to friends, listening to the Polish music and having good time. Tickets $15 regular, $8 children up to 11, tots up to 3 years old free. Free attractions from 1:00 PM: * Workshops (learn to make pierogi) * Performance of ethnic youth dance group

(or in Polish) Sobota 9-go maja, 11:30 - 16:30

All You Can Eat Pierogi Fest
Doroczna impreza z tematu "jedz ile się zmieści". Do wyboru wspaniałe polskie pierogi!. Wstęp $15, dzieci do lat 11 $8, dzieci do lat 3 wstęp bezpłatny. Od godziny 13:00: o Warsztaty - naucz się robić pierogi o Występ młodzieżowej grupy tanecznej o Inne atrakcje

We didn't make a Cinco de Mayo post. Figured if you have a hard time finding a margarita on Capitol Hill, you're probably not reading this site anyway. We will, however, make a Seis de Mayo post.

CHS recently re-rolled out a Business Review section of the site. Give it a whirl and tell us about your most recent Rancho Bravo experience -- good or bad. Why let Yelp have all the review fun in the world?

Anybody know what happened to Siam on Broadway? Or of plans for that block now that Siam, El Tajin and the Jade Pagoda are empty?

(update by jseattle -- Looks like I have some reporting to do on what's next for the building.)

Hello Seattle has this picture of the goodbye note:

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