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originally uploaded by Fecki.
Capitol Hill cooks looking for local ingredients for their Tofurky Day feast contributions will find some new additions at the tables at Sunday's Broadway farmers market. Here's the list of items making their market debut this week:
Parsnips – The colder it gets, the sweeter they become. Give them a try roasted, boiled or sautéed. They are available at all three markets from Willie Green’s Organic Farm.
Pears – White Doyenne are new from Booth Canyon Orchards. They are available alongside Bosc, Comice, D’Anjou and Olympic
Freshly Ground Flour – Organic hard red wheat is being freshly ground by Nash’s Organic and is being sold in 4 pound bags at the U-District market. The wheat was planted in the spring of 09, harvested in September and is being fresh ground every week for market shoppers. How can anything be fresher?
Matsutake Mushrooms – from Foraged and Found – at the U-District and West Seattle markets.
HOLIDAY TREES AND WREATHS– We are excited to welcome back Three Tree Farm to the U-District and Broadway markets for the next 4 weekends. The Noble and Blue Spruce trees have been freshly cut and come in all sizes. Beautiful holiday wreaths are also available from Alm Hill Gardens at all three markets.
The market runs 11 AM - 3 PM in the parking lot behind Bank of America at Broadway and Thomas.
The Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance, by the way, is also sponsoring a Thanksgiving contest that rewards cooking skills, a dedication to locally-sourced ingredients and having your stuff together-ness (entering takes a little doing and more organization than CHS is capable of in the kitchen). Here are the details:
Thank-Your-Farmers Harvest Feast CONTEST!Announcing the "Thank-Your-Farmers Harvest Feast" CONTEST for the best and most direct-from-the-farmers-market Thanksgiving Dinner of 2009!
Grand Prize: a meal cooked in your home by award-winning Chef Tamara Murphy of Brasa Restaurant for you and up to 5 guests!!*
Second place prize: $100 shopping spree at any of our seven Seattle Neighborhood Farmers Markets*, plus two bottles of wine from market farmers, and a Farmers Market apron.
Third place prize: $75 Farmers Market gift certificate, one bottle of wine and a Farmers Market apron.
The Grand Prize will be awarded to the host/cook who makes the most farmers-market-sourced, delicious, unique and beautifully presented Thanksgiving dinner for 2009. As much as possible, everything from the wine to the centerpiece should be sourced directly from local farms at the Broadway, U-District or West Seattle Farmers Markets.
1. It's easy! Host a Thanksgiving dinner on Nov. 26, 2009, of any size, featuring ingredients sourced from either one or all of these three Farmers Markets: Broadway, U-District, West Seattle. The dinner can be pot-luck style or cooked all by you, but you (and your group) must be prepared to provide written recipes of all dishes served, and the source of all the ingredients. (This contest is about supporting these three local winter farmers markets, which keep numerous small, diverse local farms in business.) Also, as much as possible, the ingredients that you cannot purchase at the farmers markets should be locally sourced (eg, check out Stone Burr's line of Washington-sourced flour, available at various Seattle grocery stores). Also remember: the original harvest feast held by the Pilgrims featured what was available, including fish, deer and other game. Turkey and pumpkin pie are traditions that were only invented in the late 1800's. SO, celebrate what's local, and be creative!
2. Take pictures of the dishes and the table setting, and also of the preparation in the kitchen (you don't need to detail every step of the process, but enough to give us an idea of what you did). Write down your dinner menu and all recipes, plus where all the ingredients were sourced, including the drinks, wine and any decorations such as bouquets, etc. Write down the name of the farm, and which farmers market the ingredient was purchased at.
3. Your entry will be judged on: the extent to which ingredients were sourced directly from local farmers at these three farmers markets, the quality of the recipes (they need not be elaborate to be good - simple can be exquisite too!), the uniqueness/creativity of the overall menu, and the presentation (again, simple can be just as beautiful as elaborate). Our judges are nationally-known Chef Tamara Murphy of Brasa Restaurant, one of our market farmers, and local food writer Cynthia Nims (www.cynthianims.com). It can be dinner for two or for twenty, elaborate or simple.
4. Submit your photos and written menu/recipes to the NFMA by December 4, either via email or snail mail, or by dropping it off at the info table at any of the three farmers markets. Winner will be chosen by December 16, and first, second and third-place entries will be posted on the NFMA website as well as displayed at our winter markets, to inspire others to think creatively and locally for the holidays. Please also give your dinner a 'name' - eg., the Smith Family Feast, or the 34th and Yesler Street Party.
5. This contest is open to home cooks only please, not professional chefs and cooks (i.e., anyone who makes their living via catering or cooking or restaurant).
If my interview with Roy Street Coffee and Tea manager Jacob Webber taught me anything, it’s that despite being a much better coffee shop than your typical Starbucks, Roy Street Coffee and Tea is still a Starbucks.
Jacob describes the store as his “pipe dream,” and seemed really excited about all the new features they’re trying out in the store, like their new Synesso espresso machine, and a pull down movie screen to host film showings for local filmmakers. He said a lot of positive things and really seemed committed to making the concept work.
On the other hand, Jacob said he didn’t know much about Capitol Hill, he didn’t have much to say about the well established coffee scene on the Hill, beyond “they make great coffee”, and he didn’t offer direct responses to any of the criticism they’ve been getting from many in the community -- namely that it's disingenuous to not display the Starbucks name, and the clipboard observers that were spotted in neighboring business.
This seeming lack of connection to the neighborhood isn't a deal breaker for me. As I'm sure people will point out in the comments, it’s just coffee after all. But the vague and corporate sounding responses served as a reminder that despite the hype, and the much-improved ambiance, coffee and food, this is really just another Starbucks… nothing to get too excited about, but also nothing really worth protesting. It is a new piece of Capitol Hill, though, so check out the interview and hear for yourself what Jacob had to say about Roy St Coffee.
Jacob introduces the new store, and explains why they chose to locate on Capitol Hill
I asked Jacob what was missing in Capitol Hill coffee scene that Roy St C&T can deliver. And he shares his impressions of the neighborhood.
Jacob responds to criticism that they are being disingenuous by not using the Starbucks name.
Jacob responds (kind of) to criticism of Starbucks "observers" that were spotted at nearby local businesses, taking notes before the opening of the 15th Ave Store
Wednesday night's early design guidance meeting for the 230 Broadway project revealed a Brix-like apartment and retail complex that left the Capitol Hill Design board wanting more specific details.
The 7-story mixed use development will house 235 residential spaces (47 units of affordable housing), room
for 24,000 sq. ft. of retail, have space for neighborhood offices and will stretch from Thomas St. all the way to Castle and the tanning salon; replacing the space for the farmers market as well as a multitude other businesses. (If you need to brush up your memory on the guts of the project, a link to the architects proposal can be found here.) As with any project of this size landing on the uniformly two-story area on and around Broadway, concerns surrounding its mass, looks, and function as a community space topped the issue list for the review board.
While it received the most praise in our previous coverage of the development, the proposed courtyard and community room became clouded in confusion after the board began looking into the function, placement, and use 
of the space. As a whole, the board felt the design left too many questions about whether the courtyard, located in the center of the building, was open to the public or restricted only to the tenants. According to lead architect Brian Runberg, street access would be restricted at night in parallel with a community room hours by way of a "welcoming" gate, but the board felt the current design, which has no visual or physical access to Broadway, lacked character as an effective public space. "For a space that is supposed be a community space, it's pretty impoverished," said Bryan Cavanaugh, the business owner representative on the design review board. This brought up questions of possible relocation of the community room or rearrangement of entrances, but ultimately resulted in the board wanting more clarity.
As a brand new yet lasting face of Broadway, community members and board members wanted to ensure the facade would reflect the culture and historical precedence created by the current retail stretch on the street. Runberg's goal with the Broadway facade was to create a "strong urban edge" -- reinforcing the vibrant night life, creating wider sidewalks, and allowing retail businesses to create unique storefronts. The board praised these efforts, but without a solid decision on the look and setback of the front, they demanded a strong, clear, and simple front that would be made interesting by the individual store owners.
The final board recommendations also called for more definition on the how the building turns the corner at 10th & Thomas, and a clear design on what turned out to be a controversial service alley on the south end of the building.
Despite the criticisms, the review board did commend the architects and developer for their analysis of the history of Capitol Hill developments as well as the new building's aesthetic fit into environment of Broadway. One went so far as to call the design "elegant."
Taking the advice of the board and community with them, the next step for the developers, according to project planner Lisa Rutzick, will be applying for a master use permit. After more zoning and environmental assessments, the group will come back to the design review board for more community input.
Previous
When CHS first walked into Roy Street Coffee and Tea this morning shortly before 7 am, the place was bustling.
See pictures of the opening here.
According to Major Cohen, Senior Project Manager and a key proponent of these "inspired by Starbucks" cafes, the first group to arrive were the coffee nerds (our characterization - not his). Many in the group were excited to try the Panama La Esmeralda (CHS sampled this brew and it was one of the best cups of coffee we've had in a while) and other Clover beans. As we searched for a table, a bunch of them were excitedly discussing coffee, machinery and methods at a communal table. The morning crowd was composed of Starbucks corporate family members (those visiting from corporate included CEO Howard Schultz ), well-to-do older couples from North Capitol Hill, curiosity seekers, I-5 shores residents and those of us in search of good coffee and free wi-fi.
Starbucks PR agency Edelman emphasized to us that this is the second LEED certified Starbucks store and that all of Starbucks new stores henceforth will aim to be LEED certified. For you trivia hounds, the first Starbucks store to be LEED certified was in San Diego. Liz Muller, who is chiefly responsible for the design of the store, acknowledged to us that many of the design elements in the store were inspired by the Loveless Building across the street. The 3600 square foot space maintains flow and cohesion nicely for such an expanse. The large windows take advantage of the view of the Loveless Building and the North Broadway street life. Red and brown velvet curtains and fringed overstuffed velvet chairs lend a theatrical air to the place - but have the useful function of providing privacy and diminishing ambient noise. Music hewed closely to adult contemporary with occasional hip hop and an alternative track or two thrown into the mix.
Similar to 15th Avenue Coffee an Tea, this is an "inspired by Starbucks" store. Barristas do not wear Starbucks uniforms, the coffee and tea offerings are more extensive than at other Starbucks stores, and the bakery treats are from Essential. Like 15th Avenue, Roy Street will offer daily cuppings (the ones here will be at 2 pm) and free wi-fi. Note that, both 15th Avenue (as of two weeks ago) and Roy Street accept Starbucks cards. One significant difference is that Roy Street is able to offer a larger food menu (their refrigeration area in this space holds more) - including Tom Douglas soups.
If you visit Roy Street, let us know what you think. Some impressions from Twitter:
kevinseattle: checked it out this AM and was dissapointed how impressed I was. I think nearby local coffee shops really need to be worried :-(
blinkity: Heading to Roy Street Coffee & Tea for the opening. The guilt is astounding. Thanks a lot @alexishope. At least @Barista_Alex won't hate me.
smoovebcoffee: Less idiotic comments this time w/ Roy St Coffee. Locals get it-it's not about media, just coffee and a space to enjoy it.
regenius: Guess what just opened in my hood? Another coffee shop. Roy St. Coffee inspired by Starbucks. Think I'll stick w/ Joe Bar. #boycott
It's a 6 AM Wednesday morning debut for the latest Starbucks creation on Capitol Hill. We'll have additional coverage this morning but wanted you to get a look inside. What do you think of the new place?
Roy Street Barrista
Chairs reused from somewhere
Busy morning opening day
Interesting lighting is a must
CHS didn't attend the pre-launch media event on Tuesday night but we did get a few shots from other folks on the outside. Thanks to Aaron Brethorst for sharing this picture via Twitter .
Photo: Aaron Brethorst
And thanks to http://starbucksmelody.com for a shot from the inside at the preview.
Photo: Starbucks Melody (with permission)
Over on the article where we first posted the announcement that Roy St. Coffee and Tea was opening on Wednesday, there's a debate, um, brewing about the good and bad of corporate coffee and indie-styling . CHS goes back and forth between hostility and ignorance about Starbucks' 'Street Level Coffee' efforts. But the company seems to court the controversy with images like this:
Roy Street Coffee & Tea, originally uploaded by SlayerSeattle.
Broadway retail had another hole poked in the middle of it tonight as, under the cover of darkness, employees scrambled to gut the Hollywood Video next to Dick's Burgers and directly across the street from the empty lot where Sound Transit's light rail station construction is soon to begin.
A sign on the door said the location is permanently closing and directed customers to the next closest Hollywood Video in Magnolia. Despite the sign, a customer tried the locked door before dropping his movie in the return slot. He said he had just joined Hollywood's monthly movie plan.
UPDATE: Adding some information about the building itself, the $2.8 million, three-story brick building was built in 1929 and is owned by Ron and Edel Amundson, according to King County records. It is also home to online provider of phonics-based spelling lessons, Headsprout and a company called Antique Cycle Northwest. From the Department of Neighborhoods:
Historic Name: Del-Teet Furniture Common Name: Hollywood Video
Style: Commercial Neighborhood: Capitol Hill
Built By: Frederick Anhalt Year Built: 1929
Significance
In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Ordinance.
This building was constructed in 1929 as the Del-Teet Furniture Store. Cyrus Teeter, who had a Denver store with a Dr. Delaney, identified this location as one of the busiest in Seattle and thus suitable for his second store. In the 1950s the store gained renown as the first to introduce modern furniture to go with new post-war housing styles. This was the first of several major furniture stores that opened on Broadway, earning it the name Furniture Row during the 1950s-60s. Del-Teet remained open at this location in to the 1990s. The building was designed by Frederick Anhalt, who was best known as a developer of French Norman and Tudor-inspired apartment buildings, particularly on Capitol Hill. His influence is evident in the arched windows on all three floors. Although Anhalt built several one-story neighborhood commercial buildings, this is his only building of this type--a three-story freestanding commercial structure.
Appearance
This three-story red brick building has a stepped parapet and arched windows on all three floors, including the street-level display windows. The storefront has a high degree of integrity, with wood-and-glass doors. The second floor projects over the first floor, supported by six square wood columns. Although the upper floor windows have a modern look, they are original. The building's only ornament is brick sills and arches around the windows and simple decorative brick insets below the cornice line.
The Broadway Hollywood Video is was one of ten locations still operating in Seattle for the troubled chain operated by Oregon-based Movie Gallery, Inc. The company has faced mounting pressure as industry leader Blockbuster has cut prices and invested in the online space to try to keep pace with services like Netflix. On Monday, Movie Gallery announced it was releasing its new iPhone app, DidjaC. The Blockbuster just down Broadway near Pine remains. The indie Broadway Video also continues to offer brick and mortar rentals in the area as do On 15th Video and Video Connection in other parts of the Hill.
On the corporate chain watch, another Pacific Northwest corporation shut down its Capitol Hill outlet this week with the closure of Taco Time on Madison. Meanwhile, Starbucks opens its latest new-concept cafe with Roy Street Coffee and Tea serving its first cups Wednesday morning at 6 AM.
Update: We've left calls for everybody involved with Hollywood and Movie Gallery that we can find on the Internet. Will update when and if we hear back.
James Joule: Salford Scally...
Originally uploaded by dullhunk
Essex Property Trust Inc, the developer for Joule, an apartment building currently in construction across from the Brix, just announced a sculpture competition for local artists to submit sculptures to be featured on the development. Here are the details:
Essex Property Trust Inc., is developing a new mixed-use, six-story building at the north end of Broadway on Capitol Hill named Joule. Joule aims to bring back energy and vitality to the north end of Broadway that has been missing for decades. With a mix of retail on the street level and apartments above, Joule occupies an entire block and will be a lively and iconic addition to Capitol Hill.
In an effort to include the community and showcase local talent, Seattle sculpture artists are invited to participate in a design competition to create two winning sculptures for the project site. The Grand Prize winning sculpture will be placed at Joule’s main entry along Broadway, while the Second Place winning entry will be part of a rooftop deck landscape plan.
The development name, Joule, was chosen for its definition as a unit used to measure energy/heat. Artists should consider this definition and create designs that embody the themes of heat, energy and movement. Entries should be visually appealing and portray a modern aesthetic.
DESIGN
Sculpture designs should be self supporting. Base must be no larger than 5 feet in circumference and overall height of sculpture should not exceed 10 feet.
Sculptures should be designed from materials such as metal, wood, stone, and any other permanent, weatherproof and vandal-resistant mediums. Light pieces, neon, and other energy works may also be considered.
Fabrication is the responsiblity of the selected winners and must be completed by April 8, 2010.
Designs must be the original work of the entrant.
ENTRIES
Entries must be submitted via email in pdf format no later than January 8, 2010. Entries may take the form of sketches, 3D renderings or photographed models. Please include your name, phone number and an explanation of your design concept along with your entry. Send entries to: ryan@alloypartnership.com
Costs incurred in the preparation of entries are the responsibility of the entrant.
Judging will take place the week of January 11. Judging will be based on overall visual appeal and relevence to theme. Winners will be notified by January 15, 2010.
PRIZES
(1) Grand Prize in the amount of $3,000 and (1) Second Prize in the amount of $1,500 will be awarded. Half of the prize will be awarded at time of selection and the remaining half will awarded upon completion of fabrication. ADDITIONALLY, up to $7,500 will be provided to each winner to cover fabrication costs.
OTHER
Essex Property Trust, Inc. reserves the right to cancel this competition at any time and for any reason. By entering this competition, participants agree to hold Essex Property Trust, Inc. and Alloy Partnership harmless from and against any and all claims and liability arising out of or in any way connected with the operation of this competition and use of a prize.
APPLY
Please email: ryan@alloypartnership.com to request creative brief and full details. No phone calls please.
This upcoming Wednesday there will be an Early Design Guidance Meeting for the mixed-use apartment complex proposed for Thomas and Broadway (details below). The site includes the properties that house Cafe Septieme, Noah's Bagels, Pho 900, Bank of America, the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce, and the Broadway Farmer's Market, among others and will have approximately 24,000 sqft of commercial space, 235 residential units, and about 250-275 parking spaces. The project is being developed by SRM Development and the Merrill Gardens Company, a family-owned, Seattle-based company behind the Merrill Gardens Retirement Communities throughout the United States (and most recently at U-Village).
The project is pretty standard in terms of new Capitol Hill development. Ground floor retail will front Broadway and wrap around Thomas St with upper floors consisting of mainly studios and one bedrooms, with a few 2 bedrooms interspersed. The building will drop from 65ft along Broadway to 40ft along 10th Ave and 7 Live/Work units will front the ground floor of 10th. Since it is early in the design process there are no official designs for the facade but the proposal does include a few sketches of possibilities. In talks, SRM Representative Andy Loos has repeatedly mentioned Brix as something similar in scope and design.
First Floor Plan
While all the existing buildings will be demolished, Loos said that current commercial tenants have been contacted and offered space when construction was complete. Bank of America has already agreed to return to the new building and are currently looking for a temporary location in the vicinity. No others have confirmed. Loos also said that the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce would "certainly be welcome" when construction was completed but the Chamber's Jack Hilovsky said that they are looking for a new location for when their lease is up next Fall and don't have plans to return at this time.
The most intriguing part of the proposal is a community space that would be available to tenants as well as community groups and organizations. While nothing has been confirmed (entrance location, square footage, included equipment, etc.) I am told that Merrill Gardens incorporated a similar space in their U-Village development.
Idea for 10th Ave Entrance
The least intriguing part is the parking. Even though the site will be less than one block from the new light rail station, the First Hill Streetcar, and bus routes 8,9,43,49, and 60 and is zoned with no parking requirements, the developers are still proposing more than 250 parking spots. I asked Loos if there was any chance that the parking could be reduced. His reply:
We have discussed the parking spaces and will do further review to determine how many we will provide. We certainly don’t want to be under-parked since finding spaces on the street in Capitol Hill is virtually impossible today and if our residents were to have to find street parking in order to park their cars we’d be adding to an already significant parking problem. There could be a segment of the residents that have cars but choose to use public transportation anyway. They will still need a parking space even though they don’t use their car every day…we want to be able to accommodate them. We certainly don’t want to build parking spaces that
I guess you can't win them all.
Project: 230 Broadway E map
Review Meeting: November 18, 6:30 pm SU Alumni Relations & Admissions Building 824 12th Ave map Meeting Room Review Phase: EDG--Early Design Guidance past reviews Project Number: 3009249 permit status | notice Planner: Lisa Rutzik
We reported over the weekend about the preparations to open the second 'secret' Starbucks on Capitol Hill taking an odd step backward -- a worker painted over a recently completed Roy Street Coffee sign above the new shop. No matter. Starbucks says it's a go for a Wednesday opening. Here's our favorite line from the media announcement, below:
Like other new stores we’ve opened recently – 1st and Pike and University Village in Seattle, Paris Disney and Conduit Street in London, this coffeehouse is a celebration of the community’s personality and values.
Capitol Hill is just like Paris Disney. Here's the announcement:
On Wednesday, Starbucks will open our new Roy Street Coffee & Tea, inspired by Starbucks, in Seattle, WA. In the same spirit as 15th Ave. Coffee & Tea, Roy Street Coffee & Tea is a new concept coffeehouse that reflects the local neighborhood’s values and personality and celebrates the Pacific Northwest’s coffee heritage, materials and artists.
Like other new stores we’ve opened recently – 1st and Pike and University Village in Seattle, Paris Disney and Conduit Street in London, this coffeehouse is a celebration of the community’s personality and values. Like all new Starbucks stores, whether they are Starbucks branded or the new concept stores, Roy Street Coffee & Tea uses regional materials, features the work of local artists and is designed for sustainability. We look forward to being a part of the vibrant and resurgent Broadway neighborhood when Roy Street Coffee & Tea opens on Wednesday.
We invite you to a media preview event tomorrow with Major Cohen and Liz Muller from Starbucks Global Development team as they discuss the design and construction strategies behind the new concept. As the second store in Starbucks LEED® Volume Certification pilot program (announced just last week), Tony Gail with Starbucks Environmental Impact team, will also be onsite to discuss Starbucks goal is to significantly reduce its environmental footprint through green construction, energy and water conservation, and recycling. Additionally, store manager, Jacob Webber, will be available to discuss the Roy Street Coffee & Tea’s connection to the surrounding neighborhood.
You might recall that the opening of the company's first stealth 'indie'-styled cafe on 15th Ave inspired a few shenanigans. We'll see what happens at Roy and Broadway on Wednesday morning.
A few hundred Capitol Hill residents spent this morning in the dark. According to Seattle City Light, 328 customers were without service starting around 5:24 AM this morning when a tree branch damaged lines. Traffic lights were out on 10th Ave north between Mercer and Roanoke according to a text we received from a reader this morning. That power is now restored. Overnight winds reached 25 miles per hour at the NOAA station down on Lake Washington and more than 30 miles per hour in West Seattle. Meteorologist Cliff Mass says there is a chance that Seattle is about to get pounded by an even larger windstorm this week.
An unexpected scene for a new business gearing up for their opening -- the freshly painted sign for Roy Street Coffee is being painted back over this afternoon by the same man we saw creating the large white letters earlier this week. Not sure what was behind the paint over. The marketing folks were excited by the sign. Perhaps the coffee giant is changing its mind about opening its second Stealthbucks on the Hill. More likely, somebody in corporate didn't like the look. We'll probably have to wait for a leaked memo to find out.
Viper Creek Club is hosting a music video shoot tomorrow (11/14) at 7 pm. Here are the details from Brandon Jensen, Viper Creek Club's guitarist: "757 Broadway E. 7pm, 21+. We'll have a keg, but byob as well. House party video shoot!" Seattle Show Gal has a full length interview with both Jensen and lead singer, Mat Wisner and some more information regarding the video shoot. They will be filming a video for their single Eliza.
Oh My Vampire Weekend, originally uploaded by jaycoxfilm.
I just report this stuff. I don't get to decide what happens. Corporate mega chain Blockbuster has decided its Capitol Hill outlet makes the perfect host for a Friday night celebration of teen girl cinema.
SEATTLE AREA BLOCKBUSTER INVITES TWILIGHT SAGA FANS
TO FRIDAY THE 13th CELEBRATION OF "NEW MOON"
Hundreds of Seats for Special Nov. 19 Advance Screening To Be Given Away At the Blockbuster Capitol Hill Store On Broadway
WHAT: Some Twilight Saga fans, eager for the new feature film "New Moon,"
won¹t have to wait until the movie¹s release on Nov. 20th to sink their
teeth into the next installment about Bella and Edward. The BLOCKBUSTER
store on Capitol Hill is hosting a special celebration of ³New Moon² on the
night of Friday the 13th. Hundreds of tickets to a special advance
screening of the film, to be held on Thursday, Nov. 19 courtesy of
BLOCKBUSTER, will be given away at the event.
The Friday the 13th celebration of ³New Moon² will feature:
· Two free tickets to the advance screening for the first 100 fans at
the event.
· Dozens of additional advance screening tickets given away during the
event held 10 pm - Midnight
· Screening of "Twilight" at 10 pm
· More "Twilight" and "New Moon" prizes, including posters and DVDs, as
well as BLOCKBUSTER rental cards so fans can watch ³Twilight² again before
heading to the theater for ³New Moon.²
WHEN: Friday, November 13, 10 pm - Midnight
WHERE: Blockbuster on Broadway 1514 Broadway Ave (206) 324-6012
WHAT: "New Moon" Celebration & Ticket Giveaway
Select tickets given away to the first 100 fans at the event. (More given
away throughout the evening.) Also a 10 pm: Screening of the movie
"Twilight"
Artwork at Capitol Hill Library,
originally uploaded by javacolleen.
The Friends of Seattle Libraries group is documenting the impact of today's City Council vote approving a plan that will allow the city's library system to maintain service levels despite a citywide budget crunch:
Central:
• Hours remain at the current seven day, 62 hour weekly schedule
Ballard, Beacon Hill, Broadview, Capitol Hill, Douglass-Truth, Greenwood, Lake City, Northeast, Rainier Beach, Southwest and West Seattle:
• Open 7 Days per week (60 hours per week):
• Monday – Thursday, 10 am – 8 pm;
• Friday – Saturday, 10 am – 6 pm;
• Sunday 1 pm – 5 pm
Columbia, Delridge, Fremont, Green Lake, High Point, International District/Chinatown, Madrona-Sally Goldmark, Magnolia, Montlake, NewHolly, Northgate, Queen Anne, South Park, University and Wallingford:
• Open 5 Days per week (35 hours per week, closed Friday and Sunday):
• Monday – Tuesday, 1 pm – 8 pm;
• Wednesday – Thursday, 11 am – 6 pm;
• Friday: CLOSED;
• Saturday 10 am – 6 pm;
• Sunday: CLOSED
You'll note that the plan actually calls for the hours at the Capitol Hill branch to be increased -- the Harvard Ave facility currently doesn't open until 1 PM on Mondays and Tuesdays. Other areas of the city -- West Seattle, for example -- saw service at some branches reduced to 5 days per week.
The City Council earlier today approved a 13.8% increase in electricity rates to help offset the city's budget issues.
As the Seattle Times (via the Associated Press) reported this morning, there was an early morning fire on 11th Avenue between Republican and Mercer. We have a call in to the Seattle Fire Department for additional information:
Smoking in bed started a fire that injured two men early today in an older house that had been converted to apartments, according to the Seattle Fire Department.
Spokeswoman Dana Vander Houwen says firefighters responding about 2:30 a.m. found one man in a room. He was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with life-threatening injuries.
She says another man who was able to get out of the house on his own also was taken to the hospital and is expected to recover.
Damage is estimated at [$]20,000 to the three-story house in the Capitol Hill neighborhood.
Update (11/11) 2:19 pm: CHS has learned that the man who started the fire has died
Update (11/11) 2:51 pm: Line Out identifies Comet Bouncer Ben Hills as the man killed in the fire
Update (11/11) 5:08 pm: Line Out commenter Mumbly Jo provided the photo above and identified Hills as a drummer in the Shy Ones
Update (11/11) 9:25 pm: You can check out Shy Ones music at Last.fm or on their MySpace page:
(Photo: It's My Darlin')
This is my first Hill Style post for CHS. You may have read about my street fashion site when CHS wrote about it earlier this year.
Dio caught my eye at the Walgreens on Broadway and Pine. I am such a big fan of throwing a bow tie into an everyday outfit. From the accessories to the well tailored coat Dio manages to look relaxed, dressy, dapper, and fun all at once.
For more street style photos from Capitol Hill and the rest of the city see my website: www.itsmydarlin.com
I sat down and talked with Michael Wells this morning about the closure of his bookstore, the future of the publishing industry, and the changes he's seen in Capitol Hill in his 20 years with Bailey Coy.
Connection to Capitol Hill
Michael explains why Bailey Coy couldn't have existed in any other neighborhood, and how being on Capitol Hill affected Bailey Coy.
Changes in the publishing industry
Michael discusses the changes in the publishing and bookselling industries, which he says started about 10 years ago with the arrival of big box bookstores, and amazon.com.
Why Bailey Coy is closing
Michael explains why Bailey Boy couldn't hold on any longer, and responds to a CHS commenter that said he was stuck in the 80's, agreeing that he should have done more to move into the online space.
Changes in the neighborhood
Michael discusses the changing retail climate of Broadway and Pike/Pine, impact of the redevelopment currently underway in North Broadway, and the growing sense of community in Capitol Hill.
History of Bailey Coy
Michael tells the story of how Bailey Coy came to find it's home on Broadway, and how he ended up acquiring the store in 2003, after working there for 14 years.
Courtney Love
"Michael, there's a 6 foot tall drag queen out here and I think she's stealing books"
Elliot Bay Book Company
Michael explains why he hopes the rumors of Elliot Bay moving to Capitol Hill are true.
Pilot Books
Michaels thoughts on micro-independent bookstore Pilot Books, which recently opened near Bailey Coy, and where it fits into the future of bookselling.
Wake
Michael talks about his plans to hold a wake, to mark the end of Bailey Coy.
Get a little wild at this film fest as Conservation Northwest brings the 8th annual Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival on Tour to Capitol Hill tonight:
(Image: Conservation Northwest)
Wednesday, November 4, 2009Reception: 6 pm
Films: 7 pm to 10 pm (with intermission)
Broadway Performance Hall, Capitol Hill
Tickets: $9 (or $11 at door)
Tickets available now at Brown Paper Tickets
The films:
The featured film of the evening is Division Street, a thought-provoking look at the impact of roads on wildlife, wild places, and the human landscape. Other engaging and entertaining short documentary, fiction, and adventure films highlight how ordinary people are creating real change across the globe. The film festival is the largest of its kind on the West Coast!
The fun:
▪ Free snacks and great deals on Sierra Nevada Brewing Co beer at the reception and intermission
▪ Door prizes from national sponsors (first 100 guests in the door)
▪ A free raffle ticket for everyone to win some great prizes! (more available by donation)
Bailey/Coy Books, Broadway, Seattle, WA,
originally uploaded by djwudi.
UPDATE 12:10 PM:
I spoke with Bailey Coy owner Michael Wells this morning shortly after the shop opened for the first day of business since his big (and sad) announcement.
Wells said his decision to close for good after years of financial struggle came down to the fundamental question: What does an independent bookstore need to be in this era to survive?
Wells said he's been thinking of how to change for a long time. "I've considered so many permutations. Downsizing. Changing my stock. Events. The realities of book selling at this moment are such that I'm not even sure a change of retail model would even work," Wells said.
"I think a new bookstore has to look differently than in the past. I don't know that I can do that. I don't really understand what is needed. I don't know what e-books will do, how discounts will work, what it will take to do better."
So Wells said he has decided to do the prudent thing. Quit.
"Even if there was a huge groundswell of support from the community, the business model itself is so precarious," Wells said. "I wanted to end this with grace."
Not that the community hasn't tried to keep the story going. Wells confirmed that a prominent Capitol Hill business owner who is a longtime customer had been working with him to find a solution to keep Bailey Coy in business.
"A loan doesn't really help any more. The credit debt is too scary. We've gone through a couple of attempts to find financing and we end up in the same place. No," Wells said. "One of the pieces of this story is how hard it is for small businesses to get credit. At some point I stopped and said, 'I wouldn't even give us credit!'"
Wells said the financial condition of his shop wasn't dire -- in fact, he said he has never taken out a bank loan to keep the store afloat -- but that it had become clear that the struggle to survive was no longer worth the effort.
"This isn't the bookstore I want to be running. I only want to run a good bookstore. I cannot finance -- and the Cap Hill community -- cannot finance this store," Wells said.
Now, Wells said the best way for you to help him close Bailey Coy with 'grace' is to support the store as it sells off its remaining stock over the next four weeks. The prices will keep dropping, of course, but buying a book today will help Wells pay off remaining bills. He also said there will be a new 'Bailey Coy rummage' section of the store to sell off some of the memorabilia and etc. that has collected in the store over the years including a framed package wrapper from Feminist Press addressed to founder Barbara Bailey and some of the shop's classic window displays.
The best memorabilia will be part of an auction at a party Wells is planning to celebrate the store's history. Wells calls the party Bailey Coy's wake. "Barbara will be there," Wells said. "We'll auction off great memorabilia like a pair of underwear signed by David Sedaris."
The happy part of the whole thing, Wells said, is hearing from people about their love for the store. "I'm hearing so many stories. Stories about people coming here as a kid. We're connected to a variety of communities. A lot of people have different experiences. That's been great."
As for what comes next for Wells, he says he hasn't had time to think about it despite friends telling him for years that he should think about life after Bailey Coy.
"It's been a great 30 years," Wells said. "For 25 of those years, it was a profitable business. And then I bought it," he deadpans. Now that the struggle has ended, Wells can laugh.
UPDATE 9:25 AM:
Owner Michael Wells says thanks (and more!) in the comments below:
Thank YouThanks to all of you for your kind words. We will remain open the rest of this month and book cards and gift certificates are still redeemable.We're obviously very sad about this. We've been proud to be a part of your lives.I came to Bailey/Coy in 1989, so, while it's possible that I may be stuck in the 80's, it's far more likely that I'm stuck in the 90's. The 1890's, perhaps...
Original Post:
Michael Wells, owner of indie Capitol Hill bookstore Bailey Coy Books and a prominent member of the Hill business community, tonight announced that he is closing doors on the shop at the end of November. Publicola was the first to report on the closure in a report written by a Bailey Coy employee. The reporter included this press release from Wells about his decision:
Bailey/Coy Books, after serving the Capitol Hill community, the greater Seattle area and generations of book lovers everywhere for 26 years, will be closing its doors at the end of November.
This has not been an easy decision for us. We have struggled, along with independent bookstores across the country, for the last decade to keep our bookstore profitable and healthy. The economic downturn of the past year, combined with the rapidly changing world of bookselling, has led us to believe that this is the most responsible decision.
Starting this week, we will begin a closing sale with everything in the store marked down 20 percent. Gift certificates and redeemable book cards will be accepted until the final closing date, at the end of November.
The recent news that Elliott Bay Book Company is considering moving to Capitol Hill has no bearing on this decision. We wish Elliot Bay Book Company and all Seattle independent bookstores the best of luck in this challenging time.
Bailey/Coy Books began as B. Bailey Books, founded by Barbara Bailey, in the Rainier Square building in 1977. In 1982 she opened a second store on Broadway and in 1983 that store became Bailey/Coy Books. That year she sold the downtown store and Broadway became the store’s home. In 2003 Barbara retired from the bookselling business and sold the store to Michael Wells, the manager of the store since 1989.
Barbara created a bookstore that was not only a model of the best in bookstores but was also specifically designed to welcome a lesbian and gay clientele. The American bookselling landscape at that time included general independents and lesbian and gay stores but rarely did those two models mix. Barbara wanted to create a store where the best in general literature existed side by side with the best in lesbian and gay books. Today that seems like a fairly pedestrian idea, but in 1982 it was nothing short of revolutionary. We remain proud of our long history with the Seattle lesbian and gay community and the rich and varied culture that that community has supported over the years.
We have been active participants in the Broadway Business Improvement Area, the Mayor’s Task Force on Broadway and the newly formed Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce. We have been deeply involved in the Capitol Hill community for over 20 years. It is our belief that this bookstore could not have flourished the way it once did in any other Seattle neighborhood. Capitol Hill’s history of diversity, eccentricity and a commitment to the arts are a part of our history that we cherish. Capitol Hill rules.
We would like to thank the customers and friends who have come through our doors in the last two decades. Our bookstore is a community that includes all of you. We urge you to continue to support independent business and especially independent bookstores. It makes a world of difference.
Again, thank you to all of our customers, to the hundreds of authors who have read in our store, to all of the Pacific Northwest bookselling community and book lovers everywhere. We are honored to have been part of your lives.
And a special thank you to the marvelous people who have staffed Bailey/Coy Books over the years. We have been lucky enough to work with the best and brightest in the Seattle community. We cannot begin to tell you how those people have enriched our lives and the life of this store.
Bailey Coy's recent struggles were not a secret. As the rumors of Elliott Bay Book Co. eyeing a new home on Capitol Hill churned, there was talk of a group of local business owners gathering together to help support Wells through the holiday season as the small retailer faced financial challenges that would prevent it from ordering the stock it needed for November and December.
Wells was recently named a 'Spirit of the Hill' award winner by the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce for his work to keep a progressive small business alive on Capitol Hill. He had previously served as the Chamber's board president and was part of the discussions with Sound Transit about the agency's plans to provide mitigation for the Hill's businesses during the eight-year light rail station construction. Sound Transit recently announced a new marketing initiative and Web site yourcapitolhill.com (not yet live) as part of that initiative. Wells was also involved in shaping the city's Broadway revitalization project which started in 2006 and helped drive a clean-up of the street and improvements in business conditions on the Hill including the reformation of the Chamber of Commerce.
Meanwhile, new piroshky place Zhivago's Cafe is scheduled to open next door to Bailey Coy this week.
SPD procession on Broadway (Photo by @jctrick)
A procession of Seattle Police Department cruisers accompanied the ambulance carrying the body of 39-year-old Tim Brenton, the officer killed in last night's Central District shooting, as the vehicle made its way from Harborview to the Bonney Watson Funeral home on Broadway this afternoon.
An officer stands guard outside Bonney Watson (Photo by: Scott Durham/Central District News)
Central District News covered this afternoon's press conference where police and city officials discussed details of the Halloween murder and the bravery of police trainee Brit Sweeney, who survived the attack that took the life of her mentor:
Interim Chief John Diaz at today's briefing
A press conference with the mayor and Seattle police commanders just concluded, identifying the deceased victim as 39 year old Timothy Brenton, a Police Training Officer and member of the Seattle police force for 8 years. He leaves behind a wife and two children, 8 and 11 years old. He has worked his entire SPD career here in the East Precinct.
Police are working with the family to schedule a memorial service and funeral for Officer Brenton, but no date is available yet. Police work ran strong in Brenton's family. His father and uncle are also retired members of the Seattle Police force.
The second victim, 33 year old police trainee Britt Sweeney, was grazed in the shooting and is now resting at her home. Assistant Chief Pugel said "it was a miracle that she survived" the incident. Only six to seven months out of the academy, her performance during the shooting was described as that of "a tenured veteran," as she "not only called for help and backup, called for the fire department, but also got out and fired at the suspects."
Police undertook a massive manhunt Halloween eve searching for the suspect vehicle, described as a small gray or light colored car. Investigators are now reviewing video footage from multiple on-board police cameras. There is no suspect description at this time. A $20,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer.
Mayor Greg Nickels announced that flags on city property will be flown at half-staff to honor Brenton. A memorial has formed at the shooting scene where people have been been leaving flowers.
Video of the briefing from West Seattle Blog coverage:
Here is the latest statement from the Seattle Police Department on the shooting:
It is with profound sadness that we must inform you that a Seattle Police Officer was killed in the line of duty last night. Officer Timothy Brenton, a Field Training Officer assigned to Third Watch, East Precinct, was shot to death while he and Student Officer Britt Sweeney, were parked in their patrol car in the 100 Block of 29th Avenue last night shortly after 10:00 p.m. The investigation thus far has shown that Officers Brenton and Sweeney had just completed a traffic stop and were discussing the stop as part of Officer Sweeney’s training. Their patrol car was parked facing southbound in the 100 Block of 29th Avenue on the west side of the street. Officer Sweeney was in the driver’s seat; Officer Brenton was in the front passenger seat. As they were discussing training, a vehicle, described as a light-colored small car, also travelling southbound, pulled up next to the patrol vehicle. The suspect(s) opened fire upon the officers. The bullets went by Officer Sweeney’s head, grazing her in the back of the neck and tearing her uniform shirt and vest. Bullets struck Officer Brenton in the head, killing him. The suspect vehicle then fled northbound on 29th Avenue. Officer Sweeney was able to exit the patrol car and return fire at the suspect vehicle. The suspect vehicle may have been struck. Officer Sweeney was able to get on the air and summon additional officers to the scene. Officer Sweeney’s performance was exemplary under the most stressful and horrific call imaginable.
There was a massive response from all points of the city and beyond. Patrol, detectives, and the Hospital Response Team all responded and provided support for officers and the families. Information is being developed as to possible suspect(s). SPD Homicide detectives are responsible for this investigation.
There is no other way to describe what occurred last night to Officers Brenton and Sweeney other than this was a deliberate act of murder. We have all the resources of the Department working on this investigation, and will not stop until we have those responsible answer for this heinous crime. We owe it to Officers Brenton and Sweeney, their families, ourselves and the community.
Officer Brenton was 39 years old and a 9-year veteran of the Department at the time of his death. He leaves behind a wife and two children. Officer Sweeney is 33 years old and a recent graduate of the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center.
Funeral arrangements are being planned and more information will be forthcoming.
This is a profound tragedy and shock to our senses. We will take the time to grieve, reflect, and honor our fallen brother. The Department’s Crisis Incident Stress Management Team will be available for all those who request it.
The Department has set up a tip line for the public to provide information that may assist the investigation. That number is (206) 233-5000.
A bank account for Officer Timothy Brenton’s family is being set up at this time. We will provide more information when the details become available.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to call either 911 or the Seattle Police Homicide Unit at 206 684-5550, or the tipline at (206) 233-5000. Those wishing to remain annonymous are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or send a text to CRIMES (274637). Your text message should include “TIP486″ to ensure proper routing. If a tip leads to an arrest and the filing of charges, callers may qualify for a cash reward of up to $1,000. An additional $20,000 reward is being offered by the Seattle Police Officer’s Guild, for a total of $21,000. Calls are taken 24 hours a day.
As Justin reported, the art at the Sound Transit site was up and running tonight for a "dress rehearsal" for Saturday night's opening. I went down and interviewed Dan Corson and got some footage of the installation.
In the video Dan describes the current installation as an "improvisation" to get something up for the planned Halloween opening. Dan also talks about his personal connection with Capitol Hill, and the ST light rail site in particular.
It looks pretty cool already so I'm looking forward to seeing it in it's final form.
There's a Friday night dress rehearsal for the Sound-Transit sponsored art installation in the empty lot cleared for light rail construction at the corner of Broadway and Denny. Word from the artist Dan Corson and Sound Transit art program manager Barbara Luecke is the 'rehearsal' will start at 7 PM and run 'until the generator gas tank is empty' around midnight. Same plan Halloween night. There's been some scrambling to complete the installation as weather and some mis-sized fiberglass rods have slowed progress. The installation isn't yet in final form but most of it is in place and there are lasers. What else could you ask for?
A Broadway small business has become entangled in business deal involving a wide-ranging Web of businesses and charities that has cost the independent retailer more than $20,000 in losses, according to its owner.
Bliss Soaps' owner Phil Wright tells CHS that he and his co-owner Chuck Sapronetti lost more than $20,000 on a wholesale order arranged with a business called Emperor's Essentials, a health and supplement product provider headquartered in Florida but active here in Washington state. Wright said everything with the deal -- one of the largest they've ever had -- seemed on the up and up until the last few weeks. Nearly three months after Bliss delivered the goods and got paid, Wright says Robert Friend, head of Emperor's Essentials, reversed the charges.
"He paid us. We made the products. Then he reversed the charges three months later. We didn't know which way to turn with it," Wright said.
Friend, it turns out, is not a stranger to financial controversy. He and his wife are involved with a group of charities that has been investigated for its questionable practices. Here is a Seattle PI article about the couple from 2007. Most recently, the activities of the American Veterans Coalition, which lists Friend as its 'registered agent,' were under scrutiny as the Gig Harbor-based charity settled claims in Arkansas and Kentucky. The office of the Washington State Attorney General would not comment on whether it is -- or is not -- investigating any of the charities Friend is involved with. Those include the AVC, the Cancer Assistance Network, the Disabled Firefighters Foundation, and the National Association for Disabled Police Officers. We have also requested information from the AG on any complaints against Friend, his organizations and his company, Emperor's Essentials. None of the organizations were included in the state's recent busts of so-called 'badge charities.
CHS also talked to Rebecca Sherrell, charities program manager for the Washington Secretary of State's office. Sherrell said her office had no documentation of any state actions against the Friend charities.
Back at Bliss, Wright said he didn't know what to do. So he gave Friend -- somebody he says he's known from the business world for seven years -- a call.
"He tries to intimidate," Wright said of Friend." "'I'm so right,' 'you don't have a chance.' I think a lot of people back down from the intimidation."
CHS got a small taste of this when we contacted Friend at his Gig Harbor home through a number provided on one of his organizations' Web sites. Friend answered the phone with a cheery "Emperor's Essentials!" Then he learned he was talking to a reporter. "Do not call me," Friend said. "This is a private residence and I do not want this to happen again."
Later that night, Friend forwarded us this e-mail without additional comment:
Phil and Chuck,
I am going to press criminal charges, a restraining order, and harassment charges, and take this to court very quickly if you do not stop your threats and harassment. Brian and I have been gentlemen to this point. Enough is enough. All your text's are documented and ready to be supplied to the legal authorities as needed. They are in black and white. There is no wiggle room in what you are doing. Some of what you are committing is criminal, and a lot is blat en civil wrongs.
We feel you have miss led us, duped us, and not provided us with what we have paid you for. We also feel you still owe us a sizable sum of money and have caused us large financial losses. Let's let the courts hand down a decision.
I suggest you allow the courts to deal with this and they will decide whom owes whom what. We have everything documented and we will provide it accordingly at the prescribed time. I am sure you are aware that Chase called last night and are leaving the charge backs right where they are, with Emperor's Essentials. They have your documents and they have ours, and they have made their decision accordingly.
We have been trying to be patient with you, but one more action, or phone call like today and we are filing charges.
Be under no allusion, you have been put on notice. Govern yourselves accordingly.
Robert Friend
Wright said Bliss won't back down.
"Yesterday, the intimidation almost worked until we saw the support of people coming out to support us," Wright said. Bliss sent out an e-mail to customers telling them about the situation and announcing a sale to help the shop recoup some of their losses.
"We've made most of it back," Wright said of the response. "We were getting an order an average of every two minutes online."
But Bliss isn't finished. Wright said he expects to report the deal gone bad to the State Attorney General's office and will pursue the matter in court.
"I don't know anything about the process," Wright said. "When you run a super honest business you usually don't care about these kinds of things."
The lovely BLISS Soaps up on Broadway says it has recently fallen victim to a con artist. Here's the scoop from the latest BLISS e-mail newsletter sent out today:
BLISS Soaps has unfortunately fallen victim to a fraudulent business deal. Many local customers may recall a large soap, lotion, facemask and eye cream order that we were working on as they came to visit the store. The order was made, delivered and distributed to the Cruise-line executives ahead of schedule. Emperors Essentials, the company that commissioned BLISS Soaps to fulfill this contract fraudulently reversed ALL of the payments that were made to us. . . The devastating to BLISS Soaps came at such a time that we may not recover the funds in time to maintain operations.
However, there is good news:
In an effort to make this a win-win situation for both of us, we are offering this 4 day only Internet, call-in and walk-in special in an attempt to earn pre holiday revenue.
All orders over $50.00 will be doubled and the next 5 future orders over $50.00 will be given a $15.00 credit.
All orders received in the next 4 days will be filed and a VERY special future offer will be offered to you in our Dec E-mail.
ALL orders place in the next 4 days EVEN orders under $50.00 will be given the Special December offer.
To call in your orders, please call 1-206-322-SOAP 7 days 4-10 Pacific Time Internet orders, please only order 1/2 of what you would like as we will simply double the order received.
So if you're looking for some good holiday gifts, for you or anyone else, and want to support a local business, this would be the time!
Editor's note: We're attempting to get Emperor's Essentials side of this but have not yet heard back. The phone numbers on their web site 'Contact Us' are both no longer in service and the person who answered the phone from this listing we found for the company's Gig Harbor address hung up after learning he was talking to a reporter. "We're not interested," he said.
CHS does not condone this woman's actions. But we're also kind of tired of the Hitler thing.
