A couple of Wednesday activities of CHS note:

• The first community design meeting to discuss the 230 Broadway development happens tonight at Seattle University. The project will replace a block along Broadway where Bank of America, Noah's Bagels and Cafe Septieme and others currently do business -- and also the parking lot where the weekly Broadway farmers market takes place.
  

  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

• Seattle bloggers and the people that love them will be gathering at Central Cinema tonight for Blogsgiving 2009. Everybody is welcome -- we're raising donations for NorthWest Harvest so bring a few bucks or a couple cans of food to give. There will be free food and some wine to get the party moving plus Central's kitchen and beer taps will be open and ready for business. Stick around to catch Big Trouble in Little China afterward.

Two back-to-back Hill events this afternoon on the campus of Seattle University:

• 3 PM: Seattle U. celebrates its new Admissions and Alumni building:

Saturday at 3pm, Seattle University will be proudly showing off its newest campus facility, the Admissions and Alumni building at the corner of 12th and Marion. Constructed in less than nine months, this LEED Gold structure is intended to be the first example of SU's new approach to community engagement.

• 4 PM: Capitol Hill Community Council Mayoral Candidate Forum:

The format will be slightly different than most candidate forums. Instead of a debate-like format, the candidates will answer a set of questions separately so that they are unable to hear each other's answers. The idea is to allow the community a more in-depth conversation with each candidate and then draw distinctions themselves.

crow Originally uploaded by bitmask

Next Tuesday night, we'll be hosting the (mostly!) monthly CHS happy hour at the Bottleneck Lounge along with our pals from Central District News.

To add some balance, we thought it might be nice to try a CHS social that did not include alcohol. Novel!

Join CHS at a special edition of HEALEO and Phyzz Yoga's morning stretch sessions. For $9, you'll get a yoga class, a smoothie and CHS will be there to guarantee you aren't the least limber person in the room. Fun starts at 9 AM.

Design for Livability: Sustainable Cities Conference
October 15 - 16
University of Washington, Seattle

"This forum brings our region’s planning, design, development, and civic leaders and advocates together to better understand what we can do to build a stronger future. Today, more than ever, we are faced with environmental and economic challenges that will define our generation, shape our future, and test our resilience. Join leaders from across the region as we tackle these challenges head-on and demonstrate solutions to building more livable, walkable, and healthier communities."

Link: https://www.aiaseattle.org/sustainablecities

Cost (after Oct. 8)

$225 AIA, APA, ASLA, CLC Members
$135 AIA Associate Members
$225 Government Employees
$295 Non-members

Like we said, it's an incredibly busy week on the Hill. At the center of this activity is the LGBT Equality Weekend. Saturday will be filled with workshops and activities to organize and inform while Sunday features the LGBT Equality March and Rally from Volunteer Park to downtown's federal court house building. With the battle to support Referendum 71 in full swing, this is a good time to set aside a few hours to get involved.

Here's a promo video to inspire you and details from seattleoutprotest.org, one of the groups organizing the weekend's events.

Seattle OUTprotest is excited to announce the Seattle LGBT Equality Weekend organized by a coalition of community members and organizations. The events will take place October 10th and 11th and are planned to coincide with the National Equality March in Washington, DC.

The goal of the march is to secure equal protection for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states.

Raising awareness for this event...

This week is shaping up to be remarkably busy on the CHS October Community Calendar:

CHS will be out and about covering most of it -- but please send in or post any pictures, videos or notes from the scene. We can always use the help. We're especially excited to lend our support to Thursday's Blitz Capitol Hill Arts Walk -- CHS is now an official sponsor. More...

Just a friendly reminder that tomorrow (saturday the 26th) is the Seattle AIDS Walk. Lifelong AIDS Alliance has the goal of raising $750,000 for HIV/AIDS research. They are almost at the 50% mark, so definitely contribute if able!

The Seattle AIDS Walk is a 5K walk & run of support and remembrance through the streets of Seattle. We gladly welcome all supporters and friends. Please join us as we honor 23 years of walking to fight HIV and AIDS in the Puget Sound region. Your support as a walker, donor, or volunteer is deeply appreciated.

The event is tomorrow, starting at 9AM from Volunteer Park (1498 E Prospect St on NE Capitol Hill).

When you are done with the walk, venture on over the Harem for gay belly dancing! For more LGBT events and news on Capitol Hill, visit GayCapHill!

Quite a bit is going on this weekend. The hill has made it easy for you to do your part to support HIV/AIDS work & R71 all while having fun!

Thursday

• Hedda Lettuce "Eat Me" at Julia's

Friday 

• Last Friday Arts! at Harem
• Billie Jean: the Legend (mention your support for R71 and $2 will be donated to the Approve R71 campaign)

Saturday

•  Seattle AIDS Walk
• Gay Belly Dancing at Harem
• CHERRY! at Re-Bar

• Billie Jean: the Legend (mention your support for R71 and $2 will be donated to the Approve R71 campaign)

 Sunday

• Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Membership Meeting

For more LGBT related news and events, visit GayCapHill. For LGBT bar and concert related events, visit Seattle Gay Scene.

Century Ballroom in conjunction with Velocity Dance Studio are hosting a Single Ladies Dance Off based on Beyonce's video! It's Saturday, September 19 at 9:00 p.m. To buy tickets, register as a participant, or lean more, visit Century Ballroom's website! Waxie Moon and Miss Indigo Blue are going to be there... so should you! Plus, you could win $300... what's not to love?!

To learn more about this and other events, visit gaycaphil.com.

Howdy neighbors!

The CHCC Events Team is meeting this Thursday at Pagliacci Pizza (next to Emerald City Smoothie, Gruv, Hardware Salon, I Love Wasabi, etc.) at 5pm.  Please come join us and help us put together some awesome events for the coming months!

Your CHCC Events Team

The Capitol Hill Block Party starts Friday and with it comes tons of quality music that will be blaring from the streets of Seattle's central hipster hangout. The Ear Candy crew will be there all weekend providing photos and reviews of the happenings as well as live updates via Twitter. Here are 10 local acts you simply must see if you'll be spending the weekend at CHBP.

1) They Live! (10:00, Neumos, Friday)

Theses guys have been blowing up the local Internets. Every Seattle music blog has been abuzz with anticipation for their forthcoming EP, which will be released next month. They play conceptual hip hop that's fun to dance to. Expect their set to be one big party.

2) Past Lives (8:00, Vera stage, Friday)

Former members of the Blood Brothers band together to form another impressive post-punk band. Expect loud guitars and screaming. Hey, it's former members of the Blood Brothers, what else did you expect?

The Blakes (Photo: Travis Hay/Ear Candy)

3) Wild Orchid Children (1:00, Vera stage, Saturday)

Fun, and somewhat spazzed out rock. An impressively loud and wild band that will likely make its mark during a weekend filled with many a loud and wild bands.

4) The Blakes (6:15, Neumos, Friday)

It's been a couple of years since these guys dropped in on the Seattle scene with their booze-infused garage rock. Hopefully they have come back to us packing new material with their CHBP set.

5) New Faces (4:45, Vera stage, Saturday) 

This group of young Anacortes kids have been rapidly gaining momentum in the local rock landscape thanks to playing plenty of shows and a lot of airplay on Seattle's favorite bastion of cool KEXP.

6) The Lonely Forest (7:15, Vera stage, Saturday) 

This is another group of youngsters that have been making a serious splash. Their record "We Sing The Body Electric" is one of  the most underrated local albums of the year.

7) The Dutchess and the Duke (4:00, Main stage, Friday)

If the Rolling Stones still made good music and they had a female singer some of their music might sound like this.

8) Sportn' Life Showcase (feat. D Black, Fatal Luciano and Spaceman) (10:30, Neumos, Saturday)

Okay, so this is really three local artists, not one, but Seattle has so much quality hip hop talent and Sportin' Life Records is one of the hottest 206 labels around right now that you simply have to see this showcase.

9) The Maldives (6:30, Neumos, Saturday)

This nine-piece roots-rock band just released its Tequila/Someday EP. It dropped in advance of its upcoming sophomore full-length due out on Mt Fuji Records next month.

10) Moondoggies (3:15, Main stage, Saturday)

If you're not hip to the Moondoggies there's no time like the present (or I guess really there is no time like 3:15 Saturday) to get wise to the foot-stomin' rock of these Hardly Art stars. These guys are the rock 'n' roll kindred spirit to the Maldvies' Appalachian-Northwest twang.

Bonus: The Gossip (9:00, Main stage, Saturday)

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Olympia's soul punks The Gossip. I've never had the privlige of seeing them live so I am really looking forward to catching at least part of their set this weekend. Their new single. "Heavy Cross," (see video above) is the iTunes free single of the week, so head on over to iTunes and cop that.

CHS is partnering with Ear Candy to cover this year's Capitol Hill Block Party. You can follow live Twitter coverage here: http://twitter.com/earcandyblog

Explosion Originally uploaded by Single Malt

It's hot and sticky and things on the Hill are getting weird. CHS can't always explain the news but we can pass it on.

Here is what we know. A group calling itself 12 HR NOTICE has published this manifesto:

Cal Anderson Water Volcano "disgrace" is "set to blow up"

FAT IMP's first + last performance, ever! Also- a baker's dozen of FREE CUSTOM T-SHIRTS and FREE STICKERS!!

Per FAT IMP: "This abhorrent water structure is a disgraceful mockery against Seattle's way of life + must be wiped off the face of Capitol Hill. Citizens for the Lincoln Reservoir Restoration Front, UNITE!."

NEVER FORGET!!!

Tonight- Tuesday, July 21st, 9PM

Sources indicate there will be music, projections and tomfoolery.

Turns out, when you're busy running a neighborhood news blog business, you don't make the best party planner. Could be good news for you, however. This Saturday, CHS is holding a small get-together at Vino Verite to thank the people who gave during our recent pledge drive. For 10,000 reasons, there's plenty of room for more people to come Saturday night and have a little CHS party together. So CHS is throwing the invite open to everybody. It's short notice, yes and if we had it all to do over again, probably would have been genius to plan it this way from the beginning. So it goes. Let's not look back! Looking forward, I hope to see you there. RSVP soon. Have to limit the roster to 40 of CHS's closest friends so please consider joining us Saturday, 7p at Vino Verite.

RSVP here

Though I hate it when big protests and important events are reduced to traffic reports about what street is blocked and how bad traffic is, this weekend's street activities on the Hill and just beyond are crazy enough to justify the approach. Here is Pride weekend through the prism of the Seattle Department of Transportation's street closure report:

Friday, June 27
Wildrose Gay Pride:  6 p.m. - 12 a.m. Capitol Hill - 11th Avenue from E Pike to E Union Street 1,500 expected Streets closed from 6 a.m. (Friday)  - 11:30 p.m. Sunday:  E Pike Street from Broadway to 12th Avenue and 11th Avenue from Pike to Union Street.

Saturday, June 27
Wildrose Gay Pride:  1 p.m. - 12 a.m. Capitol Hill - 11th Avenue from E Pike to E Union Street 1,500 expected Streets closed from 6 a.m. (Friday) to 11:30 p.m. Sunday:  E Pike Street from Broadway to 12th Avenue and 11th Avenue from Pike to Union Street.

PURR Pride Block Party:  1 p.m. - 2 a.m. (Sunday)  Capitol Hill 1518 11th Avenue 1,000 expected...

Pride means different things at different times. Parties, parades, politics. On Saturday morning, Pride on Capitol Hill will take a different pace for a few deeply breathed moments. The Stonewall 40 Group's Equalityoga event is an attempt to create another way to bring people together for Pride. Hard to argue with any idea that involves a big group of people, good health, sunshine and Cal Anderson Park.

In the shadow of Stonewall’s 40 anniversary, yogis, yoginis and studios across Seattle will unite in advocacy for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality by participating in the largest outdoor class Seattle has ever seen. Equalityoga on June 27, will use the flow of and energy of community to create positive social change. The event, the first of its kind, will take place at Cal Anderson Park Playfield and will be led by instructors Troy Lucero, Maygen McGrew and Matt Meko. Musical accompaniment will be provided by Steve Gold and Gina Salá. It will be a unique experience for the LGBT movement as the heterosexual community is coming out in full force to support the rights of LGBT minority. Proceeds raised will directly benefit organizations that are advancing the equality movement: Lamdba Legal, Equal Rights Washington and Gay City Health Project

Equalityoga is produced by StonewallForty, a group dedicated to ensuring that LGBT people receive the same rights guaranteed to everyone else.

Equalityoga

Saturday, June 27
Gates open: 9 a.m.
Flow begins: 10 a.m.
$15 suggested donation

Organizer Genessa Krasnow told CHS while they're not sure exactly how many people to expect on Saturday morning, her group is hoping to bring together hundreds of Pride celebrants. "We want to grow the community," Krasnow said. "There's something that happens when you get on a yoga mat and are breathing together."

Krasnow said she also thinks people are ready for new elements for Seattle's Pride. "It's not an event in a bar. It creates wellness. It creates energy."

Krasnow thinks Equalityoga can be part of a more political Pride. "The politicism is coming back," she said. "Communities are uniting together. This advocacy for gay rights is really happening at the local level," Krasnow said.

That doesn't mean it's easy for advocate groups to survive. Rough economic times mean plans need to be simple and budgets, tight. The Stonewall 40 group had to scrap plans for a Saturday afternoon event in Volunteer Park because it would have cost too much and generated too little for the nonprofits Stonewall 40 supports. "We want to create something sustainable. It can't be sustainable if there aren't funds. I do miss pride in Volunteer Park. It was amazing. But cities change."

For the yoga gathering, Krasnow thinks Cal Anderson is a great stage for Pride events. "The thing about Cal Anderson is you are right out in the open. People can stumble onto what you're doing and join in."

If you're looking to stumble onto something to join in with, Saturday in Cal Anderson is a good bet for the sports minded and bodied. In addition to Equalityoga, The Bend-It Collective will host the Big Gay Field Day sports event in the park, and this group trying to organize a game of something called Calvinball....

Photo: Seattle Police Foundation

Between 1p and 4p today, 12th Ave will be closed to traffic for the event which features free music, food and raffles. You can also tour the precinct HQ at the corner of 12th and Pine.

A busy Saturday highlights the fun to be had on Capitol Hill this weekend. You can get things started with a visit to CHS sponsor Office Nomads for their open house starting tonight at 6 PM.

Also, on Sunday you might want to consider joining this party to greet Fred Phelps and his followers and give them a warm Seattle, um, welcome.

Saturday June 13 2009
10:00 AM - 04:00 PM	Capitol Hill Garage Sale Day http://capitolhillgaragesale.com >
12:00 PM - 02:00 PM	All City Scooter Day The Vespa Club Of Seattle Presents: 2nd Annual All City Scooter Community Day The All City Scooter Community Day is an opportunity for scooter enthusiasts... (more)
12:00 PM - 03:00 PM	Fabulous Felines Cat Adoptathon at Miller CC! Come meet fabulous cats and kittens available for adoption at this event. These cats have been in foster care, waiting for their forever homes. Adoption... (more)
04:00 PM - 07:00 PM	Organic Chilean Wine Try some excellent (and affordable!) organic wines from the extremely popular Cono Sur label of Chile.
05:00 PM - 08:00 PM	Bat N' Rouge XI Drag Queens vs. The Dykes softball
07:00 PM - 11:00 PM	Shoreline Pink Prom - dance for LGBT youth Presenting the annual Pink Prom event in Shoreline for LGBT young people and their allies. Youth is classified as under 20 for this event. Pink Prom is a... (more)
07:00 PM - 11:00 PM	Gossamer Collective's Preview Opening Benefit! Gossamer Collective is opening its' doors on Saturday, June 13th! Come by from 7-11pm for live music by Pablo Trucker & members of The Pale Pacific! DJ'... (more)

Busy Saturday on the CHS events calendar. Enjoy the sun. For live coverage of the March for Healthcare Reform, visit Central District News.

5/30/09 CHS Events

ICH_Chalk Stream
Originally uploaded by susancevans

Back in February, CHS asked What would you do with 3 acres of open asphalt on Broadway?

We'd like to include an addendum to that inquiry. What would you with with 3 acres of open asphalt AND an event to mark the start of Sound Transit's light rail tunneling on Capitol Hill?

Sound Transit is working out details for a late summer/early fall event at the location of the light rail station construction. Working with the Chamber of Commerce's marketing committee, I'm pulling together some ideas for a community event that Sound Transit will support. I'm kind of partial to a true Capitol Hill block party with free music and something like a big wheel track to take advantage of the pavement but am curious to see what you'd like to be part of. Think an event that's simple, fun for everybody and representative of Capitol Hill. Also, should be asphalt appropriate. Unless we bring some sand in, that is.

Originally uploaded by zeebleoop

The weekend concept is quaint. Don't really know anybody who doesn't work during some part of their Saturdays and Sundays. But most of us still make more space for free time and doing fantastic things like going to all-you-can-eat Pierogi Fests (which apparently was a parking cop's Saturday dream come true last year -- who knew?).

Here's a look at the always interesting cross-section of Capitol Hill events that made it on the CHS Calendar for this weekend:

• Embarrassed! True Stories of Humiliation by the Artattack Theatre Ensemble plays through the weekend at Pike's VoxBox theater.
• The Volunteer Park Conservatory's Spring Plant Sale is Saturday on the park lawn.
• The aforementioned Pierogi Fest rocks the Polish Home on Saturday.
• Enjoy a tasting with First Crush at CHS sponsor Vino Verite, Saturday starting at 4 PM.
• The Broadway Farmers Market starts its 2009 season Sunday at 11 AM.
• Sunday is Mother's Day. Call your mom. Or somebody's mom.

We recently wrote about efforts to commandeer the empty lot on Pine for some positive public use -- somebody has plans for next weekend:

BBQ Corn and Sushi
I just received an email from a gentleman named Matt about his plans for the lot next week weekend. I'll post more details as I hear more from him.

Hello stranger. Next week(end) I will be serving barbecued corn and sushi on the vacant lot on pine in capitol hill. I saw your blog about the lot and thought maybe you would like to know. Que Deliciouso!

Looks like Saturday is currently forecast to be a break from the week's rain so that part of the scenario works. As for the rest, you'll have to go on faith. An anonymous e-mailer making plans with a parking lot power-to-the-people blogger? Could be awesome. Could fade into not much. Plan accordingly.

If you are one of those unfortunate souls who live on Capitol Hill but work somewhere else so haven't been able to enjoy Skillet's Monday visits, good news. The silver airstream of street food delight will be parked on the edges of Capitol Hill this afternoon for BottleNeck Lounge's Kentucky Derby bash. Starting at 4p, you can grab a burger or a fried spaghetti sandwich and head into the Lounge (BottleNeck is a CHS sponsor, btw) to enjoy the Derby festivities or hang out and enjoy your chow sidewalk style. Oh, and put your wager on Mt. Hot Stuff. 30 to 1.

Wednesday night's Capitol Hill Housing Annual Forum -- see our coverage on The Future of 12th Ave -- will feature a panel of local experts discussing the issues and opportunities in development of the 12th Ave corridor. Do you have something to ask -- or tell! -- the panel? I've asked CHH to include a question or two from CHS in Wednesday's discussion.

Here is the panel:
Michael Killoren, Director; Seattle Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs
Liz Dunn, Pike/Pine Property Owner and Developer, Director; The National Trust for Historic Preservation Green Lab
Elizabeth Linke, Property Owner; Northwest Film Forum and 1621 12th Ave. Buildings
Kate Stineback, Housing & Community Developer; 12th Avenue Initiative, Capitol Hill Housing
Michael Kerns, Associate Vice President for Facilities; Seattle University
Tenaya Wright, President; Squire Park Community Council

I have three questions:
1) Is there a better way to manage growth and development across 12th and nearby areas like Pike/Pine and Broadway? Should we plan...

Mark "Mom" Finley on her Segway
Originally uploaded by sea turtle

As we reported last week, the logistics for the Capitol Hill Pride event this summer have been progressing -- the city signed off on the plan to close Broadway for the June 27th event and a group has started meeting to coordinate the festivities.

The group is also beginning to shape their enthusiasm and spirit end of the equation -- the new chair of the committee and head cheerleader for the event will be Mark "Mom" Finley, the group has announced. Finley, infamous for taking credit for inventing things like gay bingo, is a lightning rod for controversy over how gay culture is presented and presents itself on Capitol Hill and across the city. Last year, Finley was removed from the broadcast team covering Seattle's Pride Parade after performances like this in previous years.

If you are curious to see where this all is heading or want to get involved to help keep it on track, the Capitol Hill Pride Festival group is meeting weekly to organize...

While Ellen Forney leads a team of Capitol Hill artists, residents and business folk in redesigning Cap Hill's monthly art walk event into a bigger, better monthly event called Blitz (facebook group here!), there are still art walks to be had. Thursday night is April's big to-do.

In a beta test of the new effort's organization and community skill, the Blitz group passed along this handy listing of what you will find at various Hill locations Thursday night. The map is from CHS and marks all of the locations we know of that have art on the walls and are open to be part of the night's festivities.

More CHS coverage coming on what Blitz is planning for summer and a new art-focused start-up in the neighborhood but, for now, start planning your art walk.

Unofficial CHS Art Walk Map

View Larger Map

Retrofit Home
1419 12th Ave
5-8pm
Artist Kelly Neidig’s oil on canvas landscapes are the place where suburban meets rural. Where forest and farmland gets cleared to make room for a new kind of growth.

Rosebud
719 E. Pike St.
Mixed...