Hillebrity Superstars | Amanda Manitach

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By Timothy Rysdyke

In 2014, Amanda Manitach was carving out a unique space for herself in Seattle’s creative community. Fresh off her first solo show at Bryan Ohno Gallery and writing regularly for City Arts Magazine, Manitach  was becoming known for her distinct blend of visual art and writing.

Over the past decade, Amanda’s practice has evolved in exciting ways. “I’ve arrived at a place where writing and art have merged,” she reflects. “Back then, those practices were separate. Now my artwork has come to be literally all about words. There’s so much possibility in text. If a picture is worth a thousand words, what happens when a picture is a word?” This fascination with language has become the hallmark of her recent and most notable work. Continue reading →

This week in Capitol Hill history | 2020 ‘Super Massive’ smoke plume, Dreamboyz Espresso , RIP Capitol Hill’s last video rental shop

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Here are the top stories from this week in CHS history:

2023

 

Eight-story E Olive Way development finally ready for last step in Seattle design review process

Study: The air on Seattle’s trains and buses is safe — and likely to contain meth and fentanyl


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Pride and repairs after vandalism targets Capitol Hill’s rainbow crosswalks and bus stop

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Thanks to a CHS reader for the pictures of the damage on 15th Ave E

Somebody is losing a cowardly fight picked over Capitol Hill’s rainbow bus stop and crosswalks.

The Seattle Department of Transportation and King County Metro said they were dispatching crews to assess damage and make as fast as possible repairs after vandalism targeting community crosswalks and a colorful bus stop in the area.

Officials said the damage was first reported Thursday.

“We strongly condemn acts of vandalism to Capitol Hill’s rainbow crosswalk and bus stop,” a spokesperson for SDOT told CHS. “These actions are unacceptable and undermine the values of inclusivity and respect that our community upholds.” Continue reading →

‘5 things I learned from visiting Amsterdam this weekend’ — District 3 council member locks down social media after Dutch slavery controversy

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City Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth has locked down her social media accounts after a post about her Dutch summer vacation went Pacific Northwest-viral over her comparisons between Amsterdam and Seattle spending on infrastructure and services and the legacy of the slave trade.

Hollingsworth has been unique on the council as she has been increasingly candid and open on personal views on social media and in appearances since her election last fall. This has included matters of faith but also her thoughts on issues ranging from economics to farming.

That openness, at least, on social media, has now changed.

CHS spoke with Hollingsworth earlier this week about the episode as her office was still in clean-up mode and trying to decide how best to respond to criticism and questions over her posts about what she says were observations from a personal trip to Amsterdam during the council’s short August break.

“They (the Netherlands) are able to bring out of those resources that they took out of of other countries,” Hollingsworth told CHS earlier this week. “I was trying to point out this history.”

By Friday morning, Hollingsworth’s messages were no longer available and her private social media account put in locked mode. Continue reading →

Amid changes over gun violence concerns, Garfield High School also banning phones in the classroom

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One of the “cell phone caddies” at Bainbridge Island High School which instituted a similar policy six years ago (Image: BARN Woodworking Studio)

With the new school year, students at Garfield High School are being asked to start class with a new step — checking in and handing over their phones.

As school officials are responding with efforts hoped to make the 23rd Ave campus safer for students and staff, leaders at Garfield have also instituted a new policy they hope will improve the classroom experience and help eliminate harmful distractions while also responding to family concerns about communicating with students in case of emergencies.

“Upon entering the classroom, students are required to silence their phones and store them in the ‘Cell Phone Airbnb,’ where the teacher can easily see them,” a message from school principal Tarance Hart on the new policy begins. Continue reading →

Sawant calls for support for Cherry Street Coffee workers in ‘strike’ over working conditions, minimum wage tip credit — Owner says Capitol Hill cafe set to reopen

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(Image: Cherry Street Coffee)

Former District 3 representative on the Seattle City Council and leader of the Workers Strike Back labor activism group Kshama Sawant is backing workers at Seattle’s Cherry Street Coffee in what she says is a strike over working conditions and the local chain ownership’s lobbying for changes in the city’s minimum wage.

“Socialist, former City Councilmember, and founding member of Workers Strike Back, Kshama Sawant, will stand alongside Cherry Street Coffee House workers as they walk out on strike demanding a living wage, an end to workplace sexual harassment, and an end to their bosses’ petitioning to roll back Seattle’s historic minimum wage victory,” the group said about a planned Friday morning press conference outside the Olive Way Cherry Street location. Continue reading →

A new flashpoint in Seattle’s concerns over crime and public safety, calls for resilience and change as hundreds march to remember dog walker slain in Madison Valley carjacking — UPDATE

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The carjacking murder of Ruth Dalton has become a flashpoint in Seattle’s concerns over crime and public safety. A memorial walk for the slain neighborhood dog walker Wednesday night included messages of resilience, anger, love, and politics as loved ones were joined by neighbors, city officials, and political candidates in the vigil and walk from where Dalton was dragged and killed in a Madison Valley carjacking attempt in August.

People streamed along E Madison Wednesday during the evening memorial walk for Dalton, an 80-year-old dog walker who was murdered in an August carjacking with her dog, Prince.

Leading the march were four people who helped Dalton during the aftermath of the brutal attack, holding a banner with a picture of Dalton and her pup, a cross and words that read: “We care—Be like Ruth. Change is coming.”

CHS reported here on the efforts to organize the march by the Friends of Madison Park community group and Dalton’s family.

The group trickled into Madison Park and posted up near the playground for the vigil. Melanie Roberts, Dalton’s granddaughter, said she’s been getting her strength from god, her grandmother and “little grumpy Prince dog,” who was Ruth’s defender, and spoke to each of the heroes holding the banner. Continue reading →

By only 49 votes, hand recount determines race for Washington lands commissioner

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One race from the August primary was so close, it didn’t wrap up until this week.

With only two months until the November general election, the race for state lands commissioner has finally been determined after a recount and final certification this week.

Democratic candidate and King County Councilmember Dave Upthegrove will face Republican and former U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler to become the next state commissioner. Continue reading →

City says re-installation of colorful crosswalks will ‘officially complete’ 12-year, $4.3M Melrose Promenade overhaul

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The original “Poem Dazzle” crosswalks were installed six years ago

After more than a decade of public process and recent years of installation and construction, the Melrose Promenade project seems unlikely to live up to its original promise of transforming this western slope of Capitol Hill. A final piece in the puzzle of new sidewalks, curb ramps, and bike lanes will come next week as city crews will be busy re-installing colorful “community crosswalks” that have aged and were damaged during the most recent construction.

The work will mean Melrose will be temporarily closed to automobile traffic — something the city’s urbanists weren’t able to achieve in the long-term promenade plan.

The Seattle Department of Transportation says the re-installation work will take place next week: Continue reading →

Sábado gigante — Capitol Hill’s Bonito Café y Mercadito announces September 14th grand opening

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(Image: Bonito Café y Mercadito)

One of the more anticipated new Capitol Hill food and drink ventures has announced a grand opening date.

Bonito Café y Mercadito will be ready with an Espresso Tónico for you as the doors open this month at E Olive Way and Melrose with a grand opening planned for Saturday, September 14th.

CHS reported in February on the plans from Daniel and Ismael Calderon to bring the Latino cafe and shopping experience to Capitol Hill after forging the Aqui Mercado events in Pioneer Square.

“The Mercadito part pays homage to our roots of Aqui Mercado,” Ismael told CHS earlier this year. ”Within our cafe obviously we’re going to sell coffee, but our focus is helping BIPOC small businesses to have an opportunity to showcase their product and talents in a storefront environment.” Continue reading →