Have you ever noticed there is a distinct smell to the Pike/Pine neighborhood? If the wind is just right it smells like musty-coffee-bean-waffle-cupcake-tacos.
Where are the smells coming from? Is it the Elysian Brewery mixed with coffee beans from Caffe Vita? Maybe there is freshly baked cupcakes from Cupcake Royal in the mix?
I asked several people on the street, “What’s that smell?” Most of the time I got dirty looks. Apparently people don’t like to publicly identify smells — no matter how good your intentions. One women even shot back, “You!”
A man who identified himself as “Rodger Thrills” told me he thought the smell was a combination of, “pills, homosexuals, and alcohol laden urine.”
I asked an older gentlemen who refused to give me his name, “what’s that smell?” At first he gave me the stink eye, but when I reassured him that I wasn’t referring to him, that he didn’t smell that bad, he smiled and said, “Youth.”
So what do you think that smell is? Have you noticed it? I can’t get it out of my nose now that I’m thinking about it. One thing is certain, it is distinctly Capitol Hill and it smells like home.
There is no particular smell. Yes it does smell like coffee near cafes serving coffee. There is also a meaty smell near (in) Rancho Bravo. Etc etc.
This happens, well, everywhere.
The smell changes by the hour…In the early AM its a cross between Cake Batter and Beer on Sunny afternoons its Grass and Waffle Cones I think the best way to describe the smell is “HOME”!
I hate to bring this smell up… but the smell often in the mornings and afternoons around Bonney Watson. As a kid, I thought it smelt like burnt toast. Only for someone to point out what they burn at Bonney Watson.
Brewing beer and roasting coffee both produce pretty foul smells that linger in the neighborhood. Ironically, the end products are delicious and smell wonderful! I’m willing to deal with the smell to have these great businesses in our neighborhood. It was very difficult to wake up to that burnt toast Elysian smell when I lived right nearby, though…
So, is the burnt toast smell coffee, beer or (shudder) Bonney Watson?
The smell is in your nose after doing too much cheap coke.
(coffee roasting, what is the mystery)
The burnt toast smell is the roasting at caffe vita, I believe. The yeast-like smell coming from the brewery I can only make out from very close by, and it sort of smells like pee
Vita roasts on 11th between Barca and Grey and Elysian is toasting hops as well as cooking their mash.
It sounds like the crematorium at Bonney Watson is the winner. I hope they are using green and renewable fuels.
Cremation is best done in mid city by natural gas fuel. Seems cold, but, a giant high heat oven. Bet the help does pizza at the same time.
Alternate system – picture tons of college boys carrying in boxes of scrap lumber, very green. Don’t think so.
Wonder if you can get a permit for a funeral pyre in the city? Justin? Joe?
Give my Body to the Sharks and other Sea Creatures
Not soon, Mike.
vita roasts at vita. vivace roasts on 11th. hops up the hill at elysian.
be happy it’s not hot garbage in the streets on a sunny afternoon.
Think the old days – horse shit everywhere.
there is once in a while a smell around the elysian which I sometimes get a whiff of riding by on my scooter, but generally the rest of the pike/pine area kinda smells like ass I’d say–not in bad way mind you, just kinda ass-y.
Took a while. Many posts.
Pegged. Exactly.
Sustainable.
Ass-y. It is ringing in my head.
Always smelling burnt toast down on Pine and Summit. Until 5pm when the Capital Club fires up the fryers and burns everthing in sight which covers any other smells. Ugh, frozen fish like substance with extra grease. Sometimes the smell of ass would be a welcomed change…
I swear, right around 3pm every weekday, I smell bacon wafting up into our office. I’m wondering if its Pettirrosso making their batch for the next day’s sandwiches?? Anyone know?
the best of all worlds, bacon frying and coffee browning
and
ass-y ….
Sigh, yeah I know that smell :(