Seattle Times reports that City Light has finalized its picks for contractors to test thousands of streetlight poles and vault covers in Seattle after electricity leaks were found across the city:

Seattle City Light has hired two companies to help it test all 20,000 metal streetlight poles to see if they have faulty wiring that could cause dangerous voltage problems.

---

City Light hired Davey Resources Group from Ohio and Power Resources Corp. from New Jersey. It was Power Resources that discovered three power poles on Capitol Hill, First Hill and the Central District that were emitting contact voltage, which could pose a safety hazard.

CHS reported last week that three electrified streetlight poles were found on corners on and around Capitol Hill:

• 13th Ave E at East Aloha — 60 to 80 volts — Cause: Deteriorated wires
• Boren at Marion — 90 to 105 volts — Cause: Unknown
• 23rd and East Union— 60 to 80 volts — Cause: Unknown

Each of the lights was shut down until repairs could be made, according to City Light.

While the exact cause of the escaped voltage is not known for two of the three locations, age appears to be a factor in each as old wiring was to blame on Aloha and the two metal poles involved in the First Hill and Central District locations were both 30 to 40 years old. City Light told CHS that the contractors would likely target neighborhoods like Capitol Hill and the Central District for inspections first given the age of the infrastructure in the area. Times reports that the contractors are continuing to work with City Light’s original springtime target to complete inspections across the city.

The voltage in each of the three nearby locations was potentially dangerous. The Queen Anne dog death on Thanksgiving that first brought attention to the problem poles involved about 90 volts but even 30 or 40 volts can be lethal to small creatures — including humans.

This one is “Caga Tió” or the “pooping log.”:

The Catalan custom is still celebrated in Spain, where you can buy your own el Caga Tió. The log is hollowed out, with legs and a face added. You must “feed” him every day beginning on December 8th. On Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, put him in the fireplace and beat him with sticks until he poops out small candies, fruits, and nuts. When he is through, the final object dropped is a salt herring, a garlic bulb, or an onion. Oh yeah, there is a traditional song the family can sing to encourage the process.

poop log,
poop turrón,
hazelnuts and cottage cheese,
if you don’t poop well,
I’ll hit you with a stick,
poop log!

Image: Matthew Brady/The Spectator special to CHS

Covering food and drink on Capitol Hill was a full time job in 2010. If there were any doubts about what sits at the core of our economy, a look at the business wheeling and dealings, the comings and goings, the hirings and firings should give you a pretty good measure of just how much energy, creativity money — and love — flow through this sector of the Hill. We loved being part of it in 2010 and being here to tell the stories.

1. The arrival of the Highline on Broadway last winter was perhaps the most interesting Capitol Hill food and drink story. The tale of alternative restaurant and lounge with beyond-the-mainstream culture taking over the space of a failed go-go nightclub on a yet-again-transforming Broadway had more than enough entertainment in it. Add good food and good times, and you end up with one of our favorite stories of the year.
2. The biggest Hill food and drink story of 2010 won’t be done at year end. Volunteer Park Cafe’s almost unbelievably acrimonious dispute with its neighbors was easily our most-read, most-commented restaurant news topic of the year. The battle over a restaurant running afoul of City of Seattle zoning and neighbors with an axe or three to grind will play out into 2011 (update soon) but, even so, the story dominated so many others in 2010.
3. There were more exciting things to be covering, to be sure. In another story not quite yet complete, CC Attle’s made the bold choice of Cafe Metropolitain’s East Olive Way location for its new home.
4. Oh jeez. Here’s ANOTHER incomplete 2010 story. We found secret nobody look wow totally hidden plans for Caffe Vita to open a coffee shop and a pizza joint on 15th Ave East. Coming soon, we swear.

---

5. The Broadway Grill’s Matt Walsh (Image: seadevi)

   And there were happy times! How’s this for a story? Once an employee, now the man in charge of a legendary Broadway eatery. We told the tale of the new owners behind the Broadway Grill.

6. And there were sad times. We had the duty to report what we learned about the Grill’s role in an insanely successful hack of the point-of-sale financial system that left thousands of Hill (and beyond) residents checking their credit card statements as hundreds wondered why they had charges for groceries in Italy or for diapers at a Target in South Carolina.
7.  Grey Gallery got the landlord’s boot. But  Grim’s moved in to fill the space so not all is lost.
8. We were also first on the scene to cover the legal battle that broke out between the Melrose Market developers and their star restaurateur, Tamara Murphy. We ultimately reported that Murphy “won” the dispute — yet Terra Plata hasn’t been completed by the end of the year, as planned, and, in fact, the space stands just as empty as it was late this summer.
9. Why dwell on that with the amazing story that is Melrose Market playing out in front of our very eyes mouths? Calf & Kid, Rain Shadow Meats, the relocated Sitka & Spruce, Bar Ferdinand, Homegrown Sandwiches. Did we forget anybody? Oh yeah. 2010 was also the birth year for Still.
10. And, heck, we get to enjoy Murphy’s work at the new Elliott Bay Cafe.
11. Speaking of triumph of the human spirit, the Eagle’s battle for free speech rights is another 2010 highlight.
12. A quirky and original coffee shop opened up on East Olive Way. Cafe Arabica settled in as coffee giant Starbucks threw cash around up the street (and also built a beautiful new hangout spot once the corporate gloss fades).
13. The Hill got its first kaiten conveyor belt sushi joint. The Broadway Building also made room for the latest pizza concept to hit Hill, Zpizza. You can also find a 2010 vintage Panera Bread in the Broadway, too.
14. The Roanoke lost its lease. Then found it again. Easy Joe’s moved in nearby. The 10th Ave E neighborhood coffee shop made a change, too.
15. Marination Mobile announced plans for a permanent Capitol Hill home.
16. Via Tribunali and Pike St. Fish Fry eyed a NYC expansion.
17. Broadway doesn’t need any more sushi or Thai restaurants. How about a Thai sushi restaurant?
18. How about Italian on Broadway? Pasta?
19. Goodbye, Cayenne. Hello, Jimmy’s.
20. Baltic Room got a redo, added coffee during day.
21. The Barista Boyz lasted a matter of months. Here’s hoping Thai Curry Simple lasts many more.
22. Porchlight Coffee began its long, slow, slouching hipster march toward world domination. in June 2009 (uggh!)
23. Legit street food. Summer found fruit sellers penetrating the city all the way to its Capitol Hill core.
24. The Hill got a sports bar. Auto Battery was born. The Elite says whatever.
25. Eltana Bagels opened and brought Montreal style bagels to Seattle.
26. Glo’s changed things up and introduced an all-night schedule for Party Mountain weekends.
27. Other Coast Cafe brought a sandwich alternative to the Hill and had Honeyhole upping its game.
28. Martin’s off Madison had an identity crisis and went by Greg’s Profanity Hill Grill before finally shutting down.
29. Guanaco’s joined Rancho Bravo as the providers of the best ROI for your Capitol Hill dining out dollar.
30. Also delivering the flava for a buck a pop, Leilani’s Lumpia Land joined the Hill’s hyperlocal street food landscape.
31. Dumpling Dojo also had our attention. For a little while.
32. Baguette on Madison introduced a new Hill bargain and is still in the game. Love them with us.
33. The Hill accepted refugees from a crumbling Belltown. Welcome, Local Vine.
34. No vineyards, no grapes, but 2010 also marked the debut of Capitol Hill’s own “winery” as Cork House popped onto the backside of Pike/Pine.
35. Another former Belltown-ite made a home at 14th and Union. Welcome, Marjorie.
36. Chez Gaudy abruptly left us. La Bête carried on.



37. The Cobra Lounge floated in.
38. The War Room was re-booted.
39. TidBit moved uphill.
40. And darling little Patty Pan made a go of it at 23rd and Madison.
41. Chungee’s arrived and helped us celebrate the Moon Festival.
42. Next week is still 2010. High 5 Pies will be born. It is prophecy.
43. First Hill’s nightlife history was reborn in the shape of an overhauled Vito’s.
44. First Hill’s *other * new Italian place, Primo, delivers to Capitol Hill, too.
45. We had his name oh so wrong but Big Mario’s eventually showed up to offer rather enormous pizza slices to Pike/Pine.
46. The Unicorn started the whole thing off. Born January 28, 2010.
47. UPDATE: @RockBoxSeattle rightly protests against end-of-year opening bias!:
    

    Hey CHS @jseattle how about… #47 Rock Box opens its doors — officially solving the mystery on Nagle Place. ? :)

The Puget Sound Business Journal has dug up some numbers behind one of the trends we identified in our 2010 wrap-up of Capitol Hill development. The data will also corroborate something anybody looking for an apartment on the Hill already knows — there’s not much to rent. It’s time to start building again. From the PSBJ:

There’s been a 48 percent rise in the number of apartment projects entering the development pipeline in King and Snohomish counties, according to a new report from consultant Tom Cain of research firm Apartment Insights.

---

Cain’s Apartment Insights, which tracks apartments projects with 50-plus units in the Puget Sound region, shows 32 projects totaling 4,931 units in King and Snohomish counties have obtained zoning approval in preparation for moving through the permitting process. Additionally, three more projects have requested rezones.

The article also cites data that says Capitol Hill has the lowest vacancy rate for existing apartments in the Seattle area at 3.61%.

pomegranate,
originally uploaded by zenobia_joy.

All is calm, all is bright. Want some chow?  Big Mario’s, Canterbury and some others want to feed you. Happy holidays.

Wednesday, December 22nd

• Wear your tuque to A Very Alan Thickemas @ Central Cinema
• Or spend a Charlie Brown Christmas with jazz pianist David Benoit @ Benaroya Hall
• With drinks, costumes, and DJs, it’s the second annual Christmas party @ Moe Bar
• Catch a free (with RSVP) Unnatural Helpers/The Intelligence show @ the Crocodile
• Get spiritually transcendent at the David Lanz Winter Solstice Concert featuring The Liverpool Trio (also Thursday) @ Jazz Alley
• Faire Gallery hosts a Santa Baby party with hot buttered rum, singing and a DJ. Starts at 8p.

Thursday, December 23rd

• Last night to see Henri-Georges Clouzot’s Inferno  and enjoy a Café Presse Pique-nique @ Northwest Film Forum
• But wait! It’s also the last night to see Elf @ Central Cinema

Friday, December 24th

• On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, along with the 6 and 8:30 p.m. screenings, there’s an additional 3:30 p.m. showing of It’s a Wonderful Life (running through the 30th) @ the Grand Illusion
• David Wojnarowicz’s A Fire in My Belly is the film “they” don’t want you to see (through Dec. 31, except Xmas) @ Seattle Art Museum
• The Peter Daniel Quartet plays original jazz, no cover @ Lucid Lounge
• Last Burlesque Nutcracker @ the Triple Door

Saturday, December 25th

• May we suggest dim sum? Check in with Jay’s reviews of Chinese restaurants at Gastrolust

Sunday, December 26th

• The Bobs After Christmas holiday show @ the Triple Door
• Earshot Jazz presents their annual concert featuring the sacred music of Duke Ellington @ Town Hall
• Last chance to catch Black Nativity @ the Moore Theatre

Monday, December 27th

• Upon whom are you going to call? Ghostbusters @ Central Cinema
• America’s romantic piano sensation, Jim Brickman, tickles the ivories at his 15th Anniversary Holiday Concert @ Benaroya Hall

Tuesday, December 28th

• The ex-Seattle boys in the Here And Now Quintet drop some jazz @ the Triple Door

For the holidays, animals at Woodland Park Zoo will be treated to evergreens decked in ornamental fruit or other winter-themed goodies. Photo credit: Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo

It’s not the greenest of holiday experiences so you’ll want to offset some carbon credits before you head out, but here’s a map of some of the Seattle area’s more extravagantly lit neighborhoods. Not sure we’d recommend trying to bike through any of the spots marked unless we are bringing *lots* of friends. For biking — and the definitely green walking alternative — stick to the local joys of your neighbor’s light strings.

View Christmas Light Displays in a larger map

CHS has learned details of a dastardly robbery on First Hill in broad daylight Tuesday morning. According to SPD, a woman was robbed by two men at gunpoint after they waved her down presumably to tell her there was something wrong with her tire as she drove on Summit Ave.

A SPD spokesperson said the woman was driving on Summit around 9:30 AM Tuesday when she came to a stop sign at University Street. As she came to a stop, two men on foot at the intersection began waving for her attention and gesturing at her front tire. As the woman stepped to the front of her car to see what was the matter, one of the men pulled out a pistol, aimed it at the woman and yelled, “You fucking bitch, give me your money and your jewelry.”

The woman handed over the cash she was carrying but told the man she couldn’t get her rings off her fingers. The man then demanded her pack of cigarettes as the other suspect stood by “looking tough” on watch. The two men then fled westbound on University with the cash and the smokes. The woman could only provide general descriptions to police: two black males, one around 5’10” the other 5’5″.

An area search for the men did not turn up the suspects.

Meanwhile, in other area crimes involving wheels, SeattleCrime has details of the Sunday afternoon street robbery that a man says left him without his bicycle and a backpack carrying $100 in cash.

According to police, the victim was walking south, pushing his bicycle down the street near Harvard Ave and Olive Way around 4:00pm on December 19th, when two men walked up to him and started punching him in the face.

According to police radio transmissions from the Sunday incident, the man couldn’t say what kind of bike he lost because he had bought it “on the street” and the brand was covered with black paint.

The main question CHS has after reading this important information from the Seattle Times isn’t why Sun’s nog is so delicious — the Times reveals that. Instead, it leaves us wondering what other incredible Capitol Hill holiday libations we miss when we leave town for Christmas.

Happy Hour: Sun Liquor’s eggnog is a holiday star
Sun Liquor is one of the city’s favorite hangouts on Christmas for the young and hip — and also for those already sick of their visiting in-laws.

---

Image: Greg Gilbert/The Seattle Times, with permission

Sun Liquor makes some mean cocktails, reasonably priced (most around $5-$6) during happy hour. It also makes the best eggnog in Seattle, one of the finest I’ve ever tasted.

It’s less fluffy, with layers of flavors and a smooth finish. It goes down easy. Too easy. A few of these and you are getting north of 2,000 calories and a buzz. It’s made with Hennessy cognac, Bulleit bourbon and rum. More…