Monthly Archives: February 2014

Capitol Hill food+drink | OOLA sees continued growth as biz brain behind one of Hill’s few craft distilleries departs

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ginAlthough Capitol Hill may hold the distinction of being Seattle’s favorite area for a late night cocktail, most of its patrons probably don’t expect the city’s premiere nightlife neighborhood to also produce the liquor that it liberally imbibes. Yet, for the past two years, co-owners Kirby Kallas-Lewis and Jeana Harrington of OOLA Distillery have done just that, turning a labor of love into a model for the city’s slowly growing but swiftly changing micro-distillery movement. More change is in store for OOLA as the partnership behind the distillery shifts.

“It hasn’t really hit me yet that I’m leaving,” Harrington tells CHS. “One of my big flaws is that I haven’t taken the time to reflect. But looking back, given how capital intensive starting a business is and the fact that we’ve only been selling for a year and a half, getting into the black recently made me really proud. To see that is really exciting, and there was a week in November when we got orders to 17 different states out. It takes a lot of strategy to get that accomplished.”

One of the founders of Capitol Hill’s micro-distilling movement, Harrington is leaving the Pacific Northwest for Chicago after eight years in order to be closer to her family. Although Harrington will remain on as a co-owner, her presence within OOLA will be relegated to that of a “de facto ambassador” for the brand as she moves on to other opportunities within the spirits industry.

Harrington

Harrington

Even though her time at the distillery will come to a close at the end of February, Harrington says that she still has a hard time imagining that the business she helped build will no longer be a part of her every day life. But when she does manage, the fact that she helped start a new, independent business in one of the most competitive areas of town will always fill her with pride.

“I wanted to be in a dense urban setting to help build the brand,” said Kallas-Lewis on their decision to open OOLA in the core of Capitol Hill at 13th and Union. “When we started, the state liquor stores were in place and an active sales room at the distillery was key to our early success.  Plus, I have lived on the Hill for a long time — it has the best of what Seattle can offer and I wanted to be solidly part of that.” Continue reading →

Capitol Hill nonprofit love — February 2014: Jubilee

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30774_388821139925_3615559_nJubilee Women’s Center, an 18th Ave E provider of transitional housing for homeless women, is benefitting from a boost from Pike/Pine’s Lost Lake this Tuesday and through the month of February.

CHS is again pairing up with the 24-hour diner to put the spotlight on a neighborhood nonprofit. Lost Lake ponies up 10% of its sales on the second Tuesday of the month and provides a donation opportunity for the nonprofit through the following weeks.

If your Capitol Hill business plans on supporting Jubilee this month or wants to be part of upcoming ‘nonprofit love’ efforts, let us know so we can spread the word.

Jubilee describes its mission as providing “a safe and supportive place to live and an opportunity to learn while becoming self-reliant in housing and employment.” It serves an incredible diversity of women:Screen Shot 2014-02-11 at 11.26.33 AM

You can learn more and give online at jwcenter.org.

City of Seattle Seeks Tree Lovers!

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beacon-hill5The City of Seattle Seeks Tree Lovers!

Do you dream of living in a tree house? Do you eagerly await the first leaf buds in the spring? Do you love to lie on your back and watch branches dancing in the breeze? Does a stroll down a tree-lined street put a smile on your face? You may be a tree lover!

The City of Seattle’s reLeaf program is looking for new Tree Ambassadors. Tree Ambassadors are a valued part of Seattle’s urban forestry network. Tree Ambassadors nurture Seattle’s trees.  Volunteers are trained within a project area and have the opportunity to attend a variety of fun and informative workshops on topics like pruning, tree identification, and community engagement. Tree Ambassadors also get opportunities for unique experiences like learning to climb trees with professional rigging and tours of local botanic treasures. Volunteers who complete a project training get a free t-shirt and name tag.

Seattle reLeaf is currently recruiting new Tree Ambassadors in three project areas:

1. Tree Walks: Show off your favorite trees in your favorite part of Seattle. You’ll learn the basics of making maps, identifying trees, and creating walking routes to engage your neighbors and coworkers in the urban landscape. Check out the tree walks created by current Tree Ambassadors here!

Next training: Wednesday, March 12; 5:30pm-8pm (dinner included) and Saturday, March 15; 9am-1pm (lunch included). Training will be held downtown at Forterra’s office, 901 5th Ave.

 2.  Landscape Renewal:  Does seeing a tree choked by ivy drive you crazy? This project track is for you. This project track will teach you to plan and organize small-scale renovation projects. Renovation work includes removing invasive plants, planting trees and understory plants, and mulching. You’ll learn how to develop a plan, recruit volunteers, and lead work parties.

Next training: Wednesday, April 2; 5:30pm-8pm (dinner included) and Saturday, April 5; 9am-1pm (lunch included)

3. Street Tree Stewardship: Never fear young street trees, the Tree Ambassadors are here! Volunteers in this project area adopt street tree plantings and help the City’s young street trees thrive. Tree Ambassadors learn to plan work parties and recruit volunteers to mulch, weed, and care for the trees that are essential to making Seattle’s neighborhoods walkable, sustainable, beautiful, and healthy.

Next training: Saturday, May 17; 10am-3pm (lunch included)

 Tree lovers wanted! No previous tree experience is necessary for any of these project areas. If you are interested in learning more or applying to become a Tree Ambassador, please visit the website at www.seattle.gov/trees. Please contact Seattle reLeaf with any questions about the program or application at [email protected] or (206) 615-1668.Penny pointing out the needle structure of the Norway Spruce in Rogers Playground

Seattle Bicycle Collective more than Capitol Hill’s only bike shop

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SBC owner JT Lawson in his new shop with the next generation of Capitol Hill cycling enthusiasts. (Photo: CHS)

It’s hard to believe, we’re not sure exactly why it happened, but Capitol Hill is in need of some more working bike mechanics. The void left by Velo’s departure last year dealt a  blow to the needs of Capitol Hill’s biking masses.

To help fill that hole a new bike shop has sprung up inside a non-descript office building 12th and Pine. The Seattle Bicycle Collective quietly opened its doors in January with a small sandwich board sign and a tiny office space inside the Richmark Label building. It’s no Velo, and that was the idea.

SBC’s owner JT Lawson is a longtime Seattle bike mechanic and creator of custom bike accessories through his small operation Overbuilt. Inside his cramped office space Lawson operates a fully functional bike repair shop, sells parts and refurbished bikes, manufactures bike parts, teaches classes, and uses an industrial sewing machine to custom make biker hats and messenger bags. Lawson said keeping the shop small, down to earth, and community focused is all part of the plan. Continue reading →

School construction meeting will also include start of discussion about how best to teach Capitol Hill junior high kids

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"Edmond S. Meany (December 28, 1862 – April 22, 1935) was a professor of botany and history at the University of Washington" via Wikipedia

“Edmond S. Meany (December 28, 1862 – April 22, 1935) was a professor of botany and history at the University of Washington” via Wikipedia

Officials planning a $14.2 million overhaul of a Seattle Public Schools-owned 21st Ave E campus to reopen a Capitol Hill middle school in 2017 will meet with the school’s future parents, students and neighbors Thursday night.

Seattle Public Schools invites you to a Community Meeting on the Meany School Building BEX IV Construction Project
Date: Thursday, February 13th, 2014
Time: 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Location: Meany school building cafeteria, 301-21st Avenue East

CHS reported on the start of community planning for the project last month. A 17-member School Design Advisory Team working on the Meany Middle School plan including students, parents and neighbors has already been meeting for months on the project to overhaul the campus for seismic safety and remake the school to educate more than 800 students. The Miller Park Neighbors group has asked for more planning to be done related to the re-opened middle school’s potential impact on neighborhood streets and that the student population be capped at 600. Continue reading →

Seattle Gay News editor writes about Neighbours investigation leak, push for more serious charges

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A firefighter surveys the damage after the New Year's arson attempt inside Neighbours (Image: Neighbours)

A firefighter surveys the damage after the New Year’s arson attempt inside Neighbours (Image: Neighbours)

Last week, CHS reported on arson charges filed against former Capitol Hill resident Musab Musmari for the New Year’s fire attack on Neighbours. 12th Ave-headquartered Seattle Gay News featured its take on the arrest and charges in its latest edition. As a longtime news voice for Seattle’s gay community, their coverage bears following. Written by editor Shaun Knittel, the SGN account also provides an insider view of the crime and resulting investigation. Knittel was at Neighbours the night of the attack and has acted as a spokesperson for the venue as the investigation unfolded. Now he’s calling for more serious charges in the case.

You can read the full report here: Musab Musmari arrested/charged with New Year’s Eve arson fire at Neighbours

“I believe in innocent until proven guilty,” Knittel writes. “And I expect the man to get a fair trial. But I also expect for Musmari to be charged with more than arson. There isn’t a doubt in my mind that what he did was attempted murder of 750 people.”

In the article, Knittel admits to defying police by leaking surveillance video from the night of the arson to push the investigation forward.

Knittel also recounts the history of the club and talks with ownership about rumors of a connection between Musmari and the family that has owned the club for decades.

Anti-gentrification protesters target corporate shuttles on Capitol Hill

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(Image: @maguiresean via Twitter)

(Image: @maguiresean via Twitter)

Seattle Police were monitoring a duo of protesters attempting to block Microsoft corporate shuttles Monday morning on their routes to pick up tech workers living around Capitol Hill.

Police were initially called to the area around Bellevue and Pine around 8:40 AM. One witness posted to Twitter that “two masked protestors at Bellevue and Pine with a banner reading ‘gentrification stops here'” were at the scene. Continue reading →

Seized items trickle back to victims of alleged Capitol Hill theft ring as court case continues

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Police seize allegedly stolen items from Darling’s Capitol Hill house in 2012. (Photo: CHS)

When Seattle Police tracked a stolen iPad to a Capitol Hill house in 2012, they uncovered much more than a one-off theft. Charging documents and police reports allege Rabindranath Darling was running a sophisticated operation to buy goods he knew to be stolen then sell those items on eBay from the 12th and Mercer home he shared with his wife.

As a front for his illicit business, investigators say Rabindranath Darling ran a home-based computer repair shop. CHS has learned that some of the allegedly stolen items seized in 2012 from Darling’s 12th and Mercer house are finally being returned to their rightful owners including victims of burglaries across Capitol Hill. Court hearings in the case got underway this summer; Darling’s next hearing is scheduled this week. He pleaded not guilty to the charges in September.

The Darlings told CHS they did not want to comment for this story as Rabindranath’s court case is ongoing.

CHS learned about the unfolding criminal proceedings thanks to a surprising connection to the 12th Ave case. We received notification that a laptop ripped off from CHS in the summer of 2012 had been recovered by police and was now being released. Our laptop, we were surprised to learn, was somehow part of the evidence from that mysterious police operation on 12th Ave that included piles of computers and electronics being carted off in the night years earlier. Police at the time said they had uncovered a “major stolen property trafficking operation” — but nobody was immediately charged with a crime. Continue reading →

One of three CD Nickelsville camps evicted

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Police talk with the evicted campers Saturday

Police were on hand to notify the evicted campers Saturday

A bid for independence ended in a weekend eviction for one of the three Nickelsville camp sites in the Central District.

Residents at the Legion of Hope Encampment at 22nd and Cherry were notified of Cherry Hill Baptist Church’s decision to evict the camp following a vote by campers to break away from the structure of the Nickelsville sites. Two more Nickelsville camps continue to operate in the area. In December, we wrote about the convergence of three Nickelsville camps arriving in the Central District and ways for those living nearby to help the communities.

Nickelsville residents must abide by a code of conduct, which includes a ban on alcohol and drugs, weapons, and abusive behavior. The Legion of Hope campers say there were hoping to live in a less restrictive environment and that complaints from neighbors had been minimal.

At 75 residents, the Cherry encampment had been the largest of the three camps. Nickelsville organizers are looking for locations to host the camps on a long-term basis.

In January, one of the site hosts announced its plans to develop affordable housing on its property near 20th and S. Jackson.

Central District’s Liberty Bank landmark bid moves to next step

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libertybankinterior11-300x294An effort to save an empty but historically significant 1960s bank near the intersection of 23rd and Union got its first round of approval for landmark status last week. The Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board voted late Wednesday afternoon to accept the nomination of the former Liberty Bank building, the first Black-owned bank in the Pacific Northwest.

The building will have to win another round of approval from the board to be preserved as an historical city landmark. The utilitarian building, which has sat empty and fenced off since KeyBank left in September, is planned to be razed for an affordable housing project. Capitol Hill Housing has been in negotiations with KeyBank to buy the building and erect a mixed-use development on the site.

Longtime Central District/Africatown activist Omari Garrett filed the landmarks petition for the bank. He said his fight to preserve the bank ran deeper than just saving a building.

“Our children are not on the street shooting eachother because they dont have a place to stay. They don’t have Black institutions to look up to, they don’t see Black bank owners,” Garrett said. “Housing is not our problem in the Central Area. Our problem is identity and having cultural institutions in Africatown.”

A community post on the Central District News site praised the board’s vote:

Members of Seattle’s Africatown attended the meeting to continue to advocate and preserve the cultural and historic fabric of the african american central district community, now known as ‘Africatown”.

Historic preservation, economy success, education, and cultural identity all make a substantial contribution to Seattle’s Africatown community.

The success of the nomination was the right thing to do.

It was the only thing to do.

Community. Culture.