Post navigation

Prev: (01/26/15) | Next: (01/27/15)

#caphillpsa: Capitol Hill signs — Starbucks apologies, Comet code of conduct, City Market on Tom Brady’s balls

(Image: Comet Tavern)

(Image: Comet Tavern)

It’s a sign. One of the most effective ways to communicate your thoughts on the Hill on the Hill is to create a big, giant sign. CHS has a pile of Capitol Hill sign updates to share, below.

  • As you can imagine, we’ve been sent the Starbucks apologies banner that popped up on the side of Benson’s Grocery several times over the weekend. But Dan Nolte sent it first.

    This appeared on Bellevue at Pike over the weekend -- thanks to @noltedan (and everybody else) for sending

    This appeared on Bellevue at Pike over the weekend — thanks to @noltedan (and everybody else) for sending

  • We assume the sign makers “Mark and Sam” are referring to this. But maybe they meant this?
  • Benson’s, by the way, knows a little about the city’s on-premises advertising rules regarding signage.
  • We look forward to the Amazon, Microsoft, and CHS editions of the apology banners.
  • (Image: @unxpectedsparks vis Twitter)

    (Image: @unxpectedsparks via Twitter)

    Tuesday night, organizers are celebrating #caphillpsa — a new arts campaign that includes local artists sharing “their experiences of change in the Capitol Hill neighborhood” with “public poster art.” UPDATE: Turns out the party is “invite only.” “This campaign aims to build awareness specifically around the issue of public safety, and to demonstrate the role art can,” organizers write. Promotional services and poster distribution is being donated by Capitol Hill marketing agency Northwest Polite Society. Participating artists include Woo! Girl guy John Criscitello, Hua Meng Yu, Rodrigo Valenzuela, Jazz Brown, Derek Erdman, Shannon Perry, Shogo Ota, Yekky Michael, Kenneth McCarty, Christian Petersen, Delton Son, Frank Correa, Greg Lundgren, Cait Willis, Dakota Gearhart, Jite Agibro, D.K. Pan, Ellie Dicola, and Alex Garland (CHS contributor!). You can learn more at facebook.com/caphillpsa

  • (Image: Sean Barton Signs)

    (Image: Sean Barton Signs)

    Here’s another effort to engender better behavior in Pike/Pine revelers. Riffing on the R Place classic, the Comet Tavern has added a big reminder to E Pike that Capitol Hill prides itself on tolerance. “One sign isn’t going to keep everyone in the neighborhood from acting out, but it definitely sets expectations for how we expect behavior in our business,” Comet partner Dave Meinert tells CHS. “And it hopefully is one small thing that is that we can do to help create a more positive vibe in the neighborhood.” The Comet, by the way, is a CHS advertiser.

  • Across the street, Caffe Vita’s 20th anniversary celebrations continue with a new mural. Here’s a look at it in its early stages:10856460_10152663868895773_5605297796479072239_o
  • It’s not as artful as the rest but a familiar part of the landscape near 14th and Pine will soon be removed. The city has told Clear Channel it must tear down its billboard on E Pine next to the fire station. “SIGN IS NON-CONFORMING PER OFF-PREMISE ADVERTISING SIGNS PROHIBITED IN NC-3 ZONE,” the complaint status reads. The billboard frequently promotes products and organizations targeted to the area’s LGBTQ culture and reputation. Most recently, it featured an ad for a health insurance service targeting gay and trans customers. Clear Channel will be allowed to relocate its billboard to another location in the city zoned for sign advertising.
  • Here’s an oops found just below Broadway on Pine:

  • Finally, Capitol Hill’s little king of signs weighed in the biggest controversy surrounding Super Bowl XLIXTom Brady’s deflated balls:

    (Image: Evil Robot 6 via Flickr)

    (Image: Evil Robot 6 via Flickr)

Subscribe and support CHS Contributors -- $1/$5/$10 per month

42 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
IsthisaJoke
IsthisaJoke
9 years ago

We will not tolerate intolerance? Like jesus christ that sign really couldn’t make tolerance seem any more authoritarian. It’s a massive turnoff. I though the comet was a laid back divey sorta place.

Wouldn’t the world be better if people [Oh, I mean individual persons] just stopped being so fucking [Oops, sorry abstainers] sensitive [Shit, I mean “aware”] of every little thing [My bad. I meant “glaring oppression in every nook and cranny of life”]?

Maybe just like.. I don’t know.. ignore people that don’t like you and not give your money to people that you don’t like? Is it so hard? Does it have to be a victim-centric crusade?

Just put up a sign that says “don’t be a dick [Oops, sorry men. Or would it be feminists who are offended by that one? Just to play it safe I’m gonna assume yes. You really can’t lose when you bet on feminism]. All this sign is going to do is encourage people addicted to the attention of being profession victims to come up with some new way to interpret the world as oppressing them.

Jim98122x
Jim98122x
9 years ago
Reply to  IsthisaJoke

Oh my yes. People should just stop being so damn *sensitive*. Much ado about nothing.

Officers arrested a 37-year-old man early Sunday for threatening three men with a knife on Capitol Hill and yelling derogatory remarks about their sexual orientation.
Shortly after midnight, a victim flagged down officers patrolling the area on foot and pointed out a man chasing one of his friends with a knife. Officers quickly came to their assistance and saw the suspect holding a knife. They ordered him to the ground, confiscated the weapon and arrested him.
The victims told police they were crossing the intersection at Harvard Avenue and East Pike Street when the suspect began yelling slurs, threatened to stab them and began chasing them with a knife. One of the victims ran to Broadway to flag down officers and alert them to the attack. The victims were not injured in the incident.

herpaderpa
herpaderpa
9 years ago
Reply to  Jim98122x

Individuals will always do terrible things, but keep in mind that raising single data points as examples of systemic problems is also the preferred tactic of anti-LGBTQ critics.

Greg
Greg
9 years ago
Reply to  herpaderpa

Actually, it is the tactic of virtually everyone who thinks they have a “more right” point of view than others. Seems to apply to you too. In this particular case, I think that plenty of data has already been taken to show that violence and crime are on the rise in the neighborhood. This person was simply stating an example of where someone felt that way. Sure it was just anecdotal. However it is also illustrative of what a number of people are feeling. But the police statistics and trend have shown an increase in these issues. The severely homophobic group of Somali looking people apparently are off limits to describe and Meinert has been picketed for daring to stand up and say something about them and their menacing ways. But as someone who is often in that area, I can tell you that they are there, they are aggressive and it feels really unsafe. Meinert taking a stand against these people is welcome and brave, considering how much he has been vilified for demanding action against that group of trouble makers.

IsthisaJoke
IsthisaJoke
9 years ago
Reply to  Jim98122x

What the fuck is your point? Do you think it could have all been prevented if someone put a sign up in a window sooner?

RWK
RWK
9 years ago
Reply to  IsthisaJoke

Of course the vast majority of Capitol Hill residents are opposed to all the “phobias” listed on the Comet sign. But, still, the sign seems kind of self-righteous to me.

Mimi
Mimi
9 years ago
Reply to  RWK

Or just plain righteous. I dig it.

Patrick
Patrick
9 years ago
Reply to  RWK

Agree’d, lot’s of self agreeing snorting going on with the sign.

poncho
poncho
9 years ago

Will they also say NO to hatred of new residents especially rich techies? Interesting the ones who preach tolerance are the ones with the most outright hate towards new residents.

Really?
Really?
9 years ago
Reply to  poncho

Yes, 25-year old white men with 6 figure salaries are so oppressed.

Greg
Greg
9 years ago
Reply to  Really?

I’m as much an ignore assholes and stop whining guy as anyone. But my opinion is tempered by the understanding that people should also be able to feel safe and not-threatened in their own neighborhood. You seem to have a light of the day view of what happened when two people disapprove or annoy one another. Another version is far more menacing when people are afraid to exist outside at night who don’t conform to the visitors to their neighborhood. It isn’t always civil and safe disapproval so I think a reality check is in order for you.

herpaderpa
herpaderpa
9 years ago
Reply to  Really?

Does being gay override being a six-figure earning white tech worker? It’s confusing whether I’m supposed to hate them or not, because they do exist in rather decent numbers in the area. Please instruct, thanks.

Ironically, tech workers are more racially diverse than most industries in this fair city (though massively skewed toward males). Why no fighting against the oppressive and overwhelmingly white barista and bartender industries?

Greg
Greg
9 years ago
Reply to  herpaderpa

I generally tend to agree with herpaderpa, although I think the barista comment was mean to make a point rather than a true belief. It’s a bit holier than thou to consider yourself part of capitol hill and then complain about the relative new coming tech workers. And the six figure salary comment is just class warfare and doesn’t help at all. I think it’s great that people prefer to live in a dynamic and diverse city full of all the woes and wonders that living urban can provide rather than a sterile suburb. They are just as likely to get the crap beat out of them as anyone else up here and I am sure their gay representation is pretty much the same as the rest of our area, though it need not necessarily be to garner equal respect. The point is, it is all our neighborhood and we all deserve to feel safe. So stop the nonsensical class warfare and exclusionary attitude that we all rail against in the first place.

zeebleoop
9 years ago
Reply to  Greg

well said, sir.

RWK
RWK
9 years ago
Reply to  Greg

Thank you. All of the anger directed at the newcomers is mystifying to me….it would be more fairly directed at the developers of new buildings, and some existing landlords, who are using the “Seattle boom” to raise rents and make a ton of money. Newcomers are simply trying to find a nice place to live, one they can afford, in a very desireable neighborhood, convenient to their workplace. Wouldn’t you do the same if you were in their shoes?

I think all the anti-newcomer sentiment is really just good old-fashioned envy of those who are better off than you are.

Fred
Fred
9 years ago
Reply to  herpaderpa

I know a very queer Indian at Amazon making over $200k a year. Where does he play at the Oppression Olympics?

Googly
Googly
9 years ago
Reply to  Fred

Obviously either a batsman, a bowler, or an all-rounder.

signage
signage
9 years ago

Yeah – mean people suck! Seriously, though, shouldn’t a positive sign includes some….positivity? Love everyone, come as you are, be your bad self, etc., etc. There’s a strong affirmative case for being kind to one another.

I also noticed the Yesler Terrace sign late last year and did a double-take. Hard to believe the city would get its own sign wrong, but reminds you that Seattle has its small-town moments.

Fred
Fred
9 years ago

Does ‘ableism’ mean I have to find ugly womyn attractive even if they’re gag inducing?

Fred
Fred
9 years ago
Reply to  Fred

Or is that lookism? Better try my beer goggles.

Truth. Deal with it.
Truth. Deal with it.
9 years ago

So i love this. I love these posts. I love these signs we have up in Cap Hill that overall, are uplifting. I love seeing communities taking care of each other. That is what the sign is supposed to mean. We stand up for each other. We make sure each other are okay. Lets focus on the intent.

What I don’t like are people who label feminism as bad. Its kind of the media trend right now, but its really ridiculous. I’m not a feminist to garner attention to myself. I’m a feminist because I’ve had some men do some pretty rotten things to me, and I want to be able to live my life without the thought that they decide my destiny.

I’m sick of men using feminism and the hatred of feminism to garner attention to themselves. Why cant you just respect and support another’s views. I agree that Seattle in general is the least tolerant city I’ve ever lived in, but on the same token its the most tolerant. Why don’t you live by example and practice some of this so called tolerance this city is lacking? No. You’d rather whine and complain and publicly shame women who are trying to stand up for themselves, their bodies and their view by society.

I am indignant to the thought that your views against feminism define you as a person. In fact, I feel sorry for you that you have to blame your own insecurities and weaknesses on women. I’d like to offer you my support in my tolerance to your intolerance with the exception that you stop complaining with no end, but instead offer solutions. I am tolerant to your tolerance. Why? I hope that one day you wake up and grow as a human being rather than just emulate the scum of the earth because you feel victimized by women who state they deserve to be treated equally. I support you, because you might grow someday. But it does not mean that I think your intentions are pure. And I really hope you never have to walk in my shoes. Because you would break.

What could Capital Hill do in preference to offer support to those who need it? Please tell me what could be done better that doesn’t offend you when a community offers support to each other. Please give me solutions rather than bash women because you feel victimized yourself. I’m not going into my reasons but there are plenty of valid reasons why a woman might turn to feminism and you are trying to undermine and negate my right to believe that I should be treated as an equal.

How dare you. But yeah, I’d support you if you need it. I’d show you ‘love,’ because thats the kind of person I am. Doesn’t mean I wont question your intentions, which of current seem pretty rotten to me.

Powermom331
Powermom331
9 years ago

On the subject of those who dismiss or malign feminism in the present day. It reminds me of those who insist we do not need unions anymore because there are no abysmal conditions in US factories like slave wages or child labor. Who do they think changed situations like those in the Infamous Triangle Fire? Unions, of course. Are they now outmoded and last their time? Hardly. Within the last year there was similar tragic fire in an Indian factory with chained exits and a massive fire trap. Why doesn’t it happen here? Protect e laws, brought forth in the decades past with union support. When I was in my 20s in finance ( I am now in my late fifties) I was refused a transfer to another region, which I asked for in order to be nearer my then fiancé . The reason given was that I would likely “just get married, get pregnant, and quit.” Woman of child bearing age are still being shoved aside and on to the presumed Mommy Track, and men given preference in many cases. Likewise, men are often looked down upon if they choose to be an at-home parent. Out moded thinking? You bet! Does it still exist, you betcha! Feminism works for more that women, and it is not a dirty word, and is still needed until that last of the outdated way of categorizing people by gender dies of old age.

Jane
Jane
9 years ago
Reply to  Powermom331

Also, feminists aren’t pod people in agreement with each other about all issues. I am a feminist who thinks Trigger Warnings are a joke and that it’s ridiculous that a liberal arts school would ban certain groups from speaking or rallying on campus for fear of upsetting students. And I’ll probably never hear the term “cis gendered” without my gag reflex activating.

However, one of the many reasons I am a feminist is that we can talk about things like public safety and the rise in hate crimes, but women’s rights to safety are consistently treated as negligible by the police. I mean, this is a city with 1,276 untested rape kits. Unfortunately, if it weren’t for women’s advocates (i.e. feminists), these issues would not be raised.

tc
tc
9 years ago

“What I don’t like are people who label feminism as bad. Its kind of the media trend right now, but its really ridiculous.”

Are you joking? Give me one example in mainstream media where feminism is portrayed as anything but the greatest thing since sliced bread.

re:tc
re:tc
9 years ago
Reply to  tc

You see it everywhere, in cartoons, in comedy, in sitcoms but its more prevalent in Seattle.
I self identify as a woman (I was born that way), I am a woman, and I have a right to be who I am. I agree gender categories can be damaging and siloing, but I am who I am and I want it to be okay for me to exist. Thanks for your support, Cap Hill.

tc
tc
9 years ago
Reply to  re:tc

I admit I’m not the most up-to-date on the media but I’ve yet to encounter even muted criticism of feminism in the media, especially in the local Seattle media. And it’s not that I haven’t been looking. I’d love to see some ideological diversity in the media.

no problem with signs
no problem with signs
9 years ago

First of all, Capitol Hill is spelled with an “O”, not an “A”. Second of all, apparently CHS blog commenters are exactly who the signs are addressing and proving the point.

re:tc
re:tc
9 years ago

Perhaps if there was an ability to edit said typo within this blog, it would have already been fixed.

M.C.Barrett
M.C.Barrett
9 years ago

Capitol Hill is still a frontier where we can, in relative safety and freedom from scorn, explore, examine, and express the endless possibilities of our individual human experiences. Places where the fears and rules of culture at large find themselves toothless are rare, and those of us who choose to live in them bear some responsibility for their continued existence. We’re going to keep it around by welcoming newcomers with open, freak-flag-bedecked arms, not by turning surly and railing against invasions of outsiders. When they get here, they’ll know exactly where they are, and whom they are neighbors to. If you’re a Capitol Hill “weirdo”, make sure your new neighbors know! Maybe they’ll discover that they’re weirdos too. Dial that #$%@ up and let everyone know that this is still the frontier and that everyone can be free. It’s not going to work if everyone picks up in a huff and moves to Georgetown, though.

Greg
Greg
9 years ago
Reply to  M.C.Barrett

Very well said. Thank you. Sometimes we are a victim of our own success. Many people want to participate in the diversity and fun that is our neighborhood. Let’s welcome them and at the same time protect the character of this great area.

clew
clew
9 years ago
Reply to  M.C.Barrett

“He drew a circle to keep us out —
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout —
But Love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle to take him in.”

shelley brothers
shelley brothers
9 years ago

Please stop calling it Cap Hill!

cap hill
cap hill
9 years ago

For you to expect me to adjust what I’m doing to appease you is rather short sighted. If you understand what I’m saying when I reference Cap Hill (Capitol Hill) my goal is accomplished.

Greg
Greg
9 years ago
Reply to  cap hill

That is rich! Good job teaching lessons in appropriate boundaries.

shelley brothers
shelley brothers
9 years ago
Reply to  cap hill

I am merely making a request to use the full name of the neighborhood that has always been referred to as Capitol Hill or the Hill. It is not to appease me, it is to honor the history and character of our neighborhood. I wasn’t speaking to one person, I was making a general request. Cap Hill was coined by a development company, not the residents. Thank you for the boundary setting lesson. I finally know my place now.

Kb
Kb
9 years ago

Ha ha Starbucks apology story! Let me know when Amazon and the rest of the Heinous Development Squad apologize!

tc
tc
9 years ago

As a straight white male who criticizes identity politics, I’m going to go ahead and preemptively 86 myself from the Comet. Not that it’s a big burden for me to do so. The last time I tried to go there, I couldn’t get in because some hipsters were playing putt-putt golf in the middle of the entrance.

DG
DG
9 years ago
Reply to  tc

Please 86 yourself from Capitol Hill while you are at it if you don’t recognize that there is a problem and are so offended by a sign calling for tolerance and respect of people that are different.

Greg
Greg
9 years ago

I’m not sure who this was meant for, but I’ll bite. My point is that if we had a little more militaristic and dictatorial attitude around her about our desire to have a community that doesn’t tolerate asshole behavior from outsiders toward our residents that perhaps it would be better. But instead we sit like a bunch of chumps and inflight about how we should be more hippy dippy and a free for all when outsiders from our neighborhood would like to come up here on weekends and do harm to the residents. I’m fro one am glad with meinart’s attitude and wish others share it. I won’t be a victim if I can help it and the sheepish, almost apologist attitude makes me sick. We should be standing up loudly and proudly for what’s right and if that seems dictatorial, then so be it. We have an absolute right to a peaceful community and to fee safe within it.

trackback

[…] has its own problems to solve right now. And while there are bigger questions about our neighborhood identities, and smaller but important questions about those identities, too, […]

trackback

[…] above the store. Benson’s again made sign news earlier this year when street artists put up a Starbucks apology banner on the side of the […]