(Image: Kelly O Photography)

Things looked about as close to normal as they get on Capitol Hill over the weekend with a community clean-up spreading through the neighborhood around Cal Anderson Park and politicians making visits to the Hill for photo opportunities and rare chances to mingle after months of COVID-19 restrictions.

At Cal Anderson, the annual Pride clean-up helped brighten the park and tidy the streets. Around 200 volunteers helped out “from the freeway to 15th and Roy to Madison,” PrideFest’s Egan Orion tells CHS about Sunday’s Taking Pride in Capitol Hill clean-up.

(Image: Kelly O Photography)

(Image: Kelly O Photography)

(Image: Kelly O Photography)

(Image: Kelly O Photography)

He also pointed out the new name for the annual event. After recent months of encampment sweeps, the old Clean Sweep label needed to go. Jason Plourde from the AIDS Memorial Pathway group also spoke to volunteers about the planned Pride weekend dedication of the pathway project. More on upcoming Pride 20201 events here.

(Image: @kcexec)

Meanwhile on Broadway, King County Executive Dow Constantine was on hand Saturday to see off the first hikers of the season as the Trailhead Direct route connecting Capitol Hill to Mt. Si began its new season. With Constantine facing a battle for his seat against State Senator Joe Nguyen, expect to see the incumbent around the Hill as things continue to reopen.

(Image: @mayorjenny)

Though she has decided not to seek reelection, Mayor Jenny Durkan visited the neighborhood Sunday as E Union’s Optimism Brewing hosted a city COVID-19 vaccination pop-up clinic complete with free beer for participants as officials try to entice the unvaccinated with free treats and prizes. There was no word on whether the mayor partook.

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