Po Dog, the new hotdog vendor coming to the hill, recently blogged about its troubles trying it install a mural on the southern blank facade of 1009 Union Street – adjacent to a parking lot.  Laura Olson sent CHS email explaining the issue:

We had a design drawn up from John Osgood and had to ask the owners of the parking lot behind us to use a few of the parking space for a couple of days to clean the wall and get the mural started. They in turn, wanted to see the mural and made the decision that we would not be allowed to use their lot for cleaning and painting because  “they felt the depiction of a man eating a hot dog would carry an unwanted double meaning” and did not approve of the “cartoonish” nature of the mural. The property owners also commented that our mural “does not meet the needs of the Capitol Hill neighborhood” and may decrease their property value.

Chris Pardo of Pb Elemental (Po Dog’s architect) says the objections of Po Dog’s landlord and the parking lot owner are surprising:

He [the parking lot owner] owns the Lifelong Aids building (next door) which has a full mural (100% coverage), that also has bright colors and “cartoons figures” [photo below]. Other buildings just down the street also have new abstract murals (Monique lofts for example), these murals serve to fight graffiti (we commissioned John on one of our designs in the central district because the concrete wall was constantly tagged, since then it has never been tagged), advertise a business (like the beautiful painted on billboard now partially covered on the Trace Lofts) an provide additional visual interest and landmarks to a diverse community. Not everyone will like every design, but it is art after all and that is it’s nature. If it promotes discussion it is a success.

CHS will try to get the other side of this story from the landlord. Details to come.

$3 sangria at Dinette (avail Tue – Sat from 4 to 6 pm)

• New bar The Living Room will have a famed bartender
• Satellite Lounge ousted from its current location
• Hipster celebrity Casey Affleck & wife Summer Phoenix spotted at Plum
• 22 Doors reopens and it’s all tapas (at least the veggie burger is safe)
• Tamara Murphy of Brasa joins list of Belltown Chefs opening joints on the Hill with Terra Plata
• Blogazar spots HGTV celebrity David Bromstad at Purr
• Chow Chao (to occupy spot at Pike & 12th where 1200 Bistro used to be) will open 9/25 

Founded by George DePasquale in 1994, Essential Baking Company was the first local, certified oraganic artisan bakery in Seattle.  It now operates two cafes: one in Wallingford and the other in Madison Valley.  It also supplies fresh baked bread and baked treats to a number of outlets on the Hill including Madison Market , Trader Joe’s and most recently – the 15th Avenue Starbucks .  In fact, on a tour of their bakery in Wallingford, we learned that they daily go through a ton of starter to meet their obligations to restaurants and grocery outlets in town.  To celebrate their 15th birthday, Essential is offering a free taste of chocolate hazelnut cake all day today at both of their cafes.  

Earlier this morning, we referenced the PI story about an influx of heroin junkies to Capitol Hill. The real problem, it appears, is free, pre-rolled joints available in Capitol Hill alleys.

photo by gorabbitgo

Truffle fries at 22 Doors my current favorite

photo by Mark Eskenazi

I recently met with Becky Selengut, chef/owner of Cornucopia, a private chef and cooking instruction company.  I first became acquainted with Becky on Twitter as the quick witted @ChefReinvented.  We had drinks at one of Becky’s regular stops, Poppy. (her favorite cocktail is a spicy Papi Delicious).   Many at Poppy stopped by to speak to Becky, including Poppy’s owner/chef Jerry Traunfeld, since she had previously worked for him at the Herbfarm.  Dana Cree, Poppy’s Pastry Chef asked Becky to taste a new dessert she was making – a spice cake with peaches and icecream.

After working in topnotch professional kitchens at La Medusa, La Spiga and the Herbfarm, Becky decided to forge a different career path.  She now teaches cooking classes, offers private chef services and will be publishing her second book on a subject she’s passionate about – sustainable seafood (via local publisher Sasquatch Books).  She also blogs at Chef Reinvented and operates Seasonal Cornucopia, a website that tracks when local foods are in season in the Northwest.    In addition to the food writing, foraging, teaching and cooking, Becky was recently selected to be the food guru for a reality show that makes over sustainabe living challenged people called “Mission Sustainable”.  If you want to find out more about Becky, follow her on Twitter.  She will be teaching a food writing class in Sayulita, Mexico in April 2010 and is currently offering a free private cooking class to those who sign up.   

Blitz, Capitol Hill’s Second Thursday Arts Walk, occurs next on Thursday, September 10 from 5:00 to 8:00pm.  As Ellen Forney describes it:

Blitz showcases works many might otherwise miss, on the walls of coffee shops, retailers, and other corners of the neighborhood. features a dynamic range of visual and performing arts in venues throughout the neighborhood including galleries, coffee shops, private studios, and street corners. Produced by the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce, these events have been engaging and entertaining for the enthusiastic walkers, businesses, and artists in our vibrant, quirky, artsy neighborhood.

Selected offerings from the September Blitz: 

Vermillion

“New Cityscapes” by local painter Ann Duffy: Hyperrealist snapshots in time with long stretches of empty roadway, glimpses of iconographic buildings, or humorously altered roadway signage.

Babeland

“Blood and Honey,” Landscapes by Airin Hail: Surreal, feminine, narrative multimedia paintings that use the language of symbols from Neolithic Eastern Europe to the Kali Temples of India.

September 10th – Babeland – Airin Hail
Originally uploaded by blitzcapitolhill

Office Nomads

Photography by Stuart Upgrave: Beautiful landscapes and stunning natural portraits

• Our favorite neighborhood bar and longtime CHS sponsor Bottleneck Lounge is hosting an expansion bash to celebrate its annexation of the space formerly occupied by the The Red Chair ($4 champagne)
• Now that Tobey Macguire sightings are old news (made his way to the Wild Rose even), India Arie at Plum anyone
• Bon Appetit includes Boom in its list of Top 10 New Asian Noodle Bars around the U.S.
• CHS reader and man about town kevinseattle recommends Poppy to Jewel and Traunfeld thanks him
• Spinasse’s Jason Stratton picks two neighborhood staples as two of three favorite restaurants in Seattle: Machiavelli and Monsoon
• 22 Doors is closed until next Tuesday, but try of the other 15th Avenue White Russians
• Rover’s will have a new casual sibling restaurant – say hello to Luc
• Fuel has a big announcement next week – guess comments welcome (coffee and pies are covered -what’s next? a new location?)

According to GoTime, Cap Hill tops all other neighborhoods in the number of places with free wi-fi.  Out of all these places, where have you gotten fast connections?  Vivace on Broadway is the fastest I’ve experienced to-date.

Start early for September – contribute your Capitol Hill photos to the CHS Flickr Pool

Cal Anderson is the center of the world

Cal Anderson Park (Planet)
Originally uploaded by Musely

Beard Off – this guy looks shamed after getting shaved

game5web
Originally uploaded by Rabid Child Images

looking out
Originally uploaded by Walsh