Tag Archives: belltown

Reborn and revived on Capitol Hill, Kedai Makan readying Belltown expansion

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Sayap Ayam Pedas wings and a coconut shake, please (Image: Kedai Makan)

First, Kedai Makan came back from restaurant limbo with a new life at 15th and Pine. Now, it is getting ready to expand to Belltown.

The Capitol Hill Malaysian favorite says it is working on the new 1st Ave location and ready to expand from the E Pine corner where it reopened last year under after founders Kevin Burzell and Alysson Wilson decided they were ready to step away.

At 15th and Pine, the new Kedai Makan is continuing the traditions started at the original Bellevue Ave location and the many farmers markets where the Kedai Makan approach to Malaysian flavors were perfected. It has been a happy transition for the collaboration from Khampaeng “KP” Panyathong with Joe and Lucy Ye of Hangry Panda who originally came together to form the short-lived Money Frog concept.

Kedai Makan now moves forward under the Hagnry Panda ownership.

The old Bellevue Kedai Makan spot is now home to the Jilted Siren lounge.

Permit records show work is underway to make upgrades for the 1st Ave location where “Asian fusion” restaurant Lai Rai closed last summer.

Kedai Makan says only that the new location will open “soon.”

Kedai Makan is located at 1449 E Pine. Learn more at kedaimakansea.com.

 

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Ten years after taking over Capitol Hill’s Egyptian Theatre, 49th Seattle International Film Festival kicks off with announcement SIFF is reopening the Cinerama

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(Image: SIFF)

As its venues including Capitol Hill’s Egyptian Theatre begin hosting the 2023 Seattle International Film Festival, cinema nonprofit SIFF has announced it is adding the city’s grandest silver screen to its family.

“We’ve acquired the Seattle Cinerama Theater from the estate of Paul G. Allen and will be reopening later this year,” the organization announced before Thursday’s opening night of the 49th edition of the festival. “This acquisition adds to our current venue offerings: SIFF Film Center, SIFF Cinema Uptown, and SIFF Cinema Egyptian. We look forward to stewarding this historic venue for magical moviegoing experiences well into the future—with all of you.” Continue reading →

Central District artist-teacher killed in Belltown shooting Sunday

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McDonald working on the Everything Connects totems at Washington Middle School.

A Central District artist, teacher, and youth mentor died Sunday after being shot on a Belltown sidewalk. Brent McDonald was a longtime instructor and youth mentor at 23rd and E Cherry’s Coyote Central, a nonprofit that exposes middle school students to the arts.

Seattle Police responded to reports of shots fired on 3rd Ave between Lenora and Blanchard on Sunday around 3 AM. According to SPD, officers found McDonald and immediately began performing CPR. McDonald was transported to Harborview Medical Center where he later died. Homicide detectives are asking anyone with information on the incident to call (206) 233-5000.

UPDATE: SPD investigators released a surveillance video Tuesday of two suspects standing on a sidewalk two hours prior to the shooting. A Mercedes Benz station wagon seen in the video is also believed to be associated with the male and female suspects.

Christine Edgar mourned the loss of McDonald in a post on an online fundraising campaign she setup to support McDonald’s longtime partner.

“He was a quiet, gentle, and soulful man who was a talented artist, and who loved working with kids and teens as a Teaching Artist at Coyote Central here in Seattle,” Edgar said. “We are devastated that such a peaceful and kind person was taken from us so suddenly and by such violent means.”

McDonald’s youth-mentored street art projects can be seen throughout central Seattle, including the murals at the Squire Park Community Garden, paintings on the bus shelters at 23rd and Union, mosaics at Powell Barnett Park, and the totems at Washington Middle School.

Bring back B&O Espresso… to Belltown

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Inside the old B&O (Image: the new B&O :) )

Inside the old B&O (Image: the new B&O :) )

The developers of the six-story apartment building getting ready to open along E Olive Way at Belmont had hoped that the corner’s much-loved resident B&O Espresso would return to its longtime address when the new construction was complete. Last month, CHS reported that Ballard-born “cakery” Hot Cakes is instead making 2015 opening plans for the space. But you have a chance to help bring B&O Espresso back.

To Belltown.

The original owners and a new partnership are teaming to recreate the B&O in the former home of another “old Seattle” institution — well off the Hill. Continue reading →

Belltown’s Black Mountain will have Hill roots, plus new Crybaby and Vita projects

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Crybaby Belltown under construction (Image: Alicia Amiri via Twitter)

Crybaby Belltown under construction (Image: Alicia Amiri via Twitter)

Amiri

Amiri

The proprietor of a legendary Pike/Pine music studio, a music industry veteran with Neumos and Capitol Hill Block Party chops, and the leading exporter of Pike/Pine cool to the global craft coffee market are working together on a new project that combines their love for music and caffeine, stiff drinks and pizza. And it won’t be on Capitol Hill.

“Cap hill is too expensive to be feasible for our project,” Alicia Amiri tells CHS. “We’re also looking forward to staking some new ground in a fresh part of town in the face of the changing landscape Capitol Hill.”

Amiri and Crybaby Studios lead Leigh Stone are teaming up with Caffe Vita and Via Tribunali honcho Mike McConnell on a “Capitol Hill complex“-like project taking over an old office building on 2nd Ave in Belltown.

The project will center around Amiri’s new Black Mountain music venue. Planned as a 250-person capacity music club, Amiri said Black Mountain will be all-ages friendly and will neighbor a bar and pizza restaurant. A Caffe Vita Belltown is also part of the plans. Leigh’s Crybaby Belltown studios, practice, and art spaces will fill the second floor of the building.

Amiri says the project is just getting underway and construction is yet to begin on the first floor component of the project but the new Crybaby studios are almost ready to rock. If you’re looking for space to perform or an art studio to work in, Stone is collecting names for a wait list. Send her email here. Room details and rates will be posted soon at crybabystudios.com.

Was offices, soon Capitol Hill west (Image: King County)

Was offices, soon Capitol Hill west (Image: King County)

CHS visited 11th Ave’s Crybaby in 2011. Stone has said the Belltown opening represents an expansion — not a move. Meanwhile, McConnell’s Vita is celebrating 20 years of Seattle coffee culture.

The new Belltown partnership comes as city officials and community representatives are looking at strategies to preserve and create new arts venues on Capitol Hill as the pressure for housing climbs and marketplace for bar and restaurant tenants remains red hot. It also is a reminder of the continually changing face of the Hill and the neighborhoods of Central Seattle and downtown. For those of you feeling competitive with our neighbor neighborhoods, at least Black Mountain isn’t opening in Hill “arch nemesis” Pioneer Square.