Tag Archives: cal anderson

‘A gift’ — first look inside Capitol Hill’s new Hugo House

Posted on by
Reply

Boards from the old Hugo House — complete with the graffiti encouraged at a goodbye party before its demolition — live on in the new Hugo House

The new Hugo House will be open to the public for the first time Saturday but the staff moved in Wednesday and the space has already hosted its first event — an opening preview for the more than 300 community donors and public officials responsible for the one-of-a-kind writing center across from Cal Anderson Park.

“We’re in a time right now when words really matter,” State Representative Nicole Macri said at Monday night’s pre-opening reception in the new center.

“I’m so grateful that the state came through.”

Rep. Macri inside the new Hugo House Monday night

Continue reading →

CHS Pics | DeafThrive Day in Cal Anderson Park

Posted on by
Reply

Sammy Ruiz Jr. performs magic for the crowd

Saturday night, bar patrons around Pike/Pine may not have noticed some of the groups hanging out in neighborhood venues. The sense of revelry and energy wasn’t different at all with their hands busy and fully in the motion of American Sign Language.

The after-parties followed a day of celebration of deaf culture in Cal Anderson as the annual DeafThrive event brought performances and speeches to the park. Continue reading →

Seattle Parks says Cal Anderson experiment with cork-filled field a winner

Posted on by
1

With Seattle kids swarming playfields for fall soccer, Seattle Parks and Recreation tells CHS the department’s experiment at Cal Anderson using a new more environmentally friendly cork base for its turf fields has been enough of a success to roll the solution out at more locations in the city.

“We will be using the same synthetic turf system that we installed at Cal Anderson at Brighton and Soundview playfields and are in the process of updating our specifications for future synthetic turf conversion and replacement projects,” a Seattle Parks rep tells CHS. Continue reading →

New Capitol Hill story ready to begin at Hugo House

Posted on by
5

A rendering of the soon to open new Hugo House

Construction of the new 9,600-square-foot Hugo House writing center at 11th and E Olive St. is fully imbued with the creative process — right down to the burning spirit that drives any author, poet, or journalist: a deadline.

“Construction always take longer than they think it will and there have been some unavoidable delays,” Hugo House executive director Tree Swenson tells CHS. “They say they’ll be ready.”

Like a publisher awaiting that final draft, Swenson is planning for Saturday, September 22nd — the planned official grand opening of the new Hugo House inside the six-story mixed-use apartment building that stands at the site the old Hugo House previously called home.

Opening Celebration: New Hugo House

“The celebration will be a chance for everybody to explore the whole space in a design that invites creativity,” Swenson said.

Designed by the architects at NBBJ, the new Hugo House is centered around a 150-seat auditorium but Swenson said the first thing any visitor will see from the 11th Ave entrance is the front salon with built-in writing nooks, seating areas, and a small stage. Continue reading →

Skater protest can’t stop removal of rogue ramp in Cal Anderson

Posted on by
13

No ramps, please (Image courtesy Seattle Parks)

Skateboarding is not a crime. But building a rogue cement ramp in a Seattle park is.

Police were called to the busy courts of Cal Anderson Wednesday morning to a report of a group hindering a Seattle Parks work crew trying to remove a rogue ramp installed on the basketball court on the park’s western edge.

A Parks representative tells CHS somebody was lying down on the ramp prompting the call to police.

Police arriving to the callout around 10:30 AM reported that things had worked themselves out. There were no arrests. Continue reading →

Capitol Hill Pets | Moose says go to First Caturday in Cal Anderson Park

Posted on by
Reply

 

We met Moose, a massive Siberian cat, as he was lounging around the trees at Cal Anderson Park. His minders, Anneka and Ryanne, have had Moose for about three of his seven months on the planet. He is expected to get even bigger. “He’s second to Maine Coons in terms of size. He loves to hike, kayak, and hangs out in Ryanne’s backpack when we go out” Anneka says. Moose is super friendly, so rub those giant ears when you see him next.

This Saturday, September 1st brings another First Caturday to Cal Anderson. We understand it has become quite the thing. Expect a crowd!

We ask photographer Alex Garland to follow marchers in the rain and do crazy things like trying to make yet another picture of yet another huge apartment building look interesting. We thought we’d ask him to do something a little more fun. Capitol Hill Pets is a semi-regular look at our furry, fuzzy, feathered, and finned friends found out and about on Capitol Hill.

Appreciate CHS? Subscribe Today  Consider becoming a subscriber at $1/$5/$10 a month to help CHS provide community news. Help push us over the 800 mark. You can also sign up for a one-time annual payment.

Already a subscriber? Please TELL A FRIEND to help us reach our goal.

CHS Pics | Shopping and meeting a few neighbors on Capitol Hill Garage Sale Day

Posted on by
2

Let’s do 10. Sunday’s ninth annual Capitol Hill Garage Sale Day again drew crowds to Cal Anderson Park for a central gathering of community rummage, vintage, and treasure tables. Many of the day’s best bargains were also found at sales on surrounding streets. Organized again by CHS, the Capitol Hill EcoDistrict, and the Cal Anderson Park Alliance, the event focused on community — and fabulous re-use — continues to grow. Have ideas for next year? Let us know in comments.

Continue reading →

2018 outdoor movie season begins in Cal Anderson

Posted on by
Reply

The smoke has cleared. It’s finally time for a few outdoor movies on Capitol Hill — and nearby.

Friday night brings the 2018 debut of Three Dollar Bill Cinema’s outdoor series in Cal Anderson Park with a screening of Sister Act:

Three Dollar Bill Outdoor Cinema: Sister Act

The Three Dollar Bill screenings begin at sunset — usually around 8:30 PM — in the southeast corner of Cal Anderson:

Arrive early to get a good seat and join us for fun pre-show events. Concessions will be open and music will start at 7:00 pm.  Official announcements will begin at 8:00 pm.

The screenings continue on the 24th and 31st.

There’s also a bonus movie on First Hill to add to your schedule. The First Hill Improvement Association will host a screening of Nine to Five on Friday, September 7th in Freeway Park.

The 9th annual Capitol Hill Garage Sale Day is Sunday

Posted on by
Reply

From humble beginnings in the People’s Parking Lot, Capitol Hill Garage Sale Day has grown into quite a thing. Now in its ninth year, CHGSD is this Sunday, August 19th. CHS used to organize the whole thing ourselves — now we have a lot of help:

The Cal Anderson Park Alliance invites all local treasure seekers to enjoy an afternoon of bargain hunting that promises something for everyone. On Sunday, August 19th, residents all over Capitol Hill will populate their front lawns, apartment stoops and Cal Anderson Park with heirlooms, antiques and bric-a-brac for sale as a part of the “9TH ANNUAL CAPITOL HILL GARAGE SALE DAY” from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For this one-of-a-kind neighborhood event, no garage is no problem! Seattleites are invited to join their Capitol Hill neighbors in Cal Anderson Park for five hours of bargain shopping, DJ music and sun. In addition, this year, shoppers can access an online map of Capitol Hill neighbors who will be simultaneously hosting a more traditional garage/stoop/yard/sidewalk sale in front of their homes. This map is available on the event website or at the Garage Sale information tent in Cal Anderson Park. In Cal Anderson Park, event goers will be treated to an afternoon of upbeat dance-floor favorites courtesy of DJs LA Kendall. Alongside neighborhood purveyors of wonders there will also be knife sharpening courtesy of the Sustainable Capitol Hill Tool Library, as well as tasty beverages and treats available at the Capitol Hill Farmers Market just a block away (open from 11:00am until 3:00pm).

So far, we count around 90 sales on the official map. If past years are any indication, expect a lot of “off map” surprises around the neighborhood, too.

Capitol Hill Garage Sale Day 2018

Thanks much to our friends at CAPA, Capitol Hill Housing and the Capitol Hill EcoDistrict, and you, salers and shoppers, for being part of the fun. See you Sunday. Continue reading →

Design review: Twin seven-story buildings set to replace Broadway’s Bonney Watson funeral home

Posted on by
18

The Modera Broadway development set to embrace E Howell’s approach to Cal Anderson and replace Broadway’s Bonney Watson funeral home and its surface parking lot with twin seven-story, market rate apartment buildings will go in front of the design review board for what the developers and its team of architects hope will be the third and final session Wednesday night.

Design review: 1812 Broadway

“Although development will occur on two separate parcels, the buildings will be designed to create one cohesive resident community with shared management, ample resident amenities and outdoor space,” developer write about the project. “Design will incorporate opportunities for maximizing light and views to the apartment homes, creating overlooks and encouraging people-watching. The buildings will work together toward a shared design concept with similar massing, materials and detailing in support of creating a vibrant transit-oriented development.”

Continue reading →