Tag Archives: capitol hill block party

2016 Block Party attendees talk about race, LGBTQ, and gentrification on Capitol Hill

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The 20th edition of the modern format of the Capitol Hill Block Party again filled Pike/Pine with Block Partiers this weekend (Images: Alex Garland for CHS)

The 20th edition of the modern format of the Capitol Hill Block Party again filled Pike/Pine with Block Partiers this weekend (Images: Alex Garland for CHS)

Potty-mouth named STRFKR delivered the crowd to planet dance (Images: Alex Garland for CHS)

Potty-mouth named STRFKR delivered the crowd to planet dance (Images: Alex Garland for CHS)

Another Capitol Hill Block Party has come and gone, the smashed beer bottles have been swept away, and the crowds that clamored to see ODESZA and CHVRCHES have dissipated. For some, CHBP was just another weekend of Capitol Hill bar hopping; for others, it was a sad reminder of the way neighborhoods and cities are changing here and across the country.

“This was a neighborhood for freaks, and that was dope,” said Alana Belle, a black woman who grew up in the area and now works on Capitol Hill. Over the years, the people she has seen on neighborhood have changed, and not for the better. “I would argue that it’s not as safe for the LGBTQ community as it used to be.”

Belle is a CHBP veteran, and said that she comes to the festival to support her friends, particularly other artists of color. Belle and her friend Ola Rae came out to support Porter Ray on the second day of the festival. “It was so dope to see black people on stage,” said Belle. Continue reading →

Born and raised on Capitol Hill, now playing Capitol Hill Block Party

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Musician Joe Gregory was born and raised on Capitol Hill and can remember attending the Capitol Hill Block Party when it was a tiny, alternative, upstart music festival.

On Sunday he and his band J GRGRY are joining the ranks of CHBP performers. “It’s really exciting to actually finally 20 years later be a part of it,” said Gregory.

It has been a quick rise for the group. J GRGRY has been around for about a year. The group was asked to play CHBP earlier this summer after several successful shows at Neumos.J GRGRY consists of Gregory, guitar player and Gregory’s longtime friend Robert Cheek, drummer Andrew King, and bass/key player Ryan Leyva. The group’s first performance together was at The Crocodile in December 2015. After that first show, J GRGRY submitted for the opening slot for Geographer at Neumos.

“So many people came out for us and we sold a ton of presale tickets – it was just an overwhelming response and the club was like, ‘Holy shit, who are you guys?’” said Gregory. “It ended up being such a cool show, and then I think because of my onstage aesthetic they thought about asking me for the Prince show.” Continue reading →

With Alaska Airlines deal landed, ad agency opens office on E Pike

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The ad agency Mekanism has joined the ranks of tech and creative agencies opening offices on Capitol Hill. This time, the music was part of the draw.

“We were just drawn to it,” said Mekanism partner Pete Caban. “The Capitol Hill area has a ton of history, a counter-culture pioneering vibe. A lot of it had to do with raw creative energy of the area.”

Mekanism officially launched its Capitol Hill office above E Pike and Broadway last month. The company is known for ad campaigns like Messin’ with Sasquatch. Caban says that while landing the Alaska Airlines account in January tipped the scales, the idea of opening up a brick-and-mortar office in the Northwest had been floated for some time. Continue reading →

New Capitol Hill art walk gets boost from boutique, The Stranger, Block Party, and Starbucks

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Artist Jesse Higman at an art walk past (Images: CHS)

Artist Jesse Higman at an art walk past (Images: CHS)

Revived by the chamber of commerce in 2009, Capitol Hill’s monthly art walk is ready to become a bigger, more widely attended event that attracts more visitors from across Seattle thanks to new leadership — and money — from a neighborhood art boutique, The Stranger, the Capitol Hill Block Party, and Starbucks.

Details of the partnership behind the newly revamped “second Thursday” arts event were sent to participating venues this week.

Likely to be one of the most popular aspects of the new take on the art walk: no more participation fees for venues. Thanks to cash from the producers of the annual musical festival and the coffee giant, it will now be free for galleries, cafes, bars, restaurants, and shops to sign up to become part of the monthly walk:

The Art Walk is delighted to announce art walk fees are waived for all venues on the art walk, thanks to the generosity of The Capitol Hill Block Party, The Stranger, and Starbucks. Please thank these organizations for their support of the arts in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. We are incredibly grateful.

CHS and a small handful of neighborhood and area businesses who have supported the walk over the years will also continue their community sponsorships. Continue reading →