For the past several years, the old Beacon Hill Elementary School has sat behind a tangle of Sound Transit construction equipment and facades. The past several years of light rail work have both blocked it from view and made it more challenging to access. As a result, it has been easy to forget about the activities going on inside the old elementary school's walls at the hands of the people who run the building's powerful community organization, El Centro de la Raza.
Last week the fate of the Columbia City Cinema was in doubt, and owner Paul Doyle sent out a wry cry for help: see Erik Hansen's Oct. 3 editorial, "It's time to make some movie theater magic" for the full story. In the 10 days since his first public request for increased attendance and donations to help keep doors open, the South End has been enthusiastically responding. In the photo, a humbled Doyle accepts a check for $2,000 from Windermere's Al Johnson on Thursday, Oct.4. Johnson and the other real estate agents at the Mount Baker office raised the money for the troubled cinema. After the presentation, Johnson and about 25 of his fellow realtors caught the evening showing of The Kingdom.
DESIGN REVIEWS *9031 Valdez Ave. S. (3007584) of 21 townhouse units located within two four-story structures. Parking for 21 vehicles will be located beneath the structures. At the early design guidance meeting, the applicants will present information about the site and vicinity; the public may offer comments regarding the design and siting of a residential development on the subject site. The meeting will take place Oct. 23 at 6:30 p.m. at Safeco Jackson Street Center...
The White Ravens took on Rainier Beach on Oct. 6 at the Rainier Beach play field. Here's how the action settled out: Seniors 0-35 loss; Juniors 0-30 loss; Bantums 0-38 loss; 89er's 30-0 win; Peewee's 0-14 loss.Next games for the Rainier White Ravens will have them challenging the Sea-Tac Sharks on Sunday, Oct. 14 at Foster High School, 4242 S.
Seattle- Area schools have until Oct. 15 to register for Penny Harvest, a youth philanthropy and service learning program specifically designed to engage students with their community, according to Program Director Mike Beebe. Beginning on Oct. 22, students will be collecting pennies, pooling them in schools, turning the coins into dollars and allocating those dollars into grants to community groups that they have selected.
The Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce, a community-based nonprofit organization working to support and promote Capitol Hill as an economically vital and livable neighborhood, is looking to hire a friendly, good humored person to take on the role of Office Czar. The position involves a commitment of 20 hours per week.
If you are looking for a man with issues, John Hamel has hundreds of them. Such as Time and Newsweek, Better Homes & Gardens, Scientific American, even National Geographic, in French, to name but a few. Two weeks ago, Hamel moved his Broadway News, a 16-year fixture on Broadway at East John Street, to north Broadway at 605 Broadway East, the former site of Peacock Custom Framing. The move came about when his previous landlord chose not to renew his lease at Hame's previous location.
Used bookstore finds a new space before Sound Transit takes possessionAt least one independent business is primed to survive Broadway's transition to light rail. Used bookstore Twice Sold Tales, a fixture on East John Street, has found a new home. Last week, Jamie Lutton, who has operated Twice Sold Tales on Capitol Hill for 19 years, signed a 10-year lease on what will become her store's new location at the southwest corner of Harvard Avenue East and East Denny Way. While the transition to the new store is a daunting task, Lutton expressed more than a little relief at having signed on the dotted line.
Last Thursday morning brought unexpected inspiration. En route to work on Capitol Hill, I trudged down the wet street as morning light gradually brightened my path. September brought little hope of any lasting Indian summer and early October hasn't offered any warm weather respite. In my mind, I began batting down the hatches for a long, cold, rainy winter. But I looked west that morning and suddenly discovered the most beautiful sky, the kind familiar to me in Renaissance paintings, often featured by artists in mid 15th-century Venice. Shades of pink and orange played along the curvature of big, billowy clouds on the horizon. Whether these natural beauties heralded a storm or calm, I did not know. But their appearance took my breath away, gave me hop
The phrase "shotgun wedding" could really be applied to any general election. But for Nov. 6 this year, the usual forced marriages of money and democracy or politicians and marks, er, constituents have a more vivid pair joining them on the altar: mass transit and roads. Two great tastes that not only don't taste so great together, but generally despise each other. Yet in order for $10.8 billion in money for an Eastside extension of Sound Transit to kick in during this year's Proposition 1, voters must also approve another $7 billion for new, expanded and upgraded Seattle area roads.
If you planning to visit all the venues of the 2007 Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival (SLGFF), you might want a map! This year's fest is spread from Capitol Hill to the Central District to downtown and the Seattle Center. For its 12th year, the 2007 SLGFF offers more than 75 programs at the Harvard Exit, Northwest Film Forum, Central Cinema, Cinerama, SIFF Theater, Capitol Hill Library, Broadway Performance Hall and downtown central library.
DESIGN REVIEWS: 1605 Bellevue Ave. (3007778) of a six-story, commercial/residential building with 116 units and two levels of underground parking. At the early design guidance meeting, the applicants will present information about the site and vicinity; the public may offer comments regarding the design and siting of a mixed-use development on the subject site. The meeting will take place Oct. 17 at 6:30 p.m. at Seattle Vocational Institute, 2120 S. Jackson St., in Room 102-103.
I attended a very interesting production of Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" - or "Twelfe Night," as they're choosing to call it - which opened Sept. 19 at Seattle Repertory Theatre. We were greeted by searchlights, valet parking and all the excitement of opening night, but his time there was something extra, the feeling of a truly special occasion. Ladies in off-the-shoulder evening gowns, black lace and sparkling sequins accompanied by tuxedo-clad escorts arrived to occupy the front-row-center seats. We were all there to attend a reception and after-party celebrating the Rep's 45th season.
When Built to Spill took the Showbox stage Friday night - the second of a three-night stand - a crackle of electricity seemed to shoot through the audience. Having formed in 1992 behind frontman and former Tree People founder Doug Martsch, the band has garnered a large and cultish following, thanks in part to their scorching live performances. A BTS show, at once technically flawless and gutturally immediate, is always a heady treat, but Friday was something extra special. Right now, this band is on fire.
At age 27, Seneca Garber has already amassed a treasure trove of opera knowledge that grows richer by the day - and he's busily spreading the wealth.After all, that's Garber's job as a member of Seattle Opera's education department. Operagoers who attend Seattle Opera's Overtures to Opera and community lectures may be familiar with Garber from his recent debut as a lecturer. He has also served as Seattle Opera's education programs coordinator since 2004.