Stories

What:  We are hosting Singled Out for a Cure to raise awareness and funds for Leukemia and Lymphoma research.  We will be at Spitfire auctioning off 16 individuals (8 women, 8 men) to the highest bidder.  The auctionees will be paired with a date package.  These items will include a dinner package to a local restaurant and and pre/post date event.  Activity items range from Redhook movie night passes to hot air balloon rides. 

$15 minimum donation required at the door

Why:  Leukemia and Lymphoma effects 900,000+ individuals and their families every year.  We are doing what we can to support the research to end these blood cancers. 

Where:  Spitfire: 2219 4th Avenue Seattle, WA 98121-2058

When: August 12th, 6:30 PM

Website:  http://www.singledoutforacure.com

On August 14, 2010, The Crocodile will host an energetic night of popular Bollywood and international music to celebrate India’s 64th year as a sovereign nation.

The public is invited to this lively event presented by BollyGrooves to mark the anniversary of the end of British rule in India, which took place in 1947. Join in at The Crocodile to commemorate India’s holiday of new beginnings with a night of music, dancing and inspiration.

Headlining the show is DJ Aanshul, an influential artist known for his versatile performances of blended Bollywood and international music. The night will be interspersed with Indian Independence Day-themed songs and the festivities will include free henna tattoos by local mehndi and henna artist Anju Singh and free admission pass giveaways to future BollyGrooves events.

“Independence Day is such a fun and cheerful occasion within the Indian community,” says Shelly Kamran of BollyGrooves, the event’s sponsor. “We’re excited to share the experience of music, dance and Bollywood with... (more)

Lydia Heard at the Seattle PI posted a great piece on the history of Belltown's Cottages. I'd recommend you swing over for a read.

The Belltown P-Patch and the Belltown Cottage Park are joined at the hip, sharing a past and a symbiotic growth, through travails and triumphs, into the present where we can all enjoy them. In 1915 they were a single property owned by William Hainsworth, who built 11 cottages - "modern" cottages as they had an interior toilet and tub, as well as electric lights. They rented for $16-$18 per month and advertised, as well, that you could "save the car fare", the price of riding the trolley from new outlying neighborhoods to the booming, bustling Denny Regrade and waterfront industries of the time.

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You can file this away in the meaningless things Jesse likes category. Despite that, I would urge you as a digital friend to treat yourself to a heaping dose of visual and auditory sweetness. Enjoy.

KIRO has the latest coverage of the arson at the "Ride the Ducks" tourist attraction.

SEATTLE -- Police arrested one person after a fire early Tuesday morning at the popular tourist attraction Ride the Ducks near Seattle Center.KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reporter Alison Grande spoke with Seattle police who said the man arrested in connection with the fire is an employee who called police to report a possible burglary at the building around 12:40 a.m.When police arrived they found a fire burning in the building at Broad Street and Fifth Avenue North.While firefighters worked on the flames, Seattle Police arrested a 50-year-old man nearby.

Real Estate agents will hate this post. Economists will probably agree. A lot of other people will continue sitting on the sidelines waiting for the dust to settle. One thing is for certain, no one really knows what they're talking about because it involves predicting the future.

The New York Times published a great article today with some fancy "Should You Buy or Rent?" calculators. I would suggest using this feature as a tool to evaluate any of your own potential purchases.

Lets run through an example together.

1) 2607 Western - 1 bedroom, 1.5 bath loft on the market today for $330,000.

I know that the rent for a comparable loft in this building is right around $1,750. The homeowners association dues rack up $341 a month for this amenity rich building. I am going to be a sunshine beaming  optimist and assume (probably incorrectly) that the housing slump has been completely solved and appreciation has returned to a historical average of 3%

Lets plug it into the calculator and take a look at the results....

In summary. If you're planning to stay put for 12 years - Buy. Otherwise, hold tight and rent. Use the money you'd save and invest in something like rare comic books or gold bullion.

From the SeattleTimes

Monday's 5-4 favorable vote on an anti-aggressive-panhandling law was a bad moment for city government. Six votes are needed to override the expected veto from Mayor Mike McGinn. He is proving to be a rudderless leader who continues to misstep as the city's chief executive officer.

WHEN Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn is not trying to block the planned deep-bore tunnel to replace the viaduct, or attempting to torpedo a hard-fought deal on a new Highway 520 bridge, the mayoral dust storm is working not to make city streets safer and more welcoming for businesses and customers.

What were we thinking, Seattle, when we elected McGinn as the city's chief executive officer? In four months, he has demonstrated a lack of listening skills and a political compass to guide him.

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I used to walk by The Wexley School for Girls each day on my way to work. First, I actually thought to myself that this must be some misguided effort at a reformative girls school. Then, I realized. It's another marketing firm. But wait, this isn't just SOME marketing firm. It's a brilliant, amazing, super hyper UNIQUE marketing firm! Amazing!

The Seattle Times did a great job writing what should be the wikipedia entry for the Wexley School for Girls. It's great. You should read it if you're curious, perplexed, or just jealous of their decadent work environment.

IF YOU CAN'T figure out what goes on behind the locked door at Wexley School for Girls, join the club.

From the sidewalk along Fifth Avenue in downtown Seattle, the office looks like an Asian restaurant, with red painted walls, matching red booths, rubber chickens hanging in a window and plates of sushi and other dishes on the tables.

Stepping inside doesn't help much. The first thing you see is a statue of Merlin the Magician beside a curving stairwell painted blue with white clouds.

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I've been introduced to essays back in secondary school when we were asked to write about how we have lived our lives so far. During my entire stay in secondary school, I've written countless essays on various topics and I've found them enjoyable and quite easy to do.

But this has changed the moment I entered university. I had no trouble writing the personal statement essay as part of the application requirements. But the first time I was assigned an academic essay I was taken by surprise. The guidelines and rules were completely different from the style I was used to, it was too formal and structured which I found quite intimidating. Add to that, the amount of research necessary for the essay was quite staggering. I had to dig up a lot of obscure books and manuals which were, almost always, available only in physical form at public libraries. Also, the research entailed interviewing an old farmer living in a town which I've never heard of.

Needles to say, that was when I started to hate writing academic essays.... (more)

We noticed a report on CapitolHillSeattle that TheLocalVine was opening up a new shop on 12th avenue. At first, we were alarmed that another restaurant was moving out of Belltown and heading for the hills. However, clarification from the owners came soon that the Capitol Hill bar would be intended as a second location and not a desertion of the neighborhood.

Unfortuantely, it looks like the tables have turned and TheLocalVine is getting the boot from the McGuire along with several hundred residents and a few other businesses. I emailed the owner Sarah Munson this morning and confirmed that they were completely surprised by the news.

"We are shocked and extremely disappointed.  We’ve invested a tremendous amount in our 2 and vine location and in our Belltown community.  It is difficult to believe we must vacate so quickly.  At this point we are still working to understand our options with regard to our existing location in Belltown and new opportunities."

If you've been to TheLocalVine, you'll know the build out within the McGuire is gorgeous. It would cost a mint to move the infrastructure and interior accents. I'm sure i'm not the only one who will be keeping my fingers crossed that Sarah will be able to find another downtown home soon.

TheLocalVine will be open through June and they're promising a full tasting and events calendar up until the last day.

The Seattle Times has the most comprehensive write-up of the recent news that the McGuire building will be torn down. If you live in the McGuire and would like to provide us with a first person account, just send me an email.

By Nicole Tsong and Mike Carter  - Seattle Times staff reporters

Hundreds of residents and business owners who live and work in a modern, 25-story Belltown apartment building were told over the weekend to move out as soon as possible because of major structural flaws found in the building.

The building owner, a Seattle-based venture formed by pension funds and the local carpenters union, said it plans to demolish the high-rise.

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Hop on over for a read.

KIRO has the scoop on this story;

SEATTLE -- Bricks and other debris have fallen from the façade of a downtown Seattle building, injuring three people on the street below, firefighters tell KIRO 7 Eyewitness News.Photos from the scene show bricks on the sidewalk outside the Icon Grill, at Fifth Avenue and Virginia Street. The restaurant's marquee sign is damaged.

Go to KIRO for more pictures and a slideshow of the damage.

I am posting this for three reasons.

1) I would like assistance finding the supremely awesome soundtrack

2) These are good skills

3) I would like to start a Belltown Karate Ballet club at some point in the future to compete with these guys.

From Daily Journal of Commerce

Lacey-based Econet Inc., a holding company for firms that make natural products, yesterday paid nearly $11.8 million for a building at 3005 First Ave. in Seattle's Belltown neighborhood, public records show.

Dendreon now occupies office and laboratory space in the building.

What does Econet do?  - Manufactures cosmetic preparations; manufactures medicinal & botanical pharmaceutical products Personal care products, Dental

What does Dendreon do? - a Seattle-based biotechnology company, is focused on targeting cancer to transform lives through the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapeutics that may significantly improve cancer treatment options for patients.

At the top of my list for this Friday's Belltown Artwalk is Roq La Rue's Lush Life 2. Also be sure to swing by Mark's Vintage shop right next door to Roq La Rue. He serves up an awesome spread that's not to be missed.

New works by Joe Sorren, Chris Berens, Marion Peck, Kris Kuksi, Travis Louie, Brian Despain, John Brophy, Martin Wittfooth, Ryan Heshka, Michael Brown, Charlie Immer, Mandy Greer, Gail Potocki, Laurie Hogin, Boomer, Madeline Von Foerster, Ryan Heshka, Andrew Arconti, and more TBA.

Roq La Rue Gallery

Opening Night Friday, March 12
Show runs to May 07, 2010

This one from the SPD Blotter was just too good...

Hey, did you know that there's another Belltown out there? Looks like a swell place with a similar upswell of self made musical talent...

The newly opened Key Bank had its first unsavory welcome to the neighborhood yesterday in the form of a robbery. Seattle Police are releasing few details beyond the description posted on their blotter;

Belltown is an incredibly diverse neighborhood and I really feel like the site is lacking some additional perspectives. That's why I'd love for people to pitch in and contribute what they'd like. You don't have to post once a week, but if you've got something to share, the neighborhood wants to hear it!

We're looking for the following;

1 - Belltown news writers

2 - Photgraphers

3 - Artists

4 - Promoters

5 - People with a cause

Anyone can post on belltownpeople.com I mean it. This site is meant to be a community bulliten board. My motive for starting it will remain the same, I just want to get the neighborhood dialog going. So, dont be bashful. If you're interested, send me an email. BelltownPeople@gmail.com.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 7pm - 9pm (was previously planned for Nov 19)

PACCAR Pavilion, The Olympic Sculpture Park, 2901 Western Ave. (Western Ave. & Broad St.)

Sponsored By The Belltown Community Council (BCC)

 At the September 2009 BCC Open Meeting there was a vote to have a separate meeting specifically about the MID and its potential expansion into Belltown. This Forum is an opportunity to learn more about the MID and it's impact on Belltown in the areas of safety / sidewalk & street trash, grafitti, fees, coverage area, and other neighborhood services.

Seattle City Councilmember Tim Burgess and Kate Joncas of the Seattle Downtown Association will respond to a series of submitted questions and others taken during this meeting. The discussion should be robust. This meeting relates to tax assessments so everyone should come.

This activity was requested by the Belltown Community so BCC strongly urges all Belltown residents, workers, property owners and businesses to attend. For more details... (more)

The Bell St Park Boulevard meeting was last evening. The discussion was spirited. But, before I get into the munutia of a relevant sort, I thought I would address another pressing matter for the Belltown populace. Fixie vs. Carbon.

Enjoy.

Our friend at Hideous Belltown has the scoop that the condominium building Moda is facing a perilous financial situation.

I received an email from tipster Chad on Friday. He detailed an outlandish story: he was walking by the Moda Apartments on 3rd, between Bell & Battery and saw some rather large men scaling the side of the building on tall ladders, apparently without the knowledge of Moda management. They proceeded to partially dismantle at least five of the building's balconies and throw them into their truck. When Chad asked the guys about it, they said that the Moda owed them $20,000 and they were repossessing the balconies due to lack of payment.

Read More at Hideous Belltown

Calls to Moda Management have not yet been returned.

UPDATE: Got a hold of someone at Moda. She declined to comment and when asked if this was just a maintenance issue, hung up. If you live in one of these units, drop me a note so we can get your side of the story.

This article from the Seattle Times really cracked me up this morning. No, it's not Belltown related in any way, but I found it too funny not to share.

So, should we toss the pooch in the compost bin? Will dog ownership become the new environmental no no? Should I buy shares in Chihuahua stock? (supposing that their carbon footprint is at least smaller). 

Here's a business idea. Create a brand of sustainable dog food and market it to the legions of eco-conscious Seattlites that are sure to panic in their current eco-contradiction.

Hah, and finally to pile on, who is down for organizing an environmental rally at the Belltown Dog Park later this week!?

 Our arrogant news partners from a more hipstery area of the city wrote up an endearing piece on England's band The Heavy. The Heavy plays the Crocodile tonight and are definitely worth checking out.

Like everyone with half a brain, I will be avoiding Belltown this Halloween even more than regular weekends.  But might I interest you in braving the prematurely-dressed Sexy Falcon Heenes and Zombie Billy Mays tonight?  I know, I know, but what if there existed a band to make it worth your while?

more at SunBreak