Beacon Hill Blog

Maria Isabel Velez: Images of SE Seattle in fiery color

October 26th, 2009 at 6:05 am | No Comments | Posted in Photos by Wendi

This beautiful photo of autumn leaves on the grounds of the VA Hospital is by Maria Isabel Velez. Her photostream on Flickr has some beautiful atmospheric images of things in Beacon Hill, Columbia City, Georgetown, and elsewhere. According to her profile, all of the photos were taken with her iPhone!

Many of the images are of things that might go unnoticed — a crack in concrete, a rusting bench, an outlet on a wall. Maria’s use of composition and saturated color makes them fascinating.

Some other photos I particularly enjoyed in Maria’s photostream:

Tags: art, fall, leaves

Melancholy photos of October on Beacon Hill

October 22nd, 2009 at 6:33 am | No Comments | Posted in Photos by Wendi

From the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool on Flickr:

Outside McPherson's fruit stand, at sunset. Photo by Tim Ripley.

Fog in Jefferson Park. Photo by Joel Lee.

These autumn sunsets are getting earlier and earlier. Photo by Bridget Christian.

Fish delivery. Photo by Tim Ripley.

Thanks to Tim, Joel, Bridget, and all who have shared their photographic talents with the community! Do you have interesting photos of Beacon Hill? You are invited to add them to the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool. We’d love to see them!

Tags: fish, jefferson park, mcpherson's, strange, sunset

The sun sets on another Beacon Hill summer

September 24th, 2009 at 5:46 am | 1 Comment | Posted in Photos by Wendi

There have been a few sunset pictures in the Beacon Hill Blog’s photo pool lately. (Want to see all the sunset photos ever added to the pool? Look here.) Do you have some great Beacon Hill photos? We’d love to see them!

Gorgeous sky on the last evening of summer. Photo by Bridget Christian.

Stunning photo from Jose Rizal Park, by Justin Kraemer.

Outside Beacon Hill Station on a late August evening. Photo by Wendi.

Tags: pretty, sunset

Public art abounds on Beacon Hill

September 1st, 2009 at 4:35 am | 9 Comments | Posted in Photos by Wendi

Our first annual “Top of the Hill” survey is still open for a while yet, and we’re not releasing results until it closes, but there has been one fairly frequent answer that I’ve noticed. One of the questions is “What is your favorite public art on Beacon Hill?” and while most people do have a favorite, there has been a surprisingly large number of people who say they don’t know of any public art up here. While we may not have as much obvious public art as some neighborhoods, we do have a fair amount. (The number probably doubled with this year’s addition of the Link station and its multiple artworks.) Here’s a collection of images of some of the art we all enjoy on Beacon Hill.

Many of these photos are from the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool on Flickr. Have any photos you’d like to share? You are welcome to contribute them to the pool.

The mural on the side of Kusina Filipina. Photo by l0st2.

Mosaic in Dr. Jose Rizal Park. Photo by Seattle Daily Photo.

In front of the light rail station. Photo by l0st2.

One of the "creatures" inside the Beacon Hill Link station. Photo by Wendi.

More »

Tags: blue wall, daejeon park, jose rizal park, kusina filipina, library, light rail station, p-patch, sturgus park

Red, blue, and purple on North Beacon Hill

August 17th, 2009 at 9:57 pm | 3 Comments | Posted in Photos by Wendi

Red sky over Red Apple, Sunday evening. Photo by Wendi.

Red sky over Red Apple, Sunday evening. This was what we saw as we stepped out of the elevators at the train station. People audibly gasped. Photo by Wendi.

New lighting has been installed on the front of the Beacon Hill Station. It gradually shifts color between blue and purple. Photo by Wendi.

The red pony ride at the Red Apple. Photo by Joel Lee.

Photo by Wendi.

Tags: beacon hill station, red apple

Staying cool in the pool

July 30th, 2009 at 7:03 pm | 1 Comment | Posted in Photos by Wendi

Folks at the Harwood Condos have a swimming pool, and this week has been a great time to make use of it. Photo by Bridget Christian in the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool on Flickr.com.

Tags: heat, hot, staying cool, swimming

Rooftop hip hop from above Spoons

July 11th, 2009 at 11:28 pm | 1 Comment | Posted in Local Events, Photos, Recreation by Jason

Dope Emporium's Rooftop Saturday Series kicks off here on Beacon Hill

Caught wind of a free hip hop show on the roof of Spoons and the Golden Daisy at 15th & Beacon just before it stated. From 3 to 6 this afternoon, Dope Emporium and Black Stax hosted the show. The live acts started a bit late with Steelo and several more, but the DJ provided a funky mix that made for a good time outside (where, at least in the shade, it was cooler than hanging around in the house). There were some minor audio glitches for those watching from street-level, but nothing that seriously detracted from the show. Lucky for you, there’s another show set for the same location coming up on July 25th.

Some more photos after the jump.
More »

Tags: black stax, hip hop, music, show, spoons, steelo

This is the last weekend before the light rail opens

July 10th, 2009 at 1:49 am | No Comments | Posted in Photos by Wendi

Here are a few photos of the area around the Beacon Hill light rail station as the clock ticks down to Opening Day.

The art outside the station has begun to be installed. The work on the north side of the building is by artist Carl Smool.

This flag marks the spot where the last part of the Big Blue Fence was until recently. In the background is El Centro de la Raza.

Until recently, this area was covered with machinery and construction supplies. Now, it's a smoothly-graded field of gravel.

In anticipation of increased demand for parking near the station, this formerly-free parking lot at Beacon and Forest has sprouted a brand-new Diamond Parking sign.

A close-up of Carl Smool's cut-metal artwork on the north side of the station.

It is getting close to being finished, but it still looks like they will have to work 24X7 to get it done by next Saturday.

Photos by Wendi.

Tags: beacon hill station, light rail, light rail station, north beacon, parking

A memorial to the Fourth of July

July 6th, 2009 at 4:21 am | 3 Comments | Posted in Life on the Hill, Photos by Wendi

Photo by Joel Lee.

Joel Lee was walking around Jefferson Park yesterday and noticed a large amount of fireworks debris from the night before. It wouldn’t fit in the trash cans, so he gathered it up and made tower art, a sort of memorial for the previous night’s revelry. (Photo from the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool. Thanks, Joel!)

Tags: art, fireworks, fourth of july, litter

Images of June on Beacon Hill

June 30th, 2009 at 4:01 am | No Comments | Posted in Photos by Wendi

Photos from the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool on Flickr:

Photo by Freeman Mester.

Photo by Bridget Christian.

A double-tall bike rider! Photo by Wendi.

Sunset over Jefferson Park. Photo by Ali R.

Thanks to everyone who posted photos in the pool! We love seeing all of your amazing views of the Hill.

Tags: bicycles, jefferson park, sunset

Memories of this year’s Beacon Hill Festival

June 7th, 2009 at 9:11 pm | 1 Comment | Posted in Local Events, Photos by Jason

Some shots from yesterday’s Beacon Hill Festival, at the Jefferson Park Community Center:

Chinese girls in vivid red and gold.

Clown toss.

Girls playing foosball.

Roar!

Tags: festival

It just might be Spring

May 18th, 2009 at 3:05 am | No Comments | Posted in Photos by Wendi

Hello, ladybug! Photo by K. Shuyler.

La Cabaña has a newly painted sign on the front of their restaurant. Photo by Wendi.

La Cabaña has a newly painted sign on the front of their restaurant. Very colorful and bright. Photo by Wendi.

This dog was having fun playing fetch at Jefferson Park. Photo by Joel Lee.

Spring and Summer are construction season. This big hole was in Beacon Avenue on Saturday. Photo by Wendi.

Thanks to the members of the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool!

Tags: construction, pets, spring

The sun is out and flowers are blooming on Beacon Hill

April 23rd, 2009 at 3:42 am | No Comments | Posted in Photos by Wendi

Most of these photos are from the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool on Flickr, which has tons of photos of our neighborhood. Want to contribute, or just browse the pool? Go here. Thanks to all the pool members who have contributed such wonderful images!

Flowers in the Lewis Park Natural Area near the Jose Rizal Bridge. Photo by Wendi.

The art above the Beacon Hill Library, in a bright blue sky. Photo by melissajonas in the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool.

Tags: amazon, jefferson park, jose rizal bridge, lewis park, library

Beacon Bits: Recession affects light rail area development and local cut glass company

April 6th, 2009 at 5:18 pm | No Comments | Posted in Beacon Bits, Local Business, Photos, Urban Planning by Wendi

If you’re wondering where the expected “building boom” along the light rail route on MLK is, you’re not alone. The Seattle Times reports that projects are being delayed — sometimes permanently — by the current recession’s tight credit and overall economic malaise. The South Seattle Beacon recently discussed this issue as well, with representatives of the Rainier Valley Community Development Fund and the city’s Office of Economic Development suggesting that the current situation is a “great opportunity” to focus upcoming development.
Speaking of development near the light rail line, we meant to post this last week: a PDF of Sound Transit’s plan for the Beacon Hill light rail station area. The gray areas that say “future development” are not owned by Sound Transit and will be fenced off by chain link fence after the construction is complete. It’s up to the property owners to decide what to do with those areas, and their plans are unknown at the moment.
Also in the Times, Kusak’s Cut Glass, at the foot of Beacon Hill just off Rainier Avenue on 22nd, was founded in Seattle nearly a century ago, in 1914. The company was named “the Northwest’s family-owned small business of the year” by the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Seattle office last year. And now, in the recession, it is struggling, but determined, to survive.

On a positive note, the cherry trees are blooming! (A little late this year, aren’t they?)

Photo by Joel Lee, in the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool on Flickr.

Tags: development, light rail station, redevelopment

Beacon Hill past and present: Hinds, 14th, and Columbian Way

April 1st, 2009 at 1:09 am | 1 Comment | Posted in History of the Hill, Photos by Wendi

Hinds and 14th near Columbian Way, December 1956. Courtesy of the Seattle Municipal Archives.

14th and Hinds near Columbian Way, 2009.

There are a few changes from the 1956 photo to today, though the site is still clearly recognizable. This is just north of where Columbian Way carries the I-5 and West Seattle Bridge ramp traffic up toward Beacon Hill.

In the 1956 photo, there are much fewer trees and plants than we see in the modern view. The empty lot on the left side of the old photo is now the big apartment building at Columbian and Spokane, though it’s hidden behind trees in the new photo. The Columbian/Spokane intersection is rather busy now, but there’s no obvious traffic signal there in the 1956 photo.

The sidewalk on the right side of 14th no longer exists; the space is now blocked by a chain-link fence. And the car turning right onto Columbian at the bottom of the hill is doing something that is no longer legal; 14th is a one-way street going northbound in this area now. However, while I was taking the current-day photo, a car sped past me, down the hill, and took the right turn anyway.

Here’s another 1956 photo of this location:

Hinds and 14th near Columbian Way, December 1956. Courtesy of the Seattle Municipal Archives.

Tags: 14th avenue s, columbian way, hinds st, past and present

BeHi Bonsai on safari

March 26th, 2009 at 8:14 pm | No Comments | Posted in Life on the Hill, Photos by Jason

Photo by Jason

Neighborhood hedge sculpture enthusiast blog BeHi Bonsai took an eighteen mile hike around the hill, capturing over 400 images of… well, mostly bushes, but also much, much more! As a teaser for the upcoming topiary treasures to be revealed, you’re invited to check out a movie compressing the hours of walking into under a minute and a half. (It’s got a nice soundtrack, too.)

See if you can spot your block, and put BeHi Bonsai in your bookmarks or feed reader to stay abreast of the best in Beacon Hill greenery.

Tags: bonsai, bushes, movie, walk

Early spring on Beacon Hill

March 24th, 2009 at 1:09 am | No Comments | Posted in Photos by Wendi

Photos posted recently to the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool on Flickr are showing a hint of spring. Thanks, neighbors, for taking such wonderful photos!

Photo by Joel Lee.

Photo by Freeman Mester.

Photo by Bridget Christian.

Remember when this was typical winter weather?

March 9th, 2009 at 4:17 am | 1 Comment | Posted in Photos by Wendi

Photo by Joel Lee, from the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool.

Not so much this year, it seems, as we await yet another potential powdering of snow. But we have had some typical misty Seattle winter days, and Joel Lee caught this gorgeous view of the tree in Stevens Place Park on a recent one, then posted it to the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool on Flickr. Thanks, Joel!

Tags: mist, stevens place park, trees

Art and color on the Hill

February 23rd, 2009 at 11:11 pm | No Comments | Posted in Photos by Wendi

These photos are from the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool on Flickr. If you have photos or short videos of the neighborhood, you are invited to add them to the pool as well.

Spoons store sign on Beacon Avenue South. Photo by Wendi.

The front steps of the Culinary Communion house. Photo by Wendi.

Tags: culinary communion, kusina filipina, spoons, streetlights

Not going anywhere

January 16th, 2009 at 5:52 am | No Comments | Posted in Photos by Wendi

Somehow this photo of an old car on North Beacon Hill captures much of the post-holiday feeling of a Seattle January. Photo by Matthew Rutledge.

Somehow this photo of an old car on North Beacon Hill captures much of the quiet post-holiday feeling of a Seattle January. Photo by Matthew Rutledge.